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Scanned  from  the  collections  of 
The  Library  of  Congress 


AUDIO-VISUAL  CONSERVATION 
at  The  LIBRARY  of  CONGRESS 


H- 


4 


-J 


»11 


Packard  Campus 
for  Audio  Visual  Conservation 
www.loc.gov/avconservation 

Motion  Picture  and  Television  Reading  Room 
www.loc.gov/rr/mopic 

Recorded  Sound  Reference  Center 
www.loc.gov/rr/record 


The  MOTION  PICTU1& 
TI&LDE  JOUISJHrAl, 


MARGARET   GIBSON 

WITH 
HORSLEY-MUTUAL 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  1,  1916 


No.  1 


•rt7* 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Triangle  Productions 

For  Week  of  December  26th 

The  continuation  of  TRIANGLE  Quality  week  after  week, 
the  upholding  of  TRIANGLE  ideas  month  after  month,  and  the 
consistent  production  of  motion  picture  plays  so  far  above  the 
average  that  comparison  is  impossible  is  now  assured.  A  word 
about  the  plays  to  be  released  for  the  week  of  December  26th 
may  still  further  emphasize  this  point. 

First  there  is  "The  Edge  of  the  Abyss"  which  gives  Mary 
Boland,  the  popular  Broadway  actress,  her  first  opportunity  on 
the  screen.  An  especially  strong  play  of  modern  appeal,  a  grip- 
ping story  of  intense  interest  combine  into  a  particularly  enter- 
taining drama.  Every  woman  will  want  to  see  this  play  of  a 
vital  domestic  problem — and  see  it  again. 

Then  "The  Penitents,"  with  Orrin  Johnson  in  the  title  role,  is 
another  play  of  a  distinctly  new  type  based  on  the  practices  of 
a  queer  religious  sect  who  flourished  in  Mexico  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Marvelous  scenic  effects,  wonderful  acting  and 
a  tense  story  combine  to  give  this  play  the  strongest  pull. 

And  as  for  the  Keystones,  the  first  "Submarine  Pirate," 
featuring  Syd  Chaplin  of  the  famous  Chaplin  family,  is  a  four 
reeler  which  the  New  York  press  declared  to  be  the  very  best 
Keystone  ever  produced.  The  Navy  Department  permitted  the 
use  of  a  U.  S.  Government  Submarine,  and  after  witnessing  the 
picture  decided  to  use  it  for  recruiting  purposes.  "The  Hunt" 
with  Ford  Sterling,  the  other  Keystone,  furnishes  more  than  its 
share  of  laughter  with  its  swift  moving  merrymaking,  and  com- 
pletes a  week  of  exceptional  excellence. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  1,  1916 


No.  1 


Star  Chamber  S 


Chic 


amber  oession  in  ^nicago 

IMPORTANT   MATTERS  DISCUSSED 


THERE'S  something  big  doing  in  filmdom. 
The  exact  nature  of  the  plan  discussed  in 
Chicago  on  Saturday  of  last  week,  Motography 
is  not  at  liberty  to  reveal,  though  it  may  be  possible 
to  give  a  broad  hint  or  two,  by  which  those  who  are 
close  students  of  the  motion  picture  game,  by  putting 

EDISON  OUT  OF  GENERAL  FILM" 

Will  Release  Five-Reel  Features  Through  the  Kleine- 

Edison  Feature  Service  and  May  Perhaps 

Make  Shorter  Films 

Following  close  upon  the  announcement  from  the 
Edison  studio  that  that  company  would  reduce  its  out- 
put through  the  General  Film  Company  to  one  three- 
reeler  a  week,  comes  the  more  recent  one  that  Edison 
has  withdrawn  all  releases  through  General  Film.  This 
new  order  of  things  applies  to  "Blade  o'  Grass,"  in 
which  Leonie  Flugrath  and  Pat  O'Malley  were  to  be 
featured ;  to  "The  Matchmakers,"  in  which  Sally  Crute 
and  William  Wadsworth  lead ;  to  "Celeste  of  the  Am- 
bulance Corps,"  with  the  same  players  as  "Blade  o' 
Grass"  and  "The  Duel,"  all  of  which  were  to  be  re- 
leased the  latter  part  of  December  and  during  the  first 
half  of  January.  This  is  contrary  to  the  advertised 
announcements  that  have  appeared  stating  that  the 
above  plays  would  be  released  through  the  General 
Film  Company. 

This  leaves  Edison  releasing  no  films  whatever 
.through  the  "G.  F."  program,  but  the  Edison  studio 
will  go  on,  as  usual,  devoting  itself  to  the  production 
of  five-reel  features,  released  through  the  Kleine-Edi- 
son  Feature  Service.  Manager  Leonard  W.  McChes- 
ney  is  silent  on  whether,  the  studio  will  hereafter  pro- 
duce any  shorter  films  than  these  five-reelers,  and  is 
also  silent  on  the  cause  of  the  Edison  withdrawal  from 
the  General  program. 

The  Edison  organization  will,  for  the  present,  re- 
lease two  five-reel  features,  the  next  one  being  on  Jan- 
uary 12 — "The  Catspaw,"  in  which  Miriam  Nesbitt  and 
Marc  MacDermott  are  featured ;  on  January  26,  "The 
Innocence  of  Ruth,"  in  which  Viola  Dana  and  Edward 
Earle  will  star;  on  February  9,  Mabel  Trunnelle  and 
Rob.ert  Conness  in  "The  Crucifixion  of  Phillip  Strong;" 
and  Carroll  McComas  and  Richard  Tucker  in  "At  the 
Rainbow's  End,"  on  February  23. 

The  last  release  of  the  Edison  studio  through  the 
"G.  F."  was  "Santa  Claus  versus  Cupid,"  on  Decem- 
ber 18,  the  final  day  of  the  old  company  as  decreed  by 
the  court. 


two  and  two  together,  may  get  at  least  an  inkling  of 
what  is  in  the  wind. 

In  the  first  place  it  will  be  betraying  no  trust  to 
mention  casually  that  a  number  of  different  individ- 
uals have  long  had  an  idea  that  distribution  costs  are 
too  high,  and  that  the  time  is  nearly  ripe  to  effect  a 
change  in  the  methods  by  which  pictures  are  released 
to  the  exhibitors. 

The  past  week  has  seen  a  number  of  important 
visitors  registered  at  Chicago's  principal  hotels. 
Adolph  Zukor,  for  instance,  was  registered  at  the 
Blackstone  and  though,  in  an  interview  published  on 
another  page  of  this  issue  of  Motography,  Mr.  Zukor 
declares  he  was  not  in  Chicago  on  business  of  import- 
ance, it  is  an  open  secret  that  while  in  the  city  he  held 
conferences  with  several  of  the  Windy  City's  biggest 
exhibitors,  and  was  seen  in  conversation  with  David 
W.  Griffith,  besides  attending  another  meeting  of  im- 
portance. 

Lewis  J.  Selznick,  vice  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  World  Film  Corporation ;  Carl  Laemmle,  pres- 
ident of  Universal ;  H.  M.  Horkheimer,  of  the  Balboa 
Amusement  Producing  Company ;  Frank  Marion,  of 
the  Kalem  Company,  were  among  those  who  found  it  ex- 
pedient to  cnend  a  week-end  in  Chicago,  and  several 
other  big  film  manufacturers,,  whose  names  it  is  not 
wise  to  state  until  the  plans  are  worked  out,  were  also 
all  wonderfully  active  during  the  past  week,  though  it 
cannot  be  asserted  that  their  mere  presence  in  the  city 
had  anything  to  do  with  the  important  gathering  hinted 
at  above. 


LONG  AWAITED  "PEGGY"  READY 

Producer  Ince  Completes  and  Ships  East  Film  in 

Which  Billie  Burke  Appeared — Many 

Consider  It  His  Best 

"Peggy,"  the  much-heralded  and  long-awaited 
Ince  production,  in  which  Billie  Burke,  the  popular 
stage  favorite,  will  make  her  debut  as  a  film  star  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation,  was 
shipped  to  New  York  this  week  for  early  presentation 
at  the  Knickerbocker  theater.  Just  prior  to  its  ship- 
ment, it  was  given  a  private  showing  at  the  Brooks 
theater  in  Los  Angeles — which  Ince  has  leased  for  just 
such  purposes — and  those  who  viewed  it,  it  is  said, 
pronounced  it  to  be,  without  doubt,  the  best  produc- 
tion that  has  yet  come  from  the  Ince  studios. 

The  play — which  requires  some  7,000  feet  of  film 
for  its  enactment — has  been  in  the  making  a  little  more 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


than  three  months.  Miss  Burke,  whose  desertion  of  the 
footlights  for  a  temporary  association  with  Producer 
Ince  was  the  sensation  of  the  year  in  American  amuse- 
ment circles,  arrived  in  Inceville  in  fulfillment  of  her 
$40,000  contract,  during  the  first  week  in  September. 
For  five  weeks  she  worked  before  the  camera  under 
the  personal  direction  of  Ince,  interpreting  the  title 
role  in  the  production.  Then,  immediately  upon  her 
departure  for  New  York,  work  was  commenced  on  the 
cutting  and  assembling  of  the  film.  This  process  over, 
the  completed  play  was  delivered  into  the  custody  of 
Victor  L.  Schertzinger,  Ince's  young  musical  genius, 
who  has  labored  tirelessly  night  and  day  since  then, 
composing  the  original  incidental  score.  Tinting  and 
decorative  work  were  the  finishing  touches  applied. 

From  a  musical  standpoint,  the  production,  it  is 
declared,  merits  particular  attention.  From  the  first 
scene,  in  which  Miss  Burke,  as  "Peggy  Cameron,"  a 
hoydenish  Scotch-American  heiress,  is  seen  mingling 
with  others  of  her  set  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  until 
the  romance,  in  which  she  figures  in  staid  old  Scot- 
land, is  culminated,  a  never  ending  variety  of  original 
Scotch  melodies  has  been  prepared.     The  motif  of  the 


The   cover   and  first  page   of   the   "Peggy"   Song. 

piece  is  "Peggy"  and  in  this  connection  an  interesting 
fact  comes  to  light,  i.  e.,  that  it  constitutes  the  first 
time  a  song  ever  has  been  written  and  published  as  an 
adaptation  from  the  incidental  music  of  a  photoplay. 

The  song  was  completed  last  week  and  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  copies  are  now  being  printed  for  dis- 
tribution in  conjunction  with  the  showing  of  the  film 
throughout  the  country.  Especially  attractive,  it  is 
said,  is  the  cover.  This  is  an  elaborate  layout  in  four 
colors,  showing  Miss  Burke  in  a  scene  from  the  pro- 
duction. 

So  eager  is  Producer  Ince  that  the  Burke  vehicle, 
in  every  respect,  be  given  an  elaborate  presentation, 
that  he  has  even  entrusted  to  his  own  art  staff  the 
task  of  preparing  the  originals  for  the  one  and  three- 
sheet  stands.  These  are  now  nearing  completion  at 
the  Ince  studios  and  are  said  to  give  indications  of  de- 
veloping into  most  beautiful  examples  of  the  litho- 
graphic art. 

What  is  expected  to  prove  a  tremendously  power- 
ful factor  in  the  success  of  the  Burke  production  is  the 
excellence  of  the  cast  that  appears  in  support  of  the 
star.  Principal,  perhaps,  among  those  who  are  to  be 
seen  in  the  piece,  is  William  H.  Thompson,  the  dean 
of  the  American  stage,  who  declined  numerous  offers 
from  film  producing  companies  until  Ince  approached 
him.     Mr.  Thompson  enacts  the  role  of  Andrew  Cam- 


eron, uncle  of  "Peggy."  The  romantic  part  is  played 
by  William  Desmond,  erstwhile  matinee  idol  of  the 
speaking  stage,  who  is  now  permanently  affiliated  with 
the  Ince-Triangle  forces.  In  addition  to  these  well 
known  players,  others  in  the  cast  include  Charles  Ray, 
the  Ince  juvenile  who  scored  such  a  hit  in  "The  Cow- 
ard," Gertrude  Claire,  Truly  Shattuck,  Nona  Thomas 
and  Joseph  J.  Dowling. 


Mirror  Studio  Ready  for  Production 

The  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  announces  that  it  will  begin 
active  production  of  pictures  at  its  new  modern  studio 
plant  at  Glendale,  L.  I.,  the  first  of  the  coming  year 
with  Nat  Goodwin  in  the  first  production  which  'will 
be  staged  there. 

The  board  of  directors  visited  the  new  Mirror 
studio  this  week,  headed  by  Clifford  B.  Harmon,  presi- 
dent of  the  organization,  and  William  C.  Toomey,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager.  Others  who  went  to 
the  studio  in  a  flock  of  touring  cars  were  Frank  S. 
Hastings,  treasurer;  Joseph  Howland  Hunt,  John  W. 
Houston,  Rich  G.  Hollaman,  Captain  Harry  Lambart, 
Andres  de  Segurola,  A.  A.  Anderson  and  Harry  Rowe 
Shelley. 

The  studio  has  been  put  in  shape  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  studio  manager,  Hector  J.  Streyckmans, 
who  was  Manager  Toomey's  first  aide  and  lieutenant 
when  the  latter  was  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation.  Only  a  delay  in 
electrical  equipment,  due  to  a  large  extent  to  the  de- 
mand for  metal  caused  by  the  war,  kept  the  Mirror 
from  opening  the  studio  on  the  first  of  this  month. 
Captain  Lambert  and  Lawrence  Marston  will  be  the 
first  two  men  to  handle  companies  in  the  new  establish- 
ment. 

"The  Sin  of  Napoleon,"  a  six-reel  feature  picture 
and  one  of  the  first  which  will  be  done  by  that  com- 
pany at  its  studio  in  Glendale,  L.  I.,  has  just  been 
bought  by  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.  It  is  the  work  of 
Andres  de  Segurola,  the  famous  Spanish  basso  of  the 
Metropolitan  Opera  Company,  and  Maria  de  Sarlabous. 
It  deals  with  an  almost  unknown  incident  in  the  early 
life  of  Napoleon.  Senor  de  Segurola  has  been  a  great 
student  of  French  history  and  especially  of  the  life  of 
the  great  Corsican.  The  writing  of  scenarios  is  but 
one  of  the  many  accomplishments  of  the  Metropolitan 
artist,  who  has  come  by  his  ability  to  write  for  the 
screen  through  a  long  training  on  the  operatic  stage 
and  the  natural  appreciation  which  he  has  for  dramatic 
values.  He  is  a  lawyer  in  his  own  country  and  is  a 
business  man  of  considerable  achievement. 


Pathe  Director  Startles  the  Natives 

Donald  Mackenzie,  who  is  producing  Fred  Jack- 
son's "Precious  Packet"  for  Pathe,  recently  directed  a 
scene  while  dressed  in  Scotch  kilts  and  standing  bare- 
legged in  the  snow.  "Mac"  took  his  company  to  Maine 
and  while  filming  some  log"ging  scenes,  as  required  by 
the  scenario,  fell  into  the  icy  water  three  successive 
times,  putting  every  suit  of  conventional  clothing 
which  he  had  with  him  completely  out  of  business. 
"Mac's"  mascot  is  a  complete  Highland  outfit,  sporran, 
kilts,  befeathered  hat  and  all.  and  this  he  carries  with 
him  everywhere.  Shivering  in  his  wet  clothes  he  took 
to  the  kilts  as  a  last  resort.  Probably  never  before  has 
a  Maine  logging  crew  seen  the  bonnie  costume  of  Scot- 
land save  in  an  artist's  illustration. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


ANN  MURDOCK  WITH  ESSANAY 

Famous   Leading   Woman   Signed  by   Chicago   Com- 
pany to  Play  Opposite  Richard  Travers  in 
"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines." 

•  Ann  Murdock,  one  of  the  best  known  actresses 
of  the  American  stage,  lately  leading  woman  in  "A 
Pair  of  Sixes,"  and  before  that  in  leading  roles  in  some 
of  the  most  successful  comedy  triumphs  of  recent 
years,  will  appear  as  "Trentoni,"  the  feminine  lead  in 
"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines,"  with  Richard 
C.  Travers,  who  has  the  title  role  in  Essanay's  film 
version  of  Clyde  Fitch's  historic  comedy,  which  is 
now  in  production  at  the  Chicago  studio  under  the 
direction  of  Fred  W.  Wright. 

"Captain  Jinks"  was  first  produced  in  1900  and 
was  the  first  starring  vehicle  of  Ethel  Barrymore,  who 
appeared  in  the  role  in  the  play  which  Miss  Murdock 
will  fill  in  the  photoplay  version.  The  scene  of  the 
story  is  laid  in  New  York  in  1872  at  the  time  of  the 
campaign  of  Horace  Greeley  and  General  Ulysses  S. 
Grant. 

Many  of  the.  first  scenes  of  the  play  are  laid  in 
the  Republican  Club  in  New  York  City  and  an  exact 
replica  of  that  famous  structure  is  now  being  built 
under  the  eye  of  Mr.  Wright,  who  has  several  photo- 
graphs and  ground  plans  in  his  possession. 

Costumes  of  the  period  call  for  the  slightly  hooped 
skirts  with  the  big  bustle  in  the  women's  dresses  and 
the  tight  trousers,  cutaway  coats  and  black  and  white 
stocks  for  the  men.  These  were  made  especially  for 
the  picture. 

The  story  of  Captain  Jinks  deals  with  the  affairs 
of  one  Carroll  Jinks,  who  gains  the  soubriquet  of 
"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines,"  because  he  is 
captain  of  the  Republican  marching  club.  In  the  course 
of  events  that  lead  to  the  election  of  Grant,  the  young 
man  falls  in  love  with  "Trentoni,"  a  young  and  beau- 


tiful opera  singer,  whose  real  name  is  Johnson,  and 
who,  under  the  tutelage  of  one  Balliardi,  her  guardian, 
practices  incessantly  and  finally  achieves  the  goal  of 
her  dreams.  Jinks'  first  sight  of  her  is  gained  when 
"Trentoni,"  so-called  by  herself  because  she  comes 
from  Trenton,  is  coming  back  to  the  United  States  af- 
ter winning  laurels  in  Europe. 

Jinks  and  two  other  young  bloods  in  the  club  wager 
that  they  can  win  the  affections  and  the  fortune  of 
the  young  opera  singer.  They  go  down  to  meet  her 
but  become  intoxicated  and  are  kidnaped  by  news- 
paper men  who  want  to  be  the  first  to  interview  her. 
When  Jinks  meets  her  finally,  he  falls  in  love  on  sight 
and  pays  his  bet,  admitting  that  he  can  never  win  her. 
Her  triumphant  attack  on  American  audiences  is  alter- 
nated by  repelling  the  ardent  advances  of  the  three 
friends.  Jinks,  however,  is  not  as  strong  as  the  other 
two.  Trentoni  finally  learns  of  the  wager  and  is  won 
by  his  finer  feelings  in  the  matter.  So  he  wins  her 
at  last. 


Exchange  Men  Banqueted  by  Ocean 

The  Ocean  Film  Corporation,  with  its  board  of 
directors  and  officers  as  hosts,  and  with  General  Man- 
ager Jesse  J.  Goldburg  departing  from  his  usual  role 
of  "business  creator"  and  masked  under  the  guise  of 
toast-maker,  entertained  a  number  of  visiting  ex- 
change men  and  representatives,  who  attended  a  din- 
ner at  the  Hotel  Astor  in  New  York  City  last  week. 

More  than  fifty  of  the  visiting  exchange  men  sat 
themselves  down  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  "inner 
man"  after  the  day's  arduous  efforts  and  the  consum- 
mation by  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation  of  the  sale  of 
practically  the  entire  territory  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada. 

The  speech-making  of  the  evening  was  confined  to 
topics  apart  from  business  and  with  the  cessation  of 
the  attack  on  the  menu,  cigars  and  informal  talk  occu- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


pied  the  attention  of  the  new  distributors  who  have 
allied  themselves  with  the  Ocean  program.  In  attend- 
ance were:  President  Dudley;  Vice-President  and 
General  Manager  Jesse  J.  Goldburg,  Secretary  George 
S.  Brown;  Francis  R.  Masters,  Paul  E.  Rasor,  William 
D.  Judson  and  R.  C.  E.  Brown  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors; George  DeCarlton,  manager  of  productions;  Joe 
Farnum,  director  of  exploitation;  Joseph  Smiley,  di- 
rector ;  Marshall  Farnum,  director,  and  George  Faw- 
cett,  star  of  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation ;  A.  B. 
Laddick,  representing  Sol  Lesser  of  California  and 
adjacent  territory;  Ben  Friedman  of  the  western 
Kriterion  Film  Service  of  Minneapolis ;  Frank  Frayne, 
representing  Greene's  Feature  Photo-Plays  of  New 
York  and  New  England  territory ;  Joseph  Friedman 
of  the  Celebrated  Players  Film  Company  of  Chicago ; 
Harry  Schwabbe  of  the  Electric  Theater  Supply  Com- 
pany of  Philadelphia ;  W.  C.  Betts  of  the  International 
Cinematograph  Company,  .Ltd.,  of  London ;  Robert 
Herring  of  Quality  film  exchange  of  Pittsburgh  ;  Philip 
Adler  of  the  Alliance  film  exchange  of  Cleveland ; 
James  Lee  of  the  American  Feature  Film  Company 
of  Boston ;  Thomas  Tristam  of  M.  H.  Blackwell  Fea- 
tures of  New  York  City  and  George  Gilbert  of  the 
Ocean  Film  Corporation  staff. 


PATHE'S  BEAUTIFUL  POSTERS 


Alonzo  Kimball,  the  Famous  Illustrator,  Engaged  to 

Make  the  Portrait  Sketches  from  Which  the 

Lithographs  Will  Be  Made 

The  poster  is  the  visible  expression  of  a  motion 
picture  concern's  art.  The  few  really  good  film  posters 
have  a  double  value,  for  not  only  do  they  stand  out 
from  the  crude  ranks  of  the  horde,  thus  fulfilling  the 
mission  for  which  they  were  made,  but  they  predispose 
the  public  mind  in  favor  of  the  film  which  they  adver- 
tise. Every  one  remembers  the  atrocities  used  by  the 
film  companies  a  year  or  two  -back.  Motion  picture 
poster  art  has  progressed  a  long  ways  since  then,  but 
there  is  still  plenty  of  room  for  improvement.  Among 
the  several  companies  whose  posters  are  consistently 
good,  Pathe  is  prominent. 

Over  a  year  ago,  this  house  recognized  the  neces- 
sity for  creating  a  special  department  with  duties  per- 
taining to  posters,  and  nothing  else.  Previously  the 
"paper"  had  been  left  to  a  hard  worked  publicity  de- 
partment which  lacked  the  time  to  devote  the  atten- 
tion necessary  for  the  best  results.  The  result  of  the 
change  was  immediately  apparent.  Posters  came  out 
on  time  and  there  was  a  marked  advance  in  their  at- 
tractiveness.    Naturally  the  best  man  to  judge  poster 


values  is  an  artist  and  an  artist  has  always  been  in 
charge  of  the  department.  Today  E.  O'Connor,  who 
can  paint  a  good  poster  sketch  himself,  is  in  charge 
of  that  end  of  the  Pathe  activities. 

Exhibitors  everywhere  have  been  loud  in  their 
praise  of  the  one  sheets  advertising  Pathe  Gold  Rooster 
Plays.  These  are  portraits  of  the  leading  women  play- 
ers in  the  various  productions,  and  are  all  painted  by 
Alonzo  Kimball,  whose  fame  as  a  painter  of  women's 
heads  extends  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  United 
States.  For  years  he  has  been  in  demand  by  those 
magazines  whose  beautiful  covers  light  up  the  news- 
stands and  which  covers  undeniably  help  sales.  The 
Pathe  posters  made  from  his  sketches  are  beautiful 
enough  to  be  framed,  and  their  advertising  value  to 
the  theater  that  shows  them  is  unquestioned.  The  il- 
lustrations accompanying  this  article,  photographed 
from  posters  of  Pathe  stars,  among  them  Pearl  White, 
Fania  Marinoff,  Jeanne  Eagels,  and  Ruth  Roland,  and 
Jackie  Saunders  of  the  Balboa  forces,  give  a  faint  idea  of 
the  beauty  of  the  original  sketches. 


Grand  Opera  Secrets  Revealed 

Secrets  of  the  great  grand  opera  houses  in  Euro- 
pean and  American  capitals  form  a  part  of  the  basis 
for  the  story  of  the  new  photoplay  in  which  Geraldine 
Farrar  is  the  star,  which  has  just  been  produced  by 
the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company  and  which 
will  be  shown  for  the  first  time  in  Paramount  theaters 
in  January.  Miss  Farrar  has  created  a  sensation 
throughout  the  country  as  the  star  in  the  Lasky  mo- 
tion picture  version  of  "Carmen."  Her  second  photo- 
play is  entitled  "Temptation."  Hector  Turnbull  is  the 
author  and  Cecil  B.  DeMille  is  the  producer. 

"Temptation"  is  a  play  of  modern  life  on  the  oper- 
atic stage.  Although  there  is  no  announcement  to  the 
effect  that  some  of  the  incidents  which  comprise  the 
story  are  taken  from  personal  experiences  of  Miss  Far- 
rar's  own  career  as  a  singer,  nevertheless  it  is  said  that 
this  is  true.  In  "Temptation"  the  noted  prima  donna 
will  appear  as  a  young  American  girl,  who,  given  her 
opportunity,  makes  the  most  of  it.  Her  refusal  to  bend 
to  the  will  of  the  impressario,  however,  places  her  un- 
der the  ban  of  disapproval.  She  loses  her  place  but 
after  weeks  of  privations  starts  anew.  Theodore  Rob- 
erts and  Pedro  de  Cordoba  appear  with  Miss  Farrar  in 
"Temptation." 


George  Engler,  assistant  general  manager  of  the 
American  Correspondent  Film  Company,  Inc.,  is  at 
Buffalo  where  the  latest  A.  C.  F.  release,  "The  War- 
ring Millions"  is  being  shown  at  the  Teck  theater. 


Fania  Marinoff. 
Croup  of  posters  desi 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Zukor  Probing  Public's  Tastes  in  Pictures 


STUDIES   CHICAGO  AUDIENCES 


Adolph   Zukor 


STUDYING  the  public  at  close  range  to  see  what 
it  wants  in  the  way  of  entertainment,  believes 
President  Adolph  Zukor  of  the  Famous  Players 
Film  Company,  is  one  of  the  chief  functions  of  a  film 
producer.  With  that  thought 
in  mind  and  for  the  purpose 
of  probing  personally  into 
the  likes  and  dislikes  of  the 
public,  Mr.  Zukor  journeyed 
out  to  Chicago  the  latter  part 
of  last  week,  registered  at 
the  Blackstone  hotel,  and 
then  sauntered  forth  to  find 
the  public  in  its  lair — -the 
nearest  motion  picture  thea- 
ter. When  found  by  a  repre- 
sentative of  Motography  in 
his  suite  on  the  tenth  floor 
of  the  Blackstone,  Mr.  Zukor 
promptly  disclaimed  any  spe- 
cially big  reason  for  his  pres- 
ence in  the  city  just  at  that 
time,  declaring  that  he  had 
found  before  outlining  a  new 
quarter's  program  that  it  was  always  well  to  study  at 
close  range  the  desires  of.  the  public  and  then,  in  ar- 
ranging the  forthcoming  release  schedule,  to  include 
as  many  as  possible  of  the  public's  special  favorites  in 
that  output.  It  was  a  mission  of  that  sort,  he  reiter- 
ated, that  had  brought  him  to  Chicago,  since  he  con- 
siders Chicago  the  best  city  in  the  whole  United  States 
in  which  to  study  theater  audiences,  it  having  long  ago 
been  demonstrated  that  what  appeals  to  Chicagoans 
will,  as  a  general  rule,  be  proclaimed  a  success  else- 
where. 

"In  visiting  a  theater,"  explained  Mr.  Zukor,  "it 
isn't  the  screen  I  study,  half  as  much  as  it  is  the  faces 
of  the  audience.  I  like  to  sit  well  down  in  front  so 
that  by  turning  slightly  I  can  see  how  the  pictured 
action  affects  the  patrons  of  the  theater.  You  know 
an  actor  on  the  speaking  stage  can  tell  within  a  few 
moments  following  his  entrance  whether  the  audience 
is  interested  in  him,  whether  it  is  following  every 
speech  with  interest,  or  whether  it  is  cold  and  indiffer- 
ent. In  just  the  same  manner  the  films  on  the  screen 
affect  the  audience.  If  the  people  sit  in  rapt  atten- 
tion, if  all  is  still  and  hushed  and  the  eyes  of  everyone 
are  riveted  on  the  screen,  anxiously  following  the 
action  of  the  story,  I  know  the  people  in  that  particular 
neighborhood  are  seeing  the  kind  of  a  picture  they 
enjoy,  that  another  production  with  a  similar  type  of 
characters  and  similar  complications  will  again  appeal 
to  that  particular  audience.  By  inspecting  theaters 
and  their  audiences  all  over  the  city  I  can  largely 
determine  what  the  public  of  that  whole  city  wants  in 
the  way  of  amusement." 

At  this  point  it  might  be  well  to  say  that  Mr. 
Zukor  frankly  confesses  that  he  is  not  above  looking 
at  the  other  manufacturer's  productions,  for,  by  noting 
how  the  audiences  are  affected  by  other  types  of  pic- 
tures than  those  released  by  the  Famous  Players  Com- 
pany, he  finds  that  he  can  avoid  the  mistakes  others 


may  have  made.  Of  course,  however,  the  screened  pro- 
ductions of  Famous  Players  have  their  particular  ap- 
peal for  Mr.  Zukor,  and  he  is  more  than  anxious  to 
attend  theaters  where  they  are  being  shown  and  learn 
for  himself  whether  the  advance  estimate  of  what 
would  please  the  public  is  coming  up  to  expectations. 

Asked  regarding  the  plans  for  big  productions 
during  the  year  of  1916,  the  president  of  Famous 
Players  declared  that  several  pictures  would  be  made 
that  might  run  as  long  as  eight  or  nine  reels,  and  that, 
when  completed,  they  would  be  released  through  the 
Select  Film  Booking  Agency.  The  only  one  of  these 
extra  long  subjects  that  Mr.  Zukor  cared  to  mention 
by  name  was  "The  Silver  King,"  arrangements  for 
filming  which  in  England  are  now  under  way  and  will 
probably  soon  be  completed.  It  was  also  hinted  that 
other  manufacturers  who  are  releasing  their  output 
through  the  Paramount  Film  Corporation  may  also 
have  one  or  two  of  these  long  productions  for  release 
through  Select. 

Discussing  film  conditions  as  a  whole,  particularly 
as  regards  the  complaint  of  over-production,  Mr.  Zukor 
asserted  that  to  his  mind  there  was  no  question  but 
that  there  was  an  over-production  of  films,  but  as  em- 
phatically declared  that  Famous  Players  did  not  feel 
the  inroads  of  competition,  since  the  exhibitor  who 
would  book  Famous  Players  productions  could  be 
satisfied  by  nothing  else. 


MARGUERITE  COURTOT  MOVES 

Popular  Film  Star  Featured  in  "The  Adventures  of 

Marguerite"  Goes  to  Jacksonville  to  Appear  in 

Gaumont  Mutual  Masterpictures 

Pretty  little  Marguerite  Courtot  has  become  a 
Gaumont  star.  She  leaves  New  York  Christmas  day 
for  the  winter  quarters  of  that  company  at  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  carrying  with  her  a  long  time  contract  as  a 
star  in  feature  productions.  Miss  Courtot  will  star  in 
one  of  the  companies  which  Gaumont  will  keep  at 
work  making  five-reel  feature  productions  on  the  Mu- 
tual program,  to  be  released  as  Mutual  Masterpictures, 
edition  de  luxe. 

For  her  company,  since  Miss  Courtot  is  of  French 
descent,  General  Manager  F.  G.  Bradford  of  the  Gau- 
mont Company  has  secured  both  a  French  director  and 
a  French  cameraman.  Her  photoplays  will  be  directed 
by  Henry  J.  Vernot  and  the  camera  will  be  handled  by 
Andre  Balatier.  It  is  an  old  saying  that  the  "happiest 
nations  are  those  which  have  no  history."  If  the  same 
condition  applies  to  individuals  then  little  can  be  said 
of  Miss  Courtot.  Her  Gaumont  engagement  is  only 
the  second  she  has  had  in  motion  pictures.  Miss  Cour- 
tot, who  is  still  in  her  teens,  was  born  in  Summit,  N.  Y. 
Her  father  was  born  in  France,  and  her  mother  in  a 
French  Canton  in  Switzerland.  To  this  day  in  the 
family  all  conversation  is  carried  on  in  French.  As  a 
child  Miss  Courtot  spent  some  time  in  Lauzanne, 
Switzerland.  Even  before  leaving  high  school  her 
beauty  and  her  winsome  manner  had  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  Kalem  Company.     Miss  Courtot  was 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


not  interested  in  pictures  at  that  time  and  only  after 
most  urgent  solicitation  did  she  consent  to  join  the 
Kalem  Company.  Here  she  remained  for  three  years, 
severing  her  connection  this  month  to  become  a  Gau- 
mont  star. 

With  Kalem  Miss  Courtot  advanced  rapidly  from 
unimportant  roles  to  a  position  as  star.  She  has  been 
featured  continuously  in  the  Kalem  Company's  big  re- 
leases and  is  perhaps  best  known  as  the  heroine  in  that 
company's  series,  "The  Adventures  of  Marguerite." 
Special  scenarios  are  now  being  prepared  which  will 
display  to  the  utmost  Miss  Courtot's  charm.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  the  first  release  in  which  she  will  be  fea- 
tured will  be  shown  on  the  screen  in  February. 


Ruth  Blair  of  Fox 

Ruth  Blair  has  trained,  studied  and  worked  hard, 
and  now  she  is  ready  to  give  the  public  that  which  she 
has  been  striving  for — what  has  been  the  height  of 
her  ambition  to  attain — the  acting  worthy  of  a  real 
..artist.  In  "The 
J  Fourth  Estate,"  the 
I  Fox  picture  directed 
by  Frank  Powell, 
and  produced  in 
Chicago,  Miss  Blair 
has  given  a  wonder- 
ful interpretation  of 
a  purely  "sympathy" 
role.  It  is  the  part  of 
a  woman,  sad,  disil- 
j  lusioned,  who  is  all 
j  but  crushed  by  pov- 
erty and  the  dishon- 
I  es'ty  of  politics.  In 
it,  she,  a  tall,  grace: 
ful,  young  and  beau- 
tiful girl,  has  proved 
her  capacity  for  feel- 
and  expressing 
|  the  experiences  of 
]  life  which  she  herself 
has  never  gone 
through, 
the    way    that    Ruth    Blair    is    an    artist. 


This 


There  are  other  ways.  She  has  not  given  up  her  paint 
brushes  and  crayons,  not  at  all.  But  she  puts  that 
side  of  her  nature  to  practical  use. 

Miss  Blair  designs  her  own  wardrobe.  She  has 
a  theory  that  the  clothes  one  wears  should  express 
one's  soul — if  such  an  ethereal  thing  as  a  soul  can  be 
caught  in  the  meshes  of  materialism.  Colorings, 
shades,  textures,  lines,  in  the  right  proportions  are  a 
part  of  the  personality.  The  garments  one  wears 
should  be  as  much  a  part  of  one's  personality  as  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  one  expresses  in  words.  Just  as 
the  well-educated  and  charming  woman  chooses  her 
words  with  care,  so  should  the  clothes  be  chosen  with 
care. 


A  Big  Ad  for  Selig-Tribune 

(  )ne  of  the  greatest  advertisements  ever  carried  in 
the  Chicago  Sunday  Tribune  and  at  a  time  when  met- 
ropolitan  newspaper  space  commands  a  decided  pre- 
mium will  appear  on  Sunday,  December  26.  The 
Chicago  Tribune  is  to  print  and  issue  a  four-page  sup- 
plement in  all  its  Sunday  editions  presenting  to  its  half 


million  or  more  readers  in  all  sections  of  the  United 
States  the  policies  and  aims  of  the  Selig-Tribune. 

The  Selig-Tribune,  to  be  known  as  "The  World's 
Greatest  News  Film,"  will  be  released  twice  every 
week,  beginning  Monday,  January  3.  The  news  film 
will  be  manufactured  and  released  by  the  Selig  Poly- 
scope Company  and  will  supplant  the  Hearst-Selig 
News  Pictorial. 

The  co-operation  of  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company 
and  the  Chicago  Tribune  in  the  preparation  of  a  news 
film  cannot  but  produce  unusually  interesting  results. 
The  Chicago  Tribune's  army  of  trained  correspondents, 
war  photographers  and  cameramen  located  in  all  sec- 
tions of  the  world,  and  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company's 
reputation  for  artistic  films  will  result  in  the  release 
through  the  General  Film  Company  of  a  "reel  news- 
paper" which  will  possess  pepper,  punch  and  power. 

The  attention  of  exhibitors  of  motion  pictures  is 
called  to  the  unusual  presentation  of  the  merits  of  the 
Selig-Tribune  to  be  printed  in  the  Sunday  Tribune. 
because  exhibitors  cannot  help  but  benefit  by  this 
widely-spread  advertising  campaign. 


Helen  Holmes  Near  Death  in  Accident 

Helen  Holmes,  daredevil  heroine  of  "The  Girl  and 
the  Game,"  the  new  railroad  film  novel  being  produced 
by  the  Signal  Film  Corporation,  narrowly  escaped 
death  by  drowning  off  Ventura,  California,  on  Decem- 
ber 14,  when  a  high-powered  speed  launch  she  was 
driving  in  a  race  with  a  fast  express  was  swamped  by 
a  mountainous  wave. 

Miss  Holmes,  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  fear- 
less young  women  appearing  before  the  camera,  was 
driving  the  launch  at  the  time  of  the  accident.  It  was 
her  first  experience  at  the  wheel  of  a  speed-boat  and 
despite  the  warning  of  Director  J.  P.  McGowan,  she 
insisted  upon  carrying  out  her  part. 

The  race  between  the  speed  launch  and  the  ex- 
press had  continued  for  about  half  a  mile,  when  Miss 
Holmes  suddenly  lost  control  of  the  wheel.  A  moment 
later  the  boat  swerved  from  its  course,  plunged  side- 
wise  into  the  swell  and  turned  over,  throwing  the  girl 
into  the  water.  Director  McGowan,  following  in  an- 
other fast  boat,  was  some  distance  behind  at  the  time 
of  the  accident.  Other  boats  in  the  vicinity,  including 
a  launch  filled  with  sailors  from  the  U.  S.  S.  Hancock, 
put  out  to  her  aid.  McGowan,  however,  was  the  first 
to  come  alongside  the  overturned  boat,  to  which  Miss 
Holmes,  nearly  exhausted,  was  clinging.  McGowan 
plunged  after  her  and,  reaching  her  side,  became  en- 
tangled in  a  mesh  of  ropes  thrown  from  the  other  res- 
cue boats.  The  struggle  to  free  themselves  from  the 
ropes  exhausted  both  and  they  were  going  under  for 
the  second  time  when  the  launch  from  the  Hancock 
hove  alongside.  Miss  Holmes  and  McGowan  were 
quickly  taken  on  board,  both  suffering  from  exhaus- 
tion. They  were  treated  by  the  ship's  doctor  of  the 
Hancock  and  then  returned  to  the  studios. 


A  current  number  of  Collier's  Weekly  devotes  the 
opening  feature  story  to  a  most  interesting  resume  of 
the  motion  picture  art  in  California.  The  story  was 
penned  by  Charles  Van  Loan  and  is  profusely 
illustrated  with  scenes  from  the  Selig  Jungle-Zoo,  etc. 
William  N.  Selig,  president  of  the  Selig  Polyscope 
Company,  is  given  deserved  recognition  for  discovering 
the  possibilities  of  California  as  a  motion  picture  pro- 
ducing center. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


V.  L.  S.  E.  to  Offer  Important  Productions 


FAMOUS  STORIES  COMING 


FROM  the  announcement  of  the  new  releases  of 
V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  for  the  next  three  months,  it  is 
apparent  that  this  organization  has  set  for  itself 
for  the  first  part  of  the  new  year  an  even  stiffer  pace 
than  the  high  standard  which  has  prevailed  ever  since 
the  combination  of  the  four  companies. 

Henry  B.  Walthall,  whom  one  of  the  popular  mag- 
azines designates  this  month  as  "the  Mansfield  of  the 
screen,"  and  dainty  Edna  Mayo  will  lead  the  new 
year's  releases  with  a  six-part  film  version  by  Essanay 
of  the  widely  known  stage  production,  "The  Mislead- 
'  ing  Lady,"  scheduled  for  release  January  3.  On  the 
same  date  there  will  be  released  the  last  of  the  film 
plays  written  by  George  Cameron  (who  was  Mrs.  Syd- 
new  Drew),  called  "Thou  Art  the  Man."  Mrs.  Drew 
dictated  this  story  propped  up  on  her  death  bed,  with 
blindness  clouding  her  view  of  the  things  around  her, 
and  it  is  said  that  much  of  the  impressiveness  of  the 
situation  is  reflected  in  the  story.  The  production  fea- 
tures Virginia  Pearson  and  Joseph  Kilgour,  and  is  di- 
rected by  S.  Rankin  Drew,  Mrs.  Drew's  son,  who,  in 
producing  the  picture,  gives  evidence  that  he  was 
prompted  by  a  very  earnest  desire  to  erect  a  monu- 
ment to  his  mother's  memory. 

One  of  the  numerous  high  lights  with  which  Se- 
lig's  next  release,  "No  Greater  Love,"  is  said  to  be  re- 
plete, is  the  "dance  of  the  veils,"  presented  by  Miss 
Regina  Badet,  who  as  the  star  of  this  production  enacts 
the  role  of  "Sadunah  the  Dancer."  Anita  Stewart  and 
Earle  Williams  will  return  to  the  Blue  Ribbon  features 
in  the  picturization  of  Dr.  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady's 
story,  "My  Lady's  Slipper,"  which  is  also  scheduled  for 
release  on  January  10.  Produced  under  the  direction 
of  Ralph  W.  Ince,  she  will  have  a  strong  supporting 
cast  in  Joseph  Kilgour,  Julia  Swayne  Gordon,  Harry 
Northrup,  William  Shea,  George  O'Donnell,  George 
Stevens  and  Charles  Chapman. 

Essanay,  on  January  17,  will  release  a  picturiza- 
tion of  Clyde  Fitch's  widely  known  play  "Captain 
Jinks."  It  will  feature  Ann  Murdock.  Like  all  of 
Clyde  Fitch's  plays  which  have  been  adopted  for  the 
screen,  it  is  certain  to  prove  entertaining.  Vitagraph 
returns  on  January  17  with  A.  E.  W.  Mason's  comedy, 
"Green  Stockings,"  in  which  Margaret  Anglin  starred 
for  three  seasons.  Dainty  Lillian  Walker  heads  a  long 
cast  of  notable  players,  which  include  Louise  Beaudet, 
Arline  Pretty  and  Stanley  Dark,  who  was  Miss  Ang- 
lin's  leading  man  during  the  three  years  of  the  com- 
edy's run  on  the  legitimate  stage. 

In  "The  Island  of  Surprise,"  another  of  Dr.  Cyrus 
Townsend  Brady's  stories  which  is  released  by  the 
same  company  on  January  24,  one  of  the  big  scenes 
calls  for  a  fight  between  a  band  of  castaways  on  a 
desert  island  and  a  horde  of  blood-thirsty  savages. 
The  castaways,  who  include  two  beautiful  girls  and  a 
man  secretly  married  to  one  of  them,  are  rescued  by 
a  warship.  Eleanor  Woodruff,  Zena  Keefe,  Anders 
Randolf,  and  William  Courtenay  are  the  principals  of 
this  production.  It  was  staged  under  the  direction  of 
Paul  Scardon. 

"Submarines  of  Society,"  is  the  interesting  title  of 
Essanay's  contribution  on  January  31.    It  features  such 


well-known  favorites  as  Marguerite  Clayton,  Lillian 
Drew,  E.  H.  Calvert,  and  Ernest  Maupain. 

The  balance  of  the  releases  of  Essanay  during 
February  and  March  as  well  as  those  of  Selig,  have  not 
been  definitely  fixed.  Lubin  will  contribute  during  this 
time  several  productions  which  give  promise  of  being 
unusually  noteworthy.  These  will  include  "Dollars 
and  Cents,"  in  which  Tom  Moore  will  make  his  initial 
appearance  under  the  Lubin-V.  L.  S.  E.  banner.  This 
story  was  written  by  the  well-known  writer  Albert 
Payson  Terhune.  Joseph  Kaufman  directed  it.  Ethel 
Clayton  will  play  opposite  Mr.  Moore. 

Raymond  Hitchcock  will  be  seen — probably  in 
January — in  "The  Wonderful  Wagner,"  a  five-reel  fea- 
ture which  has  been  termed  a  "Ford  Flivver"  comedy. 
Nance  O'Neil  will  follow  these  two  Lubin  releases 
early  in  the  year,  with  a  strong  emotional  play,  "Souls 
in  Bondage,"  which  is  being  directed  by  Edgar  Lewis, 
who  in  the  recent  release  of  "The  Great  Divide"  shows 
that  he  is  entitled  to  be  ranked  as  one  of  America's 
foremost  producers. 

"Kennedy  Square,"  which  Vitagraph  presents  on 
January  31,  an  echo  of  the  days  when  Baltimore  was 
the  social  center  of  the  South,  is  one  of  the  late  F. 
Hopkinson  Smith  stories,  with  all  the  delight  and 
charm  of  atmosphere  for  which  he  was  so  justly  fa- 
mous. S.  Rankin  Drew  produced  the  picture  which  is 
in  five  parts.  The  principals  include  Charles  Kent, 
Antonio  Moreno  and  Muriel  Ostriche. 

Gordon  MacLaren,  a  popular  magazine  writer, 
wrote  "The  Crown  Prince's  Double,"  which  Vitagraph 
releases  February  7,  in  which  Maurice  Costello  is  seen 
in  the  dual  role  of  Barry  Lawrence,  an  impetuous 
American,  and  Prince  Oscar,  the  son  of  the  king  of  a 
mythical  principality,  in  the  shadow  of  the  Pyrenees. 
Norma  Talmadge  is  his  foil. 

Olga  Nethersole's  starring  vehicle,  William  J. 
Hurlburt's  psychological  drama  of  greed,  "The  Writ- 
ing on  the  Wall,"  will  be  the  following  big  picture  to 
be  shown  by  the  Vitagraph  Company,  to  be  released 
on  February  14.  Joseph  Kilgour  and  Virginia  Pearson 
will  again  be  seen  in  this  production,  as  well  as  Naomi 
Childors,  Bobby  Connelly  and  other  well-known  Vita- 
graph players. 

"The  Light  of  a  New  Day,"  which  is  scheduled  for 
February  21,  is  another  Vitagraph  Blue  Ribbon  fea- 
ture, and  will  be  followed  by  the  much  heralded  play, 
"Colton,  U.  S.  N.,"  on  February  28.  Dr.  Cyrus  Town- 
*send  Brady  is  the  author.  Charles  Richman  and 
Eleanor  Woodruff  are  the- principals. 

"The  Hunted  Woman,"  by  the  Vitagraph  Com- 
pany, is  the  next  of  the  contributions  on  March  6. 
Then  comes  "The  Patriot,"  a  dramatic  satire  by  Wil- 
liam Hurlburt,  having  Charles  Richman,  Joseph  Kil- 
gour, Arline  Pretty,  Bobby  Connelly  and  others  of  like 
popularity  as  its  principals.  It  is  in  six  parts  and  di- 
rected by  Theodore  Marston.  Its  release  date  is 
March  13.  One  week  later  "The  Two-Edged  Sword" 
will  be  shown,  and  following  that,  Robert  Edeson,  on 
March  27,  will  be  seen  in  the  five-part  melodrama  of 
deep  heart  interest,  "One  Night."  The  picture  is  being 
produced  under  the  direction  of  Harry  Davenport. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


STILL  ANOTHER  PATHE  SERIAL 


"The  Iron  Claw"  Will  Feature  Pearl  White,  Creigh- 

ton  Hale  and  Sheldon  Lewis — Arthur 

Stringer  the  Author 

Pathe  has  become  known  as  "the  house  of  serials." 
Certainly  that  enterprising  organization  has  more  suc- 
cessful serials  to  its  credit  than  any  other  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  business,  and  it  was  one  of  the  very  first 
to  make  one,  "The  Perils  of  Pauline"  having  been 
begun  about  two  years  ago.  The  first  episode  of  "The 
Red  Circle"  will  be  released  on  December  18.  Now 
comes  announcement  from  Ramirez-Torres,  assistant 
managing  director  of  Pathe,  to  the  effect  that  shortly 
after  New  Year  will  be  released  another  serial,  "The 
Iron  Claw,"  by  Arthur  Stringer,  the  well  known  novel- 
ist, and  George  B.  Seitz. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Mr.  Stringer's  work 
was  selected  on  its  merits  from  a  large  number  of 
manuscripts  submitted  by  some  forty-seven  different 
authors,  among  them  many  of  national  reputation.  It 
is  a  strong  story  of  mystery  and  love  with  the  hero's 
identity  kept  in  mystery  until  the  last  moment.  Many 
of  the  scenes  are  laid  on  an  island  off  the  coast  of 
South  Carolina. 

"The  Iron  Claw"  will  be  in  twelve  episodes  of  two 
parts  each.  It  will  be  produced  by  the  Feature  Film 
Corporation,  and  directed  by  Carroll  Fleming,  formerly 
stage  director  of  the  Hippodrome,  under  the  personal 
direction  of  Edward  Jose.  The  principals  of  the  cast 
have  been  determined  by  the  numerous  letters  which 
have  been  received  by  Pathe  from  exhibitors  and  film 
fans  all  over  the  country,  requesting  that  Pearl  White, 
Sheldon  Lewis  and  Creighton  Hale  of  "The  Exploits 
of  Elaine"  fame  be  featured  in  another  serial. 

Over  six  hundred  newspapers  all  over  the  country 
have  already  been  lined  up  on  this  serial,  among  them 


the  New  York  World,  the  Philadelphia  North  Amer-. 
ican,  and  the  Chicago  Herald. 

Arthur  Stringer  will  be  well  remembered  as  the 
author  of  "The  Shadow,"  "The  Secret  Agent,"  "The 
Wire  Tappers,"  "The  Gun  Runners,"  "The  Hand  of 
Peril,"  "The  Occasional  Offender,"  etc.  His  stories  are 
all  characterized  with  that  vital  quality  known  as 
"punch,"  and  "The  Iron  Claw"  displays  plenty  of  that 
characteristic. 

The  popularity  of  Pearl  White,  who  will  feature 
in  this  serial  is  remarkable.  More  than  any  of  the 
stars  who  appear  in  Pathe  pictures  is  she  identified 
with  that  organization.  For  the  better  part  of  three 
years  she  has  been  under  contract  with  Pathe,  and 
only  recently  signed  a  contract  for  another  year  with 
the  same  concern.  She  has  starred  in  more  serials 
than  any  player  now  before  the  public.  Her  personal 
mail  is  tremendous,  thousands  of  letters'  coming  to  her 
from  admirers  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Creighton  Hale,  who  is  featured  with  her  in  "The 
Iron  Claw,"  acquired  fame  as  "Jameson,"  "Craig  Ken- 
nedy's" assistant  in  the  "Elaine"  serials.  He  possesses 
a  remarkably  engaging  personality,  and  his  talent  has 
been  recognized  by  his  being  given  important  parts  in 
a  number  of  Pathe  features.  Sheldon  Lewis,  whose 
great  work  as  "The  Clutching  Hand"  in  the  "Elaine" 
serials  will  not  soon  be  forgotten,  has  the  other  lead- 
ing part  in  "The  Iron  Claw." 


C.  Lang  Cobb,  the  popular  and  genial  manager 
of  sales  and  publicity  for  Ramo  Films,  Inc.,  who  had 
been  with  that  concern  since  its  organization  and  who 
but  recently  resigned  from  his  position,  as  chronicled 
in  the  last  issue  of  Motography,  is  now  in  charge  of 
the  advertising,  sales  and  publicity  for  Vim  comedies 
and  MinA  films.  His  host  of  friends  feel  c6nfident 
he  will  make  the  new  brands  as  popular  as  he  suc- 
ceeded in  making  Ramo  features. 


TO   THE   MOTION   PICTURE  EXHIBITORS 

As  president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America  I  wish  you  all  a  happy  and  pros- 
perous New  Year,  and  as  this  is  the  time  that  as  individuals  we  ponder  over  and  make  New  Years'  reso- 
lutions, as  president  of  the  National  League  I  offer  the  following  to  be  acted  upon  by  each  individual 
exhibitor : 

First — I  hereby  resolve  that  it  is  to  my  best  interest  to  see  a  United  Exhibitors  League  to  protect 
our  business,  therefore  I  will  make  application  for  membership  at  once. 

Second — I  will  not  refer  to  a  man  in  the  same  business  as  "my  opposition,"  but  in  the  future  will  greet 
him  as  a  brother  exhibitor,  recognizing  the  fact  that  he  has  as  much  right  in  the  business  as  I  have. 

Third — I  will  do  everything  within  reason  to  work  in  harmony  with  him,  knowing  only  too  well, 
as  taught  by  past  history,  that  what  I  do  to  injure  or  undermine  his  business  will  also  injure  or  ruin  my 
own  business. 

Fourth — That  in  the  future  I  will  not  speak  of  a  fellow  exhibitor  as  a  Greek,  or  a  Jew,  or  an  Irish- 
man, or  from  any  other  view  with  hatred,  but  will  look  at  him  as  a  brother  exhibitor,  knowing  that  when 
our  enemies,  political  or  otherwise,  attack  us,  whether  it  be  in  the  form  of  adverse  legislation  or  unjust 
taxation,  they  never  refer  to  our  nationality.  They  attack  us  as  motion  picture  exhibitors,  and  it  is  to  our 
advantage  as  exhibitors  to  combine  our  forces  into  one  united  organization  to  meet  and  defeat  the  com- 
mon enemy. 

Now  as  president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors  League  of  America  I  appeal  to  you  to  join  that 
organization,  and  if  the  League  is  not  what  you  think  it  should  be,  come  in  and  help  us  make  it  what  it 
ought  to  be. 

I  hope  to  hear  of  the  adoption  of  the  above  resolutions  by  the  thousands  of  exhibitors  throughout 
this  continent. 

With  best  wishes  for  a  successful  future  and  with  compliments  of  the  season  to  you  all. 

F.  J.  HERRINGTON,  President, 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors  League  of  America. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


"Tomorrow*  —  the  Future  of  the  Photoplay 


BY  OLIVER  MOROSCO* 


AS  New  Year's  day  appears  to  be  the  proper  time 
to  make  resolutions  it  seems  to  me  that  it  would 
be  an  excellent  idea  for  producers,  and  others  as 
well,  to  resolve  to  imagine  every  day  a  New  Year's  day 
and  start  each  new 
twenty-four  hours 
with  the  same  pro- 
gressive spirit  that  the 
first  day  of  each  year 
seems  to  generate — 
momentarily.  There 
are  still  those  con- 
servatives who  go 
astray  about  motion 
pictures  in  assuming 
that  because  the  in- 
vention has,  in  some 
instances,  been  un- 
satisfactorily utilized 
it  is  not  proved  capa- 
ble of  the  most  won- 
derful utilization. 
They  fail  to  appre- 
ciate the  unlimited 
artistic  possibilties  of 
the  moving  picture — 
and  these  wonderful 
possibilities  are  what 
the  New  Year  holds  forth.  What  Bernard  Shaw  re- 
cently said  is  true.  The  moving  picture  is  incalculably 
potential.  It  is  availing  of  human  curiosity  and  human 
imagination  as  no  other  medium  has  ever  availed  be- 
fore. Speaking  the  universal  language,  it  is  the  great- 
est instrument  of  popular  suggestion  that  has  ever 
been  devised.  However  inadequately  its  material  has 
been  governed  up  to  the  present,  its  power  is  unques- 
tionable. Tomorrow  holds  a  world  of  unconquered 
depths  for  the  silent  drama. 

Already  the  photoplay  has  reached  a  stage  where 
scenarios  from  novels,  plays  and  short  stories,  how- 
ever famous,  are  quite  insufficient.  I  do  not  object  to 
dramatizations — my  own  plays  are  being  presented  on 
the  screen  for  Paramount  patrons  and  I  have  assisted 
in  their  preparation — but  the  photoplay  has  arrived  as 
an  art,  and  it  demands  original  treatment,  the  imag- 
ination of  a  poet,  and  the  dramatic  vigor  of  a  master- 
craftsman  of  the  theater. 

The  solid  bedrock  foundation  of  the  successful 
photodraina  of  tomorrow  will  be  the  scenario  or  play 
itself.  ^  Without  such  a  ground-work  stars  and  direc- 
tors will  topple,  but  with  such  a  foundation  directors, 
stars  and  plays  in  general  may  build  worthy  skyscrap- 
ers of  artistic  achievement  before  the  camera.      ^ 

Tomorrow  must,  and  surely  will,  produce  imag- 
inative geniuses  whose  fame  will  rest  wholly  on  their 
photodramas.  It  is  not  enough  that  they  condescend 
to  "come  over"  from  other  branches  of  literary  or 
theatrical  endeavor.  That  "condescension"  is  an  insult 
to  a  great  and  established  medium  of  human  expres- 
sion. You  and  I  will  live  to  see  the  day  of  a  Pinero, 
a  Jones,  a  Bernstein  and  a  Thomas  of  the  screen — 

*  President  of  the   Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay   Company. 


men  who  will  become  world-famous  for  the  depth, 
power,  sincerity  and  compelling  truth  of  their  photo- 
plays. But  they  will  be  specialists ;  they  will  not  do 
pictures  on  Thursdays  and  Saturdays,  and  literary  and 
theatrical  work  the  rest  of  the  week.  And  this  same 
comment  applies  to  actors,  for  has  it  not  already  been 
demonstrated  that  the  screen  actors  who  have  won  the 
greatest  publicity  have  done  so  through  absolutely 
specializing  before  the  camera? 

And  when  we  have  reached  the  stage  of  great 
screen  authors,  we  producers  will  cast  their  parts  just 
as  carefully  as  the  legitimate  manager  of  to-day 
searches  the  stage  world  for  suitable  players  and  per- 
sonalities to  breathe  life  and  reality  into  an  author's 
written  pages. 

Another  year  will  find  the  photoplay  developed  to 
an  even  greater  and  finer  degree  of  art,  and  tomorrow 
people  will  look  back  on  present  productions  as  ad- 
mirers of  Coburn,  Genthe  and  Hill  now  look  back  on 
their  early  tin-types. 


JOE  FARNHAM  NOW  WITH  OCEAN 

Famous    Jumping    Mexican    Bean    Has    Nothing    on 

Popular  Dopester  Who  Leaves  Lubin  to 

Assume  Another  Post 

Joe  Farnham  has  jumped  again.  On  Sunday,  last, 
Farnham  packed  up  his  little  package  of  personal  be- 
longings, put  his  dictionary  under  his  arm,  bade  fare- 
well to  the  staff  of  the  advertising  and  publicity  de- 
partments of  the  Lubin  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
grabbing  the  first  train  over  "The  Road  to  Happiness" 
(which  is  the  title  those  New  Yorkers  exiled  to  Phila- 
delphia have  bestowed  upon  any  railroad  connecting 
"Philly"  with  New  York),  moved  in  all  his  glory  to 
the  desk  of  manager  of  the  department  of  exploitation 
of  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation. 

Saturday  morning  and  afternoon  he  spent  in  ar- 
ranging those  same  little  personal  belongings  and  fon- 
dling the  dictionary,  and  Saturday  night,  as  usual,  he 
spent  in  eating,  the  event  being  the  dinner  of  the  Ocean 
Film  Corporation  to  its  visiting  exchange  men. 

In  speaking  of  the  severing  of  his  association  with 
the  Lubin  Company,  and  his  connection  with  the 
Ocean  Film  Corporation,  Farnham  farnhamized  as 
follows : 

"I  am  back  from  Philadelphia  for  more  than  fifty- 
five  reasons,  but  two  of  these  are  sufficient  to  gain  the 
sympathy  of  any  audience — one  is  that  the  Ocean  Film 
Corporation  has  a  proposition  which  appeals  to  me  as 
by  far  the  best  which  has  ever  come  to  my  observa- 
tion, and  remember  that  I  have  been  observing  this 
motion  picture  industry  for  lo  these  many  years,  and 
the  second  is  that  Philadelphia  is  Philadelphia  and 
New  York  is  New  York,  and  that  can't  be  denied  by 
a  single  soul  who  has  ever  served  a  Quaker  City  sen- 
tence. 

"The  Lubin  management,  Messrs.  Singhi  and 
Lowry,  commands  from  me  the  highest  admiration. 
I  owe  an  undying  debt  of  gratitude  to  these  same  two 
gentlemen  for  their  many  kindnesses,  and  in  fact  every- 


10 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


one  who  wears  the  Lubin  button;  white  people  all  of 
them,  and  they  are  going  to  make  some  history  in  the 
nearby  days  to  come — but  Philadelphia  can't  be  an 
alibi  for  even  the  best  there  is. 

"So  now  I  am  happy  again  in  the  same  old  build- 
ing at  220  West  Forty-second  street  where,  with  the 
men  who  form  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation,  I  feel 
positively  assured  that  some  interesting  history  in  this 
manufacturing  of  motion  pictures  is  to  be  made.  I  am 
more  than  glad  to  again  get  back  into  the  swirl. 


HOPPER'S  "DON  QUIXOTE" 


Famous    Comedian's    First   Appearance   in    Films    Is 

Believed  by  Triangle  Executives  to  Set  a  New 

Standard  for  Film  Adaptations 

"Don  Quixote,"  in  which  De  Wolf  Hopper  is 
presented  for  the  first  time  as  a  screen  star,  is  be- 
lieved by  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation  to  set  a  new 
standard  in  the  film  adaptation  of  classics.  The  offi- 
cers of  the  corpora- 
tion and  D.  W.  Grif- 
fith, general  mana- 
ger of  the  Fine  Arts 
studio,  where  it  was 
produced,  regard  the 
play  as  so  important 
that  instead  of  using 
selected  themes  for 
the  musical  accom- 
paniment they  have 
asked  Joseph  Carl 
Bieil  to  compose  a 
thoroughly  original 
score.  The  work 
took  on  great  pro- 
portions' when  being 
screened  at  Los  An- 
geles. The  wealth  of 
material  was  such 
that  the  play  was 
necessarily  length- 
ened to  seven  reels. 
Edward  Dillon  had 
charge  of  it  and  his  success  in  giving  a  film  version 
of  the  classic  is  said  to  be  most  gratifying.  Other 
great  personal  successes  are  those  of  Fay  Tincher 
and  Rhea  Mitchell  in  the  leading  feminine  parts.  Un- 
usual  care  was   exercised  on  the  locations,  costumes 


~   Wolf  Hopper 


and  furnishings,  the  director  being  guided  by  a  Span-' 
ish-American  clergyman  who  had  lived  in  La  Mancha. 
The  stills  show  that  the  play  has  kept  in  the  golden 
mean  between  formalism  and  conventionality  on  the 
one  side  and  buffoonery  on  the  other. 

Following  the  completion  of  "Don  Quixote,"  De- 
Wolf  Hopper  has  not  been  idle  but  has  gone  imme- 
diately into  the  making  of  a  modern  farce  in  which 
he  plays  the  role  of  Adonis  Evergreen,  an  elderly 
friend  of  chorus  ladies.  The  title  of  this  new  play 
was  originally  given  as  "A  Knight  of  the  Garter,"  but 
it  has  since  been  changed  to  the  merrier  one  of  "Sun- 
shine Dad."  The  story  deals  with  the  theft  of  a  mys- 
tic diamond  band  from  the  god  Siva  in  India.  It 
finds  its  way  to  America  and  serves  as  a  garter  around 
the  shapely  limb  of  Widow  Wedagan,  played  by  Fay 
Tincher.  She  loses  it,  of  course,  and  there  are  in- 
numerable comic  mishaps  as  the  diamonds  fall  into 
successive  ownerships.  Among  those  associated  with 
Mr.  Hopper  and  Miss  Tincher  in  the  cast  are  Chester 
Withey,  Max  Davidson,  Eugene  Pallette,  Raymond 
Wells  and  Jewel  Carmen. 


Crane  Wilbur  Captures  Bride 

After  a  dashing  courtship  of  less  than  a  week, 
Crane  Wilbur,  now  appearing  as  a  star  in  Horsley  pro- 
ductions in  Los  Angeles,  was  married  Saturday  night 
to  Miss  Arleene  Archibald,  a  beautiful  society  girl 
popular  in  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles  social  cir- 
cles. 

As  the  love  story  goes,  the  actor  met  the  society 
maid  in  San  Francisco  some  time  ago  and  they  became 
fast  friends.  They  drifted  apart,  however,  until  by 
chance  they  met  at  the  Hotel  Alexandria,  the  rendez- 
vous of  many  lovers,  Thursday  before  the  wedding. 
Dan  Cupid  became  busy  and  the  sparks  of  love  flew 
around  the  mezzanine  floor  and  into  the  Indian  Mis- 
sion Grille,  where  the  happy  pair  had  wandered  in  for- 
getfulness  of  most  everything.  Difficulties  which  had 
formerly  confronted  the  star  were  surmounted — the 
question  was  asked — a  quick  trip  was  made  to  the 
courthouse  where  a  license  was  secured  and  soon  they 
were  wedded.  Telegrams  were  sent  to  the  bride's 
mother  in  San  Francisco  and  parental  blessings  fol- 
lowed. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilbur  are  now  at  home  in  a  cozy 
love  nest  in  a  fashionable  neighborhood  of  Los  An- 
geles, where  they  are  receiving  friends  and  congratula- 
tions. 


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t  Fay   Tincher  a 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Varied  Features  Coming  from  Mutual 


TEN   MASTERPICTURES  READY 


THE  MUTUAL  FILM  CORPORATION  has  an- 
nounced the  first  ten  releases  of  Mutual  Master- 
pictures,  De  Luxe  Edition.  Work  on  these  pic- 
tures has  been  completed  in  the  Mutual  studios  during 
the  long  period  of  careful  preparation  for  last  week's 
sensational  announcement  of  three  Mutual  Masterpic- 
tures,  De  Luxe  Edition,  and  three  three-reel  program 
features  a  week,  a  total  of  six  features  a  week. 

The  first  of  the  De  Luxe  Edition  will  be  "The 
Thoroughbred,"  released  January  17.  It  is  a  drama  of 
high  finance  and  of  fortune  retrieved  in  the  virile  at- 
mosphere of  the  modern  west.  This  picture  has  been 
made  by  the  American  Film  Company,  Inc.,  at  its 
western  studios.  In  the  cast  of  this  stirring  five- 
reeler  are  William  Russell,  Roy  Stewart,  Jack  Pres- 
cott,  Charlotte  Burton  and  Lizette  Thorne,  all  Amer- 
ican stars  of  the  first  magnitude,  whose  work  is  well 
known  by  followers  of  the  Mutual  program.  The  pic- 
ture is  being  produced  under  the  direction  of  William 
Bartlett,  the  American  director,  whose  three-part 
"Clipper"  photoplays,  released  up  to  date  in  the  Mu- 
tual program,  are  a  guarantee  of  splendid  Masterpic- 
tures,  De  Luxe,  to  come.  In  it  will  be  scenes  of  "cattle 
rustling,"  pursuit,  and  train  fights,  combined  with  the 
softening  incidents  of  home  life  and  of  love.  One  of 
the  most  spectacular  incidents  is  the  blowing  up  of  a 
powder  mine,  and  the  destruction  of  the  mine  man- 
ager's house. 

The  second  Mutual  Masterpicture,  Edition  De 
Luxe,  will  be  released  January  20.  Blaine  Terriss  and 
Adrian  Jacobi,  widely  known  as  screen  stars,  will  ap- 
pear in  "Wolves  of  Society."  Miss  Terriss  is  an  Eng- 
lish actress  of  striking  beauty,  and  peculiar  dramatic 
ability.  Adrian  Jacobi  is  equally  talented  and  the 
drama  in  which  they  are  scheduled  for  appearance  to- 
gether is  characterized  as  one  of  the  most  intensely 
realistic  picture  dramas  ever  produced.  As  the  title 
indicates,  "Wolves  of  Society"  is  a  sociological  photo- 
drama,  including  in  its  fascinating  plot  a  study  of  the 
human  prowlers  who  depend  for  their  very  existence 
on  their  ability  to  prey  upon  society. 

On  January  22,  David  Horsley's  interesting  pro- 
duction, "The  Bait,"  will  appear  as  the  Mutual's  third 
Masterpicture,  De  Luxe.  The  scenario  for  this  power- 
ful drama  of  the  land  of  the  Sierras  was  written  by 
Miss  Theodosia  Harris,  the  author  of  many  of  the  most 
popular  photoplays  on  the  market  today,  who  has  re- 
cently joined  Mr.  Horsley's  directing  staff.  The  lead- 
ing role  will  be  played  by  William  Clifford,  a  rather 
late  addition  to  the  Horsley  forces.  He  will  be  sup- 
ported in  the  leading  feminine  role  by  Miss  Betty  Hart, 
celebrated  screen  star,  who  gets  her  introduction  to 
Mutual  in  "The  Bait."  Ogden  Crane  and  Edward 
Alexander  have  been  especially  engaged  for  this  pic- 
ture and  the  Bostock  animals  will  also  appear. 

"As  a  Woman  Sows,"  a  Masterpicture  De  Luxe 
Edition  of  January  24,  will  serve  to  introduce  the 
Gaumont  Company's  first  five-reel  offering  to  Mutual 
followers.  It  will  at  the  same  time  introduce  two 
famous  Broadway  stars  to  Mutual  features.  Gertrude 
Robinson  and  Alexander  Gaden,  both  quite  as  well 
known  for  remarkable  screen  characterizations  as  for 


stage  delineation,  will  enter  their  permanent  engage- 
ment with  the  Gaumont  Company  in  this  Masterpic- 
ture De  Luxe.  In  support  of  these  two  stars  will  ap- 
pear Yvonne  Chapelle,  Mathilda  Baring,  Helen  Mar- 
ten, Charles  W.  Travis  and  John  Reinhard. 

The  American  Film  Company's  second  Mutual 
Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  "Lord  Loveland  Dis- 
covers America,"  will  be  released  January  27.  This 
delightfully  humorous  picturization  of  the  story  by  C. 
N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson  has  been  quite  as  delight- 
fully directed  by  Arthur  Maude,  the  distinguished  Eng- 
lish actor,  who  himself  plays  the  title  role.  Mr.  Maude 
is  supported  by  Miss  Constance  Crawley,  the  popular 
dramatic  star,  who  is  cast  for  the  role  of  Lesley  Dear- 
raer,  the  American  heiress.  To  New  Yorkers  espe- 
cially the  setting  of  "Lord  Loveland  Discovers  Amer- 
ica" will  be  extremely  interesting.  The  tale  changes 
its  setting  in  vivid  contrast  between  the  luxurious  Wal- 
dorf and  the  Bat  Hotel  on  the  Bowery.  "Lord  Love- 
land" discovers  America,  and  in  doing  so  he  puts  on 
the  screen  some  of  the  most  interesting  bits  of  New 
York's  show  places  ever  filmed.  The  readers  of  the 
Williamson's  delightful  stories,  and  especially  of  the 
"Lady  Betty"  series  will  look  forward  with  great  an- 
ticipation to  this  picture. 

The  first  Mutual  Masterpicture,  Edition  De  Luxe, 
to  come  from  the  studios  of  the  Thanhouser  Company 
at  New  Rochelle,  will  be  the  intensely  dramatic  and 
vividly  human  photoplay  entitled  "Betrayed."  This 
picture  will  be  released  January  27,  and  will  be  of  the 
usual  high  quality  which  characterizes  the  output  of 
Edwin  Thanhouser. 

The  last  Masterpicture  De  Luxe  for  January  will 
be  the  second  Horsley  five-reel  production  of  this  class, 
"Vengeance  Is  Mine!"  Crane  Wilbur,  the  versatile 
Horsley  star,  is  the  author  of  this  photodrama  in  which 
he  plays  the  leading  role,  Gypsy  Abbott,  the  gifted 
actress  who  has  appeared  in  ingenue  leads  in  support 
of  Nat  Goodwin,  Mrs.  Fiske  and  others  plays  opposite 
him.  In  the  large  cast  are  Carl  Von  Schiller,  Brooklyn 
Keller,  William  lackson,  A.  B.  Ellis,  H.  C.  Denmore, 
C.  A.  Foster,  M.*D.  Moran,  S.  Murphv,  F.  A.  Johnson, 
C.  W.  Mills,  B.  H.  Benny,  R.  M.  Iliff, . Capt.  James 
Gunn,  W.  Morrison,  E.  Hunt,  W.  K.  Fletcher,  W.  A. 
Aubrey  and  Miss  Roberts. 

The  eighth  Masterpicture,  "The  Idol  of  the  Stage," 
which  features  Malcolm  Williams,  will  appear  Feb- 
ruary 3.  This  is  a  Gaumont  five-reel  production,  di- 
rected by  Richard  Garrick  at  the  Gaumont's  winter 
studios  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.  Opposite  Mr.  Williams 
is  Miss  Lucille  Taft,  the  Gaumont  player  who  will 
appear  from  now  on  in  support  of  specially  engaged 
Broadway  stars  in  these  Mutual  features. 

On  February  5  an  American  Masterpicture,  not 
yet  titled,  will  be  released  in  this  schedule. 

On  February  7  Frederic  Warde,  the  distinguished 
Shakespearian  actor,  will  make  his  screen  debut  in  the 
picturization  of  George  Eliot's  novel,  "Silas  Marner," 
as  a  Mutual  Masterpicture  offering  from  the  Than- 
houser studios.  To  add  further  to  the  interest  which 
would  naturally  be  occasioned  by  the  presentation  of 
so  famous  a  story  in  pictures  by  so  famous  a  player, 


12 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


is  the  fact  that  Frederic  Warde  is  being  directed  in 
this  photoplay  by  own  son,  Ernest  Warde,  who  is  a 
member  of  Mr.  Thanhouser's  forces.  Among  the  sup- 
porting cast  is  Mile.  Valkyrien,  the  popular  Danish 
actress,  who  recently  appeared  in  the  Than-o-Play  re- 
lease, "The  Valkyrie." 

The  studios  of  Mutual  producing  companies  are 
all  at  work  in  the  perfecting  of  other  Masterpictures  of 
the  same  high  calibre. 


"The  Unwritten  Law"  Completed 

Advance  notices  from  San  Rafael,  California,  de- 
clare that  Edwin  Milton  Royle's  "The  Unwritten 
Law,"  in  which  the  California  Motion  Picture  Cor- 
poration   will    next    star    Beatriz    Michelena,    is    now 


within  a  few  days  of  completion  and  that  the  first 
print  will  shortly  be  sent  east  for  its  first  private 
showing  in  New  York  City. 

Those  who  have  seen  the  film  as  now  assembled 
at  the  California  studios  are  particularly  impressed  by 
its  sumptiousness  and  the  pretentious  character  of  scenes 
and  settings.  There  are  no  less  than  six  scenes, 
according  to  the  reports,  any  one  of  which  is  worthy 
of  being  the  outstanding  feature. 

Among  the  earlier  big  scenes  of  the  play  are  a 
ball  room,  a  cabaret  and  the  political  headquarters  of  a 
gubernatorial  candidate  on  election  night.  These  are 
followed  in  the  succeeding  reels  by  a  fire,  a  big  fight 
scene,  a  murder  scene  and  the  court  room  in  which  the 
gripping  mystery  of  the  story  is  finally  unraveled.  The 
jrapid  development  of  the  plot  to  a  climactic  ending 
is  said  to  have  been  worked  out  with  consummate  skill. 

In  keeping  with  the  recent  announcement  of  the 
California  Corporation,  in  which  it  declared  for  a 
policy  of  six  master  productions  a  year,  to  each  of 
which  an  adequacy  of  time  should  be  allotted,  several 
weeks  have  already  been  given  to  "The  Unwritten 
Law." 


Daniels  to  Stay  with  Vitagraph 

Frank  Daniels,  for  years  one  of  the  foremost" 
comic  opera  comedians  on  the  American  stage,  has 
signed  a  contract  to  appear  exclusively  in  motion  pic- 
lures    for  the   Vitagraph    Company   of  America.     Ar- 


rangements have  been  completed  to  make  the  best  use  . 
of  Mr.  Daniels'  versatile  talents  as  a  funmaker,  and  to 
present    him    before    the    motion    picture    public    in 
vehicles  that  are  expected  to  win  for  him  in  motion 
pictures  the  reputation  he  now  enjoys  in  comic  opera. 

Mr.  Daniels'  comedy  work  for  the  Vitagraph  Com- 
pany in  two  Blue  Ribbon  features,  "Crooky"  and 
"What  Happened  to  Father,"  has  made  a  distinct  ap- 
peal to  the  public.  Consequently  he  is  eager  to  affiliate 
with  the  forces  that  presented  him  on  the  screen  in 
such  an  admirable  manner. 

A  series  of  shorter  comedies  for  the  comedian 
have  been  selected  by  the  Vitagraph  Company,  for  the 
purpose  of  letting  the  public  see  Daniels  more  often 
and  in  a  greater  variety  of  humorous  situations.  He 
will  be  under  the  direction  of  C.  Jay  Williams,  one 
of  the  foremost  comedy  directors  of  the  Vitagraph. 
Williams  understands  the  capabilities  of  the  comedian 
and  is  well  able  to  bring  forth  the  high  lights  in  the 
actor's  equipment  of  funmaking. 


Arnold  Daly  Finds  New  Pathe  Star 

Arnold  Daly,  whose  fame  is  about  equally  divided 
between  Broadway  "legitimate"  productions  and  Pathe 
motion  pictures,  was  traveling  through  the  south  not 
long  ago,  and  in  a  certain  town  of  South  Carolina 
stopped  off  between 
trains  to  get  a  hasty 
lunch  in  a  railroad 
restaurant.  He  failed 
to  notice  at  first  the 
girl  who  with  hands 
folded  upon  snow- 
white  apron  waited 
patiently  for  his  or- 
der. He  turned  to 
her.  The  girl  before 
him  was  surely  a 
waitress  extraordi- 
nary. Oval  face,  del- 
icately tinted  with 
old  ivory  and  the 
flush  of  youth  and 
health ;  brown  hair 
combed  with  Quaker- 
like simplicity,  yet 
somehow  looking  bet- 
ter than  if  it  had  been 
worked  over  by  a 
fashionable  hair- 
dresser;  blue  eyes  that  looked  at  him  modestly  and  yet 
unafraid.  He  questioned  the  lady  of  the  apron.  He 
asked  her  if  she  would  like  to  work  in  pictures  and  told 
her  if  she  would,  he  would  give  her  a  chance.  The  girl 
refused  to  commit  herself.  "You'll  have  to  ask  my 
mother,  suh,"  was  her  reply. 

Mr.  Daly  decided  to  miss  his  train  and  see  her 
mother.  He  did.  He  called  at  the  address  given  him 
by  the  girl  and  talked  things  over  with  the  kindly  old 
lady  living  in  the  weather-beaten  house  not  far  away. 
Mr.  Daly  made  an  offer  that  caused  the  old  lady  to 
gasp  with  surprise.  When  the  girl  returned  from 
work  that  evening  it  was  talked  over  and  decided  that 
such  a  golden  opportunity  could  not  be  neglected.  So 
two  days  later  Nora  Moore  and  her  mother  took  their 
soft  southern  accent  and  few  belongings  to  New  York. 
Miss  Moore  has  already  proven  her  ability  and  without  a 
doubt  Daly's  find  is  a  lucky  one. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Metro  Sets  New  High  Salary  Figure 


SIGNS  ETHEL  BARRYMORE 


of   the    Metro   officials."    In 


WHAT  is  probably  the  highest  figure  yet  paid 
to  a  stellar  attraction  for  a  series  of  pictures, 
even  in  this  era  of  fabulous  salaries  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  firmament,  was  the  feature  of  a  contract 
entered  into  last 
week  between  Ethel 
Barrymore,  the  cele- 
brated stage  star, 
and  the  Metro  Pic- 
tures Corporation. 
Under  its  terms 
Miss  Barrymore  is 
to  receive  the  flat 
sum  of  $40,000  for 
each  picture  in 
which  she  is  fea- 
tured in  a  series  of 
elaborate  screen  pro- 
ductions now  being 
planned  by  the  Met- 
ro Pictures  Corpo- 
ration. The  contract 
provides  that  these 
shall  number  not 
less  than  four  annu- 
ally, although  this 
number  may  be  in- 
creased at  the  option 
return,  Miss  Barrymore 
agrees  to  appear  in  Metro  pictures  exclusively  during 
a  period  of  three  years.  She  will  also  arrange  such 
stage  work  as  she  may  engage  in  during  that  time 
with  reference  to  its  non-interference  with  her  screen 
labors.  Metro  also  holds  an  option  on  her  services  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  under  the  same  terms  as 
those  provided  in  the  contract  for  the  previous  pro- 
ductions. 

While  others  have  in  rare  instances  received  con- 
siderations in  excess  of  that  to  be  paid  Miss  Barrymore 
for  a  single  picture,  it  is  thought  that  this  is  by  far 
the  highest  contract  ever  entered  into  with  any  star 
by  any  motion  picture  corporation  for  a  series  of~pic- 
tures.  The  minimum  amount  involved,  $160,000  a 
year,  for  three  years,  or  $480,000  in  all,  is  a  figure  that 
certainly  surpasses  anything  in  the  recent  history  of 
the   screen. 

Although  the  contract  did  not  receive  its  final 
signatures  until  Tuesday,  December  14,  it  had  been 
under  consideration  for  several  weeks.  On  that  date 
Miss  Barrymore,  President  Richard  A.  Rowland  of 
Metro,  Joseph  W.  Fngel,  treasurer  of  the  corporation, 
Maxwell  Karger,  general  manager  of  Rolfe  Photo- 
plays, Inc.,  and  the  attorneys  for  both,  met  at^,  the 
Rolfe-Metro  studios,  3  West  Sixty-first  street,  New 
York  City,  and  after  a  few  final  formalities  were  ar- 
ranged, Miss  Barrymore  and  the  Metro  officials  ap- 
pended their  names  to  the  paper,  which  will  call  for 
the  expenditure  of  close  to  half  a  million  dollars  dur- 
ing the  coming  three  years. 

Miss  Barrymore,  who  is  starring  in  the  stage  pro- 
duction of  '"'Our  Mrs.  McChesney,"  at  the  Lyceum 
theater,  one  of  the  most  notable  successes  of  the  pres- 
ent theatrical  season,  had  been  discussing  terms  and 


details  with  the  Metro  officials,  immediately  after  fin- 
ishing "The  Final  Judgment,"  the  elaborate  Metro 
feature  in  which  she  recently  achieved  a  stellar  tri- 
umph. This  picture  attracted  so  much  attention  in 
film  circles  that  Miss  Barrymore  was  at  once  the  re- 
cipient of  several  highly  attractive  offers  from  other 
concerns. 

The  success  of  this  picture,  however,  led  Presi- 
dent Rowland  and  the  other  Metro  officials  to  de- 
termine that  Miss  Barrymore's  name  would  look  best 
in  the  stellar  list  of  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation, 
even  at  a  consideration  which  seemed  well  nigh  pro- 
hibitive. The  result  was  the  contract  which  was  signed 
early  last  week.  According  to  plans  outlined  by 
Metro  officials,  Miss  Barrymore  will  be  starred  under 
her  new  contract  in  a  series  of  feature  pictures,  more 
elaborate  and  more  impressive  in  cast  and  settings 
than  any  hitherto  offered  by  the  Metro  Pictures  Cor- 
poration. They  will  be  screen  dramas  of  the  highest 
type  and  will  be  especially  written  or  selected  for  Miss 
Barrymore.  In  consequence  the  new  Metro  star  will 
only  be  seen  in  vehicles  which  give  her  unusual  oppor- 
tunities for  the  display  of  her  supreme  dramatic  qual- 
ities and  the  charms  which  have  won  her  the  com- 
manding position  she  has  long  occupied  in  the  hearts 
of  the  American  amusement  loving-  public. 

A  clause  in  the  contract  just  signed  will  permit 
Miss  Barrymore  to  go  to  London  next  fall  to  star  in 
a  limited  engagement  in  that  city  of  "Our  Mrs.  Mc- 
Chesney," the  play  in  which  she  has  achieved  such 
a  notable  success  during  the  present  season.  This 
was  made  necessary  by  the  fact  that  Miss  Barrymore 
had  already  engaged  herself  to  appear  in  the  British 
metropolis  next  year,  before  arrangements  were  con- 
cluded which  made  her  a  permanent  Metro  star.  This, 
however,  will  not  at  all  interfere  with  her  screen  work, 
as  the  limit  of  her  engagement  on  the  other  side  will 
be  six  weeks. 

In  discussing  the  unprecedented  figure  at  which 
Miss  Barrymore  had  been  engaged  by  Metro,  Presi- 
dent Rowland  said  that  the  officials  had  carefully  en- 
tered into  the  problem  of  production  costs  in  relation 
to  it,  and  that  the  new  Metro  star's  box  office  drawing 
power  as  evidenced  in  "The  Final  Judgment,"  showed 
conclusively  that,  large  as  the  figure  was,  it  would  be 
money  well  invested. 

"Miss  Barrymore  wiil  be  seen  in  some  of  the  most 
elaborate  screen  dramas  ever  presented  to  the  photo- 
play public,"  said  Mr.  Rowland  in  conclusion.  "We 
are  leaving  nothing  undone  to  make  Metro  pictures 
the  finest  feature  pictures  which  the  exhibitor  can  get 
at  any  price." 


First  Palo  Alto  Film  Ready 

"Wanda  of  the  Red  Street,"  the  first  five-reel  pic- 
ture made  by  the  Palo  Alto  Film  Corporation,  has 
been  completed  and  work  begun  on  the  second  Nell 
Shipman  feature  script  written  for  that  company.  Miss 
Shipman  was  not  satisfied  with  the  title  "The  Son," 
which  she  had  given  the  scenario,  and  suggested  that 
the  choice  of  a  title  be  left  to  the  students  of  the  Le- 
land  Stanford  University  at  Palo  Alto. 


14 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2 


Mrs.  Langtry  for  Films? 

Mrs.  Langtry,  who  is  now  appearing  in  vaudeville, 
has  been  approached  on  the  subject  of  appearing  on 
the  screen  as  a  motion  picture  star.  The  negotiations 
were  opened  by  Tom  Terriss,  a  noted  English  actor- 
manager,  who  has  forsaken  the  stage  for  the  films 
and  is  now  with  a  film  production  company  in  New 
York.  The  inducements  are  large  and  "the  Jersey 
Lily"  would  not  be  dealing  with  a  stranger.  The  Ter- 
riss family  is  as  well  known  to  the  English  stage 
as  are  the  Drews  and  Barrymores  in  this  country. 
Mrs.  Langtry  was  an  old-time  professional  friend  of 
Mr.  Terriss'  illustrious  father,  the  late  Will  Terriss, 
who  was  the  idol  of  the  London  playgoer  up  to  the 
time  of  his  tragic  death  and  of  his  sister,  Ellaline  Ter- 
riss and  her  husband.  Seymour  Hicks,  the  comedian. 
When  Terriss  learned  that  Mrs.  Langtry  was  coming 
to  this  country  he  wrote  a  photo-comedy-drama  espe- 
cially for  her.  Mr.  Terriss  was  Mrs.  Langtry's  lead- 
ing man  when  she  opened  her  own  house,  the  Imperial 
theater,  in   London. 


FIRE  TRAPS  PICTURE  PLAYERS 


Beatriz  Michelena,  with  Several  Associate  Players  of 

California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  Burned 

When  Fire  Gets  Beyond  Control 

An  attempt  for  motion  picture  realism,  carried  to 
an  extreme,  resulted  almost  fatally  at  the  plant  of  the 
California  Motion  Picture  Corporation  in  San  Rafael 
one  day  last  week.  As  it  is,  three  leading  members 
of  the  producing 
company  are  suffer- 
ing from  burns, 
which,  although  not 
long-er  considered 
serious,  are  decided- 
ly painful.  Beatriz 
Michelena,  star  of 
"The  Unwritten 
Law,"  William  Pike, 
who  plays  opposite 
her,  and  Andrew 
Robson,  who  imper- 
sonates Larry  Mc- 
Carthy in  the  pro- 
duction, are  figuring 
themselves  extreme- 
ly lucky  that  the  con- 
summation of  the  or- 
deal was  nothing 
more  permanent 
than  the  few  band- 
ages they  now  wear. 
One  of  the  big  thril- 
"Tlie  Unwritten  Law"  is  a  fire  scene  in  which 
Larry  McCarthy  (Andrew  Robson)  effects  the  rescue 
of  Kate  Wilson  (Miss  Michelena)  and  her  four-year- 
old  daughter  (Baby  Rix).  The  building  is  supposed 
to  be  a  combination  millinery  store  and  dwelling. 
That  nothing  should  be  missed  in  realistic  effect,  a 
structure  was  especially  built  and  furnished  for  the 
burning,  the  actors,  including  William  Pike,  sent  in- 
side, liberal  quantities  of  kerosene  poured  about  to  in- 
sure undeniable  names  and  then  the  match  applied. 
The  director  was  not  long  in  realizing  that  too  much 
kerosene  had  been  used  and  so  called  for  quick  action. 


Robson  dashed  through  the  millinery  store  and  into 
the  room  to  its  rear.  As  he  carried  out  Baby  Rix  the 
flames  closed  in  behind  him  and,  when  he  turned  to 
go  to  the  rescue  of  Miss  Michelena,  he  faced  a  roaring 
inferno.  Nothing  daunted,  however,  he  broke  through 
the  blaze  and  staggered  back  again  with  Miss  Miche- 
lena in  his  arms.  The  clothes  of  both  were  in  flames 
and  Miss  Michelena  was  seriously  burned  about  her 
limbs  and  neck. 

In  spite  of  her  own  painful  condition,  however,  she 
was  first  to  remember  that  Pike  had  gone  inside  the 
building  with  them.  In  response  to  her  entreaty,  Rob- 
son started  again  to  enter  the  building,  but  its  ceiling 
and  forward  walls  were  already  falling  in,  one  of  the 
beams  having  but  narrowly  missed  Miss  Michelena's 
head  as  she  was  carried  out.  To  again  effect  a  rescue 
through  the  door  was  quite  impossible. 

Meantime  the  San  Rafael  fire  department  had  ar- 
rived. With  faces  protected  by  smoke  helmets,  the 
firemen  began  using  their  axes  in  furious  earnest  and 
in  this  fashion  cut  their  way  to  Pike  who  had  been 
overcome  with  the  heat  and  smoke.  The  three  suffer- 
ers were  hurried  to  a  near-by  sanitarium  and  their 
burns  successfully  treated. 


F.  F.  Hartich  Promoted 

F.  F.  Hartich,  who,  since  last  July,  has  been  in 
charge  of  the  booking  department  of  the  New  York 
branch  of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  has  been  promoted  to  as- 
sistant branch  manager  of  that  office.  This  promotion 
is  unusually  interesting  for  the  fact  that,  until  his  affil- 
iation with  the  Big  Four,  Mr.  Hartich  had  had  no 
experience  in  the  film  field.  He  became  interested  in 
this  industry  through  certain  phases  of  it  which  were 
brought  to  his  attention  as  an  attorney  of  the  New 
York  bar. 

General  Manager  Walter  W.  Irwin  of  the  Big 
Four,  being  an  attorney  himself,  and  there  being  one 
other  member  of  the  organization  who  is  also  an  attor- 
ney and  who  has  made  a  splendid  record  for  himself. 
A.  I.  Siegle,  secretary  to  Mr.  Irwin,  Mr.  Hartich's  ap- 
plication for  a  place  in  the  organization  was  accepted. 

He  has  introduced  many  advanced  business  meth- 
ods in  the  conduct  of  the  booking  department  of  the 
New  York  branch,  and  the  efficiency  of  the  service  of 
that  office  under  his  supervision  has  won  for  him  high 
approval  from  exhibitors  everywhere.  As  assistant  to 
Joseph  Partridge,  Mr.  Hartich  will  devote  most  of  his 
tim?  to  the  furtherance  of  the  interest  of  exhibitors 
and  matters  pertaining  to  advertising  aids,  etc. 


Dorothy  Gish  Back  in  Los  Angeles 

Dorothy  Gish,  who  recently  departed  from  Los 
Angeles  for  New  York  to  play  the  stellar  role  in  an 
eastern  Fine  Arts-Triangle  play,  "Betty  of  Greystone," 
has  completed  her  characterization  and  is  on  her  way 
back  to  the  Los  Angeles  Fine  Arts  studio,  of  which 
she  is  a  very  prominent  member. 

Miss  Gish  was  to  have  remained  in  New  York  for 
another  Triangle  play,  but  the  idea  of  spending  Christ- 
mas away  from  home  did  not  appeal  to  her.  She  ac- 
quainted the  Fine  Arts  executives  with  this  and  they 
soon  agreed  to  bring  the  charming  actress  back  to  the 
Los  Angeles  studio,  where  she  will  play  the  intended 
second  eastern  photodrama.  Her  sister,  Lillian  Gish,. 
and  mother  are  preparing  a  warm  welcome  for  Dor- 
othy upon  her  arrival  in  the  west. 


January  1,  1916  MOTOGRAPHY  15 

COMING  TRIANGLE  PLAYS  A  WATER  COOLED  STUDIO 


Offerings  of  the  New  Year  Will  Be  Unusually  Rich  in 

Story  Material  and  Good  Acting,  It  is 

Predicted 

The  Triangle  Film  Corporation  announces  among 
the  new  feature  plays  of  the  early  part  of  the  new 
year,   the   following: 

Orrin  Johnson  in  "D'Artagnan" ;  William  S.  Hart 
in  "Hell's  Hinges";  Willard  Mack  in  "The  Conquer- 
or"; Bessie  Barriscale  and  Bruce  McRae  in  "The 
Green  Swamp" ;  Mae  Marsh  in  "Hoodoo  Ann" ;  Wil- 
fred Lucas  and  Mary  Alden  in  "Acquitted" ;  Norma 
Talmadge  and  Seena  Owen  in  "Martha's  Vindication" ; 
Sam  Bernard  in  "The  Great  Pearl  Tangle" ;  Chester 
Conklin  in  "Dizzy  Heights  and  Daring  Hearts." 
These  are  only  a  few  of  a  long  list  of  thirty  or  forty 
plays  that  might  be  named. 

It  is  believed  that  "D'Artagnan,"  an  Ince-Kay- 
Bee  production,  will  prove  a  genuine  surprise  in  its 
fresh  and  unhackneyed  treatment  of  "The  Three  Mus- 
keteers" theme.  Those  who  have  seen  the  film  say 
that  Dorothy  Dalton  as  beautiful  Anne  of  Austria 
and  Walt  Whitman  as  Cardinal  Richelieu  share  hon- 
ors with  the  star. 

"The  Green  Swamp"  will  show  Bessie  Barriscale 
in  the  somewhat  novel  role  of  an  extremely  jealous 
wife,  one  who  hounds  her  doctor  husband  and  prevents 
him  from  attaining  his  complete  success  in  his  pro- 
fession. For  the  filming  of  "Hell's  Hinges,"  starring" 
William  S.  Hart,  a  complete  village  was  built  near 
Inceville  and  burned  down  to  make  the  fiery  climax 
of  the  piece.  It  takes  its  title  from  the  name  of  a 
frontier  town  in  the  fart  west. 

"Acquitted"  presents  Wilfred  Lucas  and  Mary 
Alden  in  the  featured  roles,  a  deserved  promotion 
when  their  much  good  work  at  the  Griffith  studio 
is  considered.  Miss  Alden  was  the  mulatto  house- 
keeper in  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation."  The  story  is  of 
unusual  interest.  It  was  adapted  from  one  of  Mary 
Roberts  Rinehart's  mystery  novels.  There  is  a  large 
•cast,  including  Sam  DeGrasse,  Elmer  Clifton,  Spottis- 
woode  Aitken,  and  D.  W.  Griffith's  new  ingenue  find, 
Bessie  Love.  "Martha's  Vindication"  is  a  small  town 
domestic  drama  in  which  both  Miss  Talmadge  and 
Miss  Owen  have  cong-enial  parts.  As  to  the  remain- 
ing two,  "The  Great  Pearl  Tangle"  gives  Sam  Ber- 
nard his  first  big  opportunity  at  Keystone,  while 
"Dizzy  Heights"  is  replete  with  aeroplane  thrills  and 
winds  up  with  the  dynamiting  of  a  smokestack  200 
feet  high.  . 


Peerless    Plant   of    World   Film    Corporation   Installs 

Device,  Which  Serves  to  Make  Interior 

Work  Possible  on  Hottest  Days 

If  the  device  to  be  installed  at  World  Film  Corpora- 
tion's Peerless  studio  in  Fort  Lee  proves  itself  up  to 
specifications  there  will  be  general  rejoicing  among  the 
players  working  in  that  organization's  production  next 
summer.  The  innovation  consists  of  a  water  pipe  lead- 
ing to  the  apex  of  the  great  glass  roof,  so  arranged  as 
to  send  a  thin  sheet  of  cold  water  smoothly  down  both 
sides  of  the  roof  all  day  long.  The  water  sheet  will  not 
interfere  with  the  passage  of  daylight;  in  fact,  it  is 
believed  the  light  will  be  more  fully  diffused  by 
passing  through  the  liquid  curtain.  Actinic  experts  have 
passed  upon  the  device  and  pronounced  it  sound  in  every 
detail. 

In  order  to  keep  the  water  at  the  lowest  temperature 
possible,  the  pipes  leading  from  the  pumping  station  will 
be  sunk  deeply  in  the  ground  in  coils,  with  a  refrigerating 
device  attached,  guaranteed  to  produce  a  spray  of  water 
almost  at  the  freezing  point. 

The  idea  was  worked  out  from  the  suggestions  of 
Lewis  J.  Selznick,  who  is  determined  to  combat  the  great 
difficulty  of  summer  studio  work.  Heretofore  it  has  been 
impossible  for  directors  and  actors  to  work  steadily  all 
day  long  in  the  intense  heat  under  the  prismatic  rays  of 
light  passing  through  the  glass  studio  roof  and  side. 


Ocean  Gets  Marshall  Farnum 

Manager  of  Productions  George  DeCarlton  of  the 
Ocean  Film  Corporation  announces  that  a  contract  has 
been  entered  into  with  Marshall  Farnum,  the  well- 
known  producer  of  feature  motion  pictures,  for  his 
association  with  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation. 

Marshall  Farnum  needs  little  introduction  to  the 
followers  of  motion  pictures  or  the  theater-going  pub- 
lic of  this  country  or  Canada.  Beginning  his  theatrical 
career  at  the  tender  age  of  four  years,  he  found  himself 
when  eighteen  years  old  with  the  Handon  stock  com- 
pany. Then  followed  association  with  numerous  stock 
companies,  appearance  in  Shakesperian  roles  and  later, 
producing  director  for  William  Farnum,  his  brother, 
in  stock  companies  in  Buffalo,  Providence,  Denver, 
Portland  and  Ottawa,  Canada. 

For  two  seasons  Marshall  Farnum,  simultaneously 
with  the  appearance  of  brother  Dustin  in  one  company 
and  with  brother  William  in  another  company,  played 
the  leading  role  in  "The  Littlest  Rebel."     He  will  also 


From  left  to  right  arc  presented  scenes  from  "Hi 


16 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  I 


be  well  remembered  in  his  two  seasons  of  starring  in 
"The  Virginian,"  in  the  character  of  "Tramps."  At  the 
time  of  his  first  association  with  the  motion  picture 
industry,  Mr.  Farnum  was  a  director  for  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company,  with  which  he  remained  for  two 
years,  severing  that  connection  to  become  producing 
manager  of  the  motion  picture  plant  of  the  101  Ranch. 
Here,  under  his  direction,  there  were  produced  more 
than  twenty,  four  and  five-reel  subjects,  which  earned 
him  considerable  repute. 

More  recently  Marshall  Farnum  has  been  of  the 
directing  force  of  the  Fox  Film  Corporation,  where 
among  his  other  productions  are  "Wormwood"  and 
"Lady  Audley's  Secret,"  in  which  Theda  Bara  was 
starred. 

Mr.  Farnum's  first  production  under  the  Ocean 
Film  Corporation  banner  will  be  begun  at  once  and 
the  name  of  the  vehicle,  the  star  and  cast  will  shortly 
be  announced. 


Mme.  Petrova  Finishes  New  Screen  Play 

Mme.  Petrova,  who  will  soon  leave  the  speaking 
stage  for  good,  to  devote  herself  exclusively  to  the 
making  of  Metro  photoplays,  has  finished  the  final 
scenes  in  "What  Will  People  Say?"  a  five-part  feature 
produced  at  the  Popular  Plays  and  Players  studio,  in 
Fort   Lee,   N.  J.,   and  which  will  be   released   on   the 


7"'1*    "  ::"'';.    '' 


Mme.    Petrova    in   secene   from    -What    Will  People   Say?" 

Metro  program  January  3.  Mme.  Petrova  has  come 
to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost  emotional 
actresses  on  either  the  stage  or  screen,  and  great  care 
is  exercised  by  Metro  to  provide  her  with  vehicles 
suited  to  her  remarkable  gifts. 

In  "What  Will  People  Say?"  winch  is  a  picturi- 
zation  of  Rupert  Hughes'  novel  of  the  same  name, 
Mme.  Petrova  has  the  part  of  a  young  woman  who 
faces  the  problem  of  marrying  the  man  of  her  heart, 
and  remaining  poor,  or  accepting  the  proposal  of  a 
wealthy  broker,  who  can  provide  her  with  the  lux- 
uries to  which  she  was  accustomed  before  her  father 
was  ruined  financially.  She  does  marry  the  broker, 
and  the  marriage  proves  a  failure. 

Soon  afterward  sin-  finds  her  husband  with  his 
former  mistress,  and  while  she  is  debating  on  a  plan 
of  action,  she  meets  her  former  sweetheart.  She  con- 
fesses her  love  for  him,  and  while  they  are  together 
her  husband  finds  her  in  a  supposedly  compromising 


situation.  In  a  jealous  frenzy  he  stabs  her.  Upon 
her  recovery  she  obtains  a  divorce  and  marries  the  man 
of  her  heart.  Mme.  Petrova  is  surrounded  by  a  strong- 
supporting  cast,  including  Fritz  de  Lint,  a  new  lead- 
ing man. 


New  Griffith  Picture  in  Spring 

D.  AV.  Griffith,  the  famous  Triangle  director,  and 
most  widely  known  as  the  producer  of  "The  Birth  of 
a  Nation,"  arrived  in  New  York  Tuesday  evening,  De- 
cember 14,  accompanied  by  his  secretary,  A.  E.  Bid- 
well,  and  J.  J.  McCarthy.  The  object  of  Mr.  Griffith's 
visit  was,  as  he  expressed  it,  "on  business  connected 
with  my  big  new  picture."  Mr.  Griffith  came  direct 
from  Indianapolis,  and  he  had  been  in  Louisville  but 
a  few  days  previous  for  the  obsequies  of  his  lamented 
mother,  Mrs.  Jacob  Wark  Griffith. 

While  in  the  metropolis  Mr.  Griffith  spent  much 
time  with  H.  E.  Aitken,  president  of  the  Triangle  Film 
Corporation,  and  in  the  executive  offices  of  the  Tri- 
angle at  71  West  Twenty-third  street.  He  expressed 
himself  as  pleased  with  the  way  large  numbers  of 
new  theaters  are  being  signed  up  for  the  Triangle 
service.  Among  other  things  he  remarked  that  "Don 
Quixote."  starring  DeWolf  Hopper,  was  one  of  the 
best  productions  recently  made  by  any  of  his  sub- 
directors  and  he  paid  a  high  compliment  to  Edward 
Dillon,  who  had  charge  of  it.  From  the  fact  that 
"The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  closes  at  the  Liberty  theater. 
New  York  on  January  8,  to  be  followed  by  a  musical 
comedy  entitled  "Sybil,"  it  is  thought  that  Mr.  Grif- 
fith's new  personal  production,  "The  Mother  and  the 
Law,"  will  not  be  disclosed  until  the  spring.  It  is 
understood  that  further  work  will  be  done  upon  it 
on  Griffith's  return  to  the  west  coast  about  December 


Walthall  on  Vacation 

Henry  B.  Walthall,  leading  man  for  Essanay,  is 
giving  himself  and  his  people  a  rare  Christmas  gift. 
He  has  left  for  Alabama  to  spend  the  holidays  and 
will  remain  a  week.  This  is  Mr.  Walthall's  first  trip 
home  after  five  years'  absence.  The  last  time  he  was 
there,  the  people  of  his  home  town  sympathized  with 
him  in  his  misfortune  and  for  what  they  pronounced 
his  insanity  in  giving  up  the  stage  for  the  new  medium. 
Since  then,  however,  they  have  changed  their  opinions 
and,  from  several  of  the  letters  the  star  has  received, 
they  are  preparing  a  royal  welcome  for  him.  The  let- 
ter that  Mr.  Walthall  appreciates  most  is  the  one  he 
received  last  week  from  Uncle  Zeke,  an  old  colored 
man  who  has  been  with  the  family  since  the  days  of 
wartime.  "Dear  Henry,"  writes  Uncle  Zeke.  '"The 
logs  asoakin'  in  the  swamp  and  there's  bear  tracks  in 
the  bayou.  Come  down  soon  or  some  nocount  hunter 
is  goin'  to  git  that  bear.    Uncle  Zeke." 


Moss  to  Call  Conference 

B.  S.  Moss,  president  of  the  B.  S.  Moss  Theatrical 
Enterprises,  the  Amalgamated  Booking  Agency  and 
the  B.  S.  Moss  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  issues  a 
broadcast  appeal  to  independent  motion  picture  pro- 
ducers. It  is  his  desire  to  place  before  all  inde- 
pendents a  scheme  to  be  operated  during  the  coming 
year  for  the  mutual  benefit  o\  all  independents.  At  a 
date  shortly  to  be  announced  he  purposes  to  meet  his 
competitors  and  place  before  them  his  novel  plan. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


A  Warning  to  Picture  Makers 


BY  HARRY  R.  RAVER* 


CAN  the  nude  woman  in  motion  pictures  be 
accepted  and  understood  by  the  masses  as  educa- 
tional or  artistic  ?  Will  the  nude  depicted  in  this 
same  manner  be  accepted  as  education  and  art  by  the 
classes? 

Some  one  has  recently  so  advised  the  trade  and 
it  must  be  surmised  that  the  statement  was  made  in 
good  faith  and  with  the  purest  motive.  No  little 
discussion  has  followed  the  bold  announcement  and 
the  question  arises,  can  a  woman's  nakedness  glorify 
the  motion  picture  in  the  minds  of  its  clientele? 

Admitting  that  art  and  education  are  splendid 
things  to  foster,  does  it  continue  to  be  art  and  educa- 
tion in  any  atmosphere  it  might  be  presented?  That 
this  problem  concerns  the  future  welfare  of  the  fifth 
industry  in  the  United  States  there  is  no  doubt  and 
there  should  be  room  for  a  public  expression  on  the 
subject. 

Assuming  that  nude  models  are  used  by  artists 
and  sculptors  to  create  masterpieces,  can  we,  by  any 
stretch  of  the  imagination,  allow  these  same  nude 
women  the  freedom  of  the  public  on  the  motion  pic- 
ture screen  ?  The  argument  might  be  advanced  that 
these  same  people  can  visit  the  art  galleries  or  the 
public  places  where  the  nude  is  depicted.  It  must  be 
remembered,  however,  that  on  such  occasions  the  sub- 
ject is  approached  in  a  different  mental  condition.  It 
is  dressed  in  the  form  of  art  and  not  in  the  guise  of 
amusement.  Its  sole  purpose  is  to  educate  and  not 
to  amuse. 

The  studio  of  the  artist  offers  no  open  door  to  the 
curious  throng,  and  his  finished  painting,  though  it 
be  a  reproduction  of  the  original  model  in  form  and 
color,  is  still  cold  and  motionless  and  is  gazed  upon 
and  admired  with  reverence  and  serious  thought  by 
mature  minds,  principally  in  the  art  gallery  or  home 
of  wealth.  The  immature  and  untrained  have  been 
educated  to  regard  the  nude  with  shame  and  secrecy, 
and  when  it  confronts  them  their  attention  is  concen- 
trated upon  the  forbidden. 

The  artist's  model  used  in  a  motion  picture  brings 
about  a  vastly  different  result.  Instead  of  the  ideal- 
ized form  created  by  the  artist,  we  find  the  naked 
figure  stalking  about  through  scene  after  scene  before 
the  eyes  of  a  mixed  and  motley  audience,  ninety  per 
cent  of  whom  owe  their  visit  to  curiosity,  mingled 
with  love  for  the  suggestive  and  sensational.  Mothers 
and  fathers  may  safely  witness  nakedness  in  motion 
pictures,  but  it  does  not  follow  they  will  sanction  this 
form  of  entertainment  for  the  immature  and  impres- 
sionable minds  of  the  children  who  will  look  upon  the 
nude  form  in  lifelike  motion  as  though  it  were  really 
passing  in  their  midst  and  not  in  the  sense  of  viewing 
a  work  of  art. 

Censorship,  the  bugaboo  of  the  film  man,  finds 
the  nude  in  pictures  a  fine  subject  on  which  to  base 
its  vaporings.  And,  while  the  avowed  mission  of  the 
censor  is  to  keep  the  minds  of  children  free  from  im- 
pure suggestiveness,  the  alarming  recurrence  of 
woman's  nakedness  on  the  screen  will  doubtless  in- 
crease the  aggressiveness  of  censorship  attacks. 

The  industry  has  suffered  from  censorship ;  of  that 

•President,   Raver  Film  Corporation. 


fact  there  is  no  doubt,  and  it  is  believed  by  many  that 
certain  classes  of  films  have  been  the  cause.  For  a 
while  the  underworld  was  commercialized  on  the 
screen  in  a  series  of  "white  slave"  pictures,  highly 
exaggerated.  Then  there  came  another  cycle  of  super- 
sensational  productions  depicting  the  animal  in 
woman ;  the  vampire,  the  worst  of  her  sex.  A  certain 
daughter  of  the  briny  deep  started  the  ball  rolling  in 
the  train  of  nudes,  and  producers  have  sought  to  outdo 
one  another  in  exposing  to  the  mob  the  alluring 
charms  of  the  unadorned  feminine  ever  since ;  each 
one  growing  more  bold  until  now  we  are  face  to  face 
with  "the  real  thing"  in  the  name  of  "education  and 
art." 

It  is  not  the  public's  expectation  to  see  art,  or  to 
be  educated  where  it  has  been  accustomed  to  being 
amused  and  entertained.  Neither  is  it  led  to  believe 
it  is  art  or  education.  If  it  has  been  accustomed  to  art, 
it  is  not  readily  recognized  in  the  guise  of  a  story 
dressed  in  the  same  manner  its  amusement  has  been 
clothed. 

True  there  is  a  certain  class  who  crave  the  sug- 
gestive, the  sensational,  the  meretricious,  but  the  great 
masses  who  daily  support  the  picture  prefer  the  clean, 
wholesome  story  portrayed  by  characters  they  know 
and  understand  life  as  the  greatest  number  know  it, 
and  not  the  unnatural. 

This  has  been  proven  by  the  history  of  the  theater, 
in  which  the  vast  majority  of  plays  famous  for  their 
long  life  and  popularity  were  built  around  clean  and 
wholesome  themes  teaching  a  strong  moral.  The 
suggestive  and  highly  sensational  play  was  never 
popular  for  long,  except  in  rare  cases.  Such  old 
favorites  as  "Way  Down  East,"  "Arizona,"  "Old 
Homestead,"  "The  Harvest  Moon,"  "East  Lynn," 
"The  Witching  Hour,"  "Ben  Hur,"  "As  a  Man  Thinks," 
"Alabama,"  "The  Little  Minister,"  "The  Parish 
Priest,"  "The  Ranger,"  "The  Christian,"  "The  Hoosier 
Doctor,"  "The  Cotton  King,"  "The  Embassy  Ball," 
"Oliver  Goldsmith,"  and  many  others  lived  and  pros- 
pered because  they  did  not  portray  the  unnatural. 

Some  one  in  authority  has  said :  "Where  are  the 
grand  old  plays  we  used  to  know?  Why  has  the 
motion  picture  made  such  inroads  in  the  business  of 
the  theater?"  A  serious  minded  layman  has  replied: 
"Capitalizing  personality  and  catering  to  the  morbid, 
the  sensation-loving,  together  with  moulding  public 
opinion  in  advance  of  a  play  through  the  over  effusive- 
ness of  the  press  agent,  have  disgusted  the  public  to  a 
great  extent." 

Might  not  the  picture  producer  take  warning  lest 
he  offend  the  great  American  public  through  his  blind 
lustfulness  and  greed,  and  ultimately  witness  the 
decay  of  a  mighty  institution  whose  power  for  good 
is  inestimable?  He  degrades  not  only  his  trademark 
but  the  motion  picture  business  as  an  industry.  His 
policy  in  no  manner  can  be  construed  as  constructive, 
nor  can  he  offer  the  excuse  of  realism  as  a  reason.  The 
avenue  of  possibilities  for  the  motion  picture  maker  is 
altogether  too  wide  to  take  the  by-paths  of  salacious- 
ness  and  lasciviousness  around  which  to  build  his 
motion  picture  plays. 

The   love   of   the    suggestive   hardly   permits   the 


18 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


action  intended  to  be  carried  to  the  mental  vision  of 
the  beholder,  but  arouses  libidinous  thoughts.  For 
the  welfare  of  the  business  the  result  produced  in  the 
mind  of  the  beholder  must  be  given  serious  considera- 
tion. While  some  might  love  to  revel  in  conjured 
lasciviousness,  their  better  nature  and  those  to  whom 
they  impart  their  interpretations  will  rebel.  They 
have  not  recognized  art  out  of  its  climate.  The  law 
of  usage  has  taught  them  that  this  is  their  form  of 
entertainment. 


COSTS  CUT  FIFTY  PER  CENT 

Lewis  J.  Selznick  of  World  Film  Confident  He  Has 

Solved  Distribution  Problem  and  Greatly 

Reduced  Costs 

Among  the  men  in  the  motion  picture  business 
on  a  big  scale  today  who  have  reduced  the  industry 
to  a  scientific  point  is  Lewis  J.  Selznick,  the  galvanic 
vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the  World  Film 
Corporation  and  the  vice- 
president  and  advisory  man- 
ager of  the  Equitable  Motion 
Picture  Corporation.  Since 
his  entry  into  the  business 
Mr.  Selznick  has  caused  rev- 
olutionary changes  by  which 
the  industry,  as  a  whole, 
cannot  fail  to  benefit.  Mr. 
Selznick's  efforts  are  now 
bent  toward  the  most  vexed 
problem  that  has  so  far  con- 
fronted manufacturers  and 
distributors  of  film — namely, 
economical  distribution. 

"As  I  see  it,"  said  Mr. 
Selznick,    "the  most  impor- 
tant    question     confronting 
film  men  in  the  coming  year 
Lew™  j.  SeUmck.  resolves   itself   down   to  the 

matter  of  distribution — on  the  most  economical  basis. 
I  think  I  may  say,  without  being  thought  egotistical, 
that  I  have  in  a  measure  'blazed  the  trail,'  so  far  as 
the  distribution  problem  is  concerned,  for  other  manu- 
facturers in  the  field.  I  started  the  Equitable  in  fact 
to  prove  that  my  theories  in  regard  to  distribution 
were  sound  and  thorough. 

"It  may  sound  like  a  Utopian  dream  but  I  am  con- 
vinced that  eventually  pictures  can  be  distributed  for 
one-fourth  the  present  cost.  It  is  all  a  question  of 
system  and  careful  observation.  So  far  the  giant  strides 
of  the  motion-picture  industry  have  so  outstripped  the 
capabilities  of  the  producers  to  keep  pace  with  the 
amazing  growth  of  the  industry  that  we  are  only  just 
beginning  to  get  facts  and  figures  upon  which  we  can 
base  our  future  plans. 

"It  has  ever  been  my  careful  study  to  concentrate 
upon  this  question  of  distribution,  for  there,  to  my 
mind,  lies  the  weak  spot  to-day  in  the  motion-picture 
industry.  With  more  economical  distribution  we  can 
furnish  the  exhibitor  with  better  pictures  at  better 
prices  than  has  been  possible  in  the  past.  In  fact,  it 
is  hardly  too  much  to  say  that  the  exhibitor  who  first 
solves  this  problem  will  reap  the  cream  of  the  harvest. 
"The  firm  that  solves  the  distribution  problem  will 
therefore  be  the  firm  that  will  attract  the  producers, 
lining  them  up  for  a  solid   program  so  that  the  ex- 


hibitor will  only  have  to  come  to  the  one  distributing 
firm  to  select  a  program  from  a  list  of  amazing  variety 
and  merit.  This  is  the  crying  need  of  every  exhibitor 
today.  As  things  are  at  present,  Avith  the  exception  of 
a  few  distributing  centers,  the  exhibitor  doesn't  know 
what  he  is  getting. 

"Concentration,  economy,  co-operation  with  the 
exhibitor.  These  are  the  watchwords  of  the  World 
Film  Corporation  and  the  Equitable  Motion  Picture 
Corporation.  Before  long  I  will  be  ready  to  make  an 
announcement  which  will  be  of  vast  interest  to  the 
trade  at  large  and  to  every  exhibitor  in  the  land.  I 
shall  leave  this  announcement  till  the  coming  of  the 
New  Year,  so  that  we  can  start  1916  off  with  a  'big 
bang.'  I  believe  that  I  am  not  unduly  optimistic  in 
saying  at  this  time  that  it  is  my  belief  that  I  have  in  a 
large  measure  solved  the  distribution  problem,  cutting 
the  cost  at  least  fifty  per  cent,  a  percentage  which  in 
the  near  future  will  be  considerably  lowered  once  my 
plans  are  put  into  effect  and  the  organization  in  charge 
of  them  is  running  like  a  well-oiled  machine." 


Marie  Doro  Married 

Though  a  romance  was  long  suspected  by  their 
many  friends,  the  news  has  just  been  flashed  across 
the  continent  from  California  that  Marie  Doro  and 
Elliott  Dexter  are  married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dexter  will 
reside  at  11  East  Fifty-fifth  street,  New  York  City, 
after  Christmas,  when  Miss  Doro  returns  to  the  east 
to  star  in  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company's  adapta- 
tion of  Sardou's  great  drama,  "Diplomacy." 

The  play  "Diplomacy"  seems  to  be  irrevocably 
entwined  with  the  life  of  Marie  Doro,  since  it  was  in 
the  all-star  revival  of  that  play  with  William  Gillette, 
Blanche  Bates  and  Marie  Doro  at  the  Empire  theater, 
when  Mr.  Dexter  played  "Julian  Beauclerc,"  that  the 
romance  began.  It  was  continued  when  both  Miss 
Doro  and  Mr.  Dexter  went  to  the  Famous  Players 
studio,  the  one  to  be  starred  in  "The  White  Pearl"  and 
the  other  to  play  opposite  Marguerite  Clark  in  "Helene 
of  the  North."  As  both  productions  were  being  made 
simultaneously,  the  couple  were  much  in  each  other's 
company  at  that  time.  Now  Miss  Doro  is  to  be  starred 
in  the  film  version  of  "Diplomacy"  in  which  it  is  not 
at  all  improbable  that  Mr.  Dexter  will  also  appear. 


Censors  May  Get  a  Salary 

Charles  E.  Sebastian,  mayor  of  Los  Angeles,  who 
has  proven  a  staunch  friend  to  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry, comes  out  with  a  statement  that  he  favors  paid 
moving  picture  censors.  He  does  this  in  view  of  the 
increasing  work  of  the  local  board,  their  long  hours 
and  detailed  duties,  and  is  considering  a  recommenda- 
tion to  the  city  council  that  members  of  the  censor 
board  be  allowed  a  monthly  salary  for  their  services. 

If  such  salaries  are  provided  Mayor  Sebastian  says 
the  members  of  the  commission  should  be  paid  out  of 
the  revenue  of  the  department,  and  that  this  revenue 
should  be  provided  through  imposing  a  license  fee 
upon  the  moving  picture  business  of  the  city. 

Cranston  Brenton,  chairman  of  the  National  Board 
of  Censors,  addressed  a  meeting  of  the  city  council  on 
the  work  of  the  national  commission  and  the  idea  of 
making  it  the  one  authority  to  pass  upon  motion  pic- 
tures. 

Mr,  Brenton  expressed  the  opinion  that  censorship 
by  local  boards  was  not  necessary. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Recent  Patents  in  Motography 


BY  DAVID  S.  HULFISH 


PATENT  No.  1,141,464.  For  an  Improved  Appa- 
ratus for  Developing  and  Washing  Films.  Is- 
sued to  Robert  Jayault,  assignor  to  Societe  Fran- 
caise  des  Films  et  Cinematographies,  "Eclair,"  Paris, 
France. 

The  improved  device  is  a  holder  or  rack  for  tank 
development.     Rollers  at  the  top  and  cross  rollers  at 


the  bottom  are  so  arranged  that  the  film  is  kept  in 
movement  over  the  rollers  while  developing  or  wash- 
ing, twisting  and  untwisting  upon  the  roller  without 
side  thrust  upon  the  edges  of  the  film. 

No.  1,141,510.  Process  of  Preparing  Cellulose  So- 
lutions. Issued  to  R.  Willstatter,  Berlin-Dahlem,  Ger- 
many. 

A  process  of  treating  cellulose  with  hydrochloric 
acid. 

No.  1,141,588.  Safety  Shutter.  Issued  to  E.  H. 
Sperberg,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


The  film  gate  has  a  fire  shutter  attached  to  it  and 
a  latch  so  arranged  that  when  the  door  is  opened  the 
shutter  acts  to  cut  off  the  light-cone. 

No.  1,141,885.  Double  Lantern.  Issued  to  G.  L. 
W.  Palmer,  assignor  to  Greene  M.  F.  G.  Co.,  Boston, 
Mass. 

The  lantern  has  two  sets  of  lenses  and  slide  car- 
riers, with  one  lamp  and  condenser.  A  swinging  mir- 
ror in  front  of  the  condenser  directs  the  light-cone  to- 
ward either  slide  carrier,  and  a  mirror  opposite  the 
slide  carrier  directs  the  beam  of  light  through  the  slide 
to  the  projecting  lens. 

No.  1,142,103.  Safety  Shutter.  Issued  to  F.  R. 
Klink,  Canton,  Ohio,  assignor  of  parts  to  J.  A.  Ber- 
nower  and  V.  L.  Ney. 

A  fire  shutter  is  arranged  to  drop  between  the 
condensers  and  the  film  gate  when  electrically  released. 
An  electrical  contact  is  arranged  to  be  closed  in  case 
the  film  should  break.  Thus  the  breaking  of  the  film, 
by  fire  or  otherwise,  will  shut  off  the  cone  of  rays  from 
the  film  gate. 

No.  1,143,287.  Lighting  System  for  Cinemato- 
graphs. Issued  to  August  Kohler,  assignor  to  the  firm 
of  Carl  Zeiss,  Jena,  Germany. 

To  avoid  unnecessary  heating  of  the  film  gate,  a 
diaphragm  is  located  to  cut  off  the  outside  portions  of 
the  light  cone,  usually  falling  upon  the  film  gate.  The 
diaphragm  is  located  at  a  position  of  less  conventra- 
tion  of  heat,  and  a  set  of  three  condenser  lenses  is 
shown. 

Nos.  1,143,521  and  1,143,522.  For  an  Improved 
Method  for  Making  Motion  Picture  Films.  Issued  to 
Frank  M.  Faber,  Canton,  Ohio. 

■  A  method  of  making  a  continuously  titled  motion 
picture  film.  The  film  is  "double-printed"  by  the  use 
of  two  lenses,  one  upon  each  side  of  the  film,  giving 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No   1 


two  images  upon  the  film  at  the  same  time.  A  con- 
tinuous title,  or  running  description  of  the  action,  may- 
be given  at  the  same  time  that  the  action  is  shown. 

No.  1,143,542.  A  Process  for  Making  Cartoon,  or 
Hand  Drawn  Pictures.  Issued  to  Earl  Hurd,  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

Upon  a  heavy  card  is  drawn  a  background  con- 
taining all  of  the  picture  except  those  figures  or  parts 
which  are  to  show  movement.  The  moving  elements 
then  are  drawn  in  their  successive  positions  on  sepa- 
rate sheets  of  transparent  material.  The  transparent 
sheets  are  placed  over  the  background  and  photo- 
graphed one  by  one  with  a  motion  picture  camera, 
each  film  image  consisting  of  the  moving  element  plus 
the  background  as  seen  through  the  transparent  sheet. 

Nos.  1,143,607  and  1,143,608.  For  a  Camera  and 
a  Method  of  Color  Photography  for  the  Kinetoscope. 
Issued  to  B.  A.  Brigden,  East  Cleveland,  Penna. 

A  camera  having  a  ring  of  lenses  is  used,  with 
color  screens.  The  shutter  is  arranged  to  move  with 
the  objectives,  and  several  objectives  are  operating  at 
the  same  time. 

No.  1,143,663.  Condenser  and  Cooling  System. 
Issued  to  Rudolf  Stranbel,  assignor  to  the  firm  of  Carl 
Zeiss,  Jena,  Germany. 

The  condenser  case  is  filled  with  water. 

No.  1,143,979.  Solvent.  Issued  to  W.  G.  Lind- 
say, assignor  to  the  Celluloid  Co.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Two-thirds  ethyl  acetate  and  one-third  methyl  al- 
cohol, by  volume,  as  a  solvent  for  that  variety  of  acetyl 
cellulose  which  is  freely  soluble  in  acetone. 

No.  1,144,339.  Talking  Pictures.  Issued  to  Leon 
Gaumont,  assignor  to  Societe  des  Establissements  Gau- 
mont,  Paris,  France.     (Application  filed  Jan.  4,  1907.) 

A  differential  gear  is  used.  One  main  gear  is 
driven  from  the  phonograph  and  the  other  main  gear 
is  driven  (in  reverse  direction)  from  the  picture  pro- 
jector. When  phonograph  and  projector  are  running 
at  proper  speeds,  the  differential  gear  is  motionless. 
An  index,  is  attached  to  the  differential  and  speeds  are 
adjusted  to  keep  the  index  motion  less. 

No.  1,144,414.  Film  and  Sprocket.  Issued  to  O. 
J.  Holmes,  assignor  to  Atlas  Educational  Film  Co., 
Chicago,  111. 

It  is  proposed  to  make  some  sprocket  holes  larger 
in  non-inflammable  film,  and  to  make  corresponding 
sprocket  teeth  larger  in  projectors  for  projecting  non- 
inflammable  film  only.  The  non-inflammable  film  then 
may  be  projected  by  the  ordinary  machine  having  all 
sprocket  teeth  small,  but  ordinary  inflammable  film 
having  all  sprocket  holes  small  cannot  he  run  by  mis- 


take on  the  special  machine  with  some  sprocket  teeth 
large. 

Nos.  1,144,693  and  1,144,697.  Film  Reel.  Issued 
to  M.  G.  Delaney,  assignor  to  The  Northern  Sales  Co., 
Toledo,  Ohio. 

A  reel  having  a  stationary  side  and  a  revolving 
side,  with  film  guides  for  receiving  a  film  at  the  center 
of  the  fixed  side  and  reeling  it  up  with  the  leader  on 
the  outside  end,  for  re-projection  without  rewinding. 


Stars  Appearing  in  Person 

In  connection  with  the  Kleine-Edison  features  in 
which  they  appear  the  Edison  stars  have,  lately  been 
appearing  with  much  success  at  theaters  in  New  York 
City  and  vicinity.  They  are  introduced  from  the  stage 
and  the  manager  in  question  makes  much  oi  the  box 
office  attraction  of  the  event  by  getting  out  special 
posters  announcing  the  personal  appearance  of  the 
players.  Marc  MacDermott  appeared  at  the  Majestic 
theater,  New  York,  last  Tuesday  in  conjunction  with 
the  showing  of  the  Kleine-Edison  feature,  "The  De- 
stroying Angel,"  in  which  he  and  Mabel  Trunnelle 
appear.  He  was  greeted  so  vociferously  that  Manager 
Fleischman  had  to  ask  for  an  opportunity  for  Mr.  Mac- 
Dermott to  speak. 

Mabel  Trunnelle  appeared  Saturday  evening  at 
the  Fifth  Avenue  theater  in  Harlem,  in  connection 
with  the  Kleine-Edison  feature,  "The  Magic  Skin." 
Manager  Krause  expressed  himself  as  highly  pleased 
with  the  increase  in  business.  Miss  Trunnelle  will 
also  appear  at  Tischer's  theater,  Brooklyn,  Thursdav, 
when  the  same  feature  will  be  shown. 

At  a  recent  appearance  of  Viola  Dana  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  theater  the  management  got  out  twenty-four 
sheets  devoted  entirely  to  announcing  Mis-;  Dana's 
appearance  at  that  theater. 


Russell  Heads  Own  Company 

William  F.  Russell  has  been  given  a  company  oi 
his  own  at  the  American  Film  Company's  studios  at 
Santa  Barbara,  and  will  be  seen  hereafter  only  in  five- 
reel  Mutual  masterpictures ;  in  these  he  will  be  fea- 
tured. Director  Charles  Bartlctt  has  been  assigned  to 
the  Russell  company,  in  which  Charlotte  Burton  will 
play  opposite  Mr.  Russell.  The  latter  prefers  to  remain 
in  the  players"  division  of  the  industry  rather  than 
branch  into  that  of  directing.  His  ability  as  an  actor 
is  generally  recognized  and  accounts  for  this  prefer- 
ence. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Equitable  Re 


cable  rvearranges  its 

UNUSUAL  PLAYS  SCHEDULED 


Its  Rel 


eases 


AS  IS  customary  with  a  newly  formed  company,  the 
Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corporation,  consum- 
mating and  engaging  right  up  to  the  limit  of  its 
requisites,  many  changes  were  necessitated  and  have  been 
made  during  the  past  month,  or  since  the  recent  an- 
nouncement by  President  Spiegel  of  the  forthcoming 
activities  of  his  concern. 

With  a  staff  of  directors  now  almost  completed  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  concern,  a  sufficient  number  of 
stars  and  noted  players  are  under  contract  and  option 
to  safely  carry  the  productional  activities  through  an 
entire  year,  even  if  nothing  further  in  the  way  of  plays 
and  stories  be  secured.  The  fact  that  Rachael  Crothers, 
Harriet  Ford,  Russell  Edgar  Smith,  Marc  Edmond 
Jones,  Richard  Le  Gallienne  and  C.  Haddon  Chambers 
are  regular  contributors  of  original  material,  precludes 
the  possibility  of  a  shortage  of  fiction,  if  the  production 
department  is  enlarged. 

The  tentative  program,  as  issued  a  short  while  ago, 
is  now  definitely  rearranged.  The  long  list  of  stars,  em- 
bracing a  great  number  of  tried  and  proven  players  and 
a  few  who  are  only  beginning  film  work,  will  be  seen, 
either  at  intervals  or  in  one  production,  specially  suited 
to  their  particular  personality  and  ability. 

The  list  of  players  of  stellar  roles,  now  either  play- 
ing or  already  cast  are :  Gail  Kane,  Brandon  Tynan, 
Marguerite  Leslie,  Carlyle  Blackwell,  Emmett  Corrigan, 
Teddy  Sampson,  William  Courtenay,  Henry  Kolker, 
Frank  Sheridan,  Thomas  A.  Wise,  Lily  Cahill,  Muriel 
Ostriche,  Molly  Mclntyre,  Mary  Boland,  Clara  Whipple, 
Howard  Hall,  Gerda  Holmes,  Cyril  Scott,  Marie  Em- 
press, Lillian  Lorraine,  Leonore  Ulrich,  Arthur  Ashley 
and  Julia  Dean.  Of  these,  a  number  have  already  ap- 
peared and  are  under  contract  for  further  productions. 

Of  the  unannounced  stars  and  plays,  Frank  Sheridan 
and  Carlyle  Blackwell  in  picturizations  of  virile  dramatic 
documents,  "The  Struggle"  and  "The  Clarion,"  lead  in 
importance,  as  they  will  be  at  work  within  the  week. 
Directors  John  Ince  and  James  Durkin  being  busily  en- 
gaged now  assembling  the  casts  and  selecting  locations. 

Marguerite  Leslie,  late  leading  woman  with  Sir 
Henry  Irving,  and  other  stars,  will  star  in  "The  Pain 
Flower."  a  unique  and  picturesque  romantic  tale,  which 
will  be  under  the  directorial  auspices  of  Harry  Hand- 
worth. 

Julia  Dean,  last  seen  on  Broadway  in  "The  Law  of 
the  Land"  and  "Bought  and  Paid  For,"  is  completing 
"The  Ransom"  at  the  Triumph  studio  and  Marie  Em- 
press, late  star  of  several  Famous  Players  and  Metro 
releases,  will  be  seen  in  a  sensational  production  entitled 
"Behind  Closed  Doors."  Miss  Empress  will  be  supported 
by  Marion  Swayne,  William  Huntington,  Paul  Irving, 
Thomas  Tracy  and  Regan  Hughston.  "Behind  Closed 
Doors"  is  also  a  Triumph  production  and  comes  on  the 
Equitable  program  January  10. 

Emmett  Corrigan,  who  recently  renounced  allegiance 
to  the  spoken  stage  in  order  to  fulfill  his  contract  with 
the  Equitable,  leaves  for  distant  points  in  company  with 
Frank  Powell,  the  noted  director,  within  the  forthcoming 
fortnight.  Mr.  Corrigan  will  be  seen  in  Le  Gallienne's 
vivid  and  novel  tale,  "The  Chain  Invisible." 

Gail  Kane  in  her  second  Equitable  picture,  "Her 
God,"  is  now  at  Eaco,  Ariz.,  on  the  edge  of  the  American 


desert,  where  E.  Mason  Hopper  is  gathering  local  color 
and  atmosphere  for  the  Equitable  Girl  series;  of  which 
Miss  Kane  is  the  star.  "Her  God"  will  be  the  regular 
Equitable  release  during  one  of  the  early  February  weeks. 

Margarita  Fischer,  who  completed  "The  Dragon" 
last  week,  under  the  supervision  of  Harry  Pollard,  will 
make  her  debut  on  the  program  January  3.  "The 
Dragon"  is  one  of  the  most  unusual  pictures  yet  released 
by  Equitable  and  opens  a  wide  avenue  of  possibilities  in 
the  unconventional. 

Director  S.  E.  V.  Taylor,  the  noted  writer  and  pro- 
ducer, is  completing  the  final  details  of  the  first  picture 
work  of  the  popular  Scotch  star,  Molly  Mclntyre,  which 
will  be  a  picturization  of  Mr.  Taylor's  original  work, 
"The  Story  of  Nan  Perrine,"  but  which  has  been  retitled 
"One  Night."  Not  a  few  strange  and  weird  effects  will 
characterize  the  first  Taylor-Equitable-Mclntyre  play. 
"One  Night"  will  be  released  January  17. 

"The  Senator,"  in  which  the  inimitable  Charles  J. 
Ross  makes  his  initial  bow  on  the  Equitable  program, 
will  be  seen  December  27.  The  chief  situations  and 
principal  scenes  of  this  play  were  staged  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  with  the  co-operation  of  the  Federal  gov- 
ernment. 

Thus,  the  forthcoming  four  weeks  will  see  eight 
stars  in  four  serious  plays,  of  exceptional  productional 
elaborateness  and  special  blendings  of  stage  and  screen 
stars. 

In  the  month  to  follow,  Mary  Boland,  Teddy  Samp- 
son, Gail  Kane,  Brandon  Tynan,  Julia  Dean  and  Frank 
Sheridan  will  be  seen  in  famous  plays  or  novels,  or  orig- 
inal material  of  greater  forcibility. 

During  the  unusual  inclemency  of  November,  De- 
cember and  January,  the  seven  Equitable  playing  com- 
panies under  the  executive  charge  of  various  experienced 
studio  and  business  managers,  will  work  in  the  extreme 
south.  Orlando  Beach,  Ormonde,  Jacksonville,  Albu- 
querque, N.  M.,  and  Tucson,  Ariz.,  will  be  the  working 
base  of  one  or  more  of  the  organizations. 


Film  Colony  Aids  Poinsettia  Fete 

Oliver  Kehrlein  of  Hollywood,  one  of  the  pro- 
proprietors  of  the  Kinema  motion  picture  theater  in 
Fresno  and  Kinema  theaters  elsewhere  in  California, 
had  the  management  of  last  week's  Midwinter  Poin- 
settia Fete  in  Hollywood  in  charge.  The  affair  was 
the  biggest  three-night  success  that  Los  Angeles  and 
vicinity  has  known  and  for  this  Mr.  Kehrlein  gives 
credit  to  the  motion  picture  colony  there. 

O.  H.  Davis,  general  manager  of  Universal  City, 
and  Jesse  L.  Lasky  were  on  the  board  of  judges  award- 
ing prizes  in  the  poinsettia  display,  together  with 
Mayor  Sebastian,  Judge  McCormick,  Mrs.  E.  Winters 
and  J.  B.  Wilcox.  The  program  each  evening  was 
provided  by  the  motion  picture  players  of  the  various 
companies.  Anita  King  raffled  a  five-passenger  Kissel 
car,  Cleo  Ridgley  raffled  a  kiss,  Billy  Mason  tried  to 
do  likewise  but  the  bidders  were  bashfully  few,  Lois 
Weber  addressed  an  all-girl  audience  on  "How  to  Get 
Into  Motion  Pictures,"  but  it  really  was  a  dissertation 
on  how  not  to  get  in ;  Nell  Shipman's  book  and  music 
of  "Under  the  Crescent"  brought  many  bids ;  Wilfred 


22 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


E.  Buckland  and  Cecil  DeMille  contributed  their  pres- 
ence, Arthur  Shirley  entertained  with  sleight-of-hand 
tricks,  William  F.  Russell  expressed  one  dozen  ducks 
from  his  ranch  at  Santa  Barbara  as  contribution  to  the 
country-store  section  of  the  Fete,  H.  H.  Jonas  had 
Universal  City  favorites  in  tow  while  Kenneth  McGaf- 
fey  introduced  those  of  the  Lasky  studio  to  the  public. 
Fred  Mace  was  a  merry  Keystoner  at  large  and  all  the 
other  studios  of  Southern  California  were  represented. 


TO  MAKE  FEATURES  ONLY 

Three    Gaumont   Companies   at   Jacksonville  to    Pro- 
duce Mutual  Master-Pictures,  Edition  De 
Luxe,  in  Five  Reels 

Rumors  current  in  the  motion  picture  industry  for 
the  last  few  weeks  have  been  crystallized  into  the  an- 
nouncement that  the  Gaumont  company  will  devote 
its  photodrama  activities  entirely  to  the  making  of 
five-reel  features  for  release  on  the  Mutual  program 
as  Mutual  Master-Pictures,  edition  'de  luxe.  Two 
companies  already  at  Jacksonville  are  now  at  work 
upon  these  big  pictures  and  a  third  is  in  process  of 
organization. 

Two  of  these  companies  will  be  headed  by  promi- 
nent stars  in  the  permanent  employ  of  the  Gaumont 
company.  At(  the  head  of  one  will  be  Miss  Gertrude 
Robinson  and  Alexander  Gaden,  both  players  who 
have  large  followings  among  motion  picture  patrons. 
The  other  will  have  as  its  leading  woman  a  fascinating 
young  actress  whose  name  is  being  withheld  by  the 
Gaumont  company  for  the  present.  Opposite  her  will 
be  featured  Sydney  Mason.  His  excellent  work  for 
the  Gaumont  company  in  Rialto  star  feature  releases 
warrants  his  elevation  to  stardom. 

The  third  company  will  differ  slightly  in  policy 
from  the  others,  in  that  it  will  have  only  a  permanent 
woman  star,  Miss  Lucille  Taft.  The  leading  man  in 
each  case  will  be  a  prominent  Broadway  actor  who 
also  has  a  large  following  throughout  the  country.    It 


is  this  company  which  is  now  in  process  of  organiza- 
tion. 

Among  the  people  already  engaged  is  Miss  Iva 
Shepard.  She  has  been  featured  in  emotional  roles 
for  the  last  five  years  by  Selig,  Kleine,  Universal,  Life 
and  Famous  Players. 


Fine  Arts  Gets  Carpenter  Novel 

The  Fine  Arts  studio  has  closed  negotiations  with 
the  much-sought-for  fiction  artist,  Grant  Carpenter,  for 
the  film  rights  to  his  most  recent  literary  achievement, 
"The  Little  Apache."  Grant  Carpenter  became  well 
known  for  his  excellent  fiction  serials  that  have  ap- 
peared in  the  Saturday  Evening  Post,  Smart  Set  and 
Sunset  Magazine.  The  most  prominent  serial  was  "The 
Shadow  of  the  Dragon,"  which  ran  in  the  Sunset  Maga- 
zine for  ten  issues. 

His  play,  "The  Dragon's  Claws,"  was  produced  at 
the  Little  theater  in  Philadelphia,  and  his  comic  opera, 
"The  Poster,"  was  produced  in  San  Francisco  with 
Edwin  Stevens  as  the  star.  Next  season  three  of  Grant 
Carpenter's  plays  will  be  produced  in  New  York,  for 
which  he  has  already  advance  royalties.  David  Be- 
lasco  will  stage  one  of  his  plays  with  Frances  Star; 
John  Cort  has  accepted  one  and  Winthrop  Ames  has 
agreed  to  produce  his  third  play.  This  is  quite  a  rec- 
ord for  a  playwright  to  have  three  of  his  plays  staged 
in  the  same  season. 


Searching  the  globe  for  stories  of  interest  to  the 
"readers"  of  his  "Celluloid  Newspaper,"  the  editor- 
in-chief  of  Paramount  Newspictures  has  added  an- 
other figure  of  national  reputation  to  the  list  of  asso- 
ciate editors,  among  whom  are  already  such  men  as 
John  A.  Sloicher  of  the  Leslie-Judge  Company,  Walde- 
mar  Kaempffet,  of  the  Popular  Science  Monthly,  and 
Roger  W.  Babson,  the  noted  statistician,  in  the  person 
of  Raymond  L.  Ditmars,  the  most  famous  authority 
on  animals  in  this  country  and  active  head  of  the 
greatest  zoo  in  the  world  at  Bronx  Park,  New  York. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


23> 


BAD  ORDINANCE  TABLED 

Representatives  of  Motion  Picture  Industry  Persuade 
New  York  Alderman  That  a  Stage  Is  a  Need- 
ful Thing  in  Modern  Theaters 

"Gentlemen,  I  congratulate  you.  This  is  the  first 
time  in  my  recollection  that  a  delegation  representing 
an  industry  as  large  as  yours  has  voluntarily  accepted 
an  increase  in  the  license  fees  pertaining  to  your  busi- 
ness." The  speaker  was  Alderman  William  D.  Brush, 
chairman  of  the  General  Welfare  Committee  of  the 
New  York  Board  of  Aldermen.  The  persons  he  was 
congratulating  comprised  a  delegation  representing  the 
varied  motion  picture  interests  of  the  city,  headed  by 
the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  of  America. 

The  delegation  was  opposing  an  ordinance  in- 
creasing the  license  fees  of  motion  picture  theaters, 
seating  more  than  600,  to  $150  per  year.  This  was  a 
raise  of  $50  and  it  was  the  willingness  of  the  theater 
men  to  accept  this  raise  that  brought  out  the  chair- 
man's laudatory  comment. 

What  the  speakers  vigorously  objected  to  in  the 
ordinance  was  a  section  providing  that  "There  shall  be 
no  stage  or  scenery  in  a  motion  picture  theater  or  open 
air  motion  picture  theater.  For  the  purpose  of  this 
article  the  word  stage  shall  be  construed  to  mean  any 
raised  platform  capable  of  bearing  one  or  more  persons, 
whether  or  not  it  has  a  proscenium  opening  or  arch  or 
is  supplied  with  footlights  or  whether  or  not  there  are 
dressing  rooms  on  the  premises." 

General  Counsel  William  M.  Seabury  and  Execu- 
tive Secretary  J.  W.  Binder  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Board  of  Trade  of  America  pointed  out  that  if  this  pro- 
vision meant  what  it  said  the  Strand  and  Vitagraph,  as 
well  as  hundreds  of  the  larger  theaters  now  showing  mo- 
tion pictures  as  part  or  all  of  their  programs,  would  be 
obliged  to  tear  out  their  stages.  They  also  proved  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  committee  that  because  of  the 
progress  that  has  been  made  in  presenting  motion  pic- 
tures, a  stage  with  its  proper  setting  was  an  indispen- 
sible  part  of  the  modern  picture  theater  and  that  the 
fire  risk  was  not  increased  thereby. 

Frank  H.  Richardson  spoke  on  the  protection  af- 
forded to  spectators  in  moving  pictures  theaters  by  the 
stage  which  made  it  impossible  to  bring  any  of  the 
seats  nearer  than  twenty  feet  from  the  screen.  Samuel 
H.  Trigger,  representing  the  exhibitors  of  the  Bronx, 
William  Brandt,  speaking  for  the  exhibitors  of  Brook- 
lyn, and  Lee  A.  Ochs  of  the  Exhibitors'  League  also 
opposed  the  passage  of  this  objectionable  and  unrea- 
sonable section,  as  did  also  Carl  H.  Pierce  of  the  Oliver 
Morosco  Photoplay  Company  and  attorneys  represent- 
ing the  Keith  and  Fox  theaters. 

After  hearing  the  arguments  the  committee  went 
into  executive  session  and  voted  to  table  the  ordinance. 
This  is  a  distinct  victory  for  the  newly  organized  Mo- 
tion Picture  Board  of  Trade  which  represents  motion 
picture  interests  aggregating  approximately  half  a  bil- 
lion dollars,  covering  all  branches  of  the  industry. 


foxth's  Scheme  Brings  Business 

erprising    and     original     solicitation     for 
C  usiness  was  devised  by  Tom  North,  man- 

ager Big  Four  Seattle  office,  last  week,  when  a 

return  tel  -am  was  sent  to  all  the  exhibitors  in  that 
terr.it  di  ;cting  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  office  to  book  their 
order  te  of  the  Big  Four  releases. 


This  telegram  was  mailed  in  a  Western  Union 
envelope  under  a  two-cent  stamp  and  contained  the 
suggestion  that  the  exhibitor,  upon  its  receipt,  fill  in 
the  name  of  the  feature  he  desired,  sign  it  and  hand  it 
to  a  messenger  boy. 

It  is  said  that  the  idea  made  a  wide-spread  im- 
pression upon  those  receiving  the  "wire"  and  that 
many  of  them  followed  the  suggestion  with  a  very 
substantial  volume  of  business  being  booked  by  the 
Seattle  office  as  a  result. 


William  West,  Edison,  Dead 

William  L.  West,  the  veteran  Edison  character 
man,  died  Thursday,  last,  at  the  age  of  62  years.  While 
Mr.  West  had  not  been  in  rugged  health  for  some  little 
while,  his  end  came  rather  unexpectedly,  as  he  persisted 
almost  to  the  last  in 
appearing  at  the  stu- 
dio as  he  had  for 
over  six  years.  His 
last  appearance  was 
in  the  Kleine-Edison 
five-part  feature, 
"The  Magic  Skin," 
as  the  old  family 
servant  and  friend,  a 
character  he  always 
did  capitally.  Born 
in  AVheeling,  West 
Va.,  and  raised  in 
Camden,  N.  J.,  Mr. 
West  spent  thirty- 
two  active  years  in 
theatricals.  Before 
he  went  to  Edison, 
he  was  for  a  number 
of  years  in  stock 
with  Mrs.  Spooner 
in  Brooklyn.  Previ- 
ously he  was  five 
years  in  "The  Danger  Signal"  with  Rosabel  Morrison. 
He  left  a  wife  and  two  sons,  Director  Langdon  West 
and  Forrest  West  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  West  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  old  men  actors  in  the  business 
and  was  loved  both  in  the  studio  and  on  the  screen  for 
his  gentleness  and  amiability. 


William    West. 


Triangle  Service  Still  Growing 

Growth  of  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation  service 
for  the  last  two  or  three  weeks  is  one  of  the  sensa- 
tions of  the  screen  world.  According  to  official  re- 
ports, nearly  500  theaters  in  the  United  States  alone 
are  now  using  the  service,  and  foreign  agents  are  busi- 
ly making  contracts  in  South  America,  Europe  and 
the  Far  East. 

Among  the  most  gilt  edged  of  these  rentals  are 
364  one-year  contracts  for  supplying  films  to  theaters 
in  various  parts  of  the  country.  Vice-President  Adam 
Kessel  issued  a  statement  last  week  in  which  he  said : 
"When  it  is  considered  that  the  company  was  not  or- 
ganized until  the  middle  of  July  and  made  no  attempt 
to  secure  contracts  until  the  middle  of  September,  we 
think  we  have  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  progress 
that  has  been  made." 

Reports  from  all  over  the  country  indicate  that  in  90 
per  cent  of  the  houses  the  Triangle  program  is  playing 
to  capacity  business.     In  most  of  the  houses  the  pro- 


24 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


gram  of  two  five-part  features  and  two  two-reel  com- 
edies is  split  into  two  parts.  The  Griffith  supervised 
feature,  with  one  Keystone,  is  vised  the  first  half  of 
the  week,  and  the  Ince  feature  and  the  other  Key- 
stone the  second  half. 


FIRST  VOGUE  COMEDY  READY 

New    Brand    of    Slapstick    Pictures    Will    Soon    Be 

Released  on  the  Mutual  Program,  With  Sammy 

Burns  in  Leading  Role. 

Sammy  Burns,  an  inimitable  English  comedian, 
makes  his  debut  as  a  screen  laugh-maker  in  the  first 
Vogue  comedy  release,  December  27.  The  title  of  the 
picture  is  "Sammy's  Scandalous  Scheme"  and  it  has 
been  received  enthusiastically  by  exhibitors  in  an 
advance  showing. 

Sammy  (he  scorns  the  conventional  "Mr.")  offers 
in  his  comedy  work  some  eccentric  novelties  new  to 


studio  and  that  only  for  a  brief  occupancy.  Mr.  Bee- 
croft  declares  :  "Equitable  is  not  using  the  studio  at 
present,  and  at  no  time  had  it  a  contract  for  the  full 
floor  space  of  the  studio  or  for  the  factory  or  labora- 
tory, as  claimed  in  the  story.  I  am  sure  that  the  state- 
ment was  made  in  the  best  of  faith  by  Motography, 
but,  inasmuch  as  it  is  obviously  hurtful  to  the  interests 
of  the  Centaur  Company,  I  will  ask  that  a  correction  be 
made." 


A  scene  from   Vogue's  "Sammy's  Scandalous  Scheme." 

the  screen.  His  long  experience  on  the  English  stage 
has  gained  him  a  broad  knowledge  of  mystifying  and 
mirth-provoking  tactics. 

In  the  accompanying  picture  Sammy  is  shown  in 
an  especially  funny  scene  in  "Sammy's  Scandalous 
Scheme,"  in  which  he  is  most  ably  supported  by  a  cast 
of  trained  humorous  eccentrics  new  in  name  and  style 
to  the  screen. 

Vogue  comedies  are  to  be  of  the  slapstick  kind, 
with  a  reason  for  the  slapstick,  giving  to  the  Mutual 
program,  on  which  they  will  be  released,  the  exact  sort 
of  fun-filled  pictures  so  long  desired.  Sammy  is  an 
acrobatic  comedian  of  a  type  compellingly  funny  and 
surprisingly  original. 

In  the  first  picture  Burns  gives  an  imitation  of 
Charley  Chaplin  that  is  said  to  be  decidedly  realistic, 
and  the  accompanying  "still"  shows  him  in  his  Chaplin 
make-up. 


Centaur  Plant  Not  Leased 

Chester  Beecroft,  general  manager  of  the  Centaur 
Film  Company,  writes  to  the  effect  that  the  re- 
cently published  statement,  issued  by  the  Equitable 
Film  Corporation,  to  the  effect  that  it  has  taken  over 
the  entire  Centaur  plant  at  Bayonne  is  a  misstatement, 
since  the  Equitable  Company  rented  but  one-half  of  the 


FOX  ADVOCATES  PUBLICITY 


Urges  Exhibitors  Everywhere  to  Advertise  in  All  the 

Newspapers  of  Their  City,  Thereby  Gaining 

Friendship  of  the  Press 

William  Fox  is  throwing  all  of  the  extensive  re- 
sources of  his  Fox  Film  Corporation  behind  a  move- 
ment destined  to  be  of  great  financial  value  to  the 
daily  newspapers  of  America.  It  is  somewhat  of  an 
oddity  in  these  days  of  selfish  personal  exploitation 
and  press  agentry  to  note  that  the  Fox  campaign  is 
not  linked  in  the'  slightest  way  Avith  his  own  private 
interests,  or  shaped  in  any  way  to  be  personally  bene- 
ficial. It  is,  in  fact,  done  to  bring  a  closer  feeling  of 
friendship  between  all  daily  newspapers  and  the  film 
manufacturers  as  a  whole. 

Mr.  Fox  is  now  appealing  to  the  thousands  of 
American  exhibitors  to  advertise  their  home  town 
newspapers  freely,  generously  and  without  pay.  For 
weeks  his  bulletin,  issued  to  exhibitors,  has  been  em- 
phasizing the  methods  by  which  the  exhibitor  can  team 
with  the  daily  newspapers.  This  Avas  merely  laying 
the  groundwork  for  what  he  now  reveals. 

William  Fox's  personal  success  is  very  largely 
based  upon  vivid,  shrewd,  paid  advertising  in  the  daily 
newspapers.  There  has  been  begun  in  his  bulletin  a 
series  of  editorials  introducing  both  exhibitors  and 
branch  managers  to  the  editors,  owners  and  managers 
of  newspapers  of  all  sections. 

As  an  encouragement  to  closer  friendship  between 
newspaper  owners  and  the  owners  of  motion  picture 
theaters,   Mr.   Fox  offers   the   following  suggestions: 

"1.  Buy  advertising  space  in  your  home  city 
newspapers. 

"2.  Every  motion  picture  theater  in  the  United 
States  ought  to  throw  on  the  screen  once  during  each 
performance  just  before  or  just  after  the  big  feature 
picture  a  slide  urging  the  patrons  to  read  all  of  the 
daily  newspapers  for  the  good  of  the  city. 

"Do  not  omit  the  name  of  any  newspaper,  no 
matter  whether  you  think  an  owner  is  friendly  or  not. 
Include  all  in  your  slide. 

"Do  not  go  to  a  newspaper  owner  or  manager 
and  try  to  swap  or  exchange  this  courtesy  for  any 
publicity. 

"The  newspapers  have  made  the  automobile  in- 
dustry and  have  given  remarkable  impetus  to  motion 
pictures — now  the  fifth  greatest  industry  in  America 
and  crowding  hard  to  attain  fourth  place  in  industrial 
importance.  Manufacturers  and  exhibitors  owe  the 
newspapers  much.  No  nation-wide  campaign  of  this 
kind  ever  has  been  suggested  before,  though  it  has 
been  done  for  individual  newspapers  in  cities  here  and 
there." 

Mr.  Fox  urges  and  advises  that  all  exhibitors  of 
Fox  films  and  the  features  of  other  manufacturers  as 
well,  do  this  service  for  all  newspapers  in  all  cities  and 
towns. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Horkheimer  Foresees  No  "Get  Together" 

SHORT  SUBJECTS  POPULAR 


'T 


[N  my  opinion,"  said  H.  M.  Hork- 
heimer across  the  dinner  table  at  the 
Hotel  Sherman  on  Monday,  "the  fea- 
ture exchanges  will  never  be  able  to  get  to- 
gether and  eliminate  the  expense  incidental 
to  the  maintenance  of  branch  offices  in  the 
large  cities  in  the  United  States.  Theoreti- 
cally, a  saving  could  be  made  under  some 
such  plan,  not  alone  in  eliminating  the  ex- 
pense, but  in  eliminating  cut-price  methods 
of  distributing  features.  However,  such  an 
arrangement  would  eventuate  the  same  con- 
ditions which  now  confront  the  General 
Film  Company.  In  other  words,  the  weaker 
feature  would  be  supported  by  the  stronger 
one,  and  the  weaker  manufacturer  by  his 
stronger  brother,  who  sooner  or  later  would 
object  to  carrying  the  load. 

"Such  an  arrangement  could  not  con- 
template all  of  the  big  feature  exchanges, 
so  that  there  would  always  be  companies  on  the  outside 
who  might,  by  close  conservation  of  finances,  be  enabled 
to  rent  features  cheaper. 

"In  any  event,  in  speaking  about  my  own  company, 
I  want  to  say  that  the  Balboa  Producing  Company  is 
able  to  furnish  feature  films  to  any  concern  and  unless 
sufficient  financial  inducements  were  offered  to  us  we 
could  not  contemplate  tying  up  our  output  to  any  single 
distributor. 

"We  are  making  a  great  many  multiple  reel  subjects 
in  California,  but  we  are  also  making  some  shorter  length 
subjects,  because  I  believe  that  the  day  of  the  one,  two 
and  three-reel  picture  is  almost  upon  us,  and  the  manu- 
facturer who  can  turn  out  good  subjects  of  this  length 
will  be  in  a  better  position  than  the  feature  producer 
hiring  stars  at  tremendous  salaries,  the  expense  for  which 
can  only  be  gotten  out  of  five,  six  and  seven-reel  pictures. 

"If  you  go  into  any  theater  today  you  will  find  that 
the  public  does  not  like  to  sit  through  long  subjects  and 
since  multiple  reel  features  at  present  are  run  without 
the  titles,  'Reel  Two'  and  'Reel  Three,'  but  are  shown 
continuously,  the  patron  of  the  motion  picture  theater,  go- 
ing into  his  favorite  amusement  place  in  the  middle  of  a 
six-reel  film,  is  unable  to  tell  whether  he  is  looking  at 
the  beginning  of  a  picture,  how  much  longer  the  picture 
is  going  to  run  and  how  long  he  will  have  to  wait  for 
the  beginning  of  the  story,  skipping  such  little  annoyances 
as  the  running  of  a  .few  advertising  slides  and  a  news 
pictorial  after  the  feature,  and  before  the  running  over 
again  of  the  first  two  or  three  reels. 

"Variety  is  the  spice  of  life  and  the  motion  picture 
theater  having  a  varied  program  at  a  minimum  price  of- 
fers amusement  of  a  varied  character  for  one  and  a  half 
hours.  Of  course,  there  will  always  be  the  longer 
multiple  reel  subject  showing  in  houses  which  have 
definite  admission  hours  and  a  slightly  higher  admission 
price,  but  the  future  of  this  business  lies  in  the  great 
number  of  smaller  neighborhood  theaters,  running  a 
number  of  single  or  two-reel  films  for  their  particular 
clientele. 

"I  want  to  commend  Motography's  stand  on  the  sub- 
ject of  censorship  and  I  particularly  enjoyed  reading  the 


last  editorial  entitled,  'Censorship  and  the 
Percentage  System  of  Distribution.'  I  be-  ' 
lieve,  with  you,  that  manufacturers  will 
have  to  pay  more  attention  to  the  kind  of 
films  they  are  putting  out,  so  as  to  avoid  the 
possibility  of  financial  elimination  of  a  film 
in  populous  parts  of  the  country  where  film 
censors  are  unusually  strict. 

"I  am  preparing  an  article  exclusively 
for   Motography  on  the  censorship  ques- 
tion which  will  throw  light  on  it  from  an  en- 
tirely different  angle,  I  believe.    It  is  human 
nature  for  some  people  to  attempt  to  offer 
advice  and  suggestion   on  how  one's  busi- 
ness  should  be   run,  and  it  is  this  trait  in 
human  nature  which  prompts  women  and 
some  effeminate  men,  in  various  localities, 
to    sponser   censorship   movements.      I   be- 
lieve that  the  censors  can  be  'shown'  and  as 
president   of   the   Balboa   Producing   Com- 
un  going  to  make  films  to  which  no  censor  can 
object  and  still  retain  all -of  the  virility  of  the  film 
with  its  tremendous  appeal  and  education  force." 


FOX  GETS  WAR  FILM  FOR  A.  C.  F. 


After  Many  Exciting  Experiences  Noted  War  Corre- 
spondent Succeeds  in  Getting  to  the  Front. 
Negatives  on  the  Way  Here 

Edward  Lyell  Fox,  the  noted  war  correspondent 
and  author  of  "Behind  the  Scenes  with  Warring  Ger- 
many," is  back  from  Europe,  where  he  acted  as  special 
envoy  for  the  American  Correspondent  Film  Company. 

Mr.  Fox  is  the  first  correspondent  to  have  taken 
pictures  depicting  the  German  side  of  the  operations  in 
Serbia.  Previous  to  this  he  had  followed  in  the  wake 
of  the  Teutonic  drive  through  Poland  and  had  been 
present  at  the  fall  of  Warsaw  and  Novo  Georgiewsk. 
Early  in  October  he  was  tipped  off  that  Bulgaria  was 
to  enter  the  war  on  the  fourteenth  of  that  month.  He 
immediately  left  for  Sofia  by  way  of  Roumania.  At 
Bucharest  he  experienced  great  trouble  with  the  military 
authorities  and  narrowly  escaped  having  his  camera  outfit 
confiscated.  The  Roumanians  have  not  forgotten  the 
meddlesome  activities  of  certain  war  correspondents  dur- 
ing the  last  Balkan  war,  and  consequently  a  correspond- 
ent there  is  about  as  popular  as  the  plague.  Fox,  how- 
ever, finally  managed  to  make  his  way  to  the  Bulgarian 
capital,  where  he  obtained  permission  from  the  foreign 
office,  through  the  German  minister,  Michaeleas,  to  ac- 
company the  Bulgar-Germanic  forces  in  their  mighty 
effort  to  crush  the  Serbs. 

Armed  with  a  military  pass  and  accompanied  by 
Jack  Everets,  cameraman,  and  a  Bulgarian  who  was  unfit 
for  military  service  and  who  acted  as  combination  cook, 
valet  and  interpreter,  Fox  set  out  for  the  front,  the 
camera  equipment  and  provisions  being  carried  along  on 
an  antiquated  ox-cart.  Some  striking  scenes  were  taken 
in  connection  with  the  fall  of  Pirot  and  Nish.  Later 
Fox  left  Everets  to  continue  the  work  of  taking  pictures 
in  Serbia,  and  went  to  Constantinople.    Here  he  received 


26 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


permission  from  Enver  Bey  to  picturize  the  campaign  in 
the  vicinity  of  Galipoli.  From  there  he  returned  to  Sofia 
and  thence  to  Berlin.  After  filming  a  number  of  inter- 
esting scenes  depicting  prison  life  in  the  detention  camps 
near  Berlin,  Fox  proceeded  to  Vienna,  where  he  made 
arrangements  to  get  pictures  showing  the  fall  of  Bel- 
grade and  scenes  from  the  Isonzo  front  and  the  Tyrol. 
These  pictures  he  brought  back  with  him. 

The  later  Serbian  films  are  expected  in  America 
within  a  few  weeks,  the  delay  being  due  to  the  Bulgarian 
censorship  rule  prohibiting  the  release  of  war  pictures 
until  a  sufficient  time  has  elapsed  as  to  render  their 
military  value  negligible. 


Gladys  Hulette  of  Thanhouser 

If  you  happen  along  the  smooth  white  roads  out- 
side of  the  town  of  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  before  most 
people  are  up  these  crisp  cold  mornings,  you  will  meet 
an  athletic  young  figure,  wrapped  cozily  in  a  scarlet 
sweater  and  cap,  and 
striding  along  as  rap- 
idly as  her  sensibly 
shod  little  feet  will 
carry  her.  If  you 
can  catch  a  glimpse 
of  her  piquant  face 
and  of  her  delightful 
smile  you  will  know 
at  once  that  it  is 
Gladys  Hulette,  the 
charming  actress  of 
the  Thanhouser  con- 
tingent, who  is  ap- 
pearing regularly  in 
Mutual  Program  re- 
leases, and  that  she 
is  out  for  a  walk  to 
put  her  in  good  spir- 
its for  the  day's  work 
at  the  studio. 

Miss  Hulette's 
delightful  work  as  a 
screen  player  bears 
testimony  to  the  fact  that  she  is  possessed  of  a  sane  and 
interesting  outlook  on  life.  She  is  extremely  young, 
yet  her  poise  and  self  possession  bespeaks  experience 
and  intelligence.  And  she  has  had  experience.  She 
has  played  on  Broadway  in  "The  Blue  Bird"  and  "Lit- 
tle Women"  and  has  supported  De  Wolf  Hopper,  Mad- 
ame Kalish,  Madame  Alia  Nazimova  and  Henry  Miller 
and  other  equally  well  known  stars,  who  have  fur- 
nished her  with  an  ideal  of  stage  art,  and  a  fine  appre- 
ciation for  the  best  that  the  dramatic  profession  has 
to  offer. 

Miss  Hulette's  latest  appearance  is  in  the  three- 
reel  "Than-O-Play"  release  of  Dec.  18,  "His  Majesty 
the  King,"  in  which  she  plays  opposite  Bert  Delaney 
and  is  supported  by  the  Thanhouser  Kidlet  Helen 
Badgley,  and  Marion  and  Madeline  Fairbanks. 


Gladys   Hulette. 


William  J.  Butler  with  Gaumont 

A  face  long  familiar  upon  the  screen  in  Biograph 
releases  will  now  be  seen  in  Gaumont  Mutual  Master- 
pictures,  edition  de  luxe.  William  J.  Butler,  who  has 
been  six  years  with  Biograph,  has  gone  to  the  Gau- 
mont winter  quarters  at  Jacksonville  to  act  under 
the  direction  of  Richard  Garrick.     He  is  an  actor  of 


the  old  school,  embodying  in  his  methods  the  best 
traditions  of  his  profession. 

The  arrival  of  Mr.  Butler  at  the  Jacksonville  stu- 
dio was  the  occasion  of  a  family  reunion,  since  his 
daughter,  Miss  Kathleen  Butler,  has  been  for  some 
time  a  member  of  one  of  Gaumont's  Rialto  Star  fea- 
ture companies.  The  trip  from  Los  Angeles  to  Jack- 
sonville was  made  via  New  York,  the  entire  journey 
from  one  studio  to  the  other  being  4,300  miles. 

Mr.  Butler's  career  began  at  the  old  Madison 
Square  theater.  One  of  his  first  positions  of  promi- 
nence was  with  Kate  Claxton,  playing  Pierre  in  her 
"The  Two  Orphans"  Company.  He  was  in  companies 
playing  in  the  west  over  virgin  territory  where  now 
large  cities  stand.  The  first  professional  band  of  play- 
ers to  visit  Anaconda,  Mont.,  included  Mr.  Butler 
among  its  members.  The  last  four  years  he  appeared 
upon  the  legitimate  stage.  Mr.  Butler  was  with  Henry 
Miller,  appearing  in  "The  Great  Divide,"  "The  Only 
Way"  and  "The  Faith  Healer."  In  the  last  named 
he  created  the  role  of  "Beeler."  In  the  same  company 
were  Henry  B.  Walthall  and  James  Kirkwood,  now 
well  known  names  in  filmland.  He  was  also  in  the 
original  cast  of  "The  Serio-Comic  Governess"  when 
Daniel  Frohman  produced  that  play  with  Miss  Cecilia 
Loftus  in  the  title  role. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Co-operates  with  University 

That  Columbia  University  in  its  course  on  the 
photoplay  is  marking  time  with  the  modern  trend  is 
evidenced  this  week  by  its  disavowal  to  present  the 
course  on  the  silent  drama  on  a  purely  theoretical 
basis.  The  students  have  enlisted  the  co-operation  of 
V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  to  supply  the  practical  side  of  the 
instruction.  This  laboratory  work  will  include  a  study 
of  studio  essentials,  a  grasp  of  the  mechanical  possi- 
bilities of  the  film  and  a  critical  review  of  the  latest 
releases  when  shown. 

V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  has  accorded  the  students  press 
privileges  at  the  private  showings,  and  the  opportu- 
nities afforded  by  visits  to  the  studios  and  inspection 
rooms.  The  students,  as  part  of  the  course  and  in  re- 
sponse to  the  demand  for  photoplay  news,  will  publish 
their  criticisms  in  the  Columbia  Monthly  Magazine. 


Goldfrap  Goes  to  World 

John  Henry  Goldfrap,  who  for  a  long  period  of 
time  has  handled  the  Fox  publicity,  and  who  but 
recently  returned  from  Jamaica,  where  he  went  to 
secure  publicity  material  relating  to  the  Annette  Kel- 
lermann  picture,  in  the  making  there,  has  accepted  a 
position  as  advertising  and  publicity  man  for  the 
World  Film  Corporation. 

Mr.  Goldfrap  was  a  rancher,  an  advance  man,  a 
reporter,  a  rewrite  man  on  the  Morning  World  and 
the  Evening  World,  and  for  a  long  time  devoted  his 
talents  to  juvenile  fiction,  scenario  writing  and  maga- 
zine work  before  beginning  his  career  as  a  publicity 
man.  While  with  the  Fox  Company  he  launched  the 
big  advertising  campaigns  for  Betty  Nansen,  William 
Farnum,  Theda  Bara,  Nance  O'Neill  and  Annette  Kel- 
lermann.  John  W.  Rankin  succeeds  Mr.  Goldfrap  as 
advertising  and  publicity  representative  of  the  Fox 
Corporation.  He  is  an  experienced  theatrical  man 
who  has  represented  such  enterprises  as  those  of 
George  Brenon,  F.  C.  Whitney  and  Joseph  M.  Gates. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Paramount  Gets  Burton  Holmes  Services 


WILL  ISSUE  TRAVELOGUES 


BURTON  HOLMES,  the  most  famous  traveler  and 
lecturer  on  travel  in  the  world  today,  has  found 
that  it  is  possible  for  the  results  of  his  work  to  be 
seen  in  a  hundred  photoplay  theaters  throughout  the 
country  at  the  same  time,  through  the  contract  he  has 
just  signed  with  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  and 
it  is  now  announced  that  in  January,  the  Paramount- 
Burton  Holmes  Travelpictures  will  be  released  and 
booked  solely  through  the  Paramount  exchanges.  Mr. 
Holmes  will  personally  edit,  assemble  and  manufacture 
these  films  which  will  embody  the  same  kind  of  inter- 
esting and  comprehensive  views  that  he  has  been  show- 
ing in  connection  with  his  "Travelogues." 

"It  is  our  aim  to  make  these  pictures  short,  to  offer 
plenty  of  variety,  and  to  bring  out  the  human  interest  in 
the  life  of  the  countries  to  be  visited  on  what  we  might' 
call  'Our  Easy  Chair  Journeys,'  "  said  W.  W.  Hodkinson, 
president  of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  after 
the  meeting  at  which  the  arrangement  with  the  noted 
traveler  was  consummated.  "Mr.  Holmes  fully  realizes 
the  high  standard  of  excellence  which  must  be  maintained 
by  our  pictures  and  he  has  declared  himself  greatly  in 
favor  of  the  system  by  which  our  exhibitors  are  given  a 
voice  in  shaping  the  policy  of  the  program.  We  feel  that 
in  capturing  Mr.  Holmes  for  Paramount  we  have  won 
another  victory  for  the  photoplay,  and  we  are  glad  to 
add  his  name  to  those  of  Roger  W.  Babson,  J.  R.  Bray, 
Raymond  L.  Ditmars  and  the  others  already  associated 
with  us." 

Burton  Holmes  has  always  been  a  pioneer  along  the 
lines  of  artistic  progress ;  love  of  travel  has  always  been 
and  still  is,  the  motive  of  his  very  existence.  He  comes 
by  the' "wanderlust"  naturally,  as  his  ancestors  for  gener- 
ations have  been  great  travelers. 

He  was  the  first  lecturer  to  introduce  an  entire  pro- 
gram of  colored  views,  and  was  the  first  to  realize  the 
value  of  motion  pictures  in  the  illustration  of  travel  pic- 
tures. Beside  this,  he  was  the  first  of  his  profession  to 
realize  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  making  his  own 
motion  pictures. 

To  this  end.  he  and  his  colleague  and  assistant,  Oscar 
Bennett  Depue,  bought  motion  picture  cameras  and 
learned  the  art  of  motion  picture  photography,  in  order 
that  Mr.  Holmes  might  bring  his  audiences  genuine  and 
original  pictures  in  scenes  where  action  was  the  keynote 
of  interest,  such  as  native  dances,  the  falling  of  water- 
falls, spouting  of  geysers,  street  scenes,  parades  and  pa- 
geants, religious  ceremonials,  feats  of  aviation,  national 
sports,  etc.  A 

The  present  is  the  twenty-third  season  of  his  career. 
For  twenty-three  years  Mr.  Depue  has  been  associated 
with  him  as  lantern  operator  and  camera  expert,  and 
he  will  still  continue  in  these  same  various  capacities  in 
the  wider  field  of  furnishing  films  for  the  Paramount 
Corporation. 

The  third  member  of  the  trio  is  Louis  Francis 
Brown,  whose  seventeen  years  of  association  with  the 
"Travelogues" — the  word  coined  by  him — has  been  that 
of  business  manager. 

"It  has  been  my  dream,"  said  Mr.  Holmes  in  talking 
.of  his  new  contract,  "to  bring  the  result  of  my  travels  to 
every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  country,  at -a  price 
which  the  slenderest  purse  could  afford,  and  it  is  in  the 


hope  and  belief  that  my  dream  can  be  realized  that  I  have 
agreed  to  devote  to  the  uses  of  the  Paramount  Pictures 
Corporation  my  library  of  motion  pictures — not  merely 
those  that  I  have  already  taken  at  considerable  expense, 
of  time,  travel,  and  money,  but  those  I  take  today,  to- 
morrow, or  next  summer  or  next  winter." 

Mr.  Holmes  at  the  present  time  has  enough  material 
to  give  to  motion  picture  audiences,  through  Paramount, 
a  new  subject  every  week  for  over  a  year.  He  will  per- 
sonally attend  to  the  make-up  of  the  "Easy-Chair  Jour- 
neys," and  will  personally  write  the  descriptive  titles  con- 
taining much'  information  of  interest  and  humor. 

The  Paramount-Burton  Holmes  Travel  Pictures  will 
take  Paramount  theatergoers  to  all  the  interesting  places 
in  North  America,  from  Alaska  to  Florida,  and  from 
Niagara  to  the  Yosemite,  as  well  as  to  Japan,  China,  Java, 
the  Philippines,  Ceylon,  India,  Korea,  Russia,  Germany, 
Norway,  Sweden,  Ireland,  Scotland,  England,  and  so  on 
to  other  interesting  parts  of  the  world. 

Further  details  as  to  the  exact  nature  of  his  first  re- 
leases and  the  dates  on  which  they  can  be  seen  will  be 
announced  soon. 


Saunders  Host  to  "Ginger  Squad" 

R.  M.  Saunders,  general  manager  of  the  New  York 
Metro  Film  Service,  Inc.,  was  the  host  at  a  "get  to- 
gether" luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  in  which  members 
of  the  executive  staff  and  the  "ginger  squad"  that  recently 
went  into  the  field,  participated.  A  lot  of  the  "ginger 
crew"  reported  the  result  of  their  efforts  in  that  direction. 
Through  a  brief  campaign  of  local  advertising  in  the  in- 
terest of  Metro  feature  productions,  the  "ginger  squad" 
said  it  was  able,  in  many  cities  throughout  New  York 


ith:      In    the    lo'^.. 

mders,  H.   W.  Kahn  and  C. 


to    the    Metro    "Ginger    squad."    From    left    to    right 
W.  J.  Neely,  Joseph  Lynch.  C.    IV.   Glimm  and  P.  H. 
"— •  from   left   to   right  are  A.    W.    Carrick,   E.   M. 
'    Taylor. 

State,  to  increase  the  local  exhibitors'  business  on  Metro 
night,  from  thirty  to  fifty  per  cent.  Plans  were  laid  to 
increase  the  efficiency  of  the  new  squad,  and  carry  on  a 
more  extensive  campaign.  Those  present  at  the  luncheon 
included  Chief  Saunders,  C.  W.  Glimm,  assistant  man- 
ager; H.  W.  Kahn,  branch  manager,  Albany;  C.  A.  Tay- 


28 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


lor.  branch  manager,  Buffalo;  Joseph  Lynch,  New  York 
outside  representative ;  W.  J.  Neely,  traveling  publicity 
representative ;  A.  W.  Carrick,  traveling  publicity  repre- 
sentative, and  P.  H.  Smith,  New  York  outside  represen- 
tative. 


Now  Who'll  Get  Tom's  Watch? 

The  Gold  Watch  Contest  announced  by  Tom 
North,  manager  of  the  Seattle  branch  of  the  Big  Four, 
for  the  best  advertising  scheme  to  exploit  V.  L.  S.  E. 
features,  closed  last  Wednesday  with  the  interest  of 
all  the  exhibitors  of  that  territory  running  at  high 
pitch.  The  watch  will  be  presented  to  the  successful 
contestant  on  Christmas  day.  More  than  fifteen  hun- 
dred votes  were  cast  during  the  contest,  and  nearly  as 
many  suggestions  for  unique  "stunts." 

Not  only  has  this  novel  contest  aroused  the  inter- 
est of  the  exhibitors  in  the  Seattle  territory,  but  it  has 
created  much  comment  on  the  part  of  the  general  pub- 
lic who  have  been  attracted  by  the  striking  display  of 
the  watch  in  the  window  of  a  prominent  jeweler. 

Starting  on  August  14,  last,  the  contest,  stretching 
over  a  period  of  four  months,  has  brought  forth  from 
the  exhibitors  more  creative  suggestions  and  business 
building  "stunts"  than  even  enthusiastic  Tom  North 
had  ever  hoped  for.  It  is  the  plan  to  turn  all  these 
ideas  that  have  been  advocated  right  back  to  the  ex- 
hibitors in  helping  them  exploit  to  the  best  advantage 
the  Big  Four  features. 


Next  Week's  Vitagraph  Output 

The  Vitagraph  program  of  releases  announced 
for  the  week  beginning  December  27,  is  one  that  will 
close  the  old  year  in  triumph  and  open  the  new  one 
in  a  blaze  of  glory.  The  regular  releases  comprise 
two  reels  of  comedy  and  a  three-part  drama.  The 
personally  picked  program  consists  of  a  one-part 
comedy  and  a  four-reel  drama. 

"Fie  Got  Himself  a  Wife,"  the  first  of  these 
comedies,  announced  for  release  on  Monday,  Decem- 
ber 27,  is  a  one-part  laugh-getter  that  brings  forth  the 
efforts  of  the  players  from  the  western  Vitagraph 
studio.  The  story  was  written  by  Edwin  Ray  Coffin 
and  produced  by  George  Stanley,  with  a  cast  including 
Mary  Anderson,  Webster  Campbell,  and  Aileen  Allen. 

"The  Making  Over  of  Geoffrey  Manning,"  the 
four-part  drama  for  release  with  the  personally  picked 
program  was  written  in  co-operation  by  Charles  T. 
Dazey  and   William  Addison   Lathrop  and   produced 


under  the  direction  of  Harry  Davenport  with  an  all 
star  cast  including  Harry  T.  Morey,  L.  Rogers  Lytton, 
Ned  Finley,  Belle  Bruce,  Eulalie  Jensen,  Marion 
Henry,  Tom  Mills,  Logan  Paul  and  Jack  Brawn.  The 
plot  is  written  around  the  life  of  a  young  clubman 
brought  up  in  idleness.  He  is  suddenly  awakened  to 
realize  his  unfitness  in  the  business  world.  He  leaves 
his  home  on  a  supposed  pleasure  trip  but  instead  se- 
cures a  position  as  a  laborer.  He  encounters  many 
hair-raising  experiences  in  which  he  proves  himself  to 
be  a  man  of  great  determination  and  character. 

"The  Pest  Vamooser"  which  completes  Monday's 
releases  is  a  one-part  comedy  written  by  C.  Graham 
Baker  and  produced  by  C.  Jay  Williams.  This  brings 
before  the  public  a  cast  of  fun-makers  notable  among 
whom  are  Kate  Price,  Harry  Fisher  and  Albert  Roc- 
cardi. 

For  Friday,  December  31,  "By  the  Might  of  His 
Right,"  a  one-part  comedy  featuring  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sidney  Drew,  is  listed  for  release.  The  story  was 
written  by  William  B.  Courtney  and  produced  by 
Mr.  Drew.  The  three-part  Broadway  Star  Feature  an- 
nounced for  the  close  of  the  Aveek  and  the  start  of 
the  New  Year  is  "Tried  for  His  Own  Murder,"  writ- 
ten by  Agnes  Johnston  and  produced  by  Van  Dyke 
Brooke. 


Director  Marries  Comedy  Star 

Francis  MacDonald,  a  well  known  director,  and 
Mae  Busch,  a  Keystone  comedienne,  after  a  whirlwind 
courtship  of  one  week  decided  they  could  not  live  apart 
and  were  quietly  married  at  Hotel  Alexandria.  Los 
Angeles,  Sunday  night,  December  12.  They  were  at- 
tended by  a  few  intimate  friends.  After  the  ceremony 
a  wedding  repast  was  served  at  Al  Levy's  noted  cafe, 
which  at  that  hour  was  thronged  with  stars  of  film- 
land and  professional  people  who  presented  greetings 
and  extended  congratulations  to  the  happy  newly 
weds. 


The  complete  exterior  of  an  historic  convent  is  being 
erected  in  one  of  the  canyons  at  Inceville,  this  week,  to 
serve  as  a  setting  for  some  scenes  in  a  coming  Triangle- 
Kay-Bee  subject  in  which  Bessie  Barriscale  and  William 
Desmond  are  appearing  under  the  direction  of  Scott  Sid- 
ney. Miss  Barriscale,  in  this  story,  is  playing  the  part 
of  a  nun  while  Desmond  has  the  role  of  a  dashing  voting 
Hussar.  From  an  old  steel  engraving  and  wood  etch- 
ing, Master  Carpenter  Tom  Brierly  is  constructing  a 
remarkable  replica  of  the  convent  in  question. 


Scenes  from  "My  Lady's  Slipper"   and  "Thou  Art  the  Man,"  forthcoming   V.   L.   S.   E.   fcalur 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


29 


BILLIE  BURKE  IN  SERIAL 

Chicago  Tribune  Announces  That  Famous  Star  Has 

Been    Engaged    to    Appear    in    Twenty-Episode 

Picture  to  Be  Made  by  George  Kleine 

On  Sunday,  December  19,  the  Chicago  Tribune 
announced  that  Billie  Burke  had  finally  been  chosen 
to  play  the  leading  role  in  the  next  big  motion  picture 
serial  which  the  Tribune  will  run  in  its  .Sunday  edi- 
tions as  a  fiction  story  and  syndicate  widely  through- 
out the  country. 

Coupled  with  the  story  of  Miss  Burke's  engage- 
ment is  the  announcement  that  the  serial  will  be  made 
by  George  Kleine  in  twenty  episodes  or  chapters,  and 
that  it  will  probably  be  thirty  weeks  in  the  making. 
For  each  week  of  her  time  the  fair  Billie  is  to  receive 
$4,000  in  cold  hard  cash,  besides  being  furnished  with 
an  automobile,  unlimited  gowns,  two  maids,  a  chauf- 
feur, and  transportation  to  and  from  the  various 
locations  in  which  her  work  will  be  done. 

To  quote  the  Tribune:  "The  medium  through 
which  Miss  Burke  will  transfer  the  magnetic  influence 
of  her  perturbing  beauty  is  a  photoplay  drama  of  ad- 
venture by  Rupert  Hughes  and  his  wife,  Adelaide 
Manola  Hughes.  Mrs.  Hughes'  function  has  been  to 
elaborate  the  story  from  the  dramatization  by  her  hus- 
band." 

It  is  understood  $50,000  of  the  $120,000  which 
Miss  Burke  is  to  receive  by  way  of  salary  for  her  ap- 
pearance in  the  picture  has  already  been  paid  over  and 
she  will  draw  the  remainder  in  weekly  installments  of 
$2,333.33  each  Saturday. 


Ince  Has  Housewarming 

The  new  Vitagraph  studio  at  Brightwaters,  Long 
Island,  recently  built  for  the  use  of  Ralph  Ince  and 
his  company  of  players,  was  officially  opened  last  week 
by  a  housewarming  in  which  Ince  and  his  wife  acted 
as  host  and  hostess. 

The  accompanying  photograph  shows  the  happy 
group  and  the  immense  floral  piece  bearing  the  word 
"Success."  Sitting  in  the  center  in  the  fur  coat  is 
Ralph  Ince,  who  directed  "The  Goddess,"  "The  Jug- 
gernaut," "The  Million  Bid,"  and  other  notable  Vita- 


Iff  *3  *W§tff  i 


;       '.  : 


Ralph   Incc's   hoiisewarniiiu 


t  Brightwaters, 


graph  successes.  His  wife  is  at  his  right  and  next  to 
her  is  her  sister,  Anita  Stewart,  the  popular  Vitagraph 
star.  Standing  directly  behind  her  is  her  new  lead- 
ing man,  Richard  Turner.     Next  to  the  end  and  at 


the  right  is  Frank  Currier,  veteran  actor  and  now  the 
director  for  the  Vitagraph. 

The  new  studio  was  formerly  the  Forester's 
Lodge,  two  stories  high  and  with  floor  space  enough 
to  permit  deep  sets.  It  is  thoroughly  equipped  in 
every  particular  and  a  complete  staff  of  workers  make 
their  home  nearby. 


Daniel  Gilfether  of  Pathe  Balboa 

Daniel  Gilfether,  variously  known  as  "Dad"  and 
"Major"  at  the  Balboa  studio,  where  he  plays  characters 
and  old  men  so  convincingly  in  feature  films,  has 
arrived.  That  fact  was  made  certain  the  other  day 
when  he  received  a 
mash  note.  Be  it 
known  that  Mr.  Gil- 
fether has  already 
passed  the  three- 
score milestone  and 
is  well  started  on  his 
way  to  the  next  ten. 
Of  course,  in  his 
younger  days,  when 
the  Major  was  a 
dashing  matinee 
idol,  the  opposite 
sex  admired  him  in 
large  numbers.  But 
since  joining  the 
ranks  of  the  screen 
players  he  thought 
himself  too  old  for 
further  amorous 
conquests. 

Not  so,  however, 

for     Uncle     Sam     re-  Daniel   Gilfether 

cently    delivered    at 

the  Long  Beach  studio  a  neatly  penned  note  from  a 

fair  one  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.     She  gave  a  very  fetching 

description    of   herself   and   begged    Mr.    Gilfether   to 

advise  her  as  to  his  exact  height,  weight,  age  and  the 

other    more    interesting    personal    details    concerning 

himself. 

Yes,  Mr.  Gilfether's  admirer  requested  a  photo- 
graph. And  it  must  have  been  a  relief  to  the  lady's 
heart  to  learn  that  her  ideal  is  a  single  man  —and 
always  has  been. 


Aurora  Corporation's  First  Release  Ready 

Stuart  E.  Lake,  well  known  in  New  York  as  a 
newspaper  man  and  publicity  director,  has  been  en- 
gaged as  director  of  publicity  for  the  Aurora  Film 
Plays  Corporation,  which  has  just  produced  "The 
Waif"  as  its  first  offering  in  the  motion  picture  field. 
AVilliam  L.  Roubert  is  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Aurora  Film  Plays  Corporation. 

Mr.  Lake  was  until  recently  with  the  publicity 
department  of  the  World  Film  Corporation.  Prior 
to  that  he  was  engaged  in  newspaper  work  in  the 
middle  west  and  on  the  Pacific  coast,  going  from  San 
Francisco  to  Manila  and  other  cities  of  the  Orient, 
where  he  worked  for  some  time.  Returning  to  New 
York  he  became  a  reporter  on  the  New  York  World, 
leaving  that  newspaper  to  join  the  staff  of  the  Herald. 
He  worked  on  the  Herald  for  some  years  and  later 
was  associated  with  the  staffs  of  the  Morning  Tele- 
graph and  the  Evening  Journal.     His  first  work  in  the 


30 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


motion  picture  field  was  as  a  free-lance  publicity  man 
and  in  this  capacity  he  did  special  work  for  several 
of  the  larger  companies. 


An  Open  Letter  from  Carl  Laemmle 


i  nest  when  I  poked  into 
me  of  my  recent  straight 


Editor  Motography,  Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Sir:  I  stirred  up  a  ho 
the  question  of  smutty  pictures 
from  the  shoulder  talks. 

When  I  first  asked  the  exhibitors  of  America  whether 
they  wanted  clean  pictures  or  smutty  ones,  I  received  letters 
that  surprised  me,  because  the  proportion  of  those  who 
wanted  smutty  pictures  was  greater  than  I  thought  it  would 
be.  So  I  followed  this  up  with  an  editorial  to  the  effect  that 
the  majority  seemed  to  want  off-color  stuff  and  I  hinted  that 
the  Universal  might  make  some  pictures  of  this  type. 

It  was  a  good  deal  like  pushing  a  new  load  of  coal  into 
the  largest  furnace  in  hades,  for  I  was  immediately  swamped 
with  letters  from  exhibitors  begging  me  not  to  let  the  Uni- 
versal make  anything  but  clean  stuff. 

For  the  first  time  the  exhibitors  seemed  to  awaken  to 
the  fact  that  there  is  a  serious  menace  to  the  whole  business 
if  they  will  continue  to  exploit  dirty  pictures.  To  make  them 
realize  this  was  all  I  hoped  to  accomplish  by  bringing  up  the 
subject. 

The  Universal  never  had  any  intention  of  producing  filth, 
but  my  hinting  that  we  might  do  so  we  finally  got  the  exhib- 
itors to  do  some  real  thinking — and  the  more  thinking  they 
do,   the   better   for   the   whole   business. 

I  tell  you  now,  as  I  have  told  you  before,  that  the 
companies  which  are  making  money  by  producing  smutty 
pictures  are  the  most  insidious  enemy  the  moving  picture 
business  has.  They  are  doubly  dangerous  because,  for  a 
limited  time,  they  appear  to  boost  a  theater's  business. 
Mighty  few  exhibitors  look  far  enough  ahead  to  realize  that 
when  they  build  up  a  business  on  indecent  pictures  they  are 


paving  the  way  for  their  own  disaster.  Every  dollar  that 
they  make  on  dirty  exhibitions  will  cost  several  times  its 
value  in  the  future.  You  can't  get  away  from  it  any  more 
than  you  can  dodge  the  fact  that  right  is  right,  and  wrong  is 
wrong. 

The  one  consolation  to  be  derived  from  the  situation  is 
the  fact  that  dirty  features  have  done  more  to  kill  public 
interest  in  all  features  than  any  other  element.  For  no  sane 
man  can  doubt  that  the  feature  craze  is  dying  fast  and  that 
the  exhibitors  are  flocking  back  to  the  program  for  their 
profits.  Features  may  always  be  a  factor  in  this  business  but 
the  day  is  rapidly  passing  when  any  exhibitor  will  show  fea- 
tures more  than  once  or  twice  a  week. 

The  little  theater  is  coming  back  to  its  own.  The  big 
theater  will  continue  to  make  a  profit,  of  course,  but  not  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  can  drive  the  little  houses  out  of 
business  as  it  has  done  during  the  past  eighteen  months. 

The  prospects  in  all  lines  of  business  all  over  the  coun- 
try are  growing.  They  give  promise  of  a  prosperity  that 
none  of  us  dreamed  of  a  year  ago.  The  big  exhibitor  and  the 
little  one  will  share  in  this.  So  will  the  Universal.  But, 
thank  heaven,  the  Universal  won't  have  to  film  any  filth,  and 
exhibitors  won't  have  to  show  any  smut  to  get  the  decent 
dollars  of  the  public! 

Yours  for  Universal  success, 

Cari.  Laemmle,  President, 
Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Company. 


Pantages  Books  "Red  Circle" 

B.  E.  Loper,  manager  of  Pathe's  Los  Angeles  of- 
fice, wires  under  date  of  December  17  that  Alex.  Pan- 
tages, after  viewing  competitive  serials,  booked 
Pathe's  "Red  Circle"  for  Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco, 
Seattle,  Spokane  and  Tacoma.  Mr.  Loper  wears  a 
broad  smile,  for  Mr.  Pantage's  judgment  counts  for 
a  lot  in  his  territory. 


Opie,  the  Operator 


He  Seeks  a  Job 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Advertising  Manager:  ALLEN  L.  HAASE 
NEW  YORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGACRE  BUILDING 
leTryant  7030a 


CHARLES 
This    j 


.  CONDON,  Easlern  Representative 


blication  is  free  and 
•endent  of  all  business  or 
•  connections  or  control.  No 
facturer  or  supply  dealer, 
leir    stockholders    or    repre- 

Motography  or  any  voice 


THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 
CHICAGO,  ILL. 

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NOTICE    TO    ADVERTISERS 

Changes  of  advertising  copy  should  reach  the  office  of  publication  not 
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days  of  date  of  issue,  but  proof  of  such  advertisements  can  not  be  shown 
in  advance  of  publication. 


SUBSCRIPTION    PRICE 
Per  year  $3.00 


NEWS  STANDS 


Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  1,  1916 


Number  1 


Significant  Developments  of  the  Year 

THE  task  of  preparing  a  resume  of  the  important  developments  of  any  one  year  is  gen- 
erally disappointing.  Big  things  happen  every  year,  of  course;  things  that  would  get 
prominent  display  in  a  year  book  of  the  industry.  But  most  of  these  big  things  have  little  or 
no  significance  in  an  evolutionary  sense.  When  we  come  to  number  the  events  that  really 
gauge  the  advance  of  the  industry,  we  find,  despite  the  rapid  development  of  the  picture  bus- 
iness, that  many  of  them  extend  their  processes  of  establishment  over  more  than  a  twelve- 
month. Several  movements  that  have  lent  most  of  their  influence  to  1915  really  started  in 
1914.  A  strict  interpretation  of  the  subject  of  this  note  would  exclude  some  items  that  we 
must,  nevertheless,  mention. 

Film  serials  did  not  get  their  start  in  1915,  but  they  did  get  their  growth  in  that  year. 
Modified  to  series,  instead  of  pure  serials,  they  have  undoubtedly  become  a  fixture  and  must 
be  reckoned  with  in  the  making  of  future  programs. 

The  film  series  that  runs  for  a  great  many  weeks  suggests  the  single  subject  that  con- 
tinues to  get  the  crowds  day  in  and  day  out  for  astonishing  periods  of  time.  The  last  year 
has  shown  us  at  least  one  good  example  of  this,  and. we  cannot  doubt  that  others  equally  re- 
tentive of  public  approval  will  develop  and  do  their  fifty-two  week  runs  with  success.  The 
general  development  of  the  feature  film  is  a  demonstration  of  the  same  principle  on  various 
scales,  large  and  small,  and  portends  evolution  in  the  exhibiting  end  of  the  business. 

New  schemes  have  been  tried  more  frequently  in  the  producing  and  even  in  the  ex- 
change departments  than  in  the  exhibiting,  chiefly  because  the  competitive  necessity  was 
greater  in  those  branches.  There  is  still  great  room  for  ingenuity  and  business  ability  in  the 
picture  theater.  Some  part  of  these  characteristics  is  actually  being  supplied  to  exhibitors  by 
great  producers  who  have  operated  theaters  temporarily  to  demonstrate  proper  methods,  and 
employed  missionaries  to  lecture  upon  exhibiting  systems.  These  things  mark  the  beginning 
of  the  rise  of  the  exhibitor,  whose  business  is  destined  to  reach  undreamed-of  heights  of  pros- 
perity and  dignity  before  the  "saturation  point"  is  achieved.  Several  theater  properties  al- 
ready established  in  great  magnificence  form  the  vanguard  of  the  new  order  of  things. 

A  tendency,  however  limited  in  extent,  toward  harmony  is  seen  in  the  efforts  to  amalga- 
mate the  exhibitors'  associations,  national,  state  and  local,  into  a  single  comprehensive  organ- 
ization. The  year  just  past  did  not  see  the  consummation  of  these  efforts,  but  the  movement 
is  toward  that  end.  The  force  of  the  get-together  impulse  is  observable  in  the  formation  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade,  whose  aim  is  to  include  all  divisions,  branches,  factions 
and  departments  of  the  business  under  one  cover. 

We  have  already  mentioned  the  use  of  new  schemes  to  increase  the  demand  for  manufac- 
turers' products.  The  use  of  legitimate  and  even  operatic  celebrities,  though  not  new,  may 
classify  under  this  heading.  Rather  unfortunately,  the  scramble  for  stars  has  led  to  the  pay- 
ment of  enormous  salaries  for  their  services.  Probably  this  condition  has  not  yet  reached  its 
peak;  another  year  will  be  needed  to  strike  a  more  equitable  proportion  between  real  value 


32 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


and  contract  value  in  the  employment  of  well-advertised 
talent. 

Change  of  attitude  toward  the  industry  among 
the  newspapers  has  been  another  remarkable  develop- 
ment of  the  year  whose  birth  carries  back  to  a  pre- 
vious period.  The  growth  of  motion  picture  depart- 
ments weekly  and  even  daily  in  a  vast  number  of  news- 
papers has  warmed  into  still  closer  co-operation,  and 
we  find  newspapers  and  producers  combining  forces 
for  the  manufacture  of  news  films  and  special  fea- 
tures. 

This,  too,  must  be  regarded  as  a  good  omen 
for  future  activities.  The  taking  and  exhibiting  of 
European  war  films  by  newspapers  has  doubtless  done 
much  to  cement  the  new  entente. 

The  war — also  a  hold-over  from  the  previous 
year — has  had  its  effect  upon  the  picture  business. 
So  far  as  this  country  is  concerned  this  effect  has  been 
rather  good  than  bad.  And  there  is  nothing  in  for- 
eign reports  to  indicate  any  great  cessation  of  busi- 
ness even  in  the  countries  at  war.  The  reflex  interest 
in  military  preparation  in  this  country,  has  brought 
forth  its  own  films,  some  of  which  may  be  claimed 
as  masterpieces  of  purposeful  art. 

The  expositions  in  California  were  responsible  for 
some  rather  remarkable  innovations  in  the  way  of  trips 
to  the  Coast  conducted  by  large  producers  and  offer- 
ing convenient  opportunity  to  many  exhibitors,  ex- 
changemen  and  trade  workers  in  general  for  an  en- 
joyable journey. 

The  organizations  of  programs  by  groups  of  as- 
sociated producers  has  been  a  marked  feature  of  the 
year,  and  one  which  must  necessarily  continue  as  an 
established  and  satisfactory  system.  It  is  noteworthy 
that  practically  all  the  producers  so  associated  are 
prospering.  Indeed,  the  whole  industry  is  prosper- 
ing marvelously — the  more  so  since  the  earlier  large 
profits  have  settled  down  to  a  healthy  business  condi- 
tion. 

This  may  sound  paradoxical,  but  we  hold  that 
a  business  is  more  prosperous  when  ninety  per  cent 
of  its  members  are.  getting  a  comfortable  return  on 
their  investments  than  it  is  when  thirty  per  cent  are 
making  enormous  profits  while  the  rest  skate  peril- 
ously on  thin  ice.  The  majority  of  the  important  pro- 
ducing companies  have  increased  or  are  increasing 
their  studio  properties.  Exchange  organizations  are 
adopting  systems  calculated  to  increase  the  efficiency 
of  both  their  service  and  their  stock  in  trade.  These 
things  make,  ultimately,  if  not  immediately,  for  sta- 
bility and  permanent  success. 

Censorship  is  still  rampant  in  many  quarters,  and 
with  the  European  war  censorship  as  its  criterion 
doubtless  feels  Avell  established  for  the  present.  How- 
ever, state  censorship  has  met  with  more  than  one 
defeat  during  the  year,  and  is  gradually  being  under- 
mined by  the  recently  aroused  hostility  of  the  news- 
papers and  the  continually  strengthening  opposition 
of  powerful  interests  and  organizations.  Two  years 
more  of  opposition  will  doubtless  see  it  forced  to  a 
down  grade. 

Altogether,  1915,  unmarked  by  any  violent  dis- 
turbance in  the  industry,  has  been  a  year  of  steady 
climbing  and  rapid  progress.  January  1,  1916,  wit- 
nesses a  better  industry  than  New  Year's  day  a  year 
ago  could  claim.  Other  industries  have  complained ; 
but  in  ours  it  has  been  a  good  year,  and  this  one  prom- 
ises to  maintain  the  pace. 


Just  a  Moment  Please 


Happy  New  Year! 

Have  you  noticed  how  long  the  days  are  getting? 

Prexie  Herrington  of  the  Exhibitors  League  having  set 
the  example  with  a  set  of  New  Year's  resolutions,  this  column 
wirelessed  a  number  of  notables  for  expressions  of  their  pol- 
icies for  the  coming  year  and  the  following  may  be  a  few  of 
the  replies  received: 

William  Fox:  I  expect  Annette  Kellerman  to  run  true 
to  form. 

Roy  L.  McArdle:  I  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to 
find  "The  Diamond  from  the  Sky."  I  knew  where  it  was  all 
the  time. 

Joseph  White  Farnham:  I  will  stand  by  my  present  em- 
ployers till  the  Ocean  dries  up. 

.     Alfred   Hamburger:      I    shall   not   increase   the    length   of 
my  programs  during  the  coming  year. 

W.  E.  Shallenberger:  Wire  received.  Why  ask  me?  I 
know  "Who's  Guilty." 

Aaron  Jones:  May  peace  soon  be  declared,  but  not  until 
I  have  run  all  the  war  films. 

Ed.  Porter:  I  will  not  take  a  company  abroad,  to  Phila- 
delphia, to  film  "The  Unconscious  City." 

William  Barry:  I  resolve  to  advocate  good  projection. 
More  Power  to  it. 

H.  E.  Aitken:  I  am  not  arranging  to  star  Theodore 
Roosevelt. 

Mary  Pickford:  I  cannot  accept  a  raise  in  salary,  as  I 
have  three  bank  accounts  now. 

Charley  Chaplin:  I  will  not  be  serious  in  my  film  work 
next  year. 

Ben  Schulberg:     I  will  not  pull  a  "fire"  story  this  year. 

Now  if  only  Terry  Ramsa-ye  would  swear  off  on  his  gay 
colored  stationary  we  should  be  happy.  Terry  has  already 
pulled  the  pink,  white  and  green  sheets  on  us,  and  we  understand 
has  an  order  in  for  some  purple,  blue  and  mauve  ones.  Jay 
Cairns  says  when  Terry  shoots  him  one  of  the  pink  sheets 
he  expects  to  have  the  mailman  blow  him  a  kiss  to  go  with  it. 

GOSH,  AND  THE  JOKE  JVAS  ON  US. 
"Hen"  MacMahon  of  Triangle  was  awfully  good  natured 
about  our  kidding  him  on  his  slip  of  a  release  date  as  "De- 
cember 50th,"  and  comes  back  with  a  letter  to  the  effect  that 
the  "break"  occurred  when  he  was  overworked  getting  the 
infant  Triangle  through  the  preliminary  stages  and  that  now 
it  appears  to  be  past  all  infant  maladies.  "Hen"  is  sure  some 
nurse,  and  we  feel  particularly  indebted  to  him  since  he  failed 
to  bawl  us  out  for  spelling  that  calendar  thing  "calander." 

As  a  slinger  of  words  honors  for  this  week  unquestion- 
ably belong  to  the  same  Terry  Ramsaye  referred  to  elsewhere 
in  this  Pinnacle  of  Persiflage,  for,  in  submitting  for  publica- 
tion a  certain  article  to  friend  Chas.  in  Noo  Yawk,  the  lin- 
guistic Terry  accompanied  it  by  a  letter  which  included  the 
following  paragraph: 

I  hope  that  you  will  despatch  it  with  due  diligence  to  your 
home  office  and  that  there  it  will  be  cast  into  imperishable  type 
to  illumine  the  pages  of  your  illustrious  journal,  there  to  gleam 
as  a  beacon  light  of  wisdom  to  guide  the  bewUdered  feet  of  the 
uncertain  and  wandering1  exhibitor  traveling-  through  the  morass 
of  "junk  film,"  etc.,  etc.     You  know  what  I  mean. 

Take  it  from  me,  lad,  I  have  faced  this  Underwood  tonight 
for  six  throbbing  hours  to  be  able  to  deliver  this  papyrus  into 
your  hands.     Do  it  honor  and  justice. 

The  esteemed  (so  to  speak)  Morning  Telegraph  in  refer- 
ring to  a  certain  actress'  illness  starts  its  story:  "Sallie  Crute, 
the  motion  picture  actress  of  the  Edison  Company,  is  laid  up, 
etc.,"  which  might  lead  some  of  the  unsophisticated  to  believe 
that   Miss   Sallie   constituted    the    greater  part   of   the   organ- 


Hope  nobody  drops  a  whip. 
Or  falls  off. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Painted  Soul" 

A  Mutual  Master-Picture  of  Supreme  Quality 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

ONE  of  the  most  grippingly  powerful  and  interest  com- 
pelling pictures  ever  released  as  a  Mutual  Master-Pic- 
ture, will  be  offered  the  exhibitors  of  the  country  this  week 
when  "The  Painted  Soul,"  a  four-reel  feature  from  the  New 
York  Motion  Picture  Corporation's  studios  is  released. 

Bessie  Barriscale  as  the  artist's  model  and  Charles  Ray 
as  the  artist  succeed  in  putting  over  a  story  that  in  other 
hands  would  be  trite,  but  as  interpreted  by  these  wonderful 
players  is  one  of  the  most  gripping  that  has  been  screened  of 
late.  Superb  photography,  settings  that  are  satisfying  in 
every  particular,  and  a  supporting  cast  that  is  fully  adequate 
to  the  demands  made  upon  it,  all  add  to  the  impressiveness  of 
the  production. 

Barnard,  the  artist  has  just  completed  a  painting  called 
"The  Resurrection,"  as  the  story  opens.  The  subject  depicts 
a  Madonna-like  face  and  is  highly  praised  by  the  bevy  of 
critics  who  assemble  to  view  it.  The  artist  is  naturally 
gratified   at   his    success   but   explains   to   his   mother    (a   role 


fey  ^ 

love    fo, 


his 


.odd. 


it    he    is    now    desirous    of 
a    picture    of    "The    Fallen 


played  by  Trully  Shattuck) 
painting  the  opposite  extrer 
Woman." 

In  search  of  a  model  for  this  difficult  subject,  the  artist 
visits  the  police  court  and  there  sees  Irene,  a  woman  of  the 
streets,  arraigned,  and  given  a  ninety  days  sentence  with 
the  sentence  suspended.  He  immediately  approaches  her 
with  a  request  that  she  pose  for  him  and  she  eagerly  consents, 
being  badly  in  need  of  funds. 

As  the  artist  begins  his  portrait  of  "The  Fallen  Woman" 
he  finds  his  model  gazing  intently  at  the  other  picture  of 
"The  Resurrection"  and  gradually  realizes  that  the  painted 
canvas  has  impressed  her  so  profoundly  that  she  then  and 
there  resolves  to  lead  a  different  life. 

One  of  the  most  emotional  bits  of  the  entire  production 
occurs  just  at  this  point,  when  Irene,  in  beginning  her  newly 
formed  resolution,  visits  a  sick  friend  who  lives  just  across 
the  hall.  The  dying  woman,  who  has  been  unable  to  find 
ease  from  her  suffering  even  in  a  few  hours  of  sleep,  ex- 
plains that  she  believes  sleep  will  come  if  Irene  will  sing 
to  her  and  the  woman  of  the  streets  volunteers  to  sing 
"How  Would  You  Like  to  Rag  With  Me?"  but  is  told  that 
a  different  tune  will  have  more  of  an  appeal.  Shamefacedly, 
the  woman  on  the  bed  calls  for  another  song  and  the  scene 
fades  slowly  into  a  stanza  of  "Nearer  My  God  to  Thee." 
Miss  Barriscale  in  this  scene  is  truly  wonderful  and  the 
direction  at  this  point  is  particularly  good. 

When  the  artist  finishes  his  picture  he  pays  off  his  model 
but  the  girl  betrays  the  fact  that  she  has  grown  to  love  him. 
The  boy,  for  the  artist  is  little  more,  is  moved  to  take  her 
in    his    arms    and    at    that    moment    his    proud    and    wealthy 


mother  enters  the  room  and  separates  the  two.  Though 
Irene  seeks  to  forget  her  disappointment,  in  the  dance  hall, 
she  finds  the  life  has  palled  upon  her  and  later  goes  to  the 
studio  for  another  glimpse  of  "The  Resurrection." 

The  artist's  mother,  meanwhile,  argues  for  hours  with 
her  son  in  an  attempt  to  convince  him  that  it  is  sympathy 
and  not  love  that  he  feels  for  his  model.  The  boy  is  obdurate 
and  the  desperate  mother  pays  a  secret  visit  to  the  girl, 
asks  her  co-operation  and  wins  her  promise  to  disillusion 
her  lover.  Deliberately  the  girl  goes  into  the  streets  and 
so  conducts  herself  that  she  is  again  arrested,  charged  with 
being  "a  street  walker." 

The  artist  next  day  receives  a  note  telling  of  the  model's 
arrest  and  mentioning  that  he  might  bail  her  out  at  9 
o'clock  that  day  in  court.  He  pays  her  fine  and,  thinking 
himself  mistaken  about  her  reformation,  bids  her  "good  bye." 
Though  the  girl  is  sorely  tempted  to  reveal  her  deceit  and 
win  back  his  love,  she  resists  and  the  picture  ends  as  she 
once  more  visits  the  studio,  gazes  upon  "The  Resurrection" 
and  goes   forth  to  begin  life  alone   once   more. 


"The  Woman  with  the  Rose" 

Essanay  Three-Reel  Drama,  to  Be  Released  Dec.  25 
Reviewed  by  J.  C.  Garrett 

CSSANAY'S  three-reel  production,  "The  Woman  with  the 
^  Rose,"  is  a  stirring  dramatic  play  with  splendid  photog- 
raphy and  well  presented  by  a  cast  of  well-known  Essanay 
stars.  Lillian  Drew  does  convincing  work  in  the  role  of 
Adele  Clinton,  the  wife  of  Herbert  Clinton,  played  by  Frank 
Dayton;  Ernest  Maupain  is  a  satisfying  Anton  Czerny,  a  vio- 
linist; Fred  Malatesta  is  cast  as  Joseph  Lechison,  a  dilettante; 
and  Hugh  Thompson  takes  the  part  of  Todd,  an  artist. 

There  is  an  element  of  mystery  which  adds  much  interest 
to  the  production  and  the  manner  in  which  a  murder  is  cleared 
up  is  surprising.  The  story  deals  with  the  love  of  three  men 
for  the  original  of  a  beautiful  picture  which  gains  a  wide  repu- 
tation and  is  known  as  "The  Woman  with  the  Rose." 

Our  first  glimpse  of  the  famous  portrait,  "The  Woman 
with  the  Rose,"  is  in  the  museum  where  many  people  are 
admiring  the  picture,  and  not  a  few  of  them  aiming  to  dis- 
cover the  real  identity  of  the  model.  Anton  Czerny,  a  vio- 
linist, with  his  friend  Joseph  Lechison,  a  dilettante,  is  admir- 
ing the  portrait,  and  remarks  that  he  wishes  he  had  the  money 
to  purchase  it.  Lechison  says  that  he  would  like  to  buy  the 
lady  herself. 

Although  the  picture  is  for  sale,  the  artist,  Herbert  Clin- 


Lechison  attacks  Adele. 


ton,  is  without  funds  to  buy  food  for  himself  and  his  wife, 
Adele,  who  was  the  model  for  the  picture,  "The  Woman  with 
the  Rose."  Todd,  a  young  artist,  is  in  search  of  a  model  to 
pose  for  one  of  his  new  pictures.     Anton   Czerny   comes  to 


34 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


call  upon  him  and   tells  him  the  very  model  he  wants  is  the 
one  who  posed  for  the  famous  picture. 

Todd  goes  to  call  on  Herbert  Clinton  and  asks  him  if  he 
can  "borrow"  his  model,  and  Clinton,  because  he  is  without 
money,  consents,  and  Adele,  who  is  not  known  as  Clinton's 
wife,  poses  for  Todd.  Lechison  sees  Adele  at  Todd's  studio 
and  he  then  leases  a  studio  of  his  own.  He  advertises  for  a 
model,  and  Adele,  hoping  to  help  her  husband,  applies  for  the 
position.  Czerny's  studio  is  across  the  hall  from  Lechison's 
and  he  sees  Adele  enter  the  studio,  realizing  she  has  stepped 
into  a  trap. 

Lechison  attacks  Adele  and  just  then  her  husband,  who 
has  followed  her  to  the  studio,  breaks  in  and  the  two  leave  the 
studio  with  horror  written  on  their  faces.  The  next  morning 
Lechison's  dead  body  is  found  in  his  studio  and  a  glove  is 
found  lying  near  him,  which  is  recognized  as  belonging  to 
Adele.  To  shield  his  wife  Clinton  confesses  to  the  murder 
of  Lechison,  but  later  his  wife  breaks  down  and  says  that 
she  was  the  one  who  murdered  the  man  because  he  had 
attacked  her. 

re  surprised  when  the  day  after 

comes    to    them    and    says    he 

.     He  tells  the  police  of  how  he 

When    he    had    seen    her    enter 

e    hallway. 

ief 


The  police  authorities  ; 
Adele's  confessions  Czerm 
wishes  to  make  a  confessio: 
had  been  jealous  of  Adele. 
Lechison's  apartment  he  had  had  gone  do 
climbed  the  fire-escape  and  after  tying  a  handken 


entered    tli 


latei 


lining  o 
Adele 


Li 


Alte 


which  was 
i's  heart  he  escaped, 
oned,  but  some  time 


and  after  spend 
vision  of  Adele 
of  sunshine  on 
shown  the  pain 
oh   it  which  is  i 


:ed  "Sold  for  $5,000." 


"Bondwomen" 

A  Five-Part  Kleine  Drama,  Released  December  15 
Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 
IN    George    Kleine's    "Bondwomen."    to    be 
1    Kleine-Fdison    Feature    Service,   a    common 


.1    in    the 
tic  prob- 


dramatic  force;  that  ii 
:r-crazed  husband  of 


wife  battles  with  herself  as  to  whether  to  call  her  husband 

from   a   serious   operation   or    to   accept    the   alternative    of   let- 

ting  his  fortune  fall  to  the  ground,  is  also  iutenseh    dramatic. 

.Maude  Feab  make-  an  appealing  character  oi  Norma,  the 


wife  of  Dr.  Ellis.  The  latter  is  portrayed  by  John  Sainpolis. 
Others  in  the  cast  are  David  Landau,  Harmon  McGregor,  Iva 
Shepard,  Mildred  Gregory,  Harry  Knowles  and  Belle  Jordan. 
A  series  of  humiliations  leads  Norma  to  force  her  hus- 
band, Dr.  Ellis,  to  take  complete  charge  of  the  money  mat- 
ters of  their  home.  After  some  time,  during  which  both  the 
doctor's  comfort  and  practice  are  continually  interrupted,  it 
becomes  necessary  for  him  to  perform  a  serious  operation 
upon  his  brother,  Ned.  While  the  operation  is  in  progress 
Norma  learns  that  her  husband's  last  payment  on  some  stock 
is  due  within  a  few  hours,  the  penalty  for  non-payment  being 
total  loss  of  the  stock.  In  desperation  she  calls  on  a  friend, 
Mr.  Powers,  for  the  money,  as  she  is  well  aware  that  to  dis- 
turb the  operation  would  probably  mean  death  to  Ned.  The 
latter,  who  is  a  drug  fiend  and  therefore  irresponsible,  makes 
it  appear  to  the  doctor  that  his  wife  is  unfaithful.  Dr.  Ellis 
given  to  suspicion,  orders  his  wife  out  of  the  house.  Mr. 
Powers,  a  chemist,  discovers  a  formula  by  means  of  which 
he  cures  Ned,  who.  filled  with  gratitude  towards  his  bene- 
factor, is  led  to  confess  all  to  him.  Ned  then  confesses  to  all 
whom  he  has  wronged.  Dr.  Ellis  and  his  wife  become 
reconciled,  and  a  joint  bank  account  is  agreed  upon  as  being 
a   preventive   of  further  misunderstanding. 


"Life  of  Our  Savior" 

Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play,  in  Natural  Colors,  Released 
This    Week.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 


:or 


s  Gold  Rooster  offering  for  Christmas  w-eek,  Pathe 
1  will  release  the  seven-part  production  of  "The  Life  of  Our 
Savior"  in  Pathe  Color.  Perhaps  the  one  most  important 
factor  in  a  picture  dealing  with  this  subject  is  that  it  be 
reverent  and  it  is  also  very  probable  that  the  accomplishment 
of  this  is  the  biggest  problem  which  confronts  the  producer. 
It  is  therefore  best  to  mention  at  the  outset  that  this  produc- 
tion is  reverent  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word. 

The  life  of  Christ  is  here  graphically  told.  From  the  time 
of  His  birth  in  the  stable  through  a  life  of  sacrifice  ending 
in  the  Crucifixion  and  Resurrection  the  production  portrays 
with  fidelitv  and  a  befitting  sublimitv  of  theatric  effect  the  life 
of  Jesus  Christ.     Since  then  it  is  a  faithful  history.  "The  Life 

those  who  are  followers  of  His  teachings,  and  "how  can  it's 
public  exhibition  be  considered  in  the  verv  least  distasteful  to 
cither  sect  or  individuals? 

The  subject  is  one  which  lends  itself  admirably  to  color 
projection.  The  manner  in  which  the  film  has  been  colored 
is  truly  excellent.  Probably  the  Pathe  color  process  has 
never  been  seen  to  better  advantage  as  concerns  the  tints 
and  technique.  There  is  little  "fringing"  and  the  tints  used 
undoubtedly  increase  to  a  great  extent  the  pictorial  value 
of   the   scenic   effects.      The   tones   are   more   delicate   than   usual. 

It  is  a  huge  spectacle  and  it  represents  a  great  expendi- 
ture in  time  and  money.  The  costumes  and  all  properties  are 
historically  accurate,  the  scenes  have  startling  realism  and  the 
countless  extra  people  are  as  natural  in  their  deportment  as 
are  the  skilled  actors  and  actresses  who  portray  the  central 
figures.  "The  Life  of  Our  Savior"  is  a  succession  of  scenes 
which  are  really  wonderful  from  a  standpoint  oi  production 
am!  if  any  one  is  superior  to  the  many  it  is  the  Crucifixion. 
(  >ne  finds  much  to  marvel  at  in  this  picture. 


"The  Making  of  Crooks" 

Selig  Three-Reel  Drama,  to  Be  Released  December  27 
Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

I  U  K  PICKFORD,  the  versatile  young  brother  oi  the 
J  famous  Mary,  makes  his  debut  with  the  Selig  Polyscope 
Company  in  "The  Making  of  Crooks,"  a  three-reel  production 

to  be  released  December  27.  Pickford  has  already  proven  his 
screen  capability  in  other  productions.  His  work  in  this 
plioio.ii  .mi. i  is  satisfying,  but  he  doesn't  get  a  chance  to  inject 
into  the  production  his  best  acting,  as  there  is  no  call  for 
especially  good  w  ork. 

Main  ideas  have  been  expounded  on  the  evil  influence 
the  pool  rooms  and  billiard  halls  have  on  the  young  man  of 
today,  in  fact,  many  oi  our  most  desperate  criminals  confess 
that  they  have  gotten  their  criminal  training  by  frequenting 
pool  rooms.  This  picture  shows  the  direct  results  the  pool 
room  lias  on  its  regular  habitues  and  contains  a  splendid 
moral  lesson  for  both  the  young  man  and  the  over-indulgent 
parent    who   docs   not    strictly   discipline   his   son. 

Tony,   a   young    Italian,    while   in   prison   has   a    cell    mate 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Walton,  a  druggist,  who  is  convicted  for  the  sale  of  doped 
candy.  The  two  become  friends  and  through  the  power  of 
Lee  O'Neil,  a  political  boss,  Walton  is  freed  and  opens  a 
disreputable  pool  room.  When  Tony's  release  comes  Walton 
engages  him  as  a  pool  sharp.  The  pool  room  becomes  a  ren- 
dezvous for  crooks  and  boys.  Among  the  young  men  are 
Elmer,  a  bank  messenger,  who  loses  all  of  his  money,  and 
arranges  with  two  crooks  to  hold  him  up  the  next  day  when 
he  leaves  with  the  money,  and  Bingham,  the  neglected  son 
of  wealthy  parents. 

Bingham,  with  Hazel  O'Neil,  daughter  of  the  political 
boss,  and  the  girl's  chum,  goes  to  a  cabaret,  where  they  meet 
Tony.  The  young  Italian  fascinates  Hazel  and  then  steals 
Bingham's  automobile  and  leaves  for  a  midnight  ride.  The 
car  stalls  on  the  track  and  a  swiftly  approaching  locomotive 
is  dashing  upon  them  when  the  young  Italian  jumps  from  the 
car  just  in  time,  while  the  girl  is  caught  on  the  front  of  the 
engine  and  instantly  killed. 

The  detectives  who  have  been  told  of  Tony's  stealing  the 
car  are  waiting  for  him  at  the  pool  room,-  when  they  recog- 
nize the  two  well-known  crooks  who  were  to  meet  the  bank 
messenger.  The  young  messenger  confesses  to  the  authori- 
ties that  he  had  learned  to  gamble  at  Walton's  pool  room 
and  then  the  place  is  raided  and  later  Tony,  the  pool  sharp, 
is  again  imprisoned. 

Supporting  young  Pickford  in  this  production  are  George 
Hermandez  as  Lee  O'Neil;  Herman  Illnier  as  Walton;  Elmer 
Mclnturff  as  Elmer;  George  Nicholls,  Jr.,  as  Bob;  Thelma 
Crain  as  Hazel  O'Neil  and  Tess  Conger  as  Mrs.  Walton. 


"The  Girl  and  the  Game" 

Big  Railway  Serial  Ready  for  Release  December  27 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

PRESIDENT  S.  S.  HUTCHINSON  of  the  Signal  Film 
*  Corporation  gave  the  "Go  Ahead"  signal  at  Fulton's  ex- 
hibition rooms  on  Friday  morning,  December  17,  and  the 
great  railroad  film  novel,  "The  Girl  and  the  Game,"  which 
is  to  be  released  in  fifteen  two-act  chapters  through  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation,  got  under  way  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  Chicago  exhibitors. 

President  Hutchinson  was  present  in  person  to  see  the 
new  production  started  safely  on  its  way  and,  ere  the  screen- 
ing of  the  first  two  episodes  began,  briefly  told  the  throng 
of  exhibitors  present  of  the  earnest  effort  that  was  being 
made  by  the  Signal  Film  Corporation  to  give  them  a  series 
of  unrivaled  productions.  Jay  Cairns,  of  the  Nichols-Finn 
Agency,  introduced  President  Hutchinson  and  described  in 
detail  some  of  the  big  advertising  aids  that  have  been  pre- 


company  are  George  Mel  aniel,  J.  L.  Farley,  and  J.  P. 
McGowan. 

Both  from  a  photogra  hie  and  a  spectacular  standpoint 
the  picture  starts  off  with  ,  bang.  One  sensational  incident 
follows  another  so  rapidl  that  you  hardly  have  time  to 
catch  your  breath  between  ;hem  and  yet  all  are  so  logically 
developed  that  a  clear,  c  nsistent  story  is  unfolded,  and 
none  of  the  thrills  seem  ti  have  been  "dragged  in"  as,  un- 
fortunately, is  too  often  th<    case  in  serial  stories. 

As  episode  one,  entitled  "Helen's  Race  With  Death," 
begins  both  Helen  and  Storm  are  children,  Helen  being  the 
daughter  of  General  Holmes,  president  of  the  C.  W.  !&  T. 
R.  R.  Storm,  a  little  newsboy,  rescues  little  Helen  from 
death  beneath  the  wheels  of  a  miniature  railway  at  a  sum- 
mer amusement  park,  and  the  little  girl  promises  never  to 
•forget  him.  He,  for  his  part,  swears  undying  love  and  ex- 
plains that  it  is  his  ambition  to  grow  up  to  be  an  engineer, 
like  his  father  had  been  until  his  death. 

Many  years  elapse  and  when  next  we  see  Helen  she  has 
grown  into  a  beautiful  woman,  while  Storm  is  well  started  on 
his  way  to  success,  having  already  become  a  competent  fire- 
man on  the  C.  W.  &  T.  R.  R.  One  day,  while  Storm  is  on  his 
run  with  freight  train  No.  245,  the  air  pump  on  the  engine 
breaks  down  and  the  crew  is  ordered  to  bring  the  train  in 
to  division  headquarters  under  hand  breaks. 

Running  in  the  opposite  direction  is  passenger  train 
No.  18,  aboard  which  is  General  Holmes  and  some  other 
officials  of  the  C.  W.  &  T.  R.  R.  On  a  down-grade  the 
freight  train  gathers  such  momentum  that  the  hand- 
breaks  prove  helpless  in  stopping  it.  Knowing  that  it  is 
bound  to  smash  head  on  into  No.  18  and  cause  a  disastrous 
wreck,  the  train  crew  of  the  freight  leap  from  the  flying 
train,  and  Storm  is  left  to  do  the  best  he  can  in  avoiding 
a  collision.  Helen,  who  has  heard  of  the  danger,  rides  at 
breakneck  speed  down  the  tracks  to  flag  the  passenger,  but 
seems  foiled  when  she  comes  to  an  open  drawbridge.  With- 
out hesitation  she  leaps  her  horse  off  the  edge  of  the  bridge, 
and  swimming  to  the  other  side,  succeeds  in  throwing  a 
derailing  switch  just  in  time  to  send  the  freight  crashing  into 
some  box  cars  on  a  side  track,  while  the  passenger  shoots 
past   in   the   opposite    direction. 

Storm  and  Helen  meet  again  as  a  result  of  her  effort 
to  prevent  the  wreck  and  their  love  of  the  long  ago  -is 
recalled  to  mind.  In  the  second  episode  of  "The  Girl  and 
the  Game,"  which  is  entitled  "The  Winning  Jump,"  General 
Holmes  and  his  fellow  officers  of  the  C.  W.  &  T.  R.  R. 
seek  to  effect  a  working  agreement  with  another  line,  repre- 
sented by  Mr.  Seagrue,  but  a  discussion  arises  that  prevents 
the  consummation  of  the  plan  and  Seagrue,  who  is  seeking 
to  win  the  attentions  of  Helen,  plans  to  steal  the  plans  of 
a  proposed  cut-off  for  the  C.  W.  &  T.  R.  R.  and  to  fight 
Holmes. 

Seagrue  employs  "Spike"  and  "Lefty,"  two  crooks,  "to 
steal  the  plans  of  the  cut-off  from  the  safe  in  Holmes'  resi- 
dence, and  after  securing  them  the  two  escape  on  a  pas- 
senger train.  Helen  follows  the  crooks  on  Storm's  engine 
and  finally  Storm's  locomotive  and  the  engine  which  "Spike," 
and  "Lefty"  have  captured  run  at  high  speed  along  parallel 
tracks.  Helen  leaps  from  one  engine  to  the  other  and  comes 
to  a  hand-to-hand  fight  with  the  thieves.  When  "Lefty"  and 
"Spike"  are  finally  overpowered  and  brought  back  to  the 
Holmes'  mansion  it  is  found  that  the  plans  have  disappeared. 
"Spike,"  before  being  taken  to  jail,  tells  Seagrue  the  hiding 
place    of    the    plans    just    as    the    second    installment    of    the 


pared  to  assist  the  exhibitors,  pointing  out  that  the.  story 
was  not  a  mere  railroad  tale,  but  a  story  of  empires  in  the 
making. 

Helen  Holmes,  world  famous  for  her  daring  exploits, 
appears  in  the  leading  role  as  herself,  while  Leo  Maloney 
enacts  the  role  of  George  Storm,  a  locomotive  fireman,  who 
aspires  to  win  the  heart  and  hand  of  Helen.     Others  in  the 


"The  Great  Divide" 

A  Lubin  V.  L.  S.  E.  Drama,  Released  December  20 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

IT  WOULD  seem  that  everyone  connected  with  Lubin's 
V.  L.  S.  E.  release  of  December  20,  "The  Great  Divide" 
is  entitled  to  words  of  praise;  for  the  production  is  one  of 
distinct  merit.  The  story  is"  an  adaptation  from  the  play 
by  William  Vaughan  Moody.  It  was  scenariorized.  by 
Anthony  P.  Kelly  and  directed  by  Edgar  Lewis,  who  took  his 
company  to  the  west  and  there  procured  some  really  won- 
derful settings  for  the  play.  The  beautiful  backgrounds 
for  the  various  scenes,  though  always  remarkable,  add  in- 
stead of  taking  strength  from  the  play,  which,  one  may  add, 
is  a  compliment  to  the  director,  and  a  boon  to  the  spectator, 
who  always  enjoys  pretty  scenery  but  expects  more  than 
it   alone  in  a  photoplay. 

In  "The  Great  Divide"  there  is   considerable   more  than 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


impressive  views.  There  is  a  romance  of  strong  human 
appeal  and  one  which  tells  its  story  with  simplicity  and 
directness.  The  interest  centered  upon  Ruth  and  Ghent  in 
their  unusual  romance  is  held  firmly  and  reaches  a  point 
of  tensity  in  situations  of  plausibility  and  dramatic  force. 
The  story  tells  of  a  girl  who  keeps  her  word  to  a  man  to 
whom  she  promises  herself  in  return  for  a  favor  from  him. 
Ghent,  a  derelict,  is  to  be  her  husband  in  name  only  until 
such  time  as  he  proves  himself  worthy  of  her.  Under  the 
influence  of  drink  he  disregards  the  terms  of  the  proposition, 
and  for  this  Ruth  learns  to  loath  the  man  she  was  beginning 
to  admire,  but  the  end  finds  them  happy  in  each  other's 
love. 

Ethel  Clayton  plays  her  part  with  marked  sincerity  and 
makes  Ruth  a  sympathetic  and  ever-appealing  figure.  House 
Peters  makes  Stephen  Ghent  a  derelict  of  the  most  pro- 
nounced type.  He  does  this  splendidly  but  it  does  seem  that 
he  makes  a  hard  road  for  himself.  Yet  he  gives  the  part  a 
certain  fascination  and  toward  the  end  his  regeneration  is 
convincingly  complete.  So  if  he  did  make  difficulties  for 
himself  he  overcomes  them  with  ease  and  he  probably  never 
before  gave  a  performance  so  productive  of  enthusiastic 
comment;  for  his  acting  is  of  the  kind  that  enjoys  great 
popular   favor. 

In  the  supporting  cast  Mary  Moore  is  Mrs.  Phil  Jordan 
and  gives  a  good  character  performance  which  is  responsible 
for  what  light  action  the  play  contains.  Warner  P.  Rich- 
mond is  a  pleasing  Doc.  Newbury  and  Hayden  Stevenson  a 
commendable  Phil  Jordan.  Ray  Chamberlain  as  the  worth- 
less Pedro  is  wicked  looking -and   Ferdinand  O'Beck  is  seen 


i   w 


Ghent    pleads    for    forgiveness. 

as  Dutch.  The  realism  and  wonderful  atmosphere  of  this 
production  is  responsible  for  that  which  is  perhaps  its  great- 
est element  and  that  upon  which  the  success  of  the  story 
and  acting  is  built.  Director  Lewis  is  certainly  deserving  of 
a  great  deal  of  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  he  handled 
this   subject. 


"Her  Mother's  Secret" 

Five-Reel   Fox   Production,   Featuring  Ralph   Kellard 

Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 
DALPH  KELLARD  makes  his  film  debut  in  this  five-reel 
AV-  melodrama  produced  by  the  Fox  Film  Corporation  under 
the  direction  of  Frederick  A.  Thompson.  Mr.  Kellard's  per- 
formance wins  him  a  place  in  that  class  made  up  of  a  certain 
percentage  of  legitimate  stars  whose  premier  in  the  pictures 
come  up  to  expectations.  He  is  seen  in  two  characters,  first 
the  father,  and  in  the  main  part  of  the  story  the  son,  neither 
one  attractive  but  both  offering  fair  dramatic  opportunities. 
Dorothy  Green  as  Lorna  heads  the  supporting  cast. 

"Her  Mother's  Secret"  was  written  by  Martha  Woodrow 
and  it  tells  the  story  of  a  man  who  leads  a  double  life  and  of 
the  serious  consequences  which  circumstances  bring  to  his 
children — his  wife's  son  and  the  daughter  of  his  mistress. 
The  story  has  plausibility  if  nothing  else,  and  it  also  has  some 
strong  dramatic  developments.  But  the  depiction  of  a  love 
affair  between  two  young  people  of  such  close  blood  relation 
as  that  of  half-brother  and  sister,  even  though  they  are  igno- 
rant of  the  fact,  is  not  very  pleasant,  to  say  the  least.  It  is 
dramatic,  but  rather  morbid  material. 

Mr.  Thompson's  direction  is  capable  and  as  a  whole  the 


play  is  nicely  produced.  "Her  Mother's  Secret"  can  be  rec- 
ommended for  the  quality  of  its  production,  acting  and  plot 
construction.  The  beginning  of  the  story  shows  the  wealthy 
and  highly  respected   Seth   Cartwright   dividing  his   time   be- 


Ihat  the  city 


cr  half-b 


tween  his  wife  and  Bernice  Archer,  who  believes  that  his  love 
for  her  is  sincere.  His  law  partner,  Herman,  is  in  love  with 
Bernice,  and  to  prove  to  her  that  Cartwright  is  fond  of  her 
in  only  one  sense  he  induces  her  to  ask  him  to  divorce  his 
wife  and  marry  her.  When  he  refuses  she  attempts  suicide 
and  circumstances  lead  Cartwright's  wife  to  adopt  the  de- 
serted child,  knowing  her  husband  is  its  father. 

Years  later  Cartwright  and  his  wife  while  sailing  with 
the  young  girl  are  drowned  and  the  girl  is  reunited  with  her 
mother,  who  lives  with  the  people  in  the  fishing  village  who 
rescued  her  when  she  attempted  suicide.  She  recognizes  the 
child  as  her  own  by  some  peculiar  mark.  Years  pass  and 
young  Cartwright  visits  the  village,  where  he  meets  the  girl. 
While  out  for  a  walk  they  are-cut  off  from  land  by  the  high 
tide  and  they  spend  the  night  together.  The  next  day  Lorna 
stops  her  mother's  words  of  reproach  by  telling  her  that  she 
is  going  to  marry  Cartwright.  Before  they  marry  they  learn 
that  this  is  impossible  from  Herman,  who  immediately  recog- 
nizes Bernice.  The  closing  scene  finds  Lorna  going  to  her 
death  in  the  sea. 


"The  Wanderers" 


Vitagraph  Broadway  Star  Feature,  Released  January  1 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

RONALD  N.  BRADBURY  is  the  author  of  "The  Wan- 
derers," produced  by  the  Vitagraph  Western  Company 
under  the  direction  of  William  Welbert,  and  the  Broadway 
Star  Feature  release  for  January  1.  It  is  an  appealing  story 
Mr.  Bradbury  has  written  and  undoubtedly  it  will  be  well 
received.  It"  has  heart  interest  a-plenty  and  entertaining 
action  which  reaches  dramatic  situations  and  finally  a  climax 
of  happiness  for  a  group  of  characters  who  early  in  the 
picture  win  one's  sympathy  It  is  also  a  fact  that  this  sym- 
pathy grows  as  the  story  progresses  along  its  lines  of  plausi- 
bility  and   interest. 

The  wandering  blacksmith  who  for  the  first  time  feels 
that  he  has  reached  the  end  of  his  travels  when  he  meets 
the  one  girl,  only  to  be  disappointed  when  he  hears  her  speak 
in  endearing  terms  to  another  and  unknown  man,  is  the  cen- 
tral character  in  the  story.  Of  course,  the  other  man  turns 
out  to  be  Kate's  brother,  which  may  not  be  a  brand  new 
development  in  screen  stories,  but  here  it  is  ingeniously  used 
and  when  it  comes  as  a  pleasant  surprise  to  Clem  it  is  also 
pleasant  for  the  spectator  for  Clem  is  surely  a  likable 
character. 

William  Duncan  is  splendid  in  this  part  which  permits 
him  to  be  a  manly  man  above  all  and  an  effective  lover.  The 
way  Clem  makes  love  certainly  will  be  enjoyed  by  ladies 
and  in  all  probability  be  approved  by  the  men.  This  is  an 
incident  worthy  of  note.  Clem  is  first  seen  arriving  in  a 
small  western  town  where  he  avails  himself  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  rent  at  a  low  rate  a  fully  equipped  blacksmith's 
shop. 

Like  the  blacksmith  of  Longfellow  he  is  the  idol  of  the 
school   children,  who  are  always  welcome  at  his  shop.     He 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


37 


soon  meets  the  school  teacher  and  almost  as  soon  they 
develop  an  affection  for  each  other.  A  few  weeks  of  friend- 
ship and  then  there  is. love  on  Clem's  part  and  to  all  appear- 
ances Kate  returns  his  love.     On  the  night  he  intends  pro- 


•  Scene    from    Vitagraph's    "The    Wanderers." 

posing  to  her,  Clem  sees  Kate  in  the  embrace  of  a  man. 
He  leaves  the  town  the  next  day.  At  his  next  stopping  place 
he  makes  a  new  acquaintance.  The  two  become  fast  friends 
and  work  together  at  a  camp. 

Here  Roy  wins  the  pretty  daughter  of  the  engineer  and 
Clem,  by  a  good-hearted  act,  is  rewarded  with  some  worth- 
less oil  stocks  which  later  prove  valuable.  Roy  sends  for  his 
sister,  who,  most  happily  for  Clem  is  the  Kate  Brown  he 
loves. 

The  production  is  entirely  good.  Director  Welbert  has 
done  more  than  well  in  the  selection  of  locations  and  all  the 
details  of  direction.  A  fight  between  Clem  and  the  bullying 
boss  of  the  camp  seems  to  be  a  fight  in  earnest  and  there 
are  other  well  presented  incidents.  Jack  Mower  is  effective 
as  Roy,  and  George  Holt  commendable  as  Lorraine,  the  boss. 
Mary  Ruby  and  Hazel  Buckham  fit  into  the  picture  excel- 
lent! v. 


"Black  Fear" 

Five-Reel     Metro     Drama,     Released     December    27 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WITHOUT  overdoing  the  thing  and  so  avoiding  its  de- 
pressing effect  Metro's  "Black  Fear,"  a  five-reel  Rolfe 
production  released  December  27,  depicts  vividly  the  debas- 
ing influence  of  drugs.  Regardless  of  whether  or  not  these 
stories  are  written  in  a  sermonizing  vein  the  spectator  usually 
takes  away  the  impression  that  he  has  just  been  preached  to. 
But  in  "Black  Fear,"  let  it  be  said  to  the  great  credit  of 
the  picture,  the  tendency  to  preach  has  been  suppressed.  A 
bit  of  allegory  has  been  used  to  good  effect.  In  two  scenes 
are  given  a  glimpse  of  Hell  where  Satan  on  his  grim  throne 
holds  conference  with  his   cherished  servant,  Miss   Cocaine. 

It  is  an  entertaining  story  in  addition  to  its  being  a 
strong  depiction  of  a  condition,  a  terrible  vice  which  is  one 
of  our  most  formidable  contemporary  social  problems.  This 
is  as  it  should  be  for  first  of  all  we  visit  the  theater  to  be 
entertained  and  if  problems  worthy  of  thought  and  discus- 
sion can  be  combined  with  this  entertainment  so  much  the 
better.  "Black  Fear"  is  interesting  and  has  some  good 
dramatic  moments.  It  is  a  not  too  pleasant  subject  and 
there  is  one  character  in  particular  who  is  of  the  very  lowest 
type  of  manhood  yet  it  contains  nothing  that  is  in  the 
least  offensive  nor  is  it  even  gloomy. 

The  story  tells  of  a  man  who  moves  in  good  society  and 
practically  purchases  respectability  with  the  profits  of  a 
big   messenger    service    company    doing   its    largest    business 


"Buying  a  Bank  with  Bunk" 

Twelfth  Episode  in  the  Pathe   "Wallingford"   Series 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

TN  the  twelfth  episode  of  Pathe's  "New  Adventures  of  Wal- 
*■  lingford,"  picturized  by  L.  D.  and  T.  W.  Wharton  from  the 
stories  by  George  Randolph  Chester,  the  promoters  combine 
a  bit  of  polished  blackmail  with  their  well-known  business 
acumen  and  square  accounts  with  Benjamin  F.  Quirker,  presi- 
dent of  Jinkinsville's  bank  and  one  of  the  clique  who  robbed 
the  Warden  girls  of  their  fortune.  The  girls  assist  in  the 
scheme  and  they  prove  themselves  clever.  Clever  enough,  in 
fact,  to  be  the  daughters  of  a  man  whose  ability  is  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  it  took  a  clique  of  twelve  or  more  men  to 
beat  him  at  the  financial  game. 

Benjamin  F.  Quirker  is  the  name  of  the  man  whose  past 
and  present  dealings  with  the  "ladies"  are  discovered  and  used 
in  reducing  his  bank  account  by  J.  Rufus  and  his  friend, 
Blackie  Daw.  The  excellence  of  the  production  given  these 
stories  reflects  much  credit  upon  the  Whartons.  In  all  the 
episodes  so  far  shown  the  settings,  photography  and  general 
direction  have  been  remarkably  fine. 

When  Wallingford  discovers  that  Quirker  has  ~a  "past," 
he  instructs  a  little  girl  to  call  the  banker  papa.  Every  time 
she  does  this  Quirker  gives  her  a  nickel,  consequently  she 
does  it  often.  The  child's  father  pays  a  visit  to  the  banker's 
home  and  demands  to  know  just  why  his  little  girl  addresses 
Quirker  as  papa.  Wallingford  decides  that  this  is  the  time 
for  action.  He  sends  an  anonymous  letter  to  Quirker  which 
states  that  his  past  and  his  present  affair  with  a  young  lady 
in  the  next  town  is  known  to  many  people. 

The  next  day  Wallingford  calls  at  the  bank  on  a  pretense 
of  selling  some  stock.  Quirker  then  explains  that  he  will  sell 
his  share  in  the  bank  as  he  must  leave  town  soon.  Walling- 
ford buys  his  interest  with  a  worthless  check.  Quirker  elopes 
with  Marie  Dupont  and  the  check.  Wallingford  and  Blackie 
follow  him  to  New  York.  They  stop,  payment  on  the  check 
and  stop  Quirker's  threatened  outburst  by  bringing-  Mrs. 
Quirker  to  the  scene  of  action.  The  $51,000  which  Walling- 
ford borrowed  on  his  stock  in  the  bank  is  clear  profit. 


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with  people  of  a  low  order..  His  messenger  boys  who  are 
on  night  duty  are  encouraged  to  use  cocaine  to  keep  them 
awake.  Ely  is  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  Ellsmore  home  and 
pays  much  attention  to  Mary,  the  younger  daughter.  When 
Ellsmore  loses  his  fortune  and  commits  suicide  his  two 
daughters  and  young  son  face  poverty.  Billy  works  for  Ely's 
company  and  contracts  a  drug  habit. 

Lillian  does  her  best  to  keep  the  family  together  and  this 
is  at  times  a  discouraging  task,  for  her  younger  sister  is 
discontented  and  Billy  comes  and  goes  as  he  pleases.  Lillian 
refuses  to  marry  Judge  Le  Roy  because  she  wishes  to  give 
all  her  attention  to  her  brother  and  sister.  Ely  lures  Mary 
to  his  home,  or  to  the  home  of  his  mistress,  and  drugs  her. 
In  the  meantime  Billy  is  taken  suddenly  ill  and  carried  to 
a  hospital,  where  he  dies.  On  learning  that  he  died  from 
the  effect  of  drugs  and  where  he  had  contracted  the  habit 
Lillian  hurries  to  Ely's  home.  Circumstances  lead  up  to 
the  accidental  shooting  of  Ely  and  Lillian's  trial  for  the 
murder.     She  is  acquitted  however  and  marries   Le   Roy. 

John  W.  Noble  directed  "Black  Fear"  and  in  many  places 
his  fine  judgment  and  deft  execution  are  evident.  There  is 
a  good  court  room  scene,  and  it  makes  an  impression  even 
in  these  days  of  frequent  and  realistic  trial  scenes.  The  set- 
tings throughout  are,  of  course,  artistic  and  very  handsome. 
The  cast  is  uniformly  good  and  honors  in  this  department 
are  about  even.  However,  if  there  is  to  be  any  player  men- 
tioned in  particular  it  should  be  Grace  Elliston,  who,  pro- 
vided with  an  attractive  part  and  some  good  opportunities, 
makes  a  decided  impression,  Edward  Brennan,  Grace  Valen- 
tine,   John    Tansey    and    Paul    Everton    have    prominent    parts. 


38 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


"A  Welsh  Singer" 

A  Five-Reel  Hepworth  Manufacturing   Co.   Offering 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

A  FILM  version  of  "A  Welsh  Singer,"  by  Allen  Raine,  pro- 
**  vides  the  talented  Florence  Turner,  who  after  gaining 
wide  popularity  with  screen  patrons  here,  left  these  shores 
for  England,  where  she  has  since  made  pictures  and  suc- 
cess, with  a  part  in  which  she  can  be  seen  to  good  advantage. 
Mifanwy,  the  name  role,  is  indeed  an  attractive  character 
for  an  actress  of  Miss  Turner's  ability  and  experience  to 
enact.  It  is  a  part  which  spectators  invariably  speak  of  in 
the  sweetest  of  terms.  Mifanwy  is  a  child  of  the  distant 
hills,  and  what  difference  if  the  hills  be  located  in  one  country 
or  another,   these   children    are   all   the   same. 

First  she  is  the  simple,  poorly  dressed  country  girl  and 
then  through  the  possession  of  a  wonderful  natural  singing 
voice  she  becomes  a  famous  artist  with  all  the  beautiful 
clothes  and  luxuries  which  go  with  it.  Aside  from  old 
Powys  and  the  girl  who  loves  Ieuan  and  consequently  is 
insanely  jealous  of  Mifanwy  who  is  later  known  as  La  Belle 
Russe,  the  characters  are  all  moved  by  the  noblest  impulses 
and  carry  the  sympathy  of  the  spectator.  It  is  not  only  the 
characters  who  are  human  the  story,  too,  is  filled  with  a 
humanity  which  appeals  strongly.  "A  Welsh  Singer"  should 
be   very   popular   in   this   country. 

The  picture  was  produced  by  Turner  Films  Ltd.,  under 
the  direction  of  Larry  Trimble  and  is  presented  by  the  Hep- 
worth  Manufacturing  Company.  It  is  a  five-reel  offering  of 
high  quality  from  every  standpoint.  The  acting  is  always 
good,  the  story  interesting  and  well  told,  and  the  produc- 
tion is  above  adverse  criticism.  The  settings,  especially  the 
hills  of  Wales  or  whatever  hills  they  may  be,  have  rare  beauty 
and  the  photography  is  fine.  The  scenes  of  circus  life  are 
also  enjoyable.  They  are  realistic  for  it  is  a  real  circus 
company  with  which  Mifanwy  travels  and  it  has  all  the 
delightful  tawdriness  of  a  circus. 

Henry  Edwards,  who  co-stars  with  Miss  Turner  as  Ieuan, 
the  cast  off  son  of  the  grouchy  Powys,  is  an  exceptionally 
good  film  actor  and  he  makes  much  of  the  part.  In  their 
dramatic  scenes  these  two  are  most  effective.  Malcolm 
Cherry,  who  is  cast  as  John  Powys,  is  at  present  appearing 
in  a  stage  production  playing  at  His  Majesty's  Theater  in 
London.  The  other  two  important  parts  are  also  capably 
handled.  The  subtitles  could  be  improved  but  in  all  other 
respects  "A  Welsh  Singer"  is  thoroughly  satisfying.  It  tells 
a  delightful  story  in  an  artistic  manner. 


their  home  by  the  sea,  Madge  and  young  Allen  James  are 
thrown  together,  and  Mrs.  Morton,  to  escape  the  young  man's 
attentions,  finally  invites  Clifton  to  visit  them,  and  for  Allen's 
sake  she  invites  Celia,  a  sweet  young  miss  still  in  her  teens, 


"The  Tragic  Circle" 

American   Release   of   December   27   an   Odd   Picture 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Ca.ward 

A  MOST  unusual  production  concerning  a  beautiful  vase 
**■  called  "The  Tragic  Circle,"  forms  the  theme  of  the  Ameri- 
can two-reel  feature,  scheduled  for  relea^  on  the  Mutual  pro- 
gram on  December  27,  and  having  for  its  title  the  name  of 
the  vase,  "The  Tragic   Circle." 

Harold  Lockwood  and  May  Alliscn  are  the  featured  per- 
sonages, this  being  the  first  appearance  of  these  popular  stars 
in  a  two-reel  feature  on  the  regular  Mutual  program;  all  their 
previous  work  having  been  done  in  Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Some  really  wonderful  photography  is  visible  in  this  fea- 
ture, particularly  those  scenes  which  are  double  exposed,  to 
show  scenes  of  action  taking  place  on  the  screen  in  a  mask 
shaped  like  the  base  about  which  the  story  really  centers. 
Unusual  tinting  and  lighting  also  add  not  a  little  to  the  inter- 
est of  the  picture,  which  is  credited  to  Producer  Ricketts. 

Cater  Clifton,  a  novelist,  walking  along  the  beach  one 
day,  comes  upon  a  young  man  about  to  commit  suicide,  and 
prevails  upon  the  youth  to  accompany  him  home  and  tell 
the  reason  of  his  attempted  suicide. 

The  young  man  explains  that  he  had  been  spurned  by 
the  girl  he  loves,  and  considers  life  no  longer  worth  living. 
Clifton  simply  laughs,  and  takes  clown  from  its  place  in  his 
library,  a  beautiful  vase,  with  the  remark  that  he  will  tell 
the  young  man  a  story. 

While  the  young  man  listens,  Clifton  tells  him  how 
Madge  Morton,  a  clever  and  accomplished  young  woman, 
bored  by  her  doctor  husband,  who  is  entirely  devoted  to  his 
work,  is  loved  by  Allen  James,  a  victim  of  heart  trouble,  who 
comes  to  the  Morton  home  for  treatments. 

Clifton  explains  that  years  before,  he,  himself,  had  been 
a  suitor  for  Madge's  hand,  but  during  a  long  absence  she 
had   been   won   by  Dr.  Morton.     When  the   Mortons  come  to 


thinking  the  girl's  youth  and  beauty  will  surely  win  Allen's 
affection. 

Celia  falls  in  love  with  Clifton,  who  had  given  his  heart 
years  before  to  Madge.  Allen,  as  Madge  had  foreseen,  falls 
in  love  with  Celia,  while  Clifton  devotes  himself  to  Madge, 
who  is  unappreciative.  When  Allen  learns  that  Celia  will 
not  consent  to  marry  him,  the  surprise  proves  too  much  for 
his   weak  heart,   and  he  falls  dead. 

As  Clifton  finishes  the  story,  he  points  to  the  Greek  fig- 
ures on  the  vase  which  completely  encircle  it.  He  shows  the 
woman,  bored  and  unhappy;  the  man,  lonely  and  sad;  the 
girl,  sobbing  her  heart  out  in  secret;  and  the  lover,  dead,  and 
only  Dr.  Morton,  who  put  work  first  in  his  life,  has  found 
content. 

The  would-be  suicide  thanks  Clifton  for  the  story  and 
departs,  declaring  that  all  his  energies  henceforth  shall  be 
devoted  to  work,  and  then  as  he  leaves,  the  door  of  Clifton's 
study  opens,  and  Celia  enters.  The  long  sleeves  of  her  neg- 
ligee sweeps  the  vase  from  its  place  on  the  table,  shattering 
it  to  fragments.  As  she  stoops  to  pick  up  the  broken  parts, 
Clifton  exclaims,  "Don't  bother,  dear.  You've  broken  my 
Tragic  Circle,  about  which  I  have  been  inventing  a  story 
for  the  good  of  a  love-sick  young  man,"  and  as  the  film  ends, 
one  reads  on  the  screeen,  "And  so  it  is  left  to  you  to  decide 
how  much  of  the  tale  was  true." 


"The  Reform  Candidate" 

A  Five-Part  Pallas  Pictures  Drama,  Released  by  Para- 
mount Dec.  16,  Reviewed  by  Geo.  W.  Graves 

uTHE  REFORM  CANDIDATE,"  featuring  Maclyn  Ar- 
1  buckle,  is  a  drama  of  politics  and  love  which  affords 
entertainment  at  all  times,  in  numerous  instances  the  interest- 
creating  element  merging  into  compelling  dramatic  situations. 

Maclyn  Arbuckle,  perhaps  better  known  on  the  stage  as 
a  comedian  than  otherwise,  carries  the  part  of  Art  Hoke, 
the  politicial  boss,  with  all  the  fervor  that  it  demands  as  well 
as  with  plenty  of  attention  to  the  more  subtle  traits  and 
peculiar  personality  of  the  character.  The  shrewd,  crafty, 
but  kind  politician  registers  his  appeal  with  (he  spectator 
from  the  start.  There  is  a  kind  of  drollery  attached  to  the 
part  which  is  very  amusingly  portrayed  by  the  actor. 

Mr.  Arbuckle  lias  the  help  of  an  extremely  competent 
cast  of  players,  anion-  whom  are  Forrest  Stanley,  Myrtle 
Stedman,  Malcolm  Blevins,  Charles  Ruggles  and  Mary  Ruby, 
all  of  whom  enact  their  parts  so  well  that  it  seems  unfair  to 
dwell  on  the  efforts  of  any  particular  one.  However,  the 
mention  of  Charles  Ruggles  as  a  character  man  of  ability  and 
resource,  will  be  made.  He  is  cast  as  "Looney"  Jim,  a  part 
that  might  tax  anybody's  nerves  as  well  as  their  dramatic 
ability. 

The  production  is  good,  the  photography  and  the  sets 
more  than  fair.  "The  Reform  Candidate"  embraces  all  of 
the  qualities  of  a  feature.     The  story  is  clean  and  plausible. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


developed  along  the  lines  of  suspense  and"  culminating  in  a 
climax  of  force  and  complete  satisfaction.  Incidentally,  the 
picture  serves  as  a  warning  to  those  of  weak  temperament 
to  keep  out  of  politics. 

The  well-oiled  machine  of  Art  Hoke,  the  political  boss, 
is  crushing  the  opposing  faction  in  a  campaign  for  mayor. 
Frank  Grandell,  who  heads  the  "reform"  ticket,  at  his  wit's 
end,  tries  the  old  trick  of  prying  into  the  past  life  of  his 
political  enemy.  He  and  his  co-workers  reflect  that  there  is 
a  May  Hoke,  but  nobody  seems  to  remember  the  existence 
of  a  Mrs.  Hoke.  They  finally  discover  that  "Looney"  Jim, 
a  poor  unbalanced  fellow  who  lives  on  Hoke's  charity,  knows 
something  of  the  politician's  past  in  that  respect,  but  Jim 
dies  before  they  can  force  any  information  from  him. 

Years  ago  the  baby  girl  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grandell  had 
been  stolen  by  "Looney"  Jim  and  he  had  delivered  it  at  the 
home  of  his  benefactor,  as  he  had  heard  him  express  the 
wish  that  he  might  have  a  child.  Accompanying  the  baby 
was  a  note  which  purported  to  come  from  a  desperate 
mother,  but  which  was  written  by  Jim. 

Burton,  the  mayoralty  candidate  opposed  to  Grandell, 
is  in  love  with  May.  After  a  dramatic  climax  in  which  the 
real   parentage    of   May   is    disclosed    and    Grandell    is    saved 


May  Hok 


rioh,, 


:ntage 


"Who  Killed  Joe  Merrion?" 

Four-Reel    Vitagraph    Drama,    Released    January    3 
Reviewed  by  Tom  Kennedy 

"THE  Vitagraph  Broadway  Star  Feature  "Who  Killed  Joe 
■*•  Merrion?"  is  notable  chiefly  for  the  excellent  production 
given  it.  Tefft  Johnson  produced  the  picture  and  he  has 
done  his  work  well.  The  direction  is  good  and  all  the  aid 
that  can  be  given  the  action  of  a  play  by  remarkable  set- 
tings has  surely  been  done.  There  are  scenes  at  a  race  track, 
in  a  criminal  court  and  in  the  home  of  a  wealthy  judge  and 
all  these  have  the  atmosphere  which  picturesque  effect  can 
give.  Furthermore  the  story  is  acted  by  a  cast  composed  of 
well  known  Vitagraph  players. 

"Who  Killed  Joe  Merrion?"  is  a  mystery  story  title 
and  this  is  a  mystery  or  rather  murder  story.  There  are 
two  murders  committed,  but  the  author,  Beatrice  Heron- 
Maxwell,  apparently  was  not  intent  upon  constructing  a 
mystery  story  when  she  wrote  it;  for  at  no  time  is  the  spec- 
tator put  to  any  great  mental  strain  in  the  endeavor  to 
decide  just  who  is  guilty,  for  the  problem,  if  a.  problem 
it  be,  is  quite  easy  of  solution.  All  this  is  not  meant  to  give 
the  impression  that  "Who  Killed  Joe  Merrion?"  is  a  poor 
story.  It  is  melodrama  with  melodrama's  episodic  situations 
but  it  is  not  poor  melodrama.  There  is  much  in  it  that  is 
good. 

The    story    concerns    a    noted    jurist    who    disinherits    his 


scapegrace  son.  His  wife  dies  shortly  after  this  of  a  broken 
heart.  After  leaving  home  Jim  dissipates  more  than  ever, 
spending  most  of  his  time  at  a  race  track.  Sometime  later 
Judge    Randall    presides    at    the    trial    of    William    Rufford, 


previously  a  frequent  visitor  at  his  home  and  now  on  trial 
for  the  murder  of  a  bookmaker.  There  is  strong  circum- 
stantial evidence  against  Rufford  and  in  his  charge  to  the 
jury  Randall  recommends  a  conviction. 

The  one  material  clue  is  a  portion  of  a  photograph  which 
was  found  in  the  murdered  man's  hand.  This  Randall  keeps. 
The  jury  returns  a  verdict  of  murder  in  the  second  degree 
and  Rufford  is  sentenced  to  a  long  term  of  imprisonment. 
Randall  communicates  by  letter  with  his  son  and  after  re- 
deeming a  few  articles  of  Jim's  which  were  pawned  among 
them  a  torn  picture  of  Mrs.  Randall  which  was  kept  in  a 
cigarette  case,  he  writes  asking  his  son  to  return  home. 
Jim  admits  he  killed  Merrion  and  his  father  prepares  a 
letter  giving  the  facts  to  the  authorities.  Before  this  is  sent, 
Rufford,  who  has  escaped,  enters  the  house  and  kills  the 
judge.  He  finds  the  letter  and  destroys  it,  feeling  that  this 
will  atone  for  his  act.  The  last  scene  shows  Rufford  being 
taken  back  to  prison  and  Jim  free  to  do  whatever  his  heart 
desires. 

Joseph  Kilgour  is  Philip  Randall  and  S.  Rankin  Drew 
his  worthless  son.  J.  Herbert  Frank,  Rose  Tapley  and  Betty 
Gray  have  the  other  important  parts  and  put  to  good  use 
what  opportunities  they  are  presented  with.  Denton  Vane, 
George  Stevens  and  Mabel  Kelly  are  included  in  the  cast. 


from  the  consequences  of  stealing  a  large  amount  of  money 
to  buy  off  Hoke  by  the  latter's  magnanimity,  "Boss"  Hoke 
and  the  Grandells  are  united  in  friendship  through  their 
mutual  interest  in   May,  and  Grandell  retires  from  the  race. 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill 

Latest  Offerings  from  the  Griffith  and  Ince   Studios 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

A  WHOLLY  pleasing  bill  forms  the  week's  offering  at  the 
■"*■  Studebaker  theater,  the  Chicago  home  of  Triangle  films. 
It  consists  of  "The  Beckoning  Flame,"  from  the  Kay-Bee  Tri- 
angle studios,  "The  Missing  Links"  from  the  Fine  Arts  fac- 
tion in  Triangle,  and  a  return  engagement  of  "The  Submarine 
Pirate,"  the  four-reel  Keystone  comedy  with  Syd  Chaplin  in 
the  leading  role. 

Henry  Woodruff  and  the  Japanese  star,  Tsuru  Aoki,  have 
the  leads  in  "The  Beckoning  Flame,"  produced  by  Charles 
Swikard  under  the  supervision  of  Thomas  Ince.  The  story 
is  laid  in  India  and  has  for  its  main  theme  the  "suttee"  cus- 
tom, under  which  the  wife  of  an  Indian  prince  is  burned  alive 
on  her  husband's  funeral  pyre.  _ 

Out  of  the  ordinary  sub-titles  give  the  atmosphere  of 
India  even  before  the  pictured  tale  begins,  each  sub-title  hav- 
ing a  symbolical  border  of  real  purpose,  .while  the  lettering 
of  the  sub-title  itself  is  unique  and  yet  pleasing.  Much  care 
has  been  taken  by  the  directors  to  keep  the  Indian  atmosphere 
throughout  and  never  once  are  we  treated  to  glimpses  of 
things  that  would  instantly  spoil  the  illusion. 

Most  of  the  dramatic  work  falls  upon  the  shoulders  of 
little  Miss- Aoki,  who  gives  a  most  convincing  portrayal  of 
Janira,  the  daughter  of  Ram  Dass,  an  Indian  noble.  Mr. 
Woodruff  is  Harry  Dickson,  a  most  likable  young  English 
official,  who  audaciously  enters  the  secluded  gardens  of  Ram 
Dass  for  the  purpose  of  conversing  with  Janira,  whom  he  has 
seen  and  been  attracted  by.  He  is  discovered  and  ordered 
to  leave  the  grounds  instantly,  as  Janira  is  bethrothed  to 
Prince  Chandra  and  other  men  are  forbidden  to  look  upon  her. 


40 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


On  the  very  evening  of  Janira's  marriage,  her  husband, 
whom  she  secretly  (fetes ts,  is  stricken  with  appoplexy  and  the 
maid  believes  she  has  found  relief  from  her  sufferings,  until 
she    suddenly   recalls    the    awful    practice    of   "suttee,"    which 


&*3 

*fl 

i 

is 

Tsm 


Aoki,   the  Japani 


i  "The  Beekoi 


she  knows  will  result  in  her  becoming  a  human  sacrifice  on 
Prince  Chandra's  funeral  pyre. 

Dickson,  who  has  learned  of  the  awful  fate  awaiting 
Janira,  rescues  the  girl  just  as  she  is  about  to  plunge  into 
the  flames,  and  bears  her  away  to  a  distant  post  to  which  he 
has  been  assigned.  There,  disguised  as  a  boy,  she  waits  on 
and  lives  with  Dickson.  Some  weeks  later  Elsa  Arlington, 
to  whom  Dickson  has  once  proposed,  comes  out  to  India  with 
her  father  and   Dickson   finds  himself  renewing  the   old  love 


to    him,    Janira    witnesses    his    love 


affair,    thou: 
tryst. 

The  Indian  potentates  appeal  to  the  English  government 
to  apprehend  the  bold  Englishman  who  interrupted  the 
"suttee"  ceremony,  and  a  promise  is  given  that  "the  guilty 
one  shall  be  punished."  Eventually  Dickson  is  summoned 
to  headquarters  to  face  Ram  Dass,  and  told  of  the  charges 
against  him.  He  reluctantly  agrees  to  have  his  "boy"  brought 
face  to  face  with  Ram  Dass,  and  then  waits  while  Janira  is 
summoned.  The  girl  learns  Dickson  is  facing  disgrace  and. 
feeling  the  beckoning  flame  of  "suttee,"  she  deliberately 
drenches  her  clothing  with  oil  and  fires  the  home  in  which 
Dickson  resides.    As  the  film  ends  a  report  is  made  that  only 


r    v  __   %■,  ■  \ 

IrM 

M 

■   Talmadge  • 


t  fro 


a  blackened  ruin  stands  where  Dickson's  bungalow  had  existed 
and  in  it  a  charred  body,  so  burned  as  to  be  beyond  recogni- 
tion. 

"The  Missing   Links."  the  Fine  Arts  offering,  introduces 


Robert  Harron  and  Norma  Talmadge  to  the  Triangle  screen 
in  a  story  of  powerful  appeal  staged  under  the  direction  of 
Lloyd  Ingraham.  Thomas  Jefferson,  Elmer  Clifton,  William 
Higby,  Jack  Brammall,  Robert  Lawler  and  Constance  Tal- 
madge are  in  the  supporting  company.  Rural  atmosphere  is 
presented  in  a  wonderfully  convincing  fashion  and  many 
trifling  little  incidents  are  so  worked  out  as  to  create  a 
perfect  whole.  The  mystery  part  of  the  story  is  well  handled 
and  it  is  well  along  toward  the  end  of  the  picture  before  the 
audience  can  even  begin  to  guess  the  outcome. 

Horace  and  Henry  Gaylord,  sons  of  banker  Gaylord,  are 
regarded  with  distrust  by  Jasper  Starr,  especially  after  Henry 
elopes  with  Myra  Holburn,  Starr's  stepdaughter,  though  in 
reality  Henry  is  just  an  irresponsible  boy,  bubbling  over  with 
life  and  energy. 

When  Gaylord  dies,  after  a  run  on  his  bank,  and  Starr, 
who  takes  over  the  management  of  the  institution  discovers 
that  among  the  assets  are  some  forged  notes,  suspicion  is 
thrown  upon  the  Gaylord  boys.  Later  when  Henry  Gaylord 
finds  Starr  dead  and  on  the  floor  beside  him  a  cufflink  of 
peculiar  design,  he  jumps  to  the  conclusion  that  Horace. is 
the  murderer,  since  Henry  had  himself  given  Horace  a  pair 
of  links  like  the  one  picked  up  beside  the  murdered  man. 
Henry  is  seen  as  he  leaves  the  bank  and  later  arrested  for 
the  murder,  but  Horace  proves  that  the  link  picked  up  by 
Henry  is  not  his.  Horace  and  Mrs.  Henry  Gaylord  secure 
the  aid  of  Chris  Tompkins,  who  prefers  the  detective  stories 
of  Gaboriau  to  a  study  of  Blackstone,  and  eventually  the 
guilt  is  placed  on  the  shoulders  of  C.  P.  Martin,  the  cashier 
in  the  Gaylord  bank,  who  had  apparently  been  out  of  town 
on  a  vacation.  Beautifully  staged  and  photographed,  the  pic- 
ture will  undoubtedly  prove  exceedingly  popular. 


"Saved,  from  the  Harem" 

Lubin  Four-Reel  Comedy-Drama,  Released  Dec.  27 
Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

WITH  beautiful  interior  settings,  good  photography,  a 
wealth  of  stirring  action  and  a  finis  which  is  bound  to 
win  favor  wherever  shown,  the  four-reel  Lubin  production 
"Saved  from  the  Harem,"  to  be  released  December  27.  will 
be  a  success.  The  story  of  this  comedy-drama  is  not  a  con- 
vincing one,  but  one  which  is  adaptable  for  screen  use.  With- 
out a  doubt,  the  final  scenes  laid  in  the  harem  of  a  foreign 
ruler  with  a  large  number  of  Uncle  Sam's  sailors  forming  an 
effective  background  and  the  ruler  who  had  before  spurned 
the  American  flag,  saluting  it,  will  not  only  cause  great  com- 
ment, but  an  outburst  of  patriotic  enthusiasm. 

There  is  one  action  in  this  picture  which  is  a  strong  one, 
but  which  is  not  needed  and  would  better  have  been  left  out. 
The  ruler  of  a  small  foreign  country  is  seen  to  tear  down 
from  the  wall  our  American  flag  and  trample  on  it. 

Throughout  the  production  are  bits  of  humor  which  add 
to  the  attractiveness  of  the  picture  and  a  splendid  cast  has 
been  selected  for  it.  Violet  MacMillan.  L.  C.  Shumway, 
Adelaide  Bronti,  George  Routh  and  Adda  Gleason  are  among 
them  and  they  are  ably  supported. 

The  story  centers  around  the  social  aspirations  of  the 
wife  of  the  "leading  merchant  of  Kankakee,  111.  When  a 
democratic  president  is  elected,  the  merchant's  wife  sees  great 
prospects  ahead  for  social  career  and  with  her  husband  and 
their  pretty  daughter  they  leave  for  Washington  to  receive 
one  of  the  "plums."  While  in  Washington  the  girl  is  intro- 
duced to  a  lieutenant  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Colorado,  with  whom 
she  immediately  falls  in  love  and  also  an  ambassador  from 
the  country  of  Vergania.  The  latter  has  been  sent  by  his 
ruler  to  bring  back  an  American  girl  to  take  the  place  of 
his  cast  off  favorite  of  the  harem. 

The  Kankakee  merchant's  wife  manages  to  get  her  hus- 
band the  consularship  of  Vergania  and  the  ruler's  representa- 
tive; who  has  met  the  girl,  returns  and  tells  him  that  his 
American  beauty  is  in  town  at  the  consulate. 

The  consul  and  his  family  are  invited  to  the  ruler's  palace 
and  there  the  "old  favorite,"  disguised  as  a  dancer,  attempts 
to  kill  her  master,  but  he  has  her  imprisoned  and  tells  the 
\mericans  that  she  is  a  religious  fanatic.  The  next  day  the 
girl  receives  a  letter  from  the  officer  of  the  ship  telling  her 
that  he  will  be  in  Vergania  the  following  day.  Just  then  the 
ruler  of  Vergania  comes  up  to  her  and  attempts  to  embrace 
her.  She  slaps  him  and  he  returns  to  his  palace  vowing 
vengeance.  He  manages  to  trap  the  consul,  bis  wife  and' 
daughter  and  after  having  them  brought  to  the  palace,  im- 
prisons  the    mother   and    father   in    one   room   and    the   girl    in 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


another,  which  happens  to  be  next  to  the   one  in  which  the 
"old  favorite"  is  imprisoned. 

Later    when    the    U.    S.    S.    Colorado    comes    to    Vergania 
and  the  officer  discovers  that  the  family  has  disappeared  he 


suspects  the  ruler,  and  with  armed  sailors  goes  to  the  palace. 
He  tells  the  ruler  that  if  anything  happens  to  the  consul  and 
his  family  he  will  be  responsible  for  the  American  flag  and 
then  it  is  that  the  ruler  commits  the  crime  of  tearing  down 
the  flag. 

The  "old  favorite"  manages  to  escape  from  her  cell  and 
swims  out  to  the  battleship  and  tells  the  lieutenant  that  the 
consul  and  his  family  are  imprisoned  in  the  palace.  Imme- 
diately boat  loads  of  armed  sailors  leave  the  boat  and  soon 
storm"  the  kingdom  of  Vergania.  After  overcoming  the  army 
in  the  palace  they  rescue  the  American  consul  and  his  family. 
And  before  the  picture  closes  the  ruler  of  Vergania  is  made 
to  salute  the  American  flag. 


"Iris" 

A    Five-Reel    Picturization    of    Sir  Arthur    Pinero's 
Story.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  Hepworth  Manufacturing  Co.,  Ltd.,  presents  a 
splendidly  acted  and  faithful  picturization  of  Sir  Arthur 
Pinero's  "Iris"  in  five  reels.  The  original  story,  in  the  main, 
has  been  left  intact,  there  is  only  one  real  change  and  this 
is  in  the  ending.  A  few  scenes  have  been  added  to  make 
it  end  happily  for  the  lovely  "Iris"  and  Trenwith.  This 
will  make  the  story  more  pleasing  or  it  will  weaken  it  ac- 
cording to  individual  tastes  in  the  matter.  Strictly  it  is 
neither  one  thing  nor  another,  for  at  best  the  reconciliation 
of  Iris  and  Trenwith  is  a  patched-up  affair. 

Cecil  M.  Hepworth  produced  the  picture  with  an  amount 
of  skill  and  a  keen  eye  for  the  picturesque.  It  is  through 
scenes  of  pictorial  beauty  that  the  charming  illusion  is  main- 
tained in  portion  of  the  story  where  the  action  is  of  no  great 
moment.  But  the  illusion  is  maintained  and  that  is  all  one 
need  concern  oneself  with.  The  picture  is  artistic  in  its  every 
phase.  It  has  interior  sets  that  are  in  the  best  of  taste 
and  the  outdoor  scenes,  particularly  those  taking  place  at 
the  Lakeside  Villa,  are  of  wondrous  beauty. 

"Iris"  is  the  story  of  a  most  charming  woman,  who 
through  her  life  of  ill  fortune,  never  enjoys  the  happiness 
her  intense  love  should  bring  her.  In  the  eyes  of  the  world 
she  errs  when  she  becomes  the  mistress  of  the  "other"  man 
who  loved  her  so  selfishly  and  used  every  artifice  to  bring  her 
within  his  grasp.  But  in  truth  she  is  justified  in  doing  this 
under  the  circumstances.  Reared  in  luxury,  expensive  gowns 
and  surroundings  are  really  a  necessity  to  her.  Not  because 
they  are  expensive.  Her  point  of  view  is  not  the  inane, 
shallow  viowpoint  of  the  butterfly.  Iris  is  a  delicately  beau- 
tiful character  and  she  is  brought  to  the  screen  with  more 
or  less  fidelity  to  the  creation   of  Pinero's   pen. 

Alma  Taylor,  we  are  told,  is  a  favorite  motion  picture 
actress  in  England,  and  having  seen  her  as  Iris  this  can 
be  readily  understood.  Miss  Taylor  is  beautiful  and  grace- 
ful of  gesture  and  she  realizes  the  subtle  charm  and  deep 
pathos  of  her  part  with  seeming  ease.  Maldonado  is  enacted 
by  Henry  Ainley,  a  famous  character  actor  who  is  admirably 
suited  to  this  role  and  he  is  generally  effective,  though  at 
times  a  bit  too  heavy. 


"The  Nature  Man" 

Universal's   Screened  Story  of  a  Man's   Struggle  for 
Existence.     Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

A  S  the  Broadway  Universal  feature  in  five  reels  for  release 
**■  this  week,  the  Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Company 
offers  the  life  story  of  Knowles,  the  famous  Nature  Man, 
whose  marvelous  feats  have  been  recounted  in  magazines  and 
newspapers  times  without  number,  since  it  was  Knowles  who 
demonstrated  to  the  world  that  it  was  possible  for  a  modern 
man  to  go  into  the  wilds,  alone,  with  no  mechanical  assist- 
ance, not  even  a  knife  to  aid  him,  and  by  his  superior  intel- 
lect and  knowledge  of  the  forces  of  nature,  to  carve  out  an 
existence  for  himself. 

Never  has  a  more  surprising  film  been  screened,  and  the 
5,000  feet  of  celluloid  contains,  just  as  a  few  of  its  thrills, 
such  incidents  as  a  battle  between  a  wild  cat  and  a  huge 
snake,  the  capture  of  several  cub  bears,  and  a  hand-to-hand 
encounter  with  mountain  lions. 

Scenery  that  is  nothing  short  of  marvelous  is  included 
as  the  background  for  some  of  these  stirring  incidents,  and 
howr  the  cameraman  succeeded  in  clinging  to  his  dizzy  perch, 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  some  of  the  negatives  shown  in 
this  picture,  is  a  mystery  indeed,  for  though  we  behold 
Knowles,  the  hero  of  the  story,  climbing  lofty  crags,  where 
the  tiniest  misstep  would  have  hurled  him  to  instant  death, 
the  cameraman  must  have  been  in  a  similarly  perilous  position 
when  he  took  the  picture. 

This  is  one  five-reel  feature  in  which  the  cast  of  charac- 
ters is  not  hard  to  remember,  for  during  the  whole  produc- 
tion Knowles  and  an  Indian  are  the  only  human  beings 
shown  on  the  screen,  the  other  participants  in  the  strange 
story  being  beasts,  reptiles  and  birds,  just  as  Knowles  found 
them  in  the  great  outdoors. 

The  picture  begins  as  Knowles  is  shown  entering  the 
forest,  where  he  had  agreed  to  win  a  living  for  himself  and, 
incidentally,  a  bet  of  many  thousands  of  dollars.  He  is 
stripped  of  everything  except  his  brains  when  he  enters  the 
woods.  We  see  him  building  a  fire  by  rubbing  two  sticks 
together,  until  the  friction  creates  a  spark,  and  from  this  a 
flame.  He  kills  animals,  and  makes  clothing  for  himself  and 
sleeping  accommodations.  He  erects  a  nature  hut  from 
boughs  of  the  forest  primeval,  manufactures  rope  with  which 
to  snare  deer,  tans  a  deerskin  for  clothing,  cuts  saplings  for 
spear  ends  to  catch  fish,  and  eventually  provides  himself  with 
all  the  accommodations  that  man  seems  to  require,  and  all 
without  spending  a  cent,  or  having  a  single  implement  other 
than  those  made  by  himself  to  assist  him.  The  picture  is  so 
unique  as  to  stand  out  as  a  picture  among  pictures,  and  it 
is  doubtful  whether,  after  all,  a  more  dramatic  story  can  be 
told  in  films  than  one  which  concerns  the  struggles  of  man 
for  existence;  a  man  single-handed,  pitted  against  the  forces 
of  nature  and  proving  his  superiority  by  strong  will  power 
and  knowledge  of  nature. 


Reviewed  by 


"The  Salamander" 

B.   S.   Moss   Production.     Five   Reels. 
Charles  R.  Condon    ■ 

OWEN  JOHNSON'S  famous  novel,  "The  Salamander,"  takes 
its  name  from  an  ancient  legend  connected  with  this  strange 
animal,  crediting  it  with  being  capable  of_  passing  through  fire 
without  injury.  A  parallel  of  this  immunity  is  found  in  John- 
son's book  in  the  experiences  of  pretty  Dore  Baxter  who  passes 
through  the  crucible  of  metropolitan  life  without^  contamination. 
For  weeks  she  wends  her  way  through  evils,  vices,  temporary 
poverty,  temptations  and  proferred  wealth,  but  emerges  un- 
scorched. 

The  B.  S.  Moss  Film  Productions  company  has  visualized 
this  story  in  five  reels,  and  offers  in  "The  Salamander"  a  fea- 
ture worth  attention.  Beautifully  toned  and  tinted  and  staged 
with  a  full  appreciation  of  the  artistic,  this  picture  has  in  it 
all  of  the  simple  appeal  and  dramatic  force  which  made_  for  the 
popularity  of  the  novel  in  addition  to  the  charm  of  living  per- 
sonalities' and  the  tension  of  well-acted  scenes  which  are  the 
properties   of   the   screen. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  things  about  "The  Salamander" 
is  its  entire  lack  of  sensual  points  and  bluntly  suggestive  scenes, 
while  still,  through  clever  and  unoffending  inference,  _ telling,  in 
its  entirety,  the  story  of  the  many  pitfalls  and  straitened  cir- 
cumstances which  confronted  Dore  Baxter.  An  exhibitor  whose 
patrons  appreciate  an  appeal-story  of  a  girl's  trials  in  New  York, 


42 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


told  without  gawdy  exaggeration  and  realistically  acted,  will 
find  "The  Salamander"  a  good  investment. 

Under  the  capable  direction  of  Arthur  Donaldson,  the  entire 
cast  worked  hard  and  sincerely  with  a  good  production  as  their 
goal.  It  in  itself  is  their  reward.  The  role  of  Dore  Baxter, 
the  demure  country  miss  who  innocently  seeks  the  turbulent 
metropolis  as  the  place  to  earn  a  living  and  later  devotes  her- 
self to  entrapping  "The  Wolf"  and  recovering  from  him  the 
property  stolen  from  her  people,  is  played  and  played  well  by 
Ruth  Findlay. 

Iva  Shepard  lives  the  part  of  Beatrice  Snyder,  the  sympa- 
thetic actress  into  whose  care  Providence  delivers  Dore  upon 
her  arrival  in  New  York.  Chaperoned  by  her  more-experienced 
friend,  who,  it  tu'-ns  out,  is  also  a  victim  of  "The  Wolf,"  Dore 
is  enabled  to  gain  power  over  the  man  whom  she  is  seeking  with- 
out compromising  herself.  J.  M.  Sainpolis  puts  into  his  in- 
terpretation of  Sassoon,  "The  Wolf,"  all  of  the  detestable  qual- 
ities and  wicked   attractions   for  which  that  character   is   noted. 

As  Garry  Lindaberry,  J.  F.  Glendon  denounces  his  role  of 
"angel"  for  a  musical  comedy  company  to  devote  his  entire 
time  to  loving  Dore  and  protecting  her  from  Sassoon's  wiles. 
To  Edgar  L.  Davenport  is  entrusted  the  part  of  Philip  Massingale 
and.  to  J.  Albert  Hall,  that  of  Harrigan   Blood.     H.   H.   Pattee 


Claude,  a  new  flame,  who  has  but  recently  appeared  at  her 
home. 

Arriving    in    England,    Drummond    learns,    ere    his    uncle 
dies,    that   the   entire   estate,    including    Haddon    Towers,    the 


Preparing  for  the  pageant. 

is  seen  as  Samuel  Ludlow.  Rita  Allen's  success  as  Miss  Pirn 
shows  her  capable  of  handling  with  ease  a  more  important  and 
better  role.  Dan  Baker,  Mabel  Trinnear,  Beatrice  James  and 
Violet  Davis  complete  the  cast. 


"The  Wraith  of  Haddon  Towers" 

A  Three-Reel  Clipper  Feature,  Released  January  1 

Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 
C\N  January  1,  American  will  release  under  the  Clipper 
^-'  brand,  a  most  unusual  story  of  the  spirit  world,  entitled 
"The  Wraith  of  Haddon  Towers,"  a  production  made  under 
the  direction  of  Arthur  Maude,  and  having  for  its  leading 
characters  Mr.  Maude,  himself,  in  the  role  of  Phillip  Drum- 
mond, Constance  Crawley  as  Dorothy,  Beatrice  Van  as  Clara 
Drummond,  Phillip's  wife;  and  Leslie  Reed  as  Claude  Hope. 

Many  of  the  scenes  are  laid  in  England,  and  are  convinc- 
ingly real,  since  furniture,  settings,  costuming,  props,  and  in 
fact  everything  used  is  absolutely  of  the  type  necessary  to 
create  an  English  atmosphere,  and  Mr.  Maude  himself,  who 
is  of  English  birth,  and  has  long  been  rated  as  one  of  the 
best  stage  Englishmen  of  the  legitimate  theater,  gives  a  con- 
vincing portrayal  of  the  young  Englishman  interested  in 
the  psychic. 

As  the  story  opens,  we  learn  that  Phillip  Drummond  is 
a  firm  believer  in  psychic  phenomena,  and  determines  to  test 
his  pet  theory,  that  one  long  departed  can  be  summoned  from 
the  astral  world,  provided  that  spirit  is  in  love  with  a  rein- 
carnated being. 

Both  Phillip  and  his  theories  are  scorned  by  Clara  Drum- 
mond, his  wife,  whose  soul  object  in  life  appears  to  be  the 
seeking  of  enjoyment  for  herself,  and  the  purchase  of  fine 
clothing,  together  with  a  desire  to  flirt  with  every  man  whose 
attention  she  attracts. 

Mrs.  Drummond  is  delighted  when  Phillip  is  summoned 
back  to  England  by  his  uncle,  a  wealthy  baron,  for  she  then 
has    the    opportunity    of    seeking    to    win    the    attentions    of 


Philip. 


ancestral  home,  has  been  left  to  him,  including  the  wraith 
said  to  haunt  the  castle. 

After  the  baron's  death,  Drummond,  who  has  been  told 
the  story  of  the  wraith,  spends  all  of  his  time  in  the  former 
boudoir  of  the  mysterious  Dorothy,  who  died  years  before, 
the  result  of  a  love  affair  which  was  bitterly  opposed  by  her 
father. 

Drummond  succeeds  in  finally  materializing  the  spirit  of 
the  long-departed  Dorothy,  and  the  wraith  appears  before 
his  vision  and  re-enacts  the  details  of  the  events  of  long  ago. 
Thus  Drummond  learns  that  the  feudal  ancestor  with  whom 
Dorothy  had  been  in  love  was  none  other  than  himself,  in 
his  former  time  on  earth. 

He  learns,  too,  that  the  Claude  Hope  of  today,  with 
whom  Mrs.  Drummond  is  in  love,  was  Sir  Berton  Gregory 
of  the  past,  who  slew  him  and  caused  the  death  of  Dorothy. 

Believing  the  astral  visitor  is  his  true  soul  mate,  Drum- 
mond spends  all  his  hours  in  •  the  former  boudoir  of  his 
ancestor,  and  is  there  when  his  wife  arrives,  she  having  come 
to  England  after  learning  that  he  had  inherited  the  baron's 
title  and  estate.  Entering  the  mysterious  boudoir,  she  is 
amazed  to  find  her  husband  dead,  and  as  the  picture  ends, 
the  question  of  whether  Drummond  finally  established  his 
spirit  theory,  or  whether  the  whole  affair  was  a  mere  chimera 
of  the  mind,  is  left  to  the  spectator  to  solve  for  himself. 


"No  Greater  Love" 

A   Selig  Five-Reel  Picture,   Featuring  Regina  Badet 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

REGINA  BADET,  the  famous  and  beautiful  emotional 
actress,  interprets  the  leading  feminine  role  in  "No 
Greater  Love,"  the  Selig  Red  Seal  play  scheduled  for  release 
on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program  on  January  10,  and  upon  that 
fact  alone  the  laurels  for  the  production  can  easily  rest,  for 
Miss  Badet  has  achieved  such  big  triumphs  in  the  past  that 
little  remains  to  be  said  of  her  ability. 

In  "No  Greater  Love"  the  famous  foreign  star  is  cast  as 
"Sadunah,  the  dancer,"  and  called  upon  not  only  t">  perform  a 
dance  that  calls  for  grace  and  skill,  but  later  to  run  the  whole 
gamut  of  a  woman's  emotions,  when,  like  a  second  Lady 
Macbeth,  she  finds  it  expedient  to  urge  her  husband  to 
commit  murder,  in  order  that  his  reputation  and  fortune 
may  be  saved. 

Beautiful  photography  and  backgrounds  of  an  unusual 
sort  mark  the  production,  which  concerns  the  love  of  a 
wealthy  nobleman  for  Sadunah,  a  famous  dancer.  After 
winning  the  attention  of  the  nobleman  by  her  dancing  at  a 
theater,  Sadunah  is  summoned  to  dance  at  a  party  given  in 
the  nobleman's  home.  She  attends  and  while  there  is  asked 
to  marry  her  host  of  the  evening.  Sadunah  has  a  daughter 
just  blossoming  into  womanhood,  and  largely  to  provide  a 
home  and  a  name  for  the  girl  she  consents  to  accept  the 
proposal. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  time  following  Sadunah's  marriage,  the  husband 
discovers  that  some  speculations  he  has  made  have  turned 
out  unfortunately  and  that  people  whose  money  was  intrusted 
to  him  will  prosecute  unless  he  can  raise  an  enormous  sum 
almost  overnight.  A  wealthy  baron,  an  uncle  of  Sadunah's 
husband,  comes  to  visit  just  at  this  time  and  an  appeal  is 
made  to  him  for  a  loan,  but  he  refuses  the  request  and, 
learning  the  cause  of  the  dire  need  for  money  on  the  part 
of  his  nephew,  threatens  to  immediately  change  his  will, 
cutting  the  nephew  off  without  a  cent. 

After  much  persuasion  Sadunah  induces  her  husband  to 
kill  the  baron  and  thus  secure  for  himself  a  fortune.  An 
attempt  is  made  to  throw  the  guilt  on  the  baron's  valet,  who 
slept  in  the  same  chamber  as  the  aged  man,  but  a  crafty 
young  man,  who  had  long  vainly  aspired  to  win  the  hand 
of  Sadunah's  daughter,  accidentally  finds  some  evidence  that 
leads  him  to  believe  the  baron  was  murdered  by  Sadunah  and 
her  husband. 

On  the  day  the  baron's  will  is  read  Sadunah's  husband 
thinks  he  beholds  the  specter  of  his  uncle  before  him  and 
screams  out  in  horror.  The  suitor  for  the  hand  of  Sadunah's 
daughter  collects  his  various  bits  of  evidence  against  the 
really  guilty  parties  to  the  murder  and  visits  Sadunah.  He 
threatens  to  reveal  all  to  the  daughter  unless  the  mother 
will  give  her  consent  to  the  marriage. 

Amazed  by  the  evidence  and  yet  loath  to  give  her  daugh- 
ter into  the  arms  of  a  blackmailer,  Sadunah  tells  the  young 
man  that  if  he  will  call  the  next  morning  she  will  take  him' 
to  the  daughter.     Next  day  she  deliberately  leads  the  suitor5 


he  has  done  to  the  first  couple.  At  the  roadhouse  he  attempts 
violent  love,  but  a  mysterious  shot  from  somewhere,  lays  the 
villain  dead  in  his  tracks.  The  unsuspecting  wife,  who  is  caught 
in  this  mess,  is  placed  on  trial   for  her  life,  and  there  is  a  big 


be  a  success. 

|,  from  Pittsburg,  have 

rsing    on    North    Fifty- 

g    high    class    features 

change  the  luck  of  the 

he  American  Theater, 
<y  Bros,  is  to  change 
;  vaudeville  to  stock. 
>orted  to  have  bought 

louse,  and  among  the 
appear     are     Nance 

;ves     and     Raymond 


CHICA 

.  Willis  is  resting  at  his  home  i_ 

_    from    a    severe    attack    of   pto- 

e  poisoning.     It  is  expected  he  will 


Film   Market  Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.  D.  Small  of  A.  E.  Butler  ft  C«., 
Chicaco. 

Bid      Asked 


corporation    have    re-    o( 
inal  policy  of  booking    colon 
rect  only.     This   can- 
lent  with  the  Stanley 


The    appearance    of    the    spectre    in    Selig's    "No    Greater   Love.' 

.      __.         ,  ,       ,  ,  ,    .  ,  L     ,   '     '    ■  ,  ers  on  Woodland  ave- 

the  the  edge  of  a  deep  abyss  and  then  plunges  to  her  death  turns  kee  up  despite 
in  the  sea  below,  thus  removing  the  possibility  of  blackmail  a  new  j^ge  ;n  ci0se 
forever    from    her    daughter    and    proving    that    there    is    no(     stjjj  counts 


American    Film    Co.,    Inc 95         99 

Biograph    Company    41  54 

Colonial  Motion  Picture  Corp.     1 
Famous   Players   Film   Co....   95 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref 40 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  pref 46 

ms  the  smallest  house    Mutual  Film  Corp.,  com 45 

ric   with    196   seats   on    N.  American  Film  Corp.,  pref.   71 

t.     Twenty-five  years    N.  American  Film  Corp.,  com.  67 

theater.     Despite  its    N.  Y.  Motion  Picture  Corp...    51 

ie   of  the  500  seaters    Thanhouser    Film    Corp 3 

Triangle    Film    Corp 6'/8 

IiU     D  Universal  Film  Mfg.  Co 190 

proprietor  of  the  Benn    v  FJ|  ,        3 12g 

»rs  on  Woodland   ave-    ......   -,,        ' 


greater  love  than  that  of  a  mother. 


"The  Rack" 

World  Film  Corporation  Five-Reel  Production 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

A  LICE  BRADY  is  a  most  beautiful  creature,  and  we  could  sit 
**  and  watch  her  by  the  hour  without  caring  what  the  play 
was-  about  or  anything  else.  To  put  it  another  way,  a  thing  of 
beauty  is  a  joy  forever.  It  isn't  often  anyone  runs  across  a 
pretty  woman  who  can  also  act,  but  that  is  just  what  Alice  Brady 
can  do.     She  has  a  double  power  of  fascination. 

The  gentleman  who  wrote  the  play,  Thompson  Buchanan, 
also  deserves  some  credit,  as  do  some  of  the  others  who  acted  as 
satellites  to  the  lady  star.  It  would  be  all  wrong  to  overlook 
the  presence  of  Mr.  Milton  Sills  who  played  the  lead  opposite 
Miss  Brady.  He  is  a  real  Gibson  man  and  it  is  a  foregone 
conclusion  that  no  villain  will  ever  be  handsome  enough  to  steal 
his  wife  away. 

The  story  is  about  a  scandal  in  a  fashionable  family  hotel. 
Chester  Barnett,  as  the  handsome  heavy,  has  a  power  of  fascina- 
tion over  married  ladies,  and  by  this  means  he  has  a  couple  of 
hotels  agog  before  he  is  finally  laid  away  for  the  long  sleep. 
He  doesn't  really  commit  any  crime,  but  he  endeavors  to  do  so, 
and  keeps  a  couple  of  handsome  husbands  everlastingly  on  the 
jump  to  frustrate  his  designs. 

After  breaking  up  one  home,  he  lures  the  leading  lady  to 
a  roadhouse  on  the  pretext  that  he  wishes  to  repair  the  damage 


manageress     of     the 
no,    can    give    many    a 
'  in  booking.    The  Ca- 
*tit"    while    its    real 
such  u». 


World   Film  Corp. 

*  Par,   $5. 

American  Film  Company,  Inc.:  Con- 
tinues to  increase  in  output  and  the  stock 
is  the  steadiest  and  strongest  of  all  film 
stocks. 

Triangle    Film 


Corporation:     A.   Kes- 

to  require  fully  1u Jr-'.,firsV  vice-president   of  the  Tri- 

Film    Corporation,   has    made    the 

"^'ement  regarding  the  com- 


Fort  Lee  plant. 

"The  Ambitions  of  Mark  '"• 


first  to  Pittsburgh  where  the  scenc.books  today  364  one. 
fights  his  way  against  all  obstacles  flying  films  to  be 
employment  in  the  steel  mills  to  a  posindhe  country, 
inance  and  power,  are  enacted.  The  company  was 
permitted  to  use  one  of  the  big  plants  of  the  United 
States  Steel  Corporation,  where  work  on  munitions 
for  the  Allies  was  being  carried  on  night  and  day. 
Without  interrupting  the  regular  routine  of  the  mill, 
Director  Eagle  was  able  to  take  many  hundred  feet  of 
mill  scenes,  in  which  Warwick  participated,  along  with 
thousands  of  regular  mill  employees. 

The  company  has  been  for  the  past  month  at 
Savannah,  Ga.  The  picture  includes  scenes  along  the 
coast  and  the  Savannah  River,  as  well  as  locations  em- 
bodying many  of  the  quaint,  old-fashioned  southern 
mansions,  for  which  Savannah  is  famous. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


mutim 


is  seen  as  Samuel  Ludlow.  Rita  Allen's  success  as  Miss  Pirn 
shows  her  capable  of  handling  with  ease  a  more  important  and 
better  role.  Dan  Baker,  Mabel  Trinnear,  Beatrice  James  and 
Violet  Davis  complete  the  cast. 


"The  Wraith  of  Haddon  Towers" 

A  Three-Reel  Clipper  Feature,  Released  January  1 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

ON  January  1,  American  will  release  under  the  Clipper 
brand,  a  most  unusual  story  of  the  spirit  world,  entitled 
"The  Wraith  of  Haddon  Towers,"  a  production  made  under 
the  direction  of  Arthur  Maude,  and  having  for  its  leading 
characters  Mr.  Maude,  himself,  in  the  role  of  Phillip  Dr" 
mond,  Constance  Crawley  as  Dorothy,  B: 
Drummond,  Phillip's  wife;  and  Lesl:' 

Many  of  the  scenes  are  h 
ingly  real,  since  furniture, 
fact  everything  used  is   -      , 
create  an  English  atr 
is  of  English   birt'- 
best  stae-0  F 


bile.     Copyright  191$, 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


45 


Brevities  of  the  Business 


PACIFIC  COAST  NEWS 
By  "Capt.  Jack"  Poland 

An  extraordinary  welcome  is  planned 
for  Billie  Burke  by  Thos.  H.  Ince  the 
famous  New  York  Motion  Picture  pro- 
ducer when  this  talented  star  arrives  in 
Los  Angeles  from  New  York  to  be  pres- 
ent personally  at  the  first  night's  per- 
formance of  the  $100,000  de  luxe  photo- 
play production  "Peggy,"  in  which  Miss 
Burke  is  starred.  Billie  Burke  is  known 
as  America's  most  fascinating  star.  In 
this  new  and  delightful  comedy  character 
creation  by  C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  pro- 
duced under  the  personal  direction  of 
Thos.  H.  Ince,  to  be  incepted  at  the 
Majestic  Theater,  the  new  Broadway  pic- 
ture house  secured  for  Triangle  pictures, 
Billie  Burke  will  appear  Monday  night. 
The  advance  sale  of  seats  indicates  a 
record  breaking  house  for  the  initial  ap- 
pearance in  motion  pictures  of  the  famed 
star.  It  will  be  a  social  event  in  which 
many  celebrities  will  appear  to  do  honor 
to  Billie  Burke  and  Thos.  H.  Ince.  The 
new  screen  star  will  be  ably  supported  in 
"Peggy"  by  such  notables  as  William  H. 
Thompson,  the  veteran  actor,  who  will 
also  be  seen  for  the  first  time  in  photo- 
plays, William  Desmond,  Nena  Thomas, 
Gertrude  Claire,  Charles  Ray,  and  Joseph 
Dowling,  with  a  strong  supporting  cast. 
Commencing  Monday,  November  20, 
the  Majestic  Theater,  one  of  the  largest 
houses  on  Broadway,  Los  Angeles,  will 
be  taken  over  by  the  Triangle  Film  Cor- 
poration for  the  exclusive  showing  of 
Triangle  pictures.  This  program  has 
been  showing  since  its  inception  at 
Clune's  Auditorium  theater,  but  now  that 
Mr.  Clune  is  producing  high  class  fea- 
tures by  his  own  organization  for  his 
theater  beautiful,  the  change  is  to  be 
made.  During  the  first  week  in  addition 
to  Billie  Burke  in  "Peggy,"  Mack  Sennett 
introduces  an  all  star  Keystone  comedy 
featuring  Roscoe  Arbuckle  in  "Fatty  and 
the  Broadway  Stars,"  with  Willie  Collier, 
Weber  and  Fields,  Sam  Bernard,  Joe 
Jackson  and  Mr.  Sennett  in  the  cast. 
This  opens  the  house  under  the  Triangle 
regime  in  an  auspicious  manner. 

Charlie  Murray,  the  Keystone  come- 
dian, seems  to  be  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular moving  picture  actors  and  comedians 
on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Not  only  is  this 
so  in  pictures  but  personally.  No  social 
or  semi-charitable  event  of  the  holidays 
has  been  held  in  which  Murray  was  not 
a  prominent  figure.  But  he  bears  up 
well  and  plans  more  good  things  for 
the  profession  and  himself  for  1916. 

Samuel  Goldfish,  treasurer  and  general 
manager  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature 
,  Play  company,  arrived  in  the  western  film 
producing  metropolis  this  week  to  spend 
the  holidays.  While  here  he  is  making 
a  thorough  inspection  of  the  local  stu- 
dios, planning  with  his  associates  for 
more  improvements  as  well  as  for  the 
most  elaborate  feature  productions  for 
1916. 

Francis  Ford,  Universal  director,  has 
begun  the  picturization  of  a  new  five- 
reel  feature,  "The  Palace  of  a  Thousand 
Fears,"  written  by  W.  Graham.  Dorothy 
Davenport    is    playing    the    leads.      This 


promises    to    be    another    Ford    achieve- 
ment. 
The  popularity  of  Henry  Walthall,  the 

Essanay  star,  is  best  evidenced  in  Los 
Angeles  this  week  by  his  appearance  in 
pictures  at  four  well  known  Broadway 
photoplay  theaters.  At  each  house  good 
crowds  demonstrate  that  Walthall  is  in 
demand. 


PHILADELPHIA   NOTES 
By   P.  J.   Cropper 

Stanley  Mastbaum  has  taken  over  the 
Tulpehocken,  in  ( iermantown.  One  of 
the  finest  houses  in  the  city,  it  has 
hitherto  been  a  Failure.  Renamed  the 
Rialto,  and  under  enterprising  manage- 
ment, it  bids  fair  to  be  a  success. 

Eley  and  Rorey,  from  Pittsburg,  have 
leased  the  Wyalusing  on  North  Fifty- 
second.  By  giving  high  class  features 
they  are  hoping  to  change  the  luck  of  the 
house. 

The  policy  of  the  American  Theater, 
owned  by  Soblosky  Bros,  is  to  change 
from  pictures  and  vaudeville  to  stock. 
Earl  Metcalf  is  reported  to  have  bought 
an  interest  in  the  house,  and  among  the 
artists  booked  to  appear  arc  Nance 
O'Niel,  Billy  Reeves  and  Raymond 
Hitchcock. 

The  Fox  Film  corporation  have  re- 
verted to  their  original  policy  of  booking 
to  the  exhibitor  direct  only.  This  can- 
cels their  arrangement  with  the  Stanley 
Booking  Company. 

Bill  Anderson  runs  the  smallest  house 
in  town,  the  Electric  with  196  seats  on 
South  Eighth  street.  Twenty-five  years 
ago  it  was  an  Italian  theater.  Despite  its 
size  it  can  give  some  of  the  500  seaters 
a  start  and  lick  'em. 

Marcus  A.  Benn,  proprietor  of  the  Benn 
and  Paschall  theaters  on  Woodland  ave- 
nue, reports  his  returns  keep  up  despite 
the  competition  of  a  new  house  in  close 
proximity.     Urbanity  still  counts. 

Miss  'Beishlag,  manageress  of  the 
Broad  street  Casino,  can  give  many  a 
"mere"  man  lessons  in  booking.  The  Ca- 
sino is  always  in  front;  while  its  real 
estate  value  has  doubled  since  its  erec- 
tion. 


the  regular  films,  programs  of  an  educa- 
tional nature  will  be  run  daily. 
Texas. 
At  a  sheriff's  sale  held  at  Gainesville. 
Texas,  December  7,  C.  C.  Marshall 
bought  the  Gainesville  Opera  House  for 
$3,500.  The  sale  was  to  pay  off  a  mort- 
gage. 

Permit    lo    do    business    in   Texas   was 

granted  to  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation 

of    Memphis,   Tenn.     Capital   stock   $10,- 

000.  Texas  headquarters  at  Dallas,  Texas. 

Oklahoma. 

The  new  $75,000  theater  recently  built 
on  Robinson  street,  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla.,  will  be  open  soon  and  will  be 
named  the  Liberty.  The  name  was  se- 
lected by  popular  vote. 


CHICAGO  GOSSIP 

J.  E.  Willis  is  resting  al  his  home  re- 
covering from  a  severe  attack  of  pto- 
maine poisoning.     It  is  expected  he  will 


MIDDLE  WEST  NEWS 

By  William   Noble 

Oklahoma. 

The  question  of  appointing  censors  of 
moving  pictures  is  now  before  the  city 
council  and  the  Mayor  of  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla.  Mayor  Overhelser  says  that  he  will 
settle  the  matter  one  way  or  the  other 
soon. 

Colorado. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  city  council  of 
Denver,  Colo.,  held  December  13,  the 
council  voted  to  prohibit  the  exhibition 
of  the  Birth  of  a  Nation  film  picture  in 
Denver,  upon  the  protest  of  a  delegation 
of  negroes. 

Missouri. 

The  Ritz  Theater,  208-210  North  Sixth 
street,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  was  opened  by  the 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.    In  addition  to 


Film   Market  Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.   D.  Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  *  C*., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American    Film    Co.,    Inc....    95  99 

Biograph    Company    41  54 

Colonial  Motion  Picture  Corp.     1  *zy2 

Famous   Players   Film   Co....    95  120 

General   Film  Corp.,  pref 40  45 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  pref 46  49 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  com 45  47i/2 

N.  American  Film  Corp.,  pref.    71 

N.  American  Film  Corp.,  com.  67  72 

N.  Y.  Motion   Picture  Corp...    51  56 

Thanhouser    Film    Corp 3  *3% 

Triangle    Film    Corp 6'/8  *6% 

Universal   Film  Mfg.  Co 190 

Vogue   Films,  Inc 125 

World   Film  Corp 4  *4^ 

*  Par,   $5. 

American  Film  Company,  Inc.:  Con- 
tinues to  increase  in  output  and  the  stock 
is  the  steadiest  and  strongest  of  all  film 
stocks. 

Triangle  Film  Corporation:  A.  Kes- 
sel,  Jr.,  first  vice-president  of  the  Tri- 
angle Film  Corporation,  has  made  the 
following  statement  regarding  the  com- 
pany's   earnings: 

"We  have  on  our  books  today  364  one- 
year  contracts  for  supplying  films  to  be 
shown  in  theaters  all  over  the  country, 
from  Portland,  Me.,  to  Portland,  Ore., 
and  from  Chicago  to  New  Orleans. 
These  contracts  represent  a  total  yearly 
rental  income  of  about  $5,250,000  and  this 
income  from  rentals  is  being  augmented 
each  week  from  new  contracts  at  the 
rate   of  about  $250,000  per   annum." 

World  Film  Corporation  is  now  being 
traded  in  on  a  very  narrow  and  restricted 
market. 

Vogue  Films,  Inc.:  Has  been  in  de- 
mand around  130  and  higher,  with  no 
stock  offered. 

North  American  Film  Corporation: 
Preferred  is  wanted  at  around  72. 


46 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


to  do  so  for  disobedience.  Cut  out  subtitle  "He 
stuck  in  his  thumb  and  pulled  out  a  plum."  He 
may  ask  his  nurse  for  a  plum.  The  episode  sug- 
gests the  use  of  fingers  at  the  table. 

Cut  out  subtitle,  "She  had  so  many  children 
she  did  not  know  what  to  do"  in  "There  Was 
an  Old  Woman  Who  Lived  in  a  Shoe."  Sugges- 
tive  of  the  advantages   of  birth   control. 

Cut  out  episode  of  Simple  Simon  and  the  Pie- 
man and  substitute  scene  showing  Master  Simon 
in  a  psychopathic  laboratory.  Flash  close  up  view 
of  Miss  Muffet  and  the  Spider.  Cut  out  view  of 
Tom.  Tom,  the  Piper's  Son,  stealing  a  pig  and 
running  away.  Cut  out  inelegant  phrase  "Greedy 
Gut." 

Cut  out  the  "Dinner,  a  Dollar,  a  Ten  O'Clock 
Scholar,"   as   suggesting  tardiness  and  indiffei 
to    obligations.      Substitute 
bringing  teacher  a  red  applr 


Edward  Lycll  Fox.  famous  photographer  of  tin 
■imericau  Correspondent  Film  Company,  whose  ex- 
ploits are    described    on    another  page. 


be  out  before  Christmas.  His  friends 
join  with  Motography  in  wishing  him  a 
speedy  recovery. 

Alfred  Hamburger  sold  the  Easterly 
theater  on  Saturday,  December  18,  so 
quick  that  none  of  his  office  force  knew 
who  it  had  been  sold  to  on  Monday. 

Aaron  M.  Gollos  is  the  latest  addition 
to  the  chain  theater  magnates  in  Chicago. 
Mr.  Gollos  opens  the  Hyde  Park  theater 
under  his  management  on  January  1, 
making  five  in  his  string.  The  first  pro- 
duction to  be  shown  at  the  Hyde  Park 
theater  will  be  "The  Battle  Cry  of 
Peace,"  J.  Stuart  Blackton's  preachment 
on  the  subject  of  America's  unprepared- 
ness. 

Sol  Lesser,  who  handled  the  Metro 
pictures  on  the  coast  for  the  last  year, 
was  a  visitor  to  Chicago  last  week.  Other 
notable  film  men  seen  in  and  around  Chi- 
cago during  the  last  few  days  were 
Adolph  Zukor,  D.  W.  Griffith,  Frank 
Marion,  H.  M.  Horkheimer,  David  Hors- 
ley  and  Carl  Laemmle. 

Trie  Chicago  Tribune,  mi, let  date  of 
December  17  again  dipped  its  editorial 
pen  into  the  \  itriol  pol   as  Follows: 


wing    child 

n  minutes  before 

of   Wondrous   Wise   Man  jump- 
ing  into    bramblebush.     Show    him    going    to    an 

Permission  to  show  Jack  the  Giant  Killer  and 
Little  Red  Riding  Hood  is  withheld  on  account  of 
ineradicable  scenes  of  violence. 

On  the  evening  of  December  23  the 
motion  picture  pageant  and  ball  for  char- 
ity, given  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Hearst  Chicago  American  takes  place. 
Arrangements  have  been  made  with  the 
Essanay  Company  to  have  a  number  of 
players  appear  in  an  actual  filming  of  a 
scene  of  a  motion  picture  which  will 
later  be  released  in  Chicago.  Richard  C. 
Travers  and  Ruth  Stonehouse  will  play 
the  leading  parts.  There  will  be  dancing 
■  throughout  the  evening,  carnival  features 
and  laughable  burlesques  of  the  popular 
pastime  of  seeing  and  making  pictures. 
The  number  of  the  tickets  will  be  limited 
on  account  of  the  tremendous  demand. 

Alfred  Hamburger  will  give  a  benefit 
for  the  Rest  Haven  Home  at  his  Speed- 
way theater  on  December  29.  Mr.  Ham- 
burger will  open  the  latest  addition  to  his 
chain  of  theaters  on  Christmas  day.  This 
theater  is  known  as  the  Prairie  at  Prairie 
avenue  and  Fifty-first  street,  and  is  one 
'  of  the  most  completely  equipped  houses 
as  well  as  one  of  the  most  attractive 
.  among  his  chain  of  sixteen  houses. 

William  Havill,  who  was  examiner  for 
motion  picture  operators,  died  of  heart 
failure  at  his  home  on  Seventy-first 
street  on  Sunday  last.  Mr.  Havill  was 
formerly  president  of  the  operators'  local 
No.  45,  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  A  widow  survives 
him. 

Julian  Louis  Lamanthe,  scenario  editor 
of  the  Lubin  western  company  at  San 
Diego,  California,  was  a  caller  at  Motog- 
raphy's  offices  this  week,  during  a  brief 
visit  he  paid  to  Chicago  while  en  route 
to  his  home  in  New  Orleans,  where  he 
goes  to  spend  a  month's  vacation,  the 
first  he  has  enjoyed  in  a  long  period.  He 
was  accompanied  by  L.  W.  Bass,  sce- 
nario editor  of  the  Eagle  Film  Manufac- 
turing Company,  who  is  exceedingly 
busy  just  now  preparing  some  film 
adaptations  of  a  number  of  popular 
novels. 

Marshall  Neilan,  the  well-known  direc- 
tor of  motion  pictures,  was  in  Chicago, 
Monday,  December  20,  the  -nest  of  Wil- 
liam N.'Selig,  president  of  tin-  Scli^  P..ly- 


to  take  a  company  to  the  Orient,  sailing 
on  January  8,  arrived  in  Chicago  on  Wed- 
nesday morning,  December  22,  to  hold  a 
conference  with  Carl  Laemmle  and  talk 
over  the  trip  to  the  Far  East.  He  also 
expects  while  in  Chicago  to  meet  Mrs. 
McRae,  who  has  been  with  relatives  for 
several  months. 

Mr.  Quigley,  formerly  of  the  Cohan 
and  Harris  forces,  has  succeeded  E.  Q. 
Cordner  as  manager  of  the  Chicago 
Strand  theater,  and  already  has  begun  the 
inauguration  of  several  innovations  that 
bid  fair  to  meet  the  full  approval  of 
Strand  patrons,  and  make  this  already 
popular  house  still  more  popular. 

Organized  labor  waged  a  bitter  fight 
against  the  churches  and  the  board  of 
education  before  the  council  committee 
on  buildings  last  week  over  the  use  of 
non-inflammable  films  for  motion  pic- 
tures. And  labor  won  by  a  vote  of  8  to 
4  of  the  aldermen.  The  fight  centered 
around  a  proposed  ordinance  to  permit 
noninflammable  films  to  be  used  in  exhi- 
bitions in  churches,  schools  and  homes 
without  a  licensed  operator. 

John  Fitzpatrick,  president  of  the  Chi- 
cago Federation  of  Labor,  and  E.  D. 
Miller,  business  agent  for  the  moving  pic- 
ture operator's  union,  were  most  active 
on  the  labor  side,  while  the  Rev.  Olin  M. 
Caward,  pastor  of  the  Normal  Park  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  the  Rev  E.  L.  Wil- 
liams, pastor  of  Grace  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  chairman  of  the  good 
citizens'  committee  of  the  Federated 
Churches  of  Chicago,  championed  the 
other  side. 

The  principal  arguments  against  the 
ordinance  were  that  the  non-inflammable 
films  are  not  non-inflammable,  and,  fur- 
ther, would  not  be  used  by  the  churches, 
schools,  and  homes  to  any  extent.  Such 
films  are  stiff  and  break  easily,  their  op- 
ponents urged. 

On  the  other  hand,  ministers  said  tests 
had  shown  them  perfectly  safe,  and  their 
use  without  a  licensed  operator  should 
be  allowed  to  further  the  cuase  of  educa- 
tion. They  branded  the  labor  men's  op- 
position as  an  effort  to  confine  the  opera- 


cific 


will 


e  Jack  Horner 
)t  a  proper  place 
;  has  been  made 


Selig  products 
studios.  Mr.  Neilan  is  not  only  famed  as 
a  director,  but  has  also  won  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  motion  picture  player. 
Several  importanl  plays  hai  e  been 
handed  to  Mr.  Neilan,  who  will  start  pro- 
duction just  as  soon  as  he  arrives  at  Los 
Angeles. 

Henry  McRae,  until  recently  director- 
general    of   Universal    City,   but    who    is 


Winfield  R.  Sheehan.  General  Manager  of  the 
I'ox  Film  Corporation  and  William  Fanium,  Fox 
star,  being  met  on  their  arrival  in  Los  Angeles, 
.,/,.    ,     new   studio    has  just   been    opened. 


January  1,  1916 

tion  of  machines  to  union  men  only.  That 
charge  was  denied. 

Alderman  Dempsey  moved  to  amend 
the  ordinance  to  strike  out  homes  as  a 
place  where  such  films  could  be  used.  It 
was  urged  that  moving  pictures  at  home 
would  ruin  the  business  of  some  of  the 
smaller  theaters.  It  carried  by  a  vote 
of  6  to  5. 

John  C.  McDonnell,  chief  of  the  fire 
prevention  bureau,  told  the  committee  he 
thought  the  films  were  safe.  However, 
he  said,  hotels  might  as  well  be  included, 
for  they  are  now  violating  the  present 
ordinance  and  are  neither  using  licensed 
operators  nor  properly  constructed 
booths. 

Mr.  Fitzpatrick  attacked  McDonnell's 
statement  that  the  films  are  safe. 

"If  they  are  safe,"  he  asked,  "why  was 
it  that  tests  of  them  were  not  permitted 
to  be  carried  on  in  the  bureau  on  the 
tenth  floor  of  the  city  hall.  It  was  be- 
cause the  films  would  blaze  up  and  be- 
come dangerous." 

"These  non-inflammable  films  are  no 
good  after  two  or  three  weeks'  use,"  said 
Mr.  Miller.  "Expensive  in  the  first  place, 
and  becoming  more  so  because  they  don't 
last,  you  will  find  that  the  churches  and 
schools  will  soon  be  slipping  in  the  in- 
flammable films  in  their  shows." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  said  that  some- 
thing must  be  done  to  make  possible  the 
use  of  films  for  educational  purposes. 

"I  represent  an  organization  of  more 
than  500,000  persons,"  he  added,  "who 
desire  such  pictures." 

Chairman  Pretzel  called  for  a  vote,  but 
before  it  was  taken,  said: 

"It  seems  that  the  union  people  are 
fighting  this  ordinance  because  they  are 
afraid  it  will  affect  their  business.  I  think 
the  exhibition  of  pictures  in  homes  and 
schools  will  only  stimulate  the  desire  of 
the  public  for  more  pictures." 

Tom  Mix,  the  cowboy  star  of  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company,  came  from  Las 
Vegas,  N.  M.,  to  Chicago,  last  week,  and 
was  entertained  by  William  N.  Selig. 
Mr.  Mix  was  a  guest  at  one  of  Chicago's 
leading  hostelries  and  attracted  much  at- 
tention with  his  cowboy  hat  and  high- 
heeled  riding  boots  of  the  most  approved 
style.  Mr.  Nix  is  engaged  in  filming 
some  of  the  most  spectacular  western 
dramas  yet  produced  under  the  Diamond 
S  trademark. 


NOTES  FROM  ALL  OVER 

The  story  of  the  daily  operation  of  the 
telephone  has  been  woven  into  an  in- 
teresting moving  picture,  under  the  per- 
sonal direction  of  H.  N.  Foster,  traffic 
superintendent  of  the  Chicago  Telephone 
Company. 

The  Fine  Arts  staff  of  scenario  con- 
ceivers  and  adapters  now  includes  Mary 
H.  O'Connor,  Bernard  McConville,  Hettie 
Gray  Baker,  Roy  Somerville,  Tod  Brown- 
ing, Chester  Withey  and  Granville  War- 
wick. Mary  H.  O'Connor  is  scenario  ed- 
itor and  the  department  is  under  the 
personal  supervision  of  Frank  E.  Woods, 
manager  of  the  Fine  Arts  production. 

For  the  exclusive  benefit  of  their  play- 
ers, the  Fine  Arts  Company  have  en- 
gaged an  experienced  physician,_who  will 
have  a  permanent  office  within  studio 
bounds.  Dr.  R.  K.  Hackett,  who  will  be 
in  charge   of  this  office,  is  a  member  of 


MOTOGRAPHY 

the  Louisiana  State  Medical,  Orleans 
Parish,  and  American  Medical  Societies. 
In  1899  he  graduated  from  the  Tulane 
Medical  College  in  New  Orleans  and  was 
then  appointed  Chief  of  Clinics  and  grad- 
ually during  his  four  years  advanced  to 
head  of  Gynecology  and  abdominal  sur- 
gery departments. 

Three  of  Ince's  most  distinguished 
players,  this  week,  are  beginning  vaca- 
tions, following  the  completion  of  the 
respective  Triangle  Kay-Bee  features  in 
which  they  will  be  starred.  They  are 
Frank  Keenan,  William  H.  Thompson 
and  Bessie  Barriscale. 

Mary  Alden,  to  celebrate  the  arrival 
of  Dorothy  Bernard,  the  Metropolitan 
actress,  in  Los  Angeles,  _  is  planning  a 
unique  party  to  be  given  in  the  near  fu- 
ture, in  the  picturesque  Cahuenga  Vista 
Cafe,  located  in  the  forest  of  Hollywood, 
California.  Present  at  this  party  as  guests 
of  the  Triangle-Fine  Arts  player,  will  be 
Lillian  Gish,  Blanche  Sweet,  Mabel  Nor- 
mand  and  Seena  Owen,  all  recognized 
film  stars,  and  Countess  Madeline  de 
Marsae  and  Duchess  Beatrice  Vagvolo- 
Ferrare. 

William  S.  Hart,  the  noted  Ince  star, 
with  two  camera  men  and  a  company  of 
some  thirty  players,  left  Inceville,  this 
week,  for  the  isolated  regions  of  Boulder 
Creek  in  the  Northern  part  of  California, 
where  he  will  make  a  number  of  scenes 
for  the  current  Triangle  Kay-Bee  features 
in  which  he  will  be  starred.  The  com- 
pany will  remain  away  about  three  weeks, 
providing,  of  course,  the  weather  is  ac- 
ceptable for  photography. 

Will  Bray,  one  of  the  most  picturesque 
characters  of  the  American  stage,  has 
been  added  to  the  forces  of  Producer 
Thomas  H.  Ince  and  will  in  future  be 
seen  in  Triangle  Kay-Bee  features.  Bray 
is  particularly  remembered  as  "the  min- 
ister to  Dahomey"  in  the  original  produc- 
tion on  the  stage  of  Charles  Hoyt's  "A 
Texas  Steer." 

Clara  Williams,  the  beautiful  and  tal- 
ented leading  woman  of  the  Ince-Tri- 
angle  forces,  is  seriously  ill,  this  week, 
with  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  the  result 
of  a  severe  cold  which  gripped  her  sev- 
eral weeks  ago.  She  is  confined  to  her 
Hollywood  home  under  the  care  of  two 
physicians,  while  messages  of  sympathy 
and  wishes  for  a  speedy  recovery  are 
pouring  in  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. 

An  additional  force  of  carpenters  and 
electricians  was  put  to  work  this  week, 
on  the  construction  of  the  new  Ince- 
Triangle  studios  at  Culver  City,  in  the 
hope  that  the  plant  will  be  in  fit  condi- 
tion for  the  reception  of  the  assemblage 
that  is  expected  to  attend  the  grand  ball 
within  the  glass-inclosed  stage  on  New 
Year's  Eve. 

Danny  B.  "Kid"  Hogan,  head  property 
man  at  the  Rolfe-Metro  studio,  and  a 
former  champion  lightweight  pugilist, 
who  has  just  finished  playing  a  prom- 
inent role  in  "Rose  of  the  Alley,"  a  forth- 
coming Metro  picture  of  life  in  New 
York's  underworld,  will  be  married  New 
Year's  Eve  to  Miss  Frances  Silver,  a  non- 
professional. Mr.  Hogan's  friends  are 
arranging  to  have  the  marriage  cere- 
mony performed  in  the  studio,  in  an  elab- 
orate church  set,  which  Edward  Shulter, 
the  technical  director  has  agreed  to  build 
for  the  occasion. 


Gee  but  it's  embarrassing  to  have  a  name 
so  much  like  another  fellow's  that  your 
mail  and  laundry  and  everything  else  keeps 
getting  mixed  up  with  his  all  the  time,  or 
at  least  that's  the  conclusion  reached  by 
Caryl  S.  Fleming.  As  a  way  out  of  the 
difficulty  Fleming  has  hit  upon  the  scheme 
of  changing  his  name  a  bit  so  as  to  avoid 
future  confusion,  and  now,  unless  the  other 
man  happens  to  have  been  moved  by  a 
similar  desire,  and  by  some  strange  freak 
of  chance  changes  his  name  to  the  new  sig- 
nature adopted  by  Caryl  S.  things  are  go- 
ing to  be  perfectly  lovely. 

"The  Key  to  a  Fortune,"  No.  6  of  Ka- 
lem's  "Ventures  of  Marguerite,"  released 
on  December  3d,  shows  Billy  Sherwood, 
the  juvenile  lead,  playing  the  part  of  the 
"villun."  This  was  Billy's  first  heavy 
and  from  the  treatment  he  received  in 
this  one  he  hopes  it  will  be  the  last. 

When  Helen  Holmes  started  in  with 
her  star  part  in  "The  Girl  and  the  Game" 
she  remarked  that  she  was  "going  to 
show  them  that  all  the  stunts  had  not 
been  done,"  and  she  is  making  good  her 
word.  Four  installments  of  the  serial 
have  now  been  completed  by  J.  P. 
McGowan  and  Miss  Holmes  has  per- 
formed some  almost  incredible  stunts 
not  only  on  trains  but  on  horseback,  in 
boats  and  in  the  water. 

Dainty  Vivian  Martin,  the  well-known 
actress,  has  joined  the  William  Fox 
forces  and  is  working  in  a  picturization 
of  a  noted  stage  play  under  the  direc- 
tion of  A.  Adolphi.  Miss  Martin  will  be 
seen  in  the  character  of  a  slavey,  a  part 
that  might  have  been  written  especially 
for  her. 

During  the  preparation  for  their  next 
big  feature  Grace  Cunard  and  Francis 
Ford  are  directing  different  dramas.  Ford 
is  working  on  a  sea  story  with  Dorothy 
Davenport  playing  with  him,  and  Miss 
Cunard  is  making  a  splendid  picture  out 
of  the  story  "Born  of  the  People,"  she 
is  also  playing  the  lead  in  this. 

Neva  Gerber,  whose  work  in  the 
Beauty  Films  delighted  fans  for  so  long, 
has  not  yet  returned  to  work  and  re- 
fuses to  divulge  her  plans.  She  says  she 
does  not  want  to  work  again  this  side 
of  Christmas  and  that  it  will  be  the  first 
time  she  has  had  a  "free"  Xmas  that  she 
can  remember. 

Anna  Little  has  just  finished  working 
in  the  story  "According  to  Saint  John" 
with  Jack  Richardson  and  Tom  Chatter- 
ton   in   the   male   parts.     Chatterton    di- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


rected  the  production.  Miss  Little  is  in 
acting  in  a  series  of  splendid  parts  writ-  es 
ten  around  her  striking  personality,  and    la- 


hole  shaker-fulls  of  powder  and  the 
camera  clicks  right  merrily  with  its  un- 
dazzled  eye  on  the  dulled  surface. 

One  of  the  best  ideas  Edwin  Middle 


she  is  highly  interested  and  giving  th< 
public  some  good  examples  of  just  what 
she  can  do  under  the  pleasant  conditions 
which  prevail  at  Santa  Barbara.  The 
Chatterton-Little-Richardson  combine  is 
proving  a  good  one  indeed. 

Balboa  directors  and  cameramen  were 
given  an  instructive  talk  recently  by  Mr. 
Max  Mayer,  on  the  subject  of  cinematog- 
raphy with  artificial  lighting.  The  speak- 
er has  been  in  charge  of  the  installing 
of  the  system  of  chrome  actinic  illumina- 
tion with  which  Balboa's  enclosed  studio 
is  equipped.  While  California  enjoys  sun- 
shine most  of  the  year;  yet,  there  are 
dark  days  sometimes,  when  artificial 
light  must  be  resorted  to. 

Edward  Jose,  who  is  producing  Kip- 
ling's "Light  That  Failed"  for  Pathe,  ex- 
pects shortly  to  take  a  large  company 
south  to  finish  the   Sahara  desert  scenes 

required  by  the  scenario.    Mr.  Jose  filmed   The  author  has  seen  to  it  that  Miss  Fitz- 
some   of   them   on   an   island   off   Bridge-    gerald's   wink   is    scheduled   for   a   prom- 


:his  scene  where  evening  gowns  were  of  amusement  and  it  is  thought  that  the 
;ntial.  Miss  Gordon's  gown  began  balance  of  the  funds  required  can  easily 
and  ended  early.     The  brilliance   of    be  raised  by  popular  subscription  in  those 


Miss    Gordon's    "polished    shoulders"    as  cities    where    the    two 

novelists   love   to  call  them,   had  caused  established. 

widespread    halation    (or    blur    from    re- 

fleeted  light)  on  the  film.    Now  Miss  Gor-  membered  as  tne  clever  character  woman 

?*\    r       h     P lulltZ  =L,fira       th  in   the   old   Majestic   Stock   Company   of 

back  and  those  celebrated  shoulders  with  T  „„   A„„oW      'A  „r,      ,„„  ^ffiy*A  J- id. 


Carrie    Clark   Ward,   who   will   be    re- 
membered as  the  clever  character 


Los  Angeles,  and  who  was  affilia 
Oliver  Morosco  for  several  years,  is  the 
latest  acquisition  to  the  splendid  com- 
pany under  the  direction  of  Albert  W. 
Hale,  at  the   National  Film  Corporation 


ton  ever  had  was  to  allow  Miss  Cissy  studios  in  Los  Angeles.  Incidentally 
Fitzgerald  to  "play  herself."  Mr.  Mid-  M,ss  Ward  made  her  first  screen  ap- 
dleton  directs  Casino  Star  Comedies,  and  PerarTaTn"  under  her  present  director  A. 
in  a  number  of  these  Miss  Fitzgerald  has  W.  Hale,  just  four  years  ago  at  the  Ma- 
appeared   as   the    star.     At    the    Flushing  -'estlc  Studio. 

studios    of    the    Gaumont    Company,    Di-  Robert  Edeson,  who  stars  in  Kipling's 

rector  Middleton  is  now  putting  his  good-  "Light  That  Failed,"  which  is  being  pro- 

natured  star  through  some  society  com-  duced  for  Pathe,  says  the  title  is  a  good 

icalities  which  will  be  called,    "Leave  It  Qne   for   the   company   was    held   up    re- 

to   Cissy."     The  manuscript  was  penned  cently  for  three  days  owing  to  poor  light 

expressly   for   her   by   Joseph    H.    Trant.  wnen  they  were  doing  exteriors. 

Robert    Brotherton,   head    of   Balboa's 


port,    Conn.,    but    the    balance    must    be 
taken   in   more   tropical   surroundings. 


nt  place  in  the  production. 


labo: 


atory   department^   is   making  prog- 
ress in  his  experiments  in  color  photog- 
Genevieve    Hamper,   the    William   Fox   raphy.     He  is  firm  in  the  belief  that  be- 

Mary  Pickford  is  one  of  the  happiest  photo-player  credited  with  having  the  f0re  long,  natural  colors  will  be  recorded 
little  girls  in  filmdom.  She  is  enjoying  most  beautiful  face  of  any  woman,  is  on  the  film.  He  has  gotten  along  far 
the  marvelous  freedom  of  movement  soon  to  publish  a  book  on  cake-making,  enough  to  be  sure  it  is  possible.  Brother- 
which  comes  with  playing  the  leading  The  proceeds  will  be  donated  to  one  of  ton  is  a  good  chemist  and  has  made  valu- 
character  in  "The  Foundling."  After  the  many  funds  for  European  war  suf-  able  discoveries  in  Balboa's  laboratory, 
nearly  breaking  her  neck  in  Japanese  san-    ferers. 

dais  while  playing  in  "Madame  Butter-  Gvdsv  Abbott  has  been  olavino-  the  •  ,  Iast  the  vfed  ^estlo.n  as  to  who 
fly,"  the  Famous  Players  star  is  revel-  leadi.f  woman's  d  rt  oL  te  Cr  n  is  the  most  popular  motion  picture  actress 
ing  in  the  luxury  of  bare  feet.  "No  more  wHbUr  irf  the  five-?ee  "Cao^ta  Punish-  haS  beer\  S°lved  and  n?w  let  discussJ°n 
funny  little  ceremonies-I  just  romp  ZS'  a  th Bostock  Studios Miss  Ab-  CeaS°  an-d  WEg  no?  i}sJbl&tan}  to,^neir  A 
around  like  a  kiddie  and  have  the  time  ££' w*  £?  £$  wonXnln  Recast  and  Sk"  ew\Va^^^^^^ 
of  my  hfe,'    declares  Miss  Mary.  she    made         splendjd  she    g^Yo^ 

Charlotte  Walker,  who  has  appeared  was  engaged  specially  for  the  part  She  poration  bei  declared  the  veritable 
in  two  Lasky  productions  on  the  Para-  appeared  previously  with  the  Balboa  Queen  of  the  Screens  by  a  majority  of 
mount  Program— "Kindling"  and  "Out  of    Company    and    with     Carlyle     Blackwell    43  86g   aboye   the  j    number  Jof  /  t 

Darkness"-will  be   the    star  in   the   pic-   when  he  had  his  own  company.  po]Ied    by    aH    her    opponents    rolled    to. 

tunzation  of  "The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Charles  Horan,  one  of  the  newest  and  gether.  In  other  words  the  other  con- 
Pine,  in  which  she  starred  for  severel  best  of  Metro's  directors,  has  been  sin-  testants  numbering  among  them  the  most 
seasons  on  the  legitimate  stage.  The  mo-  guiariy  iucky  in  having  good  weather  un-  famous  motion-picture  actresses  in  the 
tion  picture  rights  to  the  play  were  ob-  til  making  the  iast  scene  in  the  "Rose  of  world,  polled  in  their  entirety  957,670 
tamed  from  Messrs.  Klaw  &  Erlanger  by  the  Alley,"  the  last  picture  he  directed,  votes,  while  Miss  Young  alone  received 
Samue^l   Goldfish^  executive   head_of_the    Mr.    Horan    had    made    more    than    250    1,001,538    ballots;    which    in    a    way    of 

speaking  is  quite  some  majority. 


Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company.      scenes  for  this  five  part  Rolfe-Met: 
Right  away  quick  the  World  Film  Cor-   ture,  and  there  remained  a  single  exte 


which 


The  Kulee  Features,  Inc.,  are  moving 
into  larger  quarters  just  by  way  of  cele- 
brating the  holiday  season.  Business  has 
increased    so    rapidly   with    the    company 


poration  struck  an  unexpected  snag  when    to  complete  the  picture 

it  came  time  to  photograph  the  dazzling       Work   on   the   final   scenes   of  the 

Kitty  Gordon  s  glittering,  gorgeous  back    World    Film    feature     drama 

u\     t  PJl?l:Iunla  tSPA       u^  iWrittekl     a    George    Beban    is    soon    to    appear,    was  that  "more  space  and  plenty  of  "it""  has 

her    screen    debut     and    which    is    based    interrupted    last    week    by    a    painful    ac-  become  the  slogan  of  the  firm.     So,  Lee 

TsninEa  [Jok'nt  gTsT"    The  firstVce™   cifdent  t0  the  8ta£  P&?*  the  enaCtment  Ku§el  is  movinS  ^  office  <™d  office  staff 

As  in  a  Looking  wass.       ifte  nrst  scene    of  a  scene  m  whlch  Beban  engages  in  a  "down    hall"    in     th-     Candler     Building 

the   director   elected   to  take  was   one   at    nerce    hand-to-hand    battle    the    star    re-  where  there  is  elbow  roon" "for  everybody 
a   supposed      Drawing-room      in    Queen    ceived   a   deep   cut   across   the   fingers   of 

Marys  palace     Naturally  there  was  quite    his     ri?ht     handi    temporarily    disabling  William    Fox   has   made    arrangements 

-an  acreage  of  the  Gordon  back  on  view   him.                                                                   ^  with  the  widow  of  the  late  Richard  Mans- 
field for  the  motion  picture  rights  to  "A 
mance,"    one    of    Mr.    Mans- 


T  ,,  .  .  .     „   ,     held  for  the  r 

Joyce  Moore  is  again  appearing-  in  Bal-    Parisian    Roir 


boa  feature  films,  to  the  delight  of  the 
many  friends  she  made  through  her 
splendid  work  in  "Beulah."  Following 
its  completion,  she  sought  and  was 
granted  an  extended  vacation,  because 
she  felt  the  need  of  a  rest. 


field's  most  successful  stage  productions. 
It  is  the  first  time  his  name  has  been 
authorized  to  be  used  in  connection  with 
any  picture  since  his  death. 


Charles    Clary   has    fitted    in    with    the 
Lasky  Company  as  though  he  had  always 
Flora    Finch,    the    well    known    come-    been  th  aml  he  is  acn        wi  ,      „  ,{is 

dienne   who   recently   left   the   V.tagraph    old  charm  and       ,ish      Hc  and  A,       Ra,e 

/T*mr,Q  t-l-\r    if\     t-il.-n     1     mil/Ml     lloorli^/-!     rpct      Inc  .  r 


company  to  take  a  much  needed  rest,  has 
inounced    her    intention     of    dedicat: 


occupy  the  same  dressing  room  and  are 

-    opposites  in  every  way.     Clary  is  a  se- 

her  vacation   to   the   furtherance   of   her    ri  iet  man  and  fi  ,     .     >         f    h 


plan  to  establish  a  chain  of  motion  pic- 
ture theaters  in  the  slums  of  many  large 
cities  wherein  the  price  of  admission  will 
be  but  two  cents.    Miss  Finch  has  already 


ost  joyous  persons  in  existence.     They 
naturally  get  along  fine  together. 

Contrary  to  reports,  Roy  McCardell  is 


.  A   cold  day  at 

does   some    cooking   fot 
William    Duncan,    left. 


interested  several  well  known  charity  under  an  arrangement  to  supply  original 
workers  and  philanthropists  in  her  plan  material  in  scenario  form  to  the  Equit- 
to  give   back  to   the   poor  man   his   form    able    Motion    Pictures    Corporation. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Sept. 
Sept. 

1,000 

Sept. 

Oct. 

4,000 

Oct. 

1,000 

Oct. 

Oct. 

2,000 

Oct. 

1,000 

Oct. 

1,000 

Nov. 

1,000 

4,000 

Nov. 

1,000 

Nov. 

Nov. 

Nov. 

3,000 
2,000 


Believing  the  classification  of  film  pictures  by  the  nature  of  their  subjects  to 
Motography  has  adopted  this  style  in  listing  current  films.  Exhibitors  are  urged  I 
films  will  be  listed  as  long  in  advance  of  their  release  dates  as  possible.  Film  mar 
Reasonable  care  is  used,  and  the  publishers  cannot  be  responsible  for  errors. 


Monday. 

D     12-20  The    Failure    Biograph 

12-20  No   Release   This   Week Essanay 

D     12-20  Heart    Aches    Lubin 

C     12-20  Otto's    Cabaret    Lubin 

C     12-20   Perkin's    Pep    Producer    (No.    6    of    the    Chronicles 

of    Bloom    Center)     Selig 

T     12-20  Hearst-Selig  News   Pictorial  No.    101,   1915 Selig 

C      12-20  Hartney     Merwin's    Adventures Selig 

C     12-20  Levy's    Seven    Daughters Vitagraph 

D     12-20  On    Her    Wedding    Night Vitagraph 

C      12-20  The  Patent   Food   Conveyor Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

D     12-21  Parker   Jim's    Guardianship Biograph 

D     12-21  The   Danger   of   Being    Lonesome Essanay 

C     12-21  The  Bandits   of  Macaroni  Mountains Kalem 

Wednesday. 

D     12-22  The   Tides    of    Retribution Biograph 

C      12-22  Canimated    Nooz     Pictorial Essanay 

D      12-22  A    Bushranger    at    Bay     (No.     5     of    the    Stingaree 

Series)      Kalem 

Thursday. 

12-23  No   Release  This   Week Essanay 

D     12-23  Beyond    All    Is    Love Lubin 

12-23  Title    Not    Reported Mina 

T     12-23  Hearst-Selig   News    Pictorial    No.    102,     1915 Selig 

Friday. 

D     12-24  Blade    o'    Grass Edison 

12-24  No  Release  This   Week Essanay 

D     12-24  The    Oriental's    Plot    (No.    9    of    the    Ventures    of 

Marguerite)      Kalem 

C      12-24  Mixed    and    Fixed Vim 

C     12-24  Is  Christmas   a   Bore? Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

D  12-25  The  Woman   With   a  Rose Essanay 

D  12-25  A  Boy  at  the  Throttle Kalem 

C  12-25  No    Smoking    Lubin 

D  12-25  The  Sacred   Tiger   of  Agra Selig 

D  12-25  The    Thirteenth    Girl Vitagraph 

Monday. 

D     12-27  Heredity    Biograph 

12-27  No   Release   This   Week    Essanay 

C      12-27  This   Isn't   the   Life Lubin 

D     12-27  Saved   from   the   Harem Lubin 

D      12-27  The   Making   of    Crooks Selig 

T     12-27  Hearst-Selig  News   Pictorial   No.    103,   1915 Selig 

C     12-27  He  Got  Himself  a   Wife Vitagraph 

D     12-27  The  Making  Over   of   Geoffrey   Manning Vitagraph 

.  C     12-27  The  Pest  Vamooser Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

D     12-28   Brought    Home    Essanay 

C      12-28  The   Caretaker's   Dilemma : Kalem 

Wednesday. 

D     12-29  The  Woman    of   Mystery    Biograpr? 

C      12-29  The  Fabie  of  the  Heir  and  the  Heiress Essanay 

D     12-29  The  Taking  of  Stingaree  (No.  6  of  the  Stingaree  Series) .... 

Thursday. 

D      12-30  The   Convict   King    Lubin 

C     12-30  Title   Not   Reported   Mina 

T     12-30  Hearst-Selig  News   Pictorial   No.    104,    1915 Selig 

Friday. 

D      12-31   The   Matchmakers   Edison 

12-31   Title   Not   Reported    Essanay 

D     12-31  The  Spy's  Ruse  (No.  10  of  the  Ventures  of  Marguerite) 

C      12-3 1  Ups  and '  Downs'  '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '.'...  .Vim 
C      12-3 1  By  Might  of  His  "Right" Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

D        1-1     The  Prisoner   at   the   Bar Essanay 

D        1-1     At  the   Risk  of  Her  Life Kalem 

C        1-1     A  Ready -Made  Maid   Lubin 

C        1-1     The    Manicure    Girl    Selig 

1-1     Title  Not  Reported  .-. Vitagraph 


e  of  greater 
>  make  use  of 
rfacturers   are 


mportance  to  the  exhibitor  than  classification  by  maker, 
this  convenient  tabulation  in  making  up  their  programs, 
requested   to  send  us   their  bulletins  as  early  as  possible. 


20  The    Circular   Staircase Selig  5,000 

27  Tillie's    Tomato    Surprise Lubin  6,000 

27  The   Great    Ruby Lubin  5,000 

4  Dust     of     Egypt Vitagraph  5,000 

11   In   the  Palace  of  the   King Essanay  6,000 

11  The   Valley   of   Lost   Hope Lubin  5,000 

18  A    Black    Sheep Selig  5,000 

18  The   Man   Who   Couldn't  Beat   God Vitagraph  5,000 

25  The    Rights    of    Man Lubin  5,000 

1  The   Turn   of   the   Road Vitagraph  5,000 

1  The    Crimson    Wing Essanay  6,000 

8  The     Raven     Essanay  5,000 

15  Sweet    Alyssum    Selig  5,000 

15  Heights     of     Hazard Vitagraph  5,000 

22  The   Nation's   Peril Lubin  5,000 

29  The   Caveman    Vitagraph  5,000 

6  The   Alster   Case Essanay  5,009 

6  The    Man's   Making Lubin  5,000 

13  I'm   Glad  My   Boy   Grew   Up  to  Be  a  Soldier Selig  4,000 

13   The    Price  for   Folly Vitagraph  5,000 

20  The   Great  Divide Lubin  5,000 

20  A    Daughter   of   the    City Essanay  5,000 

27  What  Happened  to  Father Vitagraph  5,000 

3  Thou  Art  the  Man Vitagraph  6,000 


Mutual  Pre  : 


Monday. 

12-2C  The    Clean    Up American  2,000 

12-2C  Toodles,    Tom   and   Trouble Falstaff  1,000 

12-20  The    Fiddler    Novelty  1,000 

Tuesday. 

12-21   Ambition     Thanhouser  3,000 

12-21   See   American    First,    No.    15 Gaumont  500 

12-21   Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses Gaumont  500 

12-21  Making   a   Man  of  Johnnie Beauty  1,000 

Wednesday. 

12-22  The    Mystery    of    Carter    Breen Centaur  3,000 

12-22  The   Innocent   Sandwich   Man Novelty  500 

12-22  Between   Lakes   and   Mountains Novelty  500 

Thursday. 

12-23  The   Winning   of   Jess Centaur  2.000 

12-23  When    William's    Whiskers    Worked Falstaff  1,000 

12-23  Mutual   Weekly   No.   51 Mutual  1,000 

Friday. 

12-24  The   Pitch  o'   Chance Mustang  2,000 

12-24  Yes     or     No American  1,000 

12-24  Hearts    and    Clubs Cub  1,000 

Saturday. 

12-25  Author !    Author !     Mustang  3,000 

12-25  That    Country    Girl Beauty  1,000 

Sunday. 

12-26  The    Law    of   Success Reliance  2,000 

12-26  Hunting     Casino  1,000 

Monday. 

12-27  The  Tragic   Circle    American  2,000 

12-27  Una's   Useful   Uncle    Falstaff  1 .000 

12-27   Sammy's  Scandalous  Schemes    Vogue  2,000 

Tuesday. 

12-28   The  Last   Performance   Thanhouser  3,000 

12-28   See   America    First,    No.    16 Gaumont  SOO 

12-28   Keeping  Up  With  the   Toneses Gaumont  500 

12-28  Kiddies,   Kids  and  Kiddo   Beauty  1,000 

Wednesday. 

12-29  A    Prince    of    Yesterday Rialto  3,000 

Thursday. 

12-30  The   Terror  of  the   Fold Centaur  2,000 

12-30-  Foolish,    Fat   Flora    Falstaff  1 ,000 

12-30   Mutual  Weekly  No.   52   Mutual  1,000 

Friday. 

12-31   The  Cactus  Blossom   Mustang  2,000 

12-31   The    Mender     \in>Tican  1,000 

12-31  Jerry's   Revenge    Cub  1,000 

Saturday. 

1-1     The  Wraith  of  Haddon  Towers Clipper  3,000 

1-1      Settled   Out  of  Court Beauty  1,000 


OTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


Sunday. 


12-20  I 
12-20  I 
12-20  'J 


Monday. 


the    Boys Broadway 

Savage Nestor 

*    House    Evil    (Graft    Series    No.    2) 


12-21 
12-21 
12-21 


Christmas   Memories 

No   Release   This   Week.  . 

When    Love  Laughs 


Tuesday. 


12-22  1 
12-22  ] 
12-22  i 


Wednesday. 


12-23 
12-23 
12-23 
12-23 


12-24 
12-24 
12-2" 


Thursday. 


The    Terrible    Truth.. 

The  Tale   of  the   C 

No    Release   This   Week.. 


Friday. 


Saturday. 


12-26 
12-26 
12-26 


12-28 
12-28 
12-28 


12-29 
12-29 
12-29 


riblo 


No    Release    This 

I  Ik-     II,,,:,,:      I,,     i) 

Pants   and    Pettic 


Saturday. 

pid  ..1.s...°.m.'...° 
Sunday. 


5,000 
1,000 

2,000 


One    Hundred   Years   Ago.. 

No   Release   This   Week Big   U 

Howard's   Monarchs   of  the  American   Forest Powers 

Wild    Bird    Life Powers 


5  When   Rogues   Fall   Out 

5  Where  Uncle  Sam  Makes  His  Laws  and  Keeps  His 

Relics     Powers 

5  When    Three   Is    a   Crowd Nestor 

Sunday. 

Stronger    Than    Death Rex 

Greed   and   Gasoline    L-Ko 

No   Release   This   Week , Laemmle 

The    Opera    Singer's    Romance Joker 

Monday. 

The   Nature  Man  Broadway 

Some  Chaperon   Nestor 

The  Traction   Grab    (Graft   Series  No.    3) Universal 

Tuesday. 

As  the  Shadows   Fall Gold  Seal 

The  Evil  of  Suspicion Laemmle 

No  Release  This  Week ' Imp 

Wednesday. 

Father's    Child    Victor 

Scandal  at  Sea   L-Ko 

Animated    Weekly   No.    199 Universal 

Thursday. 

The  Little  Upstart   Laemmle 

No  Release  This  Week Big  U 

Babbling  Tongues   Powers 

Friday. 

A  Tribute  to  Mother Imp 

No  Release  This  Week Victor 


5,000 
1,000 
2,000 


3,000 

1,000 


.Big  U       3,000 


Miscellaneous  Features 


Tneu   Shalt   Not   Kill Circle   Film   Corp. 

For    Her    Son Great    Northern 

Joseph   and   His    Brethren Dormct    1'ilm 

The   World    of   Today Reliable    Feature    Film 

Marvelous    Mac. sir     Hanover    Film    Co. 

The    Burglar   and   I  lie  Lady Sun    Photoplay   Co. 

The    World    of   Today Reliable    Feature    Film 

Associated  Service. 

Released  week  of 

Dec     13  The   might  of  Greed Empire 

Dec.    13  Your    Only     Friend Ramona 

Dec.    13  The   Spectre    Santa    Barbara 

Dec.    13  The    Man    in    Mini Alhambra 

Dec.    13  Ike   Stops  a    Battle Federal 

Dec.     13  Going— Going — Gone     Vtla 

Dec.     13   The     Spooners     Banner 

Dec.     13   Taking    Chances     I  kcr 


Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

.    25  The    Family    Stain 5,000 

j.      1    Carmen      6,000 

.     8  The    Blindness   of    Devotion 5,000 

'.   11  A -Woman's   Past... 5,000 

r.  29  The     Galley    Slave 5,000 

■.  21  The   Broken   Law 5,000 

.      5  The    Unfaithful    Wife 5,000 

.     12   Her    Mother's    Secret 5,000 

.    19  A    Soldier's    Oath 5,000 

:.    26  Destruction     5,000 

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

.    20  The    Green     Cloak Kleine  5,000 

.     3  The    Sentimental    Lady Kleine  5,000 

.   10  Children    of    Eve ■ Edison  5,000 

.    17   The     Politicians     .  . : Kleine  5,000 

.       1  The   Danger   Signal Kleine  5,000 

.      8  The    Destroying.  Angel Edison  5,000. 

.    15  The     Bondwomen     Kleine  5,000- 

Kriterion 

Released  Week  of 

'.  29  The    Witness     .'. Paragon  2,000' 

'.   29   Billy   Puts   One  Over Santa    Barbara  1,000 

.   29   Big-Hearted    John     . Alhambra  2,000 

'.   29  Sherlock    Holmes    Boob    Detective Santa    Barbara  1,000 

-.  29  The  Keeper  of  the  Flock Santa  Barbara  2,000 

.  29  The  Unloaded  45 C.    K  1,000 

.  29  The    Western    Border,... Monty  2,000 

.  29  Catching   a    Speeder Punch  1,000 

'.  29  Father    and     Son Trump'  2,000' 

.  29  Such  a  War Pyramid  1,000 

.  29  A  Mask,  a  Ring  and  a  Pair  of  Handcuffs Navajo  2,000 

.  29  Syd,    the    Bum    Detective Alhambra  1.000 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

4  Song  of  the   Wage   Slave Metro  5,000 

11  The    Stork's    Nest Metro  5,000 

18  The    Final    Judgment Metro  5,000 

25  My   Madonna    Metro  5,000 

.     1  Tables   Turned    Metro  5,000 

.     8   Pennington's    Choice     Metro  5,000 

.   15  The    Woman    Pays Metro  5,000 

.  22  One    Million    Dollars Metro  5,000 

.   29   Barbara     Frietchie      Metro  5.000 

6  A    Yellow    Streak Metro  5,000 

.     13  The   House   of  Tears Metro  5,000 

.     20   Rosemary Metro  5,000 

.    27  Black  Fear Metro  5.000 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

.   11  The   End   of   the   Road American  5,000 

.  25  The    Strife    Eternal Mutual  5,000 

2  The    Forbidden    Adventure Mutual  5,000 

9  The    Buzzard's    Shadow Mutual  5,000 

,    16  The   Mill   on  the  Floss Thanhouser  5,000 

23  The    Painted    Soul Mutual  5,000 

.    29  The  Deathlock  Mutual  5,000 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

9  The  Unknown    Lasky  5,000 

13  The    Cheat    Lasky  5,000 

13   Paramount    News    Pictures Paramount  1,000 

16  The    Reform    Candidate Pallas  5,000 

20  The    Immigrant     Lasky  5,000 

.    23  The   Old  Homestead    Famous  Players  5.000 

.     27   Lydia    Gilmore    Famous   Players  5,000 

.    30  Nearly  a  King    Famous  Players  5,000 

Pathe. 

Released    Week   of 

.    27  New  Adventures  of  Wallingford,   No.    13 Pathe  2,000 

.     27   Col.    Heeza   Liar,   Nature   Faker    Pathe  500 

,    27  California's  Rock  j    Shores    Photocolor  500 

.    27   Pathe  News  No.    104 Pathe  1,000 

.     27   Pathe   News   No.    1 Pathe  1,000 

.     27   Lonesome    Luke.    Social    Gangster    Phiinphilms  500 

.     27   Where    the    Trees    Are    Stone Globe  500 

.     27   Chasing  'Em  Out  in  the  Open Starlight  1.000 

.    27   Twenty   Years  Ago.   Red   Circle    No.   3 Balboa  J. 000 

,     27   Excuse   Me    Gold   Rooster  5.000 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released   week   of 

26  The    Penitentes:    Orrin   Johnson Fine   Arts  5,000 

26  A    Submarine    Pirate;    Svd    Chaplin Triangle-Keystone  4.000 

26  The   Edge   of   the   Abyss;    Marv    Boland,    Frank 

Mills,    Willard     Mack Kay-Bee  5,000 

'    Cross    Currents;     Helen    Ware     Fine    Arts  5,000 

2    Between    Men;    \V.    S.    Hart Trianole-Kay-Bce  5.000 

2  The  Greal    Pearl  Tangle;  Sam    Bern                                -i-ne  2,00.0 

■   in     v    Heights  and    Darin-   Hearts Triangli    Ki        i   i 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

6  The     Gray    Mask Shubert  5,000 

13   The    Siren's    Song Shubert  5,000 

i        Mi         labyrinth     ' Equitable  5,000 

20  Over    Night    Bradv  5,000 

0  Sealed     Lips     Equitable  5,000 

[Tic     Rack    Brad 

ll»     Dragon    Equitable  5,000 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


Hearst-Selig   News   Pictorial    No.  ■  11 

Selig — December  20. — Glenn  Martin's  new  sea- 
plane given  test  for  speed  by  Government  at  San 
Diego,  Calif. ;  Australian  boy  scouts  touring  the 
United  States  march  to  New  York  City  Hall  and 
meet  city  officials ;  California's  December,  crop 
of  strawberries  harvested  in  the  fields  of  Japanese 
farmers;  Mile.  Valkyrien,  noted  as  the  most 
beautiful  woman  in  Denmark,  arrives  in  New 
York;  Princess  Jue  Quon  Tai  of  China  visits 
New  York;  famous  statistician,  Roger  Babson, 
working  in  open  air  office  at  Wellesley  Hills, 
Mass. ;  first  electric  engine  used  by  the  C.  M. 
and  St.  Paul  Railway  at  Butte,  Mont. ;  new  crvic 
Auditorium  used  for  infant  exhibit  at  Oakland, 
Calif. ;  millions  of  dollars  damage  done  by  fire 
which  sweeps  munitions  manufacturing  city, 
Hopewell,  Va. 

Hearst-Selig  News  Pictorial  No.  102 — Hearst- 
Selig — December  23. — Salmon  and  rock  cod  fish 
caught  by  Oriental  fisherman  at  San  Francisco ; 
John  Weatherhead,  strong  man  of  Harvard,  stages 
a  mat  bout;  double  deck  cattle  barge  sinks  near 
Battery  Park,  New  York;  monster  Christmas  tree 
reaches  Chicago  to  be  center  of  Yuletide  fete 
in  Grant  Park;  Belgian  youngsters  arrive  at 
Ellis  Island,  N.  Y. ;  S.  S.  Ausable  carrying  cotton- 
seed cake  for  Denmark  leaves  under  stars  and 
stripes ;  Mayor  John  Purroy  Mitchell  of  New 
York  City  welcomes  visit  of  Chicago's  mayor,  W. 
H.  Thompson ;  American  Fireworks  Company 
turns  plant  into  doll  factory,  Randolph,  Mass. ; 
'.'Foblkiller"  '  diving  craft  which ■-  was  built  but 
never  successfully  operated,  is  discovered  by  diver 
on  bed. of  river,  Chicago;  heavv  snowfall  ties  up 
traffic  in  New  York  City. 

Heredity — Biograph — Re-issue — December  27. 
— Featuring  Harry  Carey,  Madge  Kirby  and  Jack 
Pickford.  The  renegade  meets  the  Indian  maid 
and  she  later  becomes  his  purchased  bride.  A 
son  is  born  to  them,  who  inherits  his  mother's 
Indian  character.  The  difference  between 
father  and  son  is  felt,  and  at  length  angered  by 
the  youth's  reluctance  to  leave  his  people,  uses 
violence  to  gain  his  ends.  He  becomes  ashamed 
of   his  Indian   wife   and   child   in    " 


who  has  met  Walton  in  prison,  is  engaged  by 
him  as  a  pool  sharp  and  the  pool  room  becomes  a 
rendezvous  for  crooks  and  boys.  Tony  meets 
Hazel  O'Neil,  daughter  of  the  political  boss,  and 
fascinates  the  girl.  After  much  trouble  in  which 
the  pool  room  is  raided  and  every  similar  place 
'"    closed    by    the    Mayor,    Tony    and 


Walton 


taker 


The   Making  Over 


rstody.     For 


ge  of  th: 

of  Geoffrey  M 


J.  E.  G. 


g — (Four 
■uecember  z/. — Featuring 
le  Bruce.  Geoffrey  lan- 
ded  by   his   father   for  his 


iveling 


India 


the    young  half-breed's 


tribes    he    sells    them    bad    whiskey    and    broken 
guns   and  aroused  by  his  trickery  they  go  on  the 
warpath.     In    the    attack   on   the   wagon    the   war- 
cry   of   his   ancestors    si:-- 
blood    and    the    father  s     crimes 
destruction,   while  the  boy   and  hi: 
to  their  people. 

Saved  from  the   Harem — Lubin- 

— Featuring  Melvin  Mayo,  Violet  Macmillan  and 
L.  C.  Shurriway.  At  a  reception  in  Washington, 
Ezra  Hickman,  a  political  aspirant,  with  his 
wife  and  daughter  Amy,  meet  the  Ambassador  of 
Selim  Bey,  the  ruler  of  a  small  European  King- 
dom, Vergania.  The  Ambassador  seeking  an 
American  girl  for  his  ruler,  paints  a  glowing  pic- 
ture of  Vergania  to  Hickman's  wife,  with  the 
result  that  she  persuades  her  husband  to  accept 
the  American  Consulant  of  Vergania.  Later  the 
Hickman's  are  imprisoned  in  the  castle  tower 
they    planned    to    leave,    but    they 


laziness  but  he  only  laughs  at  him;  until  a  young 
social  uplifter  gives  him  a  verbal  jolt  that  sets 
Geoffrey  to  thinking.  He  tells  his  father  he  is 
going  on  a  hunting  trip,  but  instead  he  secures 
work  in  a  big  steel  mill  owned  by  his  father  and 
under  an  assumed  name  he  goes  steadily  up  the 
ladder  of  promotion.  He  falls  in  love  with  Har- 
mony Laurie,  a  pretty  music  teacher,  and  nearlv 
loses  his  life  in  rescuing  her  from  a  fire.  When 
he  returns  to  work  the  men  are  on  the  verge  of 
striking,  and  as  their  old  leader,  takes  up  their 
grievances  in  person  with  his  father,  who  upon 
learning  his  identity  makes  him  superintendent 
of  the  mills.  Later  he  marries  Harmony,  allow- 
ing her  to  think  him  a  poor  man  until  the  very 
day  he  brings  her  into  their  beautiful  home. 

He  Got  Himself  a  Wife— Vitagraph— Decem- 
ber 27. — Featuring  Mary  Anderson  and  Webster 
Campbell.  Dick  and  Sue  engaged  twenty-four 
hours  have  a  lovers'  quarrel  and  that  evening 
Dick  receives  news  of  a  $5,000  job  provided  he 
is  a  married  man.  He  calls  on  Sue  and  asks  her 
to  marry  him,  but  she  has  not  forgotten  the 
quarrel  and  slaps  his  _  face.  _  Dick  is  crestfallen, 
but  a  brilliant  idea  strikes  him  and  he  advertises 


n   love 


he  has 


ind   Selim   Bey   is 
rid  make  retri 


th  whom  Amy 
to  salute  the 
for  the  actions 
:w  see  another 


This  Isn't  the  Life— Lubin— December  27.— 
Featuring  D.  L.  Don.  Riley,  a  laborer,  falls  heir 
to  a  lot  of  money  which  bores  him  to  death, 
but  please  his  socially  ambitious  wife  and 
daughter.  He  finally  realizes  that  it  is  the  money 
that  is  causing  his  unhappiness  and  begins  to  plan 
to  lose  the  same,  but  everything  he  touches  in- 
stead of  diminishing  his  bank  account  increases  it. 
He  reads  in  the  paper  thatHarry  Thaw's  trial 
cost  a  million  dollars  for  lawyers'  fees,  and  Riley 
decides  to  become  a  nutt,  get  himself  committed 
to  Mattawan  and  hire  the  best  legal  talent  to 
liberate  him.  He  gets  into  the  place,  but  finds  it 
so  uncomfortable  that  he  wants  to  get  out,  but  he 
can't.  He  gets  another  examination,  and  when 
he  tells  the  judge  his  reason  for  getting  in  there, 
the  judge  decides  that  any  man  who  would  rather 
be  poor  than  rich  is  surely  nutty,  and  sends  Riley 
back  to  Mattawan. 

The  Making  of  Crooks — (Three  Reels) — Selig 
— December  27.— Featuring  Jack  Pickford  and 
Th'elma  Crain.  Druggist  Walton  is  convicted  for 
the  sale  of  doped  candy  and  later  is  released 
from  prison  through  the  intercession  of  Lee 
O'Neil,   a   political   boss.     Tony,   a   young   Italian, 


ever  is  on  the  board  out  of  the  window.  A  book 
agent  is  the  iirsl  victim  and  when  he  places  his 
books  on  the  shelf  Bumptious  pulls  the  lever 
and  the  books  slide  out  the  window.  This  same 
thing  happens  to  several  other  troublesome  callers, 
but  when  Mr.  Bumptious'  cashier  brings  in  the 
weekly  payroll  and  lays  it  on  the  board,  then 
accidentally  hits  the  lever,  resulting  in  a  shower 
of  greenbacks  outside,  he  is  wild,  but  his  rich 
uncle  overwhelmed  by  his  nephew's  apparent 
largesse,   rushes  in  and  forces  a  large  check  upon 

What  Happened  to  Father — (Five  Reels) — 
Vitagraph  —  December  27.  —  Featuring  Frank 
Daniels  and  a  strong  cast.  Worried  over  the 
increasing  bills  pouring  in,  father  writes  a  comic 
opera  with  the  idea  of  producing  it  and  becoming 
rich.  Carleton  Bayne,  a  young  society  man, 
offers  to  back  it  if  father  will  use  his  influence 
with  Tommy,  his  youngest  daughter,  whom  Bayne 
wants  to  marry.  Tommy  is  in  love  with  Dawson 
Hale,  a  young  hospital  interne,  but  to  help  father 
out  she  agrees  to  marry  Bayne.  Father  receives 
a  hurry-up  call  from  Georgetown,  where  the  play 
is  to  be  given  its  initial  presentation,  and  dashes 
off  in  Fredericka's  car.     He  arrives  at  the  theater, 


puts  a  stop  to  Bayne's  attempt  to  ring  in  his  own 
leading  lady  on  him,  knocks  the  fellow  down 
and  escapes,  pursued  by  the  police.  After  a  hair- 
raising  chase  father  lands  in  jail,  but_  later 
escapes    and    all    ends    up    in    a    joyful    reunion    of 

Brought  Home— (Two  Reels)—  Essanay— De- 
cember 28.— Featuring  Ruth  Stonehouse  and 
Richard  Travers.  Dorcas  Dale,  a  little  orphan 
girl,  leaves  the  orphanage  to  go  to  the  city  home 
of  Louise  Edgeworth,  where  she  is  to  work. 
Miss  Edgeworth  fails  to  meet  her  at  the  train, 
and  while  wandering  in  the  streets  is  run  over 
by  an  automobile.  The  driver  proves  to  be  Jack 
Marston,  a  young  millionaire,  who  that  day  had 
declared     insane     by     specialists,     and     was 


lpting  suicide. 


The 


to    his    home,   where    she   is 

nursed  back  to  health.  While  there  Billy  Tyne, 
another  little  orphan,  visits  her,  and  Marston 
takes  a  fancy  to  him.  Marston  and  Dorcas 
away  to  a  convent,  then  takes  Billy  out  west, 
where  they  live  on  a  ranch.  Years  later,  Dorcas, 
now  a  grown  girl,  goes  west  and  finds  Marston, 
rjoyed    at    seeing    the    little    waif    who 


had  r 


life  v 


.rth   \ 


i-  him 


The  Caretaker's  Dilemma — Kalem— 
28.— Featuring  Dud  Duncan  and  Ethel  Teare. 
Bud  and  Mac  are  hired  as  caretakers  by  the 
Ways,  who  are  about  to  leave  the  city,  and  they 
settle  down  to  solve  the  problem  of  enjoying 
themselves.  Jean,  Mrs.  Way's  cousin,  arrives, 
and  having  never  met  Mr.  Way,  she  throws  her 
arms  about  Mac,  thinking  he  is  her  relative.  Jean 
expresses  a  desire  to  go  automobiling  and 
since  the  caretakers  have  possession  of  the  key 
to  the  garage,  it  is  an  easy  matter  for  them  to 
oblige  the  fair  miss.  Bud,  who  is  promoted  to 
the  position  of  chauffeur,  proves  himself  to  be 
task     than 


The  Pest  Vamooser — Vitagraph — Dei 

— Featuring  Albert  Roccardi,  Harry  Fisher  and 
Kate  Price.  Mr.  Bumptious  appeals  to  Mr. 
Itsky  to  invent  some  contrivance  to  rid  him  oi 
troublesome  book  agents,  peddle  women,  peddlers, 
-  :-   right   on  the  job   and  sketche"    — 


after 


wild   ride   that   s 
it   ot    at   least 
.    bringing   the    mach: 
!r.  and  Mn     "' 


r.Jea 


1   Mac 


ho  have  sudden 
"       id   Mac 


life  he   succeeds 


Itsky  i 


which  I 


;   a  long  board 
with    pulleys,    ropes 
i'  desk,  which  raises 


veritable  genius. 


lged  like   a  table, 


The     Woman     of     Mystery — (Three     Reei 
Biograph— December     29.— Featuring    Jack 
neir,  Franklin  Ritchie,  and  Louise  Vale.     Ge: 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


rful  explosive  is 
nents.  To  safe- 
so  devised  that 
[  opened  by  anyone  but  himself  it  will  ex- 
:.  Hans,  a  foreign  agent,  attempts  to  enter 
laboratory,  but  is  surprised  by  the  general 
and  Hans  shoots  him  and  the  explosion  of  the 
safe  blows  off  his  right  hand.  The  detective  finds 
the  severed  hand  and  removes  a  ring  with  the 
name  "Hans"  written  on  it.  He  also  discovers 
that  the  Baroness  Sophia,  a  secret  agent,  had 
called  on  the  general  that  night  and  Sophia  learns 
that  Marcel,  a  young  chemist,  has  received  a  copy 
of  the  formula  and  she  contrives  to  meet  him 
and  make  him  fall  in  love  with  her.  She  manages 
to  get  the  formula  herself,  but  doesn't  give  it  up, 
as  she  loves  Marcel  and  stole  it  only  to  prevent  it 
from  falling  into  her  fellow  conspirators'  hands. 
Later,  Hans  suspecting  her,  sends  M'arcel  warn- 
ing to  keep  away  from  the  villa.  He  goes  and 
is  trapped  in  her  room  and  here  she  proves  her 
love  by  giving  him  the  formula  and  later  she 
dies,  having  given  her  life  for  him. 

The  Fable  of  the  Heir  and  Heiress— Essanay— 
.December  29.— Featuring  Charles  J.  Stine,  Earl 
Stanhope  and  Peggy  Sweeney.  The  story  of  a 
workhorse  who  had  Harmon  whiskers  and  a 
Mackerel  eye  who  was  going  to  provide  for  his 
family.  His  wife  was  a  good  woman  and  never 
wasted  money  on  jewels  and  cut  flowers.  They 
wanted  Bertrand  and  Isabel  to  go  through  life 
on  ball-bearings.  When  father  died  he  left  behind 
him  a  good  "Man  Friday"  to  take  care  of  the 
books  and  do  the  collecting.  The  slave  decided 
it  was  his  duty  to  leave-  the  family  well  fixed, 
and  Bertrand  is  now  obliging  night  clerk  in  a 
Louisville  hotel,  while  friend  brother-in-law  works 
in  a  nickel  show.  Moral:  Somebody  must  rake 
up  the  leaves  before  the  young  people  can  have 
a  successful  bon-fire. 

The      Taking      of      Stingaree— (Two     Reels)— 
Kalem—  December       29.— An       episode      of      the 
Stinsraree"   series,   featuring   True   Boardman   and 
l    intense    rivalry    exist 
s   and   Kilbride   for   the    _„ 

,   the   notorious   bushranger.      The 

__.  j  that  Ethel,  his  former  sweetheart, 
)  sing  at  the  station  and  determines  to  attend 
concert.  He  attends  the  concert  in  the  garb 
l  mounted  policeman  and  hoodwinks  the  in- 
tor  and  takes  him  prisoner.  Cairns  comes 
i  Stingaree  after  he  has  tied  Kilbride  to  a 
and  in  a  struggle  Stingaree  is  knocked  un- 
icious.  Cairns  is  overpowered  by  the  bush- 
ranger when  he  regains  consciousness  and  he 
leaves  the  helpless  men  and  rides  away. 

The  Convict  King— (Three  Reels)— Lubin— 
December  30. — Featuring  Melvin  Mayo,  L.  C. 
Shumway  and  Adda  Gleason  in  the  story  of 
George,  the  son  of  Jared  Austin,  who  is  in- 
fatuated with  Pearl  DeLyle,  an  actress,  who  tells 
him    she   must   have   $200.     He    borrows   it    from 


and  Kagler  escapes  by  leaping  out  of  the  window, 
but  later  he  is  shot  by  Jones.  A  moment  later 
Bob  and  Marguerite  appear  on  the  scene  and 
hold    the    agents    at    bay    until    the    police   arrive. 

By  Might  of  His  Right — Vitagraph — Decem- 
ber 31.— Featuring  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew. 
Henry's  wife's  big  brother  comes  to  visit  them, 
and  wifie  is  delighted  to  see  her  brother,  but 
Henry  isn't,  although  he  doesn't  dare  show  it. 
Big  brother  has  a  great  habit  of  expatiating  on  his 
boxing  accomplishments  at  college  and  illustrat- 
ing his  discourse  by  using  poor  Henry  as  a 
punching   bag.      Henry    visits    an    old    chum   who 


:   a   novelty 


party  and 


Marin  Sais.  A 
Inspectors  Cair: 
taking   Stingare 


between 


Henry  bribes  a  huge  "pug"'  to  lay  down  at  the 
proper  time.  He  brings  Big  brother  and  wifie 
to  the  affair  and  when  the  "Battler"  challenges 
anyone  in  the  audience,  Henry  jumps  up  and 
knocks  out  the  fighter  with  his  trusty  "Right." 
He  then  walks  straight  for  Big  brother's  chair 
with  a  "you  next"  expression  and  that  gentle- 
man beats  it,  leaving  Henry  to  the  undisturbed 
love  and  admiration  of  his  wife. 

The  Prisoner  at  the  Bar— (Three  Reels)  — 
Essanay — January  1. — Featuring  Darwin  Karr, 
Warda  Howard  and  Hugh  Thompson.  Ambrose 
Stanton  is  found  murdered  in  his  home  and  John 
Allen,  a  fisherman,  confesses  that  he  did  the 
killing.  At  his  trial  he  is  defended  by  a  young 
lawyer  named  James  Allen.  The  prisoner  tells 
of  how  Ambrose  Stanton  and  he  had  worked  to- 
gether in  a  small  town  bank  and  were  rivals  for 
the  hand  of  Shirley  Harwood,  how  he  had  won 
her  and  Stanton  steals  the  bank's  funds,  shifting 
the  blame  to  him.  Stanton  steals  Allen's  wife  and 
boy,   and   later   when  Allen   was   pardoned 


fisher 


Years 


his 


wife  from  drowning,  and  she  tells  her  story,  and 
then  he  went  to  Stanton's  house  and  killed  him. 
Allen  is  acquitted  by  the  jury,  and  the  lawyer 
who  defended  him  proves  to  be  his  own  son  and 
a  happy  reunion  follows. 

A  Ready  Made  Maid— Lubin— January  1.— 
ring  Billie  Reeves  and  a  strong  comedy  cast, 
discovers  a  bundle  containing  an  abundance 
ies'  clothes  and  lingerie  and  when  his  eager 
ghts    upon    a    "want    ad"    in    the    paper    he 


Larry  Graham  and  gives  Pearl  the  two  hundred 
and  buys  wine  for  her.  Wondering  where  he  can 
get  the  money  to  pay  back  Larry,  he  goes  to  his 
father's  office  and  steals  some  of  the  money  from 
the  safe.  Later  Orme,  the  bookkeeper,  and  Larry 
are  jailed,  and  are  among  the  convicts  who  do 
convict  labor  for  Gray  and  Austin.  Later  Austin 
makes  a  speech  for  a  bill  introduced  to  the 
legislature  to  abolish  the  system  of  convict  labor 
and   George   becomes   a   useful   citizen. 

The  Spy's  Ruse— Kalem— December  31.— An 
episodi  oi  "The  Ventures  of  Marguerite,"  featur- 
ing Marguerite  Courtot.  Wharton  and  Jones, 
employed  l>y  a  foreign  power,  are  eager  to  obtain 

i1"    '    sii thi     di  vice    whit  h    embodies    Bob's 

electrical      torpedo     deflector,      which     has     been 

adopted       I.-        ,  In        -Ill  I  In        agi  ills      In  ili. 

Kapler,      the      inventor's      assistant,      ami       k,    I. 
knocks  Bob  unconscious  and   steal     thl    invention 

However,     Kagler    di iin<  .     in    .h  ]...-..     

himself    and    flees.    Inn     Im.i     In      i        hot    by    one 

of  the  agents.     Margui  rite  i  omi  -  to  his  assist  

and   she  takes  liim   to  her  home,   when    the   thief 


mi. I  I.,  ili.   proper  caper 


hi  in.  II.  the  cooking  not 
horriblj  as  well.  After 
.    ii    is    finally    discovered 

ili-  attire  and  half  female 
iband  agree  that 


a  gardne 


The       Manicure       Girl— Selig — January       1.— 

riggs.  Bloom  Center's  barber,  engages  a  mani- 
cure girl  and  give  a  "three  minute  manicure  for 
fifty  cents."  Business  is  good  in  the  barber  shop 
until  the  girl's  husband  arrives  and  demands 
money  from  her.  Johnny  West  and  Chubby 
Green  see  him  and  resolve  to  defend  the  girl. 
They  force  her  husband  to  run  the  gauntlet  and 
he  finally  escapes,  leaving  Bloom  Center  defenders 
fighting  among  themselves. 

The  Wanderers — (Three  Reels) — Vitagraph 
Broadway  Star  Feature. — Produced  by  William 
Welbert.  The  cast  includes  William  Duncan, 
Hazel  Buckham  and  Mary  Ruby.  It  is  a  comedy 
dealing  with  a  wandering  blacksmith  who  meets 
the  only  girl  he  ever  loved.  It  is  an  enjoyable 
romance  in  which  virtue  is  rewarded.  For  a 
longer  review  see  another  page  of  this  issue. 

Who  Killed  Joe  Merrion?— (Four  Reels)— 
Vitagraph. — Cast  with  Joseph  Kilgour,  S.  Rankin 
Drew,  J.  Herbert  Frank  and  Betty  Gray.  The 
story  of  a  judge  whose  scapegrace  son  commits 
murder  and  permits  another  man  to  suffer  for  it. 
In  revenge  the  wrongly  accused  kills  the  judge. 
For  a  longer  review  see  another  page  of  this  issue. 


See  America  First,  No.  IS — (Split  Reel) — 
Gaumont — December  14. — Lexington,  Ky.,  and 
the  Blue  Grass  country  constitute  this  per- 
sonally conducted  tour.  Places  of  historical  as 
well  as  picturesque  interest  are  shown;  a  visit  to 
the  home  of  Henry  Clay  being  among  them.  On 
the  same  reel  is: 

Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses— Harry  Palmer's 
animated  cartoon,  giving  some  new  and  alto- 
gether unheard  of  methods  of  climbing  the  social 
ladder. 

The  Fiddlers— Novelty— December  20.— Hans 
is  kicked  out  of  the  German  band.  The  Sausage 
King,  who  is  bringing  out  his  daughter,  Lina, 
that  evening,  is  greatly  disturbed  because  the 
famous  violinist  has  failed  to  show  up.  Hans, 
taken  for  the  musician,  gains  admittance  to  the 
ball  and  creates  a  sensation  in  more  ways  than 
one.  Finally  the  real  musician  arrives,  but  the 
Sausage  King  is  of  no  mind  to  have  the  sensa- 
tion of  the  evening  spoiled  in  the  society  column, 
so  he  buys  off  the  great  Strensky  with  a  check 
for  $500.  Hans  and  Lina  plight  their  troth,  and 
Mamma,     none     the     wiser     for     the     deception, 

The  Innocent  Sandwich  Man — (Split  Reel) — 
Novelty — December  22. — In  this  comedy  two  in- 
ventors who  believe  in  improving  all  opportuni- 
ties to  make  drawings  of  their  ideas,  so  deface 
the  sign  that  a  sandwich  sign  man  is  carrying 
that  a  restaurant  keeper  later  finds  himself  sadly 
in   debt.      On  the   same   reel   is: 

Between  Lakes  and  Mountains — One  of  the 
scenics   which   bring  us  closer  to   the   wonders   of 

Hearts  and  Clubs— Cub— December  24.— Fea- 
turing George  Ovey.  In  this  comedy  Jerry 
proves  to  be  quite  a  "fixer."  He  helps  Shorty 
to  marry  Madge  by  leading  the  irate  father  a 
long  chase.  When  father  finally  catches  up  to  the 
wagon  in  which  he  thinks  his  daughter  is  trying 
to  escape  him,  he  finds  only  Jerry  dressed  up 
as  the  girl.  Father's  choice  has  no  say  either, 
for  Jerry  and  Shorty  prove  too  strong  a  team 
for  father  and  his  favorite  suitor.  In  spite  of 
father's  efforts  to  stop  the  course  of  true  love,  it 
does  not  stop  for  him  and  he  returns  home  to  find 
his  daughter  happily   married,  thanks  to  Jerry. 

The  Decoy — (Two  Reels) — Reliance— Decem- 
ber 26. — Fred  Jones  steals  his  company's  pay- 
roll from  the  bank  and  makes  it  appear  that 
John  Doe  is  the  thief.  Doe,  however,  proves  an 
alibi  and  secures  freedom.  A  detective  is  hired 
and  he  obtains  a  clue  which  leads  to  Fred's  con- 
viction. Before  arresting  Fred,  however,  the 
sleuth  employs  a  girl  detective,  and  by  a  clever 
scheme  leads  Fred's  sweeaheart  to  a  confession 
through   jealousy. 

The  Tragic  Circle— (Two  Reels) — American — 
December  27. — One  of  the  oddest  and  most 
unique  themes  which  lias  been  scon  in  pictures 
for  some  rime  is  this  melodramatic  little  love 
Story  featuring  Harold  Lockwood  and  May  Alli- 
son, and  having  as  its  basis  the  Grecian  figures 
painted  on  a  beautiful  vase.  A  full  review  ap- 
peals on  another  page  of  this  issue.         N.   G.  C 

Una's  Useful  Uncle— -F.vlstaif — December  27. — 
The  young  married  couple  are  struggling  pluckily 
to  earn  a  living  from  their  little  farm  and  to  save 
enough  to  pay  off  the  mortgage  which  encumbers 
it.  However,  relatives  of  the  long  staying  kind 
keep  coming  and  going  and  sap  the  energy  of  the 
two  by  consuming  so  much  food.  Uncle  Dan, 
however,  proves  to  be  a  useful  person  to  have 
around.      He  puts  over  a  good  game  on   the   mean 


January  1,  1916 


money  lender  who  hold: 
farm,  with  the  result  that 
mortgage  holdi 


i  any   t 


>  value 


Helen's   Race   with    Death— (First    Episode   of    . 
■  The  Girl  and  the  Game)— (Two  Reels)— Signal    . 
— December  27. — Helen  Holmes  and  Leo  Maloney    j 
featured    in    a    sensational    story    of    railroading. 
Helen,  the  daughter   of  a   railroad   president,   pre- 

throwing  a  switch  in  time  to  derail  a  freight  train 
crashed  into   a  limited  passenger 


MOTOGRAPHY 


hvorce  to  realize  the  wrong  they  would  thus 
their  child.  Eventually,  by  temporarily  re- 
ving  the  child  from  their  home,  he  succeeds  in 
ivincing  them  that  life  without  the  youngster 
uld  scarce  be  worth  living.  The  mender,  ere 
:  picture  ends,  proves  as  efficient  a  mender  of 
s  of  pots  and  pans.  N.  G.  C. 


mond     belie 


Rei 


_  — Cu 
punish   thi 


a   few   r 
1   another   page   c 


A   full    i 


N.  G.   C. 


Their 

Last      Performance — (Three      Reels)  — 

Tt 

er— December  28.— Th 

ruck   girl   who   c 

3   New    York 

full 

nt 

She    is    qu 

1,1. 

di 

sed   to  bring 

.of 

rents    through 

\^Si 

the 

girl    cann 

t    supply    it,    sh 

cmes   tomthea 

So 

girl    c 

the    se 

me    high     spirit 

s.     Th 

man     who 

has 

ned   th 

first   girl's   life 

attracted   to 

the 

other.     T 

e   older  girl    tak 

es   the 

nder 

he 

Their    mutual 

utor,    in    a   fi 

t    of 

to   kill   the   prey   that 

he   has   lost, 

th 

The 

ter  doe 

not   die   in   vai 

n,   how 

ever,   for  the 

p-irl 

ill 

t  she  1 

as  saved  marrie 

and  1 

ves  a  happy 

life. 

all  i 


I. — Jerry 

infections  for  spite.  With 
he  forcibly  takes  from  a  professor 
idows  its  wearer  with  powers  of 
spell  causes  the  lieutenant  to 
;  of  the  peace  which  land  him 
has  some  fun  with  a  Prince.  At 
and    Jerry    find 


the 


:ell. 


The  Terror  of  the  Fold— (Two  Reels)—  Cen- 
rAUR— December  30.— Featuring  William  Clifford 
ind  the  Bostock  animals.  Jim  Thome,  a  govern- 
nent  ranger,  is  in  love  with  Beulah  Martin. 
Steve  Martin,  her  father,  is  a  sheep-herder. 
i'ears     ago     Steve     and     Tom     Walsh     had     been 


The  Cactus  Blossom— (Two  Reels)— Mustang 
— December  31. — Anna  Little  and  Frank  Borzage 
are  featured  in  this  western  drama,  staged  under 
the  direction  of  Thomas  Chatterton.  Miss  Little 
appears  as  Beulah,  a  girl  known  locally  as  "the 
cactus  blossom."  When  Dave  Foster,  her  father, 
befriends  Chegup,  an  Indian,  the  latter,  out  of 
gratitude,  offers  to  show  him  where  gold  may 
be  found.  Duke  Wilson,  who  operates  the  gam- 
bling hall,  and  a  Mexican  who  hates  Chegup, 
decide  to  take  Foster's  claim  away  from  him 
by  force,  the  arrangements  being  that  the  Mexican 
can  have  the  gold  but  that  Wilson  is  to  have  "the 
cactus  blossom."  Reed  Avery,  a  young  cowboy, 
who_  has  also  seen ..  and  .  admired  Beulah,  comes 
to  the  assistance  of  Foster  and  his  daughter,  and 
after  an  exciting  pitched  battle  the  raiders  are 
driven  away,  though  in  the  battle  Avery  is  killed. 
N.  G.  C. 

Kiddus,  Kidds  and  Kiddo— Beauty— January  1. 
—John  Sheehan,  Carol  Halloway  and  John  Step- 
pling  appear  as  Kiddus,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kidd 
in  this  uproarious  comedy  staged  under  the 
direction  of  Jack  Dillon.  Clifford  Callis,  an- 
unusually  clever  child,  appears  as  Kiddo,  the 
cause  of   all   the   trouble.      In   the  absence   of  his 


mate.      A  full   review   appears   on  another   page   of 
this  issue.  N.  S.  C. 

The  Winning  Jump— (Second  Episode  of  The 
Girl  and  the  Game)— (Two  Reels)— Signal- 
January  3. — In  this  episode  some  plans  for  a 
cut-off  of  the  C.  W.  &  T.  R.  R.  are  stolen  by 
two  thieves  hired  by  an  unscrupulous  official  of 
a  rival  railroad,  but  Helen  succeeds  in  following 
the  robbers  on  an  engine,  and  by  leaping  from 
one  engine  to  the  one  driven  by  the  escaping 
thieves  she  is  enabled  to  bring  about  the  capture 
of  the  men.  The  plans  however  have  disappeared 
and  future  episodes  will   probably  show  how  they 

another  page  of  this     issue.  N.   G.   C. 

The    Homesteaders — (Two    Reels) — Centaur — 
January    6. — Featuring   Margaret    Gibson   and   the 
Bostock  Animals.     Carey  Graves,  a  school  teacher, 
comes   West    witfh    her   mother   to    settle.      About 
the    same    time,    Shirley    Wells,    a    wealthy    young 
clubman    of    Boston,    weary    of    conventional    life, 
also    goes    West,    accidentally    selecting    the    same 
spot  chosen  by  Carey.     A  common  bond  of  inter- 
est,   which    gradually    expands    into    love,    springs 
up  between  Wells  and  Carey.     Hamilton   Osborne, 
a    cattle    baron   and    bully,    decides   to    use    drastic 
,sures   to    get    the    girl   into   his-  power.      How- 
•,    both    he    and    Carey    are    saved    from    death 
an   infuriated   female  puma.      Carey   comes   out 
he  ordeal  scatheless,  but  Osborne  is  seriously 
nded.      Being   touched   by   Carey's   kindness   in 
;ing    him    back    to   health,    Osborne    overcomes 
jealousy  and  smiles  on  the  union  of  Wells  and 


Universal 


Program        | 


They   i 


stealing  ui 
.e  of  Jim's 
ly.       Later 


partners  in  a  counterfeiting  si 
apprehending  Tom,  while  Steve 
still  a  nefarious  character,  seeks 
menacing  him  with  the  past,  foi 
'  'lis  sheep  stealin 
.  ...red  by  o___ 
Tom  injures  mortally, 
pares  a  trap  for  Jim  by  which  he 
puma    do    the    killing,    but    he    is 

Foolish,  Fat  Flora— Falstaff— I 
Flora  is  getting  fatter  by  leaps  an 
becoming  desperate,  tries  all  kind 
the  more  ridiculous  the  better, 
lands  in  jail  through  her  zeal  to  r 
'    r  husband  also  ' 


nl 

Kiddus.   where  he  hides.      Kitty  Kidd 

hi 

sband     set     out    in     search    of    Kiddo 

er    Kiddus,    obtaining    his   promise    to 

thei 


capture     every    youngst 
.    -    hope   of   picking   up   the 
ng    child,     but    after    he    has    been    ar 
:harged    with    kidnapping    a    half    doze 
■hildren,    he    is   surprised    to   find   that    Kiddo   had 
>een   with   him   all  the  time.  N.    G.    C. 


=sted 


of  Darby  and  Joan,  who  after 


ands 


bad,  and  hoping  j 


_____e  place.  Flora 
;  that  the  prison  fc 
:  will  train  her  dowi 


BMnfi  fttaMI 

mm 

Universal  Animated  Weekly,  No.  198— Uni- 
versal— December  22. — Baseball  stars  test  their 
skill  as  trap  shooters  at  Travers  Island,  N.  Y. ; 
a   flock   of   20,000   geese   at    Champaign,   111. ;    chil- 

licenses  at  Dorchester,  Mass. ;  Al.  Jennings,  re- 
formed train  robber,  greets  pal  of  outlaw  days, 
New  York  City;  scene  in  the  European  war, 
showing  troops  on  way  to  the  front  in  England, 
intimate  scene  in  the  French  trenches;  wounded 
soldiers  arriving  from  ■  the  trenches  in  Russia, 
sturdy  Servian  fighters  in  an  orderly  retreat  and 
Field  Marshal  von  Hindenburg,  commander  of 
the  eastern  German  armies;  skating  takes  place 
of  dancing  at  Biltmore  Hotel  Ice  Gardens;  car- 
toons by  Hy.  Mayer. 

When  Three  Is  a  Crowd — Nestor — December 
25. — Neal  is  loved  by  all  the  girls,  so  he  prac- 
tically has  his  free  pick  out  of  them.  He  selects 
as  his  choice  Billie,  who  unfortunately  is  engaged 
to  Lord  Herbie  Hind.  She  likes  his  love-making 
but  is  careful  to  keep  him  aware  that  she  is 
engaged.  Intoxicants  get  the  best  of  Neal  and 
he  proposes  to  two  of  his  other  girl  friends,  who 
look  forward  to  a  marriage  with  him  the  very 
'next  day.  The  morning  after,  however,  Neal  has 
no  recollection  of  such  conduct  and  he  is  face  to 
face  with  a  problem.  Billie,-  become  tired  of 
Herbie.  sympathizes  with  Neal  and  sympathy 
leads  to  love.  They  decide  that  their  own  mar- 
riage is  the  best  way  out  of  difficulties. 

Some  Chaperone  —  Nestor  —  December  27. — 
With  Eddie  Lyons  and  Lee  Moran.  As  Eddie  is 
broke,  he  welcomes  the  job  of  secretary  with  a 
goutv  old  codger  who  has  two  daughters.  Eddie 
becomes  quite  chummy  with  Betty.  Daddy  de- 
cides to  go  on  a  sea  voyage,  but  cannot,  take  his 
daughters,  as  they  have  no  chaperone.  Here 
Eddie  has  a  happy  thought.  He  informs  his 
employer  that  he  knows  a  lovely  old  lady  who 
will  be  just  the  one  for  chaperone.  So  it  happens 
that  Lee,  Eddie's  friend,  disguises  as  a  woman 
and  accepts  the  chaperonage.  The  deception 
is  finally  discovered  by  the  old  man  but  every- 
thing ends  happily,  with  two  pairs  of  lovers 
enjoying  themselves  to  the  fullest  extent. 

As  the  Shadows  Fall— (Three  Reels)— Gold 
Seal— December  28.— Marshall  Faxon,  a  philan- 
thropist, is  affianced  to  Bertha  Winston.  Bertha 
has  some  misunderstanding  with  her  fiance  over 
Winnie  Perry,  a  poor  girl  whom  he  is  trying  to 
aid.  The  attentions  of  Eddie  Winston  (under 
another  name)  are  being  forced  upon  the  girl 
under  penalty  of  losing  her  position  and  future 
positions  if  she  resists.  Rather  to  face  death 
than  dishonor,  Winnie  jumps  from  a  hotel  window 
and  sustains  serious  injury.  The  guilt  is  traced 
to    Eddie    Winston,    and    Bertha    realiz. 


ciliation,  anc 
N.  G.  C. 


Win 


Eddie 


The  Wraith  of  Haddon  Towers— (Three 
Reels)— Clipper— January  1.— Arthur,  Maude 
and  Constance  Crawley  are  featured  in  this  story 
of  the  spirit  world,  concerning  Phillip  Drum- 
mond  and  the  wraith  of  his  cousin  Dorothy, 
which   haunts   Haddon   Towers,   and   which   Drum- 


The  Evil  of  Suspicion — Laemmle 
28. — Rudolph  Wilder,  formerly  a  widower  with 
a  grown  daughter,  has  just  married  again.  His 
wife  has  a  son  but  keeps  the  fact  concealed_  from 
her    husband,    fearing    his    anger.     Wilder    is    an 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


The  Business 
Obligation 

At  the  lowest  estimate  for 
weekly  program  rentals  the 
subscribers  to  MOTOG- 
RAPHY spend  every  week 
the    astounding    sum    of 

$417,860.00 

If  they  use  one  feature 
each  week  in  addition  to 
their  service,  at  a  fair 
price  for  features,  this  sum 
is    increased    weekly    to 

$893,260.00 

If  these  theaters  spend  a 
few  dollars  each  week  for 
supplies,  posters,  oil,  re- 
winds, heralds,  etc.,  the 
sum  total  of  the  average 
weekly  expenditures  of 
MOTOGRAPHY^  subscri- 
bers is 

OVER 

$1,000,000.00 

exclusive  of  salaries,  rent, 
light,  etc. 

To  talk  to  this  Million  Dollar 
Crowd  every  week 

Plant  Your 
Advertisement 


Motography 


aight,, 


Flivver's  Terrible  Past— Nestor— December  31. 
— Pimple  becomes  a  fugitive  from  the  State  Tail, 
but  only  for  a  brief  space  of  time.  While  jour- 
neying around  town  he  passes  a  beer  garden, 
wherein  are  seated  a  group  of  people  at  a  table. 
His  throat  suddenly  becomes  parched  and  he 
offers  to  tell  them  his  sad  story  after  his  thirst 
shall  have  been  quenched.  He  then  launches 
forth  into  a  narrative  of  woe  which  has  to  do 
with  trouble  he  has  had  with  his  wife's  first  hus- 
finishes     the     story    with 


self    i 


the   j 


and  Pimple's  spree 

A    Tribute    to    Mother— 


the 


Reels)— Imp— 
jjtLt.'viBtK  01. — james  itanaan,  a  scheming  and 
grinding  business  man,  has  blotted  almost  every- 
thing out  of  his  life  except  money.  His  absolute 
neglect  of  his  wife  has  made  her  look  to  Fred 
Ames,  a  social  parasite,  for  some  show  of  affec- 
tion. Randall  has  also  painfully  neglected  the 
mother  that  formerly  meant  so  much  to  him 
While  his  wife  is  at  the  opera  with  Ames,  the 
-mad    Randall    has    a    vivid    dream    which 


.    .  __it   his   mother,   murder   is   averted   by 

the     daughter.         Later,     marriage     takes 

etween    Lillian    and   her    step-mother's    son. 


find. 


work    ; 


lCle 


,-ith    bin 


The    wife 


A    Scandal   a 


Sea — L-Ko — Decemb 
fiery    tempered    m 
persecuting  his  wife,   ana   warns 
half  hour  under  threat  of  death. 

;   finds  he   is   on   the    same 


-Cap- 

Accordingly  the  mashei 
He  is  horrified  when  h( 
ship  with  the  captain's 
the  husband  appears.  Imagining  the  silly  dude 
has  followed  his  wife  on  board,  he  makes  his  life 
miserable.  The  crew  finally  mutiny  and  scuttle 
the  ship.  The  dude  is  hurled  into  the  hold  and 
becomes  a  hero  by  stopping  the  leak  in  an 
ingenious  manner. 

Father's  Child— (Three  Reels)— Victor— De- 
cember 29. — Featuring  Harry  Myers  and  Rose- 
mary Theby.  In  this  comedy  Papa's  office  work, 
comfort,  sleep,  and  his  entire  daily  life  is  sub- 
ordinated to_  the  demands  of  "Little  Precious." 
Mamma  is  just  as  bad,  and  between  its  fond 
parents  the  baby  has  all  the  comfort  and  pleasure 
that  is  humanly  possible,  in  spite  of  the  hot 
weather.  Whatever  the  baby  ordains  is  law; 
therefore,  we  witness  the  indulgent  father  carry- 
ing a  piano  up  to  the  roof  and  other  deeds  of 
love,  among  them  compromising  with  a  burglar 
to  the  end  that  baby  may  not  be  awakened.  At 
last  the  day  in  the  peaceful  lives  of  the  Newly- 
weds  comes  to  a  close  and  it  appears  the  baby 
has  had  all  the  joys  thereof. 

Babbling  Tongues— Big  U— December  30.— To 
Martin  Lowe,  the  treasurer  of  the  village  lodge, 
is  entrusted  the  keeping  of  a  large  sum  of  money 
over  night.  Martin  and  his  grandniece  live  at  a 
boarding  house  and  the  grand-niece,  Lillie,  is  in 
love  with  Ned,  the  son  of  the  boarding  house 
mistress.  As  Ned  has  been  acting  rather  wildly 
of  late,  and  he  has  left  ostensibly  for  a  position 
in  another  town,  the  theft  of  the  funds  is  laid  to 
him.  However,  the  accusation  against  Ned  is 
proved  to  be  false,  for  it  turns  out  that  the  boy's 
grandfather  had  buried  the  money  in  the  ground, 
fearing  for  its  safety. 

The  Little  Upstart— (Three  Reels)— Laemmle 
—December  30.— Stella  Razeto  as  Nana  Clauson. 
This   story   centers   about   a   note   sent    bv    William 


:hat  her  escort  is   a   cad.      She  returns  home 

find   her  husband   completely   transformed.      He 

they   go   home   to   mother,   and   they 

the   first  genuine   love   embrace  for 


participate    i 


mths. 


Lemonade 
Max    Asher    a 
for    his    daughte 


1.— 


Aids     Cupid— Joker— Jan 

s  "Pa."  Pa  has  higher  ambitions 
Tillie  than  a  grocer  boy,  and 
ucLuuiuica  nidi  Hank  Boggs  is  more  worthv  of 
her.  Jake,  the  grocer  boy,  and  Tillie  put  over  a 
game  on  Hank.  Beside  this,  a  punch-bowl  full 
of  "spiked"  lemonade  aids  in  his  downfall.  The 
beverage  certainly  procures  Father's  defeat,  for 
he   becomes  _ so   gay   that  he  risks  flirting  with   the 

t  the  dance  in  secret  from  his  wife. 

id  Tillie  threaten  to  tell  Ma  of  his 
long  in   conforming  his   will 


to  the  mar 
The    Da\ 

JAI* 


iage  of  the 


Road— (Two 

'ay     Carney 
Fred    Armst: 


-Jay 


Reels)- 
determine 


101 


ge 


that  Armstrong  has  administered  to  him  a  much 
needed  punishment  and  also  has  won  the  girl  that 
he  was  interested  in,  Edith  Langdon.  In  league 
with  a.  mail  clerk,  Carney  robs  a  stage  and  fixes 
things  so  that  his  enemy  will  be  held  responsible 
for  the  crime.  However,  they  have  not  figured 
on  Rose,  a  girl  whom  Armstrong  has  befriended. 
She  sees  Carney  put  the  incriminating  evidence 
in  Armstrong's  desk.  When  the  sheriff  arrives 
she  reveals  the  frame-up  and  the  right  parties  are 
caught. 

The  Honor  to  Die— (Three  Reels)— Big  U— 
January  2.— Featuring  Rita  Jolivet.  This  story 
takes  place  in  the  year  1693,  when  the  French 
were  fighting  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  who  was  allied 
with  Austria.  The  Countess  Joanna,  a  beautiful 
French  woman,  is  the  favorite  of  the  Duke  but 
in  her  heart  she  is  still  true  to  France,  and  is 
employed  as  a  spy  by  Louis  XIV.  She  falls  in 
th   Count  Mont' 


but 


I    of    being   1 


the 


of 


bei 


:  Countess 
:urns  to  her  country. 
)  have  Count  Mont- 
ad  a  charge  against 
t  dies  a  heroic  death. 
France     with      her 


The 


and    Petticoats — L-Ko — January 
daughter   loves   Reggie   but   does   r._.    _ 
Reggie  almost   runs  down  the  Judge   in 


Fat. 


:   the   car.  he  orders  that    Gertie   shall   marry 
(lertie   has  already   decided  so  to  do,  because 
..    .nisunderstanding    with    Reggie.      Reggie,   in 
ist    order    to   compromise    Fat    as   a    flirt,    dresses  up 

ill.       II.     ii. .1    only    lakes   in    Fat.    but    also   the 

.1       ln.l-.,     l„ ■!:.    , ii.i.illv     i-    ..bin... I    to    dismiss 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


55 


„"-  ^egftiare  Program*??  _- 


rox 

Her  Mother's  Secret— (Five  Reels)— Fox  — 
Featuring  Ralph  Kellard  and  Dorothy  Green  in 
the  story  of  a  man  who  lives  a  double  existence. 
In  later  years  the  son  of  his  wife  meets  and 
falls  in  love  with  the  daughter  of  his  mistress 
and  the  revealing  is  most  dramatically  worked 
out.  For  a  longer  review  see  another  page  of 
this  issue. 


Metro 

Black  Fear— (Five  Reels)— Rolfe-Metro— 
Featuring  Grace  Elliston  as  Lillian  Ellsmere,  who 
is  the  daughter  of  Gordon  Ellsmere,  a  wealthy 
broker,  who  is  ruined  in  the  stock  market.  Judge 
LeRoy  asks  her  to  marry  him,  but  she  refuses 
him,  as  her  father  has  committed  suicide  and 
she  feels  she  must  take  care  of  her  younger  sis- 
ter, Mary,  and  her  young  brother,  Billy.  Later, 
after  much  trouble,  Lillian  marries  LeRoy  and 
after  Mary  and  Billy  have  caused  her  much 
anxiety.      For   a    longer   review    see    another   page 


Paramount 

The  Reform  Candidate — (Five  Reels) — Pallas 
— Featuring  Macklyn  Arbuckle  as  Art  Hoke,  the 
Mi.n.ln.ie  l.o-,.  nho  is  supporting  Richard  Burton 
tn  his  campaign  for  mayor.  May  Hoke,  Art's 
adopted  daughter,  is  engaged  to  Burton  and  the 
leader  on  the  reform  ticket  is  anxious  to  unearth 
some  scandal  in  Hoke's  private  life  and  decides 
to  investigate  May's  parentage,  but  is  not  suc- 
cessful. He  later  finds  that  May  is  his  own 
daughter  and  when  he  learns  that  his  daughter's 
fiance   is   his    opponent    he   withdraws    in   favor   of 

„Th?  Cheat— (Five  Reels)—  Lasky.— Featuring 
Dannie  Ward,  who  is  supported  by  Sessue  Haya- 
kawa.  Miss  Ward  as  Edith  Hardy,  the  wife  of 
Dick  Hardy,  asks  Tori,  a  popular  young  Jap- 
?"f,Se'  l°J.  ,_th?  use  of  his  house  for  a  Red  Cross 
5?nV,™E?lth  1S  treasurer  of  the  fund  and  places 
$10,000  belonging  to  it  in  the  hands  of  a  friend 
to  invest  and  loses  and  her  money  is  wiped  out. 
She  turns  to  Tori,  who  says  he  will  give  her  a 
check  for  the  amount  if  she  will  come  to  him  the 
next  day.  Hardy's  speculation  succeeds  and  he 
rushes  home  to  break  the  news  to  his  wife  and 
she  secures  $10,000  from  him  and  starts  for 
Tons  home.  She  is  followed  by  Dick  and  when 
she  arrives  there  she  offers  the  check  to  Tori 
but  he  takes  her  in  his  arms  and  kisses  her. 
Suddenly  he  tears  her  gown  from  her  back  and 
brands  her  on  the  shoulder  with  a  red-hot  iron 
with  his  monogram  on  it.  Edith,  mad  with  pain, 
shoots  him  just  as  her  husband  enters,  and  he 
tells  the  police  that  he  shot  the  Japanese.  Later 
on  the  day  of  the  trial  Hardy  is  pronounced 
guilty,  but  Edith  rushes  to  the  witness  stand 
bares  her  branded  shoulder  to  the  judge  and  de- 
nounces the  Japanese.  The  indictment  against 
Hardy  is  dismissed  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
reunited. 

The  Unknown— (Five  Reels)— Lasky.— Featur- 
ing Lou  Tellegen  as  Richard  Farquhar,  a  soldier 
of  fortune,  who  enlists  in  the  foreign  legion  and 
goes  through  a  variety  of  arh , 
breadth  escapes.  He  meets  Nancy  Preston,  an 
American  girl,  and  a  mutual  affection  springs 
up  between  them  and  later  he  falls  heir  to  a 
title    and    fortune    in    England    and     marries    the 


„  Isle  of  Hope, 
Ga. ;  many  Christmas  trees  cut  and  shipped  from 
Maine  woods,  Oquossoc,  Me. ;  streets  of  Kyoto, 
Japan,  are  bedecked  and  triumphal  arches  erected 
to  welcome  Yoshito.  who  journeys  to  the  ancient 
capital  to  his  realm  to  be  made  the  122nd  Em- 
peror of  his  dynasty. 

Buying  a  Bank  with  Bunk — (Two  Reels) — 
Pathe— December  20.— Episode  of  the  Walling- 
ford"  series.  After  investigating  the  affairs  of 
Benjamin  Quirker,  Wallingford  writes  him  an 
anonymous  letter  telling  him  that  his  "past,"  and 
his  present  love  affair  with  Marie  Dupont  has 
been  discovered.  The  next  day  Wallingford  calls 
at  the  bank  and  Quirker  offers  to  sell  hi.n  his 
interest  in  the  bank  for  $51,000.  J.  Rufus  gives 
him  a  worthless  check  for  the  amount.  Quirker 
deserts  his  wife  and  leaves  for  the  city  with 
Marie.  Wallingford  and  Daw  follow.  They  stop 
payment  on  the  check  and  quiet  Quirker  by 
confronting  him  with  his  wife.  For  a  longer 
review  see  another  page  of  this  issue. 

The  Life  of  Our  Saviour — (Seven  Reels) — 
Pathe — December  24. — A  .Gold  Rooster  Play 
in  Pathe  Color.  It  is  a  wonderfully  produced 
and  excellently  acted  visualization  of  Christ's 
journey  on  earth.  For  a  longer  review  see  an- 
other page  of  this  issue. 

The  Red  Circle— (Two  Reels)— Pathe-Balboa 
— December  25 — Second  episode  entitled  "Pity 
the  Poor."  Ruth  Roland  as  June  Travis  pities 
the  unfortunate  men  who  are  in  the  clutches  of 
the  loan  shark,  George  Grant,  and  robs  the 
latter,  obeying  an  inward  impulse.  She  writes 
letters  to  all  of  the  men  who  have  signed  the 
notes,  telling  them  that  they  are  no  longer  under 
obligations  as  the  notes  have  been  destroyed. 
Grant  has  enlisted  the  aid  of  the  police  and  Lamar 
but  they  are  unable  to  find  the  least  clue.  For 
a    longer    review    see    another   page    of   this    issue. 

Peculiar  Patients'  Pranks — Pathe — Rolin — De- 
cember 22.— Luke's  pal  is  hit  by  an  auto.  The 
owner  of  the  auto,  a  pretty  girl,  takes  the  injured 
one  to  a  hospital.  This  makes  Luke  jealous  and 
he  gets  in  the  way  of  a  machine.  He  is  taken 
to    the    hospital,    but    in    an    ambi ' 


tal  he 


i  bed 


l   the 


—    pal's    private    room.      Peeved,    he    .™ 

things    miserable    for    everybody,    and    receives    a 

love-tap     on    the    head    with    a    hammer    for    his 


___  but  the  landlady's  son  disturbs  them  „„ 
they  decide  to  leave.  Their  trunk  packed  and 
the  expressman  about  to  take  it  away,  the  land- 
lady asks  for  the  board  money.  Having  none, 
they  send  the  expressman  off,  unpack  their  trunk 
and  enter  the  kitchen  to  work  it  out.  They  make 
their  entrance   into    a   well-kept   kitchen   and  leave 

Ruses,  Rhymes  and  Roughnecks — Pathe-Rolin 
— December  15. — Lonesome  Luke  attends  the 
annual  Garbage  Gentlemen's  Rally  with  Maisie. 
While  the  ashes  throwing  contest  is  in  progress 
Luke  and  Maisie  cross  the  range.  Luke  gets  in 
the  way  of  what  is  sure  to  break  the  record  for 
speed  and  distance  ashes  throwing.  But  he 
makes  a  hit  with  Maisie,  so  he  cares  little  for  the 
mussing-up  he  is   subjected  to. 

Climbing  Mt.  Blanc — Pathe — December  13. — 
A  scenic  release  giving  remarkable  views  of  the 
Alps.  Mt.  Blanc,  the  highest  peak  in  the  Alps, 
is  15,781  feet  above  sea  level.  The  picture  fol- 
lows a  party  of  climbers  from  the  village  of 
x  to  the  summit  of  Mt.  Blanc. 


Pathe 

Pathe  News  No.  100— Pathe— December  15.— 
New  York  Society  enjoys  winter  skating  at 
Tuxedo    Club;    Lincoln    High    School    of    Jersey 


City,    N.    J.,   'closed"  "on    account    of    being"" 
demned    as   a   fire    trap;    "wet   goods"    supplied   to 
the    parched    populace    of    "dry"     Kansas    in    the 
-'  Drydale,   Mo.;   built   in  a  day  and 


Chi 

More  Deadly  Than  the  Male— Pathe-Starlight 
—December  18.— Heine  and  Louie  enter  a  sort 
of  Utopia  in  which  only  women  reside.  Men  are 
barred  under  pain  of  death,  so  these  two  are 
captured  by  the  police-female  cops.  They  are 
put  in  cells  but  two  men  in  the  town  is  rather  a 
novelty  to  soma  of  the  officials  and  they  treat 
Heine  and  Louis  in  a  princely  fashion.  But  the 
two  pals  cannot  keep  themselves  out  of  trouble 
long.     They  rob   thei     '~~ 


border  town  i 


workers' 

heavy  snowfall  buried  New  York;  Pathe  Paris 
fashions;  ten  submarines  built  for  Great  Britain 
interned  in  Charlestown  Navv  Yard;  high  wave- 
flood  water-front  section  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and 
hinder  work   on  the  wharves. 

Pathe  News  No.  101— Pathe— December  18.— 
Eden  Musee  at  New  York  City  closed  and  wax 
models  are  carted  off  to  Coney  Island;  horses 
destined  for  war  service  purchased  by  agents  of 
the  French  govern r,..  ,  I  '  ■  .  ' 
courtyards  being  transformed  into  ice  rinks 
where  guests  may  glide  between  dinner  course, 
New  York  City ;  recruits  are  taught  to  manipulate 
electric  instruments  used  in  firing  land  mines  at 
Aldershot,     England;     Diamond-backed     terrapins 


reduced  speed  so  that  the  eye  can  follow  the 
movements  of  the  muscles  brought  into  play  by 
the  actions.  The  pictures  were  taken  with  an  ultra- 


Bartola  Orchestra 

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HEADOUARTERS 

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When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
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it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
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IF  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 
Goes  posters 
POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO d 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


Your  Personal 
Subscription 

for 

Motography 


America's  Leading 
Film  Magazine 


$3,00 


a  year 

would  prove  both  a  conven- 
ience and  a  means  of  real 
profit.  Each  issue  is  of  vital 
interest  and  practical  value  to 
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picture  business.  If  you  miss 
one  copy,  you  may  miss  an 
article  or  an  idea  that  would 
have  a  vital  effect  on  your 
work. 

As  a  regular  subscriber,  you 
would  be  able  to  read  Motography 
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Bound  volumes  of  Motography 
form  the  best  foundation  for  a 
reference  library. 

We  suggest  that  you  have  the 
magazine  sent  to  your  residence. 

Address    . 


Motography 

Monadnock  Bldg.,  Chicago 


pid  camera  and  the  subjects  are  the  horse,  i 
t  and  kangaroo.  On  the  same  reel  with: 
A  Tea  Plantation. — The  growing,  picking 
ives  and  how  they  are  sorted  and  dried  mak< 
interesting  educational.  The  pictures  ■* 
ken  at  a  Java  plantation. 


on  the  play  of  the  same  name  by  William  Vaughan 
Moody.  Ethel  Clayton  and  House  Peters  head 
the  cast.  The  story  tells  of  an  Eastern  girl  who 
visits  the  West  and  there  is  married  under  peculiar 
circumstances  to  Stephen  Ghent,  an  untamed  man 
,    of   the    mountains.     Their   agreement    is   that    they 


vife  11 


Triangle  Program 

Released   Week  of   December 

!     Penitentes— (Five     Reels)— Fi 
ring    Orrin   Johns 


only  v 


il  Gher 


Under  the  influence  .. 
irt  of  the  bargain,  and  Ruth  is 
im  when  she  is  given  substantial 
t  really  loves  her  and  has  re- 
longer    review    see    another    page 


i    Mart 


World 


ring. 


day.      Dolor 


)  be  s 


Good   Fri- 
d" 'Manuel 


troops  to   exterminate   the    Penitentes 

later    renews    his     courtship     of     Dol< 

longer  review  see  page  1241  of  the  December  11th 

issue  of  Motography.  J.  C.  G. 

The  Edge  of  the  Abyss— (Five  Reels)— Kay- 
Bee— Featuring  Mary  Boland  and  Willard  Mack 
in  the  story  of  Alma,  who  throws  over  Neil 
Burns    for    Wayne    Burrough: 


gette,   while   his   college   chum,   member   of  a   foot- 

tvpe.  Mrs.  Kettle  and  Percy  Darling  go  ashore 
and  are  left  behind,  and  when  Mr.  Kettle  and 
Elsie  Darling  are  taken  for  bride  and  groom  by 
their  fellow  passengers  they  decide  to  play  the 
part  to  avoid  awkward  explanations.  They  are 
forced  to  spend  the  night  after  leaving  the  boat 
at  the  Bark  Inn  and  to  avoid  scandal  register  as 
man  and  wife.  Percy  Darling  and  Mrs.  Kettle 
register  as  husband  and  wife  at  the  same  hotel. 
Later  explanations  follow  that  are  not  altogether 
satisfactory  to  the  hotel  manager  and  the  two 
couples  are  forced  to  leave,  but  thev  are  happy 
in  their  reunion. 

The  Senator — (Five  Reels) — Equitable — Feat-. 
uring  Charles  J.  Ross  as  Senator  Rivers,  elected 
from  Missouri,  comes  to  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate, where  he  meets  Silas  Denman.  He  falls  in 
love  with  Denman's  daughter,  who  is  in  love 
with  von  Strahl.  Later  developments  satisfy 
Mabel  as  to  the  character  of  the  count  and  she 
realizes   that   she  is  in   love   with   Senator   River. 


Aftei 


iage 


Miscellaneous 


...     and    he 

suggests  an  elopement.  Jim  Sims,  a  burglar,  is 
the  means  of  the  woman  realizing  her  husband's 
true  worth  and  she  orders  Neil  from  the  house. 
For  a  longer  review  see  page  1241  of  the  issue 
of  December   11th.  J.   C.   G. 

The  Submarine  Pirate— (Two  Reels)— Key- 
stone—Featuring  Sid  Chaplin  as  a  waiter  who 
manages  to  get  on  a  submarine  and  there  is  made 
commander  after  perusing  stolen  papers.  He  is 
initiated  into  a  mystery  of  submerging  and  later 
commandeers  an  attack  upon  a  passenger  ship. 
A  United  States  gunboat  comes  to  the  rescue 
and  sinks  the  submarine  and  as  Sid  has  lost  the 
key  he  can't  send  it  beneath  the  waves  for  pro- 
tection. For  a  longer  review  see  page  1143  of 
the    November    27th    issue    of    Motography. 


The    Salamander 

-(Fiv 

Reels) 

-B.    S.    Moss 

Fi 

Inc.— 

Upon   he; 

de 

ith,     Dore     Baxi 

nth    notice     to 

vacate    her    country 

home 

bv   Sassoon,    a   wealthy 

N 

w     Yorker,     wh 

o     thrc 

ugh     his 
Baxter 

stolen     the     deed 

:o     the 

property     and 

ends   to   sell   it  1 

o   the 

Dore 

Ne 

w  York.     With 

the  au 

of  Beatrice  Snyder  and 

Ga 

rry     Lindaberry, 

)   the   property. 

succeeds   in    recove 

ring    th 

e    deed   t 

R? 

"Tile 

Wolf," 

neets    death    at 

rh 

hands    of    one 

ved.      Lindaberr 

y     and 

Dore     b 

fcorae     married 

an 

d   move  to   the  c 

Universal    Special 

Man — (Five  Reels)— 
.— Knowles,    the    Natui 

vidls  of" the  foerest°prift 
hout  money,  and  will 
dnd,    he    succeeds    in    c 


;:"hi 

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cam 

'{: 

trap 

,"f,:. 

foo 

vith    skins 

e'noug 

0    pr 

\ 

full 

ipea 

u: 

N. 

'.TT  , 

V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

it  Divide      (FlV!     i 

R    20. — Produced    by     Lubin     I 

Edgar  Lewis,  tliis  picture  i 


SOME   NEW   THEATERS 

Arizona 

The  Lyric  theater  in  Miami,  managed 
by-  Mr.  Nenes,  has  undergone  numerous 
changes.  The  removing  the  old  stage 
adds  twenty-five  feet  additional  room 
and  increases  the  seating  capacity  150 
seats.  Three  exits  have  been  installed, 
making  the  total  nine.  The  theater  is 
more  roomy  and  comfortable  and  Mr. 
Nenes  claims  one  of  the  safest  places 
of  amusement  in  the  state. 
Arkansas 

Mr.  Musselman  of  Paris,  Tex.,  is  con- 
templating reopening  the  Majestic  the- 
ater in  Fort  Smith  as  a  motion  picture 
house. 

Colorado 

Manager   Ed   Anderson   of   the    Grand 
theater   in   Pueblo  is  having   installed  a 
new  $10,000  photoplayer. 
Connecticut 

John  F.  Sullivan  of  New  York  has 
purchased  the  Park  theater  in  Manches- 
ter from  lames  Goldman,  the  owner.  At 
present  Mr.  Sullivan  will  continue  to 
show   pictures. 

Delaware 

\c\\  Amsterdam  Amusement  Com- 
pany, to  manufacture  moving  picture 
machines  and   films:  capital.  $10,000;  in- 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


corporators,  Artemus  Smith,  Martin  E. 
Smith,   H.   M.   Brown,   Wilmington. 

Georgia 

December  7,  the  Alamo,  Griffin's  new- 
est motion  picture  theater,  was  opened. 
It  is  owned  by  A.  Samuels  of  Atlanta, 
owner  of  a  chain  of  theaters  in  Atlanta, 
Macon   and   Griffin. 

Illinois 

August  Johannsen  has  purchased  the 
interest  of  A.  N.  Cole  in  the  Grand  the- 
ater, Rock  Falls,  and  has  taken  posses- 
sion. 

A.  N.  Cole  has,  for  the  time  being, 
turned  the  management  of  the  Lyric 
theater  in  Rock  Falls  over  to  Wilson 
McKim,  who  will  manage  it  on  Satur- 
days and  Sundays.  Mr.  Cole's  plans  are 
indefinite,  and  it  is  not  known  whether 
he  will  continue  to  operate  the  theater 
later   on   or   not. 

The  owners  of  the  Bushnell  moving 
picture  theaters  have  decided  to  with- 
draw their  petition  to  the  city  council, 
asking  permission  to  operate  Sunday  aft- 
ernoon and  evening. 

Daily  Movie  News,  Chicago;  capital, 
$200,000;  incorporators,  Edward  R.  New- 
mann,  George  S.  Pine,  Richard  R.  Klein. 

The  new  Garden  theater,  North  Main 
street,  Canton,  had  its  formal  opening 
December  8,  which  was  attended  by  1,200 
people.  The  theater  is  spacious  and  fire- 
proof and  presents  a  very  beautiful  and 
attractive  appearance  with  its  lattice 
window  effects  with  overhanging  flowers, 
while  suspended  from  each  beam  a  bird 
cage  with  songsters  sing  softly  and 
sweet.     Joe   Ross  is  manager. 

The  Meek  sisters,  who  have  been  man- 
aging the  Princess  theater  in  Lewiston, 
have  disposed  of  it  to  L.  V.  Horn  and 
Ross  Pittman. 

Exhibitors'  Film  Exchange,  Chicago; 
name  changed  to  Exhibitors  Herald 
Company. 

Fred  Steizer  is  now  manager  of  the 
Princess  theater  in  Lincoln,  succeeding 
Snyder  &  Belaski,  who  opened  the  the- 
ater last  September. 

International  Film  Syndicate,  Chicago; 
manufacture  and  sell  moving  pictures 
and  operate  same;   capital,  $350,000. 

General  Cinema  Corporation,  Chicago; 
moving  picture  business;  capital,  $25,000. 

Forrest  Tanner  will  in  a  short  time 
open  a  picture  show  in  the  building  for- 
merly occupied  by  the  William  Holzer 
hardware  store,  in  Mahomet.  Shows  will 
be  given  twice  a  week. 

B.  A.  Lucas  has  petitioned  the  La 
Salle  city  council  to  operate  a  moving 
picture  theater  at  144  Marquette  street 
in  the  building  now  occupied  by  the 
O.  W.  Hoage  &  Co.  grocery. 

The  Orpheum  theater  in  Lena,  which  . 
was  formerly  owned  and  operated  by  W. 
C.  McGurk,  has  been  purchased  by  John 
Tesmer   of   Michigan   City,   Ind. 

Residents  of  Winnetka  are  circulating- 
fifteen  petitions  to  which  600  names  have 
been  signed  asking  the  village  board  to 
issue  a  special  permit  for  the  erection 
of  a  moving  picture  theater.  The  peti- 
tions will  be  presented  to  the  council 
meeting  soon.  A  month  ago  100  mem- 
bers of  the  Winnetka  Woman's  Club 
circulated   a   petition    asking   the    village 


The  scene  in  which  Maciste  sweeps  a  160  pound  man  from  the  ground  and  onto  i 
swiftly  moving  train  is  one  of  the  most  daring  feats  ever  attempted. 


today,  becaui 


Mr.  State  Right  Buyer — Only  a  few  States  left.    Be  prepared  to  supply  the  demand. 

Apply  to  HANOVER  FILM  CO.,  Inc. 


Suite  904,  Columbia  Theatre  Building 

Broadway  at  47th  St. 


Phone  9544  Bryant 

New  York  City 


board  to  pass  an  ordinance  prohibiting 
the  licensing  of  all  forms  of  amusement 
which  are  for  profit. 

Indiana 

Strand  Theater  Company,  Indianapo- 
lis. Capital,  $25,000.  To  conduct  the- 
ater and  motion  picture  shows.  Direct- 
ors, R.  D.  McCord,  G.  G.  Russell,  E.  E. 
Brinkmeyer. 

Bastian  Realty  Company,  motion  pic- 
ture show,  1830  Central  avenue,  Indian- 
apolis.    $6,000. 

Reconstruction  and  redecoration  of 
the  old  Lyceum  theater  in  Indianapolis 
has  been  started  by  the  Strand  Theater 
Company,  whose  intention  it  is  to  con- 
vert it  into  a  beautiful  photoplay  theater 
to  be  known  as  the  Strand  and  to  equal 
the  Chicago  and  New  York  Strands. 
It  is  hoped  the  early  part  of  January  the 
notable  opening  will  take  place. 
Iowa 

George  Dethlefs  opened  his  new  pic- 
ture theater  in  Manning  and  it  heartily 
appealed  to  the  community.  It  is  cozy, 
modern  and  up  to  date  and  its  exits  can- 
not be  improved. 

Fire  starting  in  a  shipment  of  moving 
picture  films  destroyed  the  express  car 
on  a  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
train  near  Marion.  Damage  to  car  and 
contents,  $75,000. 

Kansas 

Abe  Jacobson  will  build  a  motion  pic- 
ture house  and  a  business  building  at 
506-508  Kansas  avenue,  Topeka.  Per- 
mit has  been  issued  and  the  theater  will 
be  one  of  the  finest  equipped  in  the  city. 

The  five  state  schools  of  Kansas  are 
to  have  a  motion  picture  circuit  of  their 
own.  At  a  conference  which  was  re- 
cently held,  the  heads  of  the  five  schools 
— the  university,  the  agricultural  college, 
the  Pittsburg,  Emporia  and  Hays  nor- 
mals— details  were  discussed.  The  plan 
is  to  give  one  show  a  week,  and  the 
program  will  consist  of  an  assortment  of 
films.  Educational  pictures  will  be  a 
greater  part  of  the  offering,  but  there 
will  be  entertainment  and  fun  in  others. 
As  soon  as  the  films  are  used  in  Pitts- 
burg they  will  be  dispatched  to  Law- 
rence .for  the  university,  and  from  there 
to  Emporia,  Manhattan  and  Hays.  The 
shows  will  begin  just  as  soon  as  the 
equipment  can  be  installed. 

The  beautiful  new  motion  picture  the- 
ater which  the  Southwest  Amusement 
Company   is    erecting   on    East    Douglas 


avenue,  Wichita,  will  have  its  formal 
opening  January  5.  This  theater  has 
been  under  construction  since  last  June. 
On  the  front  of  the  building  will  appear 
terra  cotta  in  six  different  colors,  green 
buff,  red,  purple,  blue  and  yellow,  this 
color  scheme  being  designed  along  the 
ideas  of  the  exposition  buildings.  The 
lobby  and  main  entrance  will  be  finished 
in  marble,  while  plate  glass  will  form 
the  sides  of  the  entrance.  There  are  no 
boxes,  a  pipe  organ  will  occupy  the  space 
which  a  box  usually  fills.  The  interior 
will  be  finished  in  a  color  scheme  of  old 
rase,  gold  and  gray.  L.  M.  Miller  will 
be  manager. 

Kentucky 

Joseph  &  Joseph,  architects,  have  ap- 
plied to  the  building  department  for  a 
permit  to  erect  a  moving  picture  theater 
on  the  vacant  ground  at  Second  and  A 
streets,  Louisville.  The  plans  call  for 
a  theater  with  a  seating  capacity  of  750. 
The  estimated  cost  is  $15,000. 
Maryland 

The  Gordon  Realty  Company  will 
erect  a  $12,000  theater  at  Baltimore  and 
Catherine  street,  Baltimore,  to  be  117 
feet  long  by  87  feet  wide. 

The  Walbrock  Amusement  Company 
has  had  plans  prepared  for  a  two-story 
theater  to  go  up  at  North  avenue  and 
Ninth  street,  Baltimore,  work  on  which 
is  soon  to  start  by  the  Consolidated  En- 
gineering Company,  which  has  been 
awarded  the  contract. 

The  Empire  Theater  Company,  of 
Frederick,  operating  the  Empire  motion 
picture  theater,  has  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  Pearce  &  Scheck,  of  Bal- 
timore, lessees  of  the  City  opera  house 
here,  whereby  the  local  company  will 
take  over  the  opera  house  and  operate 
both  places. 

Massachusetts 

A  license  to  maintain  a  moving  picture 
theater  at  950  to  956  Dorchester  avenue, 
Boston,  petitioned  for  by  Joseph  Mitchell 
Chappie,  has  been  denied  by  Mayor 
Curley. 

Community  Motion  Picture  Bureau, 
Boston;  David  K.  Niles,  William  Horton 
Foster,  Durant  F.  Ladd,  Gertrude  L. 
Mumford;  $25,000. 

Michigan 

The  Happy  Hour  vaudette  in  Sparta 
has  been  purchased  by  F.  L.  Hilton. 

The  beautiful  and  modern  picture  play- 
house, the  Norwood,  on  Woodward  ave- 


58 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


nue,  Detroit,  has  been  purchased  by  A. 
Arthur  Caille  and  Henry  J.  Guthard  from 
A.  M.  Henry.  The  Norwood  has  600 
seats,  including  a  dozen  auto  boxes  in 
the  balcony  and  is  a  strictly  modern 
playhouse  built  for  pictures  only.  A  new 
$12,000  Wurlitzer  organ  has  been  pur- 
chased and  is  now  being  installed.  Mr. 
Caille  is  president  of  the  Majestic,  Max- 
ine,  Fine  Arts  and  the  new  Ferry  Field 
theaters  companies  in  Detroit  and  the 
Majestic  theater  and  Marx  opera  house 
companies  in  Wyandotte,  Mr.  Guthard 
being  associated  with  him  in  these  en- 
terprises. 

Minnesota 

The  sale  of  the  Lyric  theater  on  Hen- 
nepin avenue  to  A.  B.  Bainbridge,  Jr., 
Harry  A.  Sherman  and  Jack  Elliott  has 
been  announced  and  the  playhouse  has 
passed  under  their  personal  control. 
The  policy  of  the  new  management  will 
be  the  exclusive  presentation  in  Minne- 
apolis of  the  famous  Triangle  feature 
pictures  and  Keystone  comedies.  The 
inauguration  of  a  new  and  popular  scale 
of  prices  is  also  announced — 15  and  10 
cents  at  night  and  10  cents  for  matinees. 
A  symphony  orchestra  has  been  added 
by  the  new  management.  Under  the 
terms  of  the  sale,  Messrs.  Bainbridge, 
Elliott  and  Sherman  take  over  the  pres- 
ent lease  of  the  theater  held  by  the 
Saxe  brothers,  which  expires  in  1920. 

J.  C.  Neumann  has  purchased  the 
Royal  theater  at  Crookston  from  W. 
Zackeral  and  has  placed  his  son,  E.  L. 
Neumann,  in  charge. 

The  Strand  theater  in  Eveleth  has  been 
sold  to  Walter  Broms  of  Hopkins. 
Missouri 

E.  E.  Shoop  has  purchased  the  opera 
house  in  Milan  from  A.  C.  Boyd.  The 
Gem  theater  has  been  closed  and  Mr. 
Shoop  will  run  only  the  one  show  house 
in   the   future. 

Through  the  efforts  of  several  St. 
Louis  business  men  to  promote  the  "fel- 
lowship movement,"  every  orphan  in  St. 
Louis  and  many  others  unable  to  buy  a 
paid  admission  were  given  an  opportu- 
nity to  see  the  wild  animal  and  moving 
pictures  and  to  hear  the  lecture  by  Dr. 
John  W.  Ruskin,  at  eight  performances 
given  the  week  of  December  5  at  the 
Victoria  theater,  Delmar  boulevard  near 
Grand  avenue.  The  proceeds  were  given 
to  the  Boy  Scout  movement. 
Nebraska 

Al  Nelson  has  opened  the  Jewel  the- 
ater in  Beatrice,  which  has  been  closed 
for  some  time. 

Paul  Fullner  has  purchased  the  Em- 
press theater  in  Stanton. 

S.  H.  Hayman  of  Grand  Island  is  fit- 
ting up  the  building  formerly  occupied 
by  C.  A.  Stradle,  in  Bradshaw,  and  in 
a  few  days  motion  pictures  will  be  given 
on  Mondays,  Thursdays  and  Saturdays. 

Funk  will  have  a  picture  show  in  the 
near  future. 

Announcement  has  been  made  that  O. 
R.  Bennett  has  purchased  the  Hamilton 
theater,  at  Fortietli  and  Hamilton  streets, 
Omaha.  The  theater  will  be  closed  for 
a  short  time  to  be  redecorated. 
New   Jersey 

The  new  City  theater  at  North  Sev- 
enth  and   Orange   streets,    Newark,   was 


opened  by  Edward  W.  McDonough  De- 
cember 8.  Erected  at  a  cost  of  $100,000, 
the  theater  is  thoroughly  modern  and 
commodious.  The  best  quality  of  photo- 
plays are  being  presented  to  the  public. 

The  Million  Dollar  Pier  in  Atlantic 
City  has  just  closed  with  one  of  the 
largest  picture  concerns  in  the  country 
for  a  service  to  be  orovided  for  the  bal- 
ance of  the  winter  season.  The  film 
classics  of  the  day  will  be  shown  at  the 
Pier  on  Wednesday  night  of  each  week. 
The  management  is  to  have  the  first 
showing  of  the  series  in  this  territory. 
W.  E.  Shackelford  is  manager. 
New  York 

To  be  built  on  a  site  fronting  at  31, 
33  and  35  Clinton  avenue  north,  Roches- 
ter, plans  have  just  been  matured  for  the 
new  Piccadilly  motion  picture  theater. 
To  finance  the  enterprise,  the  Clinton- 
Mortimer  corporation  has  been  orga- 
nized and  chartered.  Plans  for  the  the- 
ater have  been  prepared  by  Foote,  Head- 
ley  &  Carpenter,  architects.  Work  will  . 
begin  soon  and  it  is  expected  the  new 
playhouse  will  be  ready  for  occupancy 
about  May  1.  The  site  has  a  frontage  of 
100  feet  in  Clinton  avenue  north  and  in- 
cludes the  properties  occupied  by  the 
Rochester  Millinery  Company  and  the 
Book  Auction  rooms.  An  entirely  new 
structure  will  replace  the  old  buildings. 
It  will  have  a  front  of  white  terra  cotta 
with  paneled  ornamentation  of  gold  and 
blue.  Within  the  entrance  will  be  a  ves- 
tibule thirty  feet  wide  by  fifty  deep, 
panaled  in  French  mirrors.  On  either 
side  of  the  lobby  will  rise  the  grand 
stairway  leading  to  the  mezzanine  floor. 
It  will  have  a  seating  capacity  of  about 
2,000. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
on  Baldwin  street,  Elmira,  has  installed 
a  Powers  6A  machine,  which  permits  the 
use  not  only  of  the  stereopticon  slides, 
but  also  of  the  best  picture  films. 

The  new  Ohmann  theater,  in  Lyons, 
has  been  opened.  This  building,  which 
was  built  for  Ohmann  Brothers,  of 
Lyons,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000,  will  be  used 
as  a  picture  theater,  with  six  changes  a 
week.  The  construction  is  of  steel 
framework,  covered  with  concrete  and 
hollow  tile.  The  main  floor  has  a  seat- 
ins:  capacity  of  800,  and  the  balcony  seats 
175  more.  The  interior  finish  is  of  buff 
and  oak. 

United  Carbon  Company,  carbons,  sup- 
plies for  motion  picture  theaters.  $10,000: 
H.  H.  Walker,  Thomas  Touer,  O.  Peter- 
son, 1180  Fox  street,  New  York. 

National-Standard  Films,  Inc.,  Man- 
hattan; motion  picture,  theatrical  and 
amusement  business;  capital,  $150,000; 
incorporators,  P.  H.  Fett,  593  Carlton 
avenue,  Brooklyn;  T.  H.  Wallace,  209 
Union  avenue,  Cranford,  N.  J.;  L.  W. 
Carie,  31  Liberty  street,  New  York  city. 

Community  Motion  Picture  Bureau, 
Metropolitan  Agency,  Inc.,  $5,000:  Bet- 
sey C.  Judd,  J.  S.  Judd,  T.  A.  Clements, 
Manhattan. 

The  Majestic  theater  on  West  Market 
street,  Elmira,  will  show  Triangle  films. 

Milo  Film  Corporation,  Manhattan; 
theatrical,  motion  pictures,  etc.;  capital, 
$125,000;  incorporators,  M.  J.  Jordan,  116 
West  Thirty-ninth  street;  M.  Sherwood, 
O.  E.  Wee,  1400  Broadway,  New  York 
city. 


National-Standard  Films,  Inc.,  $150,- 
000;  P.  H.  Fett,  T.  H.  Wallace,  L.  W. 
Carie,   Manhattan. 

North  Dakota 

The  explosion  of  a  motion  picture 
film  resulted  in  a  fire  at  Fairmount  which 
destroyed  three  buildings  with  loss  of 
$15,000,  covered  by  only  $4,500  insurance. 
The  J.  W.  Allen  picture  theater  was 
damaged  to  the  extent  of  $2,500. 

Fred  Domeyer  will  open  the  Grand 
theater  on  Fourth  street,  Bismarck. 


Ohio 

The  Varsity  motion  picture  theater, 
1245  Highland  street,  Columbus,  was 
damaged  to  the  extent  of  $250  by  the 
explosion  of  a  film.  The  theater  is  op- 
erated by  L.  M.,  F.  L.  and  E.  D.  An- 
drews, brothers. 

The  new  White  Way  theater  in  Mans- 
field was  opened  by  Manager  Roberts. 
The  decorations  are  white  and  green  and 
are  tastily  carried  out  in  all  the  fur- 
nishings.    Feature   films  will  be  shown. 

The  four  upper  floors  of  the  Oriel 
building,  412  Vine  street,  Cincinnati,  have 
been  leased  for  a  five-year  term  at  $2,100 
a  year  to  the  Fox  Film  Corporation  for 
its  local  offices. 

The  Grand  opera  house  in  St.  Mary's 
now  shows  pictures  on  Sunday  afternoon 
and  evening. 

The  Kosy  theater  in  Newark,  which 
has  been  closed  since  October,  has  been 
reopened  under  the  management  of  A. 
B.  Wright  of  Johnstown. 

Manager  Stemm  of  the  Quinby  the- 
ater in  Zanesville  is  showing  the  Tri- 
angle features  in  his  show  house. 

Sebring's  new  theater,  to  be  known  as 
the  Belmar,  is  fast  nearing  completion. 
With  a  seating  capacity  of  420  and  all 
new  equipment,  the  theater  when  fin- 
ished will  be  cozy  and  comfortable.  The 
house  will  be  managed  by  Fred  Schram 
of  Cleveland  and  W.  J.  Haught.  A  fea- 
ture program  will  be  used. 

George  W.  Tannehill,  formerly  of  the 
Lyric  theater,  Lancaster,  has  accepted 
the  position  of  manager  of  the  Chestnut 
Street  theater. 

Fred  Sinclair  recently  purchased  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater  in  Toledo,  which  is 
being  managed  by  his  nephew,  Roy 
Pipin. 

The   motion   picture   shows   in   Ashta- 
bula   will    devote    one    day's    receipts    to 
community    Christmas    fund. 
Oklahoma 

A  new  motion  picture  theater  is  being 
erected  in  Chickasha  and  will  be  known 
as  the  Empress. 

George  McCleyy's  new  theater  on  Sec- 
ond and  McKinley  streets,  Sand  Springs, 
is   nearing   completion. 

Pennsylvania 

The  moving  picture  show  of  J.  V. 
Redmond  at  Aspen  street  and  Lancaster 
avenue.  Philadelphia,  was  slightly  dam- 
aged by  fire. 

Clover  Film  Company,  Philadelphia, 
capital,  $250,000;  to  manufacture,  sell  and 
deal  in  and  with  all  kinds  of  films,  etc. 
Incorporators,  M.  Twilley  Redd,  S.  Paul 
Vicker,  J.  Pearson  Loose,  all  of  Phila- 
delphia. 


The  MOTION  PICTUI& 


RUTH  BLAIR 
WITH 
FOX 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  8,  1916 


No.  2 


IUEH1M 


FIVE 
REEL 
UNIT 


LUBIN-UNIT 

PROGRAM 

JAN.  3,1916 


EXQUISITE 


JUNEDAYE 
50RR0W5yiiAPPINE55 

An  Origin  a/  Heart  Drama. 


Anthony  P.  Kelly 

DIRECTED     BY  JoSE-PH  KAUFMAN 


DAVE  DON  COMEDY 

HIS  LORDSHIP" 

DIRECTEP    3Y 

Edwin  M^Kim 


** 


jan.  em  1916 


Regular  Program 


JAM.  8Ti?  1916 


'« 


3  ACT      DRAMA 

FEATUR/HG 


'MLUt  REEVB  COMEDY 

"BllllE'5  HEADACHE" 

EARL 


P/RECTEP    8Y 


*1 


January  8,   1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Triangle  Plays  for  the  First 
1  AVeek  of  the  New  Year 

The  TRIANGLE  releases  for  the  first  week  of  the  New  Year 
offer  two  particularly  strong,  gripping,  and  intense  five-reel 
dramas,  and  a  pair  of  Keystones  that  are  in  many  ways  the  best 
that  have  yet  been  filmed. 

"CROSS  CURRENTS,"  in  which  Helen  Ware  makes  her 
TRIANGLE  debut,  is  a  gripping  tale  of  a  woman's  sacrifice  for 
the  man  she  loves.  Realizing  he  is  growing  weary  of  her  she 
releases  him  so  that  he  may  marry  another  woman,  but  the  ship- 
wreck of  a  yachting  party  casts  the  two  on  a  desert  isle  together 
and  the  old  love  rekindles.  Happily  they  live  together  until  the 
wife  arrives  with  a  rescue  party,  and  knowing  that  the  man's 
loyalty  belongs  to  the  wife  the  woman  walks  straight  to  a 
watery  grave. 

In  "Between  Men,"  W.  S.  Hart  takes  the  part  of  a  man  who 
never  forgets  a  favor.  When  an  enemy  threatens  the  man  who 
befriended  him  with  financial  ruin,  he  responds  to  the  call  with 
alacrity.  It's  a  fight  to  the  finish,  both  with  brains  and  fists,  to 
save  the  fortune  of  the  friend  and  win  the  hand  of  the  daughter. 
The  terrific  hand  to  hand  combat,  the  terrible  Wall  Street  scene 
and  the  final  victory  combine  to  produce  a  play  in  which  not  a 
moment  drags. 

In  many  ways  "Dizzy  Heights  and  Daring  Hearts"  is  one 
of  the  most  wonderful  Keystones  ever  filmed.  Aeroplanes  loop- 
ing the  loop,  the  thrilling  chase  of  a  biplane,  the  miraculous 
rescue  from  the  top  of  a  tower,  and  a  200  foot  smokestack  blown 
up  are  only  a  few  of  the  thrills,  and  again  we  have  Weber  and 
Fields,  those  famous  comedians,  this  time  in  "The  Worst  of 
Friends,"  a  Keystone  that  is  better  than  "The  Best  of  Enemies," 
if  that  is  possible. 


J 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  8,  i916 


No.  2 


Fox  Opens  New  Year  with  Big  Offerings 


MANY  STARS  FEATURED 


THE  William  Fox  announcement  for  January,  the 
first  month  of  the  New  Year,  embraces  five  fea- 
ture pictures,  every  one  of  which,  in  quality  of 
story,  production,  portrayal,  photography  and  direction 
is  higher  than  previous  releases,  to  meet  the  new  and 
better  standard  of  excellence  set  by  Mr.  Fox  for  his  1916 
program.  In  the  first  five  releases  of  the  year  no  less 
than  ten  nationally  recognized  screen  stars,  including 
Theda  Bara,  Robert  Mantell,  Genevieve  Hamper,  Samuel 
Ryan,  Ruth  Blair,  Clifford  Bruce,  H.  Cooper  Cliffe, 
Stuart  Holmes,  Claire  Whitney  and  William  E.  Shay, 
will  interpret  the  leading  characters  in  screen  stories 
prepared  for  the  films  under  the  direction  of  well  known 
men  who  stand  high  as  directors  of  artistic  photoplays. 

A  fitting  tribute  to  the  artistry  and  popularity  of 
Robert  Mantell  and  his  talented  wife,  Genevieve  Hamper, 
is  in  the  announcement  that  these  two  popular  players  will 
be  seen  in  the  first  release  of  the  year :  "The  Green-Eyed 
Monster,"  scheduled  for  January  2:  It  is  a  story  of  un- 
usual dramatic  power  whose  theme  hinges  on  the  curse 
of  jealousy,  written  by  Nixola  Daniels  and  directed  by 
J.  Gordon  Edwards.  In  addition  to  the  work  of  the 
players,  it  carries  an  added  attractiveness  in  the  location 
of  the  scenes  which  are  laid  in  France  and  India,  espe- 
cially the  latter  country  whose  atmosphere  of  mysticism 
pervades  the  entire  story. 

In  lighter  vein,  but  just  as  potent  in  quality  of  its 
attractiveness  is  the  release  for  January  9,  a  visualized 
version  of  Richard  Mansfield's  stage  success,  "A  Parisian 
Romance,"  featuring  H.  Cooper  Cliffe  as  Baron  Chevrial, 
the  character  made  famous  by  Mr.  Mansfield,  and 
Dorothy  Green  as  Rosa.  While  following  the  stage 
version  in  its  essential  points,  it  enlarges  and  expands 
the  story  where  even  the  most  advanced  stagecraft  would 
fail,  presenting  a  fuller  conception  of  the  author's  iaeals. 
It  is  a  story  that  admits  of  embellishment,  rich  settings 
and  grouping  of  numbers  of  people,  and  of  the  "back 


stage"  atmosphere  of  the  theater.  Besides  the  two  prin- 
cipals, others  in  the  cast  include  Margaret  Skirvin, 
Angelica  Spier,  Isabel  O'Madigan,  Harold  Hartzelle, 
Dion  Titheradge,  Jennie  Bidgood  and  eighty  ballet  girls 
recruited  from  the  Metropolitan  Opera  House. 

An  air  of  newspaperdom  pervades  the  release  for 
January  16,  which  is  entitled  "The  Fourth  Estate," 
a  dramatic  film  story  that  hits  at  forces  that  conspire 
to  control  the  public  press.  It  was  written  by  Joseph 
Medill  Patterson  and  produced  for  William  Fox  by 
Frank  Powell  with  Ruth  Blair,  Samuel  Ryan  and  Clif- 
ford Bruce  in  the  portrayals  of  the  leading  characters.  . 
The  story  was  filmed  in  Chicago,  the  plant  of  the  Chi- 
cago Herald  being  used  for  the  scenes  representing  the 
interior  of  a  newspaper  office.  The  characters  are  men 
and  women  typical  of  the  political  and  newspaper  life 
of  a  great  city,  stories  of  them  having  been  written  and 
written  again  by  every  big  city  daily  in  the  country. 

The  principal  interest  in  "The  Fourth  Estate"  will 
center  in  the  scenes  that  show  a  big  city  newspaper  in  the 
course  of  its  various  stages  of  "going  to  press,"  scenes 
that  visualize  the  actual  making  of  a  paper  in  an  estab- 
lished big  city  plant. 

Theda  Bara  will  again  shine  in  a  vampire  role  in  the 
release  for  January  23,  a  story  of  a  Russian  serf's  beau- 
tiful daughter,  who,  trod  beneath  the  heel  of  a  duke, 
bares  her  fangs  to  mankind.  The  story's  title  is  "The 
Serpent"  and  fits  well  the  character  of  Vania  as  played 
by  Miss  Bara.  It  was  written  and  directed  by  R.  A. 
Walsh  who  employed  an  unusual  cast  of  William  Fox 
players  in  its  enactment.  Besides  Miss  Bara,  James 
Marcus,  George  Walsh,  Carl  Harbaugh,  and  Nan  Carter 
will  be  seen  in  prominent  characterizations.  The  prin- 
cipal scenes  are  laid  in  Russia  and  contrast  the  life  of 
the  Russian  peasant  with  that«of  the  nobility. 

The  last  release  of  the  month,  "The  Ruling  Passion," 
scheduled    for    January    30,    was    taken    in    Kingston, 


Romance,"  "The  Green-Eyed  Mons 


md  "The  Ruling  Passion." 


60 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


Jamaica,  British  West  Indies  and  produced  for  Mr,  Fox 
under  the  direction  of  Herbert  Brenon.  It  is  a  story  that 
opens  in  London,  England,  and  shifts  to  India  where  the 
most  important  scenes  are  enacted.  Hypnotism  plays  an 
important  part  in  the  development  of  the  plot  and  it  is 
because  of  this  occult  power  the  story  has  its  being.  The 
topography  in  and  around  Kingston  lent  itself  admirably 
to  the  picturing  of  scenes  in  which  the  atmosphere  of 
India  was  required,  blending  with  the  native  Indian 
costumes  in  such  manner  as  to  give  the  greatest  degree  of 
realism  obtainable  without  actually  going  to  the  country  in 
which  the  action  takes  place. 

Claire  Whitney  and  William  E.  Shay  are  the  prin- 
cipal players  in  the  enactment  of  "The  Ruling  Passion," 
Miss  Whitney  being  seen  as  Claire  and  Mr.  Shay  as 
Prince  Ranjit  Singhi. 

BIG  JANUARY  OFFERINGS 

Essanay  Has  Two  Multiple-Reel  Features  of  Worth 

for  Coming  Month,  Besides  a  Number  of 

Three-Reelers  and  Singles 

Essanay  is  planning  an  unusually  strong  list  of 
releases  for  1916,  and  for  January  it  has  produced  two 
plays  that  made  a  considerable  success  on  the  stage 
as  well  as  shorter  plays  of  standard  worth. 

The  two  multiple  reel  features  are  "The  Mis- 
leading Lady,"  by  Charles  W.  Goddard  and  Paul 
Dickey,  and  "Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines," 
Clyde  Fitch's  fantastic  comedy.  Ann  Murdock  was 
engaged  by  Essanay  to  take  the  leading  feminine  role  in 
the  latter  production  with  Richard  C.  Travers,  who 
plays  the  title  role.  Fred  E.  Wright,  Essanay  di- 
rector, has  arranged  this  stage  production  for  the 
screen  in  five  reels. 

"The  Misleading  Lady,"  also  in  five  acts,  was 
adapted  from  the  stage  success  by  H.  S.  Sheldon,  and 
was  directed  by  Arthur  Berthelet.  It  features  the 
well  known  film  stars,  Henry  B.  Walthall  and  Edna 
Mayo. 

Several  strong  three-act  dramas  are  scheduled, 
including  "The  Prisoner  at  the  Bar,"  which  features 
Darwin  Karr  and  Warda  Howard  and  was  directed  by 
Joseph  Byron  Totten ;  "The  House  of  Revelation,"  fea- 
turing John  Lorenz  and  Elizabeth  Durbridge  and  di- 
rected by  Charles  J.  Brabin ;  "Pieces  of  the  Game," 
featuring  Bryant  Washburn  and  Nell  Craig  and  di- 
rected by  Clement  Easton. 

Among  the  two-reelers  are  "Angels  Unawares," 
featuring  Ruth  Stonehouse  and  Edmund  Cobb,  di- 
rected by  Charles  E.  Ashley;  and  "Her  Lesson,"  fea- 
turing G.  M.  Anderson.  The  fables  of  George  Ade 
will  be  continued  during  the  month,  as  will  also  the 
animated  cartoons.  The  cartoons  include  besides  those 
of  Wallace  A.  Carlson  on  "Dreamy  Dud"  and  on  the 
news  of  the  day,  a  cartoon  by  the  noted  cartoonist 
Leon  A.  Searle. 


marvel,  and   it  is  predicted  that,   like   "A   Submarine 
Pirate,"  repeat  engagements  will  be  demanded. 

Mack  Sennett  was  fortunate  in  securing  for  the 
girl  aviator  the  services  of  Miss  Cora  Anderson,  who 


Previous  Keystone  Efforts  Outdone 

When  such  Triangle-Keystones  as  "Saved  by 
Wireless"  and  "A  Submarine  Pirate"  were  recently 
presented,  it  was  thought  that  the  limit  of  Keystone 
daring  could  go  no  Further.  But  "Dizzy  Heights  and 
Daring  Hearts,"  on  the  Knickerbocker  bill  of  De- 
cember 26  and  the  general  exhibitors'  release  of  Janu- 
ary 2,   is   said    to   exceed   both    those   productions    in 


has  the  rare  three-fold  capability  of  good  looks,  clever 
acting  and  splendid  aeroplaning.  William  Mason  as 
the  boy  aviator  is  equally  capable  and  successful,  while 
Chester  Conklin  is  said  to  be  at  his  funniest  in  the  role 
of  an  international  buyer  of  air  machines.  The  blow- 
ing up  of  a  200-foot  smokestack  that  had  been  a  land- 
mark near  Los  Angeles  for  many  years  marked  the 
filming  of  the  play. 


UNIVERSAL  HOLDS  ELECTION 

Carl  Laemmle  Again  Chosen  President  of  Big  Film 
Organization  and  Increased  Output  Planned 

for  Coming  Year.  Big  Profits  Foreseen 
Carl  Laemmle  was  re-elected  president  of  the  Uni- 
versal Film  Manufacturing  Company  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  directors  held  in  the  executive  offices  in 
New  York  City  last  week.  Other  officials  chosen  were 
R.  H.  Cochrane,  vice  president;  P.  A.  Powers,  treasur- 
er, and  Joseph  Brandt,  secretary.  The  directors,  who 
are  Carl  Laemmle,  R.  H.  Cochrane,  P.  A.  Powers, 
Joseph  McKinney  and  John  B.  Stanchfield,  were  all  re- 
elected. 

Much  delight  was  expressed  by  the  board  of  di- 
rectors over  the  advances  made  during  the  year  1915, 
but  it  was  freely  predicted  that  on  account  of  the  com- 
pletion of  the  new  electric  studio  at  Universal  City 
and  the  big  plant  which  has  been  constructed  at  Le- 
onia,  near  New  York  City,  the  output  during  1916  can 
easily  be  doubled  with  a  decreased  producing  cost  and 
larger  profits  than  ever  before.  Many  plans  that  have 
not  yet  been  made  public  were  discussed  in  the  execu- 
tive session  of  the  board,  and  from  time  to  time,  as 
they  are  worked  out  and  put  into  operation,  they  will 
be  announced. 


Under  a  special  arrangement  with  the  General  Film 
Company  Knickerbocker  Star  Features  have  once  more 
become  a  part  of  the  General  Film  program,  replacing 
the  three-reel  Edison  Friday  release.  The  first  release 
of  December  24,  entitled  "Every  Girl,"  will  be  followed 
on    December  31    with  "The  Mysterious  Bride." 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


I    Cliffor 


HORSLEY  OFF  FOR  LOS  ANGELES 

Will  Personally  Supervise  Production  of  His  Pictures 
— Speaks  of  His  Arrangements  for  Making  Fea- 
tures for  Mutual  Program 
David  Horsley  left  New  York  on  Saturday  of 
last  week  for  his  studios  in  Los  Angeles.  Immediately 
upon  his  arrival  he  will  assume  complete  personal  su- 
pervision of  all  productions  being  made,  particularly 
those  to  be  released 
as  Mutual  Master- 
pictures,  de  luxe  edi- 
tion, as  it  is  his  de- 
sire that  these  shall 
be  in  fact  "master- 
pictures."  Just  prior 
to  his  departure  Mr. 
Horsley  made  a  few 
remarks  about  the 
new  Mutual  policy 
and  also  briefly  cov 
ered  the  arrange- 
ments he  had  made 
for  the  production 
of  his  early  forth- 
coming Masterpic- 
tures,  de  luxe  edi- 
tion. "I  am  sure 
that  the  Mutual 
Film  Corporation's 
recently  announced 
policy  of  expansion 
as  applied  to  the  re- 
lease of  six  features  every  week  will  be  a  tremendous 
success,"  he  said.  "As  its  aims  have  already  been 
outlined  in  the  trade  journals  whatever  I  might  say 
in  that  strain  will  merely  be  a  matter  of  reiteration. 
It  points  a  way  to  greater  profit  for  the  exhibitor, 
which  certainly  is  a  desired  objective  point  in  the 
picture  business,  as  far  as  the  exhibitor  is  concerned, 
in  these  particular  times. 

"There  will  be  a  concentrated  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  Mutual  manufacturers  to  make  productions  that 
are  'masterpictures'  in  every  sense  of  the  term.  For 
my  part  I  can  conscientiously  promise  pictures  that 
must  be  classed  as  such. 

"At  this  time  we  have  two  Mutual  Masterpicture. 
de  luxe  edition,  productions  under  way.  Each,  of 
course,  is  in  five  reels.  One  is  called  'The  Bait,'  and 
the  other  'Vengeance  Is  Mine.'  The  former  is  a  drama 
of  the  northwestern  woods,  written  by  Miss  Theo- 
dosia  Harris,  chief  of  my  scenario  staff,  and  is  to  be 
released  January  22.  We  will  feature  in  this  release 
William  Clifford  and  Betty  Hart,  supported  by  an 
especially  engaged  cast.  A  number  of  the  scenes  will 
bring  in  the  Bostock  animals,  which  will  work  under 
the  training  hand  of  Capt.  Jack  Bonavita. 

"Crane  Wilbur  wrote  the  scenario  for  'Vengeance 
Is  Mine,'  and  of  all  the  scenarios  he  has  written  to 
date  this,  I  think,  is  the  best.  Mr.  Wilbur  contributed 
most  of  the  stories  used  in  the  releases  in  which  he 
has  appeared  to  date  so  when  it  is  said  that  'Ven- 
geance Is  Mine'  is  his  best,  something  truly  excep- 
tional may  be  expected.  His  earlier  efforts  can  be 
used  for  comparison.  Aside  from  the  strength  of  the 
moral  the  story  conveys  this  production  should  be 
interesting  for  "the  many  novelties  we  will  introduce. 
For  instance ;  sub-titles  will  be  practically  done  away 


with  and  instead  we  will  use  flashes  of  newspaper 
heads,  etc.  There  are  many  other  twists  from  the 
beaten  path,  and  all  in  all  I  think  whatever  enthusi- 
astic predictions  we  make  will  be  fully  realized. 

"Mr.  Wilbur  will  be  featured  in  'Vengeance  Is 
Mine,'  and  is  also  to  be  supported  by  a  specially  se- 
lected cast,  many  of  them  very  well  known  people. 
This  production  is  to  follow  'The  Bait'  in  schedule, 
January  31  having  been  chosen  for  the  release  date." 

"The  Gods  of  Fate"  an  Epic  of  Labor 

What  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  multiple  reel 
subjects  ever  conceived  will  shortly  be  released  by  the 
Lubin  Manufacturing  Company  of  Philadelphia.  It  is 
entitled  "The  Gods  of  Fate,"  and  is  from  the  pen  of  the 
celebrated  author,  Daniel  Carson  Goodman. 

"The  Gods  of  Fate"  is  an  epic  of  labor  and  deals 
with  the  struggles  of  a  man  against  overwhelming  odds. 
Richard  Buhler  and  Rosetta  Brice,  who  played  the  lead- 
ing parts  in  "A  Man's  Making,"  will  be  seen  in  the 
leading  roles.  Francis  Joyner  and  a  competent  cast  will 
add  materially  to  the  success  of  the  picture.  Director 
Jack  Pratt  is  producing  "The  Gods  of  Fate"  and  is  in- 
corporating new  and  novel  effects  in  this  picture  that 
promise  to  overshadow  any  of  his  previous  efforts.  The 
picture  embodies  a  powerful  love  story,  together  with  a 
series  of  thrilling  incidents  that  deal  with  the  sterner  side 
of  life,  the  whole  making  an  intensely  interesting  and 
appealing  subject.  "The  Gods  of  Fate"  will  be  released 
on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program  early  in  January  and  it  is 
the  opinion  of  those  concerned  in  its  production,  that  it 
will  exceed  in  popularity  any  of  the  feature  pictures  thus 
far  released  by  the  Lubin  Company. 


AN  UNUSUAL  SELIG  FEATURE 

"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  a  Five-Reel  Red  Seal  Play, 

Will  Present  Some  Tremendous  Scenic  Effects. 

Kathlyn  Williams  Featured 

"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  is  the  title  of  a  Selig 
Red  Seal  Play  to  be  released  through  V.  L.  S.  E.  on 
Monday,  February  7.  The  story,  written  by  James 
Oliver  Curwood,  features  Tyrone  Power  and  Kath- 
lyn Williams,  supported  by  a  carefully  selected  com- 
pany of  players,  including  Guy  Oliver  and  Eugenie 
Besserer.  The  play,  in  five  exciting  acts,  was  produced 
by  Colin  Campbell. 

According  to  those  who  have  viewed  advance 
presentations  of  this  drama,  the  spectacular  effects  are 
beyond  compare.  There  is  one  climax,  costing  $25,000, 
in  which  an  ocean  going  ship  strikes  a  derelict  and 
founders  at  sea  with  its  cargo  !of  human  freight. 
Thousands  of  men,  women  and  children  are  seen  strug- 
gling for  the  life  boats,  and  springing  from  the  decks 
of  the  sinking  ship  into  the  water.  The  stoke  hole  of 
the  vessel  is  shown  with  the  water  rushing  into  the 
furnaces,  and  the  stokers  vainly  fighting  for  life.  Thou- 
sands of  people  participate  in  this  wonderful  series 
of  scenes. 

Among  the  other  thrilling  climaxes  in  this  unusual 
production  are  a  sensational  battle  with  real  African 
tribesmen ;  a  fight  to  the  death  between  a  royal  Bengal 
tiger  and  a  hyena ;  a  desperate  fight  between  Kathlyn 
Williams  and  an  enraged  leopard  ;  a  plunge  by  Kathlyn 
Williams  from  the  back  of  a  runaway  horse ;  and  scenes 
in  Egypt  and  darkest  Africa." 

The  drama  "Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  is  based  on 


62 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


Exodus  xx:17.  "Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet  Thy  Neigh- 
bor's Wife."  How  a  man  in  love  with  the  wife  of  his 
neighbor  overcomes  temptation  and  reunites  a  loving 
couple  is  graphically  portrayed.  Tyrone  Power  and 
Kathlyn  Williams  are  said  to  perform  the  best  charac- 
ter roles  of  their  artistic  careers  as  stars.  The  story 
is  strong  from  start  to  finish,  contrasts  are  skilfully 
handled,  and  the  scenic  effects  are  wonderful. 


Thomas  J.  Carrigan  with  Metro 

Thomas  J.  Carrigan  has  signed  a  long  time  con- 
tract with  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation,  and  will 
be  featured  exclusively  in  Metro  feature  productions. 
He  will  make  his  debut,  under  Metro  auspices,  in 
"Rose  of  the  Alley," 
the  five  part  feature 
in  which  little  Mary 
Miles  Minter  is 
starred.  This  is  an 
original  story  ol 
life  in  New  York's 
underworld,  written 
by  Harry  O.  Hoyt, 
also  a  newcomer 
with  the  Metro 
forces.  Mr.  Carrigan 
will  also  be  featured 
i  n  "Dimples,"  i  n 
which  Miss  Minter 
is  starred,  and  in  "A 
Scrap  of  Paste- 
board,"  with  Miss 
Minter,  both  of 
which  features  are 
now  in  process  of 
production  in  St. 
Augustine,  Fla. 

Mr.        Carrigan 


Thomas  Carrigan. 


began  his  professional  career  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  old.  He  ran  away  from  his  home  in  Leapeer, 
Michigan,  and  joined  the  Ringling  Brothers  circus, 
playing  a  clown  with  that  organization.  He  made  his 
stage  debut  in  "Brown  of  Harvard,"  and  the  follow- 
ing season  joined  James  O'Neill,  playing  an  important 
juvenile  role  in  "The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo."  After 
achieving  remarkable  success  on  the  stage  he  was  one 
of  the  first  well  established  actors  to  see  the  future  of 
motion  pictures.  He  was  starred  with  Pearl  White 
with  the  Powers  Picture  Company,  and  made  the  first 
two-reel  features  ever  produced.  These  were  "Ten 
Nights  in  a  Barroom,"  and  "Two  Orphans."  He  also 
appeared  in  the  first  serial  ever  produced,  which  was 
called  "The  Man  in  the  Street"  and  produced  by  the 
Selig  Company.  Mr.  Carrigan  is  the  husband  of  Mabel 
Taliaferro,  now  a  Metro  star. 


Stannard  Wins  the  Watch 

F.  L.  Stannard,  manager  of  the  Gem  theater,  at 
Wenatchee,  Washington,  has  been  awarded  the  gold 
watch  which  Tom  North,  manager  of  the  Seattle  office 
of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  offered  as  a  prize  to  the  exhibitor 
receiving  the  most  votes  from  his  fellow  exhibitors  in 
the  Seattle  territory,  for  the  best  advertising  devised 
and  actually  put  into  use  on  Big  Four  productions. 

Mr.  Stannard  was  not  only  one  of  the  most  prolific 
in  the  "stunts"  which  he  originated  to  exploit  the  Big 
Four  features,  but  his  ideas  are  said  to  have  been  un- 


usually effective.  One  which  gained  for  him  the  great- 
est comment,  was  a  window  display  on  the  Lubin 
feature,  "The  College  Widow,"  in  which  a  reproduc- 
tion of  the  Yale  bowl  was  shown  with  two  foot-ball 
teams  represented  by  dolls  in  foot-ball  uniforms  lined 
up  for  action.  The  window  was  decorated  with  col- 
lege flags  and  contained  an  attractive  card  reading: 
"See  the  big  football  game  in  'The  College  Widow'  at 
the  Gem  theater  to-day." 

Mr.  North,  in  awarding  the  watch,  announced  that 
the  contest  had  been  productive  of  enlarged  business 
for  both  the  exchanges  and  the  exhibitors.  Several 
hundred  ideas  were  presented  as  having  stimulated 
business  and  these  were  all  distributed  to  the  other 
exhibitors  in  the  territory  through  the  medium  of  the 
V-L-S-E  Pals. 


'BATTLE  CRY'S"  BIG  SHOWING 


Officialdom   of   Nation's    Capital    Sees    Famous    Pre- 
paredness Film  Produced  by  J.  Stuart  Blackton 
of  Vitagraph 

With  every  seat  taken  by  cabinet  officers,  mem- 
bers of  the  Supreme  Court,  navy  and  army  officers, 
senators  and  representatives,  their  families  and  friends, 
"The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace"  was  exhibited  at  the  Me- 
morial Continental  Hall,  in  Washington,  Friday  even- 
ing, December  18,  with  all  the  pomp  and  ceremony 
usually  attendant  upon  a  state  occasion,  and  with  all 
the  accompaniments  to  make  this  preachment  for  pre- 
paredness most  effective.     . 

This  was  the  second  presentation  of  the  film  in 
Washington,  the  previous  one  having  been  held  under 
the  auspices  of  the  National  Press  Club.  Frank  Spur- 
rier, the  Washington  branch  manager  of  the  V.  L. 
S.  E.,  Inc.,  arranged  for  the  showing,  and  saw  to  it 
that  it  was  appropriately  presented. 

Mrs.  William  Cummings  Storey,  president  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  assembled  the  audience 
which  the  press  described  as  being  "as  representative 
a  civilian,  official  and  military  audience  as  has  ever 
been  gathered  in  Washington  to  consider  the  defence 
question"  since  it  has  become  so  potent  an  issue  for 
national  discussion. 

After  Mrs.  Storey's  opening  address,  which  struck 
the  keynote  of  the  rally,  and  after  the  special  orchestral 
selections  had  stirred  the  patriotic  minor  chords  of 
the  audience,  the  first  part  of  "The  Battle  Cry  of 
Peace"  was  shown. 

During  the  intermission,  Mrs.  Robert  Lansing, 
wife  of  the  secretary  of  state,  and  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  arrangements,  called  upon  Commodore  J. 
Stuart  Blackton,  author  and  producer  of  the  picture, 
for  an  address.  Dudley  Field  Malone,  collector  of  the 
port  of  New  York,  and  Rear-Admiral  Chester,  U.  S.  N., 
president  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  also 
spoke. 


Bacheller  a  Mirror  Director 

Pursuant  to  its  policy  to  have  men  on  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  company  who  have  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  various  arts,  sciences,  and  business  phases  which 
go  toward  the  making  and  marketing  of  motion  pic- 
tures. Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  has  elected  Irving  Bacheller, 
the  famous  author  and  novelist  a  member  of  the  board 
of  directors.  Mr.  Bacheller  will  take  a  close  interest 
in  the  literary  end  of  the  production  of  Mirror  pictures. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Blue  Bird  Photo  Plays  Has  Unique  Plan 


LITTLE  OVERHEAD  EXPENSE 


ON  Monday,  January  24,  a  brand  new  film  organ- 
ization, calling  itself  Blue  Bird  Photo  Plays,  In- 
corporated, will  make  its  debut  with  the  offer- 
ing to  exhibitors  of  a  five-reel  feature  picture  entitled 
"Secret  Love,"  which  is  an  adaptation  of  Frances 
Hodgson  Burnett's  famous  novel,  and  will  star  Helen 
Ware,  supported  by  a  cast  which  includes  Ella  Hall, 
Harry  Carey  and  Harry  Carter. 

The  Blue  Bird  organization,  which  is  headed  by 
Sol  Berman,  than  whom  there  are  few  men  better  fit- 
ted to  take  charge  of  a  film  company,  owing  to  his  long 
experience  as  a  solicitor,  exchange  manager  and  sales 
manager,  will  offer  exhibitors  a  weekly  feature  of  five' 
reel  length,  and  announces  that  only  the  cream  of 
legitimate  and  motion  picture  notables  will  be  featured 
in  its  productions. 

But  two  exchanges  will  be  inaugurated  by  the 
Blue  Bird  concern,  one  of  them  located  at  1600  Broad- 
way, New  York  City,  and  the  other  at  107  North  Dear- 
born street,  Chicago.  The  rest  of  the  country  will  be 
served  through  existing  exchanges,  so  but  little  over- 
head expense  will  be  incurred  by  the  newcomer  into 
the  field.  Another  thing  in  the  policy  of  the  new  organ- 
ization that  will  appeal  to  exhibitors  is  the  avowed  in- 
tention of  Blue  Bird  to  release  only  such  features  as 
are  approved  and  highly  endorsed  by  a  jury  composed 
of  well  known  New  York  exhibitors  who  will  be  shown 
the  Blue  Bird  features  several  weeks  in  advance  of 
their  release.  If  this  exhibitor's  jury  fails  to.  approve 
the  suggested  offering  it  will  promptly  be  shelved  and 
another  one,  which  the  jury  can  heartily  endorse,  will 
be  substituted. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  New  York  jury  becoming 
too  blase  or  biased  in  any  manner,  it  is  planned  to 
choose  a  different  jury  at  frequent  intervals,  thus  get- 
ting the  opinions  of  a  number  of  real  bona  fide  exhibi- 
tors who  are  in  close  touch  with  the  public  and  know 
at  first  hand  the  crying  needs  of  their  fellow  exhibitors 
all  over  the  country. 

Still  another  plan  which  Mr.  Berman  has  an- 
nounced, and  which  undoubtedly  will  be  received  with 
favor  by  the  exhibitors  is  the  signing  of  stars  for  an 
exclusive  appearance  in  Blue  Bird  productions  only. 
In  the  past  exhibitors  have  paid  big  money  for  a  five 
or  six-reel  production  with  a  famous  star  in  the  leading 
role,  only  to  discover,  later  on,  that  a  rival  exhibitor 
was  able  to  offer  his  patrons,  on  the  same  night,  a 
two  or  three-reel  subject  featuring  the  same  star.  Mr. 
Berman,  by  arranging  for  the  exclusive  appearance  of 
the  big  stars  he  has  signed  in  Blue  Bird  productions 
only,  guarantees  the  exhibitor  booking  the  Blue  Bird 
features  that  no  rival  can  show  a  shorter  and  less  ex- 
pensive picture  with  the  same  star  in  a  big  role. 

As  already  stated,  the  Blue  Bird  Photo  Plays  will 
make  its  debut  on  January  24,  with  a  five-reel  feature 
in  which  Helen  Ware  is  starred.  This  will  be  followed 
a  week  later,  on  Monday,  January  31,  with  "Undine," 
based  on  a  famous  mythological  story,  produced  by 
Henry  Otto,  and  featuring  in  the  tite  role  Ida  Schmall. 
Douglas  Gerrard  and  Edna  Maison  will  be  seen  in  the 
support  of  Miss  Schmall. 

"The  Shulamite,"  produced  by  George  Tucker,  the 
man  who  directed  "Traffic  in  Souls,"  will  be  the  Febru- 


ary 7  release,  and  a  week  later  it  will  be  followed  by 
"The  Flirt,"  adapted  from  Booth  Tarkington's  dra- 
matic story,  produced  by  the  Smalleys  and  featuring 
Marie  Walcamp.  Monday,  February  21,  will  see  the 
release  of  "Jeanne  Dore,"  in  which  Sarah  Bernhardt 
appears,  and  other  productions  of  equal  magnitude, 
with  equally  famous  stars  and  directors  will  be  sched- 
uled during  the  months  of  March  and  April. 

Among  the  players  who  have  already  been  signed 
to  appear  exclusively  in  Blue  Bird  productions  are 
Warren  Kerrigan,  Hobart  Bosworth,  Ella  Hall,  Lois 
Weber,  Phillips  Smalley,  and  many  others  of  equal 
popularity. 

A  big  advertising  campaign  is  already  outlined, 
and  not  only  huge  newspaper  and  trade  journal  ads 
will  be  used  to  benefit  the  exhibitor,  but  also  big  bill- 
board campaigns  will  be  inaugurated  and  advertising 
aids  of  a  wholly  new  and  original  nature  provided,  to 
inform  the  public  of  the  coming  Blue  Bird  productions 
and  the  houses  in  which  they  will  be  shown. 


MUTUAL  GETS  BIG  WAR  FILM 

"Fighting  for   France,"   Which   Has   Had   Long   and 

Successful  Run  in  Big  Cities,  to  Be  Released 

by  Mutual  Corporation 

"Fighting  for  France,"  five  reels  of  real  war  pic- 
tures taken  on  the  battle  fields  of  Europe,  will  be  re- 
leased by  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  as  a  Mutual 
Special  Feature,  January  1.  These  remarkable  pic- 
tures have  had  advance  showings  in  New  York,  Bos- 
ton, Chicago,  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Hearst  newspapers.  These  films 
are  the  official  war  records  taken  by  the  camera  men 
put  into  the  field  by  the  French  government.  They 
are  to  be  given  their  general  circulation  in  the  United 


2  battle  front.     The  figure 
is    Minister    of    War    Millerand    of    Fran 
mi's  "Fighting  for  France." 


States  through  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  by  spe- 
cial arrangement  with  the  French  authorities.  In  the 
five  cities  where  these  films  have  been  shown  they 
have  established  a  new  record  of  success  for  war  films. 


64 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


They  are  living,  real  representations  of  the  war  as  it 
is.  Thousands  have  packed  the  George  M.  Cohan 
theater  in  New  York,  where  the  films  have  been  run- 
ning for  weeks,  and  the  houses  in  the  other  four  cities 
where  the  pictures  have  had  their  preliminary  show- 
ing. 

'"Fighting  for  France,"  while  frankly  a  picture  of 
the  activities  of  the  allies,  is  devoid  of  the  bias  and 
spirit  of  propoganda  Avhich  has  pervaded  so  many  war 
picture  releases.  The  five  reels  to  be  released  as  a 
Mutual  Special  Feature  represent  the  cream  of  se- 
lection from  the  hundreds  of  reels  of  film  taken  by  the 
war  photographers  of  France.  These  pictures  show 
the  great  battlefields  of  the  western  front,  the  miles 
of  seething,  surging  trenches,  "the  white  hot  gashes 
of  France,"  the  great  guns  in  the  miles  of  batteries, 
the  swift  flying  scout  aeroplanes  and  the  big  eagle-like 
battle-planes  laden  with  bombs.  All  the  desperate 
business  of  war  is  exposed  on  the  screen. 

In  striking  close-ups  the  great  generals  and  lead- 
ers of  the  war  are  shown.  King  George  of  England, 
King  Albert  of  Belgium  and  Czar  Nicholas  of  Russia 
are  shown  as  they  have  appeared  at  the  various  fronts. 
Among  the  numerous  great  thrills  of  the  picture  is  a 
scene  of  a  battle  in  the  Vosges  mountains,  a  mighty 
charge  that  flung  itself  against  a  stubborn  line  and 
lost. 

The  wonderful  Bersaglieri — the  Italian  sharp- 
shooters— are  shown  as  they  scramble,  chamois-like, 
down  the  Alpine  precipices  and  passes.  The  dare-devil 
Moroccan  troops,  grinning  as  usual,  are  shown  swing- 
ing into  action.  The  "Tommies"  and  the  fighting  sons 
of  France  and  the  German  prisoners  of  war  all  are 
shown  in  only  such  pictures  as  a  soldier-photographer 
could  take.  The  battle  fleets  are  shown  under  fire. 
There  are  close  and  thrilling  views  of  the  bombard- 
ment in  the  Dardanelles.  There  are  absorbing, 
breath-taking  pictures  of  a  big  submarine  at  work.  The 
camera  caught  the  swirl  of  the  deadly  torpedo  and  its 
white  boiling  wake  of  bubbles. 

With  a  swift  change  of  scenes  the  picture  shifts 
to  a  soaring  flight  above  the  battle  lines  and  the  spec- 
tator, seeing  through  the  eye  of  the  camera,  finds 
the  war  torn  country  spread  out  far  below  like  a 
map. 

"Fighting  for  France"  has  had  a  big  run  at  the 
La  Salle  theater  in  Chicago  and  at  the  Tremont  Tem- 
ple in  Boston.  The  picture  has  won  a  big  attendance 
also  in  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles.  The  release 
through  the  Mutual  will  make  the  picture,  with  its 
big  box  office  pulling  power,  available  to  exhibitors 
all  over  the  country. 


Van  Loan  Writes  on  Films  for  "Collier's" 

Collier's  first  issue  of  1916,  which  will  appear  on 
the  news  stands  on  Saturday,  January  1,  will  carry  as 
one  of  its  leading  stories  a  feature  article  entitled  "The 
Man  Who  Makes  (he  Movies  Move,"  from  the  pen  of 
Charles  K.  Van  Loan,  in  which  the  author,  who  has 
spent  considerable  time  in  the  Los  Angeles  film  col- 
ony, gives  the  public  an  insight  into  the'making  of  the 
big  film  productions,  explaining  in  an  easily  under- 
stood manner  what  trifling  little  incidents  sometime 
tnosl  carefully  prepared  scene,  making  it  neces- 
0  retake  the  whole  scene. 

Mr.  Van  Loan  also  describes  in  an  interesting 
manner  the  methods  of  the  different  directors,  telling 
how    -lie   man   prefers   to   rehearse   his   (days    with    the 


whole  story  in  mind,  thus  permitting  the  player  to 
know  what  the  entire  story  is  about  and  just  how  his 
part  fits  into  the  whole,  while  another  director  abso- 
lutely forbids  his  players  to  even  attempt  to  learn  the 
relative  importance  of  what  they  are  doing,  preferring, 
instead,  to  have  the  players  secure  all  directions  and 
"business"  from  the  director  himself. 

Mr.  Van  Loan  in  his  article  is  careful  not  to  reveal 
any  of  the  carefully  guarded  secrets  of  the  film  studios, 
but  tells  just  enough  to  whet  the  curiosity  of  the  aver- 
age reader,  and  its  appearance  in  Collier's  will  un- 
doubtedly lead  to  a  still  greater  interest  on  the  part 
of  the  public  in  films  as  an  entertainment. 


Tom  Moore  Joins  Lubin 

Tom  Moore,  the  eldest  of  the  "Famous.  Moore 
Family"  and  husband  of  Alice  Joyce,  the  celebrated 
screen  star,  confessed  recently  that  as  a  boy  his  great 
ambition  was  to  become  a  "Jewish  comedian,"  and 
in  the  next  breath 
admitted  that  he 
was  born  in  the 
County  Meath,  thir- 
ty miles  from  Dub- 
lin, Ireland.  Tom's 
wish  was  realized, 
however,  and  not  so 
long  ago.  He  ap- 
peared in  New  Or- 
leans as  "Rozinsky" 
in  A.  H.  Wood's 
production  of  "Since 
Nellie  Went  Away." 
Lew  Taylor,  pho- 
tographer with  the 
Kalem  Company,  was 
responsible  for  Tom's 
entry  into  the  mo- 
tion picture  field, 
and  Taylor  also  in- 
troduced Tom  to  the 
present. Mrs.  Moore. 

At  first  Tom 
didn't  care  for  the  moving  picture  life  and  after  one 
or  two  attempts  left' the  "cinemas"  and  went  back  to 
his  earlier  love,  "a  stock  company"  in  Bridgeport, 
Conn.  Fate  was  not  to  be  thwarted,  however,  and 
eventually  Tom  landed  solid  with  the  Kalem  Com- 
pany, where  he  wooed  and  won  pretty  Alice  Joyce. 

Just  the  other  day  Tom  signed  a  contract  with 
the  Lubin  Company.  Tom  and  his  little  family  have 
a  beautiful  home  at  Ninety-second  street  and  West 
End  avenue,  and  as  he  says  himself,  "You  couldn't 
blow  him  out  of  pictures  with  all  the  guns  of  the  United 
Armies   of   the   Universe." 


What  perhaps  leads  all  reports  of  business  booked 
by  exchanges  throughout  the  country  is  the  achieve- 
ment accomplished  by  the  Dallas  branch  office  of  V. 
L.  S.  E.,  of  which  C.  A.  Meade  is  manager.  This  office 
has  1,097  theaters  in  its  territory.  Of  this  number  836 
are  using  the  Big  Four  service  every  week.  Mr.  Meade 
attributes  a  great  deal  of  this  business  to  the  intensive 
work  done  by  his  advertising  and  publicity  depart- 
ments in  devising  selling  service  for  exhibitors.'  As  a 
result  of  the  co-operaton  of  these  departments  with 
theaters,  thirty-six  new  accounts  were  developed  in 
one  week  by  the  Dallas  office. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


1916  Will  Mark  "Survival  of  the  Fittest" 

PRESIDENT  ROWLAND'S  PREDICTION 


4  4'  I  ''HE  year  1916  is  to  be  by  far  the  most  important 

I  year  in  the  history  of  the  development  of  mo- 
tion pictures,  and  it  is  to  be  a  year  of  the  'sur- 
vival of  the  fittest.'  "  This  is  the  prediction  of  President 
Richard  A.  Rowland,  of  the  Metro  Pictures  Corpora- 
tion, made  in  the  course  of  an  interview  outlining  the 
Metro  plans  for  the  new  year. 

Metro,  with  a  growth  in  eight  months  that  has 
placed  it  high  in  the  list  of  artistic  and  powerful  pic- 
ture making,  and  as  one  of  the  most  successful  organ- 
izations in  the  field,  has  laid  its  plan  definitely  for  the 
coming  year,  which  includes  many  additions  and  im- 
provements to  its  present  service.  Metro  purposes  to 
disregard  all  previous  standards  in  motion  picture  pro- 
duction, and  instead  will  follow  its  own  definite  ideas, 
banking  on  its  own  judgment  to  anticipate  the  market 
and  provide  pictures  that  will  have  art,  drama  and 
popular  appeal. 

Metro  announces,  as  its  permanent  list  of  stars 
under  long  time  contracts,  Francis  X.  Bushman,  Bev- 
erly Bayne,  Mme.  Petrova,  Ethel  Barrymore,  Mary 
Miles  Minter,  Hamilton  Revelle,  Valli  Valli,  Martha 
Hedman,  Mabel  Taliaferro,  Edmund  Breese,  Emmy 
Wehlen,  Marguerite  Snow,  Julius  Steger,  Lionel  Bar- 
rymore and  Grace  Valentine.  To  this  several  have 
been  added  by  contract,  but  the  announcement  will  not 
be  made  until  after  the  first  week  in  January.  A  de- 
cided innovation  for  Metro  will  be  a  series  of  four- 
teen pictures,  two  reels  in  length,  in  which  Francis  X. 
Bushman  will  star,  supported  by  Beverly  Bayne.  Each 
one  of  these  pictures  will  be  complete  in  itself, 
but  they  will  constitute  a  complete  long  story  when 
they  have  all  been  shown.  The  stories  are  said  to  be 
unusual  in  character,  vital  in  plot,  and  will  present 
some  new  ideas  in  picture  making.  A  celebrated  au- 
thor has  completed  the  series,  and  at  the  proper  time 
the  details  will  be  announced. 

A  general  campaign  of  nation-wide  newspaper  ad- 
vertising will  supplement  the  most  pretentious  pub- 
licity campaign  yet  seen  in  motion  pictures.  Special 
campaigns  have  been  outlined  and  will  be  conducted 
in  behalf  of  the  Bushman-Bayne  series,  and  in  con- 
nection with  two  other  special  series  of  two  reel  sub- 
jects, in  which  two  distinguished  women  stars  will  be 
featured. 

Metro  production  will  be  carried  on  almost  exclu- 
sively in  the  East,  although  the  Quality  Pictures  Cor- 
poration will  continue  to  hold  its  Los  Angeles  studio  in 
readiness  in  case  of  need.  Metro  now  has  studios  at 
No.  3  West  Sixty-first  street,  New  York  City,  where 
the  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.,  under  the  general  manage- 
ment of  Maxwell  Karger,  and  Columbia  Pictures  Cor- 
poration, under  the  general  management  of  Charles 
Maddock,  haA^e  been  making  pictures  during  the  past 
six  months ;  a  studio  in  Fort  Lee,  N.  J. ;  the  Popular 
Plays  and  Players  studio,  at  No.  238  West  Thirty- 
fifth  street ;  as  well  as  what  is  claimed  to  be  the  largest 
studio  in  the  world  under  glass,  and  another  New 
York  studio  will  be  added  to  the  list  before  March. 

While  special  stress  will  be  laid  on  the  making  of 
five-reel  feature  subjects,  there  will  also  be  one-reel 
comedies  and  two-reel  subjects,  in  which  the  foremost 
Metro  stars  will  appear.      Metro's  aim  for  the  New 


Year  is  to  make  the  best  pictures  possible,  with  con- 
sistent quality  the  watchword. 

"Metro  looks  forward,"  said  President  Richard 
A.  Rowland,  in  speaking  of  the  coming  months,  "to  a 
great  year  because  Metro  enthusiasm,  Metro  spirit  and 
Metro  ability  are  concentrated  as  never  before,  on  the 
making  of  good  pictures. 

"We  are  proud  of  our  record,  but  we  are  by  no 
means  content  to  rest  on  it,  and  merely  be  satisfied 
with  what  has  been  done.  The  year  1916  will,  I  know, 
by  far  be  the  most  important  year  in  the  development 
of  motion  pictures,  and  it  will  be  a  year  of  the  survival 
of  the  fittest. 

"The  public  is  no  longer  content  with  pictures  that 
are  partly  good  or  fairly  entertaining.  They  have  been 
educated,  by  the  seeing  of  better  pictures,  to  a  point 
where  nothing  but  the  best  can  possibly  be  expected  to 
hold  the  old  patronage  and  draw  new  patrons  to  the 
picture  houses. 

"Metro  standards  are  too  well  known  to  need  any 
words  of  mine  to  explain  them.  We  expect  to  raise 
the  standards  to  a  still  higher  point." 


BILLIE  BURKE  IN  "PEGGY" 

Wonderful  Picture   Shown  at  Majestic  Theater,  the 

New  Home  of  Triangle  Pictures  in  Los 

Angeles 

The  most  notable  reception  and  opening  accorded 
any  of  the  large  theaters  in  Los  Angeles  was  witnessed 
at  the  Majestic  theater  on  Monday  night,  December 
20,  when  this  popular  house  became  the  home  of  Tri- 
angle program  pictures  with  the  famous  Billie  Burke 
in  C.  Gardner  Sullivan's  comedy-drama  "Peggy,"  pro- 
duced under  the  personal  direction  of  Thomas  H.  Ince, 
director-general  of  the  New  York  Motion  Picture  Cor- 
poration. 

The  assemblage  which  viewed  the  film-play  in- 
cluded such  well  known  west  coast  personages  as 
Mayor  and  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Sebastian  of  Los  Angeles, 
Councilmen  Martin  Betkouski,  John  C.  Langdon,  Fred 
C.  Wheeler,  John  Topham  and  Councilwoman  Estelle 
Lawton  Lindsey,  Chief  of  Police  Claire  Snively,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  M.  D.  Ihmsen,  Josephine  Ihmsen,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Guy  Barham,  Otheman  Stevens  of  the  Los  An- 
geles Examiner,  Monroe  Lathrop  of  the  Los  Angeles 
Tribune,  Guy  Price  of  the  Los  Angeles  Herald, 
Henry  Christeen  Warnack  of  the  Los  Angeles 
Times,  Adela  Rogers  St.  John  of  the  Green  Book,  Mabel 
Condon  of  the  Dramatic  Mirror,  J.  C.  Jessen  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Nezvs,  Clarke  Irvine  of  the  Moving  Pic- 
ture World,  G.  P.  Von  Harleman  of  the  Moving  Pic- 
ture World,  Captain  Jack  Poland  of  Motography,  Frank 
E.  Woods  and  party  from  the  Fine  Arts  Studios,  Wil- 
liam H.  Thompson  and  party,  William  Desmond  and 
party,  De  Wolf  Hopper  and  party,  H.  B.  Warner, 
Rita  Stanwood,  Mack  Sennett  and  party,  Roscoe  Ar- 
buckle  and  party,  Bessie  Barriscale,  Howard  Hick- 
man, Charles  Ray,  Charles  Giblyn,  and  others  from 
Inceville. 

Nearly  all  of  the  leading  stars,  players  and  execu- 
tive  officers   of  the  big  companies   operating  in   and 


66 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


near  Los  Angeles  were  represented  with  special  the- 
ater and  automobile  parties  doing  honor  to  Billie 
Burke  and  Thomas  Ince. 

Newspaper  critics,  dramatic  writers  and  trade  cor- 
respondents pronounce  the  pictures  a  beautiful  work 
of  pictorial  and  professional  art.  Miss  Burke  was  seen 
to  especial  advantage  as  "Peggy,"  and  the  feature  is 
highly  commended. 

In  the  cast  were  Billie  Burke,  the  dashing,  win- 
some star,  as  "Peggy";  William  H.  Thompson  as 
Andrew  Cameron,  the  Scotch  uncle;  William  Des- 
mond, as  the  pastor  and  lover  of  Peggy ;  Charles  Ray, 
as  the  wayword  son  of  Uncle  Cameron ;  Nona  Thom- 
as, the  weaver's  daughter ;  Gertrude  Claire,  as  Mrs. 
Cameron,  the  splendid  old  mother;  Joseph  Dowling, 
Truly  Shattuck,  Charles  Miller,  Walt  Whitman,  Fan- 
ny Midgley,  Clara  Gates,  J.  Frank  Burke,  and  others. 

The  musical  score  was  by  Victor  Schertzinger 
of  the  Ince  staff,  fitting  perfectly  every  detail  of  the 
film  production. 

The  program  of  the  opening  week  was  augmented 
by  Mack  Sennett's  presentation  of  "Fatty  and  the 
Broadway  Stars,"  featuring  Roscoe  Arbuckle,  sup- 
ported by  William  Collier,  Sam  Bernard,  Weber  and 
Fields,  Joe  Jackson,  Al  St.  John,  Ivy  Crosthwaite  and 
Mack  Sennett,  in  a  roaring  Keystone  comedy. 


Nigh  Proves  His  Versatility 

William  Nigh,  of  the  Metro  directing  staff,  has 
begun  work  on  a  five-part  feature  production,  yet  un- 
named, in  which  Valli  Valli  is  starred,  and  William 
Davidson,  Frank  Bacon,  Ilean  Hume,  Robert  Elliott, 
Joseph  Maddern,  R. 
A.  B  r  e  s  e  e,  J.  H. 
Goldsworthy,  David 
H.  Thompson,  and 
other  prominent 
stage  and  screen  art- 
ists appear  in  the 
supporting  cast. 
This  feature  picture 
was  written  by  Di- 
rector Nigh,  who 
wrote  and  directed 
"A  Yellow  Streak," 
the  Columbia-Metro 
five-part  production, 
recently  released,  in 
which  Lionel  Barry- 
more  is  starred.  Be- 
sides being  one  of 
the  ablest  directors 
in  the  country,  Mr. 
Nigh  is  talented  in 
many  directions,  and 
is  one  of  the  most 
resourceful  men  in  the  business.  This  was  again 
forcibly  demonstrated  in  the  making  of  this  picture. 
Valli  Valli  had  just  completed  the  stellar  role  in  "The 
Turmoil"  and  was  waiting  until  another  suitable  pro- 
duction could  be  found  for  her.  Mr.  Nigh  was  also 
obliged  to  wait  on  another  production,  which  he  will 
shortly  direct,  and  suggested  that  he  had  a  vehicle  in 
mind  that  might  suit  Miss  Valli.  When  he  outlined 
the  story  it  proved  to  be  the  very  thing. 

Mr.  Nigh  was  directed  to  write  the  scenario  and 
cast  for  the  production.  He  wrote  the  first  two  reels 
and    calling   together   a    strong   supporting  company, 


began  work  on  the  picture.  One  of  the  men  he  en- 
gaged for  a  part  did  not  show  up  promptly  and  Mr. 
Nigh  took  the  role  himself.  He  had  considerable  ex- 
perience, both  as  a  stage  and  screen  star,  before  he 
became  a  director.  He  appeared  in  many  notable  stage 
productions  on  the  Pacific  coast  before  going  into  pic- 
tures and  afterward  was  starred  in  Reliance  features 
for  several  years.  This  is  just  another  instance  of  his 
versatility,  for  beside  directing  this  new  Columbia- 
Metro  feature,  he  wrote  it,  found  the  exterior  locations, 
formed  his  own  cast,  designed  his  studio  sets,  and  is 
now  playing  a  prominent  role. 


Memphis  Film  Men  Organize 

On  Saturday,  December  18,  representatives  of  six 
Memphis  exchanges  met  at  the  office  of  the  Consoli- 
dated Film  &  Supply  Company  for  the  purpose  of 
combining  in  some  sort  of  an  organization  for  mutual 
protection.  The  particular  business  of  the  moment 
was  the  important  question  of  securing  a  reduction  of 
the  original  amount  of  a  special  tax  bill  proposed  by 
the  city  of  Memphis,  the  bill  having  already  been  up 
for  second  reading. 

This  bill  proposed  to  tax  all  concerns  engaged  in 
the  manufacture,  distribution  or  sale  of  motion  pic- 
ture films  $100.00  per  annum.  As  exchanges  there 
are  already  paying  a  high  state  and  county  special  tax, 
in  addition  to  merchants'  privilege  and  other  regular 
taxes,  this  proposed  city  tax  was  deemed  exorbitant. 
It  was  quickly  decided  at  the  meeting  to  place  the 
matter  in  the  hands  of  .an  attorney,  who  would  repre- 
sent the  film  men  at  the  third  and  final  reading  of  the 
bill.  As  a  result,  through  the  efforts  of  the  attorney 
employed,  and  the  prompt  action  of  the  organization, 
the  tax  was  reduced  to  $25.00  per  annum,  a  figure  cer- 
tainly more  reasonable  than  the  original  tax  proposed. 

It  was  suggested  that  the  organization  not  stop 
at  a  membership  of  exchange  men  only,  and  plans  are 
under  way  to  form  an  organization  to  take  in  exhib- 
itors and  parties  directly  interested  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture business  in  the  state.  Thomas  H.  James,  of  the 
Consolidated,  was  elected  temporary  chairman,  and 
C.  M.  Brown,  of  the.  Mutual,  temporary  secretary. 
Those  present  at  the  meeting  were:  Fred  F.  Cress- 
well,  World  Film  Corporation ;  A.  L.  Parker,  General 
Film  Company ;  Abe  Kauffman,  United  Program  Film 
Service ;  Thomas  H.  James,  Consolidated  Film  &  Sup- 
ply Company;  N.  M.  Bernstein  and  I.  M.  Cohn,  Mon- 
arch Film  Service;  Fred  Suzore,  supply  dealer. 

A  final  election  of  officers  is  expected  at  the  next 
meeting,  when  a  name  will  be  chosen  for  the  organi- 
zation. An  invitation  will  be  extended  to  exhibitors 
to  become  members,  and  regular  business  dispatched. 
The  purpose  of  the  organization  will  be  of  a  protec- 
tive nature,  and  arrangements  will  be  made  to  pro- 
tect the  interests  of  exhibitors  and  exchanges  in  cases 
such  as  the  one  cited.  Like  combinations  will  doubt- 
less be  formed  in  other  southern  film  centers. 


Hazel  Dawn  has  just  returned  from  St.  Augustine, 
Fla.,  where  she  spent  two  weeks  at  the  head  of  a 
Famous  Players  company  under  the  direction  of  Sid- 
ney Olcott,  where  the  principal  scenes  in  her  next  pro- 
duction, "My  Lady  Incog.,"  were  taken.  The  play, 
which  is  an  original  script  written  expressly  for  the 
star,  combines  to  a  greater  degree  than  anything  in 
which  Miss  Dawn  has  previously  appeared  on  the 
screen,  the  elements  of  comedy  and  dramatic  thrills. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Purple  Spots  of  Art  in  Direction 

BY  FRANK  M.  WILTERMOOD  * 


THE  steadfast  student  of  cinema  science,  whose  ad- 
miration for  motion  pictures  causes  him  to  regard 
film-making  as  a  most  beauteous  work,  doubtless 
attains  through  his  long  periods  of  research  certain 
■crystallized  opinions  concerning  idealistic  scenes  in  the 
productions  he  views  on  theater  screens.  He  eventually 
may  come  to  regard  his  mind  as  being  critical  toward 
"the  creeping  pastels,"  with  a  concomitant  result  that  he 
entertains  likes  and  dislikes  for  the  films  made  by  the 
various  famous  producers,  and  he  finally  concludes  that 
some  of  the  leading  directors  are  artists  pure  and  simple, 
and  that  other  producers  never  attain  to  artistic  heights. 
He  most  likely  will  base  his  beliefs  on  what  he  deems 
are  scenes  that  are  marked  by  splendid  elements  of 
poetry,  beauty  and  spirituality,  which  scenes  could  well 
be  entitled  purple  spots  of  art. 

Such  a  delver  into  motography,  if  he  were  a  veteran 
in  his  studies,  would  perhaps  remember  with  pleasure 
David  W.  Griffith's  admirable  production  of  Paul  Arm- 
strong's drama,  "The  Escape,"  and  say  that  this  feature 
release  contained  one  scene  that  stood  out  in  artistry  like 
a  painting  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  against  a  collection  of 
ten-cent  chromos.  One  of  the  marvels  of  this  particular 
scene  was  the  fact  that  its  cost  was  trifling,  the  set  being 
made  of  four  scantling  posts,  some  canvas  and  an  arm- 
load of  straw,  and  yet  the  action  and  lighting,  linked 
with  the  genius  of  the  greatest  of  directors,  caused  the- 
ater-goers to  glow  with  admiration  over  the  beautiful 
spirituality  of  the  creation. 

Mr.  Griffith  desired  to  show  in  "The  Escape"  an  al- 
legorical representation  of  infants  arriving  in  the  world 
from  out  the  sea  of  life.  He  finally  concluded  to  make 
this  scene  on  the  sands  beside  the  ocean  shore.  Four 
scantlings  about  15  feet  long  were  set  in  the  strand  and 
formed  a  square  about  12  feet  long  on  each  side,  as  if 
one  had  decided  to  set  the  four  posts  of  a  temporary  one- 
room  shack  on  the  ocean  shore.  A  large  piece  of  tarpaulin 
was  then  placed  over  the  four  posts  and  formed  a  sort  of 
square-shaped  tent.  The  flaps  of  canvas  on  the  surf  side 
and  on  the  inland  side  were  drawn  back,  so  that  a  person 
standing  on  the  sand  hillocks  upshore  could  look  through 
the  tent  and  see  the  waves  dashing  on  the  beach.  Straw 
was  then  placed  on  the  sand  floor  inside  the  tent,  as  a 
primitive  carpet. 

The  action  showed  mothers,  bearing  infants  in  their 
arms,  coming  up  apparently  from  the  ocean  surf,  enter- 
ing the  tent  and  laying  their  babies  on  the  straw,  while 
their  faces  were  grandly  lighted  by  the  shaft  of  sunshine 
beaming  through  the  inland  side  of  the  structure.  In  the 
wondrous  sublimity  of  this  motographic  poetry  the  stu- 
dent of  cinema  science  must  have  found  royal,  purple 
art,  the  masterful  painting  of  genius,  the  creation  of  the 
inspired  one,  Griffith.  In  all  the  history  of  motion  pic- 
tures this  scene,  relative  to  its  nothingness  of  property 
cost,  stands  out  as  being  most  beauteous,  because  it  de- 
pended for  success  on  its  allegorical  spirituality,  its  magic 
of  mothers  emerging  from  ocean  waves,  its  light  and 
shade  effects  and  its  totality  of  poesy. 

Memory  of  the  student,  recalling  the  purple  spots  of 
art  in  the  work  of  other  directors,  might  envision  certain 
scenes  made  by  Francis  Ford  in  a  Civil  War  production 

*  Scenario  Staff  Writer  of  Universal  Company. 


he  staged  for  the  Universal  Company  two  years  ago. 
He  resolved  to  depict  realistically  the  effects  of  Union 
artillery  shots  on  the  trees  of  a  forest  in  the  South.  He 
set  a  group  of  laborers  at  work  in  a  tract  of  timber  in 
Southern  California,  some  miles  away  from  the  Universal 
studios,  and  had  them  saw  some  of  the  trees  nearly  off 
at  various  heights  from  the  ground,  while  scores  of  the 
largest  tree  limbs  were  almost  detached  with  hand  saws. 
From  all  these  tree  trunks  and  limbs  small  steel  wires 
were  affixed  and  lengthened  out  past  the  side  lines  of  the 
camera's  range,  the  wires  being  invisible  to  the  pho- 
tographic lens.  Director  Ford  then  showed  the  artillery 
cannons  firing  into  the  timber,  where  many  rebels  were 
hidden,  and  the  trees  fell  and  the  great  limbs  were  car- 
ried away  apparently  by  the  huge  cannon  balls,  but  in 
reality  by  a  small  army  of  men  pulling  with  all  their  might 
on  the  small  steel  wires.  Many  of  the  trees  needed  only 
a  sharp  tug  to  make  them  break  loose  from  the  stumps 
and  go  crashing  to  earth.  Francis  Ford's  transcendant 
artistry  was  written  all  over  this  scene,  wonderfully 
realistic  and  awe  inspiring. 

Henry  McRae,  formerly  general  manager  of  Uni- 
versal City,  attained  many  purple  spots  of  art  during  his 
years  of  work  as  a  producer  of  101  Bison  films  for  the 
Big  U.  More  than  numerous  other  directors  he  gave 
much  attention  to  having  the  final  scene  of  a  release  con- 
tain original  departures  from  the  usual  loving  embrace 
of  the  heroine  and  the  hero.  While  he,  of  course,  showed 
such  a  consummation  in  the  triumph  of  the  leading  man 
and  the  leading  woman  over  the  machinations  of  the 
heavy,  McRae  usually  went  a  bit  further  and  depicted  a 
scene  of  aftermath.  In  one  of  his  101  Bison  successes, 
"Campaigning  With  Custer,"  McRae  chose  a  road  lead- 
ing over  a  high,  isolated  hill  as  the  location  of  the  final, 
f  adeout  view.  This  showed  General  Custer  on  horseback, 
leading  a  cavalcade  of  frontier  troops  and  an  emigrant 
train  over  the  hill  summit  at  sunset,  the  entire  procession 
being  silhouetted  against  the  roseate  sky  as  they  slowly 
disappeared  from  sight  over  the  apex  of  the  promontory. 
In  another  renowned  production  staged  by  McRae,  "The 
Trail  of  Steel,"  a  101  Bison  film,  he  showed  as  the  final 
scene  an  Indian  princess  prostrate  across  a  railroad  track 
on  the  prairie  and  in  front  of  an  oncoming  construction 
train,  the  engineer  climbing  out  on  the  cowcatcher  of  the 
locomotive  and  picking  up  the  Indian  girl  in  his  arms, 
in  safety,  just  as  the  scene  began  to  fade  for  the  finis. 
This  picture,  "The  Trail  of  Steel,"  outsold  all  other  Uni- 
versal films  in  the  European  market  for  an  entire  year 
and  raised  McRae's  European  selling  record  2\l/2  per 
cent  higher  than  any  other  Big  U  director. 

Lois  Weber,  the  scholarly  producer  of  "The  Hypo- 
crites," and  many  other  renowned  releases,  has  achieved 
in  numerous  films  the  purple,  ideal  and  spiritual  scene. 
In  "The  Hypocrites,"  especially,  she  made  the  nude  girl 
appear  to  be  a  divine  visitation,  because  of  the  Madonna- 
like face  and  the  fleeting,  dreamy  movements. 

The  student  of  cinematography  apparently  must 
come  to  believe  that  the  greatest  beauty,  the  largest  suc- 
cess and  the  most  profit  in  motion  films  devolve,  in  the 
last  analysis  on  the  idealistic,  spiritual,  poetical  scenes, 
views  that  make  the  most  powerful  appeal  to  the  finer 
mentality  of  the  people  generally.  Men,  women  and  chil- 
dren have,  of  course,  an  intellectual  soul,  an  inner  spirit 


68 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


that  craves  glimpses  of  sublimity,  that  finds  food  in  scenes 
of  beauty,  concord  of  sweet  sounds  and  suggestions  of  a 
celestial,  hyperborean  goal.  The  motion  picture  producer 
who  has  art  enough  in  his  soul  to  approximate  poetry  of 
pictorial  scenes  is  certain,  therefore,  to  carry  to  the  eyes 
and  minds  of  theater-goers  his  artistry,  and  thus  appeal 
to  his  constituents  on  well  nigh  wholly  artistic  grounds, 
as  above  melodramatic,  emotional  stress.  Edgar  Allen 
Poe  made  the  truism  that  the  chief  aim  of  all  art  is 
pleasure.  This  happiness  is  largely  admiration  for 
beauty,  of  course,  as  shown  in  the  ever  recurrent  rhythm 
of  metrically  correct,  inspired  verses,  the  saintly  visage  of 
a  Madonna,  or  the  wondrously  graceful  lines  of  a  statue 
by  Michael  Angelo. 

Hence  one  seemingly  must  conclude  that  motion  pic- 
ture directors  do  not  perhaps  bestow  enough  attention  to 
the  work  of  creating  the  purple  spots  of  pure,  beautiful 
art,  scenes  that  subordinate  all  other  elements  to  the 
one  appeal  of  beauty.  Dramatic  action  appears  to  en- 
gross every  thought  of  some  directors,  they  using  beau- 
tiful backgrounds  only  as  an  aid  to  the  emotional  display 
of  the  actors  and  actresses.  Yet  there  is  undoubtedly 
plenty  of  room  in  all  big  feature  releases  for  scenes  in 
which  the  location,  the  poetical  expression  of  the  en- 
vironment, would  be  far  more  appealing  than  any  action 
of  the  players,  in  short,  scenes  filmed  solely  for  beauty 
and  not  for  dramatics. 

Some  cinema  experts  may  finally  believe  that,  after 
all,  theater-goers  are  all  children,  akin  in  nature  in  view- 
ing films  to  nursery  juveniles  eagerly  scanning  the  pages 
of  some  big  picture  book,  and  anon  giving  outbursts  of 
admiration  over  the  beauty  of  the  colored  views.  To  such 
children  the  picture  book  appeals  solely  by  way  of  eye- 
pleasing  portraits  of  fairies,  pygmies,  trees,  flowers, 
mountains,  waterfalls  and  other  creations  of  artists  in  pic- 
torial expression.  Perhaps  producers  might  profitably 
spare  theater-goers  less  emotional  dramaturgy  and  afford 
a  greater  modicum  of  beautiful,  outdoor  locations. 


has  been  introduced.     She  is  a  favorite  of  all  who  fol- 
low Balboa  features. 

Sherwood  Macdonald  is  the  director  in  charge  of 
all  these  people.     It  goes  without  saying  that  with 


"Red  Circle's"  All  Star  Cast 

From  the  standpoint  of  the  cast,  there  has,  perhaps, 
never  been  a  more  promising  continued  story  produced 
for  the  screen  than  "The  Red  Circle,"  which  Balboa  is 
now  doing  for  Pathe  Freres.  Not  only  are  the  leads- 
Ruth  Roland  and  Frank  Mayo — capable  players ;  but 
every  other  part  has  been  assigned  to  a  person  of  estab- 
lished reputation  in  filmdom. 

This  story,  which  has  been  developed  by  Will  M. 
Ritchey,  from  a  basic  idea  supplied  by  H.  M.  Hork- 
heimer,  is  one  that  requires  real  actors  to  "put  it  over" ; 
because  it  does  not  depend  on  artificial  situations  and 
patent  claptrap  to  hold  the  attention.  In  the  support- 
ing cast  are  so  many  well-known  players  that  it  seems 
the  Balboa  company  has  been  almost  reckless  in  the 
matter  of  expense.  Andrew  Arbuckle  does  a  bizarre 
comedy  crook  which  is  a  distinct  novelty;  Daniel 
Gilfcther  has  an  exceptional  part,  and  Corenne  Grant 
and  Lillian  West  are  interesting  "heavies." 

"The  Red  Circle"  makes  a  particular  demand 
on  character  men.  In  these,  Balboa  is  particularly 
strong,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  work  of  Gordon  Sack- 
villc,  Frank  Erlanger,  Bruce  Smith  and  Philo  McCul- 
lough.  Two  interesting  juvenile  roles  are  played  by 
Fred  Whitman  and  Eddie  Peters.  Makato  Inokuchi, 
one  of  the  foremost  Japanese  actors  in  America,  has 
a  good  pari  and  other  attractive  bits  have  been  as- 
signed to  Myrtle  Reeves  and  N.  W.  Luke.  Into  the 
latter  part  of  "The    Red    Circle,"   Mollie   McConnell 


Complete    cast    of   "The    Red    Circle,"    Balboa-Pathe    release.      Left    to 

right,  first  row:  Gordon  Sackeille.  Philo  MeCuUouah.  Corenne  Grant, 
Ruth  Roland,  Frank  Mayo,  Mollie  McConnell.  Andrew  Arbuckle.  Second 
row:  Bruce  Smith,  Bert  Francis,  Ruth  Lackaxc.  Myrtle  Reezcs.  Daniel 
Gilfcther,    Makato    Inokuchi,    Fred    Whitman,    Frank   Erlanger. 

such  an  array  of  talent,  he  has  been  able  to  put  on  a 
snappy  production,  for  they  are  seasoned  screen  play- 
ers, camera-wise  and  studio  owls.  William  Beckway 
is  the  cameraman. 


Hawks'  Life  Full  of  Adventure 

As  full  of  adventure  and  as  thrilling  as  the  career 
of  "D'Artagnan,"  whose  name  was  given  to  the  pho- 
toplay adaptation  he  made  from  "The  Three  Muske- 
teers," the  Ince-Triangle  feature,  in  which  Orrin  John- 
son is  starred,  is  the  life  of  J.  G.  Hawks,  of  the  Thomas 
H.  Ince  staff  of  photoplay  writers. 

Hawks'  experience  in  theatricals  began  in  1897, 
when  he  joined  the  Henley-Boucicault  Company  in 
San  Francisco,  doing  "bits,"  but  it  was  short,  for  in 
1898  he  joined  the  army  and  served  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war  as  a  sergeant  in  Company  F,  First  Cali- 
fornia Volunteers.  Returning  from  the  war  he  joined 
the  David  Belasco  forces  in  New  York  and  did  general 
business  with  Blanche  Bates  and  Henrietta  Grossman 
until  1904,  when  he  was  engaged  for  a  year  as  baritone 
with  the  Maryland  Opera  Company  in  Baltimore.  He 
acted  as  stage  director  for  Hill  and  Elmendorff.  and 
was  in  San  Francisco  at  the  time  of  the  earthquake. 
Later  he  played  with  stock  companies  on  the  Pacific 
coast  and  finally,  in  1912,  branched  out  as  a  free-lance 
photoplay  writer. 

That  was  as  far  as  his  theatrical  experience  ex- 
tended. He  once  made  a  trip  to  lower  California  on  an 
unseaworthy  boat,  seeking  abalone  and  pearl  on  shares. 
Pie  prospected  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  where  he 
learned  to  handle  dynamite,  which  later  he  instructed 
a  squad  of  men  in  using  to  check  the  flames  of  the  San 
Francisco  fire.  He  also  was  with  Dr.  Blue,  in  the 
crusade  against  the  bubonic  plague. 

In  1913  Hawks  served  as  director  for  the  Monarch 
Film  Company  and  later  for  the  Vim  Motion  Picture 
Company.  His  experience  was  recognized  by  Mr.  Ince 
and  in  1915  he  joined  the  staff  at  Inceville. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Picture  Screen  Must  Purge  Itself 


BY  ARTHUR  H.  SPIEGEL" 


WHEN  one  is  ailing — one  seeks  a  diagnostician. 
When  one  feels  well — one  knows  it.  There 
have  been  a  few  signed  articles  by  men  in  the 
industry,  recently,  calling  attention  to  the  unhealthy 
condition  of  the  film  market.  Each  calls  attention  to 
the  "matter  with  the  trade,"  but  no  one  essays  a 
remedy.     For  no  one  person  is  equal  to  the  occasion. 

There  are  four  forbidden  topics  in  our  social  ex- 
istence. There  are  four  topics  one  would  not  bring  up 
at  a  house  gathering.  Is  it  not  just  as  reasonable  that 
the  four  banned  topics  of  conversation  are  just  as 
objectionable  to  the  men  and  women  who  attend  the 
theater  together — allowing,  of  course,  for  the  morbid, 
neurotic  and  evil-minded  exceptions?  These  four  for- 
bidden topics  are  adulteries,  illegitimacies,  prostitu- 
tions and  infidelity,  as  shown  crudely  to  gain  the  point 
in  pantomime. 

These  are  the  four  corners  of  filmdom  that  must  be 
swept  clean.  These  four  corners  have  been  the  hiding 
place  of  so  many  careless  cleaners  that  they  are  clogged 
and  becoming  more  dangerous  to  the  health  of  the 
industry  each  fleeting  moment.  Of  course,  I  do  not 
know  the  remedy.  But  I  do  know  the  antidote  that 
can  be  used  as  far  as  the  company  I  represent  is  con- 
cerned. 

As  the  final  word  in  the  selection  of  material,  I 
have  pledged  myself  to  purge  the  Equitable  pictures  of 
the  least  tint  of  lasciviousness  and  salaciousness.  I 
know  full  well  that  I  can  apply  the  remedy  to  what  I 
personally  control — and  I  speak  only  of  what  I  am 
in  direct  contact  with,  and  which  is  of  the  greatest  mo- 
ment to  me. 

If  a  man  from  Mars  dropped  down  to  our  earth 
and  visited  anyone  of  our  legitimate  theaters,  his  first 
thought  would  be  that  every  problem  on  our  good  old 
earth  was  a  clash  of  sex.  If  he  visited  our  motion  pic- 
ture houses  and  witnessed  the  majority  of  the  features 
now  playing,  his  first  impression  would  be  that  our 
married  women  were  all  unfaithful  and  that  most  of 
our  earthly  mothers  have  never  gone  through  the  mani- 
festation of  the  marriage  ceremony.  It's  a  direful  con- 
dition. The  eternal  triangle,  which  must  in  some 
form  enter  into  a  picture  story,  can  be  unconventional 
without  parading  vice  and  corruptness  of  emotion. 

"A  Daughter  of  the  Sea,"  "The  Senator,"  and  "The 
Better  Woman,"  are  three  striking  illustrations  of 
what  a  picture,  without  the  semblance  of  lascivity,  can 
do  to  attract.  The  reports  from  exhibitors  through- 
out the  country,  denote  that  these  pictures  have  earned 
as  much  for  our  company  and  the  theaters  playing 
them,  as  has  either  "Should  a  Wife  Forgive,"  or  "Di- 
vorced," both  of  which  have  been  big  money  makers, 
and  both  of  which  were  based  on  the  unfaithfulness  of 
men  and  women. 

The  innate  conservatism  of  the  American  people — 
for  no  one  is  so  conservative  as  the  masses — oppose 
innovation  and,  with  people  of  our  race,  art  always 
encounters  the  chilling  influence  of  the  puritan  spirit, 
always  suspicious  of  beauty.  In  giving  art— and  keep- 
ing art  clean,  puritanism  risks  making  it  sterile;  it 
never  can  learn  that  there  is  something  antiseptic  in 

*  President  Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corporation. 


liberty,    so   that   it   purifies   itself   and   heals    its   own 
wounds — if  abuse  is  eliminated. 

Many  years  ago,  it  was  considered  actually  a  sin 
to  read  a  novel,  and  the  boys  and  young  men  were  left 
either  to  the  puerile  stories  given  out  in  the  Sunday 
schools  or  the  nickel  libraries,  which  could  be  folded 
conveniently  for  the  pocket  and  so  read  under  a  desk 
leaf  or  behind  the  geography  at  school. 

I  do  not  argue  for  a  catering  to  the  puritanical 
spirit  of  witchcraft  days — but  the  catering  to  the 
higher  and  more  sensitive  feelings  in  man.  Not  an  • 
appeal  to  his  physical  characteristics,  but  for  an  appeal 
to  the  mentality  and  deductional  powers  of  the  en- 
lightened, the  unsophisticated,  well  read  and  unthink- 
ing alike. 

It  will  come.  It  is  seen  in  the  attracting  to  the 
screen  of  such  remarkably  brilliant  writers  as  Harriet 
Ford,  Rachael  Crothers,  C.  Haddon  Chambers  and 
Richard  Le  Gallienne,  who  are  all  writing  for  Equitable 
and  who  have  been  instructed  to  "keep  off  the  sex 
question." 


METRO'S  "ROSE  OF  THE  ALLEY" 

A  Five-Part  Production  Featuring  Mary  Miles  Minter 

and  Thomas  Carrigan  Said  to  Teem  with  Thrills 

and  Big  Situations 

"Rose  of  the  Alley,"  a  five-part  feature  production 
in  which  little  Mary  Miles  Minter  is  starred  and 
Thomas  J.  Carrigan  is  featured,  has  just  been  finished 
at  the  Columbia  Picture  Corporation  studio,  and  will 
be  released  on  the  Metro  program  January  17.  "Rose 
of  the  Alley"  is  an  original  story  of  New  York  City's 
underworld,  that  teems  with  thrills  and  moves  at  a 
rapid  pace  for  five  gripping  acts.  There  is  but  one 
lapse  of  time  in  the  entire  production.     It  was  written 


Metro's  "Rose   of  the  Alley." 

by   Harry   O.   Floyt,   who   recently  joined   the   Metro 
forces. 

All  the  exterior  scenes,  as  well  as  some  of  the  in- 
teriors, were  made  in  New  York  City,  giving  a  vivid 
picture  of  a  phase  of  life  in  the  metropolis  which  has 


70 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


figured  prominently  in  the  newspapers  during  the  last 
few  years.  One  of  the  characters  in  the  feature  is 
"Kid"  Hogan,  a  former  prize  fighter,  who  plays  the 
role  himself.  Before  he  went  into  motion  pictures, 
Hogan  was  a  successful  ring  general,  and  fought  with 
Abe  Attell,  Leach  Cross,  Joe  Gans,  Packey  McFarland, 
and  other  well  known  pugilists.  D.  W.  Griffith  saw 
him  fight  one  night,  and  the  next  day  engaged  him  for 
a  part  in  a  Biograph  feature.  Mr.  Griffith  said  he  ob- 
served at  once  that  Hogan  was  a  natural  actor,  and 
there  was  no  mistake  that  he  was  an  unusual  type  for 
the  role  of  a  "tough."  Hogan  is  regularly  employed  in 
the  Rolfe-Metro  studio  as  chief  property  man,  and  he 
is  called  whenever  roles  are  found  that  fit  him. 

One  of  the  big  and  interesting  scenes  in  "Rose  of 
the  Alley"  is  a  gang  fight  in  a  dance  hall.  This  picture 
was  made  in  a  famous  dance  hall,  and  a  thrilling  ex- 
terior scene  shows  a  number  of  the  gangmen  leaping 
from  the  second  story  to  the  pavement.  Another 
shows  a  remarkable  leap  of  a  man  from  the  fourth 
story  of  an  apartment  house.  There  is  a  strong  sup- 
porting cast,  and  more  than  three  hundred  people  ap- 
pear in  one  scene. 

Michelena  Scores  Emotionally 

With  the  final  scenes  of  the  much  heralded  pro- 
duction photographed,  the  officials  of  the  California 
Motion  Picture  Corporation  declare  that  in  "The  Un- 
written Law"  they  have  the  greatest  photoplay  yet 
filmed  at  the  California  studios.  Beatriz  Michelena  is 
said  to  have  excelled  even  her  highly  commended 
characterization  of  "Salvation  Nell,"  the  role  played 
by  her  in  the  last  California  release. 

In  view  of  the  abundance  of  complimentary  things 
said  of  the  production  by  those  who  have  seen  it  in  the 
making  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  trade  of  the  East  will 
naturally  view  with  interest  its  forthcoming  presenta- 
tion in  New  York  City.  The  final  touches  are  now 
being  perfected  on  it  in  the  producing  company's  cut- 
ting room  at  San  Rafael,  California,  and  advance  in- 
formation gives  assurance  that  the  first  completed 
print  will  have  been  shipped  to  the  big  metropolis  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  year. 

From  the  reports  there  would  appear  to  be  an 
unusual  number  of  climaxes,  and  big  moments  in  the 
production.    The  greatest  of  these,  however,  comes  at 


the  end  of  the  picture  and  is  consummated  with  Kate 
Wilson  (Beatriz  Michelena)  on  the  witness  stand  in  a 
tremendous  court  room  scene.  It  is  in  this  scene,  ac- 
cording to  her  admirers  who  have  had  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  it  on  the  screen,  that  the  California  star 
reaches  her  greatest  height  as  an  emotional  actress. 
It  is  said  that  she  here  excels  the  pathos  of  her  crying 
scene  in  "Salvation  Nell,"  which  was  the  one  outstand- 
ing feature  of  that  production.  "She  is  a  pathetic,  yet 
heroic  little  figure  on  the  witness  stand,  bravely  tell- 
ing the  story  of  the  murder  of  Larry  McCarthy,  while 
the  tears  gather  in  her  eyes  and  stream  down  her 
cheeks.  They  are  real  tears,  and  there  are  no  grimaces 
nor  contortions  of  the  face  to  rob  the  situation  of  its 
natural  pathos,"  is  the  way  in  which  one  of  the  Pacific 
Coast  critics  characterizes  Miss  Michelena's  work  in 
a  letter  to  Edwin  Milton  Royle,  author  of  the  original 
stage  version  of  "The  Unwritten  Law." 

Mr.  Royle  is  naturally  among  those  most  elated 
over  the  optimistic  reports  from  producing  headquar- 
ters. "If  the  production  comes  at  all  up  to  reports 
from  California,"  he  declares,  "it  will  be  among  the 
greatest  features  ever  shown  on  the  screen.  I  am  par- 
ticularly well  pleased  with  reports  concerning  the  work 
of  Miss  Michelena.  As  soon  as  I  saw  her  in  'Salvation 
Nell,'  I  was  sure  that  she  was  the  one  actress  best 
qualified  to  play  Kate  Wilson  in  'The  Unwritten  Law/ 
The  role  is  one  of  tremendous  pathos  in  which  the  act- 
ress has  to  portray  strongest  emotions.  There  are  but 
few  artists,  I  believe,  who  can  successfully  do  this  on 
the  screen,  and  for  that  reason  I  was  reluctant  about 
giving  'The  Unwritten  Law'  to  pictures  until  I  saw 
Miss  Michelena  in  her  recent  success." 

The  cast  supporting  Miss  Michelena  is  said  to  be 
of  uniform  excellence.  Andrew  Robson  plays  the  role 
of  Larry  McCarthy  and  William  Pike,  who  played  op- 
posite her  in  "Salvation  Nell,"  appears  in  "The  Un- 
written Law"  as  John  Wilson,  her  husband.  Others 
in  the  present  cast  who  were  seen  in  the  former  produc- 
tion are  Irene  Outtrim,  Nina  Herbert,  Frank  Hollins 
and  Clarence  Arper. 


A  scene  from  Pathc's  "The  Life  of  Our  Saviour." 


New  Star  on  Horizon 

Few  film  players  have  made  such  swift  progress 
toward  the  stellar  regions  of  the  screen  world  as  Miss 
June  Elvidge  of  the  World  Film  Corporation,  who 
after  only  six  months'  experience  before  the  camera  is 
soon  to  be  featured  in  a  five-part  society  drama.  Miss 
Elvidge  owes  her  success  to  her  unflinching  determina- 
tion to  "get  there,"  aided  and  abetted,  of  course,  by  her 
undoubted  beauty  and  photographic  possibilities. 

This  young  player  joined  the  World  Film  stock 
company  at  Fort  Lee  last  June,  after  two  years  at  the 
Winter  Garden,  the  second  of  which  she  spent  as 
understudy  to  Josie  Collins,  whose  part  she  played  on 
the  road.  Miss  Elvidge  hails  from  Pittsburgh.  She 
is  a  broad  shouldered,  athletic  girl,  with  golf  cups,  sail- 
ing trophies  and  medals  for  her  horsemanship  galore 
to  her  credit.  Last  winter  she  gave  exhibitions  of 
riding  and  jumping  at  Durland's  Academy  and  the 
Madison  Square  Garden  Horse  Show. 

Miss  Elvidge  made  her  film  debut  in  "The  Lure  of 
Woman."  Then  came  a  little  better  part  in  "The  But- 
terfly on  the  Wheel,"  and  a  still  better  one  in  "The 
Sins  of  Society."  Now  she  is  sharing  the  leading  roles 
with  Miss  Frances  Nelson  in  the  World's  production  of 
"The  Point  of  View,"  and  after  that  still  greater  hon- 
ors are  in  store  for  her. 


January  8.  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Hearst- Vitagraph  Topical  to  Start  Big 

BIG  FOUR  MANAGERS  ENTHUSIASTIC 


FOLLOWING  the  announcement  that  the  new 
Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  would  be  re- 
leased through  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  representatives 
of  that  organization  made  a  very  quick  and  effective 
canvass  of  the  field,  with  the  result  that  this  news  fea- 
ture will  have  a  wider  distribution  from  its  inception, 
it  is  declared,  than  any  film  of  like  character  has  ever 
obtained.  The  first  release  will  be  on  January  4.  There 
will  be  two  releases  each  week  thereafter,  on  Tuesday 
and  Friday.  Each  release  will  consist  of  approxi- 
mately one  thousand  feet  of  film.  Eight  hundred  feet 
of  this  film  will  be  devoted  to  national  and  interna- 
tional subjects,  the  other  two  hundred  will  have  to  do 
with  the  local  news  of  the  particular  zone  in  which  it 
is  displayed. 

In  addition  to  this,  there  will  be  "extras"  such  as 
newspapers  issue.  This  means  that  when  some  great, 
important  national  or  international  happening  occurs, 
the  motion  picture  narrative  of  it  will  be  rushed  to 
those  exhibitors  who  are  regular  users  of  the  service. 
With  this  special  will  go  proper  publication,  advertis- 
ing, and  proper  lobby  and  outdoor  posters.  With  all 
the  pictures,  there  will  be  issued  a  one-sheet  poster, 
and  a  set  of  five  original  photographs,  11  x  14,  with 
printed  captions  illustrating  scenes  from  the  reel. 

As  has  been  indicated  in  the  announcements  for 
this  pictorial,  it  will  be  extensively  advertised  in  all 
the  Hearst  magazines  and  newspapers,  covering  as 
they  do,  every  section  of  the  country.  The  first  adver- 
tisement for  the  pictures  appeared  in  the  Hearst  papers 
of  Sunday,  December  26.  It  occupied  a  full  page. 
Quarter  page  advertisements  are  scheduled  to  appear 
daily  thereafter. 

In  addition  to  these  advertisements,  the  Hearst 
papers  will  print  once  a  month,  a  list  of  all  exhibitors 
in  their  respective  territories,  showing  the  Hearst- 
Vitagraph  News  Pictorial.  This  will  be  afterwards 
distributed  in  a  handy  booklet  memorandum  form, 
which  is  an  innovation  that  it  is  thought  will  be  wel- 
comed by  both  the  trade  and  the  public,  for  the  reason 
that  the  great  difficulty  in  the  advertising  of  such  fea- 
tures in  the  past,  has  been  to  inform  the  public  where 
they  might  be  seen. 

The  first  release  will  be  issued  from  New  York 
and  will  contain  a  full  one  thousand  feet.  After  the 
system  of  distribution  has  been  effected,  releases  will 
be  made  from  Chicago  and  from  San  Francisco  as  well, 
each  containing  eight  hundred  feet  of  the  same  ma- 
terial which  makes  up  the  New  York  release,  and  two 
hundred  feet  of  subjects  of  interest  primarily  to  the 
particular  sections  of  the  country  in  which  those  cities 
are  located. 

V.  L.  S.  E.  will  use  for  this  service,  its  system  of 
exhibitor's  criticism  reports,  which  have  proved  so 
helpful  in  making  the  merit  of  its  regular  features. 
These  are  blanks  sent  out  with  each  film,  having  space 
for  the  exhibitor  to  make  his  comments  upon  how 
the  film  was  received  in  his  house,  etc.  This  will  pro- 
vide an  absolute  check  on  the  kind  of  material  for  the 
news  feature  which  finds  most  favor  with  the 
public. 

Among  the  many  novelties  which  have  been  intro- 
duced for  this  service  in  addition  to  the  cartoons  by 


Tom  Powers  and  the  exceptional  fashion  pictures 
which  are  to  be  run,  will  be  a  human  interest  depart- 
ment, in  which  will  be  shown  studies  of  men  and 
women  prominent  in  public  life.  The  audience  will 
meet  these  people  through  the  screen,  almost  as  inti- 
mately as  if  they  were  covering  a  news  assignment 
and  were  interviewing  the  men  and  women  in  their 
homes  and  offices.  The  editing  of  this  news  service  is 
under  the  direction  of  Ray  Hall  who  has  his  head- 
quarters at  the  Vitagraph  plant  in  Brooklyn.  Mr.  Hall 
for  many  years  was  in  the  general  news  service  field, 
including  such  organizations  as  the  United  Press  and 
the  International  News  Service,  and  was  formerly  edi- 
tor of  the  Hearst-Selig  News  Pictorial.  Mr.  Hall  is- 
known  all  over  the  country  among  newspaper  men.  His 
last  big  news  assignment  was  covering  the  National 
Convention  of  1912  for  the  International  News  Service. 
Notable  among  his  newspaper  performances  was  the 
Hearst  "scoop"  on  the  confession  of  the  McNamaras 
at  Los  Angeles. 


NEW  SIGNAL  COMPANY 

Rhea  Mitchell  and  Hal  Cooley  Head  Second  Signal 

Organization  Which  Will  Produce  Multiple 

Reel  Dramatic  Features 

Now  comes  another  important  Mutual  program 
announcement.  A  second  Signal  company  has  been 
organized  for  the  production  of  multiple  reel  dramatic 
features.  The  first  Signal  company  is  producing  "The 
Girl  and  the  Game,"  in  which  Helen  Holmes  is  being 
starred,  and  this  new  dramatic  company  will  be  led 
by  Miss  Rhea  Mitchell  and  Hal  Cooley.  The  first  re- 
lease will  be  called  "Sedition,"  and  produced  under  the 
personal  direction  of  Ray  Myers,  recently  of  the  Grif- 
fith-Fine Arts  studio. 

These  Signal  dramatic  features  will  be  stories  of 
the  present  day,  full  of  human  appeal  and  tense  situa- 
tions. Miss  Mitchell  and  Mr.  Cooley  have  been  given 
a  supporting  cast  of  unusual  dramatic  strength.  Miss 
Mitchell's  work  on  the  screen  has  been  tempered  with 
a  remarkable  understanding  of  dramatic  values  and 
pantomimic  expression.  She  herself  is  the  personifi- 
cation of  girlish  charm,  yet  possessed  of  a  wealth  of 
histrionic  talent  rarely  found  in  a  girl  of  her  years. 
She  represents  the  exact  type  to  work  opposite  Mr. 
Cooley,  and  much  can  be  predicted  for  them  and  the 
pictures  in  which  they  appear.  Mr.  Cooley  is  a  tall 
athletic  type,  New  Yorker  by  birth,  but  westerner  by 
choice.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Northwestern  Military 
Academy  and  the  University  of  Minnesota.  He  has 
had  a  varied  career,  having  interspersed  his  theatrical 
engagements,  as  often  happens  in  the  profession,  with 
odd  jobs  ranging  from  a  cook  in  an  El  Paso  hotel,  to 
a  lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  insurrecto  army,  during 
periods  when  the  recognized  "ghost"  was  not  parading. 
Stock  engagements  brought  him  to  Los  Angeles, 
where  he  played  leads  in  the  Ferris  company.  The 
Southern  California  town  promptly  inoculated  him 
with  the  motion  picture  germ.  He  joined  the  Selig 
forces,  then  Universal,  and  now  Signal  has  claimed 
him. 


72 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


Keys! 


ystoners  Reach  Chicago 

Wednesday  morning  there  drifted  into  Chicago 
from  the  west  a  gay  party  of  twelve  Keystoners, 
headed  by  Roscoe  Arbuckle  and  Mabel  Normand.  The 
company  left  Los  Angeles  on  Sunday  and  is  headed 
for  New  York  City,  and  more  particuarly  the  Ft.  Lee 
studios  of  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation,  where  some 
three  months  will  be  spent  by  the  Keystone  folks  in 
making  comedies  with  an  eastern  setting  and  perhaps 
even  more  laugh  possibilities  than  those  which  the 
public  has  already  seen. 

Though  a  stop  of  but  a  few  hours  was  made  in 
Chicago,  the  party  leaving  on  an  early  afternoon  train 
for  the  east,  time  was  found  for  a  merry  luncheon  at 
the  College  Inn,  where  the  Keystoners,  between  bites, 
shook  hands  with  numerous  press  representaives  of 
the  daily  newspapers  and  talked  as  they  ate  of  the 
things  they  hope  to  accomplish  in  the  east.  Both 
Mr.  "Arbuckle  and  Miss  Normand  are  delighted  at 
again  having  a  chance  to  renew  eastern  acquaintances 
and  once  more  see  the  bright  lights  of  Broadway,  for 
many  months  have  elapsed  since  either  of  them  have 
been  outside  of  California.  Among  the  party  gathered 
about  the  College  Inn  table  were  William  N.  Selig  of 
the  Selig  Polyscope  Company,  Julian  Johnson  and 
James  R.  Quirk  of  Photoplay  Magazine  and  Kitty  Kel- 
ly of  the  Chicago  Tribune. 

After  their  three  months'  sojourn  in  the  east  the 
Keystone  folks  expect  to  return  to  Los  Angeles,  mak- 
ing a  picture  as  they  go,  and  on  the  return  trip  paus- 
ing in  Chicago  for  several  days,  during  which  time 
many  scenes  will  be  taken  in  the  Windy  City. 


trained  their  cameras  before  the  doors  were  opened. 
The  intense  absorption  of  the  crowd,  it  is  said,  will 
make  the  crowd  picture  one  of  the  best  ever  seen  in 
a  photoplay. 


Essanay  Gets  Theater  Audience  Easily 

Essanay,  by  a  unique  exhibition,  took  scenes  for 
two  different  plays  and  caught  5,000  Chicago  people 
in  the  act  of  watching  the  pictures  in  the  making  at 
the  Bush  Temple,  Chicago,  last  week.  The  spectators 
will  appear  in  the  forthcoming  productions  of  "The 
Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page,"  and  "Captain  Jinks  of 
the  Horse  Marines." 

The  Temple  was  secured  by  representatives  of 
the  Essanay  company  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  film- 
ing two  different  pictures.  "Captain  Jinks  of  the 
Horse  Marines,"  the  company's  five-act  version  of 
Clyde  Fitch's  brilliant  satire  of  the  70s,  under  the 
direction  of  Fred  E.  Wright,  required  a  stage  set  for 
the  triumph  of  Ann  Murdock,  who,  as  Trentoni,  the 
famous  prima  donna,  sweeps  an  audience  off  its  feet. 
And  "The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page,"  a  serial  fea- 
turing Henry  B.  Walthall  and  Edna  Mayo,  which  is 
being  directed  by  J.  Charles  Haydon,  required  a  giant 
stage  set  and  different  sectional  views  of  a  large  crowd 
of  people. 

News  that  motion  pictures  were  being  made  in 
the  Temple  was  printed  in  all  the  Chicago  newspapers 
and  noon  found  a  crowd  clamoring  for  admittance  at 
the  doors,  as  every  motion  picture  enthusiast  is  anx- 
ious to  see  a  picture  taken.  The  place  was  filled  to 
capacity  shortly  after  the  doors  were  opened  and  the 
crowd  watched  the  filming  of  "Captain  Jinks,"  ap- 
plauding the  work  of  Ann  Murdock  and  Richard  C. 
Travers  in  the  title  role.  When  this  was  completed 
Mr.  Hayden  took  the  stage  and  as  the  crowd  watched 
Henry  B.  Walthall  and  Miss  Mayo  work  it  was 
snapped  and  filmed  from  three  different  angles  by 
swift  working    camera    men    who    had    stationed    and 


Fox  Opens  Canadian  Offices 

The  Fox  Film  Corporation  is  the  latest  film  com- 
pany to  obtain  a  Canadian  organization  in  order  to 
look  after  the  rapidly  growing  picture  business  in  the 
country  north  of  "the  States."  A  federal  charter  has 
been  secured  for  the  Fox  Film  Co.,  Limited,  with 
offices  at  12  Queen  street,  East,  Toronto.  The  Cana- 
dian general  manager  is  Harry  S.  Campbell,  formerly 
of  the  New  England  branch  at  Boston.  Ben  Abrams 
of  New  York  is  another  Canadian  officer,  while 
Mitchell  Granby,  also  of  the  Fox  branch  exchange  at 
Boston,  has  been  appointed  the  manager  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Ontario.  A  Montreal  office  has  also  been 
opened  and  is  in  charge  of  Chandos  St.  John  Brenon. 

An  active  campaign  has  already  been  started  by 
these  gentlemen,  with  the  aid  of  a  corps  of  assistants, 
to  place  Fox  features  from  coast  to  coast  in  the  Do- 
minion, and  their  reports  to  the  home  office  in  New 
York  have  been  very  gratifying.  Tons  of  material,  in- 
cluding advertising  matter  of  every  description,  has 
been  shipped  to  the  Canadian  cities  to  open  the  eyes 
of  the  public  to  the  extent  and  scope  of  the  Fox  meth- 
ods. 

Several  changes  have  also  been  made  within  the 
United  States.  The  Cleveland,  Ohio  office  of  the  Fox 
Film  Corporation  has  been  forced  to  move  to  larger 
quarters  to  accommodate  the  demand  for  Fox  features 
in  the  territory  supplied  by  this  branch.  The  new 
officers  are  in  the  Belmont  building,  on  Prospect  ave- 
nue. 

Harvey  B.  Day  has  been  appointed  eastern  district 
manager  of  the  Fox  organization  with  supervision  over 
Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh  and  Syracuse.  Mr.  Day's 
headquarters  are  in  the  Philadelphia  office,  at  present. 

William  Byrd  has  been  appointed  manager  of  the 
Fox  branch  at  Dallas,  Texas.  Mr.  Byrd  took  full 
charge  of  the  office  on  December  18  last. 


A  De  Luxe  Christmas  Number 

Motography  is  in  receipt  of  the  Christmas  issue 
of  the  Strand-Rex-Bijou  Weekly  Review,  published 
by  the  Carolina  Amusement  Company  of  Sparten- 
burg,  South  Carolina,  and  edited  by  Charlton  C.  Shell. 
As  its  name  indicates  the  Weekly  Review  is  devoted 
to  the  exploitation  of  the  motion  picture  programs  at 
the  Strand,  Rex  and  Bijou  theaters  of  Spartenburg. 

The  publication  consists  of  20  pages  and  cover 
and  is  well  edited,  illustrated  with  a  few  halftones  and 
contains,  besides  the  announcements  of  the  week's 
attractions  at  the  theaters  to  which  it  is  devoted,  short 
feature  articles,  jingles,  rhymes  and  brief  items  of 
interest  regarding  attractions  still  in  the  making. 
which  will  later  be  shown  at  either  the  Rex,  the  Strand 
or  the  Bijou  theaters. 


The  Whartons  have  begun  work  on  the  famous 
old-time  play,  "Hazel  Kirke,"  the  popularity  of  which 
is  perennial,  and  are  using  a  fine  cast,  including  Pearl 
White,  Bruce  McRae  (who  starred  in  Pathe's  "Via 
Wireless"),  Creighton  Hale,  Wiliam  Riley  Hatch,  Ed- 
die O'Connor  and  Allen  Murnane.  "Hazel  Kirke"  will 
be  put  upon  Pathe's  Gold  Rooster  program. 


JANUARY   8,    1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


73 


NATIONAL  BOARD  FINANCED 

All  Manufacturers  Agree  to  Contribute  Toward  Fund 

Necessary  for  Upkeep  of  the  Censorship 

Board  and  Listen  to  Report 

With  the  passage  of  a  resolution  introduced  by 
Dr.  Albert  Shields,  director  of  the  department  of  re- 
search of  the  New  York  Board  of  Education,  the  Na- 
tional Board  of  Censorship  was  assured  of  adequate 
financial  backing  for  the  year  1916  and  can  look  for- 
ward to  the  future  with  confidence. 

The  resolution  which  is  referred  to  above  was 
offered  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Censorship  Board, 
which  was  held  in  the  Hotel  Astor  in  New  York  City 
last  week,  the  meeting  being  attended  by  representa- 
tives of  practically  every  prominent  film  manufac- 
turer in  the  east,  and  reads  as  follows : 

"It  is  the  consensus  of  opinion  of  those  present 
who  represent  manufacturers  that  the  manufacturers 
during  the  year  1916  should  support  the  work  of  the 
National  Board  by  paying  to  the  People's  Institute  for 
the  purposes  of  the  National  Board  per  reel  of  negative 
film  reviewed,  a  stated  amount  per  reel  sufficient 
during  the  year  to  cover  the  expenses  of  the  National 
Board." 

The  unanimous  passage  of  the  resolution  means 
that  the  burden  of  supporting  the  National  Board  of 
Censorship  will,  in  the  future,  be  borne  by  the  film 
industry  as  a  whole,  rather  than  by  any  certain  com- 
panies which  may,  in  the  past,  have  had  to  put  up 
more  than  their  share  of  the  funds  necessary  to  keep 
the  board  in  operation. 

In  an  address,  delivered  just  before  the  passage  of 
the  resolution,  Edward  Troubridge  Hall,  a  member  of 
the  general  committee,  explained  the  financial  upkeep 
of  the  board  briefly  as  follows : 

"Not  a  single  member  of  the  Censorship  Board 
receives  pay  for  his  or  her  services.  Each  serves  in 
a  purely  voluntary  capacity.  But  it  must  be  under- 
stood that  funds  are  necessary  for  executive  expenses 
in  this  or  any  other  business.  Be  it  remembered  that 
the  board  is  constantly  called  upon  by  city  officials, 
such  as  those  pertaining  to  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
as  well  as  other  groups  throughout  the  country,  to  co- 
operate with  them  in  solving  their  local  problems. 
Last  year  we  spent  several  thousand  dollars  in  answer- 
ing calls  and  visiting  towns  where  advice  was  needed. 

"There  are  over  350  cities  now  in  constant  cor- 
respondence with  the  National  Board.  They  all  re- 
ceive copies  of  the  National  Bulletin  free  of  charge.  It 
costs  something  to  print  that  bulletin  and  circulate  it. 
There  are  six  secretaries  employed.  Three  act  simply 
as  secretaries  of  the  censorship  committee.  These  lat- 
ter have  no  vote  on  the  pictures.  They  discuss  the 
standards  of  the  board  with  the  members  present  and 
collect  the  ballots,'  which  must  be  signed  individually. 
The  executive  secretary  is  concerned  with  keeping  up 
the  personnel  of  the  various  committees  and  acting  as 
secretary  of  the  board  of  directors.  Mr.  Cocks,  ad- 
visory secretary,  keeps  in  touch  with  local  groups  of 
officials  throughout  the  country.  In  all  we  have  ten 
salaried  employees,  including  stenographers,  etc.,  who 
must  be  taken  care  of." 

Executive  Secretary  W.  D.  McGuire,  in  a  brief  ad- 
dress said:  "Since  the  Censorship  Board  came  into 
existence  its  work  has  increased  to  an  almost  unbe- 
lievable extent.  We  now  number  183  members  on  the 
censorship  committee  alone,  with  thirty-seven  on  the 


board  of  governors.  The  tremendous  growth  of  the 
motion  picture  industry  is  a  matter  of  public  knowl- 
edge. Particularly  during  the  past  year  our  financial 
burdens  have  increased  in  weight.  This  is  due,  not 
only  to  the  constant  production  of  screen  subjects,  but 
to  the  springing  into  existence  of  new  companies  and 
the  dividing  up  of  old.  Until  now  it  was  mostly  the 
original  small  group  of  companies  with  whom  we 
started  which  contributed  to  the  support  of  the  board. 
From  now  on  things  will  be  run  on  a  more  even  basis, 
each  company  bearing  its  proper  share  of  expenses. 
This  meeting  has  placed  the  situation  in  the  correct 
light,  and  I  wish  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  pro- 
ducing companies  thoroughly  recognize  that  it  is  more 
advantageous  to  co-operate  with  the  National  Board 
than  submit  to  what  would  assuredly  follow  its  elimi- 
nation through  lack  of  support — the  much-dreaded 
local  censorship." 

Another  meeting  was  held  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
Tuesday  of  this  week  too  late  to  be  covered  in  this 
issue  of  Motography.  At  that  time  the  Censorship 
Board  is  to  produce  its  financial  statement  of  the  funds 
needed  for  the  coming  year.  All  of  the  prominent  film 
companies  will  be  represented. 


Irvine  Originates  Novel  Mascot 

Los  Angeles,  the  motion  picture  producing  center 
of  the  world,  and  also  the  home  of  the  photoplayers, 
has  produced  something  besides  a  feature  film.  The 
newest  to  arrive  from  the  Pacific  coast  city  is  the 
"Movie  Mascot,"  a 
miniature  motion 
picture  camera,  de- 
signed, built  and 
patented  by  Clarke 
Irvine,  one  of  the 
film  c  i  t  y's  motion 
picture  magazine 
writers.  The  tiny 
c  a  m  e  r  a  is  the  em- 
blem of  the  motion 
picture  industry.  It 
stands  for  the  great 
film  business.  The 
camera  is  the  heart 
of  the  game,  and  as 
such,  the  tiny  cellu- 
loid kodak  has  made 
an  instantaneous  hit, 
not  only  with  the 
actors  and  actresses, 
but  with  exchange 
men  and  exhibitors 
throughout  the 
west,  and  already  the  lifelike  but  petite  camera  is 
"handing  a  laugh"  to  interested  people  in  the  east. 

The  inventor  of  the  rival  to  the  Kewpie,  police 
officers,  emblems,  and  various  other  laugh  makers, 
conceived  the  idea  when  he  tried  to  get  something 
new  and  original  to  put  on  the  radiator  cap  of  his 
roadster.  Everyone  had  some  sort  of  a  mascot  for 
his  car,  so  it  was  up  to  Irvine  to  devise  some  article 
that  would  be  new  and  meet  with  the  approval  of  the 
crowd  and  at  the  same  time  represent  the  industry, 
and  he  evidently  struck  on  the  right  thing,  for  now 
the  majority  of  film  motorists  are  sporting  the  little 
cameras. 

A  common  block  of  real  mahogany,  cut  to  pro- 


9  1       m 


74 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


portionate  size,  trimmed  with  camera-like  hardware, 
and  highly  varnished,  constitutes  the  camera,  while 
the  tiny  tripod  is  made  from  steel,  brass  and  nickel, 
and  it  is  a  nifty  looking  article.  It  is  a  novel  mascot, 
and  one  that  will  strike  the  motion  picture  men  in- 
stantly. The  mascot  is  being  made  in  two  styles, 
brass  and  nickel,  and  the  exhibitor  and  fan  who  have 
no  automobiles  need  not  go  without  a  film  mascot, 
for  a  neat  little  ash  tray  can  be  had  with  a  camera 
mounted  on  it.  They  cost  $2.00  and  are  being  mailed 
right  from  Los  Angeles,  305  Hass  building. 


Angelo  did  not  confine  himself  to  frescoing,  nor  Leon- 
ardi  da  Vinci  to  architecture  or  painting.  I  hope  to 
be  able  to  do  for  the  Triangle  some  classical  produc- 
tions that  will,  prove  thoroughly  new  to  the  screen 
drama.  On  my  return  to  New  York  in  the  spring  I  ex- 
pect to  appear  in  America  in  a  few  of  the  leading 
vaudeville  houses,  using  my  shorter  plays  as  the  ve- 
hicles." 


SIR  HERBERT'S  WESTWARD  HO! 

Most  Distinguished  Actor  of.  English  Stage  Reaches 

Los  Angeles  Just  Before  New  Year's  to 

Start  Triangle  Labors  . 

After  completing  all  details  at  a  conference  with 
Triangle  heads,  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree,  the  most, 
distinguished  actor  of  the  English  speaking  stage, 
started  for  Los  Angeles,  December  21,  to  begin  his 
season  of  screen  productions  under  the  aegis  of  Tri- 
angle-Fine Arts.  The  conference  was  held  Monday 
afternoon  in  the  director's  room  of  the  Knickerbocker 
theater,  New  York,  with  President  Aitken  in  the  chair, 
Sir  Herbert  Tree  on  the  right,  and  most  of  the  officers 
and  heads  of  Triangle  departments  present.  Sir  Her- 
bert's business  interests  were  looked  after  at  the  meet- 
ing by  Miss  Alice  Kauser.  All  arrangements  were 
completed  in  a  satisfactory  manner  to  everyone  con- 
cerned, and  the  actor-knight  expressed  himself  as 
greatly  pleased  by  the  treatment  accorded  to  him  by 
the  Triangle.  He  found  a  special  pleasure  in  learning 
that  D.  W.  Griffith,  the  Fine  Arts  director,  had  as- 
signed John  Emerson  to  direct  all  the  Tree  produc- 
tions. Mr.  Emerson  is  a  man  of  the  most  liberal  edu- 
cation, a  University  of  Chicago  graduate,  playwright, 
stage  director  and  actor,  and  Sir  Herbert  Tree  has  fre- 
quently expressed  his  admiration  of  Mr.  Emerson's 
work  whilst  the  latter  was  making  productions  for  the 
late  Charles  Frohman. 

"I  am  a  socialist  in  art,"  declared  Sir  Herbert  at 
the  conference,  "and  I  believe  equally  in  the  films  and 
in  the  legitimate  drama.  The  true  artist  uses  the  ma- 
terial that  his  epoch  puts  ready  to  his  hands.     Michel- 


Picture  Folk  to  Aid  Actors'  Fund 

In  response  to  an  appeal  that  California  raise 
$300,000  toward  a  million  dollar  contribution  to  the 
Actors'  Fund,  many  notables  of  the  motion  picture 
inditstry  met  last  week  in  the  office  of  Mayor  Sebas- 
tian at  the  Los  Angeles  city  hall  to  make  preliminary 
plans  for  a  campaign  in  that  city,  recognized  through- 
out the  world  as.  the  heart  of  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry, to  raise  the  major  portion  of  the  amount  asked. 

Mayor  Sebastian  pledged  the  support  of  the  city 
administration  and  residents  of  Los  Angeles  to  the 
movement,  saying  that  it  is  no  more  than  just  that  the 
city,  which  benefits  so  largely  from  the  motion  picture 
industry,  should  contribute  handsomely  to  the  fund. 

A  message  from  Daniel  Frohman,  president  of  the 
Actors'  Fund,  saying  that  the  fund  must  have  help  to 
exist,  was  read  by  Samuel  Goldfish,  who  has  been  ap- 
pointed general  representative  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
The  telegram  stated  that  the  fund  spends  $70,000 
annually  in  taking  care  of  sick  and  impoverished  stage 
and  motion  picture  actors,  and  a  plea  was  made  that  a 
movement  be  launched  to  help  save  the  great  charity. 

De  Wolf  Hopper,  who  served  five  years  on  the 
executive  committee  of  the  fund,  spoke  most  feelingly 
of  the  good  work  it  has  accomplished,  terming  it  the 
"superlative  charity"  of  the  profession! 

Will  T.  Wyatt  of  the  Mason  theater  presided  as 
chairman  of  the  meeting.  Jesse  L.  Lasky  was  ap- 
pointed permanent  chairman  for  the  Southern  Cali- 
fornia district,  and  he  named  the  following  to  serve 
with  him  :  Thomas  H.  Ince,  W.  T.  Wyatt,  J.  A.  Quinn, 
Frank  Brooks,  H.  S.  Kerr,  representing  Mack  Sen- 
nett ;  De  Wolf  Hopper  and  Clarke  Irvine. 

Mr.  Lasky  will  call  a  meeting  of  the  executive 
committee  immediately  after  the  first  of  the  year. 


"The  Devil's  Prayer  Book"  Finished 

Finishing  touches  were  added  last  week"  to  "The 
Devil's  Prayer-Book,"  a  George  Kleine  feature  with 
Alma  Hanlon,  Arthur  Hoops,  Frank  Belcher  and  Ruby 
Hoffman.  This  is  the  feature  that  was  especially  writ- 
ten by  Max  Marcin,  author  of  "The  House  of  Glass," 
now  playing  at  the  Candler  theater,  as  the  starring 
vehicle  for  Miss  Hanlon.  The  star  has  availed  herself 
of  the  many  opportunities  for  sparkling  work  yielded 
by  Marcin's  script.  She  will  be  seen  in  three  different 
roles  in  "The  Devil's  Prayer-Book,"  a  young  mother, 
a  girl  of  fourteen  and  a  young  woman  of  twenty-five. 
It  is  released  January  5,  as  the  first  Kleine  offering  on 
the  Kleine-Edison  program  for  the  new  year. 


t  photo  of  Ruth  St, 


popular  Essanay  star. 


Grace  Is  the  Star 

To  dispel  any  doubts  that  may  exist  in  the  minds 
of  exhibitors  and  the  public  it  is  announced  by  the 
Metro  Pictures  Corporation  that  Miss  Grace  Elliston 
is  the  star  of  its  production  "Black  Fear."  The  other 
players  of  prominence  were  featured  with  the  famous 
actress,  but  they  were  not  starred. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Romance  of  a  Great  Business 


THE  RISE  OF  PATHE 


GREAT  businesses  do  not,  like  the  dragon's 
teeth  of  mythology,  spring  into  life  fully 
equipped  and  formidable  in  the  panoply  of 
might.  Rather  are  they  the  slow  evolution  of  a  big 
idea  in  the  mind  of  a  genius 
to  which  has  been  brought 
the  propelling  force  of  vig- 
orous personalities,  strong 
wills  and  generally  a  high 
standard  of  commercial  eth- 
ics. In  all  the  history  of 
business  there  is  no  more  re- 
markable growth  than  that 
shown  by  the  motion  picture 
industry.  Realizing  that  to- 
day it  is  the  fifth  in  import- 
ance of  all  the  great  busi- 
nesses of  the  United  States, 
it  is  hard  for  one  to  recon- 
cile himself  to  the  fact 
that  some  twenty  years  ago 
there  was  no  picture  busi- 
ness— merely  an  idea,  that 
drama,  opera  and  comedy 
sat  all  powerful  and  appar- 
ently inviolate  on  the  throne 
of  the  speaking  stage,  and 
that  the  man  who  would 
have  prophesied  that  they 
must  yield  supremacy  to  the 
long  rolls  of  celluloid  film 
and  the  flashing  of  rays  of 
light  upon  a  snowy  screen 
would  have  been  looked 
upon  as  a  fool  or  a  dreamer. 
But  genius  gives  vision  or 
the  sons  of  men  would  today 
be  living  the  life  of  the  trog- 
lodytes of  past  ages.  Let  us  then  concede  that  the 
pioneers  of  the  world's  greatest  amusement  were 
geniuses  and  men  of  vision. 

The  photodramas  we  see  today  are  built  upon 
no  greater  romance  than  the  rise  of  the  house  of 
Pathe,  the  great  international  business  with  factories, 
studios  and  selling  organizations  in  all  parts  of  the 
globe,  yet  only  about  twenty  years  ago  it  was  founded 
by  four  brothers  who  each  contributed  his  whole  cap- 
ital of  2,300  francs  apiece — less  than  $500  for  each, 
and  less  than  $2,000  for  all,  and  after  only  three  weeks 
two  of  them,  horrified  by  their  own  rashness,  with- 
drew, taking  their  money  with  them.  Today  Emile 
and  Charles  Pathe,  the  two  to  whom  was  given  vision 
and  who  remained,  are  drawing  $100,000  apiece  per 
year  in  salaries  alone,  besides  their  great  profits  from 
the  business. 

Harking  back  to  those  early  days  we  find  Charles 
Pathe  with  two  of  those  primitive  machines  where 
one  was  privileged  by  depositing  a  coin  to  see  a  suc- 
cession of  tiny  photos  tumbling  over  one  another,  and 
giving  the  effect  of  life  action.  The  original  idea  had 
been  our  own  Edison's,  and  Mr.  Pathe  was  the  one 
man  in  Europe  to  recognize  that  there  was  the  germ 


Charles  Pathe~. 


chines  on  view  and  quickly  saw  that  it  was  profit- 
able. There  were  no  changes  of  program  in  these 
machines — and  but  one  picture  to  each.  Mr.  Pathe 
saw  that  to  make  his  patrons  come  back  again  and 
again  it  was  necessary  to 
provide  new  pictures.  Then 
and  there  was  born  the  mod- 
ern film  exchange  idea,  for 
he  purchased  twenty  ma- 
chines, placed  them  in  twen- 
ty different  towns,  and 
switched  his  pictures  in 
weekly  rotation. 

From  his  profits  he  se- 
cured Lumiere's  motion  pic- 
ture camera,  then  just  com- 
pleted, and  began  to  take  his 
own  pictures,  ten  or  fifteen 
feet  at  a  time.  His  wife  feed- 
ing chickens,  a  railroad  train 
entering  a  station,  a  man 
running,  sheep  grazing; 
these  were  his  early  sub- 
jects. 

The  idea  of  projecting 
these  strips  of  film  onto 
a  screen  helped  the  infant 
industry  tremendously.  Mr. 
Pathe  took  his  fragmentary 
films  in  his  pockets  to  Lon- 
don, Berlin,  Rome,  traveling 
third  class  because  of  his 
limited  means  and  sold 
them  there.  Gradually  his 
films  lenghthened  and  his 
markets  increased,  but  for 
some  time  he  was  his  own 
cameraman,  shipping  clerk, 
manufacturer,  salesman  and  demonstrator. 

One  day  the  idea  came  to  him  that  a  story  could 
be  worked  out  upon  the  screen — that  such  film  stories 
would  possess  a  wider  appeal  than  the  bare  facts  of 
everyday  life  which  he  had  been  filming.  He  hired 
Max  Linder,  then  an  actor  limp  of  purse,  at  $4  a 
day  to  work  in  comedies,  and  Louis  J.  Gasnier,  a 
stage  manager  and  play  producer  of  Paris,  to  direct 
the  taking  of  these  pictures.  Here  was  born  the  photo- 
play of  today,  and  from  this  beginning  have  come  the 
"Cabirias,"  "The  Births  of  a  Nation,"  etc.,  with  their 
universal  appeal  and  gripping  power.  Max  Linder, 
still  considered  by  many  critics  the  greatest  comedian 
of  the  screen,  up  to  the  time  of  the  war  was  drawing 
$70,000  per  year,  a  colossal  figure  for  France.  Louis 
JT.  Gasnier,  the  first  Pathe  director,  is  today  general 
manager  and  vice-president  of  the  vast  Pathe  Ameri- 
can interests. 

A  wise  man  has  said  we  cannot  stand  still — we 
must  either  progress  or  deteriorate.  The  house  of 
Pathe  through  all  the  years  has  not  retreated,  but  has 
consistently  kept  at  the  head  of  the  procession.  The 
one-room  factory  of  twenty  years  ago  today  is  rep- 
resented  by   a   14,000,000  franc   factory   in   Joinville, 


of  great  things.     In  a  tiny  store  he  placed  these  ma-     France,  with  sisters  in  Montreuil,  and  other  places; 


76 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


by  others  in  England  and  the  United  States ;  the  open 
air  platform  where  the  first  plays  were  staged  was 
the  ancestor  of  huge  modern  studios  in  France,  the 
United  States,  England  and  India;  the  selling  force 
of  one  man  who  carried  his  tiny  films  in  his  pocket 
is  today  represented  by  scores  of  offices  and  exchanges 
in  all  parts  of  the  world,  there  being  nearly  forty  in 
the  United  States  alone ;  the  news  film  which  even 
today  in  the  face  of  wide  competition  is  associated  in 
the  minds  of  most  people  with  the  "Pathe  Weekly," 
the  first  to  be  made,  has  a  lusty  family  in  the  Pathe 
News  in  the  United  States,  the  Pathe  Gazette  in  Great 
Britain,  the  Pathe  Journal  in  France,  the  Pathe  Gior- 
nale  in  Italy,  and  another  with  an  unpronounceable 
name  in  Russia. 

It  is  truly  good  for  one's  own  inspiration's  sake 
when  looking  at  a  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play,  the  name 
by  which  the  best  films  of  the  Pathe  product  are 
known,  to  remember  the  busy  man  who  was  not  too 
busy  to  have  vision,  tramping  the  broad  highways 
with  his  camera  some  twenty  years  ago ! 


Lubin  to  Offer  "Souls  in  Bondage" 

Nance  O'Neil,  the  celebrated  international  star,  is 
hard  at  work  on  the  multiple  reel  feature  "Souls  in 
Bondage"  and  is  enthusiastic  in  her  praise  of  the  story. 
"Souls  in  Bondage"  is  an  original  story  written  for  the 
screen  by  Daniel  Carson  Goodman,  author  of  "The  Gods 
of  Fate"  and  is  being  produced  by  Edgar  Lewis,  whose 


masterful  work  on  "The  Great  Divide"  stamps  him  as 
one  of  the  best  directors  in  the  country. 

"Souls  in  Bondage"  was  chosen  by  Miss  O'Neil  as 
the  story  best  suited  to  exploit  the  talents  for  which  she 
is  known  the  world  over.  It  is  a  "sex  drama"  in  five 
acts,  and  runs  the  gamut  of  emotion.  Much  could  be 
said  on  this  wonderful  subject,  but  Miss  O'Neil  and 
Mr.  Goodman  prefer  it  to  be  a  surprise  for  the  patrons 
of  the  motion  picture  theaters.  Sufficient  to  say  that, 
upon  its  release  early  in  January,  Nance  O'Neil  will  add 
fresh  laurels  to  those  already  won.  It  is  suggested  to 
the  exhibitors,  by  the  Lubin  Manufacturing  Company, 
that  they  get  busy  at  once  on'  the  booking  of  this  feature 
of  excellence. 


Triangle  Hires  a  Railroad 

It  is  common  enough  in  the  West  for  film  com- 
panies to  lease  sections  of  railroad  laid  on  "the  sand," 
but  in  the  East  the  leasing  of  busy,  stone  ballasted 
tracks  for  play  purposes  is  somewhat  of  a  rarity.  John 
Emerson,  the  Triangle  director,  and  Douglas  Fair- 
banks did  the  unusual  stunt  the  other  day  when  they 
hired  the  branch  of  the  Lackawanna  Railroad  that 
runs  through  Dover,  N.  J.,  for  the  filming  of  the  rail- 
road scenes  in  the  coming  Triangle-Fine  Arts  play 
"His  Picture  in  the  Papers."  The  plot  called  for  an 
attack  on  the  train  by  crooks,  Mr.  Fairbanks's  fight 
with  them,  and  the  blowing  up  of  a  freight  car  by 
dynamite.     All  traffic  was  suspended  for  three  hours. 


Opie,  the  Operator 


Horrors!     He  Nearly  Loses  His  Diploma! 


January  8,  1916 

JACKSONVILLE  ALL  RIGHT 

Richard     Garrick,     Gaumont     Director,     Enthusiastic 

Over  Winter  Studios  in  Florida  and  Believes 

Climate  Equals  that  of  California 

Because  of  his  intense  interest  in  the  first  Mutual 
Masterpicture,  edition  de  luxe,  completed  by  Gaumont 
for  the  Mutual  program,  Richard  Garrick,  director  of 
the  production,  made  a  hurried  trip  from  Jacksonville, 
Fla.,  to  the  factory  at  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  to  superintend 
the  final  cutting  of  the  film.  The  photodrama  is  called 
"The  Idol  of  the  Stage,"  a  five-reel  feature  in  which 
Malcolm  Williams  is  starred.  While  north  Mr.  Gar- 
rick conferred  with  General  Manager  F.  G.  Bradford 
regarding  the  new  studio  to  be  built  at  Flushing,  N.  Y., 
before  the  companies  return  in  the  spring. 

"The  work  we  are  doing  in  Jacksonville  is  truly 
remarkable,"  said  Mr.  Garrick,  who  is  managing  di- 
rector of  all  the  southern  Gaumont  organizations. 
"From  the  experiences  we  have  had,  I  see  no  occasion 
for  regretting  we  located  in  Florida  instead  of  in  Cali- 
fornia. Since  we  went  down  last  autumn,  we  have  had 
only  three  days  when  the  weather  interfered  with  our 
work.  Our  studios  are  splendidly  located  and  ade- 
quately equipped,  and  now  we  are  receiving  every- 
thing we  require  in  the  way  of  co-operation  from  the 
local  sources  we  must  draw  upon  for  our  productions. 

"What  surprised  me  most  was  the  quality  and 
quantity  of  the  extra  people  we  were  able  to  pick  up. 
In  the  theater  scenes  of  'The  Idol  of  the  Stage'  we 
had  eleven  hundred  people  in  the  auditorium  we  built 
for  the  occasion.  With  a  liberal  sprinkling  of  people 
in  evening  clothes,  the  scene  easily  matched  any  metro- 
politan theater  for  smartness.  A  number  of  capable 
people  are  being  developed  in  our  stock  company  who 
never  had  any  thought  of  motion  pictures  until  we 
reached  Jacksonville  and  began  to  augment  our  forces. 

"Now  that  we  are  confining  our  work  on  the  Mu- 
tual program  to  the  making  of  five-reel  features,  we  are 
organizing  an  additional  company.  There  are  to  be 
three  directors  in  addition  to  myself  when  we  have 
completed  our  plans.  Miss  Gertrude  Robinson  and 
Alexander  Gaden  are  now  at  work  on  'As  a  Woman 
Sows,'  under  the  direction  of  William  F.  Haddock. 
A  day  or  two  after  my  return  Director  Henry  J.  Ver- 
not  will  have  Miss  Marguerite  Courtot  and  Sydney 
Mason  at  work." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


77 


contracted  for  by  his  concern  will  find  a  stipulation  in 
their  contracts  calling  for  their  services  two  nights 
a  week,  when  they  are  expected  to  attend  as  many 
theaters  as  they  possibly  can.  To  ascertain  at  which 
theaters  the  equitable  stars  may  most  appropriately 
appear  Harry  L.  Reichenbach,  Equitable's  general 
press  representative,  has  already  inaugurated  a  gi- 
gantic nation-wide  mailing  system  for  the  purpose  of 
keeping  the  public  informed  about  the  Equitable  stars 
who  may  appear  in  their  neighborhood  theater. 


Equitable  Stars  to  Appear  in  Person 

Sincerely  believing  that  the  personal  appearance 
of  the  players  at  the  theaters  where  their  film  work  is 
being  shown  helps  to  boost  the  business  of  the  average 
exhibitor,  President  Arthur  H.  Spiegel,  of  the  Equit- 
able Motion  Picture  Corporation,  has  announced  that 
a  plan  is  being  worked  out  under  which  Equitable 
will  undertake  to  have  a  number  of  its  most  popular 
stars  appear  in  the  flesh  at  such  theaters  as  the  ex- 
hibitor believes  the  star  can  bring  additional  shekels 
to  the  box  office. 

Naturally,  Equitable  itself  expects  to  profit  from 
the  advertising  its  star  will  secure,  but  the  scheme  is 
not  wholly  a  selfish  one,  for  the  exhibitor  is  bound 
to  benefit  in  a  big  way  and  to  feel  deeply  grateful  to 
the  corporation  which  is  willing  to  supply  him  such  a 
drawing  card  as  the  personal  appearance  on  his  stage 
of  a  real  flesh  and  blood  film  actor  or  actress.  Presi- 
dent Spiegel  announces  that  in  the  future  all  the  stars 


Ann  Murdock  Already  at  Work 

Ann  Murdock,  little  star  of  "Captain  Jinks  of  the 
Horse  Marines,"  Essanay's  film  version  of  Clyde 
Fitch's  brilliant  comedy,  has  arrived  at  the  studio  and 
begun  work  in  the  production.  The  young  actress, 
prominent  in  the 
dramatic  firmament, 
is  ridiculously  young 
to  hold  such  place. 
Five  years  ago  she 
finished  her  studies 
at  a  boarding  school 
in  Philadelphia.  In 
June  of  that  year, 
any  ideas  she  may 
have  had  regarding  a 
stage  career  were 
most  certainly  nebu- 
lous. But  the  fol- 
lowing  September 
found  her  starring  in 
"The  Call  of  the 
North"  in  New  York, 
a  hastily  arranged 
and  produced  offer- 
ing of  Henry  B.  Har- 
ris. Under  the  Har- 
ris banner,  the  little 
lady   appeared   from 

time  to  time  in  such  short-lived  things  as  "The  Noble 
Spaniard."  Two  years  ago,  Charles  Frohman  offered 
her  a  contract  which  she  accepted  and  she  is  still  with 
him  on  the  stage.  Her  first  Frohman  play  was  "The 
Beautiful  Adventure,"  a  translation  from  the  French 
in  which  she  scored  heavily.  Then  she  appeared  in 
"A  Celebrated  Case."  After  another  successful  run 
she  created  the  role  of  the  bride  in  "Excuse  Me."  In 
"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Hors^e  Marines"  she  plays  the 
part  of  Trentoni,  the  prima  donna.  Richard  C.  Trav- 
ers  plays  opposite  her  in  the  title  role. 


Cyrus  Townsend  Brady  Defends  Films 

At  a  discussion  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Drama  League  in  the  Broad  Street  theater  of  Phila- 
delphia recently  Dr.  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  author 
of  "The  Island  of  Regeneration,"  "The  Chalice  of 
Courage,"  and  similar  well-known  film  dramas,  rep- 
resenting Commodore  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  the  Vita- 
graph  Company,  and  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  declared  that  the 
spoken  drama  rather  than  the  screen  is  on  the  defense. 
Dr.  Brady's  remarks  were  in  answer  to  the  comment 
made  upon  the  merit  of  the  spoken  drama  as  opposed  to 
the  film  drama  by  Howard  Kyle  of  the  Actor's  Associ- 
ation of  New  York,  Louis  Mann,  and  Miss  Elsie  Fer- 
guson. 

Mr.    Mann   declared   that   the   delicate    shades   of 


78 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


emotion  could  not  possibly  be  transferred  to  the  screen. 
Miss  Ferguson  asserted  that  at  best,  the  pictures  were 
but  a  substitute  form  of  expression. 

The  discussion,  which  was  arranged  by  J.  Howard 
Reber,  an  attorney  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  president 
of  the  Plays  and  Players  Association,  was  in  reality  a 
preliminary  meeting  to  a  debate  which  is  to  be  held 
by  the  Drama  League  on  censorship,  in  which  the 
Pennsylvania  Board  of  Censors  will  speak,  and  at 
which  time  there  will  be  launched,  the  first  organized 
attack  against  censorship  in  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Brady 
will  probably  also  take  part  in  this  meeting. 


GENERAL  SUED  FOR  $750,000 

Imperial  Film  Exchange  Brings  Action  Under  Sher- 
man Law  by  Which  It  Hopes  to  Collect  Huge 
Sum  for  Damages 

On  Friday  of  last  week  the  Imperial  Film  Ex- 
change of  New  York  City  brought  suit  for  $750,000 
in  the  United  States  District  Court  against  the  Gen- 
eral Film  Company,  the  Vitagraph  Company  of  Amer- 
ica, Pathe  Freres,  the  Edison  Company,  the  Essanay 
Film  Manufacturing  Company,  the  Kalem  Company, 
the  Selig  Polyscope  Company,  the  Lubin  Film  Manu- 
facturing Company,  George  Kleine  and  the  Motion 
Picture  Patents  Company,  alleging  that,  due  to  the 
unfair  business  methods  of  the  companies  sued,  the 
Imperial's  weekly  business  has  shrunk  from  a  profit 
of  $6,000  to  a  bare  $250. 

Though  alleging  that  as  a  result  of  the  combina- 
tion in  restraint  of  trade  it  has  suffered  a  loss  of  but 
$250,000  damages,  the  action  is  brought  for  triple  that 
amount,  or  $750,000,  as  the  Sherman  law  permits.  In 
its  complaint  the  Imperial  declares  that  it  was  organ- 
ized as  an  exchange  on  March  11,  1908,  and  recites 
that  from  this  modest  beginning  it  grew  into  one  of 
the  most  profitable  exchanges  in  the  United  States, 
so  that  on  April  26,  1910,  it  owned  and  possessed  in 
its  own  right  more  than  1,000  different  films  and  had 
more  than  130  regular  customers  and  making  a  profit 
in  excess  of  $50,000  per  year. 

Continuing,  the  complaint,  alleges  that  soon  after 
the  formation  of  the  General  Film  Company,  an  arbi- 
trary agreement  for  the  fixing  of  film  rentals  was 
entered  into  by  the  defendants  and  that  soon  there- 
after the  Kalem  Company,  Pathe  Freres,  and  the  Vita- 
graph  Company  of  America  filed  an  involuntary  peti- 
tion in  bankruptcy  against  the  Imperial  Film  Ex- 
change and  that  its  assets  were  placed  in  the  posses- 
sion of  a  receiver  who  was  empowered  to  continue 
the  business.  On  June  20,  1910,  the  bankruptcy  ref- 
eree reported  that  the  Imperial  was  solvent  and  eight 
days  later  the  district  court  vacated  the  receivership 
and  restored  the  property,  but  during  the  time  when 
the  exchange  was  in  the  hands  of  the  receiver  it  is 
alleged  the  General  Film  Company  obtained  a  large 
part  of  the  plaintiff's  business  and  upon  resuming  busi- 
ness the  Imperial  found  that  its  customers  had  been 
reduced  from  130  to  20,  and  in  consequence  its  busi- 
ness had  been  "ruined  and  destroyed." 


the  oldest  stage  families  of  Great  Britain,  whose  an- 
nals run  back  over  three  centuries.  A  fitting  vehicle 
has  been  provided  Miss  Collier  in  "The  Tongues  of 
Men,"  taken  from  the  stage  success  of  the  same  name 
which  was  presented  for  the  first  time  in  New  York 
in  October,  1913,  with  Henrietta  Crosman  in  the  lead- 
ing role.  The  original  play  met  with  the  instantaneous- 
approval  of  metropolitan  theatergoers  and  duplicated 
this  success  throughout  the  entire  country. 

Staged  with  usual  Morosco  thoroughness,  "The 
Tongues  of  Men"  offers  followers  of  high-class  photo- 
plays a  subject  that  will  not  only  please  the  most  exacting 
but  will  present  a  human  story  of  powerful  theme 
that  is  bound  to  create  more  than  ordinary  interest ; 
due  to  its  effective  treatment  by  the  players  as  well 
as  the  technical  staff.  A  spectacular  interest  is  in- 
cluded in  this  screen  play  through  the  filming  of  the 
grand  opera  scenes  in  a  real  metropolitan  playhouse, 
the  Morosco.  the  show-going  center  of  Los  Angeles, 
conceded  to  be  the  finest  theater  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

Supporting  Constance  Collier,  Oliver  Morosco  has 
selected  another  notable  cast  headed  by  Forrest  Stan- 
ley, as  Rev.  Penfield  Sturgis,  who  denounces  from  the 
pulpit  the  grand  opera  "Zaporah"  and  its  prima  donna, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  has  never  witnessed 
the  performance.  Other  important  roles  are  entrusted 
to  such  artists  as  Herbert  Standing,  Lamar  Johnstone, 
Lydia  Yeamans  Titus,  Helen  Eddy,  the  newest  "find" 
in  filmdom,  and  Elizabeth  Burbridge.  Frank  Lloyd, 
whose  remarkable  direction  of  "The  Gentleman  from 
Indiana"  has  brought  him  to  the  fore,  staged  the  latest 
Morosco  offering,  the  camera  work  having  been  han- 
dled by  Fred  Dobson.  "The  Tongues  of  Men"  will 
be  released  on  the  Paramount  Program  January  6. 


Censorship  Proves  Profitable 

The  Kansas  film  censorship  law  has  been  in 
actual  operation  seven  and  one-half  months  and  Su- 
perintendent W.  D.  Ross,  designated  as  state  censor 
by  the  legislature,  in  a  report  just  issued  announces 
that  he  has  colleced  $14,164  in  fees,  and  has  expended 
$2,778.71  in  enforcing  the  law,  leaving  the  state  a  net 
profit  of  $11,385.29,  according  to  the  records  in  the 
office  of  W.  E.  Davis,  state  auditor. 

During  November  the  censors  inspected  1,114 
reels,  collecting  $2,228.  The  receipts  fell  off  slightly 
from  the  October  record,  when  $2,256  was  collected  for 
passing  on  1,128  reels.  The  receipts  for  the  other 
months  since  the  censorship  law  actually  went  into 
effect,  April  12,  follow:  April,  $930;  May,  $1,258; 
Tune,  $1,480;  July,  $1,578;  August  $2,202;  September, 
$2,232. 


Next  Morosco-Paramount  Release 

In  the  next  offering  to  Paramount  patrons,  the 
Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Company  presents  for  the 
first  time  in  films  Constance  Collier,  one  of  the  finest 
actresses  in  England  and  the  last  member  of  one  of 


Mirror  Gets  Rea  Martin 

After  two  years  of  touring  as  "Peg"  in  Oliver  Mo- 
rosco's  southern  "Peg  O'  My  Heart"  Company,  Rea 
Martin  has  decided  to  spend  the  remainder  of  her 
days  before  the  public  in  front  of  the  motion  picture 
camera.  She  came  to  that  decision  last  week  when 
she  agreed  to  become  a  leading  ingenue  for  Mirror 
Films,  Inc.  Miss  Martin  had  just  finished  working  in 
the  film  version  of  Clyde  Fitch's  great  play  "The  City," 
in  which  she  had  the  part  originated  on  the  stage  by 
Mary  Nash.  She  will  start  work  at  the  Mirror  studio 
early  in  January  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Harry 
Lambart.  The  new  Mirror  star  has  had  considerable 
experience  in  picture  work  in  addition  to  her  stage 
experience.     She  has  appeared  in  films  for  the  Bio- 


January  8,  1916 


Editors:  ED  J.  MOCK  and  PAOL  H.  WOODRUFF 


Advertising  Manager:  ALIEN  L  HAASE 

NEW  YORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGACRE  BUILDING 

Forty-second  Street  and  Broadway 

Telephone  Bryant  7030 

CHARLES  R.  CONBDN,  Eastern  Representative 

This  publication  is  free  and 
ndependent  of  all  business  or 
wuse  connections  or  control.  No 
nanufacturer  or  supply  dealer, 
>r    their    stockholders    or    repre- 


Entered   at  Chicago  Post   Office 
as    Second    Class    Mall    Matter 


MOTOGRAPHY 

THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 
CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:      Harrison  3014 — All  Departments 


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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  8,  1916 


Number  2 


Federal  Censorship  Threatens  Again 

FOR  the  third  time  bills  to  create  a  federal  board  of  censors  for  motion  pictures  have  been 
introduced  as  House  bill  No.  456  and  Senate  bill  No.  2204.  Similar  bills  have  twice  met 
defeat.  They  must  be  beaten  this  third  time  so  decisively  that  they  will  not  dare  show  their 
heads  again. 

It  is  difficult  to  understand  how  the  principle  of  censorship,  abhorrent  to  the  very  funda- 
mentals of  Americanism,  can  have  gained  sufficient  recognition  to  be  seriously  considered. 
We  know  that  the  parallel  censoring  of  news,  or  curbing  of  free  speech,  would  not  be  toler- 
ated while  conditions  of  peace  prevailed  in  this  country.  The  censorship  of  pictures  is  toler- 
ated because  the  large  body  of  the  people,  slow  of  wrath  and  chary  of  retribution,  have  not  yet 
conceived  the  assurance  that  the  pictures  are  their  own.  Through  long  custom  they  hold  to 
free  speech  and  free  press  as  the  privileges  of  their  constitution,  to  be  held  at  all  costs. 
When  they  realize,  as  they  must,  that  the  pictures  are  as  much  their  right,  and  that  the  pub- 
lishers of  such  pictures  are  responsible  in  common  law  to  them  and  their  machinery  of  law 
and  order,  they  will  repudiate  censorship  as  a  bureaucratic  invasion  of  the  freeman's  do- 
main. 

A  motion  picture  before  publication — that  is,  before  it  is  released  to  the  public — no  more 
exists  than  does  a  newspaper  still  in  the  proofroom  of  its  publication  office.  Government, 
whether  national,  state  or  municipal,  has  police  power  to  remove  that  which  offends  the  laws 
of  the  commonwealth.  A  free  press  does  not  mean  that  printed  matter  may  be  immoral  or 
improper.  Free  speech  does  not  mean  that  public  utterance  may  be  obscene  or  tend  to  en- 
courage disorder.  Free  pictures  does  not  mean  that  the  bars  of  decency  may  be  let  down. 
And  government  has  efficient  machinery  for  the  punishment  of  those  who  infract  these  plain 
rules. 

But  government  cannot  invade  the  editorial  sanctum  of  a  newspaper  and  confiscate  its 
"copy."  Even  in  the  war-ridden  countries  of  Europe,  where  censorship  has  reached  its  high- 
est peak,  the  censors  know  better  than  to  try  that.  The  publishers  know  what  they  may  and 
may  not  publish.  If  they  overstep  the  boundary,  they  are  punished  for  the  deed — after  it  is 
committed,  not  before. 

The  speaker  may  be  punished  for  injudicious  speech — after  he  has  uttered  it.  No  power 
on  earth  can  make  him  reveal  in  advance,  for  purposes  of  censorship,  what  he  is  about  to 
utter. 

The  maker  of  pictures  may  be  punished  for  any  infractions  of  those  ample  laws  already 
covering  all  possibilities  of  his  departure  from  propriety.  No  power  save  that  of  arbitrary 
bureaucracy  can  make  him  divulge  in  advance  what  he  purposes  to  show. 

The  censorship  of  motion  pictures  before  their  publication  is  the  most  dangerous  serpent 
of  official  interference  that  has  ever  entered  the  garden  of  free  American  life.  Only  the  speci- 
ous reasoning  that  it  pertains  to  a  single  business  industry  saves  it  from  the  righteous  indig- 
nation of  the  people.    They  have  not  yet  seen  it  as  a  virulent  canker  that,  given  nourishment, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


must  grow  and  spread,  the  first  great  blight  upon  an 
otherwise  ideal  social  system. 

Our  congress  creates  laws  without  direct  public 
approval.  That  is  its  function.  It  cannot  take  a  pop- 
ular vote  on  measures  before  it.  It  can  only  v/ork  on 
what  it  assumes  to  be  the  will  of  the  people,  for  the 
good  of  the  people.  Those  who  disagree  cannot  make 
their  protests  felt  by  mental  telepathy,  nor  by  conver- 
sation among  friends.  The  United  States  mails  and 
the  Postal  and  Western  Union  Telegraph  Companies 
provide  means  whereby  every  man  may  appeal  directly 
to  his  representative  at  Washington.  Every  congress- 
man is  quite  willing  to  abide  by  the  wishes  of  his  con- 
stituents, if  he  knows  what  those  wishes  are.  He  can- 
not always  guess  them  successfully. 

The  people  do  not  want  censorship — that  is  self- 
evident.  But  they  are  not  actively  antagonistic  to  it, 
because  they  know  little  about  it.  It  is  your  duty  as 
a  motion  picture  exhibitor  to  tell  them  about  it.  You 
have  both  the  motive  and  the  means.  It  is  a  matter 
threatening  your  business  and  their  freedom.  You 
must  make  that  clear  to  them.  Your  screen  is  the 
means — the  most  powerful  means  ever  offered  for  car- 
rying a  message  to  the  public. 

First  of  all  write  a  note  to  your  congressman  pro- 
testing against  House  resolution  No.  456  and  Senate 
bill  No.  2204.  Then  go  to  the  editors  of  your  local 
papers,  with  whom,  if  you  have  played  the  game  right, 
you  are  on  good  terms.  Discuss  the  censorship  prob- 
lem with  them  frankly  and  fully.  Tell  them  what  it 
means  to  your  business,  and  still  more  important,  what 
it  means  to  the  people  and  to  the  American  spirit. 
You  can  make  him  see  it — he  cannot  avoid  the  right 
conclusion.    Ask  him  to  write  an  editorial  about  it. 

If  you  have  made  friends  among  your  patrons — it 
is  a  poor  exhibitor  who  has  not — do  not  hesitate  to 
talk  to  them  about  censorship.  Tell  them  about  the 
bills  now  up  for  consideration.  Get  their  signatures  to 
a  protest  for  your  representative. 

Use  your  screen.  Make  some  slides,  and  if  you 
can  talk,  lecture  them..  The  subject  is  interesting,  and 
your  people  have  the  right  to  know  about  it.  Appar- 
ently nobody  but  you  can  or  will  tell  them — so  it  is 
up  to  you. 

The  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  has  already 
demanded  a  hearing  on  this  federal  censorship  bill. 
You  can  do  no  less  than  give  it  all  the  support  in 
your  power. 


Motion-Picture  Situation  in  Costa  Rica 

(J.  S.  Consul  C.  Donaldson,  at  Port  Limon,  reports 
French  and  Italian  films  are  almost  universally  in  use 
al  the  motion-picture  theaters  of  Port  Limon  and  district. 
However,  it  is  patent  to  any  observer  that  when,  at  rare 
intervals,  an  American  film  is  exhibited  the  general  pub- 
lic prefers  it  to  those  of  European  production;  yet  the 
latter  have  the  "right  of  way,"  and  either  on  account  of 
cheapness  or  because  of  prejudice,  are  about  the  only 
films  seen.  As  a  result  of  this  disregard  of  public  opinion 
the  motion-picture  business  is  falling  off,  and  now  an 
exhibition  only  once  or  twice  a  week  fails  to  attract  an 
audience  and  the  theaters  are  almost  empty. 

The  custom  in  this  country  has  been  for  one  firm 
|  whose  address  may  be  obtained  from  the  Bureau  of  For- 
eign and  Domestic  Commerce  or  its  branch  offices  by 
referring  to  file  No.  67737]  to  import  all  the  films,  which 
afterwards  are  shown  in  turn  in  the  different  theaters 
in  Costa  Rica. 


Just  a  Moment  Please 


Between  Christmas  and  New  Year's  is  our  notion  of  no 
time  in  which  to  grind  a  column  like  this. 

With  a  holiday  spirit  in  the  very  air  it's  harderenell  to  get 
anything  done. 

However,  we've  got  to  acknowledge  our  thanks  to  a  host 
of  good  fellows  who  remembered  us  with  Christmas  cards 
and  best  wishes  for  the  New  Year,  not  to  mention  a  heap  of 
other  good  things  that  the  mail  man  brought  in. 

Beautifully  worded  and  tastefully  designed  cards  were 
received  from  May  Allison,  Bill  Barry,  the  Board  of  Trade, 
Ralph  Bradford,  Joe  Brandt,  T.  C.  Brown  of  the  Scenic 
theater,  Bellefonte,  Pa.;  George  Carpenter  of  the  Notable 
exchange  at  Salt  Lake  City;  Charley  Condon,  George  Cox, 
Victor  Eubank,  George  W.  Graves,  Paul  Hobart,  Arthur 
James,  Tom  Kennedy,  Ed  Kohl,  W.  Fay  Lynch,  E.  Lanning 
Masters,  Phil  Mindil,  R.  R.  Nehls,  William  Noble,  Harry  Reich- 
enbach,  Ben  Schulberg,  Julian  M.  Solomon,  Jr.,  H.  Tipton  Steck, 
William  J.  Sweeney,  Stanley  Twist,  the  V.  L.  S.  E.'s  Boston 
branch,  Charley  Ver  Halen,  Harry  Weiss  and  William  Lord 
Wright,  not  to  mention  a  lot  of  others. 

Some  mightily  appreciated  Christmas  letters  also  landed 
on  our  desk  from  Clarence  J.  Caine,  J.  F.  Leonard,  Henry 
McMahon,  Harry  H.  Poppe  and  Jake  Wilk.  And  to  help 
us  keep  our  1916  dates  Horkheimer  Brothers,  "Watty" 
Rothacker  of  Industrial  Motion  Picture,  and  Richard  Willis 
each  slipped  us  a  neat  little  calendar.  To  Ted  and  Leo  Whar- 
ton we  also  want  to  express  our  thanks  for  a  box  of  cigars, 
each  one  of  which  is  about  as  long  as  us.  (Guess  they  must 
be  the  kind  Wallingford  and  Blackie  Daw  smoke.) 

To  each  and  every  one  of  the  bunch  who  remembered 
us  we  want  to  again  express  our  thanks  and  with  it  goes  the 
wish  that  1916  may  be  the  best  of  their  career  to  date,  with 
still  better  things  to  follow. 

And  now,  to  change  the  subject,  we  want  to  register  our 
amazement  at  the  following  little  story  that  we  discovered  in 
the  Christmas  number  of  the  Photoplayers  Weekly,  published 
in  Los  Angeles: 

The   publicity   departments   of   the   various   near-by    studios 


We  have  long  conceded  these  western  dopesters  to  be 
experts  in  their  line,  but  now  we  can  more  than  guess  where 
they  get  their  inspirations. 

OUR  BURG. 

Carl    Laemnile   transacted   biz.    in   Our   Village   last   wk. 

Bill  Wright,  w.  k.  Selig  dopester,  left  hurridly  for  Bloom  Center  to 
spend   the   Holly   days. 

The  famous  "Red"  Tessen  of  Los  Angeles  was  a  caller  at  Ye  Ed's 
sanctum    on    Tues.    of    this    week.      Come   again,    old    top,    we    enjoyed    the 

Our  Burg  was   buried  under   a  fall   of  "the  beautiful"   on   Fri.   last. 
"Hen"  McRae   of  the   Pac.   coast,   was  a  visitor  to  Our   Village  last  wk. 
before   departing   for   the    w.    k.    Orient.      Look    out    for   the   Yellow    Peril, 

Tom  Kennedj'  hands  us  a  laugh  with  the  following  brief 
report  which  arrived  this  wk. 

Somebody  lost  the  key  to  the  projection  room  at  Fathe'a 
today,  so  there  was  no  show.  Bed  Circle  review  will  have  to  wait 
till  next  week. 

Clarke  Irvine  of  Los  Angeles  offers  to  supply  us  with 
a  Movie  Mascot  for  the  radiator  cap  of  our  automobile. 
Thanks,  Clarke,  shoot  it  alone;  and  tell  somebodj  to  send 
us  an  auto  to  put  it  on. 

Tom  Hamlin,  of  Amusements,  surmises  we'll  drink  a 
whole  bottle  of  ink  upon  discovering  the  combination  of  green 
and  yellow  on  his  cover  for  this  week.  And  that  ain't  the 
worst  of  it,  Tom.  What  about  the  stuff  that's  read  (red— 
N.  B.  joke)  on  the  inside? 

Gee,  it  takes  nerve  to  pull  this  stuff. 

So  we'll  subside.  N.  G.  C. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Other  Side  of  the  Door" 

American's  Five-Reel   Mutual  Masterpiece   De  Luxe 
of  Jan.  6.    Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

AMERICAN'S  first  Masterpicture  to  be  released  on  the 
i ^  De  Luxe  Edition  program  is  a  five-reel  picture  on  the 
well  known  story  "The  Other  Side  of  the  Door,"  by  Lucia 
Chamberlain.     This   production,   one   of  beauty  and  interest, 


Ellie  c 


t  party  and  i 


s  the  young  Southerner. 


is  to  be  released  January  6.  The  action  takes  place  in  Cali- 
fornia ahout  the  year  of  1865  and  the  costuming  and  settings 
are  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  time.  One  especially  no- 
ticeable scene  of  the  early  period  is  the  horse-power  street 
car  used  in  one  of  the  street  scenes.  Thomas  Ricketts  di- 
rected the  production  and  obtained  the  best  possible  results 
in  both  action  and  photography. 

The  story  is  a  very  interesting  one  with  an  element  of 
mystery  in  it,  which  is  not  cleared  up  until  the  final  scenes. 
Suspicion  points  to  one  of  three  people,  but  the  guilty  one  is 
not  suspected.  Harold  Lockwood  as  John  Montgomery  and 
May  Allison  as  Ellie  Fenwick,  two  stars  whose  mere  name 
appearing  in  a  cast  assures  a  splendid  production,  play  the 
leading  roles.  Josephine  Humphreys  as  Carlotta,  an  adven- 
turess, does  some  very  vivid  playing.  The  rest  of  the  cast 
including  William  Stowell  as  Marton  Rood,  the  gambler; 
Harry  Von  Meter  as  Dingley,  the  district  attorney;  Walter 
Spencer  as  Willie  Felton  and  Dick  LaReno  as  Fenwick, 
Ellie's  father,  all  do  convincing  work. 

John  Montgomery,  a  young  southerner,  is  left  a  fortune. 
Being  handsome  and  rich  he  is  eagerly  sought  after  and  soon 
has  the  reputation  of  being  a  wild  young  man.  At  a  ball  he 
meets  one  Ellie  Fenwick  and  although  their  meeting  is  mo- 
mentary love  has  been  kindled  in  both  hearts.  Montgomery 
soon  falls  in  with  a  fast  set  of  young  fellows  and  is  intro- 
duced into  Martin  Rood's  gambling  house  where  he  loses 
large  sums  of  money  and  finally  sinks  the  rest  of  his  fortune 
in  a  mining  scheme  which  leaves  him  bankrupt. 

Later  he  meets  Carlotta,  an  adventuress,  who  is  Rood's 
mistress,  and  she  falls  in  love  with  him.  She  tries  to  keep 
him  in  ignorance  of  the  true  relationship  between  herself  and 
Rood  and  Montgomery's  reputation  among  his  former  friends 
suffers  severely  because  of  his  fast  profligate  life  and  although 
Ellie  loves  him  she  is  forbidden  by  her  father  to  see  him 
any  more. 

Montgomery,  infatuated  with  Carlotta,  becomes  furious 
at  the  rumors  he  hears  regarding  her  relationship  with  Rood 
and  despite  her  denials  he  feels  sure  there  is  something  in 
the  rumors.  One  morning  Ellie  returning  from  the  market 
very  early  is  passing  Rood's  gambling  house  when  she  hears 
a    pistol    shot,    sees    Rood    stagger    out    through    the    slatted 


swinging  doors  and  Montgomery  with  a  smoking  pistol  in 
his  hand  follows  and  stands  over  the  dying  man. 

The  next  day  Montgomery  is  arrested  and  the  district 
attorney,  whose  past  is  in  the  hands  of  Carlotta,  is  told  by 
her  that  unless  Montgomery  is  acquitted  she  will  reveal  his 
past.  He  tells  her  that  the  only  trouble  is  that  Ellie  will 
have  to  testify  and  that  will  mean  that  he  will  be  proven 
guilty.  Valencia  traps  Ellie  in  her  home  and  there  tries  to 
force  her  not  to  testify  at  the  trial,  but  Ellie  manages  to 
escape  and  the  next  day  gives  the  testimony  which  results 
in  Montgomery  being  sentenced  to  death. 

In  the  meantime  Carlotta  has  bribed  a  band  of  Mexicans 
to  rescue  Montgomery.  This  they  do  and  some  days  later 
Ellie  sees  Montgomery  in  the  country  dressed  as  a  Mexican. 
He  gets  into  the  carriage  with  her,  but  he  is  recognized  and 
attacked  by  an  angry  mob.  Ellie  flees  for  refuge  to  Valen- 
cia's home  and  there  finds  the  woman  beautifully  gowned 
and  sitting  in  her  queenly  throne  dead.  Before  she  had  died 
she  had  written  a  letter,  however,  which  cleared  up  the  mur- 
der of  Rood  and  with  this  letter  in  her  hand  Ellie  arrives 
just  in  time  to  save  Montgomery  from  death  at  the  hands 
of  the  angry  mob.  The  letter  declares  that  Valencia  had 
gone  to  the  saloon  that  night  and  saw  Montgomery  and 
Rood  quarreling,  had  shot  him  herself  and  escaped  through 
the  back  door. 


.  "The  Surprises  of  an  Empty  Hotel" 

A   Four-Reel  Vitagraph  Personally  Picked  Program 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

IN  "The  Surprises  of  an  Empty  Hotel"  Vitagraph's  Per- 
sonally Picked  Program  presents  a  diverting  melodramatic 
romance  which  is  commendably  produced  and  finely  enacted 
by  Charles  Richman,  Arline  Pretty  and  a  well  chosen  sup- 
porting cast.  There  are  melodramatic  villains  who  would 
put  the  charming  Lucie  out  of  the  way  so  they  may  gain 
possession  of  the  fortune  left  her  by  a  husband  she  married 
only  a  few  moments  before  his  death  to  give  zest  to  the 
nicely  done  love  scenes  and  to  give  Mr.  Richman  a  chance 
to  make  a  daring  rescue.  To  be  exact  there  are  two  rescues, 
both  well  handled  and  as  exciting  as  the  director  desired 
them  to  be. 

"The  Surprises  of  an  Empty  Hotel"  is  an  enjoyable  but 
not  realistic  story.  The  production  is  realistic  and  the  acting 
is  convincing.  The  production  is  also  artistic,  the  direction 
being  the  work  of  Theodore  Marston.  Most  of  the  action 
takes  place  at  a  sea  side  resort  and  these  have  pleasing  set- 
tings. One  particularly  good  setting  is  that  which  is  given 
the  scene  wherein  Marchmont  in  a  row  boat  overtakes  and 
overpowers  a  member  of  the  intriguing  clique  who  attempts 
to  kidnap  Lucie.     Also  this  scene  is  not  overdone.     Mr.  Mar- 


i  "The  Surp; 


>/  an  Empty  Hotel." 


ston  is  one  of  that  select  class  of  directors  who  recognize 
the  limitations  of  a  situation  of  this  kind,  and  treat  it  accord- 
ingly. 

The  title  of  the  story  applies  to  the   Continental  Hotel, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


which  is  emptied  toward  the  close  of  one  season  by  a  case  or 
two  of  diptheria.  The  following  summer  Francis  March- 
mont,  who  left  before  the  scare,  returns  to  the  Continental. 
The  proprietor  gloomily  explains  the  reason  his  hotel  is 
empty.  Marchmont  rather  likes  the  idea  of  being  the  only 
guest.  A  few  days  later  a  very  attractive  young  woman 
registers  at  the  Continental  as  Mrs.  Fairbanks  and  it  is  only 
a  matter  of  a  few  hours  before  she  and  Marchmont  make 
each  other's  acquaintance. 

Mrs.  Fairbanks  is  the  widow  of  a  wealthy  westerner  who 
died  in  Paris  and  the  news  that  he  married  her  only  a  few 
minutes  before  his  death  fills  a  certain  adventuress  and  her 
associates  with  the  hope  that  they  may  claim  Bent's  estate 
by  pretending  that  the  adventuress  is  his  widow.  It  is  knowl- 
edge of  this  plot  which  determines  Lucie  to  live  in  obscurity 
for  a  time.  The  attempts  of  the  plotters  to  put  Lucy  out  of 
the  way  gives  stimulus  to  the  romance  which  results  from 
the  meeting  between  Marchmont  and  "Mrs.  Fairbanks." 

The  blowing  up  of  a  yacht,  which  marks  the  climax  of 
the  play,  is  very  effective.  Charles  Richmond  renders  one 
•of  his  finished  performances  as  Marchmont  and  Arline  Pretty 
is  as  good  to  look  at  as  ever  she  was  in  the  role  of  Lucie. 
Other  Vitagraph  players  who  are  seen  to  advantage  are  Ethel 
Cocoran,  William  Dunn,  Robert  Gaillard,  Charles  Eldridge 
and  Leo  Delaney. 


"Twenty  Years  Later" 

Third  Episode  of  the  Pathe-Balboa's  "The  Red  Circle" 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

'THE  greater  part  of  the  third  episode  of  the  Pathe-Balboa 
*  serial  "The  Red  Circle,"  is  given  to  showing  how  June 
Travis,  who  is  the  daughter  of  "Circle"  Jim  Borden,  came  to 
be  brought  up  by  Mrs.  Travis,  who,  it  transpires,  is  still 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that  June  is  not  her  own  child.  The 
title  of  the  release  is  "Twenty  Years  Later."  Though  the 
events  of  twenty  years  ago  are  given  with  a  requisite  amount 
of  detail  the  story  as  started  in  the  opening  episode  advances 
to  a  certain  extent.  This  gives  evidence  as  to  the  amount  of 
action  with  a  distinct  bearing  on  the  story  these  two  reels 
contain. 

As  to  the  story  in  general,  it  may  be  said  that  it  is 
pleasing  in  every  respect  Even  the  slightest  development  is 
built  up  with  remarkable  plausibility.  Toward  the  end  of 
"Twenty  Years  Later"  Lamar  while  visiting  June  finds  a 
clue  to  the  mystery  which  he  is  trying  to  solve.  This  is  a 
portion  of  one  of  the  burnt  notes  of  the  loan  shark.  This  is 
handed  to  June  by  the  well  meaning  Jap  butler  who  finds 
it  in  her  room  and  the  reason  for  his  presence  in  her  room 
is  to  gather  up  the  fragments  of  a  large  vase  which  she  ac- 
cidently  broke.     So  it  is  with  all  the  incidents.     There  is  a 


[  from  "Twi 


logical  reason  for  every  character's  goings  and  comings. 
The  material  has  dramatic  value  and  Will  M.  Ritchey  has 
expertly  constructed  the  scenarios. 

As  with  stories  of  this  kind  the  players  have  acting  op- 
portunities. This  is  true  of  Ruth  Roland  particularly,  but 
then  Miss  Roland  is  well  in  the  foreground  of  almost  every 
picture  in  which  she  appears.     Corine  Grant  as  the  nurse  is 


prominent  in  this  release  and  she  does  very  well.  Frank 
Mayo  is  a  satisfactory  Max  Lamar.  Sherwood  McDonald's 
direction  is  of  the  kind  that  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired. 

In  the  opening  scenes  the  nurse  explains  to  June  how 
she,  the  daughter  of  the  notorious  Jim  Borden,  came  to  be 
substituted  for  the  new-born  child  of  Mrs.  Travis,  who  upon 
regaining  consciousness  was  so  enraptured  that  the  nurse 
had  not  the  courage  to  tell  her  how  her  own  baby  was  taken 
away  and  that  this  child  was  born  to  another.  Then  with 
horror  June  learns  that  she  has  an  inherent  criminal  ten- 
dency. To  remove  Lamar's  suspicion  of  June  because  of 
the  note,  Mary  dressed  in  the  girl's  clothes  and  wearing  a 
veil  as  June  did  on  the  day  she  robbed  Grant,  walks  past 
the  detective.  He  follows  her  to  a  vacant  garage  and  as 
the  picture  fades  he  attempts  to  break  in   the   door. 


wi. 


"A  Soldier's  Oath" 

Fox  Five-Reel  Production  Released  Dec.  19.  Reviewed 
by  John  C.  Garrett 

'1LLIAM  FARNUM  is  featured  in  the  Fox  production, 
"A  Soldier's  Oath,"  released  December  19.  This  pic- 
ture is  an  interesting  one  and  Mr.  Farnum  has  a  very  good 
cast  supporting  him,  which  includes  amongst  others,  Dorothy 
Bernard,  Louise  Thatcher,  Benjamin  Marburgh,  Henry  A. 
Barrows,  Walter  Connolly,  Will  Lois,  Louis  V.  Hart  and 
Anna  Findlay.  It  was  produced  by  Oscar  Apfel  and  the 
scenario  written  by  Oscar  Apfel  and  Mary  Murillo. 

William  Farnum's  presentation  of  Pierre  Duval  is  con- 
vincing. It  is  a  sympathetic  role  and  he  makes  the  most  of 
it.  The  story  has  action  and  interest  throughout  and  the 
picture  is  well  photographed. 

Pierre  Duval,  a  soldier,  is  entrusted  with  papers  and 
jewels  by  the  Count  de  Morave  and  leaves  to  take  them  to 
the  young  Viscount  de  Reyntiens.  Lazare,  a  crook,  knows 
that  Pierre  has  the  jewels  and  determines  to  get  them.  Duval 
leaves  the  battlefield  and  gives  the  jewels  to  his  wife  to 
hide  and  soon  afterward  she  is  confronted  by  Lazare.  who 
steals  the  jewels  and  murder's  her.  Later  Pierre  is  accused 
of  the  crime  and  sentenced  to  life  imprisonment,  while  Mavis, 
his  young  daughter,  is  adopted  by  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
D'Auberge,  who  know  nothing  of  her  parentage. 

Some  years  later  Pierre  proves  himself  a  hero  in  rescuing 
fellow  prisoners  in  a  prison  fire  and  is  pardoned.  He  gets 
employment  with  a  priest,  who  is  the  tutor  to  the  young 
Viscount  de  Reyntiens  and  who  is  in  love  with  Mavis.  The 
girl  has  been  betrothed  to  Lazare,  who  in  possession  of  the 
papers  passes  himself  off  as  the  Count  de  Morave  and  gives 
Mavis  a  necklace  that  once  belonged  to  Margot. 

When  Pierre  sees  the  chain  on  the  young  girl's  neck  he 
knows  that  Lazare  is  an  imposter  and  the  murderer  of  his 
wife  and  as  the  picture  fades  from  the  screen  we  see  Lazare 
being  convicted  of  the  murder,  while  Pierre  with  his  daughter 
and  the  young  Viscount  are  happy  together. 


"The  Devil's  Prayer-Book" 

Five-Reel     Kleine-Edison     Feature.       Reviewed     by 
Thomas  C.   Kennedy 

THE  Kleine-Edison  Feature  produced  by  George  Kleine 
A  entitled  "The  Devil's  Prayer-Book"  tells  an  interesting 
and  well  constructed  story  of  crime  effectively.  Several 
good  melodramatic  situations  are  presented  by  this  story  of 
a  gambler  who  deserts  his  wife  and  child,  and  later,  while 
living  in  affluence  and  respectability,  this  daughter  now  the 
tool  of  some  crooks  attempts  to  rob  him,  an  act  for  which  she 
is  relentlessly  prosecuted  by  him.  The  production  has  the 
appropriate  settings  usually  found  in  a  Kleine  picture  and 
likewise  the  good  photography. 

Max  Marcin,  the  author  of  "The  House  of  Glass,"  a 
present  Broadway  success,  wrote  the  story.  The  penalty 
which  Sprague  pays  for  his  study  and  attachment  to  the 
deck  of  cards  justifies  the  significant  term  "The  Devil's 
Prayer-Book"  which  is  of  German  origin.  The  story  has  the 
clement  of  heart  interest  regarded  so  essential  in  plays  and 
especially  in  crook  plays.  This  interest  is  centered  upon  the 
young  girl  whose  better  impulses  were  given  no  opportunity 
to  develop  in  the  environment  in  which  she  was  brought  up. 

Alma  Hanlon  is  seen  as  the  gambler's  wife  in  the  intro- 
duction and  his  daughter  in  the  main  part  of  the  story.  Miss 
Hanlon  is  conscientious  in  all  her  efforts.  Arthur  Hoops  is 
Albert  Sprague,  alias  Al  Spencer.  His  acting  seems  to  be  just 
that  all  the  time,  in  no  scene  does  he  impress  as  being  natural 
or   at    ease.     Mr.    Hoops   has    to   his    credit    some    excellent 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


83 


screen  portrayals  but  he  really  does  not  do  justice  to  the 
part  entrusted  to  him  in  this  picture.  Frank  Belcher  plays 
John  Springer  and  Ruby  Hoffman  does  well  as  his  wife. 
Tom  Coventry  is  Tom  Sprague  and  Carlyle  Fleming  as  the 


from  "The  Devil's  Prayer-Book." 


accomplice  who  turns  state's  evidence  to  save  the  girl  he  loves 
stands  out  prominently  in  a  cast  whose  well  known  names 
give  rise  to  expectations  which  are  not  fulfilled. 

In  the  introduction  we  see  Al  Spencer,  a  "society"  gam- 
bler who  will  cheat  as  quickly  and  often  as  the  opportunity 
presents  itself.  After  robbing  a  man  he  decamps  leaving  his 
wife  and  child  to  care  for  themselves  as  best  they  can.  The 
wife  dies  and  the  child  is  adopted  by  a  man  and  woman.  The 
woman  is  a  shoplifter  and  the  man  is  also  a  lifter  but  he 
does  not  confine  his  operations  to  shops. 

Fifteen  years  later  Spencer,  now  known  as  Sprague,  is 
married  again  to  a  widow  with  a  son.  Springer  and  his  wife 
effect  a  welcome  into  the  Sprague  home  with  their  daughter, 
Nell.  The  girl  is  taken  ill  and  forced  to  remain  there  for  a 
number  of  days.  She  confesses  to  Tom  Sprague,  with  whom 
she  is  now  in  love  that  she  is  an  imposter  and  has  come  there 
to  rob  his  mother's  jewel  safe.  Springer  then  makes  a  bold 
stroke  and  one  result  of  this  is  the  shooting  to  death  of  Tom. 
Sprague  has  Nell  arrested  and  convicted  of  complicity.  But 
when  Sprague  learns  that  Nell  is  his  daughter  he  uses  his 
influence  to  have  her  pardoned  and  a  happy  reunion  follows. 


hospital,  but  on  recovering,  learns  that  during  the  period  he 
lay  unconscious  on  his  cot,  his  maiden  aunt  had  died,  leaving 
him  as  a  legacy  a  Massachusetts  seminary  containing  two 
hundred  lively,  entertaining  young  ladies.  Needless  to  say, 
Jack  hastens  to  claim  his  legacy,  only  to  discover  that  the 
vacation  season  has  just  begun,  and  his  two  hundred  fair  ones 
are  about  to  depart  for  their  homes. 

Jack  foresees  a  long  period  of  rest  and  quiet  in  the  empty 
college  buildings,  but  discovers  that  such  is  not  to  be  the 
case,  for  while  reading  in  the  library  that  night,  he  is  sur- 
prised to  have  one  of  the  young  ladies  appear  before  him  in 
a  badly  dishevelled  condition.  She  proves  to  be  Pepita,  Gov. 
Barada's  daughter,  who  had  been  a  student  at  the  school.  She 
tells  Langdon  that  her  father  is  awaiting  her  in  New  York, 
but  that  her  governess,  Senorita  Del  Deros,  had  plotted  with 
Miguel  Alba  to  take  her  to  Boston  where  Alba  intended  to 
force  her  to  marry  him. 

Jack  learns  that  Pepita  had  jumped  from  a  moving  train 
on  which  she  was  being  carried  away,  and  had  returned  to 
the  seminary,  that  being  the  only  place  of  refuge  she  felt 
sure  of.  Jack  hides  her,  and  later  refuses  Alba  and  Pepita's 
governess,  when  they  come  to  claim  the  girl. 

Later  Barada  arrives,  and  after  expressing  his  gratitude 
to  Langdon  for  the  latter's  protection  of  his  daughter,  he 
assures  him  that  if  he  will  return  to  Peru,  the  road  to  success 
will  be  both  easy  and  sure.  Langdon,  after  another  glance 
at  the  girl,  agrees  to  return,  just  as  the  picture  ends. 


"The  Hills  of  Glory" 

Two-Reel  Mustang  Picture  to  Be  Released  January  7 
Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

IMAGINE  yourself  to  be  a  well  known  young  physician 
who  is  called  into  the  mountains  of  Virginia  to  attend 
■  to  a  friend  who  has  been  hurt  in  a  railroad  accident.  Upon 
arriving  there  you  are  kidnaped  and  carried  off  into  the 
mountains  where  you  are  forced  to  doctor  an  old  woman  and 
while  there  meet  a  charming  young  girl.  This  is  the  predica- 
ment Dr.  Justus  McCanna  finds  himself  in  in  the  two-reel 
Mustang  production,  "The  Hills  of  Glory,"  to  be  released 
January  7. 

E.  Forrest  Taylor,  whose  work  in  Mustang  brand  pic- 
tures has  been  excellent,  is  cast  as  Dr.  Justus  McCanna, 
Helene  Rosson  does  most  convincing  work  as  Cherry  Blos- 


"Langdon's  Legacy" 

Warren    Kerrigan    in    Universal    Broadway    Feature 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

I  WARREN  KERRIGAN,  famous  matinee  idol  and  long 
^  •  star  of  the  Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Company,  is 
presented  in  his  first  five-reel  feature  on  January  3,  when 
Universal  will  release  "Langdon's  Legacy"  as  its  Broadway 
feature  of  next  week. 

The  story  is  a  comedy-drama  that  gives  Mr.  Kerrigan 
ample  opportunity  both  to  appear  as  a  hero,  in  one  of  those 
melodramatic  types  for  which  he  is  famous,  and  also  to  wear 
dress  clothes,  and  to  introduce  some  rather  clever  comedy 
through  the  unique  situation  he  gets  himself  into  by  inheriting 
as  a  legacy  a  girl's  boarding  school.  Supporting  Mr.  Ker- 
rigan in  this  story,  which  is  from  the  pen  of  Meredith  Nichol- 
son, are  Lois  Wilson,  Maude  George,  Bertram  Grasby,  Harry 
Carter,  G.  A.  Williams,  and  Mary  Talbot. 

Jack  Langdon,  the  hero  of  the  tale,  is  sent  to  Peru  as 
manager  of  the  Santa  Clara  mine,  after  two  previous  man- 
agers sent  there  have  disappeared.  Arrived  in  Peru,  Lang- 
don discovers  that  the  claim  to  the  mine  is  being  disputed 
by  Gov.  Juan  Maria  Barada,  who  tries  first  to  bribe  him  and, 
failing  in  this,  attempts  to  take  his  life,  but  Langdon  through 
sheer  good  luck  and  steady  nerve  remains  alive  after  the 
mining  machinery  has  been  dynamited,  the  miners  strike,  and 
the  property  is  placed  under  martial  law,  and  decides  that  it 
is  time  to  throw  up  the  sponge  and  return  to  San  Francisco. 

Barada,  fearful  lest  Jack  describe  things  too  accurately 
to  his  employers,  dispatches  Miguel  Alba  by  a  faster  boat 
to  intercept  Jack  and  "silence  him." 

As  a  result  of  Alba's  attack,  Jack  spends  six  weeks  in  a 


!*■--.  ■               4i'.v..;...,. 

'    '  -iirt 

IK  ,    "  ^oW  W  if^B-u*'      V« 

E90i  ' 

w        in*  ■  jM 

1                         >w 

i 

'.  for  he 


husband  calls  him  back  from  the  grave. 


som,  Roy  Stewart  is  cast  as  Matt  Sipe,  Beatrice  Van  as  Bet- 
tina  Purdy  and  Charles  Newton  as  Judd  Blossom. 

Young  Dr.  Justus  McCanna,  of  a  prominent  Brooklyn 
family,  is  in  love  with  Bettina  Purdy,  a  young  society  girl. 
One  day  he  receives  a  telegram  from  a  friend  who  has  been 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


injured  in  a  wreck  in  Kentucky  and  who  urges  that  he  come 
there  and  attend  him.  McCanna  arrives  and  Matt  Sipe,  a 
young  mountaineer,  begs  the  doctor  to  go  with  him  to  see 
his  sick  mother,  but  Justus  refuses.  The  next  day  as  he  is 
leaving  for  home  he  is  kidnaped  and  carried  into  the  moun- 
tains and  there  does  his  best  to  save  Mrs.  Sipe.  He  meets 
Cherry  Blossom,  a  beautiful  girl,  ragged  and  barefoot,  and  a 
strong  friendship  springs  up  between  them. 

Matt  loves  the  girl  and  finding  and  learning  that  the 
doctor  has  met  the  girl  his  rage  and  jealousy  spur  him  on 
to  a  terrible  revenge.  He  follows  the  doctor  one  day  until 
he  locates  him  in  the  bottom  of  a  gully  and  he  rolls  a  rock 
down  on  him.  Cherry  hearing  the  crash  runs  to  the  scene 
and  finds  Matt  gloating  over  his  insensible  rival.  Justus  be- 
lieves that  he  is  dying  and  insists  on  immediate  marriage 
and  he  and  the  little  mountain  girl  are  married. 

His  wife's  love  for  him  brings  him  back  from  the  grave 
and  he  settles  down  contentedly  to  their  simple  life.  Later 
he  is  called  home  concerning  a  property  deal  and  he  assures 
Cherry  Blossom  that  he  will  return  soon.  He  doesn't  tell 
his  mother  of  his  marriage  and  Bettina  begins  to  again  find 
a  place  in  his  heart.  A  son  is  born  to  Cherry  and  determin- 
ing to  know  the  best  or  the  worst  she  goes  to  Justus'  home, 
but  doesn't  find  him  in  and  doesn't  tell  his  mother  the  object 
of  her  visit. 

When  Justus  returns  his  mother  tells  him  of  the  visit  of 
the  strange  woman,  whom  he  recognizes  as  Cherry.  He 
leaves  to  go  to  her,  reaching  her  just  as  Matt,  who  has  taken 
advantage  of  the  results  of  her  trip,  has  returned  with  a  gun 
to  kill  the  "brat"  and  take  the  woman.  He  and  Matt  engage 
in  a  terrific  struggle  and  later  Cherry  lays  her  son  in  her 
husband's  arms. 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill. 

Latest    Offerings    of    the    Griffith    and    Ince    Studios 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

CHICAGO'S  board  of  censorship  is  responsible  for  a 
shorter  program  than  usual  at  the  Studebaker  this  week, 
for,  after  one  look  at  "The  Despoiler,"  the  Ince  offering 
scheduled  to  be  shown  in  connection  with  "Don  Quixote" 
and  "The  Hunt,"  the  board  threw  up  its  hands  in  horror  and 
promptly  proceeded  to  reject  the  whole  picture.  Since  no 
permit  could  be  secured  to  show  the  film,  the  Studebaker 
management  was  forced  to  confine  the  program  to  the  Fine 
Arts  and  the  Keystone  offerings. 

In  justice  to  the  film  which  was  not  shown  and  which 
consequently  Motography  has  been  unable  to  review,  it  is 
only  fair  to  the  exhibitors  who  will  be  able  to  book  it,  to 
declare  that  New  York  critics  have  much  praise  for  the  pic- 
ture, which  features  Frank  Keenan,  the  famous  actor  who 
made  such  an  impression  in  "The  Coward."  supported  by 
Enid  Markey  and  Charles  K.  French.  The  story  deals  with 
border  warfare  in  a  mythical  Balkan  principality  and  shows 
the  peril  in  which  the  women  of  a  small  village  are  placed 
when   their  little    town    is   invaded    by   troops   of   the   enemy. 


"The  Old  Homestead" 

Famous  Players  Production  of  Denman  Thompson's 
Great  Success.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

FOR  nearly  thirty  years  the  theater  going  public  enthu- 
siastically received  the  stage  presentations  of  "The  Old 
Homestead"  with  the  late  Denman  Thompson  portraying 
Joshua  Whitcomb,  a  figure  whose  broad  characteristics  made 
him  perhaps  the  most  realistic  person  the  American  stage 
has  even  known.  This  fact  alone,  it  would  appear,  should  be 
enough  to  prompt  the  producers  of  motion  pictures  to  bring 
"The  Old  Homestead"  and  Uncle  Josh  to  the  screen.  And 
now,  at  what  may  seem  to  some  a  late  date,  the  Famous 
Players  Company  offers  a  five-part  visualization  of  this 
classic;  for  a  classic  it  really  is. 

The  result  is  gratifying  indeed,  and  to  the  patron  of  the 
screen  it  will  come  as  a  pleasant  relief  with  its  old  fashioned 
melodrama  and  pretty  sentiment  in  these  days  of  war  plays, 
problem  plays  and  slapstick  comedies.  The  belief  that  the 
success  of  "The  Old  Homestead"  hung  upon  Denman  Thomp- 
son's characterization  seems  to  be  general,  so  general  that 
it  is  regarded  a  fact.  On  this  line  of  reasoning  a  preview  of 
the  picture  might  lead  one  to  express  doubts  as  to  its  suc- 
cess, since  the  leading  role  was  not  played  by  the  man  who 
made  the  play  and  in  all  probability  was  made  by  it. 

But  this  part  is  in  capable  hands.  Frank  Losee,  an 
experienced  screen  actor  plays  to  good  effect  the  irresistible 
Uncle  Josh.  Mr.  Losee's  appearance  is  entirely  satisfying 
but  he  deserves  praise  for  more  reasons  than  that.  The 
adaptation  is  good.  The  story  is  told  faithfully  and  with 
pleasing  smoothness.  As  no  doubt  everyone  knows,  the 
story  is  simple.  There  is  nothing  of  a  startling  dramatic 
nature  in  "The  Old  Homestead." 

The  opening  scene  shows  the  Whitcomb  farm.  Then 
a  few  incidents  which  give  an  incite  into  the  character  of 
Joshua  Whitcomb  are  followed  by  the  arrest  of  his  son  for 
theft  on  the  day  he  and  Ruth  Stratton  become  engaged. 
Before  the  boy's  innocence  is  established  he  escapes  and 
makes  for  tlie  city,  where  fate  and  innocently  contracted  bad 
associates  lead  him  into  evil  ways.  He  is  reunited  with 
his  father  through  the  kindness  of  a  chap,  who  in  doing  so 
feels  that  he  is  no  more  than  returning  the  favor  which  Uncle 
Josh  had  done  him.     The  end  finds  everybody  happy. 

'I'll'-  directio  Kirkwood  whose  methods  are 

in  this  case  mo  I  he  atmosphere  he  has  i  reated 

about  the  characters  and  action  is  a  credit  to  him  and  an 
asset  to  the  picture  The  settings  and  photography  arc  re- 
markable to,  their  effectiveness.  Creighton  Hale  as  Reuben 
ami  Louise  Mm'  port  Mr.  Losee  admirably.    Den- 

man Moley  as  Jack  Ila/zard.  the  gentleman  by  birth  and  the 
tramp  by  choice  who  profits  by  Josh's  kind  words  and  freely 
given   five  dollar  Kill,   does   b'ettei    than   well. 


Hunt." 


Just  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  women  is  about  to 
sacrifice  herself  that  the  others  may  be  saved,  the  colonel 
who  had  given  permission  to  his  soldiers  to  attack  the  help- 
less women  gathered  in  the  abbey,  discovers  that  the  girl 
who  has  given  herself  up  is  his  own  daughter,  and  the  order 
is  rescinded.  As  the  story  closes  we  learn  that  the  pictured 
tale  has  all  been  a  dream,  but  the  lesson  has  been  driven 
home. 

In  "Don  Quixote."  the  Fine  Arts  studio  offers  one  of 
the  most  pretentious  pictures  that  has  yet  come  from  that 
side  of  the  Triangle  organization.  De  Wolf  Hopper  makes 
of  the  famous  don  a  most  likable  chap  despite  his  many 
eccentricities  and  weird  fancies.  In  film  form  Don  Quixote 
will  undoubtedly  win  far  more  friends  than  he  was  ever  able 
to  reach  through  the  medium  of  Cervantes'  novel.  The  ma- 
jority of  the  laughable  incidents  in  which  the  odd  Quixote 
figures  in  the  story  are  not  only  retained  in  the  picture,  but 
made  more  impressive  and  interesting  than  they  were  on 
the  printed  pages. 

Max  Davidson  as  Sancho  Panza  gives  a  finished  perform- 
ance and  both  Fay  Tincher  as  Dulcinea  and  Julia  Faye  as 
Dorothea  add  much  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  picture.  Not  a 
little  credit  is  also  due  Chester  \\  ithej  as  Don  Fernando, 
Rhea  Mitchell  as  Lucinda  and  George  Welsh  as  Cardino. 
The  backgrounds  throughout  the  whole  production  are  most 
carefully  chosen  and  the  interiors  are  staged  with  an  eye  to 
detail  that  has  seldom  been  equalled.  The  credit  for  the 
production  is  given   to   Edward   Dillon   but   it   is  not   hard  to 


January  8,   1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


85 


imagine  that  D.   W.   Griffith,  himself,   probably  had  a  lot   to 
do  in  the  supervision  of  many  of  the  scenes. 

Mr.  Hopper  fairly  outdoes  himself  in  the  title  role  and 
while  playing  the   comedy   bits   in  the   very   spirit   necessary 


The  death  of  Don   Quixote  in  Fine  Arts'  picture  of  that  title. 

for  their  best  interpretation,  he  manages  to  preserve  an  air 
of  seriousness  that  lends  them  an  appearance  of  real  possi- 
bility. His  death  scene  is  a  wonderful  bit  of  acting  and  even 
those  who  will  meet  and  know  Quixote  the  first  time  from 
the  screen,  must  feel  a  pang  of  regret  when  the  game  old 
knight  finally  meets  his  end. 

The  story  of  Don  Quixote  is  so  well  known  that  it  is 
needless  to  repeat  any  part  of  it  here,  other  than  to  say  that 
the  picture  includes  such  incidents  as  the  fight  with  the  wind- 
mills, the  trouble  at  the  Inn  which  Quixote  mistakes  for  a 
castle,  the  encounter  with  the  prisoners  and  the  rescue  of 
Cardino,  ending  with  the  interruption  of  Don  Fernando's 
marriage  to  Lucinda,  and  the  exposure  of  that  gentleman  for 
the  fickle  knight  that  he  was. 

The  Keystone  offering  entitled  "The  Hunt"  serves  to 
introduce  Ford  Sterling  as  a  blackface  comedian  and  enables 
him  to  prove  that  mere  burnt  cork  is  unable  to  dim  his 
ability  as  a  funmaker.  Supporting  Sterling  are  such  favorites 
as  Bob  Vernon,  Fritz  Schade,  Guy  Woodward,  Polly  Moran 
and  May  Emory.  The  story  is  one  of  the  customary  Key- 
stone kind  with  a  wholly  impossible  set  of  complications,  in- 
volving a  fight  between  two  dusky  rivals  for  the  hand  of  a 
kitchen  maid,  and  a  similar  rivalry  between  two  suitors  for 
the  hand  of  May  Emory,  who  agrees  to  marry  the  man  who 
shall  capture  the  fox  when  the  hounds  are  turned  loose  and 
the  chase  begins. 


"Brought  Home" 

Essanay  Offers  Human  Interest  Tale  on  December  28 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

AS  its  release  for  Tuesday,  December  28,  the  Essanay  Film 
•'»  Manufacturing  Company  will  offer  a  little  human  interest 
story  in  two  reels  entitled  "Brought  Home."  The  leading 
roles  in  this  production  are  taken  by  Ruth  Stonehouse,  in  the 
character  of  Dorcas  Dale,  an  orphan,  and  Richard  C.  Travers, 
who  gives  a  splendid  portrayal  of  Jack  Marsten,  a  young 
millionaire.  Special  praise  is  also  due  the  little  lad  who 
enacts  the  role  of  Billy  Tyne,  another  inmate  of  the  drphan- 
age  from  which  Dorcas  sets  forth  into  the  big  world  all  by 
herself.  The  story,  while  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary,  moves 
along  so  naturally  and  is  such  a  typically  human  little  tale  that 
undoubtedly  it  will  prove  more  popular  than  a  more  preten- 
tious story  with  many  complications  might  have  done. 

As  the  film  begins,  we  learn  that  Jack  Marsten,  the  young 
millionaire,  who  has  just  been  jilted  by  a  girl  he  thinks  he 
loves,  is  contemplating  suicide.  Jack  sends  a  message  to 
George  Rodney,  his  attorney,  in  which  he  bids  him  a  last 
farewell,  and  instructs  him  what  to  do  with  the  fortune  that 
he  has  bequeathed  in  his  will.  Rodney  receives  the  note  in 
time  to  reach  Marsten's  apartments  ere  the  latter  can  blow 
out  his  brains,  and  the  attorney  promptly  proceeds  to  check 
up  his  client;  telling  him  that  suicide  would  be  utterly  ridicu- 
lous  for  a   man   in   his   position.     Marsten   rallies   under  the 


chafing  of  the  attorney,  and  finally  consents  to  go  for  a  little 
automobile  spin  down  the  boulevard  in  hope  of  giving  him  a 
new  outlook  in  life. 

Meanwhile,  Dorcas  Dale,  a  little  orphan  girl,  is  sent  from 
the  orphanage  to  the  city,  it  being  the  plan  of  Louise  Edge- 
worth,  a  city  woman,  to  adopt  Dorcas.  The  little  orphan 
by,  mistake  gets  off  the  train  as  it  stops  in  one  of  the  suburbs 
of  the  city,  instead  of  proceeding  straight  through  to  the  big 
terminal  depot,  and  thus  it  happens  that  as  she  wanders  down 
the  street,  she  is  run  down  by  the  auto  driven  by  Marsten. 

The  young  millionaire  picks  up  the  little  girl,  and  takes 
her  to  his  own  apartments  where  a  physician  and  nurse  are 
quickly  summoned  to  care  for  her. 

As  Dorcas  begins  to  recover  from  her  injury  Jack  sees 
that  she  is  an  unusually  interesting  little  person,  and  her 
cheery  nature  and  sunny  smile  work  a  complete  transforma- 
tion in  the  hitherto  pessimistic  millionaire. 

As  time  passes,  Marsten  arranges  to  make  the  girl  his 
ward,  settling  upon  her  an  immense  fortune,  and  sees  that 
she  is  educated  at  a  popular  boarding  school. 

Billy  Tyne,  a  tiny  youngster  at  the  orphanage,  who  had 
been  Dorcas'  former  charge  during  her  stay  at  the  institu- 
tion, comes  to  visit  Dorcas,  and  Marsten,  much  attracted  by 
the  youngster,  adopts  him  also.  Following  Dorcas'  departure 
to  an  eastern  school,  Marsten  and  Billy  start  out  for  the 
West,  where  Jack  plans  to  recover  his  health  and  strength  on 
a  big  western  ranch.  The  day  finally  comes  when  Billy  goes 
East  on  a  visit  to  Dorcas,  and  the  two  delightedly  plan  a 
surprise    for    their    benefactor,    and    journey    west    to    surprise 


him  at  Christmas  time.  The  closing  scene  shows  Dorcas' 
arrival  at  Jack's  ranch,  and  his  joy  in  discovering  into  what 
a  beautiful  woman  the  little  orphan  he  adopted  has  grown.  . 
As  the  final  scene  flicks  across  the  screen,  it  is  easy  to  see 
that  a  wedding  will  soon  result,  bringing  happiness  to  both 
Jack  and  Dorcas,  as  well  as  to  little  Billy. 


"Matching  Dreams" 

Two-Reel  American  Production,  to  Be  Released  Jan.  3 
Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

WITH  a  pleasing  story  and  beautiful  photography  the 
American  two-reel  production,  "Matching  Dreams,"  to 
be  released  January  3,  makes  a  very  interesting  picture.  It 
is  a  simple  tale  and  an  appealing  one,  wherein  a  poor  young 
seamstress,  who  is  an  artist  and  dreamer,  realizes  happiness 
when  a  rich  young  man,  who  is  an  artist  and  also  a  dreamer, 
falls  in  love  with  her. 

Vivian  Rich,  the  American  actress,  who  has  many  ad- 
mirers in  the  screen-loving  public,  is  cast  as  Martha  Weaver, 
a  seamstress;  Handsome  Alfred  Vosburgh  plays  opposite  her 
in  the  role  of  Hugh  Clayton,  an  author;  Sylvia  Ashton  is 
cast  as  Mrs.  Hammond,  who  wishes  her  niece  Lola  Ham- 
mond, played  by  Jimsy  Maye,  to  wed  Clayton. 

Martha  is  a  dressmaker  and  the  artistry  of  her  needle  ■ 
finds  expression  in  beautiful  gowns  she  designs  for  the  rich  ' 
women,  who  live  in  the  town.     Among  her  customers  is  one 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


Lola  Hammond,  the  niece  of  the  wealthy  Mrs.  Hammond. 
She  comes  to  Martha  one  day  and  tells  her  that  the  gown 
she  is  working  on  has  been  ordered  by  her  aunt  so  that  she, 
Lola,  might  wear  it  to  ensnare  the  heart  of  Hugh  Clayton. 
She  tells  her  that  she  does  not  love  Hugh,  but  has  always 
and  always  will  love  a  young  man  in  her  home  town. 

Martha  goes  to  the  door  with  Lola  and  sees  that  she  is 
riding  horseback  and  tells  her  it  is  one  of  her  dearest  dreams 
to  ride  a  horse.  Lola  wears  the  gown  and  Hugh,  contrary 
to  Aunty's  desires,  expresses  a  wish  to  meet  the  girl  who 
could  design  a  gown  like  it.  Lola  then  decides  to  elope  with 
her  young  lover  and  when  she  tells  her  aunt  that  she  doesn't 
love  Hugh,  her  aunt  tells  her  that  she  will  pay  no  more  of 
her  bills  and  Lola,  fearing  that  Martha  will  not  be  paid, 
leaves  her  horse  and  riding  habit  in  payment  for  her  gown. 
The  next  morning  early  Martha  dons  the  riding  habit  and 
strides  out  for  a  ride  through  the  mountains. 

In  the  hills  she  meets  with  Hugh  and  the  two  ride  side 
by  side.  When  he  asks  her  who  she  is  she  says  that  she  is 
Rosalind  and  Hugh  promptly  insists  that  he  is  Orlando  and 
asks  the  girl  to  meet  him  the  next  morning,  the  same  place, 
at  sunrise.  Lola's  aunt,  when  she  discovers  that  Lola  has 
eloped  and  has  sent  her  horse  to  Martha,  goes  to  the  seams- 
tress, gives  her  a  check  for  the  gown  and  says  that  her  man 
will  come  for  the  horse.  Martha  asks  her  if  she  can  keep 
the  horse  until  the  next  day  and  to  this  Mrs.  Hammond 
consents.  Martha  keeps  her  appointment  with  Hugh  and 
when  she  leaves  him  she  gives  him  a  note  telling  him  that 


A  prett. 


"Matching   Dreams." 


she   must  say  good-bye   forever  as   she   has   pretended   to   be 
what  she  is  not. 

Hugh  arrives  home  and  tells  his  mother  he  has  met  a 
dream  girl,  but  that  he  doesn't  know  who  she  is.  Mrs.  Clay- 
ton has  sent  for  Martha  Weaver  to  come  and  make  gowns 
for  her  and  that  evening  Martha  comes  and  is  surprised  to 
meet  Hugh,  who  crushes  the  girl  in  his  arms  and  the  hearts 
of  Orlando  and  Rosalind  henceforth  unite. 


"What  Happened  to  Father" 

A    Blue    Ribbon    Feature     Starring    Frank    Daniels 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  five  reels  of  "What  Happened  to  Father,"  a  Vitagraph 
1  Blue  Ribbon  Feature  produced  by  C.  Jay  Williams  and 
released  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  Program  December  27,  are  well 
supplied  with  laughable  moments  and  not  in  one  instance 
is  there  anything  approaching  that  which  is  off-color;  to 
speak  mildly  of  the  objectionable  things  we  often  encounter 
in  comedies.  Some  of  the  laughs  are  due  to  real  comic  situa- 
tions but  most  of  them  are  caused  by  the  inimitable  Frank 
Daniels,  who  is  featured  as  the  father  who  seeks  a  way  out 
of  financial  difficulties  via  the  composition  and  production 
of  a  musical  comedy. 

The  Daniels  mannerisms,  as  everyone  who  saw  his  first 
picture  "Crooky  Scruggs"  knows,  are  as  funny  when  thrown 
upon  the  screen  as  they  were  on  the  stage  and  nothing 
more  than  that  need  be  said  about  the  star,  unless  it  be 
to  compliment  him  for  his  fine  work  in  "What  Happened  to 
Father"  for  in  truth  he  is  the  whole  show.     There  is  a  good 


supporting  cast  made  up  of  Billy  Quirk,  Anna  Laughlin,  Ber- 
nice  Berner,  Adele  Kelly,  William  Sloan  and  Frank  Kingsley 
in  the  prominent  parts. 

Father  fears  bankruptcy,  for  no  matter  how  he  tries  he 
cannot   make   his   wife   and   two    daughters   realize    that   his 


A   deftly  stolen  k, 


checks  are  payable  at  the  bank  where  he  keeps  his  modest 
fortune  and  not  one  of  the  mints.  The  older  daughter  is 
about  to  be  married  and  orders  a  big  auto  which  is  to  be 
her  wedding  present  from  father.  When  he  protests  both 
Frederica  and  his  wife  tell  him  that  it  is  necessary.  Fred- 
erica  would  rather  have  the  car  than  her  intended  husband; 
and  no  one  could  blame  her  for  that. 

Father  then  decides  to  make  a  fortune  quick.  He  will 
write  a  comic  opera  and  read  it  to  some  wealthy  man,  who, 
of  course,  will  back  it  willingly.  He  does  find  a  backer.  This 
man  is  wealthy  and  wishes  to  marry  father's  daughter,  Tom- 
mjr.  He  puts  up  the  money  on  condition  that  father  boost 
him  with  Tommy.  On  the  opening  night  there  is  a  general 
misunderstanding  at  the  theater,  so  to  right  matters  father 
slips  away  from  home,  where  Frederica  is  to  be  married,  and 
goes  to  the  theater,  where  one  or  two  more  misunderstandings 
land  him  in  jail.  He  breaks  jail  very  ingeniously,  however, 
and  explains  his  absence  to  wife  with  a  wonderful  account 
of  his  courage  in  rescuing  a  woman  from  a  husky  villain. 

The  story  is  by  Mary  Roberts  Rinehart.  It  is  good  for 
a  number  of  reasons  but  chiefly  because  it  gives  Daniels  a 
part  and  some  situations  for  the  display  of  those  talents  that 
are  strictly  his  own.  There  are  any  number  of  scenes  which 
come  to  mind  and  make  one  smile  long  after  the  picture  has 
faded  from  the  screen,  but  mention  of  them  would  not  do 
them  justice.  The  production  which  Mr.  Williams  has  given 
the  play  has  much  to  recommend  it. 


"The  Dragon" 

A  Five-Part  Equitable  Drama  Released  December  27 
Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

itT^HE  DRAGON,"  scenarioized  by  Russell  E.  Smith  from 
*■  Perley  P.  Sheehan's  book,  depicts  youth  and  inno- 
cence in  a  successful  combat  with  the  latent  forces  of  evil 
resident  in  the  moneyed  circles  of  Fifth  avenue.  The  lure 
of  cold  riches,  at  the  cost  of  practically  life  itself,  is  sym- 
bolized from  time  to  time  by  a  scene  showing  a  huge  dragon 
with  its  head  under  Washington  Arch  and  its  body  stretching 
up  the  avenue.  The  man  whose  wife  has  fallen  prey  to  this 
subtle  tempter  and  whose  daughter  he  has  up  to  this  time 
kept  behind  the  walls  of  a  convent,  thus  describes  the  lurk- 
ing danger  to  his  daughter.  The  latter,  with  child-like  con- 
fidence, sets  out  upon  the  throbbing  thoroughfare  to  find 
the  dragon  and  compel  it  to  relinquish   her  mother. 

Messalla  meets  with  numerous  men  who  have  been  in- 
strumental in  effecting  her  father's  downfall,  and  death  and 
sorrow  to  these  individuals  invariably  follow  in  her  wake. 
One  of  these  is  a  wealthy  merchant  who  invites  the  girl  out 
to  dine  with  him.  Messalla  is  persuaded  by  a  discarded 
"flame"  of  the  merchant's  to  abandon  the  private  dining- 
room,  while  she  remains.  Her  jealousy  makes  him  pay 
dearly  for  his  act. 

Messalla  comes  into  the  possession  of  a  package  whose 
destination  is  a  tottering  bank.  An  x-ray  examination  of 
the  package  reveals  a  time-bomb.  It  finally  does  its  ter- 
rible work,  however,  in  blowing  asunder  the  mansion  of  a 
powerful  financier,  the  same  man  into  whose  power  Mes- 
salla's  mother  has  fallen  and  at  whose  house  the  girl   finds 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


her  mother.  In  the  park  there  is  a  reconciliation  between  the 
father  and  mother,  and  they,  with  Messalla,  witness  the 
demolition  of  this  nest  of  vice,  together,  presumably,  with  its 
occupants. 

The   production   contains   plenty   of   interesting   and   un- 


Mayme  persuades  Messalla 


the  un- 


restrained action,  and  the  slight  allegorical  element  intro- 
duced through  the  young  girl's  fanciful  conception  of  her 
father's  story  serves  very  well  to  emphasize  the  point  de- 
sired. Nothing  that  can  be  termed  offensively  morbid  is  pres- 
ent. The  whole  picture  is  clean,  interesting  and  well  above 
the  commonplace. 

Margarita  Fischer  carries  the  part  of  Messalla  in  addi- 
tion to  that  of  Elisabeth,  her  mother.  Her  characterization, 
one  of  the  most  convincing  and  pleasing  sort,  is  a  central 
fixity  around  which  all  the  others  revolve.  That  is,  her  posi- 
tion as  a  charming  embodiment  of  purity,  with  no  love  but 
for  her  lost  mother,  remains  constant,  while  the  men  who 
are  infatuated  by  her,  come  and  go.  Thus  it  is  that  there 
is  no  one  leading  man.  However,  names  that  deserve  men- 
tion for  helping  to  stimulate  the  dramatic  impetus  of  the 
picture  through  intelligent  and  forceful  acting,  are  Thomas  J. 
McGrane,   Sheridan   Block  and   Bennett   Southard. 


"The  Buried  Treasure  of  Cobre" 

An  Unusual  Selig  Release  for  January  3,  Reviewed 
by  Neil  G.  Caward 

/"^UITE  refreshing  in  every  way  is  the  Selig  three-reel  feature 
V^  for  Monday,  January  3,  which  is  entitled  "The  Buried 
Treasure  of  Cobre."  It  is  from  the  pen  of  Richard  Harding 
Davis  and  tells  a  story  of  plot  and  counterplot  in  a  mythical 
South  American  country  called  Amapala. 

Harry  Mestayer  as  Richard  Everett,  United  States  minister 
to  Amapala,  gets  ample  opportunity  to  put  over  his  pleasing 
personality  and  is  well  supported  by  a  company  which  includes 
Will  Machin,  Virginia  Kirtley,  Louis  Cody  and  Fred  Hearn. 
The  backgrounds  are  all  quite  convincing  and  the  scenes  de- 
picting life  in  the  capital  of  the  mythical  South  American  coun- 
try are  particularly  well  staged.  Frank  Beal,  the  director,  has 
handled  the  mystery  part  of  his  story  most  capably,  for  it  is 
not  until  well  along  toward  the  end  of  the  picture  that  one  dis- 
covers the  real  secret  of  the  "buried  treasure." 

The  American  secretary  of  state  sends  Everett  to  Amapala 
for  the  purpose  of  completing  a  treaty  of  extradition  with  Presi- 
dent Mendoza  of  that  country,  and  warns  him  that  he  has  a  hard 
task  before  him,  as  others  have  failed  on  similar  missions  in  the 
past.  Arrived  in  Amapala,  he  learns  from  Garland,  the  Ameri- 
can consul,  that  Chester  Ward,  whom  Everett  meets  with  Monica 
Ward,  his  sister,  is  a  fugitive  from  justice  and  has  secured  the 
exclusive  right  to  explore  the  ruins  of  Cobre,  which  are  rumored 
to  conceal  a  buried  treasure. 

When  Professor  Peabody,  an  archaeologist,  seeks  permis- 
sion to  explore  the  caves  of  Cobre,  he  is  refused,  and  later, 
when  he  attempts  to  do  so  in  spite  of  the  refusal,  he  is  attacked 
by  soldiers  sent  by  Mendoza  to  protect  the  ruins.  Monica  Ward, 
who  has  learned  to  love  Everett,  finds  that  Peabody  is  stub- 
bornly persisting  in  his    intention   of   exploring   the   ruins,   and 


fearing  that  he  may  be  injured  by  her  brother,  she  appeals  to 
Everett  to  help  her  in  getting  Peabody  out  of  the  caves  in 
safety. 

Hastening  to  Cobre,  they  find  a  concealed  passageway  that 
leads  down  into  an  underground  cavern,  and,  descending,  they 
discover  Ward  and  Peabody  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle, 
for  Peabody  has  revealed  himself  as  a  secret  service  man  on 
the  trail  of  some  counterfeit  bills  and  declares  that  the  sub- 
terranean room  is  the  counterfeiter's  den  and  that  Ward  is  the 
guilty  man.  Cornered,  Ward  commits  suicide,  and  Monica,  left 
alone  in  the  world,  consents  to  marry  Everett,  who,  now  that 
Ward  is  dead,  succeeds  in  getting  Mendoza  to  sign  the  extradi- 
tion treaty. 


"The  Death  Lock" 

Five-Reel  Mutual  Masterpicture  of  Dec.  30.    Reviewed 
By  Neil  G.  Caward 

AS  the  Mutual  Masterpicture  for  release  on  Thursday, 
December  30,  "The  Deathlock,"  a  five-part  story  actually 
filmed  in  the  snowbound  wastes  of  the  Klondyke,  will  be 
offered  with  Wilma  Wilkie,  and  David  W.  Butler  in  the  lead- 
ing roles. 

Aside  from  the  fact  that  the  picture  was  actually  filmed 
in  the  far  north,  one  of  the  other  unique  features  is  the  ap- 
pearance in  the  picture  of  John  Johnson,  known  as  "The 
Iron  Man  of  Dawson,"  who  is  the  world's  champion  dog 
musher,  and  who  appears  with  his  team  of  Siberian  dogs 
which  have  three  times  running  won  the  Alaskan  sweep- 
stakes, thereby  winning  the  title  of  the  fastest  dog  team  in 
the  world.  An  interesting  bit  of  canine  history  may  be 
recorded  in  the  fact  that  "Colma,"  the  leader  of  Mr.  Johnson's 
team,  is  the  subject  of  several  short  stories  written  by  Rex 
Beach  and  Rufus  Steele. 

Some  wonderful  backgrounds  are  used  for  many  of  the 
scenes,  and  these  make  "The  Deathlock"  quite  out  of  the 
ordinary,  even  for  a  feature  production. 

At  the  opening  of  the  story,  Dal  Darous,  a  brawny  west- 
erner, adopts  the  baby  daughter  of  a  homesteader,  who  is 
discovered,  after  he  has  been  killed  by  the  Indians,  with  his 
legs  twisted  about  the  trunk  of  a  tree  and  securely  knotted 
in  the  fatal  "deathlock"  of  the  Apaches.  Fourteen  years  later, 
Darous  (now  a  famous  gambler)  and  his  foster  daughter 
Nell,  trained  to  act  as  her  father's  decoy,  set  out  for  the 
Klondyke.  Darous  plans  to  secure  the  mine  of  Dixie  Ward, 
a  young  widow,  chaperoned  by  Jerry,  a  grim  westerner,  who 
is  going  with  her  to  claim  her  late  husband's  gold  mine  in 
Alaska. 

On  the  steamer,  Darous  wins  from  Fred  Worthing,  a 
young  chap  on  his  way  to  the  gold  country,  all  the  money 
that  had  been  confided  to  him  by  his  uncle.     When  the  boy, 


Klondyke. 


Picture    filmed    I 


in  desperation,  is  about  to  blow  out  his  brains,  the  weapon 
is  snatched  from  his  hands  by  Nell. 

Darous  and  Nell  are  caught  cheating  at  cards,  and  since 
their  discovery  means  almost  certain  death,  Nell  sets  fire  to 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


the  ship.  A  hasty  landing  is  made  some  ten  miles  from 
Dawson.  Darous  and  Nell  escape,  and  later  meet  Ford  and 
Jerry  in  the  Arctic  saloon  in  Dawson  City. 

A  Canadian,  bringing  plans  of  the  gold  mine  to  Dixie, 
is  captured  by  the  gambler  and  robbed  of  his  papers.  Darous 
plans  to  claim  the  property  before  the  widow  and  Jerry  can 
reach  the  place,  but  Nell  makes  him  promise,  ere  he  departs, 
that  he  will  not  harm  Ford.  Learning  of  Darous'  departure 
from  the  camp,  Ford  gives  chase  with  the  fleetest  dog  team 
in  the  world.  Nell,  fearing  for  Ford's  safety,  sets  out  to 
follow  him  on   skees. 

Nell  finds  Ford  half  insane  from  cold,  and  clasped  about 
the  tree  in  the  famous  deathlock  of  the  Indians,  where  he 
had  been  left  by  Darous.  She  rescues  him,  and  some  days 
later,  the  two  find  the  gambler  dead  from  the  snow  madness 
and  torn  by  his  dogs,  whom  he  had  abused  until  they  turned 
upon  him.  Ford  and  Nell  begin  life  anew,  and  later,  when 
Dixie  and  Jerry  marry,  they  divide  the  mine  with  Ford  and 
his  bride. 


"G 


amille 

World  Film  Corporation  Five-Reel  Production 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

C  OMEONE  once  asked  "What  is  so  rare  as  a  day  in 
^  June^"  Nothing,  perhaps,  but  Clara  Kimball  Young. 
She  can  rarify  a  December  day  by  the  radiance  of  her  charms, 
and  she  can  make  a  June  day  rarer.  After  seeing  her  in 
"Camille,"  it  can  be  said,  with  some  degree  of  positiveness, 
that  she  would  be  good  in  anything.  Put  her  in  anything 
from  Cymbeline  to  Cynthia,  and  no  matter  how  inadequately 
the  feature  might  be  staged,  the  picture  would  be  enjoyable 
on  account  of  her  presence  alone.  She  is  what  might  be 
termed  "director-proof." 

Be  all  that  as  it  may,  it  certainly  is  a  pleasure  to  see 
her  play  Camille.  In  doing  this  classic  production  Clara  does 
it  in  the  Clara  Young  way.  Many  another  actress,  when 
approaching  death  comes  on  apace,  begins  to  show  the  rav- 
ages of  the  disease  that  is  taking  her  off.  But  not  so  with 
Miss  Young.  She  remains  her  beautiful  self  until  the  bitter 
end,  which  is  not  a  bad  idea.  All  anyone  cares  to  remember 
when  the  picture  is  over,  is  Clara.  Besides  it  would  be  like 
daubing  a  lily  for  Miss  Young  to  smear  her  face  over  with 
paint  to  represent  approaching  death.  We  know  very  well 
that   she    is   dying,   having   been    told    so    by    a    subtitle. 

Miss  Young  does  not  give  what  the  ancient  or  modern 
Greeks  would  call  a  passionate  performance.  She  plays 
Camille  a  good  deal  as  one  would  expect  Maxine  Elliott  to 
play  it.  Her  temperature  is  quite  evenly  maintained.  It 
does  not  fluctuate  from  hot  to  cold,  or  cold  to  hot,  by  ex- 
tremes.    Perhaps  the  evenness  of  her  emotions,  accounts  for 


I 

pjH 

■1  Wh.  n 

'^Bfflmlf:      * 

her  fine  state  of  preservation 
wise,  she  is  a  glorious  Cam 
a   lire-eating  Camille. 

Miss    Young  is  not   alon< 


on  her  death  bed. 
He.    and    possibly   p: 


But  other- 
eferable   to 


her  style   of  interpretation, 


;is   her  leading   man,    Paul  Capellani,   is  also  a  trifle 'reserved. 
One   looks   in    vain   to   hiin    for   impetuosity   and    fiery    untamed 

youth.     In   tin-   way,   the   two  leads   were   fairlj    well   suited 
to  'i'li   other,  and   their  parts   balanced   nicely  on   ih.it   ac- 


count.    It  would  have  been  a  pity  to  spoil  Miss  Young's  fine 
poise  by  overacting  in  the  other  half  of  the  sketch. 

The  settings  for  this  production  are  most  exquisite,  and 
are  to  be  commended  as  being  of  great  help  as  a  background 
for  the  actors.  Apart  from  Miss  Young,  there  is  no  one  in 
the  cast  that  stands  out  prominently  or  steals  anything  away 
from  the  star.  The  photography,  with  the  exception  of  two 
or  three  scenes,  is  very  good,  credit  for  which  goes  to  Lucien 
Andriot.  The  production  was  directed  by  Albert  Capellani, 
he  who  will  go  down  to  posterity  as  the  director  of  that 
masterful   production    "Les    Miserables." 


"Sorrows  of  Happiness ' 

Lubin's  Four-Reel  Production  to  Be  Released  Jan.  3 
Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

TUNE  DAYE,  whose  work  in  recent  Lubin  productions  has 
*J  won  her  the  name  of  being  one  of  the  most  capable  young 
actresses  on  the  screen,  is  cast  in  the  leading  role  of  the 
Lubin  four-reel  heart  interest  drama,  "Sorrows  of  Happi- 
ness," written  by  Anthony  Kelly  and  to  be  released  January 
3.  This  clever  young  actress  gives  a  most  satisfying  por- 
trayal of  Mary  Carroll,  a  sweet  young  country  girl  who 
meets  a  man  from  the  city  and  loses  her  heart  to  him.  Later 
as  the  same  country  girl,  whose  mind  has  been  left  a  blank, 
Miss  Daye  does  some  very  good  work. 

The  story,  which  is  most  adaptable  for  screen  use,  is  very 
well  worked  out  in  this  picture  and  one  which  will  attract 
interest  wherever  shown.  It  contains  many  tense  moments 
and  is  sympathy  appealing.  The  photography,  however,  is 
not  up  to  the  general  Lubin  standard. 

Mary  Carroll,  a  simple  country  girl,  whose  sister  Grace 
is  in  the  city  studying  for  Grand  Opera,  meets  "David  Gar- 
rick,"  a  man  from  the  city.  She  holds  clandestine  meetings 
with  the  man  until  one  night  her  father  surprises  them  and 
insists  that  Garrick  come  to  the  house  to  see  Mary.  The 
man  from  the  city  has  betrayed  the  girl  and  later  states  for 
the  time  of  their  marriage  the  next  day  at  three  o'clock  and 
great  preparations  are  made  at  the  humble  home  for  the  com- 
ing event. 

Mr.  Carroll  telegraphs  for  Grace  and  she  arrives  just 
before  the  wedding  is  to  take  place.  In  the  meantime  "Gar- 
rick" receives  a  letter  -advising  him  of  his  father's  death 
and  that  he  has  been  left  sole  heir,  so  he  decides  to  break 
his  promise  to  Mary  and  goes  away  leaving  no  trace  of  his 
whereabouts. 

The  hour  of  three  o'clock  arrives  and  the  little  family 
waits  in  the  Carroll  home  patiently.  At  3:15  Mary's  father 
goes  to  summon  "Garrick"  and  when  they  hear  the  carriage 
returning  the  girl  stands  patiently  waiting  in  the  doorway, 
but  her  father  comes  in  and  tells  her  that  the  man  has  left 
town  and  this  effects  the  girl's  mind. 

Grace  sees  a  picture  of  "Garrick"  and  vows  that  she  will 
avenge  her  wronged  sister.  Later  when  she  becomes  a 
favorite  known  as  Madame  Mimi,  during  one  of  her  recitals 
Garrick  is  among  the  audience  and  she  manages  to  meet 
him.  She  recognizes  him  as  the  betrayer  of  her  sister  and 
begins  to  weave  the  web  around  him. 

Some  weeks  later  "Garrick"  proposes  to  her  and  she  tells 
him  yes,  she  will  marry  him  tomorrow  at  three  at  her  apart- 
ments. He  is  somewhat  startled,  but  tells  her  he  will  be 
there.  The  next  day  Mary  and  Mrs.  Carroll  arrive  at  Grace's 
apartments  and  just  exactly  at  three  when  "Garrick"  comes 
into  the  apartment  he  stands  face  to  face  with  Grace,  who 
points  to  Mary  and  tells  him  that  the  only  way  to  save  her 
sister's  mind  is  to  marry  her.  This  he  does,  assuring  happi- 
ness for  years  to  come. 

Supporting  lune  Daye  are  Craufurd  Kent  as  "David 
Garrick,"  Inez  Buck  as  Grace  Carroll,  Marie  Sterling  as 
Mrs.  Carroll  and  Bartley  McCullum  as  Mr.  Carroll.  These 
comprise   a    strong   east   which    do   splendid    work 


The  management  of  the  New-  Central  theater  at 
riot  Springs,  Arkansas,  has  recently  begun  the  pub- 
lication df  an  eight-page  and  cover  house  organ  called 
the  New  Central  Vews,  which  is  distributed  to  the  pa- 
trons i'f  the  house  and  gives  each  week  an  interest- 
in-,  synopsis  of  the  stories  of  the  coming  attractions. 
While  the  paper  used  might  he  of  a  slightly  hetter 
grade,  thus  enhancing  the  value  of  the  illustrations 
used,  it  is  good  enough  to  present  in  a  pleasing  man- 
ner in  formation  of  interest  to  motion  picture  fans. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


89 


McRAE'S  TRIP  TO  ORIENT 

Universal  Director  to  Visit  Japan,  Korea,  Australia, 

China  and  Possibly  India  During  Coming 

Year  to  Take  Feature  Pictures 

Henry  McRae,  until  recently  director  general  of 
Universal  City,  but  now  at  the  head  of  a  picture  taking 
expedition  to  the  Orient,  arrived  in  Chicago  last  week 
for   a   brief   business   conference   before   starting   for 


of  Unive, 


sul  of  Japan. 


•r-general 


the  scene  of  his  labors  on  the  other  side  of  the  Pacific. 
Mr.  McRae  expects  to  sail  on  January  8  for  Japan, 
and  will  be  gone  for  fully  a  year  it  is  now  anticipated. 
He  has  a  number  of  big  feature  stories  in  mind  and 
Avill  take  with  him  a  score  or  more  of  people  to  play 
the  leads  in  the  pictures  that  will  be  produced  in 
Japan;  Korea,  China,  Australia  and  possibly  in  India, 
ere  they  return  to  the  United  States. 

Just  before  leaving  Universal  City  Mr.  McRae 
had  long  conferences  with  the  Japanese  officials  who 
have  promised  to  aid  him  in  his  picture  making  while 
in  that  kingdom,  and  the  accompanying  illustration 
shows  the  Universal  director  with  Baron  Shubizawa 
and  his  two  sons,  who  have  volunteered  to  assist  in 
the  undertaking.  In  discussing  his  coming  trip  with  a 
representative  of  Motography  Mr.  McRae  declared 
the  feature  pictures  to  be  produced  will  have  for  their 
locale  the  actual  lands  to  be  visited,  and,  accordingly, 
there  will  be  nothing  stagy  or  unreal  about  the  back- 
grounds used  for  the  stories,  since  all  of  them  will  be 
staged  in  the  exact  settings  called  for  by  the  tale  itself. 
In  addition  to  the  feature  pictures  it  is  planned  to  take 
a  number  of  shorter  films,  one  or  two  reels  in  length. 


FREULER  TALKS  TO  MANAGERS 

Mutual's    President    Delivers    Optimistic   Address   to 

Exchangemen  at  Luncheon  Given  at  Union 

League  Club  of  Chicago 

President  John  R.  Freuler  of  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation  on  Tuesday,  December  28,  was  host  at 
a  luncheon  given  at  the  Union  League  Club  in  Chi- 
cago to  managers  of  the  Mutual  exchanges  in  Chi- 
cago, Minneapolis,  Indianapolis,  St.  Louis,  Kansas 
City,  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Milwaukee,  Cincinnati,  To- 


ledo and  Springfield.  Others  at  the  luncheon  were 
Messrs.  Finn,  Geary,  Cairns  and  Sheldon  of  the  Nich- 
ols-Finn Advertising  Agency. 

Mr.  Freuler  in  a  stirring  address  spoke  optimisti- 
cally of  the  Mutual's  big  undertakings  for  the  coming 
year,  describing  to  the  exchangemen  present  many 
of  the  yet  unannounced  plans  for  1916,  and  predicting 
that  big  and  successful  as  was  1915  from  a  business 
standpoint,  the  coming  year  will  surpass  it  in  every 
particular.  After  several  hours  spent  over  the  lunch- 
eon tables,  the  entire  party  motored  out  to  the  Amer- 
ican Film  Company's  plant  on  Chicago's  north  side 
and  was  there  shown  several  of  the  coming  Mutual 
Masterpictures,  de  luxe  edition,  which  will  be  issued 
from  the  American  studios.  After  several  hours  spent 
in  viewing  films  tea  was  served  at  the  studio. 

Moss  Engages  Jeanne  Iver 

B.  S.  Moss  has  engaged  Miss  Jeanne  Iver,  the 
noted  concert  star  and  classic  dancer,  to  play  the  lead- 
ing feminine  role  of  Opal  in  "One  Day,"  which  was 
written  as  a  sequel  to  that  tremendous  tale  of  love 
"Three  Weeks,"  and 
screened  last  fall 
with  marked  success 
by  Mr.  Moss.  The 
identity  of  the  artist 
who  has  secured  this 
much  desired  role, 
has  been  kept  with 
marked  secrecy,  each 
and  every  member  of 
her  supporting  com- 
pany upon  being  en- 
gaged was  requested 
not  to  divulge  the 
name  of  the  star  until 
her  arrival  in  this 
country  from  Spain. 
Miss  Iver  was  born 
in  Akron,  Ohio.  Her 
first  appearance  in- 
the  land  of  make-be- 
lieve was  made  when 
she  was  but  five 
years  of  age  with  the 
local  stock  company.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  at  a  con- 
cert held  in  her  own  town,  Miss  Iver  electrified  her 
audienc.e  by  displaying  a  voice  of  unusual  charm. 
Later,  Miss  Iver  sang  on  several  occasions  at  the  fa- 
mous Tremont  Temple  of  Music  in  Boston,  where 
many  a  renowned  song-bird  has  been  heard,  and  not 
long  after  she  set  sail  for  Europe,  where,  after  com- 
pleting her  course,  Miss  Iver  made  a  concert  tour  of 
France,  Italy,  Russia,  Switzerland  and  Servia  under 
the  renowned  Darni,  of  Florence,  Italy.  In  Paris  Eli- 
nor Glyn  happened  to  be  a  guest  at  the  same  hotel  at 
which  Miss  Iver  was  stopping,  and  it  was  Miss  Glyn 
who  brought  up  the  subject  regarding  Miss  Iver  enter- 
ing the  films,  as  the  novelist  felt  that  in  Miss  Iver  she 
had  met  the  ideal  type  for  the  role  of  Opal  in  "One 
Day,"  which  was  to  be  given  a  screen  production  by 
B.  S.  Moss. 


C.  Edgar  Burton  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  the 
scenario  department  of  the  Premier  Program.  All 
scripts,  books,  plays,  etc.,  must  pass  his  careful 
scrutiny  before  receiving  consideration. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brevities  of  the  Business 


PACIFIC   COAST   NEWS 

By  "Capt.  Jack"  Poland 
J.  A.  Quinn,  who  has  introduced  a 
number  of  sensational  moving  pictures 
at  his  Superba  theater  on  Broadway  in 
Los  Angeles  during  the  past  year,  has 
secured  as  leading  attractions  the  pic- 
tures of  the  Paramount  program  which 
•he  will  feature  during  the  coming  year. 

J.  Farrell  Macdonald,  director-in-chief 
of  the  Biograph  Los  Angeles  organiza- 
tion, is  a  believer  in  creating  artistic 
moving  pictures  along  modern  and  pro- 
gressive lines.  He  demands  of  his  play- 
ers real  ability  and  a  personality  that  can 
play  the  part  as  it  should  be  interpreted. 
For  these  reasons  the  Biograph-Mac- 
donald  productions  are  classy  and  effect- 
Vivian  Martin  is  a  new  Fox  star  ex- 
pected any  day  in  Los  Angeles.  She  has 
been  selected  to  play  leads  in  a  special 
picture  to  be  produced  with  the  western 
atmosphere. 

After  appearing  in  the  new  Griffith- 
Triangle  picture  "Betty  of  Graystone"  at 
the  New  York  studio's  as  a  leading 
woman,  Dorothy  Gish  will  return  to  Los 
Angeles  in  time  to  spend  the  Yuletide 
days  with  her  sister  Lillian  and  her 
mother. 

Carroll  McComas,  a  well  known  Los 
Angeles  star  of  the  legitimate  stage,  has 
been  engaged  to  appear  as  a  moving  pic- 
ture star  in  "The  End  of  the  Rainbow," 
a  Kleine-Edison  production.  This  news 
is  interesting  to  the  stars  and  many  west- 
ern friends. 

Thos.  H.  Ince  announces  that  he  has 
secured  the  celebrated  mezzo-soprano, 
Mme.  Calve,  for  Triangle  program  pic- 
tures. She  will  probably  appear  in  one 
■of  the  splendid  war  play  films  of  the  di- 
rector-general. 

Beerbohm  Tree,  the  notable  English 
actor,  is  preparing  to  start  the  film  ver- 
sion of  Shakespeare's  "Macbeth"  at  the 
Griffith  studios  for  the  Triangle  program, 
and  it  may  be  that  Mr.  Griffith  will  per- 
sonally direct  the  pictures. 

John  Emerson,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished and  successful  of  Griffith  direc- 
tors, has  returned  from  a  stay  of  several 
months  at  the  New  York  studios  of  the 
Fine  Arts  Films  and  will  resume  direct- 
ing of  features  at  the  Los  Angeles  stu- 
dios. 

Herbert  Rawlinson  added  new  prestige 
to  his  already  strong  reputation  when 
he  addressed  the  Los  Angeles  Ad  Club 
at  a  dinner  gathering  this  week.  He  told 
all  about  the  inside  workings  of  moving 
picture  productions.  Did  I  say  all?  Well, 
most  all.     So  say  the  adders. 

Hobart  Bosworth  and  company  of 
Universal  players  has  been  spending 
some  time  in  the  wilds  of  Arizona  film- 
ing scenes  for  the  Universal  program 
picture,  "The  Yaqui,"  in  which  a  number 
•of  Indians  are   supporting  Bosworth. 

David  Horsley,  owner  of  the  Horsley- 
Bostock  Animal  Jungle  Zoo  and  studios 
of  Los  Angeles,  has  made  good  with  his 


local  employes  by  presenting  each  one 
with  a  new  $5  gold  piece  for  a  Christmas 
remembrance.  The  coin  was  accompa- 
nied by  a  card  of  Yuletide  greetings  and 
good  wishes  from  the  big  chief. 

The  $250,000  Culver  City  studios  of 
the  New  York  Motion  Picture  Company, 
featuring  Triangle  pictures,  will  be  for- 
mally opened  to  the  public  with  a  grand 
ball  on  New  Year's  eve,  given  under  the 
personal  direction  of  Thos.  H.  Ince,  co- 
operating with  the  chamber  of  commerce 
of  Culver  City.  Several  thousand  invi- 
tations have  been  sent  out. 

David  W.  Griffith  returned  to  Los  An- 
geles Thursday  after  a  trip  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  where  he  attended  the  funeral  of 
his  beloved  mother.  A  large  volume  of 
accumulated  mail  and  important  business 
matters  greeted  the  director-in-chief  on 
his  arrival  at  Fine  Arts  Films  studios, 
and  he  immediately  became  the  busiest 
man  at  the  property. 

The  Starfilms,  Ltd.,  is  now  located  in 
the  Starfilms  Building,  7  Phillips  Square, 
Montreal,  Canada,  and  all  mailing  mat- 
ter for  the  Starfilms,  Ltd.,  Metro  Picture, 


Ltd.,    or   Allied    Features    should    be    di- 
rected to  this  address. 

Charles  Giblin  sent  word  from  Mount 
Baldy  that  he  and  his  company  were  ex- 
periencing considerable  cold  weather  and 
that  this  combined  with  the  snow  was 
responsible  for  much  static  which  pre- 
vented their  returning  as  soon  as  they 
wished  owing  to  a  number  of  retakes. 
Mr.  Giblin  is  producing  a  feature  photo- 
play with  the  veteran  William  Thomp- 
son starred  and  which  will  appear  on  the 
Triangle  program. 


CHICAGO  GOSSIP 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  state  of 
Illinois  handed  down  a  decision  last 
Thursday  in  favor  of  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago in  the  matter  of  the  City  of  Chicago 
vs.  the  Harper  theater  on  Fifty-fifth 
street.  The  Harper  is  built  within  25 
feet  of  a  Presbyterian  church  and,  ac- 
cording to  clause  41  of  the  statute  cov- 
ering the  granting  of  licenses  for  amuse- 
ment places,  no  license  will  be  granted 
to  places  of  amusement  or  saloons  with- 


Film   Market  Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.   D.   Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American  Film  Co.,  Inc 95  100 

Biograph   Company    40  53 

Colonial   M.   P.  Corp 1  3     * 

Famous  Players  Film  Corp.   90  116 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref . .  .   40  45 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  pref....   45  49 

Mutual   Film  Corp,  com....   45  47J/2 
No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  pref. . .   80 

No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  com. . .   73  81 

New  York  M.  P.  Corp 49  56 

Thanhouser    Film   Corp 3  3%* 

Triangle  Film  Corp 6  6% 

Universal  Film  Mfg.  Co 185 

Vogue  Films,  Inc 125 

World   Film  Corp 3  3%* 


*Par  $5. 

North  American  Film  Corporation: 
The  first  announcement  has  been  made 
to  the  effect  that  this  company  will  pay 
three-fourths  of  the  year's  dividend, 
amounting  to  5lA%,  on  about  January  1, 
1916.  It  is  also  reported  that  the  new 
business  booked  last  week  amounted  to 
$13,600.  Some  further  interesting  an- 
nouncements will  be  made  in  regard  to 
the  preferred  stock  within  the  next  two 
weeks.  The  number  of  suggested  sequels 
to  the  "Diamond  From  the  Sky"  in  the 
committee's  hands,  has  already  passed 
all  records. 

General  Film  Corporation:  In  addi- 
tion to  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  subtracting  a  very 
generous  amount  of  output  from  the 
General  Film  Corporation,  it  is  now  an- 
nounced that  the  Edison  Company  has 
definitely  separated  itself  from  this  com- 
pany and  in  future  will  release  five-reel 
features  through  the  Kleine-Edison  Fea- 
ture Service.  Quotations  on  this  stock 
are  nominal  and  it  is  very  difficult  to  se- 
cure bids. 


Mutual  Film  Corporation:  The  an- 
nouncement of  a  new  feature  service, 
which  comprises  three  Mutual  Master- 
pieces of  five-reels  each,  has  made  an  in- 
stantaneous hit  with  exhibitors.  This 
service  will  start  on  January  17.  Further 
details  effecting  the  establishment  of 
large  downtown  theaters  in  many  of  the 
cosmopolitan  centers  throughout  the 
country  which  will  feature  the  "cream" 
of  the  Mutual  output — will  be  given  the 
public  in  the  very  near  future.  The 
Mutual's  business  continues  on  the  up- 
grade, but  this  has  not  been  reflected  to 
any  extent  in  the  market  price  of  the 
stock. 

New  York  Motion  Picture  Corpora- 
tion: Continued  its  decline  in  price  and 
sales  were  made  recently  at  between  50 
and  56. 

World  Film  Corporation:  Recently 
struck  a  new  low  level  of  between  3  ana 
3V2. 

Triangle  Film  Corporation:  Reports  a 
substantial  increase  in  the  number  of 
theaters  exhibiting  its  output. 

Biograph  Company:  It  is  difficult  to 
obtain  any  late  information  on  the  gen- 
eral situation  of  this  company  and  the 
market  remains  stagnant. 

Thanhouser  Film  Corporation:  The 
new  management  now  about  one  year 
old  seems  to  have  justified  itself,  as  the 
company  is  reported  to  be  in  good  finan- 
cial shape  and  recent  inquiries  for  the 
stock,  on  an  ascending  scale,  indicate 
that  a  number  of  the  stockholders  be- 
lieve it  good  business  to  increase  their 
holdings  at  this  level. 

Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany: At  the  annual  meeting  of  directors 
the  following  were  elected  as  officials: 
Carl  Laemmle,  president;  R.  H.  Coch- 
rane, vice-president;  P.  A.  Powers,  treas- 
urer; Joseph  Brandt,  secretary. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


in  200  feet  of  a  church  or  school  build- 
ing, when  such  amusement  place  or  sa- 
loon will  interfere  in  any  way  with  the 
functions  of  the  church  or  school  build- 
ing or  interfere  with  its  work.  The 
city  of  Chicago  denied  the  Harper  the- 
ater a  license  and  the  Harper  people  ob- 
tained an  injunction,  whereupon  the  city 
issued  a  temporary  license  and  the  mat- 
ter was  thrashed  out  in  the  courts,  with 
the  result  which  has  been  indicated.  It 
appears  at  this  writing  that  the  Harper 
theater  will  close  on  January  1. 

Aaron  M.  Gollos  opens  two  new  the- 
aters on  January  1,  one  of  them  being 
the  Hyde  Park  theater  on  Fifty-fifth 
street  and  Ellis  avenue,  and  the  other 
the  Playhouse,  at  Central  boulevard  and 
Wisconsin   street,   in   Oak   Park. 

Harry  Weiss  has  installed  himself  in 
a  brand-new  private  office  on  the  fourth 
floor  of  the  Mailers  building  and  during 
the  past  week  has  employed  a  special 
private  stenographer  to  write  the  ad- 
dresses on  his  Christmas  cards.  Harry 
buys  his  stamps  in  wholesale  quantities 
on   account   of  prices. 

"Jack"  Miller,  business  agent  of  the 
operators'  union,  told  a  good  story,  dating 
the  occurrence  along:  last  summer,  about 
a  local  exhibitor.  The  operator  in  this 
man's  theater  was  throwing  the  spot 
light  on  the  singer  and  it  suddenly  went 
dark,  at  which  the  exhibitor  yelled  up 
to  the  projection  room,  "Mack,  what's 
the  matter  with  the  light?"  The  oper- 
ator replied,  "It  will  be  all  right  in  a 
minute,  the  carbons  is  froze."  The  ex- 
hibitor appeared  before  the  operators' 
union  the  next  morning  and  insisted  that 
his  operator  was  a  liar,  that  he  did  not 
know  his  business  and  that  he  said  the 
lights  went  out  because  the  carbons  were 
frozen,  and  it  was  the  third  of  July  and 
nothing  could  freeze  in  the  operating 
room  on  that  day.  He  was  mollified 
when  the  matter  was  explained  to  him. 

On  Thursday,  December  23,  the  Chi- 
cago Examiner  held  a  benefit  "movie" 
pageant  and  ball  at  the  Sherman  House, 
which  was  very  well  attended.  The  Es- 
sanay Company  generously  assisted  in 
making  the  evening  a  pleasurable  one 
for  all  present  and  staged  some  interior 
scenes  of  one  of  its  coming  releases,  di- 
rected by  the  regular  director  and  acted 
by  the  stars  on  the  floor  of  the  ball- 
room. The  picture  was  "Brought  Home," 
one  of  Essanay's  latest  productions,  star- 
ring Richard  C.  Travers  and  Ruth  Stone- 
house.    One  section  of  the  floor  had  been 


set  aside  for  the  occasion.  The  heavy 
arc  lights  had  been  planted  in  an  in- 
terior "set"  by  the  carpenters,  electri- 
cians and  property  men  during  the  after- 
noon. At  9:10,  Miss  Stonehouse  and 
Travers  stepped  out  on  the  floor  in  make- 
up and  waited  for  L.  C.  Windom  to  start 
the  pictures.  Over  a  thousand  people 
crowded  about  the  set,  standing  on 
chairs,  tables,  window  sills  and  any  other 
place  that  offered.  The  scene  was  re- 
hearsed three  times,  the  actors  work- 
ing a  little  jerkily  because  of  the  pres- 
ence of  so  many  people.  The  fourth 
time,  however,  the  director  ordered  "Go" 
through  his  megaphone  and  the  camera 
man  started  to  grind.  "Out,"  said  the 
director.  A  boy  appeared  from  the  midst 
of  the  crowd,  was  handed  the  film  and 
hurried  to  a  waiting  automobile.  Two 
hours  later,  the  crowd  that  had  watched 
the  making  of  the  scene  stood  or  sat  in 
silence  while  the  room  was  darkened. 
The  projection  machine  flashed  light  on 
a  large  screen  and  the  people  saw  the 
completed  picture  of  the  scene  they  had 
witnessed  a  short  time  before.  Lew 
Fields  and  Joseph  Weber  were  among 
the  theatrical  stars  present,  and  Irene 
Franklin  enlivened  the  evening  with  sev- 
eral songs  from  her  large  repertoire. 
Among  the  motion  picture  folks  present 
were  noticed  L.  C.  Windom  and  Joseph 
Totten,  directors  at  the  Essanay  studio: 
little  Tommy  Harper,  Ruth  Stonehouse, 
Richard  Travers,  Joseph  M.  Roach,  Emily 
Heininger,  all  of  the  Essanay  Company; 
Ed  Gaylor,  Jr.,  of  the  Morgan  Litho- 
graphing Company;  M.  G.  Watkins,  gen- 
eral manager  American  Standard  Motion 
Picture  Company;  Dolores  Cassanelli, 
now  starring  with  the  American  Stand- 
ard Company;  George  L.  Cox,  noted  as 
an  actor  and  director;  Adrienne  Kroell, 
who  was  one  of  the  patronesses,  and 
A.  L.  Haase  of  Motography.  Girls  from 
the  "Birth  of  a  Nation"  sold  flowers  on 
the  ballroom  floor. 

H.  E.  Aitken  was  a  Chicago  visitor  on 
Tuesday,  December  28,  and  has  several 
big  plans_  rapidly  nearing  completion, 
which  will  be  announced  later  in 
Motography.  While  in  Chicago  he  was 
the  guest  of  C.  F.  Hateley. 

J.  R.  Freuler,  president  of  the  Mutual 
Film  Corporation,  gave  a  luncheon  to 
the  midwest  Mutual  Film  exchange  man- 
agers at  the  Union  League  Club  on  Tues- 
day, December  28,  at  which  speeches 
were  made  by  Mr.  Freuler  and  J.  H. 
Finn,  president  of  the  Nichols-Finn 
Agency,  and  others.  Optimism  was  the 
keynote  of  the  meeting,  and  the  man- 
agers were  shown  several  Mutual  Mas- 
terpieces, de  luxe  edition,  at  the  Ameri- 
can Film  Manufacturing  studio  in  the 
afternoon. 

George  L.  Cox  took  the  Century  to 
New  York  on  Christmas  day,  where  he 
will  start  the  production  of  a  multiple- 
reel  picture,  scenes  for  which  are  laid 
in  New  York,  Boston,  Baltimore,  Wash- 
ington, Albany,  and  in  fact,  contemplate 
large  cities  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast.  The  name  of  the  picture 
will  be  announced  later. 


man  best  fitted  to  represent  Balboa  at 
its  eastern  headquarters,  and  that  the 
choice  was  a  wise  one  is  being  proven 
daily  by  the  manner  in  which  this  brand 
of  photoplays  is  growing  in  popularity 
with  the  exhibitors.  Mr.  Holde  presides 
over  the  tasty  suite  of  offices  at  1600 
Broadway  and  already  he  has  made  that 
address  one  to  be  remembered. 

John  ■  B.  Clymer,  scenario  editor  of 
Pathe,  thinks  he  was  called  upon  to  per- 
form the  positive  limit  in  motion  picture 
photoplay  writing  when  he  was  com- 
pelled to  fill  a  rush  order  for  a  comedy 
on  a  late  hour  one  evening  and  on  his 
return  home  to  work,  found  that  the  elec- 
tric   lighting    system    of    his    home    was 


NOTES  FROM  ALL  OVER 

When  Horkheimer  Brothers,  producers 
of  Balboa  films  for  the  house  of  Pathe, 
decided  to  open  an  eastern  office  to  take 
care  of  their  rapidly  growing  business, 
genial  H.  X.  Holde  was  selected  as  the 


out  of  commission  and  that  not  even  a 
lantern  was  obtainable.  Nothing  daunted, 
Clymer  borrowed  from  a  nearby  under- 
taker some  tall  candles  sometimes  used 
to  stand  alongside  the  dear  departed. 
The  absurdity  of  the  situation  led  the 
way  for  new  laugh  situations  and  the 
comedy  was  written  and  delivered  on 
schedule  time. 

Henry  Otto  is  taking  a  rest  from  his  di- 
rectorial duties  with  the  Universal.  He  is 
determined  to  get  some  good  stories  ahead 
and  will  spend  his  vacation  in  accumulating 
some  half  dozen  feature  stories  so  that 
when  he  starts  in  again  he  will  be  well 
primed  for  rapid  work.  He  will  stay  at 
home  excepting  when  he  is  exercising  his 
benzine  buggy. 

Ground  is  being  broken  at  the  Holly- 
wood Studios  of  the  Vitagraph  Company 
for  additional  buildings.  The  studio  pre- 
sents a  formidable  appearance  right  now 
and  everything  is  so  well  arranged  but 
there  is  yet  much  to  be  done  according  to 
the  very  complete  plans  laid  out  and  in  a 
few  months  time  this  studio  will  be  sec- 
ond to  none  in  its  appointments  and  build- 
ings. 

Ray  Myers  is  directing  the  now  feature 
Signal  Company  under  the  supervision  of 
J.  P.  McGowan.  The  leading  parts  are  in 
the  hands  of  Rhea  Mitchell  and  Hal  Cooley, 
as  good  a  looking  and  acting  couple  as 
could  well  be  selected.  The  first  five  reelcr 
is  "Sedition,"  by  L.  Genez. 

Billic  Sherwood,  who  is  plaj  ing  the 
juvenile  lead  in  a  three-reel  Edison  dratnf 


January  8,  1916 

got  into  a  fight  near  the  studio  the  other 
day.  A  "villun"  stopped  his  leading  lady, 
Grace  Williams,  on  the  street,  just  as  Billy 
hove  in  sight  from  around  the  corner. 
There  were  just  two  blows  in  the  whole 
affair;  one  on  said  "villun's"  jaw  and  the 
other  when  he  hit  the  ground.  It  was  all 
in  the  picture,  of  course,  but  Billy's  a 
pretty  big  fellow  at  that,  and  who  knows 
but  that  the  "villun"  may  still  be  nursing 
his  jaw. 

"Real  manuscripts,  from  real  authors,  at 
real  prices,"  is  the  slogan  with  which 
Maurice  Tourneur,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  new  Paragon  Films, 
Inc.,  will  start  the  new  year  for  that  com- 
pany. He  says  he  has  had  enough  of  the 
ordinary  "scenario  writer"  situations  and 
all  of  the  so-called  "unusual"  ones  from 
that  source.  What  he  earnestly  seeks  now, 
and  what  he  is  willing  to  pay  well  for,  is 
original  stories,  written  directly  for  the 
screen  by  literary  geniuses. 

Harry  Houdini.  the  master  of  escape, 
and  his  young  and  pretty  wife,  were  vis- 
itors to  Inceville  this  week.  The  noted  per- 
former, who  has  startled  the  world  by  his 


Sidi 


feats  of  skill,  was  escorted  about  the  plant 
by  Producer  Ince  and  marveled  at  the 
many  wonders  unfolded  before  him. 

Since  the  time  of  Adam,  husbands  have 
been  making  records,  and  James  Cruze, 
motion  picture  director,  broke  another  one 
when  he  telephoned  his  wife,  Marguerite 
Snow,  the  Metro  star,  sending  her  Christ- 
mas greetings  from  his  studio  in  San  Jose, 
California,  to  the  Rolfe-Metro  studio  in 
New  York  City.  There  have  been  tele- 
phonic communications  equally  as  far  in  re- 
cent tests,  but  the  telephone  company  offi- 
cials in  New  York  vouch  for  the  fact  that 
it  is  a  record  for  husbands  inquiring  after 
their  wife's  welfare  and  health  at  such  a 
distance. 

Mrs.  Phin  Nares,  wife  of  a  member  of 
Gaumont's  Casino  Star  Comedy  Stock  Com- 
pany, expired  December  20.  She  had  her- 
self occasionally  appeared  in  Casino  pro- 
ductions  with  her  husband. 

Joseph  W.  Smiley,  chief  director  for  the 
Ocean  Film,  will  establish  for  it  in  the 
near  future  a  children's  stock  company 
similar  to  the  one  he  organized  for  Lubin. 
In  that  company  the  oldest  actor  was  six 
years  of  age,  the  leading  man  was  four, 
the  leading  lady  five  and  the  heavy  man 
three  and  half.  Smiley  got  great  work 
out    of   the    tots    by   talking   to    them    like 


MOTOGRAPHY 

grownups  and  putting  them  on  honor  as 
members  of  the  profession  with  pride  in 
their  work.  Ice  cream  at  lunch  was  the 
reward.  Their  inventive  ability  excelled 
the  adults. 

The  friends  of  Sarah  Truax,  the  feature 
actress,  are  delighted  to  learn  that  her 
mother  is  better  and  that  she  is  now  in  their 
own  home.  This  has  given  Miss  Truax  an 
opportunity  to  rehearse  for  the  Nativity 
play  which  will  be  given  on  Xmas  Eve  for 
the  first  time  in  any  city.  It  is  creating  all 
sorts  of  interest  in  dramatic  circles  and  is 
hailed  as  one  of  the  big  artistic  events  of 
the  theatrical  year. 

Charles  Ruggles,  the  clever  young  actor 
who  is  meeting  with  such  success  at  the 
Harris  Theatre,  New  York,  in  "Rolling 
Stones,"  this  week  enjoys  the  fruits' of  a 
double  triumph  through  his  able  charac- 
terization in  "The  Reform  Candidate,"  the 
Pallas  Pictures  photoplay  at  the  Broadway 
Theater. 

The  first  of  Jules  Eckert  Goodman's 
plays  to  be  adapted  for  the  screen  is  "The 
Point  of  View,"  originally  produced  in 
Daly's  Theater.  Work  was  begun  at  the 
World  Film  Corporation's  Fort  Lee 
Studio,  on  the  film  version,  made  by 
Emmett  Campbell  Hall.  Director  Emile 
Chautard  is  producing  this  new  five-part 
feature  with  a  cast  including  Frances  Nel- 
son, June  Elvidge,  Jessie  Lewis,  Mildred 
Havens,  Douglas  MacLean,  Frederick 
Truesdell,  Joseph  Flannagan,  John  Hyland 
and  Henry  Thornton. 

Charles  Miller,  recently  promoted  to  a 
directorship  by  Thomas  H.  Ince,  this  week 
completed  the  filming  of  the  Triangle  Kay- 
Bee  subject  in  which  Frank  Mills  will  be 
presented  as  star.  He  is  now  awaiting  his 
next  assignment. 

James  G.  Davis,  who  has  been  identified 
with  the  Gaumont  forces  for  some  time, 
has  been  appointed  assistant  to  Director 
William  F.  Haddock. 

Nan  Carter,  who  has  just  joined  the 
William  Fox  forces  to  appear  in  feature 
productions,  has  commenced  work  with 
Theda  Bara  in  a  five-part  drama,  entitled 
"The  Serpent,"  under  the  direction  of  R.  A. 
Walsh.  Miss  Carter,  who  in  private  life 
is  Nana  B.  Sigourney,  is  prominent  in 
society,  being  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
younger  set  and  is  possessed  of  dramatic 
talent  of  an  unusual  degree.  In  this,  her 
first  appearance  in  pictures,  she  will  enjoy 
the  double  distinction  of  having  a  strong 
part  especially  written  into  the  manuscript 
for  her,  besides  appearing  with  Miss  Bara, 
one  of  the  best  known  stars  on  the  screen. 

The  Casino  Star  Comedy  for  release  on 
the  Mutual  program  January  9  has  been 
changed  from  "The  Girls'  Color  Scheme" 
to  "Alias  Mr.  Jones."  This  new  play  which 
is  from  the  penof  S.  A.  Van  Petten,  will 
feature  "Budd"  Ross,  who  has  just  become 
a  Gaumont  star. 

Under  the  direction  of  Hamilton  Smith, 
the  new  western  representative,  many 
moves  of  expansion  are  under  way  at  the 
Kalem  California  studios  at  Glendale  and 
Hollywood. 

Whiskers  and  war !  There  have  been 
times  when  whiskers  have  suffered  from 
wordy  wars,  the  papers  do  say,  but  a  con- 
servative thinker  would  hardly  expect  the 
war  to  interfere  with  the  price  of  whiskers. 
Yet  that  is  Marc  MacDermott's  sad  experi- 
ence. Fastidious  artist  that  he  is,  he  wanted 
just   such    a   shade   of   hair    for   his   beard 


93 

in  the  Kleine-Edison  feature,  "The  Cats- 
paw,"  in  which  he  and  Miriam  Nesbitt  are 
to  be  featured.  He  had  finished  about  half 
the  picture  when  he  found  that  all  his 
stock  of  that  particular  shade  of  "crepe" 
hair  was  gone.  He  used  a  new  "beard" 
every  day.  He  was  surprised  to  be  told 
at  the  usual  store  that  the  war  had  stopped 
the  importation  of  that  kind  of  hair.  He 
rushed  anxiously  from  place  to  place,  all 
over  New  York  City,  with  the  same  result 
—no  whiskers. 

Dustin  Farnum  is  better,  not  well  by  a 
long  way,  but  enough  to  enable  William  D. 
Taylor,  the  Pallas  producer,  to  make  prog- 
ress with  "Ben  Blair,"  in  which  Farnum  is 
featured.  It  is  gratifying  to  his  friends 
and  to  the  Pallas  people  to  see  Mr.  Taylor 
becoming  a  greater  director  all  the  time. 
He  is  a  maker  of  splendid  pictures  and  as 
such  is  a  boon  and  a  blessing  to  man,  for 
there  are  very  few  of  them. 

Donald  Mackenzie,  the  Pathe  producer, 
after  experiencing  the  cold  and  heavy 
snows  of  the  Maine  woods,  is  going  to  the 
other  extreme.  He  is  taking  his  "Precious 
Packet"  Company  with  Ralph  Kellard  and 
Lois  Meredith  south  and  will  spend  the 
holidays  there.  "Mac"  says  his  migratory 
instinct  is  strong  these  days. 

William  Fox  has  leased  the  Kalem 
studios  at  Coytesville,  New  Jersey,  for  one 
year,  adding  one  more  producing  center  to 
his  chain  of  studios  which  includes  those 
at  Kingston,  Jamaica,  British  West  Indies, 
Edendale,  California,  and  at  Grantwood 
and  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.  Director  W.  S.  Davis 
has  already  .  started  work  on  a  strong 
dramatic  feature  at  Coytesville  with  W.  H. 
Tooker,  R.  R.  Neill  and  Maude  Gilbert 
portraying  the  principal  characters. 

Ruth  Roland  was  recently  approached 
by  a  sixteen-year-old  girl,  who  in  broken 
English,  softened  by  a  delightful  Spanish 
accent,  asked  her  if  she  were  Ruth 
Roland  and  then  told  her  that  down  in 
her  country,  Mexico,  they  loved  her  and 
called  her  "The  White  Dove."    Thinking 


that  possibly  the  little  Spanish  girl  would 
see  this  picture  and  know  that  Miss 
Roland  had  not  forgotten  her  tribute  to 
her,  we  are  running  the  enclosed  photo- 
graph which  was  taken  of  Miss  Roland 
some  time  ago. 
Virtually  the  entire  menagerie  of  a  circus 


This  is  Earle  Williams,  the  Vitagraph  star, 
who,  the  press  agent  says,  was  the  "man  of  the 
hour"  recently,  when  he  saved  many  Vitagraph 
actors  from  being  overcome  by  the  fumes  of 
poisonous  gases,  used  in  a  production  now  being 
filmed. 


which  is  hibernating  in  Venice  is  being 
used  by  Director  Charles  Swickard  of  Ince- 
ville,  this  week,  for  some  scenes  in  the 
current  Ince-Triangle  production  in  which 
H.  B.  Warner  will  be  offered  as  star.  The 
story  in  which  Warner  is  working  has  East 
India  as  its  setting  and  the  company  is  at 
present  on  the  lagoons  of  Playa  del  Rey, 
a  desert  stretch  not  far  from  Inceville. 

The  Associated  Program  is  scoring  the 
biggest  possible  success  with  its  comedy 
series,  "Ike,  the  War  Correspondent,"  a 
satire  written  by  their  Director  of  Publicity, 
Irving  J.  Barsky.  Each  and  every  one  of 
the  series  is  a  screaming  laugh.  The  com- 
plications "Ike"  gets  himself  into  while  he 
is  with  the  warring  nations  are  remarkable, 
and  the  exhibitors  all  over  the  country  are 
booking  these  great  comedies  far  in  ad- 
vance, and  to  judge  from  the  bookings  al- 
ready received,  this  series  should  surely 
surpass  any  former  sale  of  single  reel 
comedies. 

The  humiliating  truth  will  out.  _  The 
debonair  William  Garwood,  he  who  is  the 
shining  star  of  the  "Lord  John"  serial 
story,  has  been  suffering  with  an  ordinary, 
common  or  garden  variety  of  toothache, 
not  fashionable  neuralgia  or  something 
with  a  "ritis"  tacked  on  to  it — just  jaw 
ache!  Billy  had  to  be  on  hand  very  early 
in  the  morning  and  did  not  leave  the  studios 
until  very  late  so  he  suffered  in  silence 
until  he  could  get  to  the  dentist-man.  The 
tooth  is  now  filled  and  William's  smile  is 
of  yore. 

The  players  appearing  in  the  B.  S.  Moss 
screen  production  of  "One  Day,"  a  sequel 
to  Elinor  Glyn's  "Three  Weeks,"  left  New 
York  last  Saturday  aboard  "The  City  of 
Montgomery,"  with  Savannah  as  their  des- 
tination. In  addition  to  Jeanne  Iver,  the 
star  of  the  organization,  Director  General 
Hal  Clarendon  and  Head  Camera  Man 
H.  M.  Dean  and  the  supporting  company, 
there  were  in  evidence  the  Technical  Di- 
rector and  his  staff,  assistant  camera  men, 
property  men  and  electricians,  making  in  all 
a  total  of  forty-two  for  which  passage  was 
booked. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Richard  Garrick,  managing  director  of 
the  Gaumont  Companies  at  Jacksonville, 
Fla.,  has  just  returned  to  his  winter  head- 
quarters from  a  flying  trip  to  New  York. 
Mr.  Garrick  brought  North  with  him  the 
film  of  the  Mutual  masterpicture,  edition  de 
luxe,  which  he  had  just  finished  directing. 
It  is  called  "The  Idol  of  the  Stage."  Mal- 
colm Williams  is  the  star.  It  will  be  re- 
leased the  first  week  in  February. 

Vim  Films  Corporation — producers  of  the 
popular  Vim  comedies  —  are  distributing 
gratis  to  exhibitors  and  patrons  of  Vim 
Comedies,  a  unique  book  of  192  pages  which 
will  be  a  big  help  to  the  exhibitors  as  a 
ready  reference  diary  for  past  and  future 
bookings. 

Ida  Stanhope,  one  of  the  newest  comers 
into  the  motion  picture  field,  made  her  first 
screen  appearance  with  Mary  Pickford  in 
"The  Foundling."  Director  Edgar  Lewis 
of  the  Lubin  staff  saw  the  picture,  and  was 
so  favorably  impressed  with  Miss  Stan- 
hope's work  that  he  suggested  to  the  Lubin 
Company  they  secure  her  for  one  of 
their  feature  photo-plays,  with  the  result 
that  Miss  Stanhope  will  make  her  initial 
appearance  under  the  Lubin  banner  as  Rita, 
the  younger  sister  in  "Souls  in  Bondage," 
in  which  Nance  O'Neil  is  being  starred. 

Cranston  Brenton,  executive  chairman  of 
the  National  Board  of  Censorship,  was  a 
visitor  at  the  David  Horsley  studios  in  Los 
Angeles  last  week.  Chaperoned  by  Busi- 
ness Manager  von  Klein,  he  made  a  study 
of  the  entire  plant,  including  a  personally 
conducted  tour  through  the  arena  where 
the  Bostock  wild  animal  scenes  are  filmed. 

Gus  Leonard,  the  former  Orpheum  cir- 
cuit vaudeville  favorite,  has  joined  the  pic- 
ture ranks  and  is  meeting  with  success  in 
Kalem's  "Ham  and  Bud"  comedies. 

For  the  erecting  of  massive  sets  in  film- 
ing scenes  in  what  is  known  as  the  Million 
Dollar  Annette  Kellermann  picture,  Her- 
bert Brenon,  who  is  directing  the  produc- 
tion for  William  Fox,  at  Kingston,  Jamaica, 
British  West  Indies,  overseered  the  con- 
struction of  the  largest  stage  in  the  world, 
550  by  200  feet.  Two  thousand  dressing 
rooms  were  built,  in  close  proximity  to  the 
stage,  to  accommodate  the  players  who  take 
part  in  the  picture. 

The  Famous  Players'  production,  "The 
Prince  and  the  Pauper,"  in  which  Mar- 
guerite Clark  stars  in  the  dual  role,  is  re- 
sponsible for  a  unique  occurrence  in  film- 
dom — the  sending  of  telegraphic  congratu- 
lations from  the  head  of  one  feature  pro- 
ducing concern  to  that  of  another.  After 
seeing  the  adaptation  from  Mark  Twain's 
delightful  story,  the  first  of  the  celebrated 
American  humorist's  works  to  reach  the 
motion  picture  screen  as  a  feature,  Jesse 
L.  Lasky,  head  of  the  feature  play  com- 
pany which  bears  his  name,  telegraphed  to 
Adolph  Zukor,  President  of  the  Famous 
Players'  Film  Company,  from  Los  Angeles, 
as  follows :  "Just  witnessed  'The  Prince 
and  the  Pauper.'  Congratulations.  I  am 
most  enthusiastic  about  the  picture  which 
I  think  is  credit  to  Paramount  and  one 
of  the  finest  productions  ever  shown  on 
our  program.  Kindly  convey  my  compli- 
ments to  Miss  Clark.  Your  company 
should  be  justly  proud  of  'The  Prince  and 
the  Pauper.'  Jesse  L.  Lasky." 

Little  Mary  Anderson  of  the  Western 
Vitagraph  Company  is  to  have  some  more 
novel  experiences.  She  has  gone  to 
Truckee  with  Webster  Campbell,  Corinne 
Griffith  and  others,  under  the  direction  of 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 

William  Wolbert.  They  will  make  the 
necessary  scenes  in  the  snow  and  then  re- 
turn, and  expect  to  be  gone  several  days. 
The  company  which  has  gone  to  Truckee 
and  the  one  at  Bear  Valley  are  scratching 
their  heads  and  wondering  whether  they 
will  have  to  spend  Christmas  in  country 
hotels  or  under  canvas. 

Rea  Martin,  who  has  headed  one  of  the 
"Peg  o'  My  Heart"  companies,  is  now  play- 
ing opposite  "Budd"  Ross  in  "Alias  Air. 
Jones,"  a  Casino  Star  Comedy  to  be  re- 
leased January  9. 

The  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  has  engaged  one 
of  the  best  known  photographers  in  the 
motion  picture  business  to  take  charge  of 
the  camera  work  of  one  of  its  companies. 
He  is  J.  M.  Blaney,  who  was  for  seven 
years  the  official  photographer  for  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Navigation. 

Three  thousand  post  cards,  each  with  its 
picture  of  a  spot  of  scenic  beauty  in  Los 
Angeles  and  environs  and  bearing  a  mes- 
sage of  good  cheer,  were  just  sent  on  their 
way  to  France  to  be  forwarded  to  the  re- 
cipients at  the  front  in  the  European  war. 
They  were  sent  by  Anna  Held,  the  cele- 
brated French  co'nedienne,  who  recently 
came  to  Los  Angeles  to  appear  in  a  screen 
version  of  "Madame  La  Presidente,"  the 
French  farce,  for  the  Oliver  Morosco 
Photoplay  Company. 

Edward  Jose,  who  won  his  spurs  by  those 
fine  Gold  Rooster  plays,  "The  Beloved 
Vagabond,"  "The  Closing  Net,"  and 
"Nedra,"  has  been  asking  Pathe  for  a 
serial  for  some  time.  He  was  a  very  happy 
man  when  he  was  given  "The  Iron  Claw," 
Pathe's  next  serial,  especially  as  his  cast 
was  to  be  composed  of  Pearl  White, 
Creighton  Hale,  and  Sheldon  Lewis,  who 
gained  much  public  favor  as  a  result  of 
the  "Elaine"  serials.  Mr.  Jose  will  per- 
sonally supervise  "The  Iron  Claw."  with 
Carrol  Fleming  as  his  director. 

William  Corbett,  now  playing  the  juvenile 
lead  in  the  Lubin  Company's  feature  "Souls 
in  Bondage,"  was  first  induced  to  take  up 
work  in  motion  pictures  by  the  uncertain 
condition  of  the  dramatic  stage.  His  first 
appearance  on  the  screen  was  with  Rose 
Coghlan  in  "Thou  Shalt  Not  Kill."  Later 
he  appeared  in  Airs.  Barry  McDonald's 
society  picture,  "What  Does  a  Woman 
Need?"  and  followed  that  by  appearing 
with  Charles  Ross  in  "The  Senator."  Al- 
though he  has  had  only  eight  months'  ex- 
perience, Mr.  Corbett  has  won  a  place  of 
distinction  for  himself  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture world  and  gives  promise  of  greater 
things  in  the  year  to  come. 


?  Collier,  the  Morosco-Paramounl  star, 
of  her  donations  to  the  "Children's 
or   Children"   movement  in   Brooklyn. 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


■  lo|,u-il    this,  style    i 

s   will    be    liste 

I   as   long   in   advanc 

sonable   care   is 

used,    and    the   pubh 

12-27 
12-27 
12-27 


M2ST, 


Monday. 

Heredity    Biograph 

No   Release   This   Week    Essanay 

This   Isn't   the    Life Lubin 

Saved    from    the    Harem Lubin 

The   Making    of    Crooks Selig 

Hear-M-Sel.e    News    Pictorial    Xo.    103,    1915 Selig 

He  Got  Himself  a   Wife Vitagraph 

The   Making   Over   of   Geoffrey   Manning Vitagraph 

The  Pest  Vamooser Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

Brought    Home    Essanay 

The  Caretaker's   Dilemma   : Kalem 

Wednesday. 

The  Woman    of   Mystery    Biograph 

The  Fabie  of  the  Heir  and  the  Heiress Essanay 

The  Taking  of  Stingaree  (No.  6  of  the  Stingaree  Series) .... 

Thursday. 

The  Convict  King   Lubin 

From   Blackstone   to    Stone Mina 

Hearst-Selig   News   Pictorial   No.    104,   1915 Selig 

Friday. 

The   Matchmakers   Edison 

Title  Not  Reported    Essanay 

The  Spy's  Ruse  (No.  10  of  the  Ventures  of  Marguerite) 

Ups  and  Downs   Vim 

By  Might  of  His  "Right" Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

The  Prisoner  at   the   Bar Essanay 

At  the  Risk  of  Her  Life Kalem 

A  Ready-Made  Maid   Lubin 

The   Manicure   Girl    Selig 

The  Wanderers Vitagraph 

Monday. 

The   Lesser   Evil Biograph 

Sorrows    of    Happiness Lubin 

The   Buried   Treasure   of   Cobre Selig 

Selig- Tribune  News   Pictorial   No.    1,    1916 Selig 

The   Little   Trespasser Vitagraph 

When   Hooligan   and  Dooligan   Ran  for  Mayor Vitagraph 

Who   Killed   Joe  Merrion? Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

The  Avenging   Shot Biograph 

The    Lesson    Essanay 

The    Missing    Mummy Kalem 

Wednesday. 

The     Skating     Rink Biograph 

Mile  a  Minute  Monty  :    Scenic Essanay 

The    Honor   of   the    Road    (No.    7    of   the    Stingaree 

Series)      Kalem 

Thursday. 

Vengeance   of   the    Oppressed Lubin 

Title    not    reported Mma 

Selig-Tribune  News  Pictorial  No.   2,  1916 Selig 

Friday. 

Title    not    reported Edison 

Crossed  Clues  (No.  11  of  the  Ventures  of  Marguerite)  .Kalem 

This    Way    Out .....Vim 

His  Wife  Knew  About  It Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

The   House  of   Revelation ' Essanay 

When    Seconds    Count Kalem 

Billy's    Headache    Lubm 

Spooks  (No.   7  of  the  Chronicles  of  Bloom  Center) Selig 

Tried   for   His   Own   Murder Vitagraph 


king  up   their   progra 


Sept. 
Sept.   _ 
Sept.   2 


Circular    Staircase. . .  . 

1  line's    Tomato    Surprise.  . 

The   Great    Ruby 

Dust     of     Egypt 

In  the   Palace  of  the  King. 

The  Valley   of   Lost   Hope. 

A    Black    Sheep 

The  Man   Who   Couldn't  B 

The    Rights    of    Man 

The    Turn    of   the    Road... 

The    Crimson    Wing 

The     Raven     

Sweet    Alyssum     

Heights     of     Hazard 

The   Nation's   Peril 

The    Caveman    

i  The   Alster   Case 

.  The    Man's    Making 

I  I'm  Glad  My  Boy  Grew  1 
'-   Folly 


Lubin 

Selig 

.  .Vitagraph 

Lubin 

.  .Vitagraph 


Dec.    20  The   Gre 


Daughter   of   the    City... 
7  What  Happened  to  Father.. 

3  Thou  Art  the  Man 

)  My    Lady's    Slippers 


Selig 

.  .Vitagraph 

.  .Vitagraph 
.  .  .Essanay 
Lubin 

.  .Vitagraph 

Lubin 

. .  .Essanay 

.  .Vitagraph 

.  .Vitagraph 
.  .Vitagraph 


5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
4,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 


Mutual  Program 


12-27  The  Tragic   Circle    . 

12-27  Una's   Useful   Uncle    

12-27   Sammy's  Scandalous   Schem 


Monday. 


2-28   The   Last   Perforn 

2-28   See   America   First,   No.    1 

_'  _'*   Keeping   Up   With   the  J..i 


Tuesday. 


D     12-29  A    Prii 


12-30  The   Terr 


Wednesday. 


.Beauty 

..Rialto 


Thursday. 

:   Fold 


'. '.  Falstaff 
.  .Mutual 


12-31   The  Cactus  Blossom   . 

12-31   The    Mender    

12-31  Jerry's   Revenge    


Friday. 


Saturday. 

a  Towers 

Sunday. 
Monday. 

C        1-3     Matching     Dreams     

C        1-3     The    Optimistic    Oriental    Occults 

C        1-3     An    Innocent    Crook 


Tuesday. 

Billy  Van   Deusen's   Shadow 

See  America   First   No.   17,   Chicago   Industries. 

Keeping  LTp  With  the  Joneses 

The  Bubbles  in  the  Glass 

Wednesday. 


'. '. '.  Gaumont 
.  ..Gaumont 
Thanhouser 


1-5     The   She   De\ 


1-6     The   Homesteadt 

1-6     Hilda's    Husky    Helper 

1-6     Mutual   Weekly   No.   53,    1915 


1-6     Time    and    Tide 

1-6     Title    not    reported.. 
1-6     The  Hills   of   Glory... 


Thursday. 

,'  1915'. '.'.'.'.'.'. 

Friday. 


.  .Centaur 
.  .  Falstaff 
. .  Mutual 


OTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


Saturday. 


12-28 
12-28 
12-28 


12-31 
12-31 
12-31 


Monday. 

The  Nature  Man  Broadway       5,000 

Some   Chaperon    Nestor        1,000 

The  Traction   Grab    (Graft  Series   No.    3) Universal       2,000 

Tuesday. 

As  the  Shadows   Fall  Gold  Seal       2,000 

The  Evil  of  Suspicion   Laemmle       1,000 

No  Release  This  Week Imp 

Wednesday. 

Father's    Child    Victor       3,000 

Scandal  at  Sea L-Ko       1,000 

Animated    Weekly   No.    199 Universal        1,000 

Thursday. 

The  Little  Upstart   Laemmle       3,000 

X,,    Release   This   Week    Big  U 

Babbling   Tongues    Powers        1,000 

Friday. 

A  Tribute  to  Mother Imp       2,000 

N.i    Release   Tins   Week Victor 

Flivver's  Terrible  Past    Nestor       1,000 

Saturday. 

The   Dawn   Road    Bison        2,000 

How  Uncle  Sam   Gets  His  Coin,  No.  2 Powers       1,000 

Lemonade  Aids  Cupid   Joker       1,000 

Sunday. 

No    Release   This    Week Rex 

The  Honor  to  Die Big  U       3,000 

Pants   and   Petticoats    L-Ko 

Monday. 

Langdon's    Legacy    Broadway 

Jed's   Trip    to   the    Fair Nestor 

The  Power  of  the  People  (Graft  Scries  No.  4) ...  .Universal 

Tuesday. 

The  Grey  Sisterhood  (No.  2  Lord  John's  Journal)  .Gold  Seal       3,000 

Shattered    Nerves     Rex       1,000 

No  release  this  week Imp 

Wednesday. 

The   Heart   of    a   Mermaid Victor       3,000 

The    Underworld     Laemmle        1,000 

Animated    Weekly    No.    200 Universal       1,000 

Thursday. 

Missy     Laemmle  2,000 

No   release   this  week Big  U 

Building  Up  the   Health   of  a  Nation      No.    1 Powers  500 

Carl    Emmy    and    His    Dogs Powers  500 

Friday. 

The  Law  of  Life Imp       3,000 

No   release   this   week Victor 

Flivver's    Art    of    Mystery Nestor       1,000 

Saturday. 

On  the  Trail   of  the  Tigress Bison       2,000 

Are  We  Prepared?  No.   3.     Uncle  Sam  at  Work Powers       1,000 

Those    Female    Haters Joker       1,000 

Sunday. 

No   release    this   week Rex 

Blind    Fury     Laemmle 

Billy's     Reformation     L-Ko 


Tnou   Shalt   Not   Kill Circle   Film   Corp. 

For    Her   Son Great    Northern 

Joseph   and    His    lircthren Dormet   Film 

The  World   of  Today Reliable   Feature   Film 

Marvelous    Macistc    Hanover    Film    Co. 

The    Burglar   an. I    the    Lady Sun    Photoplay    Co. 

!    World    of    Today Reliable    Feature    Film 


The  Waif 


-    lire 


,  I'l. 


i  Co. 


Dec.  13  The  Spectre  . 
Dec.  13  The  Man  in  1 
Dec.  13  Ike  Stops  a  I 
Dec.  13  Going — Going- 
Dec.  13  The  Spooners 
Dec.  13  Taking    Chanc. 


1,000 

Nov. 
Dec. 
Dec. 

5,000 
1,000 
2,000 

Dec. 
Jan. 

5,000 
4,000 
6,000 
6,000 
3,000 
5,000 
6.000 


Associated  Service. 

Released  week  of 

2,000 

......  .Ramona 

2,000 

.Santa    Barbara 

.'.dill) 

Alhambra 

.'.mm 

Federal 

1,000 

Atla 

1,0(10 

Banner 

1,000 

cs     

Deer 

1,000 

te 


Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 
25   The    Family    Stain 

1  Carmen      

8  The    Blindness    of    Devotion 

11  A    Woman's    Past 

29  The     Galley    Slave 

21  The   Broken    Law 

5  The    Unfaithful    Wife 

12  Her    Mother's    Secret 

19  A    Soldier's    Oath 

26  Destruction      

2  Green-Eyed   Monster    

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

20  The    Green     Cloak Kleine 

3  The    Sentimental   Lady Kleine 

10  Children    of    Eve Edison 

17  The     Politicians     Kleine 

1  The   Danger   Signal Kleine 

8  The    Destroying    Angel Edison 

IS  The     Bondwomen     Kleine 

Kriterion 

Released  Week  of 

29  The    Witness     Paragon 

29   Billy    Puts   One   Over Santa   Barbara 

29   Big-Hearted    John     Alhambra 

29  Sherlock   Holmes   Boob   Detective Santa   Barbara 

29  The  Keeper  of  the  Flock Santa  Barbara 

29   The  Unloaded  45 C.    K. 

29  The    Western    Border Monty 

29  Catching   a    Speeder Punch 

29  Father    and     Son Trump 

29  Such  a   War Pyramid 

29  A  Mask,  a  Ring  and  a   Pair  of  Handcuffs Navajo 

29  Syd,   the    Bum   Detective Alhambra 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

8  Pennington's    Choice     Metro 

15  The    Woman    Pays Metro 

22  One    Million    Dollars Metro 

29  Barbara     Frietchie     Metro 

6  A    Yellow    Streak Metro 

13  The   House   of  Tears Metro 

20  Rosemary     Metro 

27  Black  Fear   Metro 

3  What   Will  People   Say? Metro 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

2  The    Forbidden    Adventure Mutual 

9  The    Buzzard's    Shadow Mutual 

16  The   Mill   on  the  Floss Thanhouser 

23  The    Painted    Soul Mutual 

30  The    Deathlock Mutual 

30  Temptation     Lasky 

6  The   Other   Side  of  the  Door American 

3  The    Foundling Famous    Players 

6  Tongues    of    Men Morosco 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

9  The  Unknown    Lasky 

13  The    Cheat     Lasky 

13   Paramount    News    Pictures Paramount 

16  The     Reform    Candidate Pallas 

20  The    Immigrant     Lasky 

23  The  Old  Homestead    Famous  Players 

20  Paramount   News  Pictures Paramount 

27   Lydia    Gilmore    Famous  Players 

27   Paramount   News   Pictures Paramount 

3  Paramount  News  Pictures Paramount 

Pathe. 

Released    Week   of 

3  New  Adventures  of  Wallingford  No.   14 Pathe 

3  Old,   Unchanging   Holland Photocolor 

3  Quaint  Dances  of   Japan Globe 

3  Pathe   News   No.    2 Pathe 

3  Pathe   News  No.    3 .  . Pathe 

3   Luke   Leans   to   the    Literary Phunphilms 

3  The  Red   Circle  No.   4 Balboa 

3  Ach  1     Such     Crimes Starlight 

3  The   King's   Game Gold    Rooster 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released    week    of 

2  Worst  of  Friends;  Weber  and  Fields.  .Triangle-Keystone 
9  Let  Katy  Do  It;  Jane  Grey  and  Tully  Marshall; 

Fine    Arts 

9  The  Great  Pearl  Tangle:  Sam  Bernard. Triangle-Keystone 
9   The   Corner;    William    Mack-George   Fawcett 

Triangle-Kay-Bee 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

6  The    Gray    Mask Shubert 

13    The     Siren's    Song Shubert 

13  The     Labvrinth     Equitable 

20  Over    Night    Brady 

20  Sealed     Lips     Equitable 

27  The   Rack    Brady 

27  The    Dragon    Equitable 

3  The    Ransom    Triumph 

3  Camille    Shubert 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5.000 
5,000 


January  8,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


General  Pr* 


of  n 


apitalist  offers  him  $25,000 
and  Hildebrand  accepts, 
mid  be  bought  for  a  paltry 


little  gab-fest 
iraething     is 


ind    blue 


Hearst-Selig  News  Pictorial  No.  103.— Hearst- 
Selig — December      27. — The       Manhattan,       large 

ferry,   is   smashed   when   a   tramp   r 

into  it,  New  York ;  troops,  mar 
jackets  march  in  line  at  the  South. 
Congress,  Charleston,  S.  C. ;  Omaha  roller  skate 
hockey  team  demonstrates  lively  playing.  Omaha, 
Neb. ;  ruling  granting  steamers  of  alleged  German 
interests  freedom  of  the  seas,  allows  the  Wxnne- 
connc  to  depart  for  Norway;  G.  A.  Powell,  jew- 
eler of  San    i  i  in.  isco      J...         i;-  ^    ' 

double;  Pere  d'Alcmquav.  Portuguese  bark,  is 
beached  at  Mantoloking  Beach  N.  J.;  forest 
creeks  on  the  estate  of  J.  H.  Pierce  are  dyna- 
mited to  prevent  forest  fires,  Lynnfield,  Mass. ; 
Hotel  Biltmore,  New  York,  has  frozen  garden  on 
its  summit  for  skating. 

Final  Synopsis  Hearst-Selig  News  Pictorial  No. 
104— Hearst-Selig — December  30. — Liner  Cali- 
fornia brings  gifts  and  greetings  from  across  the 
sea;  Mayor  Dahlman  of  Omaha,  Nebr.,  aids  ani- 
mal keeper  in  caring  for  wild  denizen  of  the 
forest;  Henry  Elionsky,  of  New  \  ork,  who  swims 
in  a  straight  jacket,  takes  a  roll  in  the  snow ; 
boat  that  will  not  tip  over  and  turns  in  a  very 
small  space  "walks  away"  with  a  much  larger 
launch  of  fifteen  horse  power,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  the 
only  building  in  honor  of  Santa  Claus  in  the 
world  is  to  be  erected  in  New  York  by  the  In- 
ternational Santa  Clans  Association;  liner  Min- 
nesota anchors  off  Yerba  Buena  Island;  business 
men  of  Rockaway  Beach  give  Yuletide  festival 
for  children;  $25,000  bridge  of  Spokane,  Wash., 
falls   killing   five   men   and   injuring   twelve   others. 

At  the  Risk  of  Her  Life— Kalem— January  1 
An  episode  of  the  "Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad 
series  featuring  Helen  Gibson  as  the  operator 
at  Lone  Point ;  Franklin  Hall  as  Tony,  a  rene- 
gade, and  Robyn  Adair  as  Jim,  a  cowboy. 

The  Lesser  Evil— Biograph  Reissue— January 
3.— Featuring  Blanche  Sweet,  Mae  Marsh  and 
Edwin  August.  The  girl  overhears  the  smug- 
glers' plans  and  they  take  her  aboard  the  schoon- 
er, which  is  given  chase  by  her  lover  aided  by 
a  revenue  officer.  The  captain  makes  advances  to 
the  girl,  but  when  the  crew  mutinies  and  tries  to 
get  the  girl  he  defends  her.  There  is  only  one 
shot  left  in  his  pistol  and  she  begs  him  to  kill  her 
rather  than  .to  let  her  fall  into  the  men's  hands, 
but  help  arrives  in  time. 

Sorrows  of  Happiness — (Four  Reels) — Lubin 
3. — Featuring   June^  Daye    and    Crau- 


The  Missing  Mummy — Kalem— January  4.— 
Featuring  Bud  Duncan  as  Bud;  Charles  Inslee 
as  Spike,  his  pal;  Ethel  Teare  as  Ethel;  Jack 
McDermott  as  Jack,  her  sweetheart;  Gus  Leonard 
as  Prof.  Earnest  Worker  and  Charles  Mulgro  as 
Prof.   Andy  Deluvian. 

The  Skating  Rink— (Three  Reels)— Biograph 
—January  5.— Featuring  Bud  Ross,  Madge  Kirby, 
Louise  Owen  and  Tack  Mulhall.  The  roller  skate 
salesman,  when  he  arrives  in  Slow  Center,  meets 
two  dashing  country  maidens  and  learns  that  their 
father's  barn  is  in  danger  of  foreclosure  because 
thev  won't  marry  the  money  lender's  sons.  Mr. 
Breeze,  when  he  sees  the  barn,  decides  that  it  is 
'just  the  place  for  a  skating  rink  and  everybody 
makes  money  until,  as  a  climax  to  a  race  between 
the  farmer  and  the  money  lender,  with  the  mort- 
gage as  prize,  the  barn  is  burned  to  the  ground 
by   the   baffled   loser. 

Mile-a-Min 


me  caught  in  a  break  in 
at  and  try  as  he  will  he  cannot  rise.  1 
nnounced,   but  Billie,  because  of  his   a 


i  the 


nily    are 


by   Mr. 

Gray.  After  much  trouble  Billie  is  taken  into 
custody  by  the  Constable  who  imposes  a  fine  on 
Billie  for  appearing  in  public  insufficiently  clothed. 

The  Surprises  of  an  Empty  Hotel — (Four 
Reels) — Vitagraph— January  10. — Charles  Rich- 
mond and  Arline  Pretty  are  featured.  Theodore 
Marston  produced  the  picture.  It  is  a  pleasing 
melodramatic  romance  telling  of  the  adventures  of 

voung  American  girl,  whose  presence  m  a  prac- 
~*-~1    stirs    it    into    activity.      For    a 


tically    empty    hotel    s 


furd    Kent.      Mary,    a    simple    little    country    gi 
is   betrayed   by   David    Garrick, 
city,  who   promises  to   marry  he 
of   a   nearby   day.      When    "'-- 


....    the 

.  „  °he  °re- 
word  of  his  father's  death  and  that  he  has 
been  left  sole  heir.  He  breaks  his  promise  to 
Mary  and  goes  back  to  the  city.  Grace, .  Mary's 
older  sister,  later  avenges  the  wrong  done  her 
lister.     For  a  longer  review   see  another  page  of 


this 


J.  C.  G. 

— Featuring 


His  Lordship — Lubin — J.< 
Dave  Don,  who  takes  a  job  as  an  exera  wanci. 
Carrie  comes  into  the  restaurant  and  later  when 
Otto  is  on  the  floor  in  a  deep  slumber  with  a 
couple  of  empties  at  his  side  he  is  dressed  in  silk 
pajamas  and  placed  in  a  luxurious  bed  and  still 
later  he  beholds  a  uniformed  butler  who  asks 
him  how  his  lordship  is  feeling.  (He  then  is 
attired  in   evening   dress   and    escorted   to   the  ball 


Monty's    rest 

his  heavyweight  wife  at  the  rail- 
road station  in  half  an  hour.  He  takes  his  flying 
machine,  and  while  sailing-  through  the  sky  he 
sees  some  diving  girls  in  much  abbreviated  cos- 
tumes. He  immediately  descends  and  is  peeking 
over  the  fence  when  his  wife,  who  is  raging  be- 
cause he  has  failed  to  call  for  her,  comes  upon 
the  scene.  She  throws  him  over  the  fence,  then 
goes  over  after  him,  landing  in  the  pool.  The 
pool  is  flooded  and  Monty  gets  a  derrick  to  haul 
her  out.  This  is  a  split  reel  release,  and  the  re- 
maining five  hundred  feet  contain  scenes  taken  in 
the  Canadian  Rockies. 

The  Honor  of  the  Road— (Two  Reels)— Kalem 
—January  5.— An  episode  of  the  "Stingaree" 
series  featuring  True  Boardman  as  Stingaree, 
Thomas  Lingham  as  Hardcastle,  Frank  Jonasson 
as  Duncan,  Paul  C.  Hurst  as  Howie,  Edward 
Clisbee  as  Sergeant  Lansing,  Marin  Sais  as  Ethel 
and  Ollie  Kirkby  as  Mrs.   Hardcastle. 

Vengeance  of  the  Oppressed— (Three  Reels)— 
Lubin — January  6. — Featuring  Francelis  Billing- 
ton  and  L.  C.  Shumway.  Serguis  Kosloff,  a  Cos- 
sack officer,  is  attracted  by  Esther,  wife  of  Aaron 
Markowitz,  and  makes  advances  to  her.  Aaron 
interposes  and  the  next  day  Serguis  leads  his 
Cossacks  against  the  Jews  and  Esther  kills  her- 
self and  Aaron  with  his  baby  girl  makes  his  way 
to    America,    vowing    vengeance.       Twenty    years 

cial  figure  and  Ruth,  his  daughter,  is  about  to 
marry  the  brilliant  young  Dr.  Russell  Parker. 
Aaron  figures  in  a  loan  made  to  the  Russian  Gov- 
ernment and  later  learns  that  the  Russian  attache 
is  Serguis  Kosloff.  Aaron  sets  a  trap  for  the 
attache,  who  is  killed  for  being  a  traitor  and 
Aaron  later  passes  away  satisfied  that  his  people 
have   been   avenged. 

Crossed  Clues — Kalem— January  7. — An  epi- 
sode of  "The  Ventures  of  Marguerite,"  featuring 
Marguerite  Courtot  as  Margeurite,  Roland  Bot- 
-   ''lob   Winter,   Richard   Purdon   as   Peter 


By     Love     Redeemed— (Three      Reels)— Vita- 

ProducedRbyDCA Jay  Williams  and  featuring  Jewel 
Hunt,  who  is  seen  to  advantage  as  the  motherless 
girl  whose  criminal  immilscs  are  the  result  of  an 
injury  to  her  head.  Circumstances  bring  her  to 
the  notice  of  a  surgeon  skilled  in  performing 
the  trephining  operation.  The  operation,  which 
consists  of  relieving  the  pressure  on  her  brain, 
brings  her  back  to  a  normal  condition  and  she 
marries  the  young  man  who  has  loved  her  for  a 
long  time  and  made  this  wonderful  change  possi- 
ble. The  story  has  been  given  an  effective  pro- 
duction, and  the  situations,  all  rather  episodic, 
are  commendably  acted  by  the  star  and  a  strong 
Vitagraph    cast,    which    includes    Garry    McGarry. 


Sull.v 


Borden. 


he   i 


yith   the   fact   that 


>  Otto's  wife  and  tell  her  that  he  is  going 
to  marry  another  woman.  Dragging  her  four 
children  with  her  she  hastens  to  the  Vanderfel- 
ler's  home  and  there  stops  the  wedding. 

The  Avenging  Shot— (Two  Reels)— Biograph 
—January  4.— Featuring  Vera  Sisson,  Jack  Mul- 
hall and  G.  Raymond  Nye.  When  he  hears  the 
voice  he  has  been  waiting  twenty  years  to  hear 
the  old  curio  seller  goes  into  the  shop  where  the 
stranger  is  threatening  his  daughter  with  prose- 
cution for  theft  if  she  did  not  yield  to  his  wishes 
and  with  trembling  hand  the  old  man  kills  the 
stranger,  who  lured  the  old  man's  wife  away  and 
shot  her  years  before  while  attempting  to  escape 
from  the  avenging  husband. 

Her  Lesson — (Two  Reels) — -Essanay — January 
4. — Featuring  G.  M.  Anderson  and  Ruth  Saville. 
The  capitalist  realizes  that  his  wife  is  being  paid 
much  attention  to  by  one  young  Rodney  Hilde- 
brand. He  returns  home  one  evening  and  finds 
the  room  filled  with  flowers  which  Hildebrand  had 
sent  her  and  also  a  note  saying  that  Hildebrand 
will  take  her  to  the  opera  that  night.      When  the 


The  House  of  Revelation — (Three  Reels)  — 
Essanay — January  8. — Featuring  John  A.  Lo- 
renz,  Marguerite  Clayton  and  John  Junior.  Lady 
Denning  loves  Hon.  Charles  Raleigh,  but  is  afraid 
of  him.  He  is  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  in 
Flanders  and  there  sacrifices  his  arm  in  saving 
Lady  Denning's  brother's  life.  He  later  inherits 
an  estate  and  goes  to  the  castle  to  investigate  it 
and  opening  a  panel  in  the  wall  he  finds  the 
skeleton  of  a  man  and  beside  the  carcass  is  a 
letter.  It  tells  oMiow  the  first  Sir  Charles  had 
insulted  a  certain  Lady  Olive,  how  her  cause  was 
championed  by  Godfrey,  who  challenged  Sir 
Charles,  and  they  agreed  to  throw  dice  to  see 
which  one  would  commit  suicide.  The  modern 
Sir  Charles  then  understands  why  Lady  Den- 
ning fears  him.  It  is  the  atonement  he  must 
pay,  but  Lady  Denning,  after  hearing  her  broth- 
er's story,  loses  her  fear  of  Sir  Charles,  and  he 
has   atoned    for   the   wrong   done   by   his   ancestor. 

When  Seconds  Count — Kalem — January  8. — 
An  episode  of  the  "Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad 
series,  featuring  Helen  Gibson  as  the  operator  at 
Lone  Point,  Percy  Fembrooke  as  Frank,  relief 
operator,  Clarence  Burton,  Franklin  Hall  and 
Robyn    Adair   as   Jeff,    Slug    and    Red,    crooks. 

Billie's  Headache— Lubin— January  8.— Featur- 
ing Billie  Reeves.  Billie  is  invited  to  dine  at  his 
sweetheart's  home  on  Sunday.  _  As  the  dinner  is 
not  ready  upon   his   arrival  he. joins  the   family  in 


The  Optimistic  Oriental  Occults— Falstaff — 
January  2.— The  rich  old  man  hates  his  many 
relatives  and  loves  his  money.  The  relatives  seaily 
hate  him,  but  fall  over  themselves  trying  to  be 
popular  with  him,  skilfully  scheming  for  a  rmeni- 
tion  in  his  will.  Finally  the  old  gentleman  pre- 
tends to  die.  His  will  reads  that  the  estate  is  to 
be  equally  divided  among  those  male  relatives 
who  join  the  Optimistic  Oriental  Ocralts— a  se- 
cret society  of  which,  it  is  said,  the  deceased  had 
been  very  fond.  The  ordeal  of  conferring  the 
first  degree  proves  sufficient  to  deaden  the  rela- 
tives' zeal  forever.  Meanwhile  the  wealthy  old 
man  witnesses  with  keenest  pleasure  the  terrible 
initiation  of  his  enemies. 

Matching  Dreams — (Two  Reels) — American — 
January  3.— Featuring  Vivian  Rich  and  Alfred 
Vosburgh  in  the  story  of  a  poor  young  seamstress; 
who  is  a  dreamer  and  who  meets  Hugh  Clayton,, 
a  rich  young  author.  Their  friendship  ripens  ratoi 
love  and  we  last  see  them  clasped  in  each  other's, 
arms.  For  a  longer  review  see  another  page-  q'j 
this  issue.  J|..  C,  <&. 

Billy  Van  Deusen's  Shadow— Beauty— Janu- 
ary 4. — Featuring  John  Steppling  in  a  double  role 
and    Carol    Halloway.      Billy,    a   tennis    enthusiast, 


...l  his  ball  goes  through  the  window  of  Mrs. 
ludge's  home  enters  to  reclaim  it,  and  she  and 
r  daughter,  when  they  see  his  card,  look  him. 
in   the   Blue   Book   and   find  he   is  very   rich. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


Before  long  he  and  the  girl 
chances  to  glance  from  her  \ 
ers  Hank,  a  waiter,  flirting  \ 
Hank's  features  are  the  sai 
Flora  think.  Hank  is  Hilly, 
daughter   enter   a   cafe    for   din 


The     Bubbles    in    the    Glass— (Three    Reels)  — 
Thanhouser— January       4.— The      cast       includes 
Lorraine   Hul.ng   and   Harris    Gordon.      The   story    ; 
tells  of  a  young  man  who  through  unfortunate  in- 


Universal  Program :. 


People 


compared    with    the    horrible    dream. 

The  Heart  of  a  Mermaid— (Three  Reels)— 
Imp— January  5.— Featuring  Mary  Fuller.  Bailey 
Dryden,  a  young  millionaire,  collects  his  chums 
together  for  a  last  voyage  on  his  yacht  before 
the   dull   daughter   of   wealthy   parents. 


Wlnh 


i    the 


ivagt    1 


.    fantas 


inteniplates  suicide,  fully  detenu 
mi  life  alter  finishing  the  glas 
im.  While  gazing  at  the  glas 
i    thoughts    turn    to    the   girl    he 


he   i 


nard, 


,  si:;>:: 


yacht    captained    by    ! 


tnded,    but    is    picked    up    by 


sufferer  when  he  meets  misfortune.  This  fills  him 
with  a  desire  to  fight  and  win  his  way  back  to 
fortune  and  he  is  surprised  to  find  that  the  girl, 
his  fiancee,  has  returned  to  him  because  she  felt, 
intuitively,  that  he  was  in  trouble. 

Hilda's  Husky  Helper— Falstaff— January  6.— 
Louise  Emerald  Bates  is  Hilda,  the  famous  strong 
woman  who  headlines  in  vaudeville.  Claude 
Cooper  is  seen  as  the  clerk  whose  meekness  is 
mi -.understood  and  taken  advantage  of  at  the 
office  and  bv  his  sweetheart.  The  clerk  assists 
Hilda  in  her  act  one  night  and  the  office  force 
as  well  as  his  sweetheart  sit  dumbfounded  in  the 
audience  while  he  performs  such  feats  as  carrying 
Hilda  and  a  few  men  on  his  shoulders,  because 
they    do   not   know    that   the   weight    ' 


rother,  Tom. 
..  New  York  with  the  evidence 
against  the  grain  corner.  He,  frenzied  at  the 
attacks  made  on  Bruce  and  his  mother,  holds  a 
mass  meeting  which  results  in  Dodson,  the  leader 
of  the  Grain  Trust,  promising  to  right  conditions. 
Dodson,  however,  still  fearing  an  attack  by  the 
mob,  commit-  suicide.  Tom  reports  his  victory 
to  his  brother,  and  Bruce  adds  another  name  to 
his  list  as  having  paid  the  debt  of  vengeance. 

Universal  Animated  Weekly  No.  199— Uni- 
versal—December  29.— Echoes  of  President  Wil- 
son's marriage  to  Mrs.  Edith  Gait  at  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  stock  yards  glutted  with  cattle,  sheep  and 
goats,  Chicago,  111.;  Barion  Vei-Ichi  Shibuzawa 
with  party  of  Japanese  notables  visit  Universal 
City,  Cal.,  sailing  ship  Peru  D'Almquer  aground 
at  Mantoloking,  N.  J.';  Board  of  Health  removes 
prohibition  against  sale  of  horse  flesh,  New  York 
City;  Captain  Louis  Lane  and  John  Borden  to 
brave  Arctic  for  furs,  Chicago,  111.  j  French  Al- 
"    id    the' 


which  is  visualized  o 
tiful  mermaid  comes 
falls  in  love  with  hir 
for   all   time,   and   sh 

some  time^finds  he" 
tame   her    wildness. 

i   the  screen.      In   it,   a   beau- 
up    out    of    the    depths    and 
n.      He   promises   to   love  her 

ze     to     the    yacht,     but    after 

In    order    to    punish    her    for 

some  of  her  wilful  i 
ing  off  into  the  w 
for  a  swim,  he  make 
plain    sight    of    the    e 

lisdemeanors,    such    as   jump- 
ter    in    her    evening    clothes 
s  love   to  the   wealthy   girl   in 
x-mermaid.      The    latter"   mis- 
and    jumps    into    the    brine, 

i    again 


a 


British    i 


uits   ; 


:  put 


forgives  t 


all, 


Time  and  Tide— American— January  7.— Fea- 
turing Alfred  Yosburgh  and  Nell  Frazen.  Wil- 
liam Lang,  a  wealthy  widower,  who  is  crazy 
about  the  ladies,  is  taken  to  the  seashore  by  his 
son  Ned,  who  tries  to  make  him  realize  that  the 
girls  do  not  love  him  but  his  money.  Here  Ned 
s   with   Ruth   Walters,   a   pretty   fisher  maiden, 


England ;  span 
ing  468  tons,  part  of  two-million  dollar  bridge, 
is  placed  in  position  over  Columbia  River,  Van- 
couver, Wash. ;  lost  submarine,  submerged  for 
twenty-five  years,  is  raised  from  river  bottom, 
Chicago ;   cartoons  by  Hy.   Mayer. 

Jed's  Trip  to  the  Fair— Nestor— January  3.— 
Ted,  an  honest  country  boy,  is  winner  in  the 
Exposition  Contest  of  the  Sacramento  Bugle,  re- 
ceiving S500  in  cash  and  two  round  trip  tickets 
to  the  San  Francisco  Exposition.  The  trials  of 
Ted  and  his  sweetheart  in  keeping  Lee,  a  hand- 
book, and  his  various  accomplices  from  get- 
ting   the    money.,    compose    the    substance    of    the 

The     Gray     Sisterhood— (Three     Reels)— Gold 

Seal — January  4. — Second  episode  of  "Lord  John's 
Journal,"  scenarioized  by  Harvey  Gates  from  the 
story  by  C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Willi 
duced    by    E.    J.    Le    Saint.      The     .. 

:pisode    finds    Lord    John    in    the    theater 


The  Underworld—  Laemmle— January  5.— A 
comedy-drama  in  which  some  crafty  members  of 
the  underworld  execute  a  tragedy  for  the  benefit 
of  a  wealthy  slumming  party.  The  members  of 
the  party,  who  are  made  to  witness  a  sensational 
murder,  receive  the  scare  of  their  lives,  and  they 
are  made  to  pay  handsomely  for  their  safe  escape. 
After  their  departure  there  is  a  hilarious  rejoic- 
ing in  the  den  and  the  manager  divides  the  easy 
money. 

Carl  Emmy  and  His  Dogs— (Split  Reel)— 
Powers — Tanuary  6. — A  vaudeville  act  composed 
of  the  "stunts"  of  a  number  of  well-trained  dogs. 
On  the  same  reel   is: 

Building  Up  the  Health  of  a  Nation — Lesson 
No.  1  of  an  educational  series. 

The  Law  of  Life— (Three  Reels)— Imp— Janu- 
ary 7.— With  King  Baggot.  Robert  Mackenzie 
and    Sidney    Powell    love    Helen.      The   former   has 


voting    girl.    Nan.      Through    the    power 
Powell    leads    Robert    into    such    a    state 
1   debility   that   the   latter   takes   La   Car- 
dancer,    to    his    apartment.       The    next 
in   full   possession   of   his   faculties,   Rob- 
nned  at  the  situation  he  is  in.     Helen  re- 
urse.     Powell 
killed  by  Nan.     Robert  consents  to  a  mar- 
ith    Carmona,    but   she   dies   soon    after   the 
f     her     child.        Helen     and     Robert     meet 
nd    once    more    pledge    their    troth    beside 
ping   form   of   the   baby. 


'"  i  i  -|       |  .lyiOl      111      1  in       sinrv      . 

i  young  physician,  who  goes 
nountains  and  there 
i  'H  -I  love  will.  In 
kI.i.  ns  to  the  city 
thej  an  iniiiK  rei 
For  a  Ion; 
of  this  issue. 


of   Mystery — Nestor — January   7. 

lessons   from   a   conjurer   and   pro- 

lem  into  practice  at  his  grand- 
wedding.       Flivver    meets    with 

ster  in  every  experiment  and  in 
follow  the  conjurer's  text-book, 
injuring     and     mortifying     every 


uncle  hate   evcrv- 

They   have  made 

that    the    first    who 

11   have  to  pay   the 

They    both    fall 

e    and     after     much 

effort    to   hide    their   secret,    the    two   get 
each    other   and   call   off   the   agreement. 

On    the    Trail    of   the    Tigress— (Two    Reels) — 

Bison — January     S. — Featuring     Paul     Bourgeois 

and    Betty    ScIi.kIc.       I'i.htta,    a    notorious    French 

and    leader   of  one  of   Paris'   worst 

y  Hoffman,  daugh- 


s   pay    : 


January  8,  1916 


i   keeps  for   her  pi 
and  her  gang  are  left  t 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Paramount 

imigrant — (Five     Reels) — Lasky- 


wedding  trip  the  ya< 


99 


and    later    they 


;r,   David  Harding,   with   wl 
id  also  J.  J.  Walton,  a  wea! 
sires   her.      Later   she   beco 
and   they    go    out    West    wl 
.cting   a   dam.      Harding    is 
home    with    the    idea    of    b( 
i  meets   Masha   and   a   bond 
ibhshed     between     the     two.       Walton     decidi 
wreck    Harding's    dam    and    in    the    flood    th; 
aws    he    is    killed,    while    Harding    begi 
rth   Masha   amid  the  ruins   of  his   w 


The     Old     Homestead 

layers.— A  picturizati. 
lebrated    rural    play 


—(Five    Reels) — Famou 
n  of  Denman  Thompson' 

Hurt  and   I 
supporting    c 


Pathe 

Pathe    News    No.    102— Pat 
:arless    automobile    appears 


-Dece 
i     the 


of 


seventy-five  million,  he  becomes  so  unmanageable 
that  his  wife  is  obliged  to  send  him  to  her  sister 
to  be  reformed.  On  the  train  he  flirts  with  a 
pretty    girl.      He    is    chased    from    the    train    and 

There  he  again  meets  the  girl  and  tries  to  win 
her  from  her  sweetheart.  He  demoralizes  the 
household  and  in  a  battle  that  follows  he  is 
bested.      He   finally    escapes   his    ordeals    a   sadder 

Blind  Fury— Laemmle— January  9.— Jack  Kelly 
makes  a  rich  strike.  He  is  strongly  attracted  to 
Jim  Fulton,  a  tenderfoot  who  needs  money,  and 
takes  him  into  partnership  with  him.  They  both 
fall  in  love  with  the  same  girl,  but,  as  Jack  keeps 
in    the    background,    the    girl    yields    to    Jim's    en- 


electric 
motive  makes  its  first  run  at  Butte,  Mont. ;  home 
of  Mrs.  Norman  Gait,  where  her  marriage  to 
President  Wilson  was  performed,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  the  carriage  of  a  captured  German  gun 
forms  a  vantage  point  for  the  recruiting  orator. 
London,     England;     submarine,    forty     year 


ich 


vith 


firs 


that    thej 


„  Hoi 
les  evident  to  Jack  and  AL__ 
;ach  other.  Tim,  in  a  jealous  rage  at  seem] 
vo  in  an  embrace,  shoots  his  partner,  learn 
oon  after  that  he  had  no  grounds  for  sucl 
t  and  that  his  partner  intended  to  treat  hin 
With   Jack   on   the   road   to   recovery,   Jin 


.     Feature  Programs- 


Fox 


..  ,  ^wels  of  a'  count.  Later  his 
wife  is  murdered  and  a  crook  takes  the  jewels 
and  these  are  afterward  presented  to  the  soldier  s 
daughter   as    betrothal    gift    by    him.      Later    these 


Kleine-Edison 

The  Devil's  Prayer-Book — (Five  Reels) — 
Kleine-Edison.— Produced  by  George  Kleine  from 
the  story  by  Max  Marcin.  The  cast  includes 
Alma  Hanlon,  Arthur  Hoops,  Frank  Belche 
Ruby  Hoffman.  For  a  longer  f-~'~ 
page  of  this  issue. 


)vered    by    a   divt_    _  _ 

Chicago,  111.;  cartoons;  15,000  school  children 
march  against  John  Barleycorn  in  "No  License" 
demonstration,  Boston,  Mass.;  unusually  fine 
products  of  the  breeder's  art  are  exhibited  at 
the  Northwest  Pacific  Stock  Show,  North  Yakima, 
Wash. 

Pathe  News  No.  103 — Pathe— December  25. — 
Merchandise  congest  piers  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
heavy  snow  fall  puts  the  horse  and  the  auto  out 
of  service  and  oxen  are  used  to  distribute  milk, 
Roseland,  N.  J.;  resourceful  British  soldiers  use 
empty  jars  to  make  rough  and  ready  bombs  at 
Ypres,  Belgium,  and  also  learn  to  use  asphyxi- 
ating  gases   to   cover   their  attacks    on   the   enemy 

and  "wet  goods"  calls  forth  energetic  action  by 
the  local  police  of  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.  ;  Jack 
Frost  does  his  best  to  aid  the  skating  craze  in 
New  York  City  and  hundreds  glide  on  frozen 
lakes  in  the  various  city  parks;  Allies'  answer  to 
the  Zeppelin  menace. 

Twenty  Years  Later — (Two  Reels) — Pathe- 
Baleoa. — Third  episode  of  "The  Red  Circle,"  fea- 
turing Ruth  Roland  and  Frank  Mayo.  June  Travis 
learns  from  her  nurse  that  she  is  the  daughter 
of  the  once  notorious  Jim  Borden  and  of  her  in- 
herited criminal  tendencies.  While  Lamar,  the  de- 
tective who  is  trying  to  unravel  the  mystery  and 
apprehend  the  woman  who  robbed  the  loan  shark, 
is  visiting  her  the  butler  hands  her  a  portion  of 
one  of  the  notes  which  she  took  from  Grant's 
office  and  which  he  has  found  in  her  room.  The 
nurse  sees  this  and  in  order  to  remove  suspicion 
from  June,  she  dresses  in  the  girl'es  clothes  and 
veiled  she  walks  past  the  detective  while  he  is 
looking  over  the  ground  near  where  the  mys- 
terious woman  left  the  auto  on  the  day  of  the 
robbery.  _  He  follows  her  to  a  vacant  garage  and 
the  closing  scene  shows  him  trying  to  break  in 
the  door.  For  a  longer  review  see  another  page 
of   this   issue. 


Mutual  Master- Pictures 

The  Deathlock — (Five  Reels) — Mutual — De- 
cember 30.— Wilma  Wilkie  and  David  W.  Butler 
are  featured  in  this  production  which  was  actually 
filmed  in  the  Klondyke.  A  full  review  of  the  pic- 
ture appears  on  another  page  of  this  issue. 

The  Other  Side  of  the  Door— (Five  Reels)— 
American  De  Luxe  Edition — -January  6. — Fea- 
turing Harold  Lockwood  and  May  Allison  in  the 
story  of  one  John  Montgomery,  a  rich  young 
Southerner,  whose  wealth  gets  him  into  bad 
habits.  He  meets  Ellie,  a  young  Southern  girl, 
and  falls  in  love  with  her,  but  he  also  is  ensnared 
by  Carlotta,  an  adventuress,  who  is  the  mistress 
of  the  gambler  of  the  town.  The  gambler  is 
murdered  and  all  circumstances  point  to  Mont- 
gomery as  the  murderer.  Finally,  however,  the 
matter  is  cleared  up  and  happiness  is  seen  for 
Montgomery  and  Ellie.  For  a  longer  review  see 
another  page  of  next  issue.  J.    G. 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  January  2. 
Between  Men— (Five  Reels)—  Kay-Bee.— Fea- 
turing  William  S.  Hart,  House  Peters  and  Enid 
Markey  in  the  story  of  how  a  Western  mining 
man,  in  gratitude  for  needed  help,  responds  to 
the  call  of  a  friend  and  aids  him  in  foiling  a 
'  "    id  in  Wall  street_and  also  wi:      " 


Dizzy  Heights  and  Daring  Hearts — (Two 
Reels) — Keystone. — Featuring  Chester  Conklin 
and  Dave  Anderson  as  two  rival  suitors  bent  on 
purchasing  an  aeroplane.  Their  adventures  in  the 
air  and  on  earth  are  thrillingly  depicted  in  this 
production  and  bombs  are  dropped,  bridges  blown 
up,  and  Anderson  loses  control  of  his  flyer  and 
lands  in  a  tree  before  the  production  closes,  and 
the  last  scene  shows  Conklin  buried  when  the 
dynamite  explodes  and  shatters  a  smoke  stack  on 
the    aeroplane   factory.      For   a   longer 


e  of  Motography. 


Cross  Currents — (Five  Reels) — Fine  Arts. — • 
Featuring  Helen  Ware,  Teddy  Sampson  and 
Courtenay  Foote  in  the  thrilling  story  of  an  older 
sister's  sacrifice  for  a  younger  one.  Elizabeth 
Crane  is  the  fiancee  of  a  clever  young  diplomat. 
He    becomes    fascinated    with     Elizabeth's     sister, 


island  and  after  a  time  1 
ife,  as  he  says  .the  sea  h; 
.ater  a  searching  party   fine 


FEASTER 
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FEASTER   CORPORATION 

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Mr.  Exhibitor: 

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Bartola  Orchestra 

is  superior  to  any  other  for  your  Theatre. 
Give  us  a  chance.     Write  for  catalogue. 

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Factory:  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


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Address 

Motography 

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MOTOGRAPHY 

meets  him  frequently.  It  is  in  the  roadhouse 
when  Freeman  is  attempting  to  make  love  to 
Blanche  that  there  is  a  knock  at  the  door  and  he 
steps  into  the  hall  and  recoils  a  moment  later 
shot  through  the  heart  and  Blanche  flees  leaving 
her  scarf  behind  her.  Later  it  is  discovered  that 
Donald  Mackenzie,  who  hated  the  man,  had  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  roadhouse  and  shot  him  and 
Blanche  and   her  husband  are  reunited. 


Universal    Special 

Langdon's     Legacy— (Five     Reels)- 
/xiversal— January     3.— Jack    Warren     Kerrigan 
s    featured    in   his   first   five-reel   production   in   the 

'        >f    Jack    Langdon,    manage         ' 


)   Peru,   accompanied  by 

lils    as   his    wife.      A    full   review    appear 

■r  page  of  this  issue.  N.  G.  C. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

What  Happened  '  to  Father— (Five  Reels)— 
V.  L.  S.  E.  — Yilagraph  Blue  Ribbon  Feature 
produced  by  C.  Jay  Williams  and  starring  Frank 
Daniels.  Father's  extravagant  daughters  exhaust 
his  bank  account  and  he  decides  to  make  a  fortune 
by  writing  and  producing  a  comic  opera.  A 
mix-up  at  the  theater  on  the  opening  night  takes 
him  away  from  home  and  the  wedding  of  his 
older  daughter.  Before  he  returns  to  his  worried 
wife  he  goes  through  all  sorts  of  trouble.  For 
a   longer   review    see    another   page    of   this    issue. 

Missy— (Two  Reels)—  Laemmle— January  6.— 
With  Myrtle  Gonzalez  and  Frank  Newburg.  Dave 
Briscoe's  wife,  Jenny,  elopes  with  another  man 
and  starts  for  the  city.  Dave,  however,  intercepts 
the  pair  before  they  can  leave  and  demands  that 
his  wife  give  him  the  custody  of  their  child. 
Missy.  When  Missy  grows  up  she  does  not  fully 
esteem  the  love  of  Lon  McDonald,  a  trapper  who 
helps  her  father.  As  a  result  of  a  misunder- 
standing with  her  father  over,  a  city  lad,  Missy 
secretly  leaves  and  takes  up  life  with  her  mother 
in  the  city.  Missv  at  last  learns  her  lesson  and 
decides  that  love 'in  a  hut  with  a  true  man  is 
1  letter  than  all  the  fineries  of  civilization  with  a 
"cad."  She  accordingly  refuses  to  marry  the 
man  whose  real  character  she  discovers  in  the 
nick   of  time,  and   returns  to  her  father  and   Lon. 


World 

The  Dragon— (Five  Reels)— Equitable.— Fea- 
ring Marguerite  Fischer  in  a  double  role.  Car- 
illton  is  robbed  of  his  wife  by  a  wealthy  banker 
id  the  only  thing  left  him  is  his  baby  ffirl 
essalla.  Years  later  he  tells  her  a  fairy  tale 
the  tragedy  of  his  life  and  that  the  lure  of 
ealth  that  took  away  his  wife  is  a  dragon  which 
,-es  on  Fifth  Avenue.  Messalla  resolves  to  find 
le  dragon  and  make  him  give  back  her  mother 
id  after  some  time  she  meets  her  mother's 
, bun  and  asks  him  if  he  knows  where  the 
agon  lives.  He  takes  her  to  his  home  and 
<ie  Elizabeth  recognizes  her  daughter  and  saves 
;r  from  Tanner's  clutches  and  together  they 
ave  the  house.  By  her  innocence  the  girl  kills 
le  dragon  and  rescues  her  mother. 
The  Rack — (Five  Reels) — World. — Featuring 
lice  Brady  in  the  story  of  a  young  bride  who 
In    ,  d    l.i.i    i  o.i.llioiis,     In     .i    \  .mug    man  ied    man. 

ater    Blanche    Gordon    tries    to    reconcile    Jack 
.  reeman    and    his    wife,    Louise,    but     Freeman    is 
/    in   love   with    Blanche   and 


THE  PRESS  AGENT  SAYS 

In  the  production  of  the  Passion  Play 
an  actor,  whose  name  does  not  matter, 
for  a  number  of  years  had  been  cast  in 
the  role  of  Judas  Iscariot.  Now  in  his 
private  life,  this  man  was,  perhaps,  no 
better  than  any  of  his  fellows,  but  cer- 
tainly he  was  no  worse  than  the  great 
majority.  The  story  is  not  a  myth  and 
its  pathos  is  apparent  to  any  thinking 
man.  So  it  cannot  but  come  as  a  relief 
to  theater-going  America  to  learn  that 
what  threatened  to  be  something  of  a 
duplicate  of  the  story  has  been  nipped 
in  the  bud  at  Universal  City  by  the  cast- 
ing of  Sherman  Bainbridge  in  the  role 
of  sympathetic  lead  in  the  production 
of  western  drama  instead  of  in  his  cus- 
tomary roles  of  villain,  deep-dyed  and 
unchangeable. 

Rachael  Crothers,  the  noted  playwright 
and  author  of  at  least  four  Broadway  suc- 
cesses, is  now  working  exclusively  on 
original  scenarios  for  the  Equitable  Mo- 
tion Pictures  Corporation.  Harriet  Ford 
is  performing  like  functions  for  Triumph, 
a  producing  concern  allied  with  Equit- 
able. 

Raymond  Schrock.  who  has  been  ed- 
itor of  scenarios  for  the  Imp-Universal 
forces,  has  written  112  scripts  in  the  last 
two  years.  He  will  become  a  director 
when  the  Universal  gets  into  the  new 
studios. 

Belle  Bennett,  who  will  be  remembered 
for  her  excellent  work  in  the  Lubin  east- 
ern productions,  and  who  is  now  con- 
nected with  the  Horsley  Studios  as  lead- 
ing- lady,  playing  opposite  George  Ovey, 
is  in  a  critical  condition  at  the  Sisters 
Hospital  in  Los  Angeles,  having  nearly 
sacrificed  her  life  for  a  crippled  boy  who 
was  severely  burned  by  live  wires  a  few- 
weeks  ago.  Miss  Bennett  gave  nearly 
sixteen  inches  of  skin  for  the  boy's 
limb  and  in  so  doing  has  not  only 
jeopardized  her  future,  but  will,  at  the 
best,  keep  her  under  a  physician's  care 
for  several  weeks.  Miss  Bennett  has  re- 
fused to  divulge  the  boy's  name,  as  he 
doesn't  care  to  have  known  the  facts  of 
a  girl's  sacrifice  for  his  life,  and  it  was 
only  with  great  persuasion  that  induced 
him  to  allow  Miss  Bennett  to  have  the 
operation  performed. 

The  Kinemacolor  Company,  which  is 
producing  a  five-reel  production  entitled 
"Her  American  Prince."  in  which  Arthur 
Donaldson  and  J.  Frank  Glendon  are  fea- 
tured, have  found  it  necessary,  on  ac- 
count of  bad  weather  conditions,  to  leave 
New  York  and  go  to  St.  Augustine,  Fla., 
where  the  remainder  of  the  exteriors  will 
be  taken. 

Claire  Whitney  who  is  to  be  featured 
in  the  billing  of  the  photo-plays  now  be- 
ing produced  by  the  Fox  Film  Corpora- 
tion at  Kingston,  Jamaica,  has  leased  a 
beautiful  estate  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
city  due  to  the  fact  that  William  Fox 
has  cabled  her  to  the  effect  that  it  will 
be  late  in  May  before  she  may  return  to 
America. 

Frederick  Church,  who  has  for  the  past 


January  8,  1916 

six  years  played  heavies  opposite  G.  M. 
Anderson  in  practically  all  of  his  produc- 
tions, has  signed  a  contract  with  the  Uni- 
versal Film  Manufacturing  Company  to 
play  leads  and  heavies  under  the  direction 
of  Joseph  DeGrasse.  Mr.  Church's  pop- 
ularity on  the  screen  has  necessitated  this 
director  in  casting  Mr.  Church  in  new 
roles  of  leading  parts,  and  it  is  expected 
that  before  many  moons  he  will  be  one 
of  the  most  popular  men  on  the  Universal 
program.  Besides  possessing  unusual 
talent,  Mr.  Church  has  a  wonderful  per- 
sonality that  is  pleasing  to  thousands  of 
photoplay  fans  daily. 

Clifford  B.  Gray,  formerly  leading  man 
with  World  Film  Corp.  is  now  playing 
opposite  Mary  Fuller,  the  Universal 
Favorite  in  "Madame  Cutest"  with  Lu- 
cius Henderson  as  director. 

Marcia  Moore,  who  was  connected 
with  the  Universal  Film  Mfg.  Company 
on  the  Pacific  Coast,  playing  ingenue 
leads,  and  who  later  played  important 
parts  in  the  Quality  Pictures  Corpora- 
tions under  trie  direction  of  Francis  X. 
Bushman,  has  returned  to  the  Universal 
and  will  play  leads  inthe  Rex  Brand  of 
pictures  under  the  direction  of  Joseph 
DeGrasse. 

With  a  large  and  well  equipped  studio 
and  plant,  many  new  players  who  have 
already  distinction,  and  new  directors  and 
cameramen  of  wide  repute  in  the  mov- 
ing picture  world,  the  Nola  Film  Com- 
pany, completely  reorganized,  will  begin 
in  the  near  future  the  production  of  five- 
reel  features  in  New  Orleans.  Capt.  W. 
J.  Hannon,  President  and  General  Man- 
ager of  the  Company  has  just  returned 
from  New  York  where  he  has  completed 
arrangements  with  the  Associated  Film 
Sales  Corporation  for  the  release  of  a 
five-reel  feature  every  three  or  four 
weeks. 

Lynn  Reynolds  now  holds  the  title  for 
being  the  youngest  motion  picture  di- 
rector in  the  industry.  His  efforts  as 
an  assistant  director  for  the  past  five 
years  have  at  last  been  recognized  and 
he  has  been  given  an  opportunity  to 
prove  his  merit  as  a  director  of  films.  He 
is  now  working  on  his  eighteenth  picture 
for  the  Universal,  and  as  Mr.  McRae, 
the  Director  General,  said,  "Mr.  Rey- 
nolds has  the  makings  of  one  of  the  best 
directors  in  the  business  if  he  will  con- 
tinue the  way  he  has  started."  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds' productions,  dramatic,  will  be  re- 
leased under  the  Powers  brand. 

D.  W.  Griffith's  spectacle,  "The  Birth  of 
a  Nation,"  will  be  at  the  Liberty  Theater 
for  two  more  weeks,  its  extended  engage- 
ment ending  there  on  January  8.  This 
marvelous  production  enters  upon  its  final 
fortnight  at  the  Liberty  Theater,  enjoying 
the  distinction  of  having  had  the  longest 
run  of  any  theatrical  attraction  in  New 
York  this  season. 

Beverly  Bayne,  the  Metro  star,  who  is 
now  working  with  Francis  X.  Bushman  in 
the  big  Quality-Metro  wonderplay,  "Man 
and  His  Soul,"  at  the  Rolfe-Metro  studio, 
remembered  that  768  young  girls  with  an  au- 
tographed photograph  at  Christmas.  Miss 
Bayne  usually  sends  her  photograph  upon 
request,  and  every  mail  brings  a  score  of 
petitions.  During  the  last  three  or  four 
weeks  she  has  had  her  secretary  put  aside 
the  letters  that  were  known  to  be  from 
young  girl  admirers,  and  the  photographs 
were  mailed  so  as  to  reach  the  young 
misses  at  Christmas  time. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


When  the  Public  by  their  Patronage   Forces  All  High  Class  Theatres  to  Play 
Return   Engagements  of 


Where  State  Rights  Have  Been  Sold,  is  it  not  time  to  look  for  the  unsold  territory? 

HANOVER  FILM  CO.,  inc. 


e  904,  Columbia  Theatre  Building 
Broadway  at  47th  St. 


Phone  9544  Bryant 

New  York  City 


J.  Albert  Hall  has  signed  with  the  Metro 
to  play  the  heavy  part  with  Edmund  Breese 
in  a  forthcoming  six  reel  production  which 
is  now  being  made  at  the  Colonial  studios 
in  New  York.  Mr.  Hall  has  recently  fin- 
ished playing  the  lead  opposite  Julia  Dean. 

If  John  Wyse  were  not  such  an  efficient 
stage  manager,  he  might  be  pressed  into 
service  as  a  screen  comedian.  Since  the 
Horkheimers  first  began  making  pictures 
in  Long  Beach,  Wyse  has  had  charge  of 
the  stage  for  them.  He  is  fat  and  hearty. 
Any  sort  of  a  set  that  is  needed,  John 
Wyse  can  build.  He  knows  his  business, 
as  few  in  the  business. 

H.  Cooper  Cliffe,  who  plays  Baron  Chev- 
rial  in  the  William  Fox  photoplay  produc- 
tion of  Richard  Mansfield's  stage  success, 
"A  Parisian  Romance,"  was  selected  for 
the  part  by  Mr.  Fox  because  of  his  unusual 
resemblance,  in  actions  and  mannerisms,  to 
Mr.  Mansfield. 

Maurice  Cytron  has  joined  David  Hors- 
ley's  staff  of  assistant  directors  and  has 
been  assigned  to  Director  Bowman's  com- 
pany, now  producing  "The  Bait,"  which  is 
to  be  the  first  Horsley-Mutual  Master- 
picture,  de  luxe  edition,  release.  He  was 
associated  with  Mr.  Bowman  when  the 
latter  was  directing  plays  starring  Francis 
Bushman  at  the  Quality  studios. 

The  new  leading  man  seen  in  the  "Ven- 
tures of  Marguerite,"  is  Arthur  Albertson, 
recently  transferred  from  the  Kalem 
studios  in  Jacksonville  to  appear  in  the 
popular    series. 

Enid  Markey,  the  young  and  beautiful 
leading  woman  of  the  Ince  forces,  who  has 
been  conspicuous  in  Triangle  Kay-Bee  fea- 
tures, has  been  promoted  to  stardom,  it 
was  announced  this  week,  and  is  now  work- 
ing under  the  direction  of  Raymond  B. 
West  as  the  heroine  of  a  modern  war  story 
from  the  pen  of  C.  Gardner  Sullivan.  Her 
first  day's  work  nearly  resulted  disastrously 
for  her,  however,  for  she  barely  escaped 
blindness  from  the  constant  glare  of  Win- 
field-Kerner  lamps.  The  lamps  were  used 
at  night  and  while  they  poured  their  bril- 


HEADQUARTERS 

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GOODS,  ALWAYS  IN  STOCK 

MOTION  PICTURE  APPARATUS  CO.,  INC. 

81  O  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK  CITY,  N.Y. 


"BUILT  BY; 
BRAINS" 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  New  York 

Houser    Building  19  W.   23rd   St. 

Calaary,  Canada  Chicago 

Grand  Theatre  Bldg.  154  West  Lake  St. 

San  Francisco  Pittsburg 

1 1 7- 1 9  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  Ave. 


'  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD  ** 

goes  posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 


GOES-  CHICAGO 


102 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  2. 


liancy  flush  in  her  face,  Miss  Markey 
worked  before  them  for  several  hours.  The 
following  morning  found  the  young  star 
in  intense  pain,  but  quick  treatment  by  her 
physician  relieved  her  and  enabled  her  to 
return  that  afternoon  to  the  studio. 

Valli  Valli,  the  Metro  star,  who  has 
the  stellar  role  in  the  new  Columbia- 
Metro  feature  production,  yet  unnamed, 
was  bitten  on  the  nose  by  a  greyhound, 
while  working  in  one  of  the  scenes.  Di- 
rector William  Nigh,  who  is  producing 
the  feature,  had  his  company  of  players 
on  Staten  Island,  making  exteriors.  The 
greyhound  used  in  the  picture  proved  a 
vicious  animal,  and  he  snapped  Miss  Valli 
on  the  nose  before  she  could  avoid  him. 
The  wound  did  not  prove  serious  as 
Robert  H.  Thompson,  the  assistant  direc- 
tor, rushed  in  upon  the  scene  and  drove 
the  hound  away. 

G.  M.  Anderson,  leading  man  in  Es- 
sanay's  western  productions,  rode  the 
ranges  of  California  for  locations  which 
he  used  in  a  recent  production  of  his 
troupe.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  firm  believer 
in  "natural  sets."  He  will  not  make  up 
a  scene  if  there  is  one  available  within 
a  radius  of  twenty  miles.  This  holds  for 
both  exterior  and  interior  settings.  He 
also  prefers  natural  lighting,  and  the 
big  western  studios  is  especially  fitted 
so  that  the  sets  are  lighted  by  sunlight. 

Edwin  Carewe,  who  is  directing  the 
new  Metro  feature  production,  "The  Up- 
start," in  which  Marguerite  Snow  is 
starred  and  George  Le  Guere  is  featured, 
has  returned  from  Savannah,  Ga.,  where 
he  took  his  company  of  players  to  make 
about  thirty  exterior  scenes.  While  in 
Savannah  the  Metro  players  were  royal- 
ly entertained,  as  it  is  the  home  town  of 
Miss  Snow.  There  were  many  social  af- 
fairs arranged  in  their  honor  there,  but 
not  enough  to  interfere  with  some  very 
expeditious  work  on  the  part  of  Director 
Carewe. 

Hayward  Mack,  the  former  Edison  star, 
who  made  such  a  tremendous  impression 
by  his  playing  in  "Father  and  the  Boys," 
produced  at  Universal  City,  is  now  working 
under  the  direction  of  Joseph  De  Grasse 
in  a  five-reeler  entitled  "Love  Thine  Enemy" 
and  is  besides  appearing  in  "Her  Scoop," 
in  which  he  appears  opposite  Marjorie  El- 
lison, in  private  life,  Mrs.  Mack.  The  lat- 
ter production  will  be  Miss  Ellison's  debut 
under  the  Universal  banner,  but  from  past 
performances  it  is  easy  to  predict  that  she 
will  soon  become  a  favorite.  Both  these 
young  people  are  enjoying  their  first  win- 
ter on  the  Pacific  coast  immensely  and 
seem  destined  to  remain  Universalites  for 
a  long  time  to  come. 


SOME  NEW  THEATERS 

Florida. 

The  announcement  was  made  several 
days  ago  that  a  representative  of  the 
Highland  Film  company,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  would  arrive  in  Jacksonville  in  the 
near  future  for  I  lie  purpose  of  establish- 
ing a  studio  here.  The  Highland  Film 
company  has  branches  in  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  and  Covington,  Kentucky,  ami 
according  to  the  statement  of  President 
Ford  of  the  concern,  is  a  newly  organized 
company.  Their  desire  is  "to  build  a 
Southern  studio  in  the  near  future  and  it 
is  probable  that  this  city  will  be  selected. 

The  Orphcum  theater,  one  of  the  lead 
ing  moving  picture  houses  of  St.    Vugus- 


tine,  which  has  been  closed  for  several 
months,  has  been  leased  by  H.  B.  Aldrich, 
of  Atlanta. 

Headquarters  for  the  Barker-Swan 
Film  company  has  been  opened  in  the 
Jefferson  Hotel  at  Peoria  by  A.  H. 
Shields,  secretary  of  the  company.  These 
headquarters  will  remain  in  the  hotel  un- 
til the  new  studio  at  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Fink  streets  is  completed.  Secretary 
Shields  is  of  the  opinion  that  it  will  be 
ready  for  occupancy  by  January  20.  The 
brick  foundation  is  already  in  and  he  de- 
clares that  Contractor  Hasbrouck  will 
have  the  structure  under  roof  within 
three  weeks. 

John  B.  Mayes  has  assumed  the  man- 
agement of  the  Elite  theater  on  South 
Cherry  street,  Galesburg. 

International  Film  syndicate,  Chicago; 
capital,  $350,000;  incorporators,  Edward 
R.  Newmann,  George  S.  Pines,  Richard 
R.  Klein. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  L.  Van  Prefer  have 
opened  a  motion  picture  show  in  Alton. 

Clarence  Bain  of  Rochelle  recently  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  Rose  moving 
picture  theater  of  Byron.  The  Rose 
theater,  located  in  the  Kiley  building  in 
Byron  a  few  months  ago,  at  first  show- 
ing every  other  night,  but  because  of  the 
success  they  have  had,  have  lately  been 
showing  every  night. 

The  incorporation  papers  of  the  Gar- 
den Picture  company  of  Canton  have 
been  recorded  at  Lewiston.  The  com- 
pany is  incorporated  with  a  capital  of 
$1,500.  The  officers  are  Theo.  Bass, 
president;  J.  B.  Ross,  vice  president,  and 
George  Ross,  secretary-treasurer.  Mr. 
Bass  and  George  Ross  each  have  six 
$100  shares,  while  Joe  Ross  has  three 
shares  of  $100  each. 

The  Mirror  theater  building  at  Sixth 
avenue  and  Fifteenth  street,  Moline,  has 
taken  on  an  appearance  of  newness  since 
being  remodeled  by  the  owners.  The 
entire  structure  has  been  given  a  coat  of 
stucco. 

J.  P.  Bly  of  Bellevue  has  been  awarded 
the  contract  to  pebble  dash  the  new 
Fultonian  theater  in  Fulton. 

Art  Roath  has  closed  his  picture  show 

in  the  Burn's  Hall,  Huntley,  for  repairs. 

Iowa. 

The  Idle  Hour  in  New  Hampton  had 
a  slight  blaze  December  2.  Harry  Ingalls 
was   badly  burned. 

Three  lives  were  imperiled  and  two 
people  were  hurt  when  the  big  screen  fell 
at  the  Garden  theater,  a  moving  picture 
house,  in  Iowa  City,  December  1, 
carrying  hundreds  of  pounds  of  frame- 
work, which  tore  loose  from  the 
wall,  with  it.  The  frame  struck  Harry 
D.  Breene,  agent  of  the  C,  R.  I.  &  P. 
Railway  Company,  on  the  head,  and 
he  was  later  taken  to  a  surgeon;  Mrs. 
Archie    Hanlon,    wife    of    the    proprietor, 


[  Pc 


aged  to  uphold  (lie  heavy  weight,  keep- 
ing the  imperiling  burden  off  the  woman 
until  assistance  arrived. 

A  lire  panic  was  threatened  at  Nevada 
when  a  motion  picture  film  became  over- 
heated and  burned.  C.  A.  Brealy,  pro- 
prietor, was  injured, 


The  Princess  theater  managers,  Brown 
&  Anderson,  of  Boone,  completed  the 
installation  of  their  new  pipe  organ,  a 
$5,000  instrument. 

Kansas. 

W.  H.  Willie  has  remodeled  his  places 
of  amusement  in  Mulberry. 
Louisiana. 

Fire   caused  by  the   ignition   of  a   film 

in    the    Dixie    motion    picture    theater    in 

New  Orleans  caused  a  damage  of  about 

$20,000,  destroying  many  buildings. 

Maine. 

Techni-Color  Motion  Picture  Corpora- 
tion, Portland. — Manufacture  and  deal  in 
motion  pictures,  machines,  cameras, 
equipment;  capital,  $150,000. 

Universal  Theatres  Corporation,  Port- 
land.— Moving  picture  theaters  and.  all 
places  of  amusement,  and  things  inci- 
dental to  said  business;  capital,  $1,000,- 
000. 

Maryland. 

Bids  for  the  construction  of  a  new 
moving  picture  theater  at  2804  Pennsyl- 
vania avenue,  Baltimore,  will  be  asked 
for  shortly,  after  S.  Raith,  who  is  plan- 
ning to  build  it,  secures  the  necessary 
franchise. 

The  Howard  Amusement  company  let 
contract  to  John  J.  Waylan,  117  East 
Center  street,  Baltimore,  to  erect  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater  at  404-406  North 
Howard  street.  The  building  will  be 
brick,  steel  and  timber,  37x121  feet. 
Building  exclusive  of  fixtures  cost  $10,- 
000. 

Southeast  Baltimore  is  to  have  another 
moving  picture  theater.  The  Linwood 
Amusement  company  will  erect  a  one- 
story  structure,  45  by  70  feet,  at  902-904 
South  Luzerne  avenue.  John  H.  Kelly 
is   the   builder. 

A  moving  picture  theater,  with  a  seat- 
ing capacity  for  500,  will  be  opened  in 
the  near  future  at  Towson.  In  the  same 
building  will  be  located  two  stores. 

Extensive  improvements  are  being 
made  in  the  Glen  motion  picture  parlor, 
714  East  Baltimore  street,  Baltimore.  A 
new  ticket  office,  exits  and  a  new  floor 
are  being  installed. 

The   Lexington  company  of  Baltimore 
City,    Inc.:    operation    of   motion    picture 
theaters,  etc.;  $2,000;  Anna  M.  Putts. 
Massachusetts. 

Central  Feature  Film  Co..  Boston:  cap- 
ital, $2,000.  Directors,  Edward  Klein, 
president;  John  J.  Dervin,  of  Dedham, 
treasurer;  J.  H.  Liverman. 

Metropolitan  Film  Co.,  Boston;  capital, 
$5,000.  Directors,  William  R.  Scharton, 
president;  Victor  A.  Scharton,  treasurer; 
J.  H.  Liverman. 

Michigan. 

John  T.  Conners  and  J.  W.  Harpstrite 
of  St.  Joseph,  who  have  been  conducting 
moving  picture  theaters  in  Hartford  and 
Watervliet,  have  disposed  of  their  inter- 
ests. The  theater  at  Hartford  was  sold 
to  Samuel  Martin  and  Guy  Fish  of  Hart- 
ford, and  the  Watervliet  house  was  pur- 
chased  by   V.    C.    Decker   o\    Taw     Paw. 

Ground  has  been  broken  for  the  Ferry 
Field  theater  that  is  to  be  erected  on 
Grand  l\ivcr  avenue,  Detroit.  It  will 
have  a  seating  capacity  of  1.500  persons 
and  will  probably  lie  ready  for  the  pub- 
lie    March    1. 


The  MOTION  PICTU1& 


GAIL  KANE 

WITH 
EQUITABLE 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  15,  1916 


No.  3 


HVEfiEELMIT 

RELEASMN.  10™M6 


THECITYOF 
FAILING  IIGHT 


FOUR  ACT   DfiAMA 


A  BATHTUB 
MYSTERY 

MVJEPONflOMEUr 


-<AL$0 


OAN.lO™ 


tJAN.  11™ 


ImMStoaar      "IheOidWakhmas' 


l  ACT  DRAMA. 


2  ACT   DRAMA 


OAN.13™ 
\u.C.  SHUMWAY 


JAN.  15™ 
BILLIE  KEEVf S  COMEDY 

THE  BOND  WITHIN"     ASKATETBRIDE"  , 


3  ACT  DRAMA 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


lAa 


ti_ 


Triangle  Plays  Pull 
Record  Crowds 

The  Holiday  .Slump  loses  its  terror  for  the  man  who  has  the 
kind  of  goods  the  public  wants.     People  buy  the  best  values. 

Actual  proof  of  the  success  of  TRIANGLE  PLAYS  has  been 
given  during  the  past  week.  Following  is  a  telegram  which  was 
sent  on  Christmas  Day  to  our  District  Superintendent  in  Phila- 
delphia by  Mr.  E.  H.  Hulsey,  of  Texas,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
theatre  owners  of  the  South,  who  operates  the  Old  Mill  Theatre 
in  Dallas,  and  many  others : 

Dallas,  Texas,  December  25th. 
Mr.  Arthur  Lucas, 

TRIANGLE  FILM  CORPORATION, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

"Submarine  Pirate"  broke  our  house  record 
today.  Did  nearly  a  hundred  dollars  more  than 
*  *  *.  House  seats  fifteen  hundred.  From  three 
o'clock  this  afternoon  to  nine  tonight  we  were  never 
able  to  get  all  people  in  with  show  lasting  only  one 
hour  and  a  quarter.  E.  H.  Hulsey. 

"Nothing  succeeds  like  success"  is  an  old  saying  that  applies 
to  the  moving  picture  business  as  well  as  any  other.  The  more 
successful  the  concern,  the  more  rapidly  and  easily  are  orders 
received.  The  stream  of  TRIANGLE  contracts  persists,  the 
dollars  continue  to  flow  into  the  box  office  of  TRIANGLE 
Theatres. 

ARE  YOU  GETTING  YOUR  SHARE  OF  THE 
PROFITS? 


In  writing  to  advertisers  please   mention   MOTOGRAPHY 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  15,  1916 


No.  3 


Metro  Begins   1916  with  Many  Activities 


COMPANY  GOES  TO  LABRADOR 


METRO  begins  the  new  year  with  a  rush  that 
bodes  well  for  the  coming  season,  according  to 
an  announcement  made  at  the  new  offices  of 
that  corporation  in  the  Longacre  building,  New  York 
City.  Two  new  directors  have  been  added  to  Metro's 
already  large  staff,  a  new  star  will  shine  from  the 
Metro  firmament,  a  new  leading  woman,  who  later  will 
doubtless  achieve  stellar  rank,  will  be  seen  and  the 
initial  work  has  been  done  on  many  new  and  elaborate 
motion  picture  productions. 

O.  A.  C.  Lund,  who  has  a  long  line  of  motion 
picture  achievements  to  his  credit,  is  one  of  the  new 
directors,  and  the  first  feature  he  will  produce  for  his 
new  connections  promises  to  be  one  of  the  most  nota- 
ble and  unusual  ever  planned  for  the  Metro  program. 
The  locale  of  this  feature,  which  is  as  yet  unnamed,  is 
in  the  snowy  wilds  of  Labrador  and  thither  Mr.  Lund 
will  go  with  a  company  of  Metro  players,  headed  by 
Hamilton  Revelle  and  a  very  well  known  leading 
woman  who  has  been  selected,  but  whose  name  is  at 
present  withheld. 

Mr.  Lund  is  now  in  Portland,  Maine,  whither  he 
has  gone  to  perfect  arrangements  for  this  distinctive 
feature  picture.  Early  last  week  he  telegraphed  from 
that  city  that  he  had  chartered  two  ships,  with  which 
the  Metro  players,  cameramen,  etc.,  will  make  the  trip 
into  the  frozen  north.  One  of  these  vessels  will  carry 
the  party,  and  is  an  Arctic-going  ship,  capable  of  with- 
standing the  pinch  of  the  ice  floes,  which  are  certain 
to  be  encountered  north  of  Newfoundland  at  this  sea- 
son. The  other  is  an  old  -tramp  steamer  to  be  used  in 
staging  the  photoplay. 

What  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  startling  effects 
ever  shown  on  the  screen  will  mark  the  destruction  of 
this  latter  vessel,  which,  when  all  is  ready,  will  be  sent 
full  speed  ahead  until  it  crashes  into  a  huge  iceberg. 
This  will  mark  the  climax  of  the  expedition^but  many 
other  scenes,  equally  thrilling  and  equally  perilous  will 
be  filmed  beforehand.  Real  icebergs  and  bona  fide 
views  of  the  desolate  Arctic  wastes,  which  are  required 
in  the  development  of  the  story,  led  to  the  determina- 
tion of  the  Metro  officials  to  send  the  company  under 
Mr.  Lund's  direction  into  the  Labrador  region.  The 
start  will  be  made  during  the  next  fortnight,  Mr. 
Revelle  and  the  other  players  leaving  New  York  early 
the  coming  week. 

The  production  will  be  made  under  the  auspices 
of  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.,  for  the  Metro  program.  An 
unusually  strong  supporting  cast  has  been  engaged. 
Mr.  Revelle,  who  was  last  seen  on  the  screen  in  "An 
Enemy  to  Society,"  a  Columbia-Metro  feature  picture, 


has  been  appearing  in  a  prominent  role  in  "Fair  and 
Warmer,"  one  of  the  big  stage  successes  of  the  present 
season,  at  the  Eltinge  theater,  New  York.  He  will 
leave  the  cast  of  that  play  to  accompany  Metro's  Lab- 
rador expedition.  Mr.  Revelle  is  a  permanent  Metro 
star,  and  it  was  only  through  permission  granted  by 
Metro  that  his  services  were  loaned  to  Selwyn  &  Com- 
pany to  appear  in  the  stage  production  under  their 
management. 

Metro  also  announces  that  Julius  Steger,  the  pop- 
ular dramatic  actor,  who  recently  joined  forces  with 
Metro  as  a  permanent  star,  will  begin  work  immedi- 
ately upon  the  five-act  feature  production,  "The  Blind- 
ness of  Love."  This  dramatic  vehicle,  which  was 
especially  selected  with  Mr.  Steger's  gifts  in  mind,  was 
written  by  Ruth  Mitchel  Comfort,  the  well  known 
dramatist  and  novelist.  The  production  will  be  made 
by  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.,  for  the  Metro  program,  and 
will  be  directed  by  Charles  Horan. 

Mabel  Taliaferro,  who  achieved  fame  on  the  speak- 
ing stage  in  "Polly  of  the  Circus,"  "Rebecca  of  Sunny- 
brook  Farm"  and  other  notable  productions,  will  begin 
work  on  two  new  Metro  wonderplays.  The  interiors 
for  both  will  be  made  in  the  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc., 
studio,  and  the  exteriors  taken  as  soon  as  the  weather 
permits.  However,  there  will  not  be  an  unnecessary 
delay,  for  if  inclement  weather  prevails  for  any  length 
of  time  the  company  of  players  will  be  sent  south, 
where  other  Metro  companies  are  now  at  work  in  Flor- 
ida and  Georgia. 

Edwin  Carewe,  who  directed  Emily  Stevens  in 
"Destiny,  or  The  Soul  of  a  Woman,"  and  "The  House 
of  Tears,"  and  Ethel  Barrymore  in  "The  Final  Judg- 
ment," will  direct  Miss  Taliaferro  in  the  two  new 
feature  productions.  A  new  leading  man  will  be  seen 
with  Miss  Taliaferro  in  both  these  features,  although 
he  has  not  yet  been  selected. '  The  Taliaferro  features 
will  also  be  produced  by  the  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.,  for 
the  Metro  program. 

William  Nigh,  who  is  at  present  directing  Valli 
Valli  in  "Her  Debt  of  Honor,"  has  a  few  exterior 
scenes  to  make  before  completing  the  feature,  and  as 
soon  as  they  are  finished  he  will  begin  work  on  another 
big  Metro  production  in  which  Lionel  Barrymore  and 
Marguerite  Snow  will  be  starred.  This  five-part  photo- 
drama  is  still  unnamed,  and  was  written  by  Mr.  Nigh 
himself,  who  is  also  the  author  of  "Her  Debt  of 
Honor"  and  "A  Yellow  Streak,"  two  Metro  produc- 
tions. 

Howard  Truesdell,  who  has  been  associated  with 
Charles     Horan     as     assistant     director     at    the     Rolfe 


104 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo. 


studio,  is  already  at  work  as  co-director  with  Fred  Bals- 
hofer  on  a  new  production,  which  will  be  made  by 
the  Quality  Pictures  Corporation.  Mr.  Truesdell  has 
had  a  lung"  and  varied  career  on  the  speaking  stage, 
and  since  he  went  into  motion  pictures  has  made  an 
exhaustive  study  of  their  making.  He  is  fortunate  in 
being  associated  with  Mr.  Balshofer  in  his  first  picture 
as  a  full-Hedged  director.  Mr.  Balshofer  is  one  of  the 
few  who  can.  in  every  branch  of  the  business,  qualify 
as  an  expert. 

Mr.  True-dell  and  Mr.  Balshofer  will  go  to  north- 
ern Maine  to  make  the  exterior  scenes,  where  scores 
of  thrilling  and  exciting  situations,  including  a  chase 
by  a  pack  of  ferocious  timber  wolves  and  a  hand-to-hand 
fight  with  a  bull  moose,  will  be  photographed.  The 
production  is  still  unnamed,  but  will  be  made  by  the 
Quality  Pictures  Corporation  for  the  Metro  program. 

Mary  Miles  Minter,  who  is  in  St.  Augustine, 
where  she  has  just  completed  the  final  scenes  in 
"Dimples,"  a  five-part  Metro  feature  released  Feb- 
ruary 14,  will  begin  work  immediately  upon  another 
feature  production,  "Love  Triumphant."  The  exte- 
riors of  this  feature  will  be  made  in  Florida,  and  a 
majority  of  the  strong  supporting  cast  that  appeared 
with  Miss  Minter  in  "Dimples"  will  remain  to  work  in 
the  new  picture.  Thomas  J.  Carrigan,  her  new  leading 
man.  will  be  featured  in  "Love  Triumphant"  with  Miss 
Minter. 


WILLIS  HEADS  NEW  EXCHANGE 

Will,  on  January  1,  Open  Chicago  Office  of  New  Film 
Corporation,  Which  Will  Re-issue  Famous 
Productions  of  the  Past 
John  Ellsworth  Willis  celebrates  the  new  year  by 
opening  the  Chicago  office  of  the  New  Film  Corpora- 
tion at  207   South   Wabash  avenue,  as  manager  of  the 
Chicago  branch  and  manager  of  the  western  division. 
Mr.  Willis  has  been 
w  i  t  h     the     General 
Film     Company,    as 
manager  of  its  offices 
and  as  special  repre- 
sentative   and     divi- 
sion    manager    ever 
since   the    General 
Film   Company   was 
started,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  six  months 
when  he  was  division 
manager  for  the  Mu- 
tual   Film    Corpora- 
tion   with    offices   in 
Chicago. 

There    is     prob- 
ably  not  a  single 
individual     in     the 
United  States  today 
who     has     been     in 
closer  touch  with  ex- 
change matters  from 
all   angles   than   Mr. 
Willi-,  due  t  - .  the  fact  that   he  has  been  in  practically 
territorj    and    has    mel    exhibitors  of  all  classes 
..f  theaters  at  first  hand. 

The  New  Film  Company,  whose  destinies  in  this 
pari  of  the  country  Mr.  Willis  will  guide,  is  in  reality 
a    new    film    company    with    a    new   and    splendid    idea 


John    /'.    Willis. 


which,  briefly  outlined,  is  the  re-issuing  of  the  tre- 
mendous feature  successes  of  the  big  film  manufac- 
turers in  such  a  way  and  at  such  prices  that  the  smaller 
exhibitor,  unable  to  pay  high  prices  for  features,  will 
be  enabled  to  get  them  for  the  prices  he  can  afford 
to  pay. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  feature  exchanges, 
getting  two  or  three  releases  a  week,  do  not  operate 
very  long  before  they  have  so  much  film  and  are 
so  busy  with  the  first  run  or  first  week  customer, 
that  they  have  not  the  time  nor  the  facilities  for  tak- 
ing care  of  the  twenty-week  customer  who,  in  most 
cases,  has  no  opportunity  to  run  the  splendid  film  suc- 
cesses in  the  feature  line. 

The  New  Film  Corporation  will  take  the  big  film 
successes  when  the  original  distributing  company  has 
exhausted  their  possibilities  and  will,  without  chang- 
ing the  title,  make  new  leaders  and  new  titles  bearing 
the  New  Film  Corporation's  trade  mark  and  will  then 
rent  these  features  to  exhibitors  at  prices  never  before 
approached  in  this  business,  so  President  Warner  says. 

The  Chicago  office  will  open  on  January  1  with 
fifty  multiple  reel  features  and  fifty  single  reel  come- 
dies, in  which  will  appear  such  well  known  actors  as 
Jefferson  DeAngelis,  Weber  and  Fields.  Richard  Carle, 
^Catherine  Osterman,  Paula  Edwards.  Tom  Wise  and 
others.  These  films  will  all  be  in  splendid  condition, 
well-cleaned  and  carefully  examined  to  see  that  they 
are  perfect  before  going  out,  and  a  success  should  be 
attained  in  Chicago  similar  to  that  which  has  been 
scored  in  Xew  York  by  this  same  company  within  a 
very  few  weeks. 

President  Abraham  Warner  has  been  in  Chicago 
for  several  days  arranging  the  details  incidental  to 
the  opening  of  the  Chicago  office,  and  states  that  with 
all  of  the  competition  in  a  big  city  like  New  York,  the 
business  of  the  Xew  Film  Corporation  was  over  a 
thousand  dollars  the  first  week  the  office  opened. 

President  Warner  secured  the  services  of  F.  L. 
Smith,  of  Cleveland,  formerly  special  representative 
of  the  General  Film  Company,  who  will  be  in  charge 
of  the  Cleveland  offices. 

The  officers  of  the  Xew  Corporation  are  Abraham 
Warner,  president;  A.  S.  Aronson,  vice  president- 
treasurer,  and  11.  M.  Warner,  secretary.  The  home 
office  is  at  145  West  Forty-fifth  street.  Xew  York  City, 
and  about  fifteen  branches  will  he  opened. 


Louise  Horner  New  Horsley  Player 
\  recent  addition' to  the  Cub  Comedy  stock  company 
headed  by  George  Ovey,  producing  Cub  Comedies  for  re- 
lease on  the  Mutual  program,  is  Miss  Louise  Horner,  a 
comedienne  of  long  experience  and  known  to  theater- 
goers the  country  over  for  her  interpretation  of  "slavey" 
types.  Miss  Homer  was  especially  engaged  by  Milton 
Fahrney,  director  of  the  tub  Comedies,  to  play  the 
"slavey"  in  "Jerry  in  the  Movies."  because  of  her  peculiar 
fitness  for  the  character.  Her  work  in  this  release  was 
so  excellent,  however,  that  Mr.  Fahrney  made  her  a 
proposition,  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Horsley,  to  remain  with 
the  company  indefinitely.  Miss  Horner's  engagements  on 
the  Speaking  stage  were  many,  but  the  one  in  which  she 
scored  her  biggest  success  was  "  \  Knight  for  a  Day."  in 
which  she  played  the  "slavey,"  a  part  originated  by  Miss 
May  Vokes.  She  played  the  role  for  several  seasons, 
Showing   in   most   of   the  high-priced   theaters    from  coast 

to  coast. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Pictures  Benefit  Legitimate  Stage 


SO  THINKS  BRADY 


IF  THERE  is  one  man  more  than  another  qualified 
to  discuss  the  relation  between  the  motion  pictures 
and  the  stage  it  is  William  A.  Brady,  the  prolific 
producer  of  successful  "spoken  dramas"  and  one  of 
the  main  contributors  to  the  World  Film  Corporation 
program.  Contrary  to  many  managers  and  actors  who 
see  in  the  advancement  of  the  motion  picture  industry 
a  menace  to  what  they  are  pleased  to  term  "the  legiti- 
mate stage,"  Mr.  Brady  believes  that  the  screen  will 
prove  ultimately  a  great  boon  to  the  real  drama. 

"It  is  true,"  said  Mr.  Brady  the  other  day,  "that 
motion  pictures  have  dealt  a  severe  blow  to  one  phase 
of  the  theatrical  business  and  for  that  alone  we  should 
be  duly  grateful.  I  refer  to  the  death  of  the  old  No. 
1,  2,  3,  4,  companies  that  usd  to  flit  about  the  country 
perpetrating  outrages  in  the  name  of  histrionic  art. 
Motion  picture  dramas  have  taught  the  public  the  folly 
of  being  buncoed  out  of  $1.50  or  $1.00  to  witness  a 
fourth-class  performance  of  a  big  New  York  dramatic 
success.  No  longer  can  the  New  York  producer,  who 
achieved  a  tremendous  hit  at  one  of  the  metropolitan 
theaters  with  a  new  play  and  fine  cast,  organize  half 
a  dozen  cheap  companies  of  inadequate  players  and 
scatter  them  broadcast  throughout  the  land,  raking  in 
the  dollars  on  the  strength  of  the  widespread  comment 
aroused  by  the  original  production. 

"Of  course  this  has  worked  disastrously  for  a  cer- 
tain element  of  the  theatrical  profession.  It  has  been  a 
serious  matter  for  actors  of  inferior  ability  and  for 
those  managers  whose  one  idea  of  their  business  was 
to  make  a  killing  with  a  play  in  one  season,  a  cleanup, 
one  grand  sweep  of  every  possible  dollar.  But  after 
all,  these  are  the  least  desirable  elements  in  the  busi- 


Pavlowa  to  Appear  Again 

Is  Anna  Pavlowa  "picture"  struck?  Now  that  the 
great  Russian  dancer  has  had  her  first  experience  in 
cinematography,  and  has  personally  witnessed  her  debut 
in  the  silent  drama  with  considerable  satisfaction  over  her 
first  effort,  she  has  become  so  enthused  over  this  new 
form  of  entertainment  that  she  is  personally  working  on 
a  Nippon  love  story  in  which  her  dancing  will  again  be 
featured,  which  she  proposes  to  complete  before  the  end 
of  the  present  theatrical  season.  Then  she  will  go  over 
the  scenario  with  Lois  Weber,  her  personal  director  of 
photoplays,  and  they  will  then  put  on  an  original  produc- 
tion for  the  Universal  far  exceeding  even  the  massive 
production  of  "The  Dumb  Girl  of  Portici."  For  the 
new  play  which  Pavlowa  is  now  writing,  Harry  McRae, 
formerly  general  manager  of  Universal  City,  will  have 
charge  of  technical  details,  and  will  leave  on  the  ship 
Tenyo  Maru,  sailing  from  San  Francisco  January  8  for 
Japan,  where  he  will  seek  the  proper  setting  for  this 
new  Pavlowa  masterpiece,  which  will  cost  the  Universal, 
it  is  estimated,  something  like  $300,000  to  produce.  Mr. 
McRae's  idea  of  going  to  Japan  early  is  to  have  plenty 
of  time  to  look  around  the  country  so  that  when  the  pro- 
ducing company  arrives  there,  everything  will  have  been 
prepared  in  advance,  as  Carl  Laemmle,  president  of  the 
Universal,  wants  to  have  this  scenario  from  the  hands  of 
Pavlowa,  produced  under  the  most  ideal  conditions. 


ness  and  it  will  be  just  as  well  when  they  return  to  the 
more  prosaic  occupations  for  which  they  are  fitted. 

"But  to  attempt  to  argue  that  motion  pictures  have 
seriously  affected  the  stage  in  its  highest  and  truest  as- 
pects is  absurd.  This  is  a  boom  season  throughout  the 
country.  Motion  picture  houses  are  swamped  with 
patrons,  and  yet  there  has  been  no  worthy  play  or  mu- 
sical entertainment  staged  this'  season  that  has  not  met 
with  prompt  and  substantial  support  on  the  part  of  the 
public.  Good  plays,  well  presented,  do  not  fail  today 
any  more  often  than  before  the  motion  picture  was  in- 
vented. It  is  merely  that  the  motion  pictures  have 
taught  the  public  not  to  waste  its  money  on  inferior 
theatrical  attractions. 

"As  for  the  future  of  the  motion  pictures,  I  do  not 
consider  myself  enough  of  a  prophet  to  attempt  a  fore- 
cast. But  if  I  have  at  any  time  a  vision  of  what  the 
future  of  this  great  industry  will  bring,  it  is  this :  I 
look  for  a  tremendous  advancement  in  the  educational 
aspect  of  the  motion  picture.  There  is  no  limit  to  the 
possibilities  of  motion  photography  in  the  way  of  dis- 
seminating knowledge  in  a  form  fascinating  to  the 
young  and  old. 

"I  also  can  conceive  the  day  when  the  motion  pic- 
ture as  a  distributor  of  news  will  run  the  daily  paper  a 
close  race  in  popular  favor. 

"In  the  realm  of  the  drama,  the  motion  picture 
industry  has  only  scratched  the  surface  of  its  possi- 
bilities. Thousands  of  ingenious  minds  are  concen- 
trating night  and  day  upon  mechanical  and  artistic 
improvements  and  the  great  writers  of  fiction  and 
drama  are  just  beginning  to  realize  that  in  motion 
pictures  lies  a  great  and  fertile  field  for  their  imagina- 
tion and  creative  power. 

"The  day  of  the  melodramatic  'thrills'  on  the 
screen,  with  its  shipwrecks,  train  collisions  and  des- 
perate deeds  of  daring  and  peril  is  rapidly  drawing  to 
its  close.  So,  too,  is  the  era  of  photodramatic  adapta- 
tions of  popular  novels  and  old-time  plays.  Virile  and 
vital  dramas  of  modern  life,  written  by  men  and  women 
who  have  given  the  best  of  their  brain  to  the  study  of 
the  possibilities  and  limitations  of  the  film,  are  rapidly 
coming  to  the  fore. 

"Some  day,  soon  perhaps,  a  mechanical  genius  will 
find  a  way  to  adapt  to  the  projection  the  principles  of 
the  old  device  through  which  we  used  to  look  at  col- 
lections of  photographs  and  which  used  to  bring  into 
bold  relief  the  contour  of  all  the  objects  in  the  photo- 
graph. When  such  a  device  comes  to  the  motion  pic- 
ture and  we  can  get  the  now  missing  third  dimension, 
thickness,  on  the  screen,  then,  perhaps,  it  will  be  time 
for  those  interested  in  spoken  drama  alone  to  fear  the 
encroachment  of  the  new  art." 


Who's  Got  These  Reels? 

The  Associated  Film  Sales  Corporation  wishes  to 
announce  that  four  reels  have  mysteriously  disappeared 
from  its  office — "The  Woman  He  Married,"  two  reels ; 
"Beyond  the  Trail,"  one  reel,  and  "Fatty's  Nightmare," 
one  reel.  A  liberal  reward  will  be  given  for  their 
return  or  for  information  leading  to  the  apprehension 
of  the  guilty  parties. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


POWERS  PENS  FILM  FUN 

Noted  Cartoonist  Brings  His  "Joys"  and  "Glooms"  and 

Other  Comic  People  to  Life  for  Hearst- 

Vitagraph  News  Pictorial 

Tom    Powers,    noted    newspaper    cartoonist,    has 

found  a  place  in  the  movies  and  is  being  presented  as 

one  of  the  main  features  of  the  Hearst-\/itagraph  News 

Pictorial.     "Joys"  and  "Glooms,"  made  famous  in  the 

Hearst     newspapers,     will    be    seen    in    the    Hearst- 

Vitagraph   semi-weekly  news   film.     "Mrs.   Trubbel." 


"Powers  Phables."  "Never  Again!"  the  "Down  and 
Out  Club"  and  "Charlie  and  George"  will  be  other  fea- 
tures to  be  seen  in  motion  from  the  pen  of  America's 
famous  comic  artist. 

T.  E.  Powers  began  life  as  a  grocery  clerk,  but 
lost  his  job  because  he  caricatured  on  wrapping  paper 
the  features  of  his  boss.  Some  of  this  paper  went  out 
wrapped  about  groceries,  and  eventually  came  to  the 
hands  of  the  grocer,  who,  failing  to  appreciate  genius, 
decided  to  dispense  with  the  services  of  the  young- 
artist. 

Powers  then  obtained  employment  with  a  lithog- 
rapher at  $2  a  week,  but  soon  decided  he  would  have 
to  seek  some  occupation  more  remunerative.  Having 
a  job  which  paid  better.  Powers  was  able  to  save  more 
money,  and  not  long  after  went  to  Chicago,  where  he 
attended  art  school. 

The  publisher  of  a  Chicago  newspaper  was  at- 
tracted by  some  small  illustrating  Powers  had  done 
and  gave  him  a  position.  Powers  worked  with  the 
Chicago  newspapers  until  1894.  when  he  went  to  New 
York  City.  lie  was  with  the  New  York  World  until  Mr. 
Hearst  took  him  over  to  the  Hearst  organization. 
when-   Powers  has  been  ever  since. 


Mrs.  Langtry  for  Terriss  Film 
Lady  de  Bathe,  better  known  as  Mrs.  Langtry,  or 
the  "Jersey  Lily,"  has  accepted  the  offer  made  to  her 
by  her  former  leading  man.  Tom  Terriss,  now  an 
American  film  manufacturer  and  president  of  the  cor 
poration  which  hears  his  name,  to  become  a  screen  star, 
At  the  conclusions  of  her  vaudeville  engagement  she 
will  he  presented  bj  the  Terriss  Film  Company  in  a 
motion  picture  version  of  a  celebrated  English  novel, 
whose  publishers  are  just   printing  its  tenth  edition 


One  of  the  first  steps  taken  by  Tom  Terriss  in 
arranging  for  the  material  expansion  of  the  Terriss 
Film  Corporation  during  the  coming  year  was  the  en- 
gagement of  Frank  G.  Kugler,  who  will  be  associated 
with  the  actor-director  in  the  direction  department  of 
the  company.  Because  of  his  long  and  wide  experience 
in  the  photographic  department  of  the  film  industry, 
Mr.  Kugler  will  also  have  charge  of  the  Terriss  camera 
forces. 

Kugler  is  best  known  in  this  country  for  his  mas- 
terly photography  of  the  principal  Fox  features  with 
Directors  Edgar  Lewis  and  J.  Gordon  Edwards.  He  has 
made  many  inventions  to  aid  the  motion  picture  cam- 
era and  has  developed  many  of  the  most  telling  light 
effects.  He  was  with  the  Edison  Company  for  three 
vears. 


Mary's  Story  Much  Like  Henry  s 

By  a  strange  coincidence,  in  "The  Strange  Case 
of  Mark  Page."  the  Essanay  series  in  which  Henry 
Walthall  and  Edna  Mayo  are  starred,  Miss  Mayo  plays 
a  part  that  coincides  in  many  ways  with  the  story  of 
the  life  of  Henrv 
Walthall.  Mr.  Wal- 
thall came  to  New 
York  from  a  village 
in  Shelby  county, 
Alabama,  seeking  his 
fortune  on  the  stage. 
He  struggled  for  a 
hearing  and  finally 
got  a  place  with  a 
repertoire  company 
touring  the  smaller 
cities.  He  had 
troubles  and  incon- 
veniences galore  un- 
til he  finally  fought 
his  way  to  stardom. 
Miss  Mayo,  as 
"Mary  Page,"  is  a 
small-town  southern 
girl,  w  h  o  g  o  e  s 
through  many  of  the 
trying  experiences 
that  were  Mr.  Wal- 
thall's. But,  being  a  girl,  in  l<  >\  e  and  pursued  by  a  man 
she  hates  (and  of  whose  murder  she  finally  is  accused) 
"Mary  Page"  has  more  trouble  to  combat  than  Mr. 
Walthall  ever  dreamed  of. 

The  Essanay  Company,  for  two  years,  has  been 
planning  to  produce  a  moving  picture  series.  At  first 
it  didn't  have  quite  the  star  it  believed  necessary. 
Then  it  signed  Mr.  Walthall,  settling  that  difficulty. 
Next  it  had  trouble  finding  a  suitable  story.  \fter  a 
earch  it  was  discovered,  The  production  of 
"The  Strange  Case  of  M.n\  Page"  is  the  result.  It  is 
announced  that  this  tale  is  firsl  a  huge  red-blooded 
tory,  The  thrills  are  many,  but  they  are  all  con- 
sistent  with   the  tale. 

The  Essanay  Companj  reports  that  its  exchanges 
.ire  besieged  with  requests  for  bookings  on  "The 
Strange  Case  <•!    Mary   Page."     Perhaps  more  prints 

than  ever  before  were  issued  for  a  series  will  he  ncces- 
ai\    to  supply  the  demand.     The  first   episode  will  be 

i eleased  the  latter  part  of  January, 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


107 


TRIANGLE'S  1916  CAMPAIGN 

Big  Film  Corporation  Will  Rapidly  Extend  Its  Service 

to  All  Important  Points  and  Will  Soon  Announce 

South  American  Releases 

There  was  an  air  of  aggressive  activity  around  the 
executive  offices  and  branch  exchanges  of  the  Triangle 
Film  Corporation  in  the  closing  days  of  the  old  year 
and  the  opening  days  of  the  new.  Triangle  heads 
are  preparing  a  tremendous  1916  campaign.  With  ap- 
proximately six  hundred  theaters  lined  up  in  the  film 
service  by  January  1,  the  executives  confidently  expect 
within  the  next  few  weeks  to  have  at  least  one  thou- 
sand service  contracts  actively  in  force. 

The  methods  of  promotion  and  publicity  used  will 
be  extensive  and  worthy  of  an  organization  that  in- 
cludes foremost  directors  and  stars  and  that  has  just 
sent  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree  to  the  west  coast  to 
stage  "Macbeth."  Important  announcements  will  be 
made  in  the  near  future  concerning  the  South  Ameri- 
can and  other  foreign  releases.  Here  in  our  own  coun- 
try the  Triangle  will  be  brought  to  every  locality  of 
playable  size  that  appreciates  the  highest  art  in  films 
as  exemplified  by  the  Griffith-Ince-and-Sennett-super- 
vised  productions. 

NineJReels  of  Drama  and  One  Comedy 

The  Vitagraph  weekly  program  announced  for 
release  during  the  week  commencing  Monday,  January 
10,  will  consist  of  nine  reels  of  drama  and  one  of 
comedy.  Monday's  releases  will  comprise  a  four-part 
drama  anad  two  single  reel  dramas.  A  "Sidney  Drew 
comedy"  is  announced  for  Friday  and  on  Saturday  a 
three-part  Broadway  Star  feature  will  close  the  week's 
releases. 

The  four-part  drama  announced  for  Monday  in  the 
Personally  Picked  Program  is  "The  Surprises  of  An 
Empty  Hotel,"  written  by  Archibald  Clavering  Gunter 
and  produced  by  Theodore  Marston  with  an  all-star 
cast  including  Charles  Richman,  Leo  Delaney,  Arline 
Pretty,  William  Dunn,  Robert  Gaillard  and  Ethel  Cor- 
coran. The  story  holds  the  interest  from  the  begin- 
ning and  in  a  thrilling  climax,  audiences  will  see  a 
large  steam  yacht  blown  to  pieces  by  fifty  pounds  of 
dynamite. 

The  plot  tells  of  the  efforts  of  rascally  attorneys 
to  push  the  claims  of  common  law  widows  to  the 
estate  of  a  wealthy  man.  They  plan  to  rid  them- 
selves of  the  real  widow  and  endeavor  to  obtain  evi- 
dence by  spying  on  her  in  her  room  in  a  huge  hotel, 
emptied  by  a  scare  of  sickness.     It  is  a  mystery  story 


of  unusual  originality  handled  in  a  different  manner, 
capably  directed  and  splendidly  acted. 

"A  Cripple  Creek  Cinderella,"  a  one-part  drama 
released  with  the  locked  reel  program,  was  produced 
at  the  western  studio  of  the  Vitagraph  Company  by 
Ulysses  Davis  and  was  written  by  Daisy  Smith.  The 
cast  includes  William  Duncan,  George  Stanley,  Alfred 
Vosburgh,  Mrs.  Vosburgh,  and  Carleton  Weatherby. 

"When  Lin  Came  Home,"  a  single-reel  drama, 
completes  Monday's  releases.  This  drama  is  one  of 
real  heart  interest  and  employs  a  cast  of  players  in- 
cluding George  Holt,  J.  Carleton  Weatherby,  Miss 
Wolbert  and  William  Weston.  The  story  was  written 
by  L.  Case  Russell  and  produced  by  William  Wolbert. 

Friday,  January  14,  "When  Two  Play  a  Game,"  a 
one-part  comedy  featuring  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew, 
is  announced  for  release.  The  story  was  written  by 
William  B.  Courtney  and  produced  by  Mr.  Drew.  The 
theme  shows  a  wife  with  many  women  friends  daily 
at  the  house,  knitting  socks  for  soldiers,  much  to  her 
husband's  discomfort.  He  plans  to  escape  this  Un- 
pleasantness and  suddenly  becomes  a  victim  of  aphasia, 
with  the  help  of  a  friend.  His  wife  hears  of  his  plans 
and  resolves  to  teach  him  a  lesson  by  playing  the 
"lost  memory  game"  herself.  After  many  complica- 
tions, both  confess  and  "make  up." 

A  three-part  Broadway  Star  feature  "By  Love  Re- 
deemed," written  by  Alice  Williams  and  produced 
under  the  direction  of  C.  Jay  Williams,  is  announced 
for  release  on  Saturday,  January  17.  The  cast  in- 
cludes Jewell  Hunt,  Logan  Paul,  Garry  McGarry, 
Anders  Randolf,  Paul  Hornung,  and  Belle  Bruce. 


Rube  Miller  with  Vogue 

Rube  Miller  has  been  added  to  the  directing  staff 
of  Vogue  comedies.  Mr.  Miller  earned  an  enviable 
reputation  in  the  making  of  comedy  pictures  for  Key- 
stone and  L-Ko,  as  well  as  playing  leads  in  many 
laugh-creating  roles.  For  a  time  he  produced  the 
"Ham  and  Bud"  comedies  for  Kalem. 

Miss  Madge  Kirby  and  Arthur  Tavares,  the  latter 
a  Keystone  graduate,  will  appear  under  Mr.  Miller's 
direction.  Miss  Kirby  is  a  typical  English  girl  and  a 
convert  from  the  speaking  stage,  where  she  appeared 
with  Richard  Carle  and  Fred  Walton.  Her  first  mo- 
tion picture  experience  was  under  the  direction  of  Dell 
Henderson. 

In  addition  to  these  new  stars,  Miss  Helen  Neice, 
formerly  character  lead  for  Lubin-Melville  Company, 
has  been  signed  to  play  the  heavy  dramatic  parts. 
"Oh,  for  the  Life  of  a  Fireman,"  a  forthcoming  Vogue 
release,  produced  by  Jack  Dillon,  with  Russ  Powell  in 


108 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


the  leading  role  and  Priscilla  Dean  as  ingenue,  has 
been  shown  to  exhibitors  and  declared  to  be  the  style 
of  slap-stick  desired.  It  is  a  story  of  one  who  yearns 
to  be  a  fireman  and  he  gets  the  chance,  permitting  the 
staging  of  some  unusual  thrills  as  well  as  side-splitting 
comedv  situations. 


BUILDING  BLOWN  TO  ATOMS 


Producer    Ince    Stages    Big    Explosion    for    Scene    in 

Coming  Triangle  Production  That  Will  Feature 

William  Collier 

Inceville-by-the-Sea,  where  Producer  Thomas  H. 
Ince  is  turning  out  feature  photodramas  for  contribu- 
tion to  the  Triangle  program,  was,  this  week,  the 
scene  of  what  is  expected  to  be  pronounced  as  the  most 
spectacular  explosion  ever  staged  in  the  history  of 
motion  pictures.  A  solid  three-story  building,  con- 
structed of  timbers,  concrete  and  brick  was  dynamited 
and  then  burned  to  the  ground  for  realistic  effects  in 
some  scenes  for  the  current  Triangle-Kay-Bee  subject 
in  which  William  Collier,  the  noted  American  come- 
dian, will  be  starred. 

Three  hundred  persons  took  part  in  the  filming  of 
the  scenes,  yet  none  suffered  injury.  Nine  cameras 
were  focused  on  the  explosion,  yet  none  missed  any 
detail.  Twenty-five  sticks  of  dynamite  and  three  kegs 
of  black  powder  were  used  to  shatter  the  structure,  yet 
the  surrounding  buildings  remained  virtually  un- 
harmed. 

The  building  which  was  sacrificed  graced  a  corner 
of  the  extensive  plateau  within  the  Ince  domain  and 
so  substantially  was  it  constructed  that  six  weeks  were 
required  for  its  completion.  It  was  designed  to  repre- 
sent an  office  building,  and.  hence,  the  chief  material 
employed  was  concrete.  Steel  girders  and  timbers 
formed  the  framework. 

In  preparing  to  film  the  scenes.  Producer  Ince. 
assisted  by  two  of  his  subordinates,  Raymond  B.  West 
and  Walter  Edwards,  instructed  each  of  the  three  hun- 
dred men  and  women  appearing  therein  to  race  away 
from  the  building  in  all  directions,  the  moment  the 
signal  was  given.  Each  of  the  nine  cameras  was  safely 
concealed  behind  heavy  oaken  planks,  only  the  lenses 
being  unobstructed. 


While  the  last  of  the  crowd  was  only  fifty  feet 
from  the  building,  the  word  was  given  to  give  the 
dynamite  the  spark.  Then,  with  a  thundering  boom 
that  could  be  heard  for  miles,  the  building  was  rent 
asunder.  A  moment  later  tons  of  sticks,  stones,  ce- 
ment, glass  and  steel  rained  from  the  sky  and  littered 
the  ground  for  several  hundred  feet  with  debris.  The 
concussion  rocked  the  surrounding  country  as  far  as 
Santa  Monica,  where  for  a  time  there  was  some  con- 
sternation among  the  citizens. 

When  the  smoke  had  cleared  away,  it  was  found, 
much  to  the  surprise  of  Ince  and  his  mechanics,  that 
the  skeleton  of  the  building  still  stood  intact.  This 
was  an  unexpected  turn  in  the  events  of  the  day,  so 
the  producer  resolved  to  make  the  best  of  it.  He  hur- 
riedly revised  that  part  of  the  scenario  dealing  with  the 
explosion  and  set  fire  to  what  remained  of  the  struc- 
ture. Slowdy  it  burned  to  the  ground  and  now  all  that 
is  left  is  a  black,  charred  mass  of  ruins. 


George  Baird  Passes  Away 

George  H.  Baird,  one  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Photoplay  Releasing  Company,  died  on  Thursday, 
December  30,  of  double  pneumonia  at  his  home,  5112 
Cornell  avenue,  Chicago.  Mr.  Baird  had  made  a 
Christmas  trip  to  his  old  home  in  Canada,  and  there  he 
contracted  a  cold  the  day  before  Christmas  and  re- 
turned to  Chicago  on  Monday,  December  27,  in  charge 
of  a  nurse.  He  was  immediately  put  to  bed.  physicians 
were  summoned  and  a  zone  of  quiet  was  established 
around  his  home  by  police  authority.  All  efforts  to 
assist  him,  however,  failed  and  he  passed  away  quietly 
on  Thursday.  On  Friday  afternoon  brief  services  were 
held  and  the  body  shipped  back  to  Canada  for  inter- 
ment. 


Ivan  Publishes  "Filmessage" 

Another  house  organ  is  being  sent  out  into  the 
trade  by  Ivan  Film  Productions,  Inc.  The  little  four- 
page  paper  is  attractively  handled  and  modestly 
sounds  the  praises  of  Ivan  features,  which  include 
"Should  a  Woman  Divorce?"  "Sins  of  the  Parents," 
"The  Unwelcome  Wife,"  "A  Mother's  Confession," 
"Concealed  Truth"  and  "Forbidden  Fruit."  "A  Fool's 
Paradise,"  with  Christine  Mayo,  is  in  the  making. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


109 


TO  ESTABLISH  CUBAN  STUDIO 

World  Film  Corporation  Leases  Big  Tract  on  Island 

and   Will    Erect    Studio    There   That   Will 

Accommodate  Several  Companies 

With  the  announcement  of  the  departure  at  an 
early  date  of  Clara  Kimball  Young  and  company  for 
Cuba,  comes  the  news  that  Lewis  J.  Selznick,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  World  Film  Cor- 
poration, has  completed  plans  for  the  establishment  in 
that  island  of  a  great  studio  and  general  picture  plant 
to  be  known  as  the  World  Film's  tropical  annex. 

Negotiations  have  been  closed  for  a  long  lease  of 
large  sections  of  land  near  Santiago  and  the  Dykeri 
mine  district.  The  property  includes  long  stretches 
of  sea  coast,  many  acres  of  dense  jungle  and  cane 
fields  and  every  possible  variety  of  tropical  settings. 
The  sea  coast  included  in  the  World  Film  holdings 
ranges  from  flat  sandy  beaches  to  cliffs  of  the  most 
rugged  and  massive  character.  At  points  along  the  sea 
front  the  full  force  of  the  Atlantic  sweeps  in  majestic- 
ally in  great  rollers  of  green  and  white,  while  at  other 
points  are  quiet  lagoons  of  still  water  many  feet  deep, 
but  so  translucent  as  to  permit  the  taking  of  motion 
pictures  from  above,  in  which  the  figures  of  divers  and 
submerged  wrecks  can  plainly  be  seen. 

"It  has  long  been  a  pet  project  of  mine  to  establish 
a  tropical  annex  for  our  studios,"  said  Mr.  Selznick 
in  announcing  the  new  plan.  "Many  pictures  involve 
scenes  of  a  tropical  character,  and  in  addition  it  is 
impossible  to  take  the  exteriors  of  any  picture  during 
the  winter  months  in  this  climate,  except  those  de- 
manding just  such  settings  as  we  have  here  at  that 
season.  I  feel  that  the  cost  of  sending  companies  spe- 
cially to  California  and  Florida  and  transporting  them 
back  to  Fort  Lee  to  complete  the  interiors  of  their  pic- 
tures could  be  greatly  reduced  by  establishing  a  per- 
manent place  in  a  climate  permitting  work  of  all  kinds 
throughout  our  winter  months. 

"We  secured  the  lease  to  the  Cuban  property  at  a 
remarkably  low  figure,  and  the  architectural  plans  for 
the  studio  and  living  quarters  for  the  company  and 
working  force  have  been  passed  upon.  The  work  of 
construction  will  begin  this  month.  It  is  our  pur- 
pose to  use  the  Cuban  studio  for  many  of  our  winter 
productions.  It  will  be  large  enough  to  accommodate 
at  least  three  companies  at  a  time.  On  our  property 
are  locations  available  for  almost  every  sort  of  scenic 
environment  from  mountains  to  sandy  beaches. 

"Before  closing  with  the  Cuban  property  owners, 
our  scouts  visited  Jamaica,  but  found  conditions  there 
impossible  for  the  proper  and  prompt  production  of 
motion  pictures.  Aside  from  the  climatic  obstacles 
such  as  the  frequency  of  violent  storms  and  a  peculiar 
atmospheric  condition  that  has  a  tendencyAto  befog 
the  film,  the  severe  restrictions  of  the  British  govern- 
ment since  the  war  began  decided  us  in  favor  of  Cuba." 


sine,  two  Minneapolis  film  papers,  also  the  following 
well-known  exhibitors :  James  Keough,  Strand  theater, 
Minneapolis ;  E.  V.  Calvert,  New  Garrick  theater,  Min- 
neapolis; William  Koening,  Gaiety  theater,  Minneapolis; 
Prosper  Schwie,  Calhoun  theater,  Minneapolis ; 
W.  E.  Upham,  New  Nokomis  theater,  Minneapolis ; 
Messrs.  Frankle  and  Jack  Elliott,  Lyric  theater,  Min- 
neapolis ;  George  Granstrom,  Strand  theater,  St.  Paul ; 
Paul  La  Marquard,  Starland  theater,  St.  Paul,  and  Mr. 
Green,  of  the  Cort,  New  Lake,  East  Lake  and  Hamlin 
theaters,  Minneapolis. 

All  those  present  pronounced  the  picture  a  master- 
piece and  congratulated  Mr.  Maude  upon  his  wonder- 
ful work. 


Pathe  Manager  Entertains  Cyril  Maude 

Cyril  Maude  and  several  members  of  his  company 
playing  in  "Grumpy"  at  the  Metropolitan  in  Minne- 
apolis last  week  were  the  guests  of  S.  B.  Sampson, 
manager  of  Pathe  Exchange,  Inc.,  to  review  "The 
Greater  Will,"  a  Gold  Rooster  play,  featuring  Mr. 
Maude. 

Among  those  present  who  met  Mr.  Maude  were 
representatives    of   Amusements  and  Photoplay   Maga- 


LASKY  MOVES  TO  NEW  OFFICES 

Cramped  for  Space  in  Old  Quarters,  Lasky  Feature 

Play  Company  Celebrates  New  Year  by 

Moving  to  Fifth  Avenue 

While  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company's 
studios  at  Hollywood,  Calif.,  have  been  spreading  out 
over  a  large  tract  of  land,  the  executive  offices  of  the 
firm,  situated  in  New  York,  have  been  moved  to  larger 
and  more  commodious  quarters  also.  The  New  York 
offices,  heretofore  comprising  the  entire  top  floor  of  the 
building  at  120  West  Forty-first  street,  are  now  situ- 
ated in  the  new  Rogers  Peet  Company  building,  485 
Fifth  avenue,  where  they  take  in  the  entire  eighth  floor 
of  the  building.  The  process  of  moving  from  the  old 
quarters  into  the  new  took  place  on  New  Year's  day, 
soon  after  the  return  from  Hollywood  of  Samuel  Gold- 
fish, executive  head  of  the  company. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  new  offices  of  the  Lasky 
company  there  has  been  a  marked  departure  from  the 
conventional  system  of  office  architecture.  The  first 
thing  that  will  surprise  the  caller  is  a  big  waiting  room, 
handsomely  and  comfortably  furnished  with  easy 
chairs  and  lounges,  reading  table  and  writing  desks. 
The  entire  Fifth  avenue  frontage  is  divided  into  private 
offices  for  Mr.  Goldfish,  Mr.  Lasky,  Arthur  S.  Friend, 
and  a  directors'  room.  On  the  Fortieth  street  side  will 
be  the  offices  of  Whitman  Bennett,  business  manager, 
and  John  C.  Flinn,  publicity  manager.  In  the  rotunda 
the  stenographic  department  is  situated,  and  in  spa- 
cious quarters  to  the  rear  of  the  floor  the  shipping 
department  is  placed. 


Cincinnati  League  Elects  Officers 

The  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  the 
Cincinnati  Chamber  of  Commerce  held  its  first  annual 
election  Tuesday,  December  28,  1915,  in  Parlor  "F"  at 
the  Hotel  Sinton.  The  hours  of  voting  were  from  2  to 
4  p.  m.  and  in  that  period  the  major  portion  of  the 
league's  membership  cast  ballots  favoring  one  con- 
testant or  another.  Two  tickets  were  in  the  field,  des- 
ignated as  the  red  ticket  and  the  blue  ticket.  The  suc- 
cess of  the  red  ticket,  which  was  elected  entire,  was 
due  to  the  progressive  methods  of  campaigning  at  the 
polls  adopted  by  the  first  vice-president,  A.  G.  Hette- 
sheimer.  Each  member  of  the  league  as  he  approached 
the  ballot  box  was  presented  with  a  red  carnation,  sym- 
bol of  the  red  ticket.  These  carnations  were  handed  to 
the  members  by  a  red-headed  girl. 

Following  the  election  an  excellent  Dutch  lunch 
was  served.  During  the  course  of  this  lunch  an  infor- 
mal session  was  held  presided  over  by  President  F.  L. 


110 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


Emmert.  He  stated  that  the  success  of  the  league  dur- 
ing the  past  year  is  ascribed  largely  to  the  fact  that 
it  had  become  affiliated  with  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  was  put  on  a  par  with  other  business  interests.  He 
also  called  attention  to  what  appeared  to  be  an  effort 
to  entice  motion  picture  exhibitors  into  politics.  He 
objected  strongly  to  this  and  stated.  "If  we  are  forced 
into  politics  we  can  put  up  a  hot  battle  by  throwing  our 
arguments  on  the  screen.  I  am  here  to  say  that  I.  for 
one,  will  fight  to  the  finish."  A.  G.  Hettesheimer.  first 
vice-president  said,  "We  are  the  fifth  largest  industry 
in  the  United  States  and  it  is  high  time  we  are  shown 
some  consideration.  We  have  a  common  enemy.  The 
way  it  looks,  this  enemy  is  politics.  We  are  paying 
federal  and  state  taxes,  and  yet  they  are  jumping  on 
us  from  all  sides.  We  demand  the  right  to  live,  and  we 
intend  to  live.  The  motion  picture  screen  affords  us  a 
publicity  medium  second  to  none." 

The  election  of  officers  resulted  as  follows :  Presi- 
dent, F.  L.  Emmert;  first  vice-president,  A.  G.  Hette- 
sheimer ;  second  vice-president,  M.  Marcus ;  treasurer. 
John  J.  Huss ;  managing  secretary,  H.  Serkowich ; 
sergeant-at-arms,  Jesse  J.  Meis. 


Hal  Cooley  of  Signal 

Hal  Cooley,  who  recently  joined  the  Signal  Com- 
pany to  play  leads  in  features,  is  an  especially  good- 
looking  young  fellow  of  the  slim  athletic  type.  He  is 
a  New  Yorker,  arriving  there  is  1888.  He  received  his 
e  d  u  c.a  t  i  o  n  at  the 
North  West  Military 
academy  of  High- 
land Park,  Illinois. 
and  later  studied  at 
the  University  of 
Minnesota,  where  he 
created  an  inter-col- 
legiate record  for  a 
mile  run,  and  distin- 
guished himself  in 
other  sports. 

Hal  Cooley  has 
had  about  as  varied 
a  professional  ex- 
perience as  the  heart 
of  a  young  fellow 
could  desire,  and  he 
w  o  u  1  d  not  have 
missed  one  of  his  ad- 
ventures or  misad- 
ventures, for  they  all 
contributed  to  his 
later  successes,  and 
he  accumulated  knowledge  and  had  lots  of  fun.  In 
between  adventures  he  was  with  a  number  id  stock 
companies,  both  as  an  actor  and  a  singer.  When  en- 
gagements were  scarce,  his  good  looks  and  pleasanl 
manner  broughl  him  ready  engagements  on  concert 
platforms  in  getting  up  charity  entertainments. 

In  Los  \ngeles  h<  appeared  in  the  Hick  Ferris 
<  ompany  in  "The  Man  From  Mexico,"  which  was 
singularly  appropriate  and  I  ,os  Vngeles  meant  eventual 
pictures,  and  Hal  became  a  member  of  the  Selig  Poly- 
scope Company  for  several  months;  after  which  he 
joined  the  Universal  and  played  juvenile  leads.  11  is 
engagement    with  the  Signal  Company,  with 

i     on    the    Mutual    program    offered,    and     M;il 
jumped  at  the  opportunity  which  meant  so  much. 


/ 


Wilfred  Lucas  Now  a  Star 

In  recognition  of  his  good  work  in  "The  Lily  and 
the  Rose"  and  other  plays,  the  Triangle-Fine  Arts 
studio  has  promoted  Wilfred  Lucas  to  stardom.  Mr. 
Lucas,  who  is  a  native  Canadian  and  ex-opera  singer, 
was  for  five  years  a  prominent  member  of  "The 
Chorus   Lady"   company  with   Rose   Stahl.      He   like- 


wise appeared  in  several  other  Broadway  productions. 
For  his  present  use  as  a  film  star,  "Acquitted,"  a  short 
story  by  Mary  Roberts  Rinehart.  has  been  adapted  to 
the  screen  by  Roy  Somerville.  It  is  the  tale  of  an  hon- 
est man  held  down  for  years  in  a  financial  institution 
and  finally  wrongly  suspected  of  murder.  The  latter- 
day  workings  of  the  "third  degree"  in  extorting  imag- 
inary confessions  from  its  victims  are  graphically 
shown.     Mary  Alden  is  Mr.  Lucas's  leading  woman. 


"NATION'S"  MARVELOUS  RECORD 

Wonderful    Griffith    Spectacle    Closes    in    New    York 

After  Breaking  All  Theatrical  Records,  Showing 

to  872,000  People  and  Earning  $600,000 

With  the  passing  of  D.  W.  Griffith's  spectacular 
production.  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  from  the  Broad- 
way circle  is  ended  the  most  phenomenal  run  ever 
made  by  any  attraction  in  the  history  of  New  York. 

This  wonderful  production  was  "introduced  to  New 
York  at  a  special  performance  on  March  2.  1015,  at  the 
Liberty  theater.  The  public  performance  followed  the 
next  evening.  The  new  ottering  leaped  into  immediate 
favor  and  started  in  upon  a  career  that  was  destined  to 
set  all  records  at  naught,  ddie  venture  was  a  complete 
departure  from  all  traditions  of  the  metropolitan  stage. 
\\  hen  it  was  announced  that  an  elaborate  scheme  of 
photographic  spectacle  and  operatic  embellishment  was 
to  be  produced  at  the  standard  scale  of  prices  for  the 
besl  theatrical  entertainment  on  our  stage,  the  predic- 
tion was  freely  made  that  it  would  not  last  a  fortnight. 
Mere  in  concrete  form  is  exactly  what  it  has  done: 

The  run  at  the  Liberty  theater  continued  forty-five 
weeks  without  a  break.  The  total  number  of  consecu- 
tive  performances  there  was  620.  During  the  summer 
months  there  was  ;,  supplementary  engagement  at 
Brighton  Beach,  which  is  part  of  the  metropolitan  theat- 
rical district.  This  engagement  was  for  fourteen  weeks 
with  182  performances,  making  a  total  of  802  consecu- 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


111 


tive  performances  in  New  York.  In  addition  to  this 
there  have  been  eighty-four  performances  of  the  spec- 
tacle in  theaters  in  Brooklyn  and  the  Bronx.  These, 
however,  are  not  counted  in  the  consecutive  run.  In 
round  numbers  616,000  people  saw  the  production  at 
the  Liberty  theater.;  196.000  witnessed  it  during  the  run 
at  the  seashore  and  approximately  60,000  people  have 
attended  performances  of  it  in  the  outlying  theaters  of 
Greater  New  York,  making  the  total  attendance  to  date 
for  that  city  872,000.  By  computing  this  with  the  cen- 
sus reports  for  New  York  City,  it  will  be  seen  that 
appro:»'mately  one  in  every  seven  residents  of  the  city 
has  attended  the  presentations.  The  uniform  scale  of 
prices  for  the  run  was  from  25  cents  to  $2  at  nights. 
and  25  cents  to  $1  at  the  matinees.  The  average  was 
about  75  cents  a  head.  It  will  be  seen  by  this  that 
New  York  paid  over  $600,000  for  this  one  form  of 
entertainment.  This  is  a  record  never  reached  by  any 
other  attraction  in  the  same  space  of  time  in  any  city 
in  the  world. 

Anyone  conversant  with  New  York  theatricals  is 
aware  that  the  local  theater  depends  to  an  appreciable 
extent  upon  transient  trade.  The  record  of  "The  Birth 
of  a  Nation"  is  the  more  remarkable  when  it  is  shown 
that  simultaneous  with  the  New  York  run  engage- 
ments were  also  under  way  in  other  important  points 
of  the  country.  It  ran  for  300  performances  in  Boston, 
the  record  there ;  250  performances  in  Los  Angeles. 
Cal.,  the  local  record;  150  times  in  San  Francisco;  200 
times  in  Philadelphia  ;  over  100  times  in  Pittsburgh,  a 
local  record ;  160  times  in  St.  Louis,  a  local  record,  and 
has  turned  428  consecutive  performances  in  Chicago, 
which  is  second  to  the  longest  run  ever  known  there, 
and  which  it  will  likely  surpass  before  the  end  of  the 
Windy  City  engagement.  At  the  same  time  other  com- 
panies have  been  touring  the  country.  To  date  it  is 
conservatively  estimated  that  nearly  5,000,000  people 
have  seen  the  great  production  in  America.  It  is  also 
passing  through  a  London  run  which  totals  nearly 
twenty  weeks.  Additional  companies  are  being  formed 
for  Australia  and  South  America,  while  two  others 
are  touring  Canada  at  present.  As  soon  as  the  condi- 
tions warrant  in  Europe,  additional  companies  will  be 
sent  on  tour  in  Russia,  France,  Germany,  Spain  and 
Italy. 


MILWAUKEE  FILM  MEN  UNITE 

Metro  Manager  Elected  President  of  New  Organiza- 
tion to  Eliminate  Undesirable  Exhibitors  and 
Cultivate  Closer  Business  Associations 

D.  H.  Hoyt  of  the  Metro  Film  Service  was  elected 
president  of  the  Milwaukee  Film  Men's  Credit  Asso- 
ciation at  a  meeting  held  Tuesday  night,  December  28. 
Joseph  Mergener,  manager  of  the  Mutual  Yilm  Cor- 
poration, was  named  vice-president  and  W.  A.  Baier 
of  Jacob's  film  booking  office  was  elected  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  new  organization. 

The  meeting  was  attended  by  representatives  of 
the  various  motion  picture  film  exchanges  of  Milwau- 
kee. The  object  of  the  association  is  to  eliminate  unde- 
sirable and  untrustworthy  exhibitors  and  to  cultivate 
closer  and  better  social  and  business  intercourse 
between  the  film  exchanges  and  the  desirable  exhibitor. 

The  association  will  be  national  in  scope.  Minne- 
apolis has  an  association,  and  Mr.  Baier  will  go  to 
Chicago  to  interest  the  Chicago  film  exchanges  in  the 
plan  of  forming  an  organization  there. 


Following  are  other  local  members  affiliated  :  J.  F. 
Van  Meter,  General  Film  Company;  J.  R.  Thomson, 
Universal  Film  Exchange ;  B.  C.  Smith,  Casino  Fea- 
ture Film  Company;  William  Aschmann,  Pathe  Ex- 
change ;  Leo  Eckstein,  Famous  Players  Star  Feature 
Film  Company ;  E.  S.  Benham,  Klondike  Feature  Film 
Company;  I.  P.  Rink,  Milwaukee  Feature  Film 
Exchange. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Milwaukee  association 
will  be  held  on  January  10  in  the  offices  of  the  Univer- 
sal Film  Exchange,  133  Second  street. 


Edison  Signs  Carrol  McComas 

Edison  has  captured  for  the  star  of  the  Kleine- 
Edison  five-part  feature,  "At  the  Rainbow's  End," 
released  February  23,  Carrol  McComas,  for  her  first 
appearance  in  motion  pictures.  Miss  McComas  has 
long  been  sought, 
both  by  Edison  and 
other  leading  com- 
panies, but  her  busy 
life  in  successes  on 
the  stage  always 
prevented.  Her  viva- 
c  i  o  u  s  personality, 
beautiful  brown  eyes 
and  a  certain  capti- 
vating manner  make 
her  an  ideal  subject 
for  the  camera,  and 
should  the  lens 
catch  but  one  -  half 
of  her  charming 
sprightliness, 
her  success  will  be 
pronounced.  Besides 
her  natural  vivacity, 
her  next  most 
marked  characteris- 
tic is  her  remarkable 
versatility,     which 

has  enabled  her  to  succeed  equally  well  in  dramatic 
roles  as  she  did  in  musical  corned}''  and  in  vaudeville 
as  a  whistler  and  singer.  Four  seasons  were  spent 
with  Frohman,  and  her  recent  work  in  the  lead  in  the 
stage  play,  "Inside  the  Lines,"  was  a  personal  triumph. 
Critics  and  public  agreed  that  she  shared  honors  with 
John  Drew  in  "The  Single  Man,"  while  her  delightful 
Avork  in  the  musical  comedy  success,  "The  Dollar 
Princess"  and  "The  Marriage  Market"  made  some  box 
office  records.  Miss  McComas  also  appeared  with 
Billie  Burke  in  "Mind  the  Paint  Girl,"  with  Donald 
Brian  in  "The  Siren,"  "Miss  Dot"  and  in  "The  Sala- 
mander." 


Balboa  Company  Given  Watches 

Heads  of  departments  and  employes  who  have 
been  with  the  Balboa  Amusement  Company  for  two 
years  were  presented  with  thin,  octagonal  shaped  Swiss 
watches  Christmas  by  H.  M.  and  E.  D.  Horkheimer, 
heads  of  the  Long  Beach  feature  producing  company. 
Among  those  who  received  the  watches  were  Norman 
Manning,  AVill  M.  Ritchev,  Daniel  Gilfether,  Philo 
McCullough,  R.  R.  Rocket't,  Richard  Johnson,  Frank 
Mayo,  George  Crane,  Wm.  A.  Gillette,  George  Rizard, 
Bruce  Smith,  Frank  Erlanger,  E.  J.  Brady,  William 
Beckway,  Sherwood  Macdonald,  Joe  Brotherton,  Harry 


112 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


Harvey,  William  Conklin,  Harry  Stanley,  Henry  King, 
John  Wyse,  J.  A.  Loy,  Bertram  Bracken,  H.  O.  Stech- 
han,  Robert  Brotherton,  Charles  Dudley,  Roy  Fre- 
chette, Ed  J.  Moore,  Percy  Dewey,  Jacob  Wiezerock, 
H.  M.  Van  de  Polle,  Roland  Groom,  Gordon  Sackville, 
W.  T.  Kearns,  Eugene  Kearns,  Frank  Kearn-.  Ed. 
Saunders.  Georgia  Van  Vleet,  May  Brotherton,  Grace 
Scott,  Nettie  Clark,  Mrs.  B.  Ahrens,  Ruth  Roland, 
Jackie  Saunders,  Corenne  Grant,  Ruth  Lackaye,  Mar- 
guerite Nichols.  Mollie  McConnell.  Myrtle  Reeves  and 
'.Mrs.  G.  B.  Wells. 

New  Feature  Exchange  for  Boston 

The  All  Feature  Booking  Agency,  which  controls 
the  state  rights  for  a  number  of  Griffith  productions  and 
has  been  booking  them  direct  to  Greater  New  York  and 
New  England  theaters  from  its  New  York  office  in  the 
Masonic  building,  has  just  opened  an  office  in  Boston  at 
53  Church  street,  to  take  care  of  the  New  England  terri- 
tory. In  addition  to  the  Griffith  features,  which  include 
"The  Escape,"  "The  Avenging  Conscience,"  "The  Battle 
of  the  Sexes"  and  six  other  subjects  with  casts  which 
include  the  same  players  appearing  in  "The  Birth  of  a 
Nation,"  the  All  Feature  Booking  Agency  will  book  four 
five-reel  Pawnee  Bill  features,  produced  on  Major  Gor- 
don W.  Lillie's  buffalo  ranch  in  Oklahoma,  and  also  the 
new  Sarah  Bernhardt  feature,  entitled  "Sarah  Bernhardt 
at  Home,"  showing  the  famous  actress  in  private  life  at 
her  summer  palace  on  Belle  Isle,  Brittany. 

Harry  K.  Brin,  formerly  manager  of  the  Continental 
exchange  of  Seattle  and  recently  manager  of  the  All 
Feature's  New  York  office,  will  have  charge  of  the  new 
Boston  exchange,  assisted  by  the  well  known  Harry  Jewel. 


TRIANGLE'S  PATRIOTIC  PLAY 

"The  Flying  Torpedo,"  a  War  Story  of  the  Year  1921, 

Shipped  East  and  Said  to  Be  a  Sensation 

in  Preparedness  Propaganda 

"The  Flying  Torpedo,"  a  war  story  of  the  year  1921, 
has  been  shipped  east  and  will  soon  be  disclosed  at  the 
Knickerbocker  theater  in  New  York,  with  general  re- 
lease a  few  weeks  later.  The  Triangle-Fine  Arts,  in 
making  this  war  play,  preferred  to  pack  the  material 
in  five  reels  instead  of  extending  it  a  la  the  familiar 


type  of  military  serial  or  of  a  long-reeler  taking  up  an 
entire  evening. 

The  motif  of  an  impending  foreign  invasion  of  the 
United  States  controls  the  action  of  the  piece.  In  re- 
sponse to  an  appeal  of  the  National  Defense  Board,  an 
old  inventor,  (Spottiswoode  Aitken)  perfects  an  aerial 
torpedo  controllable  by  wireless  mechanism.  A  band 
of  international  outlaws  who  sell  their  booty  to  foreign 
governments  steal  the  plans  and  the  torpedo  itself  and 
murder  the  inventor.  Prior  to  his  death  he  has  made 
one  duplicate  of  the  mechanism.  Winthrop  Clavering, 
chemist,  detective,  and  Conan  Doyle  type  of  novelist 
(John  Emerson),  enters  the  action  vigorously  at  this 
point.  Aided  by  a  clever  servant  girl  (Bessie  Love), 
his  tracing  of  clues  brings  him  finally  to  the  crooks' 
den,  whither  the  police  are  summoned  and  the  robbers 
and  their  spoil  are  taken.  Clavering  and  Haverman 
(W.  E.  Lawrence)  start  the  manufacture  of  the  tor- 
pedo. An  army  of  yellow  men  from  the  Far  East 
invade  the  west  coast.  The  deadly  swarm  of  novel 
missiles  annihilates  most  of  the  enemy,  and  those  that 
are  not  killed  are  driven  back  ignominiously  to  their 
ships,  thus  removing  forever  the  threat  of  foreign  in- 
vasion of  these  shores. 

The  exciting  war  scenes  of  "The  Flying  Torpedo" 
were  directed  under  D.  W.  Griffith's  supervision  by 
AY.  Christy  Cabanne,  whilst  the  earlier  scenes  were 
staged  by  Jack  O'Brien.  Besides  Mr.  Emerson,  the 
star,  and  those  already  mentioned,  the  cast  includes 
Ralph  Lewis,  Fred  J.  Butler,  Raymond  Wells,  Viola 
Barry  and  Lucille  Younge.  The  working  title  of  the 
story  was  "The  Scarlet  Band,"  changed  to  "The  Fly- 
ing Torpedo"  recently.  A  notable  characteristic,  lift- 
ing it  out  of  the  class  of  ordinary  war-plot  dramas,  is 
the  strong  vein  of  comedy  that  runs  through  it. 


Operator's  Ball  on  January  24 

On  Monday  evening,  January  24,  the  Moving 
Picture  Operators'  Protective  Union,  Local  181,  will 
hold  its  sixth  grand  annual  ball  at  Hazazer's  Hall.  Ill 
West  Franklin  street,  Chicago.  Music  for  the  occa- 
sion will  be  furnished  by  Lythroe's  orchestra.  The 
operators  and  their  friends  are  anticipating  a  most 
joyful  time.  In  the  past  their  balls  have  been  very 
successful,  but  the  1916  affair,  it  is  anticipated,  will 
be  even  more  so. 


Join,   BmtfSO*   nn.l  Mi  fvllow  players  of  the  Triangle  Company  in  scenes  from   "The  Flying  Torpedo,"  a  coming  Fine  Art 


I 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Giving  the  Public  What  It  Wants 


ZUKOR  DISCUSSES  TOPIC 


THERE  is  no  question  of  more  vital  importance  to 
the  motion  picture  industry  than  the  very  old,  but 
ever  new  one — what  does  the  public  want?  The 
subject  is  constantly  before  the  exhibitor  and  the  pro- 
ducer, and  it  is  one  which  is  always  open  to  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion.  The  average  exhibitor  bases  his 
knowledge  of  the  public  upon  his  personal  experience, 
which  must  of  necessity  be  circumscribed  and  limited 
in  its  local  extent.  Therefore  his  views  must  be  con- 
sidered as  referring  to  his  individual  community, 
rather  than  to  the  public  a  whole. 

The  producer,  on  the  other  hand,  must  attempt  to 
strike  a  general  average  in  his  films  which  will  ap- 
proximate the  desires  of  the  largest  number  of  persons. 
His  problem  is  in  fact  an  international  one,  as  his 
product  reaches  the  far  ends  of  the  civilized  world. 

Therefore  the  opinion  of  a  man  who  was  one  of 
the  first  owners  of  motion  picture  theaters  in  this  coun- 
try and  is  at  the  same  time  the  organizer  of  the  pioneer 
feature  film  producing  company,  is  of  peculiar  interest 
at  this  time.  The  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  sit- 
uation which  arises  from  this  unique  position  gives 
particular  force  to  the  opinion  of  Adolph  Zukor,  in 
whom  is  vested  this  dual  interest.  Though  it  is  not 
generally  known,  in  addition  to  being  the  founder  and 
president  of  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company,  Mr. 
Zukor  is  also  a  pioneer  exhibitor,  as  he  was  one  of  the 
first  exhibitors  in  New  York  City  and  also  owned  one 
of  the  first  chains  of  photoplay  theaters  ever  formed. 

It  is  apparent,  then,  that  the  opinion  of  this  man 
as  to  the  methods  of  determining  what  the  public 
really  wants,  as  against  what  any  one  individual  pro- 
ducer or  exhibitor  may  think  that  it  wants,  can  be 
accepted  as  being  based  upon  fact  and  not  upon  theory. 

"There  is  just  one  way  of  determining  what  the 
public  wants,"  declares  Mr.  Zukor,  "and  that  is  to  take 
the  consensus  of  opinion  of  as  many  exhibitors  as  pos- 
sible. This  opinion  should  be  based  solely  upon  the 
actual  record  of  the  results  obtained  by  showing 
various  types  of  film  in  their  respective  theaters.  It  is 
in  accordance  with  this  view  that  the  Famous  Players 
receives  from  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  its 
releasing  medium,  weekly  reports  on  every  feature 
that  is  produced. 

"This  report  covers  every  section  of  the  country 
and  a  similar  index  extends  to  the  foreign  nations  as 
well.  From  a  careful  study  of  its  averages,  it  is  simple 
for  the  producer  to  determine  exactly  what  kind  of 
films  are  well  received  and  those  of  inferior  popularity. 
There  is  no  more  effective  method  devisable  for  the 
obtaining  of  accurate  and  detailed  information  of  a 
really  comprehensive  nature.  No  one  exhibitor,  how- 
ever judicious  or  well  informed,  can  ever  draw  proper 
conclusions  from  his  own  limited  field  of  observation. 

"Though  the  exhibitor  can  of  course  determine  his 
own  needs,  it  is  impossible  for  the  producer  to  accede 
to  the  demands  of  the  individual  exhibitor.  To  para- 
phrase a  familiar  line,  he  must  meet  the  greatest  needs 
of  the  greatest  number. 

"The  producer  who  attempts  to  determine  on  his 
own  initiative  just  what  the  public  wants,  or  who 
attempts  to  force  the  public  to  want  what  he  thinks 
that  it  ought  to  want,  is  predestined  to  come  to  grief. 


There  are  those  who  consistently  attempt  to  foist  upon 
the  public  a  salacious  type  of  film,  either  under  the 
guise  of  preaching  sermons  or  with  the  frank  intention 
of  appealing  to  the  sexes.  The  temporary  success  of 
that  style  of  production  has  lured  several  manufac- 
turers to  release  plays  of  this  sort,  but  the  record  of 
the  stage  play,  and  of  the  photoplay,  prove  absolutely 
that  the  success  is  merely  temporary  and  that  the 
releasing  of  such  pictures  is  poor  judgment  from  a 
business  standpoint.  In  the  long  run,  clean  pictures 
pay  best,  whether  they  are  comedies  or  dramas. 

"That  the  frankly  suggestive  film  is  a  detriment 
to  the  industry  as  a  whole  there  can  be  positively  no 
question,  inasmuch  as  it  spurs  the  censors  to  increased 
activity  and  gives  the  agitators  for  censorship  grounds 
upon  which  to  base  their  arguments. 

"Our  records  show  that  clean  comedies  and  pow- 
erful dramas  of  the  better  sort  are  the  supreme  favor- 
ites today.  The  lasting  success  of  films  of  this  type 
and  the  heavy  demands  for  the  appearance  of  the  stars 
in  them,  proves  beyond  doubt  that  the  public  today  is 
getting  what  it  wants.  Any  new  attempt  to  gauge 
'what  the  public  wants'  by  different  standards  from 
those  of  country-wide  reports  on  the  successes  of  the 
immediate  past  and  of  the  present  is  doomed  to  failure. 
As  I  have  said  before,  it  is  a  physical  impossibility  to 
produce  films  to  suit  the  requirements  of  any  given 
locality.  The  standards  of  measurement  must  be 
broad,  and  there  is  no  possible  way  in  which  to  make 
them  so  except  that  which  has  already  been  adopted. 

"Individual  reports  are  also  made  on  the  produc- 
tions grouping  them  according  to  the  star  which 
appears  in  them.  In  this  way  we  are  enabled  to  keep 
strict  account  of  the  popularity  of  Mary  Pickford, 
Marguerite  Clark,  Pauline  Frederick,  Hazel  Dawn  and 
John  Barrymore  and  to  see  at  a  glance  in  what  type 
of  play  they  are  best  received.  The  constant  tendency 
of  our  popularity  pendulum  to  swing  toward  the 
stronger  dramatic  plays  and  toward  the  lighter  come- 
dies has  determined  our  policy  for  the  coming  year. 

"So  far  as  the  source  of  material  is  concerned, 


The  above  picture,  taken  at  Romaine  Fielding's  "Cactus"  studio,  at 
Phoenix,  Arizona,  shoivs  Fielding,  his  expert  mechanics,  and  his_  two  re- 
cently purchased  racing  cars — a  Sebring  Special  and  a  Buick  Special  racer. 

Both  cars  are  being  remodeled  for  the  big  event  at  Tucson,  Arizona, 
where  they  will  be  entered  as  "R.   F.   Specials"  No.   i  and  No.  2. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


experience  has  shown  that  to  be  of  no  importance 
whatever.  It  makes  no  difference  whether  a  play  or 
a  novel  is  being  adapted,  or  whether  the  subject  which 
is  being  produced  is  an  original  scenario  prepared  espe- 
cially for  the  screen.  There  is  just  one  point  of  impor- 
tance— has  the  finished  product  real  screen  value :  is  it 
a  good  photoplay? 

"The  whole  heated  argument  over  this  question 
reminds  me  of  nothing  so  forcefully  as  the  old  conun- 
drum, 'Which  came  first — the  chicken  or  the  egg-?' 
They  are  about  of  the  same  relative  importance.  For, 
after  all,  the  only  vital  thing  is  the  fact  that  both  are 
here.  So  long  as  we  have  our  chicken,  our  egg  and 
our  good  photoplay,  what  difference  does  it  make 
which  came  first  or  from  what  source  the  last  was 
drawn?" 


"Broadway  Universal"  New  "Red  Feather" 

The  first  announcement  Joe  Brandt  made  after  be- 
coming the  general  manager  of  the  Universal  Film 
Manufacturing  Company  was  a  change  of  name  under 
which  the  famous  Universal  features  will  be  released 
shortly.  Heretofore,  all  the  big  features  of  the  Uni- 
versal have  been  released  on  a  program  called  "Broad- 
way Universal  Features,"  which  has  gained  a  great 
deal  of  prestige  and  renown  throughout  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  but  as  other  concerns  also  ap- 
propriated the  name  "Broadway"  for  their  special  fea- 
tures, and  the  fact  that  many  people  confused  the 
regular  Universal  program  with  the  Broadway  Uni- 
versal program,  Mr.  Brandt  thought  it  would  be  best 
to  have  a  non-conflicting  name,  and  therefore  he  de 
cided  upon  using  the  name  "Red  Feather  Productions." 
the  first  of  which  will  be  Violet  Mersereau  in  "The 
Path  of  Happiness,"  to  be  relea  i  d  fanuary  31. 

The  first  feature  to  be  released  under  the  "Red 
Feather  Productions"  will  be  a  novelty  drama  of  the 
wilds,  with  llarr\  I'.cnham  supporting  Violet  \lei 
pereau.  This  will  be  followed  by  productions  even  big 
ger  than  anything  that  has  ever  appeared  on  the 
Broadway  Universal  Features  program,  which  will  in- 
clude in  the  very  near  future.  King   Baggot's  initial 


appearance  on  the  feature  programs,  as  well  as  Mary 
Fuller,  Jane  Gail,  Harry  Benham,  Paul  Panzer,  and 
the  other  Universal  stars  who  have  appeared  in  the 
Broadway  features. 

For  the  first  time,  King  Baggot  will  make  a  pic- 
ture for  release  in  the  feature  program.  He  has  pre- 
ferred to  do  the  one  and  two-reelers  which  have  made 
him  famous,  rather  than  going  into  the  making  of  the 
longer  pictures,  but  the  constant  demand  for  his  ap- 
pearance on  the  feature  program  has  prompted  him  to 
make  the  change. 


Lasky  Gets  Bronson-Howard 

George  Bronson-Howard,  one  of  the  best-known 
writers  in  America  at  the  present  time,  whose  most 
recent  book.  "God's  Man,"  is  breaking  all  records  as  a 
best-seller,  left  New  York  last  week  to  join  the  literary 
and  photodramatic  staff  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature 
Play  Company,  making  his  headquarters  in  the  future 
at  the  Lasky  studios  at  Hollywood,  California.  Bron- 
son-Howard is  the  author  of  a  number  of  novels  and 
plays,  of  which  "Snobs"  was  one.  It  had  a  long  run 
on  Broadway  and  subsequently  appeared  on  tour  for 
several  seasons.  It  has  since  been  picturized  by  the 
Lasky  Company  with  Victor  Moore  as  the  star.  Bron- 
son-Howard, who  is  still  a  young  man,  will  devote  him- 
self exclusively  in  his  writing  for  the  screen  to  photo- 
plays for  the  Lasky  company. 


Vassar  Alumnae  to  See  Triangle  Bill 
The  Knickerbocker  theater  in  New  York  City  will 
be  taken  over  for  a  night  during  the  last  week  in  Tan- 
nary  by  the  alumnae  oi  Vassar  College,  For  the  celebra- 
tion i>\  Vassar  night  at  that  theater.    Triangle  pictures 

Will  be  shown  and  the  proceeds  of  the  entertainment 
will  be  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  Intercollegiate 
Bureau  *>i  ( )ccupations 

Mrs.  Arthur  Butler  Graham  is  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  Vassar  alumnae,  and  she  reports  that 
there  will  he  no  difficulty  in  filling  the  Knickerbocker 
theater  for  the  occasion. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Meaning  of  ' 'Griffith-Supervised" 


BY  CARLYLE  ELLIS 


TO  WATCH  David  Wark  Griffith  at  work  ;  to  see  in 
actual  productive  operation  the  mind  that  has 
made  the  deepest  imprint  of  any  on  the  photo- 
drama — it  is  the  heart's  desire  of  every  interviewer 
and  writer  of  personality  studies  from  New  York  to — 
but  there  is  no  outer  boundary. 

Being  in  Los  Angeles,  it  seemed  a  simple  thing  to 
do.  One  had  but  to  gain  entrance  to  the  big  Fine  Arts 
studio,  where  Director-General  Griffith  spends  his  life 
producing  photoplays — and  watch. 

Entrance  was  gained — luckily  we  had  a  certain 
password  that  opened  several  doors  before  it  led  us  to 
the  first  big  open-air  stages,  shaded  from  the  southern 
California  sun  by  top-shades  of  white  cotton.  We 
were  free  to  wander  about  where  we  liked  and  for  as 
long  as  we  liked — so  long  as  we  obeyed  studio  laws. 

Chief  of  these  is :  Never  step  in  front  of  a  cam- 
era. That  rule  is  obeyed  even  by  the  studio  dogs,  of 
which  there  are  sure  to  be  several.  Most  of  these  clogs 
have  either  to  be  led  on  the  set,  so  thorough  is  their 
understanding  of  the  rule,  or  else  rehearsed  in  the  one 
scene  till  they  know  they  belong  there. 

The  second  law  has  purely  local  application  and  is 
not  really  a  law  at  all.  It  is  expressed  by  everyone  in 
about  the  same  words :  "Better  not  bother  Mr.  Griffith 
unless  it's  absolutely  necessary.  He's  a  very  busy 
man." 

We  conclude  that  he  must  be,  not  only  because 
everyone  we  speak  to  says  so.  repeatedly,  but  because 
during  one  whole  busy  morning  we  failed  to  catch  even 
a  glimpse  of  the  man.  He  is  there — everyone  says  that, 
too.  He  is  rehearsing  or  directing  or  consulting  or  all 
three,  here  or  there  or  somewhere  about,  but  you  do 
not  see  him. 

On  the  big,  orderly  stage,  crowded  with  sets  and 
players  and  technical  assistants,  there  is  a  dominant 
spirit  that  you  cannot  at  once  put  your  finger  on.     If 


you  are  used  to  motion  picture  studios  you  get  a  dozen 
impressions  from  a  dozen  different  details  and  they  all 
dovetail  into  an  individuality — the  personality  of  the 
studio,  which  is  sure  to  mirror  accurately  the  person- 
ality of  its  director-general. 

Looking  for  this  man  Griffith  you  wander  from 
stage  to  stage  of  the  Fine  Arts  studio,  up  and  down 
the  paved  streets  of  this  miniature  city,  from  the 
group  of  technical  buildings  in  one  corner  to  the  out- 
door gymnasium  in  the  court  of  the  men's  dressing 
rooms  or  on  to  the  great  storehouses  of  furnishings 
and  the  shops. 

Everywhere  you  hear  one  name — Mr.  Griffith. 
The  big  projection  room  is  to  be  clear  for  his  work  at 
five  o'clock — he  suggested  a  certain  kind  of  hanging 
for  this  Renaissance  drawing  room  and  so  that  kind 
will  be  found  at  all  costs — Mr.  Griffith  saw  it  in  re- 
hearsal and  let  it  go  through  so  it  must  be  all  right. 
That's  a  piece  of  business  that  Mr.  Griffith  suggested 
and  it  makes  the  scene.  Mr.  Griffith  said  to  be  there 
at  nine  sharp  and,  you  know,  he  mustn't  be  kept 
waiting. 

The  listening  visitor  becomes  possessed  by  the 
conviction  that  this  invisible  director  is  at  least  five 
men.     How  else  is  such  ubiquity  possible? 

We  stand  among  the  quiet  watchers  behind  the 
battery  of  cameras.  Here  are  directors  and  assistant 
directors,  operators  and  their  assistants,  players  off  . 
duty  or  waiting  for  their  entrance  into  the  scene. 
Occasionally,  a  bit  of  vigorous,  high-pitched  dialogue 
from  a  set  marks  sharply  the  recording  of  some  intense 
moment  in  a  play,  where  the  use  of  speech  will  help 
the  players  to  an  accentuation  of  dramatic  values  but 
for  the  most  part  voices  are  subdued  to  ordinary  con- 
versational tone. 

There  is  none  of  the  traditional  shouting  of  direc- 
tors— no  fine  frenzy  at  all.  These  are  Griffith  directors. 


D.  IV.  Griffith,  the  wizard  of  the  Trianale-Fine  Arts  studios 
made  him  famous  and  earned  for  hin.  the  title  of  the  world's  g 
ing   of  fine  frenzy    of   temperament    wlicn   Mr.    Griffith    directs. 


11 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


They  use  speech  during  the  actual  taking  of  a  scene 
about  as  much  as  the  leader  of  a  symphony  orchestra 
at  a  final  rehearsal. 

A  director  is  arguing  with  a  somewhat  self- 
assertive  player. 

"Well,  you  know,  Air.  Griffith  liked  it  better  done 
that  way."  he  says,  and  the  argument  is  ended. 

We  get  it  in  bits  like  that  every  few  minutes  and 
all  the  while  we  have  one  eye  open  for  an  extraordi- 
narily agile  man  in  shirt  sleeves  whom  we  expect  to 
see  come  tearing  across  the  stage  waving  hands  full 
of  script  and  volleying  orders  (and  probably  impreca- 
tions) like  a  human  cyclone.  Oh!  we're  sure  we'll 
know  him — when  he  comes. 

But  nobody  volleys  and  no  arms  are  waved.  This 
might  all  be  a  drawing  room  scene  if  it  were  not  for 
the  motley  of  costumes  and  the  blazing  of  the  Cali- 
fornia sun  overhead.  There  is  a  little  subdued  laughter 
among  the  gathered  knots  of  players  behind  the  cam- 
eras and  over  there  a  group  of  women  and  girls — one 
is  in  crinoline  and  ringlets,  another  in  modish  evening 
dress  and  still  another  in  the  short  riding  skirt  of  the 
plains — Are  working  on  embroidery  and — talking 
about  D.  W.  Griffith. 

"He  seldom  seems  to  see  anyone,"  says  a  veteran 
of  the  studios,  "unless  he  has  business  to  speak  of. 
But  he  sees  everything  and  seems  to  know  everything. 
They  say  he  is  the  quickest  and  surest  judge  of  char- 
acter ever.  Just  one  glance — and  he  has  your  number." 

This  is  disconcerting.  We  stifle  an  impulse  to 
escape  while  yet  there  is  time,  and  begin  to  ask  ques- 
tions. We  ask  the  same  sort  of  questions  of  players, 
and  carpenters,  and  cameramen,  and  even  of  directors. 
What  sort  of  man  is  this  Griffith,  who  so  strangely 
resembles  a  general  on  a  modern  battlefield,  with  his 
fingers  constantly  on  a  hundred  communication  lines 
and  his  person  in  an  invisible  dugout  miles  away?  The 
answer  varies  only  in  the  wording.  This  a  typical 
sample  :  "My  boy,  he's  a  living  wonder — the  nearest 
thing  to  infallible  that  this  game  has  produced.  He 
knows  every  scene  in  all  the  ten  plays  constantly  in 
production;  he  sees  every  set;  he  knows  every  player; 
he  passes  on  every  foot  of  film.  And  yet  he  encour- 
ages the  greatest  possible  originality  from  everybody 
and  never  wants  any  of  the  credit — or  the  limelight." 

We  could  quote  such  encomiums  by  the  foot  or 
yard.  Tt  would  establish  at  least  one  definite,  tangible 
characteristic  of  the  man:  a  rare  capacity  for  inspiring 
the  most  unswerving  loyalty,  of  his  forces  from  top  to 
bottom.  They  perform  day  by  day  the  modern,  prac- 
tical equivalent  of  swearing  by  him. 

But  we  found  something  else,  and  we  had  come  to 
it  bit  by  bit  during  the  three  days  we  kept  watch  for 
the  director-general  in  his  own  big  workshop.  These 
scenes  we  saw  being  made:  these  plays  we  saw  coming 
into  being  scene  by  scene,  might  or  might  not  be 
produced  directly  under  the  director-general's  eye.  He 
mighl  not  go  flitting  from  sel  to  set  all  day  long  as  we 
had  expected.     Bui  he  was  actually  presenl  in  an  even 

implete  and  effective  way.     The  Griffith  ideals. 

thi  Griffith  methods,  the  Griffith  standards — these 
were  the  ideals  and  methods  and  standards  ,,i  r\  erj  one 
on  the  lot.  lie  had  done  more  than  Stamp  an  art  with 
lius;  more  even  than  -elect  and  train  to  high 
efficiencj  a  corps  of  workers  lie  had  created  a  living, 
ive  and  highly  individualized  organism  For 
creative  pr<  iduction. 

We  began   to  gel   a   glimmer  of  what    "Griffith- 

rd"  really  mean-.. 


It  was  our  third  day  of  watchful  waiting  and  we 
had  begun  to  receive  casual  recognition  as  some  unde- 
fined part  of  the  institution.  The  agile  arm-waving 
person  .in  shirt  sleeves  had  not  appeared,  but  we  had 
seen  and  recognized  many  celebrities  of  the  footlights 
and  screen  and  were  making  mental  notes  on  the  rest. 
One  individual  had  attracted  our  attention  because  of 
his  odd  behavior. 

"That  tall,  forceful-looking  actor  in  the  grey  Nor- 
folk suit,"  we  commented  to  a  neighbor,  "seems  to 
keep  to  himself  a  lot.  He  goes  wandering  through 
with  that  big  man  and  talking,  but  he  never  looks 
around.  We  haven't  seen  him  in  make-up  these  three 
days  and  we  don't  remember  his  face  on  the  screen. 
Nobody  pays  any  attention  to  him,  but  he  looks  like 
somebody.     What's  his  name?" 

"Name!"  exclaimed  our  neighbor,  grinning  at  us, 
"his  name's  Griffith." 


Horsley  Players  Aid  Doll  Show- 
Members  of  the  David  Horsley  studios  in  Los  An- 
geles last  week  gave  material  aid  to  the  sponsors  of 
the  Los  Angeles  Children's  Hospital  Doll  Show  held 
at  the  Hotel  Alexandria  to  raise  holiday  funds  for 
the  institution.  Each 
contributed  a  doll 
which  in  costume 
was  a  replica  of  the 
work  done  by  the 
donors  in  the  motion 
picture  studio.  Belle 
Bennett's  contribu- 
tion was  a  doll  in 
the  costume  of  Iris, 
an  Oriental  maiden , 
Margaret  Gibson's 
doll  was  dressed  as 
a  country  maiden ; 
Gypsy  Abbott's  was 
a  baby  doll ;  Shirley 
Earle's  a  Spanish 
belle ;  John  Oaker's 
a  country  boy ;  and 
George  Ovey's  was 
Jerry.  William  Clif- 
ford made  his  offer- 
ing through  his 
pretty  little  blonde 
daughter.  Betty,  who  was  all  togged  out  in  blue,  with 
all  the  fancy  dudads  so  dear  to  the  girlish  heart,  and 
her  doll  was  a  perfect  counterpart.  Scores  of  other 
stars  in  filmland  now  in  Los  Angeles  also  were  con- 
tributors. The  dolls  were  auctioned  by  members  of 
the  show  committee  and  several  thousand  dollars  were 
realized   from   the  sale. 


doll. 


Pathe's  Remarkable  War  Picture 

"The  Horrors  of  War."  a  three-reel  drama  which 
Pathe  will  release  on  January  17.  well  lives  up  to  its  title. 
The  scenes  shown,  most  of  them,  differ  from  the  sort  ex- 
hibited in  the  various  new-  weeklies  and  convey  in  a  most 
emphatic  manner  an  idea  a-  to  what  war  really  means. 
All  of  them  are  remarkable,  hut  some  of  them  especially 
impress  the  observer,  among  them  the  sinking  of  Turkish 
vessels  bj  the  Russian  fleel  and  the  bombardmenl  of 
variou-  villages  along  the  shore,  the  gathering  of  the 
hundreds   of   dead    from    the   battlefields   and    their   being 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


dumped  in  heaps  at  the  edge  of  the  burial-  trenches  by 
scores  of  carts. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  the  source  from  which  many 
of  the  pictures  came.  There  wandered  into  the  Paris 
office  of  Pathe  Freres  a  month  or  two  ago  an  elderly  in- 
dividual in  seedy  clothes,  his  sole  baggage  a  battered 
camera  case  and  camera,  and  a  few  rolls  of  film  in  a  can 
which  had  once  contained  oil.  The  story  he  told  was 
so  unbelievable  that  it  required  the  projection  of  his  films 
to  back  it  up.  It  seemed  that  as  a  free  lance  he  had  been 
following  one  of  the  Russian  armies  and  thus  had  secured 
these  pictures.  Despite  his  lack  of  official  backing  he  had 
succeeded  where  so  many  others  had  failed,  chiefly  be- 
cause his  forlorn  helplessness  and  advanced  age  appealed 
to  the  sympathies  of  the  Russians.  They  had  provided 
him  with  food  and  shelter  through  the  long  marches,  and 
had  equipped  him  with  clothing  adapted  to  the  severe 
cold.  He  had  taken  pictures  until  his  stock  of  film  gave 
out,  and  then  had  managed  to  make  his  way  to  France. 
He  was  paid  a  handsome  price  for  his  negatives,  and 
left  Paris  announcing  his  intention  of  going  back  to  the 
eastern  front  to  secure  others. 

From  a  pictorial  standpoint  the  best  scenes  are  those 
showing  the  Russian  fleet  in  action  in  the  Black  Sea, 
bombarding  the  Turkish  towns  along  the  shore.  The 
camerman  remained  on  deck  throughout  the  engagement, 
and  with  a  telephoto  lens  obtained  some  remarkable  views 
of  the  exploding  shells  and  their  effect  upon  the  build- 
ings. A  shell  is  seen  to  strike,  then  a  cloud  of  smoke 
arises.  When  the  veil  is  lifted  the  building  has  become 
a  heap  of  ruins  frequently  burning  like  a  bonfire.  The 
spectacular  effect  is  heightened  by  an  aeroplane  dropping 
bombs  from  the  clouds.  Other  noteworthy  pictures 
show  a  Turkish  vessel  under  fire.  First  the  shells  are 
seen  splashing  in  the  water  all  around  her.  The  foun- 
tains of  spray  get  closer  and  closer  as  the  Russian  gun- 
ners get  the  range.  Showers  of  shrapnel  then  break 
over  her  and  a  little  later  she  settles  heavily  in  the 
water  and  sinks. 


Costly  Furnishings  in  Pathe's  "New  York" 

A  lot  of  money  must  be  spent  to  give  the  proper 
atmosphere  to  a  picture  where  many  scenes  are  laid 
in  homes  of  wealth.     For  instance  in  the  Pathe  Gold 


1 ' 

is  of  hand  embroidered  silk  and  cost  $450.  These 
figures  are  vouched  for  by  Pathe  as  being  absolutely 
correct.     Florence  Reed  stars  in  the  picture. 


R.  A.  Bresee  of  Metro 

R.  A.  Bresee,  the  delightful  old  character  actor, 
who  is  appearing  in  Metro  features,  and  who  was  last 
seen  in  "A  Yellow  Streak,"  and  "Emmy  of  Stork's 
Nest,"  two  Columbia-Metro  wonderplays,  has  signed 
a  contract  to  sing  in 
the  choir  of  a 
Brooklyn  church.  He 
will  never  work  in  a 
picture  on  Sunday, 
no  matter  how  urg- 
ent the  call,  and  he 
insists  on  having 
Friday  nights  off,  to 
rehearse  w  i  t  h  the 
choir. 

More  than  thirty 
years  ago  Mr.  Bresee 
was  well  known  as  a 
baritone  soloist.  He 
sang  in  grand  opera, 
and  was  the  leading 
baritone  with  the 
Clara  Louise  Kelly 
Company.  Afterward 
he  went  into  musical 
comedy,  singing 
leading  roles  with 
De  Wolfe  Hopper, 
Francis  Wilson,  Lillian  Russell,  and  other  prominent 
stars.  For  several  years  Mr.  Bresee  devoted  his  tal- 
ents singing  in  big  oratorios.  He  was  a  soloist  with 
the  late  Theodore  Thomas,  and  also  was  associated 
with  Dudley  Buck. 

Mr.  Bresee  was  born  in  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  and 
made  his  debut  as  a  singer  when  he  was  ten  years 
old.  At  that  time  he  was  known  as  "The  Boy  Choir 
Singer."  He  sang  at  the  Union  Congregation  Church, 
in  Brooklyn,  for  five  years,  and  during  part  of  that 
time  he  appeared  with  musical  productions  on  Broad- 
way. He  had  his  fling  as  a  stock  actor,  and  appeared 
with  George  Fawcett  in  a  successful  Broadway  play. 
William  Night,  the  Metro  director,  considers  him  one 
of  the  best  types  he  has  found  for  roles  in  such  pro- 
ductions as  "A  Yellow  Streak." 


Rooster  play,  "New  York,"  adapted  from  the  A.  H. 
Woods  play  of  the  name,  and  produced  by  George 
Fitzmaurice,  there  are  some  bedroom  scenes  in  which 
are  used  lace  sheets  which  cost  $250.    The  bedspread 


"The  Upstart,"  an  Early  Metro  Release 

"The  Upstart,"  a  five-part  satirical  comedy,  the  first 
of  its  kind  ever  produced  by  Metro,  has  just  been  com- 
pleted at  the  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.,  studio.  It  will  be 
released  on  the  Metro  program  January  24.  Marguerite 
Snow,  the  popular  screen  artist,  is  starred  in  this  Metro 
feature  picture,  and  George  Le  Guere  is  featured.  James 
Lackeye,  the  comedian,  also  has  a  prominent  role.  "The 
Upstart"  is  a  picturization  of  the  successful  play  of  the 
same  name  by  Thomas  Barry,  which  enjoyed  a  run  last 
season  at  the  Maxine  Elliott  theater  in  New  York  City, 
and  later  on  tour. 

The  story  of  "The  Upstart"  deals  with  a  young  mar- 
ried man,  who  becomes  fanatical  on  the  subject  of  di- 
vorce. He  leaves  his  wife  and  everything  else,  to  go 
forth  to  reform  the  world.  His  wife,  despondent  over 
her  husband's  neglect  for  her,  proceeds  to  obtain  a'  di- 


118 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


vorce.  The  "Upstart's"  father  realizes  his  son  comes 
close  to  being  a  crank,  and  arranges  for  him  to  spend  a 
few  weeks  with  his  friend,  a  minister,  who  he  hopes  will 
have  a  good  influence  on  the  boy.     The  minister  is  none 


too  happily  married,  and  his  wife  falls  in  love  with  their 
chauffeur.  They  plan  an  elopement,  but  this  is  prevented 
by  the  "Upstart."  He  then  tells  the  minister  the  circum- 
stances of  his  wife's  infatuation,  setting  it  forth  as  a 
hypothetical  case.  The  minister  insists  that  no  man 
should  live  with  a  woman  that  did  not  love  him,  and 
that  wanted  to  go  with  another.  The  "Upstart"  then 
confronts  him  with  his  own  wife,  who  confesses  her  in- 
discretion and  avowal  to  carry  out  her  plans. 

Brought  home  to  him  in  this  fashion,  the  minister 
changes  his  mind.  He  commands  his  wife  to  stay.  She 
refuses  and  leaves  with  the  chauffeur.  She  is  overtaken, 
and  then  laughingly  explains  that  the  "Upstart"  planned 
the  entire  affair  as  a  hoax  to  prove  his  contentions  on 
separation  and  divorce.  The  minister  gives  the  "Up- 
start" a  good  trouncing,  but  he  still  remains  "a  nut  with 
a  theory." 


From  Business  Manager  Manning,  President 
Horkheimer  learned  just  what  had  been  done  in  the 
way  of  improving  the  Balboa  plant  in  his  absence. 
The  enclosed  studio  has  been  completed,  several  new 
warehouses  erected,  a  papier  mache  department  added 
and  many  other  amplifications  made — not  to  forget  the 
half-dozen  new  automobiles  added  to  the  steadily 
growing  fleet  of  motor  cars. 

Will  M.  Ritchey,  chief  scenario  editor,  advised  his 
superior  that  he  was  just  winding  up  the  scripts  for 
"The  Red  Circle,"  the  continued  detective  story  which 
Balboa  is  giving  to  the  screen,  via  Pathe's  releasing 
agency.  The  original  idea  for  this  series  came  from 
II.  M.  Horkheimer  and  he  told  Mr.  Ritchey  that  he 
was  more  than  pleased  with  the  way  in  which  he  is 
developing  it.  Being  particularly  timely,  in  that  the 
idea  of  heredity  as  brought  out  in  the  case  of  the 
Bollinger  baby  is  anticipated,  "The  Red  Circle"  has 
proved  as  crisp  as  a  live  newspaper  just  off  the  press. 
As  a  mark  of  confidence.  President  Horkheimer  has 
given  his  scenario  editor  even  more  authority  than  he 
had  before. 

Gratifying  indeed  to  Mr.  Horkheimer  was  the 
scrapbook  submitted  to  him  by  H.  O.  Stechhan,  his 
publicity  chief.  Although  on  the  job  only  six  months, 
he  has  succeeded  in  getting  the  name  of  Balboa  into 
many  publications  that  have  never  before  shown  any 


HORKHEIMER  BACK  ON  THE  JOB 

Balboa  Executive   Returns  to  His   Plant  After   Long 

Eastern  Trip,  Hears  Reports,  and  Arranges 

Big  Plans  for  New  Year 

Santa  Claus-likc,  II.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  and 
general  manager  of  the  Balboa  Amusement  Producing 
Company,  descended  on  the  studio  in  Long  Beach, 
California,  after  an  absence  of  four  months  in  the  east, 
on  Christmas  eve.  At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  he 
made  an  inspection  of  the  plant,  in  company  with  Nor- 
man Manning,  business  manager,  to  the  amazement  of 
the  nighl  watchman.  Immediately  thereafter  "H.  ML" 
went  into  an  eighteen-hour  conference  with  his  brother, 
E.  I..  Horkheimer,  secretary  and  treasurer,  who  had 
been  on  the  job  during  his  absence. 

Snatching  four  hours  of  sleep,  this  human  bullet 
which  i^  about  the  best  description  that  can  be  given 
of  President  Horkheimer  called  his  various  depart- 
ment heads  into  consultation.  Me  talked  to  each  one 
alone,  first,  believing  that  in  that  way  it  was  possible  to 
gel  a  fuller  anil  freer  expression  of  opinion  as  to  what 
had  been  kr"'"kr  on.  Following  these  individual  "ses 
sions,"  a  mass  conference  was  held,  when  there  was  an 
exchange  Of  ideas  and  an  outline  of  what  is  to  he  done 
in  the  future 


tures,  while  those  that 
ore    Balboa  copy   than 


Among  the  strongest  links  in  the  Balboa  organi- 
zations are  the  Brothertons.  Two.  ,^\  them  have  charge 
ol"  departments.  Robert,  or  "Bob,"  as  he  is  better 
known,  is  at  the  head  of  the  laboratory;  while  a  sister. 
May,  presides  over  the  assembly  room.  To  the  expert 
work  of  these  much  of  the  finish  o\  Balboa  pictures  as 
they  appear  on  the  screen  is  due.  Both  reported  prog- 
ress to  their  chief. 

William  lieckway.  head  cameraman;  John  Wyse, 
Stage  manager;  I.  \\  .  Loy,  superintendent  o\  construc- 
tion; \\  .  T.  ECearns,  electrical  chief;  Roy  Frechette, 
master  scenic  artist,  and  I'.  Y.  Wall,  custodian  of  prop- 
erties, all  submitted  detailed  reports  of  their  respective 

departments.  Each  one  had  something  new  to  tell  the 
"boss"  which  elicited  a  friendly  smile  and  a  word  of 
c<  >mmenda1  ion. 

The  men  who  actually  make  the  productions — the 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


119 


directors  and  cinematographers — also  called  at  the  little 
office  in  response  to  "H.  M.'s"  summons.  Bertram 
Bracken,  dean  of  directors ;  Harry  Harvey,  Sherwood 
Macdonald  and  Henry  King  outlined  what  they  have 
put  on  since  August ;  while  Joe  Brotherton,  George 
Rizard  and  Roland  Groom  spoke  of  their  camera 
triumphs  and  troubles. 

Executive  reports  were  made  to  President  Hork- 
heimer  by  R.  R.  Rockett  and  E.  J.  Moore.  The  former 
has  charge  of  the  Balboa  office  force  and  routine,  while 
acting  as  private  secretary  to  Mr.  Horkheimer  at  the 
same  time.  Mr.  Moore  is  the  company  auditor.  Both 
of  these  departments  were  found  in  ship-shape  con- 
dition. 

With  all  this  information  at  his  command.  Presi- 
dent Horkheimer  met  with  R.  G.  Judkins,  head  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Long  Beach.  Ever  since  its 
inception  two  years  ago,  Mr.  Judkins  has  been  the 
financial  adviser  of  the  Balboa  Company.  Success  has 
been  due  in  a  large  measure  to  the  way  in  which  his 
counsel  has  been  followed.  Mr.  Horkheimer  outlined 
his  plans  for  the  ensuing  year  and  they  were  strongly 
approved  by  Mr.  Judkins.  He  was  particularly  pleased 
with  Balboa's  progress  in  the  very  recent  past. 

"The  future  looks  good  to  Balboa,"  said  H.  M. 
Horkheimer,  in  speaking  of  the  trade  outlook.  "With- 
out telling  any  secrets,  I  can  say  that  there  are  several 
big  consolidations  under  way  which  may  culminate 
almost  any  day  now.  Two  of  the  old-line  film  pro- 
ducers have  offered  to  join  with  Balboa.  They  recog- 
nize the  need  of  new  blood  and  seem  to  have  picked 


us    as   the   psychological    people    to    save    them    from 
wrecking. 

"We  have  been  brought  prominently  into  the  pub- 
lic eye  recently,  for  as  soon  as  we  got  on  the  job  elec- 
tricity began  to  fly.  I  do  not  say  this  boastfully.  It  is 
a  fact  verifiable  in  the  higher-up  film  circles  among  the 
men  who  know.  During  the  past  year  such  startling 
changes  have  taken  place  in  the  producing  end  of  the 
business  among  the  newer  factors  who  have  become 
active,  that  they  have  almost  run  away  with  the  indus- 
try from  the  pioneers.  These  latter  men  now  realize 
that  they  must  make  alliances  or  perish.  Hence  the 
overtures  to  us.  So,  keep  your  eye  on  Balboa.  Some 
genuine  news  is  going  to  break  in  its  vicinity  in  the 
very  near  future." 


"Her  Debt  of  Honor"  Is  Title  Selected 

It  has  been  definitely  decided  to  name  Director  Wil- 
liam Nigh's  new  Metro  feature  picture,  "Her  Debt  of 
Honor,"  which  is  now  within  a  few  scenes  of  comple- 
tion at  the  studio  of  the  Columbia  Pictures  Corporation, 
No.  3  West  Sixty-first  street,  New  York  City.  Mr. 
Nigh  not  only  wrote  the  five-part  feature,  but  for  the 
first  time  since  joining  the  Metro  forces,  he  is  playing 
a  prominent  role  in  it.  Valli  Valli  is  starred  in  "Her 
Debt  of  Honor,"  and  William  Davidson,  who  was  seen 
in  a  prominent  role  with  Lionel  Barrymore,  in  "A  Yellow 
Streak,"  has  the  leading  heavy  role.  Many  of  the  scenes 
are  laid  in  the  picturesque  west,  where  Mr.  Nigh  knows 
every  inch  of  the  ground. 


Opie,  the  Operator 


In  His  New  Job  He  Goes  in  for  Uplift  Work 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


Sir  Herbert  Beerboi 
are  seen  greeting  him, 
tul'licity   man. 


SIR  HERBERT  TREE  WELCOMED 


Foremost  Actor  of  English-Speaking   Stage  Reaches 

Los  Angeles  Studio  of  Fine  Arts-Triangle 

Company  and  Is  Warmly  Greeted 

The  arrival  of  Sir  Herbert  Tree,  to  make  a  photo- 
play of  Macbeth  at  the  Fine  Arts  studio,  in  Los  An- 
geles, has  stirred  the  film  metropolis  of  that  city  as 
has  no  other  event  for  months.  He  was  met  at  the  train 
by  Mayor  Sebastian  and  other  city  officials,  prominent 
representatives  of  the  British  Red  Cross  and  scores 
of  celebrated  motion  pictures  people,  and  was  given  an 
ovation. 

At  the  Fine  Arts  studio  his  welcome  was  equally 
hearty.  As  he  drove  up  his  automobile  was  surrounded 
by  the  band  of  real  western  cowboys  attached  to  the 
studio,  who  fired  a  salvo  from  their  sixshooters.  Sev- 
eral hundred  players  had  gathered  and  warmly  ap- 
plauded. For  the  players  Sir  Herbert  was  welcomed 
by  DeWolf  Hopper,  dean  of  the  Fine  Arts  stars,  and 
George  Stone  and  Francis  Carpenter,  the  two  young- 
est actors,  aged  four  and  six.  Director-General  David 
\V.  ( Jrifnth  and  members  of  the  executive  staff  received 
the  distinguished  guest,  who  was  accompanied  by  his 
daughter  Iris.  They  spent  the  morning  watching  the 
various  companies  at  work  on  the  big  outdoor  stages, 
a  new  experience  to  both.'  Speaking  of  the  selection 
of  "Macbeth"  for  his  firsi  American  screen  vehicle, 
the  famous  actor  said:  "I  am  more  and  more  con- 
vinced that  the  selection  is  an  ideal  one  and  am  eager 
to  be  at  work  on  the  production.  'Macbeth,'  ap'arl 
from  the  power  and  beauty  of  its  dialogue,  is  a  highl) 
pictorial  narrative,  its  characterizations  are  strongl) 
developed  and  it  is  throughout  a  story  of  action,  [t  is, 
too,  one  of  the  world's  greal  classics,  and  to  be  taking 
pari  in  it-  photo-dramatization  is  at  once  .1  responsi 
bility  and  a  distinguished  opportunity." 


Selig  Tribune  Makes  its  Bow 

I  In    first   edition  of  the  Selig  Tribune,  which   wa 

released  thn  m  lei  al  Film  ( !ompanj  on  Mon 

day,  Januar)  3,  excited  much  favorable  commenl  no 

only  with  the  photoplay  public  bul  among  the  motiot 


picture  exhibitors.  The  Selig  Tribune,  as  exhibitors 
know,  is  released  through  the  co-operation  of  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company  and  the  Chicago  Tribune.  The 
reel  newspaper  carrying  real  news  pictorials,  to  quote 
from  the  publicity,  is  to  be  issued  twice  weekly,  and 
the  methods  of  distribution  have  been  so  arranged  that 
the  new  film  will  reach  all  the  General  Film  exchanges 
and  through  these  exchanges  the  exhibitors  of  motion 
pictures,  in  a  right-up-to-the-minute  method. 

The  first  edition  of  the  Selig  Tribune  covered  a 
very  wide  field.  John  T.  McCutcheon  and  other  fa- 
mous war  correspondents  have  rushed  some  exception- 
al and  timely  films  from  the  European  battle  fields, 
and  the  preliminary  war  pictorials,  which  are  strikingly 
seasonable,  will  be  followed  by  other  European  battle 
scenes  which  have  been  taken  by  staff  cameramen  as- 
signed to  the  French.  English,  Russian,  German,  Aus- 
trian, Italian  and  Bulgarian  forces.  It  is  claimed  that 
the  Selig  Tribune  has  unsurpassed  facilities  for  the 
filming  of  up-to-date  war  pictorials. 

That  the  organization  of  cameramen  and  corre- 
spondents working  for  the  Selig  Tribune  is  a  most 
complete  one  is  shown  by  the  primary  work  of  these 
staff  men,  for  sections  of  almost  the  entire  world 
are  covered  in  number  one  of  the  Selig-Tribune.  The 
photography  is  good,  the  titles  attractively  written  and 
a  place  seems  to  have  already  been  earned  for  the  new 
news  pictorial. 

Posters  issued  with  the  first  number  of  the  Selig 
Tribune  have  caused  much  favorable  comment.  The 
posters  are  prepared  to  resemble  the  first  page  of  a 
metropolitan  newspaper.  There  are  the  headlines. 
text,  etc.,  jusl  like  a  newspaper,  with  the  exception,  of 
course,  that  the  lay-out  is  greatly  magnified. 


Goff  Visits  V.  L.  S.  E.  Exchanges 

V  \\  Goff,  assistant  general  manager  and  direc- 
tor of  sales  for  \  .  I..  S.  E.,  Inc..  is  making  a  tour  of 
the  Big  Four  exchanges,  including  Pittsburgh,  Kansas 
City,  Minneapolis,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis.  Until 
:  Mr  Goff  was  in  charge  ^i  the  Coast  division 
For  V.  L  S.  E.  lie  is  a  great  believer  in  open  bookings 
and  is  preaching  this  policy  to  his  division  managers. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Metro  Signs  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew 


WILL  MAKE  WEEKLY  COMEDIES 


AS  its  Happy  New  Year  to  the  world  of  motion  pic- 
tures, and  particularly  to  its  exhibitors,  the  Metro 
Pictures  Corporation  announces  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sidney  Drew  have  joined  the  happy  Metro  family  of 
celebrated  screen  stars.  Mr.  Drew,  who  gained  a  unique 
place  in  the  comedy  world  on  the  legitimate  stage  before 
he  became  famous  as  a  star  and  a  director  of  comedies 
for  the  screen,  will  produce  one  reel  subjects  on  the 
Metro  program. 

The  coming  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drew  to  the  Metro 
forces  marks  the  fourth  addition  of  the  great  Barrymore- 
Drew  family  now  under  long  contract  with  Metro,  the 
others  being  Miss  Ethel  Barrymore,  and  her  brother, 
Lionel.  The  two  latter  named  have  achieved  the  greatest 
success  of  their  careers  appearing  in  stellar  roles  provided 
for  them  in  Metro  wonderplays. 

The  new  Drew  comedies,  one  of  which  will  be  pre- 
sented each  week,  will  be  of  the  distinctive  type  in  which 
Mr.  Drew  has  become  famous  through  the  world.  They 
will  be  high  class  comedies,  not  farces  or  burlesques,  and 
in  anticipating  the  contract  just  consummated  with  the 
Drews,  Metro  exercised  great  care  in  the  selection  of  suit- 
able vehicles  looking  to  the  unusual  talent  of  these  gifted 
artists. 

The  contract,  which  covers  a  period  of  years,  and 
which  calls  in  its  first  provision  for  a  series  of  fifty-two 
comedies,  was  signed  in  the  Longacre  building,  New 
York  City,  just  before  the  bells  began  to  ring  out  the  old 
year.  President  Richard  A.  Rowland  and  Treasurer 
Joseph  W.  Engle,  of  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation,  to- 
gether with  Metro's  chief  counsel,  J.  Robert  Rubin  and 
Mr.  Drew,  completed  their  negotiations  in  time  for  a 
mutual  participation  in  a  New  Year's  feast  at  the 
Claridge,  when  the  plans  for  the  new  comedy  releases 
were  gone  over  in  detail.  They  were  completed  in  their 
entirety  and  the  first  release  is  scheduled  for  the  final 
week  in  February. 

There  will  be  one  comedy  each  week  thereafter,  one 
reel  in  length,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drew  will  be  starred 
in  each  feature.  In  line  with  all  previous  activities, 
Metro  will  surround  these  two  stars  with  an  exceptionally 
strong  supporting  cast,  which  will  include  some  of  the 
foremost  artists  in  the  comedy  field  of  the  silent  drama. 

The  new  releases,  which  were  hinted  at  in  announce- 
ment made  by  Metro  late  in  November,  will  be  called 
Metro-Drew  comedies,  and  they  will  be  polite  in  char- 
acter and  suited  to  accompany  the  big  Metro  feature  re- 
leases. 

After  signing  the  contract,  Mr.  Drew  expressed  him- 
self as  follows  :  "It  is  very  gratifying  to  me  to  be  able 
to  produce'  comedies  for  Metro  under  the  unusually  fine 
studio  conditions  which  have  been  arranged  for  me  at 
3  West  Sixty-first  street,  and  I  am  proud  to  be  with  what 
I  regard  as  the  most  progressive  motion  picture  organiza- 
tion in  the  world;  The  esprit  de  corps  of  Metro  is  won- 
derful. Already  I  am  as  enthusiastic  as  a  boy,  and  I 
know  I  shall  do  the  best  work  of  my  career  under  the 
Metro  banner.  Under  arrangements  in  my  new  contract 
I  will  be  given  ample  opportunity  to  work  out  some  novel 
features  and  innovations  I  have  had  in  mind  for  some 
time.  I  am  sure  it  is  going  to  prove  a  highly  satisfactory 
arrangement  for  all  concerned  and  will  result  in  the  big- 


gest kind  of  a  success.  Our  productions  will  be^  I  might 
add,  a  decided  departure  in  comedy  reel  features." 

President  Rowland,  in  presenting  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drew  to  Metro's  exhibitors,  said :  "It  is  a  great  pleasure 
to  welcome  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew  into  the  big, 
happy  Metro  family.  Miss  Ethel  Barrymore  and  Lionel 
Barrymore  preceded  their  uncle  into  the  inner  circle,  and 
join  me  in  my  hearty  greeting.  I  believe  Mr.  Drew  is  the 
ablest  comedian  on  the  screen,  because  his  comedies  are 
genuine  comedies.  With  a  long  and  varied  experience 
on  the  so-called  legitimate  stage,  both  as  an  actor  and 
producer,  he  brought  to  motion  pictures  a  complete  equip- 
ment, and  as  soon  as  he  had  mastered  the  technique  of 
the  screen,  he  at  once  began,  to  attract  international  atten- 
tion and  favor. 

"Metro  has  long  desired  one  reel  of  real  comedy  each 
week  to  accompany  its  wonderplays,  but  we  have  stead- 
fastly refused  to  arrange  for  a  comedy  release  until  we 
could  present  the  best  the  world  of  motion  pictures  af- 
forded. Only  the  other  day  a  very  well  known  judge  and 
authority  of  comedies,  said  to  me  regarding  Mr.  Drew; 
'His  work  is  so  legitimate  and  his  fun  is  so  genuine,  that 
his  very  appearance  on  the  screen  provokes  a  laugh  from 
me,  and  I  go  away  laughing  after  I  have  seen  him  in  a 
comedy.  He  is  the  kind  of  an  actor  that  we  describe 
afterwards  to  friends,  when  discussing  things  in  the 
amusement  world.'  It  is  because  Mr.  Drew  inspires  the 
'laugh  that  lasts,'  that  we  can  promise  our  exhibitors 
and  the  public,  real  and  continuous  enjoyment.  We  start 
our  New  Year  with  a  hearty  laugh  and  a  light  heart,  and 
present  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drew  as  our  New  Year's  gift  to 
the  world  of  motion  pictures." 


Director  Broa  dwell  Stages  Big  Scene 

The  theme  of  "Vengeance  is  Mine !"  a  David 
Horsley-Mutual  Masterpicture,  de  luxe  edition,  release, 
is  a  big  one,  but  of  the  many  stirring  moments  perhaps 


the  most  intense  is  that  wherein  the  governor  of  the 
state  is  visited  by  a  committee  who  plead  for  the  par- 
don of  the  governor's  own  brother,  convicted  of  murder 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


and  sentenced  to  be  electrocuted.  But  the  governor 
refuses,  feeling-  in  duty  hound  to  adhere  to  his  oath  of 
office.  The  accompanying  illustration  shows  Director 
Robert  Burke  Broadwell  rehearsing  the  scene.  Mr. 
Wilbur  is  in  the  center  of  the  group  and  at  his  left  is 
Miss  Gypsy  Abbott,  who  interprets  the  leading  femi- 
nine role  in  the  story.  "Vengeance  is  Mine!"  is  the 
second  David  Horsley-Mutual  Masterpicture.  de  luxe 
edition,  to  be  released,  and  tbe  first  of  those  presenting 
Crane  Wilbur  as  the  star.  The  release  date  is  Jan- 
uary 31. 


INCE  HAS  SIX  PLAYS  READY 

Triangle-Kay  Bee  Director's  Unusually  Strong  List  of 

Attractions  for  the  New  Year  Will  Feature 

Many  Stars 

Thomas  H.  luce's  prophecy  that  the  Kay-Bee 
studio  would  keep  six  plays  ahead  of  the  requirements 
made  by  the  Triangle  film  service  has  been  amply  ful- 
filled. Mr.  Ince  enters  the  new  year  with  an  unusually 
strong  list  of  attractions.  Among  the  plays  now  ready 
for  presentation  in  New  York  or  on  the  way  to  New 
York  from  Los  Angeles  are  "The  Green  Swamp," 
"Peggy,"  "D'Artagnan,"  "Honor's  Altar,"  "Hell's 
Hinges,"  "Waifs,"  "The  Raiders"  and  "Bullets  and 
Brown  Eyes." 

This  represents  an  early  fall  and  late  winter  of 
extraordinary  activity.  The  four  plays  in  which  Bessie 
Barriscale  appeared  culminated  in  "The  Green 
Swamp,"  with  Bruce  McRae  in  the  leading  male  role, 
and  "Honor's  Altar,"  wherein  her  opposites  are  Walter 
Edwards  and  Lewis  S.  Stone.  Her  next  medium  is 
"Bullets  and  Brown  Eyes,"  a  Russian  romantic  story 
featuring  William  Desmond  and  Wyndham  Standing 
as  the  leading  men. 

In  "Hell's  Hinges"  William  S.  Hart  portrays 
Blaze  Tracy,  a  strong  western  character,  who  copes 
,  successfully  with  the  difficult  problems  of  life 
in  a  frontier  town.  Mr.  Hart  is  supported  by  a  strong 
cast  that  includes  Jack  Standing,  Clara  Williams,  Al- 
fred Hollingsworth,  Robert  McKim  and  Louise  Glaum. 
A  striking  scene  in  the  play  is  the  destruction  by  fire 
of  the  entire  village  of  Hell's  Hinges,  an  episode  for 
the  taking  of  which  no  less  than  thirty-eight  buildings 
in  the  vicinity  of  Inceville  went  up  in  smoke. 

If.  B.  Walker  has  been  working  with  Ince  on  the 
production  of  two  new  plays  in  which  the  popular  star 
of  "Alias  Jimmy  Valentine"  will  be  featured.  The 
first  one  (working  title  "The  Raiders")  is  a  stock  ex- 
change  story    in    which    the    hero,    played    by    Warner. 


saves  his  fiance's  father  from  financial  ruin.  The  sec- 
ond one,  now  in  preparation,  is  an  East  Indian  story 
with  the  colorful  atmosphere  of  Delhi,  where  the  In- 
dian mutiny  centered. 

"Peggy,"  starring  Billie  Burke;  "D'ArtagnanA 
starring  Orrin  Johnson,  and  'AVaifs,"  starring  Jane 
Grey,  are  the  other  big  comers  on  Ince's  list.  As  re- 
serve trumps  he  has  in  making  new  plays  featuring 
William  Collier,  his  son,  and  Charles  Ray. 


Mollie  McConnell  of  Pathe  Balboa 

For  reminiscences  of  the  American  stage  in  its 
blossom  period  one  needs  but  to  have  a  chat  with 
Mollie  McConnell,  who  has  become  endeared  to  the 
picture  fans  because  of  her  splendid  impersonations  in 
Balboa  feature 
films.  She  has  spent 
twenty-five  years  in 
the  theater  and  does 
not  regret  a  moment 
of  it.  As  Mollie 
Sherwood,  she  went 
on  the  stage  in  Chi- 
cago when  a  mere 
girl,  making  her 
first  appearand' 
with  Leslie  Carter 
when  that  player 
was  in  her  prime. 

Early  in  her  ca- 
reer, she  became  the 
wife  of  Will  A.  Mc- 
Connell. one  of  the 
best  known  writers 
on  subjects  of  the 
theater,  until  his  de- 
mise a  decade  ago. 
Mrs.  McConnell  cre- 
ated    the      part      of 

Frau  Rudder  in  Richard  Mansfield's  production  of 
"Old  Heidelberg."  Then  she  went  abroad  and  played 
two  years  with  Marie  Tempest  at  the  Duke  of  York's 
theater  in  London. 

There  is  not  a  better  character  woman  on  the 
screen  than  Mollie  McConnell.  She  is  the  distin- 
guished grand  dame  o\  Balboa  pictures  and  the  wav 
she  wears  her  clothes  makes  Mrs.  McConnell  the  envy 
of  all  women.  She  is  deluged  with  letters  requesting 
the  patterns  of  her  dresses.  Does  she  send  them? 
Sure,  she  does:  for  Mollie  McConnell  is  the  personifi- 
cation of  accommodation. 


January   15,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


An  Appeal  for  Specialization 


BY  HARRY  R.  RAVER* 


WE'LL  not  delve  into  history  and  tell  of  the  old 
store  front  theater  that  was  so  popular  in  the 
early  days  of  the  industry.  What  has  hap- 
pened in  the  past  is  history,  what  is  to  come  is  vitally 
important.  While  we  must  learn  from  what  has  pre- 
ceded, we  must  also  gain  knowledge  from  parallel  in- 
dustries. 

The  motion  picture  business  bears  a  strong  rela- 
tion to  the  theatrical  world.  We'll  not  attempt  to 
establish  its  exact  status  with  regard  to  it,  but  merely 
acknowledge  it  exists.  The  theater  is  ages  old.  It 
has  grown  and  evolved  itself  into  its  various  units, 
established  its  distinctive  classes,  but  all  are  grouped 
under  one  head,  "The  Theater."  It  is  known  as  a 
place  of  amusement  where  the  public  can  view  the  do- 
ings of  the  human  as  created  by  some  man's  brain, 
whether  it  be  music,  drama  or  acrobatics.  Each  unit 
has  made  for  itself  a  separate  compartment  in  the  make- 
up of  the  whole ;  the  combination  is  known  as  an  indus- 
try. At  the  time  of  its  origin  there  was  no  distinction 
but,  gradually,  public  taste  educated  the  managers  that 
certain  kinds  of  plays  were  better  received  than  others. 
Perhaps  the  manager  would  follow  one  blood  curdling 
adventure  after  another,  until  his  theater  was  estab- 
lished as  a  melodramatic  house.  This  playhouse  was 
branded  as  such  and  was  forced  to  adopt  that  class  of 
shows  as  its  policy.  This  is  true  of  the  other  forms  of 
theatrical  offerings,  the  drama,  the  comedy,  the  opera, 
the  musical  shows,  burlesque  and  vaudeville. 

To  fill  the  wants  of  these  various  classes  of  the- 
aters, producing  companies  sprang  into  being  whose 
sole  product  was  a  certain  kind  of  production.  The 
theaters  specialized  and  the  managers  specialized. 

The  same  perhaps  can  be  prophesied  of  the  mo- 
tion picture,  specialization  and  classification.  The  the- 
ater will  find  its  place,  or  in  other  words,  the  owner  of 
a  house  will  discover  that  a  certain  kind  of  production 
is  better  appreciated  than  all  others.  His  efforts  will. 
be  concentrated  on  securing  that  certain  kind  of  pho- 
toplays. Producing  companies  will  spring  into  being 
or  establish  as  their  permanent  policy  the  supply  of  this 
man's  wants.  The  theaters  and  the  manufacturers  will 
find  their  proper  sphere.  Of  course,  odd  producers  will 
come  and  go,  they  will  delve  a  bit  into  one  kind  and 
then  the  other  variety  of  production.  But  those  who 
have  linked  their  trade  mark  and  firm  name  to  mean 
a  certain  class  of  photoplay,  will  be  sought  for  by  the 
theater  and  the  public  for  one  specific  brand  of  film. 

Today  in  the  theatrical  business  a  firm  name 
stands  for  a  certain  kind  of  production.  Tomorrow  in 
the  motion  picture  business  it  is  going  to  be  just  as 
definitely  established.  George  M.  Cohan  is  known  for 
his  comedies,  and  Belasco  for  his  dramas,  Hammerstein 
for  his  grand  opera  and  Behman  for  his  burlesque.  To 
attempt  to  establish  the  name  of  any  of  these  gentlemen 
with  any  other  brand  of  production  would  befuddle  the 
public.  It  would  take  considerable  time  and  a  good 
deal  of  money  to  educate  the  people. 

The  motion  picture  producer,  however,  goes  along, 
producing  a  comedy  one  day  of  the  slap-stick  variety, 
a  drama  the  next,  going  up  and  down  the  list  of  possi- 

*  President  Raver  Film  Corporation. 


bilities  without  any  thought  of  firmly  impressing  upon 
the  minds  of  the  people  who  view  pictures  anything 
definite  that  should  be  associated  with  his  productions. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  amusement  seek- 
ing public  of  America  is  also  the  same  public  that 
patronizes  the  commercial  institutions  of  this  country. 
When  a  man  makes  up  his  mind  to  buy  a  certain  article 
he  knows  where  to  go,  or  what  advertisements  to 
search  to  find  it.  Some  commercial  institutions  have 
set  definite  policies  for  themselves.  This  is  an  age  of 
service.  There  is  no  greater  service  that  could  be  ren- 
dered the  theater  owner  than  specialization  in  the 
making  of  a  definite  kind  of  picture.  An  exhibitor 
could  buy  without  looking.  He  could  secure  a  service 
that  would  surpass  all  the  efforts  of  assistance,  real  and 
alleged,  that  are  now  being  offered  him. 

Firm  names  and  trade  marks  mean  practically 
nothing  today  in  the  motion  picture  business.  Prac- 
tically the  only  cue  the  public  gets,  is  the  names  of  the 
players  appearing  in  the  pictures.  These,  however, 
are  becoming  so  numerous  that  it  is  hardly  possible  for 
the  most  enthusiastic  fan  to  keep  up  with  the  pace. 

The  trend  toward  specialization  is  even  apparent 
now.  A  few  manufacturers,  in  fact  a  very  few,  they 
perhaps  could  easily  be  counted  on  one  hand,  have 
established  a  certain  policy,  whether  by  design  or  by 
accident,  they  seem  to  be  pursuing  a  set  line  of  manu- 
facturing. Their  players,  producers  and  entire  staff 
are  fitted  for  just  one  sort  of  play.  They  have  proven 
successful,  and  others  are  attempting  to  imitate,  but 
they  forget  that  this  policy  is  a  study  with  the  success- 
ful manufacturer,  while  theirs  is  merely  imitation, 
simply  because  the  other  man  is  successful.  They  have 
not  studied  their  own  conditions  and  ability,  but  merely 
plunged  blindly,  figuring  that  they  were  taking  advant- 
age of  a  popular  wave. 

Classification  of  theaters  is  coming.  There  are 
those  in  cities  where  permits  are  given  to  show  cer- 
tain pictures  to  adults  only,  who  cater  to  this  class  of 
picture.  They  are  classifying  themselves.  Then  there 
are  the  others  who  avoid  these  pictures ;  they  are  also 
classifying  themselves.     These  give   but   merely   two 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo.  3. 


classifications — the  sensuous  and  the  wholesome.  But 
it  demonstrates  the  trend  toward  specialization.  With 
this  encroaching  classification  must  come  specializa- 
tion. 


Frances  Nelson  of  World 

Frances  Nelson,  who  assumes  the  leading  role 
in  the  film  version  of  Jules  Eckert  Goodman's  drama, 
"The  Point  of  View,"  is  the  most  recent  recruit  of 
stellar  rank  to  the  forces  of  the  World  Film  Corpora- 
tion. Miss  Nelson's 
role  in  "The  Point 
of  View"  is  one  sin- 
gularly suited  to  the 
remarkable  emotion- 
al powers  of  this 
most  charming  of 
y  oung  actresses. 
"Young"  is  used  ad- 
visedly as  Miss  Nel- 
son can  lay  claim  to 
being  the  youngest 
>rtrayer  of  stormy 
characters  on  the 
screen  as  she  has 
only  just  passed  her 
nineteenth  year. 

Miss  Nelson's 
rise  to  fame  has 
been  meteoric  yet 
behind  it  lies  much 
rd  and  earnest 
work  and  pain-lik 
ing  toil  to  develop 
her  great  ability,  tf  genius  is  "an  infinite  capacity 
for  taking  pains,"  then  Miss  Nelson  is  a  genius.  She 
graduated  from  high  school  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  not  so 
very  long  ago,  and  being  intent  on  a  stage  career, 
found  her  firsl  engagement  with   Levs    Fields  in  "The 

Wife    Hunter-."      Then   she   appeared    in    Stock   and   did 

lead-  with  Tom  Wise.  Pictures  came  next  and  she 
has  been  featured  in  man)  big  productions  Her  fa 
vorite  sporl  is  swimming  and  recently  she  demon- 
strated hei  proficienc}  in  this  exercise  by  swimming 
the  \u  Sable  chasm  when  the  rapids  were  boiling 
perilously. 


An  Ince  Tri-Star  Combination 

Another  tri-star  combination,  embracing  three 
players  of  national  repute,  soon  will  be  offered  in  a 
Triangle  Kay-Bee  feature  when  Thomas  H.  Ince  pre- 
sents Bessie  Barriscale,  Lewis  Stone  and  Walter  Ed- 
wards in  an  absorbing  story  of  marital  discord  and 
reconciliation  entitled  "Honor's  Altar."  This  play, 
from  the  pen  of  C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  is  declared  to  be 
one  of  the  most  potent  preachments  ever  filmed  at  the 
Ince  fold  and  is  expected  to  create  a  nation-wide  dis- 
cussion of  the  thought  behind  it. 

Seldom,  it  is  believed,  has  Producer  Ince  ever  con- 
tributed a  subject  with  such  a  strong  cast  as  that  which 
he  presented  in  "Honor's  Altar."  Bessie  Barriscale  is 
famed  for  her  work  in  a  number  of  big  Ince  produc- 
tions, as  is  Walter  Edwards,  who,  incidentally  di- 
rected the  production.  Lewis  Stone  is  a  noted  star  of 
the  speaking  stage  being  particularly  well  remembered 
for  his  recent  work  in  "The  Misleading  Lady"  and 
"Inside  the  Lines." 

In  addition  to  this  stellar  trio,  two  other  players 
of  note  appear  in  the  cast.  They  are  Lola  May  and 
Robert  McKim.  Miss  May  though  a  newcomer  to  the 
films,  has  won  favor  with  theater  audiences,  while 
McKim  is  better  known  for  his  work  in  such  Triangle 
successes  as  "The  Disciple,"  "The  Edge  of  the  Abyss" 
and  "Between  Men." 


BEYFUSS  SEEKING  MARKETS 

General  Manager  of  California  Motion  Picture  Corpo- 
ration in  New  York  to  Arrange  for  Distribution 
of  His  De  Luxe  Offerings 

Alex  E.  Beyfuss,  vice-president  and  general  mana- 
ger of  the  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation, 
unheralded  by  advance  announcements  of  any  sort, 
arrived  in  New  York  City  a  week  ago,  and  is  located 
at  the  Ritz-Carlton  hotel,  where,  in  the  confines  of  his 
suite  of  rooms,  he  possesses  what  the  members  of  the 
concern  he  represents  believe  to  be  the  most  important 
motion  picture  production  they  have  ever  concentrated 
upon,  and  which  represents  the  best,  the  most  absorb- 
ing work  of  the  famous  little  star,  Beatriz  Michelena. 

The  picture  is  "The  Unwritten  Law,"  and  is  the 
second  of  a  new  series  of  master  film  dramatizations  of 
which  "Salvation  Nell"  was  the  first.  "The  Unwritten 
Law"  represents  two  months  of  effort  of  the  California 
Motion  Picture  Corporation.  It  was  written  by  Edwin 
Milton  Royle,  author  of  "The  Squaw  Man."  and  pre- 
pared in  scenario  by  Captain  Leslie  Peacocke.  It  is  the 
unharried,  untiined  work  of  a  perfect  organization,  and 
n!  a  popular  and  proven  player  in  the  best  part  and 
the  biggest  opportunity  ever  offered  her.  Mr.  Beyfuss 
has  been  quietly  observing  and  assimilating  conditions 
as  they  exist  in  the  releasing  and  distributional  markets 
the  past  week,  and  now  announces  the  object  of  his 
journey,  which  is  to  discover  the  besl  way  to  market 
his  concern'-  pictures,  and  to  remain  in  the  background 
himself,  a  gloomy  contrast  to  the  scintillating  star  he 
offers  in  the  second  wonder  film  of  the  California 
Motion  Picture  ( )orporati<  m. 

Jusl  what  line  of  release  or  distribution  the  Cali- 
fornia Motion  Picture  Corporation  will  follow  with  its 
new  wonder  film,  the  California  office  i-  not  ready  to 
divulge. 

I  he  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  as 
represented  by  far  western  capital  and  youthful  energy. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


125 


came  into  the  productional  field  over  a  year  ago  and 
set  a  fascinating  example  by  its  pictures.  The  mul- 
tiple reel  features  it  has  released  prove  seriousness  and 
ambition,  and  the  modest  advertising  announcements 


i  the 


and  dignified  exploitation  material  compel  admiration. 
Mr.  Beyfuss  is  of  the  opinion  that  "The  Unwritten 
Law,"  as  the  initial  effort  in  a  new  and  more  ambitious 
series,  will  characterize  the  California's  output  for  the 
coming  year.  Mr.  Beyfuss  has  no  far-fetched  ideas  and 
refuses  to  be  quoted  as  to  "what  he  thinks  of  conditions 
in  the  trade."  He  believes,  simply,  that  good  pictures 
from  the  standpoint  of  direction,  photography,  cast  and 
story  are,  and  always  will  be,  in  demand  and  make  a 
fair  profit  for  the  exhibitor.  All  of  the  California 
Motion  Picture  Corporation  productions  have  made 
money  for  exhibitors,  and  include  besides  "Salomy 
Jane,"  "Salvation  Nell,"  "Mrs.  Wiggs  of  the  Cabbage 
Patch,"  "Mignon"  and  "Lily  of  Poverty  Flat." 


Another  Metro  Company  Off  for  Florida 

Another  Metro  company  of  players,  the  third  so 
far  this  season,  headed  by  Francis  X.  Bushman  and 
Beverly  Bayne,  left  for  the  south  this  week,  where 
more  than  fifty  exteriors  will  be  made  for  two  Quality- 
Metro  features,  "Man  and  His  Soul"  and  "The  Red 
Mouse."  The  group  of  artists  will  go  on  a  special 
car  direct  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  where  they  will 
work  from  two  to  three  weeks.  "Man  and  His  Soul" 
is  scheduled  for  release  on  the  Metro  program,  January 
31,  while  "The  Red  Mouse"  will  not  be  presented  to 
the  public  until  sometime  in  February. 

John  W.  Noble,  who  is  directing  Mr.  Bushman 
and  Miss  Bayne  in  these  Quality-Metro  productions, 
accompanied  the  party  on  their  special  car.  William 
("Bill")  Bailey,  assistant  director,  associated  with  Mr. 


Noble,  was  sent  several  days  in  advance  to  obtaii 
necessary  locations  for  exteriors. 

Most  of  the  exteriors  will  be  made  for  the  five- 
part  production,  "Man  and  His  Soul,"  which  promises 
to  be  notable  among  Metro's  screen  achievements  and 
it  will  be  the  most  elaborate  feature  in  which  Mr. 
Bushman  and  Miss  Bayne  have  ever  appeared.  The 
theme  of  this  really  distinctive  photodrama  deals  with 
conscience.  In  an  allegory  the  creation  of  the  world 
is  shown.  Then  is  seen  a  realistic  sand  storm,  one  of 
the  big  scenes  which  will  be  made  in  Florida.  In  the 
midst  of  the  storm  is  shown  the  birth  of  Conscience. 

The  next  scene,  which  also  will  be  made  amid  the 
wonderful  everglades  and  foliage  of  the  southland,  will 
be  the  Garden  of  Eden,  where  Conscience  again  appears 
and  possesses  Adam  and  Eve.  Down  through  the  ages, 
the  development  of  Conscience  is  demonstrated,  until  the 
present  day  is  reached.  Conscience  is  then  seen  atop  a 
skyscraper  in  New  York  City,  looking  over  the  great  city 
and  weeping  that  the  great,  busy  community  is  almost 
devoid  of  Conscience. 

In'  another  scene  a  factory  is  burned  to  the  ground. 
This  scene  will  be  made  on  the  outskirts  of  Jacksonville, 
and  more  than  1,000  people  will  be  used. 

Besides  Mr.  Bushman,  Miss  Bayne,  Mr.  Noble  and 
Mr.  Bailey,  others  in  the  party  include,  J.  W.  Davidson, 
Etta  Mansfield,  Fred  Sittenham,  Edward  Breiinan,  H. 
O.  Carleton,  camera  man,  Marty  Malone,  assistant  camera 
man,  and  J.  W.  Powers,  Mr.  Bushman's  valet. 


Frederick  Montague  in  Horsley  Feature 

The  completed  cast  of  "The  Bait,"  the  first  five- 
reel  Mutual  Masterpicture,  de  luxe  edition,  production 
David  Horsley  will  release  under  the  Mutual's  new 
expansion  policy,  includes  not  only  such  well  known 
players  as  William 
Clifford  and  Betty 
Hart,  along  with 
others  of  reputation, 
but  has  been  mate- 
rially strengthened 
by  the  engagement 
for  the  picture  of 
Frederick  Mon- 
tague, a  legitimate 
player  of  many 
y  e  a  rs'  experience. 
He  has  been  cast  for 
the  character  o  f 
Tom  Sloan,  the 
gambler,  a  part  he 
is  particularly  fitted 
to  portray. 

Mr.  Montague 
brings  with  him,  be- 
sides his  legitimate 
stage  experience, 
the     fruits     of     five  r    ,    .  .   ,,    , 

,  Frederick    Montague. 

years     work    before 

the  camera.  His  first  film  engagement  was  with 
Thanhouser.  Later  he  joined  the  Vitagraph  com- 
pany in  the  cast  and  came  to  the  coast  eighteen 
months  ago,  remaining  with  the  same  company  only  a 
short  time,  for  Lasky  engaged  him  for  Col.  Moreau  in 
"Cameo  Kirby ;"  Police  Inspector  Cregan  in  "A  Gen- 
tleman of  Leisure ;"  Fairfax  in  "What's  His  Name," 
and  parts  in  other  productions. 


126 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


Alan  Hale  of    Lasky 

Alan  Hale,  who  is  filling  a  special  engagement 
with  the  Lasky  Company,  has  a  typical  name,  for  he 
is  hale  as  can  be  and  hearty  with  it.  He  is  a  big,  blonde 
fellow  with  curly  hair  and  blue  eyes,  and  he  looks  for 
all  the  world  as 
though  some  of  the 
northern  European 
countries  had  given 
him  his  being.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  he  is 
a  died  -  in  -  the  -  wool 
American,  and  was 
born  in  Washington, 
D.  C.  He  was  edu- 
cated there  and  in 
Philadelphia,  and  is 
well  known  as  a 
baseball  and  football 
player.  Hale  tried 
the  law ;  it  was  too 
musty  for  him. 

He  first  joined 
the  Orpheum  stock- 
company  and  played 
small  parts  until  he 
worked  himself  up. 
Alan  Hah.  His  first  real  speak- 

ing part  was  in  "A 
Message  From  Mars,"  and  he  raised  himself  in  the 
profession  by  steady  stages  until  he  Avas  playing 
Shakespeare.  He  wrote  a  number  of  scenarios,  but 
they  brought  him  neither  fame  nor  money,  so  he  took 
an  engagement  with  the  Champion  Company  and  then 
one  with  the  Lubin  Company  at  Philadelphia.  After 
a  lengthy  stay  with  the  Reliance  Company  in  New 
York,  he  joined  the  Biograph  and  was  looked  upon  as 
one  of  its  mainstays  for  nearly  three  years.  During 
his  stay  with  that  company  he  played  every  conceiv- 
able kind  of  a  part:  character,  leads,  heavies  and  what- 
not. His  favorite  line  of  work  is  farce-comedy  and 
high-class  comedy,  but  he  is  equally  as  good  as  a 
rascally  heavy  or  in  straight  dramatic  leads.  In  fact, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  dependable  actors  in  the  profes- 
sion. 


Finn  Predicts  Wonderful  1916 

Joseph  H.  Finn,  president  of  the  Nichols-Finn  Ad- 
vertising Company,  recently  addressed  a  large  gather- 
ing of  business  men  and  captains  of  industry  assembled 
about  a  dinner  table  in  Chicago,  and  in  speaking  of 
pr  isperity  for  the  New  Year,  predicted  that  1916  will 
brin:.';  with  it  an  epoch  of  unexampled  prosperity.  He 
declared  thai  he  believed  thai  the  most  vital  New  Year's 
thought  business  men  should  keep  before  them  was 
contained  in  the  following  paragraph  from  a  recent  pa- 
per by  F.  A.  Vanderlip,  an  eminenl  financial  author- 
ity :—' 

I  here  is  capital  available  in  this  country  to  inaugurate  i  ntei 
i  it  will  emploj  everj  man  in  the  country  withoul  a  dollar's 

worth  of   war  business.     *     *     *      It    (.rrat    I'.ritain  and    I 

i  raise  approximately  $6,000,000,000  in  fifteen  months  for 
war  purposes,  what  could  the  I  nited  States  do  for  industry  for 
its  own  progress    if  a  spiril   of  unity  and  high  purpose  could 

direct   its  action  ? 

\fter  referring  to  the  great  home  market  and  its 
possibilities  of  development  through  proper  advertising 
Mr.  Finn  went  i m 

What  we  hav<   hen  at  home,  we  know  we've  got    Our  riches 


arc  here — in  the  soil — in  the  banks.  And  every  day.  as  conditions 
better  there  is  a  wider  distribution  of  this  national  wealth.  Croak- 
ers— calamity  howlers — need  no  longer  wail  for  a  return  of  the 
good  old  times.  Here  are  times  better  than  the  old  ones  ever 
dared  be !  Here  is  America's  opportunity  to  grow  as  a  com- 
mercial power — to  heights  which  a  few  years  ago  seemed  unat- 
tainable. But,  as  always,  the  reward  goes  to  those  who  are  wil- 
ling and  brave  enough  to  act. 

Business  America  today  is  a  gold  mine — but  the  man  who 
would  succeed  must  wield  his  own  pick  and  pan  his  own  pay- 
ore.    Lethargy  is  costly! 

In  England,  those  who  side-step  military  enlistment  are 
known  as  slackers.  And  the  commercial  "slackers"  in  the  United 
States — those  who  hesitate  now  about  taking  the  proper  meas- 
ure of  promotional  activity  and  sales  stimulation — are  wasting  I 
believe  the  most  precious  opportunity  that  comes  in  a  lifetime. 
Here  is  the  Business  New  Year — yours  to  do  with  as  you  will. 
America  has  the  money.  Here,  people  are  thinking  buying- 
thoughts.  With  1916  comes  an  epoch  of  unexampled  prosperity — 
for  the  wise  men  of  this  business  generation.  With  this  New 
Year,  we  stand  on  the  threshold  of  Opportunity. 


ZIP!  GOES  A  LUCILE  GOWN 

Edna  Mayo,  Essanay  Star,  Wearing  a  Gown  of  Won- 
drous Sort  Is  Handled  So  Roughly  in  Picture 

Scene  that  Frock  Winds  Up  in  Ragbag 
This  thousand  dollar  Lucile  creation,  specially 
designed  for  Edna  Mayo  in  "The  Strange  Case  of  Mary 
Page,"  has  a  short  but  tragic  career.  For  it  is  ruth- 
lessly destroyed,  all  in  the  noble  cause  of  motion  pic- 
ture'art.  When  Mary 
Page,  in  the  first  epi- 
sode of  the  Essanay 
series  in  which 
Henry  B.  Walthall 
and  Edna  Mayo  are 
starring,  attends  the 
banquet  given  in  her 
honor,  she  wears  one 
of  the  loveliest 
gowns  Lucile  ever 
created,  a  dream  in 
white  and  silver  tulle 
and  brocade.  But  be- 
fore the  scene  is  over 
all  this  loveliness  is 
trampled  and  torn, 
until  it  is  fit  only  for 
the  ragbag.  For,  at 
this  banquet,  Mary 
is  lured  into  a  pri- 
vate dining-room  by 
the  man  she  hates. 
He  attacks  her.  She 
draws  her  little  revolver;  then  she  faints.  The  hero 
rushes  in  to  find  her  beside  a  dead  man,  her  revolver, 
one  chamber  empty,  lying  between  them.  And  then 
there  is  confusion  and  a  fight,  and  alas,  the  thousand- 
dollar  gown  is  a  crumpled  wreck.  Exhibitors  may  find 
that  the  use  of  this  true  story  in  their  publicity  matter 
in  the  local  paper  will  help  to  bring  their  "feminine 
patrons  into  the  house,  if  for  no  other  reason  than 
to  see  the  frocks  Miss   Mayo  wears. 


First  Raver  Feature  to  Be  Colored 

Adrien   Avare,    who    for   many    years   has   been    in 
charge    of    technical    departments    for    various    motion 

picture  manufacturers  in  France,  has  been  put  in 
charge  of  the  coloring,  tinting  and  toning  oi  "The 
i  >ther  Girl,"  the  first  feature  release  of  the  Raver  Film 

(   ■  irpi  nation. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Recent  Patents  in  Motography 

REVIEWED  BY  DAVID  S.  HULFISH 


PATENT  Nos.  1,144,694,  1,144,695,  and  1,144,696. 
Regular  for  Film-Feed.  Issued  to  M.  G.  De- 
laney,  assignor  to  Northern  Sales  Co.  Toledo, 
Ohio. 

The  feed  reel  is  turned  by  the  driving  power  of 
the  projector,  not  by  the  pull  of  the  film.  The  appli- 
cation of  power  to  the  feed  reel  is  controlled  by  the 
tension  of  the  film. 

The  condenser  holder  is  an  open  loop,  or  hook- 
shape.  The  condensers  are  held  loosely,  and  may  be 
lifted  out  quickly.  The  condensers  are  in  free  air 
and  are  not  subject  to  such  severe  heating  conditions 
as  are  condensers  which  are  fully  housed. 

1,144,736.  Film  Cabinet.  Issued  to  W.  L.  Smith, 
assignor  of  part  to  James  A.  Greer,  Decatur,  111. 

Each  reel  of  film  is  held  in  a  tipping  holder. 
When  all  holders  are  closed,  the  cabinet  is  fireproof. 
Pulling  forward  any  holder  brings  its  film  reel  into 
a  position  to  be  grasped  handily.  Each  reel  has  a 
fireproof  compartment  in  the  cabinet. 

1,145,698.  Photographic  Film.  Issued  to  P.  D. 
Brewster,  assignor  to  Brewster  Film  Corporation, 
Newark,  N.  J. 

A  photographic  film  sensitive  to  all  the  colors  of 


44,696.  Fig.    1,144,697. 

the  spectrum.  The  film  is  coated  on  both  sides  with 
emulsion,  the  emulsion  being  made  as  transparent  as 
possible,  and  sensitized  on  one  side  of  the  film  chiefly 
for  green,  blue,  indigo  and  violet,  the  coating  on  the 
other  side  being  sensitized  chiefly  for  red,  orange  and 
yellow. 

1,146,293.     Stereoscopic  Camera.     Issued  to  W.  A. 
Warman,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


Two  cameras  are  mounted  upon  a  single  base,  but 
in  such  manner  that  the  distance  between  them  may  be 
varied.  A  common  power  device  drives  them.  Both 
may  be  focused  upon  the  same  object  and  two  sep- 
arate films  having  stereoscopic  relation  may  be  made. 

1,146,948.  Condenser  Holder.  Issued  to  W.  L. 
Patterson,  assignor  to  Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co., 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

1,149,443.  Restoring  Picture  Films.  Issued  to 
F.  W.  Hochstetter,  assignor  to  Paul  M.  Pierson,  Scar- 
boro  on  the  Hudson,  N.  Y. 

A  composition  of  matter  for  restoring  motion  pic- 
ture films.  Glycerin  8  ounces,  gum  camphor  5  drams, 
alcohol  2  ounces,  sulphuric  ether  y2  ounce. 

1,149,609.  Safety  Device.  Issued  to  E.  M.  Wood- 
en, assignor  to  the  Perfectograph  Manufacturing  Co., 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

The  inventor  recites  that  the  audience  is  endan- 
gered should  the  operator  leave  a  motor-driven  pro- 
jector, yet  no  duty  (other  than  his  conscience,  per- 
haps) requires  him  to  remain  in  attention.  The  in- 
ventor therefore  provides  a  controlling  handle  which 
will  stop  the  projection  unless  the  operator  holds  the 
handle  in  projecting  position. 

1,149,678.  Submarine  Photography.  Issued  to 
J.  T.  Parker,  Washington,  D.  C. 

A  glass-bottom  boat  is  used.  Lamps  within  the 
boat  illuminate  the  bottom  through  the  glass.  A  cam- 
era, set  horizontally,  has  a  45-degree  mirror  to  look 
down  through  the  glass,  and  a  dark  housing  prevents 
reflections  from  the  glass. 

1,149,940.  Screen.  Issued  to  Henry  Parnill,  Pe- 
tersburg, Va. 

The  process  of  producing  motion-picture  screens 
which  consists  of  coating  one  side  of  the  canvas  with 
equal  parts  of  linseed  oil  and  Japan  drier,  then  coating 
the  opposite  side  with  three-quarters  water  and  one- 
quarter  alcohol  to  take  the  life  out  of  the  canvas  and 
to  render  it  supple ;  then  applying  to  the  oiled  side  a 
mixture  of  one  part  dry  ■  aluminum  or  gold  powder 
and  three  parts  bronze  liquid ;  and  finally  rubbing  an 
aluminum  or  gold  powder  and  polishing. 

1,150,028.  Studio  Light.  Issued  to  E.  Goldensky 
and  P.  H.  Bartlett,  Philadelphia,  Penna. 

Numbers  of  incandescent  lamps  are  mounted  upon 


) 

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t'; 

a 

12- 

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^jy" 

V 

MOTOGRAPHY 


an  expanding  rack,  so  that  either  a  diffused  illumina- 
tion or  a  concentrated  illumination  may  be  attained. 

1,150,869.  Plastic  Projection.  Issued  to  Moritz 
Lewin,  assignor  to  Henry  Waterson,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

A  system  of  projection  for  producing  the  illusion 
of  solidity  or  plastic  relief.  The  stage  is  set  with  a 
picture  screen  at  the  hack  and  a  glass  screen  diagon- 
ally across  the  stage.  A  projector  behind  the  stage 
throws  a  background  scene  upon  the  back  screen  and 
a  projector  at  the  side  of  the  stage  projects  the  images 
of  middleground  objects  and  actors  upon  the  glass 
screen.  To  increase  the  illusion,  the  sheet  of  glass 
is  backed  by  adjustable  glass  rods  of  oval  cross  sec- 
tion, and  a  light  curtain  of  chiffon. 

1,151.566.  Camera.  Issued  to  H.  Casler,  assignor 
to  Biograph  Co.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

In  addition  to  the  sprocket  holes  in  the  film,  a 
series  of  small  indicator  holes,  one  per  picture,  is 
punched  in  the  negative  by  a  device  in  the  camera 
near  the  lens  which  operates  while  the  exposures  are 
being  made.  When  printing,  the  registry  between 
sprocket  holes  and  images  on  the  point  is  made  by 
control  of  the  small  holes  in  the  negative.  The  re- 
sulting print  does  not  require  framing  during  pro- 
jection, even  though  the  negative  sections  are  from 
different  cameras,  as  from  a  field  camera  and  a  title- 
room  camera  alternately,  in  which  the  relation  of 
sprocket  hole  to  image  is  not  the  same. 

1,151,760.  Shutter.  Issued  to  J.  A.  Cameron, 
assignor  to  Cameron  Picture  Machine  Co.,  New  York, 
N.  Y. 

An  oscillating  shutter  has  one  exposure  opening 
and  exposes  one  image  as  the  shutter  moves  down- 
ward, the  next  as  the  shutter  moves  upward.  The 
size  of  opening  is  adjustable  while  the  shutter  is 
moving. 


Judging  by  the  many  inquiries  received  by  the 
Herald  Film  Corporation,  these  cartoons  have  excited 
considerable  interest  throughout  the  country.  Several 
territories  have  already  been  sold  and  negotiations 
are  pending  for  a  number  of  states.  There  are  twenty 
subjects  now  ready.  The  first  release.  "Charlie's 
Busted  Romance."  will  be  made  on  January  15. 


New  Cartoons  Prove  Popular 
The  Herald  Film  Corporation,  126  West  Forty- 
sixth  street.  New  York  city,  has  taken  over  the  exclu- 
sive selling  agency  for  the  Star  comedy  cartoons,  pro- 
duced 1>\  the  Movca  film  studios  in  San  Francisco, 
and  is  marketing  the  same  on  a  state  rights  basis. 

These    cartoons    arc    drawn    by    the    famous    car- 
toonists.   |.   ('.   Terry   and    II.    M.   Shields,   and    are    .lit 

fereni  from  other  cartoons  in  thai  they  an-  caricatur- 
ing tin'  leading  comedians  of  today.  The  cartoons  are 
n..w  in  their  fourth  week  at  the  Broadway  theater, 
New    York,  and  are  meeting   with  grea!   success. 


Equitable's  Big  Offering 

The  Equitable  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  now 
in  the  fifteenth  week  of  its  life,  promises  twelve  stars 
and  noted  players  in  twelve  strong  productions  for  re- 
lease during  the  early  part  of  the  year.  Among  these 
are:  Margarita  Fischer,  the  former  American  Beauty 
girl,  in  "The  Dragon";  Molly  Mclntyre,  former  star 
of  "Bunty  Pulls  the  Strings,"  in  S.  E.  V.  Taylor's 
romantic  drama.  "Her  (ireat  Hour";  Marie  Empress, 
last  seen  in  "When  We  Were  Twenty-one"  with  Wil- 
liam Elliott,  in  "Behind  Closed  Doors":  Julia  Dean, 
recent  star  of  "Bought  and  Paid  For"  and  "The  Law 
of  the  Land,"  will  make  her  Equitable  debut  in  "The 
Ransom,"  while  Gail  Kane  will  be  seen  in  "Her  God," 
which  is  being  staged  now  at  Naco,  Ariz.  :  Frank  Sher- 
idan. Arthur  Ashley  and  Mary  Charleson  will  co-oper- 
ate in  the  production  of  "The  Struggle":  Emmett  Cor- 
rigan  will  be  seen  in  "The  Chain  Invisible,"  and  Car- 
Iyle  Blackwell  is  completing  Samuel  Hopkins  Adams' 
tirade  against   fake  nostrums.  "The   Clarion." 

The  above  productions  are  announced  for  release 


January   15,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


129 


during  January,  February  and  March,  while  the  April 
program  will  include  Muriel  Ostriche  in  "Babette  of 
the  Ballyhoo,"  Mary  Boland  in  "Three  Pairs  of  Shoes" 
and  Marguerite  Leslie,  former  leading  woman  with  Sir 
Henry  Irving,  in  "The  Pain  Flower." 


NATIONAL  BOARD  FINANCED 

At  Meeting  of  Film  Notables  Held  in  New  York  City 

Board  of  Censorship  Budget  in  Sum  of 

$30,000  Is  Approved 

As  explained  in  the  last  issue  of  Motography,  the 
representatives  of  the  National  Board  of  Censorship, 
together  with  a  number  of  leading  people  in  the  film 
industry,  among  whom  were  included  many  manufac- 
turers, assembled  at  the  Hotel  Astor  last  Tuesday  for 
the  purpose  of  finally  arranging  the  National  Board's 
"budget  for  the  coming  year. 

After  listening  to  the  financial  statement,  show- 
ing all  the  expenditures  during  1915,  which  had  been 
prepared  by  the  finance  committee,  consisting  of  Ed- 
win Trowbridge  Hall,  director  of  the  Boys'  Club ; 
Frank  W.  Parsons,  director  of  the  Charity  Organiza- 
tion Society ;  Matthew  P.  Adams,  superintendent  of 
schools  of  Children's  Aid  Society;  O.  F.  Lewis,  gen- 
eral secretary  of  the  Prison  Association,  and  Lester 
F.  Scott,  acting  director  of  the  People's  institute,  the 
hmdget  for  the  coming  year  was  presented,  showing 
that  some  $30,000  would  be  necessary  for  the  upkeep 
of  the  board  and  the  carrying  on  of  its  work. 

It  was  unanimously  agreed  that  the  funds  neces- 
sary to  meet  the  budget  should  be  divided  equally  be- 
tween the  various  film  companies,  and  after  the  reso- 
lutions passed  at  the  meeting  mentioned  in  Motog- 
raphy's  last  issue  had  been  unanimously  confirmed  in 
every  particular,  it  was  voted  that  each  film  company 
share  in  the  upkeep  of  the  board  of  a  pro  rata  basis 
on  the  number  of  pictures  produced  by  it  each  month. 

Benjamin  Schulberg  of  the  Famous  Players  Com- 
pany, in  an  address,  pointed  out  the  importance  and 
necessity  of  the  National  Board  sending  representa- 
tives to  many  cities  to  explain  the  work  of  the  board 
to  members  of  the  local  community.  Cranston  Bren- 
ton,  chairman  of  the  board,  told  of  the  results  of  his 
visit  to  Los  Angeles  and  the  abolishment  of  local  cen- 
sorship there.  Other  speakers  were  W.  D.  McGuire, 
executive  secretary  of  the  board,  and  Mr.  Adams  of 
the  Children's  Aid  Society.  Among  the  various  promi- 
nent officials  who  attended  the  meeting  were  the  fol- 
lowing: 

1  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  Vitagraph  Company;  J.  J. 
Ivennedy,  American-Biograph ;  W.  N.  Selig,  Selig 
Polyscope;  F.  J.  Marion,  Kalem  Company;  Paul  Me- 
lie's,  Melies  Manufacturing  Company ;  G.  K.  Spoor, 
Essanay  Film  Manufacturing  Company;  L.  AC.  Mc- 
Chesney,  Edison  studio ;  F.  S.  Phelps,  Kleine-Edison ; 
Carl  Laemmle,  Universal ;  R.  H.  Cochrane,  Universal ; 
P.  A.  Powers.  Universal;  M.  C.  Graham,  Mutual;  J. 
R.  Freuler,  Mutual ;  Edwin  Thanhouser,  Thanhouser 
Company ;  David  Horsley,  Centaur  Film  Company ; 
F.  C.  Bradford,  Gaumont  Company;  L.  F.  Gasnier, 
Pathe  Exchange,  Inc. ;  H.  E.  Aitken,  Triangle  Film 
Corporation  ;  A.  K.  Kessel,  New  York  Motion  Picture 
Corporation ;  Carl  Anderson,  Paramount ;  Jesse  L. 
Lasky,  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company ;  Adolph 
Zukor,  Famous  Players  ;  Carl  H.  Pierce,  Pallas ;  W. 
A.  Atkinson,  Metro  Pictures  Corporation;  R.  A.  Row- 
land, Metro  Pictures  Corporation;  B.  N.  Bush,  World  • 


Film  Corporation ;  Lloyd  D.  Willis,  Fox  Film  Corpora- 
tion ;  Felix  Feist,  Equitable  Motion  Picture  Corpora- 
tion;  I.  Oes,  Great  Northern  Film  Corporation;  Wal- 
ter Irwin,  V.   L.   S.  E. 

Mr.  Singhi,  of  the  Lubin  Company  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  Mr.  Nehls,  of  the  American  Film  Manufac- 
turing Company  in  Chicago,  sent  telegrams  expressing 
their  regrets  at  not  being  able  to  be  present  and  em- 
phasizing the  importance  of  the  work  of  the  National 
Board. 


SPITZER  OFF  FOR  CANADA 

Specially  Appointed  Blue  Bird  Representative,  Him- 
self an  Old  Exhibitor,  Will  Show  Theater  Man- 
agers How  to  Improve  Their  Houses 

H.  H.  Spitzer,  special  representative  of  Blue  Bird 
Photo  Plays,  Inc.,  left  for  Montreal,  Canada,  last  Mon- 
day, on  the  first  leg  of  a  countrywide  tour.  It  will  be 
Mr.  Spitzer's  mission  to  get  in  touch  with  exhibitors 
and  suggest  to  them  the  proper  methods  to  pursue  in 
exploiting  Blue  Bird  features. 

To  exhibitors  who  are  familiar  with  Mr.  Spitzer's 
success  as  general  manager  of  Canadian  territory,  with 
one  of  the  most  prominent  feature  organizations,  his 
affiliation  with  Blue  Bird  will  come  as  a  surprise.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  due  to  his  success  in  that  field  that 
he  was  offered  his  present  position  with  the  newest 
feature  organization. 

The  Blue  Bird  representative  is  considered  one  of 
the  foremost  authorities  on  motion  picture  merchan- 
dising methods  in  the  industry.  As  a  proprietor  of  the- 
aters in  Los  Angeles  and  Seattle,  he  obtained  a  first- 
hand knowledge  of  the  problems  which  confront  the 
exhibitor — a  knowledge  that  will  enable  him  to  be  of 
tremendous  assistance  to  the  men  who  book  Blue  Bird 
features  and  desire  to  know  the  best  methods  of  ex- 
ploitation. This  is  a  problem  which  will  receive 
Spitzer's  special  attention  during  the  course  of  the 
trip. 

A  representative  of  this  publication  who  was  given 
an  opportunity  to  interview  Mr.  Spitzer  just  before  he 
left  New  York  City,  was  speedily  made  aware  of  the 
Blue  Bird  representative's  fitness  for  the  task  before 
him. 

"What  has  been  of  tremendous  assistance  to  me  in 
my  work,"  declared  Mr.  Spitzer,  "is  the  fact  that  I 
have  been  an  exhibitor.  Ask  the  average  theater  owner 
why  the  appeals  which  reach  him  for  the  average 
manufacturer  fail  to  move  him  and  he  will  simply 
reply,  'He  don't  know  my  business !' 

"Because  I  am  familiar  with  every  single  one  of 
the  exhibitor's  problems,  and  because  I  have  solved 
them  to  the  extent  of  making  my  own  theaters  pay,  I 
am  in  the  position  to  tell  him  how  to  make  his  theater 
pay. 

"You  know,"  he  laughed,  "they  used  to  call  me 
the  'theater  doctor'  out  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  for 
this  reason.  The  experience  I  derived  while  putting 
life  into  my  Seattle  theater  taught  me  that,  if  the  same 
procedure  were  followed  in  handling  almost  any  'dead' 
house,  it  could  be  brought  to  life.  That  is  exactly  what 
I  did,  and  after  I  had  made  money-makers  out  of  a  few 
houses,  other  exhibitors  got  busy,  used  my  methods 
and  achieved  the  same  results." 

Mr.  Spitzer  then  went  on  to  say  that  it  was  his 
intention  to  get  in  touch  with  Blue  Bird  exhibitors 
in  the  cities  he  visits  and  demonstrate  to  them  the  busi- 


130 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


For  seven  years  it  ran.  to  big  business,  and  is  still  a 
name  to  conjure  with.  Miss  Donnelly's  art  was  of 
material  importance  in  the  success  of  the  production. 
When  the  play  came  to  be  filmed  no  other  person  could 
be  considered  for  the  title  role  save  her.  In  the  picture, 
as  well  as  on  the  stage,  her  splendid  emotional  talents 
put  her  part  over  with  telling  power. 


ness  methods  pursued  by  the  most  successful  motion 
picture  theater  proprietors  in  the  country.  If  neces- 
sary, the  Blue  Bird  representative  will  make  his  head- 
quarters in  a  house  which  has  failed  to  return  a  profit 
on  the  capital  invested,  and,  without  the  slightest  cost 
to  the  owner  whatsoever,  will  take  charge  of  the  the- 
ater until  an  efficiency  system  has  been  installed  and 
the  business  placed  on  a  paying  basis. 

Especially  will  Mr.  Spitzer  show  the  tremendous 
advertising  possibilities  which  lie  in  Blue  Bird  service. 
Every  feature  on  the  program,  commencing  with 
"Jeanne  Dore,"  the  first  release  and  which  features  no 
less  a  star  than  the  queen  of  tragedy,  Sarah  Bernhardt, 
affords  the  exhibitor  splendid  opportunities  for  adver- 
tising. While  he  will  be  given  considerable  assistance 
by  Blue  Bird,  the  exhibitor  will  be  shown  how,  by  the 
exercise  of  a  little  ingenuity  and  initiative,  he  can 
easily  obtain  additional  publicity. 

While  in  Montreal,  Mr.  Spitzer  will  make  his 
headquarters  at  the  Blue  Bird  offices,  295  St.  Catherine 
street.  From  Montreal,  the  representative  will  go  to 
Toronto,  where  the  Blue  Bird  offices  at  106  Richmond 
street  will  be  his  headquarters  during  his  stay  in  that 
city.  The  rest  of  his  itinerary  will  be  announced 
shortly. 


FATTY  AND  MABEL'S  NEW  YEAR'S 

Keystone  Stars  Arrive  in  New  York  Thursday,  Decem- 
ber 30,  and  Celebrate  New  Year's  Eve 
in  Fitting  Style 

Mabel  Normand  and  Roscoe  Arbuckle  spent  their 
first  New  Year's  in  several  seasons  within  the  charmed 
circle  of  New  York  stageland.  The  white  lights  beamed 
merrily  for  them,  the  cup  of  joy  effervesced,  and  the 
plaudits  of  admiring  throngs  for  their  real  selves 
brought  a  novel  pleasure.  In  plain  vernacular,  Fatty 
and  Mabel  are  on  the  job  in  New  York.  With  their 
Eastern  Keystone  company,  including  Minta  Durfee, 
Al  St.  John  and  others,  they  arrived  in  the  metropolis 
Thursday  afternoon,  December  30.  The  party  came 
through  direct  from  the  coast,  escorted  by  Traveling 
Passenger  Agent  Pike  of  the  San  Pedro  Road.  They 
were  met  at  Grand  Central  station  by  Frank  Myers  of 
the  New  York  Central  and  a  number  of  the  New  York 
Motion  Picture  and  Triangle  executives. 

Miss  Normand  is  looking  fresh  as  a  daisy,  but  it 
was  deemed  best  not  to  break  the  journey  for  picture 
taking  en  route,  since  her  recovery  from  a  serious  acci- 
dent has  been  so  recent.  Mr.  Arbuckle,  the  director  of 
the  company,  said  he  would  start  work  soon  at  the 
Willat  studios  in  Fort  Lee.  Mrs.  Ford  Sterling  (Teddy 
Sampson)  and  Syd  Chaplin  were  among  the  friends 
who  greeted  the  newcomers  at  the  station. 

On  New  Year's  night  Mr.  Arbuckle,  Miss  Nor- 
mand and  the  other  Keystoners  were  the  guests  of  the 
New  York  Globe  at  the  Lexington  Opera  House.  They 
saw  "Peter  Rabbit  in  Dreamland."  and  two  thousand 
people  saw  Fatty  and  "the  Keystone  girl"  and  ap- 
plauded the  flesh-and-blood  authors  of  millions  of 
laughs.  After  the  hard,  grueling  work  at  Edendale, 
the  Keystone  folk  enjoyed  every  minute  of  the  New 
Year's  festivities. 


Dorothy  Donnelly  Scores  in  Film 

Dorothy  Donnelly,  the  star  of  the  great  Henry  W. 
Savage  production  of  "Madame  X,"  now  on  the  Pathe 
Gold  Rooster  program,  is  easily  one  of  the  very  best 
emotional  actresses  of  the  day,  with  a  fame  which  is 
not  con  fined  to  the  United  States.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  Lash  Donnelly,  for  many  years  lessee  and 
manager  of  the  Grand  Opera  House  in  New  York, 
which  city  was  her  birth  place.  She  made  her  first  ap- 
pearance upon  the  stage  in  the  stock  company  of  her 
brother,  rlenr)  \.  Donnelly,  al  the  Murray  Hill  thea- 
ter, and  remained  there  for  three  years,- working  up 
from  small  part-  to  leading  business.  In  1902  she  sup 
ported  Robert  Edeson  in  "Soldiers  of  Fortune."  En 
gagements  in  "Candida,"  "A  Man  of  Destiny,"  and 
'The  I. ion  and  the  Mouse"  followed. 

When  Henry  W.  Savage  pul  on  BriSSOn's  greal 
play,  "Madame  \,"  she  was  ^elected  for  the  leading 
role  and  no  better  choice  conld  have  been  made.  The 
success  of  the  production  is  a  pan  of  theatrical  history, 
and  it  holds  the  records  for  length  of  run  and  receipts. 


Paraani   ,/.   . 

iuction. 


January  15,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


MOCK  and  PAUL  H.  WOODRUFF 
Associate  Editors 
Neil  G.  Caward  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

g  Manager:  ALLEN  L.  HAASE 

OFFICE,  1022  LONOACRE  BUILDING 


:■»        'is. 


"i, 


Jit  7030 


CHARLES  R.  CONDDN,  Eastern  Representative 

This  publication  is  free  and 
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house  connections  or  control.  No 
manufacturer  or  supply  dealer, 
or    their    stockholders    or    repre- 

n  Motography  or  any  voice 
nanagement  or  policy. 


THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

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CHICAGO,  ILL. 

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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  15,  1916 


Number  3 


Simplicity  and  Idealism 

SOME  of  the  most  artistic,  pleasing  and  even  thrilling  scenes  ever  staged  for  the  camera  have 
been  so  simple  as  to  merit  the  claim  that  they  were  made  out  of  nothing.  A  writer  in  our 
last  week's  issue  names  some  specific  examples  of  such  work.  It  is  worth  recording  that  econ- 
omy was  not  even  a  secondary  motive  in  the  conception  of  these  bits  of  high  art.  They  were 
simple  because  the  best  must  always  be  simple.  It  is  more  difficult  to  attain  true  artistry,  and 
a  really  pleasing  result,  with  the  expenditure  of  vast  sums  of  money  than  it  is  with  the  use  of 
natural  materials  and  the  brains  of  a  good  director.  All  the  money  in  the  world  will  not  make 
pictures  that  will  compete  with  the  product  of  an  artistic  soul  and  an  ingenious  mind. 

Making  films  is  a  publishing  business.  And  publishing  is  one  business  in  which  mere 
money  will  not  guarantee  a  superior  product.  So  much  of  the  quality  depends  upon  influences 
beyond  the  control  of  the  payroll  and  the  expense  sheet.  There  are  no  dependable  rules  for 
the  writing  of  a  book,  the  editing  of  a  magazine  or  the  producing  of  a  film  that  will  assure  their 
grip  upon  popular  taste.  That  is  true  of  all  forms  of  industry  in  which  the  word  "art"  has 
any  legitimate  place.  You  may  teach  a  man  how  to  paint  a  landscape  or  a  figure  in  oils  or 
water-colors,  and  ultimately  his  hand  and  eye  may  be  so  trained  that  his  canvas  is  a  faithful 
copy  of  his  model.  But  that  is  not  art.  An  amateur  with  a  two  dollar  camera  can  do  that. 
To  do  it  with  a  brush  is  mere  manual  dexterity. 

To  group  players  in  an  exact  simulation  of  life,  and  put  them  through  the  paces  they 
would  naturally  follow,  is  not  in  itself  good  directing.  Yet  it  may  be  the  very  essence  of  the 
highest  kind  of  directing.  The  difference  lies  in  the  "divine  spark,"  the  "artist  soul" — the 
terms  for  it  all  sound  more  or  less  foolish,  but  we  know  it  exists,  whatever  you  call  it.  The 
director  who  has  it  can  thrill  thousands  with  "four  scantlings  and  a  piece  of  tarpaulin."  The 
director  who  hasn't  it  may  still  carry  his  picture  to  success  with  an  army  of  gorgeous  cos- 
tumes and  a  wealth  of  properties.  But  the  "big  scene"  does  not  return  again  to  memory's  eye, 
years  later,  as  does  the  simple  bit  of  inspired  art. 

That  trick  of  returning  to  the  mind's  eye  must  surely  be  proof  of  inspiration  in  a  film  pro- 
duction. No  matter  how  many  pictures  you  have  seen  since,  there  are  some — maybe  only  a 
scene  here  and  there — that  persist  in  their  impression.  And  almost  always  the  thing  that 
remains — the  immortal  part  of  the  picture — will  be  utterly  simple;  perhaps  nearly  without 
action. 

The  impressive  scene  is  an  idealistic  scene.  Most  of  us  cannot  idealize  a  thing  big  with 
action,  mammoth  in  its  setting  and  treatment.  Even  on  the  speaking  stage,  the  plays  that 
achieve  immortality,  that  everybody  sees  sooner  or  later,  are  simple — very  simple.  Go  over 
their  titles  in  your  mind  and  see  if  this  is  not  true. 

There  is  nothing  objectionable  about  big  scenes  or  complex  and  costly  productions.  No 
one  can  marvel  at  the  magnificence  of  a  setting  or  the  magnitude  of  an  action  without  gaining 
respect  for  the  producer  of  pictures  and  for  the  art  itself.  And  most  producers,  like  most  mod- 
ern writers,    do  not  aim  at  immortality ;  they  do  not  attempt  to  build  classics.    They  look  for 


132 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  3. 


the  quick  pleasure  of  the  people,  the  coup  that  wins  sud- 
den popularity. 

All  legitimate  motives  enough.  But  even  in  that,  . 
much  may  he  achieved  by  simplicity,  and  much  more  by 
the  touch  of  idealism  that  generally  must  be  born  into  a 
director  of  pictures.  And  the  proof  of  its  value  is  that 
all  those  directors  have  it  who  have  attained  to  fame — 
those  few  individuals  whose  names  the  people  know  and 
applaud. 


Supporting  the  National  Board 

Y\  J  E  are  glad  to  see  'that  the  film  manufacturers,  as 
*»  mentioned  in  our  news  columns  last  week,  will 
take  care  of  the  financial  support  of  the  National  Board 
of  Censorship.  The  work  done  by  that  body  is  so 
vastly  disproportionate  to  the  insignificant  sum  re- 
quired for  its  maintenance  as  to  constitute  a  bargain  in 
service  too  good  to  neglect. 

Those  who  become  suspicious  whenever  the  dol- 
lar mark  is  mentioned  should  have  it  explained  to  them 
that  the  expense  account  of  the  National  Board  has 
nothing  to  do  with  its  censorship  function.  The  actual 
censoring  is  clone  by  a  volunteer  committee  which 
serves  without  pay  and  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
board's  income  or  expenditures.  The  money  is  spent 
for  an  entirely  different  purpose. 

The  National  Board  of  Censorship  is  the  most 
active  agent  we  have  in  the  discouragement  of  local 
censorships.  Its  chairman  has  been  in  Los  Angeles 
for  some  weeks  working  for  the  dissolution  of  the 
local  censor  board  there.  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  Duluth, 
Minn.,  have  just  given  up  the  idea  of  local  censorship 
because  they  can  continue  to  have  the  co-operation  of 
the  National  Board.  In  this  work  the  board  publishes 
a  bulletin  which  is  distributed  free  to  city  officials  all 
over  the  country  and  maintains  secretaries  who  give 
time  and  enthusiasm  to  the  cause.  This  work  they  do 
better  than  the  film  men,  working  as  individuals,  could 
hope  to,  because  they  are  recognized  as  disinterested. 

The  film  men  contribute  thirty  thousand  dollars 
for  the  payment  of  rent,  office  help, 'stationery,  postage 
and  traveling  expenses.  In  return  they  get  the  services 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  censors,  an  organized 
and  efficient  machine  for  fighting  official  censorship, 
and  the  backing  of  public  welfare  organizations  and 
men  of  international  renown. 

The  National  Board  of  Censorship  is  doing  a 
splendid  work,  and  the  motion  picture  industry  still 
owes  it  a  debt  of  gratitude  after  assisting  in  the  inci- 
dental expenses  of  its  labors.  The  day  may  come 
when  the  board  is  not  needed.  We  hope  it  may,  and 
no  doubt  the  members  of  the  board  itself  echo  the 
wish.  But.  so  long  as  municipal,  state  and  government 
officials  insist  upon  meddling  with  the  question  of  cen- 
sorship, the  wholesome  and  leavening  influence  of  the 
National  body  is  necessary  to  the  balance  and  dignity 
oi  the  motion  picture  as  an  institution. 


Fisheries  Bureau  Workers  in  Films 

The  work  that  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Fisheries 
i-  doing  in  the  interest  of  the  fishing  industry  of  the 
country  is  soon  to  be  illustrated  by  the  use  of  motion  pic- 
tures.  In  connection  with  its  fish-cultural  operations,  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries  has  secured  temporarily  the  services 
of  an  expert  operator,  who  has  been  assigned  to  duty 
on  the  upper  Mississippi  River,  to  take  views  of  the 
rescue  operations  and  the  activities  in  connection  with 
tin     propagation    of    the    fresh-water    muss,]. 


just  a  Moment  Please 


the  i 


,  the  first  week  of  the  New  Year  has  rolle 
-  wagon  still  seems  to  be  heavily  loaded. 


MORE  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Last  week  we  had  the  pleasure  of  mentioning  a  few  of 
the  chaps  who  were  kind  enough  to  remember  us  with  Christ- 
mas cards  and  other  things,  but  now  we  have  to  issue  a  sup- 
plementary list  of  those  who  sent  us  New  Year  greetings  of 
one  kind  and  another.  A  pretty  card  bearing  the  smiling 
faces  of  "Jimsey  and  Reaves  and  Our  Boy"  comes  from  Santa 
Barbara,  cards  from  Paul  Gulick.  Herbert  Case  Hoagland, 
Hayward  Mack,  Harry  Reichenbach,  H.  O.  Stechan  and  C.  L. 
Worthington  have  also  arrived,  and  Pete  Schmid  wished  one 
of  those  dandy  Oliver  Morosco  knives  on  us.  so  now  we're 
prepared  to  become  a  regular  "cut  up." 

Thanks,  folks.  We  appreciate  your  thoughtfulness  and  hope 
for  you  all  that  you  wished  us,  and  then  some. 

THE  FABLE  OF  JOE  FINN'S  FAMOUS  BIRD 
With  one  hand  on  a   Bible  and  the  other  held  aloft,  the 
irrepressible  Terry   Ramsaye   solemnly  ass 
pathetic  story,  which  he  has  forwarded  to  i 
the  whole  truth,  "so  help  him."  etc.: 

For  a  number  of  years  a  red-headed 
woodpecker  has  held  down  a  steady  job 
chopping  decadent  timber  in  the  window 
of  a  Broadway  bird-store.  As  fast  as  he 
worked  up  a  log  into  pulpwood,  the  man- 
agement kindly  supplied  him  with  an- 
other— all  to  the  vast  entertainment  of 
the  passerby.  Recently  the  diligent  bird 
fell  under  the  eagle  eye  of  Joseph  H. 
Finn,  president  of  Vogue  Films,  Inc., 
who  paused  to  marvel  at  the  scene  of  in- 
dustry. "That  bird  ought  to  be  the 
national  emblem,"  declared.  Mr.  Finn. 
"All  he  needs  is  a  little  publicity  to  make 
him  famous.  His  illustrious  example  should  be  held  up  to  the 
workers  of  the  nation.  My  heart  thrills  at  the  sight  of  his 
faithful  application  to  duty,  without  thought  or  regard  for 
reward.  He  shall  be  made  the  mascot  for  Vogue  Films,  Inc. 
He  shall  have  logs  of  mahogany  and  spicewood  and  lignum 
vitae  to  work  upon  and  the  sunshine  of  California  for  his 
home."     So  Vogue  now  has  a  mascot. 

It  was  nice  of  Joe  to  put  it  that  way,  but  we  hope  nobody 
will  be  unkind  enough  to  imagine  that  perhaps  the  bird  might 
be  regarded  by  some  as  a  knocker,  which  all  will  agree  would 
be  a  sure  enough  jinx  mascot. 

WHY    WE    LIKE    MOVIES 

This  week's  issue  of  the  Literary  Digest  points  out  that 
Dr.  Hugo  Munsterberg  of  Harvard  went  a  long  way  afield  in 
his  search  for  a  reason  why  the  average  man  likes  motion 
pictures,  and  is  inclined  to  believe  that  Otto  Wells,  an  exhib- 
itor, of  Norfolk.  Virginia,  comes  nearer  the  truth  when  he 
says  that  the  average  person  finds  enjoyment  in  the  silent 
drama  because  he  can  put  into  the  mouths  of  the  silent  actors 
the  exclamations,  words  and  lines  that  he  himself  would  use 
under  like  circumstances.  Thus,  instead  of  being  compelled 
to  hear  a  Hamlet  of  the  legitimate  stage  pick  up  the  skull  of 
Poor  Yorick  and  say  "Imperious  Caesar,  dead  and  turned  to 
clay,  might  stop  a  hole  to  keep  the  wind  away."  the  average 
man  can  wander  into  a  picture  show,  view  the  same  screen 
and  imagine  that  the  player  is  saying.  "Aw,  well  -we  all  gotta 
come  to  it  sometime  I 

The  above  reminds  us  of  the  definition  The  Boss  now 
gives  for  an  optimist  and  a  pessimist.  The  pessimist,  says 
I'..  .1.,  will  ask,  "Is  there  any  milk  in  the  pitcher?"  while  the 
optimist  will  cheerfully  shout,  "Please  pas-  th< 

Yes,  most  of  our  stenos  are  these  days  giving  correct 
imitations  of  Sarah  Bernhardt  in  the  death  scene  from 
"Camille,"  bu1  so  far  we've  been  lucky  enough  to  elude  the 
germs. 

I  oisiness  of  knocking   on   wood. 


Just  for  luck. 


N.  G.  C. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"A  Life  in  Peril" 

Chapter  Three  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game."    Reviewed 
by  Neil  G.  Caward 

GOOD  as  were  chapters  one  and  two  of  the  Signal  Film 
Corporation's  new  series,  entitled  "The  Girl  and  the  Game," 
chapter  three,  which  will  soon  be  issued,  fairly  outdoes  them 
both,  from  the  standpoint  of  interest,  photography  and  story. 

The  third  chapter  of  the  series  has  for  its  climax  the 
destruction  of  two  box  cars  loaded  with  dynamite,  and  so  ef- 
fectively is  the  explosion  scene  staged  that  theater  audiences  will 
be  fairly  startled,  blase  though  many  of  them  are  becoming- 
through  the  many  sensational  pictures  which  have  recently  been 
offered. 

Helen   Holmes,  the  heroine  of  the  story,  again  proves   her 


roof  of  the  blazing  cars  in  a  vain  effort  to  set  the  brakes  and 
stop  them  before  a  wreck  can  occur.  Members  of  the  train 
crew,  knowing  what  has  occurred,  wire  ahead  to  Signal,  asking 
that  the  blazing  cars  be  ditched  as  they  approach  that  station. 
Helen,  who  gets  the  message,  plans  to  save  Storm's  life  by 
stretching  a  rope  above  the  tracks  and  snatching  him  as  the 
cars  pass  beneath. 

She  barely  rescues  him  in  time,  and  when  but  a  short  dis- 
tance beyond  the  station  of  Signal,  the  dynamite  explodes,  scat- 
tering destruction  in  its  wake.  The  film  closes  as  Seagrue  calls 
upon  Helen,  at  Signal,  to  congratulate  her  on  her  bravery  and 
quick  wittedness  in  saving  both  the  life  of  Storm  and  the  C. 
W.  &  T.  railway  from  a  disastrous  wreck. 


"Angels 


recklessness  by  stretching  a  rope  many  feet  above  the  railroad 
track  and  then  at  the  peril  of  life  and  limb  crawls  out  upon 
the  slender  strand  and  reaches  down  to  rescue  Storm,  her  lover, 
who,  passing  beneath,  is  clinging  to  the  blazing  box  cars  con- 
taining the  dynamite.  The  rescue  is  accomplished  barely  in  time, 
for  scarcely  have  the  box  cars  passed  beyond  where  Helen 
snatches  Storm  from  the  blaze  than  the  dynamite  explodes, 
scattering  fragments  of  the  cars  in  all  directions. 

As  chapter  three  begins,  Helen  learns  that  the  securities 
and  stocks  held  by  her  late  father  have  greatly  depreciated  in 
value  due  to  the  fact  that  the  C.  W.  &  T.  railroad,  of  which 
General  Holmes  was  president,  has  been  unable  to  complete  the 
cut  off  which  he  had  dreamed  of,  the  plans  for  which  were  stolen 
in  chapter  two  by  "Spike"  and  "Lefty,"  two  crooks  employed 
by  Mr.  Seagrue  of  a  rival  line.  Helen  is  compelled,  therefore, 
to  support  herself,  and  secures  employment  as  clerk  at  a  lonely 
station   called   Signal. 

Spike,  in  jail,  is  visited  by  Seagrue,  who  manages  to  secure 
a  wax  impression  of  the  key  to  his  cell.  Seagrue  then  has  a 
duplicate  key  made  and  later  succeeds  in  rescuing  Spike  from 
jail,  installing  him  as  a  member  of  the  big  steam  shovel  crew, 
working  in  the  vicinity  of  Signal.  While  there,  Spike  and  Sea- 
grue discover  that  the  local  freight,  of  which  Storm  is  engi- 
neer, is  that  day  to  have  as  a  part  of  its  equipment,  two  carloads 
of  dynamite.  They  craftily  plan  to  explode  the  dynamite  there- 
by causing  a  wreck,  and  further  injuring  the  stock  of  the  C. 
W.  &  T.  railway.  Spike  succeeds  in  setting  the  dynamite  cars 
afire  when  the  train  pauses  near  a  water  tank,  and  when  the 
train  crew  discover  the  blazing  cars  the  fire  has  gone  so  far 
that  they  are  unable  to  put  it  out. 

Accordingly  a  part  of  the  train  is  set  on  a  side  track,  and 
the  blazing  cars  are  supposedly  left  by  themselves  to  explode 
without  doing  any  great  harm.  However,  the  cars  are  left  on 
a  track  with  a  downward  slope,  and  the  brakes  failing  to  work, 
the  cars  slide  gently  down  the  incline,  gather  speed,  and  finally 
go  rushing  down  the  main  line. 

Storm,  discovering  the  runaway,  manages  to  clamber  to  the 


Is  Unawares" 

Essanay  Two-Reel  Comedy-Drama  Released  Jan.   11 
Reviewed  by  John  C.  Garrett 

\A7  ITHOUT  a  doubt  pretty  Ruth  Stonehouse  of  the  Essanay 
»  »  Company  is  one  of  the  most  appealing  juvenile  comedi- 
ennes on  the  motion  picture  screen.  She  proves  her  ability  to 
cause  both  tears  and  laughter  in  the  very  pretty  Essanay  pic- 
ture, "Angels  Unawares,"  to  be  released  in  two  reels  on  Janu- 
ary 11. 

Miss  Stonehouse  portrays  the  character  of  a  little  street 
waif,  whose  "father  calls  me  'Freckles,'  and  I  guess  that  is  as 
good  a  name  as  any."  The  story,  by  Joseph  Roach,  is  a  mighty 
clever  one  and  is  sure  to  have  a  direct  appeal  to  everyone.  One 
of  the  clever,  humorous  moments  in  the  production  is  when  Miss 
Stonehouse  impersonates  Charlie  Chaplin,  and  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  her  impersonation  is  very  good. 

Madge  Kearns,  a  newcomer  to  trie  Essanay  Company,  is  very 
charming  as  Grace  Wade,  the  invalid  sister  of  Thomas  Wade, 
Clerk  of  the  Juvenile  Court,  played  by  Edmund  F.  Cobb. 
The   photography  throughout   is   splendid. 

Freckles,  a  little  street  waif,  manages  to  "swipe"  some  apples 
from  the  peddler  while  he  is  engaged  in  chasing  some  boys  who 
have  peppered  him  with  snowballs.  Later,  when  she  is  munching 
on  one  of  the  apples  the  same  boys  pester  her  and  in  a  fit  of 
anger  she  hurls  what  is  left  of  the  apple  at  them  and  it  crashes 
through  a  window  to  the  feet  of  Grace  Wade,  a  little  invalid 
girl. 

Nothing  daunted  Freckles  goes  to  the  house  to  confess  her 
guilt  and  Grace,  who  has  been  longing  for  someone  to  talk  to, 
invites  the  little  waif  in  and  they  become  fast  friends.  Grace 
even  has  the  maid  serve  them  a  luncheon  and  Freckles,  being 


hungry  and  never  having  had  any  "manners"  begins  to  eat  her 
lunch  in  truly  "slum"  fashion,  but  upon  seeing  how  daintily 
Grace  eats  her  food,  the  girl  tries  to  imitate  her.  Before  Freckles 
leaves  Grace  invites  her  to  come  and  see  her  again  real  soon 
and  Freckles  tells  her  she  will. 

The  next  day  Freckles  is  forced  to  aid  her  stepfather  in  a 


134 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


robbery  and  she  is  caught  by  the  owner  of  the  apartment  and 
taken  to  the  Juvenile  Court,  where  Thomas  Wade,  Grace's 
brother,  is  the  clerk.  The  girl  is  sentenced  to  a  number  of  years 
in  the  reform  school.  In  the  school  Freckles  proves  to  be  the 
life  of  them  all.  All  of  the  girls  love  her  and  she  is  continually 
up  to  pranks.  One  evening  she  goes  down  in  the  boiler  room, 
where  she  hnds  a  pair  of  discarded  pajamas  and  an  old  derby 
hat  and  donning  them  she  pulls  some  of  the  upholstering  out  of 
a  chair  and  put  on  a  Charlie  Chaplin  moustache.  Then  it  is  that 
she  gives  the  girls  a  royal  entertainment. 

That  night  she  manages  to  escape  from  the  reform  school 
and  goes  immediately  to  the  home  of  the  Wades.  Grace  is 
sitting  in  the  window  wondering  why  Freckles  had  not  come  to 
see  her  when  she  hears  a  tap  and  the  next  moment  Freckles,  clad 
in  her  Charlie  Chaplin  get  up,  tumbles  through  the  window  and 
is  clasped  in  Grace's  arms.  About  this  time  the  Judge  of  the 
Juvenile  Court  receives  a  telegram  saying  that  Freckles  had 
escaped  and  he  goes  to  call  on  Thomas  Wade  to  tell  him  of  this. 

In  the  meantime  Grace  and  Freckles  have  gone  to  the  in- 
valid's boudoir  and  Thomas  comes  upon  them  and  recognizes 
Freckles.  Just  then  the  judge  comes,  shows  Thomas  the  tele- 
gram and  he,  realizing  how  much  Freckles  will  mean  to  his 
sister,  takes  the  judge  in  to  where  they  are  and,  his  heart  soft- 
ened, tells  Freckles  she  may  remain  with  Grace. 


"Lydia  Gilmore" 

Famous  Players  Production  of  Henry  Arthur  Jones' 
Drama.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THERE  is  no  lack  of  dramatic  action  in  the  Famous  Play- 
ers production  of  Henry  Arthur  Jones'  "Lydia  Gilmore," 
with  Pauline  Frederick  in  the  title  role,  and  which  pleased 
the  holiday  crowds  that  visited  the  Strand  last  week.  It 
is  an  English  society  drama,  reaching  its  climax  in  the  court 
where  the  leading  character  suddenly  casts  aside  her  resolve 
to  save  the  faithless  husband  from  the  gallows  by  furnishing 
a  trumped-up  alibi  and  denounces  him,  when  she  is  forced 
to  the  choice  of  protecting  the  name  her  son  bears  or  per- 
mitting him  to  offend  his  God  in  obeying  her  instruction  to 
swear  to  an  untruth. 

The  scene  is  presented  most  admirably  and  here,  as  well 
as  in  other  portions  of  the  play,  Edwin  S.  Porter  and  Hugh 
Ford,  the  producers,  have  procured  the  maximum  of  dramatic 
effect  out  of  fine  material.  The  dramatic  situations  are  not 
forced  and  are  arrived  at  convincingly.  The  setting  and 
photography  are  other  points  in  the  production  which  please 
thoroughly. 

Miss  Frederick  lives  up  to  the  standard  which  she  has 
set  for  herself  in  screen  portrayals.  She  has  natural  abandon 
as  the  young  girl  who  is  seen  in  the  opening  scenes  as  the 
loved  and  loving  one  of  a  young  barrister.     Out  of  gratitude 


to  her  aunt,  she  marries  Dr.  Gilmore,  who  has  wealth  and 
position,  bul  whom  she  does  not  love.  There  is  a  lapse 
of  eight  years,  in  which  Benham  has  earned  a  high  position 
and  Gilmore  lias  formed  an  attachment  for  another  woman. 
The  only  tie  which  holds  Lydia  is  her  son. 

Gilmore's  romance  with  Mrs.  Stacey  ends  tragically.    He 


pays  her  a  visit  one  night,  as  planned  with  her,  and  encoun- 
ters her  husband.  There  is  a  struggle  in  which  Stacey  is 
killed.  Suspicion  falls  on  Gilmore.  Then  Lydia  calls  upon 
Benham,  who  is  to  prosecute  her  husband,  and  together 
they  plan  to  save  Gilmore  for  the  sake  of  her  son.  But 
when  the  time  comes  for  the  boy  to  swear  that  his  father 
did  not  leave  the  house  on  the  night  of  the  murder,  Lydia 
confesses  the  truth. 

Vincent  Serrano  is  cast  as  Gilmore  and  Thomas  Holding 
as  Ralph  Benham,  both  of  whom  render  Miss  Frederick  ex- 
cellent support.  Jack  Curtis  as  the  son,  Robert  Cain  as  Mr. 
Stacey,  Helen  Luttrell  as  his  wife,  and  Michael  Rale  as  the 
detective  complete  a  cast  which  is  adequate  in  every  respect. 


"Water  Stuff" 

Another  Buck  Parvin  Film  Released  January  15 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

FILM  fans  who  are  anxious  to  know  how  the  pictures  are 
made  will  fairly  revel  in  the  three-reel  Mustang  feature 
scheduled  for  release  Januarv  15,  which  is  entitled  "Water 
Stuff." 

This,  as  the  exhibitors  know,  is  another  of  the  Buck  Parvin 


series,  and  centers  about  the  taking  of  marine  scenes  for  mo- 
tion pictures,  showing,  during  its  action,  the  manner  in  which 
camera  man  and  director  work  from  a  nearby  barge  to  secure 
a  film  subject  depicting  the  wreck  and  destruction  by  fire  of  a 
big   schooner   loaded   with   people. 

Art  Acord  as  Buck  proves  himself  to  be  a  real  actor,  in- 
stead of  a  mere  cowboy,  in  this  production,  for  he  is  called  upon 
to  simulate  seasickness,  and  his  acting  is  so  real  that  one  can 
almost  feel  himself  growing  sick  watching  Buck's  deep  distress 
after  the  picture  company  goes  to  sea. 

Queenie  Rosson,  said"  to  be  a  sister  of  Helen  Rosson,  also 
has  a  big  role  in  "Water  Stuff,"  for  she  enacts  the  part  of  Jennie 
Lee,  an  extra  girl  who  tells  the  director  that  she  can  swim  in 
order  to  get  a  position  with  the  picture  company,  and  then  nearly 
drowns  when  called  upon  to  perform  her  part. 

As  usual,  Joe  Massey,  as  Ben  Leslie,  the  property  man  of 
the  Titan  Motion  Picture  Company,  furnishes  the  comedy  for 
the  story  in  his  own  unique  fashion,  and  really  he  is  going  to 
lie  as  popular  with  picture  fans  as  are  some  of  the  more  im- 
portant principals  in  the  Buck  Parvin  series  of  stories. 

Jennie  Lee,  who  finds  it  difficult  to  support  her  aged  mother,  • 
after  failing  to  secure  employment  at  a  number  of  different 
places  in  which  she  seeks  it,  desperately  appeals  for  work  to 
Director  Montague,  of  the  Titan  Motion  Picture  Company. 
Though  unable  to  swim  a  stroke,  she  boldly  asserts  that  she  is 
a  second  Annette  Kellernian,  and  thereby  secures  a  chance  to 
earn  $5.00  a  day  as  a  "supc"  with  the  Titan  Company. 

When  the  players  embark  to  take  some  marine  scenes  in 
the  bay,  Jennie  is  not  the  most  frightened  member  of  the  troupe, 
for  Buck  Parvin,  who  prefers  cowboy  roles  to  "sea  stuff," 
begins  to  get  terribly  sick  despite  the  supply  of  medicine  that 
he  has  laid   in   to   prevent  this   very  catastrophe. 

Jennie  sympathizes  with  Buck  in  his  illness  and  does  every- 
thing possible  to  comfort  him.  At  last  the  fire  is  started  on 
the  boat  and  the   supposedly  helpless   people   plunge   overboard 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


into  the  sea.  The  director  calls  to  Jennie  to  make  her  leap 
from  the  side  of  the  ship.  Truly  frightened,  she  "registers 
fright"  in  a  manner  that  startles  the  director  and  then  gamely 
plunges  into  the  waves.  Being  unable  to  swim,  she  goes  down 
again  and  again,  and  Parvin,  seeing  her  plight  momentarily  for- 
gets his  seasickness  and  plunges  in  to  save  her  life  directly 
in  front  of  the  cameraman.  To  use  the  expression  of  Montague, 
"it  saves  the  picture." 

Much  to  his  chagrin,  Buck  is  ordered  away  from  the  house 
when  he  calls  on  Jennie,  the  latter's  mother  believing  that  Buck 
tried  to  drown  her  daughter,  but  he  finds  consolation  in  a 
check  for  $50.00  given  to  him  by  Montague  for  "saving  the 
picture." 


"Viviana" 

The  Two-Reel  "Flying  A"   Drama  Released  Jan.   10 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

VIVIAN  RICH  attains  new  honors  in  a  two-reel  "Flying  A" 
v  drama  scheduled  for  release  January  10,  for  her  name 
serves  to  give  the  production  its  title,  it  being  released  under 
the  name  "Viviana." 

Exhibitors  will  also  find  the  production  a  splendid  one  to 
book,  for  the  reason  that  George  Periolat,  famous  character 
man  who  played  one  of  the  roles  in  the  North  American  serial 
"The  Diamond  from  the  Sky,"  appears  as  George  Perry,  a 
wealthy  man  about  town,  who  wins  the  love  of  Viviana.  Others 
in  the  cast  are  Leslie  Reed  as  Harry,  Sylvia  Ashton  as  Viviana's 
mother,   and   Marion   Christie   as   Adele,   George's   sister. 

Viviana,  a  poor  working  girl  out  of  employment,  finally 
obtains  a  position  in  a  photographer's  establishment,  and  there 
she  meets  George  Perry,  who  is  -much  attracted  by  her  beauty. 
George,  who  is  considerable  of  a  flirt,  waits  for  Viviana  in  his 
car  and  succeeds  in  inducing  her  to  accompany  him  to  a  cafe. 
Viviana,  flattered  by  the  attentions  of  the  wealthy  man,  later 
meets  him  again  and  again,  explaining  her  absence  from  home 
by  telling  her   mother  that   she    "has   to   work   evenings." 

Meanwhile,  George's  sister,  Adele,  has  been  much  attracted 


by  Harry  Fowler,  a  matinee  idol,  and  the  two  become  constant 
companions.  As  a  result  of  a  long  debauch,  Fowler  is  dis- 
charged from  his  company,  and  determines  to  elope  with  Adele, 
in  the  hope  that  after  they  are  married  he  can  secure  a  por- 
tion,  at   least,   of   her   fortune. 

Viviana  is  asked  one  evening  to  deliver  a  package  of  photos 
to  the  apartments  of  George  Perry,  and  going  there  is  induced 
to  remain  for  a  little  chat.  Perry  makes  love  to  Viviana,  though 
secretly  he  has  no  intention  of  marrying  her.  Accidentally  he 
discovers  that  his  sister  is  about  to  elope  with  Fowler,  and  he 
is  so  enraged  at  learning  that  the  matinee  idol  has  designs  against 
his  sister  that  almost  involuntarily  he  comes  to  realize  that  he 


"Destruction" 

A  Five-Reel  Fox  Melodrama  Released  December  26 
Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

THIS  Fox  production  is  a  melodrama  of  the  most  pro- 
nounced type.  There  are  thrilling  situations  aplenty,  one 
or  two  of  which  attain  enormous  dramatic  effects.  The  pro- 
duction is  able  and  thorough,  reflecting  much  credit  upon  the 
director,  W.  S.  Davis.  Very  prominent  among  the  pieces 
of  realism  are  the  labor  strike  and  fire  sets,  these  latter  leav- 
ing no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  the  spectator  as  to  the  fitness  of 
the  title,  "Destruction."  The  director  was  not  content  with 
the  sham  of  mere  smoke  pots,  etc.,  but  staged  a  genuine 
conflagration. 

Theda  Bara  improves  an  excellent  opportunity  in  this 
play  to  manifest  her  rare  talents  for  a  part  of  this  kind.  Her 
role  is  that  of  a  scheming  and  heartless  vampire,  the  char- 
acter in  which  Miss  Bara  is  best  known  and  one  which  she 
here  lives  with  her  usual  powers  of  fascination  and  wicked 
beauty. 

Other  members  of  the  cast  are  James  Furney,  Warner 
Oland,  J.  Herbert  Frank,  Calon  Macey,  Frank  Evans,  Gaston 
Bell  and  J.  Walker. 

The  vampire  ensnares  a  wealthy  manufacturer  and 
marries  him,  much  to  the  disgust  of  his  son,  who  is  not  so 
blind  to  the  real  character  of  the  woman.  Learning  that 
her  husband  is  prone  to  heart  trouble  and  that  any  intense 
excitement  may  prove  fatal,  the  woman  arranges  with  her 
lover  and  partner  in  crime  to  cause  a  strike  at  the  mill.  The 
son,  however,  puts  some  of  his  college  political  economy 
and  good  sense  into  practice  and  thus  brings  about  peace 
between  his  father  and  the  workmen.  The  first  dastardly 
plan  a  failure,  the  vampire  resorts  to  poison  to  get  her  hus- 
band out  Of  the  way.  This  last  scheme  is  fatally  successful 
and  the  wealthy  mill  owner  dies;  but  not  until  he  has  dis- 
covered the  truth  about  his   wife   and  changed   his   will. 

Ever  since  the  woman  has  contracted  her  marriage  for 
gain,  her  husband's  son  has  stirred  her  hatred.  It  happens 
that  the  son  has  befriended  the  wife  of  a  drunken  mill  hand. 
Using  this  to  further  her  ends,  the  woman  incites  the  mill 
hand  against  his  wife's  benefactor.  The  man's  rage  is  loosed. 
His  animal  propensities  run  wild,  resulting  in  the  burning  of 
the  factory  and  the  house  of  his  employer,  in  which  last 
furnace  the  vampire  and  her  confederate  are  consumed. 


orge  proposes  to   Vivia 


is  no  better,  since  Viviana  is  even  then  in  his  apartments,  and 
he  is  treating  her  in  about  the  same  fashion  that  Fowler  has 
bewitched  Adele. 

Perry  orders  Fowler  away,  escorts  Adele  to  her  own  bou- 
doir, and  there  reveals  to  her  the  fact  that' Fowler  is  a  married 
man,  and  then,  deeply  moved  by  the  happenings  of  the  evening, 
helps  Viviana  into  her  coat  and  escorts  her  home  without  delay. 

The  events  of  the  evening  effect  a  wonderful  transformation 
in  George,  and  he  resolves  to  devote  his  whole  life  to  the  big 
work  of  human  helpfulness.  So  wonderful  do  both  he  and  Adele 
find  their  new  life  that,  after  proving  to  his  own  conscience 
that  he  is  worthy  of  Viviana's  love,  he  again  seeks  the  girl  to 
whom  he  had  proposed  and  this  time  is  sincere  in  his  request 
that  she  become  his  wife. 


"The  Devil-in-Chief" 

Tyrone  Power  in  Three-Reel  Selig  Drama  Released 
January  10.    Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

/^\NE  of  the  most  grimly  powerful  photoplays  that  has  ever 
^  been  issued  by  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company  will  be  avail- 
able at  the  General  Film  Company's  exchanges  on  Monday, 
January  10,  when  "The  Devil-in-Chief"  is  released. 

Tyrone  Power,  Eugenie  Besserer,  Edith  Johnson  and 
Wheeler  Oakman  are  the  principals  and  each  and  all  of  them 
rise  to  the  opportunities  afforded  them,  though  to  Mr.  Power 
and  Miss  Besserer  falls  the  greater  part  of  the  emotional  work. 
Mr.  Power,  in  his  portrayal  of  the  role  of  Johann  Szeckler,  an 
anarchist,  is  so  brutally  awful  that  he  fascinates  by  his  very 
brutality.  The  first  reel  shows  the  murder  of  two  helpless 
women  and  the  taking  of  a  vow  by  Szeckler  that  he  will  wage 
war  against  all  womankind.  Though  the  action  fairly  amazes 
one  by  its  cold  bloodedness,  the  story  is  so  vividly  powerful 
and  the  star  is  such  a  finished  player  that  you  find  yourself 
gripping  the  arms  of  your  seat  and  waiting  eagerly  for  the  finish, 
and  that  finish,  though  a  tragic  one  for  Szeckler,  takes  the  curse 
off  much  of  the  brutality  displayed  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
production,  for  it  shows  how  a  love  starved  soul  finds  itself 
at  last. 

Colin  Cambell  directed  the  picture,  which  was  written  by 
Lanier  Bartlett  and  opens  with  a  scene  in  the  apartments  of 
Johann  Szeckler,  an  anarchist,  who,  with  his  mistress  (Eugenie 
Besserer),  lives  in  the  tenement  districts  of  a  great  city.  Szeck- 
ler is  a  manufacturer  of  bombs,  and  for  a  price  his  mistress  be- 
trays him  to  the  police.     The  scene   in   which  the  police  arrive 


136 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3 


to  arrest  Szeckler  and  the  latter  discovers  that  he  has  been 
betrayed  is  a  wonderful  bit  of  acting. 

Later,  escaping  from  prison,  Szeckler  returns  to  his  rooms 
in  time  to  find  his  mistress  just  about  to  depart  with  her  blood 
money.  He  snatches  the  bills  from  her  hand  then  deliberately 
chokes  her  to  death,  inscribing  in  blood  on  the  wall  a  message 
to  the  effect  that  hereafter  he  will  war  on  all  womankind. 

Szeckler  departs  for  a  foreign  land,  the  ship  is  wrecked 
and,  after  drowning  a  woman  whom  he  found  clinging  to  a 
floating  spar,  the  man  secures  a  hold  on  the  bit  of  wreckage 
and  is  wafted  to  shore  on  a  desert  island.  One  day  the  form 
of  a  young  girl  is  washed  ashore  and  Szeckler,  finding  it,  is  about 
to  commit  another  murder.  He  craftily  decides,  however,  to 
let  the  girl  grow  into  womanhood  that,  when  he  murders  her, 
she  may  suffer  the  more  keenly. 

The  years  pass  and  daily  Szeckler  stalks  his  companion  about 
the  island,  tempted  each  passing  hour  to  kill  her,  but  invariably 
postponing  her  death  till  the  next  day.  The  girl  has  begun  to 
realize  the  fate  in  store  for  her  and  has  armed  herself  with  a 
primitive  weapon,  but  one  day  Providence  sends  to  the  island 
a  crew  from  an  American  warship  and  the  officer  in  charge  of 
the  landing  party  finds  the  girl.  To  him  she  tells  the  story  of 
her  life  on  the  island,  the  tale  being  interrupted  by  Szeckler, 
who  suddenly  appears,  knocks  down  the  officer,  seizes  the  girl 
and  bears  her  to  his   cabin. 

The  officer  recovers  and,  following  Szeckler,  arrives  in  time 
to  prevent  his  stabbing  the  girl.  In  the  struggle  a  revolver  is 
discharged  and  the  girl  falls  back,  apparently  dead.  Remorse 
instantly  overcomes  Szeckler  and,  after  fondling  the  body  of  the 
supposedly  dead  woman,  he  rushes  from  the  cabin,  throws  his 
knife  into  the  sea  from  a  lofty  cliff  and  then  leaps  after  it. 

The  girl,  however,  had  only  suffered  a  flesh  wound  which 
had  rendered  her  unconscious,  and  she  is  borne  back  to  civiliza- 
tion on  the  warship.  Meanwhile  the  soul  of  Szeckler  haunts  the 
island,    seeking    in    vain    for   the   girl   it   might   have   loved. 


"The  City  of  Failing  Light" 

Lubin  Four-Reel  Feature  Released  January  10.     Re- 
viewed by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  GOOD  story  is  told  in  "The  City  of  Failing  Light,"  one 
**■  which  holds  the  interest  of  the  spectator  throughout. 
But  the  real  excellence  of  the  feature  lies  in  the  character 
of  the  ne'er-do-well  brother,  David  Gray,  who,  for  a  little 
while  takes  the  place  of  John  Grey,  shrewd  financier  and 
head  of  the  Consolidated  Lighting  Company.  In  the  dual 
role  of  the  twin  brothers,  Herbert  Fortier  shows  skill  in 
acting  a  difficult  part,  for  his  outward  appearance  during 
most  of  the  time  is  the  same  in  each  character.  Yet  as 
John  he  is  a  man  hard,  calculating,  almost  hateful,  in  whom 
kindness  and  love  have  given  place  to  selfishness  and  greed; 
as  David  he  is  a  bis-hearted  dreamer,  kind  to  every  creature 
in   his  path. 

At  the  time  when  the  linesmen  of  the  Consolidated  Light- 
ing Company  are  fighting  for  higher  wages,  John  Gray, 
president  of  the  company,  is  taken  seriously  ill.  The  men, 
through    their    leader,    Packard,    well    played    by    William    H. 


man  who  has  just  arrived  from  the  sea  on  a  tramp  ship. 
He  is  seeking  medical  attention  for  a  Collie  puppy,  injured 
by  an  automobile.  The  surgeon  who  is  attending  Gray  sees 
the  man  and  notes  the  resemblance  to  the  financier.  When 
he  finds  that  this  tramp  is  John  Gray's  brother,  he  explains 
the  critical  situation  of  the  financier's  affairs  and  asks  that 
David  take  his  brother's  place  and  deal  with  the  linesmen. 
So  David,  the  man  of  kindliness,  takes  his  heartless  brother's 
place. 

Meanwhile  a  group  of  rowdies  among  the  linesmen  have 
taken  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  unknown  to  Packard, 
are  cutting  the  wires  and  putting  the  city  in  darkness.  While 
Packard's  wife  awaits  her  husband's  return,  their  little  child 
falls  down  the  stairs  and  is  severely  injured.  The  frantic 
mother  rushes  out  to  call  a  doctor,  and  meets  David  Gray, 
on  his  way  to  his  brother's  house.  He  offers  to  care  for  the 
baby  until  Mrs.  Packard's  return.  So  when  Packard  comes 
home  a  little  while  later  he  is  astounded  to  see  the  man  he 
believes  to  be  John  Gray,  his  enemy,  aiding  the  doctor  who 
is  caring  for  his  baby.  Just  then,  while  the  doctor  is  per- 
forming a  delicate  operation  to  save  the  child,  the  wires 
leading  to  the  house  are  cut  and  the  lights  put  out.  The 
suspense  of  the  story  at  this  scene  is  well  worked  up.  By- 
candle  light  the  operation  is  finished.  Then,  over  the  un- 
conscious form  of  the  little  child  the  men  face  each  other. 
Packard  apologizes  for  the  work  of  the  rowdies,  who  will 
be  expelled  from  the  union.  And  David,  as  John  Gray,  grants 
Packard's  demands  for  his  men.  Then  he  goes  on  his  way 
to  John's  home. 

Here  he  again  proves  himself  a  good  angel.  Where  John, 
in  his  selfishness,  had  lost  the  love  of  his  little  boy  and  was 
losing  the  love  of  his  young  wife,  David,  through  his  kind- 
liness of  spirit,  puts  all  things  right  in  the  home.  When  the 
real  head  of  the  house  returns,  he  finds  his  wife  and  his  son 
reconciled  to  him.  Then  David,  the  wanderer,  again  puts 
on  his  old  clothes,  steals  away  from  the  house,  and  after 
calling  at  the  hospital  for  the  foundling  puppy,  he  goes 
back  to  the  tramp  ship  and  sails  away  to  sea,  having  given 
back  to  his  rich  brother  the  things  that  count  most,  the  love 
of  his  family  and  the  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 


Turner,  have  demanded  ail  answer  to  their  plea  that  evening 
and  consider  Gray's  illness  feigned  in  order  to  gain  time 
for  the  company.  At  this  crisis  in  affair-  there  appears  at 
the  hospital  to   which   Gray  has   been   taken,   a   wandi 


"Love's  Pilgrimage  to  America" 

Lulu    Glaser    in    Universal    Broadway    Feature.     Re- 
viewed by  Neil  G.  Caward 

T  ULU  GLASER,  dainty  comic  opera  star,  is  the  featured 
L  personage  in  the  Broadway  Universal  multiple  reel  feature 
scheduled  for  release  on  Monday,  January  10,  which  is  entitled 
"Love's  Pilgrimage  to  America." 

The  story,  though  amusing,  depends  for  the  greater  part  of 
its  comedy  on  the  sub-titles,  which  are  numerous  and  rather  a 
bit  too  much  of  a  slangy  nature.  Captain  Leslie  Peacocke  wrote 
the  scenario,  endeavoring  to  give  Miss  Glaser  an  opportunity  to 
do  the  sort  of  work  for  which  she  has  grown  famous  on  the 
musical  comedy  stage.  That  the  plan  was  effective  no  one  can 
doubt  who  sees  the  picture.  However,  "Love's  Pilgrimage  to 
America"  cannot  begin  to  rank  as  such  a  high  class  comedy  as 
did  its  predecessor,  "Father  and  the  Boys,"  which  seems  to 
be  considered  by  exhibitors  as  the  high  mark  in  multiple  reel 
productions  of  this  Universal  brand. 

Miss  Glaser  appears  as  Lulu,  the  daughter  of  an  English 
bishop,  in  love  with  and  lived  by  Tom,  the  nephew  of  the  duke 
of  Bilgewater.  Since  the  duke  and  the  bishop  are  not  on  friendly 
terms,  tin  love  affair  of  Lulu  and  Tom  bids  fair  to  be  wrecked, 
evi  n   before  il   -tarts. 

Rventually  the  two  decide  to  seek  their  fortune  in  America. 
Though  Tom  is  anxious  to  marry  Lulu  ere  they  leave  for 
America,  the  crafty  girl  insists  that  they  first  make  a  fortune. 
and  later  marry. 

Arriving  in  the  United  States.  Lulu  secures  a  position  as 
a  stenographer,  being  told  thai  she  will  have  nothing  to  do 
but  to  look  pretty.  Tom  starts  out  as  a  book  salesman,  and 
chances  to  call  at  the  office  where  Lulu  is  employed,  arriving 
just  in  time  to  rescue  her  from  the  embrace  of  her  employer. 
As  a  result  of  the  encounter  that  ensues,  Lulu  loses  her  job, 
and  (lie  two  next  secure  employment  as  maid  and  butler,  dis- 
covering to  their  consternation  that  "the  man  of  the  house" 
is   the   same   individual    from   whom   Turn  has   rescued   Lulu. 

Vfter  many  complications  and  again  losing  their  jobs,  Tom 
and  Lulu  wind  up  as  menials  in  a  hotel.  Lulu,  who  has  been 
Forced  i"  don  the  attire  of  a  bell-boy  to  escape  the  attentions  of 
a  French  cook,  chances  to  overhear  a  lawyer  friend  of 
loin's,  who  has  come  to  America  in  search  of  him,  declare 
(bat  the  duke  of  Bilgewater  is  dead,  and  that  Tom,  therefore. 
has  inherited  his  title  and  the   fortune.     She  quicklv  brings  Tom 


January   15,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


and  the  lawyer  together,  and  the  two  lose  no  time  in  returning 
to  England,  where  they  are  married  and  safely  established  in 
the    castle,    which   now   belongs   to    Tom. 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill 

Latest    Offerings    of    the    Ince    and    Griffith    Studios 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

THIS  week's  Triangle  offerings  at  the  Studebaker,  consist- 
ing of  "The  Wood  Nymph"  from  the  Fine  Arts  studio, 
"The  Conqueror"  from  the  Ince  studio  and  "Dizzy  Heights 
and  Daring  Hearts"  from  the  Keystone  studio,  is  real  enter- 
tainment de  luxe.  One  and  all  of  the  offerings  possess  merit 
and  which  you  will  like  best  depends  altogether  upon  the 
mood  you  are  in  when  you  visit  the  theater.  Frankly  this 
reviewer  is  inclined  to  believe  he  enjoyed  this  week's  Key- 
stone comedy  better  than  any  previous  offering  from  the 
home  of  fun,  but  others  will  perhaps  care  far  more  for  the 
other  two  productions. 

The  bill  is  opened  with  "Dizzy  Heights  and  Daring- 
Hearts"  and  the  picture  proves  to  be  just  what  the  title  indi- 
cates, for  much  of  the  action  occurs  in  the  clouds,  and  daring 
indeed  must  be  the  hearts  of  those  who  go  through  the  hair- 
raising  stunts  called  for  by  the  scenario.  Chester  Conklin  is 
the  featured  player  and  enacts  the  role  of  a  buyer  of  aero- 
planes for  a  foreign  government.  Dave  Anderson  is  the  rep- 
resentative of  a  rival  government  and  the  two  meet  at  the 
factory  of  the  aeroplane  company,  after  an  encounter  on  a 
train.  When  the  two  ascend  for  a  flight  things  begin  to  hap- 
pen and  even  Art  Smith  in  his  most  daring  flights  can't  begin 
to  hold  a  candle  to  the  performances  of  the  aeroplane  driven 
by  Conklin.  Chicago  fans  will  find  special  delight  in  seeing 
"Smiling  Billy"  Mason  in  his  Keystone  debut,  as  an  aeroplane 
demonstrator.  The  big  punch  of  the  picture  is  the  rescue  of 
Mason  from  the  top  of  a  two-hundred-foot  chimney  just 
before  the  chimney  is  blown  up  by  Conklin,  and  it's  wonder- 
fully realistic. 

Thomas  H.  Ince  presents  "The  Conqueror,"  starring 
Willard  Mack,  supported  by  Enid  Markey,  J.  Barney  Sherry 
and  Margaret  Thompson,  and  the  production,  though  at  times 
a  bit  slow  in  its  action,  works  up  to  such  a  big  situation  that 
the  audience  is  well  rewarded.  Mack  makes  of  Mark  Horn, 
the  "Wolf  of  Wall  Street,"  a  most  realistic  personage  and  gets 
over  successfully  even  the  smallest  traits  of  his  character. 
Horn  has  risen  to  wealth  from  the  slums  by  grim  determina- 
tion, and  consequently  is  received  by  the  smart  set  only 
because  they  dare  not  refuse  to  invite  him.  He  frankly  con- 
fesses to  Viva  Madison,  a  society  favorite  and  the  younger 
daughter  of  Wayne  Madison,  that  he  hates  the  snobs  of  the 
old  Knickerbocker  families  as  heartily  as  he  realizes  that  they 
despise  him. 

Horn  is  attracted  by  Viva  and  proposes,  only  to  be  re- 
fused with  scorn.  He  learns  that  her  father  is  buying  a  certain 
stock,  and,  throwing  all  his  resources  into  the  field,  he  ham- 


mother  compel  their  child  to  agree  to  the  marriage,  but  when 
Horn  calls  to  receive  her  consent  he  asks,  "How  much  does 
your  father  ask  for  you?"  and  so  angers  the  girl  that  she 
again  refuses  his  proposal.    Smilingly,  Horn  departs,  bulls  the 


market,  makes  Madison  richer  than  ever  before  and  then  sends 
Viva  a  note  saying  he  was  determined  to  ruin  her  father  if  she 
accepted  him,  but  that  her  second  refusal  permitted  him  to 
save  her  father.  Realizing  Horn  cannot  be  as  bad  as  he  has 
been  painted,  the  girl  telephones  him  an  invitation  to  lunch 
with  her,  and  it  is  easy  to  guess  that  ultimately  the  two  will 
find  happiness  together. 

Marie  Doro  makes  her  Triangle  debut  in  "The  Wood 
Nymph,"  produced  at  the  Fine  Arts  studios,  and  scores  a 
distinct  triumph.  She  appears  as  Daphne,  a  girl  raised  in  the 
most  remote  wilds  of  the  woodlands,  whither  her  mother  has 
fled  after  a  separation  from  her  father.  Daphne  has  grown 
to  young  womanhood  without  ever  seeing  a  man  and  dreams 
away  her  days  in  the  woods,  imagining  every  tree  to  contain 
a  god  or  a  wood  nymph.  She  dresses  like  a  Greek  goddess 
and  makes  a  most  winsome  picture  as  she  flits  through  the 
beautiful  woodland  backgrounds  that  form  the  setting  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  story. 

Finally,  one  day,  there  appears  before  her  William  Jonesr 
one  of  a  camping  party  that  has  established  itself  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Daphne's  home.  She  thinks  him  Apollo  at  first,  but  he 
finally  permits  her  to  call  him  "Sweetheart  Bill  Jones,"  much 
to  her  delight.  Later  Daphne  meets  David  Arnold,  another  of 
the  campers,  and  in  reality  her  brother.  When  a  forest  fire  is 
started  by  the  carelessness  of  two  tramps,  Daphne  and  her 
mother  flee  for  their  lives,  and  Daphne,  who  finally  falls 
exhausted,  is  rescued  by  Dave  and  carried  to  a  cabin  erected 
on  the  shores  of  a  lake.  Thither,  later,  come  the  others  and 
the  picture  ends  with  a  reunion  between  husband  and  wife 
and  the  delight  of  Daphne  in  securing  a  full-grown  brother 
so  unexpectedly.  The  scenes  showing  the  forest  fire  are 
unusually  well  handled  and  realistic,  while  the  photography 
throughout  the  whole  production  is  splendid.  Charles  West 
plays  William  Jones,  Wilfred  Lucas  is  Dave,  and  Franlc 
Campeau,  whose  work  in  "Jordan  Is  a  Hard  Road"  will  never 
be  forgotten,  appears  as  Daphne's  father,  though  he  has  little 
enough  to  do.  Cora  Drew  as  Mrs.  Arnold  makes  the  most  of 
her  role. 


"The  Wood  Nymph." 


mers  down  the  stock  until  Madison  faces  ruin.  When  the 
latter  seeks  Horn  and  asks  for  mercy  the  wolf  of  Wall  street 
declares  he  will  spare  Madison's  fortune  only  on  condition 
that  a  marriage  with  Viva  can  be  arranged.     The  father  and 


"Thou  Art  the  Man" 

Blue  Ribbon  Feature  Released  by  V.  L.  S.  E.  January 
3.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.   Kennedy 

THE  story  of  "Thou  Art  the  Man,"  the  Blue  Ribbon  Fea- 
ture released  January  3  by  V.  L.  S.  E.,  tells  of  a  man  in 
high  position  in  the  Indian  Civil  Service  who  uses  his  in- 
fluence over  a  subordinate  and  sends  him  to  a  post  in  the 
interior  which  means  certain  death  to  a  white  man,  so  as  to 
have  a  clear  field  to  win  the  affection  of  the  younger  man's 
wife.  In  general  theme  this  is  material  often  used  in  screen 
dramas.  However,  one's  impression  is  not  that  on  over- 
familiar  story  is  being  unfolded  while  "Thou  Art  the  Man"' 
holds  the  screen. 

The   material  is   good  and  the   splendid   treatment  given 


138 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


it  in  this  picture  makes  "Thou  Art  the  Man"  on  offering  of 
merit  and  one  which  presents  good  entertainment.  Perhaps 
the  most  pleasing  thing  is  the  smoothness  with  which  the 
story  is  told.  The  characters  are  convincing,  but  the  appeal 
of  the  picture  is  not  through  characters.  The  picture  is 
offered  in  six  reels  and  naturally  there  is  some  action  which 
is  not  essential  to  the  working  out  of  the  plot.  But  "Thou 
Art  the  Man"  carries  the  interest  consistently.  This  is  due 
largely  to  the  skillful  manner  in  which  the  play  has  been 
constructed. 

S.  Rankin  Drew  directed  the  picture.  ■  The  settings  are 
commendable  in  most  instances.  The  action  taking  place  at 
the  distant  and  fever-infested  swamps  of  India  has  an  ef- 
fective background  until  the  camera  is  turned  toward  the 
trail  which  approaches  the  Englishman's  hut,  when  a  tele- 
graph pole  carrying  several  wires  is  seen  above  the  under- 
growth. 

Mr.  Drew  plays  the  young  Englishman.  Gilbert  Raynor. 
who  after  years  of  saving,  sends  for  his  wife.  Shortly  after 
joining  him  in  India  she  is  taken  ill  and  the  physician  advises 
her  husband  that  she  must  be  taken  to  the  northern  hills. 
Raynor  applies  for  a  raise  in  salary  to  his  superior,  Hon. 
Irving  Marner.  The  latter  is  acquainted  with  Emily  and  is 
greatly  attracted  to  her,  so  he  offers  Raynor  a  post  in  the 
lowlands,  where  he  knows  no  white  man  can  live.  Raynor, 
though  aware  of  the  dangers,  accepts  the  position  becaues 
of  the  high  salary  it  pays. 

Emily,  accompanied  by  a  friend,  Mrs.  Tearle,  goes  to  the 
mountain  resort  and  Raynor  sets  out  for  his  new  post.  Mar- 
ner  follows    Emily   to   the   hotel   and   insinuates    himself  into 


a  Pullman  could  be  made  into  a  play  that  would  amuse 
greatly— wrote  the  subtitles  and  nearly  all  of  these  are 
good  for  a  broad  smile  at  least.  In  these  titles  the  author 
talks  directly  to  the  spectator.     He  admits  toward  the  end  of 


agraph's  "Thou  Art  the  Man." 


her  good  graces.  He  learns  that  Uaynor  shows  signs  of  the 
fatal  fever,  but  refuses  to  transfer  him.  For  this  the  district 
inspector,  MacDowell,  severs  his  connections  with  Mar- 
ner's  company.  After  showing  his  hand  to  Emily,  Marner's 
conscience  commences  to  trouble  him  and  he  suddenly  de- 
termines to  go  himself  and,  if  possible,  save  the  young  man. 
Raynor  is  saved  and  Marner  prefers  to  remain  at  the  post, 
and   ends    his    life    thus. 

Virginia  Pearson  as  Emily  and  Joseph  Kilgour  as  Mar- 
ner  have  the  other  important  roles  and  portray  them  well. 
'""i   "      per    ,i-     MacDowell    makes    a    rather    small     pari 

prominent,    and    Billie    Billings    as    Mrs.    Tearle    is    highly 


"Excuse  Me" 

First  Pathe-Savage  Production  Released  December  31 
Reviewed  by  Tom  Kennedy 

THE    till i>    adption    of    Unpen     Hughes'    comedy,    "Excuse 

1     Me,"  which  played   for  two  season   on    Broadway,  is  the 

|i  ase    presented    on    the    I  rold    Roo  tei 

picture   was  produced   by    Henry   \Y.  Savage 

and  Features  George  F.  Marion,  who  played  the  porter  in  the 

roduction,  in  a  casl  which  includes  Roberl  Fisher  and 

Vivian  Blackburn.     \a  a  Jtage  play,   "Excuse  Me"  was  a  real 

laughing    success,    which    i     something    thai    can    be    truthful!} 

the  picture. 

\lr    l  in  fhes,  the  discovert  -  ood  in    Pull 

man   cars— he   found   that   every  day   or  night 


the  fourth  reel  that  it  is  a  hard  job  finding  reasons  for  de- 
laying the  marriage  of  Marjorie  and  the  young  Lieutenant 
and  expresses  the  hope  that  he  can  hold  out  for  another  reel. 
His  hopes  and  the  spectator's  are  fulfilled,  for  the  last  reel 
contains  as  much  coined}',  if  not  more,  than  any  of  the  other 
four. 

"Excuse  Me"  is  a  succession  of  humorous  scenes  and  to 
attempt  to  pick  out  the  best  would  be  a  real  task.  There 
is  polite  comedy,  there  is  that  which  is  almost,  but  not  quite, 
slapstick,  and  then  again  there  are  a  few  incidents  which 
might  be  called  spicy.  But  it  is  always  clean  comedy  that 
"Excuse  Me"  presents.  The  play  has  practically  only  one 
setting  and  that  is  a  Pullman  car  attached  to  the  Overland 
Limited,  a  train  whose  main  points  are  Reno  and  Xew  York. 

George  Marion  as  the  overworked  porter  registers 
many  laughs  on  his  own  account  and  Robert  Fisher,  as  Jim 
Wellington,  who  is  traveling  to  Reno  to  divorce  the  wife 
he  adores  and  meets  her  on  the  same  train  with  the  same 
end  in  view,  is  prominent  for  more  reasons  than  his  expan- 
sive proportions.  Geraldine  O'Brien  is  a  pretty  Marjorie. 
and  Harrison  Ford  a  satisfying  lieutenant  bound  with  his 
bride  for  the  Philippines:  the  third  island  from  the  left, 
according  to  one  of  the  lines. 

Vivian  Blackburn  as  Mrs.  Wellington,  the  society  woman 
who  does  not  "appreciate  how  much  her  husband  appreciates 
her."  adds  much  to  the  general  effect.  The  other  charac- 
ters receive  able  handling.  "Excuse  Me"  lias  much  about  it 
that    is   novel   and    it   is   a   positive    laugh    producer. 


"The  Green-Eyed  Monster" 

Fox  Five-Reel  Feature,  by  Nixola  Daniels.     Released 
January  2.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris. 

Till',  terrible  effects  of  "the  green-eyed  monster"  of  jeal- 
ousy is  the  theme  of  this  film  drama,  in  which  Robert 
Mantel!  and  Genevieve  Hampei  are  shown.  The  story,  richly 
presented,  is  a  gruesome  yel  fascinating  one.     Mantcli  depicts 

For  u-  the  terrible  destruction  of  the  character  of  a  man 
ruled  by  one  dominating  passion.  \s  Raimond  de  Mornay. 
he  is  first  shown  as  .1  courteous  gentleman,  rather  elderly,  in 
love  with  bis  friend's  charming  daughter,  much  younger  than 
lie.  In  the  last  act  he  is  a  madman,  raxing'  his  horrible 
Storj     to   his    nephew,    whom    he    has    made    an    orphan. 

The   settings   .if   tlie   storj    are   beautiful    throughout,   from 
the  lovely  natural  backgrounds  in   the  cxterioi 

interiors,    richlj     set    with    oriental    furnishings.    111    the 

last.    The  use  in  explaining  the  story,  of  verses  emblazoned 

on  a  background  of  brocade  in  oriental  design  adds  .1  further 
touch   of   elegance   to   the   production. 

Raimond  de  Moruaj  loves  his  cousin  Claire.    "The  green- 
eyed   monster,"  jealousy,   fastens  its  hold  on   him   when  his 
brother,    Louis,    wins    Claire's   love.     The    tv 

married.      Raimond,   unable  to   conquer   his   love   and   jealousy, 

leaves   for    India.     There  he   lives   For  man}    years,  until   he 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


believes  that  he  is  cured.  Then  he  returns  home  again,  bring- 
ing with  him  many  rich  and  beautiful  curios  collected  in  his 
travels.  Most  of  them  are  brought  from  India,  and  among 
them  is  an  immense,  elaborately  carved  chest,  opened  by  a 
secret  spring,  the  location  of  which  Raimond  alone  knows. 

But  constant  association  with  the  beautiful  Claire 
awakens  Raimond's  sleeping  jealousy,  especially  since  he 
discovers  that  his  brother  is  unworthy  of  and  untrue  to  her. 
This  preys  on  his  mind  and  he  plots  against  his  brother's 
life.  A  clever  little  curio  brought  from  India  finally  becomes 
his  weapon  of  murder.  It  is  an  innocent  looking  little  ciga- 
rette case,  on  which  a  stork  is  perched.  By  pressing  one 
spring  the  stork  picks  up  a  cigarette  in  its  bill.  Raimond 
poisons  the  sharp  bill  of  the  bird  and  offers  the  curio  to 
Louis  in  such  a  way  that  Louis  pricks  his  thumb  with  the 
point  of  the  bird's  bill.  In  a  few  minutes-  the  poison  acts 
and  the  man  dies.  Raimond  then  secretes  the  body  in  the 
secret  chest.  There  it  lies  hidden  through  the  years,  and 
only  Claire  suspects  that  her  husband  was  murdered  by  his 
brother. 

After  the  death  of  the  brother,  Raimond  lives  at  Claire's 
home.  His  terrible  deed  is  unbalancing  his  mind,  and  when 
he  finds  that  Claire  suspects  him,  his  love  turns  to  hate,  and 
dragging  her  to  the  chest,  he  opens  it  and  shows  her  the 
dead  body  of  her  husband.  Claire  dies  of  the  terrible  shock, 
and  another  murder  may  be  charged  to  "the  green-eyed 
monster." 

Now  a  gloomy  old  man,  Raimond  lives  on  with  his 
nephew,  the  child  of  Claire  and  Louis.  At  last,  one  stormy 
night,  as  he  broods  over  his  horrible  crimes,  the  wild  impulse 
comes  to  him  to  unburden  his  mind  by  telling  the  young  boy. 


He  recites  the  story  to  the  terrified  child,  and  ends  it  by  lead- 
ing him  to  the  chest  with  its  guilty  secret.  He  opens  it 
and  shows  the  boy  the  body  of  Louis;  then,  after  becoming 
entirely  insane,  he  dies. 

Genevieve  Hamper  is  a  very  lovely  Claire,  while  Stuart 
Holmes  is  well  cast  as  t!he  charming  but  fickle  younger 
brother,  Louis.  As  Raimond,  Mantel  dominates  the  picture, 
fascinating  the  spectator  in  a  difficult,  strenuous  role.  The 
whole  production  is   excellent. 


"What  Will   People  Say?"  . 

Metro   Society   Drama  Featuring  Mme.   Petrova  Re- 
leased Jan.  3.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

RUPERT  HUGHES'  well-known  novel  dealing  with  the 
powerful  effect  which  public  opinion  exercises  over  our 
actions,  "What  Will  People  Say?"  has  been  effectively  filmed 
by  the  Popular  Plays  and  Players  Company  for  the  Metro 
program  with  Mme.  Petrova  in  the  leading  role.  The  pic- 
ture is  introduced  by  a  subtitle  which  asks  the  spectator 
if  the  question  "What  Will  People  Say?"  has  ever  pre- 
sented itself  when  certain  decisions  were  to  be  arrived  at  and 
whether  its  influence  has  been  for  good  or  evil. 

The  title  also  states  that  many  faltering  steps  are  guided 
by  this  fear  of  what  others  will  think  of  an  unwholesome 
deed,  or  an  action  which  "others"  have  decided  is  unwhole- 
some.     Which    is    very    true,    hypocrisy    and    conceit    can    be 


found  in  large  quantities  in  all  of  us.  Then  the  story  pro- 
ceeds to  show  in  an  interesting  and  dramatic  fashion  the 
effect  which  "what  others  will  think"  has  upon  the  lives  of 
a  group  of  people  who  are  true  to  life. 

Persis  Cabot,  a  society  girl  reared  in  luxury,  is  the  chief 
offender,  and  though  she  does  only  that  which  is  being  done 


Olga    Pc 


Will    People    Say?' 


every  day  and  will  continue  to  be  done,  she  pays  dearly  for 
not  being  honest  with  herself  merely  to  suit  the  others  who 
will  say  things.  This  part  is  played  by  Mme.  Petrova  com- 
mendably,  and  Fritz  de  Lint  as  Harvey  Forbes,  the  poor  man, 
and  Fraunie  Fraunholz  as  Willie  Enslee  support  her  excel- 
lently. Fraunholz  plays  his  part  with  rare  skill.  Enslee  is 
more  or  less  of  a  cad  but  as  played  by  this  actor,  he  is  a 
cad  such  as  we  meet  in  life  more  often  than  on  the  stage  or 
in  pictures. 

Persis  does  not  love  Enslee,  but  he  is  rich.  She  loves 
Forbes  passionately,  but  he  is  poor.  Her  father  is  in  dire 
need  of  financial  and  and  she  cannot  believe  that  love  will 
be  more  to  her  than  the  things  money  will  buy.  But  most 
of  all  she  ponders,  and  fearfully,  on  the  thought,  "What  Will 
People  Say?"  with  the  result  that  she  marries  Enslee.  In 
a  few  months  Enslee  returns  to  his  former  mistress  and 
upon  learning  this,  Persis  decides  that  she  will  accept  the 
love   which   Forbes   offers. 

Though  she  has  promised  her  father  never  to  see  Forbes 
again,  because  he  became  horribly  excited  every  time  the 
thought,  "What  Will  People  Say,"  flashed  upon  his  mind,  she 
phones  the  young  officer  to  come  to  her.  They  agree  to 
marry  as  soon  as  Persis  can  divorce  Enslee.  The  latter 
walks  into  the  room,  and  seeing  them  embrace,  grows  in- 
sanely jealous.  After  Forbes  leaves  he  stabs  Persis  with  a 
paper  cutter.  This  becomes  public  and  the  papers  are  filled 
with  the  affair  up  to  the  time  Persis  and  Forbes  marry, 
which   is   the   close   of   the   picture. 


"The  Other  Girl" 

Raver     Film     Corporation's     Adaption     of     Augustus 
Thomas'  Play.   Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THURSDAY,  December  13,  was  the  twelfth  anniversary  of 
I  "The  Other  Girl,"  the  successful  play  by  Augustus  Thomas, 
and  in  celebration  of  the  event,  the  Raver  Film  Corporation 
gave  a  pre-distribution  showing  of  the  film  version  of  the 
play  at  the  Wurlitzer  theater,  where  it  played  to  a  large 
and  enthusiastic  audience.  Of  course,  invited  audiences  al- 
ways applaud,  it  seems  to  be  a  sense  of  duty  with  them,  but 
many  felt  that  "The  Other  Girl"  was  deserving  of  the  hearty 
outward  approval  with  which  it  was  received. 

"The  Other  Girl"  is  an  upretentious  offering  and  it  has 
qualities  which  should  make  it  a  popular  one.  It  was  di- 
rected by  Percy  Winter  from  the  scenario  by  George  D. 
Proctor.  James  J.  Corbett,  ex-pugilist,  who  since  his  retire- 
ment from  the  ring  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  the  his- 
trionic art,  is  cast  as  Frank  Sheldon,  known  in  sporting  circles 
as  "Kid  Garvey,"  champion  boxer.  He  does  some  boxing, 
thus  displaying  his  mastery  in  the  manly  art.  Corbett  un- 
doubtedly adds  much  interest  to  the  picture  and  even  those 
who_  know  or  care  nothing  about  this  particular  sport,  will 
admire  his  skill  in  boxing,  just  as  they  admire  men  who  pos- 
sess exceptional  skill  in  other  sports  and  professions. 

The  story  is  built  around  "Kid  Garvey"  and  tells  of  his 


140 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


determination  to  win  a  girl  above  his  social  station.  It  is 
a  thoroughly  enjoyable  story  which  the  Raver  Film  Corpo- 
ration has  produced  in  an  effective  manner.  There  is  much 
humorous  action  and  the  comedy  is  well  blended  with  that 
which  is  dramatic.  The  scenes  staged  at  Muldoon's  Health 
Farm,  with  the  ex-champion  wrestler  figuring  in  many  of 
them,  add  a  colorful  touch  to  the  story. 

Through  the  Reverend  Bradford,  "Kid  Garvey,"  whose 
real  name  is  Frank  Sheldon,  meets  a  society  girl  who  at- 
tracts him  greatly.  Sheldon  makes  no  mention  of  the  fact 
that  he  is  the  famous  Kid  Garvey  until  the  minister  gets 
his  name  in  the  papers  as  being  a  close  friend  of  the  cham- 
pion. When  the  girl's  friend  learns  this  she  does  all  in  her 
power  to  part  Sheldon  and  Catherine  who  are,  by  this  time, 
in  love.  Sheldon  dominates  the  situation,  however,  and  in 
the  end  wins  Catherine  and  the  approval  his  society  friends. 

"The  Other  Girl"  is  a  wholesome  screen  play  that  is 
most  entertaining  and  the  Raver  Film  Corporation  can  well 
be  proud  of  it.  Prominent  in  the  cast  are  Paul  Gilmore. 
who  does  much  with  his  part  as  the  Reverend  Bradford, 
and  Rawland  Ratcliffe  as  Reginald  Lumley.  Becky  Bruce 
is  pleasing  as  Catherine  Fulton  and  Edithe  Luckett  is  effec- 
tive as  Estelle  Kitteredge. 

There   is  much  humor   scattered  throughout   the   picture. 


man.  To  be  rid  of  him  June  resorts  to  a  bit  of  violence,  but 
it  turns  out  well  for  some  dust  on  his  clothes  is  all  that 
results  from  a  fall  or  a  push   down   some  steps. 

Frank  Mayo  makes  an  entirely  convincing  and  pleasing 


The  Kid"  visits  Muldoon's  health  farm  in  "The  Other  Girl." 


and  the  characters  are  so  interesting  and  the  acting  so  nat- 
ural that  it  is  easy  to  see  all  these  things  should  make  "The 
Other  Girl"  a  popular  attraction. 


"In  Strange  Attire" 

Chapter  Four  of  the  Pathe-Balboa  Serial,  "The  Red 
Circle."     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  fourth  chapter  of  Pathe's  serial,  "The  Red  Circle," 
1  opens  with  the  scene  which  brought  the  previous  chapter 
to  a  close.  This  shows  June  and  Lamar  attempting  to  break 
into  the  garage  which  Mary,  dressed  as  the  mysterious  lady 
who  stole  the  broker's  notes,  has  sought  as  a  hiding  place 
from  the  detective  whose  suspicions  of  June  she  seeks  to 
divert.  Thus  the  picture  opens  with  a  situation  as  inter- 
esting as  one  could  desire,  and  from  this  point  on  the  sus- 
pens<    is   maintained   consistently. 

Ruth  Roland,  as  June,  dons  the  conventional  male  attire 
in  order  to  secure  a  bit  of  incriminating  evidence  from  the 
police.  When  a  young  lady  looks  attractive  in  man's  clothes 
she  usu.tlU  looks  very  attractive,  and  so  it  is  with  Miss 
Roland.  The  title  of  the  Episode  is  "In  Strange  Attire"  and 
before  the  picture  ends  this  attire  almost  brings  about  a 
greal  deal  of  trouble  for  June. 

When  Mary  finds  that  her  coat  is  caught  in  the  door  she 
slips  from  it  and  leaves  thi  garage  by  the  small  door  at 
the  rear  of  the  building.  When  Lamar  finally  opens  the 
door  and    learns   thai    the   mysterious   lady    has   disappeared 

he     searches     the     grounds,    but     unsuccessfully.       During    his 

absence  June  removes  the  label  from  the  coat,  so  when  Lamai 
ii    i     fori  ed   to  a. hint    thai    the   woman   is   ,1   ,  K\  er 

thief.      He    takes    it    to    the    police    and    orders    that    the    city    be 

combed  in  an  effort  to  find  the  maker. 

June  realizes  that  the  only  way  to  save  herself  is  to 
regain    thl     COal    and    she   then    dresses   as   a    man.    pretends    she 

tailor    and    receives    permission    from    the    chief    to 
take    it   to  a  supposed  shop,  bul   in  company  with  a  police- 


ft     i    * 

•  I'd* 

PA 

£L  j| 

Scene  from    "In    Strange    Attir 


chapter  fout 


of   -The    Red    Circle." 


detective  of  Max  Lamar,  and  Corenne  Grant  as  Mary  does 
commendably.  The  interior  setting  most  noteworthy  in  this 
release  is  the  club  room,  which  resembles  the  smoking  room 
of  a  men's  club  more  closely  than  those  we  are  usually  given 
in  pictures.  Sherwood  McDonald  as  the  director  is  con- 
tributing his  fair  share  to  realize  the  possibilities  of  a  story 
which  thus  far  has  offered  unusual  opportunities  for  interest 
compelling  action. 


"Life's  Whirlpool" 

World   Film   Corporation  Feature  in   Five   Parts 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

UOLBROOK  BLINN  is  starred  and  Fania  Marinoff  is 
1  *  featured,  in  this  five-reeler.  So  they  stand  at  the  begin- 
ning, but  as  the  story  gets  to  going,  Miss  Marinoff  catches 
up  with  the  star,  passes  him  and  at  the  finish  leaves  him 
several   lengths   behind. 

She  is  a  wonder,  comparable  to  Nazimova  at  her  best. 
The  production,  which  shows  the  seamy  side  of  life  with  all 
its  grease  spots  and  all  its  squalor,  is  a  powerful  drama.  It. 
is  a  relief  from  the  society  drama,  and  is  more  than  usually 
acceptable  because  there  are  not  enough  good  films  which 
deal  with  the  vicissitudes  of  those  unfortunates  whose  minds 
are  benighted  by  lack  of  educational  opportunities. 

Those  who  for  one  reason  or  another  are.  or  have  been, 
obliged  to  live  in  poverty  and  filth,  will  understand  the  real 


,■<■.„•  from  "1 


inner  meaning  of  this  production  much  better  than  those  who 
wear  silk  stockings,  and  have  never  gone  hungry.  Miss 
M  oil,, it  has  a  big  reputation  on  the  continent  of  Europe  and 
this  reputation  will  undoubted!}   be  increased  as  she  becomes 


January   15,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


141 


better  known  in  America.  This  effusion  is  not  to  detract  in 
any  way  from  Mr.  Blinn's  portrayal  of  an  obfuscated  wage 
earner.  It  may  be  that  Miss  Marinoff  had  a  better  part  than 
his,  but  it  looked  a  good  deal  as  though  Mr.  Blinn  was  up 
against  real  genius.  Nobody  would  ask  to  have  Mr.  Blinn's 
role  of  a  sweaty  toiler  played  any  better  than  he  played  it. 

The  entire  production  was  sweaty.  It  wreaks  with  the 
smells  of  poverty,  and  the  great  unwashed.  This  is  so 
realistic  that  imagination  can  do  the  rest.  But  there  is  no 
fault  to  find  with  that.  It  is  life  and  truth.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  consistent  of  productions.  The  detail  has  been  care- 
fully thought  out,  and  there  are  no  false  notes  in  any  part. 

The  story  was  taken  from  "McTeague,"  by  Frank  Norris, 
who  also  wrote  "The  Pit."  The  lesson  it  conveys  is  that 
greed  kills  us  all,  in  different  ways.  Each  of  the  three  prin- 
cipals meet  death  through  covetousness  of  the  same  money. 
The  miserly  wife  who  hoards  it  is  killed  for  it.  'The  husband 
who  kills  her,  loses  his  life  at  the  hands  of  his  false  comrade, 
who  in  turn  loses  his  own  life  through  the  very  same  gold. 
A  goodly  portion  of  credit  is  surely  due  to  the  producer, 
Barry  O'Neil.  His  work  rings  true,  and  convinces  at  every 
step.  There  are  splendid -camera  effects,  and  many  strong 
scenes  between  Miss  Marinoff  and  Mr.  Blinn.  In  spite  of 
its  sordidness,  it  is  one  of  the  best  features  in  many  weeks, 
and  undoubtedly  ranks  with  the  best  production  that  the 
World   Film   has   thus   far   offered. 


Lasky  Gets  Marie  Doro  for  Long  Term 

All  reports  and  rumors  as  to  the  screen  future  of 
Miss  Marie  Doro,  one  of  the  best  known  actresses  on 
the  American  stage  and  a  star  under  the  management 
of  the  late  Charles  Frohman,  were  put  to  rest  this  week 
with  the  return  to 
New  York  of  Samuel 
Goldfish,  executive 
head  of  the  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  Feature  Play- 
Company,  who  an- 
nounced that  the 
Lasky  firm  had  se- 
cured the  services  of 
the  star  for  a  period 
of  years.  The  con- 
tract will  not  go  into 
force  immediately,  as 
Miss  Doro  will  com- 
plete another  produc- 
tion for  the  Famous 
Players  Film  Com- 
pany. It  will  be  a 
picturization  of  "Di- 
plomacy," and  will 
be  a  Paramount  re- 
lease. Of  interest  to 
hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  motion  pic- 
ture enthusiasts  is  the  announcement  that  by  her  appear- 
ance in  productions  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play 
Company,  Miss  Doro  as  a  favorite  continues  on  the 
screens  of  Paramount  theaters.  She  already  has  acted 
in  two  Paramount  pictures,  the  Famous  Players'  pro- 
ductions of  "The  Morals  of  Marcus"  and  "The  White 
Pearl,"  and  she  has  just  completed  a  Fine  Arts  photo- 
play entitled,  "The  Wood  Nymph." 

The  New  York  stage  will  not  see  Miss  Doro  again 
for  a  long,  long  time.  She  will  act  in  all  the  Lasky  pro- 
ductions at  the  studio  in  California.  This  winter  will 
be  the  first  season  in  years  she  has  not  starred  on  Broad- 
way. Last  winter  she  co-starred  in  "Diplomacy"  with 
William  Gillette  and  Blanche  Bates.  Marie  Doro  brings 
to  the  screen  a  knowledge  of  the  art  of  acting  possessed 
by  few  stars  of  the  stage.  Her  training  under  the  Froh- 
man mangement  extended  over  a  period  of  years  during 


which  she  appeared  as  leading  woman  with  Mr.  Gillette — 
later  to  star  with  him — and  a  star  with  Charles  Cherry. 
She  is  a  beautiful  American  type,  dark  complexion  and 
slightly  built.  One  of  her  biggest  stage  successes  was 
the  title  role  of  "Oliver  Twist"  in  the  all-star  revival 
several  years  ago.  No  announcement  as  yet  has  been 
made  as  to  the  role  in  which  Miss  Doro  will  make  her 
debut  as  a  Lasky  star. 


TRIANGLE  ENGAGES  "ROXIE" 

Signs    Charley   and    Syd    Chaplin    for    New   Triangle 

Comedies  and  Employs  Rothapfel  to  Manage 

Knickerbocker  Theater 

Henry  McMahon,  of  the  Triangle's  publicity  de- 
partment, is  authority  for  the  statement  that  F.  L. 
Rothapfel,  famous  New  York  exhibitor,  has  just  been 
appointed  manager  of  the  Knickerbocker  theater  in 
New  York  City,  which  is  the  house  operated  by  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation  as  the  de  luxe  salesroom 
for  its  pictures.  Mr.  Rothapfel  takes  charge  of  the 
Knickerbocker  on  January  10,  when  he  returns  from 
Boston  where  he  has  been  making  many  changes  in  the 
big  theater  in  that  city  which  Triangle  will  operate  as 
one  of  its  show  houses. 

Mr.  Rothapfel  completed  his  engagement  with  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation  with  the  conclusion  of  the 
Pittsburgh  meeting  on  November  24  last,  and,  need- 
less to  say,  in  assuming  charge  of  the  Knickerbocker 
theater  in  New  York  will  put  into  effect  the  many 
original  ideas  for  which  he  is  noted,  presenting  the 
various  Triangle  offerings  in  the  de  luxe  manner  for 
which  they  are  fitted.  Surely  Triangle  films,  presented 
under  Rothapfel  stage  management  and  accompanied 
by  a  typical  Rothapfel  musical  arrangement,  will  be 
hard  to  beat. 

An  announcement  of  almost  as  much  if  not  more 
importance  also  comes  from  Mr.  McMahon  in  the  state- 
ment that  the  two  Chaplins,  Charley  and  Syd,  will 
shortly  be  presented  to  the  public  in  comedies  of  an 
entirely  new  vein,  under  a  new  Triangle  brand.  A 
more  complete  announcement  with  regard  to  the  com- 
ing Chaplin  offerings  will  be  made  in  the  next  issue 

Of  MOTOGRAPHY. 


Rothacker  Injures  Hand 

Watterson  R.  Rothacker,  president  of  the  Indus- 
trial Motion  Picture  Company,  had  his  right  hand 
severely  injured  on  the  evening  of  December  27, 
smashing  one  of  his  fingers.  The  surgeon,  at  first, 
thought  it  necessary  to  amputate,  but  in  the  effort  to 
save  the  finger  it  was  stitched  up  and  began  healing 
so  rapidly  that  no  amputation  was  necessary.  Mr. 
Rothacker  is  confined  to  his  home  on  Chicago's  North 
Side,  but  he  expects  to  be  out  by  January  2. 


Double  Theater  Opened  in  Detroit 

With  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  feature,  "The  Turn  of  the 
Road,"  the  long  heralded  Duplex  theater  in  Detroit 
has  been  opened.  This  house,  as  the  name  indicates, 
has  a  double  auditorium  with  two  shows  in  progress 
at  the  same  time.  While  the  feature  is  being  shown 
in  one  part  of  the  house,  the  short  films  are  being  seen 
in  the  other.  Then  the  bill  is  switched  so  that  without 
changing  seats  the  spectators  may  see  the  entire  bill. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo.  3. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


'  W»P/ 

/ 

\ 

A    German    freight,. 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brevities  of  the  Business 


PACIFIC    COAST    NEWS 

By  "Capt.  Jack"  Poland 

New  Year's  Eve  was  appropriately 
celebrated  by  the  film  fraternity  of  Los 
Angeles  and  Southern  California  with  a 
grand  ball  and  celebration  given  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Southern  California 
Exhibitors'  Association  at  Shrine  Audi- 
torium. A  vast  number  of  people  were 
present,  including  many  notables  in  film 
circles,  prominent  people  of  the  Golden 
State  and  representative  visitors.  The 
ball  was  pronounced  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  social  affairs  of  the  western 
motion  picture  industry.  Seth  D.  Per- 
kins, manager  of  the  Garrick  theater, 
handled  the  big  event,  acting  as  director- 
general.  He  is  responsible  in  part  for 
much  of  its  success.  Harry  Hammond 
Beall  handled  the  publicity  end  and  to  his 
original  ideas  the  people  of  the  screen 
fell  like  magic. 

The  $250,000  studios  of  the  New  York 
Motion  Picture  Corporation  were  for- 
mally dedicated  by  Thomas  H.  Ince,  di- 
rector-general of  Inceville  at  Culver  City 
New  Year's  Eve  by  a  grand  ball  and  re- 
ception given  under  the  personal  direc- 
tion of  Mr.  Ince  and  the  Culver  City 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  The  entire  execu- 
tive staffs  of  the  New  York  Motion  Pic- 
ture Corporation,  Griffith,  Fine  Arts  and 
Keystone  organizations  participated  in 
the  big  affair,  as  well  as  hundreds  of  in- 
vited guests  from  other  studios,  bankers, 
financiers,  commercial  operators,  promo- 
ters and  social  leaders  of  Los  Angeles  and 
Southern  California,  some  5,000  people 
being  present  during  the  evening.  The 
ball  and  reception  proved  notable  and 
added  new  bonds  of  friendship  between 
the  people  of  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try and  the  representative  men  and 
women  of  other  professions  and  occupa- 
tions. The  opening  of  this  new  studio 
adds  another  cog  in  the  wheel  of  pros- 
perity credited  to  the  film  industry. 

As  master  of  ceremonies,  aided  by  his 
splendid  staff  of  executives,  directors, 
stars  and  players,  Thomas  H.  Ince  per- 
sonally extended  cordial  greetings  and 
welcome  to  thousands  of  guests. 

On  January  28  at  Rutherford's  beauti- 
ful dancing  pavilion  the  Static  Club  of 
y\merica,  composed  of  cameramen,  of 
Los  Angeles  and  the  great  west,  with  a 
number  of  traveling  members,  will  give 
its  third  annual  ball.  The  affair  prom- 
ises to  be  the  most  brilliant  semi-exclu- 
sive motion  picture  affair  of  the  1915-16 
social  season  as  dainty  Anna  Held,  the 
Morosco  film  queen,  and  Thomas  H. 
Ince,  director-general  of  Inceville,  will 
lead  the  grand  march.  Ralph  Merollo, 
of  the  Universal,  the  social  leader  of  the 
Static  Club,  is  chairman  of  the  ball  and 
reception  committee,  with  Harry  Ger- 
sted  of  Selig,  and  Charles  Rosher  as 
aides.  This  assures  the  success  of  the 
cameramen's  ball. 

Mabel  Normand,  Roscoe  Arbuckle, 
Minta  Durfee  and  Cal  St.  John,  with 
other  notable  stars  and  producers  of  the 
Keystone  Film  Company,  left  Los  An- 
geles on  a  special  trip  to  New  York  last 
week.  The  comedians  were  given  a  rous- 
ing   send-off    reception    at    the    depot,    a 


WHAT  DO  YOU 
KNOW? 

This  is  addressed  to  every  reader 
of  Motography — every  person  in- 
terested in  the  motion  picture  busi- 
ness. What's  new  around  your 
office  or  theater  or  studio?  Write 
and  tell  us  what  YOU  know.  Let's 
hear  from   YOU— 

ALL  OF  YOU 


large  party  of  Keystoners,  headed  by  Di- 
rector-General Mack  Sennett,  bidding 
them  farewell  and  good  luck.  The  last 
instructions  received  were  to  boost  Los 
Angeles,  Keystone-made  pictures  and  the 
Triangle  program.  Friends  of  the  stars 
who  gathered  at  the  depot  to  say  good- 
bye were  Dell  Henderson,  Hampton  Del 
Ruth,  Mack  Sennett,  Charlie  Murray, 
Louise  Fezanda,  George  Stout,  Mack 
Swain,  Vivian  Edwards,  Guy  Woodward, 
Fred  Mace,  Walter  Reed,  Charles  Fais, 
Chester   Conklin  and   Frederick   Palmer. 

Carl  Laemmle,  president  of  the  Univer- 
sal Film  Manufacturing  Company,  ar- 
rived this  week  from  New  York  and  is 
enjoying  the  holidays  while  inspecting 
the  many  improvements  at  Universal 
City,  the  $1,000,000  studio  of  the  big  or- 
ganization he  heads.  He  is  delighted 
with  conditions  as  he  finds  them,  and 
co-operating  with  his  executive  heads, 
directors  and  others,  plans  many  inno- 
vations and  added  facilities  for  produc- 
tions for  the  Universal  program  of  1916. 

Mack  Sennett  has  gained  the  new  title 
of  the  "Laugh  Wizard."  His  Keystone 
productions  are  taking  strong  hold  every- 
where. 

Charlie  Chaplin,  the  Essanay  hero  of 
comedy,  continues  to  enjoy  a  great  pres- 
tige as  an  amusement  purveyor  and 
social  lion. 

David  W.  Griffith,  directing  head  of 
Fine  Arts  Films,  is  deeply  engaged  in 
producing  a  New  Year  piece  de  resist- 
ance that  will  add  to  the  fame  of  the  pro- 
ducer and  to  the  Triangle  program. 

Thomas  H.  Ince  is  now  known  as  the 
producer  par  excellence,  since  he  gained 
such  splendid  results  with  Billie  Burke 
in  "Peggy,"  and  he  is  now  some  song- 
bird himself. 

"Pathe"  Lehrmann,  the  L-Ko  comedy 
king,  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  busiest  men 
in  the  film  profession  on  the  coast.  He 
promises  many  extra-special  laugh  mak- 
ing comedies  for  1916. 

E.  D.  Horkheimer,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Balboa  organization,  is  a 
hustler  for  publicity.  He  never  overlooks 
a  chance  to  get  a  few  words  in  about 
the  beauties  of  Southern  California  as  a 
production   center  and  Balboa. 


moral  pictures  to  be  shown  in  his  the- 
ater will  be  subject  to  both  fine  and  im- 
prisonment, and  may  have  his  theater 
license  revoked.  The  film  picture,  "Three 
Weeks,"  has  twice  been  refused  by  the 
managers  of  the  picture  houses,  who  are 
taking  no  chances  of  offending  the  mayor- 
censor. 

Missouri. 
The  Gem  Theater,  Sixth  and  Market 
streets,  St.  Louis,  has  recently  been  re- 
opened, after  having  been  closed  for  the 
past  eighteen  months.  The  theater  is 
equipped  with  an  automatic  ticket  seller. 
G.  B.  Hall  will  manage  the  theater. 


MIDDLE   WEST   NEWS 

By  William  Noble. 
Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma  City  has  appointed  its  mayor 
as  the  official  motion  picture  censor. 
Hereafter  any  manager  who  permits  im- 


Film   Market  Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.   D.   Small  of  A.  E.   Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,  Inc 94  100> 

Biograph   Company    40  52 

Famous  Players  Film  Co.  .  .    88  112 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref . . .   38  45 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  pref....   43  47 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   com...   43  47 
No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  pref.  .  .    94 

No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  com.  .  .    70  79 

New  York  M.   P.  Corp 47  55 

Thanhouser  Film  Corp 3  3%* 

Triangle    Film    Corp 6<4  6%* 

Universal  Film  Mfg.  Co....  180 

Vogue   Films,   Inc 125 

World   Film  Corp 2i/2  3ya* 

*Par  $5. 

North  American  Film  Corporation. — 
Notice  has  been  given  by  this  company 
to  the  effect  that  a  portion  of  the  pre- 
ferred stock  (which  was  originally  sold 
at  par  with  100  per  cent  in  common 
stock)  is  to  be  redeemed  at  110.  It  is 
also  understood  that  three-fourths  of  the 
year's  dividend,  or  5%  Per  cent,  will  be 
paid,  and,  as  the  common  stock  has  re- 
cently sold  between  70  and  80,  this 
would  represent  about  80  points  profit  on 
original  purchase.  The  preferred  stock 
rapidly  advanced  in  the  last  three  or  four 
weeks  from  75  to  a  little  under  par,  and 
a  purchase  at  even  par  would  represent  a 
profit  of  10  points  on  a  portion  of  the 
purchase. 

World  Film  Corporation. — Scored  a 
low  record  of  2j4.  It  is  somewhat  diffi- 
cult to  reconcile  the  rosy  prophecies 
made  for  this  company  with  the  down- 
ward tendency  of  the  stock. 

Vogue  Films,  Inc.— The  releases  of  this 
company  started  on  the  scheduled  date — 
December  27 — and  two  or  more  different 
groups  of  actors  and  actresses  will  fur- 
nish the  weekly  requirements,  either  in 
the  form  of  one  two-reel  release  or  two 
one-reel  releases.  There  has  been  a  spir- 
ited demand  in  all  of  the  large  centers 
for  these  films. 

Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany.— Claims  to  have  had  the  best  year 
thus  far  in  its  history.  Quotations  on 
this  stock  are  largely  nominal,  as  no 
stock  has  been  offered  on  the  market  for 
some  time. 

New  York  Motion  Picture  Corpora- 
tion.— Still  continues  to  be  offered  down, 
but  the  bidding  is  very  reluctant. 


144 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


CHICAGO  GOSSIP 

Abe  Warner,  the  man  who  started  the 
feature  exchange  business,  has  been  a 
Chicago  visitor,  helping  John  E.  Willis 
get  the  Chicago  office  of  the  New  Film 
Corporation  started  off  right.  The  stock 
of  films  will  arrive  in  Chicago  at  the  end 
of  this  week.  Mr.  Warner  leaves  for 
Minneapolis  Thursday,  January  6,  to 
open  a  branch  in  that  city,  after  which 
he  will  go  to  Kansas  City  for  the  same 
purpose.  Mr.  Warner  says  he  has  now 
opened  offices  in  Boston,  New  York  City, 
Cleveland,  O.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  and  Chicago,  and  intends  to 
open  branches  in  Minneapolis,  Minn., 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
Dallas,  Tex.,  and  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Santa  Claus  brought  Harry  Weiss  a 
new  office  on  the  fourth  floor  of  the  Mai- 
lers building,  where  a  large  anteroom  is 
fitted  up  in  Spanish  leather  furniture.  An 
information  booth  gives  exhibitors  any- 
thing they  want  to  know  regarding  the 
past,  present  and  future  releases  on  the 
Metro  program.  Even  the  services  of  a 
stenographer  are  at  the  command  of  any- 
one who  visits  the  office,  regardless  of 
whether  they  are  customers  or  not.  A 
peep  into  the  office  of  Harry  Weiss  re- 
veals a  luxurious  office  fitted  up  in  ma- 
hogany and  blue.  A  well  appointed 
auditing  department  and  a  shipping  room 
that  is  a  model  in  itself  finish  out  this 
handsome  suite  of  offices.  The  Metro 
forces  keep  on  plugging  ahead,  with  the 
result  that  in  six  months  Metro  has 
grown  from  the  smallest  to  one  of  the 
largest  feature  film  exchanges  in  Chicago. 
Close  to  five  hundred  exhibitors  each 
week  are  taken  care  of  in  the  states  of 
Illinois  and  Indiana.  One  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  of  the  six  hundred  and  forty- 
six  exhibitors  in  Chicago  use  Metro 
service.  In  accomplishing  this  wonder- 
ful growth,  Harry  Weiss  has  earned  for 
himself  from  the  exhibitors  the  proof 
that  he  did  it  "all  over  again."  for  this  is 
the  second  exchange  within  two  years 
that  Harry  Weiss  has  forced  to  enlarge 
under  his  management. 

The  following  were  visitors  at  the 
Chicago  office  of  Metro  last  week:  Julius 
Nausau,  Columbia  theater,  Indiana  Har- 
bor, Ind.;  Mr.  Ourbridge,  Park  theater, 
Sycamore.  111.;  O.  C.  Taylor,  Dreamland 
theater,  Kewaunee,  111.;  J.  E.  Miller, 
F.lite  theater.  Waukegan,  and  Mr.  Fred- 
erick, Capitol  theater,   Pekin,  111. 

William  Weiss,  formerly  salesman  for 
the  World  Film  Corporation's  Chicago 
office,  has  been  added  to  the  crack  sales 
force  of  the  Chicago  office  of  Metro. 

The  New  Regent  theater,  of  Indianap- 
olis has  been  signed  up  for  a  three-day 
niii.  for  a  first-run  showing,  through  the 
Chicago  Metro  office.  The  New  Regenl 
>i  autiful  new-  house  n hich  seats 
1,200  people,  and  under  the  terms  of  the 
contract  neither  exchange  nor  exhibitor 
can  cancel  service  for  one  year,  The  New 
Regent  is  the  fourteenth  house  in  Indian- 
o  avail  itself  of  Metro  service 
from  <  Ihicago. 

The   Boston  o    has  re- 

turned to  the  daily  change  feature  policy. 
In  one  day  last   week   four  houses  in   the 

loop   district   of    Chicago    (four    houses 

Within       four      Mocks      of      each      other), 

namely,  the  Star,  the  Boston,  the  Castle 

and    the    (  trpheuin,    wen-    showing     Metro 

pictures,  anil  it  certain!}  looked  like 
M<  tro  day  in  the  loop. 


NOTES  FROM  ALL  OVER 

Little  Violet  Axel  has  been  engaged  by 
the  Ivan  Film  Corporation  to  play  the 
part  of  the  baby  in  its  forthcoming  pro- 
duction of  "A  Fool's  Paradise." 


)f  Will- 
v  York, 
'esenta- 


A.  W.  Howell,  auditor  of  exchanges 
of  the  Metro,  spent  most  of  the  past 
week  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Howell,  whose 
headquarters  are  in  Pittsburgh,  visits  the 
Chicago  office  once  every  two  months. 
From  Chicago  he  left  for  Kansas  City 
and  the  Des  Moines  office  of  this  firm. 

I.  Leon  Klatsky,  formerly  of  the  World 
Film  Corporation,  departed  last  week  for 
St.  Louis  to  take  care  of  the  Blue  Bird 
Film  Company  of  that  city. 

Colin  Campbell,  the  dean  of  the  Selig 
directors,  came  from  Los  Angeles  to  Chi- 
cago Monday.  January  3,  for  a  visit  with 
William  N.  Selig,  president  of  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company.  Mr.  Campbell  re- 
cently completed  the  production  of 
"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  a  Selig  Red 
Seal  Play,  written  by  James  Oliver  Cur- 
wood  and  featuring  Tyrone  Power  and 
Kathlyn  Williams,  supported  by  Guy 
Oliver  and  Eugenie  Besserer,  together 
with  an  all-star  cast  of  players.  Mr. 
Campbell  has  been  consulting  with  Mr. 
Selig  regarding  the  forthcoming  produc- 
tion of  "The  Crisis,"  which,  it  is  confi- 
dently expected,  will  be  one  of  the  most 
spectacular  and  interesting  pictureplay 
dramas  ever  shown. 

John  E.  Willis  is  now  directing  the 
destinies  of  the  Chicago  office  of  the  New 
Film  Corporation  on  the  sixth  floor  of 
the  College  building,  Adams  and  Wabash 
avenue.  Mr.  Willis  is  one  of  the  deans 
among  exchange  men  and  in  his  new 
position  as  branch  manager  and  western 
representative  a  great  many  of  his 
friends  among  the  exhibitors  will  again 
have  a  chance  to  do  business  with  him. 

George  Kleine,  one-time  Chicagoan. 
"Centuried"  into  our  city  last  week  and 
"Centuried"  out  again  two  days  later. 

W.  N.  Selig  is  smiling  these  days,  hav- 
ing disposed  of  the  states  rights  to  the 
entire  United  States  of  the  multiple  reel 
feature,  "The  Ne'er  Do  Well,"  to  Sol 
Lesser  of  California,  on  a  limited  time 
basis.  Lesser  has  a  big  film  there  that 
will  make  money  for  every  exhibitor  run- 
Isaac  Von  Runkel,  Chicago  manager 
for  V.  L.  S.  F...  when  seen  at  his  office 
before  New  Year's,  stated  that  he  had 
the  Vitagraph  multiple  reel  feature.  "The 
Battle  Cry  of  Peace,"  booked  for  ninety- 
two  consecutive  days.  Ike  resents  the 
statement  that  the  picture  hooks  itself. 

E.  C.  Devine,  president  of  the  Strand 
Theater  Company,  started  off  the  holi- 
da]  i  i.  lit  with  the  announcement  of  his 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Helen  Ferguson,  daugh- 
ter of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Eaton,  Mrs.  Ferguson 
has  assisted  Mr.  Devine  at  the  Strand 
since  it   opened  last  fall. 

Nate  Ascher  announces  that  his  new 
theater,    the    Columbus,    Sixty-third    and 

Vshland   avenue,   this   city,  designed   by 

Architect  Newhouse,  is  one  of  the  pret- 
tiest in  his  string. 

We  were  invited  to  a  cowboys"  reunion 
and  dance  for  \cw  Year's  eve  by 
W.  H.  Stringer,  but  having  worked  the 
how    nearly    OUl    ol    OUr    legs    w<     decided 

we'd  look  too  much  like  a  tenderfoot. 
Anyway,  'twas  oul  at  Las  Vegas,  \.  M.. 

where  Le  Noir  does  guiding  when  his  ter  is  finished  in  imitation  bronze,  and 
bald-faced  mule  isn't  sick.  Betcha  Phil's  is  a  splendid  likeness  of  the  actor.  It 
got  a  IVd  now  and  carries  his  Marlin  will  make  a  most  desirable  embellish- 
under  the  seat.  ment   to  a  library,  office,  or  theater. 


John  Zanft,  manager  of  £ 
iam  Fox's  theaters  in  greater  Nei 
has  been   made   the   personal   rep 
tive   of   Mr.   Fox. 

Violet  Horner  and  Walter  Miller  are 
working  under  the  direction  of  Keenan 
Buel  in  the  William  Fox  picture,  "Terese 
Raquin,"  a  visualization  of  the  famous 
French  novel  of  the  same  name,  which 
is  being  filmed  at  Kingston,  Jamaica. 

Lumley  Hare,  the  English  leading  man, 
will  make  his  first  screen  appearance  in 
support  of  Kitty  Gordon  in  "As  In  a 
Looking  Glass." 

Clara  Kimball  Young  will  go  to  Cuba 
as  soon  as  she  finishes  the  Russian  pic- 
ture in  which  she  is  working  at  Fort  Lee 
under  the  direction  of  Edwin  August. 

Charles  Clary  has  not  returned  to  the 
Selig  Company,  neither  was  he  the  vic- 
tim of  a  woman  automobile  driver,  in 
spite  of  reports.  He  is  at  present  with 
the  Lasky  organization,  working  in  a 
special  feature. 

Vivian  Martin,  in  the  Fox  film  version 
of  "Merely^  Maryr  Ann."  has  the  role  of 
the  slavey,  a  part  created  in  the  play  by 
Eleanor  Robson.  This  production  of 
Israel  Zangwill's  delightful  comedy 
drama  is  beinn-  directed  by  Tohn  G. 
Adolfi. 

Recently  King  Baggot,  the  well  known 
Universal  star,  sat  for  Andrew  C.  Mc- 
Hench.  the  New  York  sculptor  of  some 
fame.  The. result  is  an  excellent  bronze 
bust.  8  inches  in  height,  intended  as  a 
Christmas  gift  to  his  mother.  This  of- 
fice is  in  receipt,  as  a  holiday  token,  of 
a  plaster  copy  of  this  bronze."    The  plas- 


Tanuary  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Cleo  Madison  and  her  company  have 
left  San  Francisco  where  they  made 
Barbary  Coast  exteriors  for  a  five  reel 
feature,  "A  Soul's  Crucible." 

Louise  "Carbasse"  is  no  more;  Louise 
"Welch"  has  taken  her  place.  .The  lead- 
ing woman  of  Joseph  DeGrasse's  Uni- 
versal Company  found  that  as  her  fame 
as  a  screen  artist  grew,  the  number  of  in- 
quiries in  her  morning  mail  asking  how 
she  pronounced  her  name  increased.  She 
appealed  to  General  Manager  Davis  for 
permission  to  use  a  simpler  name. 
"Welch"  was  selected. 

Robert  Warwick,  the  World  star,  was 
for  several  years  the  middleweight  ama- 
tuer  champion  of  the  Olympic  Athletic 
Club  in  San  Francisco,  it  is  stated. 

The  new  Paragon  studio  and  its  ad- 
joining printing  plant  at  Fort  Lee  has 
been  completed.  It  is  one  of  the  largest 
sudios  in  the  East  and  modern  in  every 
detail.  The  Kitty  Gordon  Company, 
under  the  direction  of  Frank  Crane,  is 
using  the  new  glass  building. 

Frances  Nelson,  only  nineteen  years 
old,  is  playing  the  leading  role  in  the  film 
version  of  "The  Point  of  View,"  Jules 
Eckert  Goodman's  play. 

Niles  Welch,  Isabel  O'Madigan  and 
Laura  Lyman  are  supporting  Vivian  Mar- 
tin, under  the  direction  of  John  G.  Adolfi 
at  the  Fox-Kalem  studios  in  New  Jersey. 

H.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  Balboa,  has  opened  a 
Broadway  office  and  projection  room. 

Herbert  Rawlinson,  of  Universal  City, 
was  one  of  the  speakers  at  a  weekly 
luncheon  of  the  Ad  Club  of  Los  Angeles. 

Neil  Hardin,  graduate  of  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
is  making  good  at  Universal  City.  He  is 
a  protege  of  Allan  Darnaby,  former  stage 
director  for  Richard  Mansfield. 

The  Radio  Film  Company  announces 
that  its  feature,  "Defense  or  Tribute?" 
now  ready  for  release,  is  the  original 
motion  picture  treatment  of  the  peace- 
through-preparedness      idea;      that      the 


scenario  was  written  six  months  ago  and 
that  it  has  been  carefully  worked  out 
since  that  time. 

Pat  O'Malley,  Edison,  has  returned  to 
New  York  from  a  visit  to  his  home  town, 
Forrest  City,  Pa. 

Richard  Ridgley,  director,  is  at  work 
on  a  Kleine-Edison  feature,  in  five  acts, 
in  which  Mabel  Trunnelle  and  Robert 
Conness  are  featured. 

Miriam  Nesbitt,  who  is  featured  in  a 
Kleine-Edison  with  Marc  MacDermott, 
recently  had  an  adventurous  drive  in 
Yellowstone  Park.  On  a  coaching  trip, 
she  met  some  young  men  whose  curiosity 
was  whet  to  the  keen  edge  through  find- 
ing out  Miss  Nesbitt  was  travelling  in- 
cognito. How  they  found  it  out  she 
never  learned.  So  she  was  agreeably 
surprised  when  she  received  "The  Taft 
Oracle,"  the  magazine  issued  by  the  Taft 
College  in  Watertown,  Conn.,  in  which 
was  a  clever  story  woven  around  their 
adventures  in  the  park,  she  being  made 
the  heroine  of  the  tale,  as  she  was  in 
reality. 

Sally  Crute,  the  "vampire"  in  the 
Kleine-Edison  "The  Magic  Skin,"  who 
three  weeks  ago  injured  her  knees  pain- 
fully while  descending  the  stairs  at  the 
Edison  studio,  is  back  at  work. 

Very  elaborate  are  the  settings  for 
Essanay's  five-act  feature,  "The  Mislead- 
ing Lady."  In  one  act  alone  there  are 
said  to  be  $23,000  worth  of  furnishings, 
including  an  $8,000  grand  piano,  a  $2,000 
harp,  hand  carved  furniture  and  many 
oriental  rugs,  vases  and  tapestries. 

Mrs.  William  Farnum  and  daughter 
are  among  the  recent  arrivals  at  Eden- 
dale,  Cal.  They  will  remain  while  Mr. 
Farnum  is  engaged  in  feature  picture 
work  on  the  coast. 

Charles  Giblin,  an  Inceville  director, 
call  attention  to  the  fact  that  his  name 
is  not  Giblets,  as  has  been  written  twice 
during  the  last  few  weeks. 

A  cold  which  Sydney  Ayres  contracted 
in  the  snows  of  the  Bear  Lake  regions 
while  filming  "John  o'  the  Mountains," 
has  developed  into  a  severe  attack  of 
bronchitis,  which  is  preventing  him  from 
beginning  another  production. 

E.  J.  LeSaint  and  his  company  of 
players  have  selected  San  Diego  for  sev- 
eral scenes  in  the  third  and  fourth  epi- 
sodes of  the  series,  "The  Journal  of  Lord 
John,"  written  by  C.  N.  and  A.  M. 
Williamson  and  adapted  for  the  screen 
by  Harvey  Gates.  William  Garwood 
plays  the  feature  role,  with  Stella  Razetto 
opposite.  Supporting  them  are  Laura 
Oakley,  Carmen  Phillips  and  Albert  Mac- 
Quarrie, 

On  the  twelfth  anniversary  of  the  stage 
production  of  Augustus  Thomas'  "The 
Other  Girl,"  the  Raver-Thomas  film 
version  was  shown  to  the  trade. 

Somewhere  in  France  is  a  certain  young 
ambulance  driver  who,  if  deliveries  are 
at  all  regular,  is  getting  all  the  socks  he 
needs  for  the  winter.  For  since  the  war 
started,  Doris  Margaret  Kenyon,  of 
World  Film  fame,  has  knitted  more  than 
fifty  pairs  of  socks.  In  her  spare  time 
she  has  made  half  a  dozen  big  mufflers. 

Mary  Pickford  has  been  offered  a  little  ,  ^weii 'to^Fon-'' '  t 
extra  spending  money  if  she  will  lend  her  departs  for  Mexico 
name  to  a  new  brand  of  condensed  milk,    ture  will  be  filmed. 


So   far  the   Famous    Players'    star   hasn't 
been  able  to  see  it. 

The  World  Film  Corporation  is  boast- 
ing that  Alice  Brady  is  a  fancy  dancer, 
George  Beban  a  baseball  player,  Robert 
Warwick  a  long  distance  swimmer  and 
Holbrook  Blinn  a  golfer. 

Mary  Anderson,  Webster  Campbell, 
Corinne  Griffith  and  others  in  the  Vita- 
graph  company  headed  by  Director  Wol- 
bert,  have  returned  from  Truckee  to  the 
Pacific  Coast  studios.  During  their  ab- 
sence they  made  a  three-reel  snow  pic- 
ture. 

Five  hundred  persons  in  addition  to  a 
section  of  the  Philadelphia  fire  depart- 
ment and  ambulance  corps  from  several 
hospitals  took  part  in  a  scene  that  re- 
quired the  burning  of  a  factory  for  the 
Lubin-V.  L.  S.  E. "feature,  "The  Gods  of 
Fate."  Director  Jack  Pratt  used  nine 
cameramen  for  the  making  of  this  con- 
flagration scene,  which  it  is  said,  cost 
$15,000. 

While  E.  D.  Horkheimer,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Balboa  Amusement 
Company,  is  on  a  business  trip  through 
the  East,  H.  M.  Horkheimer,  the  presi- 
dent, is  staying  at  the  studio  in  Long 
Beach,  Cal.  The  latter  returned  recently 
from  four  months  in  New  York  where 
he  opened  a  Broadway  office. 

Niles  Welch,  Isabel  O'Madigan  and 
Laura  Lyman  are  supporting  Vivian 
Martin,  under  the  direction  of  John  G. 
Adolfi,  at  the  Fox-Kalem  studios  in  New 
Jersey. 

Clara  Williams,  we  are  glad  to  learn, 
has  fully  recovered  from  her  recent  at- 
tack of  pneumonia  and  has  returned  to 
the  Ince  studio  to  take  her  place  in  the 
next  Triangle  Kay-Bee  feature. 

U.  S.  "Dell"  Andrews,  the  "boy  cutter" 
of  Inceville,  is  this  week  receiving  the 
felicitations  of  stars,  just  plain  actors, 
property  men  and  buckaroos,  for  he  has 
just  become  the  father  of  an  eight-pound 
daughter.  Andrews,  though  only  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  is   one  of  the  highest 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo.  3. 


salaried  experts  in  the  film  cutting  line. 
He  is  "boss"  in  the  Ince  cutting  depart- 
ment, having  sixteen  men  working  under 
his  direction,  each  older  than  he  is. 

A  telegram,  relayed  by  carriers  from 
the  wilderness  of  the  Boulder  Creek  re- 
gion to  Santa  Cruz,  brought  word  that 
William  S.  Hart  and  his  company  of 
players  and  cameramen  are  still  snow- 
bound in  the  mountains,  where  they  have 
been  filming  scenes  for  the  current 
Triangle  Kay-Bee  feature,  in  which  Mr. 
Hart  will  star.  It  will  probably  be  sev- 
eral weeks  before  the  company  returns. 
Mr.  Hart  stated  that  some  splendid  ef- 
fects had  already  been  obtained. 

Harry  McRae  Webster,  who  since  he 
has  been  with  the  Universal  Company 
has  directed  King  Baggot,  will  soon  have 
Miss  Florence  Lawrence  under  his  super- 
vision. 

Wilmuth  Merkyl,  who  is  playing  the 
name  part  in  "The  Fortunate  Youth,"  re- 
cently left  for  Savannah,  Ga.,  accompa- 
nied by  Director  Joseph  Smiley  and 
twenty  members  of  the  Ocean  Film  play- 
ers. They  expect  to  remain  in  the  south 
for  two  weeks. 

In  spite  of  the  illness  of  the  star,  Dus- 
tin  Farnum,  "Ben  Blair,"  under  the  direc- 
tion of  William  D.  Taylor,  is  nearing 
completion.  Winnifred  Kingston  is  play- 
ing the'  female  lead. 

Black  Eagle,  now  nearly  a  hundred 
years  old,  one  of  the  oldest  chiefs  of  the 
Mohawk  tribe  of  Indians,  will  be  seen  in 
a  forthcoming  William  Fox  feature  pic- 
ture now  being  produced  under  the  direc- 
tion of  James  Vincent. 

Miss  Eleanor  L.  Fried  is  the  only  woman 
film  editor  in  the  world,  and  very  valua- 
ble she  is  to  her  employers,  the  Universal 
Film  Company.  As  a  film  editor  she  has 
sained  quite  an  extensive  reputation.  She 
started  a  few  years  ago  with  the  United 


l •  1 1 1 . i  '  ompany.  When  that  company  was 
•.in    m    the    Universal 
( lompany,  a-  head  of  thi 
incut.    Sin-  is  now  rated  by  the  company 

,    the  in"-,!  '-Hi'  ient  fili 

in   Ibis  connli  \ 

Theda  Bara  received  her  firsl   taste  of 

outside    winter    work    recent  l\     when,   as   a 
Russian   peasant,   she    v 


representing  a  winter  scene  in  Russia. 
The  picture  is  "The  Serpent,"  a  William 
Fox  feature  directed  by  R.  A.  Walsh  and 
including. James  Marcus,  George  Walsh, 
Carl  Harbaugh  and  Nan  Carter. 

Joseph  A.  Richmond,  director  for  the 
Premier  Dra  Ko  releases,  has  entirely 
recovered  from  his  broken  arm,  even  the 
bandages  having  been  removed.  Rich- 
mond broke  his  arm  while  cranking  his 
car  at  Tappan,  N.  Y.  He  continued  his 
work,  however,  and  was  daily  either  at 
the  Dra  Ko  studio  in  Tappan  or  at  the 
New  York  offices  of  the  Premier  Pro- 
gram Corporation. 

Henry  B.  Walthall,  who  plays  the 
leading  part  in  Essanay's  five-act  photo- 
graph play,  "The  Misleading  Lady," 
helped  in  the  suggestion  and  the  action 
of  the  allegorical  cut-ins  which  show  the 
mehtods  of  cave  men  in  obtaining  wives. 
Mr.  Walthall,  a  deep  student  of  Spencer, 
worked  out  the  Darwinian  theory  in  the 
make-up  of  the  man  and  woman  who 
played  the  allegory.  This  part  of  the 
picture  is  said  to  be  particularly  striking. 

Vivian  Martin,  who  plays  the  lead  in 
"Merely  Mary  Ann,"  a  William  Fox  pro- 
duction, received  among  her  Christmas 
presents  a  Japanese  poodle  sent  her  from 
the  far  east  by  a  Japanese  poet.  The 
present  was  accompanied  by  a  letter, 
written  in  Japanese,  and  expressing  the 
ardent  love  of  the  poet  for  the  little  star, 
whose  picture  he  had  seen.  The  poodle, 
according  to  the  letter,  is  to  be  called 
"Cho-Cho-San." 

Stacey  A.  Van  Petten,  Jr.,  who  has  the 
honor  of  being  the  most  perfect  baby  in 
Illinois,  having  taken  first  prize  at  the 
state  fair,  has  gone  into  the  motion  pic- 
tures. The  youngster  is  to  be  seen  in 
"The  Fourth  Estate,"  a  Fox  offering 
dealing  with  newspaper  life.  Stacey's 
parents,  who  live  in  Chicago,  hope  that 
their  son  will  become  a  newspaper  man 
some  day. 

Marguerite  Clayton  never  saw  ice 
skating  until  she  came  to  the  Essanay 
studios  in  Chicago  recently.  She  had  al- 
ways lived  in  sunny  California,  you  see. 
She  determined  to  master  the  game  at 
once  and  is  practicing  diligently.  Of 
course  there  were  a  few  tumbles  at  first, 
but  she  is  gaining  speed  and  St< 
rapidly. 

II  i  i. ..per  CHffe,  who  will  appear  in 
the  photop  ii    Richard  Mans- 

field's stage  success,  "  \  Parisian  Ro- 
mance,"   is    a    direct    descendant    of    the 

famous     Kemble     Family     of     London,     of 


which  John  Philip  Kemble  and  Mrs.  Sid- 
dons  were  the  most  prominent  members. 

Neva  Gerber  and  Lucille  Warde,  the 
laugh  makers  in  "Beauty"  comedies,  are 
collecting  cats.  Santa  Barbara  citizens 
are  framing  their  vehement  protest  now. 

The  first  Mutual  Masterpiece,  edition 
de  luxe,  which  Gaumont  will  release  on 
the  Mutual  program,  "As  a  Woman 
Sows,"  has  just  been  completed  and  will 
be  seen  on  the  screen  January  24.  The 
story  was  written  by  O.  A.  Nelson.  Miss 
Gertrude  Robinson  and  Alexander  Gaden 
are  featured,  under  the  direction  of  Wil- 
liam Haddock. 

William  T.  Butler,  the  "Big  Four 
Man,"  is  rapidly  forging  ahead  as  the 
most  successful  salesman  in  the  Y.  L. 
S.  E.  organization.  His  popularity  with 
exhibitors  in  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut 
and  western  Massachusetts  is  undoubt- 
edly due  not  only  to  his  pleasing  person- 
ality, but  his  valuable  ideas  for  adver- 
tising the  features  of  his  company.  The 
fact  that  after  only  eight  weeks  on  the 
road  he  has  forged  to  the  top  in  the  sales 
record  published  by  the  "Big  Four  Fam- 
ily" proves  that  a  wide  merchandising 
experience  is  a  valuable  asset  in  selling 
film  service. 

Kathlyn  Williams  expressed  her  Christ- 
mas greetings  to  each  member  of  the 
Selig  Company  by  means  of  an  auto- 
graphed Christmas  card  which  she  her- 
self  designed. 

Yvonne  Chappelle,  a  popular  aesthetic 
dancer,  has  signed  up  with  the  Gaumont 
(Mutual)  Company  and  will  appear  in 
Mutual  Masterpieces  De  Luxe.  Miss 
Chappelle,  who  is  the  daughter  of  a  well 
known  Chicago  sculptor,  held  the  repu- 
tation of  possessing  the  only  perfect  feet 
in  that  city. 

Bessie  Eyton  started  her  motion  pic- 
ture career  as  an  "extra  girl."  and  she  is 
proud  of  the  fact,  for  she  has  climbed  all 
the  way  to  stardom. 

E.  A.  Wescott,  Minneapolis  manager 
for  the  Fox  Film  Corporation,  and  Miss 
Eleanor  Boucher,  a  society  girl  of  St. 
Paul,  arrived  in  Chicago  from  their 
homes  and  were  quietly  married.  "Just 
a  plain  elopement  with  mother"s  con- 
sent." explained  the  bride,  "but  father 
objected." 

Here  is  a  glimpse  of  the  country  where 
(lie  Western  Yitagraph  is  filming  many  of 
its  latest  successes.  It  shows  Rollin 
Sturgeon,    director,    giving   an   exhibition 


of  CanO<  ing  al  Bl  at  \  allc\  .  California. 
Main  stub  beautiful  seems  are  used  in  a 
new  siory  by  James  Oliver  Curwood, 
whose  dramatic   successes  have  made  him 

one  of  the  most  sought-for  authors  of 
the  present  day. 


January   15,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Monday. 

■3  The   Lesser   Evil Biograph 

■3  Sorrows    of    Happiness Lubin 

•3  The   Buried   Treasure   of   Cobre Selig 

■3  Selig-Tribune  News   Pictorial    No.    1,    1916 Selig 

■3  The    Little   Trespasser , Vitagraph 

•3  When   Hooligan  and   Dooligan   Ran  for   Mavor.  ..  .Vitagraph 

•3  Who    Killed   Joe   Merrion? -. Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

•4     The  Avenging   Shot Biograph 

■4     The    Lesson    Essanay 

4     The    Missing    Mummy Kalem 

Wednesday. 

■5     The     Skating    Rink Biograph 

■5      Mile  a  Minute  Monty:    Scenic Essanay 

■5     The   Honor   of  the   Road    (No.    7   of   the   Stingaree 

Series)      Kalem 

Thursday. 

•6     Vengeance   of   the    Oppressed Lubin 

i     Caught    With    the    Goods Mina 

6  Selig-Tribune  News  Pictorial   No.  2,   1916 Selig 

Friday. 

7  Title    not    reported Edison 

7     Crossed  Clues  (No   11  of  the  Ventures  of  Marguerite)  .Kalem 
7     This    Way    Out Vim 

7  His  Wife  Knew  About   It Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

8  The   House  of   Revelation Essanay 

8     When    Seconds    Count Kalem 

8      Billy's    Headache    Lubin 

8     Spooks   (No.   7   of  the  Chronicles  of   Bloom   Center) Selig 

8     Tried    for   His   Own    Murder Vitagraph 

Monday. 

0  In  the  Aisles  of  the  Wild Biograph 

0  The   City   of   Falling    Light Lubin 

0  A  Bath   Tub    Mystery Lubin 

0  The     Devil-In-Chief Selig 

0  Selig-Tribune  News   Pictorial   No.   3,    1916 Selig 

0  The   Surprises   of   an    Empty   Hotel Vitagraph 

0  The   Lost   Bracelet Lubin 

Tuesday. 

1  Angels  Unawares    Essanay 

1    Guardian   Angels    Kalem 

1  The    Old   Watchman Lubin 

Wednesday. 

2  The   War   of   Wealth Biograph 

2   The   Fable  of  "The   Two    Philanlhmpic    Sons" Essanay 

2  The   Purification   of  Mulfera    (No.   8   of  the   Stingaree 

Series)      Kalem 

Thursday. 

3  The    Bond    Within Lubin 

3   Title   not   reported Mina 

3  Selig-Tribune    No.    4,    1916 Selig 

Friday. 

4  The   Tricksters    (No.    12   of   the   Ventures  of   Margue- 

rite)       Kalem 

4   Chickens     Vim 

4  When    Two    Play    a    Game Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

5  Pieces    of    the    Game Essanay 

5   The   Haunted   Station Kalem 

5   No   Sir-ee   Bob!    (No.    9  of  the    Chronicles   of   Bloom 

Center)      Selig 

5   By     Love     Redeemed Vitagraph 

5  A    Skate    for    a    Bride Lubin 


In  the   Palace  of  the   King Essanay 

The   Valley   of   Lost    Hope Lubin 

A    Black    Sheep Selig 

The   Man    Who    Couldn't    Beat    God Vitagraph 

The    Rights    of    Man Lubin 

The    Turn    of   the    Road Vitagraph 

The    Crimson    Wing Essanay 

The     Raven      Essanay 

Sweet    Alyssum     Selig 

Heights     of     Hazard Vitagraph 

The    Nation's    Peril Lubin 

The   Caveman    Vitagraph 

The   Alster   Case Essanay 

The    Man's    Making Lubin 

I'm   Glad   My   Boy   Grew   Up   to   Be  a   Soldier Selig 

The    Price  for    Folly Vitagraph 

The   Great   Divide Lubin 

A    Daughter   of   the    City Essanay 

What   Happened   to   Father Vitagraph 

Thou    Art    the    Man Vit.ijjraph 

My    Lady's    Slippers Vitagraph 

No    Greater    Love Selig 

Green    Stockings    Vitagraph 


6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
4,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 


Bill 

Monday. 

1-3      Matching    Dreams    American  2,000 

1-3     The   Optimistic    Oriental    Occults Falstaff  1,000 

1-3     An    Innocent    Crook Vogue  1,000 

Tuesday. 

1-4      Billy   Van   Deusen's  Shadow Beauty  1,000 

1-4     See  America   First   No.    17.    Chicago   Industries Gaumont  500 

1-4     Keeping    Up   With    the   loncso Gaumont  500 

1-4     The    Bubbles    in    the    Glass Thanhouser  3,000 

Wednesday. 

1-5     The   She   Devil ' Reliance  3,000 

Thursday. 

1-6     The    Homesteader    Centaur  2,000 

1-6     Hilda's    Husky    Helper Falstaff  1,000 

1-6     Mutual   Weekly  No.    53 Mutual  1,000 

Friday. 

1-7     Time    and    Tide American  1,000 

1-7     Jerry    in  the   Movies Cub  1,000 

1-7     The  Hills  of  Glory Mustang  2,000 

Saturday. 

1-7     To  Be  or  Not  to   Be Beauty  1.000 

1-7     The    Woman    in    Politics Thanhouser  5,000 

Sunday. 

1-9     Alias    Mr.    Jones Casino  1,000 

Monday. 

1-10  Viviana      American  2,000 

1-10   Belinda's   Bridal    Breakfast Falstaff  1,000 

1-10  Title    not    reported Vogue 

Tuesday. 

1-11   The    First    Quarrel Beauty  1,000 

1-11    See   America   First,    No.    18 Gaumont  500 

1-11    Keeping  Up  With   the  Joneses Gaumont  500 

1-11    In   the   Name   of  the   Law Thanhouser  3,000 

Wednesday. 

1-12   The    Secret    Agent Rialto  3,000 

1-12   Title     not     reported Vogue 

Thursday. 

1-13   Marta    of    the    Jungles Centaur  2,000 

1-13   Reforming    Rubbering    Rosie Falstaff  1,000 

1-13   Mutual   Weekly    No.    54 Mutual  1,000 

Friday. 

1-14  The     Secret     Wire American  2,000 

1-14  Spider   Barlow    Meets    Competition American  1,000 

1-14  Jerry    in    Mexico Cub  1,000 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  3. 


Saturday. 

■  g Beauty 

Stuff    Mustang 


Universal  Prog 


Monday. 


Langdon's    Legacy    

Jed's   Trip    to   the    Fair 

The  Power  of  the  People  (Graft  Series  No.  4) 


Tuesday. 


The  Grey  Sisterhood   (No.  2  Lord  John's  Jot 

Shattered     Nerves     

No  release   this  week 


rnal). Gold  Seal       3,000 


Wednesday. 


Missy     

No  release  this 
Building  Up  th, 
Carl    Emmv    an 


Thursday. 


Health  of  a  Nati* 
His   Dogs 

Friday. 


.-  of  Life 

;se  this  week.  . 
Art    of    Mystery 


Saturday. 


On  the  Trai     _. 

Are   We  Prepared?   No.    3.      Uncle  Sam   at   Work.. 

Those    Female    Haters 


Sunday. 


Blind     Fury     

Laemmle 

Monday. 

The  Boy,  the  t ,;,  1   .,,,,1   the  Auto 

Grinding    Life    Down    (Craft    Series    Xo.    5). 

Tuesday. 

Nestor 

Universal 

His     Return      ....! 

No   release   this   week 

Wednesday. 

<'<,'.  '261........... 

Thursday. 


Friday. 


■russ    the    Kin    ( irande.  -  -  - 
icle  Sam's   Proteges  at   W 

I'.icle    Sam     .,1     \\  ork  1 

j   release    this    week 


Saturday. 


,  The    Little    Mas 


Sunday. 


Miscellaneous  Features 


•hand    Hi     Brethren Dormct  Film  6,000 

World    of   Today Reliable    Feature    Film  6,000 

relous    Maciste    Hanover   Film    Co.  3,000 

Itmi'lar    ami    tin-    Lady Sun     Photoplay    Co.  5,000 

Vu  I  orp.  5.000 

1     Husband Medusa     Film  5,300 

Fruil Ivan    Film  5,000 

Associated  Service. 

Released  week  of 

13   The    Blight    of    Cr.e.l Empire  2,000 

13  Your    Only     Friend Ramona  2,000 

Santa     Ha, 1 

in    Him Alhani    . 

13  Ike   Stops  a    Battle Federal  1,000 

13   Going— Going— Gone     Vila  1,000 

Banner  1,000 

13    Taking    Chances     I> 


Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

.     8  The    Blindness   of    Devotion 5,000 

.    1 1   A    Woman's    Past 5,000 

.  29  The     Galley    Slave 5,000 

.   21   The    Broken    Law 5,000 

.      5  The    Unfaithful    Wife 5,000 

.     12   Her    Mother's    Secret 5,000 

.    19  A    Soldier's    Oath 5,000 

.     26   Destruction      5.000 

2  Green-Eved    Monster    5,000 

9   A    Parisian    Romance 5,000 

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

20  The    Green     Cloak Kleine  5,000 

.     3  The    Sentimental    Ladv Kleine  5,000 

.    10   Children     of    Eve....." Edison  5,000 

.    17   The     Politicians     Kleine  5,000 

1  The    Danger    Signal Kleine  5,000 

8  The    Destroying    Angel Edison  5,000 

15  The     Bondwomen      .    Kleine  5.000 

5  The     Devil's     Pr.-,vcr-U.>ol Kleine  5,000 

12  The     Catspaw     .  .'. Edison  5,000 

Kriterion 

Released  Week  of 

.  29  The  Keeper  of  the  Flock Santa  Barbara  2,000 

.   29   The   Unloaded   45 C.    K.  1,000 

.  29  The    Western    Border Monty  2,000 

.  29  Catching   a   Speeder Punch  1,000 

.  29  Father    and     Son Trump  2,000 

.  29  Such  a  War i Pyramid  1,000 

.  29  A  Mask,  a  Ring  and  a  Pair  of  Handcuffs Navajo  2,000 

29  Syd,   the    Bum    Detective Alhambra  1.000 

Metro   Features. 

Released  week  of 

.     8  Pennington's    Choice     Metro  5,000 

.   15  The    Woman    Pays Metro  5,000 

.   22   One    Million     Dollars Metro  5,000 

.   29   Barbara     Frietchie     Metro  5,000 

6  A    Yellow    Streak Metro  5,000 

13  The   House   of  Tears Metro  5,000 

20   Rosemary     Metro  5,000 

.     27   Black   Fear    Metro  5,000 

3  What   Will   People   Sav; Metro  5,000 

10  The    Turmoil     Metro  5,000 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

2  The     Forbidden    Adventure Mutual  5,000 

9  The    Buzzard's    Shadow Mutual  5,000 

16  The   Mill   on  the  Floss Thanhouser  5,000 

23   The     Painted    Soul Mutual  5,000 

.   30  The    Deathlock Mutual  5,000 

.  30  Temptation     Lasky  5,000 

6  The   Other   Side  of  the  Door American  5,000 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

9  The  Unknown    Lasky  5,000 

13  The    Cheat     Laskv  5,000 

13   Paramount    News    Pictures Paramount  1.000 

.     16  The     Reform     Candidate Pallas  5,000 

20  The    Immigrant     Lasky  5.000 

.     23   The   Old   Homestead    Famous   Plavers  5.000 

.   20_  Paramount   News   Pictures Paramount  1,000 

.     2/    Lydia    Gilmore    Famous   Players  5,000 

.   27   Paramount    News    Pictures Paramount  1,000 

3  Paramount   News   Pictures Paramount  1.000 

3   The    Foundling Famous    Players  5,000 

6  Tongues    of    Men Morosco  5,000 

10    Paramount     News]. ictu.es Paramount  1,000 

10    Mice    and    Men Famous     Players  5.000 

Pathe. 

Released    Week    0/ 

in   From    Kabylia    to   Constantine Photocolor  500 

10  Unfamiliar    Fishes    Globe  500 

10    Luke      Lugs      Luggage Phunphilms  1.000 

10  Pathe    News    No.    4 Pathe  1.000 

10  Pathi     News    No     5 Path.-  1,000 

10  Madame    X Cold    K,..,sU,  5.000 

i"  Weapons   oJ   Wai    (Red   I  ircl<     No.    ;> Bal  « 

10   From    Bad   to   Worse Starlight  1,000 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

26  The   Hum  :    Fo  Morati 

Triangle  K,  vst.uu-  J. nod 

'i    Kattx     and     M„'„  1  ...       \, buckle    aid 

Mabel     Normand Triangle-Kevst,.- 

h,     I  I,,      Missing      I  inks;     \,.,,,.,      I. .],„. ,,u:,  .     K..I.,  ,, 

Barron     Fine    Arts 

Trial; 

h.     I  h,     r...  I  ...,,,,...    Flame:    Hi-ma    \Vo..druti.  Triangle  Kaj    Bi 
16    \    Modern    Enoch    Arden Tii.mgK ■  K.-v  -■ 

World    Features 

Released  week  of 

lit     Bradv  5.000 

20  Sealed     Lips      Equitable  5,000 

icl Brady  5,000 

;    l'h<     Dragon                                                          Equitable  5.000 

3   The     Ransom     Triumph  5.000 

Sbubert  5.000 

'"  On«     Night          Equitable  S.,00fl 

in  In    Life's   Whirlpool Bradj  5,000 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


^        General  Program 


The  Wanderers— (Three  Reels)— V] 
January  1.— l'catuiaim  William  Duncan 
Holt    and     Mary     Ruby.       Clem,    the    bis 


and   fal 

s   in  love  with 

Kate 

Brnv, 

n,  the 

age 

i 

schoolte 

acher.      Howe 

er,    he 

■hears 

mtly 

endeai 

.  shi 

Land 

5    he    m 

kes    the    acqu 

e    of 

Roy, 

ellov 

/    he    sa 

w     talking    to 

1        II, 

hut 

does 

-ecognize   hin 

i.      Later    Cler 

Roy 

tllfl.lM 

Roy 

ends    for    his 

and 

u,     Ch 

nd    delight    sh 

es    to    be 

Irov 

n,  his  former  sweetheart. 

jprints  found  on  the  dead  man's  body 
vith  the  thumbprints  of  the  man  Irene 
and  fallen  in  love  with  and  Ransford 
the    evidence    and    D'Arclay    is    arrested 


Wife  Kne- 
7.— Featurin 
■.    and   Mrs. 


ind  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew 
s,  who  think  that  they 
iok.  Finally  they  dis- 
t  quality  in  Tillie  and 
;     to     dine     with     them. 


When   Holligan  and   Dolligan   Ran  for   Maj 


-Janu, 


Hiyii 


and  Nitra  Frazer.  The  wives  of  Holli 
Dolligan  are  friends  until  the  two  men  are  nom- 
inated for  mayor  by  different  parties  and  then  a 
feud  is  under  way.  Dolligan  has  his  son,  Jack, 
put  a  package  of  sneeze  powder  into  Holligan's 
handkerchief  the  night  the  two  rival  candidates 
are  to  speak.  The  meeting  breaks  up  in  hilarious 
disorder  and  the  upshot  of  the  whole  affair  is  thai 
neither  gets    elected. 

The    Little   Trespasser— Vitagraph — January    3. 
— Featuring    Jewel     Hunt    and    James     X 
'    Lillie's    parents    are    caretakers    of    the 
adjoining    Mr.     Montgomery's     estate,     w 


The 

Devil-in-Chief- 

-(Three 

Re 

ELS)  — 

Selig— 

JANUA 

RY     1( 

tale   of 

arelu 

t,    who, 

e  he 

s  betrayec 

to   the 

j-.lice 

by  a 

He    k 

lis     In 

,-,     helpless 

anr 

later 

alone, 

dese 

t     island, 

inds     a 

little 

girl 

,   whe 

plans    tc 

kill 

she   has 

i.     She 

escuec 

by     a 

naval 

office 

and   the 

finds 

too  1 

he   lov 

.  d    ra 

:her  than 

ends 

life  by  leap 

,  HIT    i.n 

o  the 

Tyrone 

the  ai 

A    ful 

revi 

ew    appear. 

on    an 

ther 

page 

G.  C.  'S 

A    Crippl 

i    Creek    C 

inderella 

— Vn 

AGR\P 

H— JAN- 

10  — 

Featuring 

William 

Dt 

Alfred 

Yosln 

rgh   a 

nd    a  stron 

(Personalh 

progra 

A    strange 

r    enters 

the 

mimn 

g    town 

and     Dick    (ind 

t.       He 

shake- 

and    inci- 

dental 

v   falls   i 

>ve    witl 

the   gi 

rl,    hi 

that     ,lu 

if    the 

ance 

hall    He    :s 

filled  v 

vith  mise 

ry, 

but  late 

all  enc 

s  happily. 

Whe 

n    Lin    Carr 

e    Home — Vita 

—January 

10. — Featuring 

Ian 

Weyman, 

lo    well 

of  his° 

Dlind   m 

othei 

see   he 

r,    but    a 

er    than 

iloon  and   ir 

a    light 

illed 

The   man 

who   had   killed 

hi 

n   flees 

nto  the 

Wey 

by   Lin's 

,  rot  he. 

Cha 

die.      Mrs. 

Wcvni 

for 

ward    an 

I     c  hai 

see  his 

mother 

3p  the  m 

unlerer 

ot  he 

r  youngest 

horn    i 

i   a   fond 

em 

brace   a 

,1    the    - 

tranger,   warned 

:althy  bachelor.  Cobbs,  the  gardener,  trie 
in  to  keep  the  girl  away  from  Montgom 
tate  and   Jack,    the   owner's   nephew,    arrive: 


istead   he    falls   in    lov 

e    with    her 

nele    as    th 

larry   and   the   old   ma 

n   gladly   gi 

nd    blessing. 

Who  Killed  Joe  Merrion— (Four  Reels)  — 
Vitagraph— January  3.— Featuring  Toseph  Kil- 
gour,  S.  Rankin  Drew,  Betty  Gray  and  a  strong 
cast.  James,  the  scapegoat  son  of  Sir  Philip 
Randall,  Judge  of  the  King's  bench,  is  banished 
from  home  by  his  father.  Vivienne  Stevens. 
ward  of  the  Randalls,  is  secretly  in  love  with  the 
exiled  son  and  rejects  William  Rufford,  the 
County  Squire  and  her  father's  choice  for  her 
suitor.  A  year  later  Joe  Merrion,  a  bookmaker, 
is  found  dead  and  Rufford  is  accused  of  killing 
him  and  is  sentenced  to  life  imprisonment. 
Meanwhile  the  judge  discovers  that  his  son  is 
the  murderer  of  Joe  Merrion  and  that  same  day 
Rufford  escapes  and  the  judge  writes  a  con- 
fession to  the  authorities.  Jimmie  confesses  the 
whole  truth,  revealing  that  the  killing  was  an 
accident  and  Rufford,  finding  the  letter  the 
judge  has  written,  is  stricken  with  remorse,  burns 
the  letter  and  gives  himself  up  to  the  authorities, 
while  Jimmie   and   Vivienne   go   away  to   start   life 


Tried  for  His  Own  Murder— (Three 
Vitagraph — January  8. — Featuring  Mat 
tello,   Leah    Baird   and   Van   Dyke   Brook 


and    Mrs.    P 

antomas    suggests    tha 

t    Paul   take   the 

cook    to    din 

ner.      A    couple    of    fellow    club    mem- 

bers    see    hi 

m    with    the    unknow 

l    and    are    filled 

.      Mrs.    Pantomas   en 

le   fun,   and   after   ma 

ay    complications 

and   a  big  1 

ugh  all   is   explained. 

In    the    Aisles    of   the   Wild— B 

ograph   Reissue 

—January 

ill         Heal  urine;       Hem  >        1  i           ■    il     la 

Harrv    Care 

.,    Lillian    Gish   and    Claire   McDowell. 

The    Wild-Lily    and    her    dark    si 

ster    live    in    the 

forest    with 

their     lather.       Through    a    misunder- 

standing   th 

Wild   Lily   is   left   tc 

mourn  her  lost 

love,    who    \ 

reds    her    sister    and 

takes   her   away. 

Later    the 

wife    flees    with    her 

ausband's    friend 

and   they   ar 

e  killed   by   Indians. 

After   the  death 

of   his   wife 

the  hunter   returns   t 

5   seek   the   Wild 

Lily,  who   h 

as   always   loved   him. 

The    City 

of    Failing    Lights — 
jary    10. — Featuring 

(Four    Reels)  — 

Lubjn— Jan 

Herbert    Fortier 

and   Octavia 

Handworth   in  the  story  of  one  John 

Gray,    head 

of    the    Consolidated 

Lighting    Com- 

pany,   whose 

brother  David,   who 

is  his   double   in 

appearance, 

but  loving,   kind  and 

care  free,  is  the 

means    of    s 

aving    a    baby's    life 

and    effecting    a 

l   between   his   brothe 

r,    John,    and   his 

wife.       For 
this   issue. 

a    longer    review    see 

another   Page^ of 

with  a  smile  on  her  lips. 

Angels  Unawares— (Two  Reels)—  Essanay— 
January  11.— Featuring  Ruth  Stonehouse  and  Ed- 
mund F.  Cobb  in  a  pretty  little  story  of  Freck- 
les, a  street  waif,  who  becomes  the  friend  and 
companion  of  Grace  Wade,  a  cripple  girl.  Later 
Freckles  is  placed  in  a  reform  school,  but  escapes 
and  Grace  pleads  with  her  brother  to  allow 
Freckles  to  stay  with  them-,  and  her  request  is 
granted.  For  a  longer  review  see  another  page 
of  this  issue. 

Guardian  Angels — Kalem — Tanuary  11. — Fea- 
turing Bud  Duncan,  Jack  Mac'Dermott  and  Ethel 
Teare.  Bud  and  his  pal  are  hired  to  care  for 
Doughbags  a 


old 
ir  jobs 


end  i: 


!T"vhir 


ind  finish. 


Gardner, 

with  her  invalid  father,  has  in  Ransford,  a  man 
of  the  world,  a  great  friend.  Tohn  D'Arcley 
comes  to  the  woods  and  meets  Irene,  falls  in 
love  with  her  and  they  are  married.  He  takes 
her  back  to  the  city  and  an  operation  is  per- 
formed which  promises  to  restore  her  sight.  She 
regains  her  sight  and  later,  looking  for  her  hus- 
band, she  mistakes  Ransford  for  him  and  joy- 
ously runs  into  his  arms.  D'Arclay  sees  this 
and  goes  away.  At  the  river's  edge  he  finds  a 
suicide  and  changes  identities  with  him  and  body- 
when    found   is    supposed   to   be    D'Arclay.      Later 


Lost  Bracelet — Lubin — January  10. — 
ng  Francelia  Billington  and  Donald  Bran- 
John  Lawrence,  a  retired  banker,  and  his 
daughter  Opal,  delight  in  fmmbling  Jane,  a  poor 
relation  and  orphan,  whose  position  in  the 
household  is  that  of  a  servant.  Opal  suggests 
an  auto  ride  with  Jerrold  Arnold,  a  guest,  and 
Jane  is  grudgingly  taken  along.  Opal  loses  a 
'"  found  by  Happy  Bob  War- 
id  accuses  Jane,  but  Happy 
he  returns  the  bracelet.  He 
rith  them  and  later  discovers 
of  robbing  Mr.  Lawrence's 
rers  that  he  is  the  man  who 
fe  and  he  is  ready  to  strangle 
vhen  Jane  stops  him,  and  he  allows  the 
:ake  its  course  and  Opal  returns  home 
father,  she  having  been  induced  by  Jer- 
roia   to   elope   with   him. 

A  Bath  Tub  Mystery — Lubin — January  10. — 
Featuring  Dave  Don  and  Florence  Williams. 
Barnabee  buys  a  boat  and  when  he  returns  home 
his  wife  orders  it  out  of  the  house.  He  refuses 
and  takes  the  goat  into  the  bed-room,  where  his 
wife  follows  him  and  the  quarrel  is  continued. 
Accidentally  he  pushes  her  into  the  bath  tub  and 
Nora  decides  to  give  Barnabee  a  scare  and  feigns 
drowning.  He  goes  to  the  bath  room  and  seeing 
Nora  thinks  she  is  dead.  He  goes  to  a  distant 
town  and  after  six  months  he  learns  from  a  friend 
looking    for 


Featur 


saves   the   girl  when 

JerroW^n  "the" act' 
safe.  He  also  disco 
robbed  him  of  his  w: 
Jerrold  when  Jane  , 
law  to  take  its  col 
■.villi    her 


The  Old  Watchman— (Two  Reels)— Lubin— 
January  11. — Featuring  Melvin  Mayo,  Helen 
Eddy,  L.  C.  Shumway.  Robert  Gray  and  George 
Routh.  Old  Tim  Carrigan.  who  has  been  watch- 
man for  forty  years  of  the  Morton  factory,  is 
discharged  by  Bowen,  the  manager,  when  he 
pleads  for  the  workmen  when  their  wages  are 
cut.  Bowen  has  been  stealing  from  the  cash  and 
when  Donald  Morton  sends  for  an  accountant  he 
resolves  to  rob  the  safe  and  make  a  getaway  that 
night.  Tim's  mind  has  been  shattered  because 
of  his  grand-daughter's  death,  and  unable  to 
overcome  the  habit  of  forty  years,  is  again  on 
duty  that  night  and  engages  in  a  struggle  with 
Bowen,  whom  he  has  seen  robbing  the  safe. 
Tim  is  fatally  wounded  and  Bowen  is  captured 
by  the  police. 

The  War  of  Wealth— (Three  Reels)— Bio- 
graph— Tanuary  12.— Featuring  Linda  Arvidson. 
Violet  Reid  and  Charles  Perley.  This  drama 
centers  about  the  love  of  a  financier  for  a  girl, 
who  has  been  betrayed  by  his  partner.  Driven 
to  desperation  by  financial  losses  the  partner 
plans  to  rob  the  bank.  After  the  looting  there  is 
a  run  on  the  bank,  which  is  finally  save  J  by  the 
arrival   of  money  from   Philadelphia. 

The  Fable  of  Two  Philanthropic  Sons — Essanay 
—January  12.— Featuring  Charles  T.  Stone  and 
Harry  Dunkinson.  Ezra  and  Bill  sallied  forth  ■ 
from  a  straggling  village  in  search  of  the  uncer- 
tain female  known  as  Dame  Fortune.  They 
found  her,  and  accumulated  dough  in  bundles  and 
bales  and  stacks.  The  walking  vegetables  back 
in  the  stockade  heard  that  Ezra  and  Bill  were 
batting  above  400  and  hoped  they  were  getting  it 
honestly.      Ezra  wanted  to   be  remembered    in   his 


:   bottom 


i    arranged 


i  for 


inths. 


He 


!   home, 


erything   is    explained   and    all    ends    happil, 


fifty  „  . 
not  as  a  guy  that  dealt  fro 
deck,  so  he  built  a  library  that  ( 
bucks.  The  general  criticis: 
blasted  thing  looked  like  a 
wrong,  and  nobody  didn't 
how.  Bill  floated  into  town  one  day.  He  called 
the  boys  around  the  cracker  box  and  bought  the 
cigars.  He  was  escorted  to  the  train  and  hailed 
as  a  prince.  Moral:  In  scattering  seeds  of  kind- 
ness, do  it  by  hand  and  not  by  machinery. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 


The  Purification  of  Mulfera— (Two  Reels)— 
Kalem — January  12. — An  episode  of  the  "Stinga- 
ree"  series  featuring  True  Boardman  and  Marin 
Sais.  Bishop  Methuen  and  his  chaplain  set  out 
to  evangelize  Mulfera,  the  toughest  station  in 
Australia,  but  they  arc  waylaid  by  Stingaree  and 
Howie,  who  then  take  their  places  in  the  mission 
to  Mulfera.  The  scenes  showing  the  bushrangers 
purifying  Mulfera  contains  some  real  good  com- 
edy, but  it  ends  in  tense  cross-play  of  action 
when  they  are  captured,  only  to  escape  with  the 
aid  of  Ethel. 

The  Bond  Within— (Three  Reels)—  Lubin— 
January  13. — Featuring  George  Routh,  L.  C. 
Shumway,  Adda  Gleason  and  Adelaide  Bronti. 
Elsie  Moore,  a  Southern  belle,  is  loved  by  Tom 
Scott,  who  is  to  inherit  a  fortune  if  he  does  not 
marry  before  his  twenty-first  birthday,  and  for 
this  reason  their  marriage  is  delayed.  Tom  leaves 
for  Cuba  and  Elsie  goes  to  a  far-off  city  of  San 
Diego  and  there  her  child   is   born   and   s'       " 


Marie    has   returned    to    Mexico.      Later, 

iter    much    trouble    Elsie   finds   her   lost 

she    weeps    over    him    he    dies   in    her 


The    Trickster 

—Kalem— January 

sode   of   the   "V 

ing   Marguerite 

offer    of    mamas 

,     sh      has    rejected, 

favored  'one     i-   in 

wedding    Tom    is 

Frank     is     indel 

however,    and    b 

plots    of    the     <:< 

nspirators    and     regai 

in  the  affections 

of  Marguerite  is  told 

s  picture. 

graphs  his  wife  to  this  effect.  His  wife  arrives 
just  as  he  is  making  arrangements  with  another 
friend  to  take  out  a  couple  of  fair  damsels,  and 
then  to  teach  her  husband  a  lesson  she  plays 
the  "lost  memory"  game  herself,  but  they  later 
"make  up." 

Chickens— Vim — January  14. — Hiram  Goth- 
rocks  desires  to  enter  society  and  agrees  to 
marry  his  daughter,  Ethel,  to  Count  Chasem,  who 
is  to  visit  them.  Jabbs,  Ethel's  former  sweet- 
heart, consults  his  friend  Pokes  and  this  individ- 
ual advises  him  to  impersonate  the  count,  which 
he  agrees  to  do.  The  real  count  and  his  valet 
are    held   up    by    two    tramps,    who    have    stolen    a 

exchange  clothes  with  them.  Later  the  count 
and  his  valet  ate  arrested  as  the  tramps  who 
stole  the  chickens.  The  tramps  go  to  the  Goth- 
rocks  home,  having  found  a  letter  of  introduction 
in  the  count's  clothes,  and  try  to  pass  themselves 
off  as  the  count,  but  instead  they  are  marched 
off  to  jail,  while  Ethel  is  given  to  Jabbs  by  her 
father,  when  he  learns  that  the  count  is  the  hus- 
band of  the  matron  of  the  seminary. 

Pieces  of  the  Game— (Three  Reels)— Essanay 
— Tanuary.  IS.— Featuring  Bryant  Washburn, 
Nell    Craig   and   Richardson    Cotton. 

The  Haunted  Station — Kalem— January  15. — 
An  episode  of  the  "Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad 
series,  featuring  Helen  Gibson  and  Robyn  Adair. 
Because  of  a  fall  Wood's  mind  is  weakened  and 
when  he  later  disappears  circumstances  point  to 
suicide  and  his  "ghostly"  appearances  make  the 
post  known  as  the  "Haunted  Station."  Helen 
is  appointed  operator  at  the  station  after  many 
others  have  quit  and  before  very  long  Wood 
appears  and  pursues  the  girl.  She  flees  down  the 
tracks  to  the  drawbridge,  only  to  find  it  half 
elevated.  Her  cries  are  heard  by  a  workman  and 
he  throws  her  a  rope.  Wood  follows  and  during 
the  struggle  which  follows  Wood  slips  and  falls 
•      the    river   below. 

A  Skate  for  the  Bride — Lubin — January  15. — 
g  Billie  Reeves  and  Carrie  Reynolds, 
on  his  wedding  day  buys  a  pair  of  patent 
shoes  and  the  errand  bov  gets  the  parcels 
nd  Wilkins  discovers  that  the  shoes  he 
home  are  three  sizes  too  small.  As  it  is 
,•  the  stores  are  all  closed  and  Wilkins 
secure  a  pair  of  shoes,  but  finally  Turner, 
id,  comes  to  bis  aid  and  loans  him  a  pair 
r  skates.  Wilkins,  however 
le's    home    after    a    hard    tussle    with    thi 


"The   Chronicles   of   Bloom   Center" 
ing     an     all-star     cast.        Ezra     Pash.      . 
storekeeper,    receives    a    lot    of    Civil    W 
which   belonged   to  his   father  and  he   is 
his   fellow   neighbors   to   apply    for   pensic 
and    does    so.      A    stranger    arrives   in    th 
who     signs    his     name    "Dobbs"     and    during     an 
athletic  meet   Pash,  forgetting  that  he  is  a  pseudo 
war    veteran,    knocks    down     Dobbs    in    a    boxing 
contest.      A   few    days   later  Pash   receives   a    letter 
which    reads:       "Do    you    get    the    pension?       No 
Sir-ee    Bob,"    and    the    letter    is    signed    "Chester 
Dobbs,    chief   investigator,"    so    Pash    is   left   alone 
to   mourn    the   fact    that  he   failed   to  put   one   over 
on   the   government. 

By     Love     Redeemed— (Three     Reels)— Vita- 


ld  Sammy,  who  is  in 
letter  which  had 
'     had  been   put 


on  Dot,  but  Dot  feels  her  love  for  Charlie  wan- 
ing. Later  Sammy,  undisguised,  pays  her  a 
visit  and  the  terrible  story  of  what  had  happened 
is  poured  into  his  ears  and  with  a  wink  of  tri- 
umph he  gathers  the  girl  in  his  arms  and  hence- 
forth  Sammy   is  the  favored   suitor. 

Jerry  in  Mexico— Cu-3— December  31.— Starring 
George  Ovev.  In  this  exploit  Terry  captures 
Black  Gomez,  a  bandit,  and  rescues  Agie.  the 
girl  whom  Gomez  has  kidnapped.  He  sets  out 
to  win  Gomez's  inamorita.  Juanita.  but  by  the 
time  he  gets  to  the  justice  of  peace  on  American 
soil  and  looks  under  the  veil  of  his  companion 
he  discovers  Agie.  Knocking  down  a  constable, 
he  escapes  on  the  latter's  motorcycle.  But  his 
adventure  has  not  been  entirely  unfruitful,  as  he 
is  still  the  possessor  of  the  $500,  his  reward  for 
rounding  up   the  bandit. 


lead. 


la  I 


When     Two     Play 


Game — Vitagraimi— Jai 
and    Mrs,   Sidnej    Dm 
ife     keeps     1 1 


by   the   blow   is   the 

criminal,  and  John,  a  lad  of  her  own   ag<    and   her 

only   friend,    is   heart-broken    as    1"     sees    thi     girl 

going      slowly     down     the     crooked     path     of     life. 

Later,    when    Nell    gets   a  job   as  an    artist's    i 1,1. 

Dr.     Strong,     a     famous     surgeon,     calls     and     Nell 

i        in     |.i<  1   lie     In-     pocket,     but     her     theft     is 

discovered    and    John    interests   the    surgeon   in    her 
casi  He     operates     and     Nell     recovers     normal 

mentality     and      lohn     rcccn  es     the     r.  « 
faith    and    love    bv    Nell's    promise    to    become    his 


Mutual  Program 


~75 


i.iliy    decldei    t 

I"  NC«  1    "Ik. 

Ill    maid    cousin    .unl    pre 

j    know    her    ami    she    inimnli  i 


The  Race  for  Life—  (Claim  i  k  3   'Tin    Ciki    am. 

mi       Game")— (Two       Reels)— Sigkal.— Helen 

and  Leo  Maloney,  famous  stars  m  earlier  chap- 
ters of  this  series-serial,  perform  anotner  hair- 
raising  stunt  in  this  chapter,  Helen  stretching  a 
ind  snatching  Ma- 
loney   from     i 

ilh.        A     full    review     appi  .n  -    oil     ailotbci 
page    of   this    issue.  \      i  |     <  . 

Sammy's    Scandalous    Scheme      (Tw 

'     i  sun  h    27.     Featuring    Sammj    Burns 
and   Dot   Farley,     Dol   ia  in  love  with  the  screen 


\    G,  C, 


The    She     Devil     (Three     Reels)— Reliance— 

'nng  Gladys  Brockwcll.  Al- 
bert Alwain.  a  young  American  artist,  secretly 
engaged  to  llernicc  White,  becomes  hopelessly 
infatuated  with  Min.i.  a  gypsy  charmer,  in  Paris. 
Renard,  a  rich  young  Frenchman  wh. 
ately  in  love  with  the  latter,  incites  Mica's  father 
to  wreak  vengeance  on  Alwain.  The  gypsy 
leader  attacks  Alwain.  but  in  the  scuffle  Renard 
accident. illy  knifes  the  gypsy,  while  Albert  be- 
beves  that  he  himself  is  guilty  of  the  crime. 
Mina  also  believes  Albeit  guilty  and  her  love 
turns  to  bate.  Alwain  returns  to  America  with 
Ins  enemies  close  on  his  heels.  Bernice  learns 
of  the  escapade  in  Paris  and  breaks  '•■  ■ 
infill.  A  bullet  from  the  police  at  last  inflicts  a 
mortal  wound  on  Renard  and  with  his  dying 
breath    the    Frenchman    confesses    bis   guilt. 

Viviana      ■  (Two  B    El    I  Vmbrican— January 

iii      Reaves     Bason,    the    director,    has    made    a 

.     duction    ot    this    little   hum 
story,     which     features     Vivian     Rich     and     Georgl 
\    lull    review    appears   on    another   page 
,,f  this  issue, 


January  15,   1916. 


mrly 


father 


spin: 


thre 


_„  i  day.  Belinda  rebels  and 
who  will  allow  her  to  satisfy  her  appetite  in  any 
way  she  sees  fit.  Belinda  orders  pickles  and  pie 
for  breakfast.  The  husband  reads  in  the  paper 
of  a  notorious  criminal,  Pickle  Pete,  who  has 
just  robbed  a  safe,  stimulated  by  his  usual  rations 
of  pickles  and  pie.  Husband  and  wife  soon  find 
it  necessary  to  evacuate  the  restaurant,  for  the 
entire  restaurant  force  believe  that  thev  are  on 
the  tracks  of  the  criminal.  The  husband  finally 
has  the  honor  of  capturing  Pickle  Pete,  thus 
proving  himself  an  able  detective  and  providing 
grounds    for   the   return    of  his    affectic 


l  the 


r  fathe 


The  First  Quarrel — Beauty — Janu. 
John  Sheehan  and  Carol  Halloway  app. 
newlvweds  who  quarrel  and  decide  up< 
Tohn  rents  his  furnished  bungalow  befi 
parts    to    kill    himself    and    later   T< 


also  newlyweds,  rent  the  house.  John's  uncle, 
who  comes  to  visit,  finds  the  threats  of  suicide 
left  by  John  and  Carol,  and  induces  each  to  re- 
turn home.  John  on  entering  the  bungalow  enters 
Ethel's  room,  while  Carol  is  surprised  to  find 
Tom  in  her  apartment,  but  explanations  follow 
and  all   ends  happily.  N.   G.    C. 

In  the  Name  of  the  Law — (Three  Reels) — 
Thanhouser— January  11.— With  Gladys  Hulette. 
For  months  the  Dry  Gulch  gang  of  moonshiners 
have  evaded  the  secret  service  men,  when  the 
star  man  of  the  corps  is  put  on  the  case.  He 
goes  into  the  mountains  in  the  garb  of  an  escaped 
convict,  is  accepted  as  such  and  taken  into  the 
home  of  the  chief  of  the  moonshiners.  His  love 
for  the   chief's   daughter  prevents  him  from   doing 


the 


;   badge.     The 

i   killed   at   one 

betrayer 


cidentally   discovering   th« 

,  but  it  is   discovered   that   th 


th< 
killed  by  the  arriving  posse.  Hi 
has  betrayed  his  own  people  for  the  considera 
tion  of  a  sum  of  money.  The  girl  now  learns  th; 
her  lover  has  remained  true  in  spite  of  the  la 
and   they   come   to   a   new   understanding.     . 

Marta  of  the  Jungle — Centaur — January  13. — 
Featuring  Margaret  Gibson.  Dick  Caulder,  a 
"ticket  of  leave"  man,  crossing  the  veldt  in 
Africa,  finds  a  child  whose  parents  have  been 
killed  by  lions.  Dick  takes  the  child  to  a  lonely 
cabin  and  here  she  grows  up  in  a  dark  and 
menacing  atmosphere,  Caulder  and  his  partner, 
Tom,  being  diamond  "fences."  They  get  the  dia- 
monds from  a  kaffir  and  pass  them  to  smugglers. 
Sid  Rolfe  is  sent  from  London  to  discover  the 
'   "eakage.      He   gets    into   the    d> 


MOTOGRAPHY 


.    already   engaged.     The    film 


Reforming  Rubbering  Rosie — Falstaff — Jan- 
uary 10.— With  Arthur  Cunningham.  Rosie  is 
haunted  by  a  single,  awful  fear — that  some  day 
she  will  be  too  large  to  hang  out  of  the  window 
and  watch  everything  which  comes  to  pass  in 
the  streets  below.  This  story  shows  how  "Rub- 
bering Rosie"  is  cured,  both  of  her  fear  and  her 
•inclination,  through  a  series  of  mournful  events, 
culminating  in  the  burning  of  her  flat  and  her 
rescue  by  her  son-in-law  to  be.  She  no  longer 
hangs  out  of  the  window,  but  keeps  a  wary  eye 
on    the   flat. 


11.— 


Peggy  Dale,  two  characters-  played  by  Edward 
Coxen  and  Winifred  Creemvoral,  uho  have  been 
out  to  a  masquerade,  he  beholds  Willard  dressed 
as  a  burglar.  Charles  Bartlett  directed  the  pro- 
duction. N.   G.   C. 

Water  Stuff— (Three  Reels)— Mustang— Jan- 
uary   15.— A    truly    funny    comedy   in    which    Buck 

becomes  deathly  sick,  but  saves  the  production 
by  rescuing  from  drowning  Jennie  Lee,  a  "supe" 
who  had  told  the  director  she  could  swim  in 
order  to  get  a  job.  A  full  review  appears  on  an- 
other  page   of   this   issue.  N.    G.    C. 

The  Gamble  —  (Two  Reels)  —  American  — 
January  16.— Harold  Lockwood  and  May  Alli- 
son are  featured  in  this  two-reel  production  whose 
scenes  are  laid  amid  the  vast  wheat  fields  of  the 
Middle  West.  John  Gordon,  a  wealthy  farmer, 
marries  Jean  Hastings,  the  daughter  of  a  Chi- 
cago broker,  after  she  is  left  an  orphan,  but  the 
lonelv  life  of  the  farm  quickly  palls  upon  her 
and    she    finds     consolation    in     a    flirtation 


thie 


>n,    ho^ 


thei 


party   is   sent   out.      Cauldi.. 

is  killed  and  Marta,  the  poor  little  victim,  is 
freed  at  last  from  her  dark  surroundings.  She 
enters   a   new   life   with    Sid. 

Getting  in  Wrong — Beauty — January  15. — 
Neva  Gerber  and  Tack  Dillon  have  the  leads  in 
this  one-reel  comedy  as  Tom  and  Alice,  sweet- 
hearts, Alice  living  with  her  father  in  the  apart- 
ment next  door  to  the  apartment  occupied  by 
Tom  and  his  spinster  aunt.  Alice's  father,  re- 
turning home  somewhat  the  worse  for  liquor, 
goes  into  the  wrong  apartments,  resulting  in  his 
meeting  Tom's  spinster  aunt.  When  Alice  and 
Tom.  whose  marriage  has  been  frowned  upon 
by  their  relatives,  return  home  one  evening  from 
a  picture  show,  they  find  Alice's  father  and  Tom's 


Phillip  Leland,  an  English  ne'er-do-well,  employed 
by  Gordon.  When  Gordon  discovers  the  situa- 
tion he  threatens  to  kill  Leland,  but  the  latter 
declares  that"  he  has  won  the  love  that  Gordon 
had  never  possessed.  When  Jean  is  asked  point 
blank  to  choose  between  the  two,  she  throws  her- 
self into  the  arms  of  her  husband,  and  shortly 
afterwards  is  amazed  to  have  an  Indian  squaw 
appear  and  prove  her  identity  as  Leland's  lawful 
wife.  N.   G.   C. 

Ham  and  Eggs— Casino— January  16.— Starring 
"Budd"  Ross.  Willie  Watermind  loves  Lucile, 
the  only  child  of  a  rich  banker.  When  Lucile 
and  her  father  come  to  call,  Willie,  wishing  to 
'""    poverty,    paints    a   life-like    pi 


ham 

plate,    th 

js    fooling 

father. 

That    night    Willie    dre 

erd    dream 

,    ham 

and 

i  ■-;■-.          ':    ;'    '.      ill.,      ill. 11 

When  he 

the 

landlady    is    stand 

him,     dem 

that 

he    pay    the    rent 

.      At    this 

father   and   daughl 

Father. 

lear 

led     about    the    pa 

nted     me 

al,     is     con 

that 

such    a    plucky   yo 

should    be 

into 

the  family  without 

delay. 

Universal  Program;    : 


Universal  Animated  Weekly  No.  1 — Universal 
—January  5.— Colonel  House,  President  Wilson's 
personal  envoy,  sails  for  Europe;  La  Brea.  new 
type  oil  carrier,  launched  at  San  Francisco,  Cal. ; 
stock  yards  glutted  with  cattle,  sheep  and  goats, 
Chicago,  111. ;  latest  winter  fashions ;  grand  jury- 
indicts  warden  of  Sing  Sing  Prison,  Ossining, 
N.  Y. ;  United  States  Government  inaugurates 
system  bringing  islands  into  closer  touch,  Man- 
ila. Philippine  Islands;  eighty-two-mile  hurricane 
New   England.    Revere,    Mass. ;    Fred   Ful- 


who   i 


for    heav 


pionship     of    the     world, 
aboard    Henry    Ford's    peace    ship, 
by  Hy.  Mayer. 


eight     cha. 


111.;    i 


Grinding  Life  Down— (Fifth  Two-Reel  Epi- 
,ode  of  "Graft")— Week  of  January  10.— With 
Harry  Carev,  Hobart  Henley,  Jane  Novak  and 
jlen  White.  This  episode  was  suggested  by  Wal- 
ace  Irwin.  Tom  Larnigan,  who  is  taking  his 
irother's  place  dn  the  offensive  against  the  Graft 
rrust  in  general  and  the  Textile  Trust  in  par- 
icular.  secures  the  downfall  of  C.  Wood  Ayers, 
he  head  of  the  latter  trust.  Ayers  has  prepared 
■       3wn     son    is     killed, 


rough 


istake. 


mjui 


:ess    and    the    latter 

es  another  name  in  the  book  that  records  the 

at  of  another  Trust  member.     It  also  develops 

Dorothy    Maxwell,    in    an    attempt    to    help 


The  Boy,  the  Girl  and  the  Auto — Nestor — Jan- 
uary 10.— With  Billie  Rhodes.  When  Neal's  rival, 
Ray,  buys  a  Ford,  he  is  left  in  the  lurch.  Not 
having  enough  money  to  buy  a  car,  he  becomes  a 
chauffeur  and  uses  his  employer's  big  car  to  ad- 
vantage in  becoming  popular  with  Billie.  How- 
ever, trouble  brews  and  culminates  in  his  being 
fired,  while  Billie  and  Ray,  now  wise  to  his  de- 
ception, pass  him  in  the  "flivver"  and  give  him. 
the  laugh. 


The 


Victory — (Two      Reels) — Gold 


of    becoming    a    detectiv 

takes    a    positior 

waiter    at    a    hotel    wher 

study    up    the    subject. 

He    finally    catch 

Where  Printing 
is  an  Art  and 
Quality  reigns 
Supreme 

COMMERCIAL  MOTION 
PICTURES  CO. 

Cliffside  323      Grantwood,  N.  J. 


you  that  the 

Bartola  Orchestra 

is  superior  to  any  other  for  your  Theatre. 
Give  us  a  chance.     Write  for  catalogue. 

Sold  on  Easy  Terme 

Bartola  Musical  Instrument  Co. 


Factory:  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin 


crooks  who  have  eluded  the 
tives'  grasp  and  is  highly  c 
ability.  He  secures  the  const 
to  give  him  some  first-hand  ki 
tive  work.  There  is  promis 
knowledge  in  other  lines  later. 
His  Return— Rex—  January 
wife,  Mary,  are  denied  the 
Alary  finds  comfort  in  pori 
and    looking   at    baby    pictur 


xperienced  detec- 
plimented    on   his 

of  the  detectress 
owledge  of  detec- 
:     of     his     getting 


bles 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Vol.  XV,  No.  3. 

construction    gangs    in    Mexico    in   order   to    prove 

his  worth,   but   he  easily    falls   m   with   the   slothful 

ways    of   the    Mexicans.      Teddv    still    has    faith    in 

They   plan   to   return   to   America   and   make    up    for 

him     however,    and    when    she    hears    he    has    been 

discharged    she    leaves    for    Mexico.      A    villainous 

X-3— (Threk    Reels)— Bio     U— January     13.— 

have     Dix     killed.       The     latter    proves    his     worth 

With     Edythe    Sterling,    Millard     K.     Wilson    and 

Murdock    MacQuarrie.      John    Gordon,    who   is    a 

foreman.     The  lovers  are  saved   by  a   rescue  party 

member    of    a    gang    of    counterfeiters,    decides    to 

live    straight    for    his    daughter's    sake.       This    de- 

la!"    ' 

ft. 

...  '■§ 

»'J 

*  HP 

1 

ei 

happin 

to 

him 

Ti 

rn — Nestor- 

-T 

\K\lf 

RY       14.— 

ii 

So  the 

i,l 

hibald    is 

■d 

out    of 

the 

h 

Archy 

d 

Flivver, 

for 

h, 

All    Fliv- 

be 

l.r 

nto    Mrs. 

old    1 

idv 

and    give 

id 

then    whistl 

Th 

n    Archi- 

the  1 


s  of  his 


and    thev    < 

to  whom  A 

Gertie's 


ft '  -JM    IV 

FJ 


I    falls 


chap,  i 


>  the 


:   with   Adel 


Ther 


He     then     frames 


on     them     ami     sets     them     fighting. 
Gertrude  and   try    to   annihilate    eacl 
the    lovers    give    them    the    laugh, 
ongratulales     Reggie    on    ridding    hit 
ould-be    rivals. 

1    and     Morality- -(  Til  ri  i      Kim  s)       \ 
'    "—Featuring    "- 
Harry  An 


Feature  Programs 


Fox 


-Fei 


tation  A  La  Carte— L-Ko— January  16.— 
and  Phil  .[uarrel  with  their  wives  and  both 
home  in  a  bad  temper.  Phil's  wife,  Alice, 
with  Dick  and  this  leads  the  two  men  to 
;1  and  vow  vengeance  on  each  other.  After 
t  i:i  a  gambling  room  Dick  only  evades  the 
s  by  getting  in  Phil's  house,  where  he 
under  the  bed.  The  police,  hearing  Alice's 
is.  break  in.  There  they  find  some  of  the 
ing  gang  and  all  battle  until  knocked  out. 

Defiance— (Two      Reels)— Rex— January 
Vith    Cleo  Madison.      Theron   Gabler  and  his 
Adeline,    live    together    in    a    small    country- 
Old    Scapin,    the    village    Croesus,    covets 
ill    and    has     made     tentative     arrangements 


Destruction— (Five  Reels)— Fo: 
Theda  Bara  and  an  all-star  cast.  The  son  ot 
Charles  Froment  tries  to  warn  his  father  against 
the  true  character  of  his  stepmother,  but  Fro- 
ment under  the  spell  of  Ferdinande,  refuses  to 
listen.  Ferdinande  and  Deleveau.  the  manager  of 
Froment's  mill,  who  loves  her,  are  instru- 
mental in  the  death  of  Froment.  but  before  dying 
he  discovers  the  true  character  of  his  wife  and 
makes  out  his  will  in  favor  of  his  sen.  The  step- 
mother tries  to  ruin  the  boy.  but  her  plans  are 
frustrated    and    she    perishes    in    a    tire. 

The    Green-Eyed    Monster— I  Five    Reels) — Fox 
—January     2. — Featuring     Robert     Mantell     and 

by  Xixola  Daniels.  It  deals  with  the  destruction 
worked  by  the  jealousy  of  Raimond  de  Mornav, 
who  loves  his  brother's  wife.  It  drives  him  to 
murder  his  brother,  to  cause  of  the  death  of 
the  wife,  the  object  of  his  love,  and  it  finally 
destroys  his  reason  and  then  his  own  life.  Stuart 
Holmes  plays  the  part  of  the  brother.  Picture 
reviewed   on   another  page   of  this   issue. 

G.   H. 


Metro 

What   Will 

People   Say?— Metri  —  January  3  — 
Popular    Plays    and     Players    Com- 

Produced    by 

unng    lime.    Petrova.      The    story    is 

Rupert    Hughes.      It   is    an 

ania     depicting    the    influence     public 

ver   our  actions.      Fratinie    Fraunholz 

Lint    head   the    admirable    supporting 

page^oT'this 

complete   review   appears  on  another 

Mutual  Special 

Fighting  fo 

r  France— (Five  Reels)— Mutual.— 

contains     views     oi     the     September 

drive     of     the 

Allies,     a    naval     engagement     in    the 

l    battle    m    the    snow    in    tb 

ist     has     been     assembled     and     close 

ales.     President     Poinc.ie     and     Lord 

presented.      This    picture    should    be 

.,   strong    box 

office    attraction    wherever    shown. 

Paramount 


i  iin  ■ 

Ul  II, ,u         U  hdi     in  ,i,l.in    sick 

1 


lake  her  one  ol  his  wives.  I  n  .,  1,1  ,.l  u  .1I..11M 
Rajah    plans    to    do  away    with    lllayue.    but    his 

.nil     niisinlei  piels     bis     instructions     and     gives 

poisoned     ling     lo      I''., bill  l-'.dith      1-     saved     in 

b\      Ibe     Rajah,     w  ho     n.i'ii,  ,  -     lb, 

akc.       The     Rajah     ihen    puts    the    deadly    ring 

A.ross    the    Rio   Grande— (Threi     Reels)     Hi 

OM  lAM      MM  IS.  \\    Mil  I'.lll 

t   the  idle 

neb.      loves      Teddy       Ransom.         Dixon's      idle      and 

11    h.ibiis   ,b,   not    in., I    la\, 
fat  her    and    he    refuses    1,.       n,      bi 

I 


tation — (Six      Reels) — Lasky. — Featuring 

e    Farrar.       This     production     deals     with 

of    an     opera    singer    and    provides     Miss 

with     a     sympathetic     straight     role     and 

\1     --       l-'.l-l       I       ,-       •:■ 

g     cast,     including      Pc.lr..     D, 

e     Roberts    .,nd     Kbir     lane    Wilson.       The 

"as    1 i,'„l     b>     Cecil     1!      DeMille    and 

The    Golden     Chance      (Fivi      Ri     ls)       LASKY.— 

Featuring    Cleo    Kidglev    and    Wallace    Ke.,1.      Marv 
Denby.    a    girl     oi     refinement,     who    has    married 
1     and    drunkard,    against    her 
'is.   wins   the   love   01     ,    \oung    million- 
si,,     goes    froni    poverty     to    riches. 
■  veiling,      romantic      and      interesting 

Lvdia      Gilmore      Fwi.ns       |'i  iUr.       Featuring 
I   ,       . 

and      I'll, ,111. is     Holding.       The    picture 

was     produced     by     F.dwin     S       I'ortei      and      Hugh 

Ford    from    the    storx    by    Heurx     Arthur    Jones.      A 

iplete   review   appears   on   another  page   of   this 


Pathe 


ib  Teddy's 


Pathe       News       104      Pathe      December      29. — 

M       llousi     haves     for     Europe    on     a 
special      diplomatic      mission      for      the      President. 
Iloboken.      V      I.;      French     military      li-.i 
in    the    foresl    ol     Argonne.    France,    are    kepi    husv 
satisfying    the    demands    for    lumber    to 
earthwork     const  ruction  :    scene    showing    how    the 


January  15,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Russian    t 

«, 

are    t 

urning    the    Tu 

rkish    flank; 

Pathe   Par 

s  f 

sh 

n    natural    color 

s;    two   hun- 

dred   New 

Yot 

en  visit   the   U. 

S.    S.   New 

York     and 

ained     by     the 

bluejackets; 

tOT 

of    the    curric 

ilum    at    the 

chool, 

Chino,    Calif.; 

"down    and 

before   get 

ing 

free  lod 

ging,   Chicago, 

111. 

Pathe  News  No.  1— Pathe— January  1.— Thou- 
sand-foot pier,  costing  $2,500,000,  being  con- 
structed in  the  Xorth  River;  famous  Alpine 
Chasseurs  rushed  to  help  repel  a  concentrated 
German  attack.  Vosges  Mountains,  France; 
delegates  of  the  Pan-American  Union  gather  to 
discuss  the  war's  effects  on  our  trade  relations 
with  South  America,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  bridge 
over  Spokane  River  collapses,  killing  six  per- 
sons and  injuring  many  others,  Spokane.  Wash. ; 
aboard  a  French  submarine  in  the  Dardanelles; 
Carranza  troops  take  possession  of  Villista  head- 
quarters after  Villa  abandons  the  town,  Piedras 
Necras,     Mexico:     scenic    railway    completely    dc- 


,   Rever 


ich.    Ma> 


The  Missing  Heir— (Two  Reels)— Pathe— De- 
cember 27. — The  thirteenth  adventure  in  the 
Wallingford  series  produced  by  the  Whartons 
from  George  Randolph  Chester's  stories  and  fea- 
turing Max  Figman,  Lolita  Robertson  and  Burr 
Mcintosh.  Wallingford  finds  P.  S.  Hutch  too 
any   of   the  propositions   he   has  jjffered 


When  the  film  continues  to   repeat  dates  in  all  high-class  houses,  we 
call  your  attention  to 


-Paris 


STATE  RIGHTS  APPLY 


HANOVER  FILM  CO.,  inc. 


e  904  Columbia  Building 
Broadway  at  47th  St. 


Bryant  9544 

New  York  City 


abor 


that 


ying,    when    Blacki 
le  °L™ide 


"Spirit  Parlor"  and  lure  Hutch  there.  Hi 
some  startling  things  by  the  medium, 
none  other  than  Violet  Warden.  Thi: 
Hutch  to  pav  Wallingford  the  amount 
from   Violet.   " 

Excuse  Me— (Five  Reels)— Pathe-Savage— 
December  31. — A  Gold  Rooster  play  produced 
by  Henrv  W.  Savage  from  the  successful  com- 
edy by  Rupert  Hughes.  George  F.  Marion  is 
featured.  In  the  supporting  cast  are  Vivian 
Blackburn,  Robert  Fisher  and  Harrison  Ford.  A 
review  appears  on  another  page  of  this  issue. 


The  Red  Circle— (Two  Reels)—  Path e  Balboa. 
— Fourth  episode  entitled  "In  Strange  Attire." 
In  an  effort  to  secure  the  cloak'  which  Mary 
leaves  in  the  garage  and  which  Lamar  has  left 
with  the  police,  June,  in  man's  attire,  pretends 
to  have  been  sent  to  the  police  by  Lamar  to 
identify  the  coat.  After  an  exciting  incident  in 
which  shi      " 


The    ] 


:wed    i 


N. 


lothei 


The    Cor 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  Ji 


-(Fiv 


-s)—  Kay- 


y  9. 


mgster— 


Lonesome        Luke,        Social 
Reel) — Pathe-Rolin — Decembe 
merest    accident    Luke    meets    Miss    Son>cl>"d\, 


tempts  do  not  rn 
the  gate.  He  ret 
and   a  pistol   to   i 


nt  and  after  a  delightful  feed  he 
vith  her.  Apparently  Luke's  at- 
eet    with    favor    for   he    is    given 


„  Willard  Mac,  - 
William-.  The  story  deals  -with  the  attempt  . 
one  George  Waltham,  a  millionaire  food  king,  i 
corner  the  food  supply  of  the  country.  Becau; 
of  Ibis  (lie  family  of  John  J 
but  in  the  end  Adams  is  tl 
about  Waltham's  death.  I 
see  page   1339   of  the   Decern 


5    of    brii 


HEADOUARTERS 

FOR 

MOVING   PICTURE 
CAMERAS 
TRIPODS 

PRINTERS,  ETC. 

PATHE,  MOY  &  PRESTWICK 
GOODS,  ALWAYS  IN  STOCK 

MOTION  PICTURE  APPARATUS  CO.,  INC. 

81  O  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK  CITY,  N.Y. 


abifvie 


the    Trees    Are 

America  offeri: 
,s  of  the  "stone 
:1    fibre    of   the    v 


furniture 
vith : 


story  of  Katy  Standish, 
left  to  care  for  her  sisters  seve 
takes  the  children  to  Mexico, 
Dan  and  her  lover,  Oliver,  r 
children  prove  heroes  and  her 
hut  is  attacked  by  a  band  of  oi 
and  Oliver  are  away.  For  a  1 
page    1339    of    the    December    25 


ivajo  Coi 


aty. 
Nature     Faker- 


Colonel      Hee 

Reel) — Pathe- 
toon  by  J.  R.  Bray  which  shows  the  doughty 
Colonel  in  Africa,  where  he  has  some  narrow 
escapes  and  funny  adventures  with  big  game. 
On   the   same   reel   with: 

-mors   and 
beautiful     views     of   The     California 
coast.      It  is  a  very  interesting  scenic. 

Chasing  'Em  Out  in  the  Open — Pathe — Star- 
light— January  1. — In  this  comedy  Heinie  and 
Louie  set  out  from  a  barn  where  they  were  tak- 
ing a  quiet  nap  with  some  money  they  appropri- 
ated from  a  suspicious-looking  individual.  They 
invest  in  a  hairdressing  parlor  and  discharge  the 
help,  both  being  rather  fond  of  the  ladies.  Things 
go  well  until  an  especially  pretty  woman  enters. 
Then  there  is  a  duel  in  which  both  seconds  are 
killed.     They   are   last   seen   returning  to   the   barn 

Rodger  Gregory  wins  the  love  of  Greda,  whom 
Walter  Brent  had  also  wished  to  marry.  Being 
good  friends,  Gregory  insists  that  Brent  live 
with  them.  Some  time  later  finds  the  three  living 
happily  together.  During  a  two  months'  absence 
of  Brent,  Gregory  forms  a  friendship  with  John 
Lockert.  Lockert  becomes  a  regular  visitor  at 
his  home.  Gregory,  unthinking,  spends  most  of 
his  leisure  time  working,  while  Lockert  enter- 
tains his  wife.  Brent  returns,  and  seeing  trouble 
is  sure  to  result,  warns  Gregory.  Gregory  refuses 
to  listen.  Finally  Brent  overhears  Lockert  pro- 
posing an  elopement  to  Greda.  She  consents. 
Brent  goes  to  Gregory,  telling  him  that  he  him- 
self has  tempted  his  wife  and  she  had  listened. 
Gregory  threatens  him,  swearing  never  again  to 
speak  to  him.  Brent  then  warns  Lockert  to 
stay  away  from  Greda.  Many  months  pass  and 
finally  Greda  tells  her  husband  it  was  Lockert 
who  had  tempted  her  and  Brent  who  had  saved 
her.  Their  friendship  with  Brent  is  then  restored 
after    humble    apologies    have    been    accepted    by 


Universal    Special 

Love's  Pilgrimage  to  America — (Five  Reels)  — 
Universal  Broadway— January  10.— Lulu  Glaser, 
the  famous  comic  opera  star,  is  given  ample 
opportunity  in  this  comedy  to  display  her  talents. 
A  full  review  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
issue.  N.   G.   C. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Thou  Art  the  Man— (Six  Reels)—  V.  L.  S. 
—January  3.— A  Vitagraph  Blue  Ribbon  Featu 
directed   by    S.    Rankin    Drew,    who    plays    one 


full   r 

No  Greater  Love— (Five  Reels)— V.  L.  S.  E.— 
January  10. — Produced  by  the  Selig  Company, 
this  picture  tells  the  story  of  Sandunah,  a  famous 
dancer,  who  induces  her  husband  to  kill  his 
uncle  and  Ihus  secure  a  fortune  for  himself. 
Later  she  leads  her  daughter's  lover,  who  has 
secured  bits  of  evidence  against  the  guilty  pair, 
to  the  edge  of  an  abyss  and  then  plunges  to 
her  death,  thus  removing  all  possibility  of  black- 
her  daughter   and   proving    ' ' 


ther 


thai 


that 


lother 


"BUILT  BY; 
BRAINS" 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  M  inusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  New  York 

Ho  user    Building  19  W.   23rd   St. 

Calgary,  Canada  Chicago 

Grand  Theatre  Bldg.  1 54  West  Lake  St. 

San   Francisco  Pittsburg 

117-19  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  Ave. 


THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 


GOES-  CHICAGO 


.4 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo. 


Miscellaneous 


Raver 
The    Other    Girl— (Five    Reels)— Ravei 


turing 

Paul 

Gi 

note    \ 

ml     a 

the 

idvi 

ce    -I 

Rev. 

(   lilton 

Bradford, 

th 

goes  to   M  ildoo: 

foi 

■'.       Kk 

Gar- 

vcy.     ;i 

pugil 

roduced    t 

o    the 

him 

ig.  in 

y    and 

using 

inciden 

SOME   NEW  THEATERS 

Michigan. 
City  Electricity  Inspector  H.  G.  Van 
Voorhis  is  preparing-  to  hold  an  examina- 
tion for  machine  operators  of  moving 
picture  theaters  of  Jackson,  with  a  view 
of  finding  out  whether  they  are  qualified 
to  hold  such  positions  in  accordince  with 
a  city  ordinance  passed  in  1909,  which 
requires  a  knowledge  of  certain  things 
pertaining  to  their  work.  All  operators 
of  the  city  will  be  notified  of  the  pending 
examination  and  will  be  given  a  month 
in  which  to  prepare  for  it  and  acquire 
a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  electricity 
as  pertaining  to  the  operation  of  a  mov- 
ing picture  machine,  and  other  features. 
If  an  operator  fails  to  pass  the  examina- 
tion he  will  be  barred  from  operating  a 
machine  until  able  to  pass.  Those  oper- 
ators who  pass  the  examination  will  be 
given  a  city  license  for  which  no  fee  will 
be  charged. 

The  New  Colonial  theater  on  North 
Kalamazoo  street,  Paw  Paw,  which  has 
been  running  under  the  management  of 
George  Pierce,  has  changed  hands,  the 
present  proprietor  being  Harry  T.  Craig 
of  Chicago.  Mr.  Craig  is  an  experienced 
picture  man  and  is  introducing  many 
novelties  in  his  management  of  the  pic- 
ture-play house. 

The  work  of  removing  the  Robbins 
building  on  Main  and  Bank  streets,  Ish- 
peming,  to  make  room  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  new  Robbins  moving  picture 
theater,  is  proceeding  satisfactorily  and 
by  the  first  of  the  week  the  structure  will 
be  ready  to  be  moved. 

R.  J.  Crosby  has  purchased  the  Crystal 
theater  in  Sturgis  from  Thad  Wait.  Mr. 
Crosby  was  the  original  owner  of  the 
Crystal,  but  sold  out  some  time  ago  to 
Landis  and  Ycagle,  who  in  turn  sold  to 
Thad  Waite. 

The  Atheneum  theater  in  Jackson  is 
to  become  a  motion  picture  theater  ac- 
cording to  Wist  S.  McLaren.  W.  F.  Phil- 
lips and  Charles  E.  Ulrickson,  who  com- 
prise the  Majestic  company.  The  theater 
will  undergo  extensive  improvements  and 
be   renamed  the  Majestic. 

I  >irei  toi  -  "i  iiu  Kin,  kerboi  ker  theater, 
r<  H'  i  -"ii  avenue  and  tin-  Boulevard,  De- 
troit, have  declared  the  regular  monthly 

dividend   ol    pel    I ki 

nt      returned      to 

Knickerboi  ■    :  holders    since     the 

opening  ol  this  pit  tui  e  th<  atei   last   May, 
Tin-  Is  nickerbocker  ha-  a  seatin 
ity  of   1,100 

W  "il.   on   the  new    one-story   vaudette 

building   erected    by    E.    X.    Brov 

avenue,   X.   \\ ..  Grand    Rapids, 


was  completed  this  week  and  the  theater 
will  very  shortly  be  opened.  The  build- 
ing is  of  cement  construction  and  cost 
$5,000. 

F.  C.  Willey,  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
will  open  for  the  public  the  Delight  thea- 
ter. 407  Asylum  street,-  Flint.  The  thea- 
ter which  is  strictly  modern  throughout 
is  located  in  a  new  building  of  hollow 
tile  and  concrete  construction  and  is  fire- 
proof. There  is  a  handsome  front  to  the 
building,  built  of  white  glazed  brick.  The 
theater  has  a  seating  capacity  of  250.  All 
of  the  equipment  is  new,  including  the 
latest  type  of  Powers  projecting  machine 
which  is  operated  by  a  motor.  There 
are  double  exits  from  the  building,  open- 
ing directly  on  Kearsley  street.  The 
building  is  90  feet  long  and  21  feet  wide. 
The  manager  of  the  theater  announces 
a  daily  change  of  program  with  Universal 
film  features.  An  automatic  orchestra 
will  furnish  the  music. 

Minnesota. 

Fred  and  Herman  Henn  are  just  com- 
pleting the  Homestead  motion  picture 
theater  at  Detroit  avenue  and  Hird  street, 
Lakewood.     Seating  capacity  950. 

A  permit  for  a  motion  picture  theater 
to  be  built  by  A.  H.  Abrams  at  903-913 
Cherry  avenue,  S.  E.,  Canton,  at  a  cost 
of  $20,000,  has  been  issued. 

The  new  motion  picture  theater  at 
Camden  Park  is  rapidly  nearing  com- 
pletion, and  it  is  only  a  matter  of  short 
time  before  the  doors  will  be  thrown 
open.  It  is  located  opposite  the  Camden 
square,  Minneapolis. 

E.  J.  Phelps  is  building  a  new  moving- 
picture  theater  at  733-37  East  Lake  street, 
Minneapolis.  This  will  be  of  brick,  tile 
and  reinforced  concrete  and  will  cost 
$27,000.     M.  Schumacher  is  the  contrac- 

A  new  theater  is  to  be  built  in  Adrian 
which  will  feature  vaudeville  and  pic- 
tures. 

Missouri. 

Creditors  of  the  St.  Louis  Kriterion 
Film  Service  Company  recently  filed  in 
the  United  States  District  Court  an  in- 
voluntary petition  in  bankruptcy  against 
that  firm,  alleging  that  it  had  committed 
an  act  of  bankruptcy  and  that  it  was  un- 
able to  meet  its  obligations. 

Negotiations  which  have  been  pending 
some  time  between  the  Hippodrome 
Theater  company,  a  newly  organized 
theatrical  syndicate,  and  the  Hippodrome 
Amusement  company  for  a  sub-lease  of 
the  Hippodrome  in  the  Convention  hall 
building,  Springfield,  have  been  consum- 
mated with  I  he  resull  that  the  theater 
will  be  opened  December  18  under  the 
management  of  E.  E.  Parnell.  The  Hip- 
podrome Amusement  company  holds  the 
original  lease  on  the  theater.  Feature 
pictures  will  be  shown  and  it  is  the  in- 
tention of  the  new  management  to  make 
several  improvements. 

Montana. 

Articles  of  incorporation  for  the  Inter- 
mountain  Photoplay  company  have  been 
filed  in  Helena.  I  In  company  is  formed 
For    tin    purpose   of  taking   over   picture 

■"Mi"   a   circuit   in  Mon- 

ati     the   articles,     The   proposed 
■    ists  oi  houses  in  the  principal 
Cities  in   the  State  and   several   leases   have 
been   obtained. 


Work    ha 


started  i 


be  finished  by  February  on  the  first  mov- 
ing picture  house  ever  established  in  the 
district  formerly  referred  to  as  "the  flat." 
on  Harrison  avenue  close  to  the  Bennett 
store,  Butte  City.  The  building  will  be 
erected  and  owned  by  Kroffgranz  & 
Frank  and  on  its  completion  a  lease  of 
the  building  will  be  taken  over  by  Charles 
F.  Hayes.  The  theater,  which  will  be 
known  as  the  Englewood  theater,  will  be 
managed  by  Mr.  Haves  with  the  assist- 
ance of  Mrs.  Hayes.  The  building  will 
be  of  brick  with  a  trussed  roof  construc- 
tion. It  will  have  a  frontage  of  60  feet 
and  a  ceiling  height  of  20  feet.  One  of 
the  important  features  will  be  the  pro- 
vision of  exits  to  be  used  in  case  of  emer- 
gencies. About  45  feet  from  the  front, 
on  either  side  of  the  building  there  will 
be  an  exit,  while  in  the  rear  there  will 
be  two  more  exits,  all  to  be  provided 
with  the  Von  Duprin  fire  exit  doors. 
These  exits  will  provide  the  theater  with 
a  degree  of  safety  not  excelled  by  any 
similar  motion  picture  house  in  the  city. 
The  seating  capacity  will  be  450  and  the 
seats  ordered  will  be  of  the  most  ap- 
proved design,  comfortably  upholstered 
and  of  good  width.  Ventilation  also  has 
been  carefully  considered  in  the  building 
and  in  the  center  of  the  ceiling  there  will 
be   installed   an  auto  force  ventilator. 

CofTee  Creek  in  a  very  short  time  will 
have  a  motion  picture  show.  Pictures 
to  be  shown  weekly. 

Nebraska. 

The  Lyric  theater  in  Fremont  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  It  was  the  oldest  picture 
show  playhouse  in  the  city,  owned  by 
Raitt   &  Terry. 

The  Dreamland  theater  in  Minden  is 
again  closed.  It  is  reported  that  it  will 
soon  open  under  a  new  name. 

George  Devlin,  proprietor  of  the  mov- 
ing picture  theater  at  Plainview,  has 
made  arrangements  to  run  picture  shows 
at  Osmond  and  McLean  in  the  future. 

New  York. 

Announcement  has  been  made  that 
Crawford  W.  Wright  and  Robert  L. 
Adamson,  owners  of  the  Wright  theater 
and  the  Star  theater,  Waterloo,  respect- 
ively, have  formed  a  partnership  and 
hereafter  the  two  theaters  will  be  con- 
ducted on  this  plan.  The  Universal  and 
General  Films  have  been  retained  by  the 
new  firm  and  will  be  shown  in  each 
theater.  When  special  films  are  to  be 
shown,  they  will  be  exhibited  in  each 
theater  on  the  same  evening,  doing  away 
with  the  usual  congestion  on  these  occa- 
sions. 

An  incorporation  which  it  is  rumored 
may  be  the  forerunner  of  another  motion 
picture  theater  has  been  filed  at  Albany 
by  the  Clinton-Mortimer  Corporation  of 
Rochester.  The  incorporation  papers 
state  that  the  new  company  is  incor- 
porated to  manufacture  cameras  and  elec- 
trical instruments  and  also  to  do  busi- 
ness as  theater  and  moving  picture  pro- 
prietors. The  directors  are  William 
Deininger,  William  S.  Riley  and  Thomas 
J    Swanton, 

The  Palace  theater  in  Buffalo  has  op- 
ened with  the  Triangle  films. 

Lewis  Kriger,  also  known  as  George 
1..  Kriger,  film  broker,  of  No.  925  Jack- 
son avenue,  Bronx,  lias  filed  a  petition  in 

bankruptcy,   with   liabilities  S_'.S7(,  and   no 

expected  to   assets. 


The  MOTION  MCTUim 
TI&LDE  <FOUM(fM2, 


DOUGLAS  FAIRBANKS 

WITH 
FINE  ARTS -TRIANGLE 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  22,  1916 


No.  4 


FIVE  KEEL  UNIT 

RELEASED  JAN.Z4™  1916 


fVANGELIS 

VmbmComxr 

"FOOIING  wcur 

u  JAN.  10th  A.      JAN.  20th  _ 

THELITTLE  SIMIZ  THELAWJ, 

OF  THE  POOF  INJUSTICE 

OAf£ACT  DRAMA  ,**,***  3 ACT  &#AMA 

J  AN.  22  no 

bILLIE  RE EVEf COMEDY 
"INSOMNIA 


January  22,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Triangle  Releases  for 
Week  of  January  16th 

First,  there  is  "The  Beckoning  Flame"  featuring 
Henry  Woodruff  and  Tsuru  Aoki  in  a  thrilling  East 
Indian  story  that  holds  with  unabated  interest  the  con- 
stant attention  of  your  patrons.  It's  a  "somewhat  dif- 
ferent" picture  that  commands  continued  consideration 
and  automatically  creates  unsolicited  recommendations 
and  statements  of  approval.  This  sensational  picture 
will  win  the  instant  approbation  of  everyone  who  wit- 
nesses it. 

Then  Robert  Harron  appears  with  Norma  Tal- 
madge  in  her  first  TRIANGLE  PLAY,  a  vivid  and  dra- 
matic picture  that  vibrates  with  tense  interest  in  the 
solution  of  an  appalling  murder  mystery.  The  gripping 
theme  compels  undivided  attention  and  the  final  happy 
ending  will  be  the  sign  for  spontaneous  applause  and 
enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  your  patrons. 

For  comedy  the  two  Keystones  this  week  will  pre- 
sent at  their  best  two  Broadway  Stars  famous  as  laugh- 
makers.  Sam  Bernard  will  repeat  his  success  of  last 
week  in  a  ten-laughs-a-minute  comedy  entitled  "Because 
He  Loved  Her,"  and  Joe  Jackson,  probably  the  best 
known  tramp  on  the  stage,  will  make  the  most  serious 
scream  in  his  picture  "A  Modern  Enoch  Arden." 


&,&,£,  &,«:,  &  -h      4.,**       v,.M,& si  'k  ■ 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  22,  1916 


No.  4 


Chicago  Chosen  as  Convention  City 


JULY  11-15  DATE  SET 


CHICAGO  was  chosen  as  the  city  in  which  to 
hold  the  next  annual  convention  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  national  executive  committee  of  that 
organization  held  at  the  Hotel  La  Salle,  Chicago,  the 
latter  part  of  last  week.  The  convention  sessions  will 
be  held  on  the  seventeenth  floor  of  the  Hotel  La  Salle 
and  a  place  for  the  exhibits,  which  always  form  an 
adjunct  of  national  conventions,  will  be  provided  in 
the  same  structure.  The  date  set  is  July  11  to  15  and 
from  the  enthusiasm  evident  among  representatives  of  a 
number  of  different  states,  the  1916  convention  is  go- 
ing to  be  the  best  attended  and  the  most  harmonious 
that  has  ever  been  held  by  the  exhibitors. 

The  gathering  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
national  body  was  called  to  order  on  Thursday  last  by 
President  Fred  J.  Herrington  of  Pittsburgh  and  there 
were  present  besides  the  members  of  the  committee  a 
number  of  prominent  exhibitors  from  different  parts 
of  the  country.  Thursday's  sessions  were  devoted 
principally  to  a  discussion  of  the  welfare'  of  the  organ- 
ization and  to  the  hearing  of  reports  from  different 
parts  of  the  country  on  the  growth  of  local  and  state 
bodies. 

A  letter  signed  by  J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secre- 
tary of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade,  urging  the 
exhibitors  to  hold  their  annual  convention  in  conjunc- 


tion with  the  Board  of  Trade,  which  is  planning  to 
hold  a  national  meeting  of  exhibitors  in  New  York 
City  next  spring,  caused  a  good  deal  of  discussion  and 
many  speakers  expressed  themselves  as  being  opposed 
to  the  attitude  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  A  representa- 
tive of  the  Board  of  Trade  briefly  addressed  the  meet- 
ing, and  after  he  had  retired  it  was  voted  to  hold  the 
annual  convention  of  the  League  independently  of  the 
Board  of  Trade.  Before  definitely  closing  the  discus- 
sion of  Mr.  Binder's  letter  the  following  resolution 
was  offered  and  unanimously  passed : 

Resolved,  That  W.  J.  Rembusch,  of  Indiana,  or  W.  J. 
Sweeney,  of  Chicago,  or  both,  be  directed  to  act  for  and  on 
behalf  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America 
to  secure  the  co-operation  and  assistance  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  at  its  annual  meeting,  January  11,  1916,  in  New  York 
City,  in  making  the  national  convention  and  exhibition  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors  League  of  America,  which  is 
to  be  held  during  July,   1916,  a  success. 

The  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  Illi- 
nois, of  which  the  national  executive  committee  and 
the  other  exhibitors  were. guests  during  their  stay  in 
Chicago,  was  next  tendered  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks 
and  appreciation  and  then,  after  a  talk  by  Mr.  Phillips 
of  Milwaukee,  formerly  national  president  of  the 
League,  an  open  discussion  of  the  need  for  more  co- 
operation between  exhibitors  and  the  various  trade 
journals  was  held.     Both  Mr.   Phillips  and  President 


1 56 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Herrington  expressed  themselves  as  believing  that  all 
exhibitors  should  advise  the  trade  journals  of  their 
activities  and  make  it  a  more  common  practice  to  send 
in  stories  regarding-  themselves  and  their  theaters. 

At  Friday's  session  the  question  of  censorship  of 
motion  pictures  was  thoroughly  discussed  and  though 
all  were  opposed  to  censorship  in  any  form,  all  were 
also  agreed  that  the  National  Board  of  Censorship  was 
the  least  objectionable  of  the  various  so-called  boards 
of  censorship,  and  in  accordance  with  this  opinion 
Messrs.  Phillips  of  Milwaukee,  Furniss  of  Duluth  and 
Slimm  of  Cleveland,  drafted  the  following  resolution 
which  was  unanimously  adopted : 

Whereas,  it  has  been  called  to  the  attention  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America,  in  executive  ses- 
sion assembled,  on  the  sixth  day  of  January,  1916,  in  the  city 
of  Chicago,  Illinois,  that  the  National  Board  of  Censorship 
is  not  receiving  the  proper  support  to  maintain  the  Board, 
now,  therefore,  it  is  Resolved,  that  it  will  be  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  Board  in  general  that  the  National  Board  of 
Censorship  be  not  allowed  to  die.  Therefore,  we,  the  Motion 
Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America,  in  executive  session 
assembled,  recommend  that  the  manufacturers  and  dis- 
tributors of  films  support  and  maintain  the  National  Board 
of  Censorship  as  at  present  continued. 

Following  a  luncheon  served  in  the  room  where 
the  executive  committee  was  meeting,  the  entire  party 
adjourned  to  the  roof  of  the  Hotel  La  Salle  where  mo- 
tion pictures  were  taken  for  the  Selig-Tribune. 

When  the  meeting  was  next  called  to  order  the 
various  cities  seeking  the  convention  presented  their 
arguments.  Pittsburgh  offering  the  Music  Hall  of  that 
city,  rent  free,  as  a  place  in  which  to  hold  the  conven- 
tion and  Manufacturers  Hall  as  a  location  for  the  ex- 
hibits, besides  entertainment  of  an  elaborate  nature ; 
Detroit  offering  some  strong  inducements  and  ample- 
accommodations  for  the  convention  there,  and  Chi- 
cago, claiming  to  be  the  world's  greatest  convention 
city,  offering  hotel  accommodations  that  are  unsur- 
passed, sightseeing  trips  to  the  various  studios  located 
there  and  entertainment  of  an  unusual  sort,  besides  its 
geographical  location,  which  all  agreed  seemed  to  sur- 
pass those  of  the  other  bidding  cities. 

After  comments  on  the  various  offers  by  Messrs. 
Herrington,  Jeup,  Rembusch,  Brophy,  Slimm,  Phillips, 
and  Sweeney,  the  committee  went  into  executive  ses- 
sion and  after  a  ballot  announced  that  Chicago  had 
been  chosen  as  the  place  in  which  to  hold  the  con- 
vention and  the  dates  fixed  as  July  11  to  15.  To  Wil- 
liam J.  Sweeney  of  Chicago  belongs  the  major  part  of 
the  credit  for  bringing  the  convention  to  that  city,  for 
1m  w  urked  early  and  late  to  convince  the  various  mem- 
biers  of  the  executive  committee  that  the  Windy  City's 
inducements  were  second  to  none.  He  also  took  it 
upon  himself  to  present  the  importance  of  the  motion 
picture  men's  gathering  to  Chicago  civic  bodies,  who 
are  always  active  when  a  convention  can  be  secured, 
and  it  is  sure  he  will  be  one  of  the  most  active  in  mak- 
ing the  convention  a  success  now  that  it  is  assured  for 
(  hicago. 

In  the  vote  on  the  convention  city  Judge  A.  P. 
Tjugwell  of  Los  Angeles,  Mark  P.  Core)  of  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Marion  S.  Pierce  were  absent  for  various 
reasons  and  sent  their  proxies  to  Messrs.  Herrington 
and  Jeup.  Present  and  voting  were  Fred  11.  Herring- 
ton of  Pittsburgh,  national  president ;  James  Delves  of 
Pittsburgh,  national  secretary;  S.  II.  Brophj  of  Mus- 
k'ogee,  i  >kla.,  second  national  \  ice-presidenl ;  and  Petei 
J,  Jeup  of  I  >etroit,  national  treasurer. 

Others  presenl  and  taking  part  in  the  discussions 
before  the  executive  committee  were  \\  .   I.  Slimm  of 


Cleveland,  Ohio;  Charles  M.  McGowan,  representing 
the  exhibitors  of  northern  Ohio;  G.  M.  Lutterell,  of 
Jacksonville,  Illinois,  president  of  the  Illinois  State 
League;  Frank  M.  Keeney,  national  vice-president  of 
the  Ohio  League  ;  W.  W.  Watts,  of  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, treasurer  of  Illinois  State  League  ;  D.  K.  Fisher, 
secretary  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion of  Milwaukee ;  Frank  J.  Rembusch  of  Shelbyville, 
Indiana,  president  of  the  Indiana  Association  of  Ex- 
hibitors;  Thomas  Furniss  of  the  Duluth,  Minnesota, 
local  ;  Charles  PI.  Phillips,  counsel  for  the  Milwaukee 
local;  Henry  Trinz,  vice-president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Exhibitors'  Association  of  Milwaukee:  M.  Clar- 
ence Beatty,  of  Pittsburgh  ;  William  J.  Sweeney,  treas- 
urer of  the  Chicago  local ;  John  H.  Freund.  president 
of  the  Chicago  local ;  H.  L.  Leiberthal,  chairman  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Chicago  local,  and  Fred  H. 
Hartman,  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Chicago  local. 

Following  the  selection  of  the  convention  city 
President  Herrington,  in  a  resolution  unanimously 
passed,  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  convention  and 
exhibition  committee,  with  full  power  to  appoint  all 
additional  committees  or  sub-committees.  Ere  leaving 
the  room  he  announced  that  the  general  committee 
would  be  headed  by  the  following  gentlemen  :  Wil- 
liam J.  Sweeney,  Samuel  Trigger.  Charles  Phillips, 
Mark  Core)-  and  others  who  will  be  appointed  later 
and  whose  names  will  be  announced  in  future  issues 
Of    MOTOGRAPHY. 


LESSER  GETS  "NE'ER  DO  WELL" 

Well  Known  Exchangeman  Secures  from  William  N. 

Selig  for  $150,000  Rights  to  Entire  United 

States  on  Multiple  Reel  Feature 

Sol  Lesser,  the  twenty-five-year-old  film  magnate 
who  in  a  few  minutes  closed  a  deal  with  William  X.  Selig 
for  the  United  States  rights  to  "The  Ne'er  Do  Well," 
paying  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  those 
rights,  has  returned  to  his  home  in  San  Francisco. 
About  February  first  Mr.  Lesser  expects  to  bring  his 
family,  which  consists  of  his  wife  and  baby,  to  New 
York  City,  where  they  will  reside  hereafter. 

"Buying  the  complete  rights  to  'The  Ne'er  Do 
Well'  is  the  biggest  deal  I  ever  pulled."  says  Mr. 
Lesser.  "I  handled  'The  Spoilers.'  'The  Christian,' 
and  'Cabiria'  out  west  and  was  one  o\  the  organizers 
of  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation.  I  shall  handle 
'The  Ne'er  Do  Well'  for  the  entire  United  States,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  coast.  There  may  be  some 
territory  I  shall  dispose  of,  as  1  find  many  demands  for 
territory  Eor  this  picture  play." 

Mr.  Lesser  is  very  enthusiastic  over  the  play, 
which  was  written  by  Rex  I '.each  and  filmed  by  the 
Selig  Polyscope  Company.  The  scenes  were  taken  in 
the  Panama  Canal  zone,  and  include  true-to-life  scenes 
along  the  big  canal.  The  cast  includes  Kathlyn  Wil- 
liams. \\  heeler  <  >akman  and  other  stars  and  is  a 
worth)  successor  to  "The  Spoilers."  Mr.  Lesser  de- 
clares that  a  deal  is  already  pending  by  which  the  play 
ma\  open  soon  in  a  Chicago  theater  in  the  loop. 

Sol  Lesser  began  his  career  eight  years  ago  as  a 
motion  picture  exhibitor  in  San  Francisco.  He  no\* 
operates  manj  exchanges  in  the  middle  west.  "The 
Ne'er  Do  W  ell"  presents  his  first  \  enlurc  on  a  national 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Federal  Censorship  Up  Next  Week 


NIGHT  HEARINGS  ARRANGED 


THE  House  Committee  on  Education  on  January 
6  took  up  for  consideration  the  Hughes  fed- 
eral censorship  bill,  and  fixed  dates  for  hearings 
thereon.  Hearings  will  be  given  at  night  sessions  be- 
ginning Thursday  night,  January  13,  and  continuing 
Friday  night,  January  14,  Saturday  night,  January  15, 
Monday  night,  January  17,  Tuesday  night,  January 
18,  and'  Wednesday  night,  January  19.  The  hearings 
will  begin  at  8  o'clock  and  conclude  at  10  :30. 

Night  hearings  by  congressional  committees  are 
rather  unusual,  except  where  emergency  legislation  is 
under  consideration  or  when  they  are  held  to  accom- 
modate an  overflow  of  persons  who  have  appeared  at 
a  hearing  during  the  day. 

There  will  be  considerable  dissatisfaction  among 
film  men  over  the  action  of  the  committee  in  giving 
such  limited  notice  of  the  hearings,  as  one  week  is 
a  short  time  in  which  to  adjust  business  engagements 
in  order  to  journey  to  Washington  and  appear  before 
the  committee.  The  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade 
requested  at  least  two  weeks'  notice  of  the  hearings, 
J.  W  Binder,  executive  secretary  of  the  board,  having 
addressed  a  letter  to  Chairman  Hughes  of  the  committee 
as  follows  : 

With  reference  to  House  Bill  No.  456  governing  the  creation 
and  maintenance  of  a  Federal  board  of  censorship  of  motion 
pictures  introduced  by  yourself  on  December  6,  1915,  this  is 
formal  notice  on  behalf  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade 
of  America  that  we  will  oppose  this  bill. 

We  ask  that  we  be  given  a  hearing  at  the  proper  time  and 
place,  and  that  at  least  two  weeks'  notice  of  this  hearing  be 
given  in  advance  of  its  being  held. 

The  committee  in  a  manner  recognized  the  lim- 
ited notice  given  as  it  allowed  seven  days  following  the 
conclusion  of  the  hearings  in  which  to  file  briefs  for 
and  against  the  measure. 

The  clerk  of  the  committee  was  instructed  to  no- 
tify those  persons  who  wired  or  wrote  that  they  de- 
sired to  be  heard  as  to  the  date  and  time  of  the  hear- 
ings. The  time  alloted  for  the  hearings  will  be  equally 
divided  among  those  oppose  and  those  who  favor  the 
measure. 

The  committee  has  received  thousands  of  tele- 
grams and  letters  from  film  companies  and  producers 
protesting  against  the  measure,  and  hundreds  of  pro- 
tests have  also  been  received  from  business  men  gen- 
erally in  opposition  to  it.  The  protests  are  therefore 
not  confined  to  the  film  men. 

Chairman  Hughes  informed  the  representative  of 
Motography  that  numerous  organizations  interested 
in  child  welfare  had  written  him  favoring  the  bill,  as 
well  as  ministers'  associations  and  civic  organizations. 
Rev.  Wilbur  F.  Crafts,  head  of  the  International  Re- 
form Bureau  will  appear  before  the  committee  in  ad- 
vocacy of  federal  censorship  as  will  also  Rev.  William 
Sheaf  Chase,  representing  an  organization  of  the  Epis- 
copal church,  both  of  whom  appeared  before  the  com- 
mittee in  the  last  Congress  when  the  measure  was 
under  consideration. 

The  opposition  to  the  measure  will  be  led  by  a 
committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade,  and 
it  is  expected  that  other  representatives  of  the  film  men 
will  appear. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  an  identical  mea- 


sure is  pending  before  the  Committee  on  Education 
and  Labor  in  the  Senate.  It  is  S.  2204,  and  was  intro- 
duced by  Senator  Hoke  Smith,  of  Georgia,  on  De- 
cember 17.  Senator  Smith  is  chairman  of  this  com- 
mittee. Protests  have  been  lodged  with  the  committee 
against  the  bill  The  committee  has  not  as  yet  made 
any  arrangements  for  the  consideration  of  the  mea- 
sure. 

Chairman  Hughes  is  a  motion  picture  "fan"  him- 
self, and  rarely  misses  a  night  at  the  pictures.  Concern- 
ing the  censorship  measure  he  said  to  the  representa- 
tive of  Motography  :  "I  think  censorship  is  now  a 
necessity  from  the  fact  that  the  scope  of  the  motion 
picture  is  increasing  daily  all  along  the  line,  and  I 
think  the  best  thing  is  to  have  a  national  censorship 
of  this  character  so  that  when  pictures  are  presented 
children  in  particular  will  receive  instructions  from  the 
pictures  of  the  very  highest  order. 

"There  is  a  complaint  that  there  is  also  censorship 
in  various  states.  That  may  be.  I  apprehend,  how- 
ever, that  when  there  is  national  censorship  it  will  be 
accepted  by  the  states. 

"At  present  there  is  a  so-called  national  censorship 
in  New  York.  But  that  censorship  is  without  author- 
ity or  power  and  is  perhaps  supported  largely  by  the 
motion  picture  people  themselves.  The  very  fact  that 
they  have  this  organization  indicates  that  they  them- 
selves see  some  kind  of  a  necessity  for  censorship. 

"I  think  that  we  ought  to  be  perfectly  fair  and 
just  to  the  film  companies,  and  it  is  my  opinion  that 
federal  censorship  will  be  to  their  interests  ultimately." 

The  censorship  bill  was  favorably  reported  by 
the  Committee  on  Education  in  the  last  Congress, 
Chairman  Hughes  making  the  report.  This  report 
was  in  part  as  follows : 

The  necessity  for  censorship  of  motion  pictures  is  beyond 
question.  It  has  been  acknowledged  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
film  manufacturers  by  their  voluntary  submission  to  their  films 
to  unofficial  boards  of  censors  for  approval.  That  the  public 
demands  this  censorship  is  demonstrated  by  the  scrupulous 
regularity  with  which  the  producers  exhibit  such  approval  at  the 
end  of  each  picture. 

With  the  acknowledgment  of  the  need  of  censorship  both 
by  the  motion-picture  interests  and  the  public  they  serve,  the 
question  arises  as  to  what  shall  be  the  censorship  and  who  shall 
do  the  censoring.  The  National  Board  of  Censorship  at  New 
York  City  is  composed  of  representatives  of  various  moral  and 
civic  organizations.  The  expenses  of  this  board  are  paid  by 
some  of  the  leading  motion  picture  interests,  and  it  has  no  legal 
authority.  At  the  request  of  the  manufacturers  this  board  passes 
upon  the  pictures.  The  actual  work  is  largely  done  by  paid 
secretaries  as  representatives  of  the  board,  working  largely 
under  standards  approved  by  the  board.  It  is  estimated  that 
from  85  to  95  per  cent  of  all  pictures  produced  in  this  country 
are  passed  upon  by  this  unofficial  board. 

In  addition  to  this  voluntary  board  there  are  numerous 
official  censors,  both  state  and  municipal.  The  establishment  of 
such  large  numbers  of  these  local  boards  clearly  demonstrates  the 
inadequacy  of  the  so-called  National  Board  of  Censorship,  which 
by  its  very  unofficial  character  can  not  exercise  effective  censor- 
ship. Though  it  were  to  exercise  a  careful  and  intelligent 
censorship  over  95  per  cent  of  all  pictures,  still  there  would 
remain  5  per  cent  which  would  be  immoral  and  unfit  to  be 
shown.  It  is  only  fair  to  assume  that  those  pictures  which  are 
most  objectionable  will  not  voluntarily  be  submitted  for  censor- 
ship. An  unofficial  board  which  has  not  the  right  to  examine 
100  per  cent  of  the  pictures  is  in  reality  not  a  board  of  censor- 
ship but  a  board  of  recommendation  and  approval.  As  a  matter 
of    fact,    evidence    before   the    committee    discloses    that    a    very 


158 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


considerable  percentage  of  the  pictures  approved  by  the  un- 
official board  are  declared  by  the  local  boards  unfit  for  ex- 
hibition. 

The  character  of  the  motion  picture  industry  renders  state 
and  municipal  censorship  inadequate.  Motion  picture  films  are 
essentially  articles  of  interstate  commerce.  They  are  not  manu- 
factured for  use  in  any  one  state  or  municipality,  but  practically 
every  picture  is  exhibited  in  all  of  the  states  of  the  union,  and 
many  are  exported.  Innumerable  inspections  by  local  boards 
work  great  hardship  on  the  industry.  In  the  absence  of  any 
official  federal  censorship  the  states  and  cities  are  finding  it  neces- 
sary to  establish  these  local  boards  to  prevent  the  exhibition  of 
immoral,  indecent,  and  obscene  pictures.  The  only  adequate 
method  of  censoring  motion  pictures  is  to  be  had  in  a  federal 
commission. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  committee  favorably 
reported  the  measure  in  the  last  Congress,  in  the  iden- 
tical form  as  now  pending  before  it,  the  suggestion  is 
made  that  it  might  be  well  for  the  representatives  of 
the  film  men  to  prepare  and  offer  amendments  so  as  to 
tone  down  the  measure  as  much  as  possible  if  i't  is 
reported  by  the  committee  and  it  seems  a  foregone 
conclusion  that  it  will  be. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  House 
Committee  on  Education:  Dudley  M.  Hughes,  of 
Georgia,  chairman  ;  William  W.  Rucker,  Missouri ; 
Robert  L.  Doughton,  North  Carolina ;  John  W.  Aber- 
crombie,  Alabama;  Claudius  U.  Stone,  Illinois;  John 
A.  Key,  of  Ohio;  William  J.  Sears,  Florida;  Benjamin 
C.  Hilliard,  Colorado;  Caleb  Powers,  Kentucky;  Hor- 
ace M.  Towner,  Iowa;  Edmund  Piatt,  New  York; 
Simeon  D.  Fess,  Ohio;  Frederick  W.  Dallinger,  Massa- 
chusetts ;  S.  Taylor  North,  Pennsylvania  ;  Robert  M. 
McCracken,  Idaho. 

The  Senate  Committee  on  Education  and  Labor 
is  composed  of  the  following:  Hoke  Smith,  Georgia, 
chairman ;  Benjamin  F.  Shively,  Indiana ;  Claude  A. 
Swanson.  Virginia;  James  E.  Martine,  New  Jersey; 
Charles  F.  Johnson,  Maine;  Oscar  W.  Underwood, 
Alabama;  William  E.  Borah,  Idaho;  Boies  Penrose, 
Pennsylvania:  Carroll  S.  Page,  Vermont;  George  P. 
McLean,  Connecticut;  William  S.  Kenyon,  Iowa. 


Burbank  Theater  Goes  to  Film 

The  Burbank  theater,  one  of  the  oldest  and  onlv 
remaining  home  of  stock  companies,  which  for  years 
has  been  operated  under  the  direction  of  Oliver  Mo- 
rosco  in  Los  Angeles,  was  last  week  converted  into 
a  first-class  motion  picture  house  to  be  operated  under 
the  direction  of  the  Triangle  Exhibiting  Company,  in 
which  David  W.  Griffith  and  Mack  Sennett  are  heavy 
shareholders. 

It  is  the  intention  of  Griffith  and  Sennett  to  show 
Triangle  pictures  and  also  produce  at  this  theater  the 
big  special  productions  of  the  two  premier  producers 
themselves.  This  enterprise  places  Sennett  and  Grif- 
fith in  important  positions  as  exhibitors  and  producers 
in  the  metropolis  of  the  western  motion  picture  field 
— Los  Angeles.  It  gives  them  an  outlet  and  independ- 
ent release  for  their  pictures,  and  both  producers  arc 
planning  especially  notable  features  For  their  new  ven- 
ture for  1916. 

This  is  the  second  of  the  larger  theaters  of  Los 
Angeles  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  motion  picture 
industry.  The  Majestic  was  converted  into  a  Triangle 
house  several  weeks  ago,  and  this  leaves  onlv  two 
legitimate  houses  for  the  regular  profession,  the  Mason 
Opera  House  (which  has  a  line  picture  producing 
equipmenl  but  is  used  for  big  legitimate  plays),  and 
the  Morosco  theater,  owned  by  Oliver  Morosco,  used 
for  Morosco  productions  principally. 


EXCHANGE  HOLDS  CONVENTION 

Kansas  City  "Clan"  of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  Lays  Out  1916 

Plans,  and  Holds  "Pep  Meeting"  That  Is 

Highly  Enthusiastic 

Manager  E.  R.  Pearson  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  ex- 
change in  Kansas  City  has  established  a  policy  of  call- 
ing his  entire  force  together  at  least  once  every  three 
months  for  a  "two  or  three  days'  'peP'  meeting."  So 
much  enthusiasm  and  loyalty  has  been  worked  up 
among  his  "clan"  from  the  results  of  these  conventions 
that  no  doubt  in  the  near  future  this  plan  will  be 
adopted  by  other  Big  Four  managers.   ' 

Tuesday  after  Christmas  the  "clansmen"  began 
rolling  in  and  by  noon  the  session  was  on.  Every 
phase  of  the  industry  was  discussed  with  a  view  to 
further  developing  the  "partnership  plan"  between  the 
exchange  and  the  exhibitor.  Particular  attention  was 
paid  to  the  "definite  policy"  idea  which  is  being  sug- 
gested to  all  exhibitors.  Efforts  are  being  made  to 
convince  each  exhibitor  that  the  sure  path  to  suc- 
cess lies  in  securing  the  brands  of  films  most  suitable 
to  his  community  and  then  setting  aside  definite  nights 
of  the  week  for  those  brands.  The  names  of  manu- 
facturers are  acknowledged  to  be  an  asset  and  should 
be  made  to  earn  accordingly. 

Another  idea  which  has  proven  a  business  getter  is 
that  of  actually  co-operating  with  the  exhibitors. 
Every  salesman  on  the  force  has  a  half  dozen  or  more 
victories  to  his  credit  along  this  line.  Whenever  an 
exhibitor  finds  that  business  is  falling  off  the  salesman 
is  instructed  to  go  into  the  town  and  stay  until  con- 
ditions have  been  righted. 

A  pleasant  surprise  came  with  the  arrival  of  As- 
sistant General  Manager  A.  W.  Goflf.  This  was  the 
first  visit  ever  paid  the  Kansas  City  office  by  one  of 
the  New  York  officials,  certainly  conclusive  proof  of 
the  confidence  placed  in  Manager  Pearson.  Those 
present  were  unanimous  in  their  approval  of  the  open 
booking  system  as  the  only  possible  method  by  which 
features  100  per  cent  strong  will  be  assured.  In  spite  of 
the  low  prices  placed  on  the  two  or  three  weak  features 
turned  out  by  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  they  continue  to  be  in 
the  vaults  while  the  strong  drawing  cards  are  booked 
solid  at  the  higher  prices.  This  practically  resolves 
into  an  automatic  merit  system,  as  no  manufacturer 
will  release  a  subject  now  unless  absolutely  certain  of 
its  drawing  power. 

Indications  are  that  the  Hearst-Vitagraph  topical 
will  be  more  generally  used  than  any  other  news  sub- 
ject in  this  territory. 

All  but  three  of  the  thirty  employes  of  the  Kan- 
sas City  branch  will  be  in  for  a  cut  of  the  profit  sharing 
melon.  It  is  considered  a  record  for  a  midwest  ex- 
change to  have  its  members  practically  unchanged  for 
over  three  months. 

Every  representative  returned  to  work  with  re- 
newed energy  and  loyalty  for  Y.   I..  S.   F...   Inc. 

Those  present  were:  E.  R.  Pearson,  manager. 
Kansas  City;  S.  \\  .  Hatch,  manager.  St.  I.ouis:  lohn 
Noehrn,  St.  Louis  booker:  Joe  Gilinsky,  J.  K.  Storey, 
St.  Louis  solicitors;  F.  F.  Nine,  Kansas  City  booker; 
R.  I..  White.  11.  I-'..  Stahler,  A.  J.  Reed.  Kansas  City 
solicitors;  L.  J.  Scott,  publicity  department;  V  W. 
<  .off.  assistant   general  manager. 


Quite  unusual  preparations  are  being  made  by  the 
Griffith  staff  for  its  first  Shakespearean  production. 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


159 


WRITER  WORKS  WITH  DIRECTOR 

Producer  Turbett  of  Edison  Studio  Delighted  When 

Asked   to   Permit  the   Author  to   Collaborate 

With  Him  in  Production 

A  further  indication  of  the  progress  of  the  motion 
picture,  in  its  advance  from  the  one  man's  idea  to 
more  nearly  a  composite  of  many  minds,  is  readily 
evident  in  the  association  of  author  and  director  in 
the  production  of  the 
Kleine-Edison  five- 
act  feature,  "At  the 
R  a  i  n  b  o  w's  End," 
from  the  Edison 
studios,  in  which 
Carrol  McComas  is 
starred,  with  Rich- 
ard T  ucker.  The 
time  is  passing,  if 
not  already  past, 
it  seems,  when  one 
man  can  decide  upon 
the  worth,  or  avail- 
ability, of  a  picture. 
Intended  to  please 
many  varied  tastes 
of  folk  of  differing 
ideas,  it  is  now 
pretty  generally 
recognized  by  the 
successful  studios 
that  the  picture  it- 
self must  reflect  the 
judgment  and  skill  of  more  than  one  man,  however 
able  that  man  may  be.  So  that, — differing  from  the 
arbitrary  director  of  the  earlier  days, — when  Edison 
Director  Ben  Turbett  was  offered  the  associated  help 
of  the  author  of  "At 
the  Rainbow's  End," 
—  Sumner  Williams 
— Mr.  Turbett  wel- 
comed the  idea 
heartily,  although 
he  had  a  wealth  of 
theatrical  experience 
to  draw  from — vast- 
ly more  than  many 
directors.  The  way 
the  idea  worked  out 
will  be  greeted  with 
considerably  satis- 
faction  by  those — 
particularly  authors 
themselves  —  who 
have  always  claimed 
that  a  director 
should  be  guided 
more  by  the  author's 
ideas  and  motives. 
The  picture  was  fin- 
ished in  about  one- 
half  the  time  that  features  of  that  length  usually  take, 
while  the  direction  itself  shows  the  most  patient  and 
skilful  care.  Director  Turbett  is  accorded  all  the 
credit  by  Mr.  Williams,  who  by  temperament,  is  ideally 
fitted  to  collaborate.  Mr.  Williams  was  in  daily  at- 
tendance at  the  studio,  the  actual  directing  being  done 
by  Mr.  Turbett,  the  former  acting  in  something  of  an 


advisory  capacity.  Mr.  Williams,  however,  had  more 
than  theory  to  advance,  as  he  was  the  adapter  of  the 
highly  successful  Kleine-Edison  feature,  "Vanity 
Fair,"  in  which  Mrs.  Fiske  appeared.  Mr.  Turbett  also 
was  concerned  with  that  picture,  as  assistant  director, 
and  assembling  and  cutting  the  twelve  thousand  feet 
down  to  seven  thousand  feet — a  delicate  task,  to  pre- 
serve the  spirit  of  the  story  and  times. 

Mr.  Turbett  spent  a  number  of  years  in  vaude- 
ville, with  many  stock  companies,  two  years  with 
Lillian  Russell,  and  then  motion  pictures — Edison, 
where  he  has  been  over  two  years,  often  acting  while 
the  assistant  director.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  and  has  done  some  magazine  writing.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  drama  while  in  college.  Some 
time  ago,  he  was  connected  with  the  Edison  scenario 
department.  Previous  to  "Vanity  Fair,"  he  wrote  the 
Edison  feature,  "On  Dangerous  Paths,"  in  which 
Viola  Dana  was  featured.  Mr.  Williams  differs  re- 
freshingly from  most  scenario  writers  in  that  the 
money  end  of  it  interests  him  little. 


A  NEWCOMER  AT  ESSANAY 

Elizabeth  Burbridge,  Whose  Ancestors  Include  Many 

Notables,  Proves  Amply  Able  to  Add  Still  Other 

Laurels  to  the  Family  Name 

Miss  Elizabeth  Burbridge,  one  of  the  latest  ac- 
quisitions of  the  Essanay  Film  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, known  to  her  friends  as  "Tommy"  and  "Betty," 
is  a  real  daughter  of  the  golden  west,  since  San  Diego, 
California,  was  her 
birthplace.  She  is  a 
granddaughter  of  the 
late  General  Stephen 
B.  Burbridge,  com- 
mander of  the  First 
Brigade,  13th  Army 
Corps,  previously 
military  governor  of 
Kentucky  under 
President  Lincoln, 
and  a  grandniece  of 
the  late  Mrs.  W.  G. 
J  o  nes,  the  cele- 
brated old  lady  of  the 
stage,  who  played 
with  Maud  Adams 
for  ten  years.  Miss 
Burbridge  has  many 
other  illustrious 
names  of  the  stage, 
the  army  and  the 
navy,  in  her  ancestry 
and  family  connec- 
tions, including  the  celebrated  English  actor,  Charles 
Burbridge.  Elizabeth  is  a  great  "mother  girl"  for  she 
and  her  mother  are  inseparable  and  you  seldom  see 
one  without  the  other.  Her  mother,  her  art,  her  Chris- 
tian Science,  and  her  big  Scotch  collie  dog,  "Teddy 
Roosevelt,"  that  she  brought  with  her  to  Chicago  from 
California,  occupy  most  of  her  time  and  attention. 
Miss  Burbridge  did  her  first  picture  work  for  the  old 
Biograph  Company,  when  she  was  but  fifteen  years  of 
age,  and  later  she  appeared  in  vaudeville  and  stock. 
Many  months  ago  she  returned  to  her  first  love — the 
pictures,  and  scored  many  triumphs  as  a  member  of 
the  Ince  stock  company  on  the  coast.     Besides  appear- 


160 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  4. 


ing  in  several  Mutual  Master-Pictures  of  the  Kay  Bee 

and  Domino  brands,  she  enacted  many  prominent  roles 
in  some  of  the  newer  Triangle  productions  and  it  was 
while  there  that  she  was  offered  an  Essanay  contract 
which  she  accepted,  with  the  result  that  ^he  recently 
arrived  in  Chicago  to  play  leading  roles  in  one  of  the 
Essanay  companies.  In  her  few  appearances  to  date 
as  an  Essanay  star  she  has  earned  many  words  of 
praise  from  both  the  critics,  the  public  and  the  ex- 
hibitors. 


A  Week's  Offerings  of  Vitagraph 

"My  Lady's  Slipper,"  a  Vitagraph  Blue  Ribbon 
feature  in  live  parts  with  Anita  Stewart  and  Earle  Wil- 
liams,  produced  under  the  direction  of  Ralph  luce  from 
the  story  by  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  is  the  principal 
release  by  the  Vitagraph  Company  for  the  week  of 
January  17.  Included  in  the  week's  releases  is  a  one- 
part  coined}-,  "Them  Was  the  Good  Old  Days,"  fea- 
turing Kate  Price,  Harry  Fisher,  John  T.  Kelly;  "A 
Telegraphic  Tangle,"  a  one-reel  comedy  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sidney  Drew  and  a  Broadway  Star  Feature,  "The 
Secret  Seven,"  produced  by  William  Humphrey  and 
featuring  Leo  Delaney,  Carolyn  Birch,  Harry  North- 
rup,  Rose  Taplev,  Templer  Saxe  and  Director  Humph- 
rey. 

In  producing  "My  Lady's  Slipper,"  Mr.  Ince  main- 
tains the  high  standard  of  his  screen  work.  He  went 
to  considerable  pains  to  secure  locations  in  order  to 
retain  the  eighteenth  century  atmosphere  and  histori- 
cal records  were  carefully  looked  into  so  that  the 
scenes  and  costumes  would  be  authentic  with  those 
tijnes.     A  review  of  the  film  appears  on  another  page. 

"Them  Was  the  Good  Old  Days,"  scheduled  for 
release  January  17,  tells  the  story  of  a  grouchy  old 
mail  whose  antipathy  to  modern  things  brings  on  a 
diieam  and  he  lives  again  in  the  times  of  a  hundred 
y<krs  ago.  lie  then  appreciates  the  comforts  of  mod- 
ern civilization.  The  story  was  produced  by  C.  Jay 
Williams  from  the  scenario  by  Mark  Swan  and  the 
three  Vitagraph  comedians,  Kate  Price,  Harry  Fisher 
and  John  T.  Kelly,  give  a  good  account  of  themselves. 

"A  Telegraphic  Tangle."  a  one-part  comedy  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew,  is  scheduled  for  release 
on  January  21.  It  is  a  story  of  a  man  who  has  a  night 
out  against  the  wishes  of  his  wife.  When  she  looks 
for  him  the  next  morning,  she  calls  up  various  friends, 
all  of  whom  admit  that  the  husband  had  spent  the 
night  at  each  particular  house.  Another  excuse  is  given 


that  all  of  the  party  spent  the  night  in  jail  and  they 
produce  a  policeman  to  corroborate  the  story.  The 
policeman  gets  some  graft  from  it  and  calmly  an- 
nounces that  he  has  been  sent  by  the  magistrate  to 
collect  the  fine.  The  husband  at  the  close  is  a  sadder 
but  wiser  man. 

"The  Secret  Seven."  released  January  22.  is  a 
Broadway  Star  feature  in  three  parts  and  is  a  Secret 
Service  play  of  exciting  episodes,  produced  under  the 
direction  of  William  Humphrey.  In  the  cast  are  Wil- 
liam Humphrey,  Leo  Delany.  Harry  Northrup.  Caro-  ' 
lyn   Birch,  Rose  Taplev  and  Templer  Saxe. 


Believes  Writers  Should  Be  Better  Paid 


Editor  of 


,  Chic 


Illinois. 


"  In  every  journal  interested  in  the  moving  picture  indus- 
try we  read  that  the  crying  need  of  the  business  is  for  better 
scenarios,  better  storie's.  and  that  the  manufacturer  stands 
ready  to  pay  handsomely  for  them,  but  cannot  get  them.  I 
am  a  successful  producer  of  photoplays  and  find  my  serv- 
ices in  demand  by  manufacturers,  apparently  glad  to  pay  me 
good  monev  to  handle  their  productions.  My  part  of  a  five- 
reel  feature"  usually  runs  up  to  about  $2,0QO.  I  have  several 
scenarios,  which  remain  in  my  desk  because  they  are  worth 
$2,000  and  the  very  men  who  cheerfully  pay  me  that  amount 
for  direction  will  pay  nothing  like  that  amount  for  what  is 
the  more  fundamental  requirement  of  their  business. 

Even  adaptations  of  plays  and  novels  should  be  far  better 
done  than  they  are.  We  see  splendid  material  wasted  be- 
cause it  was  given  to  unskilled,  careless  or  low-priced  writ- 
ers. Good  producers  are  not  necessarily  good  writers  or 
even  good  adapters.  Recently  I  saw  one  of  the  best  handled 
productions  of  the  month,  which  failed  to  hold  the  people 
because  the  really  brilliant  director  had  framed  his  own 
story  and  was  an  illogical  and  a  mediocre  writer.  Xor  are 
all  good  writers  even  capable  producers.  My  idea  is  that  the 
writers  who  know  the  screen  game  and  have  the  creative 
gift,  should  be  paid  as  much  as  the  men,  who,  like  myself, 
handle  their  creations, 

I  believe  we  are  coming  to  this  point  and  perhaps  "the 
wish  is  father  to  the  thought,"  for  I  feel  that  there  is  more 
glory  and  more  genuine  satisfaction  in  being  the  Hugo,  the 
Dickens,  the  Barrie  or  the  Jack  London  of  the  screen,  than 
even  the  very  best  producer  of  their  work  and  that  this  work 
should  be  at  least  equally  well  compensated.  I  am  a  producer 
and  fully  appreciate  the  importance  of  this  end  of  the  busi- 
ness, but  I  am  also  the  writer  of  more  than  one  "best  seller" 
of  the  film  world.  I  find  myself  in  the  peculiar  position  of 
being  able  to  get  a  lot  more  money  for  what  I  regard  as 
my  less  important  work  of  the  two  branches  for  which  I  am 
equipped;  I  receive  more  for  the  production  of  just  an  aver- 
age scenario  than  for  the  writing  of  a  really  good  and  origi- 
nal one. 

How  about  this?     Let's  hear  from  the  manufacturer. 
Ashley  Miller. 


1  .//'/i   releat 


left  "A  Telegraphic  Tangle,"  >u  the  right  "Thei 


c  Good  Old  Days. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Ince  Defends  Films  From  Broadhurst  Attack 


AUTHOR  IS  UNIMPORTANT 


THE  Southern  California  photoplay  colony  has 
been  stirred,  of  recent  weeks,  by  a  controversy 
that  has  been  waging  in  the  columns  of  the  Los 
Angeles  Examiner,  between  Thomas  H.  Ince,  the  motion 
picture  producer,  and  George  Broadhurst,  the  play- 
wright. The  initiative  was  taken  by  Broadhurst,  when 
he  penned  for  the  Examiner  an  article  in  which  he 
declared  that  the  motion  picture's  competition  with 
the  stage  would  certainly  decrease  unless  the  producers 
of  screen  plays  begin  immediately  to  give  heed  to 
the   dramatic   quality   of   their   work. 

Ince  interpreted  the  playwright's  article  to  be  a 
plea  for  those  who  write  for  the  stage  and  promptly 
replied  with  the  statement  that  the  motion  pictures 
can  get  along  very  well  without  playwrights.  Broad- 
hurst then  returned  to  print  with  a  rebuttal,  to  which 
Ince  also  replied.  The  verbal  melee  will  be  found 
extremely  interesting. 

Mr.  Ince  in  defending  the  screen  wrote  in  part 
as  follows : 

This  article,  let  me  say  at  the  beginning,  is  not  designed 
to  "start  anything,"  though  I  am  frank  to  admit  that  it  pro- 
pounds a  question  concerning  which  there  is  a  wide  diverg- 
ence of  opinion.  Its  purpose  is  merely  to  voice  my  own 
exceptions  to  some  of  the  statements  dwelt  upon  by  Mr. 
George  Broadhurst  in  his  recent  paper  dealing  with  the  sub- 
ject:    "What's  the  Matter  With  the  Theater?" 

Obviously,  Mr.  Broadhurst  is  utterly  dissatisfied  because 
the  members  of  his  profession  are  not  being  widely  pursued 
by  the  motion  picture  producers,  as  are  the  stars  of  the  stage. 
Furthermore,  he  appears  very  confident  that  pursuit  of  them 
in  time  will  have  begun.    I  am  not  quite  as  confident.    - 

Principal  among  my  reasons  for  not  thinking  so  is  that 
the  name  of  an  author  means  practically  nothing  to  a  motion 
picture  production.  People  don't  flock  to  the  motion  picture 
theaters  just  because  the  play  is  the  work  of  this,  that  or  the 
other  author.  They  are  not  guided  in  their  judgment  by  the 
"by-line."  Hence,  why  should  the  motion  picture  producers 
make  flattering  overtures  to  "John  Doe,  playwright,"  just 
with  a  view  to  enhancing  the  value  of  a  certain  production  by 
advertising  that  it  has  been  written  by  "John  Doe." 

The  name  of  an  author  isn't  worth  a  nickel  to  me,  unless 
that  author  is  capable  of  delivering  "the  goods."  'Assume  that 
he  does  "deliver  the  goods."  His  name  then  is  precious  to 
me — but  only  on  a  contract.  It  is  not  valuable,  I  maintain, 
because  I  am  at  liberty  to  use  it  as  a  drawing  card;  it  pos- 
sesses no  commercial  magnetism.  It  is  valuable,  however, 
from  this  standpoint — that  I  can  expect  more  good  products 
from  his  pen.  And  by  products  I  mean  material  fit  for  build- 
ing picture-plays  therefrom. 

There  are  three  classes  of  literary  talent  which  the  mo- 
tion picture  producer  can  and  should  find  use  for;  the  writer 
who  can  supply  the  plot,  which  is  the  backbone  of  every 
scenario,  the  writer  who  can  supply  what  is  known  as  the 
continuity,  but  who  cannot  supply  the  plot,  and  the  writer 
who  can  supply  both.  Mr.  Broadhurst  makes  no  distinction 
concerning  them  in  his  article.  He  refers  to  "play  writers." 
I  presume  he  means  any  and  all  persons  who  proxide  the 
motion  picture  producer  with  material  in  any  form. 

This  brings  us  to  a  discussion  of  the  difference  existing  ' 
between  those  who  write  for  the  stage  and  those  who  write 
for  the  screen.  A  vast  majority  of  the  successful  writers  for 
the  screen,  it  is  admitted,  never  enjoyed  any  reputation  as 
successful  writers  for  the  stage.  They  have  learned  the  dis- 
tinction between  the  two  mediums  of  entertainment  by  associ- 
ation with  the  motion  picture  art.  Theirs  has  been  the  suc- 
cess resulting  from  experience. 

The  gap  that  separates  the  two  classes  of  writers  has  been 
brought  clearly  before  me  on  more  than  one  occasion.  Not 
long  ago  a  very  well  known  writer  for  the  stage — a  play- 
wright, I  would  call  him — offered  me  two  of  his  plays,  ac- 
knowledged successes  of  the  stage,  and  expected  that  I  would 
immediately  purchase  them  for  screen  adaptations.     I   could 


have  obtained  them  for  an  exceedingly  small  amount,  but  for 
my  purpose  they  weren't  worth  the  paper  they  were  writ- 
ten on. 

Another  successful  playwright  approached  me  recently 
with  the  plot  of  what  is  expected  would  be  a  wonderful  mo- 
tion picture  production,  in  five  or  six  reels.  Actually  there 
was  barely  enough  material  with  which  to  make  a  reel  and 
a  half.  Which  meant  that  if  I  had  purchased  what  he  offered 
I  would  have  had  to  supply  the  material  for  three  and  a  half 
reels  from  other  sources. 

The  explanation  of  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  writer  - 
for  the  stage,  in  attempting  to  turn  out  material  for  the 
screen,  is  fooled  by  his  dialogue.  Dialogue  isn't  action,  and 
his  failure  thoroughly  to  appreciate  the  necessity  of  action  on 
the  screen  results  in  his  repeated  failure  to  provide  avail- 
able motion  picture  manuscripts.  Then,  too,  he  neglects  to 
realize  that  the  motion  picture  demands  many  more  situations 
than  does  the  stage  play. 

I  cannot  agree  with  Mr.  Broadhurst's  statement  that,  "at 
present,  the  man  who  should  be  responsible  for  the  ultimate 
accomplishment  is  held  almost  as  a  negligible  quantity."  The 
writer  who  provides  the  producer  with  a  script  whose  pro- 
duction bids  fair  to  prove  successful  is,  I  think,  being  ade- 
quately compensated  for  his  work.  As  an  illustration,  I  might 
cite  a  case  of  additional  compensation  in  which  one  of  my 
staff  scenario  writers  figured.  He  is  C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  the 
author  of  "Peggy,"  in  which  Miss  Billie  Burke  is  starred.' 
The  completed  working  manuscript  which  he  submitted  was 
flawless,  technically,  and  each  scene  was  made  according  to 
the  continuity  prescribed  therein.  Sullivan  is  due  for  a  gen- 
erous bonus. 

In  conclusion,  I  can  only  repeat  that  there  is  nothing  in 
a  name  when  you  are  speaking  about  authors.  A  fifteen-year- 
old  schoolboy  might  submit  the  foundation  of  a  story,  the 
value  of  which  would  be  tenfold  that  of  a  successful  play- 
wright's complete  trunkful  of  'scripts.  Mr.  Broadhurst  was 
correct  when  he  said,  "The  play's  the  thing."  The  play  is  the 
thing — not  the  playwright. 


Preparing  for  Costume  Ball 

What  its  promoters  intend  shall'  be  a  spectacle 
unique  in  the  amusement  history  of  the  metropolitan 
district  will  be  staged  in  Madison  Square  Garden, 
New  York  City,  on  the  night  of  Saturday,  February 
199.  The  Screen  Club  and  the  Motion  Picture  Exhib- 
itors' League  Local  No.  1  of  New  York  City  have 
joined  forces  for  a  "motion  picture  costume  and  civic 
ball."  As  an  attraction  not  only  all  the  screen  players 
at  present  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York  will  ap- 
pear, but  these  players  will  be  present  in  character, 
in  the  costume  of  the  role  in  which  they  believe  they 
have  been  most  successful  in  winning  the  regard  of 
the  public.  For  the  Screen  Club  Jules  Bernstein  is 
general  chairman  of  arrangements,  while  Samuel  H. 
Trigger  occupies  a  similar  position  as  representative 
of  the  exhibitors.  Actively  supplementing  the  work  of 
the  joint  executives  are  Billy  Quirk,  president  of  the 
Screen  Club,  and  Lee  A.  Ochs,  president  of  League 
Local  No.  1.  The  price  of  tickets  has  been  placed  at 
$1  for  each  person. 

To  determine  the  woman  player,  who,  with  a 
prominent  public  man,  will  lead  the  grand  march,  the 
New  York  American  began  on  January  9  a  voting 
contest,  which  it  is  expected  will  arouse  a  great  deal 
of  interest  on  the  part  of  the  general  public.  To 
the  woman  receiving  the  largest  number  of  votes  the 
American  will  give  a  diamond  bracelet  valued  at  $500. 
There  will  be  four  other  prizes,  as  well  as  awards  to 
those  turning  in  the  largest  number  of  coupons.  Three 


MOTOGRAPHY 


s  sketch  of  Industrial  Motion   Picture  Company's  new  plant  together  with  a  view  of  the  huildini 


boxes  will  he  placed  at  the  disposition  of  the  American 
for  prize  winners. 

There  will  be  an  auction  sale  of  boxes  at  the  Cort 
theater,  West  Forty-eighth  street,  near  Sixth  avenue, 
from  2  to  5  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday.  Jan- 
uary 20.  Several  boxes  will  be  reserved  for  the  use 
of  prominent  officials. 

Adrian  Gil-Spear,  a  member  of  the  Screen  Club, 
has  given  to  the  two  organizations  one  thousand  twen- 
ty-four-sheet stands.  It  is  the  intention  to  place  these 
at  points  as  far  remote  from  New  York  as  Trenton 
and  New  Haven.  E.  St.  George  Hardin,  another  mem- 
ber of  the  club,  has  promised  to  supervise  the  placing 
and  wherever  possible  to  do  so  without  expense  to 
the  Screen  Club  and  exhibitors.  The  action  of  these 
two  men  is  typical  of  the  proffers  of  many  others  in 
the  two  associations.  The  individual  exhibitors  of  the 
greater  city  have  promised  to  do  their  share  in  bring- 
ing the  big  function  to  the  attention  of  their  patrons 
and  will  have  tickets  on  sale.  The  capacity  of  Madison 
Square  Garden  is  estimated  at  18,000.  The  general 
headquarters  of  the  ball  will  be  the  Screen  Club,  165 
West    Forty-seventh   street. 


Mack  Pleased  with  War  Film 

The  Buffalo  Times  Motion  Picture  Syndicate,  of 
which  Norman  E.  Mack  is  proprietor,  has  taken  over 
the  exhibition  rights  of  the  American  Correspondent 
Film  Company's  latest  war  features,  "The  Warring 
Millions"  and  "The  Battles  of  a  Nation."  Already 
the  films  have  been-  shown  in  New  York,  Chicago, 
Buffalo,  Omaha  and  Washington.  At  present  "The 
Warring  Millions"  is  being  screened  at  the  Cohen  the- 
ater in  Ponghkeepsie,  and  the  Boston  Opera  House 
is  showing  "The  Battles  of  a  Nation."  Mr.  Mack  re- 
port^ unusual  success  for  the  pictures ;  and  says  the 
1 1 i  1  they  have  made  lives  in  the  fact  that  a  few  scenes 
of  the  film  are  enough  to  convince  any  spectator  that 
the  American  Correspondent  Film  Company  is  not 
palming  off  any  dead  stuff  or  even  sham  battles,  but 
is  showing  in  its  war  features  actualities  of  war  una- 
dulterated. 

Ihi-  report  was  verified  by  large  attendances 
wherever  the  pictures  were  shown  :  and  press  write- 
up-  assure  their  popularity  and  success.  But  what 
the  Buffalo  Times  Motion  Picture  Syndicate  considers 
as  it-  laurel  wreath  is  the  scramble  for  state  rights. 
Many  states  have  been  sold,  it  is  reported,  and.  appli 
cat  i'  m-    are   on    the    w  oil;. 


ROTHACKER'S  NEW  PLANT 

President  of  Industrial  Moving  Picture  Company  De- 
scribes Equipment  of  Big  New  Plant  That  He 

Is  Erecting  on  Chicago's  North  Side 
The  accompanying  illustrations  show  the  prog- 
ress made  on  the  new  studio,  developing  laboratories, 
machine  shop  and  open  air  stage  room  now  being 
erected  for  the  Industrial  Moving  Picture  Company  on 
Chicago's  north  side,  and  the  architect's  sketch  of  how 
the  building  will  look  from  the  outside. 

W.  R.  Rothacker,  president  of  the  company,  stated 
to  a  representative  of  Motography  this  week  that  the 
plant  will  be  equipped  with  the  latest  electrical  devices 
of  all  kinds  and  some  special  apparatus  is  being  de- 
signed for  it  by  the  Bell  &  Howell  Company. 

The  building  is  129  by  120  feet,  two  stories  high, 
and  has  a  total  floor  space  of  31,000  square  feet.  The 
drying,  developing  and  printing  rooms  are  designed 
for  a  capacity  of  2,000,000  feet  of  film  weekly. 

Every  bit  of  air  in  the  building  will  be  water 
washed,  and  screened  and  tested  for  temperature  and 
humidity.  The  studio  floor  space  is  so  laid  out  that 
six  big  sets  can  be  used  at  the  same  time.  A  theater 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  seventy-five  will  be  in- 
stalled on  the  ground  floor,  equipped  with  a  sound- 
proof booth  containing  two  motor-driven  projecting 
machines. 

The  general  offices  of  the  company  will  be  located 
on  the  main  floor  and  a  service  and  selling  office  will 
be  maintained  within  the  loop. 

Mr.  Rothacker  also  owns  the  vacant  property  ad- 
jacent to  the  new  studio,  a  plot  48x129  feet,  amply 
large  enough  for  an  open  air  studio  or  for  any  addi- 
tions to  his  present  factory  space.  In  addition  the 
wise  precaution  was  taken  to  provide  foundations 
which  are  large  enough  to  stand  the  addition  of  two 
more  stories  to  the  building  if  conditions  warrant.  Mr. 
Rothacker  leaves  for  New  York  next  Monday  to  make 
purchases  of  plant  equipment  for  the  new  studio. 


Pathe  Gets  More  War  Negative 

"The  Horrors  of  War,"  the  three-reel  war  picture 
of  Pathe.  has  been  postponed  for  release  until  January 
24.  The  reason  for  the  postponement  is  the  arrival 
from  Europe  of  some  remarkable  scenes  from  the  Ital- 
ian front,  which  are  to  be  incorporated  into  the  pic- 
ture. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Bray-Gilbert  Silhouette  Pictures 

AN  ODD  PARAMOUNT  OFFERING 


BETWEEN  Washington  Square  and  Eighth 
street.  New  York  City,  just  above  the  historic 
arch  that  guards  the  entrance  to  Fifth  avenue 
is  a  little  alley,  known  to  the  initiated  and  any  who  will 
look  at  the  street  sign  as  Washington  Mews.  Here 
an  experiment  that  will  have  its  effect  wherever  photo- 
plays are  seen  has  just  been  successfully  made. 

Once  the  home  of  aristocratic  horses,  the  Mews 
has  become  a  rendezvous  for  artists.  Studios  have 
taken  the  place  of  stables,  easels  of  carriages.  Now 
something  entirely  new  has  sprung  up  in  the  Mews' 
peaceful  and  unprepared  midst.  It  is  a  motion  pic- 
ture studio.  More  than  that  it  is  a  "silhouette  fac- 
tory." 

Some  time  ago  C.  Allan  Gilbert,  the  famous  illus- 
trator, who  with  Howard  Chandler  Christy,  Harrison 
Fisher  and  a  few  others  has  done  so  much  to  make 
the  American  girl  famous,  got  the  idea  that  silhouette 
motion  pictures  could  be  produced.  In  other  words, 
that  a  story  could  be  told  on  the  screen  in  black  and 
white,  using  real  actors  to  depict  the  various  char- 
acters. 

He  determined  to  try  it.  Now,  while  he  had  not 
been  allowed  to  starve  by  the  art  editors  of  the  various 
fifteen-cent  magazines,  he  had  not  saved  enough  to 
buy  such  an  expensive  toy  as  a  private  motion  picture 
studio.  He  went  to  J.  R.  Bray,  the  cartoonist,  who 
saw  the  possibilities  of  his  idea  and  who  financed 
the  project.  Further,  Mr.  Bray  spied  an  opportunity 
to  indulge  in  a  few  experiments  on  his  own  account. 
The  result  was  that  the  formation  of  a  subsidiary 
company  to  his  own,  called  the  Bray-Gilbert  Studios, 
marked  the  success  of  his  attempt. 

The  combination  of  the  real  with  the  dream  is 
now  an  accomplished  fact.  The  Bray-Gilbert  sil- 
houettes which,  like  the  ouput  of  Mr.  Bray's  other 
company,  are  to  be  marketed  solely  through  the  Para- 
mount Pictures  Corporation,  are  partly  acted  and  part- 
ly penned.  The  spectator  cannot  tell  where  one  begins 
and  the  other  leaves  off. 

The  impossible  has  come  to  pass.      Fantasy   has 


come  into  its  own.  Silhouettes  need  stop  at  noth- 
ing. When  a  remarkable  transformation  or  feat  of 
strength  must  take  place  along  comes  the  artist  and 
draws  it.  Then  the  actors  take  up  the  work  again 
and  all  is  well. 

It  is  a  brand  new  experience  for  Washington 
Mews  to  have  a  motion  picture  studio  in  its  midst. 
But  for  some  time  now  No.  44  has  been  the  scene  of 
mysterious  operations,  the  nature  of  which  has  just 
come  to  light.  The  ancient  structure  has  been  trans- 
formed to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  new  under- 
taking and  big  arc  lights,  odd  stage  properties  and 
curious  photographic  machines  have  replaced  Dobbin 
and  his  cart. 

A  stage  and  flies  have  been  added  in  the  rear  of 
the  lot,  the  ceiling  knocked  out,  and  the  inner  walls 
painted  a  dazzling  white.  Powerful  electric  lights 
overhead  are  so  arranged  as  to  throw  the  actors  into 
bold  relief.  Occasionally  the  background  is  colored 
to  lend  more  detail  and  the  different  shades  show  on 
the  screen.  Though  the  figures  are  in  silhouette,  it 
is  amazing  how  much  expression  is  obtained. 

The  camera  is  sunk  in  a  pit  so  that  the  actors' 
feet  are  visible  to  its  eye,  though  there  is  no  floor  in 
the  Bray-Gilbert  pictures.  The  innovation  in  film  pro- 
duction covers  a  wide  range  of  subjects,  but  all  of 
them  are  presented  with  a  charming  disregard  for 
stereotyped  methods.  He  refuses  to  take  his  charac- 
ters seriously  and  carries  them  through  a  series  of 
droll  adventures.  "Inbad  the  Sailor,"  his  first  release, 
on  January  20,  is  a  typical  example. 

The  story,  which  has  the  proper  Arabian  Nights 
flavor,  depicts  a  sailor  wrecked  on  a  desert  isle  with 
only  a  monkey  for  a  companion  and  a  bottle  of  tabasco 
sauce  for  comfort.  But  the  writer  produces  the  in- 
evitable mystery  in  the  shape  of  a  genii's  chest,  in 
which  is  found  a  wishing  ring.  The  sailor  has  four 
wishes,  one  of  which  turns  the  monkey  into  a  human 
companion — a  sort  of  man  Friday — and  another  whisks 
the  two  off  on  a  magic  carpet  to  the  Orient  in  search 
of  adventure. 


This  illustration 


164 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


As  the  two  men  tumble  into  the  scene  before  the 
gates  of  Bagdad  they  are  taken  prisoners  and  are 
borne  off  to  the  sultan  who,  learning  of  the  wishing 
ring,  decides  to  commute  a  sentence  of  death  to  a  life 
of  happiness  and  ease,  providing  they  find  a  rare  pearl 
stolen  by  a  dragon  in  the  mountain.  As  a  reward  the 
sultan  promises  the  sailor  his  daughter,  a  beautiful  prin- 
cess, for  his  wife. 

With  such  a  prize  in  view  the  sailor  sets  off  with 
hi-,  companion  to  search  for  the  pearl.  They  find 
-  the  dragon,  and  just  as  he  is  about  to  attack  them 
they  pour  the  tabasco  sauce  down  his  throat  and  he 
coughs  up  the  pearl.  As  they  flee  with  the  gem  they 
look  back  and  see  the  monster  being  consumed  by  fire 
from  the  burning  condiment.  Seeking  the  Sultan  to 
claim  the  reward,  the  sailor  discovers  the  supposed 
beautiful  princess  to  be  an  unprepossessing  old  woman. 
SO,  turning  his  companion  back  into  a  monkey,  he  sets 
sail  on  the  magic  carpet  for  New  York,  intending  to 
dispose  of  the  pearl.  He  takes  it  to  a  pawnshop,  only 
to  find  the  gem  is  a  counterfeit  and  is  worth  only 
30  cents. 

Mr.  Gilbert  writes  the  scenarios  himself  and 
among  the  other  whimsical  stories  which  he  is  pro- 
ducing for  Paramount  are  "The  Chess  Queen,"  "Haunts 
for  Hire,"  and  "The  Balloon  Tree." 

Like  the  Bray  cartoons,  and  the  Ditmars  zoo- 
pictures,  which  it  has  just  been  announced  have  been 
obtained  by  Paramount,  the  Gilbert  silhouettes  will 
help  to  round  out  the  programs  of  Paramount  theaters. 


LUBIN  STAGES  REAL  THRILLER 

After  Producing  Realistic  Head-on  Collision  That  Cost 
Tremendous   Sum,   Lubin   Director   Arranges 

Big  Fire  Scene  for  Same  Production 
The  most  expensive  single  scene  ever  photographed 
for  use  in  a  motion  picture  is  the  railroad  wreck,  which 
forms  one  of  the  principal  incidents  in  Lubin's  five-reel 
feature  entitled  "The  Gods  of  Fate."  In  this  scene,  two 
trains,  one  a  passenger  consisting  of  an  engine  and  five 
coaches  and  the  other  a  freight  train  made  up  of  an 
engine  and  six  freight  cars,  meet  in  a  head-on  collision, 
while  running  at  the  rate  of  forty-five  miles  an  hour. 
This  scene  was  staged  outside  Altoona,  Pa.,  and  cost  the 
Lubin  Company  over  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

In  the  making  of  this  picture  the  services  of  fifteen 


camera  men  were  employed  and  at  the  moment  of  the 
actual  crash,  they  were  within  twelve  feet  of  the  ex- 
plosion. In  order  to  protect  themselves  from  clouds  of 
steam  and  flying  debris,  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  work 
behind  armor  plate  shields  similar  to  those  used  by  the 
United   States  artillery. 

Considerable  delay  was  caused  in  getting  the  en- 
gines properly  speeded  up  so  they  would  meet  at  the  de- 
sired point,  but  they  were  finally  started,  at  a  distance  of 
a  mile  and  a  half  apart,  and  the  crash  came  at  the  exact 
point  desired.  When  all  was  in  readiness  the  warning 
was  given,  cameras  started  clicking  and  while  six  thou- 
sand spectators  held  their  breath,  both  trains  rushed  to- 
ward each  other,  gaining  greater  momentum  at  every  foot 
until  finally  with  a  roar  that  could  be  heard  for  miles, 
they  crashed  together. 

When  the  clouds  of  steam  and  smoke  attendent  upon 
this  terrific  explosion  had  blown  away,  the  coaches  of  the 
passenger  train  were  seen  to  be  squeezed  together  like 
a  closed  accordian.  and  some  of  the  seats  of  these  cars 
were  found  fifty  feet  away.  The  frames  of  three  pas- 
senger cars  completely  telescoped  the  others,  and  were 
found  resting  on  top  of  the  passenger  engine.  Nothing 
was  left  of  the  freight  train  but  fragments  and  fortunately 
no  unpleasant  incident  occurred  to  mar  the  successful 
making  of  this  film. 

Although  not  intended  to  be  as  expensive  as  the  rail- 
road wreck,  the  fire  scene  which  is  also  an  important  in- 
cident in  "The  Gods  of  Fate"  very  nearly  equaled  the 
cost  of  the  wreck.  For  in  this  scene,  Director  Jack  Pratt, 
who  was  producing  the  picture,  burned  up  an  entire  man- 
ufacturing plant  and  this  one  incident  necessitated  the 
services  of  the  fire  departments  of  three  townships.  The 
Lubin  Company  having  purchased  the  Tacony  Iron 
Works,  in  which  was  cast  the  statue  of  William  Perm, 
which  now  surmounts  the  City  Hall,  turned  it  over  to 
Director  Pratt,  who  at  once  laid  his  plans  for  the  con- 
flagration. In  order  to  successfully  handle  a  fire  of  the 
necessary  magnitude,  sixty  experts  were  engaged  and 
fifteen  camera  men  were  stationed  at  various  points  to 
photograph  the  scene.  The  co-operation  of  the  fire  de- 
partment of  Philadelphia  was  secured  by  a  permit  from 
the  fire  commissioner.  Tuesday,  January  4.  at  1  :30 
p.  m.  the  match  was  applied  to  the  building.  It  was  Di- 
rector Pratt's  intention  to  start  the  blaze,  let  it  burn 
awhile  and  then  photograph  the  lire  company  rushing  to 
extinguish  il.  but  fate  ordained  otherwise.  Two  minutes 
after  the  blaze  was  started,  a   high   wind    from   the   west 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


sprang  up  and  the  factory  was  soon  a  roaring  furnace. 
The  battalion  chief,  who  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
in  this  scene,  quickly  saw  that  what  was  intended  to  be 
only  a  "trifling  incident"  was  in  fact  a  terrible  reality 
and  that  he  was  face  to  face  with  one  of  the  toughest 
fires  of  years.  He  quickly  rang  in  a  double  alarm  from 
a  nearby  box  which  called  out  six  engine  companies, 
three  water  towers,  four  horse  carts,  two  hook  and  lad- 
der trucks  and  three  extra  battalion  chiefs.  After  three 
hours  of  fighting  on  their  parts,  the  fire  was  finally  under 
control. 


Charles  Wellesley  of  Vitagraph 

Charles  Wellesley,  of  the  Vitagraph  players,  whose 
latest  work  for  that  company  has  been  in  "Green 
Stockings,"  and  who  will  be  remembered  for  his 
splendid  acting  in  "Hearts  Ablaze,"  had  a  long  anc1 
honorable  career  on 
the  legitimate  stage 
before  the  lure  of  the 
clicking  camera  won 
him  over.  Wellesley 
was  born  in  Dublin, 
Ireland,  on  Novem- 
ber 17.  1873.  His 
father's  name  was 
O'Shaugnessy,  com- 
ing from  old  Irish 
stock,  and  his  mother 
was  Eleanor  Brans- 
combe,  from  Devon- 
shire, England.  Her 
sister  Mau<i  was  a 
famous  beauty  of  the 
early  seventies,  and 
an  actress  well 
known  in  England 
and  in  America.  Her 
picture  still  hangs 
among  the  notables 
on  the  walls  of 
Keene's  chophouse,  in  New  York  City.  Starting  his 
histrionic  career  at  an  early  age,  Wellesley  first  ap- 
peared in  a  company  headed  by  Sir  Henry  Irving.  He 
played  in  that  company  for  three  seasons,  and  then 
played  with  George  Conquest  and  his  sons.    From  that 


engagement  Wellesley  supported  E.  S.  AVillard,  Sir 
John  Hare  and  spent  several  seasons  in  the  provinces. 
In  1897,  Wellesley  went  to  South  Africa,  arrived  in 
Cape  Town  and  finding  himself  without  much  money 
he  joined  the  South  African  constables,  who  acted  as 
the  mounted  police  of  that  section.  He  served  well,  but 
soon  tired  of  the  life,  and  bought  his  way  out  of  the 
organization. 

Returning  to  London  in  1898,  he  joined  Olga  Neth- 
ersole's  company  in  a  play  called  "The  Termagant," 
played  at  His  Majesty's  theater,  which  is  owned  by 
Sir  Herbert  Tree.  He  came  to  America  as  stage  mana- 
ger for  Miss  Nethersole  and  later  returned  to  London 
and  toured  South  Africa  for  three  seasons.  Returning 
to  the  States,  he  played  important  roles  with  Maxine 
Elliott,  Charles  Cherry  and  others,  and  became  inter- 
ested in  motion  pictures.  He  joined  the  Vitagraph 
Company  three  years  ago,  where  his  handsome  figure, 
his  good  looks  and  his  exceptional  ability  won  him  a 
permanent  place  in  that  organization. 


PLEASED  WITH  ROTHAPFEL 

His  Appointment  to   Manage   Knickerbocker  Theater 

Heartily   Welcomed   in   Film   Circles — House 

Undergoing  Many  Changes 

The  recent  appointment  of  S.  L.  Rothapfel  to 
manage  the  Knickerbocker  theater,  New  York,  an- 
nounced exclusively  in  the  last  issue  of  Motography, 
has  pleased  the  numerous  clientele  and  supporters  of 
the  Triangle  organization  as  well  as  the  myriad  friends 
of  this  "prince  of  exhibitors."  The  intent  to  make  the 
Knickerbocker  a  true  model  theater  for  the  whole  Tri- 
angle service  will  be  realized  by  Mr.  Rothapfel,  it  is 
said. 

It  is  hinted  that  the  Triangle  weekly  program  will 
be  split  in  two  parts  during  the  Rothapfel  regime  at 
the  Knickerbocker,  just  as  it  now  is  split  in  most  of  the 
motion  picture  theaters  throughout  the  country.  A 
Griffith-supervised  feature  and  a  Keystone  comedy  will 
be  presented  Sunday,  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednes- 
day; to  be  followed  by  the  Ince  feature  and  the  other 
Keystone  comedy  Thursday,  Friday  and  Saturday. 
Special  settings  are  now  being  prepared  for  the  stage. 
The  front  of  the  house  is  also 'being  rearranged  like  a 


166 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


picture  theater  instead  of  a  legitimate  playhouse.  The 
picture  booth  will  be  re-installed  upstairs,  the  orchestra 
will  be  hidden  from  view,  and  special  musical  numbers 
will  be  given  before  and  after  the  pictures  and  during 
the  intermission. 

Probably  no  other  manager  than  Rothapfel  has 
studied  more  closely  the  inter-relation  of  pictures  and 
music.  D.  \\  .  Griffith  has  been  quoted  as  saying  that 
music  constitutes  40  per  cent  of  the  value  of  "The  Birth 
of  a  Nation."  In  linking  up  the  two  arts  on  a  weekly 
service  program,  Mr.  Rothapfel  is  blazing  a  newr  way 
at  the  Knickerbocker,  over  which  he  will  be  glad  to 
guide  exhibitors  desirous  of  reaping  the  largest  possible 
rewards  of  picture  presentation. 

It  was  necessary  to  close  up  the  playhouse  the 
week  beginning  January  9,  in  order  to  actualize  the 
Rothapfel  alterations.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  pre- 
ceding week  had  been  among  the  largest  in  the 
Knickerbocker's  film  history.  The  wonderful  list  of 
new  plays  and  stars  promises  even  greater  popularity 
in  the  future.  Meantime  Mr.  Rothapfel's  faith  in  the 
Triangle  pictures  as  the  very  best  of  the  film  art  is 
demonstrated  by  his  statement  that  he  will  open  his 
new  Rialto  theater  with  them  when  completed  at 
Seventh  avenue  and  Forty-second  street,  the  former 
site  of  Hammerstein's  Victoria. 


Fleckles  Gets  Loving  Cup 

Manager  Maurice  Fleckles  of  the  Laemmle  Film 
Service  office  was  the  most  surprised  man  in  Chicago 
on  the  day  before  Christmas,  when  the  employes  of 
the  office  gathered  about  him  in  a  mysterious  manner. 
He  wasn't  exactly 
sure  whether  he  was 
going  to  be  mobbed, 
or  whether  his  em- 
ployes had  a  griev- 
ance of  some  sort  to 
lay  before  him.  Then 
Louis  Laemmle 
stepped  forward  and 
in  a  graceful  little 
speech  announced 
that  as  a  token  of 
their  appreciation  of 
his  ability  and  kind- 
ness, the  office  force 
wished  to  present 
him  with  a  little  re- 
membrance. As  he 
concluded  Mr. 
I .  a  e  in  m  1  e  flicked 
a  side  a  drapery 
which  had  covered  a 
tall  object  he  held  in 
his  hand,  and  pre- 
sented Mr.  Fleckles  with  a  beautiful  loving  cup,  bear- 
ing an  appropriate  inscription.  Mr.  Fleckles  has  been 
associated  with  the  Universal  organization  for  many 
years  and  has  seen  it  grow  from  a  small  beginning  to 
tin-  big  institution  it  is  at  present.  Me  has  held  re- 
sponsible executive  positions  during  all  of  that  period 
and  as  manager  of  the  Laemmle  Film  Service  branch 
in  Chicago  has  made  it  one  of  the  most  profitable  ex- 
changes in  the  city.    To  say  that  he  was  delighted  with 

the  loving  CUp  and  the  spirit  among  his  employes 
that  prompted  them  to  remember  him  with  such  a 
handsome  gift   ^ns  without   sayingf. 


. 

'--- 

£L 

WORLD  SIGNS  ADOLF  PHILIPP 

Lewis  J.  Selznick  Arranges  with  Famous  German  Star 

to  Appear  in  Large  Number  of  Productions  of 

Which  He  Controls  Rights 

Lewis  J.  Selznick,  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  World  Film  Corporation,  has  just  reached 
an  agreement  with  Adolf  Philipp,  actor,  author,  pro- 
ducer, composer  and  impressario  (the  German  George 
M.  Cohan),  to  ap- 
pear personally  in 
motion  pictures  un- 
der the  banner  of  the 
World  Film  Corpor- 
ation, in  all  his  fa- 
mous successes,  i  n- 
c  1  ud  i  n  g  "Aim  a, 
W  here  Do  You 
Live,"  "The  Mid- 
night Girl,"  "Auc- 
tion Pinochl  e," 
"New  York  Life," 
"The  Happiest  Man 
in  New  Y  o  r  k." 
"New  York  at 
Night,"  "A  New 
York  Brewe  r," 
"Two  Lots  in  the 
Bronx,"  and  "My 
Shadow  and  I."  The 
first  release  has  been 
decided  upon  but 
Mr.  Selznick  is  not 
yet  ready  to  announce  it.  The  signing  of  the  contract 
by  Mr.  Philipp  to  star  in  all  his  successes  under  the 
management  of  Lewis  J.  "Selznick  was  reached  only 
after  Mr.  Philipp  had  been  approached  by  several  other 
well-known  motion  picture  corporations  who  desired 
to  put  these  productions  upon  the  screen,  and  he  de- 
cided to  accept  the  World  Film  Corporation  offer  only 
after  an  agreement  to  feature  the  most  famous  stars 
available  in  his  support  in  each  of  the  productions 
to  be  made  and  a  lavish  investiture  of  scenery  and  pro- 
ductions had  been  assured. 

In  all,  Mr.  Philipp  and  his  brother  Paul  have  ac- 
quired the  rights  to  more  than  200  foreign  plays,  in- 
cluding the  works  of  Delmar,  Beaumarchias,  Fuler. 
Daudet,  Colombi,  Grimm,  Kaiser.  Jensen.  Rameau  and 
Sardou.  Altogether  more  than  forty  foreign  authors 
are  represented,  among  them  being  the  names  of  those 
wdiose  dramas  have  pleased  the  theater-goers  of  the 
great  cities  of  the  continent  and  which  have  also  scored 
heavily    when    produced    in    American    theaters. 


\dolf    Plnlitf- 


Organization  Not  Weakened 

To  set  at  rest  a  rumor  that  has  gained  some  circu- 
lation in  Chicago,  to  the  effect  that  the  death  of  the 
late  George  II.  Baird,  one  of  the  stockholders  in  and  a 
director  of  the  Photoplay  Releasing  Company,  may 
have  had  some  financial  effect  on  that  organization, 
MoiooKAi'in  is  requested  to  promptly  deny  the  rumor 
in  toto.  While  Mr.  Baird's  sudden  demise  came  as  a 
greal  shock  to  his  friends  and  fellow  stockholders  in 
the  Photoplay  Releasing  organization,  and  while  his 
genial  face  and  wise  counsel  will  he  sincerely  missed 
from  the  offices  of  that  linn,  the  financial  standing  of 
the  institution  is  not  affected  iii  the  slightest  degree. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Mutual's  Features  Off  to  Good  Start 


THEMES  WIDELY  VARIED 


THE  six-features-a-week  releasing  schedule  of  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation  will  be  ushered  in  Jan- 
uary 17,  with  the  five-part  American  Mutual 
Masterpiece,  De  Luxe  Edition,  featuring  Charlotte 
Burton  and  William  Russell,  entitled  "The  Thorough- 
bred." 

Following  upon  the  appearance  of  this  Masterpicture, 
De  Luxe  Edition,  "The  Five  Faults  of  Flo,"  a  Than- 
houser  five-reeler,  featuring  Florence  La  Badie,  and  "The 
Bait,"  a  Horsley  production  of  similar  length,  starring 
Betty  Hart  and  William  Clifford,  will  be  shown  the  same 
week.  The  Thanhouser  Masterpicture  will  be  released 
on  January  20,  1916,  Wednesday,  and  "The  Bait"  on 
Friday,  January  22. 

While  it  is  the  decision  of  the  Mutual,  as  announced, 
to  increase  the  output  of  three  three-reel  pictures  to  a 
three-a-week,  in  addition  to  the  three  Masterpictures  De 
Luxe,  only  one  of  the  three-reelers  will  be  released  the 
week  of  January  17.  "The  Phantom  Witness,"  a  Than- 
houser production,  in  which  Kathryn  Adams  and  Edwin. 
Stanley  are  cast  for  the  leads,  will  appear  on  January  19. 

In  the  two  following  weeks,  two  of  the  three-reel 
features  will  be  put  out.  In  the  fourth  week  of  the  Mu- 
tual's new  policy,  which  is  the  week  of  February  7,  the 
Mutual  will  have  struck  its  three-reeler  pace. 

Though  the  entire  setting  of  the  Horsley  Masterpic- 
ture, De  Luxe  Edition,  "The  Bait"  is  set  in  the  frontiers 
of  the  West,  and  a  portion  of  "The  Thoroughbred"  makes 
its  background  in  a  very  similar  setting,  no  greater  variety 
could  be  found  in  three  motion  picture  dramas  than  in 
the  first  three  five-reel  Mutual  releases. 

"The  Bait"  features  a  pretty  girl  who  is  used  as  a 
decoy  to  lure  men  to  a  frontier  saloon,  where  the  man 
whom  she  thinks  is  her  husband,  soon  despoils  them  of 
their  money  and  their  manhood.  The  drama  pictures  a 
parallel  in  the  trapping  of  wild  beasts,  whose  desire  for 
food  leads  them  into  the  snares  baited  for  them  by  the 
trappers. 

It  is  when  "Margot" — "The  Bait" — gets  away 
from  her  evil  and  depraving  environment  that  the  real 
drama  begins, — though  each  foot  of  film  teems  with 
action, — vivid,  real  and  spell  binding, — there  is  behind 
it  all  the  psychological  development  of  a  girl's  soul, 
and  the  raising  of  her  standards  to  meet  the  ideals 
offered  by  new  surroundings  and  the  man  who  be- 
comes her  real  husband.  Betty  Hart,  pretty,  intelli- 
gent, adaptable,  makes  "Margot"  a  marvelous  creature 
of  the  screen.  Her  feeling  for  the  part  and  her  excel- 
lent portrayal  make  this  character  live  as  few  picture 
interpretations  do.  William  Clifford,  the A  popular 
young  actor,  makes  his  debut,  as  does  Miss  Hart,  to 
the  Mutual  screen,  in  this  strong  picture,  symbolizing 
the  game  of  life. 

Florence  La  Badie  is  her  own  charming,  dainty  self 
in  the  first  Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  issu- 
ing from  the  Thanhouser  studios.  In  a  cleverly  inter- 
woven chain  of  circumstances,  the  five  faults  which  the 
heroine  of  the  picture  had  possessed  are  pictured,  with 
the  climax  which  brought  them  to  an  end.  In  common 
with  many  women,  Flo  had  been  possessed  of  Pride, 
Envy,  Fickleness,  Extravagance,  and  Jealousy.  It  was 
not  at  all  pleasant  or  easy  to  get  rid  of  them.  Each 
little  flaw  in  an  otherwise  charming  character  came  to 


grief  and  died  in  a  spectacular  enough  manner  to  make 
a  very  good  motion  picture  drama.  "The  Five  Faults 
of  Flo"  is  very  unusual.  In  it  Florence  La  Badie  is  at 
her  best. 

"The  Thoroughbred"  is  a  story  of  commercial  in- 
trigue, tremendous  losses,  hate,  passion,  greed,  which  is 
raised  to  a  higher  plane  by  the  pure  and  trusting  love  of 
•  a  woman  who  never  loses  faith.  The  east  is  pictured  in 
its  most  luxurious  settings, — palatial  Fifth  avenue  resi- 
dences, hotels,  clubs  and  Wall  street  comes  in  for  its  pic- 
turesque share.  Then  the  scenes  change  to  the  crisp  air, 
the  quick  free  life  of  the  forest,  where  the  ways  are 
finally  righted  and  the  drama  brought  to  a  satisfactory 
conclusion.  William  Russell,  who  will  be  remembered  for 
his  interpretation  of  Blair  Stanley  in  "The  Diamond  from 
the  Sky,"  is  cast  for  the  hero  role, — "Kelso  Hamilton." 
He  plays  with  candor,  fearlessness  and  intelligence.  Char- 
lotte Burton,  the  handsome  American  actress,  appears  in 
"The  Thoroughbred"  in  a  role  more  to  her  liking  than 
the  unscrupulous  "Vivian  Marston"  of  the  great  romantic 
novel,    "The  Diamond  from  the  Sky." 

The  Mutual  Masterpictures,  De  Luxe  Edition,  which 
will  constitute  the  Mutual's  release  of  the  second  week, 
are  "As  a  Woman  Sows"  (Gaumont),  "Lord  Loveland 
Discovers  America"  (American),  and  "Betrayed"  (Hors- 
ley). 

The  two  three-reel  features  of  the  same  week  will 
be  "The  Burglars'  Picnic"  (Thanhouser),  and  "The 
Smugglers  of  Santa  Cruz"  (Mustang). 


PALLAS  OFFERS  THREE  STARS 

Prominent   Film   and    Stage   Players   to   Be    Seen   on 

Paramount  Program  During  Early 

Part  of  This  Year 

Although  it  is  only  a  little  over  a  month  since 
the  initial  release  of  the  Pallas  Pictures  took  place, 
this  organization  is  already  thoroughly  established  by 
reason  of  the  high  standard  which  it  has  set  in  the 
production  of  its  offerings. 

Following'  its  pretentious  debut  in  filmdom  with 
Booth  Tarkington's  "The  Gentleman  from  Indiana," 
which  subject  presented  a  high-water  mark  of  quality 
readily  upheld  by  its  second  release,  "The  Reform 
Candidate,"  the  Maclyn  Arbuckle  success,  Pallas  Pic- 
tures announces  that  three  new  photoplays  of  unusual 
merit  are  now  in  the  course  of  completion.  Starring 
in  these  new  subjects  are  Dustin  Farnum  in  "The 
Call  of  the  Cumberlands,"  an  adaptation  from  Charles 
Neville  Buck's  well  known  book  and  incidentally  one 
of  the  best  sellers  on  the  market ;  Florence  Rockwell 
in  "He  Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife,"  adapted  from 
the  novel  of  the  same  name  by  E.  P.  Roe,  and  Lenore 
Ulrich  in  a  Mexican  play  of  modern  times,  in  which 
the  former  star  of  "The  Bird  of  Paradise"  and  "Kil- 
meny"  receives  another  screen  vehicle  admirably  suited 
to  her  talents. 

Besides  presenting  a  romantic  drama  which,  ac- 
cording to  Dustin  Farnum  himself,  even  surpasses  in 
quality  "The  Gentleman  from  Indiana,"  the  promi- 
nent screen  favorite's  new  vehicle  offers  scenes  of 
natural  beauty  that  are  seldom  duplicated.      For  the 


16S 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Cumberland  mountain  scenes  the  entire  company  was 
taken  to  Thousand  Pines,  a  favorite  elevation  for  Cali- 
iornian  mountain  climbers  and  called  by  them  "the 
rim  of  the  world."  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  famous 
Bear  Valley  country  whose  mountain  lakes  are  ex- 
quisitely  Swiss  and  whose  scenic  charms,  its  2,000  feet 
precipices  and  canyons  are  known  to  painters  from  all 
over  the  world.  Several  artistic  as  well  as  dramatic 
surprises  are  promised  on  the  presentation  of  the  next 
Farflum  offering'. 

"He  Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife"  presents  Flor- 
ence Rockwell  for  the  first  time  under  the  Pallas-Para- 
mount banner.  Miss  Rockwell  is  one  of  the  best 
known  of  the  younger  American  stars  and  has  a  bril- 
liant record  in  Frohman  and  Klaw  and  Erlanger  pro- 
ductions, notably  as  the  true  blue  chorus  girl  in  "The 
Double  Cross,"  as  co-star  with  Arnold  Daly;  as  Necia 
in  "The  Barrier,"  by  Rex  Beach ;  as  heroine  in  the 
K.  &  E.  spectacle  "The  Round  Up,"  and  in  the  recent 
all-star  revival  of  Eugene  Walter's  "Fine   Feathers." 

It  is  felt  that  the  Lenore  Ulrich  film  affords  the 
pretty  actress  another  opportunity  to  score  on  the 
screen  even  to  a  greater  extent  than  she  did  in  "Kil- 
meny."  Miss  Ulrich  has  just  returned  from  Mexico 
with  the  Pallas  Pictures  players  where  the  company 
enacted  most  of  the  important  scenes  of  the  new  play. 
The  remarkable  talent  displayed  by  the  star  in  her 
latest  film  subject  has  caused  considerable  comment 
at  the  Pallas  Pictures  headquarters.  Miss  Ulrich  ap- 
peared under  the  Pallas  Pictures  banner  for  the  para- 
mount Program,  through  the  courtesy  of  Oliver  Mo- 
rosco,  another  prominent  Paramount  producer,  who 
has  a  two-year  contract  which  calls  for  the  exclusive 
screen  services  of  the  pretty  actress. 


many  things  can  be  done  in  pictures  for  the  Shake- 
speare tales,  that  cannot  be  done  on  the  stage.  With 
all  due  reverence  to  the  master  dramatist,  it  is  possible 
to  illuminate  and  accentuate  many  details  so  as  to  pro- 


SIR  HERBERT  TREE  AS  MACBETH 

Famous  English  Thespian  Gives  His  Impressions  of 

Film  Studios  at  End  of  His  First  Day  as 

Silent  Actor 

Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree,  celebrated  for  his 
vivid  interpretations  of  Shakespeare's  dramas  and  other 
plays  of  the  same  nature,  was  given  a  truly  western 
greeting  recently  upon  his  arrival  at  the  Fine  Arts 
studio  in  I  [ollywood,  where  he  is  to  appear  in  a  screen 
version  of  Shakespeare's  tragedy,  "Macbeth." 

lie  was  greeted  by  six  cowboys  in  their  native 
dress,  who  saluted  him  with  their  44's,  as  he 
alighted  from  the  taxi,  accompanied  by  his  charming 
daughter.  Ceorge  Stone,  the  unusually  talented  film 
child  actor,  dressed  in  an  appropriate  costume,  covered 
with  a  pennant  of  welcome,  extended  to  Sir  Herbert 
the  hand  of  greeting,  to  the  deafening  cheers  of  the 
Fine  \ns  bystanders.  This  was  followed  by  a  round 
of  applause  to  which  Sir  Herbert  responded  with  a 
brillianl  speech,  lie  was  then  taken  to  the  office  of 
Mr.  Griffith  by  Manager  of  Production  Frank  E. 
and  greetings  were  exchanged.  Tins  was  the 
first  time  that  Sir  Herbert  had  ever  seen  a  typical 
western  cowboy  and  he  confesses  thai  he  was  really 
frightened  when  the  revolvers  were  tired. 

Tuesday,  Januar)  I.  was  Sir  Herbert  Tree's  first 
day  of  work  on  "Macbeth"  at  the  Triangle-Fine  \.rts 
studio,  lie  ended  it  marveling  at  the  resources  placed 
at  his  command  and  most  enthusiastic  over  the  oppor- 
tunity that  the  Griffith  photoplay  technique  offered  for 
distinguished  rendition  of  the  Shakespeare  stories. 

Sir    Herbert    said:      "It      is     quite    wonderful    how 


mn^i 

m  h  lW 

frH3 

duce  a  marvelous  truth-telling  commentary  on  the  text 
and  at  the  same  time  heighten  the  dramatic  values. 

"That  is  what  I  have  learned  from  my  first  day's 
work  with  Director  Emerson  upon  the  scenario.  The 
pictorial  possibilities  of  'Macbeth'  grow,  as  one  studies 
it,  in  the  light  of  this  strange  new  art,  into  something 
very  beautiful  and  wonderful — not  precisely  a  play  in 
the  Shakespearean  sense,  perhaps,  but  a  dramatic  nar- 
rative of  great  power. 

"I  should  like  to  call  this  series  of  productions 
'Tales  from  Shakespeare.' '  If  we  can  bring  to  the  drama 
some  such  reverent  and  illuminating  interpretation  as 
did  Charles  Lamb,  I  shall  be  happy  indeed  to  have 
entered  upon  this  enterprise.  The  motion  picture 
studios  are  naturally  strange  places  to  me,  but  I  am 
delighted  with  the  kindly  spirit  of  welcome  and  co- 
operation manifested  and'  the  amazing  vitality  of  the 
industry.  I  know  now  that  I  am  going  to  like  it  im- 
menselv." 


Coming  Keystones  Brilliant 

Taking  some  of  the  same  characters  he  used  in 
"Crooked  to  the  End,"  Mack  Sennett  has  endeavored 
to  out-thrill  and  out-comedy  that  Triangle  Keystone 
with  a  new  one  called  provisionally  "The  Great  Leap." 
Fred  Mace  and  Anna  Luther  are  again  the  railroad 
station  agent  and  his  pretty  daughter,  respectively. 
The  story  deals  with  the  attempted  robbery  o\  funds 
from  a  near-by  mill,  Earl  Rodney.  Joseph  Swickard, 
Billie  Brockwell  and  Dale  Fuller  having  important 
roles.  Among  the  thrills  are  Miss  Luther's  leap  on 
horseback  from  a  bridge  into  the  swirling  waters  of 
a  river;  Fred  Mace's  rapid  revolutions  when  bound 
to  a  spinning  fly-wheel;  Earl  Rodney's  near-death  in 
a  stone-crushing  machine,  and  the  passage  of  a  deep 
ravine  by  a  band  o\  crooks  ,in  a  bucket  line. 

Other  marvelous  new  Keystones  are  "Fatty  and 
Mabel  Adrift,"  with  Roscoe  Arbuckle  and  Mabel  Nor- 
mand;  "Because  He  Loved  Her."  with  Sam  Bernard 
and  Mae  Busch ;  "Murray's  Mix-up,"  with  Charles 
Murray.  Harry  Hooker  and  l.oinse  Fa/.enda.  and  "A 
Modern  Enoch  Arden,"  starring  the  tramp  comedian. 
Joe    Jacks, mi.      The    last-named    is    a    burlesque    of    the 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


169 


well-known  Tennyson  story,  with  the  amusing  Jack- 
son in  the  role  of  a  returning  wanderer  whose  home 
has  meantime  been  invaded  by  the  family  lawyer  who 
is  in  turn  hounded  by  a  pair  of  blackmailers.  "Mur- 
ray's Mix-Up"  pokes  fun  at  the  prevailing  type  of 
"westerns,"  showing  Mr.  Murray  in  a  "Bill"  Hart  role 
of  sheriff,  and  the'  diminutive  Mr.  Booker  as  the  owner 
of  a  gambling  hell.  "Because  He  Loved  Her"  is  a 
restaurant  story,  many  jumps  ahead  of  the  old-series 
Keystone,  "A  Hash  House  Fraud."  As  to  "Fatty  and 
Mabel  Adrift,"  that  is  described  as  pure  thrills  and 
fun  with  Mr.  Arbuckle  and  Miss  Normand  at  their 
.best  as  a  pair  of  honeymooners  floated  out  to  sea  in 
their  beach  cottage. 

Unprecedented  activity  characterizes  the  Key- 
stone organization,  and  with  the  new  indoor  studio 
completed  the  work  goes  on  twenty-four  hours  a  day. 
It  is  believed  Mr.  Sennett's  record  of  producing  two 
amazing  comedy  thrillers  a  week,  each  from  two  to 
four  reels  in  length,  is  unequalled  and  unlikely  to  be 
surpassed.  There  are  now  nine  Keystone  companies 
actively  making  film,  and  special  sensations  are  prom- 
ised from  those  headed  by  William  Collier  and  Ches- 
ter Conklin. 


Lenore  Ulrich  at  Paramount  Opening 

Lenore  Ulrich,  the  beautiful  Pallas-Paramount  star, 
is  here  shown  in  the  private  office  of  W.  W.  Hodkinson, 
president  of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  new  Paramount  offices  at 
487  Fifth  avenue,  New  York  City.  Miss  Ulrich  was  just 
examining  the  artistic  draperies  and  splendid  appoint- 
ments of  Mr.  Hodkinson's  office  when  the  photographer 
snapped  her. 

There  were  present  at  this  "housewarming"  of  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  a  great  many  notables, 
including  Daniel  Frohman,  Adolph  Zukor  and  Rufus 
Steele,  surrounded  by  whom  the  popular  star  of  "The 
Bird  of  Paradise"  held  a  little  reception  of  her  own. 

During  the  course  of  the  evening  William  Stickles, 
the  eminent  song  composer,  played  over  for  Miss  Ulrich 
the  song  called  "Paula"  which  is  to  accompany  the  or- 


chestration of  her  next  film  for  Pallas  Pictures.  The  air 
was  so  catchy  that  A.  D.  Flintom,  president  of  the  Kansas 
City  Feature  Film  Company,  caught  the  little  star  in  his 
arms  and  did  a  one-step. 

"I  only  hope,"  said  Miss  Ulrich,  "that  the  public 
wili  like  the  song  as  well  as  I  enjoyed  making  the  pic- 
ture." 


First  Hearst- Vitagraph  Goes  Big 

Forty-two  theaters  in  the  territory  of  the  New 
York  branch  of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  showed  the  first 
release  of  the  new  Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial 
on  Tuesday  last.  Reports  from  other  territories  were 
unanimous  in  predicting  that  the  pictorial  was  destined 
for  a  large  and  enthusiastic  reception  from  exhibitors 
in  all  parts  of  the  country.  These  reports  indicated 
that  the  distribution  of  this  pictorial  would  be  the 
widest  ever  obtained  by  a  film  of  this  character. 

In  all,  there  were  ten  subjects  treated  of  in  the 
first  release  of  the  Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial, 
the  first  of  which  was  an  exceedingly  graphic  series 
of  views  of  the  shipwreck  of  a  large  schooner  off 
the  Maine  coast.  The  war  pictures  which  followed 
were  up-to-the-minute  in  their  timeliness,  showing 
British  and  Greek  soldiers  in  maneuvers  in  Greece. 
Hearst,  who  conducts  two  widely  known  women's 
publications,  Harper's  Bazaar  and  Good  Housekeep- 
ing, as  well  as  style  sections  in  his  newspapers,  could 
have  been  counted  upon  to  present  some  unusual  fash- 
ion pictures,  with  exceptional  appeal  to  the  feminine 
contingent  of  the  motion  picture  public.  Such  proved 
to  be  the  case  in  this  first  release.  It  is  said  that 
other  fashion  pictures  which  are  to  follow  will  be 
even  more  distinctive,  the  staffs  of  the  Harper's  Ba- 
zaar and  Good  Housekeeping  including  as  they  do  all 
of  the  famous  Parisian  modistes,  being  engaged  upon 
plans  that  will  add  tremendously  to  the  drawing  power 
of  this  feature  of  the  film. 

The  pictures  which  drew  hearty  rounds  of  laugh- 
ter from  the  audiences  were  those  of  the  "Peace  Ship," 
in  which  the  staid  and  serious  members  were  showp 
playing  leap-frog  on  board  the  Oscar  II. 


Pallas  Paramou 

nt  star,  and  W.  W.  Hodkinson,!" 

Paramount    Pic 

tures    Corporation;    William    E.S 

Sherry  Featur 

Film   Company;  A.   D.  Flintom 

-ompa„v   of  Nc 

,   England. 

170 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


The  rush  of  men  to  enlist  in  London,  preparatory 
to  the  prospective  conscription  order,  attracted  mucii 
attention  also,  as  did  the  picture  of  bold  bathers  brav- 
ing the  winter  blasts  at  Brighton  Beach.  Other  views 
which  won  a  great  deal  of  comment  because  of  the 
expedition  with  which  they  had  been  obtained,  in- 
cluded those  of  the  landing  of  the  survivors  of  the 
ill-fated  Ancona  at  Naples.  The  reel  concluded  with 
the  nationally  favored  cartoons  of  Tom  Powers.  The 
fact  that  these  pictures  were  assembled  and  produced 
by  the  Vitagraph  Company  makes  it  unnecessary  to 
say  that  the  photography  and  all  other  details  were 
up  Lo  very  high  standards.  The  second  release  of  this 
pictorial  was  made  on  Friday,  and  even  exceeded  the 
initial   production   in   its  drawing  qualities. 

As  quickly  as  possible  there  will  be  introduced 
sectional  pictures  which  apply  specifically  to  the  par- 
ticular zones  in  which  the  pictures  are  shown.  It  is 
believed  that  this  innovation  of  localizing  the  interest 
in  the  film  will  greatly  add  to  the  public's  interest  in 
such   productions. 


with   Equitable  and  was  cast  opposite   Henry  Kolker 
in  "The  Warning." 

In  these  photodramas  her  ability  as  an  artiste 
became  firmly  established,  and  when  casting  "A  Fool's 
Paradise"  Ivan  Abramson.  its  author  and  director, 
looked  about  for  a  star  and  found  Chrystine  Mayo, 
the  star  whom  he  had  discovered  and  developed.  "A 
Fool's  Paradise"  became  the  vehicle  in  which  Chrys- 
tine Mayo  will  display  her  ability  as  a  portrayer  of 
a  character  role  most  difficult  to  conceive. 


Chrystine  Mayo  Re-joins  Ivan 
In  Augusl  of  lasl  year  the  Ivan  Film  Produc- 
tions put  oul  "A  Mother's  Confession,"  a  five-reel  fea 
ture  in  which  Chrystine  Mayo  was  starred.  Her  work 
excited  mo9l  favorable  commenl  in  film  circles,  and 
completing  this  engagement  she  played  opposite  Wi'l 
ham  Farnum  in  the  Fox  production,  "The  Broker 
Law."     Before  this  picture  was  complete  she  signed 


Poor  Kitty!  She  Has  Such  Worries 

Kitty  Gordon,  she  of  the  effulgent  back  and  bril- 
liant shoulders,  not  to  mention  her  general  pulchritude 
of  face  and  form,  who,  World  Film  promises,  is  soon  to 
burst  forth  upon  the  screen  in  a  film  version  of  F.  C. 
Phillips'  famous 
drama  of  thrills  "As 
in  a  Looking  Glass." 
is  a  young  woman 
who  believes  in  safe- 
ty first,  judging 
from  the  u  n  i  q  u  e 
form  of  insurance 
policy  which  has 
just  been  issued  to 
her  at  her  behest. 
Pianists  have  in- 
sured     their     "pedal 

obtained  policies 

protecting  their -deli- 
cate fingers  in  case 
of  accident,  and  op- 
era singers  have  had 
insurance  written  on 
their  golden  notes, 
ut  Miss  ( iordon  has 
gone  them  all  one 
'  etter.  She  has  in- 
sured her  back!  You  see  somebody  told  Miss  (iordon 
that  the  fierce  glaring  lights  of  the  immense  batteries 
of  Cooper-Hewitts  and  Klug  lights  were  injurious  to 
the  texture  of  the  skin.  At  once  there  was  trepidation 
registered  on  Miss  Gordon's  mobile  features,  which 
was  only  relieved  when  a  policy  in  the  sum  of  $50,000 
had    been    written. 


Mae  Murray  to  Be  Lasky  Star 

Mae  Murray,  famous  beauty  and  star  of  "Ziegfeld 
Follies,"  will  make  her  debut  as  a  photoplay  star  in 
the  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company's  production.  "To 
Have  and  to  Hold,"  a  picturization  of  Mary  Johnson's 
novel.  Miss  Murray 
and  the  big  company 
that  will  appear  with 
her  and  Wallace 
Reid,  who  is  co-star 
with  her  in  the  pro- 
duction, have  left 
Hollywood,  Calilfor- 
nia,  and  have  gone 
to  one  of  the  coast 
villages  where  many 
of  the  scenes  will  be 
taken.  Mr.  Reid. 
who  has  just  made 
his  bow  as  a  Lasky 
star  with  Cleo  Ridg- 
ley  in  "The  Golden 
Chance."  will  play 
the  role  of  Captain 
Ralph  Percy.  The 
rest  of  the  cast  in- 
cludes Tom  Forman, 
Raymond  Hattan, 
William  Bradbury, 
James  Neill,  Bob  Grey,  Lucien  Littlefield,  Camille 
Astor  and  Bob  Fleming.  In  order  that  she  may  ap- 
pear exclusively  in  photoplays,  Miss  Murray  has  defi- 
nitely left  the  musical  comedy  stage  for  a  period  of 
years  and  will  make  her  residence  for  some  time  to 
come  at  Hollywood,  near  the  Lasky  studios.  She  has 
been  called  the  "most  beautiful  show  girl  of  the  world." 
and  during  the  past  two  years  has  had  great  popularity 


"The  Crisis"  to  Be  Selig's  Next 

William  N.  Selig  has  returned  from  the  South- 
land where  he  accompanied  Colin  Campbell,  dean  of 
Selig  Polyscope  Company  directors,  on  an  inspection 
tour  of  picturepla)  locations  called  for  in  the  forthcom- 
ing Selig  spectacular  production  "The  Crisis."  True  to 
life  scenes  as  called  for  in  Winston  Churchill's  best 
novel  were  carefully  inspected  and  Colin  Campbell, 
the  producer,  will  at  once  begin  work  on  the  picture. 
which  will  prove  a  worthy  successor  to  "The  Spoil- 
ers" and  "The  Ne'er-Do-Well."  Mr.  Selig  has  per- 
sonally planned  details  of  the  production  of  "The 
Crisis"  just  as  he  gave  the  details  of  "The  Spoilers," 
and  "The  Ne'er-Do-Well"  Ins  personal  attention.  A 
cast  of  Selig  all-star  players  will  be  selected  and  no 
time    will    be   lost    in    beginning   the    practical    work    on 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


William  Fox  to  Build  Great  Film  City 


MILLION  DOLLAR  INVESTMENT 


WILLIAM  FOX,  president  of  the  Fox  Film 
Corporation,  last  week  gave  out  for  publica- 
tion his  complete  plans  for  the  creation  of  an 
entire  "film  city"  for  his  company,  with  the  definite 
announcement  that  work  on  this  big  project  will  be 
under  full  headway  within  the  next  three  weeks. 

The  initial  construction  work,  which  will  call  for 
the  expenditure  of  $1,000,000,  will  cover  an  area  slight- 
ly in  excess  of  sixteen  acres  of  ground  in  Corona, 
Long  Island,  beginning  at  Jackson  avenue  and  extend- 
ing over  and  beyond  Astoria  avenue,  down  to  the  wat- 
erfront of  Flushing  bay  and  extending  from  Fifty- 
first  street  over  and  inclusive  of  Fifty-second  street 
and  to  Fifty-third  street. 

On  this  sixteen-acre  plot  there  will  be  erected 
a  large  two-story  administration  building,  five  studio 
plants,  each  a  complete  and  independent  unit  in  itself; 
a  factory  for  manufacturing  much  of  the  equipment 
required  in  the  making  and  production  of  motion  pic- 
tures ;  garages,  concrete  storage  warehouses,  a  minia- 
ture hospital  and  adequate  restaurant  facilities  for  tak- 
ing care  of  the  2,000  or  more  people  whose  services 
will  be  employed  daily  by  his  company. 

To  insure  against  adjacent  real  estate  speculation 


ZUKOR  GETS  NEW  DIRECTORS 

John   O'Brien  and  Frederick  Thompson   Engaged  by 

Famous  Players  to  Preside  Over  Screen  Destinies 

of  Mary  Pickford  and  John  Barrymore 

Two  important  additions  have  recently  been  made 
tc  the  directorial  staff  of  the  Famous  Players  Film 
Company,  in  the  persons  of  John  O'Brien  and  Fred- 
erick Thompson,  the  latter  of  whom  returns  to  the 
company  after  a  short  absence. 

John  O'Brien  comes  to  the  Famous  Players  studio 
from  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  has  spent  the  last 
three  years  in  association  with  David  Griffith.  During 
this  time  "The  Outcast,"  "The  Tear  That  Burned," 
and  "Her  Shattered  Idol,"  in  which  Blanche  Sweet, 
Mne  Marsh,  Lillian  Gish  and  Robert  Herron  were  fea- 
tured, were  among  his  productions  that  created  fa- 
vorable comment.  Previous  to  his  association  with 
Griffith,  Mr.  O'Brien  spent  three  years  directing  with 
"Broncho  Billy"  Anderson  of  Essanay. 

The  work  of  Frederick  Thompson  is  equally  well 
known  to  the  motion  picture  world.  After  a  distin- 
guished career  as  a  director  with  'the  old  Yitagraph 
Company,  during  which  he  produced  "The  Christian," 
he  joined  the  Famous  Players  staff  and  staged  "The 
Sign  of  the  Cross"  and  "The  Spitfire"  for  that  organ- 
ization. He  then  became  affiliated  with  one  or  two 
other  producing  companies  and  now  returns  to  the 
first  feature  producing  concern  with  which  he  was 
identified. 

Mr.  Thompson's  first  picture  for  the  Famous 
Players  under  the  new  arrangement  will  be  "Nearly 
a  King,"  in  which  John  Barrymore  is  starred.  The 
first  O'Brien  contribution  to  the  Paramount  program, 
through  the  medium  of  the  Famous  Players,  is  "The 
Foundling,"  starring  Mary   Pickford. 


at  the  expense  of  any  of  his  corporation's  employes, 
Mr.  Fox  has  purchased  other  adjacent  property  in  ad- 
dition to  that  on  which  construction  work  is  to  begin 
almost  immediately,  and  this  land  ultimately  will  be 
used  for  cottages  and  homes  of  such  persons  as  wish 
to  live  near  their  work  and  derive  all  of  the  pleasures 
of  being  adjacent  to  a  waterfront  in  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  locations  in  the  metropolitan  district. 

A  photograph  of  the  architect's  plans  indicates 
the  location  of  natural  gardens  which  will  be  planned 
by  horticulturists,  a  lake  with  terraced  and  level  sides 
for  utilization  in  picture  production,  and  a  large  out- 
door plain  with  horticultural  setting  for  the  taking  of 
big  water  effects. 

The  plans  for  the  creation  of  the  big  William  Fox 
enterprise  have  been  drawn  in  their  entirety  by  Thom- 
as -W.  Lamb,  of  644  Eighth  avenue,  New  York  City, 
who  designed  for  Mr.  Fox  the  Riverside  theater,  at 
Ninety-sixth  street  and  Broadway,  as  well  as  other 
Fox  amusement  places  which  are  considered  model 
structures. 

The  permanency  of  the  location  and  plant  is  in- 
dicated by  the  universal  use  throughout  of  concrete 
and  structural  steel  in  all  construction  work. 

The  Fox  Film  Corporation,  following  a  definite 
plan  for  more  than  a  year  of  providing  for  its  own 
needs  without  placing  too  much  reliance  in  outside 
manufacturing  sources,  will  have  at  its  Fox  City  plant 
one  of  the  largest  laboratories  and  production  plants 
ever  built. 

In  announcing  his  plans  in  their  bare  outline, 
Mr.  Fox  had  only  one  comment  to  make.  He  said : 
"The  permanency  of  the  motion  picture  industry,  its 
vast  prospective  increase  in  scope  and  the  new  utiliza- 
tion to  which  motion  pictures  will  be  put  in  the  future 
are  the  factors  that  have  led  us  to  make  this  large 
additional  investment.  Knowing  this,  we  are  ready 
to  back  our  judgment  with  our  dollars." 

All  of  the  detail  work  and  management  of  this 
large  construction  operation  will  be  in  complete  charge 
of  William  Fried,  of  Mr.  Fox's  staff.  Mr.  Fried  has 
had  similar  charge  of  the  building  of  all  of  the  recent 
Fox  theater  buildings  in  greater  New  York. 


V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.  Invades  Canada 

The  constantly  expanding  business  of  the  Big 
Four  in  Canada  has  necessitated  that  combination  or- 
ganizing a  special  sales  service  and  headquarters  in 
that  section  of  America. 

The  first  of  the  offices  to  be  opened  will  be  in 
Toronto,  under  the  management  of  G.  W.  Gookin, 
who  will  be  general  manager  of  the  entire  V.  L.  S.  e! 
organization  in  Canada  under  Walter  W.  Irwin,  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  organization.  Mr.  Gookin  will 
assemble  his  entire  staff  from  "native  sons"  in  Can- 
ada, and  will  divide  the  large  territory  which  is  to  be 
covered  into  blocks  so  that  every  representative  will  be 
in  close  touch  with  the  exhibitors  in  his  particular 
quota.  Mr.  Gookin,  who  has  been  with  V.  L.  S.  E., 
Inc.,  only  since  last  September,  providing  another  il- 
lustration of  the  principle  of  that  organization  to  make 
its  promotions  from  the  ranks,  is  well  fitted  to  take 


172 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


care  of  the  big  interests  which  will  be  under  his  di- 
rection. For  four  years  he  was  instructor  of  sales  for 
the  National  Cash  Register  Company.  It  was  here 
that  he  first  became  interested  in  motion  pictures, 
being  probably  the  first  sales  director  to  use  motion 
pictures  in  instructing  his  force.  Later  Mr.  Gookin 
went  with  the  M erring-Hall-Marvin  Safe  Company, 
of  which  concern  he  was  general  manager  for  four 
years. 

He  was  afterward  president  of  the  Gookin  Bank 
and  ( )ffice  Equipment  Company  of  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
which  acted  as  southern  distributor  for  the  Herring- 
Hall-Marvin  Safe  Company,  the  Fire-Proof  Furniture 
and  Construction  Company,  and  the  Adder  Machine 
Company,  manufacturer  of  Wales  Visible  Adding 
Machine. 

When  the  business  of  the  latter  concern  was 
turned  over  by  Mr.  Gookin  to  the  Adder  Machine 
Company,  the  organization  making  the  Wales  Visible 
Adding  Machine.  Mr.  Gookin  accepted  a  subordinate 
position  with  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  in  order  to  learn  the 
film  industry  from  the  ground  up. 

lie  entered  the  New  York  office  as  a  shipping 
clerk  first,  and  was  subsequently  promoted  to  the  po- 
sition of  booker.  A  few  weeks  afterward  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  rendered  invalu- 
able aid  to  A.  W.  Goff,  coast  division  manager,  and 
now  assistant  general  manager,  in  introducing  ad- 
vanced merchandising  and  advertising  methods  among 
the   exhibitors  of  that  territory. 

Mr.  Gookin,  accompanied  by  Joseph  Partridge, 
left  for  Toronto  the  first  of  this  week,  equipped  with 
prints  of  all  V.  L.  S.  E.  releases  and  a  large  quantity 
of  promotion  matter.  In  addition  to  the  personal  sales 
campaign,  the  new  Canadian  manager  will  inaugurate 
a  wide-spread  and  comprehensive  mail  and  advertising 
campaign  which  he  is  unusually  well  equipped  to 
direct. 

V.  P.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  has  been  trading  in  Canada  al- 
most from  its  inception,  a  large  number  of  its  films 
having  been  booked  in  western  Canada  by  the  Seattle 
office  and  in  the  large  cities  of  eastern  Canada  direct 
from  the  New  York  office.  It  is  expected  that  this 
business  will  be  largely  augmented  with  the  presence 
of  an  organization  in  the  field. 


"Follies"  Chorus  Aids  Essanay 

"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines,"  Fssanay's 
film  adaptation  of  Clyde  Fitch's  brilliant  satire  of  the 
politics  and  frivolities  of  the  70s,  is  said  to  be  filled 
with  spectacular  features,  which  lend  a  wonderful  set- 
ting to  the  work  of  Ann  Murdock  in  the  leading 
feminine  part  and  Richard  C.  Travers  in  the  title  role. 

One  of  the  striking  features  is  the  dancing. 
Twenty-four  girls,  now  appearing  in  "The  Follies"  in 
Chicago,  were  engaged  for  this  work.  The  dancing 
girls  appear  in  the  comedy  in  support  of  Mine. 
Trentoni,  when  she  makes  her  great  triumph  in  her 
American  stage  debut.  To  make  the  scene  realistic 
the  Bush  Temple  theater.  Chicago,  was  engaged  and 
the  scene  staged  there.  The  dainty  "Follies"  girls. 
gaily  costumed,  pirouetted  and  kicked  their  heels  and 
toes  in  the  air  amid  a  scene  of  splendor.  They  were 
trained  in  their  dance  interpretation  In  Director  Fred 
F.    Wright. 

Another  impressive  scene  is  one  in  which  the  en 
tire  hand  of  the  Firsl  Regiment,  Illinois  National 
Guard,  lakes  part,     The  hand  members,  dressed  in  the 


full  regalia  of  a  band  of  the  period  of  1872.  make  an 
impressive  appearance  which  turns  into  the  ludicrous 
when  led  by  one  of  Essanay's  comedians. 

The  band  was  also  utilized  for  another  purpose. 
It  was  retained  at  the  Essanay  studios  during  the 
production  of  most  of  the  scenes  and  blared  forth  airs 
so  gay  that  all  the  players  were  stepping  lively  to  keep 
in  tune.  It  has  lent  an  air  of  lightness  and  quickness 
to  the  action  impossible  to  obtain  otherwise,  each  actor 
catching  the  spirit  and  being  carried  away  with  the 
lilting  swing  of  the  pieces. 


Real  Honeymooners  on  Screen 

Miss  Fannie  Ward,  star  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
Feature  Play  Company's  "The  Cheat,"  has  created 
a  sensation,  surprised  her  numerous  friends  in  the 
photoplay  colon)-  in  southern  California  and  on  Broad- 
way, New  York,  at 
the  announcement 
this  week  of  her 
marriage  to  Jack 
Dean.  Mr.  Dean. 
who  appeared  as 
leading  man  with 
Miss  Ward  in  many 
legitimate  attrac- 
tions in  New  York, 
London  and  on  tour. 
is  now  a  member  of 
the  Lasky  Feature 
Play  Company  and 
has  appeared  in 
leading  support  of 
Miss  Ward  in  pro- 
ductions which  in- 
clude "The  Marriage 
of  Kitty,"  "The 
Cheat,"  and  "Ten- 
nessee's Pardner." 
"Tennessee's  Pard- 
ner" is  Miss  Ward's 

latest  play  and  it  will  be  released  February  3.  It  is  a 
picturization  of  Bret  Harte's  widely  read  story  of  the 
same  name  which  was  the  basis  of  an  excellent  play 
bv  Scot  Marble.  This  production,  which  really 
marked  the  culmination  of  the  romance  of  Miss  Ward 
and  Mr.  Dean,  presents  the  newly  married  players  as 
sweethearts.  Mr.  Dean  is  the  young  hero  who  saved 
"Tennessee's"  life,  slaves  for  her  happiness  and  eventu- 
ally  wins  her  hand. 

"Thelma"  Will  Bring  Flo  Lawrence  Back 

"Thelma,"  the,  lovely  heroine  of  Marie  Corelli's 
novel  of  that  name,  has  been  chosen  as  the  role  in 
which  Florence  Lawrence  will  make  her  first  appear- 
ance upon  her  return  to  the  screen  with  the  Universal 
Company,  The  character  of  the  little  girl  from  the  far 
northland,  who  becomes  ;i  London  society  favorite, 
is  one  which  presents  remarkable  opportunities  for 
an  actress  with  the  ability  and  charm  Miss  Lawrence 
pi  issesses. 

Florence  Lawrence,  who  began  her  motion  pic- 
ture career  about  ten  years  ago,  met  with  remarkable 
success  from  the  first,  I  ler  retirement  from  the  screen. 
two  years  ago,  has  been  deeply  regretted  by  photoplay 
fans,  who  will  be  delighted  to  welcome  her  back  into 
the  ranks  of  screen  favorites. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Paramount  Occupies  New  Offices 

ARRANGEMENT   WONDERFULLY  EFFICIENT 


L1 


INKS  in  the  Paramount  chain 
have  been  forged  rapidly  of 
late.  The  newest  is  that  which 
brings  all  departments  of  the  or- 
ganization under  one  roof  in  large 
and  beautiful  suites  on  two  floors 
of  the  recently  completed  Rogers 
Peet  building  at  Fifth  avenue  and 
Forty-first  street.  New  York  City. 
Efficient  system  is  the  key  which 
opens  the  door  to  success  and  effi- 
cient system  has  taken  an  even 
larger  place  in  the  motion  picture 
business  since  the  formation  of  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  for 
the  distinct  purpose  of  bringing 
order  out  of  chaos. 

Carl  Anderson,  formerly  busi- 
ness manager  of  the  Lasky  Feature 
Play  Company,  is  the  efficiency  en- 
gineer to  whom  credit  must  go  for 
welding  together  the  various  ele- 
ments with  which  he  has  had  to 
work  since  joining  the  Paramount 
Corporation.  With  J.  Albert  Thorn 
as  architect,  he  laid  out  the  offices 
which  now  constitute  the  company's 
home. 

When  the  elevator  stops  at  the 
ninth  floor,  the  first  thing  that  strikes 
the  visitor's  eye  is  the  mountain 
trade  mark  of  Paramount  on  the 
door,  and  another  inlaid  in  the  ten 
foot  or  so  of  floor  over  which  one 
passes  to  the  white  swinging  doors 
leading  to  the  entrance  and  the  re- 
ception room. 

Signs  are  the  bugbear  of  Amer- 
ica. There  is  only  one  here.  It 
says  :  "Information,"  and  it  keeps  the 
implied  promise.  At  the  turner- 
phone  master  station  sits  a  young 
woman  who  has  at  her  fingertips 
anything  you  want  to  know  about 
anybody. 

"You  would  like  to  see  Mr.  So  and 
So?  One  moment,  please.  He  is  not 
in,  though  if  it  is  very  important,  I 
can  reach  him.  He  will  return  in 
twenty  minutes,"  or  "He  will  be  free 
at  any  moment  and  will  see  you  im- 
mediately." 

You  enter  the  reception  room. 
Soon  a  uniformed  boy  enters,  calling 
your  name.  He  guides  you  down 
the  long  aisles  to  the  desk  you  want 

tO    reach,    Or    tO    the    Offices    Of    Presi-  mailing  department. 

dent     William     W.     Hodkinson     or 
Raymond   Pawley,    opening   on   the   director's   room. 
The  main  entrance  and  reception  room  are  paneled 
in  oak  and  the  furniture  is  of  the  Jacobean  period.     The 
offices  of  the  president  and  treasurer  and  the  director's 


nfti, 


room  are  finished  in  mahogany,  the 
general  office  desk,  chairs,  etc.,  also 
being  of  mahogany. 

Laid  under  the  floor,  with  ter- 
minals under  each  desk,  is  the  con- 
duit system  for  telephone  and  in- 
terior turnerphone.  The  operators 
sit  at  a  double  switchboard  with  six- 
teen trunk  lines,  handling  an  average 
of  eight  hundred  calls  a  day.  The 
switchboards  are  so  placed  that  the 
operators  command  a  view  of  the  en- 
tire office  and  thus  no  time  is  lost 
in  locating  the  person  wanted  when 
not  at  his  or  her  desk.  Names  are 
used  very  little,  and  then  only  when 
accompanied  by  the  desk  number. 
Mistakes  on  the  part  of  delivery 
boys,  who  carry  no  verbal  messages, 
are  thus  avoided. 

The  lighting  system  is  semi- 
indirect,  so  arranged  that  no  shadows 
are  cast  on  desks  or  tyepwriters  in 
any  part  of  the  office,  and  no  desk 
lights  are  needed,  and  the  lamps  were 
imported  from  Holland.  By  a  com- 
bination of  pastel  green  walls  and 
flat  white  ceiling  all  glare  is  avoided. 
Windows  are  on  all  sides,  thus  af- 
fording a  generous  amount  of  light 
and  air. 

The  printing  and  mailing  depart- 
ments are  equipped  with  machinery 
for  folding  and  addressing  envelopes, 
printing  letters  and  articles,  multi- 
graphing,  mimeographing,  stamping 
and  sealing,  all  of  which  render  them 
able  to  cope  with  two  thousand  of 
incoming  and  from  ten  to  twenty 
thousand  pieces  of  outgoing  matter 
every  twenty-four  hours. 

The  accounting,  shipping  and 
stenographic  departments  are  on  the 
eighth  floor,  the  latter  in  a  special 
sound-proof  room.  The  books  are 
gathered  each  night  in  the  account- 
ing department  by  an  electric  truck, 
which  carries  them  into  the  vault  and 
brings  them  out  next  morning. 

All  hardware  is  bronze.     Each 
desk  is  numbered  and  all  correspond- 
ence is  handled  with  a  maximum  of 
efficiency  by  the  one  hundred  and 
ten  employes.    Desks  must  be  clean 
at    night.      Unfinished    business    is 
placed  in  the  incoming  drawer,  while 
another  is  for  outgoing  material  of 
all  sorts.    Pens,  pencils  and  all  such 
accessories  are  replenished  regularly,  so  that  executives 
have  everything  needed  for  the  successful  conduct  of 
their  business. 

"Efficiency"  has  taken  its  place  beside :  "Nothing 


174 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Can  Stop  Us"  as  the  slogan  of  Paramount.  More 
service  to  the  exhibitor  is  the  natural  and  inevitable 
result. 

And  the  reason  for  the  time,  trouble  and  money 
expended  is  that  it  enables  the  staff  to  do  more  in  eight 
hours  than  would  be  possible  under  ordinary  office 
conditions,  and  the  theater  owner  gets  the  benefit. 

Among  those  present  at  the  opening  of  the  new 
Paramount  offices  were: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  Hodkinson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenneth  Hod- 
kinson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raymond  E.  Pawley,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl 
Anderson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Win.  E.  Smith,  of  the  Famous 
Flayers  Exchange,  Philadelphia,  a  Paramount  director;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Geo.  R.  Meeker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  L.  Sherry,  of 
the  Sherry  Feature  Play  Co.,  a  Paramount  director;  Hiram 
Abrams,  of  Boston;  Adolph  Zukor,  president  of  the  Famous 
Players  Film  Co.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  H.  Pierce,  of  the  Mo- 
rosco  Photoplay  Co.;  Thomas  S.  Barrett,  Henry  I.  Day,  Edi- 
tor of  Paramount  Progress;  Miss  Josephine  E.  Gomez,  secre- 
tary to  the  business  manager;  W.  E.  Green,  William  E. 
Mitchell,  Charles  Edward  Moyer,  James  H.  Macfarland,  Miss 
Delia  E.  McMahon,  James  H.  McFee,  Tarleton  Winchester, 
Joseph  Engle,  of  Metro;  Ben  A.  Rolfe,  managing  director  of 
the  Strand;  Fred  Thompson  of  the  Famous  Players;  John 
Barrymore,  of  the  Famous  Players;  Miss  Pauline  Frederick, 
of  the  Famous  Players;  Miss  Hazel  Dawn,  of  the  Famous 
Players,  Miss  Marie  Doro,  of  the  Famous  Players;  Daniel 
Frohman,  Frank  D.  Snifren,  general  sales  manager  of  Para- 
mount; Jack  Eaton,  Mrs.  Victoria  Searle,  C.  Allen  Gilbert. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  Bray,  Miss  Leonore  Ulrich  of  the  Morosco 
Co.;  House  Peters,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  L.  Boas,  of  Read- 
ing; Alfred  J.  Hudson,  Richard  A.  Rowland,  of  the  Metro 
Pictures  Corporation;  Arthur  James,  W.  Stephen  Bush,  A.  D. 
Flintom,  Kansas  City  F.  F.  Co.;  Julian  N.  Solomon,  Jr.,  Peter 
Milne,  James  Milligan  and  Charles  R.  Condon. 


terations  in  a  story 
which  he  intends  to 
make  into  a  picture. 
By  noon  he  has  ef- 
fected,in  many  cases, 
a  complete  alteration 
of  a  story.  Between 
noon  and  12:30a  boy 
has  brought  him  cof- 
fee and  sandwiches 
From  a  Broadway 
restaurant  and  in 
twenty  minutes  lunch  is  over.  By  1  o'clock  he  knows 
every  detail  from  tabulated  reports  of  what  his  organ- 
ization has  done,  from  Ww  England  to  New  Orleans 
and   I. os  Angeles.     By  5  o'clock   in  the  afternoon  he 


has  spent  two  hours  or  more  in  a  locked  projection 
room  with  a  stenographer,  a  film  cutter  and  a  technical 
expert  watching  portions  of  a  picture  in  the  course  of 
making,  or  a  full  run  of  a  complete  five-reel  produc- 
tion. 

At  6 :30  he  has  dinner,  during  which  he  has  had 
his  contract  man  tell  him  about  the  financial  arrange- 
ments with  players  made  during  the  day.  At  8  o'clock 
he  is  back  for  the  night  session  in  his  projection  room, 
which  begins  with  a  running  off  of  every  foot  of  film 
that  has  been  developed  during  the  day  at  the  labora- 
tories. 

When  that  is  ended  there  begins  the  nightly  fight 
with  the  three  weeks  ahead  release  that  must  be 
whipped  into  just  the  shape  he  wants  before  shipment 
out  to  the  branch  offices.  This  over,  usually  about 
1  :15  in  the  morning,  William  Fox  has  finished  his 
day's  task. 


FOX  USES  EVERY  HOUR 

Head  of  Big  Picture  Corporation  Has  Tasks  Arranged 

for  Every  Moment  of  the  Day  and  Even 

Works  Far  Into  the  Night. 

William  Fox,  head  of  the  Fox  Film  Corporation,  is 
a  busy  man.  His  schedule  for  the  day's  work  is  usually 
as  follows:  He  arrives  at  his  office  about  9:30. 
By  10  o'clock  he  has  seen  the  financial  reports 
and  the  box  office 
sheets  for  the  preced- 
ing 24  hours  of  his 
twenty  odd  motion 
picture  and  vaude- 
ville theaters  in  and 
outside  of  New  York 
City.  At  10:30  he  is 
actively  w  o  r  k  i  n  g 
with     one     or     more 


Yep,  "Buttons"  Is  an  Actor  Too 

"Buttons"  does  not  appear  on  the  film  as  in  the 
cast  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game,"  the  big  Signal- 
Mutual  special  feature,  in  which  Helen  Holmes  is  be- 
ing starred.  "Buttons,"  however,  plays  an  important 
part.     He  steals  the  "papers" — in  melodrama  always  a 


ramatic  essential,  and  in  "The  Girl  and  the  Game," 
a  link  in  the  plot  chain. 

"Buttons"  enacts  his  part  of  unintentional  thief 
in  the  most  natural  manner,  having  none  of  the  often 
seen  eccentricities  i4  stage  people.  And  motion  pic- 
ture audiences  throughout  the  country  are  going  to 
applaud  the  work  of  "Buttons,"  unless  a  canine  Gerry 
Society  gets  after  Director  McGowan  to  take  the 
young  actor  out  of  the  picture.  As  this  is  improbable, 
"lint  Ions"  will  be  seen  much  as  he  appears  in  the  ac- 
companying picture  with    Miss   Holmes. 


Lubin  Changes  Releases 
The  Lubin  releases  of  "The  Evangelist"  and 
"Fooling  Uncle,"  originally  scheduled  to  be  released 
on  the  Unil  program  January  17.  have  been  changed, 
[nstead  they  will  be  released  ^n  the  same  program  the 
week  of  January  24. 

Also  the  regular  weekly  release  of  the  Unit  pro- 
gram will  be  discontinued  for  the  present,  and  it  will 
appear  every  alternate  week  beginning  January  24. 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


175 


Cupid  Busy  in  Los  Angeles 

All  along  the  Rialto  of  the  motion  picture  players 
in  Los  Angeles  and  southern  California  there  has  been 
gladness  during  the  holidays.  The  cause  is  traced 
to  newly  weds  among  players  and  those  who  love  the 
filmers. 

Horkheimer  brothers'  Balboa  organization  main- 
tains its  matrimonial  prestige  in  the  wedding  of  R.  R. 
Rockett,  the  ninth  member  of  the  company  to  wed, 
Avho  slipped  away  to  Dodge  City,  Kansas,  and  cap- 
tured Miss  Marie  Constance  Martin,  who  is  destined 
to  become  identified  with  film  life.  This  was  a  holiday 
event. 

Fanny  Ward,  former  wife  of  John  Lewis,  the 
London  and  South  Africa  diamond  millionaire,  now 
starring  in  Lasky  features  at  Hollywood,  was  won 
into  wedlock  by  John  Dean,  leading  man  in  the  Lasky 
organization,  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
Meighan  last  week.  They  are  happy  in  the  enjoyment 
of.  a  honeymoon  where  dreams  of  new  features  add 
to  their  new  life. 

Franklin  Ritchie,  leading-  man  of  the  N.  Y.  M.  P. 
Inceville  studios,  capitulated  to  the  witchery  of  Mrs. 
Esther  Bamburh,  a  wealthy  New  York  widow,  and 
Avas  wedded,  with  handsome  Tom  Meighan  as  best 
man  and  Frances  Ring  and  Louise  Vale  as  brides- 
maids. The  wedding  took  place  at  Hotel  Alexandria 
under  the  direction  of  the  Meighans,  now  known  as 
the  "Real  Matchmakers"  of  the  motion  picture  colony 
of  Los  Angeles. 

And  still  another  Cupid  victory  was  scored  when 
Carl  A.  O'Bert  was  married  to  Ethel  May  Abbott, 
just  as  the  leap  year  was  ushered  in.  The  bride  is 
a  member  of  the  film  colony,  noted  for  her  beautiful 
eyes,  which  victimized  the  groom  most  readily. 


aimlessly  until  finally  he  joins  a  party  of  goldseekers 
bound  for  the  Yukon.  There  he  befriends  an  Indian 
girl,  who  becomes  his  companion.  In  the  year  that  fol- 
lows he  makes  his  strike,  and  amasses  a  fortune.  He 
intends  to  wed  the  Indian  girl,  but  decides  on  one  more 
fling  on  Broadway  before  settling  down  in  the  north. 

He  arrives  in  New  York  on  New  Year's  eve,  and 
while  in  a  gay  restaurant  observes  his  first  love  with 
a  party  of  friends.  He  hastens  to  her  side,  tells  her 
of  his  good  fortune,  and  subsequently  proposes  to  her. 
She  is  willing  to  accept  him,  but  is  prevented  from 
doing  so  by  the  society-gambler,  who  threatens  her 
with  exposure.  She  is  obliged  to  turn  down  the  prof- 
fer of  marriage,  and  the  now  wealthy  miner,  after 
realizing  the  perfidy  of  her  character,  turns  his  back 
on  society  as  a  sham.     He  returns  to  the  north. 

Back  in  Alaska  the  faithful  little  Indian  girl  de- 
spairs of  her  lover's  return  and  commits  suicide  at  the 
side  of  her  father's  deathbed.  The  miner  returns  on 
the  night  of  her  death.  Beside  her  he  finds  a  newly 
born  babe,  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  is  spent  in 
devotion  to  the  little  one. 

Besides  Mr.  Breese,  there  is  a  strong  supporting 
cast,  including  Jeannette  Horton,  Arthur  Hoops,  Eve- 
lyn Brent,  John  Mahon,  and  other  notable  stage  and 
screen  artists.  The  exterior  snow  scenes  were  made 
in  the  Adirondacks,  where  an  Alaskan  street  was  con- 
structed, and  other  elaborate  sets  built.  One  of  the 
attractive  scenes  is  the  New  Year's  celebration,  which 
was  made  in  the  famous  Murray's  restaurant,  near 
Broadway  and  Forty-second  street,  New  York  City. 
It  was  taken  the  day  after  New  Years,  and  all  the 
waiters,  omnibuses  and  the  company  of  professional 
dancers  employed  regularly  in  the  restaurant,  were 
used.  Francis  J.  Grandon,  a  new  director  on  the  Metro 
staff,  made  the  feature,  and  it  was  produced  for  Metro 
by  the  Popular  Plays  and  Players. 


METRO  CHANGES  RELEASES 


On   Account  of  Factory   Accident   "The   Rose  of  the 

Alley"  Will  Be  Postponed  and  in  Its  Stead  "The 

Lure  of  Heart's  Desire"  Will  Be  Offered 

Owing  to  an  accident  in  the  factory,  which  will 
prevent  its  release  on  the  date  scheduled,  January  17, 
Metro  Pictures  Corporation  has  withdrawn  from  its 
program  for  the  present  the  five-act  production,  "The 
Rose  of  the  Alley,"  in  which  Mary  Miles  Minter  is 
starred.  In  its  place  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation 
will  release  the  five-part  feature,  "The  Lure  of  Heart's 
Desire,"  instead  of  a  month  later,'  as  was  previously 
announced. 

Edmund  Breese,  who  was  last  starred  in  "The 
Song  of  the  Wage  Slave,"  has  the  stellar  role  in  this 
newest  Metro  wonderplay.  Like  his  earlier  success, 
"The  Lure  of  Heart's  Desire"  is  a  story  of  the  Alaskan 
desolate  wastes,  coupled  with  a  contrasting  glimpse 
into  New  York  society,  and  the  Great  White  Way. 
In  short,  the  feature  is  one  of  sharp  contrasts  through- 
out, which  enhances  its  value  as  a  superb  entertain- 
ment. 

The  story  has  to  do  with  a.  lighthouse  keeper  who 
saves  the  life  of  a  young  society  girl.  He  falls  desper- 
ately in  love  with  her,  as  he  nurses  her  back  to  health, 
but  she  refuses  his  advances  because  of  his  lowly  po- 
sition. Later,  in  New  York,  she  falls  in  with  a  society 
leech  and  gambler,  who  involves  her  in  a  blackmail 
scheme.      Disheartened,    the    lighthouse    keeper    drifts 


Paramount  Has  Australian  Scenics 

Preceding  the  issuance  of  the  Paramount-Burton 
Holmes  Travel  Pictures  by  the  Paramount  Pictures 
Corporation  on  February  7,  and  with  the  idea  of  sus- 
taining the  intense  interest  that  has  been  created  in 
Paramount  theaters  throughout  the  country  during  the 
year  just  past  by  the  success  of  the  South  American 
Travel  Pictures,  whose  last  instalment  was  issued  on 
January  third,  four  of  the  most  exceptional  travel 
releases  ever  shown  on  the  screen  will  be  released, 
picturing  the  unknown  regions  of  Australia,  which 
teem  with  unique  action  and  tell  a  story  that  is  rarely, 
if  ever,  equaled  among  travelogues.  The  release  dates 
are  January  10,  January  17,  January  24  and  Janu- 
ary 31. 

Fired  by  the  success  that  was  attained  by  the 
South  American  Travel  Pictures,  Paramount  deemed 
it  advisable  not  to  allow  the  interest  in  these  excep- 
tional travel  pictures  to  wane  among  its  exhibitors 
during  the  month  of  January,  and  for  that  reason  the 
instructively  unique  pictures  of  the  unknown  regions 
of  northern  Australia  were  chosen.  The  releasing  of 
these  pictures  on  Australia  during  January  comes  si- 
multaneously with  the  releasing  of  the  famous  Para- 
mount-Bray animated  cartoons  and  the  silhouette 
photoplays  originated  by  the  well  known  artist,  C. 
Allan  Gilbert  and  the  new  Paramount  Newspictures, 
rounding  out  a  program  of  exceptional  features. 

The  "Australia's  Unknown"  pictures  were  taken 


176 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


by  Frank  Hurley,  who  was  the  chief  photographer 
of  the  Shackleton  expedition,  and  in  his  statement  after 
returning  to  the  civilized  portions  of  the  island  he 
said  that  of  all  the  uniquely  interesting  spots  on  earth 
he  had  had  the  opportunity  of  visiting  in  his  trips 
of  exploration,  this  was  the  one  that  teemed  with 
most  action  and  interest.  His  pictures  are  very  un- 
usual and  the  four  instalments  are  filled  with  subjects 
that  never  allow  the  interest  to  lag  a  single  second. 


MARY  RENEWS  HER  CONTRACT 

Formation   of  Famous    Players-Mary   Pickford    Com- 
pany Assures  Permanent  Asso- 
ciation 

All  doubt  concerning  the  future  affiliations  of 
Mary  Pickford  was  permanently  dispelled  when  the 
popular  star,  rejecting  the  greatest  offers  that  have 
ever  been  tendered  to  any  actress  in  the  history  of  the 
stage  or  screen,  decided  to  remain  with  the  Famous 
Players  Film  Company,  the  first  feature  organization 
with  which  she  was  identified. 

The  new  agreement  into  which  Miss  Pickford  has 
entered  with  Adolph  Zukor,  president  of  the  Famous 
Players,  includes  the  formation  of  the  Famous  Play- 
ers-Mary Pickford  Company  for  the  making  of  feature 
productions  in  which  Miss  Pickford  is  to  be  starred, 
and  in  which  the  star  retains  a  half  interest. 

Ever  since  Miss  Pickford  became  a  Famous  Player 
star  the  end  of  each  year  has  been  the  occasion  for  a 
ceaseless  chain  of  rumors  and'  doubts  concerning  the 
renewal  of  her  contract  with  the  producers.  She  is 
always  said  to  be  about  to  join  some  other  company 
at  a  fabulous  salary.  The  formation  of  the  new 
organization  puts  a  permanent  quietus  on  all  such 
rumors,  as  Miss  Pickford  is  now  a  member  of  the 
company  and  is  interested  in  the  pictures  themselves 
instead  of  being  a  salaried  star. 

This  year  the  film  world  was  stirred  by  the  news 
that  Miss  Pickford  had  received  an  offer  of  $6,000  per 
week  from  a  big  feature  concern  in  recognition  of  her 
position  as  the  greatest  motion  picture  star.  When 
consulted  regarding  the  rejection  of  the  greatest  offer 
ever  made  a  star,  and  her  determination  to  renew  her 
association  with  the  Famous  Players,  Miss  Pickford 
said : 

"I  am  afraid  that  there  will  be  a  great  many  people 
who  will  never  understand  my  determination  to  reject 
such  a  tremendous  offer,  but  my  only  answer  is  that 
money  is  not  everything  in  this  world.  I  have  my 
future  reputation  as  an  artiste  to  consider,  and  it  is  to 
my  best  interests  to  ally  myself  with  an  organization 
that  has  already  firmly  established  itself  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world  as  a  producer  of  photoplays  of  the  highest 
order  of  merit.  It  is  not  a  matter  of  being  starred 
in  a  few  excellent  productions,  but  of  appearing  in 
plays  of  a  never-failing  high  standard  of  excellence. 
I  have  been  associated  with  the  Famous  Player^  For 
three  years,  and  I  realize  that  their  productions  have 
won  them  a  reputation  for  consistently  artistic  work. 
Thai  reputation,  and  the  privilege  of  being  a  part  of 
the  forces  thai  have  built  and  are  maintaining  that 
reputation,  is  of  more  value  to  me  than  any  temporary 
mi  mey   consideration.'' 

Mr.  Zukor,  in  discussing  the  new  arrangement 
with  Miss  Pickford,  declared  that  the  formation  of  a 
new    company  enabled  him  to  carry  out  several  big 


projects  which  he  contemplated  for  the  coming  year. 

"Miss  Pickford  is  unquestionably  the  most  popu- 
lar screen  artiste  today,  but  I  do  not  by  any  means 
believe  that  she  has  reached  the  pinnacle  of  her  fame. 
Her  wonderful  work  in  such  widely  different  films  as 
'Tess,'  'Madame  Butterfly,'  'The  Foundling,'  and  some 
of  her  other  recent  productions,  proves  conclusively 
that  Miss  Pickford.  superb  as  she  has  been,  is  steadily 
improving  her  artistry." 

The  position  of  Mary  Pickford  in  the, hearts  of 
the  public  is  unique.  Her  irresistible  personality  and 
unsurpassed  artistic  attainments  have  made  her  the 
supreme  favorite  of  millions  of  patrons  of  motion  pic- 
ture theaters  in  every  corner  of  the  civilized  world. 
She  is  better  known  to  the  masses  than  any  other 
figure  in  Christendom,  and  her  peculiar  individuality 
has  won  the  personal  friendship  of  everyone  who  has 
seen  her  on  the  screen.  Though  there  are  other  beau- 
tiful girls  and  other  talented  actresses,  Mary  Pickford 
stands  alone  in  this  almost  supernatural  faculty  of 
gaining  the  affections  of  her  audiences.  Her  perma- 
nent association  with  the  Famous  Players  Company 
assures  her  continued  appearance  on  the  Paramount 
Program. 


Berst's  Co-operation  Policy 

Considerable  progress  has  already  been  made  in 
carrying  out  the  policy  of  co-operation  with  the  ex- 
hibitor, inaugurated  by  President  J.  A.  Berst  of  the 
General  Film  Company.  Soon  after  his  election  to  the 
presidency  Mr.  Berst  gave  directions  that  projection 
rooms  for  the  exhibitors'  benefit  be  established  as 
soon  as  possible  in  every  branch.  Mr.  Berst's  idea 
was  to  have  one  or  two  days'  private  showing  of  all 
subjects,  whether  on  the  regular  program,  the  Unit 
program,  or  handled  by  the  special  feature  depart- 
ment. It  was  his  desire  that  the  exhibitor  have  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  all  General  releases  before  he 
booked  them,  as  a  first  step  toward  the  open  booking 
system  favored  by  Mr.  Berst. 

A  number  of  the  branches  have  now  fitted  up 
projection  rooms  and  are  holding  private  exhibitions 
for  the  exhibitors  weekly.  F.  C.  Aiken,  division  man- 
ager for  the  middle  west,  arranged  for  such  weekly 
showings  in  Chicago.  The  first  private  exhibition  for 
the  benefit  of  exhibitors  in  Chicago  and  vicinity  was 
held  in  the  Essanay  projection  room  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  building  on  January  10,  when  the  releases 
for  the  week  beginning  Monday,  January  17,  were 
shown.  The  exhibition  began  at  9:30  and  with  an 
intermission  for  luncheon  continued  until  4:30  p.  m. 
The  following  day  the  rest  of  the  releases  were  shown. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday.  January  17  and  18,  all 
General  subjects  for  the  following  week  will  be  dis- 
played in  the  projection  rooms  of  the  Selig  Polyscope 
Company.  After  that  date  the  exhibitors'  showings 
will  alternate  between  the  Essanay  and  Selig  rooms. 
This  arrangement  is  to  continue  until  spring,  when 
the  Wabash  branch  will  move  into  new  quarters  with 
a  large  projection  room  as  a  prominent  feature. 

The  establishing  of  this  service  for  exhibitors  in 
Chicago  greatly  pleased  the  men  who  own  and  manage 
theaters  there  and  in  surrounding  towns.  Formerly 
they  were  obliged  to  spend  parts  of  several  days  in 
different  localities  in  order  to  review  General  releases. 
Less  than  50  per  cent  of  a  week's  releases  were  avail- 
able  for  exhibition  under  the  old   plan. 

Mr.    Aiken   wrote   recently   to   Mr.    Berst   that  ex- 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


17? 


hibitors  were  highly  pleased  with  the  quality  of  the 
releases.  He  added  that  not  only  were  exhibitors 
present  but  branch  managers  and  salesmen.  iVlready 
they  had  found  this  reviewing  of  the  products  they 
handle  a  great  benefit. 

In  Boston  General  releases  are  shown  to  New 
England  exhibitors  every  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  a 
week  in  advance  of  their  releases.  The  Newark 
branch  has  a  fine  projection  room.  Before  it  was  fitted 
up  special  showings  for  the  benefit  of  exhibitors  were 
given  in  Newark  theaters.  Projection  rooms  are  ap- 
proaching completion  in  Cleveland,  Los  Angeles  and 
many  other  cities. 


OFFERS  DELUGE  FARNHAM 

"Race  Suicide"  Feature,  Only  Recently  Announced,  Is 

in  Such  Demand  That  Its  Owner  Has  Already 

Been  Offered  $50,000 

Applications  accompanied  with  bids  for  territory  con- 
trol which  aggregate  more  than  $50,000  is  the  compliment 
which  has  been  accorded  to  Joseph  \Y.  Farnham  and  his 
motion  picture  attraction  "Race  Suicide,"  by  the  ex- 
change men  of  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

Little  more  than  two  weeks  ago  Mr.  Farnham  opened 
an  office   at  220  West  Forty-second  street,    New    York 


I   T! 

awful  wage  of  war  in  the  present  European  strife,  again 
leaps  to  the  front  as  an  issue  commensurate  with  any 
in  the  serious  question  of  this  earth's  depopulation. 

Beginning  with  series  of  pictures  of  animal  life  de- 
picting the  love  or  hate  of  the  male  and  female  for  issue, 
and  which  pictures  were  produced  under  the  direction  of 
Prof.  Raymond  Ditmar  of  the  New  York  Zoological  Park, 
the  picture  carries  one  on  through  the  pre-historic  ages 
when  men  ruled  by  might  and  not  by  love ;  to  the  Roman 
times  of  debauch  and  orgy  which  relegated  thoughts  of 
wifehood  and  motherhood  to  a  dark  and  distant  back- 
ground ;  to  the  mediaeval  period  when  inconsequential  and 
suave  cavaliers  breathed  ardent  love  from  insincere  souls, 
while  their  women  craved  marriage  and  motherhood ;  and 
then  on  to  the  present  ago,  when  two  virile  young  peo- 
ple are  married,  the  wife  planning  her  future  years  of 
motherhood,  while  the  husband  discourages  the  intent 
under  the  plea  that  her  younger  days  should  not  be  ruined 
by  the  binding  of  herself  to  children,  and  that  in  the 
later  days  there  will  be  time  enough,  until  fate  comes 
along  to  play  its  hand  and  the  later  day  never  comes,  to 
gladden  the  heart  of  the  saddened  wife. 

Prominently  cast  in  the  leading  roles  of  "Race  Sui- 
cide" are  Ormi  Hawley,  Earl  Metcalfe,  Octavia  Hand- 
worth,  Kempton  Greene,  Herbert  Fortier  and  Walter 
Law,  supported  by  a  tremendous  cast. 

A  Talented  Five  Year  Old 

The  recent  debut  in  motion  pictures  of  "The  Montes- 
sori  Baby,"  little  Anita  Snell,  is  being  watched  with  the 
closest  of  interest,  not  only  by  members  of  the  profes- 
sion, but  several  noted  scientists  who  have  been  inter- 
ested    in     the     Snell 


City,  with  G.  Fred  Farnham,  a  newcomer  to  the  film  in- 
dustry, in  charge,  to  handle  the  distribution  of  this  six- 
part  feature  and  in  that  short  time,  despite  the  fact  that 
there  has  been  no  pre-release  showing  of  his  picture,  con- 
fidence has  been  manifested  in  the  former  general  man- 
ager of  the  All  Star  Feature  Corporation  and  member 
of  the  staff  of  the  Lubin  Manufacturing  Company,  to 
the  extent  of  the  bids  aforementioned. 

For  more  than  seven  weeks,  Mr.  Farnham  has 
scoured  the  market  for  an  attraction  which  he  could  con- 
scientiously offer  to  his  friends  among  the  exchange  men 
of  the  country  as  a  real  attraction  and  not  an  ordinary 
dollar-a-foot  negative  proposition,  cloaked  under  the  oft 
misapplied  title  of  "feature  production,"  and  it  was  not 
until  he  had  finally  secured  "Race  Suicide"  that  he  has 
decided  that  he  is  in  possession  of  a  proposition  which 
is  a  money  making  motion  picture  showman's  opportunity. 

"Race  Suicide"  has  been  in  the  course  of  making  for 
more  than  the  past  six  months,  having  been  staged  upon 
a  lavish  scale  and  with  a  tremendous  cast  enacting  the 
powerful  theme  which  the  picture  so  admirably  handles. 

The  subject  is  one  which  Theodore  Roosevelt  made 
a  household  topic  some  few  years  ago  and  which  with  the 


baby  for  more  than 
two  years.  Anita, 
who  is  regarded  as  a 
five-year-old  prodigy, 
has  just  completed 
playing  a  child  part  in 
the  big  Metro  photo- 
play, "Man  and  His 
Soul,"  in  which 
Francis  X.  Bushman 
and  Beverly  B  a  y  n  e 
are  starred.  Little 
Miss  Snell  is  a  re- 
m  a  r  k  a  b  1  e  child  in 
many  respects.  She 
was  born  in  Minne- 
apolis, Minn.,  and  dis- 
played many  signs  of 
extreme  precocious- 
ness  when  first  she 
began  to  lisp  only  a 

few    words.      Her  4nita  SncIl 

mother    was    induced 

to  enter  her  in  the  famous  Montessori  school  in  Wash- 
ington, under  the  direct  tutelage  of  Miss  Anne  E.  George, 
who  conducts  the  institution.  She  proved  a  marvel  from 
the  beginning,  and  could  write  and  form  sentences  before 
she  was  four  years  old.  She  has  developed  a  taste  for  the 
best  things  in  art  which  is  almost  uncanny.  The  little  one 
considers  it  a  holiday  when  her  mother  will  escort  her 
to  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  in  New  York  City, 
where  she  knows  the  names  of  many  of  the  paintings  and 
sculptures  and  the  names  of  the  artists  who  made  them. 
Her  comment  on  pictures  and  statuary  in  the  museum 
invariably  attracts  a  crowd  of  wondering  and  interested 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  OCCUPIES  NEW  HOME 

Sixth  Floor  of  Mecca  Building,  New  York  City,  Taken 

Over  by  Big  Four,  Which  Now  Occupies  Over 

12,500  Square  Feet 

Friday  last  was  moving  day  for  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc., 
when  the  attaches  of  the  home  office  and  of  the  New 
York  branch  took  up  their  quarters  on  the  sixth  floor 
of  the  Mecca  building,  at  1600  Broadway,  New  York 
City.  This  is  the  floor  which  was  formerly  occupied 
by  the  Kriterion  Film  Company  and  the  Kinemacolor 
Company.  It  has  a  total  area  of  12,500  square  feet, 
which  is  about  5.000  more  feet  than  the  Big  Four 
had  on  the  seventh  floor  of  this  building. 

Artisans  have  been  working  day  and  night  for 
several  weeks  past  to  get  the  new  offices  in  apple-pie 
order.  The  entire  interior  lias  been  redecorated,  and 
many  alterations  made  in  the  arrangement  of  the  of- 
fices, which  will  make  for  increased  convenience  and 
comfort. 

The  New  York  branch  office  and  the  home  office 
of  V.  1..  S.  I'"..,  proper,  which  in  the  old  quarters  were 
thrown  together,  will  be  separated  in  the  Big  Four's 
new  home.  They  will  have  a  common  entrance  way. 
the  reception  hall  opening  on  the  Seventh  avenue  side 

of  the    Mecca   building    to   the    New    York   branch   n\)\cv 

quarters,  and  on  the  Broadway  side  to  those  of  the 
home  office. 

The  suite  of  offices  of  General  Manager  Walter 
\V.  Irwin  will  be  located  at  the  Broadway  and  Forty- 
eighth  street   corn the  floor.      Adjoining  his  will 

be  that  of  A.  \\  .  (mil,  assistant  general  manager,  and 
then  in  their  order,  those  of  I  .on  |.  Bamberger,  sales 
promotion   manager,  and    E     I.     Masters,   advertising 


manager.  Opening  from  the  hallway  on  which  these 
offices  face  is  the  entrance  to  a  large  projection  room, 
that  will  permit  of  a  fifty  foot  throw.  This  room  will 
be  beautifully  carpeted,  and  luxuriously  furnished  with 
every  facility  for  the  convenience  of  those  whose  duties 
will  take  them  there. 

Adjoining  the  office  of  Mr.  Irwin  on  the  Forty- 
eighth  street  side,  is  a  commodious  auditing  depart- 
ment, next  to  which  is  the  stenographer's  department 
and  the  director's  room,  facing  on  the  corner  of  Sev- 
enth avenue  and  Forty-eighth  street. 

Joseph  W.  Partridge  will  have  his  office  next  to 
the  director's,  and  his  assistant.  F.  F.  Hartich.  adjoin- 
ing Mr.  Partridge's.  The  New  York  branch  office  will 
have  its  own  cashier,  so  that  there  will  be  no  lost 
motion  for  exhibitors  having  business  with  the  branch. 
The  poster  and  shipping  departments  are  in  the  front 
of  the  floor  in  close  proximity  to  the  elevators. 

The  fact  that  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc..  has  found  it  nec- 
essary to  take  such  commodious  quarters  after  only 
nine  months  of  operation  would  seem  to  indicate  that 
the  reports  of  the  progress  which  this  organization 
is  making  are  well-founded.  It  is  said  that  the  lease 
for  these  offices  covers  a  long  term  of  years. 


listeners.  Anita  is  an  excellent  pantomimist  and  mimic ; 
which  makes  her  invaluable  in  her  photoplay  work.  If 
there  is  any  fault  found  with  the  child  around  the  studio 
it  is  her  proclivity  for  causing  the  artists  to  become  dis- 
tracted, while  at  work.  She  delights  in  entertaining  those 
around  her,  but  she  is  never  forward  in  that  respect. 


SIGNAL  LANDS  NEW  STARS 

Edith  Sterling  and  Murdock  MacQuarrie,  Two  Nota- 
bles Who  Have  Scored  Heavily  with  Universal, 
Signed  for  Signal  Dramatic  Company 
Edith  Sterling,  who  has  been  playing  stellar  roles 
in  101  Bison  and  Big  U  pictures,  has  been  signed  by 
Signal  Film  Corporation  for  its  dramatic  company. 
An  exceptionally  strong  company  will  be  gathered  to 
Miss  Sterling's  sup- 
port under  the  direc- 
tion of  Murdock 
MacQuarrie,  who 
has  been  prominent- 
ly identified  with  the 
film  industry  almost 
since  its  inception. 
In  addition  to  win- 
ning fame  as  a  di- 
rector, Mr.  Mac- 
Quarrie has  scored 
many  character  hits, 
both  in  pictures  and 
on  the  speaking 
stage.  One  of  his 
biggest  successes 
was  playing  the  dual 
role  of'  "Dr.  Ickvl 
and  Mr.  Hyde"  at 
the  New  York  the- 
ater, on  Broadway, 
for  a  run  of  twenty- 
two  w  e  e  k  s.  IT  e 
comes  to  Signal  from  the  Universal,  where  in  the  past 
eighteen  months  he  has  produced  eighty-eight  thou- 
sand feet  of  dramatic  features.  In  the  supporting  com- 
pany will  be  Millward  \\  ilson.  Nforbert  Myles  and 
Francis  J.  MacDonald.  The  first  picture  which  will 
be  a  multiple  reel  feature  will  have  in  it  the  throb  of 
a  big  city,  dealing  as  it  will  with  problems  created  by 
congested  and  struggling  humanity,  graft,  reform  ami 
"men  higher  up"  around  the  activities  of  which  will 
be  woven  a  love  Story  with  a  good  "punch"  as  a  climax. 


January  22,  1916. 


OTOGRAPHY 


New  Plant  Formally  Dedicated 

NOTABLE  GATHERING  PRESENT 


THOMAS  H.  INCE'S  new  quarter-million  dollar 
producing  plant  at  Culver  City,  which  in  future 
will  serve  as  the  principal  source  of  Triangle 
Kay-Bee  productions,  was  formally  dedicated  this 
week  with  a  grand  reception  and  ball  which  resulted 
in  what  is  declared  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  nota- 
ble gatherings  of  celebrities  in  the  history  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry. 

From  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  until  long  after 
the  new  year  had  been  ushered  in,  joviality  reigned 
king  and  as  the  guests  departed  for  their  homes  they 
were  a  unit  in  pronouncing  the  affair  the  most  auspi- 
cious of  its  kind  ever  conducted  in  Southern  California. 
Some  five  hundred  well  known  figures  of  the  west 
coast  photoplay  colony  attended  as  guests  of  Pro- 
ducer Ince  and  all  joined  in  extending  the  hand  of 
congratulation  to  him  on  the  completion  of  his  new 
plant. 

The  festivities  were  held  beneath  the  glass  roof 
of  the  electric  lighted  studio — a  structure  measuring 
90  by  165  feet — though  the  entire  plant  was  thrown 
open  for  inspection,  under  the  glare  of  a  myriad  lights. 
They  began  with  a  grand  march,  which  was  led  by 
Producer  and  Mrs.  Ince,  and  continued  with  a  spec- 
tacular pantomime  illustrating  the  death  of  the  old 
and  birth  of  the  new  year.  The  year  1915  was  im- 
personated by  Walt  Whitman,  veteran  character  actor 
of  the  Ince  forces,  while  Anno  Domini  1916  was  de- 
lightfully portrayed  by  little  Thelma  Salter,  the  tal- 
ented child  actress,  who  has  appeared  so  often  to  ad- 
vantage in  Triangle  Kay-Bee  productions.  When  the 
new  year  had  officially  been  welcomed,  the  dancing 
was  resumed  and  it  was  nearer  daybreak  than  mid- 
night when  the  desertion  of  the  big  studio  commenced. 

Invitations  to  the  function  were  not  confined  to 
the  motion  picture  ranks.  Representatives  of  civic, 
industrial,  judiciary  and  club  circles  were  present  and 
all  mingled  with  the  luminaries  of  the  screen  world. 
Among  those  in  attendance  were  Mayor  of  Los  An- 
geles Charles  E.  Sebastian,  Chief  of  Police  Claire 
Snively,  District  Attorney  Thomas  Lee  Woolwine,  jus- 
tices of  the  Superior  Court  of  Los  Angeles  county, 
members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  City  Coun- 
cil, and  virtually  every  producer,  director  and  star 
of  the  Southern  California  photoplay  colony. 

That  the  new  plant  is  without  doubt  the  most  com- 
pletely and  conveniently  equipped  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia, if  not  in  the  United  States,  was  the  unequivo- 
cal opinion  of  all  who  inspected  it.  The  huge  glass 
studio,  banked  with  palms  and  flowers,  presented  the 


appearance  of  a  mammoth  conservatory  and  the  count- 
less electric  lights  sparkling  within  could  be  seen  for 
miles  around.  The  only  building  remaining  to  be  built 
is  the  administration  building,  in  which  the  executive 
offices  and  scenario  bureau  will  be  located.  Four  of 
the  proposed  eight  stages  are  already  in  use  and  the 
finishing  touches  are  being  applied  to  the  others.  The 
wardrobe  building,  too,  is  still  unfinished.  This,  when 
completed,  it  is  declared,  will  be  the  most  remarkable 
structure  of  its  kind  now  in  use.  It  is  being  built  of 
brick  and  reinforced  concrete  and  will  be  of  four 
stories. 

Living  up  to  his  reputation  as  a  host,  Producer 
Ince,  while  the  ball  was  at  its  height,  stepped  upon 
the  rostrum  and  addressed  a  few  remarks  of  welcome 
■to  his  guests. 

"I  am  happy  to  welcome  you  here,  tonight,"  he 
said,  "and  to  wish  that  your  joy  may  be  unconfined. 
It  is  indeed  a  happy  occasion  for  me.  I  invited  you 
here  because  I  want  you  to  share  with  me  and  mine 
the  delight  that  is  bound  to  attend  an  event  of  this 
kind — the  dedication  of  our  new  plant.  It  is  my  sin- 
cerest  wish  that  what  we  do  within  these  walls  in 
years  to  come  will  be  for  the  further  advancement 
of  the  motion  picture  art.  A  Happy  New  Year  to 
you  all !" 

The  entire  affair  was  admirably  managed  by  E. 
H.  Allen,  business  manager  of  the  Ince-Triangle  stu- 
dios. 


Illinois  Exhibitors  to  Hold  State  Convention 

At  the  last  regular  meeting  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League  of  Illinois,  held  Friday,  January 
7.  the  state  organization  formally  made  application  for 
admission  to  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League 
of  America,  and  requested  charter  for  same,  thereby 
harmonizing  completely  the  exhibitors'  interests 
throughout  the  state,  which  previously  had  seceded 
from  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  Amer- 
ica. 

A  state  convention  is  called  for  Tuesday,  March 
14,  1916,  and  temporary  officers  were  elected,  until  said 
date.  The  convention  is  to  be  held  in  Chicago.  The 
following  officers  were  elected  :  For  president,  Illinois 
State  branch,  No.  2,  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League  of  American,  G.  M.  Luttrell,  of  Jacksonville, 
Illinois ;  Julius  A.  Alcock,  of  Chicago,  vice-president ; 
William  J.  Sweeney,  Chicago,  state  treasurer,  and  Sid- 
ney Smith,  Chicago,  state  secretary.  The  nomination 
and  election  of  officers  was  unanimous. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  4. 


TWO  DE  LUXE  HOxHSLEY'S  READY 

"The  Bait"  and  "Vengeance  Is  Mine!"  Each  in  Five 

Reels,  to  Be  Released  This  Month  as 

Mutual  Masterpictures 

The  ambitious  plans  David  Horsley  laid  out  for  the 
production  of  such  of  his  pictures  as  are  to  be  released 
as  Mutual  Masterpictures,  de  luxe  edition,  will  be  realized 
this  month  when  the  first  two  of  his  features — "The  Bait" 
and  "Vengeance  Is  Mine!"  are  distributed.  The  former 
i^  scheduled  for  release  January  22  and  the  latter  Jan- 
uary 31. 

While  in  New  York  recently  Mr.  Horsley  announced 
that  in  the  production  of  these  features  his  policy  would 
be  to  make  Masterpictures  not  only  in  name  but  in  fact. 
In  the  two  productions  this  policy  has  been  fully  carried 
out. 

"The  Bait"  has  a  story  of  great  breadth  and  depth. 
The  means  of  catching  big  game — the  bait,  the  trap,  and 
the  game — are  symbolized  and  applied  to  landing  still 
bigger  game — human  lives.  The  northwest,  with  its  great 
woods,  is  used  as  the  locale,  lending  admirable  back- 
ground to  the  story. 

For  this  particular  release  a  special  cast,  for  the 
most  part,  was  engaged.  The  leading  roles  are  interpreted 
by  William  Clifford  and  Betty  Hart,  the  latter  playing 
the  titular  part  of  "The  Bait."  Mr.  Clifford  has  appeared 
in  David  Horsley  productions  before  but  Miss  Hart  is 
a  newcomer  sO  far  as  Mr.  Horsley's  pictures  are  con- 
cerned, as  are  Oliver  C.  Allen,  Frederick  Montague,  Ed- 
ward Alexander  and  others  playing  minor  parts.  Miss 
Marvel  Spencer,  a  regular  member  of  the  stock  company, 
has  a  prominent  place  in  the  play.  The  Bostock  animals 
have  been   requisitioned   in  a  number  of   instances  and 


by  their  performance  add  to  the  suspense  of  some  of  the 
biggest  scenes. 

Special  effort  has  also  been  exercised  in  the  produc- 
tion of  "Vengeance  Is  Mine!"  the  second  David  Horsley 
feature.  The  theme  is  based  on  capital  punishment  and 
was  written  by  Crane  Wilbur,  who  also  enacts  the  lead- 
ing part  in  the  play.  The  climax  of  the  story  finds  the 
governor  of  the  state,  always  a  staunch  advocate  of  cap- 
ital punishment,  brought  into  a  perplexing  situation  when 
his  brother  is  convicted  of  murder  and  sentenced  to  be 
electrocuted.  The  manner  in  which  the  incidents  lead- 
ing to  the  climax  have  been  worked  up,  and  the  way 
in  which  the  governor  finds  a  solution  to  his  difficulty 
furnishes  five  thousand  feet  of  pictures  which  are  ab- 
sorbing and  thrilling.  Mr.  Wilbur  plays  the  part  of  the 
governor  and  has  in  it  a  character  entirely  to  his  liking. 
His  supporting  cast  is  made  up  of  excellent  players,  in- 
cluding Carl  Von  Schiller,  Brooklyn  Keller,  William 
Jackson,  Gypsy  Abbott  and  a  host  of  others.  The  three 
last  named  were  engaged  especially  for  the  parts  they 
portray. 


E.  L.  K.  Gets  "Marvelous  Maciste" 

"Marvelous  Maciste,"  the  latest  release  of  the  Itala 
Film  Company,  is  somewhat  different  from  any  film 
produced,  so  far.  "Maciste"  will  be  remembered  as 
the  giant  that  played  the  part  of  a  Numidian  slave  in 
"Cabiria,"  the  Itala  masterpiece. 

The  Itala  Film  Company,  realizing  that  "Maciste" 
interested,  pleased  and  amused  the  millions  of  people 
who  have  witnessed  "Cabiria,"  was  not  slow  to  build 
another  production,  especially  for  this  giant.  In  "Mar- 
velous Maciste,"  which  is  in  six  reels,  "Maciste"  is 
given    a    greater    chance    to    display    his    wonderful 


Opie,  the  Operator 


He  Seeks  a  License 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


181 


strength.  There  are  scenes  in  this  production  wherein 
"Maciste"  performs  what  seem  like  miracles  by  his 
strength. 

The  E-L-K  Film  Company  of  Chicago  has  pur- 
chased the  rights  for  this  production  for  Illinois,  Indi- 
ana and  Wisconsin,  and  will  shortly  exploit  it.  Those 
desiring  information  or  unprejudiced  opinion  of  this 
production  can  refer  to  the  Chicago  Censor  Board. 

F.  M.  Brockell  Promoted 

F.  M.  Brockell,  manager  of  the  Famous  Player 
exchange  in  Chicago,  was  promoted  last  week  to  an 
important  executive  position  in  the  Paramount's  New 
York  offices.  He  left  on  Saturday,  January  8,  and  it  is 
understood  will  assume  his  new  duties  immediately. 
During  his  stay  in  Chicago,  Mr.  Brockell  made 
friends  all  through  the  trade  and  proved  exceedingly 
popular.  His  host  of  friends  will  unite  with  Motog- 
raphy  in  congratulating  him  upon  his  promotion  and 
wish  for  him  every  success  in  his  new  position. 

Mr.  Brockell  is  succeeded  by  D.  Leo  Dennison, 
formerly  Detroit  manager  of  the  Famous  Players,  and 
undoubtedly  Mr.  Dennison,  on  account  of  his  wide  ex- 
perience as  an  exchangeman,  will  soon  be  on  intimate 
terms  with  all  Chicago  exhibitors.  Mr.  Dennison's 
former  position  in  Detroit  will  be  filled  by  J.  D. 
Taneson,  until  now  manager  of  the  Seattle  exchange  of 
"the  Kleine-Edison  Feature  Service. 


Mme.  Petrova  Guest  of  Honor 

Mme.  Petrova,  the  gifted  Metro  star,  has  returned 
from  a  whirlwind  tour  of  Canada,  where  she  was  pub- 
licly honored  by  semi-social  and  military  receptions  ar- 
ranged in  her  honor  in- Montreal,  Ottowa  and  Toronto. 
Mme.  Petrova  went 
to  Canada  primarily 
to  appear  in  person 
at  the  formal  dedica- 
tion of  the  Metro  Pic- 
'tures,  Ltd.,  exchange 
in  Montreal,  and  her 
presence  there  re- 
sulted in  one  of  the 
most  notable  demon- 
strations ever  accord- 
ed an  actress  in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada. 
in  Montreal  it  was  ar- 
ranged to  present 
Mme.  Petrova's  latest 
starring  vehicle  on  the 
Metro  p  r  o  g  r  a  m, 
"What  Will  People 
Say?"  in  the  Impe- 
rial theater  while  she 
was  there.  She  ap- 
peared in  person  at 
the  Imperial  and 
spoke  to  an  enthusiastic  crowd  that  cheered  her  for  more 
than  twenty  minutes.  After  the  showing  of  the  feature 
Mme.  Petrova  held  a  reception  on  the  stage,  and  was 
presented  to  many  prominent  officials  of  the  military  and 
the  state  and  city  government.  On  account  of  Mme. 
Petrova  being  Polish  by  birth,  and  being  an  enthusiast  for 
the  cause  of  the  allies,  she  was  induced  by  the  patriotic 
forces  that  are  welding  the  148th  Overseas  Battalion  into 
a  numerous  and  compact  unit,  to  aid  in  the  special  re- 


cruiting propaganda.  Mme.  Petrova  spoke  in  several 
places  and  urged  her  auditors  to  enlist  in  the  worthy  cause 
of  a  righteous  war. 

After  a  series  of  receptions  at  the  Windsor  Hotel, 
attended  by  the  first  citizens  of  Montreal  and  their  wives 
and  (laughters,  Mme.  Petrova  was  the  honored  guest  at 
a  tea  given  by  Lady  Taylor.  Mme.  Petrova  then  made 
a  tour  of  the  principal  hospitals  where  she  cheered  the 
wounded  soldiers  with  songs  and  recitations.  Among  some 
of  the  important  quarters  that  she  visited  were  the  Mil- 
itary Division  of  the  General  Hospital  and  the  Con- 
valescent Home  of  the  Khaki  Club.  Everywhere  the 
soldiers  cheered  her,  and  she  stopped  to  shake  as  many 
of  them  by  the  hand  as  possible.  She  also  autographed 
many  photographs  for  them. 


Hall  Caine's  Son  Visits  V.  L.  S.  E. 

Derwent  Hall  Caine,  son  of  the  widely  known 
English  author,  was  the  guest  of  A.  W\  Goff,  assist- 
ant general  manager  of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  last  week. 
Mr.  Caine,  who  has  just  arrived  in  this  country,  is 
here  to  study  the  motion  picture  industry  from  all 
points,  and  possibly  to  appear  personally  before  the 
camera  in  some  of  his  father's  works.  He  has  had 
considerable  film  experience  in  London,  among  the 
parts  he  played  being  that  of  the  lead  in  the  picture 
version  of  "The  Christian,"  by  the  London  Film  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Caine  was  particularly  impressed  by  the  ad- 
vanced business  principles  in  vogue  in  this  country 
in  companies  such  as  the  Big  Four,  and  he  expressed 
the  opinion  that  in  the  merchandising  and  advertis- 
ing methods  which  have  been  introduced  to  promote 
motion  pictures  by  some  of  the  most  representative 
of  American  companies  this  country  was  far  ahead 
of  England.  While  here  Mr.  Caine  will  visit  the 
studios  of  the  Vitagraph  Company,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  Lubin,  Selig  and  Essanay,  and  other  concerns. 


"The  Woman  Who  Dared"  to  Be  Filmed 

Because  of  the  world  war  now  waging  unusual 
interest  centers  in  the  story  of  "The  Woman  Who 
Dared"  by  C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Wiliamson,  an  exciting- 
story  of  foreign  politics,  adventure  and  intrigue,  which 
is  announced  as  the  third  release  of  the  California  Mo- 
tion Picture  Corporation  in  its  new  series  of  master 
film  productions  of  which  "The  Unwritten  Law"  by 
Edwin  Milton  Royle  is  the  second.  "The  Woman 
Who  Dared"  is  handled  in  the  adroit  manner  so  char- 
acteristic of  the  skillful  Williamsons  ;  diplomatic  events 
negotiated  between  England,  France  and  Germany 
preceding  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  while  treated  as 
fiction,  have  a  foundation  in  fact  which  makes  this 
story  of  vital  interest  at  this  time. 

"The  Woman  Who  Dared"  will  also  provide  a 
new  avenue  of  endeavor  for  Beatriz  Michelena,  the 
fascinating  film  favorite  whom  the  California  Motion 
Picture  Corporation  has  been  exploiting  in  an  attract- 
ive list  of  feature  films  which  include  "Salvation  Nell," 
a  picture  characterization  which  excited  unstinted 
praise  from  the  critics.  It  is  a  vehicle  entirely  differ- 
ent from  anything  in  which  she  has  yet  appeared  on 
the  screen  but  one  which  is  calculated  to  give  her 
capabilities  fullest  scope. 

As  "The  Unwritten  Law"  with  Miss  Michelena  in 
the  star  role  will  be  the  January  release  of  the  Cali- 
fornia company  "The  Woman  Who   Dared"   will  be 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


^m^wm 

■ 

7y^ 

J 1 

Lidi 

lilri 

w 

resulted  in  bis  being  given  a  few  lines  to  speak.  Luck 
was  with  bim.  for  a  famous  London  manager  saw  him 
and  hired  him  for  a  "real''  show.  He  worked  up  to 
leads  in  such  plays  as  "The  Dawn  of  a  Tomorrow," 
"Priscilla  Runs  Away,"  "The  Second  in  Command." 
and  "Magda."  Mr.  Burleigh  considers  acting  in  pic- 
tures a  higher  art  than  on  the  stage  because  the  story 
one  has  to  tell  must  be  told  without  the  aid  of  the 
voice. 

Fred  Paul  has  had  years  of  experience  as  photog- 
rapher, actor  and  producer,  a  happy  combination  for  a 
motion  picture  player.  He  was  with  Cyril  Maude  for 
four  years,  and  was  stage  manager  for  Weedon  Gross- 
mith.  His  London  experience  includes  stage  manage- 
ment at  the  New  Theater,  the  Garrick,  and  the  Play- 
house. Although  a  young  man,  he  is  recognized  as 
one  of  England's  leading  motion  picture  actor-pro- 
ducers. 


>up   of  Keysto, 


the  March  release.  Official  announcement  of  the  May 
release  will  be  made  in  due  time,  but  from  tips  which 
have  come  from  the  California  headquarters  the  im- 
pression has  gone  abroad  that  this  company  has  a  sur- 
prise in  store  for  exhibitors. 

While  no  information  has  been  vouchsafed  as  to 
the  method  of  release  of  the  new  productions  of  the 
California  Motion  Picture  Corporation  it  is  announced 
that  it  will  abide  by  its  decision  to  limit  its  output  to 
six  pictures  a  year.  This  policy  will  be  adhered  to  in 
order  that  the  determination  to  produce  pictures  far 
above  the  average  feature  film  may  be  assured.  As 
there  is  always  a  market  for  superior  pictures,  the 
matter  of  distributing  the  output  of  the  California 
Motion  Picture  Corporation  is  of  secondary  import- 
ance. The  first  consideration  is  the  maintaining  of  a 
high  standard  in  the  producing  end. 


Films  Used  to  Instruct  Bankers 

Motion  pictures  as  a  part  of  the  education  of  the 
young  banker  is  the  latest  use  to  which  the  silent 
drama  is  being  put.  Following  the  trend  of  intense  in- 
terest that  has  been  manifest  in  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
instructive  motion  picture,  the  National  City  Bank  in 
New  York  City,  through  its  president,  Frank  C.  Van- 
derlip,  has  contracted  with  Paramount  Pictures  Cor- 
poration to  show  the  South  American  Travel  Series 
four  days  each  week  for  the  purpose  of  better  acquaint- 
ing the  members  of  the  bank's  educational  department 
with  the  exceptional  facts  of  interest  regarding  Latin 
America,  preparatory  to  their  taking  up  their  future 
work  in  that  country. 


Pathe's  Ten  English  Stars 

In  Pathe's  "The  Love  Trail,"  adapted  from  the 
very  successful  English  novel,  "The  Dope  Doctor,"  by 
Richard  Dehan,  appear  two  young  actors  who  have 
parts  requiring  skilful  interpretation  and  who  handle 
then-  roles  in  a  manner  leaving  little  to  he  desired, 
They  are   Bertram    Burleigh,  who  plays  "Lord   Beau- 

vayse,"  and    Fred    I'anl.   who  IS  cast    for   the  "dope  doc- 

Mr.  Burleigh  is  only  twenty-five  years  old  and  was 

intended    for   the    law,    but    ran    away    from    home    and 


Barrymore  in  Double  Role 

John  Barrymore,  who  has  more  than  equalled  on 
the  screen  the  reputation  which  he  won  on  the  stage  as 
a  comedian,  is  the  star  of  the  Famous  Players-Para- 
mount production,  "Nearly  a  King,"  which  is  sched- 
uled for  release  on  January  20.  In  this  story,  which 
combines  a  great  deal  more  of  the  swift  action  of  a 
romantic  melodrama  with  the  lightness  of  a  scream- 
ingly funny  comedy  than  does  the  average  humorous 
production,  Barrymore  plays  two  distinctly  different 
roles,  the  one  a  young  Balkan  prince  and  the  other  an 
irresponsible,  adventurous  American  who  gets  into 
more  than  his  share  of  trouble.  In  support  of  Barry- 
more there  appear  Katherine  Harris,  Russell  Bassett, 
Fred  McQuirk,  June  Dale  and  others  of  equal  renown. 


Exhibitors  Will  Appreciate  This 

Exhibitors  the  country  over  are  receiving  copies 
of  the  World  Film  News,  a  splendid  little  four-page, 
newspaper  style,  house  organ,  devoted  to  forth- 
coming productions  of  the  World  Film  Corporation. 
The  matter  is  splendidly  arranged,  short  and  snappy, 
and  well  adapted  to  use  by  the  local  newspaper  in 
towns  all  over  the  country  where  the  pictures  described 
are  being  shown.  Motography  is  sure  that  exhibitors 
will  avail  themselves  of  the  publicity  aid  offered  and 
will  not  only  follow  the  suggestions  for  advertising 
in  their  local  papers,  but  probably  clip  much  of  the 
matter  and  induce  their  local  editors  to  make  use  of 
it  in  connection  with  the  advertising  of  the  house. 


jjS3| 

¥JBM 

■BHIK3MH 

January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


183 


A  De  Luxe  Gaumont  Masterpicture 

It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  more  exquisitely 
beautiful  work  of  art  than  "The  Prince  of  Yesterday," 
which  is  a  motion  picture  of  delicate  coloring  and 
lovely  settings  and  will  be  an  early  Gaumont  offering 
to  the  list  of  Mutual  Masterpictures.  It  is  like  a 
daintily  colored  French  engraving,  this  tale  of  a  prince 
who  longed  for  love,  and  the  beautiful  maid  who  came 
to  fulfill  his  longings. 

The  scenes  are  laid  in  real  gardens,  where,  down 
the  long  vistas  of  cypresses  and  roses  and  lilies  can  be 
seen  the  picturesque  gray  gowned  nuns  at  their  devotions, 
in  real  palaces,  where  the  sun  or  moon  beams  throw 
gently  colored  lights  through  the  leaded  glasses  of  the 
windows,  and  the  halls  and  galleries  are  filled  with 


priceless  possessions;  and  over  lands  and  along  seas 
of  startling  beauty.  And  while  the  settings  are  so 
beautiful  and  the  costuming  of  the  players  so  pictur- 
esque, there  is  nothing  lacking  of  the  romantic  and  the 
fascinating  in  the  tale  to  hold  the  spectator's  interest 
riveted  to  the  picture. 


Buy! 


Iowa  and  Nebraska  Rights 

J.  R.  Granger  and  A.  J.  Diebolt,  owners  of  the 
Strand  theater  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  controlling 
a  number  of  houses  throughout  the  state,  have  pur- 
chased the  Iowa  and  Nebraska  rights  for  "On  the  Fir- 
ing Line  With  the  Germans."  A  big  newspaper  cam- 
paign is  to  be  used  in  exploiting  the  film.  Tom.  L. 
Diggens  will  handle  the  publicity  and  bookings. 


Recent  Patents  in  Motography 

REVIEWED  BY  DAVID  S.  HULFISH 


PATENT  No.  1,151,786.  Color  Photography.  Is- 
sued to  J.  K.  Holbrook,  assignor  to  D.  S.  Plumb, 
East  Orange,  N.  J. 

In  three-color  photography  with  the  three  nega- 
tives made  simultaneously,  difficulties  are  found  in 
getting  three  lenses  of  exactly  matched  characteristics, 
and  then  in  mounting  the  three  lenses  closely  to  view 
the  object  from  substantially  the  same  viewpoint.  Mr. 
Holbrook  overcomes  both  difficulties  at  one  time  by 
grinding  one  lens,  trimming  it  hexagon  form,  then 
cutting  it  into  three  sectors  and  reversing  the  pieces 
so  that  the  resulting  lens  is  of  three  parts,  thinnest 
in  the  middle,  and  making  three  images  very  much 
alike  since  all  the  parts  are  from  one  original  lens. 
Three  color  screens  then  are  used  and  projection  is 
through  a  similar  lens. 

1,151,978.     Projector.     Issued  to  W.  Thorner,  as- 


signor to  the  firm  of  Optische  Anstalt  C.  P.  Goerz 
Akt.,  Friedenau,  near  Berlin,  Germany. 

The  film  moves  continuously.  A  ring  of  mir- 
rors (or  it  may  be  of  prisms)  moves  with  the  film  and 
controls  the  light  rays  in  such  manner  that  the  suc- 
ceeding picture  is  projected  upon  the  preceding  pic- 
ture and  the  preceding  picture  then  removed.  Thus 
there  will  be  no  dark  interval  and  no  flicker  when 
the  invention  is  accepted  for  use. 

1,152,052.  Film  Cabinet.  Issued  to  E.  A.  Rupert 
and  J.  T.  Drum,  Aberdeen,  Wash. 

Each  reel  of  film  is  in  a  compartment  with  in- 
clined bottom  and  front  door.  When  the  door  is 
opened  the  film  rolls  forward,  the  door  opens  far 
enough  to  permit  the  reel  to  be  lifted  out  but  not  far 
enough  to  permit  the  reel  to'  roll  out  or  fall  out. 


Fig.  1,151,786. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


EQUITABLE  VARIES  THEMES 

Program  So  Arranged  That  No  Two  Plays  of  Same 

Type  Follow  Each  Other  in  Release   Schedule 

Thus  Avoiding  Monotony 

Variety  and  diversity  of  subject  are  to  be  the  key- 
note of  the  Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corporation  in  the 
future.  According  to  the  new  policy,  which  was  put  into 
effect  early  in  December,  each  release  must  differ  as  much 
as  possible  from  that  which  preceded  it  in  theme,  plot, 
type  and  character  of  players.  For  instance,  "The  Warn- 
ing," allegorical  in  character,  was  followed  by  "The 
Labyrinth,"  a  tale  of  stage  life,  featuring  Gail  Kane. 
Then  William  Courtenay  appears  in  "Sealed  Lips,"  deal- 
ing with  the  degeneration  of  a  man  of  the  cloth,  a  story 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  basic  principle  and  atmosphere 
of  either  of  the  two  features  preceding  it. 

In  the  same  way  do  the  other  features  vary.  There 
is  "The  Senator,"  a  political  story  featuring  Charles  J. 
Ross,  followed  by  "The  Dragon,"  with  Margarita  Fischer, 
a  story  of  Fifth  avenue,  its  shops  and  social  life.  Molly 
Mclntyre  appears  in  "Her  Great  Hour,"  the  story  of  a 
flirting  wife,  while  "The  Ransom,"  with  Julia  Dean,  is  a 
theatrical  tale,  but  of  mother  love  and  sacrifice. 

Other  forthcoming  releases  are  "The  Struggle,"  with 
Frank  Sheridan,  the  story  of  an  indiscreet  youth.  "The 
Chain  Invisible,"  a  story  by  Richard  Le  Gallienne  in 
which  Emmett  Corrigan  and  Gerda  Holmes  are  working, 
"The  Clarion,"  by  Samuel  Hopkins  Adams,  featuring 
Carlyle  Blackwell,  "Babette  of  the  Ballyhoo,"  the  story 
of  a  little  circus  girl,  with  Muriel  Ostriche,  and  "Her 
God,"  in  which  Gail  Kane  appears.  The  sought  for  va- 
riety and  diversity  characterize  this  program,  as  attested 
by  the  extreme  divergence  of  titles,  stories  and  players. 


Kleine-Edison  Program  for  January 

With  the  release  of  the  Kleine  feature  January  5, 
"The  Devil's  Prayer-Book,"  the  Kleine-Edison  Fea- 
ture Service  opened  a  propitious  year.  Never  before 
in  the  history  of  George  Kleine  or  the  Edison  Com- 
pany has  either  institution  offered  a  line  of  attractions 
so  strong  or  better  calculated  to  prove  profitable  to 
manufacturer  and  exhibitor  alike.  A  glance  at  the 
January  release  program  is  sufficient  evidence  of  the 
determination  of  the  newly  organized  "K-E"  service  to 
live  within  the  time-tried  reputations  of  both  manu- 
facturers. 

"The  Devil's  Prayer-Book,"  aside  from  its  mag- 
netic title,  is  a  production  of  rare  dramatic  power  and 
constructive  genius.  First  run  exhibitors  are  de- 
lighted with  the  money-getting  title  and  the  extraor- 
dinary story  which  pleases  them  after  they  are  in. 
This  feature  was  especially  written  by  Max  Marcin, 
author  of  the  dramatic  success,  "The  House  of  Glass," 
in  which  Mary  Ryan  is  playing  at  the  Candler  theater, 
New  York,  as  a  starring  vehicle  fur  that  petite  beauty, 
Miss  Alma  llanlon.  She  is  CO-Star  with  Arthur  Hoops 
in  "The  Devil's   Prayer-Book." 

Four  Features  are  scheduled  for  release  through 
tin-  Kleine-Edison  Service  during  January,  two  ECleine 
and  two  Edison.  On  January  12  Edison  will  release 
"The  Catspaw,"  a  really  extraordinar)  photodrama 
founded  on  the  novel  by  William  Hamilton  Osborne. 
Miriam  Nesbitl  and  Marc  MacDermott,  those  two 
Eavorites  who  have  not  recentlj  been  seen  together 
m  film,  are  reunited  in  "The  Catspaw,"  dividing  leads 


MacDermott  comes  in  for  special  commendation,  as 
he  is  seen  in  almost  every  scene  of  the  picture.  Per- 
sons familiar  with  Osborne's  novel  will  readily  appre- 
ciate the  tremendous  opportunity  for  vital,  dramatic 
work  which  it  affords.  Both  leads  acquit  themselves 
with  colors  flying. 

"Wild  Oa'ts"  is  the  title  of  the  "K-E"  offering  for 
January  19,  a  dramatic  gem  featuring  Malcolm  Duncan 
and  Alma  Hanlon.  "Wild  Oats"  tells  a  fascinating 
story  of  the  social-drama  variety,  dealing  with  Broad- 
way and  the  bountiful  harvest  of  wild  oats  one  can 
reap  in  its  pregnant  soil.  Malcolm  Duncan  makes  his 
premier  appearance  in  the  starring  role  of  a  wayward 
son.  Duncan  is  remembered  as  one  of  Harrison  Grey 
Fiske's  leading  men  and  an  actor  of  the  better  kind. 
"Wild  Oats"  bristles  with  touches  of  gay  night  life 
and  tense  moments.  It  is  a  Kleine  feature  requiring 
almost  two  months  to  produce. 

On  January  26  the  concluding  production  of  the 
January  program  will  be  released.  This  is  "The  Inno- 
cence of  Ruth,"  a  five-part  drama,  featuring  two  of  the 
most  popular  plays  in  film,  A'iola  Dana  and  Edward 
Earle.  Viola  Dana,  the  charming  star  of  "The  Poor 
Little  Rich  Girl,"  and  several  big  Edison  features, 
including  the  recently  released  "Children  of  Eve,"  was 
never  seen  to  better  advantage  than  in  the  role  of  the 
gentle,  demure  but  quick-tempered  Ruth  Travers. 
"The  Innocence  of  Ruth"  is  the  story  of  an  orphan  girl, 
raised  luxuriously  by  a  young  but  wealthy  friend  of 
her  deceased  father.  The  dangers  of  the  motherless  girl 
are  convincingly  shown.  The  entire  drama  sparkles 
with  tense  moments  and,  from  its  interest-inciting  start 
to  its  splendid  climax  suggests  the  thought  that  no 
worthier  role  or  one  better  suited  to  her  peculiar  tem- 
perament and  capabilities,  could  have  been  given 
dainty  Viola  Dana. 

All  four  releases  for  the  month  of  January  are 
dramas  of  the  pleasing  kind,  strong  but  not  morbid. 
vivid  and  forceful  but  dependent  in  no  way  upon  sex 
problems  or  sordid  motives  for  their  plots  and  inci- 
dental themes. 


Lasky's  February  Offerings 

Announcement  was  made  this  week  by  the  Jesse 
L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company,  of  the  photoplays  it 
will  release  on  the  Paramount  program  during  Febru- 
ary. The  productions  and  the  dates  of  their  release 
are : 

Fannie  Ward  in  "Tennessee's  Pardner,"  a  picturi- 
zation  by  Marion  Fairfax  of  Scott  Marble's  version  of 
Bret  Harte's  story  of  the  same  name ;  February  3. 
Miss  Carlotte  Walker  in  "The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome 
Pine,"  from  Eugene  Walter's  story  of  the  same  name. 
based  on  John  Fox,  Jr.'s  widely  read  novel ;  February 
14,  Miss  Blanche  Sweet  in  "The  Blacklist,"  a  tense 
dramatic    photoplay    by    Marion    Fairfax. 


Beyfuss  Orders  Cooper-Hewitts 

The  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation  has  ar- 
ranged with  William  C.  Hubbard,  general  sales  agent  of 
the  (  ooper  Hewitt  Electric  Company,  of  Hoboken,  for 
the  installation  of  the  latest  electric  devices  for  the  tak- 
ing of  studio  pictures.  Mr.  1  [ubbar-d,  who  has  personally 
equipped  over  fifty  of  the  studios,  is  to  make  a  special  trip 
to  California  to  install  the  s\  stem  w  Inch  w  ill  In-  one  of  the 
mosl  up  to  date  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  \  special  building 
is  being  erected   for  the  accommodation    o\    the    lights 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


which  will  supplement  the  already  extensive  plant  of  the 
California  concern. 

The  decision  to  use  the  Cooper  Hewitt  lights  came 
after  a  very  careful  study  of  the  situation.  Arthur  C. 
Payne,  one  of  the  directors  of  the  California  Motion  Pic- 
ture Corporation,  and  Alex  E.  Beyfuss,  vice-president 
and  general  manager,  visited  last  week  many  of  the 
studios  in  and  around  New  York,  making  a  comprehen- 
sive study  of  the  methods  of  artificial  lighting  employed 
in  that  vicinity. 

Among  the  studios  inspected  were  those  of  the  Fa- 
mous Players,  George  Kleine,  Universal  and  the  new  Par- 
agon plant. 


ably  will  remain  in  this  country.  He  reports  having 
received  offers  that  will  allow  him  to  hold  intact  the 
orchestra  he  organized  for  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation." 


Katherine  Grey  to  Act  for  Films 

The  announcement  comes  that  another  stage  star 
has  decided  to  enter  motion  pictures,  Miss  Katherine 
Grey,  former  leading  lady  with  Richard  Mansfield. 
On  the  spoken  stage  Miss  Grey  has  had  a  long  and 
successful  career. 
She  was  featured  in 
David  Belasco's  pro- 
d  u  c  t  i  o  n  of  "The 
First  Born,"  and  in 
Charles  Frohman's 
"Business  is  Busi- 
ness." She  was  co- 
star  with  Nat  Good- 
win in  "Woolfville," 
under  Charles  Froh- 
man.  In  "The  Reck- 
oning," Schnitzler's 
modern  tragedy  of 
Vienna,  she  made  a 
triumphant  appear- 
ance, and  also  in 
"The  Worth  of  a 
Woman,"  written  for 
her  by  David  Gra- 
ham Phillips.  She 
appeared  with  Rich- 
a  r  d  Mansfield  i  n 
"Cyrano  de  Ber- 
gerac."  Miss  Grey  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
American  woman  stars  to  play  in  Australia  where  she 
headed  her  own  company  in  such  plays  as  "Madame 
Butterfly,"  "The  Lion  and  the  Mouse,"  "The  Third 
Degree,"  and  "Salvation  Nell." 


Another  Record  for  Griffith  Film 

When  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  closes  its  run  in 
Chicago  January  29  the  Griffith  spectacle  will  have 
been  seen  480  times  in  that  city.  While  "A  Knight 
for  a  Day"  holds  the  record  for  the  number  of  show- 
ings with  a  few  performances  more  than  500,  "The 
Birth  of  a  Nation"  leads  all  other  shows  in  financial 
returns.  George  Bowles,  long  identified  with  the  the- 
atrical business  and  who  introduced  the  Griffith  film 
to  Chicago  in  the  face  of  persistent  opposition  from 
the  City  Hall,  has  been  assigned  by  J.  J.  McCarthy, 
general  manager  of  the  Epoch  Producing  Corporation, 
to  take  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  to  Australia  and  New 
Zealand.  He  will  sail  early  in  February  and  will  take 
along  several  of  the  men  who  have  been  associated  with 
him.  Orville  Mayhood,  director  of  the  music,  and  who 
has  been  responsible  in  no  small  degree  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  presentation  of  the  film  in  Chicago,  prob- 


General  Film  Staff  Changes 

Important  changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  field 
staff  of  the  General  Film  Company  were  announced 
this  week  from  the  executive  offices,  200  Fifth  avenue, 
New  York.  The  changes  are  made  by  President  J.  A. 
Berst  in  accord  with  his  policy  of  securing  greater 
efficiency  for  the  benefit  of  the  exhibitors,  and  his 
desire  to  promote  those  who  have  shown  the  co-opera- 
tive spirit  toward  the  man  who  manages  the  theater. 

The  changes  include  the  appointment  of  two  new 
division  managers,  one  for  the  east  coast  and  one  for 
Canada,  the  promoting  of  five  branch  managers,  and! 
the  engaging  of  three  more  entirely  new  to  the  Gen- 
eral Film  Company. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Berst's  election  to  the  presidency 
of  the  General  Film  Company  it  will  be  remembered' 
that  he  divided  the  country  into  four  districts,  placing; 
in  each  a  division  manager  in  charge  of  that  division's 
branches.  The  four  division  managers  are  to  take  the 
place  of  a  general  manager  of  the  entire  organization. 

The  appointment  of  these  division  managers  was 
announced  soon  after  the  creation  of  the  division 
system.  The  appointment  of  V.  H.  Hodupp,  made 
known  this  week,  completes  the  quartette  of  division 
managers  for  the  United  States. 

Until  Monday,  January  10,  Mr.  Hodupp  was  man- 
ager of  the  Twenty-third  street  General  Film  Com- 
pany's branches.  Prior  to  his  connection  with  the 
General  Film  Company,  Mr.  Hodupp  had  a  long  and 
successful  film  career  with  Pathe  Freres.  He  handled 
many  important  matters  for  that  company.  His  last 
work  for  Pathe  was  done  as  manager  of  its  Chicago 
exchange. 

A  second  important  change  announced  this  week 
from  the  General  Film  Company's  offices  is  the  selec- 
tion of  H.  E.  Lotz  to  be  division  manager  of  Canada. 
Until  a  few  days  ago  Mr.  Lotz  was  manager  of  the 
Mutual  exchange  in  Montreal.  He  is  familiar  with 
the  entire  Canadian  territory  from  Montreal  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  having  spent  seven  years  in  the  film 
industry  in  Canada. 

Of  the  five  branch  managers  who  receive  larger 
spheres  of  action,  H.  H.  Buxbaum  is  transferred  from 
Minneapolis  to  Philadelphia.  This  is  in  recognition 
of  Mr.  Buxbaum's  invariably  courteous  and  helpfull 
attitude  toward  his  customers.  Exhibitors  and  busi- 
ness associates  were  sorry  to  see  the  manager  leave 
Minneapolis.  A  farewell  dinner  at  which  Mr.  Bux- 
baum received  a  loving  cup  was  one  of  the  features 
of  his  departure  from  the  middle  western  city.  He 
is  now  installed  in  the  Philadelphia  branch. 

The  popularity  with  exhibitors  of  J.  T.  Van  Meter 
and  his  successful  business  methods  while  in  charge 
of  the  Milwaukee  branch  of  the  General  Film  Com- 
pany led  Mr.  Berst  to  select  him  as  Mr.  Buxbaum's 
successor  in  Minneapolis.  It  was  felt  that  Mr.  Van 
Meter  would  have  larger  opportunities  there,  and  as 
he  did  not  wish  to  leave  the  middle  west,  this  promo- 
tion was  eminently  satisfactory  to  him. 

F.  L.  Hudson,  the  third  manager  who  is  pro- 
moted, was  especially  successful  in  Los  Angeles.  He 
is  transferred  to  Seattle,  where  there  are  special  oppor- 
tunities for  a  man  of  Mr.  Hudson's  proved  ability. 

T.  C.  Malcolm  is  made  manager  of  the  Los  An- 


186 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


geles  branch  to  succeed  Mr.  Hudson.  Mr.  Malcolm 
was  Mr.  1  fudson's  assistant  in  the  California  coast  city. 
His  effective  methods  of  co-operating  with  exhibitors 
and  his  good  business  sense  has  won  him  his  advance- 
ment. 

The  fifth  promotion  is  that  of  J.  L.  Marentette, 
formerly  assistant  manager  in  the  Atlanta,  Ga.,  branch. 
Mr.  Marentette  becomes  manager  at  Atlanta, 

The  three  managers  who  come  to  the  General 
Film  Company  from  other  organizations  are  \Y.  C. 
Brimmer.  C.  \Y.  Taylor  and  \V.  W.  Anderson.  Mr. 
Brimmer  becomes  manager  of  the  Milwaukee  branch, 
succeeding  Mr.  Van  Meter.  He  was  manager  of  the 
Universal  Exchange  in  Milwaukee.  C.  W.  Taylor  is 
appointed  branch  manager  in  Omaha.  He  comes  to 
the  General  from  the  Mutual,  having  had  charge  in 
Omaha  of  the  Mutual  exchange.  The  third  of  the 
new  managers,  W.  W.  Anderson,  formerly  of  Pathe 
Freres,  takes  charge  in  Newark,  N.  J. 

Xew  and  larger  quarters  have  been  taken  by 
three  branches.  These  are  the  Baltimore,  Newark  and 
Pittsburgh  offices.  The  Baltimore  branch  is  now  at 
402  West  Lombard  street,  the  Newark  at  16-18  Beaver 
street,  and  the  Pittsburgh  is  at  119  Ninth  street. 


Lasky  Makes  "Pudd'nhead  Wilson" 

With  Theodore  Roberts  in  the  leading  role,  the 
Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company  will  present  on 
the  Paramount  Program,  January  31,  a  picturization 
of  "Pudd'nhead  Wilson,"  from  the  story  of  the  same 
name  by  Mark  Twain.  This  production  will  mark 
the  first  of  a  series  of  photoplays  taken  from  the  widely 
read  and  popular  stories  by  the  famous  American 
humorist. 

When  the  Lasky  Company  several  weeks  ago 
announced  that  it  had  obtained  exclusively  the  privi- 
leges to  picturize  the  Mark  Twain  stories,  letters 
poured  into  the  New  York  office  of  the  firm,  many  of 
them  congratulating  the  company,  others  telling  that 
the  writers  knew  personally  the  present  addresses  of 
certain  people  living  in  the  middle  west  who  they 
would  swear  were  the  originals  from  whom  Mark 
Twain  drew  his  characters. 

Theodore  Roberts  is  exceptionally  suited  to  the 
role  of  "Pudd'nhead  Wilson,"  the  small  country  town 
lawyer  at  Dawsori's  Landing,  "on  the  Missouri  side 
of  the  Mississippi."  This  story  lends  itself  admirably 
to  the  motion  picture  form  of  narrative,  as  it  is  melo- 
dramatic, exciting,  contains  a  detective  theme  in  the 
plot,  and  makes  use  of  the  finger-print  method  of 
detection   of   criminals. 

Among  those  who  appear  with  Mr.  Roberts  in 
"Pudd'nhead  Wilson"  are  Thomas  Meighan,  Alan  Hale 
and   Florence   Lagmar. 


A.  &  H.  Executive  Former  Actor 

Few  people  depart  from  the  footlights  to  enter  busi- 
ness, and  fewer  pick  a  technical  branch  of  commercial 
life  for  their  endeavors,  but  there  arc  some  of  the  latter 
few  who  not  only  pick  but  succeed  as  well,  and  Thomas 
Hadaway,  of  Ulison  and  Hadaway,  is  one  of  them.  A 
couple  of  years  ago  Mr.  Hadaway  turned  his  back  upon 
a  good  theatrical  contract  to  invest  his  time  and  money 
in  an  enterprise  which  had  a  good  future  ahead  of  it.  a 
good  product   for  sale  behind  it,  and  lots  of  hard  work 

in    between. 

Mir  offer  which  he  turned  down  was  that  of  $125  a 


week  with  a  twenty-five  week  guarantee  from  George 
Broadhurst  for  playing  the  part  of  Jimmie  in  "Bought 
and  Paid  For."  A  chance  to  join  John  W.  Allison  in  the 
photographic  supply  business  on  a  drawing  account  of 
$10  per  week  was  the  irresistible  attraction.  Whether  or 
not  Mr.  Hadaway's  choice  was  a  good  one  is  best  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  the  Allison  and  Hadaway  Com- 
pany is  one  of  the  most  progressive  photographic  supply 
houses  in  Xew  York  City.  Its  A  &  H  Panchroma  twin 
arc  lamp  is  used  in  practically  every  studio  in  the  country, 
and  its  new   Class  C  lamp  is  finding   favor  everywhere. 


Universal  Leases  Big  Theater 

In  the  rush  to  obtain  a  theater  in  the  heart  of 
Chicago,  better  known  as  "the  loop,"  the  Universal 
company  has  come  off  victorious  and  a  lease  on  the 
Colonial  theater  is  the  prize.  In  this  house  that  long 
was  famous  for  K.  &  E.  spectacles  Anna  Pavlowa  will 
be  seen  in  the  ten-reel  production,  made  by  the  Small- 
eys,  following  the  run  of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation."  Pre- 
sented in  the  same  elaborate  manner  as  the  Griffith 
spectacle,  "The  Dumb  Girl  of  Portici,"  with  Mme. 
Pavlowa  as  the  star,  is  expected  to  have  a  long  run, 
especially  since  the  top  price  for  seats  will  be  one  dol- 
lar instead  of  two.  The  opening  will  be  January  30. 
There  will  be  two  shows  a  day,  including  Sundays. 


Correcting  an  Error 


In  the  last  issue  of  Motographv  the  statement 
was  made  that  the  two  Chaplins,  Charlie  and  Syd,  had 
been  signed  by  Triangle  to  appear  in  a  new  brand  of 
films,  this  statement  being  based  on  a  wire  received 
from  New  York,  just  as  that  issue  of  Motograpiiy 
went  to  press. 

It  now  appears  that  the  telegram  was  misread  and 
accordingly  Motography  wishes  to  make  correction 
of  the  error.  There  is  still  reason  to  believe  that 
Charlie  and  Syd  Chaplin  will  shortly  be  seen  in  a 
new  series  of  pictures,  but  there  is  no  basis  at  present 
for  the  story  that  these  comedies,  when  prepared,  will 
be  released  through  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation. 


Vim  Gets  Famous  European  Comedian 

Commencing  Thursday,  February  27,  1916,  Vim 
comedies  will  supersede  M-in-A  comedies  on  the  Gen- 
eral Film  program.  "Bungles."  the  leading  and  most 
popular  comedian  in  Europe  was  forced  on  account 
of  the  war  tO  cancel  his  contracts  in  Europe,  and  judg- 
ing from  his  work  in  Vim  comedies  (the  first  of  which 
will  be  "Bungle's  Rainy  Day,"  released  on  the  General 
Film  program  February  10)  he  promises  soon  to  be- 
come as  famous  and  as  great  a  success  in  this  country 
as  he  has  been  abroad,  lie  plays  the  leading  parts  iii 
all  his  comedies,  directs  them,  and  writes  his  own 
scenarios,  lie  has  made  a  long  contract  to  appear  in 
Vim   comedies. 


Lubin  Seeks  Scenarios 

Daniel  Ellis  of  the  Lubin  Film  Manufacturing 
Company's  scenario  department  calls  attention  to  the 
fact  that  three  reel  feature  plays  are  desired  which 
can  be  used  to  star  Mimi  Yvonne  (aged  seven)  or 
Eleanor  Dun  (aged  10).  Four  and  five-reel  dramas  of 
exceptional  excellence  arc  also  desired  from  script 
writer^  and  single-reel  farce  comedies  suited  to  Star 
D.  I..  Don  or  Billie  Reeves. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


PAUL   H.  WOODRUFF,  Editor 


George  W.  Grates  Charles  R  Condon 

ALLEN  L.  HAASE,  Advertising  Manager 

NATS.  STRONGE,  Circulation  Manager 

NEW  YORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONCACRE  BUILDING 


CHARLES  R.  CONDDN.  Eastern  I 

Tlii-s     publication     is    fi 


as    Second    Class    Mall    Matter 


THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED.  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:     Harrison  3014 — All  Departments 

NOTICE    TO    ADVERTISERS 


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change. 


Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  22,  1916 


Number  4 


Making  Films  is  a  Publishing  Business 

FILM  making  is  called  manufacturing.  As  that  means  the  production  of  goods  by  indus- 
trial process  or  art,  it  is  broad  enough  to  cover  almost  anything.  In  the  way  of  closer 
classification  we  have  often  drawn  a  parallel  between  film  producing  and  publishing.  Now  we 
are  converging  the  lines  of  the  parallel.     We  say  making  films  IS  a  publishing  business. 

Film  releases  are  periodicals,  just  as  truly  as  are  the  magazines  on  your  library  table.  The 
identity  carries  even  to  the  table  of  contents.  On  a  picture  program  we  have  serial  stories, 
series  of  discontinuous  but  related  stories,  short  stories,  descriptive  articles  on  travel  and  in- 
dustry, and  news  reports.  We  even  have  technical  articles;  and,  like  their  written  counter- 
parts, their  use  is  prescribed  to  the  limited  scientific  groups  which  have  need  of  them. 

The  greatest  factor  in  publishing  success  is  the  author.  Without  good  stories  neither  the 
printed  nor  the  screened  publication  can  achieve  popularity- — and  popularity,  of  course,  is  the 
one  essential  of  success.    But  the  writer  is  not  all. 

No  one  can  doubt  that  much  of  the  wonderful  success  of  the  Saturday  Evening  Post  (to 
mention  only  one  of  a  host  of  splendid  American  magazines)  must  be  credited  to  the  beauty 
and  compelling  attractiveness  of  its  typography — which  term  covers  all  the  details  of  make- 
up, illustration  and  printing.  In  film  publishing  there  is  no  specific  name  for  it — but  of  course 
it  is  there  just  the  same.  The  directors  and  the  assemblers  are  really  the  editors  and  the  "typo- 
graphical" experts  of  the  film  business.  The  scenario  "editor"  doesn't  come  in  on  this;  on 
analysis  he  proves  to  be  either  a  staff  writer  or  a  reader  and  rewriter  of  manuscript. 

The  process  of  identification  might  be  carried  much  farther  if  argument  were  necessary. 
It  goes  even  into  the  distributing  process.  Last  week's  film  does  not  go  into  the  waste  basket 
as  does  last  week's  magazine;  but  even  there  the  principle  holds  good.  For  the  thing  the  film 
fan  takes  home  with  him  and  cherishes  until  it  is  replaced  by  another  is  the  image — the  mental 
impression  of  the  picture.    That,  and  not  the  film  itself,  constitutes  the  publication. 

Take  the  publisher  of  newspaper  "ready-print."  Here  we  have  a  publication  service  al- 
most identical  with  the  handling  of  film  programs.  Every  week  the  country  newspaper  gets 
its  four  pages  of  news  and  stories.  The  same  four  pages  may  go  simultaneously  to  hundreds 
of  other  newspapers  in  other  territory;  but  no  competitors  in  the  same  field  get  similar  stuff. 
Different  "programs"  are  furnished  to  competing  houses. 

Granting  that  making  films  is  a  publishing  business,  we  must  concede  that  it  is  the  ne 
plus  ultra  of  publishing — a  sort  of  super-publishing.  The  rules  that  publication  printing  ex- 
perience have  formulated  are  wholly  inadequate  to  this  tremendous  application  of  art.  Never- 
theless, the  fundamental  principles  that  make  for  success  in  the  publishing  business  as  it  is  or- 
dinarily understood,  will  make  for  success  in  the  production  of  picture  films.  The  company 
that  recognizes  and  understands  the  relative  importance  of  author,  editor  and  circulation,  and 
applies  that  knowledge  with  the  high-minded  aggressiveness  characteristic  of  the  best  of 
American  business,  must  succeed — must  gain  r  enown. 

Each  form  of  publishing  has  its  own  peculiar  characteristics.    The  trade  paper  editor,  for 


INN 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


example,  writes  considerable  "copy"  himself,  and  takes 
large  liberties  with  what  comes  to  his  desk.  The  editor 
of  a  high  class  popular  magazine  does  practically  no  writ- 
ing, and  very  little  changing  of  manuscript.  His  func- 
tion is  almost  purely  selective.  The  editor  of  films  (  who. 
in  this  analysis,  is  really  the  director  of  production)  must 
go  farther  than  any  editor  of  print.  For  he  must  supply 
the  author's  characters — that  is,  the  players.  In  the 
printed  story  the  author  himself  draws  the  word  picture 
that  gain-  for  his  characters  the  affection  of  his  readers. 
The  scenario  author  cannot  do  that;  he  can  only  tell  the 
director  what  kind  of  a  character  to  use.  So' the  film 
publisher  assumes  this  part  of  the  author's  work;  which 
may  be  one  reason  why  scenario  writing  has  never  reached 
the  heights  of  story  writing. 

So  the  author,  editor  and  circulation  factors  of  mag- 
azine success  become  the  author,  director,  player  and 
distribution  factors  of  film  success. 

Much  of  this  dissertation  may  seem  trite  and  flavor- 
less. In  some  of  it  we  may  be  accused  of  stretching 
facts  to  fit  a  broad  argument.  But  much  that  is  really 
commonplace  needs  reiteration  to  gain  attention;  for  the 
simplest  conditions  are  the  ones  most  easily  overlooked. 
The  records  show  that  those  producers  who  follow  the 
publishing  thought  in  the  "manufacture"  of  films  come 
nearest  to  the  people's  heart — and  reap  their  own  reward 
thereby. 


The  Travelogue  Has  Its  Inning 

H(  >\Y  many  reams  of  paper  and  hours  of  time  we 
have  put  in  on  the  general  subject  of  travel  pic- 
tures we  hesitate  to  recall.  No  doubt  many  who  read 
our  comments  some  years  ago  decided  that  travelogues 
were  a  sort  of  hobby  of  ours. 

The  words  and  paper  seemed  to  be  wasted  on  an 
unresponsive  industry.  Exhibitors  who  were  saving 
up  money  for  a  trip  to  Los  Angeles  or  Paris  or  Berlin 
refused  to  give  their  patrons  a  similar  trip  on  the 
screen.  Ambitious  and  hard  working  film  men,  whose 
only  dream  of  personal  pleasure  was  some  day  to 
travel,  could  not  conceive  that  the  public  had  any  in- 
terest in  the  same  subject.  Burton  Holmes  and' Ly- 
man Howe  and  a  few  other  inspired  showmen  got  rich 
on  travel  pictures:  but  the  "regular"  exhibitors 
couldn't  see  it. 

We  couldn'1  see  the  reason  for  this  condition  at 
the  time.  Xow  we  believe  it  was  because  the  novelty  had 
not  worn  off  the  ordinary  run  of  dramas  and  comedies, 
and  the  people  couldn't  get  enough  of  them.  They 
preferred  action  to  scenery  just  as  they  preferred  storie's 
to  descriptive  articles  in  the  magazines.  And  they  still 
do.  But  the  dramas  and  the  comedies  have  to  be  first 
class  now  to  hold  them.  The  novelty  appeal  is  dead. 
Taste   has   acquired    education    and    refinement. 

That   is  all  the  travelogue  needed   to  make  it  wel- 
come    a  refined  and  educated  taste.     Today  it   is  we] 
ome     and   the  higher  grade  the  program,  the   more 
interest  is  shown  in   the  scenic  stuff. 

Xow  that  our  early  pleas  are  justified,  we  are  no1 
content  with  a  mere  "I  told  you  so."  It  seems  to  us 
that   the  fact  that  the  travelogue  is  recognized  is  less 

important    in    itself   than    the    indication    it    gives    "I    an 

elevation  of  taste,  a  cultivation  of  philosophy,  a  refine- 
ineni  - . i  mental  process,  hi  these  attributes  the  public 
has  gained  by  the  advancement  of  pictures.  It  is 
pleasing  to  believe  that  as  the  art  of  pictures  has 
grown    m    dignity,    it    has    carried    the    people    upward 

with  it. 


■  inclined 
i  Syrup  is  n 


.os  Angeles  daily  newspaper; 
i  Henry  Ford's  well-known  Pacifica- 
burg  rather  than  in  darkest  Europe. 


Either  the  press  agents  are  having  the  time  of  their  young 
lives  writing  "pieces  for  the  paper."  or  else  Tom  Jnce  and  Geo. 
Broadhurst  are  engaged  in  a  real  catch -as-catch-can  argument. 
that  "blud"  alone  will  satisfy. 


With  the  Theab 


:  Broadhi 


d  his  trusty  typewriter  and  rushed  into  print 
lie  uniquely  ( 1 )  captions  "What's  the  Matter 
'"  and  since  he  took  rather  a  hard  slam  at  the 
se  of  his  argument,  Field  Marshal  Tom  Ince 
p  his  loins  and  went  into  battle  with  a'  reply 
article.  Geo.  assembled  his  second  line  troops 
.uiu  mauc  a  unve  at  Inceville,  but  Tom,  after  shaking  off  the 
fumes  of  the  poison  gas  attack,  charged  boldly  into  the  ranks  of 
the  enemy  and  at  last  reports  from  the  front  was  still  advancing. 

SERVED  RIGHT,  IT'S  MIGHTY  GOOD. 
Some  of  the  small  town  newspapers  do  get  well-known  film 
brands  horribly  twisted  in  their  reading  notices  and  advertising 
columns,  but  one  of  a  rather  unusual  sort  appears  in  a  recent 
issue  of  the  Waterloo  Times-Tribune  which  has  a  headed  storv 
about  "The  King's  Game"  a  "Cold  Rooster  Film." 

Speaking  of  film  names  reminds  us  that  another  nut,  doubt- 
less inspired  by  the  tragic  tales  which  other  bugs  have  concocted 
from  film  titles  of  various  sorts,  has  just  penned  another  tear 
squeezer  from  the  Fox  offerings  of  recent  release  dates.  Get  out 
your  "hanky"  and  then  read  on: 

"A  Fool  There  Was,"  "St.  Elmo,"  caused  "A  Celebrated  Scan- 
dal" when  the  "ChUdren  of  the  Ghetto,"  in  company  with  "The 
Little  Gypsy,"  went  to  see  "Carmen '  in  the  "Kreutzer  Sonata." 
"The  Two  Orphans,"  who  had  such  "A  Wonderful  Adventure" 
with  "The  Serpent,"  also  were  there,  and  they  sang'  "The  Song- 
of  Hate,"  which  was  a  "Sin,"  and  remained  a  "Family  Stain." 
They  saw  "The  Nigger,"  who  is  "An  Idler"  turned  "Thief,"  dodge 
behind  "The  Walls  of  Jericho"  and  beat  it  into  "The  Valley  of 
the  Missing."  He  was  caught,  brought  before  "Dr.  Bameau," 
who  examined  him  to  see  if  he  swallowed  any  "Wormwood"  to 
cause  his  "Destruction."  He  was  sentenced  for  having  "Broken 
Law"  in  violating  "A  Soldier's  Oath."  "Should  a  Mother  TeU" 
in  her  "Blindness  of  Devotion,"  "Ladv  Audley's  Secret"  to 
"Princess  Romanoff,"  in  order  to  save  -The  Plunderer"  from  be- 
coming a  "Galley  Slave"  because  his  "Unfaithful  Wife,"  the 
"Green-Eyed  Monster,"  took  "Anna  Karenina"  to  supper,  thereby 
trying  to  get  her  to  tell  "Her  Mother's  Secret"  of  "The  Fourth 
Estate"?  "The  Gilded  Fool"  looked  into  "Life's  Shop  Window" 
where  "The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me"  was  trying  to  paint  the 
"Regeneration."  She  had  the  "Devils  Daughter"  helping  her 
and  when  I  looked  at  her  face  I  saw  "A  Woman's  Past "  It 
frightned  me  so  that  I  woke  up  and  it  all  seemed  like  "A  Parisian 
Romance." 

Xow   we   fear   we  have  gone  and  done  il. 

After  a  glance  at  another  page  of  this  issue  on  which  appear 
two  views  of  Universal  City  buried  beneath  a  blanket  of  snow, 
we  are  quite  sure  that  our  membership  in  the  order  of  "Native 
Sons"   will  be  instantly   revoked. 

However,  the  photo  will  go  far  toward  proving  what  won- 
ders of  trick  photography  the  year  1016  can  produce,  for.  of 
course,  you  understand  the  picture  is  a  "fake"  pure  and  simple 
Why,  mi  course  it  is.  Don't  argue!  You  know  verj  well  it 
i">>'  snows  in  Calilornia.  \,ul  then  rain  in  the  other  one  Why 
'I  never  happens  in  the  glorious  land  of  sunshine  and  flowers 
I  lou  absurd  ' 

OUR  BURG. 

™?KS  <l     in    Our    \  ,11.,,;,.    ,l,o    past    wk.    that 

i.ur  cfhcicnl    reporter  lias  haiillx  hail   turn'   to  cover  all   tin    cwuis 

Last    „1     «,■    ha.l    with    us  all    the    ,-clchn,,,.    ,,i     Pittsburgh,    Detroit, 

Milwaukee.    Oklahm,,  ,,,,  „         Vn,, 

„ot    thru    with   their   meeting   Our    Burg    had    been    proclaimed 
1    i-itN    in    the   world   and   named    as   the    sin    ol    the    1916   con- 
venshun.     Hurrah,  say  we. 

Colin  Campbell  ami  .lack  Pick-ford  was  t„  Our  Yill.-u-e  this  wk  for 
.,  bnel  visit. 

Sim-i.,1    changes    in    the  pitcher    shows    at    the    rocal    oprv    houses 
l.inpl.iteil    lo,     the    near    lutui,  k 

the  w.   k.   playwright  of  Our   Burj 

-nil,,  another  w.  1,  citizen,  ordered 
lus   wine  in    Santa   ltarbara,   California.      Beats   all   how    tin    l„,vs   scatter 

..,  „;!:'\.V'":nl.ii,^f:'.,,V^,';lr^.'T'',,:\,hv,  M'"-1  '■""»  *i...«  »«  ''— 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Misleading  Lady" 

A  Five-Act  Essanay  Feature  for  January.     Reviewed 
by  Neil  G.  Caward 

ASA    PLAY,    "The    Misleading    Lady,"    from    the    pen: 
ti   Charles  VV.  Goddard  and  Paul  Dickey, 


sands  all  over  the 


t  Esi 
i  of  the  same 
where   the   spoke: 


ntertained  thou- 
ay  has  adapted  the  play 


thousands.  And,  frankly,  the  picture  version  is  even  more 
entertaining  than  was  the  spoken  drama,  so  that  those  who 
never  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  play  will  miss  nothing. 

Director  Berthelet  of  the  Essanay  producing  staff  has 
fairly  outdone  himself  in  "The  Misleading  Lady,"  and  a  more 
finished  presentation — one  in  which  more  attention  has  been 
paid  to  details  and  the  characters  have  been  better  handled — 
it  would  be  hard  to  find.  Photographically,  the  picture  is 
clear  as  crystal,  and  the  lavish  stage  settings  used  in  the 
scenes  representing  the  home  of  John  W.  Cannell,  the  mil- 
lionaire, are  a  delight  to  the  eye. 

As  for  the  cast — well,  just  recall  such  favorites  as  Henry 
B.  Walthall,  Edna  Mayo,  Sydney  Ainsworth,  Edward  Arnold, 
John  Junior,  John  H.  Cossar,  Harry  Dunkinson,  Grant 
Mitchell,  Renee  Clemmons,  Charles  J.  Stine  and  Frances 
Raymond  and  you  may  begin  to  have  some  realization  of 
the  care  that  has  been  taken  to  present  this  popular  success 
of  the  spoken  stage  in  the  manner  befitting  its  magnitude 
as   a  box  office   attraction. 

Mr.  Walthall  is  cast  as  Jack  Craigen,  the  explorer  just 
returned  from  the  wilds  of  Patagonia,  and  proves  his  versa- 
tility by  appearing  in  a  wholly  new  style  of  role  for  him, 
and  yet  scoring  an  even  greater  triumph  than  he  did  in 
previous  productions.  Walthall's  portrayal  of  Craigen  is  a 
splendid  character  study  and  one  that  is  sure  to  win  him 
new  laurels,  for  he  fairly  lives  the  part  and  in  his  comedy 
scenes  is  even  more  likable  than  he  is  when  playing  roles 
of  the  type  for  which  he  is  famous. 

Miss  Mayo,  as  Helen  Steele,  the  girl  who.  wagers  that 
she  can  make  Craigen  propose  to  her,  even  though  he  is  an 
avowed  woman  hater,  gives  one  of  the  most  pleasing  per- 
formances that  this  reviewer  recalls  seeing  her  in.  Sydney 
Ainsworth  as  Henry  Tracey,  Helen's  fiance;  Edward  Arnold 
as  Sidney  Parker,  a  theatrical  manager;  John  Junior  as  Keen 
Fitzpatrick,  a  newspaper  reporter;  and  John  H.  Cessar  as 
Cannell,  the  millionaire,  are  each  and  all  worthy  of  special 
praise,  while  Harry  Dunkinson's  protrayal  of  "Bony,"  the 
lunatic,  is  one  of  those  bits  which  will  live  for  years  to 
come  as  a  bit  of  true  art. 

The  story  is  too  familiar  to  the  public  to  need  a  lengthy 
review  of  it  here,  but  in  brief  it  tells  how  Helen  Steele, 
anxious  to  play  the  part  of  "The  Siren"  in  Parker's  forth- 
coming play  of  that  name,  is  refused  a  chance  to  go  on  the 
stage,  and  finally,  at  the  house  party  given  by  John  W.  Can- 
nell, a  millionaire,  at  which  she,  Parker  and  Jack  Craigen, 
an  explorer  who  detests  women,  are  all  present,  wagers  that 
she  can  make   Craigen  fall  a  victim   to  her  charms,  it  being 


understood  that  if  she  succeeds,  Parker  is  to  permit  her  to 
play  "The  Siren."  Needless  to  say,  she  is  successful,  but 
when  Craigen  is  told  of  the  wager,  he  resents  the  liberties 
that  have  been  taken  with-  his  heart  and  proceeds  to  woo 
Helen  in  the  fashion  that  would  be  adopted  by  a  native  of 
Patagonia. 

Boldly  Craigen  kidnaps  Helen,  carries  her  to  his  hunting- 
lodge  in  the  hills,  and  there  imprisons  her.  Tracey,  her  fiance, 
and  Fitzpatrick,  the  newspaper  reporter,  pursue  them,  but 
in  the  meanwhile  Craigen  and  Helen  have  discovered  the 
presence  of  "Boney,"  a  harmless  lunatic,  escaped  from  a 
nearby  asylum,  in  the  hunting  lodge,  and  have  several  amus- 
ing experiences  with  him.  Helen  strikes  Craigen  with  a 
telephone  while  struggling  with  him,  and  then,  conscience- 
stricken  when  he  falls  unconscious,  rushes  off  to  bring  as- 
sistance. When  the  rescuers  arrive  they  find  Helen  has  re- 
turned and  she  surprises  them  all  by  throwing  her  arms 
about  Craigen  and  assuring  them  that  she  does  not  wish  to 
be   rescued. 


"My  Lady's  Slipper" 

A  Blue   Ribbon  Feature  by   Cyrus  Townsend  Brady 
Released  January  17.  Reviewed  by  Tom  Kennedy 

THE  general  belief  that  costume  plays  are  not  in  great 
*  favor  with  the  theater-going  public  fortunately  did  not 
turn  the  Vitagraph  Company  against  Cyrus  Townsend 
Brady's  romance,  "My  Lady's  Slipper."  We  say  fortunately, 
because  "My  Lady's  Slipper"  is  a  pleasing  screen  play  indeed, 
and  doubtless  it  will  be  well  received  by  the  many  who,  for 
the  time  being,  will  perhaps  forget  that  they  are  not  partial 
to  costumes  and  enjoy  the  picture  immensely. 

This  Blue  Ribbon  feature  marks  the  second  appearance 
of  the  popular  Anita  Stewart  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program. 
She  and  the  other  members  of  a  judiciously  selected  cast  wear 
their  fancy  garments  advantageously.  The  story  is  laid  in  the 
time  of  Louis  XVI.,  and  besides  he  and  Marie  Antoinette, 
there  is  seen  the  great  American,  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Ralph  Ince  produced  "My  Lady's  Slipper."  The  settings 
and  locations  he  has  placed  the  action  in  are  well  up  to  the 
standards  maintained  by  Blue  Ribbon  productions  and  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  subject.  It  is  a  picturesque  play  and 
one  is  impressed  with  the  beauty  of  the  scenes  every  time 
a  deep  view  is  thrown  upon  the  screen,  which  does  not  happen 
too  often.  Mr.  Ince  kept  his  players  close  to  the  camera,  very 
close  most  of  the  time.  Whole  scenes  are  enacted  in  this  way, 
and  at  times  one  wishes  that  the  close-up  was  not  used  so 
much.  Perhaps  "My  Lady's  Slipper"  would  be  a  better  gic- 
ture  if  the  close-up  was  resorted  to  less  often,  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  it  is  a  mighty  good  one  as  it  is. 

The    story    concerns   an   American    who    escapes    from    a 


Slipper; 


■from    Vitagraph's 


British  convict  ship  and  makes  his  way  to  Paris.  Through 
gambling  he  becomes  indebted  to  the  Marquis  Du  Tremignon. 
The  latter  is  in  love  with  the  Countess  De  Villars  and  as  she 
does  not  return  his  love  he  plans  to  compromise  her.    There- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  4. 


fore,  he  promises  to  free  Burnham  from  obligation  if  he  will 
secure  some  article  of  wearing  apparel  from  her.  Burnham, 
under  the  impression  that  the  Countess  loves  Tremignon  and 
that  she  is  anxious  for  the  success  of  the  scheme,  enters  her 
apartment  and  takes  one  of  her  slippers. 

The  Countess  enters  the  room  and  is  surprised,  of  course, 
to  see  Burnham,  whom  she  recognizes  as  the  young  gallant 
who  rescued  her  from  a  highwayman  but  a  few  days  before.  She 
denies  that  she  loves  the  Marquis,  but  forces  Burnham  to  take 
the  slipper  since  the  Marquis  will  place  him  under  arrest 
if  he  fails  to  keep  his  end  of  the  bargain.  Burnham  denounces 
Tremignon  and  is  thrown  into  prison,  but  through  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Countess  he  is  freed  and  marries  her. 

Earle  Williams  has  the  leading  part  and  makes  Burn- 
ham a  convincing  figure.  Harry  Northrup,  as  the  Marquis. 
renders  an  effective  and  finished  performance.  Miss  Stewart 
is  not  called  upon  to  do  much.  The  scene  making  the  greatest 
demands  upon  her  ability  is  where  she  conceals  Burnham 
in  her  apartment  when  her  father  insists  that  he  heard  a 
man's  voice  there,  and  she  makes  much  of  her  opportunity 
here.     Albert  Roccardi  is  consistently  good  as  Bucknall. 


"The  King's  Game" 

Pathe    Gold    Rooster   Play   Released   January    7.     Re- 
viewed by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

IX  the  film  adaptation  of  "The  King's  Game"  the  comedy  drama 
*■  by  George  Brackett  Seitz  which  served  as  a  successful  vehicle 
for  James  K.  Hackett  on  the  legitimate  stage,  Pathe's  Gold 
Rooster  Program  presents  a  most  pleasing  and  widely  apealing 
screen  play.  This  is  a  picture  which  leaves  little  or  nothing  to  be 
desired.  The  story  combines  tense  melodrama,  even  thrills,  with 
delightful  comedy,  the  acting  of  George  Probert,  Pearl  White 
and  Sheldon  Lewis  reaches  a  high  standard  and  the  production  is 
thoroughly  good. 

"The  King's  Game"  is  an  Arnold  Daly  production  directed  by 
\shlcy  Miller,  who  has  given  the  subject  effective  treatment.  The 
story  shifts  from  Russia  to  New  York  and  tells  of  a  Russian 
grand  duke  who  resembles  a  nihilist  who  has  been  chosen  to  kill 
him.  The  duke  has  resided  and  attended  college  in  America  just 
long  enough  to  make  it  quite  impossible  for  him  to  take  his 
rightful  place  in  Russia,  in  the  eyes  of  the  noblemen  who  are  with 
him.  Jn  other  words  he  has  learned  not  to  take  himself  too 
seriously. 

George  Probert  has  the  dual  role.  It  takes  versatility  to  play 
the  part  as  he  does.  As  the  duke  he  is  breezy  and  light  hearted, 
to  a  fault  almost,  and  as  Perciley  a  snarling,  bitter  underdog 
who  sees  nothing  but  woe  and  distress  for  the  "pepul"  while 
kings,  princes,  and  dukes  are  permitted  to  live.  Probert  does  both 
parts  splendidly  and  to  him  belong  the  acting  honors  of  the 
pn  iduction. 

The  opening  scenes  are  laid  in  Russia  and  show  the  inci- 
dents which  fill  Count  Dardinilis,  colonel  of  Huzzars.  with  hatred 
for.the  house  of  Kiev.  It  is  through  the  duke's  unclean  affection 
for  Dardinilis'  wife,  that  her  death  and  the  count's  exile  are 
brought    about.      Years   later   we    see    Dardinilis   at   the   head   of 


pi   iiilnlists  whose  aim  is  to  murder  the  young  -rami  duke. 
Eting   bis  education   in     America.     The  nihilists  receive   v 
nc    I'crcilcv    has   been   chosen   b>    the    Russian   branch   of 


Perciley  is  arrested  at  the  dock  by  secret  service  men.  The 
duke  is  requested  to  question  him,  that  he  may  learn  the  dangers 
which  he  faces.  Phillip  jokes  about  the  matter  and  leaves  with 
the  papers  taken  from  Perciley.  In  a  candy  store  he  sees  the 
pretty  daughter  of  Dardinilis  and  he  is  greatly  attracted  by  her 
beauty.  He  follows  her  to  the  home  of  the  nihilists,  where  he  is 
mistaken  for  Perciley  because  of  the  papers.  Then  follow  a 
series  of  interesting  dramatic  and  enjoyable  humorous  incidents 
which  end  in  the  marriage  of  Phillip  and  Dardinilis'  daughter. 

The  melodramatic  scenes  are  finely  presented  and  the  action 
is  realistic  in  every  scene.  Pearl  White  is  the  nihilist's  daughter, 
consequently  a  sworn  enemy  of  the  grand  duke  until  she  meets 
him,  and  then  his  protector.  Sheldon  Lewis  as  Dardinilis  gives 
a  fine  character  sketch  and  the  supporting  cast  is  uniformly  good. 


"The  House  of  Revelation 

An  Essanay  Costume  Drama  Released  on  January  8 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

CSSANAY  has  long  since  proved  that  it  could  successfully 
*->  stage  costume  dramas,  but  in  its  release  of  Saturday.  Jan- 
uary 8,  it  will  again  prove  its  ability  in  that  direction,  for 
"The  House  of  Revelation"  is  one  of  the  prettiest,  best  pro- 
duced and  capably  acted  costume  dramas  that  has  been 
screened  in  a  long  time. 

John  A.  Lorenz  and  Miss  Elizabeth   Burbridge  have  the 


leading  roles  in  their  respective  characters  of  Sir  Charles 
Raleigh  and  Lady  Denning.  Both  are  well  suited  to  the 
parts  assigned  them  and  give  a  most  convincing  portrayal 
of  the  types  they  represent.  Miss  Burbridge,  in  particular. 
appears  to  advantage  as  Lady  Denning,  and  by  her  winsome- 
ness  .mil  charm  wins  the  hearts  of  her  audience  from  the  first. 
Dexter  MeRcynolds  ami  lack  Milton  are  cast  as  Godfrey, 
Lady  Dcnning's  brother,  and  Lord  Howell,  while  the  rest 
of    the    supporting    company    is    fully    adequate    to    the    needs 


Of   the 


Photographicallj  and  From  the  standpoint  of  production. 
ie  Mouse  of  Revelation"  is  a  most  pleasing  offering,  and 
libitors  will   find  i!   a  box  office  attraction   of  real  merit. 

I  n    brief    the    storv     runs    .is    lollow  s: 

I  adj    Denning  leaves  Sir  Charles   Raleigh,  but   for  some 
'S  afraid  of  him.     Sir  Charles,   realizing   this. 


ssage 


rdet 


to 


bis    reg 


nt 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


191 


Flanders.  While  in  battle  he  sacrifices  his  arm  in  saving 
the  life  of  Lady  Denning's  brother.  Some  time  later  in 
London  he  inherits  an  estate  which  includes  a  haunted  castle 
at  Lincolnshire.  He  goes  to  the  castle  to  investigate.  Open- 
ing a  panel  in  the  wall,  he  finds  the  skeleton  of  a  man.  Be- 
side the  skeleton  is  a  letter  written  before  death.  It  tells 
how  the  first  Sir  Charles  had  insulted  a  Lady  Olive,  an 
ancestor  of  Lady  Denning.  Her  cause  was  championed  by 
Godfrey,  her  brother,  who  challenged  Sir  Charles.  They 
agreed  to  throw  dice  to  see  which  one  should  commit  suicide. 
Godfrey  lost  and  wrote  a  letter,  telling  the  facts  in  the  case 
before  ending  his  life.  The  finding  of  the  skeleton,  however, 
has  the  psychological  effect  of  removing  the  fear  of  Sir 
Charles  from  the  mind  of  Lady  Denning.  She  writes  him  to 
come  to  her.  He  does  so  and  she  tells  him  she  loves  him 
and  no  longer  fears  him. 


"Helen's  Perilous  Escape" 

Chapter  Four  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game."    Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 

CHAPTER  Four  of  this  interesting  series  featuring  Helen 
Holmes  starts  off  with  the  promotion  of  Storm  to  drive 
the  fast  express.  Seagrue  continues  to  force  his  attentions 
on  Helen,  now  operator  at  Signal  station,  and  is  received 
coldly.  Rhinelander,  Helen's  uncle,  is  threatened  by  his 
financial  backers  with  the  withdrawal  of  their  support  if  he 
does  not  soon  relocate  the  survey  over  Superstition  range. 

The  story  gets  under  way  when  Seagrue  arrogantly  sends 
Helen  his  photograph  taken  at  his  desk.  Helen  is  about  to 
destroy  this  when  she  notices  that  in  the  picture  the  stolen 
survey  is  lying  on  the  desk  before  Seagrue.  Determined  to 
get  possession  of  the  blue  print  through  some  means,  Helen 
accept  Seagrue's  invitation  to  dine  with  him  at  his  construc- 
tion office.  There  Helen,  although  made  nervous  by  Sea- 
grue's unwelcome  attentions,  learns  the  location  of  the  survey. 
In  a  scuffle  which  follows  when  she  tries  to  get  the  plan, 
Helen  strikes  Seagrue  with  a  water  bottle  and"  he  falls  un- 
conscious. Before  he  recovers,  she  has  reached  the  depot  and 
telegraphed  Rhinelander  that  she  will  arrive  on  the  Limited 
with  the  precious  survey. 

Pursued  by  Seagrue,  Helen  throws  herself  from  a  cliff 
into  the  ocean,  where  a  speed  launch  is  waiting.  Seagrue 
boards  the  Limited,  which  comes  by,  and  there  follows  a 
thrilling  race  between  Helen's  boat  and  the  fast  express. 
Helen  must  deliver  the  survey  before  Seagrue  can  reach 
Oceanside  to  stop  her.  The  blueprint  has  become  water- 
soaked  and  Helen  spreads  it  out  to  dry.  Then,  in  the  Morse 
code,  by  means  of  the  launch  whistie,  Helen  signals  Storm, 
who  is  driving  the  limited,  and  asks  him  to  delay  the  train. 
He  does  so,  pretending  there  is  trouble  with  the  engine.  Sea- 
grue, impatient,  discovers  the  ruse,  and  the  fireman  is  ordered 
to  drive  the  engine  to  Oceanside.  Helen,  rushing  to  the  of- 
fice of  the  directors,  who  are  calling  Rhinelander  to  account 


launch,  there  on  the  canvas,  where  she  had  spread  the  survey 
to  dry,  is  a  reproduction  of  the  blue  print.  The  canvas  is 
quickly  ripped  off  and  brought  to  the  directors,  who,  when 
they  see  it,  give  Rhinelander  full  permission  to  go  ahead. 

The  story  is  as  thrilling  as  anyone  can  desire.  The  photog- 
raphy is  clear  and  beautiful.  Helen  Holmes  is  as  daring  and 
resourceful  as  ever,  and  the  production  forms  an  excellent 
entertainment. 


"Her  Great  Hour" 

Five-Reel    Equitable    Melodrama    Featuring    Molly 
Mclntyre.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  Equitable  five-reel  production,  "Her  Great  Hour,"  fea- 
turing Molly  Mclntyre,  who  played  the  same  part  in  the 
popular  Scotch  play,  "Kitty  McKay,"  is  melodrama  more 
convincingly  than  usual,  and  carries  a  striking  human  appeal. 
The  story  follows  the  affairs  of  a  girl  to  whom  fate  is  far 
from  kind.  Accused  of  a  theft  committed  by  another  and  a 
murder  in  which  she  had  no  hand,  are  calamities  enough 
to  befall  the  most  ill-fated  person  imaginable.  Also  they 
are  things  which  are  not  always  convincing  when  told  about 
in  plays.  But  in  "Her  Great  Hour"  these  things  are  brought 
about  plausibly.     There  is  only  one  point  which   may   strain 


the  missing  survey,  is  overtaken  by  Seagrue,  who  gets 
the  survey  away  from  her.  It  looks  as  though  all  Helen's 
work  is  for  naught,  but  there  is  another  surprise,  to  end  the 
chapter  well.     For  when  Helen  downheartedly  returns  to  her 


credulity  and  that  is  the  convenient  death  of  Kirby's  wife. 
This  clears  the  much  clouded  atmosphere  quickly. 

S.  E.  V.  Taylor  is  successful  as  author  and  director.  He  has 
written  a  story  that  is  admirably  suited  to  the  screen  and  of 
the  kind  that  is  very  popular.  It  provides  the  players  with 
opportunities,  and  the  spectators  with  interesting  situations  and 
a  pleasant  appeal  to  the  sympathetic  side  of  their  natures.  In 
producing  the  story  Mr.  Taylor  has  also  done  well.  It  is  not 
a  story  calling  for  anything  lavish  in  the  way  of  settings.  The 
scenes  have  appropriate  backgrounds  and  the  action  is  aided 
greatly  by  them. 

The  story  deals  with  a  girl  who  works  behind  the  counter  in 
a  large  department  store.  Another  girl  steals  a  valuable  ring 
and  Nan  is  accused.  The  owner  of  the  store,  Irwin,  orders 
her  arrest  but  at  the  request  of  the  district  attorney,  who  knew 
her  father  and  who  is  convinced  that  she  is  innocent,  he  does  not 
press  the  charge.  Kirby,  the  attorney,  shows  his  confidence  in 
her  by  taking  her  to  his  home  where  she  is  to  act  as  secretary 
and  companion  to  his  wife. 

The  best  way  to  describe  Mrs.  Kirby  is  to  state  that  she 
demands  a  necklace  of  her  husband  as  a  return  for  her  kind- 
ness in  keeping  Nan.  In  a  scene  with  his  wife  Kirby  warns 
her  to  stop  her  flirtation  with  another  man.  telling  her  that  a 
scandal  would  kill  him  politically.  This  Nan  overhears  and 
remembers,  when  Mrs.  Kirby  accidentally  kills  Irwin,  who,  in 
love  with  her,  forces  his  attentions  upon  her.  Evidence  points 
to  Nan  as  the  murderer  and  rather  than  have  Kirby  ruined  by 
the  scandal  she  leaves  the  house  determined  to  commit  suicide. 
Mrs.  Kirby  dies  suddenly  and  a  scandal  is  averted,  so  the  end 
finds  Nan  enjoying  the  happiness  Kirby's  love  brings   her. 

It  takes  many  developments  to  bring  this  story  to  its  close 
but  none  of  these  complications  have  an  unreal  appearance.    Miss 


192 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo.  4. 


Mclntyre  holds  the  sympathy  consistently  and  plays  her  part 
most  naturally.  Richard  Lynn  as  Robert  Kirby  and  Martin 
Alsop  as  James  Irwin  act  their  roles  impressively.  Gerda  Holmes 
and  P.  J.  Le  Mae  in  the  other  important  characters  lend  effective 
support. 


"The  Silent  Trail" 

A  Two-Reel  American  Drama.     Released  January  18. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

TOE  MANDOTT,  stalwart  woodsman,  wins  the  hand  of 
"J  Hekn  Hay  ward,  the  aged  woodcutter's  beautiful  daughter. 
He  proves  to  be  a  very  bad  husband,  however,  who  beats  his 
wife,  or  at  least  slaps  her  face.  Frank,  Joe's  partner,  who 
secretly  loves  Helen,  tries  to  reform  Joe's  wavs,  but  in  vain, 
and  Helen  in  tears  goes  back  to  father.  The  villain  husband 
-till  pursues  her.  through  many  scenes  of  wonderfully  beauti- 

Helen  and  Frank  discover  that  they  love  each  other  and 
the  problem  of  the  story  is  to  get  Joe  out  of  the  way.  Helen's 
father  decides  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  his  daughter  and  is 
about  to  shoot  Joe.  The  sheriff  arrives  just  at  that  moment, 
with  pictures  and  a  description  of  an  escaped  convict,  under 
penally  for  wife  murder  in  New  York.  The  father  recognizes 
his  blackguard  son-in-law,  and  he  and  the  sheriff  set  out  to 
capture  him.  Joe,  trying  to  escape  in  a  canoe,  is  shot  by  the 
sheriff.  Frank  and  Helen,  who  are  standing  together  at  a 
point    overlooking   the    lake,    watching    the    sunset,    see    Joe's 


canoe  drifting  by,  carrying  r 
trail."      It    is    an    extremely 
losing  scene. 

The  settings  in  this  story  of  the  woods,  the  hills  and  for- 
est, lake  and  streams,  are  its  strongest  feature.  The  story 
itself  is  slow  in  getting  under  way  and  the  plot  seems  rather 
Ion-'  drawn  out  for  two  reels.  There  is  little  complication, 
lack  I'rescott  and  Ashton  Dearholt  are  well  contrasted  in 
their  respective  roles.  Dearhold  is  a  charming  Frank,  while 
I'".    Prescotl    looks  villainous  enough   to  be  guilty  even   of 


rife 


Selig   Feature. 


'Why  Love  Is  Blind" 

Released   January    17. 
Genevieve  Harris 


Reviewed   by 


"YA/HY  Love  [a  Blind"  is  an  appealing  little  play  which  will 

W  De  immediately  liked  by  audiences,  for  it  contains  char- 
acters which  never  fail  to  arouse  sympathy,  the  little  blind 
girl,  the  cripple  boy,  abused  at  home,  and  his  faithful  dog 
I  1m  -'      three     principals     are     beautifully     depicted     by     Betty 

Nathan,  .lack  Pickford  and  the  Collie.  "Smudge."  And  not 
the   leasl    of  these   is   Smudge,   who   shows   himseli    an   abli 

i 

Pickford,  as  Hobby  St, me.  the  hunchbach,  gives  a 
performance  which,  for  sincerity  and  ability,  co 

ably    with    the    work    of    hi-    sister.     Mary.       Bettj     Nathan,    as 

Ruth,   is   a   most    realistic   blind   girl.     The   other   chat 

well  handled,  particularly    Bill,  owner  of  the  circus, 
played    by    Frank    (lark,   and    Mrs.    Stone,    Bobby's 
played  by  Lillian   Hayward.    Other  members 


Guy  Oliver  as  the  father  and  William  Scott  as  the  elder 
brother. 

Bobby  Stone,  a  hunchback,  is  ridiculed  by  his  strong 
brother,  John.  When  John  kicks  and  cuffs  Smudge,  however. 
Bobby  flies  into  a  passion  and  attacks  his  brother.  From  this 
and  other  incidents,  the  father  concludes  that  the  boy  has  an 
evil  disposition  and  sends  him  away  from  home.  Bobby  and 
Smudge  set  out  together,  leaving  an  angry  father  and  a  heart- 
broken mother  behind.  That  night  they  sleep  beneath  a  tree, 
Bobby's  head  pillowed  on  Smudge. 

The  next  morning  Rodgers'  circus  comes  by.  Bobby  asks 
for  work  and  the  kind-hearted  Bill  Rodgers  takes  the  boy 
with  them.  Bill  has  a  beautiful  daughter,  who  is  blind.  Bobby 
is  at  ease  with  her  because  she  cannot  see  him.  Finally  he 
falls  in  love  with  her.  Then  his  happiness  comes  to  an  end. 
for  he  learns  that  an  operation  is  soon  to  be  performed  on 
Ruth's  eyes  which  will  restore  her  sight.  Bobby  is  unable 
to  bear  the  thought  of  the  girl's  disgust  when  she  finds  that 
he  is  a  hunchback;  so  he  steals  the  money  which  is  to  pay 
the  surgeon.  The  scene  in  which  Bill  finds  that  the  money- 
is  gone  and  that  he  must  disappoint  his  daughter  is  espe- 
cially pathetic  and  it  is  well  played. 

Bobby  struggles  with  himself,  but  cannot  decide  to  return 
the  money.  Even  at  this  point,  the  production  is  so  well 
handled  that  the  sympathy  of  the  spectator  is  still  with  the 
little  cripple.  In  the  end  Bobby  returns  the  money  to  Ruth, 
confesses  his  theft  and  the  fact  of  his  deformity  and  rushes 
away.  Ruth  calls  him  back  and  declares  that  as  love  is  always 
blind,  his  appearance  will  not  matter,  that  she  loves  him 
anyway. 

The  ending  of  the  play  is  rather  vague.  We  have  been  told 
that  a  successful  operation  can  be  performed  and  that  Ruth 
will  regain  her  sight.  There  is  still  the  question  whether  her 
love,  which  withstands  the  shock  of  being  told  that  Bobby  is 
deformed,  will  withstand  the  greater  shock  of  seeing  him. 
The  inference,  of  course,  is  that  it  will. 

On  the  whole,  the  play  is  lovely.  It  is  conventional,  but 
the  effects  are  simple  and  genuine.  The  photography  through- 
out is  good.     George  Nichols  directed  the  production. 


"The  Foundling'' 

A  Famous  Players  Offering  with  Mary  Pickford 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

MARY  PICKFORD'S  latest  appearance  is  in  a  role  which 
m  in  these  days  is  called  "a  Mary  Tickford  role,"  whether 
'ayed  by  her  or  any  other  actress  of  the  screen,  and  in  some 
d    on   the   speaking 


is  appl 
stage.  In  "The 
of  tender  years, 
that.     She  has  1: 


screen. 


Foundling"  Miss  Pi 


>rd  i 


en  as  a  waif 


hing  new  to  her  about 
efore  and  doubtless  she 
rers.  the  patrons  of  the 
re    the    picture    is    shown 


and    leave    it    more   enthusiastic   than    ever    in    their   admiration 
I,. i    Mary    I'iekl'ord. 

\s  a  st,,ry.  "The  Foundling"  has  merit  in  that  it  places 
MlSS  Pickford  in  a  part  such  as  the  public  seems  most  anxious 
1,,  see  her  enact,  ami  a  I  so  presents  John    1',.  O'Brien   with   good 

I  foi   his  styl(   of  direction.    Since  joining  the  Famous 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Players  this  is  Mr.  O'Brien's  first  production.  As  most  fol- 
lowers of  the  photoplay  know,  he  is  very  partial  to  the  close- 
up  and  his  methods  are  almost  quiet.  The  scene  at  the  bed, 
of  the  mother  who  dies  in  giving  life,  shows  only  the  patient's 
hand  as  the  physician  takes  her  pulse.  Mr.  O'Brien  adheres 
consistently  to  his  "school"  and  obtains  effective  results. 

Edward  Martindell  is  David  King,  a  painter,  who  has  no 
love  for  the  newborn  child,  as  her  coming  caused  the  death 
of  his  wife.  The  child  he  gives  to  a  woman  who  asks  that 
she  may  adopt  it.  When  this  woman  dies  the  baby  is  taken 
to  a  foundling  asylum.  Twelve  years  later  we  see  the  artist's 
daughter  caring  for  the  younger  children  and  receiving  no 
great  amount  of  kindness  from  the  hand  of  the  matron  who, 
quite  naturally,  gives  the  few  meager  nice  things  forthcoming 
to  foundlings  to  her  niece. 

Still  later,  the  artist  is  stricken  with  remorse  and  returns 
from  Italy  intent  upon  finding  his  daughter.  His  search  leads 
him  to  the  asylum,  but  he  is  given  the  other  girl,  the  ma- 
tron's niece.  Molly  O,  as  King's  child  is  called,  is  adopted  by 
a  boarding  house  mistress,  who,  when  Molly  O  says  that 
she  is  sure  Mrs.  Grimes  will  be  a  good  mother  to  her,  dispels 
all  doubt  on  that  subject  by  answering  that  she  adopted  her 
"to  work,"  not  "to  mother."  Though  the  distance  between 
father  and  daughter  is  great  and  the  obstacles  even  greater, 
the  two  eventually  find  each  other,  which  is  very  satisfactory 
to  the  spectator  who  hoped  for  such  an  outcome  early  in  the 
picture. 

Mr.  Martindell's  is  a  convincing  performance.  He  sup- 
ports the  star  splendidly.  Maggie  Weston  is  Mrs.  Grimes; 
Mildred  Morris  is  Jennie,  the  girl  who  prefers  to  consort 
with  the  underworld  characters  than  the  fine  gentleman 
who  believes  he  is  her  father,  and  Marcia  Harris  is  Julia 
Ember,  the  boss  of  the  foundling  asylum.  Tammany  Young 
stands  out  prominently  as  the  crook;  a  small  part  but  an 
important  one  none  the  less,  and,  very  properly,  he  plays  it  in 
that  spirit.    The  settings  help  greatly  and  the  photography  is 


er  by  a  rather  brazen  young  woman  employed  in  the 
me  factory  where  he  works,  and  almost  before  he  realizes 
lat  he  has  said  he  proposes  and  is  accepted. 

Realizing  that  life  holds  nothing  for  him  so  long  as  he 
s  to  earn  his  living  with  his  hands,  Belmont  quits  his  job, 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill 

Latest  Offerings  of  the  Griffith  and  Ince  Studios,  Re- 
viewed by  Neil  G.  Caward 

TWO  wonderful  preachments  of  a  widely  varied  character 
form  the  backbone  of  the  Triangle  bill  for  this  week  at 
the  Studebaker.  "The  Green  Swamp,"  which  is  the  Ince  offer- 
ing, treats  of  a  woman's  jealousy  while  "The  Price  of  Power," 
from  the  Griffith  faction  of  Triangle,  is  a  wonderful  labor 
play.  Both  are  so  good  that  it  is  well  nigh  impossible  to 
choose  between  them,  and  purely  for  laugh  purposes  an  up- 
roarious Keystone,  called  "The  Great  Pearl  Tangle,"  is 
thrown  in. 

Orrin  Johnson  has  the  leading  role  in  the  Fine  Arts  pro- 
duction and  appears  to  far  better  advantage  than  in  the  pic- 
ture in  which  he  was  introduced  to  Triangle  patrons.  He 
really  enacts  three  widely  different  types  in  this  latest  pro- 


duction, though  all  the  way  through  he  is  supposed  to  be 
the  same  man.  As  the  picture  begins  he  is  an  humble  em- 
ploye in  a  big  factory,  named  John  Belmont.  Though  in 
love  with  and  loved  by  a  sweet  faced  village  girl,  he  is  won 


deserts  his  wife  and  child,  with  whom  he  is  unhappy,  and 
going  to  another  city  begins  life  anew  in  an  executive  position 
under  the  name  of  John  Roberts.  He  prospers,  marries  well, 
and  finally  becomes  owner  of  a  big  manufacturing  plant.  Still 
later  he  buys  the  plant  in  which  he  had  first  worked  and  by 
installing  an  efficiency  expert  so  angers  the  workmen  that 
he  soon  finds  a  strike  on  his  hands. 

After  a  thrilling  series  of  encounters  with  the  strikers 
and  strike  breakers,  Roberts  finds  his  own  brain  effected  by 
the  worry  and  strain  and,  temporarily  out  of  his  head,  he  wan- 
ders down  to  the  railroad  yards,  falls  in  with  some  tramps 
and  spends  several  weeks  with  them  as  "Daffy"  Smith,  for 
he  cannot  recall  his  own  name  or  means  of  livelihood.  In 
time  he  wanders  back  to  the  city  and  after  fighting  with  the 
strikers  against  the  men  imported  to  break  the  strike,  he  is 
cared  for  at  the  home  of  Maisie  Brooks,  with  whom  his  own 
son,  Dave  Belmont,  is  in  love.  Both  Maisie  and  Dave  work 
in  the  Roberts  factory  and  neither  suspects  the  identity  of 
the  tramplike  figure  they  have  befriended.  When  Dave  is 
arrested,  during  another  melee  with  the  strikebreakers, 
Claude  Roberts  the  second  son  of  the  man  who  had  set  out 
to  win  power  at  any  price,  offers  to  assist  her  in  freeing  her 
lover,  if  she  will  visit  him  at  his  home  that  evening.  She 
goes  and  is  attacked,  but  "Daffy"  Smith,  who  has  followed 
her  into  the  mansion,  still  not  suspecting  it  is  his  rightful 
home,   shoots   Claude  and   Maisie   flees   from   the   scene. 

As  the  picture  closes  "Daffy"  goes  to  the  work  in  the 
factory  at  his  old  job,  where  he  first  began  his  career,  and 
then  the  grim  efficiency  system,  which  he  had  himself  in- 
stalled, seems  likely  to  claim  him  as  its  victim.  Orrin  John- 
son is  splendid  in  every  one  of  his  characterizations,  but  per- 
haps rises  to  his  greatest  heights  as  "Daffy."  Marguerite 
Marsh,  Charles  Clary,  Gladys  Brockwell,  Vera  Lewis  and 
Clyde  Hopkins  are  in  the  cast  and  do  splendid  work. 

The  Ince  offering,  "The  Green  Swamp,"  features  Bessie 
Barriscale  and  Bruce  McRae  as  husabnd  and  wife.  McRae  is 
Dr.  Allison,  a  physician  with  a  practice  largely  among  women, 
and  Margery,  his  wife,  is  accordingly  jealous,  believing  that 
her  husband  is  flirting  with  other  women,  when  all  the  time 
he  is  but  caring  for  their  health.  J.  Barney  Sherry  as  Dr. 
Jim  Hendon,  a  friend  of  Allison's,  is  looked  upon  with 
suspicion  by  the  wife,  but  things  come  to  a  crisis  when,  be- 
cause of  her  jealousy,  Mrs.  Allison  fails  to  deliver  a  tele- 
phone message  to  her  husband  and  thereby  nearly  causes  the 
death  of  an  infant  the  telephone  message  had  summoned  him 
to  attend.  She  vows  never  to  doubt  her  husband  again,  but 
falters  after  Allison,  who  is  suffering  from  lockjaw,  is  sup- 
posedly called  to  another  city,  though  in  reality  he  goes  to 
Hendon's  home  to  be  treated  for  his  ailment.  Mrs.  Allison 
puts  a  detective  on  the  case  and  believing  her  husband  and 
Hendon  are  going  to  hold  a  wild  revel  with  some  lady  friends, 
goes  to  the  Hendon  home  to  trap  them.  Arrived  there,  she 
discovers  the  real  situation  and  is  immediately  repentant. 

The  production  has  been  most  capably  handled  and  both 
Miss  Barriscale  and  Mr.  McRae  get  everything  possible  out 
of  every  situation.     The  story  works  gradually  up  to  its  big 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


climax  and  is  so  skillfully  unfolded  that  the  moral  will  prob- 
ably be  driven  home  with  a  vengeance. 

'  As  for  "The  Great  Pearl  Tangle,"  the  Keystone  two- 
reeler.  with  Sam  Bernard  featured,  it  is  a  typical  Keystone 
with  sonic  new  wrinkles  added  for  good  measure.  Mr. 
Bernard  probably  has  never  appeared  in  a  vehicle  so  well 
suited  to  his  peculiar  style  of  comedy,  and  he  puts  over  his 
scenes  with  the  skill  of  a  veteran  Keystonite.  The  compli- 
cations are  deeper  than  usual  for  a  Keystone  plot  but  it 
proves  wonderfully  effective  in  getting  the  laughs  and  that's 
all    it    was   made    for. 


"The  Thoroughbred" 

A  Five-Reel  American  Mutual  Masterpiece.     Released 
January  17.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

WILLIAM  RUSSELL  is  due  to  smash  to  little  pieces  the 
hearts  of  all  the  feminine  film  fans  who  see  him  in  "The 
Thoroughbred."  As  Kelso  Hamilton,  the  daring  stock  specu- 
lator, he  has  a  fascinating  role  and  he  makes  the  most  of  it. 

Hamilton  loses  heavily  on  the  stock  market.  He,  of 
course,  takes  his  misfortune  very  coolly,  as  part  of  the  game, 
but  his  loss  brings  grief  to  his  sweetheart,  Angela  Earle 
(Charlotte  Burton),  and  to  her  parents.  George  Carewe, 
private  secretary  to  Mr.  Earle,  and  Hamilton's  rival  for  An- 
gela's hand,  rejoices,  and  when  Angela  offers  Hamilton  the 
aid  of  her  fortune  to  regain  his,  Carewe,  a  villain  to  the  core, 
plots  to  discredit  him  entirely.  Accordingly,  at  a  party  given 
by  the  Earles,  Carewe  accuses  Hamilton  of  cheating  at  cards. 
Hamilton  denies  this,  but  when  cards  are  found  in  his  pocket, 
even  his  friends  doubt  his  good  faith.  Only  Angela  and  her 
parents  believe  in  him,  and.  encouraged  by  them,  he  goes 
west  to  make  good. 

Meanwhile,  Carewe,  whose  hopes  of  winning  Angela  and 
her  fortune  are  rising  rapidly,  has  discarded  his  first  sweet- 
heart, Jessie.  Angela's  maid.  Jessie  is  the  daughter  of  Tom 
Cook,  the  gardener.  Discovering  the  cause  of  his  daughter's 
grief,  Tom  seeks  an  interview  with  Carewe  and  waits  for  him 
at  his  room  in  the  Earle  home.  There  he  is  mistaken  for  a 
burglar  by  the  valet,  and  in  the  struggle  which  follows,  the 
valet  falls,  apparently  lifeless.  Tom  is  frightened  and  steals 
away.  In  his  escape  from  the  house,  Tom  passes  the  door  of 
the  smoking  room  where  the  men  are  playing  cards  and  sees 
Carewe  place  the  cards  in  Hamilton's  pocket.  He  is  afraid 
to  reveal  himself,  however,  and  goes  away. 

Later,  when  each  is  traveling  west  to  begin  anew,  Tom 
and  Hamilton  meet  in  a  thrilling  scene,  where,  together,  they 
foil  the  bandits  who  hold  up  the  Limited.  Tom  recognizes 
Hamilton  as  the  man  wrongfully  accused  of  card  cheating,  but 
does  not  reveal  his  own  identity. 

Hamilton  becomes  the  proprietor  of  a  ranch,  with  Tom  as 
foreman.  The  Earles.  who  own  mines  in  the  vicinity,  visit 
their  property,  accompanied  by  Carewe  who,  in  conspiracy 
with  the  superintendent  of  the  mines,  is  seeking  to  "double- 
cross"  the  Earles. 

With    the    principal    characters   thus    brought    together    in 


right  in  the  end.  The  valet  was  not  killed  at  all,  only 
stunned.  Tom's  story  clears  Hamilton's  name;  the  mines, 
in  spite  of  the  duplicity  of  the  superintendent,  yield  richly; 
Hamilton  and  Angela  are  reunited,  and  Carewe  is  discredited 
at  all  points,  even  Jessie  having  found  someone  else  to  take 
his  place  in  her  heart. 

The  plot  of  this  story  is  remarkably  well  woven.  Every 
incident  shown  on  the  screen  advances  the  drama.  No  time 
is  lost  in  telling  the  tale,  yet  all  is  clear  and  logical.  The 
production,  considered  apart  from  the  actors  and  the  photog- 
raphy, is  an  example  of  the  excellent  way  an  interesting,  fin- 
ished story  can  be  told  through  pictures.  The  roles  are  all 
well  handled.  Russell  holds  the  center  of  attention  through- 
out, with  Charlotte  Burton  presenting  a  pleasing  Angela. 
Roy  Stewart,  as  Carewe,  shows  skill,  and  Lizette  Thorne  and 
Jack  Prescott,  as  Jessie  and  Tom.  deserve  mention.  The 
production  was  directed  by  Charles  Bartlett. 


"Green  Stockings" 

A  Blue  Ribbon  Feature,  Released  by  V.  L.  S.  E.  Janu- 
ary 10.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

AE.  W.  MASON'S  English  comedy,  "Green  Stockings," 
•  has  been  adapted  to  the  screen  by  the  Yitagraph  Com- 
pany and  is  presented  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program.  This  pic- 
tured version  of  a  play  which  enjoyed  a  notable  and  deserved 
success  is  bound  to  be  hailed  as  one  of  the  best  comedy 
offerings  Y.  L.  S.  E.  has  so  far  released,  and  that  is  high 
commendation    for    "Green    Stockings."      The    scenario    was 


— ^" 

mf 

jk^^s^^iX 

w  ji -Mi* ^ 

m 

W  w            w ' 

the   West,   the  plol   affords  opportunity   for   several 
scenes,  a  chase  after  the  horse  "rustlers,"  an   attack 

M    cican  miners  on  the  h e  of  the  superintendent, 

explosion  of  a  powder  mine.    Of  course  i  verything  co 


prepared  by  Eugene  Mullin  and  was  produced  by  Wilfrid 
North. 

The  action,  or  the  greater  part  of  it,  occurs  in  the  Fara- 
day home  and  a  more  amusing  home  could  not  easily  he 
imagined.  It  makes  no  difference  whether  they  are  at  the 
breakfast  table  or  gathered  in  the  living  room,  the  Faradays 
amuse  one,  and  everyone  will  be  struck  with  the  truth  of  all 
these  incidents.  The  author  imagined  some  true  to  life  char- 
acters and  found  exaggeration  unnecessary  Foi  tin-  most 
part. 

An  outstanding  feature  of  this  picture'  is  the  excellent 
cast  which  has  been  chosen  to  enact  the  characters.  Lillian 
Walker  in  all  probability  has  never  done  anything  better  than 
Celia,  the'  daughter  who  has  waited  upon  everybody  so  will- 
ingly and  so  Ion-  that  the  other  members  of  the  family 
expect  everything  of  her.  In  portraying  this  role  Miss  Walker 
is  singularly  fine.  It  is  a  gratifying  pan  and  she  realizes  its 
possibilities  with  pleasing  ease. 

The  Story  takes  it>  title  from  the  custom  oj  a  rural  sec- 
tion of  England  that  the  eldesl  daughter  wear  a  pair  of  green 
stockings  at  the  wedding  oi  her  younger  sistiT.  Celia  is  the 
oldest  Faraday  girl  and  in  accordance  with  the  custom  she 
had  worn  green  stockings  when  Madge  was  married.  To 
gain  more  prestige'  in  the-  home  and  to  prevent  a  reoccurrence 
of  the  stocking  episode,  lor  Phyllis,  the  youngest  sister, 
threatens  to  marry,  Celia  announces  that  shc  js  engaged  to 
a  (  olonel  Smith.  It  happens  that  there  is  a  Colonel  Smith 
and    it    also    happens    that    these    two    meet    and    marry,    all    >>\ 

which  is  delightfully  told  in  "Green  Stockings." 

The  supporting  cast  is  composed  of  well-known  Vita- 
graph  players  who  tit  their  parts  remarkably  well.  Frank 
Currier  as   Mr.   Faraday  and    Louise    Beaudel   a>    \unt    I. la   fur- 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


nish  much  of  the  humor,  while  Stanley  Dark  as  Col.  Smith 
and  Charles  Brown  in  the  character  part  satisfy  thoroughly. 
Adele  De  Garde  is  particularly  good  as  Phyllis.  The  only 
fault  one  might  find  with  Phyllis  is  that  she  insists  upon 
marrying  Tarver.  Lillian  Burns,  John  T.  Kelly,  Denton  Vane 
and  Charles  Wellesley  are  included  in  the  cast.  The  produc- 
tion which  Mr.  Wilfrid  has  given  the  story  is  effective.  "Green 
Stockings"  is  an  exceedingly  enjoyable  picture  and  one 
which  will  please  generally. 


"The  Man  Inside" 

Broadway  Universal  Feature.     Five  Reels.     Released 
January  17.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THE  film  production  adapted  from  the  novel,  "The  Man 
Inside,"  contains  many  scenes  and  a  large  number  of  inci- 
dents. Dominating  them  and  unifying  the  play  is  the  figure 
of  Dana  Thornton,  the  "master  rogue,"  played  by  Edwin 
Stevens. 

Thornton  and  his  brother,  Barry,  are  in  Panama.  Impor- 
tant defense  plans  of  the  canal  are  stolen  and  sold  to  South 
American  governments..  Suspicion  points  to  Barry  Thornton, 
who  disappears.  Dana  returns  to  the  States.  Several  years 
have  elapsed  when  the  thread  of  the  story  is  taken  up  again. 
Dana  is  the  guardian  of  his  niece,  Eleanor,  Barry's  daughter. 
Although  she  was  a  little  child  when  her  father  went  away, 
she  still  longs  for  him.  The  father  of  her  friend  Cynthia, 
Senator  Carew,  tells  her,  at  a  ball,  that  he  knows  something 
about  the  mystery  of  her  father's  disappearance,  and  will  aid 
her  in  tracing  him.  A  few  hours  later  Carew  is  found  mur- 
dered in  his  machine,  and  there  is  another  mystery  to  solve. 

One  by  one,  various  leading  characters  fall  under  suspi- 
cion. Cynthia,  Carew's  daughter,  is  prostrated  by  the  shock 
for,  in  addition  to  grief  for  her  father,  she  bears  a  secret 
suspicion  of  her  lover,  Lieutenant  Lane,  who  had  told  her 
of  his  quarrel  with  her  father.  Then  there  is  Phil,  Carew's 
nephew,  a  weakling,  who  had  quarreled  with  his  uncle  about 
money.  In  the  meantime  we  see  Dana  Thornton  cleverly 
steal  state  papers,  and  we  see  him  bring  about  the  death  of 
Eleanor's  maid,  who  is  really  a  spy  and  who  has  learned  too 
much  for  Dana's  safety. 

Just  at  i  this  time,  the  long-lost  brother,  Barry,  returns 
home  secretly,  and  warns  the  old  servant,  who  recognizes 
him,  not  to  tell. 

Detectives  on  the  case  work  on  the  various  clues,  until 
Phil,  the  nephew,  alarmed  at  the  suspicion  which  rests  on 
him,  accuses  Eleanor,  whom  he  saw  run  away  from  the  Carew 
machine.  Eleanor  is  now  forced  to  tell  her  secret,  that  she 
saw  her  uncle,  Dana,  commit  the  crime.  At  the  same  time 
a  letter  which  Carew  had  written  comes  to  light  in  which  the 
various  crimes  of  Thornton  are  revealed.  This  furnishes  the 
motive  for  the  murder. 

Thornton  tries  to  escape.  In  his  machine  he  gains  a  lead 
on  his  pursuers.  Unseen  by  them  he  leaves  the  car  and 
returns  to  his  home.  The  detectives  follow  the  machine  he 
has  left.  It  goes  over  a  cliff,  and  the  detectives  return, 
believing  that  Thornton  is  killed.  Dana,  on  entering  his 
home,  meets  his  brother.  Barry  knows  that  Dana  killed 
Carew,  and  he  knows  of  Dana's  treason  to  his  country.  He 
gives  him  a  revolver  and  tells  him  there  is  only  one  honor- 
able way  to  escape.  Dana  kills  himself  just  as  his  pursuers 
return.  Barry  meets  them,  and  claims  his  daughter.  Dana, 
of  course,  had  been  the  real  thief  in  Panama,  and  had  had 
Barry  thrown  into  prison,  hoping  he  would  be  killed. 

While  interesting,  the  story  occasionally  lacks  clearness. 
The  scenes  are  short,  and  so  many  incidents  are  introduced 
that  there  is  a  rather  "choppy"  effect.  The  play  would  have 
been  improved  if  simplified.  The  play  is  well  cast.  Edwin 
Stevens,  featured  in  the  dual  role  of  the  Thornton  brothers. 
gives  a  good  performance,  although  occasionally  he  recalls 
too  strongly  the  conventional  villain  of  melodrama.  Justina 
Huff,  as  Cynthia  Crew,  has  several  bits  of  excellent  acting, 
and  Tina  Marshall  is  pleasing  as  Eleanor. 


"The  Tongues  of  Men" 

Morosco-Paramount     Offering     Featuring     Constance 
Collier.      Reviewed  by  Thomas   C.    Kennedy 

"THE  subject  dealt  with  in  "The  Tongues  of  Men,"  a  five- 
*  part  Morosco-Paramount  release  featuring  Constance  Col- 
lier, is  a  generally  interesting  one  and  in  this  picture  it  is 
treated  rather  effectively.    The  title  might  lead  one  to  suppose 


that  the  author  and  the  producers  were  taking  it  upon  them- 
selves to  preach  a  sermon.    Happily,  this  is  not  the  case. 

The  only  sermon  connected  with  "The  Tongues  of  Men" 
is  the  one  in  which  Rev.  Penfield  Sturgis  scores  the  new  opera 
and  makes  remarks  about  the  prima  donna's  personal  charac- 
ter. It  urges  men  not  to  pay  any  heed  to  rumors  involving- 
other  characters,  but  this  it  does  indirectly  through  the  telling 
of  an  interesting  and  realistic  story. 

An  operatic  star  creates  the  leading  role  in  a  new  opera. 
The  opening  performance  establishes  the  work,  for  it  is 
warmly  received.  The  following  Sunday  Rev.  Penfield  Sturgis, 
pastor  of  a  church  located  in  a  fashionable  part  of  the  city, 
denounces  the  opera  in  a  sermon,  claiming  it  to  be  blas- 
phemous, and  even  attacking  the  personal  character  of  the 
diva  who  sang  "Zaporah."  When  the  prima  donna  reads  a 
newspaper  account  of  the  sermon  she  is  little  short  of  enraged 
and  determines  to  make  the  sainted  one  "eat  his  sermon." 

Jane  Bartlett,  the  star,  then  visits  Sturgis,  and  upon  learn- 
ing that  he  has  not  even  seen  the  opera,  informs  him  that  it 
would  do  him  good  to  come  down  from  his  pedestal  and 
learn  something  about  the  people  he  preaches  about.  He  is 
impressed  and  visits  Jane  at  her  home.  One  night  he  attends 
a  performance  and  is  more  than  ever  horrified.  The  next  day 
he  again  publicly  attacks  the  opera,  and  as  a  result  its  future 
performance  is  prohibited.  Then  another  visit  to  Jane's  home 
teaches  him  that  she  is  of  noble  character  and  he  retracts  his 
former  denouncement.  By  this  time  rumor  has  connected  his 
name  with  that  of  the  singer.  Through  this  he  nearly  loses 
his  fiancee  and  his  place  in  the  church,  but  matters  right  them- 
selves and  in  the  end  all  concerned  are  happy. 

The  characters  are  all  likable  and  truly  drawn,  so  the  end- 
ing, which  is  a  sugar-coated  depiction  of  the  virtuous  re- 
warded, does  not  seem  over-sweet  because  of  a  sincere  inter- 
est in  them.  A  noteworthy  scene  in  this  picture  comes  when 
the  vestrymen  visit  Jane  and  their  condemnation  of  her  is 
overheard  by  Sturgis,  who  rushes  into  the  room  and  asks  her 
to  marry  him.  This  is  an  unexpected  turn  and  has  good  dra- 
matic effect. 

Miss  Collier  makes  much  of  her  opportunities  in  portray- 
ing the  opera  star.  She  is  an  actress  of  striking  beauty  and 
renders  a  convincing  characterization  of  a  type  of  woman  in 
whom  we  do  not  look  for  the  usual  or  commonplace  manner. 
Forrest  Stanley  has  a  part  which  shares  equally  with  the 
star's  in  prominence  and  plays  it  commendably.  Herbert 
Standing,  Elizabeth  Burbridge,  Lydia  Yeamans  Titus  and 
Helen  Eddy  impress  favorably.  Completing  the  cast  are 
Charles  Marriot,  Miss  Marlborough  and  John  McKinnon.  The 
picture  is  handsomely  and  artistically  produced.  The  interior 
sets  are  especially  pleasing  to  the  eye,  while  the  action  placed 
in  the  opera  house  has  the  atmosphere  of  the  real.  Photog- 
raphy and  lighting  is  in  keeping  with- the  high  quality  of  the 
production. 


"The  Woman  in  Politics" 

Thanhouser's  Mutual  Master-Picture  of  Jan.   13,  Re- 
viewed by  Neil  G.  Caward 

BY  skillful  cutting  back  and  forth  between  a  real  fire  of 
gigantic  size  and  a  studio-set  arranged  to  depict  the  in- 
side of  the  burning  building,  as  well  as  two  or  three  close-up 
views  of  a  smaller  structure,  apparently  being  consumed  by 
the  flames,  some  truly  out  of  the  ordinary  fire  scenes  are  ob- 
tained in  "The  Woman  in  Politics,"  the  five-reel  Thanhouser 
offering  of  January  13,  as  a  Mutual  Master-Picture. 

Mignon  Anderson  is  featured  in  the  leading  role,  that 
of  a  woman  employee  of  a  city  health  department,  who  finds 
that  the  office  in  which  she  works  is  hampered  by  graft  and 
that,  consequently,  instead  of  performing  the  service  for 
which  it  was  established,  it  is  winking  at  law  violation  and 
openly  allowing  insanitary  and  unhealthful  conditions  to 
exist  in  the  city. 

The  young  woman,  balked  in  her  attempt  to  really  act 
in  her  capacity  as  a  health  inspector  and  finding  that  she  is 
discharged  for  attention  to  duty,  resolves  to  expose  the 
grafters  and  give  the  city  a  real  health  inspection  service 
such  as  it  is  entitled  to. 

It  is  this  role  of  the  woman  in  politics  that  gives  the 
picture  its  title  and  while  some  exhibitors,  judging  from  the 
title  alone,  may  surmise  the  picture  to  be  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  woman's  suffrage,  they  will  be  happily  disappointed 
to  discover  that  it  is  a  sterling  melodrama,  excellently  acted, 
splendidly  photographed  and  with  enough  punch  in  its  telling 
to  make  it  a'  feature  offering  of  de  luxe  quality. 

Arthur    Bauer   interprets    the    role   of   the    mayor,    Ernest 


196 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  4. 


Howard  appears  as  the  governor  and  George  Mario  plays  the 
juevnile  role  of  the  governor's  secretary,  who  aids  the  woman 
in  politics  in  her  cause.  W.  Eugene  Moore  as  a  ward  heeler 
health  officer  plays  a  splendid  "bit"  and  one  that  stands  out, 
despite  the  fact  that  his  part  is  not  a  really  important  one. 
The  young  doctor,  after  visiting  a  tenement  and   finding 


The  dim 


<•  from    Than) 


•   Wo 


I    Politi 


that  not  only  are  the  tenants  ill,  but  that  the  conditions  sur- 
rounding them  are  both  unhealthful  and  unsafe,  makes  a  re- 
port to  her  superior  officer  and  is  amazed  when  she  is  told 
that  the  tenement  in  question  is  owned  by  the  mayor  and 
that  consequently  her  report  will  he  ignored. 

After  threatening  to  publish  in  the  local  newspaper  the 
secret  of  the  real  reason  for  her  failure  to  better  conditions, 
she  is  told  that  the  newspaper  likewise  is  controlled  by  the 
mayor  and  a  few  days  later  she  is  discharged. 

The  young  doctor  next  writes  the  governor  asking  for 
the  impeachment  of  the  mayor  and  then  proceeds  inde- 
pendently of  the  health  department,  to  seek  to  remedy  con- 
ditions in  the  tenement  she  investigated. 

Fearing  she  will  spoil  their  opportunities  for  graft,  the 
mayor  arranges  with  some  of  his  subordinates  to  compromise 
her  in  a  hotel  room,  but  when  this  plan  is  foiled,  seeks  still 
another  way  of  "getting  something  on  her."  She  is  in  the 
tenement  district  when  a  fire  breaks  out  and  after  being 
rescued  by  the  governor's  secretary,  of  whose  identity  she  is 
ignorant,  she  is  kidnaped  by  minions  of  the  mayor  and 
taken  to  a  distant  sanitarium,  where  she  is  held  a  prisoner. 

The  governor's  secretary  succeeds  in  rescuing  her  and 
on  the  day  when  the  mayor's  impeachment  comes  before  the 
governor  she  gives  testimony  which  results  in  the  grafting 
mayor  and  his  accomplices  being  sent  to  the  penitentiary. 


"Jeanne  Dore" 

Sarah     Bernhardt     in     Bluebeard     Feature     Released 
January  24.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

DLUEBIRD  FEATURES  begin  ambitiously  by  starring  in 
LJ  the  first  release  Sarah,  the  Divine,  called  the  greatest  of 
living  actresses  and  one  of  the  greatest  tragediennes  of  all  time. 
In  "Jeanne  Dore"  Mme.  Bernhardt  makes  her  first  appearance 
since  the  operation  in  which  one  leg  was  amputated,  but  those 
who  expect  to  find  in  the  picture  a  sort  of  "freak"  attraction, 
featuring  a  woman  of  over  seventy  in  an  incongruous  role,  will 
be  agreeably  surprised,  And  they  will  be  glad  of  this  production, 
which  will  give  to  main  people  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  great 
actress  in  a  role  which  gives  them  some  idea,  at  least,  of  the 
reason  she  is  called  great. 

The  theme  of  the  story  is  a  simple  one  and  as  old  as  mother 

love,  the  story  of  tile  woman  who  devotes  her  life  to  her  son, 
and    when    he    proves    himself    a    weakling,    is    Still    true    to    him, 

even  to  the  gallow  s. 

Jeanne  Don  is  lefl  alon<  to  support  her  little  son,  Jacques, 
when  her  gambler  husband,  after  losing  his  own  and  her  for- 
tune, shirks  the  penaltj  bj  suicide.  Jeanne  keeps  a  little  con 
fectionery  stand  and  manages  to  give  her  son  certain  advan- 
tages.    He  is  an  attractive  youth,  but   unworldly,  and   falls  an 

easy    victim    to   an    unscrupulous    woman,    Louise.      Louise,    who   is 

married,  has   spenl   money  her  husband  lefl   in  trust   with  her, 

and   she   fears  his  return.     Jacques  asks  his  mother   for  money  to 

I      .use    and    his    mother    refuses.       He    goes    to    his    uncle    to 

plead    for    it,    and    his    unci,     tells    him    a    few    fact,    abOUl     I  OUJSI 


Maddened  by  his  infatuation.  Jacques  strikes  the  old  man,  who 
is  killed  by  the  blow. 

Jacques  returns  home.  In  the  morning  the  report  of  the 
murder  is  spread  through  the  village.  Jeanne,  who  has  worried 
since  Jacques  left  her  to  seek  his  uncle,  at  once  guesses  the  ter- 
rible truth  that  her  son  is  the  murderer.  She  aids  him  in  his 
attempt  to  escape,  but,  returning  to  see  Louise,  he  is  captured, 
tried  and  condemned  to  die.  At  the  last  he  has  one  request, 
that  his  mother  persuade  Louise  to  visit  him  in  prison  before 
his  execution.  Jeanne,  for  her  son's  sake,  humbles  her  pride 
and  asks  this  favor  of  Louise.  She  is  refused  by  the  heartless 
woman,  and  the  mother,  to  give  her  son  whatever  happiness  she 
can,  gives  him  a  rose  through  the  little  window  of  his  cell, 
telling  him  it  is  Louise  who  gives  it,  with  her  love. 

While  the  technique  of  screen  and  spoken  drama  differ  in 
many  respects,  Bernhardt  succeeds  in  "registering"  emotions 
powerfully  before  the  camera.  Perhaps  her  best  bit  of  acting  is 
in  the  scene  where  the  village  people  tell  her  of  the  murder. 
She  sinks  quietly  into  a  chair,  terror  stricken  by  her  instant 
suspicion  of  the  murderer.  She  gains  her  effects  quietly  through 
the   play,   seldom   resorting   to   violent   emotionalism. 

There  are  several  interesting  bits  of  directing  in  the  picture. 
One  is  the  scene  when  Jeanne  enters  her  son's  room  after  the 
murder.  The  boy  is  seen  trying  to  remove  evidence  of  his  guilt 
from,  his  clothing.  The  mother,  as  she  enters,  is  reflected  in  a 
mirror.  In  this  way  the  faces  of  both  actors  are  clearly  shown, 
though  theyr  are  facing  each  other.  The  last  scenes,  the  prepa- 
ration for  the  execution,  are  harrowing.  They  are  beautifully 
handled,  however.  The  courtyard,  where  the  execution  will  take 
place,  is  seen  through  a  wide  window,  until  the  last  moment. 
Then  Jeanne  appears  at  the  window,  the  camera  is  directed 
toward  her,  and  Jacques'  death  is  shown  only  as  mirrored  in 
the  face  of  his  mother. 

The  camera  is  kinder  to  Bernhardt  than  some  of  the  act- 
resses, long  past  youth,  who  have  appeared  before  it.  It  is  kind 
to  her  in  another  way,  also,  in  this  picture,  for  the  scenes  are 
arranged  so  that,  except  in  a  few  instances  where  she  is 
bowed  down  with  grief  and  can  be  aided  naturally  by  other 
players,  Bernhardt  does  not  need  to  walk.  So  cleverly  are  the 
scenes  arranged  that  this  would  not  be  noticed  if  the  fact  that 
the  actress   is  crippled  were  not  known. 

The  supporting  cast  is  good.  The  local  color  of  the  little 
French  town  is  interesting,  and  the  photography  of  the  exteriors 
very  beautiful. 


"Mice  And  Men" 

A  Famous  Players-Paramount  with  Marguerite  Clark 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

IN  THE  Famous  Players  production,  "Mice  and  Men."  this 
*  week's  attraction  at  the  Strand  theater,  New  York,  one  can 
find  two  features  which  fully  justify  the  selection  of  Madeline 
Lucette  Ryley's  well-known  romance  for  screen  adaptation.  One 
is  the  opportunity   it  gives   Marguerite   Clark,  and  the  other   is 


irgiwritt  Clark 


the  apt  material  for  securing  artistic  and  altogether  alluring 
effects  with  which  it  presents  Director  J.  Searle  Dawley.  *  hi 
these  two  accounts  the  storj  is  good.  It  is  a  simple  play,  so 
simple   that   one   is   hard   put   to   understand    how    it    can    be   made 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


to  last  for  five  reels,  yet  there  are  five  reels  of  the  most  beautiful 
scenes  and  delightful  episodes. 

Marguerite  Clark  never  fails  to  charm.  Her  charm  is  un- 
restricted;  for  the  old  and  young  of  both  genders  are  subject 
to  her  beauty  and  inherent  appeal  to  the  finest  emotions.  In 
"Mice  and  Men"  she  is  a  foundling  adopted  by  a  bachelor  with 
some  set  ideas  about  womankind,  who  does  this  in  the  belief 
that  to  adopt  in  childhood  and  educate  her  according  to  his 
ideals  is  the  only  way  he  will  ever  realize  the  woman  he  wishes 
to  marry.  Whether  it  comes  about  through  his  training  or  not, 
Peggy  turns  out  to  be  a  most  lovely  young  woman. 

The  action  is  laid  in  Virginia  and  the  time  is  1847,  conse- 
quently it  is  a  picturesque  subject,  and  Mr.  Dawley  surely  has 
an  eye  for  the  picturesque.  The  locations  he  has  chosen  and 
his  fine  artistry  in  grouping  the  characters  in  the  scenes  are  a 
constant  pleasure  to  the  eye,  and  the  worth  of  these  effects  to 
the  finished  production  cannot  be  overestimated.  The  camera- 
man deserves  praise  for  the  high  character  of  his  work. 

Marshall  Neilan  is  effective  as  Lieutenant  Lovell,  the  nephew 
of  the  bachelor  who  adopts  Peggy.  Lovell  wins  the  girl  after 
proving  himself  entirely  worthy  by  refusing  to  accept  the  affec- 
tion which  a  woman,  married  to  a  man  greatly  older  than  she, 
offers  him.  In  his  scenes  with  Miss  Clark,  Neilan  supports  her 
splendidly. 

Charles  Waldron  is  impressive  as  Mark  Embury.  Embury  ap- 
parently puts  no  great  faith  in  women,  and  his  stand  is  upheld  in 
the  eyes  of  the  spectator  by  the  actions  of  his  friend's  wife. 
The  friend,  during  a  visit,  tells  Embury  that  his  wife  is  the 
very  soul  of  honor,  and  at  that  very  moment  she  is  in  the  other 
room  directing  glances  full  to  the  brim  with  meaning  at  young 
Lovell.  Helen  Dahl  and  Clarence  Handyside  have  the  other 
important  parts,  whose  opportunities  they  make  the  most  of. 
'Mice  and  Men"  has  some  delightful  humor,  heightenel  by  pathos. 
It  is  a  picture  whose  delicate  charm  cannot  be  denied  and  one 
that  can  be  recommended  heartily. 


A  Parisian  Romance 

Fox  Feature  Film.     Five  Reels.     Released  January  9, 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

WELL 


A  WELL  balanced  cast  of  able  players,  an  interesting 
story  which  gives  each  actor  opportunity  for  acting  and 
characterization,  "beautiful  settings,  above  all,  wonderful  at- 
tention given  to  the  details,  these  combine  to  make  "A 
Parisian  ^Romance"  a  production  any  company  may  be  proud 
to  offer. 

Cooper  Cliffe  and  Dorothy  Green  are  featured,  Chffe 
as  the  Baron  Chevrial,  Richard  Mansfield's  great  role,  Miss 
Green  as  Rosa,  dancer  of  the  Opera  Comique.  the  only  one 
of  the  baron's  numerous  conquests  who  can  hold  him  at  all 
times.  The  story  of  the  play  is  the  story  of  an  old  dandy 
who  has  spent  his  life  and  his  fortune  in  the  pursuit  of 
feminine  loveliness  in  any  and  '  every  station  of  life.  At 
seventy,  with  the  shadow  of  death  upon  him,  he  still  leaves 
everything  else  to  follow  every  pretty  woman  who  comes  to 
his  attention. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  play  he  is  deeply  infatuated  with 
the  dancer  Rosa.  This  does  not  prevent  his  admiration  for 
Therese,  the  young  daughter  of  M.  Beauchamp,  and  he  asks 
her  hand  .in  marriage.  Therese  is  already  engaged  to  Henri 
de  Targy,  the  son  of  M.  Beauchamp's  partner,  but  owing  to 
his  financial  losses,  M.  Beauchamp  breaks  this  engagement 
and  gives  his  little  daughter  to  the  baron.  Therese  and  Henri 
are  heart-broken,  but  being  French,  they  obey  their  parents, 
and  the  marriage  of  the  young  girl  and  the  old  man  takes 
place.  On  their  wedding  day,  Rosa  calls  at  the  baron's  home, 
derides  the  young  bride  still  in  her  wedding  finery,  and  wins 
the  promise  of  the  baron  not  to  leave  Paris,  even  for  a  bridal 
trip. 

Meanwhile  the  firm  of  Beauchamp  and  de  Targy  continue 
to  lose  financially.  At  last  de  Targy  confesses  that  he  has 
been  robbing  his  partner.  M.  Beauchamp,  burdened  by  his 
worries,  dies,  and  not  long  after  de  Targy  follows  him.  Henri, 
although  he  has  never  forgotten  Therese,  marries  Marcelle,  a 
frivolous  creature  with  yearnings  to  be  an  opera  singer. 
Henri,  his  fortune  gone,  becomes  the  secretary  of  the  Baron 
Chevrial,  who  at  once  falls  in  love  with  Marcelle.  Marcelle 
repulses  the  old  dandy  but  later  runs  away  with  an  opera 
tenor.  When  he  leaves  her,  after  several  months,  she  kills 
herself,  and  Henri  is  free.  Against  his  doctor's  orders,  the 
"baron,  gallant  to  the  end,  arises  from  a  sick  bed  to  attend 
Rose's  birthlay  party,  and  falls  dead  drinking  her  health.  So 
Therese  and  Henri  are  re-united. 

The  acting  of  Cooper  Cliffe  is  excellent  throughout.   With 


delicacy  and  skill  he  suggests  the  feeble  old  man,  who  is  yet 
an  "exquisite"  in  dress  and  manner.  Evil  he  is,  to  be  sure, 
but  never  coarse.  Both  body  and  morals  are  diseased,  but 
good  taste  never  fails  him. 

Credit    is    due    Miss    Green    not    only    for    her    delightful 


Rosa   -wheedles   Baron    Chevrial   into   faying    her    milliner's   bills. 

presentation  of  Rosa,  but  because  she  has  broken  away  from 
the  familiar  adventuress  type  which  has  become  conventional 
on  the  screen.  Miss  Green  is  not  "a  vampire,"  she  is  Rosa,  a 
distinct,  living  personality.  She  has  humor  and  can  be  de- 
lightful, when  she  chooses.  She  is  hard,  evil,  at  times,  and 
Miss  Green  suggests  this  very  well,  without  exaggeration  or 
coarseness. 

Still  another  good  piece  of  acting  is  shown  by  Dion 
Titheradge,  who,  as  Henri,  presents  a  straightforward  young 
man  of  character,  who  suffers  deeply  but  quietly.  Margaret 
Skirvin  handles  the  part  of  Therese  nicely,  and  the  balance  of 
the  cast  is  up  to  standard. 

The  play  is  beautiful  throughout.  The  photography  is 
particularly  delightful  in  the  outdoor  scenes,  and  much  care 
has  been  taken  with  the  rich  interiors. 


"The  Catspaw" 

Kleine-Edison    Production    Released    January    12 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

f\F  much  importance  to  the  success  of  Edison's  "The  Cats- 
^-J  paw,"  released  January  12  through  the  Kleine-Edison  serv- 
ice, is  the  acting  of  Miriam  Nesbitt  and  Marc  MacDermott, 
two  accomplished  screen  favorites  who  have  not  been  seen 
together  this  long  while.  It  is  pleasing  to  see  them  together 
again    for    more    than    sentimental    reasons.     Mr.     MacDermott 


in  the  dual  role  of  society  crook  and  his  imposed  upon  double, 
and  Miss  Nesbitt  as  Roxane,  St.  John's  charming  and  efficient 
confederate,  put  their  opportunities  to  admirable  use. 

George  Wright,  who  will  be  remembered  for  the  many  fine 


198 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  4. 


characterizations  he  contributed  to  former  Edison  offerings. 
produced  "The  Catspaw"  from  the  story  by  William  Hamilton 
Osborne.  This  is  Mr.  Wright's  first  production  and  his  work 
justifies  the  one  responsible  for  his  appointment  to  the  Edison 
directorial  staff.  It  is  a  finely  produced  picture  and  it  will  win 
much  praise  for  Mr.  Wright. 

"The  Catspaw"  tells  a  fascinating  story  dealing  with  a  crook 
of  marked  ability  in  his  "calling."  It  is  a  consistently  good 
picture  because  it  is  so  interesting.  From  beginning  to  end  it 
holds  the  interest  and  one  or  two  situations  are  thrilling,  which 
is  reason  enough  for  pronouncing  it  a  good  photoplay.  The 
action  is  continuous  and  the  unexpected  happens  frequently. 

In  the  town  of  Milville,  St.  John  meets  Roxane  Bellairs, 
his  confederate,  and  together  they  decide  to  make  a  clean-up. 
Roxane  is  given  her  instructions,  the  carrying  out  of  which  cost 
Major  Holbrook,  wealthy  man  of  prominence  in  the  town,  some 
thousands  of  dollars,  and  St.  John  has  a  scheme  which  he  keeps 
a  secret  from  her.  He  searches  successfully  for  his  double  and 
fortunately  the  double  is  out  of  employment.  Therefore  he  ac- 
cepts St.  John's  proposition  to  impersonate  him  at  the  social 
affairs  given  by  the  elite  of  Milville. 

While  the  double  attends  and  pays  court  to  a  pretty  girl 
St.  John  robs  banks  and  other  places.  On  one  or  two  occasions 
he  is  seen  and  recognized,  but  there  is  always  the  alibi.  One  of 
the  conditions  is  that  the  double  is  not  to  read  the  papers,  so  he 
knows  nothing  of  the  robberies.  Roxane  becomes  jealous  be- 
cause of  the  attention  the  double,  whom  she  believes  is  St.  John, 
shows  Dorothy  Paget,  and  she  informs  the  police.  St.  John  is 
arrested,  but  he  gets  away  very  cleverly.  Then  the  double  has 
a  hard  time  proving  that  he  is  not  St.  John  in  court,  and  by 
the  time  he  does  the  crook  and  Roxane  are  speeding  away  in  a 
fast  auto. 

The  double  exposure  scenes  are  remarkably  fine  and  the 
settings  throughout  are  appropriate.  Prominent  in  the  cast  are 
Grace  Morrissey,  James  Harris,  Brad  Sutton,  Harry  Etynge 
and  William  Wadsworth. 


Muldoon  Watches  Himself  Act 

William  Muldoon.  who  was  at  one  time  champion 
wrestler  of  the  world  and  whose  articles  on  health  and 
health  building  now  appear  in  many  newspapers 
throughout  the  country,  recently  viewed  a  motion  pic- 
ture for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  and  it  was  a  picture 
in  which  he  himself  appeared. — "The  Other  Girl."  the 
Raver  Film  Corporation's  production. 

When  asked  how  he  felt  when  he  saw  himself  on 
the  screen,  Mr.  Muldoon  said:  "I  believe  motion  pic- 
tures to  be  the  greatest  invention  of  modern  times.  It 
is  the  first  time  I  have  ever  seen  myself  as  I  really  am. 
I  believe  that  if  a  man  has  any  conceit  in  him  he  should 
see  himself  in  motion  pictures  and  he  should  look  at 
them  in  the  midst  of  a  big  audience.  It  is  really  the 
nearest  to  stage  fright  I  have  ever  felt  in  my  life.  You 
know  you  sort  of  wonder  what  everybody  else  thinks. 
They  tell  you  a  lot  of  nice  things,  but  I  know  humans 
too  well  to  believe  everything  they  say.  They  cannot 
fool  you  in  these  motion  pictures,  though,  because 
they  stand  in  front  of  you  as  big  as  life.  There  were 
a  good  many  little  things  I  wish  I  had  done  and  there 
were  some  more  I  wish  I  hadn't  done.  But  I  guess 
old  experienced  actors  also  feel  that  way  about  it  when 
they  view  their  work.  I  know,  though,  that  Mr.  Raver 
has  to  let  me  have  a  print  of  those  scenes  in  which  I 
appear  and  views  of  my  farm  so  that  I  can  run  them 
out  at  my  farm  and  kind  of  get  used  to  myself." 

James  J.  Corbett  is  being  starred  in  the  play. 


"Weapons  of  War" 

Fifth  Episode  of  Pathe-Balboa  Serial,  "The  Red  Circle" 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

CPISODE  number  five  of  Pathe's  "The  Red  Circle"  serves  to 
*"  introduce  some  new  characters  into  the  story,  which  up  to 
this  point  has  concerned  itself  with  June  Travis'  inherited 
desire  to  steal  and  Max  Lamar's  futile  efforts  to  run  down  the 
thief  who  stole  the  loan  shark's  notes.  The  new  character  of 
most  importance  is  "Smiling"  Joe  Egan,  a  crook,  who  June 
believes  has  reformed,  but  in  truth  has  not. 

The  cobbler's  scheme  to  use  the  red  circle  in  some  future 
deal  would  make  it  seem  as  though  he  and  his  confederate, 
Alma  La  Salle,  whose  name  renders  it  needless  to  say  that  she 
is  an  adventuress,  will  furnish  some  interesting  situations  in  the 
chapters  to  follow  and  at  the  same  time  make  matters  more 
difficult  for  Lamar.  "Smiling"  Joe  is  seen  in  the  person  of 
Andrew  Arbuckle,  a  character  actor  who  is  admirably  suited  to 
the  part. 

"Weapons  of  War"  is  the  title  of  the  release.  It  opens 
with  the  butler,  Mary  and  Mrs.  Travis  searching  June's  room 
for  the  man  the  Jap  saw  climbing  to  the  balcony  of  the  house. 
June  secretes  her  strange  attire  and  all  three  leave  her  apart- 
ment in  a  quandary.  They  reproach  the  butler  for  frightening 
them  and  accuse  him  of  having  seen  things. 

The  Travises  move  to  their  seashore  home.  While  wander- 
ing along  the  beach  to  discover  a  place  to  dispose  of  her  men's 
clothes,  June  overhears  two  men  discussing  the  sale  of  a 
formula  for  some  high  explosive.  She  reaches  her  hand  in 
the  window  of  the  shack  and  takes  the  paper.  Her  hand  with 
the  circle  on  it  is  seen  by  both  men.  She  makes  off  with  the 
formula  and  destroys  it. 

Ruth  Roland  as  June  Travis  and  Frank  Mayo  as  Max  Lamar 
continue  to  live  up  to  the  standards  they  have  set  for  them- 
selves, and  are  given  good  support  by  C'orenne  Grant,  Mollic 
McConnell,  Gordon  Sackvill  and  Makoto  fnokuchi. 


Paul  Gilmore,  the  illustrious  matinee  idol,  is  fea- 
tured in  the  leading  role  of  the  Knickerbocker  Star 
feature,  a  three-reel  photodrama,  entitled  "The 
Houses  of  Mystery,"  released  on  the  General  Film 
program  Friday,  January  21.  Mr.  Gilmore  needs  no 
introduction  to  filmdom  or  the  theater-going  public. 
In  this  particular  picture  Mr.  Gilmore  certainly  demon- 
strates the  versatility  for  which  he  is  noted. 


Herrington's  Message  to  New  York 

To  the  Exhibitors  of  New  York  :  It  is  your  duty  to  arrange 
to  attend  the  convention  at  Albany.  N.  Y.,  March  1  and  2,  1916. 
As  there  are  many  things  in  the  form  of  unjust  legislation  to 
come  before  the  legislators  of  your  state,  and  as  the  legislature 
will  be  in  session  at  the  time  of  holding  the  convention,  you  owe 
it  to  yourself  and  your  business  to  attend  the  meeting  and  help 
the  organized  exhibitors  of  your  state  defeat  the  state  censor 
bill,  also  the  Sunday  closing  bill.  If  you  are  not  there,  and 
those  that  are  there  are  not  powerful  enough  to  kill  these  bills, 
do  not  find  fault  with  the  lawmakers.  It  would  be  your  fault, 
as  you  have  not  done  your  part :  so  come  to  Albany  and  stand 
shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  men  that  will  be  there  looking 
after  your  best  interests. 

If  the  exhibitors  would  only  attend  the  convention  and  stand 
as  a  phalanx  before  those  men  who  make  the  laws  that  govern 
your  business  and  let  them  know  that  as  individuals  you  recognize 
your  weakness,  but  with  a  united  body  you  have  the  power  of 
your  screen,  in  the  future  those  men  will  be  careful  as  to  the 
form  of  legislation  they  present.  But  if  you  are  not  there,  do 
not  blame  them,  blame  yourself.  And  in  the  future  don't  ask, 
"What  good  is  the  league,  or  what  is  it  doing  for  me?"  Your 
absence  from  the  Albany  convention  will  be  proof  that  the 
Exhibitors'  League  is  doing  more  for  you  than  you  are  doing 
for  yourself. 

So  make  up  your  mind  to  be  there  and  let  the  politicians 
know  that  you  are  alive  to  your  own  interests  and  are  only 
asking  for  that  which  is  just  and  right,  the  same  as  is  conceded 
to  all  other  legitimate  business,  and  to  demand  that  the  picture 
should  l>e  as  free  as  the  press  or  the  speech. 

In  closing,  I  wish  to  state  there  are  bills  pending  before 
the  national  congress,  and  your  strength  and  action  at  the  New 
York  state  convention  will  have  a  great  effect  in  determining 
how  the  congressmen  and  the  United  States  senators  from  your 
state  will  act  on  the  national  legislation.  So  again  I  ask  you  not 
to  forget  the  convention  at  Alham  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday. 
March    1    and  2,    1916. 

Yours   for  one  united  organization  of  exhibitors, 

Fred  .1.  Herrington, 
President  Motion  Picture   Exhibitors'   League  of  America. 


I'hin  Nares,  who  has  been  acting  in  Casino  Star 
comedies  for  the  Gaumont  company,  plans  to  leave 
in  a  few  weeks  for  California,  where  he  intends  to 
make   his  home. 


January  22,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


199 


Metro  Artiste  Makes  Scenarios 

Carlotta  De  Felice,  the  talented  leading  woman  now 
playing  in  Metro  feature  productions,  is  one  of  the  few 
artists  to  succeed  as  a  scenario  writer.  While  waiting 
for  a  role  in  another  Rolfe-Metro  feature,  she  has  gone 
to  the  Adirondacks  to  complete  some  scripts.  Miss  De 
Felice  has  a  cabin  all  her  own.  with  the  nearest  neigh- 
bor eight  miles  away.  ,She  lives  alone  while  engaged  in 
writing,  and  has  for  a  sole  companion  her  dog  "Secret." 
The  excursions  to  the  Adirondacks  serve  a  double  pur- 
pose for  Miss  De  Felice,  for  besides  writing,  she  returns 
in  fine  physical  condition  and  fit  for  the  strenuous  work 
in  the  pictures. 

Miss  De  Felice  has  been  appearing  before  the  pub- 
lic ever  since  she  was  four  years  old.  As  a  child  she  was 
known  as  "Baby  Carlotta,"  a  toe  dancer,  when  she  per- 
formed in  all  parts  of  the  world.  Her  last  Metro  picture 
was  "One  Million  Dollars,"  when  she  appeared  as  Wil- 
liam Faversham's  leading  woman. 


Betty  Hart  Is  Featured 

In  the  "copy"  announcing  the  release  of  David 
Horsley's  five-reel  Mutual  Masterpicture,  de  luxe  edi- 
tion, "The  Bait,"  on  January  22,  Miss  Margaret  Gib- 
son was  mentioned  as  co-star  with  William  Clifford. 
This  was  due  to  an  unintentional  error.  The  leading 
role  in  "The  Bait"  is  played  by  Miss  Betty  Hart,  a 
photoplayer  of  rare  ability  and  with  a  large  following, 
who  gives  in  this  release  one  of  her  finest  characteri- 
zations. The  correction  is  made  in  justice  to  Miss 
Hart. 


War  Pictures  Placed  by  Magie 

George  Magie,  well  known  exchangeman,  has 
placed  "On  the  Firing  Line  with  the  Germans"  with 
the  Minneapolis  Journal  and  the  picture  will  be  shown 
at  the  Strand  theater  of  that  city.  The  Chicago  Daily 
News  handles  it  in  the  Windy  City,  the  picture  show- 
ing at  the  Fine  Arts  theater.  The  St.  Louis  Times  and 
the  Westliche  Post  uses  the  story,  with  the  picture  at 
the  Garrick  theater  of  that  city,  and  in  St.  Paul  the  Daily 
News  has  the  story  and  the  Strand  theater  the  picture, 
while  in  Omaha  the  World-Herald  was  selected  and  the 
picture  will  be  shown  at  the  Brandies  theater. 


Bray  Cartoons  Now  Ready 

"Colonel  Heeza  Liar's  Waterloo"  is  the  first  of 
J.  R.  Bray's  Cartoon  Films  to  be  released  through  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation.  The  offering  con- 
sists of  about  six  hundred  feet  of  Mr.  Bray's  cartoon 
and  four  hundred  of  Raymond  L.  Ditmar's  Zoo  pic- 
tures. All  of  the  subtitles  for  the  cartoon  are  written 
in  doggerel  by  George  R.  Meeker.  L.  N.  Glackens' 
cartoon  comedy,  "Haddem  Bad's  Elopement,"  will  be 
the  next  release  of  the  Bray  studios  on  January  13. 


McRae  Postpones  Oriental  Tour 

Henry  McRae  with  his  company  of  Universal  play- 
ers, who  had  booked  passage  on  an  Oriental  steamer 
bound  for  the  Philippines,  has  had  to  change  the  plan. 
Just  as  he  arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  the  date  of  sail- 
ing for  the  far  east,  a  telegram  from  Carl  Laemmle, 
president  of  the  Universal  Company,  advised  him  to 
return  to  Los  Angeles  and  resume  operations  at  the 


Universal  City  studios,  where  it  is  announced  that 
McRae  is  to  direct  a  great  feature  production  in  which 
his  extensive  knowledge  is  a  necessity. 

A  few  weeks  ago  McRae  left  Universal  City, 
where  he  was  director-general,  intending  to  tour  the 
Philippines  and  Japan,  filming  scenes  there  for  "Onda 
of  the  Orient"  and  other  plays  requiring  an  oriental 
atmosphere.  Although  to  direct  the  new  production 
at  Universal  City  is  held  a  big  honor,  McRae  is  dis- 
appointed in  not  making  the  extensively  planned  ori- 
ental tour. 


Robert  Harron  in  the  East 

Robert  Harron,  co-star  of  the  Triangle-Fine  Arts 
play,  "The  Missing  Links,"  and  featured  with  Mae 
Marsh  in  "Hoodoo  Ann,"  came  east  during  the  holi- 
days on  the  sad  errand  of  bringing  to  New  York  the 
body  of  his  brother  for  burial.  Charles  Harron  was 
killed  Christmas  Eve  as  the  result  of  a  Fine  Arts  auto- 
mobile turning  turtle  at  the  corner  of  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal down-town  streets  of  Los  Angeles.  He  was  a 
year  older  than  Robert  and  had  been  his  inseparable 
companion  ever  since  D.  W.  Griffith  brought  the  young 
actor  out  to  the  West  Coast. 


Pathe  Uses  Real  Theater  A.s  Set 

On  the  night  of  January  3,  Pathe  put  over  a  new 
stunt  at  the  Republic  theater.  New  York,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  A.  H.  Woods,  the  theatrical  producer.  As 
soon  as  the  curtain  was  rung  down  at  11  o'clock  on 
"Common  Clay,"  producer  Fitzmaurice  with  his  play- 
ers, Fania  Marinoff,  John  Miltern  and  many  extras 
came  in  and  took  possession  of  the  theater.  Special 
lights  were  installed  and  some  twenty  scenes  taken 
in  jig  time.  In  order  to  carry  out  the  realism  the  floor 
of  the  theater  was  crowded  with  extras  and  friends 
of  various  Pathe  officials.  Mr.  Woods  himself  was 
present  and  gave  many  valuable  hints  as  to  detail. 
The  picture  is  "New  York,"  an  adaptation  of  one  of 
Mr.  Woods'  theatrical  productions. 


F.  G.  Bradford  Goes  South 

To  get  into  close  touch  with  the  manifold  activi- 
ties of  the  companies  at  the  Gaumont  winter  quarters, 
General  Manager  F.  G.  Bradford  has  gone  to  Jack- 
sonville, Florida,  to  spend  two  weeks  there.  Three 
Mutual  Masterpictures  are  in  work  at  the  present  time, 
and  Mr.  Bradford  will  have  the  opportunity  of  seeing 
them  while  they  are  being  filmed.  These  productions 
are  "The  Dead  Alive"  with  Marguerite  Courtot,  "The 
Drifter"  with  Alexander  Gaden  and  Lucille  Taft,  and 
"I  Accuse !"  with  Gertrude  Robinson  and  Alexander 
Gaden. 


Middleton  to  Make  Masterpictures 

Having  completed  the  present  series  of  Casino 
Star  comedies  being  released  as  Mutual  pictures,  Di- 
rector Edwin  Middleton  will  turn  his  back  on  the 
Gaumont  studio  at  Flushing,  New  York,  this  week  for 
the  more  congenial  climate  of  Jacksonville,  Florida. 
On  his  arrival  at  the  metropolis  of  Florida  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton will  take  up  the  Gaumont  direction  of  Mutual 
Masterpictures,  de  luxe  edition,  in  association  with 
Richard  Garrick,  William  F.  Haddock,  and  Henry  J. 
Vernot,  who  are  already  making  Gaumont  pictures 
there. 


200 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Dorothy  Bernard  with  Fox  Company 

Dorothy  Bernard,  who.  since  the  age  of  two,  when 
she  appeared  with  Roland  Reed,  has  been  in  the 
public  eye,  now  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  one 
of  the  most  popular  of  William  Fox's  galaxy  of  film 
stars.  Is  Miss  Ber- 
nard was  practically 
born  in  the  atmos- 
phere of  the  theater, 
it  is  but  natural  she 
should  adopt  this 
calling  as  her  life 
work.  In  fact,  her 
schooling  was  fre- 
quently interrupted 
by  a  d  v  a  n  t  a  g  e  ous 
theatrical  engage- 
ments that  tempted 
her  away  from  her 
books.  She  gained 
her  most  valuable 
experience  when  a 
child  as  a  member  of 
the  Belasco  s  t  o  c  k 
c  o  m  p  a  n  y  in  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  where 
she  grew  to  the  po- 
s  i  t  i  o  n  of  leading 
woman,  being  the 
only  girl  who  ever  starred  in  "Madame  Butterfly"  in 
stock.  Among  the  prominent  theatrical  stars  who 
Miss  Bernard  supported  in  the  capacity  of  leading 
lad_\'  and  the  firms  under  whose  management  she  has 
been  featured  are  Nance  O'Neil,  Robert  Edeson,  Laur- 
ette  Taylor,  Selwyn  &  Company  and  the  Shuberts. 

Some  years  ago  when  Miss  Bernard  decided  to 
become  a  motion  picture  star,  she  approached  a  well- 
known  director  connected  with  one  of  the  biggest  pro- 
ducing companies  of  that  time  and  was  immediately 
accepted  as  a  full-fledged  star.  As  the  business  grew 
Miss  Bernard  became  a  valued  member  among  the 
stars  of  other  big  producing  firms  until,  during  the 
latter  part  of  nineteen  fourteen,  when  she  joined  the 
William  Fox  forces,  with  which  organization  she  has 
been  ever  since.  Her  principal  pictures  under  the 
Fox  banner  include  "Dr.  Rameau,"  "The  Little  Gyp- 
sy,"  "The  Broken  Law,"  "A  Soldier's  Oath,"  and  "The 
Bondman." 


of  the  estranged  couple.  There  are  innumerable  strong- 
scenes,  and  at  the  very  end  a  denouement  which  is  as 
tense  as  it  is  unexpected.  "As  a  Woman  Sows"  will 
be    released    January    24. 


An  Unusual  Gaumont  Film 

It  is  seldom  that  so  strong  a  photodrama  is  pre- 
sented upon  the  screen  as  Gaumont  offers  in  "As  a 
Woman  Sows."  This  Mutual  Masterpicture,  edition 
de  luxe,  tells  the  story  of  the  perilous  consequences 
of  a  young  wile's  efforts  fo  win  hack  her  husband's 
love  by  flirting  with  a  dangerous  society  man.  An 
unusually  strong  emotional  part  is  afforded  Miss  Ger- 
trude Robinson  as  Millie  I  I  ay  ward.  Alexander  t  .aden 
appears  as  tin-  husband  who  is  engrossed  in  his  duties 
ri  Forming  mayor  of  Lynboro.  The  eternal  triangle 
i-  completed  by  that  admirable  actor,  John  Reinhard, 
as  the  society  intriguer,  Robert  Chapman. 

A   supporting  cast   of  unusual   merit    has  been    fur- 
nished by  the  Gaumonl  Company.     In  addition  to  John 
Reinhard,  prominenl   players  are  Charles   \\  .  Travis, 
Mathildc  Baring,  Yvonne  (  happelle  and   Master  Co\ 
ington  Barrett,  who  has  an  important  pari  as  the  child 


Lillian  Drew  of  Essanay 

Lillian  Drew,  one  of  Essanay's  clever  players,  is 
spending  part  of  the  holidays  in  New  York.  She  took 
her  new  car  with  her  and  is  planning  to  burn  up  the 
roads  along  the  Hudson.  She  is  making  a  combina- 
tion pleasure  and 
shopping  trip,  study- 
ing the  latest  fash- 
ions for  new  gowns 
for  her  parts  in 
photoplays. 

Miss  Drew  is  a 
Chicago  girl  but  is 
thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the. 
eastern  metropolis, 
having  played  two 
seasons  on  Broad- 
way. She  has  ap- 
peared in  musical 
comedies,  dramatic 
stock  and  vaudeville. 
She  joined  the  Es- 
sanay company  four 
years  ago  and  has 
taken  leads  and 
heavy  dramatic 
parts  ever  since. 

Her  work  is  es- 
pecially notable  in  the  recent  plays  of  "The  Reaping" 
and  "Fifty-Fifty,"  in  which  she  took  the  leading  femi- 
nine roles.  She  has  one'  great  hobby,  that  of  collect- 
ing oriental  rugs.  She  has  a  large  collection  of  the 
finest  to  be  purchased  and  of  an  age  to  make  a  con- 
noisseur  envious. 


Films  As  Aid  to  Salesmen 

The  January,  1916,  issue  of  the  Engineering  Maga- 
zine contains  a  twelve  page  story  by  John  M.  Torr, 
entitled,  "Selling  Machinery  by  Motion  Pictures."  Mr. 
Torr  in  his  article  lays  special  stress  on  the  new  field 
for  motion  pictures  in  the  exploitation  and  actual  mer- 
chandising of  machinery,  mentioning  the  value  of  mo- 
tion pictures  in  presenting  to  buyers  in  distant  locali- 
ties a  comprehensive  idea  of  the  machinery  which  they 
are  being  requested  to  order.  The  pictures  not  only 
show  the  buyer  the  machinery  itself  in  actual  opera- 
tion, but  the  results  it  can  accomplish,  and  in  other 
ways  aid  the  salesman  in  a  hundred  ways  in  securing 
orders    for   his   product. 


Industrial  Film  Shown 

A  series  of  three  industrial  motion  picture  films, 
illustrating  the  manufacture  oi  "National"  pipe,  from 
ore  to  finished  product,  will  be  shown  before  the  \\  est- 
ern  Railway  Club,  Chicago,  111.,  at  the  Grand  Pacific 
Motel.  Tuesday,  January  IS.  at  8:00  p.  in.  The  pic- 
tures were  taken  under  the  direction  of  National  Tube 
Company,  Pittsburgh,  La.  The)  will  no  doubt  he  oi 
interesl  to  engineers,  architects,  plumbers  and  others 
interested  in  the  manufacture  oi  pipe.  No  admission 
will  he  charged. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


201 


Adele  Blood  in  Next  Premo 

The   Premo   Feature    Film    Corporation,   through 
its  president,  Harry  Rapf,  announces  that  it  has  taken 
the  building  at  11  East  Fourteenth  street,  New  York 
City,  formerly  used  by  Kleine  and  Biograph,  as  execu- 
tive offices  and  stu- 
dio,  and  will   do  all 
its    work   under    the 
direction    of    Harley 
Knoles  at  these 
premises   in  the   fu- 
ture.    The  new  pro- 
duction   now    under 
way   is   called   "The 
Devil's  Toy,"  a  story 
adapted      from     the 
poem,  "The  Mills  of 
the    Gods,"    by    Ed- 
ward     Madden,      in 
which     Miss    \Adele 
Blood     will     be 
starred,    in    conjunc- 
tion   with    Edwin 
Ste\rens     and     Mon- 
tague Love.     Edwin 
Stevens     is     playing 
the  role  of  the  Dev- 
il,  a   part  which   he 
made    famous    in    a 
play     of     the     same 
name  throughout  the  country.     This  production  will 
be  put  on   the   same  big  scale  as  was   Premo's   last. 
The  Premo's  most  recent  release,  "The  Greater  Will," 
with  Cyril  Maude,  has  been  pronounced  a  big  success 
and  is  now  playing  on  the  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  pro- 


Waldo  Walker  Now  Assistant  Director 

Waldo  Walker,  formerly  of  the  publicity  depart- 
ment of  the  Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Company  stu- 
dios in  Los  Angeles,  has  been  made  assistant  to  Direc- 
tor Frank  Lloyd.  Mr.  Walker  has  had  a  varied  career, 
starting  out  as  a 
newspaper  and 
magazine  writer.  He 
"broke  into"  the 
C  entur  y  Magazine 
with  his  first  story 
while  a  student  at 
the  University  of 
Chicago,  and  subse- 
quently contributed 
to  various  eastern 
magazines,  being, 
perhaps,  best  known 
for  his  Green  Book 
series  of  stories  on 
"Sammy's,"  a  noted 
Chicago  theatrical 
cafe,  which  he  wrote 
under  the  name  of 
"Bailey  Lane."  At 
college  Walker  was 
a  member  of  the 
Dramatic  Club  of  the 

TT     .  .  -       _,   .  Waldo    Walker. 

University    ot     Chi- 
cago, and  appeared  in  both  amateur  and  professional 
theatrical  productions.    At  night  the  worked  as  mana- 


ger of  the  Chicago  Telephone  Company,  and  on  leav- 
ing college  his  employers  induced  him  to  abandon  an 
artistic  career  by  appointing  him  day  manager  of  the 
north  side  exchanges.  Unable,  however,  to  resist  the 
lure  of  the  footlights  Walker  returned  to  the  stage, 
going  out  with  the  eastern  road  company  of  "A  Stub- 
born Cinderella,"  the  musical  hit  of  a  few  seasons  ago. 
After  various  engagements  and  also  further  excursions 
in  the  newspaper  and  magazine  field,  he  came  to  the 
Pacific  coast  and  went  into  the  motion  picture  field  by 
becoming  connected  with  the  Morosco  film  offices. 
Waldo  Walker  has  made  many  friends  in  the  business 
during  his  short  career  in  filmdom  and  receives  hearty 
well-wishes  from  all.  His  first  work  as  assistant  direc- 
tor commenced  with  the  production  of  the  Anna  Held 
subject,  "Madame  la  Presidente." 


Hector  J.  Streyckmans  of  Mirror 

Hector  J.  Streyckmans,  who  has  been  made  studio 
manager  for  the  Mirror  Films,  is  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  the  motion  picture  trade.  He  has  been  through 
every  phase  of  the  business  from  production  to  mar- 
keting. His  first  association  with  pictures  came  about 
through  his  position  as  man- 
aging editor  of  the  Show 
IV odd.  Later  he  organized 
the  International  Projecting 
and  Producing  Company,  the 
first  independent  company  to 
nppose  the  licensed  manufac- 
turers in  1909.  His  associate 
in  this  company  was  J.  J. 
Murdock.  For  three  years 
Mr.  Streyckmans  was  in  an 
executive  capacity  with  the 
New  York  Motion  Picture 
Company.  He  was  a  part  of 
the  Mutual  organization  un- 
der Mr.  Toomey  from  its  in- 
ception until  he  organized 
and  managed  the  Pasquali 
American  Company,  now  the 
Picture  Playhouse  Company. 
Through  him  the  "Last  Days  of  Pompeii"  was  released 
and  he  handled  "The  Battle  of  Gettysburg"  as  an  iso- 
lated feature  for  the  Mutual. 

Mr.  Streyckmans  was  the  originator  of  and  edited 
the  Mutual  Observer,  a  magazine  which  he  ran  single- 
handed.  The  same  magazine  is  now  known  as  Reel 
Life,  which  is  being  handled  by  a  sizeable  staff. 


"Should  a  Baby  Die?"  Ready 

"Should  a  Baby  Die?"  is  the  title  of  Charles  K. 
Harris'  latest  film  offering,  the  state  rights  for  which 
are  being  sold  by  the  Hanover  Film  Company,  904  Co- 
lumbia theater  building,  New  York.  The  author  takes 
the  stand  that  love  will  save  a  defective  child.  The 
picture  is  especially  timely  because  of  the  recent  con- 
troversy over  the  Bollinger  baby  in  Chicago. 


Horkheimer  Brothers  have  sold  to  the  Equitable 
the  feature,  "Should  a  Wife  Forgive?"  which  was  made 
for  initial  release  in  England.  Lillian  Lorraine  is 
starred.  Four  other  features  have  been  sold  to  Gaston 
Melies,  according  to  a  report  from  the  Balboa  studios. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


* 

January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brevities  of  the  Business 


PACIFIC  COAST  NEWS 

By  "Capt.  Jack"  Poland. 

Elaborate  preparations  are  being  made 
by  the  chairman  of  the  arrangement  com- 
mittee, Ralph  Merollo,  of  the  Static  Club 
of  America,  for  the  third  annual  ball  of 
the  cameramen  on  the  night  of  January 
28.  Merollo  is  planning  a  number  of 
novelty  features  in  connection  with  the 
advent  of  Anna  Held,  the  international 
actress  and  film  star  and  Director  Gen- 
eral Thomas  H.  Ince  of  the  New  York 
Motion  Picture  Corporation,  who  are  to 
lead  the  grand  march.  This  event  will 
be  the  real  semi-exclusive  film  event  of 
the  season,  as  it  is  practically  devoted 
to  the  motion  picture  people  and  given 
under  the  auspices  of  "the  Men  Who 
Make  the  Movies." 

David  W.  Griffith,  executive  and  direct- 
ing head  of  Fine  Arts  Films,  entertained 
Walker  Whiteside,  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ter, at  the  Griffith  studios  Wednesday, 
January  5.  He  was  assisted  by  DeWolf 
Hopper,  an  old  friend  of  the  actor.  Fif- 
teen years  ago  Mr.  Griffith  was  playing 
in  Mr.  Whiteside's  company,  in  Shake- 
speare parts,  at  a  salary  of  $15  per  week. 
Today  Griffith  is  perhaps  the  most  not- 
able motion  picture  producer  in  the 
world. 

H.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Balboa  Amusement 
Producing  Company,  Long  Beach,  Cali- 
fornia, has  returned  to  his  studios  after 
an  extended  trip  in  the  East,  "chuck" 
full  of  new  production  ginger.  Going  im- 
mediately into  consultation  with  his 
brother,  E.  D.  Horkheimer,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Balboa  company,  they 
have  mapped  out  an  auspicious  produc- 
tion campaign  for  1916  which  insures  un- 
usually interesting,  educational  and  at- 
tractive features  for  the  lovers  of  Balboa 
subjects. 

Anna  Luther  is  a  dainty  comedienne 
who  has  jumped  into  renewed  promi- 
nence with  the  opening  of  the  New  Year 
as  a  Keystone  star.  She  has  been  ac- 
cepted as  a  talented  motion  picture  favor- 
ite as  well  as  being  conceded  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  women  in  films. 

Juanita  Hansen,  one  of  the  rising 
young  stars  of  filmdom,  who  has  gained 
especial  prominence  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
has  joined  the  staff  of  Keystone  players. 
Miss  Hansen  formerly  appeared  with 
Bosworth,  Inc.,  the  Famous  Players  and 
D.  W.  Griffith,  and  now  will  appear  in 
Triangle  program  Keystone  subjects. 

Oscar  Steyn,  founder  of  the  Photo- 
players'  Weekly  of  Los  Angeles,  has  re- 
turned to  his  most  intimate  love,  the 
publication  of  a  new  magazine  called  the 
Weekly  Photoplay.  The  first  issue  is 
commendable  and  augurs  well  for  a  suc- 
cessful future.  Mr.  Steyn  is  favorably 
known  among  the  motion  picture  people 
of  the  California  colonies. 

Stanley  Warde  Hart,  for  some  years 
known  in  Los  Angeles  as  the  "Prince  of 
Press  Agents,"  has  again  joined  the  staff 
of  J.  A.  Quinn  and  will  be  in  charge  of 
the  handsome  Superba  theater  publicity. 
Mr.    Hart    has    been    royally    welcomed 


WHAT  DO  YOU 
KNOW? 

This  is  addressed  to  every  reader 
of  Motography — every  person  in- 
terested in  the  motion  picture  busi- 
ness. What's  new  around  your 
office  or  theater  or  studio?  Write 
and  tell  us  what  YOU  know.  Let's 
hear  from  YOU— 

ALL  OF  YOU 


back  to  the  fold  after  a  busy  campaign 
in  San  Francisco,  where  he  expositioned 
muchly. 

Notable  executive  and  directing  heads 
of  Los  Angeles  moving  picture  organiza- 
tions representing  many  millions  of  dol- 
lars, were  royally  entertained  Thursday, 
January  6,  by  the  Los  Angeles  Realty 
Board,  members  of  which  were  anxious 
to  get  some  first-hand  authentic  infor- 
mation about  the  magnitude  of  the  great 
industry  that  is  making  Los  Angeles  fa- 
mous as  a  producing  center.  Among 
those  present  were  David  Horsley,  Bos- 
tock  Jungle  and  Film  Company;  Jesse 
L.  Lasky,  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company; 
Thomas  H.  Ince,  New  York  Motion  Pic- 
ture Corporation;  H.  O.  Davis,  Universal 
Film  Manufacturing  Company;  D.  W. 
Griffith  and  Frank  E.  Woods,  Griffith 
Fine  Arts  and  Reliance  companies; 
Frank  A.  Garbutt,  Bosworth,  Inc.  In- 
teresting short  talks  about  the  film  indus- 
try were  made  by  each  official  and  a 
feeling  of  renewed  friendship  was  estab- 
lished between  the  realty  and  film  mag- 
nates. 

Anita  King,  "Paramount  Girl,"  left  this 
week  for  Seattle,  where  she  is  to  be  guest 
of  honor  at  the  opening  of  the  New 
Emporium  theater  in  that  city. 

Marie  Doro  has  signed  a  contract  with 
the  Lasky  Company  and  will  return  to 
Los  Angeles  in  March  to  begin  activi- 
ties in  a  special  production  being  ar- 
ranged for  her. 

Roberta  Arnold  (Mrs.  Herbert  Rawlin- 
son)  has  left  the  film  and  joined  the 
"Bird  of  Paradise."  She  left  this  week 
for  New  York  with  the  company.  Mr. 
Rawlinson  will  continue  as  a  film  star 
for  the  Universal. 

David  W.  Griffith  will  speak  in  Los 
Angeles  before  the  Merchants  and  Man- 
ufacturers Association  at  the  annual 
banquet  at  ""Hotel  Alexandria,  Tanuary 
17.  His  subject  will  be  "The  Film  In- 
dustry and  Its  Relation  to  the  Com- 
munity." 

The  initial  production  of  Cervantes' 
"Don  Quixote,"  produced  by  the  Fine 
Arts  Films  with  the  celebrated  De  Wolf 
Hopper  in  the  title  role,  was  shown  at 
the  Majestic  theater.  Los  Angeles,  under 
the  Triangle,  Griffith-Ince-Sennett  man- 
agement, Monday  evening,  January  3, 
and  continued  with  four  performances 
during  the  week  before  crowded  houses. 
Mr.  Hopper  delighted  large  and  critical 
audiences  and  on  the  first  night  he  was 


greeted  by  hundreds  of  friends  in  pro- 
fessional and  social  life  who  welcomed 
the  star  with  great  applause. 

The  comedy  star  was  personally  pres- 
ent, occupying  a  box  with  Sir  Beerbohm 
Tree  as  his  guest.  Other  boxes  were 
occupied  by  David  W.  Griffith,  Thomas 
H.  Ince,  Mack  Sennett,  William  Farnum, 
William  H.  Thompson,  Dustin  Farnum, 
Winifred  Kingston,  William  Desmond, 
Kathlyn  Williams,  Charles  Eyton,  Lil- 
lian and  Dorothy  Gish,  Fay  Tincher, 
Jesse  L.  Lasky,  Bessie  Barriscale,  John 
Emerson,  Tully  Marshall,  Marion  Fair- 
fax, and  others.  Many  notables  in  film 
life  were  among  the  audience  as  first- 
nighters  and  the  Rialto  of  Broadway, 
New  York,  was  duplicated  on  Broadway, 
Los  Angeles,  and  in  the  cafes  after  the 
showing,  all  drinking  to  the  health  and 
success  of  De  Wolf  Hopper  and  the  bril- 
liant company  producing  "Don  Quixote" 
under  the  Fine  Arts  Films  for  the  Trian- 
gle program. 

The  latest  bit  of  studio  gossip  around 
Universal  City  is  to  the  e*v?ct  that  the 
popular  comedy  producer,  a  veteran  of 
the  Big  U,  Al  Christie,  was  taking  his 
two  companies  and  would  start  comedy 
productions  as  an  independent  specialist. 
Christie  is  one  of  the  best  known  comedy 
directors  of  the  Universal,  his  name  and 
pictures  are  well  and  favorably  known, 
and  his  friends  predict  success  in  his  new 
venture. 


Film   Market  Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.  D.  Small  of  A.  E.  Butler  It  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,  Inc.  .  ...   92  98 

Biograph   Company    50 

Famous  Players  Film  Co...   85  110 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref 45 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,  pref...   43  46^4 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,  com...   43  46y2 
No.  Am.  Film  Co.,  Inc.,  pref.  93 

No.  Am.  Film  Co.,  Inc.,  com.  68  75 

New  York  M.  P.  Corp 44  53 

Thanhouser    Film    Corp....      3  3%* 

Triangle  Film  Corp 6J4  6</2* 

Universal  Film  Mfg.  Co 180 

World   Film  Corp 2  2J4* 

♦Par  $5. 

Transactions  in  film  stocks  have  been 
exceedingly  limited  during  the  past  week. 

North  American  Film  Corp.:  A  dis- 
bursement of  $Y\,  representing  a  nine 
months'  dividend  on  the  preferred,  was 
paid  the  first  of  the  week.  Now  that  this 
dividend,  together  with  news  on  the  re- 
demption of  a  portion  of  the  preferred  at 
110  is  in  the  hands  of  the  public,  trading 
in  this  stock  has  practically  ceased. 

Triangle  Film  Corp.:  It  seems  impos- 
sible to  get  a  correct  line  on  the  real 
value  of  this  stock  at  the  present  time. 
While  the  company  reports  increased 
bookings,  statements  emanating  from 
Wall  street  are  not  altogether  satisfac- 
tory. 

Mutual  Film  Corp.:  A  directors'  meet- 
ing, for  the  purpose  of  taking  action  on 
the  next  quarterly  dividend  on  the  pre- 
ferred, will  be  held  some  time  this  month. 


204 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


MIDDLE   WEST    NEWS 

By  William  Noble. 
Oklahoma 
The   Nickelodeon  was  opened  January 
3    at     McAlester,    with    Crane    and    Dill 
rs.     The  new  theater,  which  seats 
United  film  pictures,  five  reels, 
changed    daily.     The   admission    price    is 
live   cents.     The    theater   has   an   electric 
piano. 

The  Busby  theater,  in  McAlester,  ad- 
mitted 3.700  people,  paid  admissions,  on 
New  Year's  day  and  evening,  which  was 
the  largest  business  in  point  of  attend- 
ance in  the  history  of  the  house.  Man- 
ager A.  Bert  Estes  is  to  be  congratulated 
upon  the  excellent  showing  he  has  made 
as  a  theatrical  manager  since  he  has 
taken  over  this  popular  theater. 

Texas 

E.  C.  Robertson  has  opened  a  motion 
picture  house  at  Beeville,  in  partnership 
with  L.  M.  Craddock. 

Bayvault  Brothers  have  taken  over  the 
Paramount  theater  at  Victoria.  New 
equipment  has  been  purchased  and  the 
house  will  be  made  modern  and  up-to- 
date   in   every  respect. 

Fire  badly  damaged  the  front  of  the 
Jefferson  theater  in  Dallas  last  week. 

The  J.  D.  Wheelan  Film  Company  has 
commenced  operation  at  1919  .Main 
street,  Dallas,  and  will  handle  special 
feature  films.  In  addition  the  company 
will  handle  all  kinds  of  office  supplies 
and    machines. 

Mrs.  Reed  Finley  will  continue  as  the 
official  censor  of  motion  pictures  in  Dal- 
las. Mrs.  Finley  has  been  given  a  desk 
in  a  room  in  the  basement  of  the  city 
hall. 

The  Saenger  Amusement  Company  has 
taken  over  the  Hippodrome  theaters  at 
Texarkana,  Texas,  and  Shreveport,  La. 


NOTES  FROM  ALL  OVER 

Bobby  Harron  of  the  Griffith  forces 
who  went  East  from  California  to  bury 
his  brother  who  was  killed  in  an  auto- 
mobile accident,  has  returned  to  the 
Pacific  Coast  studios,  taking  with  him 
his  lather  and  mother  from  New  York. 
While  iii  Chicago  Mr.  Harron  visited 
Henry  B.  Walthall  at  the  Essanay  plant. 

Ralph  Modjeska,  son  of  the  great  Pol- 
ish tragedienne,  was  a  recent  visitor  to 
Universal  City.  Mr.  Modjeska  is  a  civil 
engineer  of  Chicago.  He  has  achieved 
able  fame  iii  his  chosen  profes- 
sion. 

Helen  Weir,  who  is  at  present  playing 
the  lead  in  Clay  Green's  photoplay,  "The 
is  a  newcomer  to  the  Lubin  stu- 
dios. She  made  her  first  screen  appear- 
ance in  "  \  Barnyard  Romeo,"  and  later 
appeared  in  "The  Fatal  Card"  and  "The 

ill     Dukane."     Miss  Weir  is  a  na- 
tive of  Anderson,   [nd.,  and   is   eighteen 

Anna    Little  has  decided  views  on  the 

Of    horses.      She    can    speak    with 

authority  on   this  subject,  for  the  horse 
she  rides  in  western  pictures  will  do  al- 
most anything   she   tells  him.     She  attri- 
th     her    mounts    to 

kindness,  for  Bhe  never  uses  whip  or  spur 
or  even  unkind  language. 


Neva  Gerber,  after  a  good  rest.  i>  play- 
ing leads  with  the  Eldorado  Company  at 
the  old  Crown  City  studios  in  Pasadena. 

Hobart  Bosworth,  Universal  star,  is 
recovering  from  a  severe  attack  of  bron- 
chitis. He  was  taken  ill  on  the  day  of 
his  arrival  in  Tempe,  Ariz.,  where  he  in- 
tended to  spend  a  month  in  making  "The 
Vaqui."  Bosworth  is  expected  to  be  well 
enough  in  a  short  time  to  undertake  the 
strenuous  work  he  will  be  called  upon  to 
do  in  this  production. 

Radio  Film  Company  is  receiving  let- 
ters daily  commenting  upon  its  five- 
reel  production.  "Defense  or  Tribute?" 
These  include  several  from  such  men  as 
Daniel  J.  Griffin,  of  the  U.  S.  House  of 
Representatives,  and  William  M.  Calder, 
ex-member  of  Congress,  who  comment 
favorably  on  the  production  and  the  les- 
son  it  teaches. 

Jackie  Saunders,  who  has  worked 
steadily  for  twelve  months  in  Balboa  fea- 
tures, is  celebrating  a  short  vacation  by 
visiting  New  York.  After  a  few  weeks 
in  that  city  she  will  visit  her  parents  in 
Philadelphia. 

Theda  Bara's  next  feature  picture  is 
entitled  "Gold  and  the  Woman."  James 
Vincent  directs  the  production,  in  which 
H.  Cooper  Cliffe,  George  Walsh,  Black 
Eagle,  the  Indian  chief,  Carleton  Macy 
and  Pauline  Barry  are  members  of  the 
supporting  cast. 

Robert  Mantell,  with  Genevieve  Ham- 
per, Claire  Whitney,  Henry  Leone. 
Stuart  Holmes  and  little  Jane  Lee,  is 
working  in  a  Fox  Film  feature  entitled 
"The  Spider  and  the  Fly."  The  work  is 
being  done  in  Kingston,  Jamaica,  under 
the  direction  of  J.  Gordon  Edwards. 

"Fighting  Blood,"  in  which  William 
Farnum  stars,  is  being  completed  at 
Edendale,  Cal.,  studios  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Oscar  C.  Apfel. 

Mary  Anderson  will  be  featured  in  a 
three-reel  drama  from  the  pen  of  Will 
Everett  Wing,  which  will  be  the  next 
Wolhert  production,  according  to  an- 
nouncement. Miss  Anderson  has  shown 
her  ability  in  "Cal  Marvin's  Wife"  and 
"He    Got   Himself  a   Wife." 

Louise  Fazenda.  clever  Keystone 
comedienne,  is  another  successful  screen 
player  who  began  her  career  as  an  "ex- 
tra." She  is  now  engaged  in  a  picture 
with  Charles  Murray,  which  will  be  re- 
leased early  in   February. 

Joe  Jackson,  who  has  been  successful 
as  a  funmaker  in  vaudeville,  will  soon  be 
seen  in  a  Triangle-Keystone  play.  Mack 
Sennett  has  furnished  a  good  story  and 
the  tramp  comedian  will  be  supported  by 
Mack  Swain  and  a  selected  company  of 
Keystone  players. 

Willie  Collier  is  busy  with  his  first 
production  under  the  direction  of  Mack 
Sennet  I.  The  play  will  he  seen  on  the 
Triangle  program  before  many  weeks. 

Ruth  Roland  and  Henry  King  will  ap- 
pear in  Balboa  features  as  co-stars  once 
more  during  the  early  months  of  1916. 
A  number  of  scenarios  have  been  writ- 
ten especially  for  them. 

R.  R.  Rockett  was  the  ninth  member 
"I  Balboa's  studio  Staff  to  he  married 
during  1915.  His  bride  was  Miss  Marie 
Constance  Martin  of  Dodge  City,   Kans. 

P.enneit  Southard,  formerly  a  member 


of  the  Morosco,  Belasco  and  James  Neill 
stock  companies  playing  on  the  west 
coast,  and  who  has  recently  supported 
several  Broadway  stars  in  successes,  has 
been  engaged  for  important  roles  by 
Captain  Harry  Lambert  of  the  Mirror 
Films,  Inc.  Southard  made  his  first  ap- 
pearance on  Broadway  in  Charles  Froh- 
man's  production  of  "The  Judge  and  the 
Jury"  at  Wallack's  theater.  He  appeared 
in  the  films  in  "The  Cowardly  Way." 

The  marriage  of  Milburn  Moranti.  a 
member  of  Allen  Curtis'  company  for 
the  past  two  years,  and  Juanita  Silvea,  a 
San  Francisco  girl,  took  place  recently. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moranti  are  living  in  a 
bungalow   in   Hollywood. 

Argyle  Campbell,  who  has  been  assist- 
ant to  Lawrence  Marston  for  several 
years  both  on  the  stage  and  in  the  studio, 
has  been  engaged  as  assistant  to  Mr. 
Marston  in  the  production  of  motion  pic- 
tures for  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.  Nat  C. 
Goodwin  will  appear  in  the  first  work 
which  they  do  for  the  Mirror  Company. 

Grace  Cunard  and  Francis  Ford  are  at 
present  working  in  a  two-reel  picture, 
"A  Madcap  Queen  of  Crona,"  which  is 
said  to  contain  striking  costumes  and 
stirring  action.  They  have  completed 
the  sequel  to  the  "Dick  Turpin"  picture. 

Universal  City  has  been  "passed  by  the 
National  Board  of  Censors"  through  the 
visit  of  Cranston  Brenton,  chairman  of 
the  board.  He  declared  it  "a  very  won- 
derful institution."  Mr.  Brenton.  in  ex- 
plaining the  working  of  the  National 
Board  of  Censors,  stated  that  when  a  pic- 
ture passes  the  board  it  is  fit  to  be  seen 
in  any  portion  of  the  country.  He  de- 
plored the  present  situation,  when  so 
many  cities  spend  thousands  of  dollars 
in  maintaining  a  board  to  do  over  the 
work  already  done  by  the  national  board 
in  New  York,  and  argued  for  some  un- 
animity of  standard  in  regard  to  this 
phase    of   the    film    industry. 

Mary  Fuller  has  just  completed  "Ma- 
dame Cubist,"  an  eccentric  play  of  two 
reels.  It  contains  eccentric  settings  and 
Miss  Fuller  wears  eccentric  and  sensa- 
tional gowns.  The  play  is  directed  by 
Henderson.  Miss  Fuller  is  now  starting 
on  another  picture  called  "The  Girl  Who 
Feared  Daylight." 

King  Baggot  will  soon  return  to  di- 
recting. He  has  accepted  three  dramas, 
which  he  will  start  work  on  shortly. 
Harry  McRae  Webster,  who  directed 
Mr.  Baggot.  will  direct  Violet  Mersereau 
in  live-reel   Red    Feather  features. 

Jack  Cohn  and  his  Animated  Weekly 
department  will  return  to  New  York. 
This  department  had  been  transferred 
from  the  old  studio  on  Eleventh  Avenue 
to  Universal.  Me  and  his  cameraman 
will  now  be  at  1600  Broadway. 

Florence  l.a  Badie  is  learning  to  run 
a  typewriter  so  that  -he  can  be  some- 
body's  private  secretary,  should  the  bot- 
tom ever  fall  out  of  the  motion  picture 
busin<  ss. 

Marguerite  Courtot  is  facing  a  serious 
problem.  How  can  a  blue  suede  skating 
costume  he  put  to  use  in  Jacksonville, 
Fla.?  Miss  Courtot  received  one  such 
for  a  present  the  day  she  left  for  the 
south.  She  would  change  it  into  a  swim- 
ming suit  if  she  knew  how  to  go  about  it. 

An  old  horse  ear.  built  in   1840.  has  en- 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


tered  motion  pictures  in  the  Mutual 
Masterpiece,  "The  Other  Side  of  the 
Door."  It  adds  realism  to  the  story  de- 
picting life  in  the  early  days  of  Cali- 
fornia. The  old  city  hall  in  Monterey, 
the  first  capitol  of  California,  also  ap- 
pears in  this  photoplay. 

Bert  Delaney,  who  appeared  in  "His 
Majesty  the  King,"  Thanhouser  produc- 
tion, comes  from  the  legitimate  stage 
into  pictures.  He  appeared  in  "At  Bay," 
"The  Five  Frankforters"  and  Shake- 
speare's "Henry  V,"  in  the  spoken 
drama. 

Mrs.  Robert  T.  Haines,  wife  _  of  the 
actor,  is  very  clever  at  stage  setting  and 
has  planned  the  sets  for  many  of  her 
husband's  plays.  Mrs.  Haines  is  a  Mary- 
land woman  and  well  known  in  the 
south.  She  is  at  present  with  her  hus- 
band in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where'he  will 
work  in  a  Gaumont  (Mutual)  Rialto 
Star  feature. 

Colored  pictures  of  the  latest  Paris- 
ienne  creations  are  to  be  displayed  in 
this  country  in  the  Mutual  Weekly  by 
special  arrangement  with  the  Paris  Gau- 
mont offices. 

Billy  Sherwood,  who  played  in  "The 
Danger  Signal,"  and  opposite  Marguerite 
Courtot  in  "The  Key  to  a  Fortune,"  vis- 
ited his  home  town,  New  Orleans,  re- 
cently. 

Thomas  Commerford,  who  plays  the 
judge  in  Essanay's  "The  Prisoner  at  the 
Bar,"  is  sixty-five  years  of  age  and  has 
been  in  the  theatrical  business  for  over 
forty  years.  Although  his  hair  is  snow 
white,  he  is  as-  active  as  a  man  half  his 
years.  He  is  an  excellent  type  for  the 
judge,  and  is  strong  in  all  character  por- 
trayals. 

It  is  hard  even  for  the  director  to  tell 
the  Thanhouser  twins,  Marion  and  Made- 
line Fairbanks,  apart.  But  the  little  girls 
themselves  know  that  there  is  one  big 
difference  between  them.  One  of  them 
has  naturally  curly  hair  and  the  other 
hasn't.  But  it's  a  safe  bet  that  film  fans 
don't  know  which  set  of  curls  just  grew 
that  way  and  which  comes  out  of  curl 
papers   each  morning. 

Miss  Cissy  Fitzgerald  has  turned  one 
of  her  houses  in  England  into  a  home 
for  wounded  soldiers.  Her  sister,  Miss 
Caroline  Fitzgerald,  is  in  charge. 

Miss  Alice  Brady  and  Holbrook  Blinn 
will  appear  together  in  "The  Ballet  Girl," 
a  forthcoming  release  of  the  World  Film 
Corporation.  The  story  deals  with  life 
behind  the  scenes  in  a  great  opera  house. 
The  picture  is  directed  by  Josep-h  W. 
Smiley  and  the  cast  includes  Julia  Stuart, 
Dorothy  Farnum,  little  Madge  Evans, 
Stanhope  Whearcroft,  Alec  B.  Francis, 
John  Smiley,  Jessie  Lewis  and  Fred 
Heck. 

The  final  scene  of  "The  Fruits  of  De- 
sire," World  Film  production  in  which 
Robert  Warwick  is  starred,  were  com- 
pleted this  week. 

-Miss  Clara  Whipple,  the  leading 
woman  of  the  Equitable  Motion  Picture 
Corporation,  is  playing  the  leading  in- 
genue role  in  "The  Pain  Flower,"  a  five- 
reel  feature  picture  now  being  produced 
at  Flushing,  in  which  she  supports  Mar- 
guerite Leslie.  "The  Man  Higher  Up," 
in    which    Whipple    is    to    play    opposite 


player"   by   the   kindhearted   Booth   him- 
self. 

Vivian  Rich  is  playing  the  lead  in  the 
three-reel  drama,  "The  Code  of  Honor," 
which  Frank  Borzage  is  directing.  Miss 
Rich  has  had  some  beautiful  gowns  made 
especially  for  this  production.  Borzage 
himself  plays  a  part.  George  Periolat 
and  Alfred  Vosburgh  are  included  in  the 
cast. 

Henry  Otto,  the  Universal  director,  is 
spending  his  rest  time  at  the  Hotel  del 
Coronado,  Coronado  Beach.  Otto  met 
some  eastern  friends  at  the  fashionable 
hotel  and  has  been  enjoying  his  stay.  He 
will  return  at  the  end  of  the  week  and 
will  probably  resume  his  labors  at  once. 

Alan  Hale,  when  acting  "The  College 
Boys,"  Lubin  Company  production,  held 
up  traffic  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour 
at  a  busy  point  in  Philadelphia.  He  was 
attired  in  a  night  gown  and  cap  and  car- 
ried a  candle  stick  and  created  quite  a 
sensation. 

Maude  Gilbert,  William  H.  Tooker, 
Kittens  Reichart,  Ruth  Finlay  and  War- 
ner Cland  are  working  under  the  direc- 
do  during  the  next  twelve  months.  Mrs. 
Breuil  is  a  pioneer  in  the  art  of  writing 
motion  pictures,  and  has.  always  stood 
for  the  highest  type.  For  the  past  sev- 
eral months,  she  has  been  doing  free 
lance  writing. 

The  Selig-Tribune  News  Film  will 
print  the  subtitles  used  in  the  news  film 
in  English,  Italian  and  German  so  that 
all  classes  of  people  can  read  them  easily. 

Fred  J.  Herrington,  president  of  the 
Exhibitors  League  of  America,  one  of 
Pittsburgh's  leading  exhibitors,  was  a  vis- 
itor to  the  Vim  Comedies'  offices  re- 
cently. 

Producer  T.  N.  Heffron  has  begun 
work  on  a  Selig  multiple  real  feature  en- 
titled "The  Wives  of  the  Rich."  It  tells 
the  story  of  a  young  society  woman 
whose  predilection  for  games  of  chance 
comes  near  wrecking  her  life. 

James  Bradburry,  one  of  the  Selig 
players,  once  played  in  Hamlet  with  Ed- 
win Booth.  He  tells  a  story  of  being 
helped  out  in  his  lines  as  the  "second 
Frank  Sheridan,  has  been  postponed  un- 
til spring.  • 

Anyone  having  trained  bumblebees  for 
sale  please  notify  George  Du  Bois  Proc- 
tor, the  new  Gaumont  scenario  editor. 
He  was  obliged  to  reject  a  photoplay  re- 
cently because  it  called  for  such  crea- 
tures and  he  didn't  know  where  to  get 
them. 

James  Montgomery,  recently  added  to 
the  scenario  staff  at  Inceville,  has  writ- 
ten the  play  in  which  Bessie  Barriscale 
will  star  on  her  return  from  her  rest. 
The  cast  will  include  William  Desmond 
and  Franklin  Richie,  recently  from  the 
Biograph  forces. 

Harry  Carter  is  to  direct  Warren  Ker- 
rigan at  the  completion  of  "The  Pool  of 
Flame,"  in  which  Kerrigan  is  now  star- 
ring. Director  Otis  Turner  will  then 
take  over  the  direction  of  the  De  Havens 
at  the  Universal. 

Mrs.  Beta  Breuil,  who  headed  the  Vita- 
graph  scenario  department  for  some 
years,  has  been  engaged  by  Mirror  Films, 
Inc.,  to  do  special  work  on  some  of  the 
big  features  which  that  organization  will 


tion    of   W.    S.    Davis    in    "A    Fool's    Re- 
venge," a  Fox  Film  feature. 

"The  Fortunate  Youth,"  under  the  di- 
rection of  Joseph  W.  Smiley,  is  very 
nearly  completed.  Mr.  Smiley  himself 
prepared  the  scenario  for  this  film  pro- 
duction of  the  novel  by  W.  J.  Locke. 

Director  Maurice  Tourneur's  first  fea- 
ture picture  for  the  new  Paragon  Films, 
Inc.,  of  which  he  is  vice-president  and 
general  manager,  will  be  an  original 
photoplay  by  Lawrence  McClusky,  in 
which  House  Peters  will  be  starred.  Mr. 
Tourneur  is  at  present  putting  the  finish- 
ing touches  to  George  Beban's  five-part 
feature,  "The  Genius,"  his  last  produc- 
tion for  the  Peerless. 

Edwin  Carewe  has  returned  from  a 
short  visit  with  his  father  in  Corpus 
Christi,  Texas,  and  will  begin  at  once  on 
the  first  of  two  five-reel  features  starring 
Mabel  Taliaferro,  which  he  will  produce 
for  Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.  One  of  these 
will  be  "The  Right  to  Happiness." 

Pauline  Frederick,  in  "The  Spider,"  is 
called  upon  to  portray  both  a  notorious 
Parisian  beauty  and  the  young  and  inno- 
cent daughter  of  this  worldly  woman,  a 
dual  role  which  requires  skill  in  acting 
and  make-up. 

Jack  Pickford,  "little  brother"  of  Mary 
and  Lottie,  was  a  guest  on  Monday,  Jan- 
uary 10,  of  William  N.  Selig,  president 
of  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company,  while 
en  route  from  New  York  City  to  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  where  he  will  again  re- 
sume his  duties  with  the  Selig  Pacific 
Coast  studios.  He  was  in  Chicago  but  a 
few  hours. 

Miss  Fritzi  Brunette,  the  emotional 
actress,  will  be  featured  in  "Unto  Those 
Who  Sin,"  a  Selig  Red  Seal  play  which 
will  be  released  through  V.  L.  S.  E.  on 
March  6.  The  drama  was  written  by 
James  Oliver  Curwood.  It  will  be  the 
first  V.  L.  S.  E.  subject  in  which  Miss 
Brunette  has  enacted  the  leading  role. 

Dorothy  Gish  has  returned  from  her 
visit  to  New  York  and  rehearsals  are  be- 
ginning for  her  new  play,  "Kittie  Bauer," 
in  which  she  will  appear  with  Owen  Moore, 


Casino  Comedy  star. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


.  Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


who  was  featured  with  her  in  her  latest 
picture,  "Betty  of  Graystone."  The  other 
members  of  the  cast  of  "Katie  Bauer"  are 
Fred  Turner,  Fred  Butler,  Kate  Toncray 
and  Margaret  Marsh. 

.  Bernard  McConville,  of  the  Fine  Arts 
scenario  staff,  has  had  two  of  his  fiction 
stories  accepted  for  publication.  "The  But- 
terfly's Dream,"  which  is  a  prose  poem  of 
the  Oscar  Wilde  fairy  tale  style,  will  be 
published  in  the  Pictorial  Review,  and  his 
other  accepted  story,  "The  Coil,",  a  Spanish 
dramatic  yarn,  will  appear  in  the  Associ- 
ated Sunday  Magazines,  which  is  the  New 
York  Tribune  Sunday  supplement  and  syn- 
dicated throughout  the  United  States.  Mr. 
McConville  is  a  permanent  member  of  the 
Fine  Arts  staff  of  adapters  and  scenario 
conceivers. 

Elliott  Dexter,  who  appears  opposite  Lil- 
lian Gish  in  her  latest  Triangle  production. 
"Daphne,"  was  prominent  in  the  New  York 
cast  of  "Diplomacy,"  and  previous  to  that 
he  played  with  Edmund  Breese  in  "The 
Master  Mind"  and  "The  Prince  Chap." 

(  aniK-n  De  Rue,  the  seven-year-old  Fine 
Arts  actress,  who  appeared  in  the  Jane 
Grey  play.  "Let  Katie  Do  It,"  was  pre- 
sented with  a  Roman  gold  diamond  ring 
recently  by  a  woman  admirer  who  states 
that  she  has  been  watching  tin-  child's  work 
since  her  early  film  debut.  Carmen  is  now 
playing  in  "Acquitted." 

Miss  Adele  Blood  received  a  regular 
Christmas  gift,  a  ten-thousand-dollar 
Pierce  \rrow  limousine  car.  given  her  by 
an  aunt  who  appears  to  be  rather  fond  of 
her  nicer.  Miss  Blood  is  starring  at 
present  in  "The  Devil's  Toy."  a  I'reino 
Film  ( Corporation  production. 

Miss      .Madge      Orlamond,     character 

woman  for  the  Gaumont  companies,  has 
a  unique  dining  room.  In  it  she  lunches 
Outdoors  ever}  day  when  the  weather  is 
line,  for  her  dining  room  is  her  own 
automobile,  which  is  parked  beside  the 
large    outdoor    stage.      This    is    mOSl    COn 

venient,  for  if  the  scene  shifters  require 

her  to  move  during  the  repast,  it  is  no 
trouble    to    run    the    dining    room    ear    to    .1 

quiel  spot.     Miss  '  >rlamond  runs  t 

herself. 


Marie  Doro  and  Elliott  Dexter,  who 
were  recently  married,  are  to  appear  to- 
gether in  the  Famous  Players'  film  pro- 
duction of  Sardou's  play,  "Diplomacy." 
It  is  especially  fitting  that  Miss  Doro  and 
her  husband  make  their  first  appearance 
together  since  their  marriage  in  this  play, 
for  it  was  while  playing  in  "Diplomacy" 
on  the  stage  that  they  first  met.  Mr. 
Dexter,  in  this  production,  will  play 
Julian  Beauclerc,  the  role  which  he 
enacted  on  the  stage  in  the  revival  of  the 
play  at  the  Empire  theater  last  year 
when  Miss  Doro  co-starred  with  Blanche 
Bates  and  William  Gillette. 

The  Palace  theater  of  New  York  City 
is  showing  the  Mutual  Weekly. 

Miss  Marguerite  Courtot,  best  known 
perhaps  as  the  heroine  of  the  series,  "The 
Ventures  of  Marguerite,"  has  begun 
work  for  Gaumont  at  that  company's 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  studio.  She  will  ap- 
pear in  a  photodrama  written  by  her 
director,  Henry  J.  Vernot.  Sydney  Mason 
is  playing  opposite  her. 

The  Mutual  Traveler  is  devoting  two 
releases  of  "See  America  First"  to  Chi- 
cago, the  first  being  to  parks,  drives  and 
historic  spots,  the  second  to  places  which 
show  the  commercial  greatness  of  this 
country's  second  city.  The  release  of 
January  11,  No.  18,  is  a  series  of  views  of 
Milwaukee.  The  week  following,  the 
Mutual  Traveler  visits  the  Dells  of  Wis- 
consin. 

The  Gaumont  Company  has  purchased 
another  scenario  from  Miss  Marjorie 
Howe,  author  of  "The   Devil's  Darling." 

Ruth  Blair  began  her  career  as  an  act- 
ress at  the  age  of  four  years  and  six 
months.  A  bareback  rider  in  the  circus 
was  her  first  inspiration.  When  she- re- 
turned home  she  licked  the  color  from 
candy  dolls,  applied  it. to  her  cheeks  as 
rouge,  and  imitated  the  lady  rider,  using 
her  rocking  horse  as  her  steed. 

In  the  Annette  Kellermann  picture  now 


i<  ,..*•   Griffith   explaining  a  t 

Jlerhert    Hee,hohm    Tree    „t    the 

I  he    other   fttnire    in    the   future    ,.,■     -Spec"    WOOC 

superintendent  of  productions. 


being  produced  for  William  Fox  at 
Kingston,  Jamaica,  fifteen  thousand  cos- 
tumes are  in  use.  To  manufacture  them, 
twelve  hundred  native  sewing  women 
worked  day  and  night  for  six  weeks,  un- 
der the  personal  supervision  of  Mrs. 
Irene  Lee,  head  of  the  costume  depart- 
ment of  the  company.  The  picture  is 
being  directed  by  Herbert  Brenon. 

William  N.  Selig  numbers  among  his 
Christmas  presents  two  baby  leopards, 
one  infant  tiger  and  two  lion  cubs,  pre- 
sented faithful  mothers  in  the  Selig  Zoo. 

The  players  employed  at  the  David 
Horsley.  studios  in.  Los  Angeles  last 
week  attended  Clune's  Auditorium  in  a 
.  body  to  view  "Double  Trouble,"  thereby 
paying  a  compliment  to  Director  Robert 
B.  Broadwell,  whose  wife,  Gladys  Rock- 
well, played  the  leading  feminine  char- 
acter in  the  production,  supporting  Doug- 
las Fairbanks. 

Marshall  Neilan.  well  known  as  actor 
and  producer,  has  arrived  at  the  Selig 
Pacific  Coast  studios  and  will  immedi- 
ately start  work  as  producer  of  comedies 
and  dramas. 

Nell  Franzen.  who  has  been  playing 
minor  parts  in  American  film  produc- 
tions, is  climbing  up  in  the  profession. 
She  is  now  appearing  in  the  leading  role 
in  "Yes  or  No,"  a  single-reel  "Flying  A" 
drama  to  be  released  soon.  Miss  Fran- 
zen won  her  advancement  through  the 
good  work  done  in  the  small  parts  given 
her.  She  is  small  and  pretty  and  has  a 
pleasing  screen  appearance. 

Jack  Pickford  and  Fritzi  Brunette  are 
appearing  together  for  the  first  time  in 
the  Selig  feature  story,  "It  Can  Be 
Done."   .1    storj    of    stage    life.      Edward 

I'eil  1-  appearing  ill  the  play  as  a  theat- 
rical manager. 

1    E.  T.  Bowdeii  of  Jacksonville, 

Ma.,  iias  been  induced  by  William  F.  Had- 
dock, the  Gaumont  (Mutual)  director,  to 
entei  the  films,  He  will  be  seen  in  an  early 
Gaumonl  release,  nol  yel  named  but  only 
as  an  extra,  though,  let  it  be  understood. 
The  mayor  has  not  consented  to  give  up 
Ins  position  permanently  for  the  life  of  an 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


i.   adopted    this    style    in 
is   used,   and   the   publish 


lms.  Exhibitors 
dates  as  possible 
sponsible   for   err 


General  Program 


Monday. 

1-10  In   the  Aisles  of  the  Wild Biograph 

1-10  The    Black    Crook Kalem 

1-10  The    City   of    Falling    Light Lubin 

1-10  A   Bath   Tub    Mystery Lubin 

1-10  The     Dcvii-In-Chief.' Selig 

1-10  Selig-Tribunc   News    Pictorial   No. -3;    1916 Selig 

1-10  The   Surprises   of   an    Empty    Hotel Vitagraph 

1-10  The   Lost    Bracelet Lubin 

Tuesday. 

1-11   Angels   Unawares    Essanay 

1-11   Guardian   Angels    Kalem 

1-11  The    Old    Watchman Lubin 

Wednesday. 

1-12  The   War   of    Wealth Biograph 

1-12  The  Fable  of  "The  Two   Philanthropic   Sons" Essanav 

1-12  The    Purification    of    Mulfera Kalem 

Thursday. 

1-13  The    Bond    Within Lubin 

1-13   Title   not   reported Mina 

1-13   Selig-Tribune    No.    4,    1916 Selig 

Friday. 

1-14  The   Tricksters    (No.    12   of   the   Ventures  of   Margue- 
rite)       Kalem 

1-14   Chickens Vim 

1-14  When    Two    Play    a    Game Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

1-15   Pieces    of    the    Game Essanay 

1-15   The   Haunted   Station Kalem 

1-15   No  Sir-ee  Bob!   (No.  8  of  the  Chronicles  of  Bloom 

Center)      Selig 

1-15   By     Love     Redeemed Vitagraph 

1-15   A    Skate    for    a    Bride.  .  .■ Lubin 

Monday. 

1-17  The    Miser's    Heart Biograph 

1-17  The    Evangu.   ,  Lubin 

1-17  Fooling  Uncle Lubin 

1-17  The  Little  Sister  of  the   Poor Lubin 

1-17  Why  Love  Is  Blind Selig 

1-17  Selig-Tribune    News    l-'utor.al    \...    5.    1916 S.-l.g 

1-17  Mrs.  Dane's  Danger Vitagraph 

1-17  Bittersweet     Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

1-18  The    Angle    of    Piety    Flat Biogrpah 

1-18  The    Book    Agent's    Romance Essanay 

1-18  The  Tale  of  a   Coat '.  .  .Kalem 

Wednesday. 

1-19  A   Life  Chase Biograph 

1-19  Canimated    Nooz    Pictorial    No.    4 Essanay 

1-19  Scenes    of    Canadian    Rockies Essanay 

1-19  A  Duel  in  the  Desert   (No.  9  of  the  Stingaree  Series)  .Kalem 

Thursday. 

1-20  The   Law's    Injustice '. Lubin 

1-20  Selig-Tribune   News   Pictorial   No.   6.   1916 Selig 

Friday. 

1-21   The   Sealskin   Coat    (No.    13.  of  the  Ventures  of  Marguerite) 

Kalem 

1-21    Frenzied    Finance     Vim 

1-21   A   Telegraphic   Tangle Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

1-22  The    White    Alley Essanay 

1-22  The   Open   Track Kalem 

1-22   Insomnia        Lubin 

1-22  When    the    Circus    Came    to    Town     (Chronicles    of    Bloom 

Center   No.    9) Selig 

1-22  The   Secret    Seven Vitagraph 


■  than  clsasification  by  maker, 
in  making  tip  their  programs. 
bulletins   as   early   as   possible. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Program 


Nov.' 
Nov. 


1    In   the   Palace  of  the  King Essanay 

1  The   Valley   of   Lost   Hope Lubin 

3  A    Black    Sheep Selig 

i  The   Man    Who    Couldn't   Beat    God Vitagraph 

5  The    Rights    of    Man Lubin 

1   The    Turn    of    the    Road Vitagraph 

1  The    Crimson    Wing Essanay 

i  The     Raven      Essanay 

5  Sweet    Alyssum    Selig 

5  Heights     of     Hazard Vitagraph 

2  The    Nation's    Peril Lubin 

3  The    Caveman    Vitagraph 

6  The    Alster    Case Essanay 

6  The    Man's    Making Lubin 

■  "   i   Glad  My   Boy  Grew   Up  to   Be  a  Soldie 


;   Divide Lubi 

)   A    Daughter    of    the    City Essanay 

7   What   Happened   to   Father Vitagraph 

!   Thou    Art     the     Man Vitagraph 

)   No    Greater    Love Selig 

)   Green'  Stockings Vitagraph 

'    My     Lady's    Slippers Vitagraph 

7   Gods    of    Fate Lubin 

)  The    Wonderful    Wager Lubin 


6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 

6,000 
5,000 


Monday. 


1-10   Belinda's   Bridal    Brc 
1-10  Title    not    reported. 

Tuesday. 

Fal-ta.T 

Vogue 

1,000 

1-11   The    First    Ouarrel 

1-11   See   America    First     N„.    In 

1-11    Keeping  Up   With   the    Joneses 

1-11    In    the   Name   of   the    Law 

Beautr 

Gattm-ni'l 

Gaumu.n 

Thanhouser 

1,000 
500 
500 

3,000 

Wednesday. 

1-12  The    Secret   Agent.. 
1-12   Title     not     reported 

Thursday. 

Rialto 

3,000 

1-13   Marta    of    the    Jungles 

1-13   Reforming    Rubbering    Rosie 

1-13   Mutual   Weekly    No.    54 

Centaur 

Falstaff 

Mutual 

2,000 
1,000 
1,000 

Friday. 

1-14  The     Secret     Wire.. 
1-14  Spider.  Barlow    Meet 
1-14  Jerry    in    Mexico... 

s    Competition 

American 

American 

Cub 

2,000' 
1,000 
1,000' 

1-15   Getting    in    Wrong. 
1-15   Water.  .Stuff    

Saturday. 

Beauty 

Mustang 

1,0W 
3,000 

Sunday. 

Monday. 

5,000' 

Tuesday. 

1-18   Grace's    Gorgeous 

"owns 

Falstaff 

1,000 

1-19   Tohnnv's    Birthday 
1-19  The   Phantom   Witr 

Wednesday. 

Beauty 

Thanhouser 

1,000 
3,000 

1-20  Pete's   Persian  Prin 
1-20  The   Five  Faults  of 

Thursday. 

Flo'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

Falstaff 

Thanhouser 

1,000 
5,000 

1-21   The   Thunderbolt    . 

Friday.. 

American 

1,000 

1-21   Wild    Jim    Reforme 

Mustang 

2,000 

1-22  The    Bait    

Saturday. 

Centaur 

5,000 

MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


1-23    Mischief   an. I 

1-10  Oh.   for   the    Life   of   a 

1-12   A    Hum    S 


Sunday. 


.  Beaut v  1,000 
..Vogue  1,000 
..Vogue       1,000 


Universal  Program 


D      1-10   Love's     Pilgrimage    to    America 

C      1-10  The  Bov,  the  Girl  and  the  Auto 

D     110  Grinding    Life    Down    (Craft   Series  No.   5).. 


Monday. 

America 

the  Auto 

Graft   Series  K 

Tuesday. 

Wednesday. 

*o."  201 '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. '.'.'. 
Thursday. 


1-13  No   Release   this 

D      1-13  X    3 

C      1-13  Tlu-     Rubber     Roi 

E      1-13  Transporting    Tin 


D      1-14   Her    Defiance 

D      1-14   The    Km;    an.l    the    Rajah.  . 

C      1-14   Flivver's    Good    Turn 


i    Sweden... 

Friday. 


Saturday. 


5   Across    the    Rio    Grande. 

5   Uncle   Sam's   Proteges   at   Work 

Uncle    Sam    at    Work) 

i   Xo    release    this    week 


1-16  The    Little    Mas.... 
1-16   Xo    release    this    week.  . 
1-16   Flirting    a    la    Carte 


Sunday. 


Monday. 


-17   The  Railroad   Monopoly   (Graft  Series  No.   5).. 

Tuesday. 


1-18  The  Reward  of  C'hiv; 
1-18  The  Silent  Member.  .. 
1-18   No   release   this   week.. 


1-20  ln-t    Plain    Folks. 

1-_'<I  No    release    this    uccl 

1     "  I'.  nldin«    Up   the   Health   of  ; 

1-20  The    Aerial     Buds. 


Wednesday. 

I  he'  Sea'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 
\...    202 

Thursday. 


Friday. 


C        1-21    Vanitv,    Tin     \ai 
D       1-21   A  Sea  Mysterj 

<"  1-21     Flivver's     I'. unci-    (hee-e     II., mill 

Saturday. 

D       1-22   Buck   Sun. ,us.    Puncher 

i :       1-22   Protecting   the   Ships  ai    Sea    (  No.   S 

C       I  -22  The  Whole  Jungle'  Was  After  Him.' 

Sunday. 


i    13    Hei     I'.-    m     Man 

i       \1,  1. 1,. Us    A., 


Miscellaneous  Features 


.Big   U       3,000 


Joseph   and    His    Brethren Dormct    Him  6,000 

The  World  oi  Today Reliable  Feature   Film  6,000 

Hanover    Film    Co.  3,000 

The    Burglar   and    the    Lady Sun    Photoplay    Co.  5.000 

Aurora   Film   Playa  Corp.  5.000 

His      Daughter'-     S,. I      ||, ,.),.,,,   |                                                          \le.lus.,      I    dm  S..I0II 

ruh Ivan    Film  5.000 

er  Girl  I,.,.,  ,    F,hn    (  ,„,, 

<mv.iI     \.. ill.,  in    Film  4.00H 

Race  Suicide   los,   W.   Farnham  6,000 

Aitti 

Fighting    with    I'r 1-    i  >...,  ,.,1    \\  ,,,     b>! 


Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

iV.    .     8  The    Blindness   of    Devotion 5,000 

Nov.    11   A    Woman's    Past 5,000 

Nov.  29  The     Galley    Slave 5,000 

Nov.  21  The   Broken    Law 5,000 

Dec.      5  The    Unfaithful    Wife 5,000 

Dec.     12   Her    Mother's    Secret 5,000 

Dec.    19  A    Soldier's    Oath 5,000 

Dec.     26   Destruction      5.000 

Tan.      2  Green-Eyed    Monster    5,000 

Tan.      9  A  Parisian    Romance 5,000 

Jan     16  The   Fourth   Estate 5,000 

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

Oct.    20  The    Green     Cloak Kleine  5,000 

Nov.     3  The    Sentimental    Lady Kleine  5,000 

Nov.   10  Children    of    Eve Edison  5,000 

Nov.   17  The     Politicians     Kleine  5,000 

Dec.       1   The    Danger    Signal Kleine  5,000 

Dec.      8  The    Destroying    Angel Edison  5,000 

Dec.     15  The     Bondwomen      Kleine  5,000 

The   Woman   in   Politics Thanhouser  5,000 

Paramount  Features. 

Tan.      5  The    Devil's    Prayer-Book Kleine  5,000 

Tan.     12  The    Catspaw     .  . Edison  5,000 

Jan.    19  Wild  Oats    Kleine  5,000 

Metro   Features. 

Released  week  of 

Nov.     8  Pennington's    Choice    Metro  5,000 

Nov.   15  The    Woman    Pays Metro  5,000 

Nov.   22   One    Million     Dollars Metro  5,000 

Nov.   29   Barbara     Frietchie     Metro  5,000 

Dec.       6  A    Yellow    Streak Metro  5,000 

Dec.     13  The   House   of  Tears Metro  5,000 

Dec.    20  Rosemary     Metro  5,000 

Dec.    27   Black   Fear   Metro  5,000 

Jan.      3  What   Will   People   Say? Metro  5,000 

Tan.     10  The    Turmoil     Metro  5.000 

Jan.     17  The  Rose  of  the  Alley Metro  5,000 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

Dec.      2  The     Forbidden    Adventure Mutual  5,000 

Dec.      9  The    Buzzard's    Shadow Mutual  5,000 

Deo.    16  The   Mill   on   the  Floss Thanhouser  5,000 

Dec.    23  The    Painted    Soul Mutual  5,000 

Dec.   30  The    Deathlock Mutual  5,000 

Dec.  30  Temptation     Lasky  5,000 

Jan.       6  The   Other   Side  of  the  Door American  5,000 

Released  week  of 

Dec.      9  The  Unknown    Lasky  5,000 

Dec.     13  The    Cheat    - Lasky  5,000 

Dec.     13  Paramount    News    Pictures Paramount  1.000 

Dec.     16  The    Reform    Candidate Pallas  5,000 

Dec.    20  The    Immigrant     Lasky  5,000 

Dec.    23  The  Old  Homestead    Famous  Players  5,000 

Dec.  20  Paramount   News   Pictures Paramount  1,000 

Dec.    27  Lydia    Gilmore    Famous  Players  5,000 

Dec.  27  Paramount   News   Pictures Paramount  1,000 

Dec.   30   Temptation     Lask  | 

Jan.      3  Paramount  News  Pictures Paramount  1,000 

Jan.      3  The    Foundling Famous    Players  5,000 

Tan.      6  Tongues    of    Men Morosco  5,000 

Jan.       6   Colonel    Heeza    Liar's    Waterloo Brav- Paramount  600 

Tan.      6  The  Skunk  and  the  Weasel Bray-Paramount  400 

Ian.     10   Paramount     Newspictures Paramount  1.000 

Tan.     10   Mice    and    Men Famous    Plavers  5,000 

Tan      13  The    Golden    Chance U'.sl 

ran.     13   Ha. Idem    Baad's    Elopement Brav-Paramount  1,000 

Ian.     17  Paramount    Newspictures    Paramount  1,000 

'Ian.     17    Mv    Ladv    Incog Famous    Play< 

Jan.     20  Inbad    the    Sailor Bray-Paramount  1.000 

Pathe. 

Released    Week    of 

Tan.     17   Railroad    Construction    on    the   Dark    Continent (.'lobe  500 

l.ni.     17   The    Lizards    Photocolor  500 

Ian.       U     Pathe      Neus     No.      t, Rati 

'Ian.     17    Pathe     News    No.    7 Pathe  1.000 

Jan.      17    Luke     1...1U    in    Luxury Phunphilms  1,000 

fan.     17  The    Lovi    Trail Gold  Roosti 

'Ian.     17    False   Colors    i  Red   Circle   No.   6) Balbo.i 

Tan.      17    Killing    the  Goal King    Cole  1,000 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released    week    of 
Ian.      9   Lain    and    Mabel    Adrift;    Roscoe    Arbuckle    and 

Normand Triangli 

Ian.     16   The    Missing     Links:     Norma    Talmadge,     Robert 

II        TOI         bine      Ai 

Ian.     10    Because     He     Lined     ll.t Tri.mglc-Kevston. 

Tan.     16  The  Bed 

Jan.     16  A    Mo.l.in    Enoch     irden        Trianglc-Kevst.i, 

World   Features. 

Rtleased  week  of 

Dec.     20  Over     Night     Bradv  5.000 

Dec.    20  Sealed     Lips     Equitable  5.000 

Bradv  5.000 

fan,      3  The    Dragon    l-:,|uit.,oi 

R.msom     Triumph  5,000 

i    miiHe    Shubert  5.000 

Ian       10    In     Life's    Whirlpool Bradv  5.000 

I  ...      10   Her  <    .  il    H  >ui      

.Ian       U    Behind     .1  Do.  Triumi  I 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


209 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


General  Program 


the     Toll— (Three     Reels)— Knicker-     uary    17.— Photoplay    adapted    fi„ 
far   Feature— January  7.— Lloyd  Strong     Henry  Arthur  Jones.      Gladys   Han 
ice   Stannage   are    rivals    for   the   hand  'of     George  Soule    Spencer   appears   in 
'      i   story   of   the   straightening 


Dicey    steps    for 
ause    of    Gordon' 

A     Life     Chase— (Three     R 

ward    and    explains    the    true 

Tanuary     19.— Featuring      lack 

presence,    and    after    the    thieve 

3   have    departed    a.    Vale  and   Franklin  Ritchie.      B 

happy    reconciliation   follows. 

mysteriously     murdered,    and    h 
Yaubert.    is"  convinced    that    Ah 

The     Evangelist — (Four     Re 

^-LUBXK-JAX 

bachelor,    is    the    murderer,    bu 

Grace 

W  ,H  ■  - 

Strong     is    wr 

sed    of 

robber 

■    and    i 

njustly   sentenced 

or   five 

When 

e   finPds 

tha 

:    Stan- 

ried    Grace    but 

reats    her 

cruelly. 

Star,,,. 

".,';■,:,, 

is  cleared  of  the 

ch   was 

ted    by 

a    burglar. 

Selig 

-Tribun 

e      No.       3— Jan 

UARY 

10.- 

-Meyer 

l,    only 

socialist    in    the 

House 

ot 

at     the 

^SehV 

uggle  between   a 
Zoo;      Charles 

tiger  and   a 
Taft     selli 

hyena 
tg     the 

•■'Cubs 

e    line    at     Lille, 

Franc 

;     German 

held     li 

ospitals 

Mayor    Pri'eto, 

first    o 

C 

arranza 

Y    17. 

-Featuring    Robert    Harro 

a,    A     Lestina 

Inez 

Seabury.      Two    crooks    a 

e    forcing   the 

:o   tell   the   combination   of 

the  safe  that 

Is      hi- 

money,    when    the    child, 

ted    he 

rself   in    the    miser's    room, 

comes    forth. 

ev    ha 

g    the    child    out    of    the 

e    and 

a   tramp,   seeing  her   peril 

goes   for   the 

:  the 


ind  the  child. 


Fooling    Uncle— Lubin— January     17.— A    one-    difficult 
reel   comedv   written  and  produced  by   Edwin  Mc-     by  the 
Kim.        Cast      includes       Dave      Don,       Kempton    duction 
Greene.    Patsv   De   Forrest,   Alice   Mass   and   John 
Sherman.       A    rich    uncle     of    the    Browns,    who 
dotes    on    children,    would   leave    them    his    wealth 
if  they  had  a  baby,   but  as  they   are  childless,   the 
'       a    Home    for    Indigent     ~ 


s   lives   of  the   principal   characters 

it.      Barry   O'Neil   directs   the  pro- 

.„_    ./as  adapted  to  the  screen   by   Clay 

M.    Greene.       Ferdinand    Tidmarsh.    lack    Standing 

Georoge    Clarke,    Peter    Lang,    Arthur    Matthews, 

Eleanor  Dunn  and  Rosetta     Brice  appear. 


who    h 
Smiths   and   their   baby,   j 


iting  them, 
:  as  their  guests  the 
3  off  the  Smith  baby 
ngs  get  very  tangled, 
i  the  end,  when  uncle 


Bittersweet— Vitacraph— January  17.— Featur- 
ing George  Stanley,  Anne  Schaefer  and  Webster 
Campbell.  Farmer  Slater  has  tyrannized  over  his 
family  so  long  that  they  dare  not  call  their  souls 
their  own.  John,  the  elder  son,  before  his  return 
from  college  marries  Ruth,  a  city  girl,  and  at  the 
farm  she  is  chided  and  browbeaten.  Bob,  the 
younger  son,  is  angered  because  his  father  re- 
:end  a  party  and   goes  to 


-(Three  Reels)— Lubin 
of  -  the  unjust  imprison- 
[talian  factory  girl  and  her  later 
revenge.  Julian  Louis  Lamothe  wrote  the  plav, 
which  Edward  Sloman  directed.  Helen  Wolcott, 
George  Routh,  L.  C.  Shumway  and  Mercedes 
Diaz  are  among  the  players. 

lecture  John  meets  a  bunch  of  old  college  chums 
and  renews  acquaintance  with  mixed  drinks  and 
stacks  of  chips.  He  spends  the  night  at  the 
hotel  with  the  boys  and  when  John  does  not 
show  up  Mrs.  Smithers,  fearing  something  has 
happened  to  her  hubby,  calls  up  John's  four 
friends  and  asks  each  friend  if  John  spent  the 
night  with   him  and   reply   "yes."     Mrs.   Smithers, 


Little  Sister  of  the  Poor — Lubin — Jan- 
17. — Francelia  Billington  appears  as  Sister 
sa,    the    victim    of    an    unhappy    love    affair 


saloc 


.  mother, 
tor  the  first  time  defies  her  husband  and  an- 
nounces she  is  going  with  Bob.  Left  alone, 
Slater  is  overcome  by  his  rage  and  falls  in  a  fit 
and  as  a  result  he  is  an  invalid  for  life,  but  a 
changed   man. 

Them  Was  the  Good  Old  Days— Vitacraph — 
January  17.— Featuring  John  T.  Kelly,  Kate 
Price  and  Harry  Fisher.  Winthrop  Backbay,  an 
old-fashioned  gentleman,  always  complaining  of 
modern  ways  and  inventions,  falls  asleep  and 
dreams  that  he  has  his  wish  and  finds  himself 
and  his  wife  living  in  a  dingy  old  cabin  in  the 
forest.  He  is  forced  to  wield  an  axe,  go  hunting 
with  an  old  blunderbuss  and  finally  he  is  shot  bv 
a  roving  Indian.  By  this  time  he  has  had  enough 
of   "the   good    old   days'' 


rcah'/iu"- 

the 

deeepti.ii 

prac 

ticed   upc 

her, 

off, 

;e   to    den 

and    f 

n   expla. 

After 

evervthi 

P 

John's   w 

ff    V 

ith   her   a 

round   h 

leck 

s   for  her 

unju 

t   suspici 

on 

Frenzied  F 

nance— V 

im   Comedies— 

Ta 

NIIAR 

Y   21. 

—Pokes 

and 

Jabs,    brokers 

have 

tide 

with 

ting    i 


When   he  awal 
5   indeed   joyful. 


the 


Why 

17.— Fe 

Love 

[s    Blind— S 

LIG     F 

.re— T 

NUARY 

Jack  Cliffor 

d  as  B 

obby,  the 

Driven 

away  from 

he 

eling    c 

There   he    rr 

nd 

falls 

e   blinc 

the  c 

directed  by 

N 

chr.ls. 

Bettj 

rl.      C 

nelud 

s    Gu> 

Oliver, 

Williai 

a  Scott,  Lill 

,n    Hayw; 

Franl- 

Clark. 

Longe 

r    review   appears 

Ise 

vhere 

n    this 

Mrs.      Dane's 


G.  H. 
Dagger — (Four  Reels) — Vita- 
okai-h—  jMUAKi  17.— Featuring  Lillian  Walker, 
Wilfrid  "North  and  Donald  Hall.  David  Dane,  a 
rich  man,  much  older  than  his  wife,  Alice,  is 
content  that  she  amuse  herself  in  society.  Rex 
Gordon,  a  former  sweetheart,  and  man-about- 
town,  attempts  to  make  advances  to  her,  which 
she  resents  until  he  apologizes.  One  evening  he 
enters  Alice's  home  with  the  intention  of  stealing 
her  valuable  pearl  necklace,  and  at  the  same  time 
Jasper    ]    ejqr,  and-out    broker,    enters    for 

the    sam  )ane    returns    home    and    is 


The  Angel  of  Piety  Flat— (Two  Reels)— Bio- 
graph — Tanuary  18. — Featuring  Marv  Malatesta. 
Ivan  Christy  and  Tack  Raymond.  A  week  after 
the  death  of  her  brother  Dorothy  Raymond 
comes  to  Piety  Flat  and  the  inhabitants  tell  her 
that  he  would  be  back  soon  from  a  prospecting 
trip.  She  is  captured  by  Indians,  who  think  her 
kodak  a  devilrsh  contrivance,  but  she  is  rescued 
by  the  man  she  has  learned  to  love,  while  he  was 
perjuring   his    soul    for   her   sake. 

The  Book  Agent's  Romance— (Two  Reels)  — 
Essanay— Tanuary  18.— Featuring  G.  M.  Ander- 
son, Lee  Willard,  Eva  Heazlett  and  Ruth  Sa- 
ville.  The  book  agent  meets  the  daughter  of  a 
capitalist  on  a  street  car  when  she  accidentally 
ties  her  shoe  lace  to  his.  The  capitalist  gives  his 
wife  the  choice  between  a  trip  abroad  and  a  pearl 
necklace.  She  accepts  the  latter,  but  later 
changes  her  mind  and  they  start  for  Europe. 
Their  butler,  a  member  of  a  gang  of_  crooks,  tele 


but  has  trou 
him.  He  is  f 
friend,    Millie 


When   the    Cir, 


Phot 


the 


tellin 


the 


.  ....  The  book  agent 
calls  at  the  house  and  he  is  mistaken  for  the 
messenger  and  attacked  by  the  crooks.  The 
capitalist  and  his  family  arrive  home,  having 
missed  their  boat,  and  the  daughter  recognizes  the 
book  agent.  The  crooks  are  captured  and  later 
the   book   agent   marries   the   daughter. 


ry  22. — A  "Bloom  Center"  story  written  by 
Mabel  Heikes  Justice.  Several  citizens  of  the 
village  lend  their. talent  to  the  circus  performance 
with  disastrous  results.  The  elephant  gets  loose, 
breaking  up  the  show,  and  frightening  the  vil- 
lagers out  of  their  wits. 

Secret  Seven— (Three  Reels)— Vitacraph— 
Tanuary  22.— Featuring  Carolyn  Birch,  William 
Humphrey  and  Leo  Delaney.  Dr.  Mandredi,  an 
Italian-American  doctor,  is  sworn  to  secrecy  bv 
Sebastian,  the  villainous  leader  of  the  "Secret 
Seven."  a  band  of  counterfeiters,  when  he  acci- 
dentally   comes    upon    their    den.       Sebastian    dis- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


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Motography 

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inform  the  poli< 
husband  in  Ital 
and    the    day    shi 


e    breaks    her    engagement 
arried    to    Sebastian,    he    is 
.    -__t-off   sweetheart,   and    Viola 
that    her   father    killed    her   husband    in    self- 


f  Yards;  Hy  Ma; 


shipment  - 
_ton,    D.    C. 


half    of    this    reel    the 
some      of      Milwaukee's 
The 


I— (One  Reel)  —  Ll-bin—  January  22. 
by  Mark  Swan  and  produced  by 
It'  deals  with  the  amazi 
s    in    his   efforts   to   find    a 


Keeping   Up  With   the  Jor 


n's     Peril. 

-Chapter  4 


The  White  Alley— (Three  Reels)— Essanay— 
January  23.— Featuring  Elizabeth  Burbridge. 
Ernest  Maupain,  Harry  Beaumont,  Edward  Ar- 
nold and  Hugh  Thompson.  Justine  Arnold  gives 
a  house  party  and  Ernest  Chapin,  Cambell 
Crosby,  his  cousin,  and  Emery  Dale,  his  law 
partner  fall  in  love  with  Dorothv  Duncan,  Ar- 
nold's fiancee,  and  she  Hirt>  with 'them.  Arnold 
discovers  Chapin  asking  Dorothy  to  marry  him 
and  tells  her  to  consider  then  muaacraent  broken. 
The  next  morning  Arnold  is  missing  and  several 
")ody    is    found    in    a    huge 


rMiy         1N--C-1M 

includes      Ashton       Dearholt, 

■s    Xewton    and    Nay    Christy. 

production    com 

5S.       Charles     Bart 

ett    is    the    director.       For    a 

ither  page  of  this   issue. 

G.  H. 

race's     Gorgeous 

Gowns — Fai.st  ah — January 

-With      Louise 

imerald      Bates.         Grace,      a 

lographer,    dream 

of    the    time    when    she    will 

e  nothing  to  do  a 

id  will  possess  all  the  beauti- 

.      This    time    at    last    comes 

•n    the   twelfth    wi 

ler  favor.     The  in 

heritor  of  the  fortune  bv   the 

■e  dispossessed.     All  is  merry 

ately  brought   to 

ight.      All    Grace's  gowns  are 

ed  and   she  is  left 

alone  in  the  world   with   onl\ 

athing  suit  and  ai 

unpaid    hotel    bill.      Then    Un- 

dsome lifeguard    | 

laces    himself    at    her   disposal 

life. 

ohnny's        Birthda 

y      Bi  u  n  -January       19  — 

in   Sheehan   and    Carol    Hallo- 

James    Dpugli 

ss    directs    it.       Johnny     cele- 

W«           jP 

±1 

J 

^^H^'/tJ 

*1 

L  •    9f  - 

'  9 

performs  a 
i-.  Johnny's  father  owns  the 
Johnny  is  not  scut  to  jail  and 
gels    his    ioh    back    again. 

G.  H, 

The  Phantom  Witness      (Three  Reels)       Inn 

ii"is,k  Jim  \k\  I".  KMwin  Stanlev  as  district 
attorney.  The  young  district  attornc\  is  engaged 
to  lie  married.  flic  girl  ot  his  choice  lues  with 
her  guardian,  the  latter  haying  had  charge  of 
his  ward's  propcrt\  so  long  that  he  has  come  to 
virtually  regard  it  ,,s  his  own.  Hie  realization 
that  he  will  have  to  suirendei  it  is  a 
to  him.  The  girl  suddenl>  .lies,  the  circumstances 
.it  her  death  pointing  dirccth  to  suicide.  Her 
bereaved  lover  is  sick  for  main  weeks.  On  his 
return  to  duties,  while  sitting  .,l,„u-  in  th.  curl 
room,  the  spirit  ot  In-  swc.tllcart  appeals  to  him 
and  tells  him  tin  true  -Inn  ot  her  death.  Thus 
llu  lawNct  is  able  to  prosecute  the  wretch  who 
is  responsible.  Shorth  after  the  trial  the  district 
lotin.l  .lead  in  one  of  the  ,  i..n,l,.r« 
with    a   smile   on    his    lace. 


Pete's 


Persian       Princess      I- ai 


tins    I 


IV 


-J  A> 


clul  plans  lor  a  square  meal.  His 
intentions  to  help  a  I',  is,.,,,  Princess  regain  a 
ing    that    has    become    the    property    of    a    million., ire 

enough,   but    thej    do  not   lead   to  am 
remuneration    foi    him      n,s   ,,1.,,,   goes   awn.   bc- 


Ol 


iinstak.     on    the    part    of    the    Pn'ii'c 
The  latter   take    Pete    for   the   million 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


she    will    se 

the    face    of   t 

Fred,  a  sui 

Hallowe'en 

narty    Maud    tri 

the    meantim 

,    enters    her 

room    through 

V 

i*h  t       ■>.     "...     . 

5          a 

The    Oirl    ot    His    Dreams — ira — j«»™i    -i. — 

Featuring  George  Ovey.  In  this  little  episode 
Ferry  gets  in  .solid,  for  once  ni  Ins  life.  He  flirts 
with   Gladys  and   they   agree   to  meet   again.      Jerry 


covering    their    loot.       The    1 
the    stolen    goods    of    Gladys'    iai 
last   seen   this   time   surrounded   by   parental   smiles 

"Wild    Jim,     Reformer"— (Two     Reels)—  Mus- 
TANt;— January      21.— A      touring     party,      father, 

tainous  region,  seek  shelter  in  the  cabin  of  an  old 
hunter.  He  is  "Wild  Jim,"  and  to  entertain  them 
he  tells  the  story  of  his  life.  This  gives  occasion 
for  presenting  a  typical  "wild  west"  story.  When- 
ever he  killed  a  man.  the  outlaw  put  a  notch  on 
his  gun  stock.  There  are  thirteen  notches.  Then 
Tim  falls   in    love    with    the   teacher   of   the   moun- 


Tay° 

Brighton,  a  power  in  newspaper 
circles,  is  making  things  so  hot  for  a  gang  of 
crooked  politicians  that  Dougherty,  the  be  " 
ders  his  "go  between"  Aines  t 
thing   against    Brighton.      How 

to    down     Brighton    through    ru n 

ted  by  a  chivalrous  youth,  Stanton  Ware, 
;  in  love  with  the  daughter  of  a  friend  of 
on's,  is  the  story  without  going  into  the 
ig  details.  Ware  proves  his  true  chivalry 
:rificing  himself  in  favor  of  Aines,  whom 
nks  Doris  loves,  and  finally  exposing  him- 
>  death  in  order  to  save  Mrs.  Brighton's 
Doris,  however,  sa-ves  the  si'truatiton. 
is  killed  in  an  attempt  to  do  away  with 
--    the    love    of    Doris 


Graft— (Two 


Hoi 


Hei 


-Sixth      Episode — Feat- 

o?*  January  17°— "This 
/as  suggested  by  James 
xumstances  which  come 
eath      of     his     daughter, 


Novak— Ri 

installment    ot    "Uratt 

Oppenheim.      Through 

near      ending      in      th< 

Charles      Rockford,      president      ot      the      r 

monopoly,    promises    a    complete    reform    tc 

Larnigan.        Dorothy     Maxwell     also     eludi 

two   captors   in    whose   power   she   was   at   tl 

of  the  last  episode. 


Tom 


whole    hot 
effect    as 


h  amply   explains 


in    school.      When    he   has    f 
onor,    he   puts    the    foiirleeiii 

x.ght    a    <1 

St.       He    shows    llle    •■uu    o 
other    recognizes    it.       She 
:hool   teacher,      lack    l< i c h.n-. 
.    Forrest    Taylor    and     Frai 

son.    l"izet 

Bumps       Commutes — Noviei 
his    picture    depicts    the    cu 
limps,   a    suburbanite.      His 
e,   asleep,  is  dressed  by   a   c 

ome  and   carry    his   wile's   bu 

'troubles  's 

snvict   in    t 

s    obliged 
idles. 

-    culm 


,  but  Dave  is  preferred  by  Susie.  It 
presumed  that  Dave  gets  her,  for  they 
seen    together    after    a    series    of    curious 


Mischief  and  a  Mirror— Beauty— Tanuary  2 
— Comedv  featuring  Neva  Gerber  and  Walla 
MacDona'ld.  Cast  includes  Dick  Rosson,  Willia 
Carroll  and  Lucille  Ward.  Maud  consults 
fortune  teller  who  tells  her   to  look  into  a  mirn 


Her    Better    Self— (Two    Reels)— Victor— Jan- 
uary  19.— With    Grace   Cunard.      Yvette  is  known 

gang  of  crooks.  Her  lover,  Ralph,  desperate  at 
her  coquetry,  tells  her  over  the  phone  that  he 
will  kill  himself  if  she  does  not  promise  to  marry 
him.  She  just  laughs  at  him,  and  a  few  minutes 
later  he  is  a  dead  man.  Some  time  later  Yvette 
falls  in  love  with  Ralph's  brother,  Jack  Trevor, 
although  she  is  ignorant  of  his  identity..  Realiz- 
ing she  is  not  worthy  of  the  man's  love,  Yvette 
tells  her  gang  that  after  the  next  robbery,  she  is 
through.  Through  helping  to  track  down  the 
thieves  after  this  robbery,  Jack  learns  the  real 
identity    of   Yvette   and   denounces    her   both    as   a 

based  on  the  circumstances  of  Ralph's  death" 
Paul,   one   of   the  gang,   makes   to   shoot   Jack   and 


The  Business 
Obligation 

At  the  lowest  estimate  for 
weekly  program  rentals  the 
subscribers  to  MOTOG- 
RAPHY spend  every  week 
the    astounding    sum    of 

$417,860.00 

If  they  use  one  feature 
each  week  in  addition  to 
their  service,  at  a  fair 
price  for  features,  this  sum 
is    increased    weekly    to 

$893,260.00 

If  these  theaters  spend  a 
few  dollars  each  week  for 
supplies,  posters,  oil,  re- 
winds, heralds,  etc.,  the 
sum  total  of  the  average 
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To  talk  to  this  Million  Dollar 
Crowd  every  week 

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Motography 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Ihr, 

"&%$£ 

li 

st    Plain    Folks 
'  C.    Dowlan. 

Ton 
and 

He    can     i 

ic' 

a  :\\ 

L\ ' 

ne  voung  man,  howeve 
o    reform    and    employ 

s'   himgaVseS, 

~ 

s"as    though    Helen    h 

;   founTa3 

Mr 
L-K< 

Mc 

diofs     Assassination— 
ary     23.— .Mr.      Meld 

(Two     Reei 

nd 
ad- 

,:' 

g    to.',    liaril,    he   hires   t 
rderers'    Association    U 
lve   hours'   time.      Thei 
decides   she  has   mad 

e.     Self-des 
Mr.    Mr  1.1 

be    found.      The    following    incidents    nc<   ! 
followed    closely.      Suffice    it    to    say    that    Mcldi 
and    the    girl    are    finally    married    and    the    chi 


ill  leads  to  a  qua 
lother.  The  lai 
ires    her    daughte 


Feature  Program* 


;    Famous    Cheese-Hot 


Jar 


ix—  (Ftv 


of'haza'r 


wned    detective,         A      Pai 

thieves.       Through  January   9.— Features   H.   Cooper'  Cliffe  i 

ound  he   is  not   long  othy    Creen.      Scenes   are   laid   in    Paris, 

one   of    the    robbers,  eludes   Margaret   Skirvm.   Angelica   Spur 

is    to    elude    him    by  Titherage.      For  a   longer  review   see   anot 
inly   after 


r  gets 


li--h.ru 


The  Third  Estate— Fox— January  16. — A  story 
lealing  with  newspaper  life.  Many  of  the  scenes 
•vere  nlmed  in  the  plant  of  the  Chicago  Herald. 
Ruth  Blair,  Clifford  Bruce  and  Samuel  Ryan 
lppear.  The  story  was  written  by  Joseph  Mc- 
lill  Patterson,  himself  a  newspaper  man.  A  re- 
new  of   the  play   will   appear  in  the  next   issue   of 


She 

,    for 


:hinks   she  ha. 
life   of  forced 

:   death   of  the  The    Catspav 

mother   fisher-  January      12.- 

3  the  girl.  (.eorge    VVrighl 

Buck     Simmons.     Puncher-    (Two     Reels)— Bi-  Hamilton'cJsbc 


Kleine-Edison 


who   has   also 


i  his  hearl 


eine-Edison— 
directed  bj 
MacDermott 
by     William 


The  Foundling— (Five  Reels)- Famous  Play- 
ers—Paramount.— Mary  Pickford  in  the  role  of 
an  orphan  who  is  linalh  reunite. 1  with  her  father. 
i     successful     artist.       John     B.     O'Brien    produced 

Mice    and    Men— (Five    Reels)— Fam 
ers- Paramount.— Marguerite    Clark    as     Peggy    in 
of     Madeline     I.ucette     Ryley's 


-Ja> 


Mutual  Special 

The   Woman   in    Politics— (Five   Reels)— Thai 
hoiTser— January      13.— Mignon     Anderson 


Pathe    Nev 


Pathe 


2— Pa 


plai 


The    Whole    Jungle    Was    After    Hun       I 
January    22.       Paul     becomes    madly    in     love    with 
Rosita,    w  l i ..  the  owner  of  a   large  cii  • 

ctls.  Paul      .  lain. 

her    doubt,    and    puts    him    to    the    test. 

1  iri     i i    to    be    "" led    on 

im.ling     Paul     to     be     sadly    wanting     in 

have    anything    n lo 

with    bun.       She    leaves    him    with    the    ...I ,, ,!,,,■ 

that   "Fain!  hearl   never   won   fair  lady." 

Her      Dream      Man      I.mmmii       I  i  ■. . 
W  it  I.       Mm  tie      Con/ale/.  II,  I,  ,,       \\      !      „    M        ,1 

'     .Kill    %    .       IO   ,-,| 

ill.-.      sin. 
.  I     bel     in. .n. ■•,  .    .I.t. 

connttv    estate.       She    has    made    an. or. 

ptcviouslv      to      --ell      the      plai  c.  \,.l 

'     !"  '     '  "•  "" 1     ■■■ 

'I"     ■'> "  M-    tb'     |.    ■■;■  ;  ■  h..    ,,i  i  i  v«  — 

'",  look    thi     | ih 

burgtai    b      Helen      Sei  Ing    thai    he 


■  4      i    i 


1*1 


shipment    of    32,000    geese    -tan,    for    New     Vork, 

111. ;   spi  ing  fashions  ;  aboard  a  Russian 

seaplam       mutli-colored    costume,    of    beauty    and 

biirle.s.iucappcar  in  the  Anim.,1  Mummer's  Parade! 

Philadelphia.  Pa.:  11. n\. mi's  hockev  team  takes 
advantage  of  the  ice  for  the  first  outdoor  practice 
of  the  season,  Cambridge,  Vlass  ,  State  dam  on 
the  Hudson  River  is  destroyed  bv  .: 
allow  pent-up  waters  to  flow  into  the  new  barge 
canal,     froy,    \.    Y.  :    lire    destroys    popular   resort 

''.'"Mi'g   *-'i'n. -   ,l    ,.,  i,  .  ,'al.  ;   auto 

speed      kings     contend      for     pi 

the  new  Ascot,   I  os   Angeles,  Cal. 

Pathe    News    No.    3      Unitary    8.— Italian    pas- 

.     \  ei.li    arrive- 
-    uiiii    in..   Ainch    gun-   on    her   after- 
d<  repel    host il  m.n  incs  ;     cadets    of    the 

sClloolsllip        \.      '  -  -'V.         Il 

.1     on     lain. .us     I:, mis    of     King 
.'..ic  ;     I  iventicth     I  omlon     Regime  i 
Lewisham,    England,    with    gun 

ii    >  '  I)  some  of   the 

2,950,514  men  who  respond  to  his  appeal  to  enlist; 

l.assM.g.is     ,,s,   ,H,I     to,,,,     rt.„,   .     . 

lonike    b\     S.    S,     Pat, is    ;,n,  , 

\tlanti.      storms:     views     ,.,    , 
activities  _..,      ,..,  ,s, 


II       ■.    i ,  ,  1 


January  22,  1916. 


Church 


Winchendon,    Mass.;    flood    of    Skookurr 
river,     Centralia,     Wash. ;     high     school 
Portland,    Ore.,    join    National    Guard    a 
militia  and  take  lirst  step  towards  the  Swiss  n 
tary  school   system. 

The     King's     Game— (Five     Reels)— Path 
January  7.— This  Gold  Rooster  Play  is  a  pi 
ization   of  the  play   of   the  same  name   by   Gt_.  =  . 
Brackett     Seitz.       Pearl     White,     George    Probert 
and  Sheldon  Lewis  are  included  in  the  cast.     Ash- 
ley Miller  directed  the  production. 

Old,      Unchanging     Holland — (Split      Reel) — 
Pathe — January    4. — A    photo-color    si 
Holland's  windmills,  canals,  quaintly  di— . 
pie  and  its  famous  cows  feeding  in  level   pastui 
as  its  subjects.     On  the  same  reel  with: 


MOTOGRAPHY 


of  important  government  papers. 
s  adapted  by  R.  L.  Schrock  from 
T.    S.    Schrock    is 


Quaint  Dances  of  Japan — Pathi 
contrast  with  our  modern  dances 
Nomaki  and  the  Nippon  Benzai; 
which  are  performed  by  the  Geisha 


Lonesome  Luke   Leans  to  the   Literary — 
Rolin — January    5. — In    this    comedy    La 
out  to  be  a  book  agent.     He  sta  ' 
right  idea,  he  is  persistent,  but  hi 
the  return  for  it  is  some   pretty 
It  is  laughable  slapstick  comedy. 

Ach!  Such  Crimes! — Pathe-Starlight — -Janu- 
ary 8. — Heinie  is  now  happily  married  and  acts 
the  part  of  the  dutiful  husband.  Returning  from 
the  delicatessen  store,  he  encounters  Louie  in  the 
act  of  kidnaping  a  child.  Heinie  takes  up  the 
chase  and  secures  the  abused  child.  This  altru- 
istic act  lands  him  in  jail.  But  he  escapes  and 
returns  to  accuse  Louie,  who  thereupon  loses 
his  precious  liberty. 

Lord  Southpaugh — (Two  Reels) — Pathe — Jan- 
uary 3.— Featuring  Max  Figman,  Lolita  Robert- 
son and  Burr  Mcintosh.  In  this,  the  final  ad- 
venture of  the  New  Adventures  of  J.  Rufus  Wal- 
hngford,  written  by  George  Randolph  Chester, 
Walhngford  puts  over  a  deal  on  Eli  Spooger, 
president  of  a  bank  in  Oakville  Center  and  a  local 
shark,  cleaning  him  out  of  $85,000  on  the  famous 
Bessemer  stock.  The  romance  of  Violet  and 
Daw   also  comes  to   a   happy   culmination. 

The  Love  Trail — Gold  Rooster 
Reels)— January  21.— A  screen  i,„„K, 
Richard  Dehan's  novel,  "The  Dope  Doctor." 
Scenes  are  laid  in  South  Africa  during  the  Boer 
war.  Agnes  Glynne  and  Fred  Paul  are  featured. 
A  full  review  of  the  play  will  appear  in  a  later 
issue  of  Motography. 

Weapons    of    War— 
boa.— Fifth    episode   ir.    .... 
features  Ruth  Roland  and  Frank  Mavo. 


:   the    H; 


-(Five 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  January  16th. 
The  Beckoning  Flame — Kay-Bee. — The  story 
of  a  high-born  girl  of  India  who  loved  an  English 
official.  Henry  Woodruff  and  Tsuru  Aoki  are 
featured.  Story  is  laid  in  India.  The  cast  in- 
cludes Rhea  Mitchell,  T.  Frank  Burke,  Lewis 
Morrison,  J.  Barny  Sherry  and  Roy  Laidlow. 
For  a  full  review  see  page  39  of  January  1 
Motography. 

The  Missing  Links — Fine  Arts — Robert  Har- 
ron  and  Norma  Talmadge  featured  in  a  mystery 
story.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Thomas  Jefferson, 
Elmer  Clifton,  Constance  Talmadge,  William 
Higby  and  Jack  Brammall.  Lloyd  Ingraham  is 
the  director.  Picture  reviewed  on  page  39,  Janu- 
ary 1  issue  of  Motography. 

Fatty  and  Mabel  Adrift— January  9.— Fatty,  a 
farmer  boy,  has  just  married  his  employer's  daugh- 
ter, Mabel.  They  are  spending  their  honeymoon 
at  a  cottage  by  the  seashore  when  Al  St.  John, 
an  unsuccessful  suitor  for  Mabel's  hand,  follows 
them,  seeking  revenge.  Aided  by  a  band  of 
robbers,  he  knocks  the  underpinnings  from  the 
cottage  and  sets  it  afloat  on  the  sea  during  a 
storm.  The  cottage  begins  to  sink,  but  the 
newly-weds,  discovering  their  plight,  tie  a  note 
around  the  neck  of  Fatty's  dog,  who  is  with  them, 
and  send  him  ashore.  He  swims  safely  to  land 
and  arouses  Mabel's  parents  who  rescue  the 
young  people.  The  rival  and  robbers  receive 
their  just  deserts  when  they  are  blown  up  in  a 
powder  explosion  soon  after.  Cast  includes  Ros- 
coe  Arbuckle,  Mabel  Normand,  Frank  Hays,  May 
Wells,  Wayland  Trask  and  Glen  Cavender. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Green  Stockings— (Five  Reels)— V.  L.  S.  E.— 
January  10. — Vittagraph  picture  produced  bv 
Wilfrid  North,  featuring  Lillian  Walker.  It  is 
customary  in  certain  sections  of  England  that  if 
she  is  unmarried,  the  elder  sister  must  wear 
green  stockings  at  the  wedding  of  a  younger 
sister,  and  Celia  has  already  had  to  wear  them 
once — at  Madge's  wedding,  but  she  determines  to 
help  out  her  sister  Phyllis.  On  the  impulse  she 
announces  that  she  is  engaged  to  a  gentleman 
named  Smith,  who  she  says  is  in  South  Africa. 
She  foolishly  writes  a  letter,  which  she  does  not 
intend  to  mail,  but  Phyllis  finds  it  and  drops  it 
in  the  letter  box.  It  happens  that  there  is  a 
real  Colonel  Smith  in  Africa  and  when  he  re- 
ceives the  letter  he  leaves  for  England,  and 
later  the   Colonel  becomes  Celia's  real  fiance. 

My  Lady's  Slipper— (Five  Reels)— V.  L.  S. 
E.— January  17.— A  Vitagraph  Blue  Ribbon 
feature  written  by  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady  and 
produced  by  Ralph  Ince.  Earle  Williams  is 
featured  as  Francis  Burnham,  a  young  American 
naval  officer  in  the  time  of  King  Louis  XVI  of 
France,  who  rescues  a  beautiful  lady  from  a 
highwayman,  but  does  not  learn  her  name.  He 
later  is  forced  by  one  Marquis  De  Tremignon 
to  enter  her  apartments  and  secure  some  article 
of  wearing  apparel  from  the  countess,  and  thus 
compromise  her.  Burnham  succeeds  in  secur- 
ing her  slipper,  but  he  is  confronted  by  the  lady 
herself  and  discovers  that  she  is  the  lady  he  res- 
cued from  the  highwayman.  She  tells  him  she 
hates  the  Marquis  and  that  he  is  trying  to  force 
her  to  marry  him.  He  denounces  the  Marquis 
and  is  imprisoned,  but  the  Countess  secures  an 
audience  with  Queen  Marie  Antoinette  and  Burn- 
ham is  freed  and  marries  the  Countess.  Anita 
Stewart  is  cast  as  Countess  De  Villars  and  Henry 
Northrup  as  Marquis  De  Tremignon,  and  they 
are  supported  by  a  strong  cast. 

Hearst-Vitagraph  No.  2 — Vitagraph — January 
11. — Strike  rioters  wreck  and  burn  buildings  in 
East  Youngstown  and  troops  are  called  to  guard 
the  city,  East  Youngstown,  Ohio ;  Samuel  W. 
McCall  is  inaugurated  Governor  of  Massachusetts, 
Boston,  Mass.;  members  of  Olympic  Club  enter 
the  Pacific  for  their  annual  water  carnival,  San 
,  Calif. ;  steamer  Patris  brings  in  pas- 
..„  .aken  from  disabled  and  abandoned  liner 
Thessaloniki,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  latest  fashions; 
special  Naval  Commission  watches  test  of  sea-sled 
designed  to  make  seventy-five  miles  per  hour, 
carrying   torpedo,    Boston,   Mass. ;    Harvard    crack 

snowdrifts,     Cambridge,     Mass.;     German     marine 
artillery  sweeps  into  action  in  an  engagement  near 


^      World 

Her  Great  Hour — (Five  Reels) — Equitable — 
World. — Molly^  Mclntyre  is  the  featured  player 
in  this  appealing  melodrama  written  nad  pro- 
duced by  S.  E.  V.  Taylor.  It  is  the  story  of  a 
shop  girl  who  is  accused  of  theft  and  later  mur- 
der, but  her  innocence  is  established  and  the  end 
finds  her  future  happiness  assured. 


Universal    Special 

'he  Man  Inside — (Five  Reels) — Broadw/ 
iversal— January  17.— Edwin  Stevens  is  fe 
;d  in  a  dual  role.  The  supporting  cast  '"i 
ies  Tina  Marshall.  Charles  Burbridge,  Ju 
i   Huff,  William  Armstrong,   Sid   Bracy,   Han 


The  Miles  theater,  Penn  avenue  and 
Seventh  street,  Pittsburgh,  an  old  estab- 
lished theater,  has  been  purchased  by  a 
number  _  of  Pittsburgh  men,  who  have 
opened  it  with  high  grade  pictures.  It 
will  resume  its  old  name,  the  Pitt,  and 
five  shows  will  be  given  daily.  Managed 
by  William  M.  Patch. 


The  manufacturer 
who  brands  his  films 
and  advertises  them 
in  Motography  is  so 
sure  of  their  quality 
that  he  is  willing  to 
stand  the  full  force  of 
possible     complaints. 

He  is  making  some- 
thing for  which  he  is 
proud  to  be  respon- 
sible. His  trade  mark 
secures  for  him  the 
increased  sales  that 
result  from  satisfaction 
and  identification.  At 
the  same  time  it  se- 
cures to  the  great  mass 
of  exhibitors  the  cer- 
tainty of  quality  which 
the  known  manufac- 
turer must  maintain  if 
he  is  to  continue  to 
be  successful. 

When  you  book 
films,  book  films  that 
are  trademarked  and 

advertised  in  Motography. 
The  manufacturers  of  such 
films  stand  behind  them. 
Your  satisfaction  is  vital  to 
the  continued  success  of 
the  trade  -  marked  adver- 
tised films. 

Trade  marks  and  adver- 
tising in  Motography  are  the 
two  greatest  servants  in  the 
film  business  today.  Their 
whole  tendency  is  to  raise 
qualities  and  standardize 
them  while  reducing  prices 
and  stabilizing  them. 


214 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


ROLL  OF  STATES. 

Alabama. 

H.  M.  Newsome,  a  pioneer  motion  pic- 
ture man,  opened  to  the  public  of  Bir- 
mingham, Christmas  eve,  one  of  the 
finest  theaters  in  the  south.  It  is  modern 
and  artistic  and  seats  500  people.  It 
measures  30x140  feet  and  none  of  this 
space  is  taken  up  by  the  operating  room, 
as  a  special  booth  has  been  built  on  the 
second  floor.  There  are  six  exits,  and 
another  feature  is  a  large  exhaust  fan 
room  facing  the  alley  back  of  the  screen. 
Ornamental  grilles  on  the  sides  of  the 
stage  form  a  screen  for  the  exhaust  fans, 
which  makes  it  possible  to  keep  the  air 
fresh  and  pure.  The  decorations  are  in 
blue,  grey-white  and  gold. 

The  Strand  Amusement  Company  re- 
cently opened  the  Colonial  theater,  on 
Second  avenue,  between  Nineteenth  and 
Twentieth  streets,  Birmingham.  The  new 
theater  is  two  doors  from  the  Strand 
theater,  owned  and  operated  by  the  same 
company,  and  cost  $25,000.  There  is  a 
balcony  and  also  a  rest  room  for  women. 
The  most  modern  orchestra  chairs  have 
been  installed,  and  the  seating  capacity  is 
500.  The  interior  is  very  attractive,  the 
walls  being  finished  in  old  rose  and  gray. 
President  T.  S.  Abernethy  states  that  the 
new  theater  will  be  known  as  the  home 
of  Triangle  plays. 

Triangle  pictures  have  been  inaugu- 
rated at  the  Rex  theater  in  Arkansas 
City. 

The  Strand  theater,  which  was  erected 
by  Ben  Conrad  in  Arkansas  City,  is  a 
very  attractive  picture  house  and  seats 
425.  The  interior  is  quite  pretty  and 
Mr.  Conrad  is  showing  the  Paramount 
program. 

California. 

It  is  announced  that  in  the  spring  Tur- 
ner &  Dahnken  will  erect  a  3,000-seat 
photoplay  house  on  Weber  avenue,  oppo- 
site the  Court  House,  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Tretheway  building,  Stockton. 
The  building  will  be  a  three-story  struc- 
ture with  a  marquee  50  feet  wide  on 
Hunter  and  Channel  streets.  Architect 
W.  B.  Thomas  will  prepare  the  plans. 

Commissioner  of  Education  E.  J.  Car- 
ragher  has  completed  plans  whereby 
pupils  in  the  Sacramento  public  schools 
will  have  a  regular  study  course  on  many 
subjects  with  the  aid  of  motion  pictures. 
Permanent  motion  picture  machines  will 
be  installed  in  the  high  school  and  in  the 
new  William  Land  school  at  Eleventh 
and  V  streets,  and  negotiations  are  on 
foot  to  purchase  a  portable  machine  for 
use  in  the  other  twenty  schools.  This 
machine  can  be  easily  moved  from  school 
to  school  and  it  is  so  designed  to  meet 


w 


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INDUSTRIAL  IViaVINi   PICTURE  COMPANY 

223233  West  Erie  Street  Chicago 


all   the   requirements   of   the   fire   under- 
writers. 

The  new  Turlock  theater  at  the  corner 
of  North  Broadway  and  West  Oliver 
street,  Turlock,  has  been  opened  and  is 
managed  by  George  Bailey. 

Incorporation  papers  have  been  filed 
by  the  Mason  Street  Theater  Company, 
San  Francisco,  the  incorporators  being 
John  T.  Fleming,  May  Horan,  E.  E. 
Smith  and  Dorothy  Greenan.  Capitaliza- 
tion is  $100,000.  The  company  intends  to 
finish  the  building  at  Mason  and  Eddy 
streets,  belonging  to  the  Pryor  estate, 
and  to  operate  a  motion  picture  theater 
and  hotel. 

Connecticut. 

Sixteen  theater  proprietors  met  at  the 
Arco  theater  on  Broad  street,  Bridge- 
port, and  formed  the  Moving  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League.  M.  A.  Heanue  was 
elected  president,  Charles  G.  Whitehead, 
secretary,  and  Peter  Dawe,  treasurer.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  operators  upon  general  co-operation 
principles. 

Delaware. 

Monarch  Film  Company,  to  manufac- 
ture moving  picture  films;  capital,  $200,- 
000;  incorporators,  William  Boyd,  W.  I. 
N.  Lofland,  George  W.  Morgan,  Dover. 

Reelplays  Corporation,  Dover,  to  man- 
ufacture moving  picture  machines  and 
films;  capital,  $100,000;  incorporators, 
H.  O.  Coughland,  Joseph  H.  Curtin, 
S.  A.  Anderson,  New  York  City. 

District  of  Columbia. 

A  one-story  motion  picture  theater  to 
cost  $50,000  is  being  erected  in  Wash- 
ington by  the  Crandall  Theater  Com- 
pany. 

Florida 

Manager  T.  Edward  Kane  of  the  Mont- 
gomery theater  in  Tampa  has  announced 
that   the   theater   will    close   for   two    or 
three  weeks  for  a  general  overhauling. 
Georgia 

Dad's  Playhouse  is  the  name  of  the 
picture  theater  just  established  in  Hom- 
erville  and  is  under  the  management  of 
S.  S.  Dillon. 

The  Amus-U  theater  in  Rome  will  be 
conducted  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClurg  of 
Carrollton,  while  Cecil  Jones,  formerly 
manager,  will  take  over  the  Elite  and 
Bonita  theaters. 

Illinois 

The  Columbus,  Sixty-third  street  and 
Ashland  avenue,  Chicago,  has  been 
opened  by  the  Asher  Brothers. 

The  Ranney  Opera  House  in  Little 
York  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Pictures  will  be  shown  three  nights  a 
week  at  the  Weigand  hall  in  Biggsville. 

J.  A.  Vance  has  arranged  to  reopen  the 
photoplay  house  on  Magnolia  street, 
Khmvood,  January  8,  and  H.  C.  Hatcher 
will  be  manager. 

The  Colonial  Flm  Corporation,  Chi- 
cago; capital.  $10,000;  incorporators, 
\    M.  Gress,  R.  J.  Ray,  Sol  Rosen. 

Christmas  day.  Alfred  Hamburger 
"pined  the  Prairie  theater,  Fifty-eighth 
street  and  Prairie  avenue,  Chicago.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  best 
equipped  motion  picture  theaters  on  his 
circuit, 


William  T.  Warren  Film  Company, 
Chicago;  capital,  $10,000;  incorporators, 
William  T.  Warren,  William  A.  Jennings, 
Joseph  Rolnick. 

Al  Metzler,  formerly  of  Indianapolis, 
has  taken  over  the  Habit  theater  in  Dan- 
ville and  has  taken  possession. 

The  West  Chicago  theater  has  been 
sold  by  Peter  Schuman  of  West  Chicago 
to  Patrick  Kennedy. 

Improvements  completed,  the  Grand 
opera  house  in  Rockford  has  inaugurated 
the  Triangle  program. 

Michael  Higgins  has  opened  a  moving 
picture  show  in  the  opera  house  at  St. 
David. 

Tom  Butler  has  assumed  B.  F.  Wheel- 
er's interest  in  the  Picture  Palace  theater 
in  Harvard. 

The  Manteno  theater  in  Kankakee  has 
been  sold  to  E.  H.  Ingalls  by  William 
Schmidt. 

Landowne  Photoplay  Company,  East 
St.  Louis;  capital,  $2,500;  incorporators, 
G.  H.  Hamilton,  M.  Hamilton,  A.  S. 
Richey. 

The  Drexel  theater  at  858  East  Sixty- 
third  street,  Chicago,  an  800-seat  theater, 
has  been  taken  over  by  Nortman  Broth- 
ers &  Fecher,  who  are  the  present  les- 
sees of  the  Lerington  and  Imperial 
theaters  on  East  Sixty-third  street.  They 
now  control  all  the  theaters  on  Sixty- 
third  street  east  of  Cottage  Grove  ave- 
nue. It  is  said  $15,000  cash  was  paid  for 
the  theater  by  the  owner,  A.  Karzas. 
Indiana 

V.  U.  Young  has  leased  the  Twentieth 
Century  theater,  in  Gary,  from  Harry 
Hall..  He  is  now  proprietor  of  four  pic- 
ture theaters  in  that  town,  namely,  the 
Orpheum,  Art,  Grand  and  Twentieth 
Century. 

The  Belle  theater  in  Warsaw  has 
changed  its  name  to  the  New  Grand. 

Many  motion  picture  houses  and  the 
small  vaudeville  theaters  in  Indianapolis 
contributed  generously  to  the  Christmas 
fund,  bringing  joy  to  many  of  the  poor 
in  Indianapolis. 

J.  E.  Whitley  has  purchased  the  Colo- 
nial theater  in  Kokomo  from  Charles 
Lyons.  No  changes  will  be  made,  but 
the  same  high-class  pictures  which  have 
been  featured  will  be  continued. 

The  Keystone  theater  in  Indianapolis 
has  inaugurated  the  Triangle  program. 

William  C.  Odle,  mayor  of  Williams- 
port,  has  disposed  of  his  two  theaters 
here  to  Glen  Howard  and  Hurley  Strai- 
tor  of  Malott. 

Excell  Film  Company,  Indianapolis: 
capital.  $10,000;  to  manufacture,  rent,  buy 
and  sell  films  for  moving  picture  shows; 
directors,  Cecil  A.  Patrick,  Mildred  Pat- 
rick, Harry  J.  Brooks. 

C.  E.  Naughtin  of  Walkerton  has  taken 
poss«  -si, ,ii  of  the  Lyric  picture  theater  in 
Waterloo. 

Fireside  Theaters  Company.  Indianap- 
olis; capital,  $1,500.  To  operate  moving 
picture  shows;  directors,  Charles  R. 
Traub,  J.  William  Summers,  L.  B.  Sum- 
Iowa 

Fire  broke  oul  in  the  basement  of  the 

new  Orpheum   theater  in   North   English, 


January  22,  1916. 


-but  was  extinguished  before  any  damage 
was  done. 

The  fireproof  wall  of  the  Garden  the- 
ater in  Atlantic  has  been  completed  and 
probably  by  February  1  the  theater  will 
be  opened  to  the  public. 

H.  H.  Ling  of  Newell  has  bought  the 
moving  picture  theater  known  as  the 
Photoplay,  owned  by  Frank  F.  Pool  at 
Manson,  possession  having  been  given 
December  20. 

H.  A.  Beenblossom  of  Grinnell,  has 
purchased  the  Star  theater  in  Newton 
from  F.  N.  Walters. 

Bellevue  will  soon  have  a  modern,  up- 
to-date  theater  building,  30x90  feet,  with 
a  seating  capacity  of  300,  if  the  present 
management  of  the  Cozy  succeeds  in  ma- 
turing plans  already  formulated. 

Articles  of  incorporation  have  been 
filed  in  the  county  recorder's  office  for 
the  Strand  Theater  Company  of  Des 
Moines.  The  object  of  the  concern  as 
set  forth  in  the  papers  is  to  furnish  pub- 
lic amusements.  The  capital  stock  is 
$10,000.  The  officers  of  the  new  com- 
pany are  as  follows:  A.  A.  Hamilton, 
president:  F.  O.  Davis,  vice-president, 
and  H.  E.  Evans,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer.   All  are  of  Des  Moines. 

M.  L.  Morrison  and  W.  M.  Hadley, 
proprietors  of  the  New  Orpheum  theater 
in  Maquoketa,  opened  the  theater  De- 
cember 23.  The  house  was  extensively 
remodeled  and  seats  500. 

A  new  projecting  machine  has  been 
installed  in  the  Star  theater  in  Carroll. 

The  Grand  theater,  Fifteenth  street, 
Davenport,  was  recently  closed  and  the 
equipment  advertised  for  sale  to  satisfy 
the  creditors. 

The  Princess  theater,  Ida  Grove,  one 
of  the  best  equipped  and  most  attractive 
motion  picture  playhouses  in  northwest 
Iowa,  has  been  sold  to  J.  H.  Pooler  of 
Lake  City,  who  took  possession  Decem- 
ber 13. 

Fire  resulting  from  a  burning  film 
caused  a  loss  of  $1,000  to  the  Idle  Hour 
theater  in  New  Hampton. 

George  Still,  proprietor  of  the  Grand 
theater  in  Cedar  Falls,  has  disposed  of 
same  to  Mayor  Mendenhall  of  Stewart. 
Possession  will  be  given  the  first  of  the 
year  or  soon  thereafter. 

R.  E.  Kent,  owner  of  a  picture  show  in 
Tipton,  submitted  the  highestbid  for  the 
lease  on  the  new  theater  building  built  by 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  will  open  same  with 
pictures.    The  theater  seats  650. 

Kansas 

The  sale  of  the  Pastime  theater  in 
Ottawa,  operated  by  R.  C.  Stith.  Toe 
Foote  and  Max  Wolf,  to  Theodore  John- 
son, has  taken  place,  Mr.  Johnson  assum- 
ing the  management  December  29. 

C.  B.  Yost,  manager  of  the  Pearl  the- 
ater, will  open  a  new  motion  picture 
show  on  the  lot  at  114  North  Main  street, 
Hutchinson,  now  occupied  by  the  retail 
store  of  the  Colladay  Hardware  Com- 
pany, about  March  15.  Plans  for  the  new 
theater  are  now  being  drawn  by  W.  E. 
Hulse,  a  local  architect.  The  theater  will 
be  twenty-five  feet  wide  and  will  follow 
the  latest  lines  in  motion  picture  shows, 
having  a  big  white  front,  cooling  and 
ventilating  system  and  safety  exits.    The 


MOTOGRAPHY 


IN  TERRITORIES  ALREADY  SOLD 


-Parts  " 

is  playing  return  engagements  by  request  of  patrons. 
IS  YOUR  TERRITORY  CLOSED? 

Wire  Now  to 

HANOVER  FILM  CO.,  inc. 


e  904  Columbia  Building 
Broadway  at  47th  St. 


Bryant  9544 

New  York  City 


entire  front  of  the  building  will  be  re- 
built and  the  theater  will  be  snow  white, 
stucco  and  enamel  brick  being  used  on 
the  lobby.  Mr.  Yost  will  have  a  contest 
to  name  the  new  theater  when  it  is  ready 
for  opening.  The  overhauling  and  equip- 
ping of  the  theater  will  cost  about  $10,000 
and  it  will  be  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
in  the  city  when  completed. 

The  Orpheum  theater  in  Leavenworth 
is  now  using  the  Triangle  program. 
Kentucky. 

R.  V.  McRae  and  M.  A.  McRae  of  De- 
troit have  leased  the  Masonic  theater  in 
Louisville  and  after  redecorating  will  be 
petition  in  bankruptcy  in  federal  court 
through  its  general  manager,  Howell 
Graham.  Assets  of  the  company  are 
scheduled  at  $32,816.50  and  liabilities  at 
$13,923.66. 

The  Odeon  theater,  formerly  the  Dixie, 
in  Johnson  City,  has  been  remodeled  and 
opened  by  Alex  Wall. 

A  new  moving  picture  theater,  the  Rex, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  250,  has  been 
opened  in  Hellier  by  J.  N.  Pickell  &  Son. 

A  modern  moving  picture  show  build- 
ing has  been  erected  and  completed  in 
Owensboro  by  Richard  Jackson  for  the 
colored  people  of  the  city.  It  is  modern 
and  known  as  the  Peekin. 

Plans  for  a  new  motion  picture  theater 
to  be  erected  at  Second  and  A  streets, 
Louisville,  is  being  prepared  by  Joseph 
&  Joseph. 

H 
sho' 

A  building  permit  has  been  granted  the 
Second  Street  Amusement  Company  to 
erect  a  brick  picture  show  at  southeast 
corner  Second  and  A  streets,  Louisville; 
$18,000. 

It  is  proposed  to  erect  a  motion  pic- 
ture theater  for  negroes  between  Elev- 
enth and  Twelfth  streets,  Louisville. 
Plans  are  being  prepared  by  S.  P.  Os- 
trander,  a  local  architect,  and  a  company 
to  operate  the  house  is  being  organized. 


Quality 
First 


COMMERCIAL  MOTION 
PICTURES  CO. 

Cliffside  323      Grantwood,  N.  J. 


"BUILT  BY; 
BRAINS" 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  M  inusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 

St.  Louis.  Mo.  New  York 

Houser    Building  19  W.   23rd   St. 

Calenry,  Canada  Chicago 

Grand  Theatre  Bids.  154  West  Lake  St. 

San  Francisco  Pittsburg 

117-19  Golden  Gate  At*.  422  First  Ave. 


r  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
. GOES-  CHICAGO d 


216 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Louisiana 

The  Crescent  theater  in  New  Orleans 
has  been  converted  into  an  up-to-date 
motion  picture  playhouse  to  be  man- 
aged by  W.  F.  Bossner  of  the  Strand 
theater  in  New  York  for  Klaw  &  Er- 
langer.  The  interior  of  the  Crescent  is 
an  exact  duplication  of  the  Strand  in 
New  York. 

The  Southern  Film  Service  Company 
has  opened  local  offices  at  740  Union 
street,  New  Orleans,  with  H.  A.  Segrave 
as  manager. 

It  is  probable  New  Orleans  will  have 
a  motion  picture  theater  located  on 
Baroone  street. 

Maryland 

The  Henry  Pfeil  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany will  soon  build  a  motion  picture 
theater  and  apartment  house  costing 
$10,000  on  the  rear  of  a  lot  on  Robert 
street,  near  Pennsylvania  avenue,  Balti- 
more. F.  E.  Beall  is  the  architect,  and 
the  building  will  be  one  and  three  stories 
high,  64x70  feet  and  of  brick  and  stucco. 

The  Broadway  picture  theater,  509-13 
South  Broadway,  Baltimore,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.    Loss  $30,000. 

A  two-story  motion  picture  parlor  will 
shortly  be  erected  by  Isaac  Hornstein  at 
1627  Harlem  avenue,  Baltimore. 

Massachusetts. 

Commonwealth  Film  Company,  Glou- 
cester; Rupert  J.  Chute,  Neil  Macdonald, 
Edward  J.  Sullivan;  $50,000. 

One  of  the  prettiest  little  picture 
houses  in  central  Michigan  was  opened 
to  the  public  of  Lansing  Decem- 
ber 18.  The  Washington  Strand,  1129 
South  Washington  avenue,  with  its 
cheery  decorations  and  comfortable  ma- 
hogany seats,  presented  a  very  oleasing 
appearance,  no  expense  being  spared  for 
the  comfort  of  the  patrons,  while  the 
management  will  maintain  a  high  stand- 
ard of  film  service.  The  theater  is  owned 
and  operated  by  the  South  Lansing 
Photoplay  Company,  the  officers  of 
which  are:  A.  A.  Lauzun,  president;  B. 
F.  Hall,  Jr.,  vice-president;  F.  J.  Lamb, 
secretary-treasurer;  Arthur  B.  Campbell 
and  T.  H.  English,  directors.  The  board 
of  directors  has  selected  Walter  Jacob- 
son  as  manager. 

A  panic  was  narrowly  averted  at  the 
Crystal  theater  in  Sturgis,  December  22, 
when  a  film  caught  fire.  The  alarm  fright- 
ened the  audience  and  a  few  persons 
made  a  dash  for  exits,  climbing  over 
seats  and  crowding  the  aisles,  but  were 
quieted  by  Manager  Crosby  when  he  as- 
sured them  the  room  was  fireproof. 

The  Budde  theater  has  opened  at  612 
Bridge  street,  N.  W.,  Grand  Rapids.  It 
is  owned  and  managed  by  George  and 
Charles  Budde,  who  also  operate  the 
Alcazar  theater.  The  new  house  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  500.  The  decorations 
are  in  old  rose  and  white. 

Extensive  improvements  are  being 
made  to  the  Elite  theater  in  Kalamazoo. 
The  floor  is  to  be  -covered  with  Wilton 
velvet  carpet,  a  new  style  of  decorations 
which  will  give  a  garden  effect,  and  con- 
cealed lights  in  Bower  Imsi's  will  be  a 
feature  of  the  decorations.  Manager  L. 
C.  Barnes  will  also  show  the  Fox  plays 
on  Friday  and  Saturday  of  each  week. 

The  new  Duplex  theater,  unique  among 


the  motion  picture  theaters  of  Detroit, 
opened  its  doors  December  14  to  an  au- 
dience of  more  than  2,000  persons.  The 
Duplex  derives  its  name  from  the  fact 
that  it  has  two  separate  stages  and  audi- 
toriums and  two  operating  rooms.  If 
you  enter  the  theater  in  the  middle  of  a 
story,  you  may  walk  into  the  next  audi- 
torium, where  you  will  be  entertained 
with  a  short  comedy  or  current  event 
pictures  until  it  is  time  for  the  big  fea- 
ture to  start  again.  The  Duplex  is  con- 
trolled by  the  Grand  Boulevard  Theater 
Company,  of  which  Fred  A.  Aldrich  is 
president,  Dr.  J.  B.  Kennedy  is  vice- 
president,  Harry  Hulbert  treasurer,  Ar- 
thur Bergeron  secretary,  and  Jacob  Stahl 
director.  H.  M.  Payne  is  general  mana- 
ger and  Earl  Hennessey  theater  man- 
ager. 

Michigan 

The  Temple  theater  in  Howell  has  un- 
dergone some  very  extensive  improve- 
ments. A  new  front  has  been  installed 
and  the  chairs  have  been  replaced  with 
opera  seats.  The  theater  presents  a  very 
nice  appearance  and  Manager  Moeller 
takes  much  pride  in  it. 

A  new  picture  show  has  been  erected 
in  Ishpeming  by  E.  J.  Butler  and  associ- 
ates. It  is  built  of  brick,  steel,  and  tile, 
and  is  properly  lighted  and  ventilated, 
has  comfortable  seats  and  the  decora- 
tions are  very  neat. 

Minnesota. 

After  being  remodeled,  the  Dixie  the- 
ater of  Westbrook  has  been  reopened. 

The  Rex  theater  at  Wells  has  been  sold 
by  William  Feist  to  William  Cusick. 

J.  W.  Dewey  has  sold  the  Royal  the- 
ater at  Hastings  to  Milton  Thompson  of 
Oklahoma. 

Sandon  Brothers  have  just  completed 
their  new  $40,000  picture  theater  on  Wal- 
nut street,  Mankato,  and  it  is  a  model  of 
beauty.  The  theater  has  twelve  exits, 
eight  from  the  lower  floor  and  four,  two 
in  front  and  two  towards  the  rear  of  the 
balcony.  The  woodwork  throughout  the 
building  is  oak,  stained  a  silver  gray.  It 
has  been  opened  to  the  public. 

The  city  council  has  granted  a  license 
to  John  McElhatton,  representing  a 
group  of  investors  known  as  the  Aber- 
deen Amusement  Company,  to  operate  a 
motion  picture  house  on  Selby  avenue, 
between  Nina  and  Farrington  avenues, 
St.  Paul.  Mr.  McElhatton  stated  that 
excavation  work  will  begin  on  the  site 
immediately,  and  that  an  investment  of 
$30,000  to  $40,000  is  contemplated.  The 
theater  will  be  called  the  Aberdeen. 

The  St.  Paul  College  Club  held  a  bene- 
fit entertainment  during  the  week  of  De- 
cember 27  at  the  Strand  theater,  St.  Paul, 
the  proceeds  of  which  will  be  used  to 
maintain  scholarships  at  the  University 
of  Minnesota,  of  which  the  college  club 
gives  two  every  year  to  help  girls  who 
otherwise  would  not  be  able  to  complete 
their  course.  The  committee  in  charge 
of  the  affair  was  Mrs.  C.  S.  Dicthcr,  chair- 
man; Miss  Grace  May,  Miss  Nellie  Mul- 
ler,  Miss  Ruth  Reed,  Miss  Eleanore 
Deem,  Miss  Ilsa  Probst. 

Tower's  new  theater  will  soon  he  ready 
for  onening.  It  is  being  erected  for 
F.  C.  Bur-ess.  and  will  be  90  feet  in 
length  with  a  16-foot  ceiling,  seating  30(1 
people. 

'I "he    management    of   the    Gem    theater 


in    New   Ulm   has    installed   a   new   ma- 
chine. 

George  Thorpe  of  Crosby  and  John  H. 
Ervling  of  Superior  will  operate  a  picture 
show  in  the  Brink  building,  which  is 
owned  by  Mr.  Thorpe.  The  theater  will 
be  known  as  the  People's  theater. 
Missouri 

The  Bijou  theater,  the  oldest  picture 
show  in  Moberly,  has  been  traded  by  its 
owner,  George  Ridings,  to  N.  S.  Bland 
of  Mexico. 

Dr.  C.  R.  Bankhead  and  George  Wells 
are  contemplating  opening  a  picture 
show  at  the  Blake  Opera  House,  Clarks- 
ville. 

Work  on  the  new  motion  picture  the- 
ater in  Tarkio  is  being  rushed,  and  when 
completed  will  make  a  fine  appearance. 
Montana. 

Earl  Wheat,  owner  and  manager  of  the 
Pastime  theater  in  Dillon,  has  sold  it  to 
W.  B.  Hartwig  of  Helena,  possession  to 
be  given  January  1. 

Nebraska 

The  Isis  theater,  a  new  picture  show 
house  in  Ravenna,  which  has  been  con- 
trolled by  Chris  Thompson  &  Sons,  has 
been  sold  to  John  W.  Hughes,  who  is 
now  in  possession. 

The  interior  of  the  Palace  theater  at 
1330  O  street,  Lincoln,  was  badly  dam- 
aged by  fire  December  30. 

Work  will  be  started  at  once  on  the 
new  Lyric  theater  at  Tekamah. 

The  Florence  picture  show  in  Florence 
is  again  under  new  management. 
New  Jersey 

Crawford  theater.  Newark,  operates 
motion  picture  theaters;  capital,  $100,000. 

As  announced  by  the  management, 
moving  pictures  will  be  shown  on  Sun- 
day evening  at  Krueger's  Auditorium, 
Newark. 

The  management  of  the  Auditorium 
theater  in  Auburn  has  installed  a  dia- 
mond mirror  screen  and  is  also  installing 
a  new  generator. 

New  York 

The  lease  of  the  Star  theater,  which  is 
located  at  the  corner  of  South  Main 
street  and  Pennsylvania  avenue.  Elmira. 
has  been  purchased  by  A.  M.  Breffle  of 
Norwich.  George  Van  Denmark  was 
formerly  proprietor. 

Edward  Wasserman  as  head  of  a  syn- 
dicate has  taken  a  long  lease  of  the  old 
McGuire  pickle  factory  property  at  66 
to  70  Madison  street,  with  an  L  to  46  and 
48  Oliver  street,  New  York,  as  a  site  for 
a  moving  picture  theater.  Plans  for  the 
proposed  theater  have  been  prepared  by 
James  S.  Maher,  architect,  and  call  for 
a  one-story  brick  building  having  a  seat- 
it  v  of  600  and  costing  about 
$12,000. 

It  is  reported  that  a  new  theater  seat- 
ing 1,600  will  be  erected  in  New  Rochelle 
on  the  Church  street  property  purchased 
by  Benjamin  von  Ottinger. 

Synico  Film  Production  Company, 
Inc.;  realty  for  public  amusement  park, 
theatrical,  music  hall,  moving  pictures; 
$100,000;  C.  A.  Burr,  L.  E.  Warren,  E. 
W.  Nye,  1482  Broadway. 

>  Films,  Inc.;  motion  pictures; 
$5,000;  P.  A.  Chase.  E.  Egan  Cobb.  L.  L. 
Hiller.  112  Riverside  drive. 


January  22,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


At  15  cents  the  copy 
Motography  costs  you 
$7.80  a  year.  Save 
$4.80. 


MOTOGRAPHY,      

Monadnock  Building, 
Chicago,  III. 

Enclosed  find  Three  Dollars  for 
which  please  send  MOTOGRAPHY, 
the  Motion  Picture  Trade  Journal, 
to  my  address  for  52  weeks. 


218 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  4. 


Yankee  Amusement  Corporation, 
Brooklyn;  theatrical  and  motion  picture 
proprietors  and  managers;  capital,  $5,000; 
directors,  Edmund  H.  Hoffman,  Jr., 
Frank  C.  Chumasero,  320  Eighth  avenue, 
New  York  City. 

Excello  Film  Company,  New  York 
City;  to  produce  motion  picture  films; 
capital,  $1,000;  directors,  Joseph  Hirsch- 
man,  Edward  W.  Drucker,  Maurice  Levi, 
299  Broadway,  New  York. 

Blue  Bird  Photoplays,  Inc.,  New  York 
City;  motion  pictures;  capital,  $1,000;  di- 
rectors, Harry  Diamond,  Meyer  Miro- 
polski,  Jacob  L.  Grubel,  329  East  Thir- 
teenth street,  New  York  City. 

The  Universal  Moving  Picture  Ma- 
chine &  Tool  Manufacturing  Company, 
New  York  City;  capital.  $10,000;  direc- 
tors, N.  Stucalo,  Hyman  Dashman,  Alex- 
ander Lashkareff,  364  Hewes  street, 
Brooklyn. 

Manager  Fred  W.  Gilroy  is  planning 
alterations  at  the  Star  theater,  Coving- 
ton. The  seating  capacity  will  be  in- 
creased about  450. 

The  Mountain  City  Amusement  Com- 
pany, operating  the  Theato,  Alhambra, 
Colonial  and  Crescent  motion  picture 
theaters  in  Chattanooga,  filed  a  voluntary 

The  Owl  Broadway  theater,  Brook- 
lyn, theaters,  moving  picture  houses, 
$6,000;  S.  Miller,  S.  Kaschoskin,  S.  Smo- 
lin,  626  Broadway. 

Manager  Names,  of  the  Grand  theater, 
East  Water  street,  Elmira,  is  completing 
a  large  portico  on  the  outside  of  the 
theater,  which  will  be  bedecked  with  elec- 
tric light  and  give  a  very  pleasing  and 
inviting  appearance.  The  interior  is  also 
being  decorated. 

C.  and  G.  Theater  Corp.,  moving  pic- 
ture films,  projection,  machines,  photog- 
raphy, printing,  exhibitions,  $5,000;  M. 
Jones,  G.  A.  Shellack,  S.  D.  Levy,  120 
West  112th  street,  New  York. 

Dyckman  Theater,  Inc.,  Manhattan. — 
Theatrical,  motion  picture  and  amuse- 
ment enterprises;  capital,  $75,000.  Incor- 
porators, John  J.  Quencer,  8  Hillcrest 
avenue,  and  A.  J.  Norton,  95  Rockland 
avenue,  Yonkers,  and  F.  A.  Mangan,  1532 
Amsterdam  avenue,   New  York  city. 

North  Dakota. 

The  opera  house  in  Edmore  is  being 
extensively  repaired. 

Ohio. 

A  moving  picture  theater  for  nurses 
will  be  a  feature  of  a  new  study  hall  in 
connection  with  the  Jewish  hospital  on 
Burnet  avenue,  Cincinnati,  plans  for 
which  were  filed  with  Building  Commis- 
sioner George  E.  Rendigs.  The  structure 
will  be  one  and  one-half  story  in  height 
and  will  be  built  of  brick  and  concrete 
at  a  cost  of  $7,000. 

Picture  theaters  in  New  Philadelphia 
have  been  closed  on  account  of  an  epi- 
demic of  smallpox  and  scarlet  fever. 

Imposition  com- 
pany,  I  incinnati,  $10,000;  M.  I.  Council, 
et  al. 

The  Yale  Theater  company  will  erect 
a  $40,000  two-story  brick  and  stone  store, 
office  and  motion  picture  building  at  St. 
Clair  avenue  and  East  Eighty-second 
street,    Cleveland.     A.    (".    Edwards,   614 


Union  building,  is  the  architect  and  is 
now  preparing  the  plans. 

Schram  &  Haught  recently  opened  the 
Belmar  theater  in  Sebring. 

The  Crawford  Amusement  Company 
lately  purchased  eighty  feet  on  St.  Clair 
avenue,  near  East  105th  street,  Cleveland, 
on  which  they  will  erect  a  large  picture 
theater. 

Manager  Keen,  of  the  Oxford  theater, 
Oxford,  has  made  many  improvements  in 
his  show  house. 

Yorkville  is  to  have  a  $12,000  photo- 
play theater,  contract  being  awardad  to 
the  Phoenix  Contracting  Company  of 
Wheeling.  The  builders  are  Louis  De 
Romedis,  Charles  Heil,  Frank  Convey 
and  Charles  Coletti. 

Oklahoma 

Fred  Harle  and  J.  E.  Downen,  who  has 
operated  the  Colonial  theater,  a  very 
beautiful  motion  picture  theater  in  Du- 
rant,  has  disposed  of  same  to  O.  Gill  of 
Hugo,  who  is  the  owner  of  three  moving 
picture  shows  in  that  town. 
Oregon. 

James  Webb  purchased  the  Cozy  thea- 
ter in  Union  from  C.  O.  Potter  and  M. 
Soeda,  and  took  possession  at  once. 

The  new  theater  being  constructed  by 
D.  J.  Riley  of  Dallas,  will  soon  be  com- 
pleted and  opened.  The  theater  will  be 
named  the  Orpheum  and  will  be  under 
the  charge  of  O.  D.  Smith,  present  owner 
and  proprietor  of  the  Grand.  The  Or- 
pheum is  being  so  constructed  that  first- 
class  shows  may  be  presented  there,  and 
an  effort  will  be  made  to  book  traveling 
companies.  The  theater  will  seat  about 
600.  It  will  operate  from  day  to  day  as 
a  motion  picture  house. 

A  new  concrete  theater  is  being  erected 
by  W.  P.  Murphy  of  Marshfield  on  Sher- 
man avenue,  North  Bend.  It  is  30x100 
feet  and  will  seat  about  500  people.  The 
theater  will  be  known  as  the  Joy  and  will 
be  controlled  by  Dennis  Hull,  who  also 
controls  the  Star. 

Pennsylvania 

George  B.  McCracken  has  conveyed 
title  to  Andrew  Convery  to  the  one-story 
brick  moving  picture  theater,  36x120  feet, 
at  2011-13  Frankford  avenue.  Pittsburgh, 
for  a  consideration  of  $21,600.  Assess- 
ment is  $17,000. 

February  15,  Henry  Polk  expects  to 
have  his  new  motion  picture  theater,  to 
be  erected  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  Shiloh 
theater  on  Mount  Washington,  Pitts- 
burgh, ready  for  the  public.  Plans  have 
been  prepared  and  work  started.  It  is  to 
be  a  one-storv  witli  a  seating  capacity  of 
800  and  cost  about  $15,000. 

The  interior  of  the  new-  moving  picture 
show  on  Long  avenue,  New  Castle,  is 
getting  its  finishing  touches  and  from  the 
general  appearances  of  the  building  and 
its  decorations,  it  will  be  one  of  the  finest 
places  of  its  kind  in  the  city.  All  ar- 
rangements for  fire  aisles  and  exits  have 
'  en  made  and  every  thing  possible  for 
Fori  of  the  public  has  been  done. 
ompleted  the  seating  facilities 
will   easily   take   care   of  300  patrons. 

The  brick  motion  picture  theater  on 
the   i  isi  second   street,  32 

feet  north  of  Stiles  street,  Philadelphia, 
has  been  conveyed  to  Harry  Altshuler  by 


Theodore  Johnson  for  a  nominal  consid- 
eration and  a  mortgage  of  $65,000.  The 
property  was  purchased  from  the  Loyal 
Building  and  Loan  Association  by  Theo- 
dore Johnson  for  a  nominal  considera- 
tion and  a  mortgage  of  $40,000  a  short 
time  ago. 

A  new  moving  picture  machine  has 
been  purchased  by  the  Home  and  School 
League  of  the  Sheridan  Public  School. 
Ontario  and  G  streets,  Philadelphia. 
where  it  will  be  used  for  educational 
work  and  recreation. 

The  monthly  inspection  of  moving  pic- 
ture theaters  in  Reading  was  made  by 
health  bureau  employees.  All  of  them 
were  found  in  good  condition  as  to  sani- 
tation, safety,  ventilation,  etc.,  and  one 
attained  a  mark  of  100  per  cent. 
Tennessee. 

A  voluntary  petition  in  bankruptcy  has 
been  filed  by  the  Peerless  company,  a 
moving  picture  concern  operating  in 
Nashville.  The  company's  debts  amount 
to  $2,361.32. 

E.  A.  Schiller  Amusement  company, 
Memphis,  capital  stock  $5,000.  Incor- 
porators: Leon  Scharff,  B.  M.  Stainback, 
Silas  McBee,  Jr.,  W.  C.  Dewey,  K.  V. 
Watson.  To  engage  in  the  general  the- 
atrical and  moving  picture  business. 
Texas. 

The  Phillips  theater  on  Main  street, 
Fort  Worth,  which  recently  changed 
hands,  will  be  known  as  the  Strand. 

The  Twenty-third  Infantry  at  Fort 
Crockett  informally  opened  their  picture 
show,  although  the  finishing  touches  on 
the  building  are  not  yet  completed.  The 
structure  is  pillarless  and  seats  more 
than  four  hundred. 

The  Jefferson  theater  in  Dallas  was 
partly  damaged  by  fire,  when  the  second 
story  of  the  building  at  1519  Elm  street. 
which  they  occupy,  was  completely  de- 
stroyed. 

Virginia 

Wonderland  Amusement  Corporation, 
Norfolk.  Maximum  capital  stock,  $20.- 
000;  minimum,  $2,000.  E.  L.  King,  presi- 
dent; S.  E.  King  and  William  Bvbee.  sec- 
retary, Norfolk.    Film  manufacturers. 

J.  S.  Woodward  and  Nathan  Anderson 
is  having  the  Wells  building  0n  West 
Nash  street,  Wilson,  converted  into  a 
picture  theater. 

The  remodeling  of  the  Grand  theater 
in  Morgantown  has  been  completed  and 
it  presents  a  very  pretty  appearance. 

The  Dixie  theater  No.  1  in  Galveston 
is  having  a  pipe  organ  installed  and  other 
improvements  are  being  made  by  Man- 
ager A.  Martini. 

Washington. 

The  new-   Coliseum  theater  in   Seattle. 

one   of   the   largest   in    the    west,    will    be 

shortly  opened  to  the  public. 

West  Virginia. 

The   Camden   theater  in   Wheeling  has 

been     reopened    after    being    beautifully 

Foundations  have  been  started  for  one- 
story  brick  motion  picture  theater  and 
Store  building  to  be  erected  on  Fourth 
avenue  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  streets. 
Wheeling,  for  the  Princess  Theater  com- 
pany, to  cost  about  $15,000.  A.  F.  Dickey 
prepared   the    plans. 


The  MOTION  PICT UI& 
TI&lDE  *JOUM(fMJ, 


Vol  XV 


LENORE  ULRICH,  WITH  PALLAS- PARAMOUNT 

CHICAGO,  JANUARY29,  1916 


o.  5 


Rehired  Jan.24-t6 

"TWO  NEWT  ITEMT" 

One  Act  Drama, 
Klea/edJan2?te 

"THE^DBAGOMAN" 

\ TwoActDpama 

Meared  Jai297te 

"THE  EMBODIED  THOUGHT" 

Tfires  Act  Drama. 
Released  Jan  ^Qffi  V 

BELIE  ^VEfOOMEDY 

One  Act  CURED 


"* 

^ 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


im^ 


Triangle  Audiences  Pay 
Two  Admissions 

Probably  one  of  the  greatest  proofs  of  TRIANGLE  SU- 
PREMACY is  the  fact  that  exhibitors  are  constantly  wiring  us 
that  many  of  their  patrons  continually  pay  two  admissions  to  see 
the  same  performance  over  again.  Many  a  moving  picture  fan  is 
so  thrilled  with  the  breath-taking  action  in  an  exciting  drama,  or 
so  highly  amused  at  the  swift-moving  comedy  in  the  Keystone 
that  the  small  matter  of  another  admission  price  is  not  considered. 

W.  S.  Rand,  January  4th,  1916. 

TRIANGLE  FILM  CORPORATION, 
Denver,  Colorado. 

TRIANGLE  opened  Orpheum  Theatre  today. 
Enormous  crowds.  Everybody  highly  pleased.  Pic- 
tures scored  heavily.  SOME  PATRONS  CAME 
TWICE  IN  SAME  DAY.  Don  Carrothers. 

Mr.  Arthur  Incas,  January  3rd,  1916. 

TRIANGLE  FILM  CORPORATION, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Opened    TRIANGLE    PROGRAMME    January 
2nd  to  capacity  house  all  day.     Show  great.     Wonder- 
ful photography,  beautiful  directing  and  supreme  act- 
ing.    Great  applause  and  enthusiasm  from  patrons. 
Strand  Amusement  Company. 

It  is  this  kind  of  testimony  week  after  week  that  PROVES 
the  quality  and  value  of  TRIANGLE  PLAYS  to  the  exhibitor. 
They  please  the  patrons  and  force  money  through  the  box  office 
windows,  which  is  what  most  interests  the  exhibitor. 

HAS  YOUR  SIGNED  CONTRACT  BEEN  ACCEPTED? 


220 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


that  the  motion  picture  industry  was  opposed  to  Federal, 
state,  or  city  or  municipal  censorship. 

"That  being  the  case,"  said  Representative  Towner, 
"you  are  demanding  as  a  right  to  send  pictures  of  any  kind 
to  any  part  of  the  United  States?" 

"So  far  as  pre-publicity  censorship  is  concerned," 
replied  Mr.  Binder. 

Mr.  Binder  said  that  manufacturers  who  made  or 
sold  indecent,  immoral,  or  off  color  pictures,  or  exhib- 
itors who  produced  them,  would  have  to  suffer  for  it. 
"Every  city  or  municipality  has  it  within  its  power 
to  prevent  the  showing  of  any  film  that  may  be  indecent 
or  immoral,"  he  declared,  and  he  added  that  there  was 
no  necessity  for  further  legal  censorship. 

Representative  Powers  asked,  if  the  bill  was  passed 
and  the  board  created,  would  not  the  states  and  mu- 
nicipalities generally  accept  its  decisions  and  actions,  to 
which  Mr.  Binder  replied : 

I  sent  a  telegram  to  the  governors  of  the  three  states 
where  there  is  state  censorship,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Kansas,  asking  if  the  states  would  agree  to  accept  the  de- 
cisions of  a  Federal  Board  and  abolish  their  state  boards, 
and  without  a  single   exception,   they   replied  "No." 

William  M.  Seabury,  counsel  for  the  board,  was  in- 
troduced by  Mr.  Binder,  and  he  said : 

We  object  to  pre-publicity  censorship.  We  object  to 
any  body  of  men  saying  what  shall  or  shall  not  be  shown 
before  it  is  published.  Even  in  the  event  of  Federal  cen- 
sorship, pictures  could  be  refused  in  states,  cities,  and  mu- 
nicipalities. 

The  situation  as  it  now  exists  is  if  anybody  produces 
an  improper  play  he  is  subject  to  the  police  power  of  the 
community  where  the  picture  is  shown.  Local  authorities 
can  say,  "If  you  produce  that  play,  you  will  be  prosecuted, 
or  your  license  will  be  revoked."  We  regard  that  as  proper 
regulation.  We  say  that  any  legislation  which  involves 
the  submission  of  films  to  a  board  of  censorship  before  they 
are    produced    is   vicious    and    unAmerican. 

When  motion  picture  men  talk  about  censorship,  they 
mean  pre-publicity  censorship.  We  mean  the  censorship 
of  a  body  of  men  which  before  any  wrong  is  uttered  de- 
termines   itself    whether    the    utterance    shall    be    made. 

Nobody  in  the  industry  has  the  slightest  objection  to 
the  prevention  or  the  exhibition  of  improper  plays,  pro- 
viding you  do  not  subject  us  to  pre-publicity  censorship. 
It  is  utterly  impossible  to  conduct  this  industry  in  the  face 
of  a  legalized  board  of  censorship.  It  means  that  before  the 
film  can  be  sent  to  the  distributor  or  exhibitor,  it  must  be 
taken  and  shown  to  these  censors.  The  scope  of  this  pro- 
posed bill  is  such  that  it  would  not  be  possible  to  get  one 
centralized     censorship. 

It  is  proposed  that  we  have  first,  a  national  inspection, 
than  a  state  inspection,  then  a  municipal  inspection,  before 
we  do  anything.  Then,  perhaps,  we  may  have  to  have  some 
kind  of  a  barnyard  inspection,  that  is,  we  may  have  to  get 
the  county  supervisors  to  inspect  the  films. 

No  industry  can  survive  such  an  attack.  At  present 
censorship  is  costing  manufacturers  large  sums  of  money 
without  gelling  anywhere,  one  firm  alone  is  now  contribut- 
ing about  $25,000  a  year  for  this  purpose. 

We  say  that  public  sentiment  should  be  the  censor, 
JUSl    as    it    is    of   the    public    print    and    of   the    stage. 

The  powers  yon  want  lo  delegate  cannot  he  delegated 
and     exercised     intelligent  ly     by     a     commission     of     five     men. 

There  are  many   who  ask   whj    we  subscribe  to  the  Na- 
tional   Board.     We   say   that    the   National    Board   of   Censors 
was   and   is   a   makeshift.      As   a    matter   of    fact,    the   very   ex- 
of  that  board  has  done  more  to  stimulate  the  crea 
tion  of  little  boards  than  anything  else. 

The  educational  features  of  our  industry  are  rapidly  de- 
veloping,   the    travel     features    are    developing,    the    daily    and 

weekly  service  is  growing,  and  this  bill  would  destroj    thai 

entire  branch  Of  motion  picture  industry,  if  we  have  to  sub- 
ject these  films  to  a  pre-publicity  censorship.  The  develop- 
ment   is    utterly    impossible. 

A.S  to  the  wa\    legal  censorship  winks  out,   Mr.  Sea 

bur)  cited  the  case  of  the  picture  entitled  "Virtue."   Many 

lie  said  thoughl   this  picture  improper.     In   New 

York,  where  there  is  no  legal  censorship,  the  picture  was 


advertised,  and  the  advertisements  were  worded  to  create 
interest  in  the  picture  or  give  certain  impressions  con- 
cerning it.  The  commissioner  of  licenses  in  New  York 
looked  the  picture  over  and  stated  that  if  it  was  shown 
the  license  of  the  exhibitor  would  be  revoked. 

Mr.  Seabury  said  that  the  official  censor  in  Phila- 
delphia refused  to  allow  the  same  picture  to  be  pro- 
duced. The  matter  was  taken  to  the  court  and  the  court 
decided  that  the  picture  was  proper  and  could  be  pro- 
duced and  it  was.  In  New  York  an  injunction  was  se- 
cured restraining  Commissioner  Bell  from  the  enforce- 
ment, of  his  order,  the  injunction  was  dissolved  by  the 
court  who  sustained  the  commissioner  and  the  play  was 
not  shown  in  New  York. 

"So  that  we  have  the  absurd  result  so  far  as  cen- 
sorship is  concerned,"  said  Mr.  Seabury,  "that  in  a 
jurisdiction  where  there  was  legal  censorship,  the  play 
was  allowed  to  be  produced,  and  where  there  was  no 
legal  censorship,  the  same  play  was  not  allowed  to  be 
produced.  We  offer  that  as  an  argument  of  great 
weight." 

Chairman  Hughes  declared  that  there  was  a  neces- 
sity for  Federal  legislation  on  the  subject,  and  he  asked 
Mr.  Seabury  if  representatives  of  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry had  any  solution  of  the  matter. 

"Yes,  sir,"  promptly  replied  Mr.  Seabury,  "the  only 
additional  legislation  that  is  necessary  would  be  the  ad- 
dition of  six  words  to  present  laws.  The  insertion  of 
the  words  'motion  pictures,  or  motion  picture  films'  in 
Section  245  and  Section  211  of  the  Federal  Criminal 
Code  will  accomplish  what  is  apparently  being  intended 
to  be  accomplished  by  the  eighteen  sections  of  this  bill." 

Section  211,  Mr.  Seabury  said,  provided  that  every 
"obscene,  lewd,  lascivious,  and  every  filthy  book,  pamph- 
let, picture,  paper,  letter,  writing,  print  or  other  publica- 
tion, of  an  indecent  character  shall  not  be  conveyed  in 
the  mails,  .  .  .  and  whoever  shall  knowingly  deposit 
.  .  .  or  cause  the  same  to  be  taken  from  the  mails 
.  .  .  for  the  purpose  of  circulating  or  distributing 
.  .  .  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  $5,000  or  imprisoned 
not  more  than  one  year,  or  both." 

In  explanation  Mr.  Seabury  said  that  Section  245 
provides  that  "whoever  shall  bring  or  cause  to  be  brought 
into  the  United  States  .  .  .  from  any  foreign  coun- 
try ...  or  shall  deposit  with  any  express  company  or 
other  common  carrier  for  carriage  from  one  State  to 
another  State,  territory,  or  District  of  the  United  States 
...  or  to  any  other  State,  territory,  or  District  of  the 
United  States  .  .  .  any  obscene,  lewd,  lascivious,  or 
filthy  book,  pamphlet,  picture,  paper,  writing,  letter, 
print,  or  other  publication  of  an  indecent  character  .  .  . 
or  cause  the  same  to  be  taken  from  any  express  com- 
pany or  other  common  carrier  .  .  .  shall  be  fined  not 
more  than  $5,000  or  imprisoned  not  more  than  one  year, 
or  both." 

Mr.  Seabury  said  that  the  words.  "Motion  pictures 
or  motion  picture  films"  inserted  in  these  sections  with 
the  laws  now  existing  with  regard  to  pictures  of  prize 
fights  and  bull  fights  was  all  that  was  necessary  to  com- 
plete   Federal   legislation  on   the  subject. 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  Seabur)  declared:  "1  think  that 
this   bill   is  absolutely   unconstitutional." 

P.  A.  Towers,  vice-presidenl  oi  the  Universal  Film 
Company,  informed  the  committee  that  film  manufac- 
turers could  not  afford  to  make  immoral  pictures.  Me 
said  that  his  company  generally  followed  suggestions 
made  by  the  National  Hoard  with  regard  lo  pictures,  and 
he  admitted  that  at  times  state  or  municipal  hoards  made 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


221 


"Do  you  think  the  fact  that  your  pictures  must  pass 
State  or  municipal  censorship  makes  you  a  little  more 
careful?"   Mr.   Powers   was   asked. 

"I  cannot  see  that  it  makes  any  difference  with  us. 
If  we  send  a  picture  out  of  New  York  passed  on  by  the 
National  Board  of  Censorship  the  picture  may  go  to 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  or  Kansas  and  it  is  passed  on  by 
the  state  authorities  there.  These  state  authorities  dif- 
fer, you  know,"  said  Mr.  Powers  with  a  smile.  "For 
instance,  in  Ohio,  there  are  three  members  of  the  board. 
One  member  of  the  board  is  sick  now,  and  the  other  two 
don't  speak  to  each  other." 

Mr.  Powers  said  that  police  censorship  kept  a  strong 
check  on  improper  pictures,  and  he  did  not  think  that 
there  was  any  necessity  for  a  Federal  Board  of  Cen- 
sorship. Mr.  Powers  said  that  he  believed  that  the 
bill  violated  the  rights  of  the  producers,  and  that  he 
did  not  believe  there  should  be  any  further  restraint  on 
the  production  of  motion  pictures  than  is  now  exercised 
by  the  police  authorities. 

"If  it  is  bad,  the  police  will  take  care  of  it,"  he  de- 
clared. 

Paul  H.  Cromelin,  of  the  Cosmofotofilm  Company, 
World  Tower  building,  New  York,  said  that  he  had  been 
established  for  about  a  year,  importing  pictures  from 
abroad.  He  said  he  handled  the  product  of  the  London 
Film  Company  in  this  country,  and  that  his  attention 
had  been  directed  in  particular  to  Section  9  of  the  bill, 
and  also  to  Section  10. 

Mr.  Cromelin  said  that  Congress  two  or  three  years 
ago  amended  the  copyright  law  so  as  to  protect  the  mo- 
tion picture  business,  and  a  distinct  classification  was 
given  to  it. 

"Section  9  of  this  bill  which  provides  that  'no 
copyright  shall  be  issued  for  any  film  which  has  not 
previously  received  the  certificate  and  seal  of  this  com- 
mission' would  put  imported  films  out  of  business,"  said 
Mr.  Cromelin. 

He  described  the  method  of  copyrighting  domestic 
and  imported  films,  and  showed  how  it  would  be  prac- 
tically impossible  for  imported  films  to  secure  the  bene- 
fit of  copyrights.  He  said  this  section  violated  treaty 
rights,  other  countries  granting  to  American  films  under 
the  most  favored  nation  clause  of  treaties  full  oppor- 
tunity and  benefit  of  copyrights. 

"If  you  pass  this  law  in  its  present  shape  you  can 
only  do  so  by  upsetting  all  of  the  existing  treaties,"  de- 
clared Mr.  Cromelin,  "but  I  do  not  believe  that  this  was 
your  intention. 

"I  do  not  see  who  conceived  the  idea  of  inserting  in 
a  pre-publicity  bill  of  this  kind  section  9  covering  copy- 
rights." 

Mr.  Cromelin  said  that  vested  rights  attached  to 
copyrighted  imported  motion  picture  plays,  and  they  were 
sent  to  the  United  States  when  market  conditions  made 
it  desirable.  He  said  that  the  bill  restrained  the  reg- 
istrar of  copyrights  from  the  mere  administrative  act  of 
issuing  an  American  copyright  on  foreign  plays  when 
treaty  stipulations  required  that  he  should  do  so. 

Mr.  Cromelin  also  spoke  at  length  on  the  physical 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  American  producers  as  well  as 
foreign  complying  with  Section  10  of  the  bill  which 
prohibits  transportation  between  the  states  of  films  un- 
til such  film  has  been  licensed  by  the  board  without 
practically  destroying  the  motion  picture  business. 

As  to  censorship  in  England,  Mr.  Cromelin  told 
a  story  of  a  censor  who  objected  to  the  way  Heaven  was 
depicted  in  a  picture  which  was  presented  to  him.  Hell 
was  also  depicted  in  the  same  picture.     "The  censor  de- 


cided," Mr.  Cromelin  said,  "that  there  might  be  ob- 
jections on  the  part  of  many  to  the  representation  of 
Heaven,  but  he  made  no  objection  to  the  representation 
of  Hell  and  its  residents. 

"The  censor  said  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Cromelin,  "  'You 
can  give  them  all  the  Hell  they  want,  but  you  must 
change  Heaven.'  And  we  changed  Heaven,"  said  Mr. 
Cromlin  amidst  laughter.  Mr.  Cromelin  said  there  was 
no  official  censorship  in  England. 

At  the  proper  time,  the  six  word  substitute  for  the 
bill  as  suggested  by  Mr.  Seabury  will  be  offered  in  Com- 
mittee, probably  by  Representative  Frederick  W.  Dal- 
linger,  of  Massachusetts. 

Twelve  of  the  fifteen  members  of  the  Committee 
were  present  at  the  hearing,  they  being  Representative 
Dudley  M.  Hughes,  chairman;  Representatives  William 
W.  Rucker,  of  Missouri;  Robert  L.  Doughton,  North 
Carolina;  John  W.  Abercrombie,  Alabama;  William  J. 
Sears,  Florida ;  Caleb  Powers,  Kentucky ;  Simeon  D.  Fess, 
Ohio;  Frederick  W.  Dallinger,  Massachusetts;  Robert  M. 
McCracken,  Idaho;  Claudius  U.  Stone,  Illinois,  Benja- 
min C.  Hilliard,  Colorado,  and  John  A.  Key,  of  Ohio. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  hearings,  seven  days  will 
be  allowed  by  the  Committee  for  the  filing  of  briefs. 
Those  present  representing  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry were:  J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary,  Motion 
Picture  Board  of  Trade  and  William  M.  Seabury,  coun- 
sel of  the  board;  Dr.  Jenkin  L.  Jones,  Thanhouser  Film 
Corporation;  Don  J.  Bell,  Bell  &  Howell  Company, 
Chicago;  Chester  Beecroft,  Centaur  Film  Company; 
Nicholas  Power,  Nicholas  Power  Company,  New  York; 
P.  A.  Parsons,  Pathe  Film  Company;  Paul  Cromelin, 
president  of  the  Cosmofotofilm  Company,  New  York; 
Patrick  A.  Powers,  vice-president  of  the  Universal  Film 
Company;  James  R.  Freuler,  president  of  the  Mutual 
Film  Corporation;  Fred  J.  Herrington,  president  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America,  Pitts- 
burgh; J.  A.  Delves,  and  F.  W.  Sahner,  members  of  the 
National  committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League  of  America;  Dr.  Orrin  G.  Cocks,  National 
Board  of  Censorship;  Cranston  Brereton,  president  Na- 
tional Board  of  Censorship. 

Chairman  Hughes  opened  the  hearing  on  Friday, 
the  second  night,  with  a  bit  of  Georgia  humor,  in  which 
he  declared  the  meetings  were  most  delightful  occasions, 
and  that  good  nature  seemed  to  prevail.  He  said  that 
it  had  been  predicted  that  Dr.  Crafts  would  soon  become 
an  exhibitor  himself.  After  that  the  hearings  opened, 
and  Representative  Hughes'  felicitations  were  dispelled 
by  considerable  acrimony. 

Cranston  Brenton  of  New  York,  chairman  of  the 
National  Board  of  Censorship  was  the  first  to  take  the 
stand,  and  in  his  first  words  he  declared  that  he  and 
the  board  are  utterly  opposed  to  governmental  censor- 
ship : 

The  motion  picture  is  the  greatest  single  educator, 
he  said,  and  touches  on  every  phase  of  life.  It  is  the 
greatest  power  for  righteousness  at  present.  When  a 
film  producer  violates  the  law,  he  is  responsible  to  the 
law  as  any  other  person.  He  then  spoke  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  voluntary  censorship  of  the  National 
Board  as  opposed  to  the  compulsory  pre-publicity  cen- 
sorship proposed  in  the  Hughes  bill. 

The  board's  power  is  stronger  because  it  arises  from 
the  voluntary  agreement  of  both  sides  of  the  matter, 
and  every  law  maker  and  student  of  economy  knows  that 
a  voluntary  agreement  is  stronger  than  a  compulsory  law. 
He  denied  Dr.  Crafts'  previous  statement  that  mem- 
bers of  the  board  receive  money  for  their  services,  and 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


that  it  is  "the  creature  of  the  motion  picture  business." 

In  response  to  questions  from  the  committee  Chair- 
man Brenton  said : 

We  see  99  per  cent  of  the  films  made.  Our  board  and  sub- 
boards  hold  115  meetings  a  month.  When  we  make  a  de- 
cision, the  manufacturers  never  appeal  from  it;  and  they 
do  appeal  from  the  legalized  censors  in  the  states  where 
there  is  such  censorship.  I  want  to  say  that  when  a  film 
filters  down  through  our  boards  there  is  nothing  wrong 
in  it.  I  challenge  Dr.  Crafts,  or  anyone  else,  to  show  any 
single  film  that  is  immoral  or  improper  that  we  have  passed 
on;  and  if  he  cites  any  film  I  want  him  to  pick  out  the 
things   in   it   which   he   believes   improper. 

"Some  films  censored  by  you  have  been  stopped?" 
suggested  a  member  of  the  committee. 

"Yes,  but  that  was  because  of  some  local  prejudice 
that  would  not  crop  out  perhaps  in  any  other  place  in 
the  country." 

Rep.  Fess  of  Ohio  asked  Mr.  Brenton  about  the 
effect  of  films  on  children.  The  reply  was  that  parents 
should  exercise  some   discretion : 

And  if  you  censor  all  films  down  to  the  standards  for 
a  child  of  twelve  you  would  send  out  a  program  so  insipid 
that  there  would  be  no  interest  for  the  public  generally. 
You  would  exclude  the  great  themes  of  life,  which  every 
adult  has  the  right  to  see  on  films,  the  same  as  he  has  the 
right  to  read  them  in  the  best  literature  of  the  world.  The 
American  public  would  arise  and  laugh  out  of  existence 
an}'  organization  that  dares  to  try  any  censorship  of  that 
severity.  Moreover.  I  consider  this  bill  an  insult  to  the 
fifth  largest  industry  in  America.  It  assumes  that  all  film 
producers  are  criminals.  It  is  just  as  if  the  steel  industry 
should  be  assumed  to  be  willingly  making  defective  rails 
and  that  a  federal  censorship  should  be  created  to  examine 
every  rail  before  leaving  the  shops. 

He  told  the  committee  that  the  National  Board  had 
advised  cutting  out  films  to  the  extent  of  half  a  million 
feet  in  one  year  and  that  the  manufacturers  had  complied. 

Walter  W.  Irwin,  of  New  York,  said : 
The  motion  picture  industry  should  not  be  made  through 
this  bill  to  step  back  into  the  darkness  of  the  middle  ages. 
The  motion  picture  is  the  greatest  vehicle  of  expression  yet 
found  and  yet  for  its  very  effectiveness  there  seems  to  be  a 
disposition  to  censor  it.  Some  of  the  pictures  are  the  great- 
est possible  preachment  against  war;  the  saloons  complain 
bitterly  because  the  motion  pictures  take  away  from  their 
patronage.  On  the  other  hand  some  ministers  complain 
because  their  congregations  attend  motion  picture  shows 
Sunday  nights.  The  minister  immediately  concludes  that 
the  motion  picture  is  degrading,  and  does  not  know  that 
many  pictures  contain  some  of  the  greatest  moral  lessons, 
and  conveys  them  forcefully  almost  without  mental  operation 
to  the  brain. 

"What  about  the  power  for  evil?"  asked  Rep.  Fess 
of  Ohio. 

"The  exhibitor  does  not  want  the  purple  picture," 
answered  Mr.  Irwin  decisively.  He  then  went  on  to 
give  two  examples  of  censorship.  One  was  the  censor- 
ing of  the  crucifixion  from  a  film  story  showing  the  life 
of  Christ.  He  claimed  the  whole  preachment  of  the 
moral  story  was  thus  weakened  and  ruined.  Another 
was  a  cut  from  a  light  comedy  wherein  the  censors  re- 
fused to  allow  a  scene  where  a  comedy  constable  was 
tossed  into  a  pond  by  a  frolicking  lot  of  boys.  Dr. 
Crafts  nodded  his  head  in  most  approving  manner  at  the 
mention  of  this  excision,  and  Rep.  Fess  said: 

"Do  you  think  the  public  lost  very  much  by  that 
(•111?"' 

"No,  of  course  not,"  said  Mr.  Irwin. 

"(hit  would  it  be  censored  from  the  stage  in  any 
play?"   asked    Representative    Piatt    of    New    York. 

Mr.  Irwin  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  no  board  of 
n\(  men  as  proposed  in  the  Hughes  bill  could  censor  all 
the   films  produced. 

J.  V  Moree,  of  New  York,  secretary  of  the  Mayors' 


Conference  Committee  of  New  York  State,  spoke  briefly. 
He  declared  that  federal  censorship  of  the  films  would 
be  the  first  step  toward  censoring  the  press  and  pro- 
tested against  it. 

Dr.  Crafts,  having  the  latter  part  of  the  evening, 
declared  in  his  opening  sentence  that  censorship  of  the 
kind  sought  in  the  Hughes  bill  would  double  the  motion 
picture  business,  because  "all  films  would  be  safe  and 
it  would  be  known." 

He  continued : 

The  motion  picture  men  seem  to  think  that  the  mothers 
and  teachers  and  others  who  want  censorship  do  not  know 
foul  pictures  when  they  see  them.  We  need  laws  for  every- 
one else,  but  in  this  Arcadian  gathering  these  gentlemen  seem 
to   think  they  need  no  laws;   merely  a  little   advice. 

"I  would  like  you  to  tell  me  what  you  know  about 
the  personnel  of  the  National  Board  of  Censorship,"  said 
Representative  Powers  of  Kentucky. 

"I  am  informed  that  there  is  a  control  exercised 
over  the  board  by  the  motion  picture  industry,"  he  re- 
plied, "and  that  some  members  have  withdrawn  because 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  board  was  conducted." 

He  went  on  to  tell  of  wild  west  scenes,  hold  ups,  etc., 
which  he  believed  should  not  be  shown. 

"You  don't  censor  those  in  the  news ;  why  should 
you  censor  them  in  the  films?"  asked  Representative 
Piatt  of  New  York. 

In  his  reply,  Dr.  Crafts  admitted  that  many  worse 
things  are  seen  on  the  stage  than  in  the  films,  but  he 
contended  that  the  stage  should  be  attended  to  by  local 
authorities.  His  line  of  reasoning  was  vague,  although 
he  specified  for  one  reason  that  actors  change  their  lines 
and  manner  of  acting  in  various  communities  so  that  a 
line  is  harmless  and  insipid  in  one  town  and  suggestive 
and  immoral  in  another. 

He  made  the  charge  that  motion  picture  money 
influences  the  National  Board. 

"I  demand  that  Mr.  Brenton  be  allowed  to  answer 
that,"  suddenly  came  from  J.  W.  Binder,  executive  sec- 
retary of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade. 

There  was  a  slight  hubbub  for  a  few  seconds,  and 
Mr.  Brenton  arose : 

"Are  you  sure,"  asked  Dr.  Crafts,  "that  the  men 
who  are  paid  on  the  National  Board  of  Censorship  do  not 
attempt  to  influence  the  judgment  of  the  board?" 

"As  far  as  I  know  nothing  of  the  sort  has  ever  been 
attempted  and  if  it  should  be  it  would  be  of  no  avail. 
The  National  Board  serves  without  pay.  It  has  a  paid 
staff  of  employes,  such  as  stenographers,  etc.  That  is 
all." 

Representative  Piatt  wanted  to  know  if  there  could 
be  any  expert  in  morals,  and  to  this  Dr.  Crafts  replied 
that  there  are  experts  in  psychology. 

"In  this  statement  you  handed  out  you  say  that  in 
one  West  Virginia  town  thirty-five  per  cent  of  the  films 
showed  cigarettes,"  continued  Representative  Piatt. 
"Now  I  would  like  to  know  how  immoral  it  is  to  show 
a  cigarette  or  a  corn  cob  pipe." 

The  audience  laughed  immoderately,  and  Dr.  Crafts' 
reply  was  that  the  statement  was  simply  the  expression 
from  one  community. 

"Is  it  not  true  that  the  same  things  you  want  elim- 
inated are  to  be  fonnd  in  the  best  literature;  in  the  Bible 
for  instance?"  asked  Representative  Dallinger,  "and  is  it 
not  so  that  a  book  can  be  worse  than  any  picture  ever 
-how  n  on  a  screen  i " 

"The  devil  never  found  any  such  \i\id  vehicle  as 
the  films,"  replied  1  )r.  Crafts : 

"I    don't    follow   your   reasoning,"    said    Representa- 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


tive  Dallinger,  "because  with  me  it  is  just  the  opposite. 
The  motion  picture  flashes  on  the  screen  and  is  gone. 
The  printed  page  stays  forever  and  can  be  handed  about 
and  read  over  and  over  again." 

The  hearing  ended  with  a  short  legal  discussion  from 
Howard  Clark  Barber,  superintendent  of  the  Society  for 
the  Prevention  of  Crime.  He  did  not  touch  on  any  im- 
portant section  of  the  bill ;  and  also  declared  that  his 
society  had  no  interest  whatsoever  in  the  bill. 

Mr.  Seabury,  upon  behalf  of  the  motion  picture 
industry,  formally  presented  to  the  Committee  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  pending  bill  an  amendment  to  Section  211 
and  Section  245  of  the  Federal  code,  the  amendment 
being  the  addition  to  each  section  of  the  words,  "Motion 
pictures  or  motion  picture  films."  This  he  claimed 
would  accomplish  all  that  could  be  accomplished  con- 
stitutionally by  the  entire  eighteen  sections  of  the  pre- 
publicity  censorship  bill. 

Chairman  Hughes  received  the  substitute  upon  be- 
half of  the  Committee  and  stated  it  would  be  given  con- 
sideration. 

At  the  opening  of  the  hearing  on  Saturday  night, 
the  proponents  of  the  bill  were  first  heard,  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Culbertson  of  the  Women's  Interdenominational  Mis- 
sionary Union  of  Washington  having  charge  of  the  time. 
She  first  presented  Mrs.  W.  F.  Craft,  wife  of  Dr.  Craft, 
who  informed  the  committee  that  she  had  spent  most  of 
the  day  viewing  moving  pictures  and  she  had  seen  noth- 
ing but  "deceit,  robbery,  trickery,  and  infidelity"  de- 
picted. 

Mrs.  Emma  E.  Shelton.  of  the  district  branch  of 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  advocated  censorship  as  did  also  Mrs. 
Edward  A.  Robinson,  of  Baltimore,  president  of  the 
Mother?"  Congress  of  Maryland.  Both  referred  to  pic- 
tures which  the)'  said  they  had  seen  and  which  were 
in  their  opinion  improper  and  immoral. 

Others  who  spoke  for  two  or  three  minutes  favor- 
ing the  bill  were  Mrs.  Kate  Wilson  Barrett,  National 
President  of  the  Florence  Crittenden  Homes ;  Mrs.  Ellis 
Logan,  Mrs.  Margaret  Dye  Ellis,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Freeland, 
Mrs.  Norman  Hill. 

H.  F.  Worly,  superintendent  of  citizenship  of  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Union,  advocated  the  bill.  He  stated 
that  if  it  was  enacted  into  law  a  standard  would  be  fixed 
in  a  short  time  and  there  would  then  be  but  a  small 
number  of  films  that  would  need  changes. 

Rev.  J.  M.  McMurray,  of  Washington,  declared 
that  the  United  States  was  going  to  have  nation  wide 
prohibition.  "Then,"  he  said,  "the  men  and  women  who 
are  now  frequenting  saloons  will  go  to  the  moving  pic- 
tures and  we  want  these  pictures  to  be  of  an  elevating 
character." 

Rev.  J.  B.  Waldron,  of  Washington,  colored, 
Charles  M.  Thomas,  colored  principal  of  a  Washington 
school,  Rev.  Dr.  Garner,  colored,  of  the  Evangelical  Al- 
liance and  representing  the  organization  for  the  adxance- 
ment  of  colored  men,  all  made  three  minute  talks  ad- 
vocating censorship.    . 

After  the  women  proponents  and  others  represent- 
ing different  organizations  had  finished  making  their 
statements,  Mr.  Binder  referred  to  the  fact  that  many 
of  them  had  declared  that  motion  pictures  were  an  in- 
centive to  crime  among  juveniles.     He  said : 

I  make  it  my  business  as  executive  secretary  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  to  investigate  charges  or 
statements  that  motion  pictures  incite  or  prompt  youths  or 
children  to  improper  acts  or  crimes.  Within  the  past  two 
months  I  have  investigated  81  cases  of  juvenile  delinquency 
brought  to  my  attention  through  clippings  from  newspapers 
and  otherwise,  and  in  only  one  case  could  I  find  that  the  in- 


centive might  possibly  have  been  received  at  motion  picture 
shows. 

Now,  I  would  like  to  have  any  of  the  ladies  who  have 
spoken  here  tonight  give  me  specific  data  as  to  motion  pic- 
tures inciting  to  crime.  I  promise  them  and  the  committee 
that  I  will  investigate  the  facts  and  co-operate  with  them 
in  arriving  at  the  truth.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  statements 
of  the  ladies  are  merely  the  expression  of  their  opinion  and 
do  not  relate  to  cases  where  they  have  positive  and  specific 
knowledge.  I  want  to  say  that  motion  pictures  do  not  incite 
to ,  crime,  and  1  know  whereof  I  speak.  I  want  to  declare 
most  emphatically  that  motion  pictures  have  just  the  op- 
posite effect. 

Mr.  Binder  filed  with  the  Committee  an  emphatic 
protest  against  the  bill,  signed  by  Mary  Gray  Peck,  of 
Geneva,  N.  Y.,  representing  the  Federation  of  Women's 
Clubs,  and  formerly  assistant  professor  of  English  at 
Minnesota  University.     She  said  : 

I  hold  no  brief  for  the  motion  picture  industry  but  for 
years  1  have  been  interested  in  the  motion  picture  drama, 
and  I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  sentiment  of  women's 
clubs  in  all  parts  of  the  country  as  regards  the  pictures.  I 
know  there  is  no  demand  on  the  part  of  the  women  of  the 
country  at  large  for  Federal  censorship.  I  know  further 
that  there  will  be  a  wave  of  widespread  indignation  if  this 
proposed  bill  is  pushed  through  without  any  popular  demand 
for  it.  Manufacturers  have  not  shown  themselves  recalcitrant 
to  democratic  and  constructive  censorship.  They  are  inter- 
ested financially  in  developing  the  art  to  the  highest  plane, 
and  are  moving  in  the  right  direction. 

Upon  behalf  of  the  Pathe  Freres  Company  and 
other  news  companies  Mr.  Binder  said  that  this  fea- 
ture of  the  husiness  was  growing  rapidly. 

"If  you  enact  this  measure  you  will  absolutely  kill 
this  part  of  the  industry,"  he  said.  "Suppose  a  news 
event  of  some  kind  occurs  in  Washington.  The  film 
must  be  transported  to  New  York,  developed  there  and 
sent  out  broadcast.  The  moment  that  it  touched  New 
York  and  rested  there,  the  sender  would  be  violating 
the  law." 

Fred  J.  Flerrington,  pf  Pittsburgh,  president  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America,  was  in- 
troduced by  Mr.  Binder  and  declared  that  there  was  no 
demand  on  the  part  of  the  American  people  for  legalized 
censorship.     He  said : 

I  believe  that  I  have  met  some  of  the  American  people. 
I  have  traveled  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  and  spoken 
to  thousands.  I  have  asked  for  a  vote  as  to  where  the  people 
stood  on  the  question  of  censorship,  and  very  sparsely  would 
the  hands  be  raised. 

Mr.  Herrington  in  response  to  a  question  from  a 
committeeman  said  that  he  took  polls  in  San  Francisco, 
Baltimore,  Pittsburgh,  numerous  cities  in  Ohio,  and 
other  states.     He  continued  : 

I  want  to  say  that  I  stand  unalterably  opposed  to  all 
forms  of  censorship.  I  believe  in  the  thorough  enforce- 
ment of  the  most  drastic  laws  for  those  who  would  degrade 
or  attempt  the  degrading  of  the  morals  of  the  children  of 
this  or  any  other  nation.  Not  only  do  I  favor  the  most 
drastic  laws  and  the  enforcement  of  the  same,  but  I  will 
pledge,  as  president  of  the  league,  the  support  of  our  or- 
ganization in  aiding  and  giving  assistance  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  those  laws  because  we  want  clean  motion  pictures. 
The  manufacturers  want  to  make  clean  motion  pictures. 
I  am  from  a  state  where  there  is  legal  censorship,  and  I 
want  to  say  that  from  the  standpoint  of  the  promoters  of 
this  measure  I  have  seen  no  improvement  in  the  pictures  in 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Herrington  pointed  out  to  the  committee  many 
concrete  instances  of  the  confusion  and  difference  of 
opinion  in  connection  with  censorship  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
he  said  that  even  after  the  State  Board  had  approved  a 
picture,  the  mayor  or  police  authorities  of  cities  could 
prevent  its  production  in  their  city.  He  cited  the  case 
of  the  play  entitled,  "The  Nigger."  At  the  request  of 
the  State  Board  the  title  of  the  play  was  changed  to 
"Our  New  Governor,"  and  it  was  approved  and  passed. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


De  Wolf  Hopper  introducing  his  wife  to   Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm   Tree, 
upon   the   hitler's  arrival  at   the  Fine  Arts  studio   in   Los  Angeles. 


"Nevertheless,"  said  Mr.  Herrington,  ''Mayor 
Joseph  Armstrong  of  Pittsburgh  has  denied  the  right  to 
have  that  picture  thrown  on  the  screen  for  a  period  of 
seven  months. 

"  'The  Birth  of  a  Nation'  was  approved  by  the 
State  Board,  was  opposed  by  Mayor  Armstrong,  and 
Mayor  Armstrong  was  overruled  by  the  courts  of  Al- 
leghany county." 

Mr.  Herrington  said  that  state  censorship  in  Ohio 
was  unpopular,  and  he  declared  that  he  could  file  with 
the  Committee  the  names  of  100,000  citizens  of  that  com- 
monwealth in  protest  against  legalized  censorship. 

Bainbridge  Colby,  representing  the  Hearst  news- 
papers, declared  that  he  appeared  to  direct  his  protest 
to  what  he  believed  to  be  "the  fallacious,  irrational  el- 
ement that  underlies  the  bill." 

Commodore  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  president  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Board  of  Trade,  and  president  of  the  Vita- 
graph  Company,  in  opening  his  statement  said  that  he 
emphatically  protested  against  any  form  of  legal  cen- 
sorship. 

He  said  that  he  had  listened  to  the  statements 
made  by  the  proponents  of  the  measure,  who  had  referred 
to  Federal  regulation  of  the  drug  habit,  and  who  also 
spoke  "of  the  saloon,  the  brothel,  and  some  other  things 
that  these  good  people  have  heaped  upon  our  heads." 

I  want  to  object  to  having  my  business  coupled  with  any 
of  these  things,  and  I  want  that  objection  placed  in  the  record. 

Most  of  the  accusations  that  have  been  made  are  noth- 
ing more  or  less  than  vague  statements.  It  seems  to  me  if  I  were 
coming  here  to  favor  this  measure  and  to  convince  the  commit- 
tee, I  would  have  the  names  of  pictures,  the  names  of  manufac- 
turers, the  names  of  the  exhibitor. 

If  these  dear  ladies  would  only  give  us  the  names  of 
offending  manufacturers  or  exhibitors  we  would  co-operate 
with  them  in  having  them  punished.  Instead  of  that  they 
come  here  and  vapor  about  the  things  that  they  have  seen. 
I  maintain  generally  thai  there  are  no  bad  pictures  shown 
to  the  public,  and  in  the  past  five  years  there  have  only 
been    two    pictures    that    were    wholly    bad. 

Mr.  Blackton  then  referred  to  the  work  of  the  board 
in  connection  with  the  picture  "Virtue."  He  said  that 
the  efforts  of  the  board  resulted  in  the  picture  being 
stopped  and  its  producers  prosecuted. 


Mr.  Blackton  referred  to  the  fact  that  "Virtue"  was 
being  shown  in   Philadelphia. 

"Can  that  picture  be  shown  anywhere  in  the  United 
States?"  asked  Representative  Sears. 

"Not  if  the  police  are  on  their  jobs."  replied  Mr. 
Blackton. 

Mr.  Blackton  said  that  one  of  the  by-laws  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  is  to  keep  and  make  clean 
the  motion  pictures  of  the  country. 

He  described  for  the  benefit  of  the  committee  the 
production  of  a  motion  picture;  that  is,  the  writing  of 
the  play,  its  production  on  films,  and  its  distribution  and 
exhibition,  giving  in  detail  all  the  steps  showing  the  re- 
vising of  the  manuscript,  etc.,  and  the  care  taken  to  pro- 
duce pictures  that  were  clean  and  wholesome  but  suit- 
able to  persons  of  different  ages.  Mr.  Blackton  along 
this  line  cited  Hawthorne's  "Scarlet  Letter."  This,  he 
said,  was  a  book  which  was  an  American  classic  and 
was  in  the  library  of  nearly  all  the  homes  in  the  land 
where  a  child  could  see  it  if  it  wanted  to.  "If  he  has 
a  right  to  see  the  book  he  has  a  right  to  see  the  pic- 
ture," said  Mr.  Blackton. 

Mr.  Blackton  said  that  manufacturers  necessarily 
had  to  make  pictures  for  the  general  public,  always  keep- 
ing in  mind  that  they  should  be  clean,  wholesome  and  in 
consonance  with  American  ideals.     He  declared : 

The  motion  pictures  have  done  more  good  than  all  the 
Sunday  schools  in  this  country. 

I  do  not  know  how  Mr.  Craft  impressed  the  Committee, 
but  he  impressed  me  in  two  ways.  First  in  his  wonderful  ability 
to  wiggle  out  and  evade  direct  questions,  and  second  the  effect 
on  him  of  seeing  motion  pictures.  He  saw  Hamlet  in  which  there 
are  three  murders  and  it  did  not  affect  him  he  said.  He  saw  a 
wild  west  drama  in  which  there  was  the  flourishing  of  guns,  the 
holding  up  of  a  train,  and  one  murder,  and  he  said  he  felt  all 
worked  up  and  wanted  to  go  out  and  kill  somebody. 

I  think  that  this  committee  would  do  well  to  produce  a 
safety  first  pre-publicity  censorship  that  should  be  applied 
to  such  a  man  as  Dr.  Craft. 

This  was  greeted  by  a  roar  of  laughter  and  applause 
that  Chairman  Hughes  suppressed  with  difficulty. 

"My  friend,  Dudley  Field  Malone,  says  that  Colum- 
bus crossed  the  ocean  in  1492,  and  Henry  Ford  double 
crossed  it  in  1915,"  said  Mr.  Blackton.  "I  ask  you  not 
to  double-cross  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  useful  of 
the  industries  of  the  United  States  if  you  have  the  least 
respect  for  Democratic  principles  and  liberties." 

Rev.  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  of  New  York,  widely 
known  author  and  publicist,  made  a  strong  argument 
against  the  measure. 

"This  is  an  unnecessary  bill,"  said  Dr.  Brady.  "This 
is  something  the  public  can  do  themselves.  The  motion 
picture  men  can  do  it  themselves.     Give  them  time. 

"The  motion  pictures  have  already  done  more  to 
elevate  the  standard  of  morals  than  any  other  agency 
in  this  country,  and  I  speak  in  this  regard  as  a  church- 
man." 

Dr.  Brady  said  that  in  his  opinion  the  church  did 
want  censorship,  lie  said  that  there  was  nothing  more 
pernicious  than  the  tendency  on  the  part  of  some  mem- 
bers of  the  church  to  run  to  the  state  to  ask  aid  for  the 
things  the  church  oughl  to  do 

He  challenged  members  of  the  committee  to  name 
five  operas  that,  if  told  in  plain  blunt  English,  would 
not  bring  the  blush  of  shame  to  their  cheeks.  "And  yet 
no  one  censors  grand  opera,"  he  said.  "Salome  dancing 
the  dance  of  the  seven  veils  never  worries  the  police. 
The   licentious   ston    of    'Carmen1    is   inner   censored    in 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


225 


grand  opera,  and  yet  in  the  motion  pictures  there  is  the 
suggestion  that  it  should  be  censored.  If  there  is  a  cen- 
sorship it  should  be  the  censorship  of  public  opinion." 

Dr.  Brady  said  that  there  were  4,000  saloons  in 
the  mining  districts  in  Pennsylvania  five  years  ago. 
"There  are  now  about  500,"  he  said.  "Moving  pictures 
did  it." 

Mr.  Binder  filed  with  the  Committee  the  written 
protest  against  the  bill  of  sixty-nine  exchange  men  and 
exhibitors.  He  stated  and  filed  figures  showing  that 
these  men  employed  2,900  persons,  and  had  a  capital  of 
$113,000,000  invested.  The  exchange  men  and  exhibitors 
vigorously  protested  against  the  proposed  legislation  and 
declared  that  its  passage  would  greatly  injure  their  busi- 
ness if  not  put  an  end  to  it,  thus  causing  the  loss  of  im- 
mense sums  of  money  and  throwing  more  than  two 
thousand  persons  out  of  employment. 

These  protests  were  signed  by  a  score  or  more  of 
exchange  men  or  exhibitors  who  had  been  present  dur- 
ing the  three  nights  and  who  on  account  of  the  limited 
time  could  not  be  heard  orally  or  by  men  who  had  planned 
to  be  present  at  the  closing  sessions  and  make  oral  pro- 
test. 

At  the  session  of  the  Committee  on  Monday  night, 
January  17,  the  chief  speaker  in  opposition  to  the  bill  was 
Rabbi  A.  A.  Simon  of  the  Eighth  Street  Temple,  the 
leading  Jewish  Synagogue  in  Washington.  Rabbi  Simon 
said  that  he  did  not  appear  to  represent  any  organiza- 
tion, amr  church,  or  was  he  interested  in  any  motion  pic- 
ture company. 

He  believed  that  a  large  majority  of  the  pictures  of 
the  country  are  clean  and  wholesome.  He  said  that  the 
manufacturers  were  sensitive  to  public  opinion  and  that 
this  would  ultimately  bring  about  the  censorship  that 
would  eliminate  all  pictures  as  to  which  there  was  any 
doubt.  He  declared  that  the  power  of  public  opinion  in 
this  country  would  take  care  of  the  censorship  of  motion 
pictures  without  the  intervention  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment. 

Rabbi  Simon  detailed  at  length  how  a  Jewish  organ- 
ization took  up  with  the  motion  picture  manufacturers  the 
subject  of  the  ridiculing  and  caricaturing  of  the  Jews  and 
that  the  manufacturers  were  so  impressed  with  the  state- 
ments made  and  so  willing  to  heed  suggestions  that  it  was 
rare  now  that  a  man  of  Jewish  blood,  be  he  ever  so  sen- 
sitive, saw  in  a  motion  picture  anything  that  might  arouse 
his  criticism. 

"There  was  no  need  of  a  protest,"  said  Rabbi  Simon. 
"The  manufacturers  showed  that  they  wanted  to  meet 
public  opinion  and  did  so." 

W.  Steven  Bush  of  the  Moving  Picture  World  ad- 
dressed the  Committee.  He  protested  against  censorship 
and  discussed  the  subject  at  considerable  length.  During 
the  course  of  his  remarks,  Representative  Powers  of 
Kentucky  asked  him  if  any  reason  could  be  given  for  the 
censorship  of  these  films  that  would  not  just  as  forcibly 
apply  to  newspapers,  and  Mr.  Bush  replied  that  there 
could  not. 

Helen  Varick  Boswell,  of  New  York,  chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Education  of  the  General  Federation 
of  Women's  Clubs  of  the  United  States  and  President 
of  the  Women's  Forum  of  New  York  City,  said : 

"This  commission  would  be  forced  to  sit  on  one  horn 
or  another  of  a  dilemma.  Either  it  would  be  so  liberal 
that  the  persons  creating  it  would  rebel,  or  it  would  be  so 
narrow  that  states,  cities  and  towns  would  laugh  it  out 
of  court.  It  is  impossible  to  criticize  films  both  for  the 
mature  and  the  immature.  Children's  pictures  must  be 
selected  and  exhibited  under  positive,  constructive  plans 


and  not  by  censorship.  The  parents  of  the  land  have 
shirked  their  duty  heretofore,  and  have  given  a  foolish 
liberty  to  their  children.  It  is  their  responsibility,  not 
that  of  the  nation,  to  formulate  safeguards." 

Mrs.  Howard  S.  Gans,  president  of  the  Federation 
of  Child  Study  of  New  York,  said : 

"Parents  have  been  criminally  negligent  in  their  at- 
titude toward  motion  pictures.  There  is  no  short  cut  or 
transference  of  responsibility.  The  same  thoughts  that 
have  been  given  to  children's  plays,  to  the  literature  of 
youth  and  to  the  games  of  children  must  be  given  by 
parents  to  harnessing  and  developing  the  motion  picture 
giants." 

The  following  telegram  was  received  by  the  Com- 
mittee from  the  Edison  laboratory  at  Orange,  N.  J. : 

We  are  opposed  to  the  principle  of  all  Governmental  cen- 
sorships. 

A  telegram  was  received  from  Rev.  Thomas  Dixon, 
Jr.,  reading  as  follows  : 

If  I  write  a  book  no  censorship  board  asks  to  see  the 
proofs.  If  I  convert  the  same  idea  into  a  play  and  keep 
within  the  bounds  of  decency  provided  by  the  common  law 
no  censor  can  interpose  his,  "I  forbid."  Get  rid  of  this  cen- 
sorship bugaboo  and  let  the  motion  picture  realize  the  bril- 
liant future  before  it. 

David  Horsley  of  Los  Angeles  telegraphed : 
I  protest  vigorously  against  the  tearing  down  or  hamper- 
ing of  the  wonderful  work  being  carried  forward  by  motion 
pictures  through  professional  reformers  who  will  no  doubt 
carry  their  reform  ideas  into  the  next  world  when  they  go 
and  sit  around  criticizing  the  quality  of  the  coal  instead  of 
doing  their  share  of  the  shoveling. 

Rev.  William  Sheaf  Chase,  of  New  York,  chairman 
of  the  social  service  committee  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  of  the  Diocese  of  Long  Island,  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  New  York  Society  for  the  Prevention  of 
Crime,  and  president  of  the  New  York  Civic  League, 
made  the  principal  statement  favoring  the  bill.  Dr. 
Chase  with  Dr.  Craft  led  the  fight  for  the  measure  in  the 
last  Congress. 

Dr.  Chase  stated  that  he  disagreed  with  Mr.  Binder's 
statement  that  of  the  12,000,000  or  more  persons  who 
daily  attend  motion  pictures  show  between  8  and  10  per 
cent  were  children. 

"I  think  the  number  is  nearer  33  per  cent,"  said  Dr. 
Chase. 

The  opposition  to  the  Hughes  bill  during  the  hear- 
ings just  closed  made  out  such  a  strong  case  that  it  is  the 
general  opinion  that  they  succeeded  in  convincing 
the  whole  committee  on  education  that  the  bill  as  drawn 
will  have  to  be  radically  changed  and  its  drastic  features 
eliminated.  Some  even  profess  to  believe  that  the  com- 
mittee may  accept  the  substitute  proposed  by  Mr.  Binder 
and  Mr.   Seabury  amending  the   federal  code. 

In  any  event  Motography'"s  representative  can  say 
that  the  bill  reported  in  any  form  will  be  accompanied  by 
a  strong  minority  report  signed  by  several  members  of  the 
committee  who  have  been  convinced  that  pre-publicity 
censorship  is  either  unnecessary  or  unconstitutional.  In 
the  last  congress  the  bill  was  reported  unanimously. 
Questions  asked  and  declarations  made  by  members  of 
the  committee  during  the  hearings  indicate  conclusively 
that  it  is  divided  on  the  bill  irrespective  of  party,  and  that 
in  the  final  line-up  Democrats  and  Republicans  will  be 
found  together  in  the  majority  and  minority  reports,  re- 
spectively. This  means  that  both  majority  and  minority 
reports  to  the  House  will  be  in  the  nature  of  expressions 
of  opinion  and  that  the  majority  report  which  will  be 
signed  by  Chairman  Hughes  and  other  members  of  the 
committee  will  not  pro  forma  be  accepted  and  supported 
by  the  Democratic  majority  in  the  house. 

Mr.   Binder  at  the  hearing  on  Tuesday  night  an- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


nounced  President  Wilson  had  accepted  an  invitation  to 
be  present  at  the  first  annual  banquet  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Board  of  Trade,  Thursday  night,  January  27. 

Orrin  G.  Cocks,  assistant  secretary  of  the  National 
Board  of  Censorship,  placed  in  the  record  a  statement 
showing  that  the  staff  of  the  board  engaged  in  censoring 
pictures  numbered  225. 

William  Sheaf  Chase  announced  that  a  bill  had  been 
prepared  for  consideration  by  New  York  legislature  pro- 
viding state  censorship,  but  that  the  favorable  reporting 
of  the  Hughes  bill  would  cause  this  bill  to  be  abandoned. 

Mr.  Binder  said  that  the  bill  during  the  hearings  had 
been  opposed  by  an  Episcopal  clergyman  and  a  Jewish 
Rabbi,  and  he  then  presented  Rev.  Thomas  Shields,  of 
the  Catholic  University  of  America  and  president  of  the 
Catholic  Education  Press,  who  appeared  to  oppose  the 
bill.     Father  Shields  said  : 

The  motion  picture  is  a  great  power  for  both  good  and 
evil.  But  the  evil  has  been  decreasing  and  the  good  has  been 
increasing.  I  know  of  no  other  thing  that  has  increased  in 
respectability  in  the  same  degree  as  these  pictures  have  within 
the  past  few  years.  I  do  not  think  that  we  ought  to  sacrifice 
the  principle  of  individual  liberty  and  substitute  the  con- 
science of  five  men  for  the  conscience  of  the  nation. 

Paul  Cromelin  denied  a  statement  made  by  Mr. 
Chase,  who  said  thai  the  motion  picture  industry  was 
divided  on  the  subject  of  the  Hughes  bill.  Mr.  Chase 
stated  that  the  Paramount  Picture  Corporation,  the  Fa- 
mous Players  Film  Company,  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Company, 
and  ( diver  Morosco  were  in  favor  of  the  bill.  Mr.  Crome- 
lin stated  that  he  was  authorized  over  the  long  distance 
telephone  by  President  W.  W.  Hodkinsbn  of  the  Para- 
mount Corporation  to  deny  that  he  favored  the  bill,  and 
Hi  llodkinson  also  authorized  a  similar  denial  on 
behalf  of  President  Zukor,  of  the  Famous  Players  Pom 
pany,  Presidenl  Jesse  L.  Lasky  of  the  Lasky  Company, 
and  President  Oliver  Morosco,  of  the  Morosco  (  ompany, 
and  thai  all  opposed  the  bill. 

On  Wednesday  night    Martin   A.   Littleton,  the   fa 

mous  New  York  lawyer,  was  introduced  bj   Mr,  Binder. 

Musi  we  be  censored  by  law  made  boards  as  to  whal  we 

and  hear,  and  read,  or  shall   We  leave  this  to  the 

corrective   force  of  public  opinion   which  is  the  verj    fire  and 


flame  of  a  democracy?     We  are  a  democracy,   shot   through 
and  through  with  the  force  and  fervor  of  public  opinion. 

If  for  any  reason  which  can  be  discovered  there  should 
be  law-made  censorship  of  what  we  see.  and  read,  and  hear, 
why  does  congress  assume  to  act  on  this  upon  their  question? 
The  various  states  enjoy  almost  exclusively  the  power  and 
have  enjoined  on  them  the  duty  of  protecting  the  lives,  the 
liberty  and  the  property  of  their  people,  and  especially  of 
conserving  the  morals  and  health   of  the  people. 

There  will  be  found  in  the  statutes  of  almost  every  state, 
if  not  all,  a  provision  which  empowers  the  authorities  to  pro- 
ceed against  a  play,  a  picture  or  a  publication  which  threatens 
to  debauch  the  honor  or  corrupt  the  morals  of  the  community. 

What  is  an  immoral  picture  or  a  film"  Who  can  answer 
that  question?  Must  that  question  be  answered  for  one  hun- 
dred million  people  by  five  men  whom  they  do  not  choose? 
Must  that  question  which  reaches  from  the  nether  sewers  of 
flagrant  immorality  with  the  very  stars  of  an  ethical  firma- 
ment, lie  answered  for  every  man.  woman  and  child  in  the 
nation  by  a  group  of  Quixotic  and  querulous  old  gentle- 
men solemnly  settling  the  morals  of  a  nation  by  presidential 
appointment? 

Mr.  Littleton  was  followed  by  Mr.  Seabury  who 
made  the  closing  argument  for  the  opponents  of  the  bill 
and  by  Dr.  Craft  and  Dr.  Chase  who  made  the  closing 
argument  in  advocacy  of  the  measure. 

Seven  days  have  been  allowed  by  the  committee  for 
the  filing  of  briefs  or  statements  by  those  who  favor  or 
oppose  the  bill. 


Goodman  Stays  with  Lubin  Studio 

Daniel  Carson  Goodman,  a  Chicagoan  by  birth, 
well  known  as  the  author  of  "Hagar  Revelly,"  has  re- 
newed his  contract  as  scenario  writer  of  the  Lubin 
Manufacturing-  Company.  Dr.  Goodman  studied  med- 
icine  in  the  University  of  \  ienna  and  the  University 
of  Washington.  Although  he  has  given  up  actual 
practice,  he  still  writes  medical  theses.  Me  wrote 
short  stories  and  verse  while  in  college,  and  later  com- 
pleted three  novels.  "Travail,"  "Unclothed,"  and 
"Hagar  Revelly."  I  lis  first  si,,r_v  for  the  films  was 
"The  liattle  of  the  Sexes,"  produced  by  Griffith.  He 
has  written  and  had  produced  over  fifty  features  with- 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Inceville  Suffers  From  Fire 

PRODUCTION  ALREADY  RESUMED 


STILL  suffering,  but  undaunted  and  determined, 
Producer  Thomas  H.  Ince  is  working  harder  than 
ever,  this  week,  in  his  efforts  to  counteract  the 
tremendous  loss  that  resulted  from  the  fire  which  last 
week  destroyed  the  administration  building  at  Ince- 
ville— the  Santa  Monica  home  of  the  New  York  Mo- 
tion Picture  Corporation — and  announcements  from 
the  studios  contain  the  information  that  every  depart- 
ment is  again  being  operated  with  smoothness  and 
celerity.  Three  hundred  men  are  laboring  ceaselessly, 
night  and  day,  in  the  hope  of  completing  the  main 
structure  at  the  new  Culver  City  plant  of  the  company 
long  before  scheduled  time,  and  the  indications,  it  is 
said,  are  that  they  will  succeed. 

While  the  disastrous  blaze  remains,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, the  chief  topic  of  conversation  in  west  coast 
photoplay  circles,  unstinted  praise  is  being  heaped 
upon  Ince  for  his  unwavering  perseverance  in  over- 
coming the  effects  of  the  fire.  With  his  face  and  hands 
swathed  in  bandages,  due  to  the  severe  burns  he  sus- 
tained in  escaping  from  the  doomed  building,  the 
indefatigable  producer  was  on  the  scene  early  the  fol- 
lowing morning  and  immediately  set  about  supervis- 
ing the  task  of  reorganization. 

The  most  serious  obstruction  to  the  progress  of 
work  at  the  plant  was  caused  by  the  complete  destruc- 
tion of  the  cutting  rooms,  where  two  complete  positive 
prints  of  productions  ready  for  shipment  to  New  York 
were,  among  thousands  of  feet  of  miscellaneous  reels, 
ruined.  In  order  to  facilitate  the  swift  reproduction  of 
these,  a  force  of  men  was,  immediately  after  the  fire, 
put  to  work  on  the  second  floor  of  the  projecting-room 
building  at  Culver  City,  equipping  it  for  use  as  a  cut- 
ting department.  Those  of  the  cutting  force  who  were 
not  severely  injured,  together  with  a  number  of  emer- 
gency cutters,  were  then  hastily  dispatched  to  Culver 
City  in  automobiles  and  an  hour  before  daylight  had 
broken  they  were  cutting  and  assembling  new  prints. 
Fortunately  the  Ince  system  provides  for  the  storage 
of  all  negative  stock  at  the  Edendale  plant  of  the  com- 
pany, so  that  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  rephotograph 
any  scenes. 

The  next  most  appalling  obstacle  rested  in  the  fact 


that  more  than  300  photoplay  manuscripts  were  lost. 
Of  this  amount,  fully  thirty-five,  it  is  said,  were  in 
shape  for  production.  Thus  was  Ince  confronted  with 
a  colossal  problem.  But  at  10  o'clock  the  next  morn- 
ing, C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  J.  G.  Hawks,  Monte  M.  Kat- 
terjohn  and  others  of  the  scenario  staff  were  industri- 
ously engaged  in  dictating,  as  usual,  to  the  stenograph- 
ers. Quarters  had  been  fitted  up  for  them  in  a  corner 
of  the  spacious  wardrobe  building  and  a  dozen  new 
typewriters,  together  with  furniture,  stationery,  etc., 
had  been  obtained  and  installed. 

By  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Business  Manager 
E.  H.  Allen  and  the  entire  office  staff  of  bookkeepers, 
receiving  clerks  and  other  clerical  help  had  been  ac- 
commodated. It  is  declared  they  are  occupying  the  most 
elaborate  office  suite  ever  devoted  to  that  kind  of  work, 
for  they  are  using  what  a  few  months  ago  was  Billie 
Burke's  private  apartment. 

According  to  an  announcement  made  by  Producer 
Ince,  the  ruined  structure  will  not  be  entirely  rebuilt. 
A  one-story  building  will  be  erected  on  the  spot  and 
be  utilized  as  the  executive  headquarters  of  Business 
Manager  Allen  when  he  spends  any  of  his  time  at  the 
Inceville  plant.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  Culver 
City  administration  building,  when  completed,  will 
serve  as  the  principal  office. 

The  fire,  it  is  declared,  was  one  of  the  most  spec- 
tacular that  has  occurred  in  Southern  California  in 
years,  and  the  narrow  escape  of  Producer  Ince  and  his 
aides  is  considered  little  short  of  miraculous.  It  was 
shortly  before  dusk  when  the  alarm  was  given.  Hal 
Kern,  a  cutter,  was  seated  at  a  great  vat,  cutting  film, 
when  a  spark,  the  cause  of  which  still  remains  a  pro- 
found mystery,  dropped  into  the  mass  of  tangled  cellu- 
loid and  in  an  instant  the  entire  room  was  ablaze.  The 
cutters — Kern,  his  brother  Robert,  Roy  Stone,  Charles 
Soper,  Arthur  Sisk,  Grant  Whitlock,  Jack  Kelley  and 
Cyril  Gardner,  with  their  chief,  U.  S.  "Dell"  Andrews, 
made  a  mad  rush  for  the  door.  But  the  flames  had 
spread  too  quickly  and  all  were  more  or  less  burned 
about  the  face  and  hands,  before  they  succeeded  in 
gaining  the  stairs. 

Producer  Ince  was  sitting  alone  in  his  office,  im- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


mediately  adjoining  the  cutting  room,  on  the  second 
floor,  when  he  heard  the  shouts  of  the  cutting  staff. 
He  opened  the  door  leading  into  C.  Gardner  Sullivan's 
office  and  found  that  it  was  in  flames.  Then  he 
rushed  to  the  other  door  leading  into  the  hall.  The 
flames  were  there,  too.  But  instead  of  turning  back, 
he  covered  his  face  with  his  hands  and  dashed  past  the 
doorway  of  the  cutting  room.  He  did  not  even  stop  to 
take  the  cane  he  has  been  carrying  recently,  because 
of  a  weak  ankle,  but  leaped  down  the  stairway,  six 
steps  at  a  time. 

In  the  meantime,  the  stenographers,  Phyllis  Jones, 
Lucille  Schwartz,  Dorothy  Durham,  Katherine  Moss- 
man  and  Mrs.  Frenzel,  in  charge  of  Jessie  Booth,  secre- 
tary of  the  bureau,  were  making  their  way  to  safety  by 
way  of  the  balcony.  So  hysterical  were  most  of  the 
young  women  that  they  threatened  to  jump  to  the 
ground,  but  C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  Monte  Katterjohn 
and  Business  Manager  Allen  shouted  warnings  to 
them  until  help  arrived  in  the  nature  of  ladders. 

Less  than  two  minutes  after  the  blaze  had  gained 
headway,  the  entire  Inceville  fire-fighting  brigade  had 
surrounded  the  burning  building:  with  a  dozen  lines  of 
hose.  But  the  fierce  character  of  the  fire  prevented  the 
volunteers  from  doing  anything  but  saving  the  adja- 
cent structures  from  ruin.  First,  the  blaze  destroyed 
some  sixty  thousand  feet  of  printed  positive  film,  to- 
gether with  all  the  appurtenances  of  the  cutting  de- 
partment. Then,  eating  its  way  rapidly  into  the  scen- 
ario bureau  it  obliterated  some  300  photoplay  manu- 
scripts, on  file  in  cabinets.  In  spite  of  the  frenzied  ef- 
forts of  the  fire-fighters  to  beat  back  the  blaze,  it  spread 
to  Sullivan's  office,  Ince's  office  and  to  the  minor  parti- 
tions on  the  same  floor,  reducing  each  to  ruins  in  a  few 
minutes.  Daring  work  on  the  part  of  J.  Parker  Reed, 
one  of  Ince's  chief  aides,  Business  Manager  Allen, 
Harry  Elwell,  chief  property  man,  Tom  Brierly,  mas- 
ter carpenter,  and  numerous  others,  however,  resulted 
in  the  saving  of  many  valuable  documents  and  records 
from  the  offices  on  the  ground  floor.  These  were  stored 
away,  together  with  a  large  quantity  of  raw  film  taken 
from  the  vault  nearby,  and  the  structure  was  then  at- 
tacked with  renewed  vigor  by  the  fire-fighters.  Forty 
minutes  after  it  had  started,  the  fire  had  been  extin- 
guished. And  not  until  then  did  Ince  consent  to  be  re- 
moved to  his  home  in  Hollywood. 

For  a  few  hours,  it  was  believed  that  Andrews,  the 
young  head  of  the  cutting  department,  had  sustained 
fatal  burns.  But  bulletins  issued  the  next  day  dis- 
pelled these  rumors.  With  his  assistants  he  is  still 
confined  to  St.  Catherine's  Hospital  at  Santa  Monica, 
slowly  recovering  from  injuries  and  shock. 

A  glowing  tribute  was  paid  Producer  Ince  the  day 
following  the  fire  by  Richard  Willis,  the  well-known 
Pacific  coast  author  and  publicist.  Willis  was  so 
deeply  impressed  by  Ince's  dynamic  energy  and  re- 
fusal to  weaken  under  the  strain  of  adversities  that  he 
penned  the  following  verses  to  the  chief  of  [nceville  : 

n   hand  some  men  a  setback  and  they'll- crumble  up 

and   iln  . 
i    Forgel    ili.it   little  million-dollar  wordlct — try; 
The  slight)    I  ca  ual  offset  that  comes  up  will  make 'em  wince — 
Such  men  don't  stay  on  top,  Sir! — But  you  can't  stop  Ince. 

hi  did  its  level  best  to  wash  his  camp  away. 
Mm    hue  fought  back — determined  that  right  there  his  camp 

should   stay. 
I  lis  aUtO,   it    turned   turtle   and   he's   been   a   bit    lame   since: 
But,  Lord!     He  came  back  smiling — for  you  can't   stop    tni  i  ' 
\  lire  did  its  level  best  to  lay  the  whole  works  low 
And  made  him  scratch  his  head  a  bit — a  year  or  so  a 


The  damning  flames  have  tried  again — our  words  we  will  not 

mince — 
The  elements  may  chase  themselves — they  can't  stop  Ince! 

When  reports  regarding  the  Inceville  fire  at  Santa 
Monica,  California,  reached  the  Triangle's  New  York 
office,  H.  E.  Aitken,  president  of  the  corporation,  said: 

"The  reports  have  been  grossly  exaggerated.  The 
fire  was  a  comparatively  minor  affair,  and  is  fully  cov- 
ered by  insurance.  We  have  just  received  a  telegram 
from  the  studios  from  Mr.  Ince.  saying  that  he  is  per- 
sonally at  work  on  production.  Mr.  Ince  states  that 
some  employes  were  slightly  injured  but  the  occur- 
rence will  not  in  an)'  case  affect  the  output  of  Triangle 
plays  nor  hamper  in  any  degree  the  operations  of  this 
company." 


Kuhn  to  Write  Kleine  Serial  Copy 

Paul  R.  Kuhn,  for  the  past  five  years  associated 
with  the  Nichols-Finn  Advertising  Company,  has 
severed  his  connection  with  that  organization  to  join 
the  Mahin  Advertising  Company,  Monroe  building, 
Chicago.  Mr.  Kuhn  is  well- 
known  in  film  circles,  having 
aided  in  preparing  the  ad- 
v  e  r  t  i  s  i  n  g  campaigns  for 
"The  Million  Dollar  Mys- 
tery," "The  Diamond  from 
the  Sky,"  "The  Girl  and  the 
Game,"  the  Chicago  Tri- 
bune's Belgian  War  Pictures 
and  the  widely  advertised 
film,  "The  German  Side  of 
the  AYar."  Recently  Mr. 
Kuhn  has  given  much  of  his 
attention  to  the  interests 
of  the  Mutual  Film  Corpora- 
tion in  p  r  o  raoti  n  g  "The 
Eight  Million  Dollar  Mutual 
Program"  and  "Mutual  Mas- 
ter-Pictures, De  Luxe  Edi- 
tion." Ever  since  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  began  to  break  into  the  advertis- 
ing limelight.  Mr.  Kuhn  has  been  identified  with  its 
advertising  activities.  I  le  has  assisted  in  applying  the 
power  of  advertising  to  such  organizations  as  the 
.Mutual  Film  Corporation,  the  American  Film  Com- 
pany, the  Indian  Film  Company,  the  Syndicate  Film 
Corporation,  the  North  American  Film  Corporation 
and  the  States  Film  Corporation. 

Some  of  the  advertising  copy  prepared  by  Mr. 
Kuhn  for  the  various  film  clients  of  the  Nichols-Finn 
Company  has  been  the  most,  forceful  and  striking  copy 
ever  presented  for  the  attention  i^\  the  readers  of  film 
publications.' 

Perhaps  no  advertising  man  in  America  has  made 
such  a  dee])  study  oi  the  film  industry  as  has  Mr.  Kuhn. 
!n  his  new  association  Mr.  Kuhn  will  handle  all  the 
advertising  for  George  Kleine's  new  motion  picture 
novel  l>\  Rupert  Hughes  in  which  Billie  Burke  and 
lleniw    Kolker  will  he  featured. 


Pathe  to  Film  "Big  Jim  Garrity" 
The  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  play,  "New  York,"  hav- 
ing been  finished,  George   Fi1   maurice,  the  producer. 

has  started  work  on  "Big  Jim  Garrity,"  another  A.  H. 
\\  oods  theatrical  production.    Roberl  Edeson  will  star 

in   this  picture. 


JANUARY   29,    1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Public  Blamed  for  Censorship 


BY  JOHN  R.  FREULER* 


EVERY     sane    American     is    or 
ought     to     be     unconditionally 
opposed   to   censorship   of   the 
motion  picture. 

No  law  of  censorship  existing 
or  proposed,  state  or  national,  can 
be  considered  anything  but  a  dan- 
gerous .and  serious  invasion  of  hu- 
man rights. 

There  are  many  reasons  why 
persons  concerned  in  or  identified 
with  the  motion  picture  industry 
should  be  opposed  to  censorship,  but 
there  are  certain  fundamental  rea- 
sons why  every  citizen  should  fight 
censorship,  whether  it  appears  as  a 
menace  to  our  free  press,  our  free 
speech  or  motion  pictures. 

In  the  routine  of  life  and  busi- 
ness we  are  too  much  inclined  to 
forget  the  painful  progress  by  which 
our  present  liberty  has  been  gained, 
the  price  that  has  been  paid  and  the 
value  of  the  now  commonplace  in- 
stitutions and  facts  of  this  liberty. 
This  condition  has  kept  the  great 
body  of  the  people  from  recognizing 
just  what  a  serious  menace  the  cen- 
sorship of  the  motion  picture  is. 

I  do  not  believe  that  this  nation    _ 
could  exist  today  without  the  news- 
papers and  the  institution  of  the  free  press,  or  its  prac- 
tical equivalent. 

The  motion  picture  is  a  part  of  that  institution. 

We  have  taken  the  hieroglyphics  from  Cleopatra's 
needle,  breathed  life  into  them  and  put  them  on  strips 
of  celluloid.  We  have  taken  the  words  and  pictures 
that  go  to  make  up  the  publications  of  ink  and  paper 
and  have  made  them  into  a  publication  printed  in  lights 
and  shadows  on  a  screen.  The  motion  picture  is  just 
the  newest,  latest,  most  effective  method  of  doing 
today  what  that  cave-man,  and  Gutenberg  and  all  those 
inventors  who  stand  along  the  path  between  the  ages 
of  ignorance  and  modern  enlightenment  were  doing. 
The  motion  picture  is  an  institution  of  publication,  and 
its  rights  are  fundamental. 

Nothing  but  indolent  neglect  on  the  part  of  the 
people  makes  any  censorship  of  the  picture  possible. 

It  is  my  sincere  belief  that  no  existing  laws  or 
ordinances  of  censorship  for  motion  pictures  are  con- 
stitutional. If  they  are  the  Constitution  ought  to  be 
revised.  Yet  even  now  the  annual  effort  toA  put  a 
national  censorship  law  through  our  national  legisla- 
ture is  under  way. 

The  motion  picture  industry  will  fight  censorship 
clear  through  to  the  last  line  of  trenches.  If  the  public 
could  be  awakened  to  the  significance  of  this  fight  it 
would  be  a  short  one. 

It  is  my  contention  that  the  enforcement  of  the 
existing  laws  is  more  than  ample  to  safeguard  the 
public  against  any  possible  abuses  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture's rights  of  publication. 

♦President,  Mutual  Film  Corporation. 


FREULER'S  JABS 
AT  CENSORSHIP 

Nothing  but  indolent  neglect  on 
the  part  of  the  people  makes  any 
censorship  of  the  motion  picture 
possible. 

No  existing  laws  or  ordinances 
of  censorship  for  motion  pictures 
are  constitutional. 

Newspapers  in  a  measure  have 
been  responsible  for  the  public  im- 
pression of  the  "terrible  influence 
of  the  motion  picture  on  the 
young." 

The  publishing  business  is  sub- 
mitted to  no  censorship  save  pub- 
lic taste. 

There  is  no  such  thing  as  intel- 
ligent censorship. 

There  can  be  no  such  thing  as 
honest,  fair  censorship. 

The  swift  rise  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  and  its  prosperity  has 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  par- 
asites on  the  payrolls  of  the  pol- 
i  t  i  c  i  a  n  s  controlling  appointive 
powers. 

Censorship  gives  soft  "inside 
jobs"  to  favored  policemen. 

Censorship  helps  to  keep  the 
minds  of  the  reformer,  the  agitator 
and  the  muck-raker  off  gambling 
crusades  and  franchise  investiga- 
tions which   embarrass  politicians. 


When  a  man  desires  to  publish 
a  pamphlet,  a  book,  a  tract,  a  news- 
paper or  a  handbill  he  is  not  under 
our  present  system  required  to  sub- 
mit his  copy  to  some  board  of  cen- 
sors or  judges  who  shall  determine 
whether  or  not  it  shall  be  permitted 
to  be  cast  into  type.  If  he  does, 
however,  publish  matter  that  is  ob- 
scene, immoral,  indecent,  treason- 
able, or  otherwise  dangerous  to  so- 
ciety he  can  be  punished  by  process 
of  law. 

To  that  condition  of  regulation, 
and  to  no  other,  will  the  motion  pic- 
ture submit. 

Present  day  attacks  on  the  mo- 
tion picture  and  the  existence  of  fac- 
tions, persons  and  forces  who  desire 
to  establish  and  uphold  censorship 
can  readily  be  explained  all  in  one 
phrase — the  element  of  newness. 

The  "reformer"  loves  a  shining 
mark. 

There  is  no  need  for  me  to  de- 
fine my  meaning  of  "reformer,"  for 
the  public  is  amply  aware  of  the  dif- 
ference between  those  persons  who 
are  sincerely  striving  for  the  public 
good  and  those  who  assume  the 
same  guise  for  the  purposes  of  per- 
sonal gratification,  publicity  or  private  gain. 

The  "reformer"  loves  the  new  like  he  loves  the 
calcium. 

Now  the  motion  picture,  being  new  and  popular, 
is  the  mark. 

"I  learned  it  at  the  movies"  is  the  new  rubber 
stamp  for  the  small-boy-gone-wrong  story.  It  makes 
a  headline  just  a  little  newer  than  the  timeworn  "dime 
novel"  angle. 

So  the  newspapers  have  been  in  a  degree  them- 
selves responsible  for  creating  this  public  impression 
of  the  "terrible  influence  of  the  motion  picture  on  the 
young." 

But  let  me  point  out  that  because  of  all  this  agi- 
tation and  this  decrying  of  the  "dime  novel"  for  ex- 
ample no  one  dared  seriously  to  seek  to  establish  a 
censorship  of  all  publication.  No  one  got  any  serious 
consideration  for  the  idea  that  everybody  who  printed 
novels  and  and  newspapers  and  magazines  and  books 
should  submit  them  to  a  board  of  censors. 
Why? 

Because  the  institution  of  a  free  press  had  been  so 
firmly  established. 

The  publishers  of  bad  books  have  been  discour- 
aged. 

The  publishers  of  immoral  books  have  been  pun- 
ished. 

But  the  publishing  business  is  subject  to  no  cen- 
sorship save  public  taste. 

The  present  widespread  agitation  for  censorship 
of  the  motion  picture  is  possible  only  because  the  true 


230 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


nature  of  the  motion  picture  as  a  form  of  publication 
has  not  been  recognized  intrinsically  by  the  public. 

Let  me  refer  back  to  the  "I  learned  it  at  the 
movies"  line  again.  Investigation  of  eighty-odd  such 
stories  in  the  press,  conducted  by  the  Motion  Picture 
Board  of  Trade  of  America,  revealed  the  fact  that  in 
only  one  isolated  instance  was  there  the  slightest  sug- 
gestion of  anything  to  support  the  allegation. 

It  is  true  that  there  are  motion  pictures  made 
and  "published"  on  the  screen  which  are  not  intended 
for  the  child  mind.  Also  the  shelves  of  our  public 
libraries  are  laden  with  books  not  calculated  for  the 
child  mind.  The  daily  newspapers  are  filled  often 
times  with  stories  not  fitted  for  the  child  mind. 

But  all  that  does  not  mean  that  these  books  and 
stories  do  not  serve  a  purpose,  that  their  publication 
should  be  censored  or  suppressed. 

The  persons  crying  for  picture  censorship  have 
made  their  loudest  appeal  in  behalf  of  the  child.  But 
they  have  not  sought  congress  for  a  censorship  of  the  . 
press.  It  is  assumed  that  parents,  guardians  and  others 
entrusted  with  children  can  select  for  their  young 
charges  the  books  and  papers  they  may  read. 

It  is  granted  that  matters  of  diet,  clothing,  educa- 
tion and  other  concerns  in  the  life  of  the  child  may 
be  left  to  those  who  rear  him — everything  but  the  mo- 
tion picture. 

Frankly  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  to  be  found 
anywhere  any  considerable  amount  of  disinterested 
sincerity  among  those  who  agitate  for  the  censorship 
of  the  motion  picture.  There  are  of  course  not  a  few 
persons  in  every  community  who  desire  to  regulate 
the  life  of  everybody  in  it,  who  yearn  to  tend  to  every- 
body's business,  who  must  be  fussing  about  something. 
Admitting  the  misguided  sincerity  of  these  few — are 
their  desires  for  millennial  perfection  to  be  permitted  to 
undermine  human  liberty? 

I  know  of  no  body  of  city  or  state  censors  now  op- 
erating under  existing  laws  which  has  not  been  em- 
broiled in  situations  which  have  raised  questions  over 
its  sincerity  of  purpose.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  in- 
telligent censorship,  there  can  be  no  such  thing  as 
honest,  fair  censorship. 

Investigation  of  the  origin  of  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  the  various  local  censor  boards  reveals  the  fact 
that  they  have  been  created  to  create  jobs.  The  swift 
rise  of  the  motion  picture  industry  and  its  prosperity 
has  attracted  the  attention  of  the  parasites  on  the 
payrolls  of  the  politicians  controlling  appointive  pow- 
ers. Censors  have  been  put  on  the  job  for  a  lot  of  rea- 
sons— because  they  needed  the  money,  because  they 
"stood  in."  because  they  were  busybodies  who  wanted 
a  title  and  nothing  to  do,  because  some  mayor  wanted 
to  "play  to  the  grandstand."  But  who  ever  heard  of 
a  censor  being  appointed  because  he  knew  something, 
or  because  he  was  supposed  to  be  especially  fitted  for 
his  work?  Censorship  gives  "soft  inside  jobs"  to 
favored  policemen.  Censorship  helps  to  keep  the 
minds  of  the  reformer,  the  agitator  and  the  muck- 
raker  off  gambling  crusades  and  franchise  investiga- 
tion- that  might  embarrass  administrations. 

Politicians  have  learned  to  fear  the  newspapers. 

Will  it  be  necessary  to  make  them  fear  the  mo- 
tion picture?  The  motion  picture  has  all  the  powers 
of  publication.  It  can  lampoon,  it  can  cartoon,  it  can 
editorialize  and  it  can  expose.  Necessity  may  increase 
its  powers. 

A  ju-t   fighl  will  give  the-  motion  picture  strength. 


H.  B.  Warner's  Triangle  Debut 

H.  B.  Warner  has  completed  his  first  play,  "The 
Raiders,"  for  Thomas  H.  Ince  and  is  nearing  the 
completion  of  the  second,  "The  Beggar  of  Cawnpore." 
In  this  second  play  he  has  to  wear  a  beard.  An  actor 
considers  his  face 
his  trade-mark  and 
he  wants  his  trade- 
mark to  be  easily 
identified.  However, 
Mr.  Warner  made 
no  kick.  "If  I  can't 
act  the  part  well 
enough  to  overcome 
so  small  a  handicap, 
I  don't  deserve  it  at 
all,"  he  said.  "All  I 
want  is  a  chance  to 
do  a  real  charac- 
terization. If  it's 
good,  AVarner  won't 
be  o  v  e  r  1  o  ok  e  d!" 
England  has  never 
sent  a  more  popular 
young  actor  to  this 
country  than  Henry 
B.  Warner.  As  the 
star  of  "Alias  Jimmy 
Valentine"  he  played 
a  whole  year  to  capacity  audiences  in  New  York  and 
to  equally  large  business  for  several  seasons  there- 
after on  the  road.  More  recently  he  was  the  star  of 
"The  Ghost-Breaker."  He  is  tall,  lithe,  good-looking, 
an  expert  horseman,  a  man  of  cultivation,  grace  and 
modesty.  "The  Beggar  of  Cawnpore"  will  afford  him 
special  opportunities,  for  he  has  relatives  in  the  East 
Indian  army,  has  traveled  extensively  there,  and  the 
India  of  Tagore  and  Kipling  is  as  familiar  to  him  as 
London,  New  York  or  Los  Angeles.  Here  is  how 
Mr.  Warner  regards  the  relationship  of  the  legitimate 
and  the  pictures : 

"The  actor  comes  nearer  to  creation  in  the  present- 
day  photoplay  than  he  does  in  stage  parts.  An  acting 
stage  company  devotes  itself  to  expressing  as  exactly 
as  possible  a  well-considered  plan  of  the  dramatist, 
but  the  photoplay  is  generally  a  free  collaboration  of 
dramatist,  director  and  player.  The  actor  thus  wins 
a  stimulating  and  valuable  experience  in  each  picture 
that  is  far  beyond  what  the  run  of  stage  work  is.  He 
is  really  creating  to  an  extent  that  has  never  before 
been  allowed  him." 


New  Film  Exchange  Running  Nicely 

The  New  Film  Corporation,  with  offices  at  207 
South  Wabash  avenue,  Chicago,  though  only  in  opera- 
tion a  few  days,  finds  itself  already  taking  care  of 
many  customers.  Manager  John  E.  Wills  announces 
that  Milton  Simon  is  now  the  traveling  representative 
nt"  the  Chicago  branch,  and  C.  L.  Levy  the  city  solic- 
itor. The  offices  are  now  completely  furnished  and 
decorated  and  a  stock  of  some  fifty  feature  produc- 
tions, together  with  thirty-two  single  reel  comedies. 
is  now  available.  Exhibitors  of  Chicago  and  vicinity 
are  proving  their  friendship  and  loyalty  for  Manager 
Willis  by  coming  in  voluntarily  in  large  numbers  to 
talk  over  service,  prices,  etc.  ending  by  booking  many 
of  the  offerings. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Producers  Forgive  Los  Angeles 


BOOST  CITY  WITH  LABEL 


THE  war  is  over. 
Los  Angeles  and  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try are  at  peace  and  have  promised  not  to  fight 
any  more. 

And  as  a  result  of  the  forgiving  spirit  of  the  pro- 
ducers, Los  Angeles  is  in  a  way  of  becoming  the  most 
known  city  in  the  world.  For  the  picture  makers 
have  promised  as  a  peace  offering  a  label — "Made  in 
Los  Angeles" — on  films  born  in  and  around  the  stu- 
dios that  have  made  the  southern  California  city  rich 
even  beyond  the  dreams  of  the  early  gold  seekers. 

"Made  in  Los  Angeles"  will  be  put  on  films  where- 
ever  it  can  be  done  without  harm  to  the  presentation 
of  the  subject. 

All  this  was  the  result  of  the  peace  meeting  early 
this  month.  Lawmakers,  picture  makers,  business 
makers,  trouble  makers  and  plain  citizens  gathered  at 
the  instance  of  Mayor  Sebas- 
tian. 

And  the  Motion  Picture 
Conservation  Association  was 
born.  The  producers  will  stay 
in  Los  Angeles.  But  they  will 
have  better  working  condi- 
tions and  more  friendly  rela- 
tions with  the  powers  that  be 
and  want  to  be. 

The  recent  attacks  on  the 
morality  of  photoplayers 
brought  the  feud  of  long 
standing  to  a  crisis.  Charges 
that  directors  are  disrespect- 
ful to  women  were  made  by 
pastors,  reformers  and  certain 
political  pawns.  The  motion 
picture  men  resented  this  slur 
on  the  industry.  Then  came 
further  charges  of  general  im- 
morality at  the  studios. 

Other  cities  rushed  offers  to  the  producers  to  move 
from  the  city  in  which  they  did  not  seem  to  be  appre- 
ciated. Some  of  the  manufacturers  considered  ac- 
cepting' the  opportunity  to  go  elsewhere. 
Matters  were  becoming  serious. 
The  reformers  had  left  the  safe  open.  The  city's 
finances  were  in  danger.  A  million  and  a  half  dollars 
a  month  is  considerable  money  to  leave  around  loose 
for  other  cities  to  help  themselves  to. 

The  business  men  were  getting  nervous.  There 
was  some  fast  figuring.  A  meeting  was  called  and 
attended  by  representatives  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, the  Merchants  and  Manufacturers  Association, 
the  Motion  Picture  Producers'  Association  and  some 
of  those  who  had  been  responsible  for  the  clash.  The 
gathering  was  arranged  to  allow  the  film  men  an  op- 
portunity to  tell  their  side  of  it.  Mayor  Sebastian 
presided.  The  producers  were  represented  by  David 
W.  Griffith,  David  Horsley  and  Jesse  L.  Lasky.  It 
was  up  to  Mr.  Horsley  to  do  most  of  the  talking,  al- 
though Messrs.  Griffith  and  Lasky  in  short  speeches 
indorsed  everything  their  associate  had  said,  which, 
in  the  essentials,  follows : 

"The  object  of  this  meeting  tonight  is  to  discuss 


David    W.    Griffith. 


the  advantages  Los  Angeles  can  derive  from  the  ad- 
vertising that  the  motion  picture  producers  can  give 
the  city  by  placing  on  their  pictures  the  words.  'Made 
in  Los  Angeles.' 

"No  doubt,  a  great  deal  of  advertising  can  be 
obtained  in  this  manner  and  there  is  no  doubt  that 
it  would  be  beneficial  to  your  city,  and  it  has  the 
further  advantage  of  not  costing  the  producer  anything 
to  give  this  advertising,  and  it  will  not  cost  the  city 
anything,  as  the  producers  are  willing  to  do  this  with- 
out charge,  except  where  it  would  destroy  the  illusion 
of  the  picture,  which  we  strive  so  hard  to  create,  taking 
as  an  example  a  picture  representing  a  story  of  the 
Canadian  Northwest,  or  a  picture  of  life  or  episodes 
transpiring  in  the  heart  of  Africa.  But  on  ninety-nine 
per  cent  of  the  pictures  produced  it  would  make  no 
difference  to  say  that  they  were  produced  in  Los 
Angeles. 

"There  is  only  one  thing  that  the  motion  picture 
producers  ask  in  return  of  the  city  of  Los  Angeles 
—that  is  fair  play.  We  are  not  receiving  fair  play 
today  and  unless  the  city  is  willing  to  grant  us  fair 
play  they  have  no  right  to  ask  us  for  free  advertising. 
The  time  has  come  to  tell  the  citizens  of  Los  Angeles 
the  truth  about  themselves  and  to  call  their  attention 
to  some  facts  regarding  California's  greatest  industry. 

"Motion  picture  producers  are  attracted  to  Cali- 
fornia by  the  sunshine  and  the  favorable  weather  con- 
ditions, but  the  citizens  of  Los  Angeles  should  un-  . 
derstand  that  they  have  no  monopoly  on  sunshine  and 
that  the  sun  shines  as  brightly  in  San  Jose,  Santa  Cruz, 
Santa  Barbara,  Santa  Paula,  San  Diego  and  San  Ber- 
nardino, and  that  pictures  can  be  made  just  as  readily 
and  more  cheaply  in  any  of 
those  cities  than  they  can  be 
made  in  Los  Angeles  today, 
and  every  one  of  the  places 
named  are  anxious  to  have 
the  industry  in  their  midst, 
and  most  of  these  places  now  I 
have  companies  operating  in  a 
small  way  and  they  realize 
and  appreciate  the  benefits  to 
be  derived  from  the  motion 
picture  business  with  fairness 
and  have  even  gone  so  far  as 
to  offer  to  build  studios  from  | 
our  own  plans  and  specifica- 
tions, at  their  expense  and  to  I 
reimburse  us  for  every  dollar 
on  plant  and  equipment  that 
we  would  have  to  abandon  by  1? 

mOVJng.  David  Horsley. 

"They  guarantee  us  that 
their  newspapers  will  not  make  unwarranted  attacks 
on  us  and  that  due  processes  of  law  will  be  ob- 
served and  followed  and  that  should  there  be  amongst 
our  people  any  violators  of  the  law  they  would  be 
proceeded  against  according  to  law  and  indictment 
would  be  filed  by  their  grand  jury  and  that  their  courts 
would  mete  out  suitable  punishment  to  the  individuals 
and  that  the  entire  industry  would  not  be  indicted  in 
their  newspapers  in  the  manner  in  which  the  motion 


232 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


picture  industry  lias  been  indicted  by  the  Los  Angeles 
newspapers;  that  their  work  would  not  be  interfered 
with  by  petty  police  regulations;  that  we  would  not  be 
compelled  to  waste  the  time  of  our  people  running 
to  all  kinds  of  official  bureaus  to  get  permits  of  any 
and  all  kinds ;  that  building  departments  would  not 
be  used  as  the  means  of  prosecution  and  that  we  would 
be  permitted  to  follow  our  vocation  free  from  petty 
regulations;  that  they  will  not  encourage  nor  permit 
the  establishment  of  censor  boards  at  the  insistance 
of  busy-bodies  afflicted  with  the  meddler's  itch,  and 
that  they  will  accept  the 
judgment  of  the  National 
Board  of  Censorship,  which 
has  up  to  the  present  time 
rendered  very  good  service 
and  is  almost  universally  rec- 
ognized throughout  the  Unit- 
ed States  as  being  a  sufficient 
safeguard  for  the  public  mor- 
'  ^  in  matters  of  motion  pic- 
tures. 

"While  we  do  not  claim 
that  all  pictures  made  are  per- 
fect, Ave  do  claim  that  more 
than  ninety-nine  per  cent  of 
the  pictures  shown  in  the 
United  States  are  fit  to  be 
seen  by  anybody,  young  or 
old,  and  that  the  chemical 
trace  of  one  per  cent  of  the 
pictures  that  might  be  deemed 
obectionable  by  certain  ultra-good  members  of  society 
can  be  taken  care  of  by  the  ordinary,  common  law  of 
the  city,  and  it  is  a  remedy  at  most  for  the  showing 
of  improper  pictures,  if  there  is  such  a  thing. 

"We  do  not  claim  that  everybody  in  our  employ 
is  perfect,  but  we  do  claim  that  the  people  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  business  measure  up  to  a  high  standard  of 
both  intelligence  and  morality,  and  we  do  object  to 
the  methods  of  the  man  who  would  burn  down  a  city 
because  he  has  discovered  some  rats.  What  we  ask  is 
that  the  officers  of  the  law  go  after  the  rats  and  not 
tear  down  about  our  ears  our  studios  that  have  cost 
us  years  of  work  and  a  mint  of  money  to  bring  to 
their  present  state.  The  city  of  Los  Angeles  should 
not  be  guilty  of  pointing  the  finger  of  scorn  at  its 
chief  industry,  but  should  point  with  pride  to  the  one 
industry  in  their  midst  that  brings  in  the  million  and 
a  half  dollars  per  month  and  takes  nothing  away. 

"Have  you  ever  stopped  to  think  that  this  is  the 
one  industry  in  California  that  does  not  deplete  your 
natural  resources?  In  the  year  1915  the  whole  produc- 
tion of  California  was  twenty-three  million,  five  thou- 
sand and  eight  hundred  dollars.  This  was  natural 
wealth  that  was  in  the  ground  of  California  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  year,  but  at  the  end  of  the  year  it  had 
been  taken  out  of  the  ground  and  taken  out  of  the 
state,  less  the  small  amount  of  operating  cost  paid  to 
miners,  etc.  While  the  motion  picture  industry  brought 
into  the  state  over  fifteen  million  dollars  in  cash,  in 
1915,  and  took  nothing  out  of  the  state  except  some 
strips  of  celluloid  made  in  Rochester,  New  York,  and 
sent  here  to  be  exposed  through  our  camera  to  the 
California  sunshine,  and  which  would  not  decrease  the 
visible  supply  of  sunshine. 

"It  is  the  motion  picture  industry  which  has  kept 
ngeles    from    Feeling   the   effects   of  the   Euro- 
pean war,  because  il  has  Keen  pouring  money  by  the 


millions  into  the  hands  of  your  citizens  and  taking 
nothing  away  in  return.  Other  cities  of  California  want 
these  millions  and  other  states  want  them.  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico  can  demonstrate  an  even  greater 
number  of  days  of  sunshine  per  year  than  Los  Angeles. 

"WTe  have  no  desire  to  move.  We  ask  no  favors 
and  we  pay  cash.  We  ask  for  our  rights  as  citizens. 
We  ask  for  courteous  treatment,  in  return  for  which 
we  give  you  obedience  to  your  laws  and  a  respect  for 
the  rights  of  your  other  citizens.  We  ask  that  your 
newspapers  tell  the  truth  about  our  people.  We  don't 
wish  anything  covered  up,  but  we  do  object  to  being 
accused,  or  our  directors  being  accused,  of  making  im- 
proper proposals  to  every  woman  who  applies  for  a 
position,  that  we  do  not  need  or  that  we  cannot  use. 
We  are  at  the  present  time  employing  and  furnishing 
a  living  to  over  fifteen  thousand  of  the  residents  of 
Los  Angeles,  and  we  have  many  applications  from 
people  for  positions  in  pictures  that  are  not  suited  to 
our  needs,  and  because  we  refuse  to  employ  them  we 
should  not  be  accused  of  refusing  them  because  they 
declined  to  enter  into  improper  relations. 

"There  is  not  an  industry  in  anywhere  in  the  Unit- 
ed States,  or  in  the  world  for  that  matter,  that  pays 
salaries  to  compare  with  those  paid  in  our  industry. 
There  are  a  number  of  individuals  in  Los  Angeles  to- 
day to  whom  we  are  paying  salaries  greater  than  that 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  there  are 
hundreds  to  whom  we  are  paying  salaries  bigger  than 
those  of  the  presidents  of  your  national  banks.  We  do 
not  employ  cheap  labor — we  cannot  use  it  to  any  ex- 
tent— but  we  do  employ  gladly,  and  pay  well,  people 
with  brains,  and  the  Lord  help  our  business  if  it  was 
built  up  on  and  depended  for  its  success  on  the  'movie 
stars'  that  the  newspapers  put  on  us  every  time  there 
is  a  raid  on  a  disorderly  house,  or  fracas  in  the  streets, 
an  automobile  accident  or  a  divorce  case.  They  seem 
to  take  a  special  delight  in  calling  every  disorderly 
person  in  town  a  'movie  star'  and  playing  it  up  on  the 
front  page  so  it  is  sure  to  be  copied  by  all  of  their 
exchanges  throughout  the  country,  who  are  ever  on 
the  alert  for  sensational  news. 

"We  ask  no  bonuses,  Ave  ask  for  nothing  as  an 
inducement  to  stay.  All  Ave  ask  is  for  our  rights  as 
human  beings  and  citizens  of  the  United  States  and 
fair  play." 

These  thoughts  Avere  put  in  other  Avords  by  Mr. 
Griffith  and  Mr.  Lasky  and  then  an  organization  was 
formed  to  work  Avith  the  producers  for  the  benefit  of 
the  city  and  the  film  manufacturers  as  Avell.  Officers 
Avere  named  as  follows : 

W.  A.  Mines,  president  of  the  Los  Angeles  Realty 
Board,  president;  Arthur  W.  Kinney,  industrial  com- 
missioner of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  secretary ;  Dr. 
A.  J.  Scott,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Brainerd  and  Mrs.  R.  W.  Rich- 
ards, Aace-presidents. 

The  members  of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers' 
Association  are  Thos.  Ince,  NeAv  York  Motion  Picture 
Co.;  Mack  Sennett.  Keystone  Film  Co.;  David  W. 
Griffith,  Fine  Arts  Flm  Co. ;  Frank  E.  Woods,  Majes- 
tic;  H.  M.  Horkheimer,  Balboa;  Thos.  Parsons,  Selig; 
Frank  E.  Garbutt,  Morosco ;  Winfield  R.  Sheehan, 
Fox ;  Jesse  L.  Lasky.  Lasky  Co. ;  H.  O.  Davis,  Uni- 
versal;    Pathe    Lehrmann,    L-Ko;    and    David    Horsley. 

Mr.  Horsley  the  following  day  represented  the 
producers  at  the  Realty  Board  luncheon.  He  backed 
up  his  remarks  of  the  evening  before  by  specifically 
naming  instances  of  unfair  treatment. 

He    told    of    renting    furniture    for    a    picture    and 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


233 


being  charged  a  rental  fee  on  a  $120  valuation  while 
the  furniture  was  really  worth  not  more  than  $40.  He 
declared  that  merchants  bribed  employes  to  O.  K.  bills 
for  exorbitant  charges. 

He  explained  that  the  newspapers  attributed  every 
raid  on  a  disorderly  house,  a  fracas  in  the  streets,  an 
automobile  accident  or  a  salacious  divorce  case,  to  the 
motion  picture  industry;  that  they  always  made  the 
principals  involved  appear  to  be  connected  with  the 
industry  in  some  manner  or  form,  and  that  his  com- 
plaints to  the  papers  against  this  injustice  were  ig- 
nored. 

He  protested  against  the  city  refusing  to  permit 
the  use  of  the  city  thoroughfares,  parks,  etc.,  for  pic- 
tures, without  official  sanction,  which  could  not  be  ob- 
tained without  the  loss  of  a  great  deal  of  time  through 
red  tape. 


HOPPER  CHATS  OF  FILM  WORK 

Elongated  Triangle  Player  Relates  Many  Humorous 

Incidents  That  Befell  Him  While  "Don 

Quixote"  Was  Being  Filmed 

De  Wolf  Hopper,  the  star  who  has  signed  a  con- 
tract for  one  year  to  appear  in  Triangle  Fine  Arts 
productions,  was  recently  asked  by  a  Motography 
representative  to  relate  some  of  the  experiences  he 
encountered  during 
the  filming  of  his 
first  screen  play, 
"Don  Quixote."  The 
following  is  Hop- 
per's reply :  "In  the 
make-up  and  cos- 
tume of  Don  Quixote, 
which  consisted 
principally  of  about 
two  hundred  pounds 
of  armor  and  the 
most  cadaverous  ap- 
pearance I  could 
possibly  invent,  I 
made  my  first  at- 
tempt to  mount  that 
world-famous  horse 
of  Cervante's  called 
'Rozinante.'  The  at- 
tempt to  get  on  the 
back  of  that  razor- 
back  charger  was 
the  physical  effort  of 
my  life.  Feeling  my  more  or  less  pronounced  weight, 
he  first  went  down  on  his  front  knees  and  then  his 
back  legs  wobbled.  When  righted,  he  insisted  on 
backing  through  the  scene  instead  of  advancing. 
Finally  we  got  him  to  work  and  he  became  the  dear 
old  pet  of  the  whole  company.  Dear  old  'Rozinante,' 
he  has  been  pensioned  by  the  company  and  myself  and 
is  now  a  gentleman  of  leisure. 

"While  filming  scenes  in  Santa  Barbara,  the  loca- 
tion of  beautiful  Spanish  homes,  I  would  make  up  at 
the  hotel  and  then  leave  in  a  motor  for  the  various 
locations.  On  one  morning  I  had  put  on  the  grotesque 
make-up  of  the  eccentric  Spaniard  and  in  waiting  for 
my  call,  returned  to  bed  to  read  the  morning  paper. 
Unaccustomed  to  early  rising,  I  gradually  fell  into  a 
sweet   slumber.     The  chamber  maid   suddenly  enter- 


DeWolf  Hopper 


ing  my  room  had  one  glimpse  of  my  skull-like  phiz. 
She  mistook  me  for  a  corpse  and  her  shrieks  awakened 
me — as  they  might  have  the  real  dead. 

"Another  day,  while  in  the  hotel  elevator,  again 
as  the  emaciated  knight,  a  timid  old  lady  entered  the 
elevator  at  the  next  floor.  She  caught  sight  of  me  and 
made  the  chambermaid's  shrieking  sound  like  a  violin 
with  the  mute  on.  A  physician  was  summoned  and 
he  and  smelling  salts  brought  her  to,  and  I  paid  the 
bill  for  both. 

"One  day  after  being  'shot'  twice  for  two  minutes 
at  a  time,  I  sat  down  to  eat  the  provided  lunch,  which 
was  milk  and  pie.  Along  came  the  conventional  type 
of  literary  student,  tortoise  shells,  and  a  flowing  tie, 
and  after  begging  my  pardon  for  the  interruption,  I, 
with  my  face  in  said  pie,  was  informed  by  the  student 
that  Cervante  would  wriggle  in  his  grave  if  he  could 
see  his  Quixote  munching  modern  pie  and  sterilized 
milk.  This  incident  was  completed  with  my  being 
mistaken  for  an  insane  person  at  large,  for  whose  re- 
covery a  reward  was  offered. 

"The  principal  upset  to  an  actor  coming  from  the 
theater  to  filmland,  consists  in  taking  the  various 
scenes  away  out  of  their  regular  order.  This  is  due  to 
the  various  changes  of  location,  so  of  course  when  in 
Santa  Barbara  we  had  to  take  only  the  scenes  that 
would  fit  that  particular  locality.  The  most  extra- 
ordinary fact  to  me  was  that  I  was  called  upon  to  die 
six  weeks  before  I  encountered  the  windmill  and  all 
sorts  of  adventurous  stunts  that  followed  that  incident. 
The  fatal  bullet  that  killed  me  was  shot  from  the 
arquebus  eight  days  before  it  hit  me.  And  then,  too, 
so  many  people  watching  you  when  you  are  doing 
work  at  locations  is  particularly  trying.  The  scene  in 
'Quixote'  where  I  am  indulging  in  an  apostrophe  to  the 
universe  was  taken  at  the  top  of  a  picturesque  moun- 
tain at  Riverside.  There  were  many  visitors  on  said 
mountain.  To  get  rid  of  them  I  quietly  asked  the 
director  if  it  were  from  that  rock,  about  one  hundred 
yards  distant,  that  I  leaped,  and  if  he  had  the  net 
fixed  and  how  great  the  leap  was.  With  face  un- 
changing he  assured  me  the  leap  was  only  one  thou- 
sand feet  and  that  he  was  then  going  down  to  superin- 
tend the  placing  of  said  net.  The  instantaneous  dis- 
appearance of  that  crowd  to  watch  the  fatal  plunge 
made  it  easy  for  us  to  take  the  shot  without  their  pres- 
ence." 

Having  unfolded  his  troubles  De  Wolf  Hopper 
returned  to  his  scene. 


Famous  to  Have  Three  Film  Offerings 

There  will  be  two  original  scripts  and  one  adapted 
play  released  by  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company 
on  the  Paramount  program  during  the  month  of 
February.  They  are  "Out  of  the  Drifts,"  and  "Nearly 
a  King,"  starring  Marguerite  Clark  and  John  Barry- 
more  respectively,  and  "Diplomacy,"  starring  Marie 
Doro. 

The  fact  that  the  original  stories  are  in  the 
majority  on  this  schedule  further  bears  out  the  recent 
contention  of  Adolph  Zukor,  president  of  the  com- 
pany, that,  though  his  organization  at  first  devoted 
itself  to  the  presentation  of  celebrated  stars  in  adapta- 
tions of  great  plays,  he  is  not  prejudiced  against  the 
original  story  as  a  source  of  motion  picture  material. 
As  he  has  formerly  declared,  he  takes  the  position 
that  the  source  of  a  story  is  entirely  secondary  to  the 
question  of  its  screen  value. 


234 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


"Nearly  a  King,"  which  is  being  produced  under 
the  direction  of  Frederick  Thompson,  was  originally 
intended  for  release  in  January,  but  was  postponed 
in  order  to  give  the  director  ample  time  in  which  to 
obtain  the  best  possible  results.  It  was  felt  by  the 
officials  of  the  company  that  it  was  preferable  to 
forego  the  release  in  January  rather  than  in  any  way 
to  hurry  the  production  and  run  the  risk  of  impair- 
ing its  effectiveness.  "Nearly  a  King"  will  be  re- 
leased February  10. 

"Out  of  the  Drifts,"  which  is  scheduled  for  Feb- 
ruary 24,  is  a  thrillingly  dramatic  tale  of  the  Swiss 
Alps  in  which  Miss  Clark  plays  a  shepherdess  whose 
lack  of  sophistication,  though  it  brings  her  to  the 
brink  of  disaster,  ultimately  proves  her  salvation.  It 
is  a  story  of  the  great  out-of-doors  with  the  thrill  of 
the  avalanche  and  perils  of  the  dizzy  Alpine  heights. 
J.  Searle  Dawley  is  the  director. 

The  third  production,  "Diplomacy,"  is  an  adapta- 
tion of  the  famous  Sardou  play  in  which  Marie  Doro 
has  already  scored  a  great  personal  success  on  the 
stage.  As  its  name  suggests,  it  is  a  story  of  in- 
ternational scope  involving  the  stealing  of  the  war 
plans  of  one  of  the  great  nations  by  the  spies  of  an- 
other. Circumstances  point  to  the  bride  of  the 
diplomat  from  whom  they  have  been  stolen  as  the 
only  possible  culprit,  and  the  innocent  girl  is  sub- 
jected to  a  grueling  cross-examination  by  her  own 
husband,  who  believes  in  her  guilt.  "Diplomacy," 
which  was  said  by  newspaper  critics  to  be  one  of 
the  best  plots  presented  on  the  stage  in  recent  years, 
is  to  be  released  February  28. 


BIG  THANHOUSER  EXODUS 

Three    Full    Companies    Leave    New    Rochelle    for 

Florida  Studio,  Where  Big  Productions  Are 
Planned  for  Next  Few  Months 

Last  week  witnessed  an  exodus  at  the  Than- 
houser  studios,  New  Rochelle.  The  big  new  home  in 
Jacksonville  was  pronounced  finished  and  three,  full 
companies  were  shipped  off.  The  directors  in  charge 
are  George  Foster  Piatt,  W.  Eugene  Moore  and  Wil- 
liam A.  Howell.  These  companies  include  fifty-five 
people,  which  makes  the  Thanhouser  initial  delega- 
tion the  largest  that  ever  descended  on  Jacksonville — 
and  more  are  to  go. 

Mr.  Moore  has  in  his  company  for  immediate  pur- 
poses Barbara  Gilroy  and  Harris  Gordon,  who  are  to 
be  starred  in  "The  Oval  Diamond,"  the  mystery  play 
adapted  from  David  S.  Foster's  book  of  that  name. 
It  is  planned  that  Gordon  play  in  this,  one  of  the 
greatest  parts  that  has  ever  fallen  to  the  gift  of  an 
actor.  In  the  cast  are  William  Burt,  Sully  Garde, 
Arthur  Rauer,  Violet  Hite,  W.  Ray  Johnston  and  Inda 
Palmer. 

Mr.  Howell  heads  the  Falstaff  comedy  southern 
company,  and  Riley  Chamberlin  will  be  his  chief 
comedian.  Louise  Emerald  Hates,  the  blonde  beauty, 
will  play  the  female  leads,  and  Mr.  Howell  also  took 
with  him  Walter  Iliers,  the  fat  knockabout  with  the 
moon  face.  Boyd  Marshall,  the  popular  juvenile,  will 
be  seen  in  comedy  straights, 

The  journey  of  the  I  Matt  contingent  is  also  in 
the  nature  of  a  special  trip.  Mr.  Piatt  is  now  work- 
ing on  "What  Doris  Did,"  a  forthcoming  Master-Pic- 
ture, featuring  Doris  Grey,  who  won  national  fame  by 


winning  a  motion  picture  career,  in  a  Boston  beauty 
contest.  He  finished  his  scenes  in  and  around  New 
York  just  in  time  to  be  among  the  first  companies  to- 
go  south,  where  he  will  do  the  major  portioa  of  the 
work.  Florence  La  Badie,  who  is  sponsor  for  Doris, 
will  be  seen  in  this  picture,  as  also  will  a  galaxy  of 
stars  from  other  film  companies,  including  Cissy  Fitz- 
gerald, Edward  Earl  and  Hal  Forde.  It  is  to  be  a 
five-reel  production,  for  which  the  Florida  contingent 
includes  Bert  Delaney  and  Morgan  Jones. 

A  feature  of  the  Thanhouser  migration  is  that 
the  acting  force  includes  a  number  of  experienced 
supernumeraries.  Contrary  to  the  general  practice  of 
depending  on  local  talent  to  save  expense,  Mr.  Than- 
houser sets  a  precedent  by  transporting  his  "supers" 
also.  He  has  always  been  careful  about  super  work 
in  pictures  and  would  rather  pay  transportation  and 
its  incidental  increase  of  expense,  than  hazard  the  use 
of  novices. 

The  Thanhouser  players  will  be  housed  in  a  beau- 
tiful studio  which  has  been  put  up  at  an  expense  of 
$30,000.  It  is  a  permanent  edifice  with  one  of  the 
largest  glass  roofs  ever  constructed.  George  Grimmer 
is  in  charge. 


Fairbanks  Goes  Back  to  California 

Douglas  Fairbanks,  one  of  the  most  recent  and 
successful  recruits  from  the  legitimate  to  the  motion 
picture  drama  openly  confesses  that  the  "come-hither" 
of  out-of-doors  California  makes  a  greater  appeal  to 
him  than  any 
amount  of  gay 
Broadway.  It  is  for- 
tunate for  the  star 
that  he  does  feel  this 
way  about  it,  be- 
cause on  January  22 
he  is  booked  through 
to  California  for  a 
prolonged  engage- 
ment at  the  Triangle 
studios  in  the  west. 
This  is  Mr.  Fair- 
banks' second  trip  to 
the  coast  as  a  mov- 
ing picture  actor,  but 
he  already  feels  very 
much  at  home  in  the 
actor  colony  near 
Los  Angeles,  where 
he  has  almost  as 
many  friends  as  in 
his  Favorite  haunts 
on  Broadway.  He 
enjoys  the  active  out-of-door  life  which  California  af- 
fords and  is  planning  this  trip  to  settle  down  to  home- 
building  as  a  welcome  variation  to  hotel  living.  There 
i-  a  good  sized  garden  at  the  new  homestead,  and 
"Doug"  is  getting  ready  to  turn  farmer,  and  is  conse- 
quently deep  in  the  study  of  hardy  perennials  and 
other  gardening  interests  already.  Mr.  Fairbanks  has 
been  busy  in  the  eastern  studio  for  the  past  six  months 
and  has  just  completed  two  new  pictures  which  are  to 
he  shown  in  New  York  within  the  next  few  weeks. 
One  of  these,  "His  Picture  in  the  Paper-."  is  billed  as 
a  coming  attraction  al  the  Triangle  theater  shortly 
after  its  re-opening. 


alrbaiiks. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Stage  Stars  Must  Prove  Their  Worth 


BY  WILLIAM  W.  HODKINSON 


WITH  the  informal- 
ity that  distin- 
guishes the  inhabi- 
t  a  n  t  s  of  our  western 
states,  citizens  of  the  Cali- 
fornia motion  picture  col- 
ony call  the  screen  organi- 
zation at  which  they  meet, 
""The  Scream  Club,"  prob- 
ably because  they  must  be 
dumb  all  day  and  want  a 
chance  to  make  up  when 
they  are  free.  Gathered 
around  a  table  recently 
were  several  of  the  photo- 
play's leading  lights,  act- 
ors, writers  and  directors.  | 
Discussion  as  to  the  many  j 
stars  of  the  legitimate  stage 
who  have  crowded  into  the   '- 


Editor's  Note:  William  W.  Hodkinson  is  president 
of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  to  whose  pro- 
gram the  Famous  Players  Film  Company,  Lasky  Fea- 
ture Play  Company,  Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Com- 
pany, and  Pallas  Pictures  contribute  photoplays  of  the 
better  class,  in  which  Mary  Pickford,  Marguerite  Clark, 
Geraldine  Farrar,  Blanche  Sweet,  Anna  Held,  Myrtle 
Stedman,  Dustin  Farnum  and  many  other  stars  appear 
exclusively  on  the  screen. 

His  career  is  an  interesting  example  of  what  hon- 
esty, sincerity  of  purpose  and  untiring  energy  can  ac- 
complish. Several  times  in  his  eventful  life  he  has 
risked  everything  for  an  ideal — and  won. 

Starting  as  a  telegraph  operator,  as  Carnegie  and 
many  of  our  railroad  presidents  and  financiers  have 
done,  he  has  steadily  risen  till  he  now  occupies  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  fifth  largest  industry.  Many  of  the 
highest  principles,  generally  adopted  of  late  in  the  new 
business,  have  been  given  to  it  by  his  brain  and  imagina- 
tion, and  he  is  considered  a  great  thinker.  Particularly 
has  the  system  by  which  he  gauges  the  public's  taste, 
and  about  which  he  writes  in  this  article,  caused  wide 
comment. 


new  field  was  rife,  and  the  general  opinion  seemed  to 
be  that  the  chief  effect  of  this  invasion  of  the  studio 
by  the  player  of  the  legitimate  theater  was  to  bring 
into  the  motion  picture  house  a  new  class  of  patronage, 
finally  persuaded  to  take  the  new  art  seriously,  by 
such  names  as  Marguerite  Clark,  Pauline  Frederick 
and  Geraldine  Farrar. 

"But  the  American  people  are  beginning  to  move 
to  Missouri,  as  far  as  the  big  names  go,"  said  Cecil  B. 
DeMille,  who,  as  director  general  of  the  Lasky  Fea- 
ture Play  Company,  produced  the  version  of  "Carmen" 
that  is  considered  the  standard  of  comparison. 
"They're  beginning  to  walk  into  the  theater  and  say 
'Show  me.'  If  the  stars  show  'em,  alright.  If  not, 
they'd  better  quit." 

It  is  true  that  many  of  the  big  stars  of  the  stage 
have  "fallen  down"  terribly  in  motion  pictures,  though 
in  some  instances  the  companies  which  pay  them  un- 
reasonable salaries  have  not  yet  fully  realized  it,  be- 
cause they  are  unable  to  keep  an  effectual  check  on 
the  player's  work.  The  time  is  fast  coming  when  big 
theatrical  figures  will  have  to  prove  themselves,  or  be 
eliminated. 

Realizing  that  the  secret  of  success  lies  in  know- 
ing what  the  people  want,  both  as  to  stars  and  photo- 
plays, we  have  set  out  to  feel  the  public's  pulse,  and 
we  are  doing  it  every  clay.  In  order  to  understand  this, 
it  might  be  well  to  look  back  upon  recent  important 
happenings  that  have  had  their  effect  wherever  films 
are  shown. 

The  signing  of  the  twenty-five  year  hundred  mil- 
lion dollar  contract  between  the  Paramount  Corpora- 
tion and  four  producing  companies,  deserves  mention, 
since  it  represents  in  advances  and  guarantees,  the 
largest  sum  of  money  ever  paid  in  the  history  of  the 
motion  picture  business. 

What  does  that  contract  mean?  Let  vis  look  back 
and  ascertain  the  true  aim  of  the  company,  from  which 
it  has  not  swerved  since  its  formation  nearly  two  years 
ago. 

The  fundamental  truths  upon  which  Paramount 
is  builded  are  that  the  whole  is  greater  than  any  part 


thereof  —  that  the  word 
"Paramount"  means  "su- 
preme," and  that  therefore 
Paramount  pictures  mean 
the  best  pictures,  no  mat- 
ter by  whom  they  are  pro- 
duced. 

Last  year  the  Para- 
mount program  was  made 
up  of  the  films  produced  by 
the  Famous  Players  Film 
Company,  Lasky  Feature 
Play  Company,  and  Bos- 
worth,  Inc.,  together  with 
a  number  of  others,  gath- 
ered from  the  best  that  the 
open  market  afforded.  By 
means  of  the  report  card 
system,  which  we  origi- 
nated and  which  since  has 
been  rather  generally  adopted,  we  proved  to  ourselves 
and  to  those  who  had  made  these  latter  pictures,  that 
except  in  a  very  few  instances,  they  were  not  up  to  the 
standard  set  by  our  own  producers.  We  therefore 
temporarily  "closed"  the  program,  filling  up  the  space 
with  pictures  from  Famous  Players,  Lasky  and  Bos- 
worth  (Morosco  and  Pallas). 

Our  slogan  has  always  been  "better  pictures  for 
better  people."  In  order  that  our  companies  might  be 
enabled  to  make  better  pictures  to  meet  the  conditions 
imposed  by  the  new  contract,  we  lent  them  every  as- 
sistance. 

In  return  they  agreed  that  a  policy  similar  to  that 
which  has  been  responsible  for  the  success  of  the 
Ladies'  Home  Journal  should  be  applied  to  the  mo- 
tion picture  business.  As  this  magazine  is  edited  by 
its  readers,  the  Paramount  Program  should  be  edited 
by  its  patrons. 

This  is  the  condition  that  applies  today.  Into 
the  hands  of  the  Paramount  exhibitor,  we  put  the 
greatest  force  for  good  that  has  ever  been  given  to 
the  theater  owner.  By  making  use  of  it,  he  can  abso- 
lutely dictate  the  kind  of  film  that  we  give  him.  He 
can  raise  the  standard  of  motion  picture  production  to 
a  height  he  never  had  dreamed  possible,  because  our 
producers  are  pledged  to  abide  by  his  decision. 

Let  me  illustrate :  When  John  Smith  plays  a 
Paramount  picture,  he  received  with  it  a  blank,  worded 
as  follows : 

PARAMOUNT 
Excellent  Medium 

Good  Poor 

Fair  Inferior 

The  answers  which  the  exhibitor  gives  are  in  re- 
ply to  the  questions  based  upon  the  picture's  reception 
by  the  audience  and  local  conditions  at  the  time  it  was 
played  at  his  theater.  The  adjectives  have  a  numeri- 
cal value,  and  when  reports  are  gathered  from  every- 
where throughout  the  country,  our  statistical  depart- 
ment is  able  to  arrive  at  the  percentage  Avhich  the 
picture  attains,  figured  to  the  finest  decimal,  resulting 
from  the  opinion,  not  of  the  exhibitor  and  his  audi- 


236 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


ence,  but  of  all  the  exhibitors  operating  under  differ- 
ent conditions.  The  great  law  of  average  is  brought 
into  play,  and  there  is  no  refuting  the  result. 

Now  should  a  producer's  picture  fall  below  a  cer- 
tain average,  that  is  90  per  cent  means  "good,"  his  out- 
put is  curtailed  and  if  he  is  still  unable  to  raise  his 
standard  when  concentrating  on  fewer  pictures,  he  is 
again  reduced,  and  finally  he  is  automatically  elim- 
inated from  the  program.  We  hear  of  the  consistency 
of  the  Paramount  program.  It  is  this  that  makes  it 
consistent. 

We  mean  what  we  say.  As  sure  as  fate,  if  the 
people  of  this  country  consider  certain  pictures  to  be 
below  the  Paramount  standard,  they  can  eliminate 
such  pictures  as  a  class  from  the  program.  If  they 
consider  the  production  of  any  company  to  be  below 
the  standard,  they  can  penalize  this  producer,  and  if 
the  producer  cannot  give  them  pictures  that  are  satis- 
factory, they  can  remove  that  company  from  the  program. 

These  conditions  are,  of  course,  thoroughly  real- 
ized by  all  of  the  Paramount  affiliations.  They  feel 
that  Paramount  stands  for  the  best;  but  while  it  is 
impossible  to  make  a  program  perfect  in  a  month,  be- 
cause Paramount  is  built  on  fundamentals,  it  will  give 
them  a  program  as  nearly  perfect  as  human  beings, 
aided  by  the  laws  of  nature  can  make  it,  in  the  shortest 
possible  time,  no  matter  by  whom  the  pictures  which 
compose  it  are  made. 

It  is  coming  to  be  understood,  that  to  produce 
good  pictures,  takes  money.  Bringing  more  people 
into  the  theaters  to  see  good  pictures,  makes  more 
money  for  the  exhibitor.  He,  in  turn,  can  pay  more 
for  his  service,  the  distributing  company  can  pay  the 
producer  more  for  its  pictures,  and  therefore  better 
pictures  will  result.    It  is  an  endless  chain. 

Among  the  important  developments  of  the  past 
year  is  the  addition  of  the  short  reels  to  the  pictures 
obtainable  through  Paramount.  South  American 
travel  pictures  have  proved  popular  in  most  locali- 
ties. We  have  just  announced  that  Burton  Holmes, 
the  most  famous  lecturer  on  travel  in  the  world,  who 
has  probably  the  most  remarkable  collection  of  mo- 
tion pictures  of  foreign  countries  ever  made,  has  joined 
us.  J.  R.  Bray,  the  most  celebrated  of  animated  car- 
toonists and  creator  of  "Colonel  Heeza  Liar,"  will  pro- 
duce solely  for  Paramount.  Raymond  L.  Ditmars,  the 
widely  known  expert  on  animals  and  curator  of  the 
greatest  zoo  in  the  world,  will  throw  open  the  vast 
resources  of  his  studio  and  laboratory  to  us. 

Paramount  News  Pictures,  the  first  topical  weekly 
to  be  edited  as  a  magazine,  has  taken  its  place  among 
our  releases  and  through  it  will  be  brought  to  the 
thinking  classes  which  demand  quality,  the  thoughts 
of  the  greatest  modern  minds,  such  as  Roger  W.  Bab- 
son,  John  A.  Sleicher  and  other  contemporary  men  of 
letters  and  national  repute. 

All  this  will  strengthen  the  regard  in  which  the 
mountain  trademark  of  Paramounl  is  held.  That 
trademark  is  made  known  to  millions  of  people  through 
the  largest  advertising  campaign  ever  launched  in  this 
business;  a  campaign  which  we  hope  to  increase  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  then  increase  again. 

Vs  for  the  Future!  It  will  bring  better  and  better 
pictures.  Such  of  ours  as  "Carmen"  and  "The  Prince 
and  the  Pauper"  have  made  manj  new  Friends  For  the 
photoplay,  and  the  standard  will"  have  to  he  main- 
tained. 

The  days  of  the  nickelodeon  films  are  passed,  but 
strange  to  say  it  will  take  some  lime  to  elimin 


five-cent  show.  Why?  Because  a  great  deal  more 
money  is  being  put  into  the  production  of  pictures  to- 
day than  can  ever  be  taken  out.  This  statement  is 
based  upon  statistics,  not  guess  work.  When  many 
companies  look  around  and  find  out  the  truth,  they 
will  endeavor  to  squeeze  something  out  of  their  films 
and  will  rent  them  for  practically  nothing. 

Competition  between  those  exhibitors  who  have 
not  foreseen  what  is  coming  and  tied  fast  to  the  estab- 
lished program  which  gives  them  what  they  want  in 
its  very  formation,  will  force  admission  prices  down  to 
the  level  made  possible  by  the  reduction  in  service 
cost. 

A  cheaper  element  of  patronage  will  be  attracted 
by  the  cheaper  admission  rate.  The  better  people  will 
fall  away,  and  the  business  will  again  be  on  the  foot- 
ing from  which  it  had  been  struggling.  This  is  what 
we  are  fighting.    Let  us  all  realize  it. 

Better  pictures  are  wanted  by  the  worth-while 
exhibitors,  and  all  of  the  public.  We  are  feeling  the 
public's  pulse  and  we  know.  We  will  continue  to  give 
the  public  what  it  wants.  WThen  a  patron  of  a  Para- 
mount theater  expresses  his  opinion  freely  to  the  mana- 
ger as  our  slide  asked  him  to,  it  will  have  a  direct  re- 
sult in  the  productions  to  be  seen  under  the  Paramount 
trademark.     He  is  an  associate  editor  of  our  program. 


Henri  Bergman's  Notable  Career 

Henri  Bergman,  the  dramatic  character  actor,  who 
recently  completed  the  difficult  role  of  the  jealous  hus- 
band in  "The  House  of  Tears,"  the  Metro  play  in 
which  Emily  Stevens  is  starred,  occupies  a  field  all  his 
own  both  on  the 
speaking  stage  and 
on  the  screen.  He  is 
a  master  delineator 
of  strong  dramatic 
roles,  and  few  can 
compare  with  him  in 
the  invaluable  art  of 
pantomime.  Mr. 
Bergman  has  had  a 
long  and  varied  ca- 
reer on  both  the 
stage  and  screen. 
He  has  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  excellent 
training  with  a  ma- 
jority of  the  fore- 
most stars  of  today. 
He  has  appeared  as 
leading  man  in  many 
notable  Broadway 
productions,  playing 
with  Henrietta  Cros- 
man,  Viola  Allen. 
Nat  Goodwin,  Stuart  Robson.  William  11.  Crane,  and 
other  prominent  artists.  He  created  the  leading  heavy 
roles  in  such  stage  productions  as  "The  Price  of 
Peace,"  "The  Prodigal  Son.-'  "The  Daughter  of  Heav- 
en," "Panthea,"  "The  Henrietta."  "The  Senator,"  and 
other  successes.  Since  joining  the  Rolfe  forces,  who 
produce  exclusively  for  the  Metro  program,  Mr.  Berg- 
man has  been  seen  in  "The  Right  of  Way"  and  "<  me 
Million  Dollars/'  with  William  Faversham,  "An  En- 
em}  to  Society."  with  Hamilton  Revelle  and  Lois 
Meredith,  and  in  his  last  feature  with  Miss  Stevens, 
lie  will  appear  again  shortly  in  an  early  Metro  release. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


237 


MOROSCO  SIGNS  BROADHURST 


Famous  International  Playwright  Arranges  to  Present 
All  of  His  Successes  Through  Medium  of  Pic- 
tures and  Will  Write  Still  Others. 
The  Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Company  has  just 
closed  a  contract  with  George  Broadhurst,  the  famous 
international  playwright,  for  all  of  his  plays  and  for 
all  of  his  future  output  extending  over  a  term  of  years. 
This  is  said  to  be  the 
largest  contract 
made  with  any 
author  since  the 
commencement  of 
the  motion  picture 
industry.  Among  the 
plays  to  which  'the 
Oliver  Morosco 
Photoplay  Company 
has  acquired  the  mo- 
tion picture  rights 
are  the  following : 
"The  American 
Lord,"  "The  Wrong 
Mr.  Right,"  "Why 
Smith  Left  Home," 
"The  Speculator," 
"A  Fool  and  His 
Money,"  "An  Inter- 
national Marriage," 
"The  Crown  Prince," 
"The  Law  of  the 
Land,"  "The  Cap- 
tain," "The  Easterner,"  "What  Money  Can't  Buy," 
"Don't  Weaken,"  "A  Man  and  His  Wife,"  "A  Lucky 
Dog."  Included  in  the  Morosco-Broadhurst  deal  also 
are  the  following  plays  by  T.  W.  Broadhurst :  "Jus- 
tice," "The  Plains- 
man," "The  Holy 
City,"  and  "Winning 
Him  Back."  Mr. 
Broadhurst  will 
supervise  the  sce- 
narios of  all  these 
plays,  which  will  in- 
sure the  production 
on  the  screen  of  all 
dramatic  values 
which  have  made 
them  famous 
throughout  the 
world.  An  arrange- 
ment has  also  been 
made  whereby  Mr. 
Broadhurst  will  be 
closely  associated 
with  the  Oliver  Mo- 
rosco Photoplay 
Company    in    future 

and  Will  be  in  a  posi-  George  Broadhurst. 

tion  to  give  this  com- 
pany the  benefit  of  his  knowledge,  experience  and  skill 
in  the  development  of  these  plays  upon  the  screen  and 
the  selection  of  proper  artists  for  their  portrayal.  Mr. 
Broadhurst  is  perhaps  the  foremost  dramatist  in  Amer- 
ica and  his  association  with  this  organization  proves 
conclusively  the  advance  that  motion  pictures  are 
making  in  the  development  of  the  silent  drama.    Mr. 


Broadhurst  being  a  comparatively  young  man,  the 
author  of  such  plays  as  "Bought  and  Paid  For/'  "The 
Man  of  the  Hour,"  etc.,  it  is  felt  that  he  should  m  the 
next  four  or  five  years  be  able  to  give  to  the  motion 
picture  art  some  of  the  most  important  original  plays 
ever  seen  on  the  screeen.  In  a  wire  received  from  the 
Oliver  Morosco  studios  is  included  some  information 
as  to  the  tremendous  royalties  Mr.  Broadhurst  is 
already  receiving  from  his  works  and  the  tremendous 
figure  at  which  his  services  were  obtained.  The  wire 
reads  in  part :  "As  illustrating  the  importance  of  this 
acquisition,  we  would  inform  you  that  Mr.  Broad- 
hurst's  royalties  amount  to  more  than  $150,000  per 
year  and  that  several  companies  were  bidding  very 
high  for  his  association  with  them.  The  check  which 
passed  to  Mr.  Broadhurst  was  undoubtedly  the  largest 
check  ever  passed  to  any  author  for  his  services." 

The  importance  of  this  affiliation  between  Mr. 
Broadhurst  and  the  Morosco  organization,  which  re- 
leases its  product  through  the  Paramount  program, 
can  hardly  be  overestimated  in  its  far-reaching  effect 
upon  the  motion  picture  industry.  Some  are  of  the 
opinion  that  no  more  marked  evidence  of  the  develop- 
ment of  the  business  has  ever  been  given  than  the 
association  with  a  photoplay  company  of  this  writer, 
whose  previous  efforts  have  been  devoted  practically 
exclusively  to  the  speaking  stage.  It  is  understood 
that  Mr.  Broadhurst  begins  his  services  with  the  Mo- 
rosco Company  at  once,  although  the  announcement 
has  yet  to  be  made  as  to  which  of  the  plays  will  be  the 
first  to  be  filmed. 


Metro's  Notable  Petrova  Offerings 

Popular  Plays  and  Players'  productions  for  the 
Metro  program  promise  to  set  a  new  high  record  dur- 
ing 1916,  according  to  an  announcement  made  this 
week  at  the  Metro  offices  in  the  Longacre  building, 
1476  Broadway.  Three  elaborate  five-part  features 
have  already  been  prepared  for  Mme.  Petrova,  Metro's 
famous  emotional  star,  while  Edmund  Breese,  whose 
first  Metro  production  of  the  New  Year,  "The  Lure 
of  Heart's  Desire,"  a  highly  dramatic  story  with  its 
locale  divided  between  the  sparkling  lights  of  Broad- 
way and  the  desolate  Alaskan  wastes,  was  released  on 
the  Metro  program  January  17,  is  shortly  to  be  at  work 
upon  another  important  feature  picture,  as  yet  un- 
named, under  the  direction  of  Francis  J.  Grandon. 

Mme.  Petrova  who  has  now  given  up  her  stage 
engagements  altogether,  to  devote  herself  exclusively 
to  the  production  of  distinctive  photoplays  for  Metro, 
under  the  direction  of  Popular  Plays  and  Players,  has 
already  begun  work  on  her  first  picture.  It  is  called 
"The  Soul  Market,"  and  presents  an  intensely  dramatic 
story  built  around  society  and  the  stage  which  will 
call  for  the  highest  display  of  Mme.  Petrova's  notable 
emotional  powers.  This  feature,  with  Mme.  Petrova 
and  a  strong  supporting  cast,  is  now  being  made  in 
the  studio  at  228  West  Thirty-fifth  street,  New  York 
City,  which  was  recently  taken  over  by  the  Popular 
Plays  and  Players  to  produce  Metro  features. 

"The  Soul  Market,"  is  an  original  story,  written 
especially  for  Mme.  Petrova  by  Aaron  Hoffman,  the 
well  known  author  and  playwright.  The  central 
character,  that  of  a  prima  donna,  which  is  essayed  by 
Mme.  Petrova,  is  somewhat  different  from  the 
vampire  roles  she  has  had  in  the  past.  It  is  believed 
that  it  will  give  her  far  greater  scope  for  her  distinc- 
tive dramatic  gifts  than  any  vehicle  in  which  she  has 


238 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


yet  appeared  on  the  screen,  and  it  is  certain  to  put  her 
versatility  in  character  portrayal  to  a  supreme  test. 
The  atmosphere  of  the  theater  will  predominate 
throughout  the  production,  and  the  stage,  boxes,  dress- 
ing rooms  and  corridors  of  a  well  known  Broadway 
theater  will  be  utilized  to  make  many  of  the  scenes. 

The  entire  Ziegfeld  company  of  girl  dancers  and 
entertainers,  world  famous  for  their  beauty,  will  be 
seen  in  this  production.  There  will  also  be  a  sen- 
sational automobile  accident,  when  two  cars  will  be 
seen  in  collision  before  one  is  sent,  with  its  pas- 
sengers, over  a  high  cliff.  Besides  glimpses  of  life 
behind  the  scenes,  written  by  a  man  who  is  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  that  life,  there  will  also  be  shown 
an  interesting  phase  of  New  York  society,  the  kind 
that  mingles  with  the  stage  folk,  such  as  may  be  seen 
nightly  along  the  Great  White  Way  in  the  restaurants 
and  cabarets. 

Following  "The  Soul  Market,"  Mme.  Petrova  will 
immediately  begin  work  on  another  five-part  screen 
production  for  Metro;  "The  Scarlet  Woman."  Next 
she  will  be  seen  in  "Playing  With  Fire."  All  three 
of  these  features  were  written  by  Aaron  Hoffman 
especially  for  Mme.  Petrova.  In  fact,  he  has  writ- 
ten nearly  all  of  her  vehicles  since  she  went  into  pic- 
tures. Mr.  Hoffman  was  one  of  the  foremost  writers 
of  musical  comedies  and  vaudeville  plays  in  the  coun- 
try before  he  began  to  devote  himself  to  the  silent 
drama.  He  wrote  most  of  Rogers  Brothers  musical 
comedies,  also  such  productions  as  "Tom,  Dick  and 
Harry,"  for  Watson,  Bickle  &  Roth,  and  all  the  Yorke 
and  Adams'  productions.  For  more  than  fifteen  years 
Mr.  Hoffman  has  written  monologues  for  Lew  Dock- 
stader,  Bobby  North,  Cliff  Gordon,  and  other  head- 
liners.  He  now  has  sixteen  playlets  running  in  vaude- 
ville. And  incidentally,  Mr.  Hoffman  is  vice-president 
of  the  Popular  Plays  and  Players. 


Selig  Topical  Praised  by  Many 

The  Selig-Tribune  is  continuing  to  cause  film- 
land to  sit  up  and  take  notice.  The  posters,  the 
methods  of  presenting  the  news  features  of  the  day, 
the  film  captions  printed  in  three  languages,  English, 


Sehg-Tributte    pictures   are    displayed   at    Keystone    theater   in    Chicago. 

German  and  Italian,  and  many  other  innovations  have 
been  received  with  favor  both  by  motion  picture  ex- 
hibitors and  the  public.  Up-to-the-second  news  pic- 
tures  from   the   European  battlefields  are   more   than 


appreciated,  judging  from  the  letters  received.  There 
are  arriving  daily  at  the  Chicago  offices  of  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company  telegrams  and  letters  from  all 
parts  of  the  country  which  sound  the  praises  of  the 
Selig-Tribune. 

Mabel  Taliaferro  Ready  for  Work 

Mabel  Taliaferro,  the  popular  young  actress  who 
recently  signed  a  contract  to  appear  exclusively  in 
Metro  pictures,  completed  her  national  tour  in  "The 
New  Henrietta,"  in  New  Orleans,  and  is  on  her  way 
to  New  York,  where 
she  will  begin  work 
immediately  upon 
her  first  feature  pic- 
ture under  her  con- 
tract with  Metro.  In 
"Her  Right  to  Hap- 
piness," Miss  Talia- 
ferro's starring  vehi- 
cle, Metro  has  one  of 
the  strongest  stories 
it  has  yet  offered  on 
its  distinctive  pro- 
g  r  a  m.  The  first 
scenes  are  laid  in  the 
Latin  Quarter,  in 
New  Orleans,  dur- 
ing the  Mardi  Gras. 
A  young  girl,  who 
has  been  cared  for 
and  encouraged  to 
write  by  three  young 
artists,  is  despond- 
ent over  her  failure 
to  sell  any  of  her  manuscripts.  One  of  the  trio  takes 
pity  upon  her  in  her  dark  hour,  and  proposes  marriage. 
She  refuses  him,  declaring  she  has  been  a  failure,  and 
that  she  would  hamper  him  in  his  efforts  for  success. 
The  young  man  advises  her  to  give  one  of  her  stories 
a  new  twist,  saying  he  is  sure  she  can  then  market  it. 
She  agrees  to  try,  and  the  three  leave  for  a  party. 
They  leave  a  note  for  a  wealthy  sculptor,  who  was  to 
join  them,  and  who  is  late  in  arriving  at  their  studio. 
They  tell  him  where  he  can  find  them.  The  sculptor 
arrives  just  as  the  girl  starts  to  commit  suicide.  The 
sculptor  prevents  this  rash  act,  and  sits  down  to  hear 
the  girl's  story.  She  tells  him  that  she  was  a  found- 
ling, and  was  adopted  as  a  child  by  a  well-to-do  family. 
They  became  very  much  attached  to  her,  and  she 
would  have  continued  living  with  them,  but  their 
daughter,  returning  home  from  a  finishing  school,  be- 
comes displeased  with  the  girl  in  her  home,  and  insists 
on  having  her  turned  adrift.  The  girl  is  found  in  the 
streets  by  the  artists,  who  practically  adopt  her.  The 
sculptor  tells  the  girl  she  is  too  young  to  give  up, 
and  makes  a  business  proposal  to  her.  He  agrees  to 
give  her  $50,000  to  use  as  she  pleases,  in  her  efforts 
for  success,  providing  she  will  insure  her  life  for  that 
amount  in  his  favor.  He  tells  her  that,  if  at  the  end 
of  a  year,  she  is  still  satisfied  she  cannot  succeed  in  life, 
then  she  can  destroy  herself,  and  neither  will  be  the 
loser.  She  agrees.  The  rest  of  the  story,  which  it 
would  be  a  shame  to  spoil  by  telling,  is  equally  inter- 
esting. 

Miss  Taliaferro  will  have  a  strong  supporting 
cast  in  'Tier  Right  to  Happiness."  Edwin  Carewe, 
who  directed  Emily  Stevens  in  "The  House  of  Tears," 


/  Taliaferr 


January  29,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


239 


and  "Destiny,  or  The  Soul  of  a  Woman,"  will  direct  the 
Taliaferro  feature.  It  will  be  produced  for  Metro  by 
Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc. 


ENGAGES  SPECIAL  CAST 


David    Horsley    Presents    Margaret    Gibson    in    "The 

Soul's  Cycle,"  and  Employs  Several  Players 

of  Note  to  Aid  Her 

Margaret  Gibson,  recently  elevated  to  stardom  by 
David  Horsley,  will  make  her  debut  as  a  featured 
player  in  a  five-reel  production  called  "The  Soul's 
•Cycle,"  which  is  to  be  released  February  12  as  a 
Mutual  Master-Picture,  de  luxe  edition.  The  finishing 
touches  are  now  being  put  on  the  production  at  Mr. 
Horsley's  studio  in  Los  Angeles. 

It  is  expected  that  this  release  will  excite  a  great 
deal  more  than  passing  interest,  partly  because  of 
Miss  Gibson's  appearance,  but  mainly  by  reason  of  the 
-subject  of  the  picture. 

In  theme  it  is  unique.  It  treats  with  the  ancient 
philosophy  that  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul  many 
-cycles  must  be  re-lived  to  round  out  its  perfection,  and 
when  one  defines  the  divine  law  he  must  go  back  to 
first  principles,  and  even  into  the  animal  form,  to  work 
up  again  to  his  former  estate. 

In  the  treatment  of  this  theme  Theodosia  Harris, 
who  is  the  author  of  the  story,  has  evolved  a  spec- 
tacular photoplay.  The  first  half  of  it  is  laid  in  ancient 
Greece,  where  events  so  transpire  in  following  the 
theme  that  a  new  sphere  of  action  is  created.  The 
scene  then  switches  to  the  present  time. 

To  support  Margaret  Gibson,  David  Horsley  has 
•especially  engaged  practically  an  entire  cast  for  "The 
Soul's  Cycle." 

The  leading  female  role  falls  to  Miss  Gibson,  of 
•course,  and  the  male  lead  to  John  Oaker,  a  regular 
member  of  one  of  Mr.  Horsley's  stock  companies. 
•Outside  of  this  pair  Roy  Watson  is  the  only  other 
permanent  member  of  Mr.  Horsley's  stock  company 
who  appears  in  this  production.  The  most  prominent 
•of  these  especially  engaged  are  George  C.  Stanley  and 


George  Clare,  Jr.,  each  being  cast  for  big  character 
parts. 

George  C.  Stanley  is  an  actor  of  twenty  years  ex- 
perience on  the  dramatic  stage,  and  of  seven  years 
service  in  motion  pictures.  He  was  born  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  he  made  his  stage  debut  late  in  the 
eighties  with  the  Mack-Leon  company.  Later  he  was 
in  stock  at  the  Alcazar  theater  in  the  same  city.  Then 
followed  a  number  of  engagements  with  big  road  at- 
tractions. His  first  engagement  in  motion  pictures 
was  with  Pathe  seven  years  ago.  Two  years  after 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Vitagraph  playing  force, 
remaining  with  them  until  engaged  by  Mr.  Horsley. 

George  Clare,  Jr.,  like  Mr.  Stanley,  has  seen  twenty 
years  experience  on  the  speaking  stage,  but  has  never 
appeared  in  motion  pictures  before.  For  a  long  time 
he  was  associated  with  prominent  stock  companies  in 
the  east  and  also  played  in  New  York  successes  in 
the  metropolis  and  on  tour.  He  spent  the  last  season 
in  vaudeville  touring  the  western  vaudeville  time  in  a 
sketch  called  "The  Dream  Girl." 


Dorothy  Gish  in  New  England  Drama 

Dorothy  Gish,  charming  in  "Old  Heidelberg,"  and 
wistfully  appealing  as  the  bandit's  daughter  in  "Jordan 
Is  a  Hard  Road,"  will  soon  be  presented  by  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation  as  the  heroine  of  a  New 
England  romance — not  the  airy  flighty  kind,  but  of 
the  quaint,  semi-poetical  realism  that  characterizes  the 
Wilkins  and  Wiggin  novels.  Miss  Gish  in  the  play 
is  a  caretaker's  daughter  wandering  in  and  about  Gray- 
stone  Gables,  the  summer  home  of  a  young  New  York 
dilettante  and  dabbler  in  art.  Her  home  life  is  par- 
ticularly hard  after  the  death  of  her  amiable  father, 
for  the  mother  re-weds  and  the  step-father  and  his 
two  grown-up  sons  are  of  the  brutal  type.  The  later 
scenes  of  the  play  show  Betty  Lockwood,  the  heroine, 
transferred  to  New  York,  and  getting  an  insight  into 
the  life  of  artists  and  models.  The  pretty  story  ends 
happily  in  the  marriage  of  Betty  and  the  owner  of 
Graystone  Gables,  ending  with  Betty's  reconciliation 
to  her  mother. 

Allan   Dwan    staged    the    play   at    Riverdale    and 


'         1v 

111 

240 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No 


Fort  Lee  and  on  up-state  and  Connecticut  locations.  It 
is  rather  remarkable — but  not  unduly  remarkable  to 
careful  students  of  the  progress  of  pictorial  drama — 
that  "Betty  of  Graystone"  is  mOre  strongly  cast  than 
almost  any  "legitimate"  play  on  Broadway  this  season. 
For  example,  George  Fawcett,  himself  a  star,  appears 
in  the  role  of  Betty's  step-father.  Owen  Moore  is  the 
hero.  Grace  Rankin,  Macey  Harlam,  Eugene 
Ormonde,  Leonore  Harris,  Kate  Bruce  and  Albert 
Tavernier  are  seen  in  various  of  the  other  roles.  Even 
the  illustrious  Kid  McCoy,  who  gained  his  first  fame 
by  battering  the  human  countenance  and  later  added 
much  to  the  gaiety  of  the  nation  as  a  cafe  proprietor 
and  vaudeville  comedian,  is  congenially  cast  in  the 
role   of   Betty's   pugnacious   step-brother. 


Thomas  Holding,  who  has  appeared  with  Miss 
Frederick  in  many  of  her  most  recent  productions, 
and  Frank  Losee,  who  was  last  seen  in  Denman 
Thompson's  famous  role  of  Josh  Whitcomb,  in  "'The 
Old  Homestead." 


Vignola  Joins  Famous  Players 

Closely  following  the  news  that  John  O'Brien 
and  Frederick  Thompson  had  joined  the  directorial 
forces  of  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company,  there 
comes  the  announcement  that  Robert  G.  Vignola,  for 
seven  years  director 
with  the  K  a  1  e  m 
Company,  has  been 
engaged  by  the  first- 
named  organization 
in  a  similar  capacity. 
Mr.  Vignola  is  one 
of  the  best  known 
figures  in  filmdom, 
having  traveled  in 
Ireland,  Scotland, 
England,  France, 
Italy,  Algiers, 
Egypt,  and  the  Holy 
Land  during  the 
seven  years  in  which 
he  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  busi- 
ness. Among  his 
most  notable  produc- 
tions of  recent  date 
and  those  which  are 
most  readily  called 
to  mind,  are  "Don 
Caesar  De  Bazan,"  "The  Barefoot  Boy,"  "The  Haunt- 
ing Fear,"  "The  Maker  of  Dreams,"  "The  Dance  of 
Death,"  and  "The  Vampire."  It  is  a  peculiar  coinci- 
dence that  Mr.  Vignola  owes  his  entry  into  the  mo- 
tion picture  field  to  another  Famous  Players  director, 
Sidney  Olcott,  who  engaged  him  to  play  his  first 
silent  role — an  Italian  character  part.  Into  the  in- 
terpretation of  this  role,  Mr.  Vignola  put  the  natural 
powers  of  national  feeling — for  he  is  an  Italian — and 
the  experience  of  eight  years  on  the  stage. 

So  successful  was  this  debut  that  Mr.  Olcott  later 
engaged  him  to  play  Judas  in  "From  the  Manger  to 
the  Cross,"  the  first  five-reel  film  produced  in  this 
country,  and  he  became  the  first  actor  who  was  placed 
upon  a  permanent  salary  by  Kalem.  Mr.  Vignola 
treasures  among  his  most  valuable  possessions  a 
hand  ome  loving  cup  which  was  presented  to  him  by 
the  players  who  had  been  under  his  direction  at  the 
time  of  his  leaving  the  Kalem  Company  to  join 
Famous.  The  new  director's  first  production  under  the 
new  banner  will  be  "The  Spider,"  in  which  Pauline 
Frederick  is  starred.  It  is  the  Paramount  release  for 
January    27.      In   support    of   the    star   there   appear 


Arthur  Johnson  Dead 

The  film  world  was  surprised  on  Monday,  Janu- 
ary 17,  to  learn  that  Arthur  V.  Johnson,  popular  Lubin 
director  and  leading  man,  had  passed  away  early  that 
morning  at  his  home  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Johnson  has 
long  been  an  idol  of 
the  photoplay  fans 
the  country  over  and 
before  doing  picture 
work  was  famous  on 
the  legitimate  stage, 
where  he  appeared 
in  support  of  such 
stars  as  Marie  Wain- 
wright  and  Robert 
B.  Mantell.  Mr. 
Johnson  had  not 
been  in  the  best  of 
health  for  many 
months,  and  not 
long  ago  was  com- 
pelled to  temporar- 
ily forego  work  and 
visit  a  sanitarium. 
Later  he  seemed  to 
recover  and  it  was 
hoped  that  he  would 
soon  be  back  at 
work.  He  was  39 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death  and  is  survived  by 
a  wife  and  one  daughter.  Arthur  Vaughn  Johnson  was 
born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1876,  of  parents  in  no  way 
connected  with  the  theatrical  profession.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  a  military  school  in  Davenport.  Iowa,  and  as 
"Tybalt"  in  "Romeo  and  Juliet,"  made  his  first  stage 
appearance  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  remained  on 
the  stage  for  fourteen  years,  playing  many  parts  and 
laying-  the  foundation  of  that  sound  technique  that  was 
to  serve  him  so  well  later  on.  During  a  summer  lull  in 
his  stage  activities  some  years  ago,  Mr.  Johnson  ac- 
cepted an  offer  made  by  the  Biograph  Company  and 
soon  became  an  established  photoplay  favorite.  From 
the  Biograph  he  went  to  Reliance,  and  during  recent 
years  has  been  steadily  identified  with  the  Lubin  Com- 
pany, for  whom  he  not  only  played  leading  roles,  but 
also  directed  a  number  of  big  productions.  His  death 
will  be  mourned  by  thousands  of  friends  all  over  the 
world  and  Motooraphy  joins  with  a  host  of  others  in 
expressing  its  sympathy  to  the  bereaved  family,  and 
the  company  with  which  Mr.  Johnson  has  so  long  been 
associated. 


Gaumont  Prepares  to  Build  at  Flushing 

The  day  following  the  completion  of  the  final 
Casino  Star  comedy,  "Ham  and  Eggs."  at  the  Flush- 
ing, N.  Y.,  studio,  Gaumont  workmen  began  clearing 
away  properties  and  studio  paraphernalia  preparatory 
to  demolishing  the  various  buildings  which  will  give 
way  to  the  handsome  modern  structures  which  will 
be  erected  before  the  return  of  the  Mutual  Master- 
Picture  companies  in  the  spring  from  Jacksonville. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Metro  Films  Now  Encircle  Globe 

NEW  CONTRACTS  CLOSED 


METRO  pictures  now  encircle  the  globe.  The  com- 
pleting link  in  the  world  wide  chain  which 
makes  Metro,  after  less  than  a  year  of  existence, 
a  big  factor  in  motion  picture  affairs  in  every  corner 
of  the  civilized  globe,  is  Australia  and  New  Zealand, 
contracts  for  which  were  entered  into  early  this  week 
at  a  price  which  film  men  had  asserted  it  was  impos- 
sible to  secure  for  that  territory. 

The  tremendous  vogue  which  Metro  pictures  have 
attained  in  this  country  during  the  past  year  has  been 
duplicated  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent,  and 
their  great  success  there  proved  the  determining  price 
factor  for  the  Antipodean  market.  Agents  for  the  Aus- 
tralian and  New  Zealand  concerns  studied  the  British 
and  European  markets  for  some  time,  balancing  the 
relative  merits  of  the  various  American  feature  pic- 
tures, and  then  upon  the  report  of  his  representatives, 
B.  T.  Howells,  of  Vogel  &  Howells,  of  Sidney,  New 
South  Wales,  came  to  New  York  to  open  negotiations 
with  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation  for  the  exclusive 
rights  to  the  Australian  market  for  Metro  produc- 
tions. These  arrangements  were  concluded  last  week 
and  the  new  contracts  were  signed  by  President  Rich- 

BERESFORD  JOINS  MIRROR 

Producer  With  Long  Stage  and  Motion  Picture  Ex- 
perience Severs  Connection  With  Universal  to 
Become  Technical  Director  of  Mirror 

Frank  S.  Beresford  has  joined  the  forces  of  Mirror 
Films,  Inc.,  as  technical  director  after  a  long  service 
with  the  Universal  Company  as  technical  director  in 
charge  of  three  plants  in  the  east.  Mr.  Beresford  be- 
comes a  part  of  the  Mirror's  machinery  for  the  produc- 
tion of  pictures  after  years  of  experience  in  the  mount- 
ing and  staging  of  theatrical  as  well  as  film  efforts. 
He  first  began  work  in  pictures  with  the  Kalem  Com- 
pany for  which  he  managed  the  production  of  the  big 
spectacle,  "Wolfe,  or  the  Conquest  of  Quebec,"  a  fea- 
ture in  which  800  soldiers  were  employed  for  two 
weeks.  His  real  introduction  into  the  business  was 
the  writing  of  the  scenario  for  the  Quebec  film  which 
he  did  in  record  time.  A  long  stage  experience  be- 
ginning with  parts  in  Belasco  and  Frohman  produc- 
tions has  been  the  portion  of  Mr.  Beresford.  He  staged 
the  Fritzi  Scheff  musical  comedies  for  Charles  B. 
Dillingham  for  four  years  and  later  put  on  vaudeville 
acts  for  Jesse  Lasky  and  other  variety  producers. 
Many  of  the  sketches  he  wrote  himself.  Seven  suc- 
cessful pieces  put  on  by  Ned  Weyburn  were  done  with 
Mr.  Beresford's  assistance.  "The  Midnight  Sons," 
was  staged  by  him.  Mort  Singer,  the  Chicago  pro- 
ducer, had  Beresford  put  on  many  of  his  successes,  in- 
cluding ten  musical  comedies. 

Mr.  Beresford  already  has  his  crew  at  work  at  the 
Glendale  studio  of  the  Mirror  preparing  the  settings 
for  the  Nat  Goodwin  picture  which  will  be  under  the 
direction  of  Lawrence  Marston  and  also  for  the  big 
historical  spectacle  which  will  be  the  first  effort  of 
Captain  Harry  Lambart,  as  chief  producer  of  the  com- 
pany. 


ard  A.  Rowland  on  behalf  of  the  Metro  Pictures  Cor- 
poration and  by  B.  T.  Howells,  on  behalf  of  his  con- 
cern, Vogel  &  Howells  of  Sidney,  New  South  Wales. 
The  first  shipment  of  prints  to  Australia  was  made  on 
January  11. 

Mr.  Howells  is  to  remain  in  New  York,  main- 
taining his  headquarters  there  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing in  close  touch  with  the  parent  organization  and  in 
order  to  avail  himself  of  the  publicity  and  advertising 
departments,  who  will  give  Australia  and  New  Zea- 
land the  benefit  of  their  American  campaign  plans, 
copy  and  literature.  Vogel  &  Howell  have  contracted 
to  release  Metro  pictures  through  two  of  the  largest 
film  distributing  companies  in  the  Antipodes  :  The  Co- 
operative Film  Exchange  Ltd.  of  Sidney,  Australia, 
and  the  Dominion  Pictures  Company,  Ltd.,  of  Auck- 
land, New  Zealand. 

It  is  also  announced  by  the  Metro  Pictures  Cor- 
poration that  Canadian  Metro  Limited,  which  for  the 
past  five  months  has  been  handling  Metro  productions 
in  Eastern  Canada,  has  met  with  such  phenomenal  suc- 
cess in  that  field,  that  it  has  contracted  for  the  selling 
rights  in  Western  Canada  and  now  controls  the  Metro 
releases  for  the  entire  Dominion.  This  contract  also 
was  closed  within  the  past  fortnight,  President  Row- 
land acting  for  Metro  and  Herbert  Lubin,  general  man- 
ager of  Canadian  Metro  Limited,  acting  for  the  of- 
ficials of  that  company. 

Ruffells  Exclusives  Ltd.  of  London,  which  repre- 
sents the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation  in  Great  Britain 
and  on  the  Continent,  began  distribution  of  Metro  pic- 
tures during  the  past  fortnight  in  the  Scandinavian 
countries.  It  also  holds  the  exclusive  rights  to  Metro 
productions  in  South  America,  and  under  its  able 
and  intensive  selling  campaign  Metro  pictures  during 
the  months  of  December  and  January  have  entered 
Brazil  and  the  Argentine,  Spain,  Italy  and  Russia.  De- 
spite the  war  conditions  they  have  secured  immediate 
and  highly  profitable  recognition. 

It  can  now  be  said  with  entire  truth  and  without 
exaggeration  that  the  sun  never  sets  on  the  theaters 
showing  Metro  pictures,  which  certainly  is  something 
of  a  record  for  a  company  which  has  only  been  en- 
gaged in  producing  and  marketing  motion  pictures  for 
hardly  three-quarters  of  a  year. 


Morrissey  Now  with  Thanhouser 

Edward  Morrissey  is  now  a  Thanhouser  director. 
It's  a  wide  span  from  teacher  of  French  and  German 
in  the  University  of  California  to  the  stage,  but  in 
his  thirty-and-few  years  this  San  Franciscan  has 
bridged  the  gulf.  A  university  degree  started  him 
toward  a  life  of  learning  and  teaching,  but  a  love  for 
the  stage  gave  him  the  determination  that  eventually 
landed  Morrissey  on  Broadway.  He  tells  how  he  was 
rejected  as  a  chorus  man  because  he  was  too  short. 
But  he  succeeded  so  well  in  his  first  engagement, 
"The  Toymaker  of  Nuremburg,"  that  in  an  incredibly 
short  time  he  was  made  stage  director  for  Clyde 
Fitch's  "Girls."  His  stock  went  soaring  on  the  the- 
atrical barometer  from  this  point,  and  his  career  be- 
came only  a  matter  of  performance.    He  was  chosen  as 


242 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


one  of  the  guiding  geniuses  for  the  great  production 
of  "Joan  of  Arc,"  presented  at  the  great  Harvard 
stadium,  in  which  Maude  Adams  played  the  Maid  of 
Orleans.  A  few  stock  engagements,  two  years  with 
the  Shuberts,  and  he  was  ready  to  listen  to  the  call 
of  the  camera.  He  became  D.  W.  Griffith's  assistant 
at  the  Biograph,  and  when  he  went  west,  Griffith 
made  him  a  regular  director  on  the  coast.  He  applied 
himself  to  an  analysis  of  his  work  with  a  student's 
mind  and  by  dint  of  perseverence  Edward  Morrissey 
drew  several  important  feature  assignments  before 
Edwin  Thanhouser  cast  his  eagle  eye  upon  him. 

Mr.  Morrissey  is  gifted  with  a  rare  sense  of 
humor  besides  his  keen  judgment  of  dramatic  values, 
which  fits  him  perfectly  for  the  wide  variation  in  the 
work  recpiired  of  Thanhouser  directors. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  CUTS  SECOND  MELON 

Bonus  of  Twenty  Per  Cent  of  Net  Profits  for  Past 

Thirteen  Weeks  Distributed  Among  Employes 

of    That    Organization 

The  bonus  of  20  per  cent  of  the  net  profits  of 
V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc.,  for  the  past  thirteen  weeks  awarded 
by  the  directors  of  that  organization  to  its  employes, 
was  distributed  at  the  home  office  and  all  the  branches 
on  Monday  of  this  week. 

Fully  twenty-five  per  cent  more  persons  shared 
in  this  liberal  division  than  in  the  first  of  these  dis- 
bursements made  October  19  last.  Despite  this  in- 
crease in  number  to  whom  the  profit  sharing  checks 
applied,  it  is  understood  that  this  expression  of  ap- 
preciation on  the  part  of  the  Big  Four  directorate  to 
its  employes,  approximated  very  closely  that  of  the 
preceding  period,  indicating  that  notwithstanding  the 
wide-spread  expansion  on  the  part  of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  the 
company's  business  has  shown  a  most  substantial  in- 
crease. 

As  originally  announced,  this  division  will  be 
continued  regularly  at  the  expiration  of  each  thirteen 
weeks.  The  guiding  forces  of  the  Big  Four  feel,  it  is 
understood,  that  the  plan  of  making  the  company's 
employes  partners  in  very  actuality  as  well  as  in 
theory,  has  more  than  paid  for  itself  during  the  past 
six  months,  in  the  increased  co-operation,  and  in  the 
added  business  such  co-operative  service  to  the  com- 
pany's  customers   has   stimulated. 

And,  not  only  does  this  plan  make  for  greater 
profit  in  the  end  for  the  employers,  but  it  means  greater 
profit  for  those  whom  the  organization  serves,  as 
exhibitors  throughout  the  country  will  attest.  For 
since  the  increased  business  placed  by  each  customer 
of  the  organization  means  increased  earnings  person- 
ally to  every  member  of  the  organization's  force,  it 
is  to  the  very  vital  profit  of  each  individual  to  see  to 
it  that  every  customer  receives  the  fullest  help  in  de- 
veloping the  possibilities  of  his  business. 

"Such  self  interest,"  said  E.  L.  Masters,  adver- 
tising and  publicity  manager  of  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  in 
commenting  upon  this  latest  disbursement,  "means' 
to  the  theater  owner  with  a  capital  'S' — and  it 
may  be  said  parenthetically,  that  this  is  the  calibre 
of  service  which  the  Big  Four  is  rendering — a  service 
with  the  breadth  and  depth  that  is  making  the  com- 
pany's sales  organization  stand  out  as  one  of  notable 
efficiency  throughout  the  commercial  field. 

"Some   people  have  tried  to  depreciate  the   value 


of  the  board  of  directors'  liberality,  by  declaring  that 
it  must  eventually  come  out  of  the  pockets  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  exhibitor,  on  the  ground  that  we  must 
charge  more  for  our  product  in  order  to  meet  the  out- 
lay  which   these   profit   sharing   checks   represent. 

"The  fallacy  of  this  reasoning  is  made  apparent 
when  consideration  is  given  to  the  fact  that  although 
the  individual  manufacturers  making  up  V.  L.  S.  E.. 
Inc.,  have  a  combined  capital  of  from  $30,000,000  to 
$40,000,000  the  company  itself  is  capitalized  for  only 
$40,000. 

"Instead,  therefore,  of  having  to  go  into  Wall 
street  and  issue  stocks  in  order  to  get  cash  for  which 
it  would  be  necessary  to  pay  a  six  per  cent  interest 
charge,  the  Big  Four  has  to  meet  only  $2,400  a  year 
interest  on  its  stock,  so  that  it  can  give  its  employes 
a  handsome  share  of  its  profits  and  still  offer  its-  ex- 
hibitors the  most  efficient  selling  service  and  first 
grade  pictures  at  prices  well  within   reason." 

That  the  fund  is  doing  much  to  promote  the  best 
interests  of  the  individuals  in  the  organization,  is  at- 
tested by  the  reports  which  have  been  received  at  the 
home  office,  of  the  usages  to  which  the  money  has  been 
placed. 


METROS  NEXT  BARRYMORE  FILM 

"The  Kiss  of  Hate,"  Just  Begun,  Will  Be  First  of  New 
Series    Since    She    Signed    Famous    Contract 

Calling  for  $160,000 
Metro's  next  offering,  with  Ethel  Barrymore  in 
the  stellar  role,  will  be  "The  Kiss  of  Hate,"  a  power- 
ful story  of  romance,  intrigue  and  politics  in  Russia, 
according  to  an  announcement  just  made  in  the  Metro 
offices  in  the  Longacre  building.  This  five-part  fea- 
ture will  be  put  into  production  immediately  by  the 
Rolfe  Photoplays,  Inc.  Miss  Barrymore  will  have 
an  unusually  strong  supporting  cas;  including  H. 
Cooper  Cliffe,  the  noted  dramatic  actor,  a  ho  was  re- 
cently starred  in  a  big  production.  Mr.  Cliffe  was 
last  seen  on  the  Metro  program  in  support  of  Miss 
Barrymore,  in  "The  Final  Judgment."  William  Nigh, 
one  of  the  youngest  directors  on  the  Metro  staff,  but 
who  has  gained  nation-wide  fame  recently  with  his 
artistic  triumphs,  "A  Yellow  Streak."  in  which  Lionel 
Barrymore  is  starred,  and  "Emmy  of  Stork's  Nest," 
with  Little  Mary  Miles  Minter  in  the  stellar  part, 
will  direct  the  new  Ethel  Barrymore  feature. 

The  story  of  "The  Kiss  of  Hate,"  which  was  writ- 
ten by  Mme.  De  Gressac,  deals  largely  with  the  ques- 
tion of  justice  for  the  Jew  in  Russia.  A  prominent 
and  wealthy  merchant,  who  sympathizes  with  a  new 
revolutionary  group  that  is  seeking  to  obtain  equal 
rights  for  all,  comes  under  the  displeasure  of  the  police 
and  military.  He  is  murdered  and  all  the  male  mem- 
bers of  his  family  are  banished  to  Siberia.  A  daugh- 
ter, who  is  noted  for  her  beauty  and  keen  wits,  seeks 
out  the  superintendent  of  police,  and  asks  that  her 
brother,  who  is  frail  and  dying,  be  returned  from  Si- 
beria. The  superintendent  agrees  to  act  favorably 
upon  her  petition,  providing  she  will  give  herself  to 
him.  body  and  soul.  In  desperation,  the  girl  consents. 
A  counter  plot  follows,  in  which  the  son  of  the  police 
head  falls  in  love  with  the  girl.  Complications  result, 
which  the  girl  succeeds  in  clearing.  The  .production 
will  be  mounted  on  an  elaborate  scale,  and  in  the  many 
big  scenes  several  hundred  persons  will  be  seen.     A 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


243 


chase  by  wolves  and  scenes  typical  of  life  in  the  grim 
Siberian  prison  pens  will  also  be  among  the  note- 
worthy features  of  the  production. 

This  feature  marks  the  first  of  the  new  Barry- 
more  productions,  since  she  signed  the  now  famous 
three-year  contract  with  Metro.  Miss  Barrymore  is 
to  receive  $40,000  for  each  picture,  and  Metro  has 
agreed  that  she  will  make  at  least  four  features  a 
year.  This  will  mean  at  least  $160,000  a  year  for  Miss 
Barrymore,  or  $480,000  for  the  three  years'  contract. 


To  Film  Larry  Evan's  Popular  Novel 

The  Frohman  Amusement  Corporation,  through 
the  efforts  of  its  president,  William  L.  Sherrill,  has  se- 
cured the  photoplay  rights  to  Larry  Evan's  very  suc- 
cessful novel,  "Then  I'll  Come  Back  to  You,"  which 
enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  best  sellers 
of  the  current  year. 

In  its  serial  form,  it  appeared  in  the  Metropolitan 
Magazine,  starting  with  the  February  issue  and  con- 
cluding in  the  November  number.  During  that  time, 
it  created  much  favorable  comment  and  was  hailed  as 
a  masterpiece  of  American  fiction.  As  an  evidence  of 
the  popularity  of  this  story,  it  was  put  in  book  form 
about  four  weeks  ago  and  sales  show  it  now  to  be  in 
its  fiftieth  thousand.  As  a  result  of  this  popularity 
and  the  book's  unusual  pictorial  value,  Mr.  Evans  was 
fairly  swamped  with  offers  for  the  photoplay  rights. 

Before  Mr.  Evans  would  consent  to  the  sale  of 
these  rights  of  his  book  to  anyone,  he  was  most  in- 
sistent that  the  company  that  did  produce  "Then  I'll 
Come  Back  to  You"  should  assure  him  in  advance  of 
a  perfect  production.  To  convince  the  author  that  a 
photoplay  made  of  his  story  by  the  Frohman  Amuse- 
ment Corporation  would  be  a  credit  to  his  reputation, 
Mr.  Sherrill  gave  him  a  special  exhibition  of  a  few 
of  its  former  successful  productions,  such  as  the 
"Builder  of  Bridges,"  "John  Glaydes  Honor,"  the 
George  Ade  comedy  "Just  Out  of  College,"  and  "Body 
and  Soul."     After  seeing  these,  Mr.  Evans  was  very 


motion  picture  rights  of  this  novel  which  the  Froh- 
man Amusement  Corporation  will  produce  as  its  next 
release.  Miss  Alice  Brady  has  been  selected  as  the 
star  in  this  production,  playing  the  part  of  "Barbara 
Allison,"  with  Jack  Sherrill  in  the  part  of  "Steve 
O'Mara,"  supported  by  a  cast  of  well  known  artists. 
Miss  Brady's  services  have  been  secured  for  this  part 
through  the  courtesy  of  Louis  J.  Selznick  of  the  World 
Film  Corporation.  The  entire  company  will  be  taken 
to  Asheville,  North  Carolina,  within  the  next  ten  days, 
where  the  exteriors  will  be  secured. 


►I! 

5     Z    - 

f-r* 

Reading  from  left  to  right  those  shown  in  the  picture  are  George  Irv- 
ing, producing  director;  H.  K.  Fly.  publisher;  Anthony  Kelly,  scenario 
writer;  Jacob  Wilk,  manager  Authors'  Associated  Agency;  William  L.  Sher- 
rill, president  Frohman  Amusement  Corporation,  and  Larry  Evans,  the 
author  of  the  book. 

enthusiastic  in  his  acceptance  of  Mr.  Sherrill's  propo- 
sition. 

The  accompanying  picture  shows  Mr.  Sherrill  and 
the  author,  Mr.  Evans,   signing  the  contract  for  the 


"Broncho  Billy"  Wins  in  New  Duds 

G.  M.  Anderson,  creator  of  Essanay's  "Broncho 
Billy,"  has  brought  into  being  a  new  character  which  is 
expected  to  become  as  famous  as  the  one  representing 
cowboy  life. 

This  character  al- 
ready has  appeared  in 
a  few  of  his  plays 
and  he  is  developing 
and  working  it  out  to 
appear  in  a  new  se- 
ries, each  of  which 
photoplays  are  com- 
plete stories  in  them- 
selves. The  character, 
while  representing  a 
conventional  society 
man  in  many  ways, 
has  a  certain  marked 
difference. 

In  the  few  re- 
leases of  these  photo- 
plays the  role  has  met 
with  marked  approval. 

Mr.  Anderson 
now  is  hard  at  work 
studying  out  his  part 

tO  the  minutest  detail,  G.  M.  Anderson. 

giving  the  role  a  finish 

and  putting  into  it  all  the  realism  of  his  usual  work, 

makes  for  artistic  photoplays. 

While  the  "cowboy"  will  be  missed  by  the  exhibitors 
and  fans,  the  Essanay  company  announces  that  the  de- 
mand for  these  new  productions  speaks  well  for 
"Broncho  Billy's"  knowledge  of  what  the  public  wants. 


which 


Film  Salesman  Carries  "Samples" 

A  new  idea  has  been  developed  by  Harry  C.  Drum, 
the  galvanic  young  assistant  general  manager  of  the 
World  Film  Corporation.  His  scheme  is  an  entirely 
novel  one  for  business  getting  and  partakes  of  the 
nature  of  an  inspiration.  World  Film  salesmen,  thanks 
to  Mr.  Drum's  plan,  now  carry  real  "samples"  with 
them  and  do  not  depend  on  their  rhetoric  and  powers 
of  persuasion  to  sell  their  firm's  features.  ^  The 
"sample"  in  question  is  what  Mr.  Drum  calls  a  "sales- 
reel"  and  it  has  created  an  immense  volume  of  busi- 
ness and  a  great,  deal  of  favorable  comment.  The 
reel  consists  of  about  a  thousand  feet  of  film  showing 
scenes  from  the  World's  most  recent  big  feature  suc- 
cesses, pictures  of  the  World's  stars  in  novel  poses, 
interesting  data  concerning  World  Film  and  brief  pic- 
tures and  descriptive  matter  of  every  phase  of  the 
World's  activities.  Speaking  recently  of  the  results 
of  this  original  selling  plan,  Lewis  J.  Selznick,  vice- 


244 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  S. 


president   and   general   manager   of  the  World   Film 
Corporation  said : 

"From  all  parts  of  the  country  have  come  en- 
thusiastic testimonials  as  to  the  actual  contracts  that 
have  been  booked  on  this  sales  reel  and  in  many  in- 
stances we  have  had  letters  direct  from  the  exhibitor, 
as  this  has  been  found  to  be  just  as  big  an  exhibitor's 
help  as  it  has  a  sales  help  to  us." 


TRIANGLE  CONTRACTS  ABROAD 


President    Aitken    Sells    Australian    Rights   for    More 

Than  $200,000 — Business  of  Corporation  Now 

Aggregates  $6,400,000  a  Year 

While  S.  L.  Rothapfel  is  making  the  reconstructed 
and  re-opened  Knickerbocker  theater  of  New  York  a 
truly  model  playhouse  for  public  and  exhibitors, 
President  H.  E.  Aitken  announces  an  enormous  ex- 
tension of  Triangle  Film  Corporation  service  not  only 
in  this  country  but  also  and  particularly  in  foreign 
lands.  New  contracts  yielding  an  income  of  $500,000 
per  annum  have  been  signed,  he  states,  since  Decem- 
ber 22,  1915.  This  makes  an  aggregate  annual  busi- 
ness of  $6,400,000  thus  far  secured. 

What  is  perhaps  the  most  interesting  part  of 
President  Aitken's  statement  refers  to  the  completion 
of  the  Australian  and  Canadian  deals.  The  import- 
ance of  the  Australasian  field  may  be  gauged  from  the 
fact  that  the  corporation  is  to  receive  a  minimum 
guarantee  of  more  than  $200,000  a  year  for  the  showr 
ing  of  Triangle  films  in  that  territory,  which  includes 
not  only  Australia  but  New  Zealand,  Tasmania  and 
the  lesser  British  possessions  in  the  Antipodes. 

Another  interesting  announcement  is  that  the 
Triangle  will  immediately  enter  Canada  in  a  big  way. 
Arrangements  have  just  been  closed  for  a  Dominion- 
wide  service  that  will  provide  a  substantial  guarantee 
of  profit  to  the  corporation  and  likewise  ensure  par- 
ticipation in  additional  profits.  The  names  of  the 
syndicate  handling  the  Canadian  service  will  shortly 
be  made  known.  Tremendous  drawing  cards  in  the 
Dominion  will  be  such  Triangle  stars  of  English  nativity 
or  residence  as  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree,  Mary  An- 
derson de  Navarro,  H.  B.  Warner,  Syd  Chaplin,  Bruce 
McRae,  Frank  Mills  and  others.  The  popularity  of 
the  best  American  stars  across  the  border  needs  no 
demonstration,  and  the  films  showing  Billie  Burke,  De 
Wolf  Hopper,  William  S.  Hart,  Lillian  and  Dorothy 
Gish,  Arbuckle  and  Miss  Normand  and  the  rest  are 
bound  to  enjoy  the  utmost  favor. 

The  great  building  and  enlarging  activities  that 
have  been  going  on  at  Griffithville,  Culver  City  and 
Keystone,  together  with  the  constantly  increasing 
companies  in  the  east,  are  an  index  of  how  the  Triangle 
is  preparing  to  meet  the  big  demands. 


Equitable  to  Star  Edna  Wallace  Hopper 

Edna  Wallace  Hopper,  for  a  number  of  years  a 
prime  favorite  among  theater-goers  of  this  country 
and  Europe  and  who,  for  the  past  eighteen  months, 
has  been  serving  in  the  British  Red  Cross  behind  the 
firing  lines  in  France,  arrived  in  New  York  last  week 
on  the  Lafayette  and  began  work  a  few  days  later  at 
the  studio  of  the  Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Cor- 
poration on  Fifty-second  street,  where  an  especially 
elaborate  film  production  is  in  the  course  of  construc- 


tion and  a  cast  of  special  strength  is  being  assembled 
to  support  the  diminutive  Edna. 

Miss  Hopper  earned  her  laurels  on  the  American 
stage  in  "The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me,"  as  Dolly  Ches- 
ter in  "The  Younger  Son,"  Betsy  in  "Poor  Girls,"  and 
then  joined  the  company  of  De  Wolf  Hopper  whom 
she  subsequently  married.  She  appeared  with  Hopper 
in  "Panjandrum,"  and  later  starred  in  "Yankee  Doodle 
Dandy."  Her  work  in  "Chris  and  the  Wonderful 
Lamp"  won  fame  for  her  and  she  was  then  chosen  to 
play  the  principal  part  in  "Floradora,"  a  part  she  has 
played  over  a  thousand  times. 

Miss  Hopper,  before  leaving  Paris  for  America, 
visited  many  of  the  big  film  plants  over  there.  She 
watched  the  technical  side  of  film  production,  ap- 
peared in  a  number  of  short  but  thorough  tests  and 
when  satisfied  that  she  could  register  properly  all  the 
emotions,  and  convey  in  silence  what  she  had  always 
depended  on  her  magnetic  voice  for,  she  accepted  the 
offer  of  the  Equitable  concern  and  arrived  here  pre- 
pared to  begin  work.  The  story  built  for  Miss  Hop- 
per has  not,  as  yet,  been  named,  but  will  receive  its 
title  from  the  strongest  character  of  Miss  Hopper's 
dual  role. 


Quits  Chemistry  for  Stage 

Sydney  Mason,  Gaumont  leading  man,  who  is  sup- 
porting Marguerite  Courtot  in  Mutual  Masterpictures,  De 
Luxe  Edition,  gave  up  a  possible  chair  in  a  college  of 
chemistry  to  become  an  actor  in  a  stock  company. 

Mr.  Mason  was 
particularly  apt  and 
conscientious  student 
of  chemistry,  some 
years  ago.  He  had  a 
bent  for  dramatics, 
and  just  for  amuse- 
ment, joined  the  col- 
lege dramatic  society. 
They  staged  an  am- 
ateur production  of 
"Trilby."  Young 
Mason  was  cast  for 
"Svengali."  He  made 
such  a  hit  as  the 
weird  hypnotist,  that 
his  ambitions  were 
turned  from  the  an- 
alyzing of  compounds 
to  the  portrayal  of 
dramatic  roles. 

He     commenced 

his     professional     ca-  Sydney  Mason. 

reer  in  stock,  touring 

the  New  England  states  when  he  was  twenty  years  old. 
When  his  apprenticeship  had  been  served,  Sydney  Mason 
had  some  well  remembered  engagements.  He  supported 
Blanch  Walsh  and  Lillian  Langtry  for  a  time,  at  length 
becoming  a  member  of  the  "Get-Quick-Rich-Wallingford" 
company. 

Finally,  as  it  was  with  most  ambitious  young  play- 
ers, the  lure  of  the  picture  drama  sounded  in  his  ears, 
and  he  joined  the  Famous  Players.  His  first  appearance 
was  with  James  O'Neill. 

His  real  success  in  "The  Builder  of  Bridges,"  the 
Frohman  drama,  first  drew  the  attention  of  the  Gaumont 
Company  to  the  young  juvenile. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


245 


Seattle's  Big  Coliseum  Opened 


BY  ANNE  R.  B.  SUTTON 


THERE  has  just  been  opened  in  Seattle  the  Coli- 
seum theater  which,  so  its  managers  declare,  is 
the  costliest,  most  complete,  most  elaborately 
decorated  and,  with  one  exception,  the  largest  motion 
picture  house  in  the  United  States.  The  Coliseum  has 
2,500  seats,  and  on 
the  opening  day 
was  filled  four 
times.  In  the 
building  are  a 
women's  rest 
room,  a  child's 
playroom  and 
nursery,  and  a 
men's  smoking 
room.  The  theater 
is  of  steel  con- 
struction. The 
large  truss  hold- 
ing the  balcony 
weighs  sixty-five 
tons.  Its  exterior 
is  of  solid,  brilliant 
white  terra  cotta. 
All  approaches  to 
the  upper  balcony 
from  the  main 
floor  are  inclines, 
and  the  Coliseum 
is  one  of  the  few 
picture  houses  that 
has  an  elevator. 
The  lift  carries 

twenty-seven  persons  and  stops  at  the  lower  and  mam 
balconies.  , 

The  interior  lighting,  also,  is  a  novelty.  Instead  ot 
being  indirect  or  concealed,  the  entire  theater  is  il- 
lumined by  reflected  light,  thus  avoiding  any  direct 
glare  which  would  cause  eye  strain  and  yet  giving  an 
agreeable  degree  of  radiance. 

The  air  is  changed  rapidly,  being  driven  out  every 
ninety  seconds  by  a  powerful  electric  motor  through  a 
fan  that  measures  fourteen  feet  in  diameter.  In  sum- 
mer the  air  is  ice-cooled  and  in  winter  preheated.  The 
temperature  is  controlled  by  thermostats.  The  air  is 
washed  before  being  heated. 

Ah  innovation  in  music  is  a  Russian  orchestra  of 
eight  men,  which  has  been  engaged  to  interpret  the 
pictures  and  for  concerts  during  intermissions.  They 
have  been  engaged  for  a  long  term  at  a  contract  that 
is  said  to  total  $50,000  a  year. 

Mischa  Gutterson  is  director  and  solo  violinist; 
Leon  Strashun,  first  violinist;  Liberius  Kauptman, 
pianist;  Katharee  Wineland,  second  violinist;  For- 
tunato  Nimlas,  cellist;  Phelps  Cowan,  organist;  Jo- 
seph Schilling,  organist;  Charles  Fisher,  xylophone, 
and  George  Gutterson,  bass  violinist. 

The  giant  organ  is  really  five  instruments  in  one, 
every  one  of  which  has  instant  contact  with  the  con- 
sole, placed  to  the  right  of  the  orchestra  pit  where  the 
organist  is  seated. 

The  seats  of  the  Coliseum  are  a  special  feature 


and  one  of  the  "hobbies"  of  Jensen  &  Von  Herberg, 
the  managers.  They  have  been  made  expressly  for  the 
theater,  because  there  were  no  seats  on  the  market  that 
were  wide  enough  or  allowed  sufficient  knee-room. 
They  are  of  a  simple,,  yet  neatly  artistic  design,  and 
are  of  hardwood 
and  leather  uphol- 
stering. Interior 
decorations  and 
furnishings  are  an 
unique,  colorful 
combination  of 
the  ancient  beauty 
of  the  Byzantine, 
softened  by  the 
gray  and  black 
tones  of  the  vel- 
vets and  carpets. 
The  wall  decora- 
tions, with  the  ex- 
c  e  p  t  i  o  n  of  the 
purely  legendary 
and  pictorial  pan- 
els, are  mosaics. 

The  great 
central  panel,  di- 
rectly over  the 
proscenium  arch, 
has  for  its  feature 
a  painting,  14  by 
25  feet  in  size, 
f  Coliseum,  Seattle.  representing  one 

of  Egypt's  Pha- 
raohs reclining  under  the  royal  canopy  on  a  starlit 
night  after  a  disastrous  day  for  his  troops  in  the  field, 
seeking  solace  in  the  music  of  a  harp  played  by  the 
slave  attendant.  The  surrounding  setting  for  this  fea- 
ture consists  of  myriads  of  mosaics  and  tiling  of  the 
period,  and  the  sky  has  the  added  feature  of  an  astro- 
nomically correct  star  field. 

The  two  great  paintings  in  the  triangles  to  the 
right  and  left  of  the  sounding  board  represent  legends 
of  the  reign  of  Cleopatra,  the  one  to  the  right  showing 
her  receiving  gifts  from  Mark  Antony.  To  the  left  is 
another  legend  of  the  same  queen,  who,  desiring  a  ro- 
mantic, though  graceful,  exit  from  life,  is  trying  out 
various  poisons  on  her  unfortunate  slaves  before  select- 
ing one  for  herself. 

The  three  long  ceiling  panels  directly  above  the 
sounding  board  are  Egyptian  in  design,  purely  orna- 
mental, executed  in  transparent  glaze  colors  on  a  back- 
ground of  gold,  and  lighted  by  three  great  chandeliers. 
The  three-domed  ceilings  to  the  rear  of  the  above  are 
done  in  arched  bands  of  mosaics. 

The  mezzanine,  containing  the  loges,  and  the  ramp 
with  its  inclined  planes,  and  the  promenade  are  done 
on  a  field  of  Bagdad  red,  in  panels  and  friezes  of  many- 
colored  mosaic  designs,  the  ornamental  wrought  iron 
metal  work  being  in  flat  black  and  gold. 

The  smoking  room  is  Turkish  in  design  and  color. 
The  women's  rooms  are  decorated  with  handpainted 
frieze  of  peacocks  with  curtains  to  match,  and  is  fur- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


Balcony  of  the  new  home  of  Paramou 

nished  with  luxurious  chairs  and  couches.  It  is  en- 
tirely Japanese,  even  to  the  maid,  who  is  dressed  in  a 
quaint  kimono.  The  child's  playroom  and  nursery  ad- 
joins the  women's  rest  room.  It  represents  a  color 
scheme  of  ivories  and  dull  blues,  the  prizes  and  panels 
being  decorated  with  pictures  suggested  by  Mother 
Goose  rhymes. 

The  incline  leading  from  the  main  mezzanine  en- 
trance is  done  in  the  period  of  the  French  Rennaisance, 
with  soft  tones  of  gray,  the  panels  in  figured  silk  with 
edging  of  black  and  gold,  and  floral  relief  of  Japanese 
wistarias.     The  marquise  is  finished  in  Tiffany  Verde 


i  pictui 


i  Seattle,   Wash. 


effect,   and   the   vestibule   in    Persian    filigree   on   a    field 
of  Roman  gold. 

The  story  of  Jensen  &  Von  Herberg,  the  managers 
of  the  Coliseum,  and  their  sensational  success  in  pre- 
senting motion  pictures  in  Seattle  reads  almost  like 
fiction.  Starting  less  than  four  years  ago  with  the 
Alhambra,  at  that  time  four  times  a  failure  in  drama, 
stock,  vaudeville,  and  pictures,  they  have  since  ac- 
quired the  Liberty  and  the  Mission  and  the  Coli- 
seum. A  large  part  of  this  success,  according  to  Mr. 
Von  Herberg,  is  due  to  the  courage  to  do  things, 
coupled    with   years   of  experience  . 


Vim  Gets  Former  Edison  Director 

Will  Louis,  formerly  chief  director  of  the  Edison 
comedy  productions,  has  severed  his  relations  with 
that  studio  and  has  joined  the  Vim  Film  Corporation, 
at  its  southern  studios  in  Jacksonville,  Florida.  Mr. 
Louis  has  had  a  long  and  successful  career  as  comedy 
director,  having  been  associated  for  twelve  years  with 
the  Lubin  Company,  as  a  director,  which  organization 
he  left  to  accept  a  position  as  comedy  director  for  the 
Edison  Company.  Mr.  Louis  ranks  second  in  the  mat- 
ter of  developing  raw  talent,  and  some  of  his  dis- 
coveries hold  enviable  positions  in  the  film  world  to- 
day.    While  the  Vim  productions  arc  quite  of  a  dif- 


ferent kind,  he  has  entered  the  field  with  enthusiasm 
and  promises  to  make  good  on  the  standard  the  Vim 
productions  already  enjoy. 


Ruth  Blair  Starred  in  Fox  Film 

Ruth  Blair,  recently  under  the  management  of 
Selwyn  &  Company,  made  her  debut  as  a  Fox  star  in 
"The  Fourth  Estate,"  released  January  16.  Miss  Blair, 
with  Theda  Bara  and  Genevieve  Hamper,  completes 
a  constellation  of  emotional  beauties  for  the  Fox  films. 
"The  Fourth  Estate"  in  which  she  is  starred,  is  the 
real  thing  in  newspaper  plays,  filmed  in  the  office  of 
the  Chicago  Herald. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


V.  L.  S.  E.  MAKES  MANY  CHANGES 

Numerous  Shifts  Among  Managers  of  Big  Four  Or- 
ganization, Some  New  Men  Added  and  Old 
Ones   Are   Promoted 

The  sales  force  of  the  Big  Four  during  the  past 
week  was  augmented  by  the  addition  of  ten  new  mem- 
bers, and  further  increases  in  the  staffs  of  the  branch 
offices  will  be  made  immediately. 

The  new  representatives  are  attached  to  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Kansas  City  and  Chicago  offices.  The  enlarge- 
ment of  the  forces  of  these  offices  followed  a  tour  of 
inspection  by  A.  W.  Goff,  assistant  general  manager, 
and  were  made  necessary  by  the  large  volume  of  busi- 
ness which  Mr.  Goff  found  the  organizations  in  those 
cities  were  handling. 

General  Manager  Walter  W.  Irvin  has  also  made 
several  other  noteworthy  changes  working  toward  in- 
creased efficiency  in  handling  the  ever-growing  pat- 
ronage of  the  Big  Four.  One  of  these  is  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  sub-office  in  New  Orleans  at  the  head  of 
which  has  been  placed  R.  King  Evans,  working  under 
the  direction  of  C.  A.  Meade,  manager  of  the  Dallas 
V.  L.  S.  E.  office.  Mr.  Evans  has  been  associated 
with  Mr.  Meade  at  Dallas  for  some  time  past,  and 
has  earned  his  promotion  through  the  splendid  show- 
ing which  he  has  made  for  the  Big  Four,  and  the  re- 
gard with  which  he  is  held  by  exhibitors. 

It  is  also  said  that  St.  Louis,  which  is  at  present 
a  sub-office  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  under  the  management 
of  S.  W.  Hatch,  will  soon  be  converted  into  a  branch 
office.  At  the  present  time,  E.  R.  Pearson,  manager 
of  the  Big  Four's  Kansas  City  office,  has  supervision 
of  the  St.  Louis  sub-branch.  Mr.  Hatch,  however,  has 
developed  his  territory  to  the  extent  that  it  is  now 
necessary  to  make  it  a  buying  instead  of  a  relay  office. 

The  Detroit  sub-office  has  been  placed  in  charge 
of  David  Kline,  the  former  representative  of  the  Mu- 
tual Film  Corporation  in  that  city.  This  is  one  of  the 
first  vacancies  which  V.  L.  S.  E.  has  gone  out  of  its 
ranks  to  fill,  and  was  due  simply  to  the  fact  that 
Sydney  E.  Abel,  Cleveland  manager  for  V.  L.  S.  E., 
who  has  supervision  of  the  Detroit  sub-office,  has  such 
able  lieutenants  in  his  own  territory,  that  he  did  not 
feel  that  he  could  spare  anyone  of  them  for  the  Detroit 
office.  Mr.  Abel  now  has  associated  with  him  also, 
R.  S.  Shrader,  who  was  formerly  branch  manager  at 
Cincinnati — a  change  which  was  made  necessary  by 
the  fact  that  the  climate  at  Cincinnati  did  not  agree 
with  Mr.  Shrader's  health.  Mr.  Shrader's  place  in 
Cincinnati  as  branch  manager,  has  been  taken  by  C.  E. 
Shurtleff,  who  was  formerly  in  charge  of  the  Detroit 
sub-office.  Mr.  ShurtlefPs  rise  has  been  most  rapid, 
he  having  only  recently  been  promoted  from  assistant 
branch  manager  at  Atlanta  to  the  direction  of  the 
Detroit  office,  and  now  advanced  to  the  head  of  the 
Cincinnati  branch. 


Wilbur  Plays  Dual  Role 

As  the  second  of  his  five-reel  features  presenting 
Crane  Wilbur  as  the  star,  David  Horsley  announces 
"A  Law  Unto  Himself,"  a  drama  of  the  west,  the  pro- 
duction of  which  was  started  last  week  at  Mr. 
Horsley's  studio  in  Los  xA.ngeles  under  the  direction 
of  Robert   Broadwell. 

The  story  is  by  Miss  Lillian  Brockwell  and  fea- 
tures Crane  Wilbur  in  a  dual  role,  that  of  a  western 


sheriff  and  of  a  French  surveyor.  The  two  are  almost 
identical  in  appearance,  a  fact  which  leads  to  many 
strong  situations  throughout  the  picture. 

For  its  enactment  Mr.  Horsley  has  selected  a  cast 
of  well  known  players  in  support  of  Mr.  Wilbur,  in- 
cluding Carl  von  Schiller,  George  Clare,  Jr.,  Louis 
Durham,  E.  W.  Harris,  Francis  Raymond,  Steve 
Murphy  and  Miss  Mae  Adams.  The  five  last  named 
were  engaged  especially  for  this  release.  "A  Law 
Unto  Himself"  is  the  second  of  Mr.  Horsley's  features 
with  Mr.  Wilbur  to  be  distributed  as  a  Mutual  Master- 
Picture,  de  luxe  edition,  and  will  be  released  February 


MAY  ROBSON  IN  "A  NIGHT  OUT" 

Popular      Vitagraph      Comedienne      Proves      Herself 

"Youngest  Woman  on  the  Screen"  by  Her 

Antics  in  Coming  Multiple  Reeler 

The  Vitagraph  Company  announces  the  com- 
pletion of  a  new  feature  film  showing  May  Robson, 
whose  name  is  high  in  the  ranks  of  histrionic  fame,  in 
a  vehicle  that  splendidly  suits  her  style  of  character 
portrayal.  "A  Night  Out"  was  written  by  Miss  Rob- 
son  and  Charles  T.  Dazey,  who  is  noted  as  the  author 
of  "In  Old  Kentucky,"  which  has  had  more  perform- 
ances than  any  other  single  play. 

Miss  Robson  needed  just  such  a  vehicle  as  this 
and  the  picture  needed  Miss  Robson.  Both  are  so  ad- 
mirably well  suited  to  one  another  that  the  combina- 
tion is  eminently  successful.  Miss  Robson  refutes  the 
old  saying  "that  a  woman  is  as  old  as  she  looks,"  for 
she  rivals  the  youngest  and  most  athletic  film  stars  as 
she  skips  and  scampers  through  five  reels  and  yes — 
even  dances  the  tango  with  Hughey  Mack. 

Cast  as  Granmum,  whose  girlhood  has  been  de- 
nied her  and  whose  buoyant  tendencies  are  ever 
squelched  by  her  hatchet-faced  daughter,  the  old  lady 
is  a  favorite  with  her  two  grandsons,  entering  into 
their  play  and  pranks  with  a  vivacity  belied  by  her 
gray  hair. 

A  notorious  cafe  lures  Granmum  and  the  boys  to 
"A  Night  Out"  and,  after  successfully  sneaking  out 
from  under  the  watching  eyes  of  her  daughter,  Gran- 
mum drinks  claret  lemonade  and  tangoes  to  her  heart's 
content.  Of  course  the  police  raid  the  place.  Gran- 
mum is  required  to  climb  up  an  ivy  vine  to  the  second 
storv  of  her  home  and  altogether  has  a  terrible  time 
of  it". 

There  is  a  plot  running  through  the  production 
concerning  the  waywardness  of  the  son  of  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Purity  League  and  his  theft  of  a  diamond 
ring,  and  the  three  love  affairs  which  turn  out  more 
or  less  successfully.  Miss  Robson  plays  Granmum  in 
a  thoroughly  refreshing  manner  and  throws  a  per- 
sonality of  youth  into  the  role  that  marks  her  "one 
of  the  youngest  women  on  the  stage."  She  is  assisted 
by  a  capable  corps  of  Vitagraph  comedians,  including 
Kate  Price,  Flora  Finch,  Hughey  Mack,  Arthur 
Cozine,  William  Shea,  Ethel  Corcoran,  George  Cooper, 
Belle  Bruce,  Eva  Taylor  and  Charles  Brown.  The  film 
was  produced  under  the  direction  of  George  D.  Baker, 
and  is  released  through  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc. 


Selig's  "Ne'er  Do  Well"  has  been  booked  for  an 
indefinite  run  at  the  People's  theater  at  Portland,  Ore- 
gon. Arrangements  were  completed  by  M.  Rosenberg, 
who  controls  the  rights  for  Oregon  and  Washington. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


ESSANAY  PLANT  ENLARGED 


New  Studio  Adjoining  Present  Buildings  Will  House 

Executive   Offices   and   Be   Conveniently 

Arranged   for    Players 

Essanay's  new  studio,  built  on  the  extreme  west  of 
the  Essanay  property  in  Chicago  is  nearing  comple- 
tion, promises  being  made  by  the  contractors  that  it 
will  be  ready  for  occupancy  by  February  10.  Already 
the  executive  offices  on  the  second  floor  are  being  fin- 
ished in  mahogany. 

The  studio  on  the  first  floor,  which  has  more  floor 
space  than  any  other  studio  lighted  by  artificial  light, 
soon  will  be  in  use  in  the  filming  of  the  latest  Es- 
sanay pictures. 

One  of  the  novelties  of  the  new  building  is  a 
green  room  for  actors  and  another  for  actresses  in 
which  those  waiting  to  go  on  the  floor  will  not  be  com- 
pelled to  wait  where  action  is  going  on.  A  system 
of  telephones  with  automatic  exchanges  is  being  in- 
stalled so  that  an  assistant  director  may  call  his  cast 
together  without  leaving  the  floor. 

The  whole  building  will  be  devoted  to  the  ex- 
ecutive offices  and  the  studio  with  gymnasium,  read- 
ing rooms  and  a  few  dressing  rooms. 


sought  everywhere,  but  the  use  of  steam  and  electricity 
had  apparently  eliminated  the  picturesque  buildings 
so  common  fifty  years  ago.  A  structure  of  painted 
wood  or  canvas  was  out  of  the  question  as  they  wanted 


Steger  Busy  on  Metro  Feature 

Julius  Steger,  the  dramatic  star,  who  has  joined 
Metro  forces,  is  working  in  "The  Blindness  of  Love,"  a 
five-part  comedy  drama,  written  by  Ruth  Comfort 
Mitchell.  A  strong  cast  has  been  selected  for  his  support. 
Mr.  Steger  has 
had  a  varied  career  on 
the  stage.  He  has  ap- 
peared in  everything 
from  musical  comedy 
to  tragedy,  but  it  is  in 
the  strong  dramatic 
roles  that  he  excels. 
He  recently  appeared 
on  the  spoken  stage 
in  "The  Fifth  Com- 
mandment," which 
was  afterward  made 
into  a  photodrama  for 
Mr.  Steger.  Mr. 
Steger  was  born  in 
Vienna,  but  came  to 
New  York  when  a 
youth. 

Fie  first  attracted 
attention  on  the  stage 
in  New  York  when  he 
Julius  steger.  appeared  as  the  lead- 

ing support  of  Marie 
Tempest.  Since  then  he  has  created  many  leading  roles 
in  musical  comedy  on  Broadway.  His  last  appearance 
in  that  field  was  in  "It  Happened  in  Nordland,"  with 
Lew  Fields.  Soon  afterward  he  was  seen  as  a  serious 
actor  in  "The  Fifth  Commandment." 


Grist  Mill  Built  for  Pathe  Film 

When  the  Whartons  began  to  make  "Hazel  Kirke" 
for  the  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  program,  they  were  con- 
fronted with  the  necessity  of  finding  an  old  stone 
mill   with    waterwheel    in    working   condition.      They 


realism.  The  consequence  was  that  at  Ludlowville, 
N.  Y.,  not  far  from  Ithaca,  they  hired  masons  to  put 
up  a  real  structure  of  stone,  modeled  on  an  old  en- 
graving of  a  one-time  grist-mill  in  New  England.  The 
Wharton  mill  was  put  up  on  the  banks  of  a  charming 
stream  with  sufficient  power  to  turn  the  huge  wheel 
the  carpenters  installed.  The  result  was  a  triumph  of 
the  picturesque  and  the  scenes  showing  the  mill  are 
among  the  most  pleasing  of  the  picture.  A  fine  cast, 
headed  by  Pearl  White,  William  Riley  Hatch,  Bruce 
McRae,  Creighton  Hale,  Florence  Edney  and  Allen 
Murnane  was  used  in  this  picture  which  will  bring 
fond  memories  to  play-goers  the  country  over.  "Hazel 
Kirke"  on  the  boards  has  survived  the  changes  of  a 
generation,  a  sure  proof  that  the  qualities  that  make  a 
play  endure  must  include  cleanliness,  heart  interest 
of  the  less  complex  type  and  freedom  from  "problem" 
discussion. 


Tully  Marshall  Proves  Skill  at  Makeup 

Tully  Marshall  has  confirmed  with  his  excellent 
makeup  in  "Martha's  Vindication,"  the  Fine  Arts  play, 
the  many  reports  that  he  is  an  artist  with  the  grease 
paint.  This,  of  course,  is  due  to  his  years  of  theatrical 
experience,  which  date  back  to  the  time  when  Madam 
Modjeska  first  came  to  America  from  Poland.  Tully 
Marshall  was  then  playing  boy  parts  at  the  California 
theater  in  San  Francisco,  and  was  engaged  by  Madam 
Modjeska  for  her  first  American  farewell  tour,  in  1887. 
The  principals  of  the  company  were  Maurice  Barry- 
more,  Mary  Shaw,  Eben  Plimpton,  William  Morris, 
Jessie  Bussley,  Tom  Coleman,  Steve  Springer, 
William  Fowen,  Nick  Long  and  Robert  Tabor. 
While  on  this  tour.  Madam  Modjeska  presented 
a  repertoire  of  thirteen  plays,  which  included  the  two 
much  talked  of  plays  "Measure  for  Measure,"  and 
"Cymbaline."  In  "Martha's  Vindication,"  Tully  Mar- 
shall plays  the  part  of  a  bunco-man,  whose  wife  is  at 
the  head  of  a  baby-farm.  Norma  Talmadge,  Seena 
Owen  and   Ralph   Lewis  are  also  prominent. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


249 


Lighting  to  Photoplay  Is  Like  Music  to  Drama 


DECLARES  CECIL  B.  DeMILLE 


AS  a  result  of  experiments  which  he  has  carried  on 
for  more  than  a  year  and  principles  which  he  has 
applied  in  many  important  productions,  Cecil  B. 
De  Mille,  director  general  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Fea- 
ture Play  Company,  makes  the  interesting  announce- 
ment that  he  believes  it  is  a  scientific  possibility  to 
heighten  dramatic  effects  by  the  employment  of  dif- 
ferent shading  in  lighting  effects. 

Mr.  De  Mille's  recent  production,  "The  Golden 
Chance,"  in  which  Wallace  Reid  and  Cleo  Ridgley 
appeared  as  the  stars,  is  cited  by  him  as  an  instance 
where  he  successfully  used  these  new  principles  of 
photoplay  production  which  he  has  discovered  and 
which  he  is  making  public  for  the  first  time. 

That  the  next  important  step  in  the  development 
of  the  motion  picture  is  to  come  through  an  extra- 
ordinary advance  in  the  mechanical  process  of  making 
motion  pictures  has  frequently  been  declared  by  per- 
sons within  the  motion  picture  industry.  Since  the 
great  vogue  of  the  motion  picture,  its  various  features 
have  been  the  subject  of  constant  study  and  laboratory 
analysis.  Mr.  De  Mille,  almost  from  the  beginning  of 
his  association  as  director  general  with  the  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  Feature  Play  Company,  started  to  work  on  an 
entirely  new  track. 

"When  I  first  entered  the  photodramatic  field," 
said  Mr.  De  Mille,  "I  was  greatly  interested  in  so- 
called  artistic  photography,  but  was  not  sure  that  it 
could  be  applied  to  motion  picture  work.  It  was  pos- 
sible to  secure  certain  effects  on  a  highly  sensitive 
plate,  all  conditions  being  favorable,  but  I  was  very 
much  in  doubt  if  the  same  result  could  be  obtained  on 
the  infinitesimal  negative  of  the  motion  picture  camera. 
I  began  experimenting,  however. 

"My  desire  was  to  create  certain  psychological 
impressions  by  the  use  of  what  I  now  call  'artistic' 
photography.  I  felt  that  it  must  be  possible  to  photo- 
graph .an  artistic  background  with  the  background 
moving  instead  of  motionless.  I  spent  many  months 
experimenting.  Finally,  I  produced  'The  Rose  of  the 
Rancho,'  using  the  impressionistic  school  of  art  in 
many  of  the  scenes.  I  made  this  production  with  much 
misgiving  because  I  knew  that  an  effect  gone  wrong 
was  worse  than  no  effect  at  all.  When  the  negatives 
of  this  production  reached  the  commercial  firm  that 
did  our  printing,  they  were  at  a  loss  what  to  do.  They 
were  accustomed  to  printing  so  that  every  detail  would 
show  and  when  they  saw  only  half  a  man's  face,  they 
did  not  know  how  to  set  their  lights  to  get  the  proper 
effects,  and,  consequently,  some  of  the  prints,  were 
quite  a  mess. 

"While  'The  Rose  of  the  Rancho'  attracted  a  great 
deal  of  interest,  I  believe  we  have  now  taken  a  great 
step  forward  in  the  further  application.  As  a  result 
of  further  experiments  and  almost  endless  work,  I  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  lighting  effects  as  applied 
to  motion  pictures  have  the  definite  characteristics  of 
music;  that  artistic  lighting  in  the  motion  picture  as- 
sumes precisely  the  same  value  in  the  photodrama  that 
music  assumes  in  the  spoken  drama.  I  have  found 
that  emphasizing  or  softening  certain  dramatic  points 
in  the  motion  picture,  can  be  realized  by  the  discrimi- 


nating use  of  light  effects,  in  just  the  same  way  that 
the  dramatic  climax  in  a  play  can  be  helped  or  im- 
paired by  the  music  accompanying  it,  and  working  on 
this  principle  I  came  to  feel  that  the  theme  of  the  pic- 
ture should  be  carried  in  its  photography. 

"In  our  production  of  'The  Cheat,'  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal characters  is  a  Japanese.  In  photographing  this 
I  endeavored  to  carry  out  the  Japanese  school  of  art 
by  making  my  backgrounds  sinister  and  using  abrupt, 
bold  light  effects.  In  fact,  the  lighting  of  this  picture 
definitely  suggests  the  'clang'  and  smash  of  Japanese 
music.  In  'Carmen,'  however,  the  Rembrandt  idea  was 
followed.  The  lighting  and  grouping  of  the  characters 
in  the  soft  shadows  were  all  worked  out  in  keeping 
with  the  'school'  of  that  famous  master. 

"As  a  general  thing,  light  effects  are  out  of  place 
in  comedy.  There  you  will  notice  our  lighting  is  clear 
and  brilliant,  corresponding  to  the  faster  light  comedy 
theme  in  music,  except  in  the  melodramatic  scenes, 
where  we  carry  our  audience  into  thrills,  not  only  by 
the  action  of  the  artists,  but  by  a  change  in  the  mood  of 
our  photography." 


Director  F.  J.  Grandon  Goes  to  Metro 

Francis  J.  Grandon,  one  of  the  foremost  directors 
in  the  country,  and  a  veteran  in  this  branch  of  motion 
picture  production,  is  the  latest  addition  to  the  large 
staff  of  Metro  producers.  Mr.  Grandon  has  just  com- 
pleted, in  record 
time,  his  first  Metro 
play,  "The  Lure  of 
Heart's  Desire,"  in 
which  Edmund 
Breese,  the  eminent 
dramatic  actor,  is 
starred.  It  was  pro- 
duced for  Metro  by 
the  Popular  Plays 
and  Players.  Mr. 
Grandon's  next  fea- 
ture will  be  "The 
Soul  Market,"  by 
Aaron  Hoffman,  in 
which  Mme.  Petrova 
will  be  seen  in  the 
stellar  role.  Before 
joining  Metro,  Mr. 
Grandon  was  a  di- 
rector with  the  Tri- 
angle Company.  His 

last  productions  with  Francis  }   Grandon_ 

that    company    were 

Helen  Ware  in  "Cross  Currents,"  and  Ralph  Lewis  in 
"The  Bread  Line"  and  "Fathers  and  Sons."  He  began 
his  career  with  D.  W.  Griffith,  at  the  old  Biograph  com- 
pany, and  was  associated  with  Mr.  Griffith  for  sev- 
eral years.  Mr.  Grandon  then  received  an  attractive 
offer  from  Lubin,  and  went  with  that  company  as  a 
director.  Later  Mr.  Grandon  joined  the  Selig  forces, 
and  while  with  that  concern  directed  and  produced 
the  first  serial  released  in  connection  with  syndicated 
newspaper   stories.     This   was    "The   Adventures    of 


250 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


Kathlyn,"  with  Kathlyn  Williams  the  star.  Mr.  Gran- 
don  also  directed  the  first  two-reel  feature  ever  pro- 
duced and  released  in  this  country.  This  was  "From 
the  Bottom  of  the  Sea,"  on  the  Imp  program,  and 
was  also  the  first  time  a  submarine  was  used  in  a 
screen  story. 

Virtus  Scott,  until  recently  on  the  directing  staff 
of  the  Famous  Players,  is  another  addition  to  Metro 
and  the  Popular  Plays  and  Players,  being  Mr.  Gran- 
don's  assistant.  Mr.  Scott's  last  work  with  the  Fa- 
mous Players  was  with  Mary  Pickford  in  "The 
Foundling,"  and  Pauline  Frederick  in  "Bella  Donna." 
Before  that  Mr.  Scott  was  with  Equitable,  and  as- 
sisted in  the  direction  of  "Sealed  Lips,"  in  which  he 
achieved  individual  distinction  for  his  masterly  han- 
dling for   a   big  church   exterior  scene. 


GOFF  BOOSTS  OPEN   BOOKING 

Assistant  General  Manager  for  V.  L.  S.  E.  Tells  of  His 

Plan  to  Increase  "Maximum  and  Minimum" 

Methods. 

That  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  virtually 
every  releasing  company  will  abandon  the  flat  rate 
basis  of  renting  films,  and  will  be  forced  to  adopt  the 
"minimum  and  maximum"  method,  or  in  other  words 
the  method  which  fixes  a  price  commensurate  with  each 
film's  value  to  the  exhibitor,  is  the  prediction  made 
by  A.  W.  Goff,  assistant  general  manager  of  the  V.  L. 
S.  E.,  who  has  made  an  extended  tour  of  the  exchanges 
of  that  organization. 

Mr.  Goff,  who,  as  coast  division  manager,  was  one 
of  the  first  to  put  into  practice  that  organization's  pol- 
icy of  "open  booking" — or  of  selling  each  feature 
strictly  on  its  merits — produced  such  a  showing  for  the 
offices  under  his  jurisdiction  that  upon  assuming  his 
present  position  he  made  haste  to  see  that  exhibitors 
in  other  territories,  as  well  as  the  exchanges,  were  fully 
acquainted  with  the  advantages  of  this  system.  He 
found  during  his  trip  that  exhibitors  were  exerting  all 
the  pressure  possible  to  induce  other  companies  to 
adopt  this  plan. 

The  "minimum  and  maximum"  method  of  book- 
ing has  its  basis  in  the  fact  that  all  features  cannot 
possibly  be  alike  in  drawing  power,  and,  therefore,  in 
fairness  to  the  exhibitor  and  the  manufacturer,  there 
should  be  a  minimum  price  for  the  picture  which  might 
be  described  as  that  which  it  is  "better  for  the  exhibitor 
to  see  before  booking,"  and  a  maximum  price  for  the 
picture  which  is  extraordinary  and  self-evident  in  its 
profit-making  qualities. 

Between  these  two  scales  there  is  given  an  op- 
portunity for  establishing  an  equitable  price  for  the 
picture,  which  is  average  in  its  business-creating  quali- 
ties. 

In  other  words,  such  a  system  enables  the  manu- 
facturer to  obtain  for  the  superior  picture  a  price 
worthy  of  its  merit,  and  permits  the  exhibitor  to  pay 
that  price  for  the  picture  because  he  is  not  required  to 
ay  for  features  not  so  good. 

On  the  other  hand  this  means  that  if  a  picture  of 
a  doubtful  value  is  offered  the  exhibitor,  and  he  be- 
lieves with  the  right  exploitation  it  will  "go"  with  his 
patrons,  he  is  given  the  opportunity  to  obtain  this  pic- 
ture at  a  figure  low  enough  to  eliminate  the  element 
of  chance  and  to  permit  him  to  make  a  satisfactory 
profit  upon  it. 


"In  other  words,"  as  Mr.  Goff  put  it  in  an  inter- 
view, "we  want  to  insure  the  exhibitor  making  sub- 
stantial profit  on  every  one  of  our  pictures,  even  those 
which  may  fall  below  our  standard." 

This  system,  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  believes,  is  also  fairer 
to  its  manufacturers,  because  no  manufacturer's  prod- 
uct is  "tied"  to  that  of  another,  as  it  must  necessarily 
be  in  the  case  of  the  single  contract  or  flat  rate  method 
of  booking. 

The  elasticity  permitted  the  exhibitor  under  the 
"minimum  and  maximum"  system  advocated  by  the 
Big  Four,  it  is  believed,  not  only  will  increase  business, 
but  will  materially  reduce  cancellations,  and  to  a  dis- 
tributing company,  as  Mr.  Goff  states,  "an  order  saved 
is  worth  a  great  deal  more  than  an  order  made." 

"One  exhibitor  in  Chicago  who  owns  eight  houses 
stated  very  frankly  that  as  soon  as  his  present  contract 
expires  he  will  never  again  make  a  contract  which 
forces  him  to  take  that  which  the  distributor  books 
him  or  to  which  there  is  attached  a  deposit,"  said  Mr. 
Goff. 


Mirror  Announces  Goodwin  Play- 
Nat  Goodwin,  according  to  a  statement  from  the 
offices  of  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  is  at  work  on  a  so- 
ciety drama  which  will  be  the  first  Mirror  feature  re- 
lease. Mr.  Goodwin's  arrival  at  the  Mirror  studio  at 
Glendale,  L.  I.,  was 
attended  by  an  in- 
formal reception 
from  many  of  his 
business  and  social 
associates,  as  well  as 
members  of  the  Mir- 
ror directorate  which 
includes  A.  A.  An- 
derson, Irving  Bach- 
eller,  Rufus  B.  Cow- 
ing, Jr.,  Andres  de 
Seguroal,  James  K. 
Duffy,  Clifford  B. 
Harmon,  Frank  S. 
Hastings,  William  J. 
Hoggson,  Rich  G. 
Hollaman,  John  \Y. 
Houston,  Joseph 
Howland  Hunt.Capt. 
Harry  Lambart, 
Harry  Rowe  Shelley, 
and  William  C.  Too- 
mey. 

In  the  selection  of  the  cast  for  Mr.  Goodwin's  first 
picture.  Capt.  Lambart,  chief  producer,  has  shown  fine 
discretion. 

The  perfection  of  the  studio  and  the  arrangement 
of  modern  electrical  and  mechanical  devices  was 
brought  about  by  the  team  work  of  Hector  J.  Streyck- 
mans  and  his  assistant.  James  11.  Harris,  chief  elec- 
trician. 

Miss  Margaret  Greene  is  Mr.  Goodwin's  leading 
woman.     Her  playing  <>\  such  roles  in  the  Broadway 

productions    Of    "Ready     Money."    "Broadway     lone-.'" 

and  "Seven  Keys  to  Baldpate"  placed  her  prominently 
among  the  stage  Favorites.  She  was  starred  in  "Tip- 
ping the  Winner"  at  the  Longacre  theater  and  later 
was  with  William  Gillette  in  repertoire  at  the  Empire 
theater.  In  the  silent  drama  she  has  done  important 
roles  for  Pathe  Freres. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


251 


Another  Broadway  favorite  who  will  play  the 
juvenile  lead  with  Mr.  Goodwin  is  Raymond  Bloomer, 
whose  work  in  "The  Good  Little  Devil"  made  greatly 
for  the  success  of  that  delightful  play.  His  experience 
in  light  and  comic  opera  with  Fritzi  Scheff  and  other 
favorites  and  later  his  work  in  the  film  world  place 
him  high  in  his  profession. 

Others  having  important  roles  are  P.  T.  Rollows, 
William  Gregory,  Harry  Carvill,  lone  Bright  and 
Anna  Marston. 


ANOTHER  PARAMOUNT  OUTLET 

Indianapolis  Strand  Opened  by  Strand  Theater  Com- 
pany, Chicago — House  Formerly  Known  as 
Lyceum  Has  Been  Remodeled 

The  Strand  Theater  Company,  Chicago,  has 
opened  in  Indianapolis  another  Strand  theater  for 
photoplay  and  music  entertainments  and  it  is  said  that 
the  reconstructed  and  redecorated  Lyceum,  which  be- 
fore that  was  the  old  Park — now  the  Strand — is  sur- 
passed in  beauty  by  no  theater  of  the  legitimate  stage 
in  the  west. 

Only  a  little  more  than  a  month  ago  the  Strand 
Theater  Company  began  work  on  the  old  house.  In 
beauty  and  harmony  of  decorations,  appointments  and 
equipment  it  goes  far  beyond  what  veteran  theater- 
goers would  expect  in  a  house  given  over  even  to  $2 
entertainments. 

Although  the  Strand  is  to  be  devoted  to  photoplay 
and  music,  it  has  equipment  and  appointments  that  are 
generally  associated  with  the  great  productions  of  the 
spoken  drama.  The  stage  setting  and  scenic  and  light- 
ing equipment  are  by  modern  masters  of  these 
branches  of  stagecraft. 

The  permanent  setting  is  by  Sosman  &  Landis  of 
Chicago.  When  the  spectator  views  the  Strand's 
colonnaded  Italian  garden,  in  which  the  twenty-piece 
Strand  orchestra,  composed  of  Indianapolis  artists,  is 
grouped,  he  sees  beyond  it  a  colorful  Italian  landscape 
with  mighty  purple  hills,  the  sparkling  Mediterranean 
and  a  turquoise  sky.  This  gives  full  scope  to  the 
unique  lighting  schemes  that  Raymond  Q.  Dalton  has 
designed.  Dalton  is  the  man  who  cast  aside  all  the 
stage  conventions  when  he  produced  the  lighting  for 
the  "Trojan  Women,"  which  scored  so  heavily  because 
of  his  daring  and  artistic  imagination. 

Albert  E.  Short  is  the  conductor  of  the  orchestra. 
Soloists,  Paramount  feature  plays,  travelogues,  come- 
dies, and  the  Strand  Topics  of  the  Day  will  make  up 
the  programs  which  will  be  changed  twice  a  week,  on 
Sunday  and  Thursday. 


Exacting  Authors  Appreciate  Care 

"Care  and  not  haste  in  the  preparation  of  photo- 
plays will  do  more  to  enlist  the  services  and  activities 
of  famous  authors  and  playwrights  than  all  the  other 
influences  combined,"  is  the  firm  conviction  of  R.  L. 
Giffen,  manager  for  Alice  Kauser,  the  authors'  repre- 
sentative, and,  therefore,  qualified  to  speak  on  the 
subject  with  authority.  Mr.  Giffen  was  discussing  in 
his  offices  in  the  Knickerbocker  theater  building  the 
success  of  plays  by  popular  writers  which  he  has  re- 
cently disposed  of  to  the  California  Motion  Picture 
Corporation. 

"You  know,"  he  continued,  "literary  folks  have 
got  so  now  that  they  want  their  brain  children  handled 


by  other  people  with  the  same  solicitous  tenderness 
they  themselves  show,  and  they  have  become  wary 
about  signing  contracts  for  the  filming  of  their  offer- 
ings until  they  are  satisfied  they  are  to  be  intelligently 
and  carefully  matured. 

"For  instance,  there  is  Edwin  Milton  Royle,  author 
of  'The  Unwritten  Law,'  which  the  California  Motion 
Picture  Corporation  is  shortly  to  release.  He  had  seen 
California's  production  of  'Salvation  Nell'  with  Beatriz 
Michelena  and  admired  the  efficient  manner  in  which 
the  company  had  done  Mr.  Sheldon's  play.  So  when 
the  California  Company  broached  the  subject  with  us 
of  screening  'The  Unwritten  Law,'  we  found  no  diffi- 
culty in  securing  Mr.  Royle's  consent.  In  fact,  he  be- 
came mighty  interested  in  the  project  and  at  his  solici- 
tation we  arranged  an  interview  for  him  with  Miss 
Michelena.  The  young  actress'  personality  appealed  to 
him  and  he  almost  became  excited  over  her  possibili- 
ties in  the  character  of  Kate  Wilson." 


CHARLES  DWYER  DEAD 

Originator  of  "What  Happened  to  Mary"  Series  Was 

Planning  Campaign  to  Improve  Small 

Town  Shows 

Just  as  the  first  episodes  of  "The  Strange  Case  of 
Mary  Page"  are  appearing  on  the  screen  and  in  The 
Ladies'  World  comes  the  announcement  of  the  death  in 
Chicago  of  Charles  Dwyer,  under  whose  direction  The 
Ladies'  World  became 
the  first  important 
women's  magazine  to 
collaborate  with  mo- 
tion pictures. 

Mr.  Dwyer,  at 
that  time  editor  of  the 
periodical,  suggested 
to  his  staff  that  a 
story  be  written  for 
the  magazine  which 
could  at  the  same  time 
be  shown  in  the  mo- 
tion pictures.  The  re- 
sult was  the  "What 
Happened  to  Mary" 
series,  written  under 
Mr.  Dwyer's  supervi- 
sion, by  several  au- 
thors, chief  among 
them  the  late  Edwin 
P.  Bliss.  They  were 
produced  on  the 
screen  by  the  Edison  Charles  Dwyer. 

company,  featuring  Mary  Fuller,  and  were  among  the 
earliest  and  most  popular  of  "continued  stories"  in  the 
pictures. 

Mr.  Dwyer  was  among  the  first  of  the  editors  to 
realize  the  importance  of  motion  pictures.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  editor  of  Woman's  World,  published 
in  Chicago,  and  one  of  his  plans  was  that  the  magazine 
should  lead  in  an  effort  to  get  better  films  for  the  small 
town  people,  among  whom  the  magazine  has  a  large  cir- 
culation. A  recent  article  in  Woman's  World,  written  at 
Mr.  Dwyer's  suggestion,  contained  a  plea  to  his  readers 
to  become  interested  in  the  local  picture  theater  and  de- 
mand a  high  class  of  plays.  This  was  intended  to  be  the 
first  of  several  dealing  with  this  subject. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Dwyer,  which  will  come  as  a  shock 


252 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


to  his  many  friends  in  film  circles,  was  caused  by  a  frac- 
ture of  the  skull,  the  result  of  a  fall  on  the  icy  pavement 
near  his  home  on  the  morning  of  January  17.  He  was 
born  in  Richmond.  Surrey,  England,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1881.  His  first  editorial  work  was  with 
The  Delineator,  which  he  transformed  from  a  fashion 
sheet  to  a  powerful  magazine.  His  next  association  was 
with  The  Ladies'  World,  which  he  left  in  1913  to  become 
editor  of  Woman's  World. 


JURY  SELECTS  BLUEBIRDS 

Fifteen  Exhibitors  Must  Pass  Unanimously  on  Fea- 
tures to  Make  Them  Acceptable  for 
New  Brand. 

The  public  has  had  its  first  view  of  Mme.  Sarah 
Bernhardt,  in  "Jeanne  Dore,"  the  screen  version  of 
the  play  she  was  acting  in  at  her  own  theater  in  Paris 
when  she  sought  relief  from  years  of  physical  suffer- 
ing by  undergoing 
the  surgical  opera- 
tion which  cost  her  a 
leg. 

The  newspaper 
discussions  and  the 
cables  from  Paris 
that  have  kept  alive 
the  question  as  to 
whether  Bernhardt 
would  make  another 
farewell  tour  of 
America  have  kept 
public  interest  very 
active  and  the  time 
is  considered  most 
propitious  for  the 
launching  of  the  new 
feature  -  producing 
organization,  Blue- 
bird Photoplays, 
Inc.,  simultaneously 
with  the  Bernhardt 
film  of  such  impell- 
ing interest.  The  announcement  of  Bluebird  plans 
is  decidedly  interesting  and  important  to  exhibitors, 
for  the  outlined  policy  marks  some  real  effort  to  place 
the  Bluebird  brand  above  competition  and  to  create  a 
program  of  features. 

Three  factors  in  the  success  of  Bluebird  photo- 
plays stand  out  conspicuously  in  the  analysis  of  the 
Bluebird  announcements.  The  arrangement  that  has 
been  made  with  the  Universal  to  produce ;  the  Univer- 
sal distributing  facilities  to  market  the  product  and  the 
engagement  of  M.  H.  Hoffman  as  general  manager  of 
the  Bluebird  corporation  form  a  threesome  of  unusual 
importance. 

Thus  Bluebird  starts  off  without  the  tremendous 
handicap  of  heavy  original  expense  in  creating  studios 
and  producing  facilities,  with  the  supplemental  drain 
of  a  tremendous  overhead  expense  in  organizing  and 
maintaining  distributing  methods.  It  is  easy  to  believe 
that  $35,000  a  week  is  saved  by  Bluebird  in  operating 
expense  and  overhead  for  feature  production  and  dis- 
tribution. 

Mr.  Hoffman's  engagement  as  the  executive  head 
enlarges  upon  the  foregoing  advantages,  because  of 
his  admitted  capacity  for  hard  work,  plus  an  abundance 


of  executive  ability ;  but  additionally  through  his  dual 
position  as  general  manager  of  Universal  Exchanges. 
These  benefits  should  come  to  the  exhibitor,  because 
of  the  increased  excellence  of  the  features  themselves 
through  absorbing  the  extra  money,  saved  from  over- 
head, and  thrown  into  the  pictures  and  their  produc- 
tion. 

The  Bluebird  people  have  hit  upon  a  plan  whereby 
the  judgment  of  fifteen  exhibitors  shall  be  taken  in  de- 
ciding what  shall  be  a  Bluebird  photoplay.  One  dis- 
senting voice  in  this  jury  and  the  film  under  inspection 
will  not  become  a  Bluebird.  In  addition  to  the  films 
Bluebird  itself  manufactures,  it  buys  in  open  market  fea- 
tures that  are  approved  by  the  jury  of  exhibitors  as 
meeting  the  Bluebird  standard. 


Vitagraphers  Off  for  Nova  Scotia 

To  provide  scenes  authentic  of  the  Arctic  regions, 
the  Vitagraph  Company  has  engaged  Capt.  Robert 
Bartlett,  who  was  in  the  North  Pole  part  of  the  coun- 
try with  Peary,  to  give  his  technical  aid  to  the  produc- 
tion. 

The  elaborate  filming  necessary  has  been  en- 
trusted to  Wally  Van,  hitherto  known  as  a  comedy 
director,  but  who  has  demonstrated  so  thorough  a 
grasp  of  dramatic  scenes  and  emotional  situations  that 
there  is  little  doubt  that  he  will  produce  a  feature 
worthy  of  the  Vitagraph  standard. 

Director  Van,  in  company  with  Capt.  Bartlett,  Ned 
Finley,  Charles  Richman  and  others  of  the  Vitagraph 
players,  will  leave  for  Nova  Scotia  next  week  and  film 
the  exterior  scenes  in  the  heavy  fall  of  snow  reported 
there.  Wally  has  had  considerable  experience  in  snow 
photography  in  "Love,  Snow  and  Ice."  which  he  di- 
rected at  Saranac  Lake  last  year.  The  requirements 
for  work  in  snow  settings  are  more  exacting  than  other 
lines  of  film  endeavor,  and  Wally's  experience  up  the 
state  will  be  of  immense  advantage  to  him  in  this  new 
film. 


It's  No  Fun — Being  Lost  in  the  Snow 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon's  company  of  Vitagraphers  re- 
turned recently  to  Los  Angeles,  cold,  half-starved, 
and  at  the  point  of  exhaustion  after  several  days  of 
wandering,  lost,  through  the  snows  of  the  San 
Bernardino  mountains.  The  company,  fifteen  men  and 
two  women — Nell  Shipman  and  Nell  Kellar — set  out 
from  Bear  Valley  with  three  dog-teams  of  sixteen 
dogs  each,  and  fought  their  way  through  sixty  miles 
of  snow  drifts.  The  dogs  practically  saved  the  com- 
pany from  sure  death  by  breaking  the  trails  and 
finally  going  forward  by  themselves  to  Amityville, 
where  they  were  met  by  a  rescue  party  sent  out  from 
Los  Angeles  to  search  for  the  lost  company.  The 
company  was  divided  into  three  classes — the  strong, 
the  weak  and  the  to-be-cared-for.  Nell  Shipman  and 
eight  of  .the  men  comprised  the  first  group  and  saw 
that  no  one  was  left  behind  in  the  big  drifts.  On 
their  arrival  in  Los  Angeles  the  party  was  met  by 
more  automobiles  than  the  party  comprised  members. 
Relatives  and  friends  were  present  at  the  station  in 
big  numbers  and  there  was  a  prevalence  of  newspaper 
reporters  and  photographers.  The  picture  which  had 
taken  the  company  into  the  snow-lands  was  James 
Oliver  Curwood's  "God's  Country — and  the  Woman," 
in  which  William  Duncan  and  Nell  Shipman  have 
the  leading  roles. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


A  PLEA  FOR  CLEAN  PICTURES 

By  Walter  W.  Irwin* 

While  the  film  drama  has  gained  millions  of  recruits, 
there  is  still  a  large  percentage  of  the  public — possibly, 
the  most  representative  body  of  the  public — to  be  won. 
If  we  are  to  number  the  entire  public  as  our  patrons 
and  to  obtain  its  thor- 
ough respect  and  ad- 
miration,   it   must   be 
by  the  production  and 
exhibition  of  pictures 
that  are  in  advance  of 
public  thought. 

True  it  is,  not- 
withstanding the  seem- 
ing invasion  for  the 
moment  of  the  fea- 
ture apparently  de- 
signed to  attract  "that 
section  of  all  commu- 
nities that  revel  in 
moral  slush,"  the 
screen  in  general  is 
nevertheless  so  far  su- 
perior from  a  moral 
standpoint  to  the 
drama  and  grand 
opera,  that  a  com- 
parison would  be  un- 
just. 

On  the  other  hand,  however,  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  grand  opera  and  the  drama  are  shown  to  the 
few,  and  the  picture  to  the  millions.  Therefore,  despite 
the  superiority  in  moral  tone  of  the  average  picture,  it 
will  gain  its  greatest  strength  by  leading  all  forms  of  art 
in  the  uplift  of  public  standards ;  rather  than  by  pulling 
those  standards  down. 

In  other  words,  those  who  are  putting  out  pic- 
tures which  pander  to  the  salacious  tastes  of  a  dwind- 
ling and  unworthy  few  of  the  great  host  of  photoplay 
patrons,  are  justly  and  properly  entitled  to  condemna- 
tion and  are  a  menace  to  everyone  else  in  the  industry 
and  ought  to  be  looked  upon  as  such. 

It  is  an  ominous  sign  when  the  editor  of  a  great 
paper  in  the  south,  accustomed  as  he  is  to  dealing 
with  the  bare  facts  of  life,  senses  the  peril  of  sensa- 
tional pictures  to  the  extent  that  he  is  prompted  to 
send  out  a  protest  to  motion  picture  manufacturers  per- 
sonally against  them,  declaring  that  such  vizualizations 
of  forbidden  topics  serve  no  purpose  other  than  to 
gratify  the  depravity  of  "students  of  the  sex  problem, 
of  which  every  community  is  sufficiently  supplied  with 
living  models." 

Dare  we  ignore,  as  the  stage  and  the  variety  house 
once  did,  the  disaster  which  always  accompanies  un- 
clean things,  and  must  we  not  right  now,  without 
further  delay  give  serious  consideration  to  the  fact 
that  it  is  the  picture  which  builds  the  most  lasting  and 
the  most  substantial  success  for  all  concerned — the 
picture  with  a  purpose — the  one  which  is  strong  with- 
out being  suggestive,  absorbing,  without  being  debas- 
ing— in  short,  the  one  which  is  produced  by  men  of 
ideas  and  ideals,  acted  by  finished  artists  of  notable 
careers  and  staged  with  practically  unlimited  resources 
back  of  it? 

Should  we  not  be  guided  by  the  judgment,  expe- 

*  General   manager,    V.   L.    S.    E.,    Inc. 


rience  and  representativeness  of  those  who  sponsor  the 
clean  picture  as  opposed  to  the  producers  of  the  ques- 
tionable? 


BERST  QUITS  GENERAL,  REPORT 

New  President  of  Film  Company  Said  to  Have  Been 

Offered  Former  Position  with  Pathe  to  Succeed 

Gasnier,  Resigned 

While  the  New  York  newspapers  are  announcing  the 
resignation  of  J.  A.  Berst  as  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  General  Film  Company  to  become  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  the  Pathe  Exchange,  vice- 
president  L.  J.  Gasnier,  resigned,  there  comes  word  from 
the  Pathe  offices  that  official  action  on  the  changes  has 
not  been  taken.  The  General  Film  Company  directors 
have  been  in  session  several  days  and  no  authentic  state- 
ment has  been  issued  from  behind  the  closed  doors. 

From  Pathe  headquarters,  however,  there  has  been 
sent  out  the  information  that  Mr.  Gasnier  has  resigned 
as  vice-president  and  general  manager  to  become  director 
of  production.  From  other  sources  it  is  learned  that  the 
belief  of  most  of  the  men  high  in  motion  picture  circles 
is  that  Mr.  Berst  has  quit  the  General  to  go  with  Pathe, 
his  first  love. 

In  December  of  1913,  Mr.  Berst  left  Pathe  to  be- 
come treasurer  of  the  General  Film  Company  and  early 
in  1915  quit  General  to  join  the  Selig  forces  as  vice- 
president  and  general  manager.  A  few  months  ago  he  re- 
turned to  General  as  president. 


WORLD  JOINS  EQUITABLE 

Change  Is  an  Amalgamation  and  in  No  Sense  a  "Tak- 
ing Over,"  as  Reported,  Declares 
M.  J.  Spiegel 

An  amalgamation  of  the  Equitable  and  World  cor- 
porations has  taken  place,  details  of  which  are  being  com- 
pleted in  New  York  this  Aveek.  The  name  of  the  com- 
pany has  not  been  decided  upon,  nor  have  the  officers 
been  lined  up.  The  report  of  the  resignation  of  Lewis  J. 
Selznick  and  Britton  N.  Bush  of  the  World  is  not  true, 
according  to  M.  J.  Spiegel,  talking  for  A.  H.  Spiegel, 
president  of  the  Equitable,  who  is  in  New  York.  The 
transaction,  declares  Mr.  Spiegel,  is  pleasing  to  both  the 
World  and  the  Equitable  companies,  who  will  share  in 
the  new  corporation  so  equally  that  it  is  in  no  sense  a 
"taking  over"  of  either  one  by  the  other. 

Pathe  Club's  First  Annual  Beefsteak 

With  such  variety  of  food  and  refreshments,  speeches 
and  entertainment,  not  one  of  all  the  persons  present  at 
the  first  annual  beefsteak  of  the  Pathe  Club  can  claim 
anything  but  a  most  enjoyable  evening.  The  auspicious 
start  of  an  event  which  seems  assured  of  many  repetitions 
took  place  at  Healy's  last  Saturday  evening. 

Tumultuous  applause  greeted  Mr.  Charles  Pathe's 
speech  in  which  he  set  at  rest  the  rumor  which  had  it  that 
L.  J.  Gasnier  had  resigned  from  the  company.  This 
rumor  was  the  topic  of  conversation  in  film  circles  and 
the  cause  of  much  apprehension  in  the  Pathe  offices  dur- 
ing the  day  and  early  evening.  When  Mr.  Pathe  closed 
his  remarks  with  a  wish  for  the  prosperity  of  the  club 
and  its  members,  there  was  a  storm  of  applause.  It  con- 
tinued while  Mr.  Gasnier,  who  sat  at  Mr.  Pathe's  right, 


254 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


rose,  and  continued  until  toastmaster  W.  A.  S.  Douglas 
had  completed  his  introduction.  The  introduction  was 
unnecessary  anyway.  Everybody  knew  Gasnier  and  every- 
body wanted  to  hear  him  speak,  and  enthusiasm  was  at 
too  high  a  point  to  pay  heed  to  conventions. 

From  that  time  on  there  was  no  holding  the  spirit 
of  good  fellowship  and  gaiety  of  the  party.  There  were 
speeches  by  Fred  Beecroft,  Hedley  M.  Smith,  E.  D.  Hork- 
heimer,  George  Fitzmaurice,  Donald  Mackenzie,  and 
heads  of  the  various  departments  of  the  Pathe  organiza- 
tion. Between  speeches  vaudeville  entertainment  was  of- 
fered and  approved. 

The  guests  of  honor  were  Charles  Pathe,  L.  J.  Gas- 
nier, H.  T.  Kingsbury,  Hedley  M.  Smith,  Paul  Fuller, 
C.  B.  Samuel  and  representatives  of  the  press.  J.  W. 
Kyle  and  H.  J.  Walsh,  who  comprised  the  committee  on 
entertainment,  did  nobly.  Here's  hoping  that  the  Pathe 
Club  lives  a  long  and  a  merry  life. 


Chicago  Board  Passes  "Madame  X" 

A  remarkable  demonstration  on  the  part  of  mo- 
tion picture  enthusiasts  took  place  in  Chicago  last 
week  when  people  stormed  the  doors  of  the  Bijou 
theater  in  an  attempt  to  witness  the  first  exhibition 
of  "Madame  X,"  the  screen  version  of  the  Savage  stage 
success  released  by  Pathe  on  the  Gold  Rooster  pro- 
gram. Long  before  the  doors  were  scheduled  to  open 
the  people  began  to  gather  and  as  the  hour  approached 
the  crowd  grew  to  such  proportions  that  police  re- 
serves were  called  to  keep  order.  Those  who  were 
unable  to  get  inside  in  time  to  witness  the  first  run 
waited  two  hours  for  the  second  show. 

The  demonstration  is  all  the  more  remarkable 
when  it  is  considered  that  up  to  the  last  minute  the 
managers  of  the  theater  did  not  know  whether  or 
not  they  would  be  permitted  to  exhibit  the  picture. 
The  Board  of  Censors  had  condemned  the  production 
in  toto.  When  this  decision  was  announced,  Mr. 
Burlock  of  the  Savage  forces,  caught  the  first  train 
out  of  New  York.  He  appeared  before  the  board,  and 
after  explaining  that  it  was  the  same  production,  with 
practically  the  same  cast  that  was  permitted  to  run 
for  fifty  weeks  in  Chicago,  they  passed  it  without  a 
cut. 

"Madame  X"  is  taken  from  the  story  by  Alexandre 
Bisson.  Dorothy  Donnelly,  who  plays  the  lead,  made 
an  enviable  name  for  herself  in  the  legitimate  produc- 
tion of  the  piece  and  continues  her  good  work  in  the 
screen  version.  George  F.  Marion,  who  put  on  the 
piece  for  Savage,  directed  the  picture. 


Fine  Arts  Company  Off  for  Truckee 

Truckee,  California,  well  known  for  its  immense 
forest  and  snow-topped  mountains,  will  be  the  loca- 
tion of  a  number  of  scenes  for  Lillian  Gish's  new  Fine 
Arts  play,  "Marja  of  the  Steppe,"  based  on  the  origi- 
nal story  by  William  E.  Wing,  from  which  Granville 
Warwick  prepared  the  screen  version. 

Miss  Gish  in  the  early  part  of  the  play  is  a  peas- 
ant in  Russia,  and  these  scenes  will  be  photographed 
in  and  around  Truckee.  Director  William  Christy 
Cabanne  will  soon  depart  for  this  section  of  California, 
accompanied  by  a  very  large  cast  of  players,  and  a  staff 
of  stage  carpenters,  who  will  build  the  special  settings 
required. 

In  her  latest  play  "Daphne,"  which  was  recently 
completed  by  Director  Cabanne.    Mis-,  <  1  i ^  1 1   renders  a 


most  impressive  characterization  of  a  vivacious  French 
girl  of  the  casket  bride  period,  of  the  early  eighteenth 
century.  This  play  is  also  from  the  prolific  pen  of 
Granville  Warwick,  whose  most  recent  screen  achieve- 
ments are  "Betty  of  Greystone,"  with  Dorothy  Gish 
and  Owen  Moore,  and  "Hoodoo  Ann,"  with  Mae 
Marsh  and  Robert  Harron. 


Fined  $  1  00  for  Duping  Keystones 

The  Triangle-Keystone's  vigorous  campaign 
against  the  duping  of  Keystone  films  scored  another 
substantial  victory  in  the  United  States  District  Court 
of  New  York  City  on  Friday,  January  14,  when 
Abraham  George  Levi  pleaded  guilty  and  was  fined 
$100  by  Judge  Mayer.  Levi  was  the  first  of  those 
indicted  for  the  duping  which  constitutes  a  violation 
of  the  copyright  law.  The  indictments  followed  the 
raids  planned  by  Walter  N.  Selisberg  and  carried  out 
by  William  H.  Moore  in  which  several  arrests  were 
made  at  a  Greenpoint  duping  factory  and  many  thou- 
sand feet  of  pirated  film  were  confiscated. 

The  Keystone  company  prosecuted  the  offenders 
both  civilly  and  criminally.  It  was  aided  by  a 
complete  confession  made  by  one  of  Levi's  accom- 
plices. All  the  civil  suits  against  infringers  brought 
by  the  Keystone  Company  have  terminated  favor- 
ably to  it,  the  defendants  having  settled  them  by  the 
payment  of  substantial  damages.  In  this  Levi  crim- 
inal case — the  first  of  its  kind  under  the  court's  juris- 
diction— Assistant  District  Attorney  Content  recom- 
mended some  degree  of  leniency,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  indictment  itself  had  largely  put  an  end  to  the 
practice  of  duping.  He  stated  that  the  United  States 
attorney  was  prepared  to  entertain  and  prosecute  vig- 
•  orously  any  similar  charges  upon  proper  presentation 
of  proof. 

Film-duping  of  pictorial  drama  corresponds  to 
piracy  of  novels,  books  and  plays.  All  the  three 
studios  of  the  Triangle-Keystone,  Fine  Arts  and  Kay- 
Bee — are  copyrighting  their  pictures,  and  therefore 
duping  is  a  much  more  dangerous  business  for  the 
perpetrators  than  it  used  to  be. 


Board  of  Trade  to  Hear  Wilson 

President  Wilson  will  address  the  Motion  Picture 
Board  of  Trade  at  the  first  annual  dinner  of  that  body  in 
the  Biltmore  Hotel,  New  York,  according  to  an  announce- 
ment sent  out  by  J.  W.  Binder,  secretary.  One  thousand 
reservations  will  be  made. 

Other  speakers  will  be  Dudley  Field  Malone,  collec- 
tor of  the  Port  of  New  York;  Judge  Samuel  Seabury, 
of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  New  York ;  Henry  Ashurst, 
United  States  senator  from  Arizona,  and  Irving  Shu- 
man,  United  States  treasurer  of  Chicago. 


Leading  Exhibitors  Organize 

The  Leading  Theaters  Circuit.  Inc..  created  last 
week,  brings  into  a  body  leading  exhibitors  through- 
out the  United  States.  Mitchell  H.  Mark,  head  of  the 
New  York  Strand  theater,  is  president ;  John  H. 
ECunsky,  of  the  ECunsky  theaters  in  Detroit,  vice-presi- 
dent; Nathan  II.  Gordon,  treasurer,  and  William  Siev- 
ers  of  St.  Louis,  secretary.  The  directors  are  Stanley 
Mastbaum,  of  Philadelphia;  John  P.  Harris,  Pitts- 
burgh;  Aaron  Jones,  Chicago;  Emanuel  Mandelbaum, 
Cleveland;  Louis  J.  Dittmar,  Louisville;  Thomas  Saxe, 
Milwaukee,  and  Thomas  Furniss.  Duluth. 


January  29,  1916. 


PAUL  H.WOODRUFF,  Editor 


Telephone  Bryant  70 
ILES  R.  CONDON.  Eastern 
;    publication    is    f 


stockholders 


MOTOGRAPHY 

THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED.  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:      Harrison  3014 — All  Departments 


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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  JANUARY  25,  1916 


Number  9 


Supervision  to  the  Saturation  Point 

RAILROAD  officials,  telephone  men  and  gas  magnates  who  bend  under  the  burden  of  pub- 
lic supervision — who  complain  bitterly,  though  privately  of  the  way  their  souls  are  shut- 
tle-cocked by  commissions  and  councils — should  straighten  up  and  smile.  Poor  devils!  They 
don't  know  when  they  are  well  off.  Public  utilities  like  theirs,  they  say,  are  ever  harassed  and 
restrained,  while  the  private  industries  are  free  as  air ;  their  manufacturers  turn  out  such  prod- 
ucts as  they  please  and  sell  them  where  and  how  they  please — subject  only  to  the  control  of 
wholesome  competition  and  reasonable  price. 

Witness,  per  example,  the  Fifth  Industry — the  motion  picture  business.  Is  it  not  free? 
May  it  not  construct  and  distribute  its  wares  the  same  as  the  steel  business,  or  the  automobile 
business,  or  the  newspaper  business?  It  is  not.    It  may  not. 

Consider,  Mr.  Railroad  Man,  where  you  would  be  if  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission 
ordered  you  to  use  cars  with  end  doors  only  and  the  Illinois  State  Public  Utilities  Commission 
said  you  must  use  cars  with  side  doors  only,  and  the  Chicago  City  Council  said  you  could 
bring  in  only  cars  with  both  side  and  end  doors.  Of  course,  such  a  state  of  affairs  is  quite  im- 
possible. Commissions,  even  if  they  seem  arbitrary,  are  more  or  less  reasonable.  They  regu- 
late public  utilities;  but  they  give  them  some  special  privileges  in  return.  They  let  them  charge 
high  enough  rates  to  earn  interest  for  their  stockholders,  and  protect  them  from  improper 
competition,  and  give  them  a  few  other  advantages. 

But  the  Fifth  Industry  gets  the  regulation  without  the  privilege.  Taxation  without  rep- 
resentation is  what  they  called  that  same  principle  in  1773,  when  they  dumped  that  load  of 
tea  off  the  Boston  pier  and  followed  it  up  with  a  declaration  of  war. 

Yes,  it  gets  the  regulation — three  times  over.  It  gets  exactly  what  we  called  impossible  in 
the  imaginary  railroad  case  we  cited  two  paragraphs  back. 

The  National  Board  of  Censorship  is  a  responsible,  dignified  and  highly  efficient  institu- 
tion. When  it  has  put  its  O.  K.  on  a  film  we  may  rest  assured  that  that  particular  film  will  do 
no  harm  to  the  morals  of  any  one,  young  or  old. 

The  motion  picture  is  a  national  affair.  The  film  censored  by  the  National  Board  of  New 
York  is  shown,  or  may  be  shown,  in  every  state  and  city  in  the  Union.  Of  course  those  states 
and  cities  recognize  that  their  films  have  already  been  censored  by  a  competent  body?  They 
do  not. 

And  so  on  top  of  the  work  of  the  National  Board  of  Censorship  is  imposed  the  work  of 
the  Ohio  board,  and  the  Pennsylvania  board,  and  the  Chicago  board.  In  those  communities 
the  care  and  study  and  effort  of  the  National  Board  goes  for  naught.  It  is  overruled  by  a 
handful  of  local  jobholders — in  Chicago,  for  instance,  by  ten  individuals  of  the  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollar  class.  On  the  hands  of  not  more  than  four  or  five  of  these  rests  the  power  to  order 
that  none  of  Chicago's  two  million  people  shall  see  a  certain  film — already  passed  by  the  Na- 
tional Board — and  to  order  the  confiscation  and  destruction  of  that  film. 

The  people,  in  the  large,  accept  this  arbitrary  arrangement  without  protest,  as  it  is  their 


256 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo.  5. 


wont  to  accept  most  official  impositions.  But  that  active 
and  belligerent  minority  which  classifies  as  reformers, 
moral  agitators  and  club  women — the  class  really  respon- 
sible for  censorship — do  they  accept  the  Frankenstein 
they  have  created  ?    They  do  not. 

Right  now  in  Chicago  three  hundred  inspired  club 
women  are  investigating  the  pictures.  They  are  hunting 
for  immoral  and  risque  subjects. 

The  chain  of  inspection  is  nearly  perfect.  Every 
film  shown  in  Chicago  must  pass  first  the  National  Board 
of  Censorship;  second  the  Chicago  Censor  Board;  third 
the  Active  Order  of  Censorious  Club  Women.  The  pic- 
ture that  comes  through  with  all  these  odds  against  it 
must  be  too  weak  to  fight.  All  that  is  needed  to  com- 
plete the  four  walls  of  a  guard-house  from  which  no 
film  can  hope  to  escape  unwounded  is  the  passage  of  the 
Hughes  federal  censorship  bill  by  Congress.  And  no- 
body is  going  to  stand  in  the  way  of  its  passing  except 
the  motion  picture  men  themselves. 

This  industry  may  be  in  fifth  place  now,  but  if  it 
keeps  that  position  in  the  face  of  the  persistent  body  blows 
that  rain  continually  on  one  unprotected  spot  it  must 
be  credited  with  the  ability  to  stand  a  wonderful  amount 
of  punishment. 

In  itself,  the  interference  of  the  busy-bodies  known 
collectively  as  club  women  may  be  ignored.  At  the  worst, 
they  can  only  invoke  the  law  after  publication — and  we 
cannot  deny  them  that  privilege.  But  superimposed  on 
the  work  of  officially  accredited  censor  boards,  their  work 
serves  to  illuminate  the  utter  uselessness  and  foolishness 
of  such  boards. 


The  Better  Theater 

J  IMPROVEMENT  in  the  condition  of  the  picture 
*  show  is  generally  credited  to  better  pictures.  That 
is,  it  is  assumed  that  the  advent  of  the  big  feature  and 
the  balanced  program  is  responsible  for  the  upward 
tendency  of  admission  prices  and  the  betterment  of  ex- 
hibiting morale.  While  this  assumption  is,  of  course, 
largely  true,  the  part  played  by  the  theater  itself,  in  its 
purely  local  aspect,  must  not  be  overlooked. 

Economy  no  longer  is  the  watchword  of  the  pic- 
ture theater  builder.  The  owner's  rule  today  is  to 
spend  as  much  money  as  is  needed  to  get  the  best  pos- 
sible effect,  or  the  one  most  appropriate  to  the  loca- 
tion. We  see  evidences  of  that  in  every  big  city  in  the 
country,  and  in  a  good  many  small  cities. 

The  modern  showman,  specializing  in  motion  pic- 
tures, is  first  of  all  a  theater  man.  He  may  be,  must  be, 
a  keen  judge  of  pictures,  but  owning  and  operating  a 
theater  is  his  main  business,  of  which  pictures  are  the 
goods  he  buys  and  sells.  '  Ambition  and  professional 
pride  lead  him  to  select  the  program  that  seems  to  him 
the  best  on  the  market;  but  principally  they  lead  him 
to  make  his  house  beautiful  and  substantial  and  com- 
fortable. 

The  biggest  of  film  productions  cannot,  get  top  ad- 
mission prices  in  a  poor  theater.  The  house  must  fit 
the  picture.  It  is  pleasant  to  observe  how  often  it 
does;  that  with  the  wonderful  development  of  the  film 
production  the  theater  has  kept  full  pace.  The  best 
houses  arc  good  enough  for  the  best  films. 

There  are  still  too  few  of  those  "best"  houses.  But 
every  week  adds  more,  and  ever)  new  triumph  of  the- 
atrical enterprise  gives  its  impetus  to  others  yet  to 
come.  Picture  exhibition  is  moving  rapidly  toward  a 
higher  plane. 


lust  a  Moment  Please 


'Somebody  is  holding  out  on  us 


The  report  of  the  hearing  on  censorship  before  the  House 
Committee  on  Education,  in  Washington,  proves  conclusively 
that  J.  Stuart  Blackton  is  wasting  his  talents  when  address- 
ing hick  legislators. 

Any  man  who  can  get  off  such  bon  mots  as  "Columbus 
crossed  the  Atlantic  ocean  in  1492  and  Henry  Ford  double 
crossed  it  in  1915"  should  send  his  squibs  to  our  column,  so 
the  trade  can  enjoy  'em,  rather  than  wasting  them  on  a  lot 
of  Congressional  investigators. 

TAKE  YOUR  WINTER  UNDERWEAR,  "DUG." 
A  late  bulletin  from  the  Effete  East  advises  us  that  Doug- 
las Fairbanks,  Triangle  star,  is  unable  longer  to  endure  the 
snappy  climate  of  Noo  Yawk  and  thereabouts,  and  accord- 
ingly has  harkened  to  the  call  of  sunny  California  and  will 
soon  be  -en  route  to  Los  Angeles. 

Now  we  thought  surely  that  "Hen"  MacMahon  would 
have  noted  those  snow  pictures  from  Universal  City  that  we 
published  last  week  and  warned  "Dug"  before  he  had  pur- 
chased his  ticket. 

Apparently,  however,  Tom  Ince  is  doing  his  level  best  to 
warm  things  up  in  California  if  all  this  fire  stuff  is  to  be 
believed — and  who  could  doubt  such  an  honest  vouth  as 
"Ken"  O'Hara? 

OUR  BURG. 

Al.  Brandt,  "Universal"  Rothstein  and  a  whole  flock  of  publicity  men 
fresh  from  Broadway  has  descended  in  our  midst,  preparatory  to  flooding 
Our  Village  with  the  glad  tidings  that  Anna  Pavlowa  will  soon  be  with 
us  in   film   form  and   on  view  at  the   w.   k.    Colonial   Opry   House. 

_  Mention  of  the  Colonial  leads  us  to  chronicle  the  fact  that  the 
eminent  and  brilliant  Chas.  Nixon,  he  who  has  been  bombarding  the  news- 
papers of  Our  Village  for  many  wks.  re  the  importance  of  the  Grand 
Opry,  is  to  move  his  trust}  typewriter  over  to  the  Colonial  and  represent 
Pavlowa  and  "The  Dumb  Girl  of  Portici"  for  some  considerable  period. 
Good  luck,  Chas.  We're  darn  sure  you'll  make  a  noise  that  will  resound 
even    unto    Aurora    and    South    Chicago. 

Jay  Cairns,  a  pop.  young  man  about  town,  is  missing  this  wk.  from 
his  w.  k.  haunts,  he  being  on  a  site  seeing  tour  for  the  Mutual  Fillim 
Corps.,  visiting  such  junctions  as  Indianapolis.  Louisville,  Charlestown, 
Montgomery  and  points  South.  By  heck,  Jay  knows  where  to  go  when 
it   gets   cold.      Wish   we   was   with   him. 

If  you  don't  think  Our  Village  makes  a  hit  with  a  newcomer  to  its 
midst  just  ask  D.   Leo   Dennison,   new   Famous    Players   manager. 

Paul  Kuhn,  dopester  extraordinary,  has  got  himself  a  new  job  and, 
beginning  immediately,  will  proceed  to  inform  the  world  of  the  beauty, 
fame   and    talent   of   Billie   Burke,    "TT 


irel. 


who  i 


appear 


"Rupe"   Hughes 


Apparently  all  this  fuss  that  Geo.  Broadhurst  kicked  up  in 
Los  Angeles,  during  his  debate  with  Tom  Ince.  the  producer, 
was  advance  advertising,  skillfull}'  planted  by  Pete  Schmid  of 
the  Oliver  Morosco  staff,  for  now  it  develops  that  Geo.  is  to 
write  all  his  stuff  for  Oliver. 

And,  by  gosh,  we  fell  for  it. 

However,  we're  dead  sure  we've  got  one  on  the  Fox  pub- 
licity dept.,  which  this  week  solemnly  assures  us  that  "ten 
camels  descended  from  the  car,  each  accompanied  by  a  How- 
dah  in  full  Arabian  uniform."  Whaddaya  mean,  "Howdah," 
old  top?    We  thought  them  was  the  pillboxes  on  top. 

Universal,  we  lamp,  has  issued  an  order  that  its  villains 
must  be  careful  to  remove  any  emblems  or  buttons  indicative 
of  the  fact  that  they  belong  to  this  or  that  fraternal  order, 
before  they  begin  their  villaining. 

Good  stuff,  now  there'll  he  a  swell  chance  for  a  uoo<l 
organizer  to  start  the  Ancient,  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Desperadoes.  • 

For  Grand  Chief  Yillyun.  we  nominate  Mack  Swain. 

And  for  King  of  the  Knaves.  Chester  Conklin. 

\n\  other  nominations?  \ ,1 .    < 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Smugglers  of  Santa  Cruz" 

An  Unusual  Three-Reel  Clipper  Released  January  28 
Reviewed   by   Neil   G.   Caward 

rVRECTOR  DONALD  MacDONALD,  in  the  "Smugglers 
U  of  Santa  Cruz,"  the  three-reel  American  Clipper  feature 
scheduled  for  release  on  January  28,  makes  wonderfully  ef- 
fective use  of  silhouettes,  much  of  the  action  occurring  with 


the   lighthouse  keeper's  daughter. 


the  players  outlined  as  intensely  black  figures  against  a  light 
skyline.  This  treatment  is  even  more  effective  in  the  scenes 
where  much  of  the  action  takes  place  in  a  cave  occupied 
by  the  smugglers,  whom  Robert  Langdon,  the  revenue  officer, 
who  is  the  hero  of  the  story,  is  pursuing. 

Full  advantage  has  also  been  taken  of  the  rugged  coast- 
line, amid  which  the  scenes  are  laid,  and  scene  after  scene 
depicting  the  ocean  waves  breaking  against  the  jagged  rocks 
that  line  the  shore  form  beautiful  backgrounds  for  the  action 
of  the  story. 

Photographically  and  artistically  the  picture  is  a  master- 
piece, while  from  the  standpoint  of  cast  and  production  the 
mere  statement  that  Charlotte  Burton,  William  Russell,  Roy 
Stewart,  George  Periolat  and  Eugenie  Forde  enact  the  lead- 
ing roles  is  sufficient  to  convince  exhibitors  that  the  picture 
is  an  unusual  one. 

Miss  Burton  appears  as  Verna,  the  daughter  of  a  light- 
house keeper  on  Santa  Cruz  island,  while  Mr.  Russell,  as 
Robert  Langdon,  gives  a  manly  and  convincing  portrayal  of 
a  United  States  revenue  officer  in  search  of  a  band  of  smug- 
glers, who  are  believed  to  have  their  headquarters  some- 
where on  the  rugged  island  that  juts  out  into  the  Pacific. 

On  arriving  at  Santa  Cruz,  Langdon  meets  and  falls  in  love 
with  Verna,  who  is  also  loved  by  George  Osborn,  the  leader 
of  a  band  of  smugglers  and  the  hero  of  a  clandestine  love 
affair  with  Jean,  a  fisherman's  daughter. 

Langdon  finds  a  clue  to  the  hiding  place  of  the  smugglers, 
but  the  latter,  learning  of  his  arrival,  manage  to  escape 
though  he  succeeds  in  confiscating  the  goods  they  have  gath- 
ered and  taking  them  to  the  revenue  station. 

When  Osborn  finds  his  advances  repelled  by  Verna,  he 
plots  with  Jed,  a  member  of  his  band,  to  kidnap  the  girl, 
and  the  two  manage  to  get  her  into  a  boat  under  the  pretext 
that  her  father  has  been  injured  and  has  sent  for  her. 


Je; 


iscovers   that 
seeking  him,  in  the  hope  of  wii 
holds  the  kidnapping  of  Verna. 
lighthouse    with    her    informatio 
Langdon  and  Verna's  father,  to 

Langdon  hastily  assembles  his  fellow  revenue  officers 
and  sets  out  to  rescue  Verna  and,  if  possible,  at  the  same 
time  capture  the  smugglers.     He  discovers  a  new  hiding  place 


,  and  while 
ling  back  his  affection,  be- 
She  hastens  at  once  to  the 
and,  arriving  there,  finds 
hom  she  reveals  her  story. 


of  the  smuggling  band,  and  in  the  fight  which  ensues,  kills 
Osborn  and  rounds  up  the  whole  party,  though  just  as  the 
fight  ends,  a  chance  shot  results  in  Langdon  being  fatally 
wounded. 

Verna  had  long  imagined  that  in  a  sea  shell  she  had 
picked  up  on  the  shore  she  could  hear  the  voice  of  her  lover 
calling  her  across  the  sea,  and  during  her  love  affair  with  the 
young  revenue  officer,  Langdon  had  gone  still  further  with 
this  strange  phantasy,  by  declaring  that  some  day  he  would 
call  her  by  means  of  the  shell  and  she  had  promised  to 
answer  his  call. 

Following  her  rescue  and  return  to  the  lighthouse,  Verna 
again  takes  up  her  sea  shell  and  wanders  out  to  a  jagged 
cliff  overlooking  the  sea.  Imagining  that  she  hears  the  spirit 
of  Langdon  calling  her  in  the  shell,  she  steps  off  the  edge 
of  the  rock  and  falls  to  her  death  in  the  sea  below. 


"False  Colors" 

An  Episode  in  Pathe-Balboa's  "The  Red  Circle" 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  strange  thefts  which  continue  to  baffle  Max  Lamar 
*•  are  perpetrated  by  one  wearing  a  red  circle  on  the  hand, 
which  helps  to  make  things  more  baffling,  but  it  is  a  false 
mark  that  adorns  the  hand  of  the  woman  who  makes  a  large 
coup  in  the  sixth  episode  of  this  serial,  produced  by  Sherwood 
McDonald  from  the  scenarios  by  Will  M.  Ritchey,  entitled 
"False  Colors."  With  the  aid  of  June,  the  detective  learns  the 
identity  of  the  guilty  one  and  the  end  of  this  release  shows 
him  shadowing  her  to  her  home. 

At  the  close  of  the  picture  Lamar  feels  that  he  is  coming 
near  a  solution  and  therefore  he  is  in  a  happier  frame  of  mind 
than  he  has  been  for  some  time.  Somehow  the  feeling  that 
he  will  be  disappointed  and  more  puzzled  than  ever  in  the 
next  episode  will  not  down.  Even  if  he  does  capture  Alma 
La  Salle  he  will  not  have  the  real  "Red  Circle"  woman.  So 
it  is  with  this  story,  the  detective  is  misled  and  the  spectator 
is  furnished  with  the  most  interesting  developments. 

The  main  character  in  the  story,  a  girl  of  refinement  in 
whom  there  is  a  battle  between  good  and  evil  impulses,  is 
an  excellent  one  for  a  scenario  writer  to  build  a  serial  play 
around.  Just  how  many  effective  situations  containing  the 
elements  of  suspense  and  human  interest  can  be  devised  has 
already  been  demonstrated  in  the  releases  so  far  shown.  It 
is  good  material  and  none  of  its  value  has  been  lost  in  the 
treatment  and  production  given  it.  The  matter  of  portraying 
the  character  is  certainly  in  able  hands.  Ruth  Roland  is, 
indeed,  an  exceedingly  goods  screen  actress.  Her  gifts  do  not 
stop  with  good  looks.  She  is  capable  of  conveying  an  emo- 
tion gracefully  and  she  acts  with  perfect  naturalness. 

The  action  in  "False  Colors"  is  laid,  mostly,  at  a  dance 
held  at  the  fashionable  Surfton  Hotel.  June  and  Lamar  at- 
tend the  affair.     Alma  La  Salle,  "Smiling"  Joe's  confederate, 


Pathe's  "False  Colors." 


is  also  among  those  present.  She  is  a  skilled  pick-pocket 
and  steals  many  valuable  pieces  of  jewelry.  The  manager  re- 
ports the  thefts  to  Lamar.  While  he  and  June  are  sitting  in 
the    smoking    room    a    hand    bearing    the    red    circle    reaches 


258 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No! 


through  the  curtain  and  secures  June's  necklace.  Lamar  finds 
that  Alma  had  painted  a  circle  on  her  hand  and  when  she 
leaves  the  hotel  he  follows  her  to  her  home. 

The  extras  who  represent  the  guests  are  well  dressed. 
This  is  remarked  because  so  many  pictures  show  society 
affairs  attended  by  people  whose  wardrobes  to  all  appear- 
ances are  in  dire  need,  which  is  something  that  never  happens 
at  any  social  gathering  even  if  it  does  not  come  under  the 
term  society.  Frank  Mayo,  Corenne  Grant,  Lillian  West  and 
Mollie  McConnell  appear  to  advantage  in  the  picture. 


"The  Five  Faults  of  Flo" 

Mutual  Masterpicture  in  Five  Reels  Released  Jan.  20 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

CACH  of  her  five  faults  got  Flo  into  a  different  sort  of 
*-•  trouble.  Each  reel  of  this  story  is  devoted  to  curing  her 
of  one  fault.  The  offering  therefore  contains  five  stories, 
each  having  the  same  heroine,  but  otherwise  almost  unrelated. 

In  her  school  days  Flo's  pride  led  her  to  bar  from  the 
sorority  a  sensitive  little  girl  because  she  is  not  rich.  As  the 
other  girls  follow  Flo's  example  in  snubbing  her,  she  has  a 
most  unhappy  time  and  finally  runs  away.  Repenting  of  their 
cruelty,  the  others  try  to  bring  her  back.  As  the  little  run- 
away is  crossing  a  railroad  bridge,  she  narrowly  escapes 
death.  Flo  and  the  other  girls  save  her  from  her  dangerous 
position  and  bring  her  back  to  the  school.  And  Flo  is  cured 
of  pride. 

The  second  reel  cures  Flo  of  envy.  She  is  a  debutante 
now,  and  envies  one  woman  her  jewels,  another  for  her  social 
standing.  At  a  party,  given  by  the  first  woman  for  the  sec- 
ond, a  diamond  belonging  to  the  hostess  is  stolen.  Circum- 
stances make  it  appear  that  Flo  is  the  thief.  She  is  cleared 
only  when  the  real  thief  is  proved  to  be  the  guest  of  honor,  a 
supposed  countess,  really  "Diamond  Daisy,"  who  has  a  police 

As  a  fiancee,  Flo  is  fickle.  She  steals  away  for  an  auto- 
mobile ride  with  another  young  man.  The  young  man  be- 
comes intoxicated  and  on  the  way  home  drives  his  car  reck- 
lessly, soon  losing  control  of  it.  Flo's  fiance,  in  his  machine, 
sees  them,  and  notes  the  danger  Flo  is  in.  There  follows  an 
exciting  race  between  the  two  cars,  and  Flo  is  snatched  by 
her  lover  from  the  runaway  car,  just  before  it  plunges  over 
an  embankment. 

The  fourth  reel,  in  which  Flo's  fault  of  extravagance  is 
cured,  contains  the  most  melodramatic  episode  of  all.  Flo's 
father,  near  financial  ruin,  begs  a  loan  of  his  wealthy  brother. 
The  brother  refuses,  and  there  is  a  quarrel,  overheard  by  the 
servants.  Later  the  brother  is  found  murdered,  and  circum- 
stances convict  Flo's  father  of  the  crime.  The  day  is  set  for 
the  execution,  in  fact  the  father  is  taken  to  the  electric  chair, 
when  the  gardener  confesses  to  the  crime.  Flo  and  her  fiance 
fight  for  a  delay  of  the  execution  so  that  tli€  governor  may  be 
readied  and  the  father  saved.  They  win,  and  the  father  is 
freed.     Flo  has  learned  to  what  extravagance  leads. 


band's  gambler  brother,  she  lets  angry  suspicions  get  the 
better  of  her.  By  bribing  a  maid,  she  gains  entrance  to  the 
rooms  of  the  adventuress.  She  sees  her  husband  enter,  but 
soon  learns  that  it  is  his  brother's  debts  he  is  paying.  Then 
the  police  raid  the  resort,  and  Flo  and  her  husband  must  risk 
their  lives  to  escape  or  face  an  ugly  scandal.  They  come 
through  safely,  but  Flo's  jealousy  is  cured,  and  we  leave  her 
supposedly  faultless. 

The  various  episodes  are  interesting.  Although  the  offer- 
ing is  not  convincing  as  a  story,  the  thrills  contained  in  each 
reel  are  well  presented.  Florence  La  Badie  as  the  heroine 
looks  pretty  and  acts  well.  Others  prominent  in  the  cast  are 
Harris  Gordon,  Ernest  Howard  and  Grace  De  Carlton. 


"The  Fight  at  Signal  Station" 

Another  Episode  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game" 
Reviewed   by    Neil    G.    Caward 


CHAPTER   FIVE  of  I 
rial,    "The    Girl    and    the 
t  Signal  Station,"  on 


tie  Signal  Film  Corporation's  se- 
Game,"  which  is  entitled  "The 
:  of  the  most  thrilling  mob  scenes 
-een   of   late   forms   the   punch   of 


There  is  still  another  fault  to  be  disposed  of,  jealousy, 

which  shows  itself  after  Flo  is  married.  Flo  finds  .1  noti  or 
her  husband's  desk  from  an  adventuress  who  keeps  .1  gam 
bling  resort.     X'ot  knowing  thai  it  was  addressed  to  her  hus- 


she  boldly  jumps  from  a  telegraph  pole  alongside  the  track 
onto  the  top  of  a  moving  string  of  boxcars  passing  beneath 
her. 

This  chapter  of  the  story  concerns  itself  principally  with 
a  shipment  of  ties  destined  for  use  on  the  new  stretch  of 
track  being  constructed  by  the  C.  \V.  &  T.  railway  and  the 
atempt  of  Seagrue,  of  the  rival  line,  to  prevent  their  delivrey. 

Storm,  the  former  engineer  and  Helen's  sweetheart,  seeks 
and  obtains  employment  in  the  construction  camp  presided 
over  by  Amos  Rhinelander.  Helen's  uncle.  Rhinelander  has 
ordered  a  shipment  of  ties,  and  Seagrue.  learning  of  this 
through  Spike,  the  ex-convict,  arranges  to  prevent  their  de- 
livery. Seagrue  imagines  at  first  that  he  can  cut  off  Rhine- 
lander's  credit  and  thus  prevent  the  shipment  even  being 
started  on  its  way,  but  eventually  discovers,  much  to  his 
disglist,    that    his   efforts   to    impair    Rhinelander's    credit    are 

Wcordingly.  Seagrue  commands  Spike  to  meet  the  train. 
a  portion  of  which  consists  of  the  carloads  of  ties  destined 
for  Rhinelander,  and  to  change  the  destination  cards  attached 
to  the  cars  so  that  the  train  crew  will  not  set  them  out  at  the 
propci-  si, lino-. 

Although  Spike  is  driven  away  by  the  train  crew  when 
he  seeks  to  obtain  passagi  m  the  freight,  he  manage-  later 
d  the  train,  swinging  aboard  after  it  is  in  motion. 
and  makes  his  way  forward  to  the  cars  loaded  with  the  ties. 
\t  much  peril  to  life  and  limb,  he  stretches  himself  alongside 
of  the  cars  and  laboriously  detaches  the  destination  card. 
erases  the  name  of  Rhinelander  and  substitutes  the  word 
"Seagrue."  then  reattaching  the  card  to  the  car. 

\\  atching  his  opportunity,  he  even  invades  the  caboose 
Of  the  freight  train  and  changes  the  waybills  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  then  drops  off  the  train.     Seagrue    ind  a  force 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


■of  his  huskies  are  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  ties  at  Signal 
station,  and  thither  comes  also  Rhinelander  and  his  crew  of 
men.  When  the  train  arrives,  Seagrue's  huskies  boldly  begin 
hurling  the  ties  off  the  cars,  though  Rhinelander  insists  the 
ties  are  his  property  and  destined  for  his  construction  camp. 

An  examination  of  the  waybills  and  the  destination  cards 
apparently  proves  that  Seagrue  is  correct  in  believing  them 
his.  Helen  offers  to  call  up  the  general  office  of  the  road 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  what  the  records  there  show 
regarding  the  shipment  of  ties,  but  ere  she  can  call  the  office, 
Spike,  at  Seagrue's  command,  climbs  a  nearby  telegraph  pole 
and  severs. the  wires. 

Rhinelander,  taking  things  in  his  own  hands,  orders  his 
•crew  of  men  to  unload  the  ties,  and  a  real  riot  ensues  when 
the  two  construction  gangs  meet  in  a  rough  and  tumble  bat- 
tle. Since  Seagrue's  men  are  getting  the  best  of  the  fray, 
Storm  decides  to  make  way  with  the  spoils  by  starting  the 
train  and  running  it  down  the  track  toward  the  Rhinelander 
camp. 

Helen,  who  had  climbed  a  telegraph  pole  to  cut  in  on 
the  wire,  sees  the  train  moving  and  leaps  boldly  from  the 
top  of  the  telegraph  pole  onto  the  boxcars  passing  beneath 
her.  The  train  is  run  up  the  track  as  far  as  the  Rhinelander 
•camp  and  as  the  picture  ends  the  sheriff  and  his  posse  arrive, 
disperse  the  Seagrue  gang  and  compel  Spike  and  Seagrue 
to  assist  in  unloading  the  ties,  which  are  now  conclusively 
proven  to  be  the  property  of  Rhinelander.  Helen  thus 
scores  another  triumph  over  her  enemy. 


"The  Ransom" 


Equitable-World    Production    Released    January    24 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

JULIA  DEAN'S  first  appearance  in  Equitable  pictures  is 
in  the  role  of  a  woman  who  sacrifices  everything  to  be- 
come an  actress  and  then  in  the  end  sacrifices  her  wasted 
life  that  her  daughter  may  be  spared  the  disappointments 
and  pain  she  has  suffered.  The  title  of  this  melodrama  by 
Eve  Unsell  is  "The  Ransom"  and  for  several  reasons  it  is 
an  exceptionally  good  melodrama.  The  story  is  not  built 
along  conventional  lines.  Some  of  its  situations  are  de- 
veloped in  the  tried  and  true  methods,  but  for  the  greater 
part  it  is  honestly  different  than  the  ordinary. 

Both  author  and  director  Edmund  Laurence  have  suc- 
ceeded in  drawing  a  striking  and  effective  contrast  between 
the  narrow-minded  environment  of  the  up-state  town  and 
the  ultra  freedom  of  a  certain  type  of  people  connected 
with  the  theatrical  profession  in  the  metropolis.  One  ex- 
treme is,  of  course,  as  bad  as  another,  but  the  feeling  is 
strong  that  those  who  see  this  picture  will  dislike  the  up- 
state prudes  more  than  they  will  the  so-called  Bohemians. 
At  least  the  latter  group  allow  themselves  to  be  human  once 
in  a  while. 

Mark  Osborne  and  his  sister  Sarah,  the  prudes,  are  well 


man,  and  for  their  own  sake  because  it  means  their  end  as 
far  as  the  picture  is  concerned,  and  that  is  pretty  good  proof 
that  the  characters  are  well  handled. 

The  role  which  Miss  Dean  portrays  gives  her  good  act- 
ing opportunities  but  Janet  Osborne  is  not  an  admirable 
character  and  the  star  claims  the  spectators  sympathy  only 
when  she  is  filled  with  maternal  love  and  is  willing  to  go  to 
any  lengths  to  save  the  girl  the  despair  to  which  her  ambition 
to  become  a  great  actress  promises  to  lead  her.  In  the  be- 
ginning of  the  story  she  is  the  wife  of  a  stern,  narrow  man 
who  forces  her  to  accept  his  views.  She  loves  the  theater 
and  dreams  of  becoming  an   actress. 

She  meets  a  man  who  has  made  many  theatrical  stars  and 
her  indiscretion  in  seeking  to  secure  an  engagement  through 
him  causes  her  husband  to  order  her  from  his  his  house.  Some 
years  later  this  man  deserts  her,  and  she  goes  from  bad  to 
worse.  Years  later  she  learns  that  her  daughter  has  come  to 
New  York  and  is  appearing  in  a  play.  Unaware  of  the  fact, 
the  daughter  hires  her  mother  to  act  as  her  maid.  Janet  dis- 
covers that  her  daughter  regards  lightly  the  love  which  a 
worthy  young  man  offers  her,  preferring  to  associate  herself 
with  the  "star  maker"  for  his  help  in  realizing  her  ambition. 
Janet  shoots  and  kills  Allen.  The  daughter  then  consents  to 
marry  Ellis  Raymond. 


"Tom  Martin — a  Man" 

A  Most  Unusual  Selig  Feature  Released  January  24 
Reviewed   by   Neil   G.    Caward 

rvESPITE  the  fact  that  its  finish  is  extremely  gruesome, 
J-'Selig's  multiple-reel  drama,  "Tom  Martin — a  Man,"  sched- 
uled for  release  on  Monday,  January  24,  through  the  General 


depicted  characters.  That  is,  they  are  well  depicted  for 
their  place  in  the  story.  They  are  so  aggravating  with  their 
"better  than  thou"  and  "I  am  my  brother's  keeper,"  that  one 
is   glad   for  the  wife's   sake   when   she  leaves   with   the   other 


Film  service,  is  a  splendid  production  and  one  which  ex- 
hibitors will  find  well  worth  booking.  Guy  Oliver  appears 
in  the  role  of  Tom  Martin,  the  village  black  smith,  and  is 
exactly  the  type  necessary  for  a  convincing  portrayal  of  the 
thoroughly  manly  man  that  Tom  Martin  must  have  been. 
He  gives  a  most  splendid  performance  throughout  the  entire 
production  and  appears  every  inch  the  man  the  story  makes 
him  out  to  be.  The  player  most  carefully  evaded  overdoing 
his  role  in  the  final  scenes,  and  the  result  is  a  most  finished 
production. 

Vivian  Reed  interprets  the  part  of  Mary  Brandon,  Tom's 
sweetheart,  while  Lillian  Hayward  plays  Mary's  mother.  Al 
W.  Filson  does  a  splendid  "bit"  as  the  village  doctor,  and 
Fred  Hearne  as  Bennet  Gordon,  the  school  teacher,  makes 
the  role  of  the  heavy  one  which  audiences  are  sure  to  dislike. 

George  Nicholls  is  credited  with  the  direction  of  the 
production  and  he  has  provided  a  typical  village  atmosphere 
for  the  setting  of  the  story,  extreme  care  having  been  taken 
with  the  details  which  go  to  make  the  perfect  production. 

Jack  Martin,  a  stalwart  village  blacksmith,  bashfully  de- 
clares his  love  for  Mary  Brandon,  shortly  after  the  story 
opens,  and  Mary  consents  to  become  his  wife.  Shortly  after- 
wards Bennet  Gordon,  the  new  school  teacher,  arrives  and 
becomes  a  boarder  at   Mary's   home. 

The  unsophisticated  country  girl  is  much  attracted  by 
the  apparent  polish  and  suavity  of  the  school  teacher,  and 
Tom  notes  with  growing  alarm  that  Mary  is  spending  more 
and  more  time  with  the  schoolmaster.     At  first  he  bears  his 


260 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


trouble  in  silence,  but  finally  there  comes  a  day  when  he 
can  no  longer  restrain  his  jealousy,  and  he  strikes  Gordon, 
when  the  latter  is  passing  the  blacksmith  shop  with  Mary. 
As  a  result  of  the  blow.  Mary  severely  rebukes  Tom  and 
departs  with  Gordon,  while  Martin  returns  to  his  forge 
extremely  gloomy  in  spirit. 

A  huge  bulldog,  owned  by  Barker,  the  village  storekeeper. 
becomes  extremely  vicious  and,  though  Barker  is  warned 
by  Martin  that  the  dog  is  too  dangerous  to  run  at  large,  he 
neglects  the  warning  and  ties  the  animal  by  a  slender  rope 
to  one  of  the  trees  in  his  orchard. 

Shortly  afterward  the  beast  severs  the  rope  with  its 
teeth  and,  seized  with  sudden  madness,  runs  amuck  through 
the  village.  Mary  and  Gordon  are  just  entering  the  school- 
house  as  the  maddened  animal  turns  into  the  street  and 
rushes  straight  for  a  party  of  helpless  children  gathered  about 
the  structure.  Gordon,  thoroughly  terrified,  rushes  into  the 
building  and  slams  and  lacks  the  door,  leaving  Mary  and 
the  children  to  face  the  mad  dog. 

Tom,  who  had  seen  the  animal's  dash  through  the  village, 
rushes  in  pursuit  and  arrives  barely  in  time  to  seize  the 
animal  and  choke  it  to  death.  In  his  conflict  with  the  mad- 
dened dog  he  is  bitten  on  the  arm  and  though  he  cauterizes 
the  wound  with  a  red-hot  iron  from  his  forge,  he  later  finds 
it  wise  to  consult  the  village  doctor,  who  informs  him  that 
undoubtedly  his  life  is  in  danger. 

Mary  accuses  Gordon  of  being  a  coward  for  deserting 
her  and  the  children  when  the  dog  approached,  and  later 
descpatches  a  note  to  Tom  asking  for  forgiveness  and  prom- 
ising to  come  to  the  blacksmith  shop  at  5  o'clock  to  renew 
her  pledge  of  love. 

Gordon  is  driven  from  the  city  as  an  undesirable,  and 
Tom,  as  5  o'clock  approaches,  finds  himself  falling  a  victim 
to  hydrophobia.  Desperate  and  fearing  lest  madness  over- 
take him  and  that  he  may  bring  unknown  harm  to  many  in 
the  village,  he  hastily  rushes  into  his  smithy  and  fastens 
himself  by  manacles  to  his  anvil. 

When  Mary  reaches  the  smithy,  she  finds  the  door  barred 
and  hears  Tom  cursing  and  raving  within.  Terrified,  she 
summons  help,  and  when  the  villagers  break  open  the  door 
they  find  Tom  dead  on  the  floor.  His  eulogy  is  uttered  by 
the  village  doctor,  who  exclaims  as  he  looks  down  at  the 
corpse,  "He  feared  he  would  harm  someone— Tom  Martin 
was  a  man." 


"The  Book  Agent's  Romance" 

Two-Reel  Essanay  Feature  Released  January  18 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

"THIS  offering  is  an  amusing  little  comedy  with  a  number 
1  of  genuinely  funny  situations.  G.  M.  Anderson  gives  a 
delightful  presentation  of  the  good-natured  book  agent  who 
takes  the  trials  incident  to  his  profession  very  lightly. 

The  story  begins  when  a  trio  of  crooks  have  one  of  their 
number  accepted  as  a  butler  in  the  home  of  a  capitalist.    The 


V                                'MNffVp 

1    '"<&" 

■  1          $* 

\    *       1     *       ' 

The  book  agent  gets  into  the  story  when  he  and  the 
daughter  meet  on  a  street  car.  The  girl  is  a  trifle  "fussed" 
because  she  thinks  the  jovial  stranger  is  trying  to  flirt  with 
her.  She  stoops  to  tie  her  shoestring.  Her  embarrassment  is 
great  when,  rising  to  leave  the  car,  she  finds  that  she  has  tied 
the  stranger's  shoestring  with  her  own,  and  that  their  feet  are 
fastened  closely  together. 

After  the  family  leave  for  their  trip,  the  butler  calls  his 
pals  into  the  house  and  then  phones  the  jeweler,  in  the  name 
of  his  employer,  that  the  necklace  is  wanted  again.  Then  the 
three  crooks  wait  patiently  for  the  jeweler's  messenger. 

In  the  meantime  the  book  agent  is  blithely  going  about 
his  business.  Door  after  door  is  banged  in  his  face,  but  he 
travels  on  undauntedly.  When  he  reaches  the  home  of  the 
capitalist,  the  door  swings  wide,  for  the  crooks  mistake  him 
for  the  jeweler's  agent.  He  is  securely  bound  to  a  chair;  the 
men  open  his  case — and  find  books. 

As  the  enraged  thieves  are  wondering  what  has  hap- 
pened the  daughter  of  the  family  arrives.  Reservations  on  the 
ship  have  been  cancelled  on  account  of  the  war  and  the  fam- 
ily have  had  to  change  their  plans.  The  thieves  seize  the 
daughter,  and,  since  their  supply  of  rope  is  limited,  they  tie 
her  securely  to  the  book  agent,  who  begins  to  enjoy  the  situ- 
ation. Aiding  each  other,  the  two  outwit  the  thieves  and 
telephone  for  the  police,  who  soon  arrive  and  overpower  the 
crooks.  But  before  the  ropes  which  bind  them  are  untied, 
the  book  agent  and  the  girl  have  come  to  an  understanding. 

The  comedy  is  well  cast,  with  Ruth  Saville  as  the  girl, 
Lee  Willard  and  Eva  Heazlett  as  the  capitalist  and  his  wife, 
and  Lloyd  Bacon  as  the  butler. 


'I'll,-  I'nliic   <>rvi /'<>7ivr   the   crunks. 

capitalist  presents  his  wife  with  a  pearl  necklace.  The  butler 
and  his  pals  lay  plans  to  steal  this,  when  the  daughter  of  the 
family  persuades  hei  mother  and  father  to  go  on  a  trip  to 
Europe  instead,  and  the  necklace  is  senl  back  to  the  jeweler. 


"Lord  Loveland  Discovers  America" 

American  Adaptation  of  Williamson's  Novel  Jan.  27 
Reviewed  by   Neil   G.   Caward 

CUMPTUOUS  stage  settings  and  a  large  and  thoroughly 
^  competent  cast  make  "Lord  Loveland  Discovers  Amer- 
ica," which  is  the  five-reel  American  Masterpicture  for  release 
on  January  27,  a  most  enjoyable  adaptation  of  the  book  of 
the  same  title,  from  the  pen  of  C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson. 

Arthur  Maude,  himself  an  Englishman  of  note,  enacts 
the  role  of  Lord  Loveland,  the  penniless  English  nobleman 
who  comes  to  America  in  search  of  an  heiress,  and  quite 
naturally  manages  to  give  Lord  Loveland  the  interpretation 
which  the  role  needs.  Constance  Crawley  as  Leslie  Dearmer 
convincingly  interprets  the  role  of  the  English  playwright, 
who  falls  in  love  with  Lord  Loveland  and  is  finally  the 
means  of  his  securing  the  funds  he  so  badly  needs  in  order 
to  return  to  England. 

William  Carroll  does  an  excellent  "bit"  as  Bill  Willing, 
the  down  and  outer  who  helps  Lord  Loveland  when  he 
finds  himself  stranded  in  Central  Park  with  but  forty  cents 
in  his  pockets,  while  other  notable  "bits"  are  played  bv 
George  Clancy  as  Alexander  the  Great,  and  Nell  Franzen 
as  Izzy. 

Lord  Loveland,  besieged  by  his  creditors  and  without 
funds  to  meet  his  bills,  consults  his  mother  as  to  the  best 
way  in  which  to  satisfy  his  creditors  with  honor  to  himself. 
She  suggests  a  voyage  to  America  and  a  marriage  to  an 
heiress. 

Though  disappointed  at  being  compelled  to  leave  Eng- 
land, Lord  Loveland  determines  to  act  on  the  advice  he  has 
received,  and  sail,  though  on  a  different  vessel  from  the  one 
that  he  had  expected   to  take. 

Arrived  in  New  York,  he  finds  it  impossible  to  arrange  a 
meeting  with  any  of  the  American  heiresses  and  is  finallv 
humiliated  by  being  bodily  expelled  from  the  hotel  at  which 
he  had  put  up,  his  letter  of  credit  being  considered  bogus 
since  a  report  had  spread  abroad  that  he  was  not  Lord  Love- 
land at  all,  but  instead,  his  valet.  His  baggage  is  held  by 
the  hotel  as  payment  for  the  bills  he  had  already  run  up, 
so  he  wanders  forth  into  Central  Park  with  but  forty  cents 
in   his  pockets. 

There  he  encounters  Bill  Willing,  a  down  and  outer,  who 
secures  him  lodging  in  a  cheap  hotel  and  introduces  him 
into  the  restauranl  oi  "Alexander  the  Great,"  where  his  title 
ni.ilh  enables  him  to  secure  l  position  as  a  waiter,  the  pro- 
prietor believing  that  a  real  lord  as  an  attraction  offers  wide 
advertising  possibilities,  as  well  as  a  chance  for  ini 
business. 

Learning   that    the   alleged    Lord    Loveland    is    a    waiter   at 

"Alexander  the  Great's,"  a  number  of  his  supposed  wealthy 
friends  yisil  the  restaurant  for  the  purpose  ,^\  still  further 
humiliating  the  man  they  believe  to  be  an  impostor,     \mong 

them     comes     I   eslie     1  >earnu  r.     a     woman     playwright 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Loveland  had  met  on  shipboard.  She  sympathizes  with  him 
in  his  humble  position  and  endeavors  to  help  him.  An  explo- 
sion in  the  kitchen  enables  Loveland  to  become  a  hero, 
though  as^  a  result  of  his  apparent  affection  for  Izzy,  Alex's 


daughter,  he  loses  his  job  and  is  forced  to  accept  a  minor 
part  with  a  barnstorming  theatrical  troupe. 

This  company  pirates  one  of  the  copyrighted  plays  of 
Miss  Dearmer  and  she  visits  the  town  where  they  are  playing, 
to  enjoin  them  from  producing  the  piece.  She  is  amazed  to 
discover  the  lord,  but  after  closing  the  production,  employs 
him  as  her  chauffeur. 

While  making  love  to  her  one  day,  he  wrecks  the  auto, 
injuring  Miss  Dearmer,  and  when  she  returns  to  conscious- 
ness she  finds  herself  in  his  arms  and  the  two  plight  their 
troth.  At  this  point  Lord  Loveland's  fortunes  turn  for  the 
better.  He  is  recognized  as  the  real  Lord  Loveland,  restored 
to  the  position  which  is  rightfully  his  and,  learning  that  his 
fiancee  is  after  all  an  heiress,  he  finds  that  he  is  able  once 
more  to  return  to  England. 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill 

Latest  Offerings  of  the  Ince  and  Griffith  Studios 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 


A  STRONG,  intensely  dramatic  preachment  called  "Hono 
**  Altar,"  from  the  Ince  studios;  a  Fine  Arts  argument  i 


donor  s 
:  for 
"preparedness,"  picturing  an  imaginary  war  of  the  year  1920 
entitled  "The  Flying  Torpedo,"  and  a  two-reel  Keystone 
comedy  featuring  Sam  Bernard  and  yclept  "Because  He 
Loved  Her"  make  up  the  offerings  for  the  current  week  at 
the  Studebaker  theater. 

The  program  is  opened  by  "The  Flying  Torpedo,"  which 
presents  John  Emerson  in  the  role  of  Winthrop  Clevering,  a 
novelist,  and  he  gives  a  most  convincing  portrayal  of  the 
eccentric  old  man  who  writes  sensational  stories  and  enables 
his  inventor  friend,  Bartholomew  Thompson,  to  perfect  an 
aerial  torpedo  that  eventually  proves  America's  salvation. 

The  early  subtitles  clearly  announce  that  the  story  which 
is  to  follow  is  a  purely  imaginary  one,  thus  evading  any  pos- 
sible suspicion  as  to  the  picture's  being  one  which  will  offend 
the  laws  of  neutrality  or  cast  reflections  upon  any  of  the 
warring  powers  of  the  present  European  conflict.  As  the  tale 
begins  in  1921  it  is  discovered  that  a  foreign  armada  has-  sailed 
to  attack  the  United  States  and  the  country  is  apparently 
helpless  to  defend  itself  on  account  of  a  lack  of  preparation 
for  war.  A  board  of  government  experts,  hastily  summoned, 
decides  to  offer  a  reward  of  one  million  dollars  for  the  best 
invention  submitted  that  will  effectively  overcome  the  advanc- 
ing host.  Winthrop  Clevering,  a  writer  of  sensational  novels, 
provides  the  money  which  enables  his  friend  Thompson,  an 
inventor,  to  perfect  his  flying  torpedo  upon  which  he  has 
long  been  at  work.  A  gang  of  international  spies  and  crooks 
succeeds  in  killing  the  inventor  and  stealing  the  model  of  his 
torpedo,  but  eventually  Haverman,  Thompson's  assistant, 
aided  by  Clevering,  is  able  to  recover  the  model  and  to  con- 
struct a  working  torpedo  which  wins  the  prize  offered.  _ 

The  fleet  of  the  enemy  arrives  off  the  coast  of  California 
and  proceeds  to   bombard   the   coast   cities,   spreading  terror 


and  destruction  all  along  the  Pacific.  The  troops  land  on 
the  coast  and  the  small  American  force  which  is  assembled  to 
defeat  them  proves  wholly  inadequate  and  is  driven  back 
farther  and  farther  into  the  interior  of  California. 

When  all  seems  lost,  a  trainload  of  armored  motor  cars, 
equipped  with  wireless,  and  a  quantity  of  the  flying  torpedoes 
arrive  and  are  stationed  some  distance  back  of  the  retreating 
American  army.  Kites  are  sent  up,  to  each  of  which  is 
attached  a  wireless  periscope  which  permits  the  operator  of 
the  armored  motor  car  to  see  what  is  going  on  on  the  distant 
battlefield.  The  artillery  of  the  enemy  is  clearly  shown  and 
the  aerial  torpedoes  are  then  directed  by  wireless  to  their 
targets  and  soon  the  invading  army  is  defeated.  The  army 
wiped  out,  the  flying  torpedoes  are  turned  loose  on  the  fleet 
and  the  huge  battleships  are  destroyed,  thus  freeing  the 
United  States  from  all  peril.  Clevering,  Haverman  and  Ade- 
laide Thompson,  the  inventor's  daughter,  with  whom  Haver- 
man is  in  love,  are  suitably  rewarded  and  the  picture  ends 
with  everybody  happy. 

Besides  Mr.  Emerson,  who  gives  a  finished  and  careful 
performance  as  Clevering,  special  praise  is  also  due  Spottis- 
woode  Atiken  as  Thompson,  William  H.  Lawrence  as  Haver- 
man, Viola  Barry  as  Adelaide,  Bessie  Love,  who  does  an  odd 
bit  as  Hulda,  a  Swedish  maid,  and  Fred  Butler,  Ralph  Lewis 
and  Lucille  Younge,  who  play  the  conspirators. 

Bessie  Barriscale,  Walter  Edwards  and  Lewis  S.  Stone 
make  of  "Honor's  Altar,"  the  Ince  offering,  a  most  interest- 
ing subject.  Frederick  Mallory,  a  wealthy  business  man,  finds 
himself  losing  interest  in  the  wife  who  has  stood  by  him  dur- 
ing his  lean  years,  now  that  he  has  attained  wealth  and  fame. 
He  seeks  new  conquests  and  to  make  it  easier  to  get  rid  of 
his  wife,  promises  Warren  Woods,  a  former  gentleman  who 
has  sunk  so  low  in  the  social  scale  that  he  frankly  admits  he 
is  without  honor,  $50,000  if  he  will  win  the  love  of  Mrs. 
Alallory  and  give  the  husband  an  excuse  for  seeking  a  divorce. 

Wood  accepts  the  commission  and  later  discovers  that 
Mrs.  Mallory  is  so  devoted  to  her  husband  that  he  stands  no 
chance  of  ever  winning  her  affection.  He  then  seeks  to  com- 
promise her  by  escorting  her  to  a  roadhouse  of  ill  repute,  but 
her  faith  in  him  is  so  sincere  that,  on  the  verge  of  success  in 
his  plan,  he  suffers  a  change  of  heart  and  escorts  her  home 
with  her  name  and  reputation  still  unblemished.  Then,  to 
right  the  wrong  he  came  so  near  doing,  he  boasts  to  Mallory 
of  his  success  in  winning  the  affection  of  Mrs.  Mallory  and 
thus  awakens  within  the  other  a  spark  of  affection  for  his 
wife,  which  grows  and  spreads  until  Mallory  angrily  orders 
Wood  to  cease  his  attentions  to  Mrs.  Mallory,  and  calls  the 
whole  deal  off.  The  picture  ends  with  Mallory  declaring  his 
affection  for  his  wife  and  the  two  bending  over  some  baby 
garments  that  are  being  prepared  for  a  coming  arrival. 

Miss  Barriscale  does  splendid  work  as  Mrs.  Mallory  and 
Lewis  Stone  will  win  many  friends  for  himself  despite  the 
fact  that  he  plays  a  villain.  Mr.  Edwards  as  Mallory  is 
always  convincing,  and  is  careful  not  to  overdo  his  role  in 
the  more  dramatic  moments.  The  subtitles  of  the  picture  are 
decidedly  unique  and  called  forth  much  favorable  comment 
from  numerous  sources. 

The  Keystone  features  Sam  Bernard  in  an  uproarious 
comedy   for   which   it   is   only  necessary   to   say   that   "it   is   a 


ks    aid    of    Clevering. 


Keystone"  to  convince  exhibitors  of  its  merit.  An  auto's 
plunge  over  a  cliff  and  the  riding  of  a  motorcycle  through 
several  buildings  are  among  a  few  of  the  thrills  offered  during 
the  action  of  the  piece. 


262 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5.  ■ 


"Bill  Peter's  Kid" 

Vitagraph    Broadway    Star   Feature   in    Three    Reels 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.   Kennedy 

A  ROMANCE  of  the  desert  gives  Mary  Anderson  an  oppor- 
*»■  tunity  to  render  a  skillful  and  enjoyable  characterization. 
As  the  miner's  daughter  in  "Bill  Peter's  Kid"  she  is  well  to 
the  front  throughout  the  picture,  and  she  succeeds  in  hold- 


Scene  from    Vitagraph's   "Bill   Peter's  Kid." 

ing  the  interest  and  sympathy  required  to  make  the  story 
entertaining,  as  it  is  a  story  which  depends  entirely  upon  the 
character.  Miss  Anderson  has  ability,  and  experience  will 
bring  to  her  a  wider  range  of  expression. 

William  Duncan  has  the  leading  male  role,  an  engineer 
who  is  made  superintendent  of  the  mine  adjoining  Bill  Peter's 
and  who  loses  his  heart  to  the  beautiful  child  of  the  desert. 
Duncan  plays  the  part  in  his  usual  effective  manner.  William 
Bainbridge  as  Peters  adds  much  to  the  picture.  Fred  Behrle 
complete  the  cast  as  the  trouble-making  Sam. 

Dick  Stowell  accepts  the  position  at  the  desert  mine. 
Arriving  at  the  nearest  railroad  station,  he  decides  to  walk 
to  the  mine,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles  across  the  desert, 
when  he  finds  that  no  provision  has  been  made  for  his  com- 
ing. A  standstorm  blows  up  and  Stowell  drops  exhausted 
near  the  Peters  cabin.  Bill  Peters  helps  him  to  the  shack. 
Winnie  Peters,  a  pretty  but  crude  acting  child,  does  her  best 
to  make  him  comfortable,  but  neither  the  girl  nor  desert 
food  and  table  service  appeal  to  him. 

The  mine  next  to  Peter's  is  the  one  Stowell  has  been 
made  manager  of.  To  increase  their  operations  it  is  neces- 
sary to  obtain  this  mine.  Stowell  makes  Peters  an  offer, 
but  he  refuses.  He  is  keeping  the  claim  for  Winnie.  She 
is  attracted  to  Dick  and  gradually  he  is  drawn  to  her.  After 
the  death  of  her  father  she  leaves  for  San  Francisco  to  study 
in  a  convent  there,  which  is  in  accordance  with  her  father's 
will.  The  mine  she  sells  to  Stowell's  company.  Months 
later  she  returns  to  the  desert,  more  beautiful,  owing  to 
some  becoming  clothes,  and  better  mannered.  She  and  Dick 
decide   to   marry. 

The  story  is  by  Marie  A.  Wing.  The  author  is  not  en- 
titled to  much  praise,  for  without  the  pleasant  and  realistic 
atmosphere  which  Director  Rollin  Sturgon  has  injected  into 
the  picture  and  the  judicious  acting  of  the  cast,  "Bill  Peter's 
Kid"  would  not  amount  to  much.  It  is  one  of  those  stories 
in  which  the  heavy  man  walks  into  the  picture  when  he  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  bring  on  a  situation,  and  this  done, 
he  walks  out  again. 

As  is  characteristic  of  Vitagraph  western  productions, 
the  photography  is  particularly  good.  It  is  a  fact  thai  the 
photography  raises  materially  the  value  of  this  offering.  The 
scenery  is  wonderful  and  imparts  an  air  of  reality  to  the  finely 
portrayed  characters.  Mr.  Sturgon  and  his  company,  espe- 
cially Mary  Anderson  and  the  cameraman,  have  made  a  pic- 
ture which  has  charm  and  delightful  wholesomeness. 


"The  Man  in  the  Sombrero" 

A  "Flying  A"  Two-Reeler  Released  January  25 
Reviewed   by   Neil   G.   Caward 

HVROLD  LOCKWOOD  and  May  Allison  come  back  to 
the  screen  the  week  of  January  25  in  a  two-reel  "Flying 
A"  drama  entitled  "The  Man  in  the  Sombrero,"  which  gives 
each  splendid  opportunities  for  the  sort  of  talent  which  they 
have  times  without  number  proven  they  possess. 


Thomas  Ricketts  directed  the  production,  which  is  laid 
for  the  most  part  in  the  foothills  of  the  mountains,  and  con- 
sequently has  beautiful  backgrounds  for  the  action  of  the 
story. 

Mr.  Lockwood  appears  as  Jack  Betson,  son  of  a  hat 
manufacturer,  who  one  day  poses  in  western  garb  with  a 
huge  sombrero  on  his  head,  for  an  advertisement  which  his 
father    inserts    in    the   leading    magazines. 

Alice  Van  Zant,  a  society  bud,  played  by  May  Allison, 
beholds  the  picture  in  a  magazine  and  is  at  once  struck  by 
the  fine  figure  of  the  young  man  in  his  hunting  clothes  and 
laughingly  tells  her  friend  that  if  she  ever  meets  the  original 
of  the  picture  she  is  sure  to  fall  in  love  with  him. 

Alice  is  being  wooed  by  Alec  Danvers,  a  young  man  of 
her  social  set,  but  can  find  nothing  interesting  in  him,  now 
that  she  has  found  an  ideal  in  the  magazine  advertisement. 

Jack  leaves  for  a  hunting  trip  in  the  mountains,  and 
Alice,  accompanied  by  her  father  and  mother  and  a  gay 
party  of  young  people,  soon  afterward  arrive  at  a  hotel  in 
the  same  vicinity.  Noticing  Jack  Betson  passing  one  day, 
Alice  is  surprised  to  discover  that  he  appears  to  be  the  orig- 
inal of  the  advertisement  she  had  seen  and,  making  an  excuse 
that  she  is  going  for  a  walk,  she  sets  out  to  follow  him  in 
the  hope  of  learning  his  name  and,  perchance,  securing  an 
introduction  to  him. 

While  picking  flowers  alongside  the  road  she  stumbles 
and  falls,  spraining  her  ankle.  Her  cry  for  help  is  heard  by 
Jack,  who  happens  to  be  fishing  nearby,  and  the  two,  thus 
thrown  together,  quickly  cement  their  friendship.  When  Jack 
carries  Alice  back  to  the  hotel  at  which  she  is  temporarily 
staying,  the  others  of  the  party  are  scandalized,  and  Alec 
Danvers,  particularly,  objects  to  Alice's  apparent  friendship 
for  the  young  mountaineer. 

On    another    day   while   Alec   and   Alice    are    strolling    in 


f  #  ! 

- 

^m    r    wl     JH 

the  woods  they  quarrel  and  Alec  seeks  to  take  advantage 
of  their  loneliness  to  snatch  a  kiss  from  his  sweetheart's  lips. 
She  screams  and  Jack  once  more  comes  to  her  rescue  and 
ends  by  thrashing  Alec. 

Months  later,  after  Alice  has  returned  to  her  home  in 
the  city  and  Jack  has  again  taken  up  his  position  in  his 
father's  hat  factory,  the  two  chance  to  meet,  and  this  time 
Jack  obtains  permission  to  call  on  Alice  and  discloses  his 
real  station  in  life.  He  is  warmly  welcomed  by  Mrs.  Van 
Zant,  and  as  the  picture  ends  the  two  young  people  an- 
nounce  their  betrothal. 


"Wild  Oats" 

A  Kleine-Edison  Feature  Produced  by  George  Kleine 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THAT  period  of  youthful  recklessness  through  which  young 
1  men  are  supposed  to  pass,  with  its  far-reaching  effects 
upon  his  immediate  family,  is  the  subject  matter  of  the  inter- 
esting and  nicely  produced  "Wild  Oats,"  a  five-part  Kleine 
production  released  through  the  Kleine-Edison  service. 
"Wild  Oats"  is  a  convincing  story  of  the  many  dreadful 
consequences  of  the  central  character's  fast  living;  none  are 
overdraw  n, 

There    is   nothing   strikingly    new    about    the   story,   but   its 
treatment   is  excellent.     The  action   moves  steadily  and  there 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


is  no  flagging  of  the  interest.  This  admirable  quality  is  due 
largely  to  the  splendid  direction  and  acting.  Campbell  Gal- 
Ian,  the  director,  has  made  a  success  of  his  work.  He  has 
made  the  most  of  the  dramatic  situations,  but  he  has  not 
stopped  there.  In  detail  the  direction  shows  exceptional 
care.  The  business  in  all  the  scenes  is  very  effective  and 
it.  is  of  much  value  to  the  picture. 

Malcolm  Duncan  is  featured  with  Aimer  Hanlon.  Mr. 
Duncan  is  seen  as  Roy  Wilson,  the  youth  who  develops 
bad  habits  and  associations.  He  loses  considerable  money  to 
an  architect  at  a  game  of  cards.  Madison  is  anxious  to 
secure  the  contract  for  a  certain  construction.  His  only 
competitor  is  Wilson's  father,  and  he  compels  Roy  to  steal 
his  father's  bid.  This  the  young  man  does,  and  Madison 
cancels  the  debt  in  payment  for  the  important  documents. 

The  elder  Wilson  accuses  his  secretary  of  betraying  him 
and  discharges  Carew.  Roy  is  tempted  to  steal  again.  This 
time  he  robs  the  safe,  taking  his  mother's  jewels  to  give  to 
his  mistress.  The  father,  seeing  him  do  this,  dies  of  heart 
failure  from  shock.  Evidence  points  to  Carewe  again,  but 
the  mystery  is  cleared  up  when  Roy  confesses  and  resolves 
to  lead  a  better  life  in  future. 

Ruby  Hoffman,  Frank  Belcher,  William  Anker  and  Her- 


together  alone  in  the  jungle  would  seem  to  have  played  its 
last  trick.  But  to  heighten  the  situation  further,  the  young 
woman  has  been  driven  temporarily  insane  by  the  shock  of 
the  wreck  and  in  her  madness  mistakes  her  rescuer  for  the 
husband  she  is  journeying  to  meet. 


Roy   returns  from  an  all  night  party. 

bert  Hayes  make  up  the  balance  of  the  cast.  All  are  entitled 
to  praise  for  their  acting  of  the  parts.  The  production  has 
appropriate  settings  and  the  photography  is  unusually  good. 


"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet" 

Five-Reel  Selig  Red  Seal  Feature  Released  February  7 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THRILL  follows  thrill  in  this  production,  from  Kathlyn 
*  Williams'  fall  from  a  galloping  horse,  in  the  first  act,  to 
her  struggle  with  a  leopard-  in  the  last,  including  a  realistic 
shipwreck,  an  attack  upon  white  hunters  by  a  band  of  savages 
in  the  African  jungle,  and  a  fight  between  a  tiger  and  a 
leopard. 

The  story,  written  by  James  Oliver  Curwood,  deals  with 
a  righteous  man's  battle  against  a  forbidden  love.  The  tale 
is  told  in  the  first  person,  in  so  far  as  this  is  possible  in  the 
films.  The  opening  picture  shows  the  narrator,  "I,"  seated 
at  his  desk  writing  the  story  which  follows. 

The  man,  a  student  by  inclination,  is  married  to  a  most 
unpleasant  woman  who  devotes  her  days  to  card  playirrg  and 
other  frivolities.  Next  door  lives  a  young  couple,  "my  neigh- 
bor" and  his  charming  wife,  who  are  all  the  world  to  each 
other.  The  unhappy  man  first  envies  them,  then  falls  in  love 
with  the  wife.  When  the  husband  sails  on  business  to  Africa, 
the  man  refuses  the  temptation  of  being  alone  with  the  young 
wife  during  the  days  following  and  also  travels  abroad.  Fate, 
however,  is  not  to  let  him  escape  so  easily.  One  morning  in 
Cairo,  while  waiting  for  the  boat  to  some  point  along  the 
coast,  he  meets  his  neighbor's  wife,  traveling  to  join  her  hus- 
band. They  sail  from  Cairo  on  the  same  ship,  which  is 
wrecked  on  the  way.  The  man  saves  the  young  woman  and 
they  manage  to  reach  shore,  which  proves  to  be  the  edge  of 
a  jungle. 

Since  the  man  left  home  to  break  the  power  of  the  attrac- 
tion his  neighbor's  wife  had  for  him,  fate,  in  throwing  them 


Meanwhile  the  husband's  party,  encamped  in  the  jungle, 
has  won  the  ill  will  of  a  band  of  native  tribesmen,  who  attack 
them.  In  the  fight  the  young  man  is  wounded.  Dazed,  he 
wanders  through  the  forest  until  he  reaches  the  seashore. 
He  then  falls  exhausted,  not  far  from  the  place  where  his 
wife  and  the  man  are. 

At  this  time,  a  leopard  attacks  the  young  woman.  She 
struggles  with  the  animal  and  the  man,  seeing  her  danger, 
again  saves  her  life.  This  second  shock  brings  her  to  her 
senses.  A  little  while  later  the  husband  is  discovered  and 
brought  back  to  consciousness  and  the  young  people  are  re- 
united. When  rescuers  come  from  a  passing  ship,  however, 
the  man  docs  not  go  with  the  young  couple  back  to  civiliza- 
tion.   He  prefers  to  stay  in  the  jungle. 

The  story  ends,  as  it  had  begun,  with  the  man  writing. 
Then  he  drinks  a  toast  to  the  happiness  of  his  neighbor's 
wife. 

There  are  many  wonderful  scenes  in  the  play,  particularly 
those  showing  the  wreck  of  the  ship,  the  panic  aboard  and  the 
terrible  struggles  of  the  doomed  passengers  in  the  water. 
The  Selig  wild  animals,  too,  have  a  chance  to  play  their  parts. 
The  several  scenes  of  the  leopard  mother  playing  with  her 
cubs  are  charming,  and  these  are  cleverly  "cut  in"  a  number 
of  times  to  heighten  the  suspense.  The  fight  between  the 
leopard  and  tiger  was  undoubtedly  the  "real  thing"  so  far  as 
the  animals  were  concerned.  Kathlyn  Williams  adds  to  her 
many  daring  exploits  when  she  battles  with  a  leopard. 

The  play  is  one  which  will  keep  audiences  on  the  edge  of 
their  seats  most  of  the  time.  Kathlyn  Williams  as  "my 
neighbor's  wife"  is  as  delightful  in  the  quiet  opening  scenes 
as  she  is  daring  in  the  last  acts.  Tyrone  Power  is  cast  as 
the  narrator  of  the  story,  with  Eugenie  Besserer  as  his  wife. 
Guy  Oliver  is  "my  neighbor." 


"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

First    Episode    of    Essanay    Mystery    Story    Released 
January  24.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris. 

THE  opening  acts  of  a  serial  story  are  frequently  confusing 
-l  because  the  important  characters  must  be  introduced,  their 
relation  to  each  other  and  the  story  shown,  and  the  back- 
ground of  the  action  explained.  The  first  two  reels  of  "The 
Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page"  accomplish  this  purpose  clearly 
and  are  interesting  as  well.  The  story  begins  with  a  dress 
rehearsal  of  a  play  and  gives  several  glimpses  of  life  behind 
the  scenes  in  the  theater,  always  fascinating  to  those  who  see 
the  stage  only  across  the  footlights.  The  play  is  historical 
and  pretty  Mary  Page,  played  by  Edna  Mayo,  is  introduced 
in  a  costume  of  long  ago. 

At  this  rehearsal  we  meet  the  man  whose  money  backs 
the  production  of  the  play,  Dave  Pollock,  played  by  Sydney 
Ainsworth.  Mary  distinctly  shows  her  dislike  for  this  man, 
as  clearly  as  she  shows  her  liking  for  Phillip  Langdon  (Henry 
B.  Walthall),  a  young  lawyer  who,  a  flash-back  shows  us,  has 
been  her  sweetheart  for  a  long  time.  When  Pollock,  at  the 
close  of  the  rehearsal,  annoys  Mary  by  his  attentions  until 
Langdon  comes  to  her  rescue,  we  have  no  more  doubts  about 


264 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


his  villainy  and  will  shed  no  tears  when  he  is  found  murdered 
in  the  next  act. 

The  second  reel  shows  the  "first  night"  of  the  "play,  in 
which  Alary  scores  a  success.  Pollock  has  arranged  a  banquet 
in  Mary's  honor  after  the  play,  but  she  has  promised  to  run 
away  from  it  early  and  meet  Langdon. 

Mary,  wearing  one  of  the  beautiful  gowns  which  are  a 
feature  of  this  production,  appears  at  the  banquet.  Before 
leaving  home,  a  distrust  of  Pollock  had  led  her  to  slip  her 
little  revolver  into  her  party  bag,  but  a  message  brought  to 
her  at  the  banquet  asking  her  to  meet  Langdon  in  a  certain 
room  does  jiot  arouse  her  suspicions.  The  message  is  really 
from  Pollock,  who  has  been  drinking  far  too  much. 

Mary  enters  the  room  and  starts  in  alarm  as  she  sees 
Pollock.  He  locks  the  door,  then  comes  toward  her.  The 
scene  shifts  first  to  the  lobby  where  Langdon  is  waiting  for 
Marj-,  then  to  the  banquet  table,  which  is  suddenly  thrown 
into  confusion  on  hearing  a  shot.  All  rush  to  Pollock's  room, 
Langdon  with  them.  The  door  is  forced  open,  and  Pollock  is 
found  dead,  Alary  fainting  beside  him.  Between  them  lies 
Mary's  revolver. 

Is  Mary  guilty?  If  not,  who  killed  Pollock,  and  how? 
Also  why?  Who  will  save  Mary  from  the  net  of  circum- 
stantial  evidence?     So   we   have   the   mystery,   with   its   chief 


time  covered  necessitates  many  lapses,  which  are  explained  by 
subtitles.  This,  however,  is  not  to  the  detriment  of  the  pic- 
ture, for  the  action  is  all  between  the  characters  introduced  in 
the  beginning  and  no  developments  of  note  occur  during  the 


characters  and  its  background.  It  is  a  good  beginning.  The 
roles  are  well  handled.  The  story  is  sure  to  attract  and  puzzle 
many. 


"The  Unwritten  Law" 

California    Motion    Picture    Corporation's    Five-Reel 
Drama.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy. 

HTHE  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation's  latest  offering, 
'  "The  Unwritten  Law,"  is  an  interesting  modern  drama  of 
character  and  situation,  having  for  its  central  figure  a  woman 
of  admirable  spirit  and  courage  in  the  face  of  adversity.  This 
picture  is  satisfactory  in  every  detail  of  production  and  acting. 
As  the  story  deals  with  characters  mostly,  the  acting  is  first 
in  importance,  and  the  uniformly  effective  cast  selected  to 
interpret  the  parts  is  supported  by  good  direction,  and  fine 
settings  and  photography. 

Heading  the  cast  is  Beatriz  Michelena,  whose  previous 
screen  appearances  should  make  comment  upon  her  work 
needless.  This  story  gives  her  a  part  which  competes  with 
her  role  in  "Salvation  Nell"  as  regards  the  opportunities  for 
emotional  acting  it  presents.  William  Tike  as  the  brilliant 
lawyer  who  sinks  to  the  level  of  the  gutter  through  drink, 
and  Andrew  Robson  as  the  political  boss,  have  the  other  im- 
portant parts.  The  story  is  built  around  these  three  figures. 
The  actors  who  interpret  them  are  always  convincing. 

The  scenario  is  by  Captain  Leslie  Peacocke  and  is  based 
on   the   story  by   Edwin    Milton    Royle.     The   long   period    of 


time  passed  over,  so  there  is  no  real  break  in  the  thread  of 
the  story. 

In  the  beginning  we  see  John  Wilson  and  his  wife  living 
with  their  baby  girl  in  complete  happiness.  Wilson  has  made 
a  fine  record  as  district  attorney  and  he  is  mentioned  for  the 
gubernatorial  candidacy.  Larry  McCarthy,  a  saloon  propri- 
etor, who  rules  a  portion  of  the  state  with  an  iron  hand,  calls 
on  Wilson  and  offers  him  his  support.  McCarthy  is  at  once 
fascinated  with  Mrs.  Wilson.  Shortly  after  this  meeting  he 
attempts  to  meet  the  Wilsons  on  a  social  basis.  The  lawyer 
quickly  ends  his  hopes  in- this  direction  and  AlcCarthy  then 
decides  to  double-cross  him. 

Wilson  stakes  everything  on  the  election  and  when  he  is 
defeated  he.  for  the  first  time,  drinks  to  excess.  He  con- 
tinues to  drink  and  the  boss,  hoping  to  separate  Wilson  and 
his  pretty  wife,  encourages  him.  Kate  then  becomes  the 
bread  winner.  Her  husband  tries  to  pull  himself  together, 
but  cannot,  and  he  leaves  her.  McCarthy  helps  her  financially 
and  asks  her  to  marry  him.  When  she  secures  a  divorce, 
however,  he  refuses  to  make  good  his  promise  and  she  kills 
him.  Wilson,  returning  just  after  the  shooting,  shoulders 
the  blame.  The  shock  cures  Wilson  of  the  drink  habit  and 
circumstances  bring  about  an  acquittal,  so  the  end  finds  the 
two  united  and  happy. 

Alex  E.  Beyfuss  directed  the  production.  The  direction 
is  effective  throughout  and  is  easily  one  of  the  picture's 
strongest  points.  The  reformation  of  the  drink-soaked  law- 
yer and  the  use  of  hypnotism  to  restore  Kate's  memory  occur 
at  the  same  time,  practically,  and  while  both  carry  conviction 
they  are  not  strong  enough.  One  feels  that  the  author  used 
them  as  a  last  resort  to  get  his  characters  out  of  a  great  diffi- 
culty. The  fire  scenes  are  handled  most  admirably.  Here 
the  interest  is  brought  to  a  point  of  excitement  without  spoil- 
ing the  effect  by  overdoing  the  thing. 


"Madame  X" 

Pathe    Gold    Rooster   Play    Picturized    from   Famous 
Drama.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

SIX  REELS  are  required  to  tell  the  screen  version  of 
Alexander  Bisson's  famous  "Madame  X,"  produced  by 
Henrj  W.  Savage  for  the  Gold  Rooster  program  with 
Dorothy  Donnelly,  whose  interpretation  of  the  name  role 
in  the  original  stage  production  caused  such  widespread 
comment.  It  is  an  exception.il  story  which  has  been  made 
into  six  reels  without  the  aid  of  spectacular  treatment.  The 
picture  is  tilled  with  action,  and  it  is  action  which  has  a 
distinct  bearing  on  the  plot.  Surely  no  one  can  complain 
that  "Madame  X"  has  been  padded. 

Because  of  it>  greal  -m-n^  .is  a  stage  play  "Madame  X" 


January  29,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


will,  of  course,  be  a  big  attraction  wherever  shown,  espe- 
cially with  Miss  Donnelly  in  the  leading  role.  George  F. 
Marion,  who  directed  the  stage  presentation,  produced  the 
picture.     The   most   important   dramatic   scenes,   such   as   the 


of  the  patheh 


one  in  which  Floriet  refuses  to  allow  the  repentant  Jacqueline 
to  see  her  son,  her  killing  of  Laroque  and  the  court  room, 
have  sets  which  are  practically  replicas  of  those  used  in  the 
stage  production.  Here  the  action,  too,  is  much  the  same 
as.it  was  in  the  original  play.  These  are  the  big  situations 
of  the  play  and  they  are  led  up  to  in  a  manner  that  brings 
out  their  dramatic  force. 

The  situation  to  which  Jacqueline's  first  misstep,  and  her 
gradual  but  certain  sinking  to  the  low  state  which  she 
finally  reaches,  leads  the  trial  of  the  mysterious  Madame  X, 
suffers  nothing  by  comparison  with  the  scene  as  played  by 
Miss  Donnelly  on  the  stage,  in  point  of  tensity.  It  is  doubtful 
if  a  more  powerful  scene  has  ever  been  projected  upon  the 
screen.  Though  screen  patrons  have  had  their  full  share 
of  court  room  scenes  of  late  the  trial  in  "Madame  X"  will 
compel  and  hold  firmly  their  interest.  This  scene  has  in- 
spired many,  it  is  not  to  be  comparedwith  any. 

The  picture  opens  with  the  marriage  of  Jacqueline  and 
Floriet.  She  leaves  him  for  a  man  she  thinks  more  suited 
to  her,  but  later  returns  and  pleads  with  her  husband  to 
permit  her  to  see  her  son,  who  is  ill.  Floriet  refuses  and 
sends  her  off.  From  this  time  on  Jacqueline  treads  the 
downward  path.  In  South  America  she  leads  a  bitter  life 
and  upon  returning  to  France  she  kills  her  latest  companion 
when  a  scheme  of  his  threatens  to  expose  her  shame  to  her 
son.  She  dies  after  being  acquitted  through  the  eloquence 
of  her  son. 

John  Bowers  is  the  absorbed  Floriet  and  Edwin  Fosberg 
the  gracious  but  villainous  Laroque.  Ralph  Morgan,  Robert 
Fischer  and  Charles  Bunnell  are  the  other  prominent  mem- 
bers of  a  consistently  able  cast.  The  production  throughout 
is  highly  effective  and  the  photography  is  good.  At  the  end 
there  is  a  symbolic  scene  of  some  sort  that  could  as  well  be 
done  away  with.  Dorothy  Donnelly's  is  a  wonderful  per- 
formance and  "Madame  X"  in  all  details  is  a  remarkably 
strong  offering.  It  is  one  of  the  season's  most  notable  pic- 
tures. 


"As  a  Woman  Sows" 

Gaumont  Offers  Mutual  Masterpicture  on  January  24 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

GAUMONT  joins  the  ranks  of  Mutual  Masterpicture  pro- 
ducers this  week  by  offering  as  a  five-reel  feature  for  the 
Mutual  Masterpiece  program  on  January  24  "As  a  Woman 
Sows,"  in  which  Gertrude  Robinson  and  Alexander  Gaden 
are  starred.  The  story  concerns  itself  chiefly  with  the  love 
of  Loren  Hayward,  mayor  of  the  city  of  Lynboro,  and  Milly, 
his  wife,  which  is  well-nigh  wrecked  when  Robert  Chapman, 
a  popular  lady's  man,  pays  too  much  attention  to  Milly, 
leading  her  husband  to  suspect  that  she  is  not  as  loyal  as 
she  should  be. 

William  F.  Haddock,  who  directed  the  picture,  has  told 
his  story  in  a  thoroughly  convincing  fashion  and  though,  as 
the  fourth  reel  reaches  its  end,  it  seems  the  story  is  really 


told,  an  extra  reel  is  added  which  gives  the  picture  still  an- 
other punch  and  therefore  cannot  be  judged  solely  as  "pad- 
ding." 

Photographically  the  picture  is  up  to  the  high  standard 
set  by  the  Gaumont  Company  and  although  neither  wonder- 
ful stage  settings  nor  elaborate  costuming  is  called  for, 
enough  of  both  are  in  evidence  to  make  the  offering  an 
attractive  one,  and  is  kept  well  within  the  bounds  of  the  story. 

Pretty  Milly  Hayward,  wife  of  the  mayor,  becomes  dis- 
contented when  her  husband  devotes  more  and  more  of  his 
time  to  politics,  and  urged  by  Loren's  Aunt  Abbie  and  Geor- 
gia, her  niece,  she  determines  to  start  a  flirtation  in  the  hope 
that  Loren  will  note  her  fascination  for  other  men  and,  per- 
haps, himself  pay  more  attention  to  her. 

The  young  mayor  of  Lynboro  spends  much  time  in  his 
office  in  an  attempt  to  prevent  Willoughby,  a  grafting  con- 
tractor, from  "putting  anything  over"  on  the  city,  and  _  at 
last  secures  evidence  that  he  has  long  been  seeking  and  which 
he  feels  will  enable  him  to  secure  Willoughby's  indictment. 

Milly's  flirtation  with  Robert  Chapman,  a  handsome  so- 
ciety man,  proves  a  boomerang,  for  Chapman,  encouraged, 
attempts  to  take  advantage  of  Mrs.  Hayward  and  to  steal  a 
kiss  by  force.  Loren  comes  upon  the  scene  just  as  Chapman 
seizes  Milly  in  his  arms  and,  after  knocking  Chapman  down 
and  ordering  him  from  the  house,  he  tells  his  wife  that  all  is 
over  between  them,  seizes  their  little  son  and  departs. 

Next  day  Milly  comes  to  Loren's  office  to  make  a  final 
appeal  and  to  give  a  full  explanation  of  her  conduct,  but  he 
spurns  her  and  in  leaving  she  accidentally  brushes  into  her  grip 
from  his  desk  the  documentary  evidence  which  Loren  had 
collected  against  Willoughby.  Kidnaping  Bobby  from  her 
husband's  temporary  home  she  flees  to  another  city  and  is 
followed  there  by  both  Chapman  and  Loren,  the  latter  think- 


Chapm 


begs  for( 


of  Hayward. 


ing  that  she  deliberately  stole  the  Willoughby  evidence  in 
order  to  revenge  herself  upon  him. 

After  Loren  returns  to  his  home  Bobby  is  stricken  with 
scarlet  fever  and  Loren  himself  becomes  ill.  Milly,  learning 
of  the  illness  of  her  husband  and  son,  returns  and  nurses 
them  back  to  health.  All  is  finally  explained  to  Loren's  sat- 
isfaction and  when  Milly  returns  to  her  husband  the  Wil- 
loughby documents  the  latter  decides  to  celebrate  the  return 
of  his  wife  and  the  missing  evidence  by  giving  a  big  reception. 

Chapman  is  among  the  guests  and  when  Hayward  is 
called  away  to  prevent  burglars  from  ransacking  his  office, 
he  accidentally  enters  Milly's  room,  thinking  it  is  the  cham- 
ber in  which  he  has  left  his  coat  and  hat.  Loren  returning, 
corners  the  two  in  his  wife's  room  and  Milly,  fearing  she  will 
lose  her  husband  a  second  time,  hides  Chapman  and  attempts 
to  gain  time  before  admitting  her  husband  to  the  room. 

The  burglars,  who  had  failed  to  secure  the  papers  they 
sought  at  Loren's  office,  enter  the  mayor's  home  and  over- 
come Milly  and  Chapman.  When  Loren  succeeds  in  forcing 
the  door  open  he  finds  his  wife  in  a  faint  on  the  floor  and  the 
burglars  just  departing,  for  Chapman  has  succeeded  in  the 
excitement  in  making  his  way  back  to  the  hall  undiscovered. 
Milly's  honor  thus  vindicated,  happiness  once  more  descends 
upon  the  home. 

In  the  roles  of  Milly  and  Loren,  Miss  Robinson  and  Alex- 
ander Gaden  give  a  splendid  account  of  themselves,  and  the 
supporting  cast  is  fully  adequate  to  the  roles  assigned. 


266 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


"The  Fourth  Estate" 

Fox  Five-Reel  Feature  Released  January  16. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris. 

JOSEPH  MEDILL  PATTERSON'S  drama  of  the  power  of 
the  press  is  presented  on  the  screen  in  this  release.  It  is 
prefaced  by  a  quotation  from  the  speech  of  an  English  states- 
man who  declared  that  the  "fourth  estate,"  the  newspaper 
men,  was  more  powerful  than  Parliament.  But  the  story  itself 
is  not  a  sociological  tract.  It  more  nearly  approaches  the 
melodrama,  the  instrument  which  discloses  the  villain  in  all 
his  treachery  being  a  newspaper  which  the  hero  purchases  for 
that  purpose. 

The  play  opens  with  a  short  scene  of  a  murder  committed 
years  before.  The  accomplices,  agreeing  to  stand  by  each 
other,  vanish  into  the  night.  When  the  story  proper  begins, 
one  of  these  men,  Bertelmy,  is  a  judge;  the  other  is  a  political 
boss  of  the  lowest  type. 

There  is  a  strike  in  the  city,  and  the  city  editor  sends 
Brand,  a  young  reporter,  to  cover  it.  Brand  discovers  that 
the  leader  of  the  strikers  is  Noland,  and  when  Noland  is 
arrested  on  a  trivial  charge,  Brand  discovers  that  the  man 
behind  the  arrest  is  Judge  Bertelmy.  When  his  discovery 
appears  in  the  newspaper,  Judge  Bertelmy  orders  the  editor 


to  discharge  the  reporter  who  wrote  the  article.  Brand  is 
fired. 

Noland,  knowing-  himself  in  danger  from  his  enemies, 
leaves  his  young  wife  and  escapes  to  Canada.  But  Mrs. 
Noland  is  not  to  escape  so  easily.  A  corporation  had  hired 
the  political  boss  to  get  Noland  out  of  the  way.  In  turn,  the 
boss  had  bribed  Bertelmy  to  have  Noland  arrested.  And  part 
of  the  bribe  to  the  judge  was  to  be  the  labor  leader's  young 
wife. 

Accordingly  the  judge  manages  to  have  Mrs.  Noland, 
with  her  baby,  dispossessed  and  sees  to  it  that  she  cannot  get 
;i  position  from  the  employment  agencies,  Nevertheless,  she 
escapes  his  net.  and  manages  (o  support  herself  and  child. 

Two  years  later,  Noland,  in  Canada,  has  become  a  very 
wealthy  miner.  He  returns  to  the  United  States  and  is  suc- 
cessful  in   finding  his  wife  and   little  son.     When    Mrs.    Noland 

tells  hiin  of  her  danger  From  tin-  judge.  Noland  determines  to 

ruin    tlie   man.     To  do  this  he  buys  ;i   newspaper   plant.      With 

Brand,  whom    Bertelmy  once  ordered  discharged,  as  managing 

editor.    Noland    invest!)  ird    Of    Bertelmy    and    the 

en   discovering    the   long   forgotten   murder.      As   a   fin- 

touch,   lie    manages    to    have   a   picture    of    Bertelmj 

snapped  as  he   tries  again  to  buy  the  silence  of  the  press. 

This    time    his    efforts    are    in    vain.        \11    the    evidence    in,    the 

story  is  written  and  read}  to  go  to  press,  Then  there  follows 
an  exposition  of  the  mechanical  process  ,,i"  making  a  news- 
paper, from  the  time  the  story  is  set  on  the  lintoype  machines 

until  the  electric  carriers  bring  the  wet  copies  to  the  waiting 
newsboys.       These     scenes,    which     are    rcinai  kahb'    clear    and 

ig,   were   photographed    in    the    plant    of    the    Chicago 
Herald. 


The  last  scene  shows  the  two  criminals,  long  undected, 
at  last  in  jail,  through  the  power  of  the  "fourth  estate." 

The  story  holds  the  attention  closely  throughout.  It  is 
clearly  told.  The  various  characters  are  well  portrayed. 
Clifford  Bruce  is  Noland,  with  Ruth  Blair  as  the  young  wife. 
Samuel  J.  Ryan  gives  an  excellent  performance  as  the  political 
boss,  and  Alfred  Hickman  is  equally  good  as  the  evil  judge. 
Victor  Benoit,  as  the  reporter;  Aline  Bartlett,  an  orphan 
whose  ruin  is  planned  by  the  judge,  and  Stacey  Van  Petten, 
Jr.,  Noland's  son,  complete  an  able  cast. 


"Her  Debt  of  Honor" 

Five-Reel    Metro    Melodrama    Featuring    Valli    Valli 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

A  MELODRAMA  with  quick  action  from  beginning  to  end  is 
offered  by  Metro  in  "Her  Debt  of  Honor,"  which  features 
Valli  Valli.  The  part  given  her  is  both  large  and  important,  but 
in  this  picture  if  any  one  character  stands  out  more  prominently 
than  the  others  in  the  central  group  it  is  that  of  the  dissipated 
young  man  to  whom  Marian  believes  herself  indebted.  Valli 
Valli's  is  a  pleasing  performance  and  she  is  effective  in  the 
dramatic   scenes   given   her. 

William  Nigh,  author,  director  and  interpreter  of  the  wild 
youth,  which  is  the  character  around  whom  the  story  is  built, 
is  seen  to  less  advantage  as  author  than  he  is  as  actor  and 
director.  His  acting  in  a  role  that  presents  many  difficulties  is 
very  good  and  he  makes  Olin  Varcoe,  the  illegitimate  son  of 
a  man  unscrupulous  even  in  his  business  dealings,  as  convincing 
as  a  person  so  unusual  can  be,  while  the  direction  is  most 
satisfactory. 

The  picture  concerns  itself  with  a  character  of  no  morals 
whatever.  "Her  Debt  of  Honor"  is  a  series  of  scenes  depicting 
the  incidents  in  the  last  few  days  of  a  libertine's  life.  It  is  not 
a  well  constructed  story  but  the  picture  is  a  highly  interesting 
one  because  the  action  revolves  about  an  interesting  figure. 
Varcoe  has  always  led  a  dissipated  life,  yet  at  times  he  becomes 
serious  when  he  realizes  that  never  in  his  life  has  he  met  a 
"decent"  person  who  would  have  the  least  to  do  with  him.  and 
when  he  learns  that  he  was  born  of  sin  and  reared  in  hatred, 
his  despair  unbalances  his  mind.  He  is  then  an  enemy  to  all  that 
is  decent,  comforting  himself  with  the  thought  that  he  is  suf- 
fering for  the  sins   of  his   father. 

Mr.  Nigh  realizes  the  best  that  is  in  the  part.  He  makes 
Varcoe  such  a  wilfully  bad  character  that  one  is  bound  to  be 
interested  in  him.  A  character  like  that  has  a  better  right  in  the 
drama  than  one  who  is  good  merely  because  he  has  never  had  a 
good  opportunity  to  be  otherwise,  which  as  far  as  the  audience 
knows  is  often  the  case,  for  many  authors  will  start  their  heroes 
on  the  road  to  ruination  and  stop  them  before  they  have  gone 
far  enough  to  do  harm,  through  circumstances  rattier  than 
through   the   hero's   own   strength   of   character. 

Despite  the  fact  that  the  play  is  episodic  it  has  good  quali- 
ties, it  is  novel  in  some  respects.  The  action  takes  place  in 
Varcoe's,  or  rather  his  mother's  house  in  Canada.  The  three 
central  characters  are  living  there,  and  while  Marian,  for  senti- 
mental reasons,  remains  and  subjects  herself  to  Varcoe's  ill- 
temper  and  insults  and  Hartlield  is  the  guest  of  a  man  he  detests, 
melodramatic  situations  are  quickly  developed.  The  cast  in- 
cludes William  Davidson,  J.  II.  Goldsworthy,  Frank  Bacon,  who 
gives  a  good  character  sketch.  Mrs.  M.  Brundage  and  R.  A. 
Bresee. 


"My  Lady  Incog" 

A    Famous    Players-Paramount    Comedy-Drama    Fea- 
ture.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

CRAMED  in  the  backgrounds  selected  by  Sidney  Olcott,  Hazel 
1  Dawn  is  supported  h>  a  tine  cast  in  the  role  o\  a  Southern 
societj  girl  suddenly  thrown  upon  her  own  resources  in  "My 
Lad)  Incog."  a  five  pari  Famous  Players  Paramount  release.  The 
cameraman  who  took  "M\  Lad)  Incog"  scons  a  success  in  this 
offering,  for  more  effective  lighting  and  photography  in  all  prob- 
ability has  never  been  obtained.  None  who  see  this  picture  will 
suffer  from  eye-strain,  that  is  a  certainty. 

The  Story  tells  an  enjoyable  romance  oi  a  girl  who  attempts 
to  apprehend  i  very  clever  crook,  and  a  society  chap.  It  is  a 
COmedj  drama  with  several  amusing  spots  and  some  interesting 
melodrama  and  while  the  story  is  quite  thin  "My  Lady  Incog" 
is  very  entertaining.  It  is  an  offering  in  which  the  production, 
wiili  the  settings  and  excellent  photograph)  the  main  attractions. 
makes  it  entirely  worthy.  Then,  of  course,  there  is  th,  , 
I  la/el   Dawn  in  a  part   which  suits  her  well. 

Miss  Dawn  is  Nell  Carroll,  who  becomes  the  lad)   referred 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


267 


to  in  the  title  when  she  accepts  a  position  with  a  detective  agency. 
The  person  holding  the  mortgage  on  her  Southern  home  threat- 
ens to  foreclose  unless  the  interest  is  forthcoming.  Nell  is 
sent  to  a  summer  colony,  where  a  number  of  robberies  have  been 


committed.  She  registers  at  the  hotel  as  the  Baroness  Du  Vassey. 
With  a  name  like  that  she  is  at  once  taken  up  by  society. 

The  chief  of  police  tells  her  to  watch  Teddy  De  Vaux.  The 
chief's  information  came  from  one  of  his  men  who  is  in  league 
with  Rene  Lidal,  the  real  crook.  Teddy's  mother  invites  her  to 
stop  with  them  and  her  invitation  is  accepted  by  Nell.  Teddy 
and  the  girl  become  very  good  friends  and  though  circumstances 
arouse  her  suspicions  of  him  she  refuses  to  make  them  known. 
A  reception  is  given  in  her  honor  and  Lidal,  certain  that  she  is 
masquerading  determines  to  expose  her.  He  attends  the  affair 
as  the  Baron.  He  almost  breaks  up  the  friendship  between  Nell 
and  Teddy  but  a  slip  in  his  plans  lands  him  in  jail  and  makes 
the  way  clear  for  their  marriage. 

Robert  Cain  is  an  effective  Teddy  De  Veaux  and  Dora  Mills 
Adams  is  much  at  home  as  his  mother,  the  society  leader.  George 
Majeroni  and  Frank  Wunderlee  do  some  splendid  acting  as  the 
two  crooks.  The  exterior  scenes  were  produced  in  Florida.  Mr. 
Olcott  used  only  the  most  appropriate  and  choice  locations  in  that 
land,  it  seems.    The  general  direction  is  thoroughly  good. 


Last  Casino  Star  Comedy  Released 

With  "Ham  and  Eggs"  on  the  screen  January  16, 
the  final  Casino  Star  comedy  of  the  present  Gaumont 
series  has  been  released.  Unusual  care  was  taken 
with  the  production,  the  scenario  having  been  written 
for  the  occasion  by  Harry  Palmer,  the  Gaumont  car- 
toonist who  animates  "Keepin'  Up  With  the  Joneses." 
"Budd"  Ross  played  the  star  role.  The  comedy  was 
directed  by  Edwin  Middleton,  who  left  the  following 
week  for  Jacksonville,  where  he  will  direct  Mutual 
Master-Pictures  at  the  Gaumont  studios. 


Raver  Pleased  With  Demand  for  Frlm 

"Not  since  I  marketed  Cabiria,"  said  Mr.  Raver, 
"have  I  had  such  a  great  demand  for  the  territorial 
rights  of  a  feature  as  are  coming  in  on  'The  Other 
Girl,'  our  first  production  adapted  from  the  success- 
ful stage  play  by  Augustus  Thomas. 

"I  attribute  this  to  several  things.  When  form- 
ing the  Raver  Film  Corporation  for  the  producing  of 
the  Thomas  plays,  it  was  my  contention  that  a  state 
right  feature  of  good  quality  had  a  greater  earning 
power  for  both  owner  and  exhibitor  than  did  a  photo- 
feature  that  was  launched  along  regular  lines.  It  was 
exclusive,  it  did  not  share  its  honors  with  any  firm 


name,  but  traveled  on  its  merits  and  the  merits  of 
its  players. 

"  'The  Other  Girl'  as  a  stage  production  enjoyed 
five  years  of  popularity  through  the  large  theaters  in 
this  country  and  seven  years  in  stock.  Combined  with 
this  Corbett's  wide  fame  as  a  hero  actor,  Paul  Gil- 
more's  many  years  on  the  stage,  which  established 
him  as  a  matinee  idol,  and  the  intimate  scenes  in  and 
about  the  Muldoon  health  farm,  showing  Mr.  Muldoon 
himself,  coupled  with  its  widely  famous  author,  Au- 
gustus Thomas,  make  this  picture  a  splendid  commercial 
proposition." 


Vitagraph  Adds  Players 

Several  new  faces  among  the  Vitagraph  players 
will  be  seen  in  a  new  release  of  the  company  at  Holly- 
wood, Cal.  Corinne  Griffiths,  who  has  the  distinction 
of  winning  more  than  one  beauty  prize  in  Los  Angeles, 
and  other  California  towns,  is  considered  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  screen.  Her  beauty  is  of  the  appealing 
kind  and  in  addition  to  this  screen  personality  she  has 
a  knack  of  facial  expression  that  speaks  well  for  her 
future  as  a  film  actress. 

Lawrence  Weingarten  is  another  new  player. 
Both  will  be  seen  in  "Bittersweet,"  a  one-reel  drama, 
written  by  Daisy  E.  Smith  and  produced  by  Rollin  S. 
Sturgeon.  George  Stanley,  Anne  Schaefer  and  Web- 
ster Campbell  play  important  roles  in  the  production. 
Vivian  Marshall,  well  known  as  a  swimmer  and  diver 
is  to  be  featured  in  a  new  film  now  under  course  of 
production. 


Lesser  Opening  New  York  Office 

Sol  L.  Lesser,  who  controls  the  United  States 
rights  on  Selig's  "Ne'er  Do  Well"  will  leave  for  New 
York  January  22,  where  he  will  make  his  headquarters 
for  marketing  "The  Ne'er  Do  AVell"  on  a  national 
basis.  E.  M.  Asher  will  precede  Mr.  Lesser  by  a  few 
days  to  arrange  for  suitable  offices  and  complete  vari- 
ous details  so  that  everything  will  be  in  readiness  when 
Mr.  Lesser  arrives.  Mr.  Asher  will  also  act  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  publicity  manager. 


General  Film  Changes 

The  General  Film  Company  announces  the  ap- 
pointment of  two  more  branch  managers.  W.  J.  Gil- 
more  succeeds  V.  H.  Hodupp  at  the  23rd  street  branch 
in  New  York,  and  T.  Y.  Henry  heads  the  Salt  Lake 
City  organization.  Mr.  Henry  formerly  was  manager 
of  the  World  Film  Exchange  in  Kansas  City. 


Rosenberg  Secures  "Ne'er  Do  Well" 

A  chance  meeting  at  the  Sherman  House  in  Chi- 
cago, between  Sol.  Lesser,  who  controls  the  U.  S. 
rights  on  "The  Ne'er  Do  Well,"  and  M.  Rosenberg, 
manager  of  the  Northwestern  Feature  Film  Company, 
with  offices  in  Seattle,  resulted  in  a  deal  whereby 
Rosenberg  acquires  the  rights  for  Washington  and 
Oregon  on  "The  Ne'er  Do  Well." 


Le  Vine  Quits  Arrow  Film 

Albert  S.  LeVine  has  resigned  as  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Arrow  Film  Corporation  to  devote  his 
time  to  writing  and  producing  feature  pictures.  No 
announcement  has  been  made  regarding  his  successor. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


.     - 

L 

'■Mi  — 

111!' 

tfcar  Admiral  Robert  li.  Perry  and  a  commitcc  choosing  a  site  for  aerial  Employes   of    fast    YoungstOWtt   are  Paid   off   while    under  guard.      Cob 

/■aiiol  siaii.,,,.     Copyright,    toi6,   Paramount   Nivespteturts,  right.  1016.  rathe  Sews. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brevities  of  the  Business 


LOS  ANGELES 

By  "Capt.  Jack"  Poland 

Bessie  Eyton,  the  Selig  star,  has  added 
much  to  her  prestige  by  clever  work  in 
"The  Spoilers,"  now  playing  a  most  suc- 
cessful week  at  Clune's  Auditorium 
theater,  Los  Angeles.  This  is  a  Selig 
feature  that  has  won  its  own  reward 
because  of  masterly  production  features. 

Anna  Luther,  the  new  Keystone  star 
appearing  in  "Crooked  to  the  End,"  has 
purchased  a  Moon  touring  car  and  is 
to  be  seen  daily  on  the  boulevards 
cleverly  handling  her  car. 

Virginia  Richdale  Kerrigan,  the  infant 
daughter  of  Wallace  Kerrigan,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Universal  City  rancho, 
where  the  $1,000,000  studios  are  located, 
is  the  youngest  infant  to  appear  in  a  real 
motion  picture  scene.  She  has  been  pic- 
tured under  the  dirction  of  W.  C.  Dowlan 
and  has  achieved  fine  results  for  a  new 
film  light. 

Henry  Otto,  a  well  known  Universal 
director,  has  left  the  California  studios 
for  New  York,  where  he  is  to  direct  spe- 
cial productions  for  the  Big  U.  This 
is  a  well  merited  advancement  and  Otto's 
friends  are  glad  to  note  his  success. 

The  latest  report  on  the  local  Los 
Angeles  Rialto  is  that  Constance  Collier 
has  been  selected  to  play  Lady  Macbeth 
in  support  of  Sir  Beerbohm  Tree  in  the 
Fine  Arts  Film  Company  rendition  of 
this  Shakespearian  play.  Miss  Collier 
has  appeared  before  London  audiences 
in  such  'roles  and  is  said  to  be  eminently 
fitted  for  the  important  part  in  films. 

Blanche  Sweet  is  appearing  in  a  new 
picture  drama  written  by  Marion  Fairfax, 
at  the  Lasky  Hollywood  studios  under 
the  direction  of  William  de  Mille,  who 
collaborated  with  the  author  in  the  writ- 
ing of  the  play. 

Jack  Lait,  the  former  Chicago  news- 
paper man  and  playwright,  has  accepted 
a  position  with  the  Balboa  company  for 
a  series  of  productions  in  photoplays. 

DeWolf  Hopper  of  Fine  Arts  films  is 
now  busy  creating  special  parts  for  him- 
self in  the  play,  "Sunshine  Dan,"  and  is 
said  to  be  "some  class"  as  a  lion  tamer. 
He  is,  however,  more  delighted  with  the 
new  number  of  his  California  auto 
license  registration  numbering  102030, 
meaning  ten,  twenty  and  thirty  cents 
admissions  to  see  him  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture productions  which  pay  him  $100,000 
for  his  year's  work. 

Horkheimer  Bros.,  general  managers 
of  the  Balboa  Amusement  Producing 
Company  of  Long  Beach,  operating  one 
of  the  most  complete  independent  mo- 
tion picture  studios  of  the  country,  have 
issued  an  attractive  calendar  telling 
about  Balboa  Features  topping  the  world, 
illustrated  with  a  representative  picture 
of  "Uncle  Sam"  atop  the  world. 

Henry  Otto,  the  Universal  director 
who  went  to  Coronado  Beach  for  rest, 
obtained  a  splendid  plot  for  a  photoplay 
there  from  a  multimillionaire  who  stated 
that  his  greatest  ambition  was  to  write  a 
wonderful  play. 


WHAT  DO  YOU 
KNOW? 

This  is  addressed  to  every  reader 
of  Motography — every  person  in- 
terested in  the  motion  picture  busi- 
ness. What's  new  around  your 
office  or  theater  or  studio?  Write 
and  tell  us  what  YOU  know.  Let's 
hear  from  YOU— 

ALL  OF  YOU 


MIDDLE  WEST 

By  William  Noble 
Alabama 

Y.  Bacon  is  building  a  new  theater  at 
Gadsden  to  seat  500.  March  first  is  the 
opening  date. 

Oklahoma 

C.  W.  Finney  will  manage  the  new 
$60,000  Liberty  theater,  which  will  be 
opened  in  Oklahoma  City  about  Feb- 
ruary first. 

A  new  motion  picture  theater,  the 
Lyric,  will  be  opened  soon  at  Wellston. 

G.  A.  Woods  is  building  a  $5,000  thea- 
ter, 900  seating  capacity,  in  Lawton. 

The  New  Empress  theater  at  Chicka- 
sha  will  be  ready  about  February  15. 


Texas 

Hugh  Hamilton  is  erecting  a  $35,000 
motion  picture  theater  at  Houston. 

Lou  Bissinger,  formerly  with  the 
Queen,  is  the  new  manager  of  the  Wash- 
ington theater  at  Dallas. 

E.  A.  Kinney  has  leased  the  Aladdin 
theater   at   Denison   from  L.   M.    Ridout. 

F.  M.  Sanford,  former  manager  of  the 
World  Film  Corporation  at  Dallas,  re- 
ports that  he  will  start  a  new  motion 
picture  manufacturing  company  at  El 
Paso.  The  new  concern,  which  will  em- 
ploy 120  people,  will  be  called  the  Mas- 
terpiece  Photoplay   Corporation. 


The  Panorama  theater,  5110  Prairie 
avenue,  Chicago,  recently  found  an  audi- 
ence so  interested  in  the  pictures  that 
even  a  fire  in  the  building  could  not  drive 
them  away.  During  the  evening  per- 
formance, a  fire  started  in  a  candy  store 
in  the  front  of  the  building.  Announce- 
ment of  this  was  made  to  the  five  hun- 
dred spectators  in  the  theater,  but  only  a 
few  left  their  seats.  At  last,  when  the 
pictures  were  stopped  and  the  announce- 
ment was  made  that  seats  could  be  re- 
sumed free  when  the  fire  was  over,  the 
people  consented  to  leave.  They  all 
came  back  a  few  minutes  later,  together 
with  the  fire  fans  who  had  been  attracted 
b-  the  blaze. 


Film    Market   Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.   D.   Small  of  A.   E.  Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American    Film    Co.,    Inc..    90  98 

Biograph    Company    40  49 

Famous  Players  Film  Co...   80  105 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref 45 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   pref...    43i/2  46|/2 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   com...    35  43 
No.   Am.   Film   Corp.,   pref..    94 

No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  com.  .  .    68  75 

New  York   M.   P.  Corp 44  56 

Thanhouser    Film    Corp....      3  3%* 

Triangle  Film  Corp 6  6i/2* 

Universal    Film    Mfg.   Co... 182 

World    Film    Corp 2  2%* 


*Par  $5. 

World  Film  Corporation:  Conflicting 
statements  appear  in  regard  to  the  World 
Film  Corporation — one  to  the  effect  that 
while  earnings  have  been  satisfactory,  ex- 
penses for  the  conduct  of  the  corpora- 
tion have  been  of  the  most  extravagant 
nature.  Repeated  meetings  of  directors 
have  been  held  and,  at  one  time,  the  res- 
ignation of  Lewis  J.  Selznick,  managing 
director,  was  reported  as  having  been  ac- 
cepted. On  the  other  hand,  it  is  reported 
that  this  corporation  has  been  combined 
with  the  Equitable  Film  Producing  Com- 
pany^ which  is  to  furnish  $1,000,000  new 
working  capital,  and  that  Mr.  Selznick  is 
to  be  retained  as  head  of  the  new  com- 
pany. When  stock  was  selling  around 
6]A   this  column  persistently  directed  at- 


tention to  the  fact  that  reports  of  the 
extravagant  operating  expenses  came 
from  a  reliable  source  and  the  price  at 
which  stock  was  then  selling  was  not 
justified.  Yesterday's  market  of  2  to  2^ 
would  seem  to  justify  the  attitude  taken 
at  that  time. 

Triangle  Film  Corporation:  Business 
reported  from  Chicago,  New  York  and 
Boston  zones  show  increases,  but,  at  the 
same  time,  there  are  also  statements, 
generally  accredited,  to  the  effect  that 
operating  expenses  have  been  unusually 
heavy.  Stock  remains  fairly  steady  at 
between  6  and  bVi.  The  business  that 
has  been  accumulated  by  the  Triangle  is 
not  at  the  expense  of  the  Mutual,  Uni- 
versal or  General,  but  more  particularly 
it  is  being  drawn  from  the  Paramount 
and  V.  L.  S.  E.  and  such  manufacturers 
as  are  identified  with  the  making  of  "fea- 
ture films." 

Mutual  Film  Corporation:  There  has 
been  some  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the 
preferred  stockholders  as  to  whether  a 
dividend  will  be  paid  at  this  time.  Last 
year  the  funds  had  been  distributed 
around  the  first  of  January.  We  are  ad- 
vised the  directors'  meeting  will  be  held 
this  week,  so  that  in  the  next  issue  infor- 
mation on  this  point  will  be  forthcoming. 

Thanhouser  Film  Corportion:  Paid  a 
dividend  in  December  of  Y?  of  1  per  cent. 
It  is  understood  the  company  will  dis- 
tribute dividends  on  this  basis  monthly, 
putting  the  stock  on  a  6  per  cent  per  an- 
num basis.  There  are  also  reports  that 
some  extra  cash  dividends  may  be  paid 
within  the  next  three  months. 


270 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NEWS 

A  section  of  the  Metropolitan  Opera 
House  ballet  was  used  for  the  World 
Film  production.  "The  Ballet  Girl." 

Franklin  Ritchie,  of  the  Ince  Triangle 
Kay-Bee  forces,  and  Mrs.  Esther  Bam- 
burg  of  New  York  were  married  re- 
cently. 

Samuel  J.  Ryan  of  the  Fox  Company 
appeared  on  the  legitimate  stage  in 
"Irish  Aristocracy,"  "Muldoon's  Picnic," 
"Little  Johnnie  Jones"  and  "The  Yankee 
Prince." 

'  Alfred  Hickman,  who  plays  in  the  Fox 
film,  "The  Fourth  Estate,"  is  said  to 
the  stage  production  of  Du  Maurier's 
"Trilby." 

Theda  Bara  will  add  a  Mexican  ad- 
venturess to  the  long  list  of  her  "vam- 
pire" parts  when  she  appears  in  "Gold 
and  the  Woman."  The  cast  includes  H. 
Cooper  Cliffe,  George  Walsh,  Carleton 
Macy  and  Pauline  Barry. 

"The  Fool's  Revenge,"  a  play  which 
Booth.  Barrett,  McCullough  and  Edwin 
Forrest  used  as  a  starring  vehicle,  is 
being  produced  for  the  Fox  films.  Maude 
Gilbert  and  William  H.  Tooker  have  the 
principal  roles. 

Fania  Marinoff  risks  life  and  limb  in 
a  head  first  tumble  down  a  long  flight 
of  stairs  for  the  Pathe  play,  "New 
York,"  in  which  Florence  Reed  is 
starring. 

George  Cooper,  of  the  Vitagraph  Com- 
pany, risked  his  life  recently  when  he 
stopped  a  runaway  horse. 

Harry  Handworth  is  directing  Mar- 
guerite Leslie,  who  will  make  her  first 
screen  appearance  in  "The  Pain  Flower," 
for  Equitable.  George  Anderson,  Fritzi 
Scheff's  husband,  is  supporting  Miss 
Leslie. 

Burton  King,  who  left  the  Famous 
Film  Company  to  become  a  director  for 
Equitable  company,  has  begun  work  on 
"Man  and  His  Angel,"  in  which  Jane 
Grey  and  Henri  Bergman  are  co-starring. 

Adolph  Majo'u,  and  not  Irving  Cum- 
mings,  will  play  opposite  Mary  Boland 
in  "Three  Pairs  of  Shoes."  Edmund 
Lawrence  is  directing  the  production  at 
Triumph's  Bronx  studio. 

James  Durkin,  producing  "The  Clari- 
on," Samuel  Hopkins  Adams'  story  in 
whicli  Carlyle  Blackwell  makes  his  debut 
on  tin'  Equitable  program,  has  returned 
from  Florida,  where  lie  lias  beer  filming 
exterior  scenes.  The  feature  will  In- 
completed  at   the   Flushing   studio. 

John  Ince  has  taken  a  companj  I" 
Buffalo  i"  film  si  enes  on  the  ice  of  Lake 
Erie  for  "The  Struggle." 

Richard  Buhler  and  Rosetta  Brice, 
working  in  "The  Gods  of  Fate,"   Lubin, 

ing    in    a    scene    as    sur\  i\  ors 
train     wreck. 

make-believe 

on  which  they  were  seated  suddenly 
shifted     and     they     found     themselves     S 

curelj    pinned    beneath    the    debris   of 
I  er    tr;  ' 


the  Reading  railroad  went  to  their  rescue, 
and  as  the  camera  man  kept  on  grinding, 
the  accident  will  add  realism  to  the  play. 

Frank  Crane  is  directing  Kitty  Gor- 
don in  "As  in  a  Looking  Glass,"  a  pic- 
ture dealing  with  official  and  social  life 
in  Washington. 

Maurice  Tourneur  has  been  directing 
"The  Genius — Pierre,"  starring  George 
Beban.  The  play,  now  nearing  comple- 
tion, contains  more  than  350  scenes,  in- 
cluding the  valleys  of  Picardy,  the 
boulevards  of  Paris  and  sections  of  New 
York's  lower  east  side. 

Frances  Nelson  makes  her  debut  as  a 
star  in  the  World  Film  Corporation's 
production  of  "The  Point  of  View,"  by 
Jules  Eckert  Goodman. 

Tom  Terriss  has  taken  the  Marion 
Leonard  studio  in  Brooklyn  for  the  pro- 
duction of  his  next  feature'.  He  will  play 
the  leading  part,  with  Betty  Holton, 
formerly  of  Famous  Players,  the  Bio- 
graph,   "the    Reliance    and    the    Metro,    as 


Ouida  Bergere  has  completed  the  mo- 
tion picture  adaptation  of  "Big  Jim  Gar- 
rity,"  which  has  been  purchased  by 
Pathe.  George  Fitzmaurice  is  the 
director  and  Robert   Edeson  the  star. 

Clara  Kimball  Young,  winner  By  500,- 
000  votes  in  a  recent  newspaper  contest, 
has  been   entered   in   another   popularity 

contest. 


piece,  de  luxe  edition,  is  working  at 
Gaumont  winter  quarters  in  Jackson- 
ville. "The  Dead  Alive"  was  written  for 
Miss  Courtot  by  her  director,  Henry  J. 
Yernot.  Sydney  Mason,  Henry  W. 
Pemberton  and  James  Levering  also 
appear  in  the  picture,  which  will  be  re- 
leased in  February.  Miss  Courtot  is 
among  friends  in  Jacksonville.  She  spent 
some  time  there  as  a  Kalem  star.  Her 
mother  and  sister  are  with  her. 

Edwin  Vail  has  become  assistant  to 
Director  Yernot  of  the  Gaumont  com- 
pany. Mr.  Vail  appeared  with  Norman 
Hackett  in  "The  Typhoon." 

W.  J.  Butler,  who  has  been  for  six 
3rears  with  the  Biograph  Company,  will 
make  his  initial  bow  as  a  Gaumont  char- 
acter actor  in  "The  Dead  Alive." 

The  Eagle  Film  Company  at  its  new 
studios  at  Arlington,  is  producing 
"Pirates  of  the  Sky,"  under  Myles  Mc- 
Carthy's direction.  Scenes  of  the  play 
are  laid  in  Naples,  Paris,  New  York, 
Atlanta  and  Jacksonville.  "The  Ocean 
Pearl"  and  "The  Red  Scorpion"  will 
follow. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwin  Middleton  are  at 
Jacksonville.  Mr.  Middleton  is  direct- 
ing a  Gaumont  Mutual  company  at  the 
winter  studios. 

Alexander  Gaden  is  working  in  two 
productions  at  once  at  the  Gaumont 
studios,  appearing  opposite  Lucille  Taft 
in  "The  Drifter,"  and  opposite  Gertrude 
Robinson  in  "As  a  Woman  Sows." 

No.  54  of  the  Mutual  Weekly  shows 
views  of  two  vessels  recently  lost,  one 
the  cruiser  "Natal,"  the  other  the  liner. 
"Persia." 


The  Gaumont  scenario  departmeiu 
arranges  its  work  so  that  it  is  one  month 
ahead  of  the  demands  of  directors. 
Among  the  scripts  recently  purchased  is 
a  mystery  story  by  Leslie  T.  Peacocke 
and  "The  Wonderful  Desire"  by  John  B. 
Clymer. 


FLORIDA 
luncheon  of  the   Rotary  Club  of 

Director   Richard  Carrick  oi 

the 
motion  picture  industrj . 

"Thi 

"His 

\    wrecking    crew    of    Wife's  Double,"  her  firsl   Mutual  Mastei 


■  ■  ii'      ■'-'    sur\  i\  ni's    of    a  |       ,  ...       ... 

found     their     role,     no,     aH  ■';»  k ' 

when  the  pile  of  wreckage  the  .(':i1"""1"    Compa: 

1  .  .   .       T  mo    ion    mi'   lire    iihim  r 


PACIFIC  COAST   NEWS 

Fay  Tincher,  who  made  her  initial 
bow  to  Triangle  audiences  with  De 
Wolf  Hopper  in  "Don  Quixote."  is  now 
playing  the  role  of  Widow  Wedagain 
opposite  Hopper  in  "Sunshine  Dad,"  by 
Chester  Withey.  The  cast  includes  Jewel 
Carman.  Chester  Withey,  Raymond 
\\  ells  and  Eugene  Pallette. 

"Marta  of  the  Steppe,"  which  William 
E.  Wing  wrote  for  Lillian  Gish,  presents 
life  in  a  Russian  colonjr,  first  in  Russia, 
later  in  America.  Miss  Gish  will  appear 
as  a  peasant  girl,  and  she  is  said  to  be 
studying  Gorky,  ["urgineff  and  Tolstoy. 
Frank  Bennett,  (>lua  i!rc\ .  Walter  Long, 
A.  1).  Sears.  Pearl  Elmore  and  Tom  Wil- 
son are  in  her  support.  Christy  Cahanne 
will  direct  this  Triangle  Fine  \n»  pro- 
duction. 

Marie  Mayer,  who  took  the  role  of 
Marj  Magdalene  in  the  Passion  Hay  at 
i  Iberammei  gau  in  1910,  \  isited  a  motion 

picture     studio    for     the     firsl     time    when 

sh«     was    shown    through    thai    of    the 
American    Film   Companj    at   Santa   Bar- 


bara.  Miss  Mayer,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Boston,  is  making  a  lecture  tour  of  the 
west. 

Albert  Crapo,  known  as  "Bert  Fran- 
cis," of  the  Balboa  Company,  was  found 
recently  by  his  brother  whom  he  lost 
track  of  nine  years  ago.  The  brother 
Arthur  is  a  sailor  on  the  Atlantic.  While 
ashore  recently  he  saw  a  motion  picture  in 
which  Albert  appeared.  The  sailor  recog- 
nized him  and  got  his  address. 

"Hell's  Hinges,"  in  which  William  S. 
Hart  is  starred,  under  direction  of 
Thomas  H.  Ince,  has  been  shipped  to 
New  York  for  early  release  on  the  Tri- 
angle program.  For  this  play  an  entire 
western  town  was  built  at  Inceville  and 
later  burned. 

Reginald  Barker  is  completing  the 
direction  of  the  Triangle  Kay-Bee  fea- 
ture in  which  William  Collier,  Jr.,  is 
being  starred  and  will  give  his  attention 
next  to  a  modern  story  starring  H.  B. 
Warner,  who  is  concluding  his  perform- 
ance, under  Charles  Swickard,  in  a  play 
of  East  India. 

Grace  Cunard  is  in  the  hospital  again. 
She  is  reported  as  "doing  nicely"  and  it 
is  said  she  will  not  have  to  undergo  an- 
other operation. 

Helene  Rosson  wears  a  suit  of  armor 
in  several  scenes  of  "The  White  Ro- 
sette," just  completed  at  the  American 
studios  at  Santa  Barbara.  E.  Forrest 
Taylor  plays  opposite  Miss  Rosson,  and 
Eugenie  Forde,  William  Stowell  and 
Harry  Von  Meter  are  in  the  cast. 

Charles  Ray  is  playing  the  star  part 
in  a  military-western  feature. 

The  Harold  Lockwood  company  under 
Director  Thomas  Ricketts  is  on  Santa 
Cruz  island  filming  scenes  for  an  Ameri- 
can "Mustang"  masterpiece. 

Neva  Gerber  drives  her  automobile  be- 
tween Hollywood,  her  home,  and  the 
Pasadena  studio  every  day. 

A  pack  of  wolves  in  pursuit  of  a  little 
Indian  girl  will  be  one  of  the  thrilling 
features  of  "The  Lure  of  Heart's  De- 
sire," in  which  Edmund  Breese  is  star- 
ring. The  wolves  were  brought  from 
Canada  by  Director  F.  J.  Grandon. 

Richard  Stanton  is  working  on  the  last 


half  of  the  "Graft"  serial  for  the  Univer- 
sal Company.  Hobart  Henley  has  re- 
turned to  the  cast,  which  includes  Harry 
Carey  and  Jane  Novak. 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon  has  produced  a  de- 
lightful one-reeler  in  the  Vitagraph 
"Bittersweet."  In  the  cast  are  Corinne 
Griffith,  Lawrence  Weingarter,  Anne 
Schaefer,  George  Stanley  and  Webster 
Campbell. 

Anna  Little  in  "When  the  Light 
Came,"  shows  that  she  can  handle  cattle 
as  well  as  any  cowboy.  It  was  Anna's 
daring  horsemanship  which  first  won  her 
a  place  in  photoplay. 

Ed  J.  Le  Saint  is  working  on  the 
fourth  episode  of  "The  Journal  of  Lord 
John,"  in  which  William  Garwood  stars 
and  Stella  Razeto  is  the  leading  woman. 

Edna  Maison  is  appearing  with  Francis 
Ford  in  "The  Dumb  Bandit."  When 
Grace  Cunard  returns,  Miss  Maison  will 
take  leads  with  another  company. 

Tom  Chatterton  acts  as  well  as  directs 
in  most  of  his  western  photoplays.  Anna 
Little  and  Jack  Richardson  appear  with 
him.  He  recently  completed  "When  the 
Light  Came"  and  "According  to  Saint 
John." 

Vivian  Rich,  Alfred  Vosburgh  and 
Frank  Borzage  are  playing  together  now. 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon  and  his  company 
are  back  from  Bear  Valley. 

William  Wolbert,  who  has  returned 
with  his  players  from  Truckee,  will  start 
on  a  three-reel  drama  by  William  E. 
Wing,  which  will  feature  "Sunshine" 
Mary  Anderson. 

Anna  Scha"efer  of  the  Vitagraph  helped 
decorate  the  Santa  Monica  float,  which 
won  first  prize  in  the  Pasadena  rose 
tournament. 

William  -  Desmond,  who  is  playing 
opposite  Bessie  Barriscale,  was  with  the 
Morosco  forces  five  years.  She  played 
leads  with  the  Burbank  stock  company 
in  Los  Angeles. 

Charlotte  Shelby,  mother  of  Mary 
Miles  Minter,  is  playing  with  her  daugh- 
ter in  "Dimples,"  a  Metro.  Mary's  real 
name  is  Juliet  Shelby. 

Tom  Chatterton,  actor-director  for  the 


American  company,  is  producing  one 
two-reel  drama  a  week  to  be  released 
under   the  "Mustang"   brand. 

Hal  Cooley  once  won  a  wager  for  a 
long  distance  walk,  crossing  several 
states. 

Louis  Durham,  who  first  won  fame  as 
a  baseball  player,  having  pitched  in  sev- 
eral of  the  big  leagues,  will  appear  in 
David  Horsley's  production  of  "A  Law 
Unto  Himself,"  in  which  Crane  Wilbur 
is  starred. 

Hazel  Dawn  assumes  the  role  of  a 
girl  detective  in  "My  Lady  Incog," 
Famous  Players'  production. 

Gail  Kane  and  110  other  Equitable 
players  appearing  in  "Her  God,"  were 
caught  in  the  foot-hills  on  the  edge  of 
the  desert  in  Arizona  in  a  terrific  bliz- 
zard recently.  During  the  storm  they 
wandered  six  miles  out  of  their  way, 
finding  shelter  at  last  on  a  cattle  ranch. 


NOTES  FROM  ALL  OVER 

W.  H.  iSmythe,  manager  of  the  Class 
"A"  five-cent  theater  on  Third  street, 
Seattle,  and  the  Strand,  a  big  ten-cent 
house  recently  opened  on  Second  street, 
attributes  the  success  which  has  followed 
both  his  ventures  to  a  selection  of  good, 
clean  pictures,  a  clean  house,  good  ven- 
tilation and  courtesy  on  the  part  of  his 
employes.  Mr.  Smythe  is  said  to  be  the 
first  manager  to  employ  a  Charles  Chap- 
lin imitator  to  "cut  capers"  outside  his 
theater  as  an  advertisement  of  the  Chap- 
lin films  within. 

James  Q.  Clemmer  of  the  Clemmer 
theater,  Seattle,  uses  unusually  big  fea- 
tures occasionally  and  advertises  them 
accordingly.  For  two  weeks  last  sum- 
mer he  showed  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation," 
raising  the  admission  price  from  the  reg- 
ular ten  to  twenty-five  cents.  Now  he  is 
showing  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace"  and 
advertising  it  as  greater  than  "The  Birth 
of  a  Nation."  In  addition  to  this  he  em- 
ploys an  unusually  fine  band,  which  gives 
concerts  in  the  theater  between  perform- 
ances. 

The  Ivan  Film  Productions  has  re- 
cently extended  its  office  space  until  it 
now  covers  almost  the  entire  ninth  floor 


272 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5.' 


of  126  West  Forty-sixth  street,  New  York 
City.  A  special' room  has  been  set  aside 
to.  be  used  as  the  headquarters  of  Ivan 
exchange  owners  when  in  New  York. 

The  newly  finished  print  of  the  photo- 
play "Babette"  had  a  narrow  escape  from 
destruction  while  Director  Charles  M. 
Seay  was  taking  it  from  the  Flushing 
studio  to  his  New  York  office.  As  the 
studio  cars  were  busy,  Mr.  Seay  and  his 
assistant,  Bob  Stevens,  started  with  the 
precious  reels  in  an  ancient  taxi,  which 
caught  fire  on  the  way.  Mr.  Seay  saved 
the  film  and  made  the  rest  of  the  trip  on 
a  trolley. 

Arthur  Donaldson  and  Josie  Collins  are 
being  starred  in  a  six-reel  feature  now 
being  made  at  the  Erbograph  studio  in 
New  York.  Roland  West  is  financing 
the  production,  which  is  an  Italian  story 
dealing  with  the  Camorra. 

Vera  Michelena  and  the  company  en- 
gaged in  "Driftwood,  or  The  Wrong 
Way,"  under  Director  Marshal  Farnum, 
are  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  completing  the  ex- 
terior scenes  for  the  production,  which 
will  be  released  February  1. 

Ruth  Blair's  pet  sport  is  skating,  which 
she  does  so  gracefully  that  she  is  fre- 
quently accused  of  professionalism. 

The  famous  gold  room  of  the  Waldorf 
hotel.  New  York,  is  duplicated  in  part  in 
the  ballroom  scene  in  "The  Innocence  of 
Ruth,"  a  Kleine-Edison  offering  featur- 
ing Viola  Dana  and  Edward  Earle. 

The  Ivan  Film  Productions  will  pro- 
duce "A  Fool's  Paradise"  in  six  reels  in- 
stead of  its  customary  five.  Hereafter 
every  feature  will  be  allowed  to  run  its 
full  length  and  not  restricted  to  the  five- 


1  limit. 

Jack  Pratt  was  elected  president  of  the 
Lubin  Beneficial  Association  at  its  first 
annual  meeting,  held  January  12  in  Phila- 
delphia. Charles  Hyatt  is  vice-president; 
Isador  Schwartz,  treasurer;  Donald 
Scott,  financial  secretary,  and  Cossette 
Douglass,  recording  secretary. 

George  Terwiller  is  directing  a  five-reel 
feature,  "Expiation,"  written  by  Frances 
Melbourne,  for  the   Lubin  Company.     E. 


\fg  rii 

1 1 

Two  Falstaff  fun-makers  get  their  "pitchers 
took"  at  Thanhouser  Jacksonville  studio. 
Walter  Hires  left,  Boyd  Marshall  right. 


K.  Lincoln  is  featured  in  the  story,  which 
deals  with  the  efforts  of  a  Russian  officer 
to  wipe  out  the  stain  of  a  crime  he  com- 
mitted while  in  the  army.  Margaret 
Adair  appears  in  the  supporting  cast. 

Terry  McGovern,  champion  pugilist, 
and  Joe  Humphreys,  his  manager  and 
referee,  are  appearing  in  "His  Picture  in 
the  Papers,"  a  burlesque  on  vegeta- 
rianism. 

Anita  Loos  has  written  two  new  com- 
edies for  the  Fine  Arts  studio,  both  for 
Douglas  Fairbanks.  With  John  Emerson 
she  wrote  "His  Picture  in  the  Papers." 
Although  still  in  her  teens,  Miss  Loos 
has  a  number  of  produced  .  scenarios  to 
her  credit. 

In  a  coming  Universal  offering  entitled 
"The  Altar  of  Friendship,"  Marjorie 
Ellison,  one  of  the  principals,  displays 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  wardrobes  that 
has  been  seen  on  the  screen  of  late.  She 
has  twelve  complete  changes  of  costume 


Irving  Willat,  the  well  known  eastern 
laboratory  specialist,  arrived  at  Inceville 
this  week  to  begin  his  duties  as  super- 
visor of  all  photographic  materials  used 
in  the  production  of  Ince-Triangle  fea- 
tures. He  will  not  alone  give  his  atten- 
tion to  the  motion  picture  cameras,  but 
to  the  "still"  department  as  well.  Espe- 
cially in  the  latter  does  he  promise  some 
interesting  innovations.  With  Willat 
this  week  there  also  arrived  at  the  Ince 
plant  three  more  reputable  camera  men. 
They  are  Bill  Alder.  Del  Clawson  and 
Lee  Bartholomew. 

Madame  Ada  Dow  Currier,  the  famous 
dramatic  coach,  who  is  best  known  per- 
haps as  the  teacher  who  "made"  Julia 
Marlowe,  predicted  that  her  pupil.  Ruth 
Blair,  who  has  recently  returned  to  the 
films  after  an  engagement  with  Selwyn 
and  Company,  would  become  one  of  the 
most  successful  screen  actresses,  be- 
cause, she  said.  Miss  Blair  is  possessed 
of  all  the  requirements  which  go  to  make 
up  success. 

Milwaukee  north  shore  drive  has  a 
photo  playhouse  in  keeping  with  its  sur- 
roundings. It  is  known  as  the  Downer 
theater  and  is  located  at  Downer  avenue 
and  Belleview  place.  A  daily  change  of 
program  is  announced.  The  building  is 
absolutely  fireproof  and  there  will  be  a 
continual  change  of  air  through  an  im- 
proved fan  system.  The  seating  capacity 
is  rated  at  1.200.  A  pipe  organ  will  be 
one  of  the  features.  Oscar  Brachman 
controls  the  new  theater  and  N.  J.  Blum- 
berg,  formerly  with  the  Paramount  Pic- 
ture Corporation,  will  be  manager.  El- 
wyn  Owen  is  in  charge  of  the  orchestra. 

Lincoln  high  school.  Grand  Rapids,  has 
installed  a  moving  picture  machine,  which 
will  be  used  to  give  illustrated  lectures 
in  education. 

William  Robert  Daly,  the  Selig  driector, 
is  at  present  working  on  a  Selig  multiple 
reel  feature  entitled  "His  Brother's  Keeper." 
Eugenie  Besserer  and  Fritzi  Brunette  have 
very  strong  parts. 

Ted  Lewis,  manager  of  the  Pastime 
theater  in  Delavan.  has  had  his  theater 
renovated    and    electric    lights    installed. 


frc 


really   s 

turn 

rag  a 

id    that   i 

lust   h 

aced  a 

1  ou 

lay  ot 

many  hu 

mired 

She 


do 

Dorothy  Dalton,  who  played  the  wife 
of  William  S.  Hart  in  "The  Disciple," 
returned  to  the  Ince  forces  this  week  to 
work  in  a  forthcoming  feature. 

Vera  Michelena's  appearance  in  "Drift- 
wood" is  her  first  venture  in  a  film  play. 

Fay  Tincher  designs  her  own  ward- 
robe. She  wear>  several  Striking  black 
and  white  costumes  in  "Sunshine  Dad." 

Mae  Marsh,  at  present  working  in 
"Hoodoo  Ann,"  will  appear  next  In  "The 
Little    Apache"    w  illi    Robert    1  larron. 

Paul    Dickey,   well    known    playwright, 

appears     as     a     reporter     in     the      Inan-le 

play,  "I  lis   Picture  in   the    Papei 


took  the  pari  on  . 
John  Emerson. 


Dir 


'•   Film   i  orporalion. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Believing  the  classification  of  film  .  pictures 
Motogkapjiy  has  adopted  this  style  in .  listing  c 
Films  will  be  listed  as  long  in  advance  of  their 
Reasonable,  care   is   used,   and   the   publishers   cann 


Monday. 


7  The    Miser's    Heart Biograph 

7  The  Little  Sister  of  the   Poor Lubin 

7   Why   Love  Is  Blind. : Selig 

7   Selig-Tribune   News   Pictorial   No.    5,   1916 Selig 

7  Mrs.  Dane's  Danger Vitagraph 

7  Bittersweet    Vitagraph 


Tuesday. 


1  The'  Angle    of    Piety    Flat Biogrpah 

3  The    Book    Agent's    Romance Essanay 

1  The   Tale  of   a   Coat Kalem 


Wednesday. 


)  A  Life  Chase Biograph 

3   Canimated    Nooz    Pictorial    No.    4 Essanay 

5  Scenes    of    Canadian    Rockies Essanay 

?  A  Duel  in  the  Desert   (No.  9  of  the  Stingaree  Series)  .Kalem 


Thursday. 


Friday. 

i   Coat    (No.    13   of  the   Ventu 


Saturday. 


2  The    White   Alley.. 
2  The   Open  Track.  . 

2   Whe™ "the    Circus' ' 
Center  No/  9).. 


Monday. 


Wednesday. 


6   Stronger  Than   Woman's   Will Biograr 

6  The  .Fable  of.  "Flora  and  Adolph  and  a  Home  Gone  Wrong 

5  The    Villain'  Worshipper'  '(No."  10 'of'  'the'  St'ing'a'ree    Series 


Thursday. 


7  The  Embodied  Thought Lubin 

7  A  Special  Delivery   Mina 

7  Selig-Tribune   News  "Pictorial   No.   8,    1916" Selig 


Friday. 


guerite)    ..-.-. 

i  The  Heart  Break 
!  Busted  Hearts  ..  . 
3  Peace  at  Any  Pri< 


Saturday. 


1-29   Destiny   . Essanay 

1-29  Trapped   Wires Kalem 

1-29   Cured     .v.  .• . -.-..- Lubin 

1-29  Apple   Butter   (No.    10   of   the   Chronicles   of   Bloom    Center) 

Selig 

1-29  The  Ruse ....... Vitagraph 


An  Adventure  in   the  Autumn  Woods 

Biograph        1, 

Selig-Tribune   New.,   Pictorial    Nr>.    7,    1"16... 
Britton  of  the  Seventh 

...Selig        1,( 

The  Cold  Feet  Getaway 

Tuesday. 

Vitagraph        1,( 

Snoop  Hounds   

..Kalem        1,( 

■  than  clsasification  by  maker, 
in  making  up  their  programs, 
bulletins   as   early   as   possible. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Program 


l   In   the   Palace  of  the  King 

I   The   Valley   of    Lost    Hope 

3  A    Black    Sheep 

!   The   Man    Who    Couldn't   Beat    God.. 

i  The    Rights    of    Man 

"      l    of  .the    Road 


1  The    _.. 
3  The     Raver 


Win 


.    15   Heights  -of     Hazard.. 


Selig 

■Vitagraph 

.Vitagraph 
. .  .Essanay 
. .  .Essanay 
..Selig 


Nov.   22  The    Nat 
Nov.   29  The    Caver, 


.Vitagrap 
Lubi 


6  The    Man's    Making, 


.Lubin 


3  The   Price  for   Folly....... 

0  The   Great   Divide 

0   A    Daughter    of    the    City.. 
7   What   Happened   to   Father. 

3  Thou    Art    the    Man 

0  No    Greater    Love 

0   Green    Stockings 

7   My    Lady's    Slippers 

7   Gods    of    Fate 

7   Captain    Jink- 

0  The    Wonderful    Wager.  . .  . 

4  The  Island  of   Surprise 


i   Soldier Selig 

Vitagraph 

Essanay 

Vitagraph 

Vitagraph 


.  .Vitagraph 
..Vitagraph 

Lubin 

.  .  .  E'ssanay 

Lubin 

..Vitagraph 


6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


4,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
2,000 
5,000 


.  iMiiffi? 


-17  The    Thoroughbred 


Monday. 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


1-19   The   Phar 


Thursday. 


}  The   Five  Faults   of  Flo.... 

)   Mutual  Weekly   No.    55.... 

3  Sammy's  Dough-Face   Rom 

Title  Not  Reported   . 


1  The  Thunderbolt    

1  Title   not  -  reported 

1  Wild    Jim    Reformer 

1  The  Girl  of  His  Dreams 

1  Mr.   Bumps,  Commuter 


Friday. 


Cub 

.Mustang  2,000 

Cub   -  1,000 

..Novelty  1,000 


1-23   Mischief  a 


i  Mirror.  . 
'irst,  No.  19 
mh  the  Jor 


Saturday. 
Sunday. 


3   Keeping  Up'  \ 

3  A  Baby  Grana   

Monday. 

I  As  a  Woman  Sows 

Tuesday. 

5   The  Man  in  the  Sombrero 

5   Lucky   Larry's   Lady   Love 

Wednesday. 

5  The  Burglar's   Picnic    

5   Some  Night 

Thursday. 


:   Not   Reported.  . 

en   at  the   Bath 

r  No.  .56.. 


-27   Lord   Lovelar 


3  The  Smuggk__   . 

I  A  Sanitarium  Scrambh 

3  Title  Not  Reported 


America.  . 

Friday. 

of  Santa  Cruz 


'.  Falstaff 
.  Mutual 


Clipper 

.'. Cub 


Saturday. 


ietrayed     ' Thanhot 


274 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  S.- 


Sunday. 

1-30  See  America  First,   No.   20 

1-30  Keeeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  20. 

1-30  Walk  This  Way   

1-30  Title   Not   Reported    


Monday. 

1-17  The   Man    Inside Broadway 

1-17   Mingling    Spirits    Nestor 

1-17   The  Railroad  Monopoly  (Graft  Series  No.  6) Universal 

Tuesday. 

1-18  The   Reward   of    Chivalry Gold  Seal 

1-18  The   Silent   Member Rex 

1-18   No    release   this   week Imp 

Wednesday. 

1-19  Her   Better  Self Victor 

1-19   Saving   Susie   from   the   Sea L  Ko 

1-19  Animated   Weekly   No.   202 Universal 

Thursday. 

1-20  Just  Plain  Folks Laemmle 

1-20   No   release   this  week Big  U 

1-20   Building  Up  the  Health  of  a  Nation Powers 

1-20     The    Aerial    Buds Powers 

Friday. 

1-21   Vanity,    Thy    Name   Is Imp 

1-21   A  Sea  Mystery Victor 

1-21  Flivver's   Famous  Cheese   Hound Nestor 

Saturday. 

1-22   Buck   Simons,    Puncher Bison 

1-22  Protecting  the   Ships   at    Sea    (No.   5   Uncle   Sam   at   Work) 

Powers 

1-22  The  Whole  Jungle  Was  After  Him Joker 

Sunday. 

1-23  No  release  this  week Rex 

1-23   Her    Dream    Man Laemmle 

1-23  Mr.   Mcldiot's  Assassination L  Ko 

Monday. 

1-24  A  Soul  Enslaved Broadway 

1-24  Her  Steady   Cat  fare   Nestor 

1-24  America  Saved  from  War   (Graft  Series  No.   7) ...  .Universal 

Tuesday. 

1-25  Discontent Gold  Seal 

1-25   No   Release  This  Week Rex 

1-25  Hired,  Tired  and  Fired Imp 

Wednesday. 

1-26  Across  the  Line Victor 

1-26   Knocks  and   Opportunities   L-Ko 

1-26  Animated  Weekly  No.  203 Universal 

Thursday. 

1-27  The  Red  Lie   Laemmle 

1-27   No  Release  This  Week Big  U 

1-27   Sammie    Tehran.    Hunter Powers 

1-27   Fishing  for  River   Lampreys    Powers 

Friday. 

1-28  The  Inner  Soul    Laemmle 

1-28   Nan    Good    for    Nothing   Big   TJ 

1-28  Flivvers  in  "The  Dance  of  the  Shivers" Nestor 

Saturday. 

1-29   A  Daughter  of   Penance    Bison 

1-29   Saving    Wealth   and    Building    Health    i.\'„.    6    Uncle   Sam    at 

Work)    Powers 

1-29  Mrs.   Green's   Mistake    Joker 

Sunday. 


Miscellaneous  Features 


Joseph  and   His   Brethren Dormct   Film 

1'hc  World   of  Today Reliable   Feature   Film 

Marvelous    Macistc    Hanover    Film    Co. 

The    Burglar  and   the  Lady Sun    Photoplay   Co. 

The   Waif Aurora    Film    Plays  Corp. 

Hi       I  >  inciter's    See. mil     1 1  usl  >am  I Medusa    Film 

The    Forbidden    Fruit Ivan    Film 

The   Other   Girl Rave.    Film    Corp. 

Sins  ol  Great  Cities Great  Northern  Film 

RaCI     Suiddl |.,s.    W.    Farnham 

Somewhere  in  France \,tl,„i    V    Km, 

Fighting   with    France French    Official    W  ,,     Films 


2,000 
1.000 
1,000 


1,000 
2,000 
1,000 


S  The 


Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 


of    Dev 


3,000 
5,000 
5,000 
3,300 

-.' 

5,000 


.   _1  A   Woman's   Past.. 

r.  29  The     Galley    Slave 

-.  21   The   Broken    Law 

.      5  The    Unfaithful    Wife... 
.     12  Her    Mother's    Secret.  .  . 

.    19  A    Soldier's    Oath 

:.     26   Destruction      

2  Green-Eyed   Monster    . .  . 

.       9  A   Parisian   Romance 

16  The    Fourth    Estate 

.    26  The  Innocence  of  Ruth.  . 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

:t.    20  The    Green     Cloak Kleine 

>v.     3  The    Sentimental    Lady Kleine 

>v.    10   Children     of    Eve Edison 

>v.   17  The     Politicians     Kleine 

:c.       1   The    Danger    Signal Kleine 

:c.      8  The    Destroying    Angel Edison 

•c.     15   The     Bondwomen      Kleine 

le  Woman   in   Politics Thanhouser 

n.      5  The    Devil's    Praver-Book Kleine 

n.     12  The     Catspaw     Edison 

n.    19  Wild  Oats   Kleine 

n.    23  The    Serpent 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

jv.     8  Pennington's    Choice     Metro 

>v.   IS  The    Woman    Pays Metro 

iv.  22  One    Million     Dollars Metro 

>v.   29   Barbara     Frietchie     Metro 

ic.      6  A    Yellow    Streak Metro 

:c.     13  The   House   of  Tears Metro 

c.    20  Rosemary     Metro 

:c.    27   Black   Fear   Metro 

a.      3  What    Will   People   Say? Metro 

n.     1 0  The    Turmoil     Metro 

n.     17  The  Rose  of  the  Alley Metro 

n.    24  Her  Debt  of  Honor Metro 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

c.      2  The    Forbidden    Adventure 

c.       9  The     Buzzard's     Shadow 

c  16  The   Mill   on  the  Floss 

c.  23  The    Painted    Soul 

:c.  30  The    Deathlock 

•c.  30  Temptation 


Mutual 

.  .Thanhouser 

Mutual 

Mutual 

6  The  'Other  Side  of  the  Door .'.'.'  .American 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

3  Paramount  News  Pictures Paramount 

3  The    Foundling Famous    Players 

6  Tongues    of    Men Morosco 

6   Colonel    Heeza  Liar's   Waterloo Brav-Paramount 

6  The  Skunk  and  the  Weasel Bray-Paramount 

10   Paramount    Newspictures Paramount 

1 0  Mice    and    Men Famous    Players 

13  The   Golden   Chance Lasky 

13   Haddem    Baad's   Elopement Bray-Paramount 

17   Paramount   Newspictures    Paramount 

17  My   Lady   Incog Famous   Players 

20   Inbad    the    Sailor Bray-Paramount 

20  Nearlv    a    King Famous   Players 

24  The  Call  of  the  Cumberlands Pallas 

27   The  Police  Dog  on  the  Wire Brav-Paramount 

27  The    Spider Famous  Players 

Pathe. 

Released    Week    of 

24  The   Horrors  of  War Pathe 

24   Head-dres.es    of    Holland Photocolor 

24  The    Ausable    Chasm Globe 

24   Pathe    News    No.    8 Pathe 

24    Pathe    News    No.    9 Pathe 

24  Hazel   Kirke    Gold    Rooster 

24   The  Third   Degree   (Red   Circle    No.    7> Balboa 

24   Shooting  at   Random Star 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released   week   of 
9  Fatty   and    Mabel    Adrift  ;    Roscoe    Arbuckle   and 

Mabel     Normand Triangle-Keystone 

16  The    Missing    Links;    Norma    Talmadge,    Robert 

Harron     Fine    Arts 

16  Because    He    Loved    Her Triangle-Keystone 

Flame;  Henry  W Iruff. Triangle-Kay-Bee 

>ch    At  lb  ii Triangle- Kej  stone 

iii'li  :    Marii     1  »oro 

e  Pari      'i  '  rriangle   Kej  stom 

;   \\  ilia    1    Mad rriangle    Kav    Bee 

I Brad] 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

3  The    Ransom     Triumph 

3   Camille    Shubert 

10   In    Life's    Whirlpool Brady 

Id    Her    Great     Hour Equitable 

17  Behind    Closed     Doors Triumph 

i  tin    Ii  iii>    Wo„ ' Equitable 

17    The    Citv     Shul.eit 

'.:     \    Movie   Stat;    Mack    Swain Triangle    Keystone 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5.000 
5.000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
'5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


1,000 
5,000 
5,000 


1,000 
5,000 
5,000 
1,000 


1,000 
1.000 
5,000 
2,000 


5,000 
2.000 
5,000 

,v 


5,000 
5.000 
5.000 
5,000 
5.000 

n 
5.000 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


275 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


Two    News    Items— (Oi 

uary   24.— A   story   of   slui 

Fagan  are  the  victims  of  the  fii 
methods.      Finally   Dan  becomes  a  thii 
'  :ide.      The   notice   of   Kati 


Si 

— — •— ™£L 

Wm.          >-:W\^m.mMmm*f** 

S) ESSANAY — , 

adopted       daughter, 
=siiam,    a   weaiury   westerner,    but   after 

ir,    Anthony    Rand,    a    society    idler,    c_ 

:en  them.  He  urges  Folly  to  divorce  Gresham. 
nd  invites  Folly  and  Morse  to  his  cabin  in  the 
ods  and  there  makes  love  to  Folly,  against  her 
will  and  in  spite  of  Morse.  Folly  flees  into  the 
woods  and  finally  seeks  shelter  in  a  little  cabin. 
Gresham  also  happens  to  be  resting  in  the  cabin, 
and  when  Rand  seeks  Folly  there  he  has  Gresham 
to  deal  with.  The  husband  and  wife  are  recon- 
ciled. Darwin  Kerr,  Ann  Kirk,  Richardson  Cot- 
ton and  Randall   McAlister   form   the 

Reels)— Lubi 

in  Egypt.  Wri„ 
trabian  girl,  then 
Later   the    girl' 


ed,  Mohamed  find 
Weight's    secret    ivli.. 
the   appeal   of   Wright' 
way,     George     " 
MacMillan   fo 


.     ittle  child".      L.    C.~  Siiunv 
th,    Adda    Gleason    and    Violet 


af   Rockland's   fifty  dollars  given  t 

o  char- 

L.   C°Shumway   and  Jay"  Morfey 

Adda 

appear 

Adolph  and  a  Home 
Gone  Wrong— Essanay— January  26.— Written 
by  George  Ade.  Charles  J.  Stine,  Fred  Wagner 
and  Alice  Edwards  appear  in  this  story  as  the 
divorce  court  judge  and  Adolph  and  Flora  Botts, 
the  quarreling  couple.  In  this  "home  that  went 
wrong,"  husband  and  wife  each  have  too  much 
talent  which  is  not  appreciated  by  the  other. 

The  Embodied  Thought — (Three  Reels) — Lu- 
bin— January  27.— Goodman,  who  is  infatuated 
with  an  adventuress,  Nanon,  hides  his  money  in 
a  secret  panel  because  his  relatives  seek  to  save 
him    from    himself    by    taking    his    fortune    away 


stops  the  rascal  at  the  point  of  a 
i  to  kill  John  Cottrell,  but  Eagar, 
Emily's  brother,  shoots  and  kills  him.  Later 
everything  is  explained,  bringing  happiness  to  all 
concerned.  Naomi  Childers  and  Joseph  Kilgoiir 
have   the   leading  roles. 

Destiny— (Three  Reels)— Essanay— January 
29.— Waldron,  a  young  lawyer,  is  the  favored 
suitor  (or  the  hand  of  Ethel  Dixon.  His  rival, 
Gray,  gets  him>  intoxicated,  however,  and  Ethel 
Breaks  the  engagement.  Waldron  realizes  that 
Gray  led  him  into  a  trap  and  he  and  Grav  tight. 
Gray  is  stunned  and  Waldron  believes  he  has 
killed  him.  Frightened,  he  gives  up  Ethel  and 
leaves  the  country.  He  goes  from  bad  to  worse 
former  client   putshim   on   his   feet   again. 


ceeds 


lally 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


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Monadnock  Bldg.,  Chicago 


Ethel.       Bryant     Washburn    ,,lavs     Waldron,    with  he      won     her     h; 

Ruth    Stonehouse    as    Ethel.       Edmund    Cobb    and  women,  generally 

Charles    Stine    appear   as    Gray    and    Waldron,    Sr.,  defeated    suitor,    r 

respectively.  ent    story    of    La: 

29._  -"-holly    ';;- 


strangers,  especially 
How  romantic."  The 
ates   a   -widely    differ- 

^erthies'?    waf^  ^rX 
C'vm,-dy   written   by>  Mark   Swan.      Wilkens     m   his     eno      ,'    j  ,usi  -  wjn    {or   him'the   girl.      Ho» 

friend.    Dr.    Curtiss     office     pretends    that    he    is   a     eve    e  it    is    for    the    spectator    to    decide    whether 
doctor,  just  for  fun.      Madge  and  her  brother   d.s-    Larr'y>s    Qr   ,he    ,osm/suitoI,s    story    contains    the 

truth. 

Some  Night— Beauty— January  26.— Carol  Hal- 
oway  and  -John  Sheehan  are  pictured  in  this 
omedy  as  Gladys  and  Dick.  .  Gladys  at  a 
loarding    school    permits    Dick    to    call    on    her    in 


tan  in  the  Sombrero— ( Two  Reels)  — 
American— January  25.— Harold  Lockwood  and 
May  Allison  are  featured  in  this  love  story, 
which  is  laid  for  the  most  part  in  a  mount  linous 
country,  offering  some  superb  backgrounds  for 
the  action  of  the  story.  Thomas  Ricketts  di- 
rected the  production,  which  is  reviewed  at  length 
on   another  page    of   this   issue.  N.    G.    C. 


.     burglars,    hand- 
deputies,   board   the   train.      One 
;h   signs   of   repentance  that   the 
Drevail    upon   his   captor   to   loose   the   shack- 
Later,   when   the   train    is    wrecked,   this -man 
both  of   the   twins.      The   latter   take   him   to 
home,    and    after    he    distinguishes    himself 
further,    he     becomes    the     family     chauffeur.       As 
the     deputies     were     killed,     the     burglar's     escape 

Beaten  at  the  Bath— Falstait—  January  27. — 
"Father's"  law  reads  that  his  daughter's  fiance 
is  not  eligible  until  he  has  saved  $1,000.  "Father" 
smiles  upon  the  suit  of  a  wealthy  old  banker. 
One  da]  stranger  in  a  loud  check  suit  nibs  the 
banker  and  then  enters  a  Turkish  bath  establish- 
ment. The  latter  follows.  |„,t  catches  the  wrong 
man.  who  is  no  other  than  daughter's  sweet- 
heart. Rather  than  face  a  suit  for  false  arrest. 
the  banker  pays  the  fiance  a  large  sum  of  money 
which   enables    the    latter    to    wed    the    girl. 

The   Smugglers   of   Santa   Cruz — (Three    Reels) 

Clipper     January    28.— Charlotte    Burton    and 

William     Russell     enact     the     roles     of     Verna,     a 

lighthouse    keepei's    daughter,    and    Robert    Lang- 

,:,.  i  ic  venue  officer,  in  tins  piotuic  ot  smug- 
gling   on    the    island    of    Santa    Cruz. 


is-U, 

pictur. 

appears     on     another 

- 

G.   C 

A 

Sanita 

rium      Scramble — Am  em 
idles   her   the 

v.\l- 

Ianuaxy 
nice,  off 

\\  hen      lanice 

■lank      Fellows,     one     of 

her 

ed     from    the    traini 

ihlcs    a    merrv     party    o 

girl 

at    her 

and    thej    ai  range    to    interim' 

young 

lYm-lopc   ai  lives    and    1; 

lulh 

the     boys     into     bed 

s,s      caps     and     gowns. 

sl.n  ltd    a     i'i 

"mciu-" 

tliat 

1       Austin  Austins.       !• 

.ink's 

January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


"Cupid  at   the   Polo    Game."       h-Ko;   and   at  right   "A 


workings     of     fault-finding     and     discontent. 

Pearson,  residing  at  the  Soldiers'  Home, 

spirit    of   unrest    and    discontent    which 

to    spread    throughout    the    whole    insti- 

He    is    finally    taken    into    the    home    of 

latives,   but  the   novelty   wears   off   in   time 

.irns   to   grumbling.      Hi's   state   of 

nd    is    contagious    and    soon    everybody    in    the 

me  is  dissatisfied  and  restless.      The   storv   ends 

th    the   old   man   returning   of  his   own    free   will 

,  the   place   wherefrom   he   started— the    Soldiers' 


Universal   Animated   Weekly    No.    3 — Universal 
— Tanuary   19.— Rose  carnival  held   at   San   Diego, 
Calif.  ;    divers  use   three   hundred  pounds   of   dyna- 
mite   to    remove    sunken    dredger,    Providence,    R. 
I.;    flag    of    General    Jackson    of    1912    war    given 
back  to   South  by   State   of  Illinois,   New   Orleans, 
La;     10,000    Leghorns,    champion    egg-layers,    on 
"      farm,    Alhambra,    Calif.;    seventy-two- 
_„_     destroys     homes     in     San     Francisco, 
Calif.;     English     rush     to     enlist     in     last     stand 
against     enforced     soldiering,     London,     England; 
raising    of    900-ton    section    finishes    giant    bridge 
'-    -    Colorado   River,    Needles,    Calif.;    Brown 


to  go  free  by  the  latter,  who  sympathizes  with 
the  motives  and  circumstances  which  led  to  the 
crime.  Mrs.  Baxter,  and  a  young  friend  unknow- 
ingly get  into  a  notorious  road-house.  On  be- 
coming aware  of  the  fact  they  leave  immediately, 
but  the  scandal  has  started.  She  tells  her  hus- 
band, Dr.  Baxter,  that  she  has  been  out  with 
women  friends.  The  wife  is  continually  black- 
mailed by  a  scamp.  On  one  of  her  trips  to  pay 
him,  her  husband  follows,  in  disguise.  The  man 
not  only  takes  the  hush  money,  but  he  and  his 
companion  attempt  to  tear  the  diamonds  from 
Mrs.  Baxter's  ears,  upon  which  Dr.  Baxter  kills 
the  two.  Baxter  escapes  from  the  jail  after  his 
arrest,  and  as  only  the  detective  knows  his 
whereabouts,  his   freedom   is   secure. 

Nan  Good  For  Nothing— Big  U— January  28. 
—Tom  Dibbles  and  Harry  Collier  have  an 
adopted  daughter,  Nan,  who  is  more  or  less  wild 
spirits  and  has  grown  up  unschooled.     Weekly 


the 


lall   ( 


>   pro- 


elev< 


first 


by    Washington    State    football    : 


Aunty    endeavors 

with    Mr.    Fluff, 

Hay    Center   and    ___, 

cycle,    the   two   being   pursued   bv   Aunt    lilly    ; 

Mr.    Fluff.      Ere   the   pursuers  reach   them   the  k 

is    tied    and    Aunt    Tilly,    finding    it    too    late    to 

marry    Fluff   to    Betty,    accepts    his    proposal    and 

both  being  at  the  door  of  the  church  he  requests 

her  in   his  best   floorwalker   manner   to   "walk  this 


.    Sai 


Her  Steady  Carfare— Nestor— Tanuary  21.— 
Ray  pays  Betty's  carfare  and  the  two  become 
fast  friends,  each  presupposing  that  the  other  is 
the  progenv  of  wealthy  parents.  Each  deludes 
the  other  to  this  effect  until  the  climax,  when 
Betty  discovers  the  lowly  position  of  Ray.  and 
i.  Afterwards  they  make  up,  and  Ray 
Betty's  steady  means  of  carfare. 

Hired,  Tired  and  Fired— Imp— January  25.— 
"Slim"  Hoover  finds  employment  as  a  piano 
mover.  His  first  job  is  to  carry  a  piano  down 
from  the  top  floor  of. an  apartment  house.  While 
he  is  struggling  with  the  piano,  the  boss  is  mak- 
ing love  to  Sally  Sloppus,  the  slavey.  After  he 
and  the  piano  hurdle  the  several  flights  and 
arrive  at  the  street,  it  is  discovered  that  the 
wrong  piano  has  been  moved.  "Slim"  emerges 
from   the   wreckage   to   find  that   he  is   once   more 

Knocks  and  Opportunities — (Two  Reels') — L- 
Ko— January  26.— With  Billy  Ritchie.  '  Bill 
falls  in  front  of  an  approaching  auto  that  con- 
tains a  beautiful  lady,  who,  thinking  that  he  has 
been  iniured.  rushes  him  to  her  house.  But  Bill 
is  O.  K.  Father  does  not  like  his  appearance 
and  tells  him  so.  Bill  departs  downhearted.  How- 
ever, he  falls  in  with  better  fortune,  and.  a 
hanged  man,  again  calls  on  the  fair  lady, 
'      that    the    lady 


for  her  future.  Finally  the  rent  becomes  ii 
arrears.  To  prevent  being  thrown  out  Nan  pays 
the  rent  with  the  money  which  has  been  saved 
for  her,  touching  her  guardians  deeply  by  the 
sacrifice.  The  deed  is  amply  rewarded,  however, 
for  Col.  Dawson,  remembering  how  Nan  had 
•  i       i  !:iU      i.. i        :   owning,    gets    positions    for 

the  two  men  and  contributes  handsomely  to  Nan. 
The  latter's  cup  of  happiness  is  filled  when  she 
and  Charlie,  the  young  man  who  has  gradually 
helped  to  refine  and  educate  her,  enter  a  little 
home  of  their  own. 

The  Inner  Soul — (Two  Reels) — Laemmle — 
January  28. — Nina  Courtleigh,  a  social  butterfly, 
is  loath  to  settle  down  to  married  life.  She 
refuses  the  first  lover,  Louis  Fisher,  but  finally 
marries  the  second,  Claude  Bayard.  Because  of 
Nina's  attending  numberless  social  affairs  in 
which  Claude  is  not  able  to  accompany  her, 
they  become  somewhat  estranged.  Fisher  ap- 
pears again  and  Nina  welcomes  his  attentions. 
This  results  in  a  fight  between  the  two  men, 
Claude  being  wounded.  Fisher  and  Nina  start 
off  together,  but  the  girl  soon  realizes  it  is 
Claude  she  loves,  and  returns  to  him.  As  her 
husband  has  completely  lost  his  memory,  the 
doctor  forbids  the  girl  to  live  with  him.  Long 
afterwards  the  two  fall  in  love  again,  become 
married,  and  the  story  ends  with  the  restoration 
of   Claude's   memory   and  his  forgiveness  of  Nina. 


A   Daughter  c 


starts  with  i 


29.— Th; 


small  adobe  hut 
Rosa,  and  goes  on  to 
of  Pia  meet  witl 
love  with  Castro,  a  young  ar 
lest  he  be  killed  like  the  rest 
the  girl  of  the  past,  how  her 
lied  been  separated,  the  latter 
finally    turns    out    that    Pi; " 


Penance — (Two  Reels) — Bi 
'his  is  a  Mexican  drama, 
of   Pia,   a  little   waif,   who   V 


It 


mplic 


Graft — (Seventh  Two-Reel  Episode). — Hobart 
Henley,  Harry  Carey  and  Jane  Novak  featured. 
Suggested  by  Mrs.  Wilson  Woodrow.  In  this 
week's  instalment  of  "Graft"  we  witness  the 
death  of  J.  Brooks  Carney,  head  of  the  Steel 
Trust.  He  is  the  victim  of  his  own  plot  to  throw 
the  United  States  into  war  so  that  the  steel  trust 
may    make    enormous    profits.      Dorothy    Me 


and    Kitty   Rockford   do   s 

Tom's    behalf    and    their    efforts    resul 
being     saved    from    death    at    the    ha 

Discontent— (Two      Reels)— Gold 
vary   5. — This  picture   is   a   graphic   ill 


Across  the  Line— Victor— January  26. — Hor- 
ton  Manners,  Jr.,  is  in  love  with  Mildred  Fon- 
taine, a  woman  sixteen  vears  his  senior.  His 
father  tells  him  that  if,  after  a  year's  trip  around 
the  world,  he  still  loves  the  girl,  who  is  below 
his  class  socially,  he  (the  father)  has  nothing 
further  to  say.  Some  time  later  Mildred  pleads 
with  Mr.  Manners  for  the  return  of  his  son,  but 
he  succeeds  in  convincing  her  that  when  his  son 
is  in  the  prime  of  life  she  will  be  a  comparatively 
old  woman.  Loving  the  bov  as  she  does.  Mil- 
dred retires  "across  the  line."  In  the  meantime 
arguments  by   falling 


hag   1 

and   the    lattet 
sight  of  he  lo 


__..,  has  bee: 
father  and  m 
egains  her  sat 
lost  husband. 


l  named 
the  many  lovers 
ath.  Pia  falls  in 
3t.  but  is  fearful 
Rosa  then  tells 
ither   and   mother 

cherf  a    demented 


ity    t 


thinks    i 


29.— 
)i»  the 


i  love 


vith  a  girl  i 


T',in<. 


.  Greene's  Mistake — Joker — Januv 
the  Greens'  butler,  Fritz,  returns 
3    loaded    down    with    clothes.    Mr  _ 

'msband  and  embraces  him.  Mr. 
ind  fires  Fritz  at  once.  Hubby 
;rmines  to  get  a  woman  to  care  for  household 
ies.  Fritz's  wife  answers  the  ad,  says  she  is 
Tie,  and  secures  employment.  Fritz  resembles 
Green  very  strongly.  When  he  comes  to 
c  out  his  wife  and  embraces  her,  this  is  seen 
jugh  the  window  by  Mrs.  Green,  who  thinks 
husband  is  faithless.  After  many  troubles  in 
which   the   butler's   baby   participates,   understand- 


ived    ; 


ind   the    butler   and    his 


The  Red  Lie— ( 
l'ary  27.— In  this 
:aught    by   Jarvis. 


ow   happily    employed    together 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


Opie,  the  Operator 


'CONNECT  THE  POSITIVE  WITH  THE 

""     ",  BRILLIANT  ARC 
OF  1,110  hUL-WMT 


He  Seeks  a  License 


A  SHARP  CONTACT    I 
VJITH    METALLIC 
SURFACE   IS 

UNDESIRABLE - 


fortune-hunting  count  determines  on  dastardly 
revenge  when  he  is  refused  in  favor  of  Ray,  and 
plates  a  bombshell  with  a  lighted  fuse  in  place 
•of  the  polo  ball,  which  Ray  strikes.  It  hits  a 
swell,  who  hurls  it  into  the  club  house,  where  it 
lands  on  a  billiard  table  and  Louise's  father  al- 
most hits  it  with  his  billiard  cue.  Ray  comes  to 
the  rescue,  and  the  villain  is  defeated  and  pun- 
ished  after   some   exciting   adventures. 

In  His  Own  Trap— (Three  Reels)— Rex- 
January  30.— Ben  Wilson  as  John  Mayne.  Rod- 
ney Stone,  an  unscrupulous  millionaire,  and  John 
Mayne,  a  young  lawyer,  are  rivals  for  the  hand 
of  Helen  Moore.  Mayne  marries  the  girl,  but 
his  rival  does  not  consider  himself  wholly  de- 
feated, and  watches  for  a  chance  to  get  Helen 
into  his  power.  Helen's  expenditures  reach 
enormous  figures  and  her  husband  is  pressed  by 
anxious  creditors.  At  this  time  Stone  puts 
temptation  in  Mayne's  path,  and  the  latter  falls 
into  Stone's  trap.  Realizing  his  hopeless  posi- 
tion, Mayne  tries  to  kill  himself,  but  is  prevented 
by  his  wife,  who  from  that  time  realizes  her 
culpability  and  enlists  her  earnest  aid.  The 
money  stolen  from  Stone  is  finally  raised  by 
Mayne,  the  deceived  thief,  and  the  necessity  for 
a  great   sacrifice  on  Helen's  part  is  obliterated. 


_f      Ruth — (Five      Reels)—  has  been  doing  is 

Kleine-Edison — January    26. — Edison    production  to     herself     also, 

directed    by    John    H.    Collins    and    featuring    Ed-  about   by  a  youth 

ward    Earle,    Viola    Dana,    Augustus    Phillips,    L.  whom    she    meets 

Davril   and   T.   Tamamoto.      For   a  longer   review  she  goes  to  his  si; 
see  a  future  issue  of  Motocraphy. 


not  only  wrong  to  others  but 
Her  reformation  is  brought 
who  allows  her  to  escape  and 
later    when,    as    a    seamstress, 


Mutual  Special 


Pathe 


Rdbi'ns 


False    Colors— (Two    Reels)— Pathe-Balboa  — 

Woman    Sows — (Five   Reels) — Gaumont    Sixth  episode  of  "The  Red  Circle"  serial,  featur- 

"'   —Alexander    Gaden    and    Gertrude    ing  Ruth   Roland   and    Frank   Mayo.  _  Lamar  and 


:  featured  in  this  first 
mont  Master-Pictures,  in  a  highly  emotional  stor 
dealing  with  love  and  politics.  A  full  revie 
will  be  found  on  another  page  of   this  issue. 

Lord       Loveland       Discovers       America — (Fiv 
Reels) — American — January    27. — Arthur 
and     Constance     Crawley     are     featured     ii 


The  Serpent— (Five  Reels)— Fox — January  23. 
— Theda  Bara  is  featured  in  this  picture,  the  plot 
of  which  was  conceived  by  R.  A.  Walsh,  who 
also  directed  the  production.  The  story  is  laid 
in  Russia  and  has  many  beautiful  and  effective 
scenes.  A  longer  review  will  apepar  in  a  future 
issue   of  MOTOGRAPRY. 


Kleine-Edison 

Wild  Oats— (Five  Reels)— Kleine-Edison— 
January  19.  —  Malcolm  Duncan,  Alma  llanloii. 
Herbert  Hayes,  Frank  Belcher  and  Rub  Sofl 
man  have  the  leading  roles  in  this  picture,  which 
deals  with  the  life  of  Hoy  Wilson,  an  ungovcrn- 
able  youth  of  fast  habits,  and  who  later  is  the 
cause  of  hi,  faih.r\  death.  f"i  a  longer  review 
sei    anothi  i    page  ol   this   issue. 


adaptation  of  the  novel  by  C.   N.  and   A.   M.  W 

liamson.      A  full   review   will   be   fonn.i 

page  of  this  issue.  N".  G.  C 


Paramount 

The     Ragamuffin — (Five     Reils) — ILasky — Jan- 
uary   20. —  Featuring     Blanche    Sweel    in  the    stor> 
of    a    street    waif,    to    whom   environment  has    heeti 
unkind.       One    night    while    she    and    hi 
making    a    ■■ 
captured   and   made  to  understand   that  what  she 


t  the  Hotel  Surfton. 
nitted  and  the  man- 
;e  in  Lamar's  hands. 


June  attend  the 
A  number  of   thefts   are   cc 
ager  of  the  hotel  puts  the 

While  he  and  June  are  in  me  smoKing  room  a 
hand  bearing  the  red  circle  reaches  through  the 
curtains  and  takes  Tune's  necklace.  Lamar  learns 
that  Alma  La  Salle,  "Smiling"  Joe  Egan's  con- 
federate, is  the  guilty  one  and  follows  her  to  her 
home  in  the  city,  hoping  that  she  will  lead  him 
to   the  mystery   of   the   "Red   Circle." 

Madame  X— (Six  Reels) — Pat  he- Gold  Roos- 
ter Play. — Produced  by  Henry  W.  Savage  and 
featuring  Dorothv  Donnelly,  who  played  the  title 
role  in  the  stage  production  of  this  celebrated 
drama  by  Alexander  Bisson.  Edwin  Fosberg, 
Ralph  Morgan,  Hohn  Bowers  and  Robert  Fischer 
are  included  in  the  cast.  George  Marion  directed 
the  picture. 


January  29,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


From  Kabylia  to  Constantine— (Split  Reel)— 
Pathe. — A  scenic  in  Photocolor  showing  the 
wonderful  natural  beauty  of  the  region  of  Ka- 
"bylia,  which  is  in  northeast  Algeria.  An  auto- 
mobile trip  from  Kabylia  through  the  mountains 
to   Constantine  is  taken.      On  the  same  reel  with: 


to  call  at  her  house,  which  he  does.  He  is  given 
.a  large  sum  for  his  heroic  work,  but  just  then 
the  woman's  husband  comes  in  and  Louis  goes 
■out  on  the  run. 

Luke  Lugs  Luggage — Pathe-Rolin. — Lonesome 
Luke  has  a  new  job.  He  is  baggage  smasher  at 
■a  railroad  terminal.  It  is  a  hard  job,  for  he  must 
•carry  trunks,  bundles,  boxes  and  even  live  stock. 
A  billy  goat  adds  to  his  trouble  but  a  box  of 
■dynamite  puts  an  end  to  all  the  hard  work.  It 
-explodes  and  Luke  is  blown  miles  away  from  the 
scene  of  his  arduous  toil.  He  is  last  seen  on  the 
top  rung   of  a  telegraph  pole. 

Pathe  News  No.  4 — Pathe — January  12.— Cap- 
tain and  crew  of  the  Greek  liner  Tessaloniki, 
which  was  left  after  being  storm-tossed  for  eight 
weeks,  are  landed  by  S.  S.  Perugia,  New  York 
City ;  corner-stone  of  new  American  Federation 
■of  Labor  headquarters  laid  by  President  Samuel 
Gompers,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  flaming  warehouse 
•crashes  on  dwellings  when  walls  buckle  in 
$100,000  fire,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Pathe's  Paris 
fashions ;  old  river  packet  Kanawha  strikes  pier 
-and  sinks,  Parkersburg,  W.  Va. ;  seven  inches  of 
snow  falls  in  Seattle,  Wash.;  snow  falls  for  the 
first  time  in  twenty  years  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif. ; 
ten  thousand  rioting  laborers  fire  and  destroy 
two-thirds  of  East  Youngstown,   Ohio. 

Pathe  News  No.  5— Pathe— January  IS.— Mili- 
tary motorcycles  given  test  before  being  sent  to 
the  front,  Coventry,  England;  sailors  of  the 
Grand  Fleet  beguile  the  time  of  waiting  by  clev- 
erly constructing  and  dressing  dolls,  London, 
England ;  buildings  damaged  during  the  strike 
riots  are  dynamited  a  East  Youngstown,  Ohio ; 
Uncle  Sam's  activities;  New  Russian  Army, 
equipped  with  rifles  properly,  trudges  through  the 
snow  to  reinforce  the  attacking  lines,  Bukowina, 
Russia ;  Admiral  Lacaze,  Naval  Chief,  decorates 
some  of  the  six  hundred  survivors  of  the  Naval 
Brigade  which  went  into  battle  in  Flanders  six 
-thousand  strong,  Paris,  France;  fishing  season 
is  now  at  its  height  at  Cape  Hatteras,  N.  C. ; 
Arizona  is  linked  to  California  by  erection  of 
riuge  steel  bridge  across  the  Colorado  River, 
Topock,   Ariz. 


i  the 


He  a 


;  the  a 


1  of 


all  the  girls  in  the  theater,  and  enters 
flirtation  with  Julia,  who  sits  next  to  him.  Out- 
side the  theater,  Swain  and  Julia  meet  Swain's 
wife,  with  a  baby  in  her  arms  and  several  chil- 
dren of  different  ages  tagging  along.  She  de- 
scends upon  the  star  and  slaps  his  face.  Then 
she  bears  him  away  from  Julia. 

The  Conqueror— (Five  Reels)— Kay-Bee  — 
Featuring  Willard  Mack,  supported  by  Enid  Mar- 
key,  J.   Barney   Sherry  and   Margaret   Thompson. 


A  story  of  modern  New  York  society.     Reviewed 
fully    in    the   January    15th    issue   of    Motography. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

The  Island  of  Surprise — (Five  Reels) — Vita- 
graph— January  24.— Featuring  William  Courte- 
nay,  Eleanor  Woodruff  and  a  strong  cast.  Rob- 
ert Lovell,  son  of  Godfrey  Lovell,  known  as  the 
Croesus  of  Wall  Street,  marries  his  father's  sec- 
retary, but  does  not  tell  his  father,  who  goes  on 
a  long  sea  voyage.     Bob  and  Dorothy  and  Daniel 


Triangle  Program 

Week  of  January  23. 

Perils  of  the  Park— (One  Reel) — Keystone. — 
Harry  Gribbon  and  Alice  Davenport  are  featured. 
■Gribbon,  the  husband,  presents  the  maid  with  a 
locket.  Then  remembering  that  it  is  his  wife's 
"birthday,  he  steals  it  from  the  maid  to  give  to 
liis  wife.  Later  he  sends  the  gardener  to  get  the 
locket  again.  McCoy  steals  it  and  some  money. 
After  other  complications  the  story  ends  with 
the  gardener  in  the  police  station  with  Alice  and 
Gribbon  witnesses   against  him. 

The  Wood  Nymph— (Five  Reels)— Fine  Arts 
—Marie  Doro  is  featured  as  Daphne,  a  girl 
whose  life  has   been    spent   in   the   forest  and   who 


Casselis,  his  father's  partner,  and  his  daughter, 
Dorothy,  all  go  on  a  yachting  trip  and  anchor  off 
a  lonely  island.  The  yacht  is  driven  to  sea  by  a 
terrific  storm  and  the  party  are  stranded.  Bob 
loses  his  memory  and  Dorothy  tries  in  vain  to 
call  to  mind  his  marriage  to  her,  but  Miss  Cas- 
selis claims  Bob  as  her  husband.  However,  they 
are  rescued  and  Bob  regains  his  memory  and  all 
ends  in  a  joyful  reunion. 

Hearst-Vitagraph    News,    No.   3.— Strike   rioters 
wreck    and    burn    buildings    in    East    Youngstown, 
Ohio;    Samuel   N.    McCall    inaugurated    Governor 
of   Massachusetts;   members   of  the   Olympic   Club 
— '    water   carnival,   San   Francisco,    Cal. ; 
tris    enters    the    port    of    New    York 
with    passengers    taken    from    the    disabled    liner 
Thessalonika ;   latest   fashions ;    Naval    Commission 
sled    designed 


peed    at    seventy-five 

•niles    an    hou 

,    carrying    a 

Boston,    Ma 

ss. ;    Harvard 

rack    team    starts    prac 

ranked    by     snowdrifts 

Cambridge, 

Mass.;    car- 

Stupendous  12  Star  Production 

"How  Molly  Made  Good" 

6  REELS 

Is  the  best  advertised  picture  on  the  market. 
4  Weeks  Fine  Arts,  Chicago 

ALL    IVAN    PRODUCTIONS 
Commencing  with  "Concealed  Truth" 

5  Reels  Featuring 
GERTRUDE   ROBINSON 


nois.     So.  Wiscc 
ind  Kentucky. 


,   In- 


GENERAL  FEATURE  FILM   CO. 

MALLEUS  BLDG.         Central  8145  CHICAGO 


The  factory  with  a 
QUALITY 
REPUTATION 


COMMERCIAL  MOTION 
PICTURES  CO. 

Cliffside  323      Grantwood,  N.  J. 


"BUILT  BY  f 
BRAINS' 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  New  York 

Houter    Building  19  W.   23rd   St. 

Calaary,  Canada  Chicago 

Grand  Theatre  Bldg.  154  West  Lake  St. 

San  Francisco  Pittsburg 

117-19  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  At*. 


ses  in  the  style  of  ancient  Greece.  The  pic- 
is  reviewed  at  length  in  the  January  15th 
e  of  Motography,  page   137. 

Reels) — Keystone. — 
.  _     Aim  idol,"  Polly  Moran 
vife,   Harry   Gribbon  as  a  "fan,"  and  Julia 


[' 


THE  TALK  OF  THE   MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  Posters 


POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5. 


77ie  Business 
Obligation 

At  the  lowest  estimate  for 
weekly  program  rentals  the 
subscribers  to  MOTOG- 
RAPHY spend  every  week 
the    astounding    sum    of 

$417,860.00 

If  they  use  one  feature 
each  week  in  addition  to 
their  service,  at  a  fair 
price  for  features,  this  sum 
is    increased    weekly    to 

$893,260.00 

If  these  theaters  spend  a 
few  dollars  each  week  for 
supplies,  posters,  oil,  re- 
winds, heralds,  etc.,  the 
sum  total  of  the  average 
weekly  expenditures  of 
MOTOGRAPHY'S  subscri- 
bers is 

OVER 

$1,000,000.00 

exclusive  of  salaries,  rent, 
light,  etc. 

To  talk  to  this  Million  Dollar 
Crowd  every  week 

Plant  Your 
Advertisement 


Motography 


•ned    : 


r  Thess 


i? 


___loniki;  __„ 
ho  burned  part  of  city  i 
nited  at  East  Youngstown,  Ohio;  latest 
ins;  seventy-two-mile  gale  destroys  a  nine- 
house  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  Gotham  so- 
people  repair  to  Yama  Yama  farm  for  win- 
olic  on  skates,  sleds  and  skis,  Naponack, 
. ;  young  people  gather  in  the  snow-covered 
for  day's  outing,  Christiania,  Norway ; 
of  reconstructing  the  city  of  Avenzzaro, 
wiped  out  by  earthquake,  being  rapidly 
d;  battleship  Oklahoma,  biggest  sea 
leaves  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  for  Rock- 
Me.,  where  speed  trials  will  be  held;  ear- 
by  T.   E.   Powers. 


World 

The  Ransom— (Five  Reels)— Equitable-World 
— Produced  by  Edmond  Lawrence  and  featuring 
Julia  Dean.  The  story  was  written  by  Eve  Un- 
sell.  Louise  Huff,  'Tames  Hall,  Ethel  Llovd, 
Kenneth  Hunter  and  Willard  Case  are  included 
in  the  cast. 


NOTES  FROM  ALL  OVER 

Pathe  News  has  started  the  "Made  in 
Los  Angeles"  ball  a-rolling  by  using  the 
poster  label  with  that  slogan. 

Clune's  Auditorium,  Los  Angeles,  in 
which  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  was  first 
shown,  is  being  made  ready  for  the  pres- 
entation of  W.  H.  Clune's  screen  pro- 
duction of  Helen  Hunt  Jackson's  "Ra- 
mona,"  a  story  of  early  California.  Four- 
teen thousand  feet  of  film  are  necessary 
for  the  showing  of  this  story. 

Director  E.  H.  Calvert  is  seeking  un- 
derworld types  in  the  slums  of  Chicago 
for  Essanay's  five-act  feature,  "Vultures 
of  Society."  The  press  agent  states  that 
these  characters  are  so  undependable 
that,  once  corralled,  they  must  be  put 
under  guard  to  insure  their  appearance 
when  needed. 

Henry  Walthall  of  Essanay  has  so 
often  proven  his  worth  in  light  comedy 
that  many  are  asking  that  he  be  given 
more  such  roles. 

Richard  C.  Travers  of  Essanay  is  writ- 
ing a  volume  on  his  experience  in  photo- 
plays. Mr.  Travers  has  already  published 
one  book,  on  his  life  in  South  Africa  dur- 
ing the  Boer  war. 

Bryant  Washburn's  dog  became  jeal- 
ous   of    Bryant    Washburn    IV    and    ran 


Lucillt  T.ifl.  a  featured  Ca 


away.      Now    the    Essanay    company    is 
offering  a  reward  for  the  animal. 

"Vultures  of  Society,"  a  five-reel  Essa- 
nay offering,  written  bv  Richard  GoodalL 
and  directed  by  E.  H.  Calvert,  will  be 
released  through  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  in  Feb- 
ruary. 

The  Balboa  Amusement  Company  is 
soon  to  produce  "Balboa."  a  pageant 
play  written  by  H.  O.  Stechhan,  pub- 
licity manager  for  the  company.  This 
play  was  the  first  accepted  by  H.  M. 
Horkheimer,  and  the  company  takes  its 
name  from  the  pageant,  which  is  written 
around  the  career  of  the  great  discoverer. 

The  Vim  Comedy  Company  is  receiv- 
ing many  letters  complimenting  them- 
on  the  "exhibitor's  diaries"  they  distrib- 
uted. 

"Life  Without  Soul,"  film  presentation- 
of  the  novel  "Frankenstein."  the  first 
offering  of  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation, 
has  been  well  received  in  Chicago,  Min- 
neapolis and  elsewhere.  "The  Fortunate 
Vouth."  from  William  J.  Locke's  story,  is 
the   next  release   of  this   company. 

The  Board  of  Trade  of  Vicksbtirg, 
Miss.,  is  planning  to  co-operate  with  the 
Selig  Polyscope  Company  in  the  filming 
of  Winston  Churchill's  novel.  "The 
Crisis." 

A  special  photoplay  edition  of  "The- 
Ne'er  Do  Well"  will  be  put  out  shortly 
by  Harper  &  Brothers,  with  scenes  from 
the   Selig  production. 

Colin  Campbell.  Selig  director,  has  re- 
turned to  Los  Angeles  after  a  sojourn  in 
Chicago,  where,  with  William  X.  Selig, 
he  discussed  plans  for  filming  "The 
Crisis." 

"The  Devil,  the  Servant,  and  the  Man." 
a  Selig  multiple-reel  production,  has 
been  started  by  Frank  Real.  Kathlyn 
Williams  will  be  featured,  supported  by 
Guy  Oliver,  Lillian  Hayward,  Harry 
i  .onsdale  and  Vivian  Reed. 

Mix  Besse  Watson,  of  the  Selig  Zoo 
i irHces,  I  os  Angeles,  i>  married. 

Jack  Pickford  has  returned  to  the  Selig; 
/ch..  after  a  flying  trip  t.>  New  York  and 
■  h  William  X.  Selig  .u  the  Selig 


Chicago 


,rno 


January  29,  1916. 


Scene   fro 


Edison's   "Not   Much    Force." 


ROLL  OF  STATES. 

Arizona. 

The  Royal  theater  in  Bisbee  has  been 
sold  by  Walter  E.  Evans  to  E.  J.  Reeves, 
a  former  El  Paso  theatrical  manager. 
Arkansas. 
J.  A.  Bartlett  has  leased  the  A-Muse-U 
theater  in  Monticello  to  H.  D.  Wharton 
of  Warren. 

California. 

Architect  W.  B.  Thomas  is  busy  on  de- 
signs   for    the    new    Turner    &    Dahnken 
theater  on  Weber  avenue,  between  Hun- 
ter and  San  Joaquin  streets,  Stockton. 
Colorado. 

The  Colograph  Motion  Picture  Com- 
pany is  a  new  moving  picture  concern 
which  will  begin  operations  in  Pueblo  in 
a  very  short  time.  The  company  is  in- 
corporated under  Colorado  laws  and  is 
managed  by  W.  C.  Clode. 

Connecticut. 

Dr.  George  Thompson's  moving  pic- 
ture theater  on  Merchants  avenue,  Nor- 
wich, which  was  recently  opened,  covers 
a  plot  45x88  feet.  The  auditorium  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  496  seats,  360  on  the 
main  floor  and  136  in  the  gallery.  The 
moving  picture  booth  is  fireproof  and 
every  precaution  called  for  by  state  law 
is  provided  for  as  to  ventilation,  heating 
and  lighting. 

Delaware. 

Gem  Movies  Company,  to  manufac- 
ture motion  pictures  and  conduct  moving 
picture  business.  Capital,  $100,000.  In- 
corporators, K.  D.  Dougherty,  F.  H. 
Buehler,  L.  S.  Dorsey,  Wilmington. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Georgia. 

A  lease  on  the  Liberty  theater  in  Sa- 
vannah has  been  secured  by  S.  I.  Silver- 
stein,  J.  G.  Jones  and  G.  A.  Walker,  a 
new  company  known  as  the  Sunny  South 
Motion  Picture  Company,  who  will  es- 
tablish a  studio  and  offices  in  the  theater 
building.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  new 
company  to  produce  only  local  feature 
pictures,  written  byUocal  people  and  pro- 
duced in  Savannah. 

Illinois. 

J.  B.  Reilly  of  the  New  Princess  thea- 
ter in  Kankakee,  has  inaugurated  the 
Triangle  program. 

Fred  Walker,  Jr.,  is  to  erect  a  hand- 
some new  theater  at  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  East  streets,  Bloomington, 
during  the  spring  months.  It  will  seat 
approximately  1,200  people.  Contractors 
will  be_  invited  to  bid  for  the  erection  of 
this  building  in  the  very  near  future. 

F.  O.  Nielsen  Feature  Films,  Chicago; 
capital,  $50,000;  incorporators,  Frederick 
O.  Nielsen,  Maria  K.  Nielsen,  Paul  R. 
McNally. 

Indiana. 

L.  E.  Perry  has  purchased  the  Majes- 
tic theater  in  Lagrange  from  Charles 
Griffith,  taking  possession  January  3. 

The  operator's  cage  and  the  front  of 
the  Royal  theater  on  Market  and  Illinois 
street,  Indianapolis,  was  damaged  by  fire. 
The  Royal  is  managed  by  Mr.  Sebring. 

Motion  picture  films  of  the  Vincennes 
centennial  celebration,  held  in  December, 
have  been  bought  by  the  centennial  ex- 
ecutive committee.  The  films  depict  nu- 
merous historic  points  of  interest  here, 
in  addition  to  the  several  parades  that 
featured  the  celebration.  The  committee, 
following  the  exhibition  of  the  pictures 
here,  intends  to  have  them  shown  in  prac- 
tically every  city  in  Indiana,  as  well  as 
other  cities. 

Iowa. 

The  Motion  Picture  Exhibit  Company, 
which  has  operated  the  Elite  theater  in 
Burlington  _  under  the  management  of 
James  Virgil  for  a  number  of  years,  has 
completed  arrangements  for  the  con- 
struction of  one  of  the  finest  theaters  be- 
tween Chicago  and  Denver,  to  occupy 
the  two  buildings,  including  its  present 
site  and  the  adjoining  to  the  west.  The 
new  place  will  seat  approximately  one 
thousand  people.  The  chairs  will  be  up- 
holstered and  roomy,  while  the  ventilat- 
ing system  will  be  a  noiseless  one,  com- 
pletely changing  every  eight  minutes. 
The  latest  equipment  throughout  the  en- 
tire building  is  to  be  installed. 

The  Theatorium  in  Dennison  was 
slightly  damaged  when  a  film  exploded, 
causing  the  booth  to  take  fire.  The  show 
house  is  owned  by  Rostin  Palm. 

Thomas  A.  Brown,  owner  of  the  Amer- 
ican _  theater,  will  be  the  lessee  of  the 
moving  picture  theater  to  be  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $50,000  in  Iowa  City  by  M. 
Houser  of  Cedar  Rapids  and  E.  C. 
Houser  of  Iowa  City,  brothers. 

Carl  Noltze  of  Cleghorn  has  purchased 
the  Royal  theater  at  Le  Mars  from 
George  Toppings.  The  Royal  will  be 
managed  by  Mr.  Harding,  who  will  con- 
tinue to  run  p'ictures  as  the  regular  pro- 
gram, but  other  shows  and  sporting 
events  will  also  be  staged. 

Edward  Boyle,  manager  of  the  Dream- 


land moving  picture  theater  on  Main 
street,  Dubuque,  has  secured  a  lease  on 
the  store  building  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Fifth  and  Main  streets,  which  he  will 
alter  and  on  February  1  expects  to  oc- 
cupy. Much  money  is  being  expended  to 
improve  this  new  location  and  when  com- 
pleted the  Dreamland  will  have  double  its 
seating  capacity. 


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Give  us  a  chance.     Write  for  catalogue. 

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EVERY   DIRECTOR 

Of  Motion  Pictures  Should 
Have  This  Book 

Motion  Picture 
Photography 

It  is  the  most  concise,  compre- 
hensive work  ever  published  on 
the  subject  and  will  add  to  the 
sum  total  of  any  director's  fund 
of  knowledge. 

With  a  years  subscription  to 
Motography,  $5.00  postpaid 
anywhere  in  the  United  States. 

MOTOGRAPHY 

Monadnock  Bldg. 
CHICAGO 


282 

The  manufacturer 
who  brands  his  films 
and  advertises  them 
in  Motography  is  so 
sure  of  their  quality 
that  he  is  willing  to 
stand  the  full  force  of 
possible     complaints. 

He  is  making  some- 
thing for  which  he  is 
proud  to  be  respon- 
sible. His  trade  mark 
secures  for  him  the 
increased  sales  that 
result  from  satisfaction 
and  identification.  At 
the  same  time  it  se- 
cures to  the  great  mass 
of  exhibitors  the  cer- 
tainty of  quality  which 
the  known  manufac- 
turer must  maintain  if 
he  is  to  continue  to 
be  successful. 

When  you  book 
films,  book  films  that 
are  trademarked  and 

advertised  in  Motography. 
The  manufacturers  of  such 
films  stand  behind  them. 
Your  satisfaction  is  vital  to 
the  continued  success  of 
the  trade -marked  adver- 
tised films. 

Trade  marks  and  adver- 
tising in  Motography  are  the 
two  greatest  servants  in  the 
film  business  today.  Their 
whole  tendency  is  to  raise 
qualities  and  standardize 
tnem  while  reducing  prices 
and  stabilizing  them. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  management  of  the  Cozy  theater 
on  Bridge  street,  in  Sioux  City,  has  been 
taken  over  by  Will  Drake,  who  has  made 
many  improvements. 

The  Gaiety  theater,  Seventeenth  and 
Clay  streets,  Dubuque,  will  be  reopened 
under  the  management  of  Muntz  & 
Cartigny. 

Ed  Hendricks  has  purchased  the  Web 
theater  in  Clinton  and  is  making  some 
changes. 

Kansas. 

The  Palace,  Wichita's  newest  and  most 
beautiful  theater,  is  almost  ready  for 
opening.  The  finishing  touches  are  be- 
ing made  by  the  decorators  and  Manager 
L.  M.  Miller  states  in  about  ten  days  the 
costly  Palace  will  be  introduced  to  Wich- 
ita's public. 

Kentucky. 

R.  V.  and  M.  A.  McRae,  who  have 
leased  the  Shubert  Masonic  theater  in 
Louisville,  which  has  been  dark  for  some 
time,  reopened  it  January  1  under  the 
name  of  the  Strand.  The  theater  has 
undergone  a  most  extensive  renovation. 
The  entire  interior  of  the  auditorium  has 
been  redecorated  in  old  rose,  white  and 
gold  with  a  delicate  shade  of  lavender 
used  modestly  in  certain  column  panels. 
The  hangings  are  in  rose,  while  the 
floors  are  carpeted  in  green.  The  lobby 
is  bright  with  many  electric  lights  which 
reflect  upon  freshly  painted  walls  and 
ceiling.  The  box  office  window  is  made 
more  prominent  by  means  of  an  addi- 
tional bay,  covered  with  a  roof  of  art 
glass. 

Maryland. 

The  Strand  will  be  the  name  of  the 
new  motion  picture  theater  being  erected 
at  400-404  North  Howard  street,  Balti- 
more. It  will  be  37x121  feet  and  have  a 
seating  capacity  of  499  persons. 

A  contract  has  been  awarded  to  the 
Consolidated  Engineering  Company  by 
the  Walbrook  Amusement  Company  for 
a  motion  picture  theater  for  erection  at 
North  avenue  and  Ninth  street,  Balti- 
more, after  plans  by  Architect  J.  E.  Laf- 
ferty.  The  building  will  be  two  stories 
high,  of  ornamental  brick  and  is  to  be 
50  by  121  feet. 

Michigan. 

Ground  has  been  broken  for  the  new 
$15,000  vaudette  and  store  building  to  be 
erected  by  Nathaniel  Robbins  on  the  lot 
adjoining  the  Grand  Haven  State  Bank 
on  Washington  street,  Grand  Haven.  The 
building  will  be  constructed  of  concrete 
with  terra  cotta  trimmings  and  will  have 
a  seating  capacity  of  500. 
Missouri. 

W.  H.   Buie  of  Kansas   City  has  pur- 
chased the  Gem  theater  in  Marshall,  for- 
merly operated  by  G.  B.  Irvin. 
Montana. 

A  motion  picture  theater  will  be  estab- 
lished on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Mantle 
block,  on  West  Broadway,  Butte. 

Intermountain  Photoplav  Company  of 
Butte;  capital  stock,  $100^000;  directors, 
A.  W.  Dorr,  G.  A.  White  and  Frank  Ownes 
of  Butte. 

New  York. 

Utica's  new  photoplay  theater,  erected 
by  the  A.lhambra  Vmusement  Company 
on  Park  avenue,  near  Oneida  square,  has 
been  opened.  The  building  is  fireproof, 
and    the    Front    is    of    white    brick    with 


Vol.  XV,  No.  5.- 


bronze  trimmings  and  a  marquee.  En- 
trance to  the  lobby  is  through  doors  of 
mahogany  and  plate  glass.  The  lobby 
has  a  tile  floor,  paneled  walls  and  mahog- 
any woodwork,  and  the  decorations  are 
extremely  artistic  and  pleasing.  The 
auditorium  seats  1,200  and  the  chairs  are 
tapestry  covered  and  very  rich  in  ap- 
pearance. As  yet  the  theater  is  without 
a  name  and  is  managed  by  Henry  G.  Lux. 

Patriot  Film  Corporation,  New  York. 
Manufacturing  and  deal  in  moving  pic- 
ture films;  capital.  $100,000.  Incorpora- 
tors: P.  Marron,  M.  Ogg,  R.  L.  Moffett, 
52  William  street,  New  York  City. 

The  Woman's  Club  of  Albany  has  in- 
augurated a  campaign  against  immoral 
moving  pictures  and  posters  and  is  ask- 
ing the  various  federated  clubs  of  New 
York  state  to  join  with  it  to  have  the 
matter  brought  to  the  General  Federa- 
tion of  Women's  Clubs,  that  action  may 
be  taken  to  obtain  better  pictures  and 
more  efficient  work  by  the  national  and 
state  boards  of  moving  picture  censors. 

Crescent  Theater  Company  of  Ithaca. 
General  amusements.  Capital,  3100,000. 
Directors,  Fred  B.  Howe,  John  B.  Howe, 
Frank  W.  Grant. 

The  Cumberland  theater  at  Cumber- 
land street  and  Greene  avenue,  Brooklyn, 
has  been  closed. 

Charles  H.  Powers  has  announced  that 
he  has  purchased  the  Johnson  Opera 
House  property  in  Seneca  Falls  from 
Charles  C.  Johnson  of  New  York  City. 
Mr.  Powers  assumed  possession  of  the 
property  the  first  of  the  year.  Mr.  Pow- 
ers has  made  plans  for  remodeling  the 
front  of  the  structure  and  will  begin  work 
so  soon  as  weather  conditions  will  permit. 

International  Circuit,  Inc.,  Manhattan. 
General  theatrical  business;  capital, 
$100,000.  Incorporators,  G.  Hill,  701  Sev- 
enth avenue;  G.  H.  Nicolai.  1493  Broad- 
way, New  York  City;  E.  D.  Stair.  Detroit, 
Mich. 

Topnotch    Motion    Pictures,    manufac- 
turing films   and  general   motion  picture 
business;  $20,000;  Elsie  M.  Loeser.  L.  K. 
Ferry,  Holmes  Walton,  Manhattan. 
North   Dakota. 

January  1,  L.  L.  Mitchell  opened  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater  in  the  Walker  build- 
ing, in  Anamoose,  which  seats  300  people. 
Mr.  Mitchell  has  not  named  the  theater 
as  yet. 

Ohio. 

The  Buckeye  Motion  Picture  Com- 
pany, Toledo,  $10,000.    L.  P.  Eichenberg. 

The  Grand  theater  in  Zanesville  has 
been  purchased  by  R.  L.  Miller  and  W.  C. 
Norris,  both  of  Akron.  The  new  manage- 
ment has  installed  a  new  machine  and 
redecorated  the  theater. 

\  new  photoplay  theater  has  been 
opened  in  Oxford  by  John  \Y.  Criser. 

William  Georgiou,  formerly  of  Mans- 
field, has  disposed  of  the  Empire  moving 
picture  theater  at  Lima  and  has  assumed 
control  of  the  Grand  at  Tiffin. 

The  Anchor  Film  Company,  Cleveland. 
$10,000;  Cecil  Adler,  Philip  Adler,  David 
\iI1it  .mil  others- 
Wisconsin. 
The  Grand  theater  in  Superior  has  been 
a  photoplay  house  for  an  indefinite 
period. 


The  MOTION  PICTU1& 
TI&LDE  <JOUIlNAL 


Vol  XV 


BEATRIZ  MICHELENA,  WITH  CALIFORNIA 

CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  5,  1916 


No.  6 


Will  Meagre  the 
durirv 


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a 


he  week 

Jaii\31st 


followirv 


APefomationDelayed" 


Oi\e  Act  Drama. 


Feb.  3 


RD 


44 


AModebnPaul" 

Three  Act  Dradi\aL 
Feb.Slk 

E>illieReeve>r  Comedy 

TheElectionBet 


99 


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Act 


February  5,   191i 


MOTOGRAPHY 


kAyi 


January    30th  Triangle 

Releases  Will  Crowd 

the  Box  Office 

There's  an  indefinable  something  about  TRIANGLE 
PLAYS  which  draws  the  crowds  back  to  the  box  office  window 
and  compels  return. 

This  week  Orrin  Johnson  in  "The  Price  of  Power"  gives  a 
wonderful  characterization  of  the  strong  working  man  who  sets 
out  to  win  a  fortune.  Nothing  deterred  him  and  he  won  the  vic- 
tory, but  the  price  he  paid  makes  a  story  that  your  patrons  will 
surely  appreciate.  Seldom  has  there  been  a  play  of  such  strength 
— a  play  that  arouses  hate  for  the  man  as  he  exercises  his  power 
and  sympathy  in  his  troubles.  This  is  the  kind  of  a  play  that 
will  make  your  first-performance  patrons  increase  the  number 
of  people  who  attend  the  second  show. 

As  for  the  second  picture,  no  stronger  drama — no  play  deal- 
ing more  intimately  with  the  rocks  on  which  so  many  matri- 
monial bargains  are  wrecked  has  yet  been  seen  than  "The  Green 
Swamp,"  in  which  Bessie  Barriscale  and  Bruce  McRae  appear. 
Every  husband  and  wife  will  appreciate  this  true  story  of  do- 
mestic American  life.  It's  a  tale  that  holds  the  interest  through- 
out and  never  lets  a  moment  lag. 

As  for  the  Keystones,  there  are  a  couple  of  corkers  this  week 
—"He  Did  and  He  Didn't,"  and  "Love  Will  Conquer."  Fatty 
Arbuckle  and  Mabel  Normand  appear  in  the  first  and  Fred  Mace 
in  the  second.  These  three  popular  Keystone  stars  will  keep 
your  house  alive  with  laughter. 


TRIANGI  LM 


71  WEST«Li  ST  NEW  YORK 


fr  A..A.M..  «:.  .:■:■.  &  ,5\  ,"■.:•■.  A. ..%, ./%..  ,i   fkix.  ,<:k...,A..--h:,.  :"%  A  #,  •».  Js  A  ,«*.  A  ,»;  m,.AA  .i&.  .#  ,. 


In  writing  to   advertise 


i   MOTOGRAPHY 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  5,  1916 


No.  6 


Paramount  Censor  Plan  Before  the  House 

ELEVENTH  HOUR  BOMBSHELL  BURSTS 


THE  House  Committee  on  Education' now  has  be- 
fore it  for  consideration  the  Hughes  federal  cen- 
sorship bill,  and  a  substitute  offered  by  Rev. 
Wilbur  F.  Craft,  Rev.  William  Sheaf  Chase,  and  How- 
ard C.  Barbour,  and  which,  it  is  claimed  by  the  latter 
three,  represents  not  only  their  views  but  those  of  the 
heads  of  reputable  and  influential  motion  picture  com- 
panies. However,  the  representatives  of  motion  pic- 
ture companies  who  so  far  have  spoken  say  that  the 
bill  does  not  officially  represent  their  views,  but  they 
admit  that  it  contains  suggestions  made  by  them. 

An  eleventh  hour  declaration  on  the  part  of  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  and  others  that  they 
favored  federal  regulation  of  their  business  came  as 
a  distinct  surprise  to  nearly  every  one  who  had  been 
in  attendance  at  the  hearings  conducted  for  more  than 
a  week  by  the  committee,  and  it  was  made  in  the  clos- 
ing moments  of  the  last  night's  session.  The  motion 
picture  interests,  represented  by  J.  W.  Binder  and 
William  M.  Seabury  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of 
Trade,  had  rested  their  case  with  the  exception  of 
formally  filing  briefs,  and  Dr.  Craft  and  others  were 
engaged  in  summing  up  their  argument.  Then, 
Arthur  S.  Friend,  an  attorney,  of  New  York,  represent-: 
ing  companies  mentioned  below,  took  the  floor  and  out- 
lined their  position. 

Attorney  Friend,  speaking  on  behalf  of  the  Para- 
mount Picture  Corporation,  the  Famous  Players  Com- 
pany, the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company, 
the  World  Film  Corporation,  and  the  Equitable 
Motion  Picture  Corporation,  conferred  with  Chairman 
Hughes  of  the  house  committee  on  Tuesday  night, 
January  25,  and  filed  with  Chairman  Hughes  the  draft 
of  a  bill  as  a  substitute  for  the  Hughes  bill,  and  a  state- 
ment setting  forth  the  views  of  the  motion  picture 
companies. 

The '  statement  filed  by  Mr.  Friend  upon  behalf 
of  the  motion  picture  companies  reads  in  part  as  fol- 
lows: 

While  the  idea  of  censorship  of  motion  pictures  is  dis- 
tasteful to  our  clients  as  well  as  to  others  in  the  business,  our 
support  of  the  principle  of  regulation  embodied  in  the  bill 
before  you  is  due  to  our  realization  of  unfavorable  condi- 
tions in  the  industry  which  cannot  be  corrected  by  ordinary 
means  nor  by  sporadic  and  occasional  criminal  prosecutions, 
procured  by  the  better  elements  of  the  business  or  by  in- 
dividual or  organized  reformers.  The  motion  picture  busi- 
ness, now  of  vast  financial  importance,  has  had  a  mushroom 
growth  and  is  not  yet  homogeneous  and  standardized.  Too 
many  persons  engaged  in  the  business  look  upon  it  as  a  tem- 
porary means  of  getting  money  instead  of  a  permanent  busi- 
ness, the  continued,  profit  of  which  is  dependent  upon  the 
quality  and  character  of  the  productions.  They  are  like 
miners  who  quickly  exhaust  the  high  grade  ore  and  leave  the 


low  grade  on  the  dump.  They  are  get-rich-quick  artists, 
looking  for  a  quick  cleanup  and  a  getaway.  They  find  the 
.opportunity  for  such  methods  in  producing  and  exhibiting 
sensational  productions  which  display  scenes  of  lust  and 
crime.  .  Unfortunately  the  public  is  not  yet  discriminating, 
and  goes  to  see  both  bad  and  good,  which  are  usually  to  be 
found  on  the  program  of  the  same  theater.  Still  more  un- 
fortunately, the  vicious  picture  brings  larger  returns  to 
exhibitor  and  producer,  because  it  gets  the  money  of  the 
regular  customer  and  the  sensation  seeker  also.  This  state 
of  affairs  constitutes  a  temptation  hard  to  resist  and  in  fact 
the  production  of  vicious  pictures  is  constantly  increasing, 
just  because  they  are  more  profitable. 

If  the  industry  is  to  endure,  if  decent  people  are  to  stay 
in  the  business  this  cancer  must  be  cut  out.  A  Federal  reg- 
ulatory commission  should  prove  a  fearless  surgeon,  and  we 
therefore  favor  such  a  commission. 

The  motion  picture  business  has  three  well  defined  divi- 
sions, production,  distribution  and  exhibition.  The  producer 
deals  with  authors  and  performers  and  makes  the  pictures; 
the  distributor  contracts  with  the  producer  for  his  product 
and  through  local  offices,  known  as  exchanges,  places  them 
in  the  hands  of  exhibitors.  The  exhibitor  deals  direct  with 
the  public.  All  three  divisions  of  the  business  would  be 
affected  adversely  by  an  act  providing  for  Federal  regula- 
tion which  overlooked  the  practical  part  of  the  business.  In 
order  that  these  interests  may  be  served  we  urge  upon  you 
to  include  in  any  bill  which  you  may  report  provisions  as 
follows: 

"Local  offices  for  the  commission  in  New  York  and  Los 
Angeles  so  that  the  producers,  most  of  whom  operate  in  these 
cities  or  vicinity,  may  have  ready  access  to  the  supervising 
authority  and  prompt  consideration  of  their  product. 

"Authority  to  the  commission  or  deputy  in  charge  of  a 
local  office  to  grant  or  refuse  a  license.  This  is  necessary 
to  procure  prompt  action  on  applications  which  the  producer 
requires  in  order  to  meet  his  engagements  with  the  dis- 
tributor, covering  a  constant  and  frequent  supply  of  pic- 
tures, and  which  the  distributor  requires  in  order  to  enable 
the  exchanges  to  supply  to  the  exhibitors  the  daily  and  weekly 
changes  covered  by  their  contracts.  Delay  would  certainly 
be  costly  and'  would  injure  the  entire  business. 

"Provision  for  condemnation  of  specific  parts  of  a  film 
which,  when  the  same  are  eliminated,  shall  become  entitled 


to  1 


nse. 


"A  provision  for  review  by  the  commission  when  the 
commissioner  refuses  a  license,  as  the  determination  of  the 
question  as  to  whether  a  film  is  entitled  to  license  is  not 
based  upon  exact  standards,  but  is  a  matter  of  opinion  only. 
It  should  not  be  possible  for  one  man,  in  his  discretion,  to 
destroy  a  large  investment  represented  by  a  modern  photo- 
play. 

"Provision  for  an  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  the 
District  of  Columbia  from  a  refusal  to  license.  As  the  de- 
termination by  the  commission  would  be  really  arbitrary, 
because  of  the  absence  of  legal  tests  of  recognized  standards, 
it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  commission  should 
not  be  vested  with  supreme  power.  Where  great  property 
interests  are  involved  the  citizen  should  always  be  afforded 
an  opportunity  to  have  relief  from  the  court  if  he  feels  that 
he  has  been  treated  unjustly. 

"A  provision  permitting  the  producer  to  transport  films 
prior  to  application  for  license.  The  producer  should  be  free 
to    transport    a    film    from    its    place    of   manufacture    to    the 


284 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


home  office,  or  other  place,  where  it  will  be  cut  and  trimmed 
or  otherwise  repaired  for  exhibition. 

"An  exemption  from  the  operation  of  the  act  of  films  ex- 
hibited prior  to  its  enactment  and  films  which  do  not  con- 
tain any  dramatic  or  fictional  element,  such  as  pictures  of 
current  events,  commonly  known  as  news  films  and  topical 
reviews,  and  pictures  of  places  and  people,  geographical  na- 
ture and  commonly  known  as  travel  pictures. 

"A  provision  granting  discrimination  to  the  commission 
to  issue  a  permit  under  which  films  may  be  exhibited  pend- 
ing application  for  license.  Such  a  provision  would  enable 
the  commission  to  adjust  the  burden  of  temporarily  ac- 
cumulated applications  by  granting  permits,  in  fact  temporary 
licenses,  to  producers,  whose  history  and  character  entitled 
them  to  a  presumption  of  complying  with   the  law." 

As  we  are  moved  by  the  sincere  purpose  of  co-operat- 
ing with  your  committee  in  procuring  the  draft  of  an  act 
which  should  prove  effective  and  workable  and  at  the  same 
time  fair  to  the  decent  people  in  the  motion  picture  business 
we  respectfully  request  that  when  a  bill  is  ready  for  action 
by  the  committee  a  copy  shall  be  sent  to  us,  and  we  shall  be 
given  an  opportunity  to  appear  before  the  committee  and 
make  such  suggestions  and  criticisms  as  may  occur  to  us. 

The  statement  was  signed  by  Myers  and  Clark,  of 
New  York,  attorneys  for  the  Paramount  Picture  Corpora- 
tion ;  E.  J.  Ludvich  and  Ralph  A.  Kohn  for  the  Famous 
Players  Film  Company;  Arthur  S.  Friend  for  the 
Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company;  Moritz  Ro- 
senthal, for  the  World  Film  Corporation,  and  Equita- 
ble  Motion   Picture  Corporation; 

The  bill  as  submitted  and  sketched  in  the  state- 
ment above  is  substantially  identical  with  the  draft 
filed  with  the  committee  by  Dr.  Craft,  Dr.  Chase  and 
Mr.  Barbour,  except  that  it  makes  provision  for  a 
charge  of  $2  per  thousand  linear  feet  of  film  and  other 
minor  charges. 

"We  have  more  than  a  dozen  producers  who  have 
expressed  approval  of  our  plans,"  said  Dr.  Craft  to 
the  representative  of  Motography.  Dr.  Craft  stated 
that  he  had  conferred  with  these  producers,  and  also 
with  W.  W.  Hodkinson,  president  of  the  Paramount 
Corporation,  and  the  latter's  attorney,  J.  C.  Myers,  of 
New  York.  Dr.  Chase  also  conferred  with  these  mo- 
tion picture  men.  Dr.  Craft  said,  as  also  did  Mr.  Bar- 
bour, with  the  result  that  the  substitute  was  drawn 
up.  Mr.  Hodkinson  was  present  Wednesday  night, 
but  did  not  address  the  committee. 

The  position  taken  by  the  companies  now  re- 
ferred to  as  the  Paramount  group  is  likely  to  intensify 
the  fight  over  the  question  of  federal  censorship.  The 
attack  made  on  the  Hughes  bill  by  the  representatives 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  has  lined  up  in 
the  House  Committee  a  strong  and  vigorous  opposi- 
tion to  federal  censorship,  the  opinion  being  that  there 
are  at  least  five  members  of  the  committee  who  are 
absolutely  opposed  to  it.  It  was  made  very  plain 
before  the  hearings  had  gone  on  a  few  hours  that  the 
Hughes  bill  would  have  to  be  re-drafted  in  any  event, 
and  it  was  hoped  by  its  active  opponents  that  the 
amendment  of  Section  245  as  suggested  by  Messrs. 
Seabury  and  Binder  would  be  accepted  as  a  substitute. 

The  substitute  offered  by  Drs.  Craft  and  Chase 
and  Mr.  Barbour,  is,  if  anything,  more  drastic  than  the 
Hughes  bill  on  which  it  is  patterned.  It  eliminates  the 
section  with  reference  to  copyrights,  but  otherwise  it 
carries  out  the  intentions  of  the  Hughes  bill.  Summa- 
rized it  is  as  follows : 

Creates  a  Motion  Picture  Commission  composed  of  five 
commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  the  president,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Senate,  the  Commission  to  be  a  division  of 
the  Department  of  the  Interior. 

Provides  for  the  appointment  of  "advisory"  commis- 
sioners by  the   commission   to   serve   without   compensation. 

Provides  for  the  appointment  of  deputy  commissioners 
whose  compensation  is  to  be  fixed  by  the  commission. 


Directs  that  "the  commission  shall  promptly  license  every 
motion  picture  film  submitted  to  it  and  intended  for  inter- 
state commerce,  unless  it  reproduces  a  bull  fight  or  a  pugilis- 
tic encounter  or  is  found  to  be  obscene,  immoral,  inhuman, 
or  is  of  such  a  character  that  its  exhibition  would  tend  to 
impair  health  or  corrupt  morals  or  incite  to  crime."  It  is- 
provided  that  the  commission  may  by  unanimous  vote  with- 
draw any  license  at  any  time  for  cause  shown;  or  by  a  like 
vote  license  a  film  after  examination  of  its  scenario  and 
before  its  production  in  cases  where  the  producer  or  im- 
porter during  a  period  of  six  months  immediately  preceding 
received  from  the  commission  licenses  for  all  films  which  he 
has  submitted. 

Provides  that  "any  interested  party  dissatisfied  with  the 
findings  of  the  commission  concerning  any  film  shall  have 
the  right  of  appeal  to  the  United  States  District  Court  of 
the  District  of  Columbia." 

Applications  for  licenses  to  be  heard  within  three  days, 
and  decision  for  or  against  within  twenty-four  hours. 

Sub-offices  in  New  York,  Chicago,  and  other  large  cities, 
to  which  films  can  be  submitted  and  decisions  rendered 
thereon. 

Prohibits  transportation  of  films  interstate  in  the  United 
States  unless  licensed  by  the  commission,  this  section  not  to 
apply  to  films  consigned  to  the  commission. 

When  a  film  has  been  approved  the  commission  is  to 
issue  a  license  to  the  film  producer  or  importer  which  is  to 
bear  a  serial  number,  stating  its  title,  date  of  the  license, 
and  number  of  linear  feet  contained  therein  and  fully  de- 
scribing the  film. 

A  fee  of  $1  is  to  be  charged  for  each  thousand  feet  of 
film,  whether  duplicates  or  originals,  or  a  fractional  part 
thereof.  Any  change  or  alteration  in  the  film  after  license 
except  the  elimination  of  a  part  is  a  violation  of  the  act, 
and  also  voids  the  license. 

After  six  months,  and  from  time  to  time  as  circumstances 
warrant,  the  commission  is  to  change  the  license  fee  to  such 
a  sum  as  will  produce  no  larger  income  than  is  necessary  to 
pay  the  cost  of  the  commission,  including  salaries  and  all 
other  expenses. 

Act  takes  effect  three  months  after  approval  by  the 
President,  "but  nothing  in  this  act  shall  apply  to  films  which 
shall  have  been  exhibited  to  the  public  prior  to  its  approval, 
provided  that  films  so  exhibited  may  be  submitted  for  license 
at  the  request  of  any  producer  or  importer." 

Any  violation  of  the  act  to  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not 
more  than  $500  or  imprisonment  for  not  more  than  one  year, 
or  both,  "and  any  film  or  portion  of  a  film  unlawfully  trans- 
ported, exhibited  or  changed  shall  be  confiscated,  together 
with  all  copies  of  the  same  and  its  negatives." 

The  above  are  the  chief  features  of  the  substitute 
bill  now  before  the  committee.  It  is  the  intention  of  Dr. 
Craft  and  his  associates  to  further  perfect  it  at  a  con- 
ference this  week  in  New  York  with  motion  picture 
companies  or  their  attorneys. 

It  is  possible  that  the  committee  may  afford  addi- 
tional hearing  to  representatives  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Board  of  Trade  who  have  stated  their  desire  to  be 
heard  as  to  the  form  of  any  bill  which  the  committee 
decides  to  report. 

The  question  of  the  federal  regulation  or  censor- 
ship of  the  motion  picture  is  now  before  three  Con- 
gressional committees,  the  House  Committee  on  Edu- 
cation, the  House  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  and 
the  Senate  Committee  on  Education  and  Labor.  In 
the  last  named  committee  a  measure  identical  with  the 
Hughes  bill  is  pending,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  taken 
up. 

Representative  Towner,  of  Iowa,  one  of  the 
strongest  advocates  of  strict  federal  censorship,  in- 
troduced a  bill  on  Thursday  last  following  the  close 
of  the  hearings,  amending  Section  245  of  the  Federal 
Code  by  adding  the  words  "motion  picture  films." 
This  was  the  amendment  suggested  by  William  M. 
Seabury  as  a  substitute  for  the  entire  Hughes  bill. 
Section  45  prohibits  the  transportation  of  obscene,  im- 
moral, etc.,  prints,  papers,  literature,  books,  etc.,  by 
common  carriers,  or  the  depositing  with  common  car- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Patlie   Beefsteak   Dinner. 


riers  for  transportation  of  obscene,  immoral  prints, 
books,  prints,  etc.  It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Seabury 
that  the  words  "motion  pictures  or  motion  picture 
films"  be  inserted,  the  same  words  to  be  inserted  in 
Section  211  of  the  Federal  Code  which  is  identical 
with  Section  245,  but  applying  to  transportation  of  the 
prohibited  articles  in  the  United  States  mails. 

Representative  Towner's  bill  was  referred  to  the 
House  Committee  on  the  Judiciary. 

The  proponents  of  the  Hughes  bill  endorse  the 
above  bill  as  supplemental  regulations  of  the  motion 
picture  industry. 

As  stated  in  the  last  issue  of  Motography,  Mar- 
tin A.  Littleton,  of  New  York,  former  congressman 
and  prominent  lawyer,  was  introduced  by  Mr.  Binder 
at  the  opening  of  the  session  Wednesday  night,  Janu- 
ary 19,  and  spoke  strongly  against  the  proposed  meas- 
ure. 

John  R.  Freuler,  representing  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation  and  the  American  Film  Company,  de- 
scribed the  way  a  film  was  made,  tracing  its  different 
steps  from  the  scenario  to  the  picture  ready  to  be 
projected,  showing  how  it  was  examined  and  censored 
all  along  the  line.  He  directed  the  committee's  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  approximately  $500,000,000  was 
invested  in  the  industry  and  he  urged  it  to  go  slow 
in  reporting  a  measure  that  would  do  it  great  injury. 

Rev.  William  Sheaf  Chase,  in  the  course  of  his 
remarks  on  Wednesday  night  stated  that  he  did  not 
appear  at  the  hearings  in  his  capacity  as  a  churchman. 

"I  am  here  really  at  the  request  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture interests,"  he  said.  "I  was  asked  to  come  here 
and  have  a  general  debate  with  the  head  of  the  Gen- 
eral Film  Company  and  the  man  who  asked  me  said 
that  the  result  of  that  debate  might  be  as  great  as  the 
Haynes-Webster  debate." 

Dr.  Chase  said  that  at  present  there  was  a  bill 
prepared  for  consideration  by  the  New  York  legisla- 
ture providing  for  state  censorship,  but  if  the  Hughes 
bill  was  adopted  all  that  will  be  necessary  will  be  to 
say  that  no  pictures  shall  be  shown  in  the  state  of 
New  York  except  those  approved  by  the  National 
Board  of  Censorship. 

"Don't  you  know  that  you  cannot  get  an  injunc- 


tion against  the  commission  of  a  crime?"  asked  Repre- 
sentative Dallinger,  "and  that  that  is  a  well  known 
principle  of  law?" 

Dr.  Chase  said  that  he  was  aware  of  the  princi- 
ple referred  to  by  Representative  Dallinger. 

"Well,  don't  you  know  that  is  what  you  are  trying 
to  do  in  this  case?"  continued  Rep.  Dallinger. 

"The  charter  of  the  city  of  New  York  makes  it  the 
duty  of  the  police  to  prevent  crime,"  declared  Dr. 
Chase. 

"Well,  they  don't  do  it,"  said  Representative  Piatt 
of  New  York. 

"What  do  you  think  of  the  proposition  to  censor 
women's  clothes?"  asked  Representative  Powers. 

"Do  you  mean  before  they  put  them  on?"  asked 
another  member  of  the  committee. 

Dr.  Chase  replied  that  that  was  a  matter  he  would 
leave  to  the  ladies. 

"The  motion  picture  people  believe  that  a  boy 
would  rather  learn  to  rob  a  train  than  to  build  a  rail- 
road," said  Dr.  Chase,  referring  to  the  character  of 
motion  pictures  said  to  be  produced.  "They  are  not 
safe  people  to  trust  with  the  dictatorial  power  to  say 
what  children  are  going  to  see." 

The  public  taste  in  the  character  of  current  liter- 
ature has  improved,  Dr.  Chase  said,  within  the  past 
few  years,  and  commenting  on  this  statement  Repre- 
sentative Piatt  said :  "I  think  that  is  an  argument  that 
these   pictures   will   improve  without   censorship." 

"Can  you  file  a  list  of  pictures  that  you  think  are 
indecent,  or  immoral?"  asked  Representative  Sears. 
"The  opposition  has  charged  that  all  your  argument 
along  this  line  is  hypothetical." 

"We  have  considered  it  bad  judgment  to  mention 
pictures  and  to  spend  our  time  discussing  the  merits 
of  individual  pictures  because  we  could  take  all  our 
time  in  doing  so,"  replied  Dr.  Chase.  "There  is  no 
picture  that  cannot  be  defended  in  some  way." 

Dr.  Chase  referred  to  the  fact  that  in  some  in- 
stances certain  parts  of  pictures  are  cut  out  when 
shown  in  particular  sections  of  the  country. 

"That  is  a  strong  argument  against  censorship," 
said  Representative  Piatt.  "In  the  South  there  are 
certain  portions  of  pictures  that  are  distasteful  to  the 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6.  ■ 


South,  and  other  portions  that  are  equally  distasteful 
to  Boston." 

Howard  C.  Barbour,  superintendent  of  the  Society 
for  the  Prevention  of  Crime  of  New  York,  declared 
that  the  motion  picture  people  were  before  the  com- 
mittee protesting  against  any  regulative  measures  in 
connection  with  their  industry.  He  expressed  the  opin- 
ion that  the  present  National  Board  of  Censorship  in 
New  York,  if  there  was  authority  behind  it  other  than 
the  motion  picture  companies  themselves,  would  take 
steps  to  suppress  pictures. 

Mr.  Barbour  said  that  the  members  of  the  pro- 
posed board  should  be  high  class  men,  of  undoubted 
moral  character,  and  standing. 

Representative  Rucker  said  that  in  all  probability 
Mr.  Barbour  and  others  who  thought  as  he  did,  would 
want  the  board  to  consist  of  clergymen  who  had  ceased 
to  preach  and  men  of  a  generally  sanctimonious  char- 
acter. Mr.  Barbour  said  not  necessarily  so,  to  which 
Representative  Rucker  declared: 

"If  you  did  not  think  that  would  be  the  character 
of  men  that  would  make  up  the  board  you  would  not 
be  here  tonight." 

"Would  you  be  willing  to  have  the  censorship 
board  elected  bv  popular  vote?"  asked  Representative 
Piatt. 

"I  don't  think  that  would  be  practicable,"  said 
Mr.  Barbour. 

Representative  Rucker  said  that  if  there  was  A 
board  of  five  men,  in  case  of  division,  three  being  a 
majority,  would  control  and  that  these  three  men 
would  therefore  decide  what  the  whole  country  should 
see. 

About  an  hour  before  the  adjournment  time  Dr. 
Crafi  stated  that  he  understood  that  Mr.  Lasky  would 
like  to  address  the  committee.  Arthur  S.  Friend,  of 
New  York,  stepped  forward  and  said  : 

"I  am  the  attorney  for  the  Lasky  Company.  I 
am  also  authorized  to  speak  for  the  Paramount  Pic- 
tures  Corporation,  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company, 
tin-  Equitable  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  the  World 
Film  Company,  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation,  and 
semiofficially  on  behalf  of  the  Mutual  Pictures  Cor- 
poration. All  of  these,  except  the  Lasky  Company 
and  the  Famous  Players  are  large  distributing  or- 
ganizations. The  Lasky  Company  and  the  Famous 
Players  Corporation  are  solely  producing  companies." 


Mr.  Friend  said  that  these  companies  were  op- 
posed to  the  Hughes  bill  but  were  in  favor  of  a  bill 
drawn  along  more  conservative  lines. 

"If  Congress  will  give  us  a  good  commission,  and 
will  be  made  up  of  men  of  judicial  temperament,  we 
will  be  very  glad  to  work  with  that  commission,"  said 
Mr.  Friend. 

"Do  I  understand  that  you  are  in  favor  of  pre-pub- 
licity  censorship  without  appeal  to  the  court?"  asked 
Representative  Dallinger. 

"We  are  in  favor  of  sane  censorship  before  publi- 
cation with  an  appeal  to  the  courts,"  replied  Mr.  Friend. 
"We  are  in  favor  of  a  commission  to  whom  we  can 
submit  our  finished  product  in  certain  cases  or  in  many 
cases  our  intentions  with  respect  to  our  product,  and 
from  whom  we  can  get  the  stamp  or  seal  of  approval  or 
disapproval,  and  from  whose  decisions  we  shall  always 
have  the  right  of  appeal  to  the  courts.  It  is  futile  to 
try  to  cut  out  from  this  industry  the  right  of  an  appeal 
to  the  courts.  Our  idea  in  general  is  that  a  proper 
regulation  by  commission  with  a  right  of  appeal  will 
solve  a  great  many  of  the  problems  of  the  community 
and  of  an  industry  that  is  manifestly  trying  to  do  a 
good  work." 

Mr.  Friend  said  that  the  committee  should  make 
provision  for  salaries  of  the  members  of  a  commission, 
sufficient  to  secure  capable  men,  and  also  adequate 
salaries  for  capable  subordinates. 

Representative  Powers,  commenting  on  Mr. 
Friend's  description  of  the  kind  of  men  that  should  be 
appointed  as  commissioners,  said :  "I  suggest  that  you 
shall  have  to  go  to  Heaven  before  you  find  men  who 
will  be  competent  commissioners." 

Mr.  Friend  placed  in  the  record  a  letter  addressed 
to  W.  W.  Hodkinson,  president  of  the  Paramount  Pic- 
tures Corporation,  by  C.  A.  Rowland,  president  of  the 
Metro  Pictures  Company,  which  he  said  in  a  general 
way  stated  the  position  of  the  companies  he  repre- 
sented.   This  letter  is  as  follows  : 

We  have  been  opposed  to  the  spirit  and  essence  of  cen- 
sorship because  it  places  on  the  few  the  responsibilities  of 
judging  for  the  many,  because  censorship  is  often  con- 
strued as  an  invitation  to  censoriousness,  and  because  in  oper- 
ation it  bears  fruit  in  rulings  that  are  hampering,  petty,  and 
needless.     Such   a   condition   makes   against   progress   in   any 

On  the  other  hand  we  welcome  regulation,  not  censor- 
ship, that  will  protect  the  producers  of  clean  and  entertaining 
pictures  from  the  competition  of  salacious  pictures.  In  our 
opinion,  such  regulation  should  in  plan  and  operation  be 
broad,  sympathetic,  and  designed  solely  for  the  protection 
of  the  public  and  the  manufacturer,  against  pictures  that  are 
indecent,  obscene,  or  incite  to  crime. 

The  regulation  should  be  free  from  the  influence  of  the 
professionally  virtuous,  free  from  the  whims  of  politics,  and 
operated  in  so  hard-headed  and  sensible  a  manner  as  to  solve 
the  problem   for  the  whole   country. 

We  hope  that  this  makes  our  position  clear  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Friend  objected  to  the  amendment  of  Section 
245  ami  Section  211  of  the  Federal  Code  as  proposed 
by  Mr.  Binder  and  Mr.  Seabury,  stating  that  he  would 
li'lc  his  objections  in  detail  with  the  committee  in  the 
form  of  a  statement. 

"We  have  been  confronted  within  fifteen  minutes 
of  the  closing  hour  with  a  brand  new  bill,"  declared 
Mr.  Seabury.  "To  which  lull  are  we  supposed  to  re- 
spond?" 

"The  committee  proposes  to  take  up  all  the  bills 
and  consider  them."  replied  Chairman  Hughes.  "This 
hill  (the  Hughes  bill)  has  ne\er  been  considered  by 
the  committee." 

"My  understanding  then   is  that    we   will   respond 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


to  the  bill  as  suggested,  together  with  these  proposed 
measures,"  continued  Mr.  Seabury.  "If  the  committee 
is  in  favor  of  reporting  a  bill  as  maintained,  we  ask  that 
we  be  accorded  an  opportunity  to  respond  to  that  bill. 
We  want  the  privilege  of  submitting  our  views  on  a 
specific  measure  to  the  committee." 

"You  have  seven  days  after  this  meeting  to  submit 
a  brief,"  said  Chairman  Hughes.  "We  have  given  days 
to  hearings  and  it  is  the  sense  of  the  committee  that 
all  hearings  shall  cease. 

"As  I  understand  it,"  continued  Mr.  Hughes,  "after 
the  committee  takes  up  these  bills  and  decides  on  one, 
you  want  another  opportunity  to  be  heard.  In  your 
briefs  we  would  be  glad  to  have  suggestions  from  you 
gentlemen." 

Mr.  Seabury :  "We  respectfully  request  that  the 
committee  afford  us  an  opportunity  to  be  heard  on  any 
bill  decided  on,  that  is  to  accord  us  a  hearing  on  the 
question  of  form." 

Chairman  Hughes :  "The  committee  has  decided 
to  close  these  hearings.  The  committee  will  consider 
propositions  offered  in  your  briefs." 

Representative  Rucker:  "The  committee  has  not 
considered  this  or  any  bill.  It  has  not  determined  to 
report  it  or  any  bill.  Any  statement  that  we  are  going 
to  have  censorship  is  an  assumption.  The  committee 
will  do  what  it  believes  to  be  right." 

After  consultation  with  members  of  the  committee, 
Chairman  Hughes  said :  "The  committee  will  take 
under  consideration  the  report  for  a  hearing." 

Rev.  Wilbur  F.  Craft  then  submitted  the  substi- 
tute, informing  the  committee  that  it  was  drawn  up  after 
a  conference  with  representatives  of  the  Paramount 
Picture  Corporation  and  others.  He  said  that  the  atti- 
tude taken  by  Mr.  Friend  and  the  companies  he  repre- 
sented was  a  sensible  one,  and  that  it  should  have 
been  taken  by  the  whole  industry. 

"We  have  added  at  the  end  of  Section  5  what  we 
term  the  good  behavior  proviso,"  said  Dr.  Craft.  "This 
proviso  permits  the  commission  to  license  a  film  after 
merely  an  examination  of  its  scenario,  in  the  case 
where  the  producer  of  such  films  has,  during  the  period 
of  six  months  immediately  preceding,  received  from  the 
commission  licenses  for  all  films  which  he  has  sub- 
mitted. However,  it  is  provided  that  any  license  so 
granted  may  be  cancelled  whenever  the  film  does  not 
reasonably  conform  to  the  scenario  in  action  and 
spirit." 

Dr.  Craft  said  that  he  was  convinced  that  there 
should  be  a  court  review  of  the  commission's  findings, 
and  such  a  provision  was  incorporated  in  his  substitute, 
as  well  as  other  suggestions  made  by  motion  picture 
interests. 

To  the  representative  of  Motography  Mr.  Friend 
stated  that  the  bill  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Craft  and  by 
Canon  Chase  and  Howard  C.  Barbour,  contained  sug- 
gestions made  by  himself  and  representatives  of  the 
Paramount  Corporation,  but  that  this  bill  did  not  repre- 
sent the  views  of  all  the  motion  picture  men,  and  they 
do  not  endorse  it  in  its  entirety.  Mr.  Hodkinson  was 
present  when  Mr.  Friend  discussed  the  matter  with 
Motography's  representative  and  acquiesced  in  what 
he  said. 

"We  think  that  a  proper  bill  can  be  drafted,"  said 
Mr.  Friend.  "One  that  will  protect  the  industry  and 
the  community.  Congress  is  just  as  anxious  to  pro- 
tect the  motion  picture  industry  as  it  is  the  general 


7i<?  camera  battel  v  filming  the  sensational  railroad  wreck  in  Lubin's 
release  through  V.  L.  S.  E.  "The  Gods  of  Fate."  Jack  Pratt,  who- 
cd  the  picture,  is  the  man  with  the  cap  standing  by  the  box  car,  under 
?tter  "H."  William  Turner,  zvho  has  ttie  "heavy"  part  in  the  pro- 
lix,   may    be  seen    on    the   platform   standing   next   to    the    camera   man. 


public.  We  have  no  sympathy  with  the  holier  than 
thou  people  that  are  crying  generally  against  the 
pictures.  We  do  realize  that  this  industry,  like  every 
other  large  industry  doing  an  interstate  business,  can 
stand  federal  regulation.  We  believe  that  the  indulg- 
ence in  these  salacious  pictures  is  harmful  and  it  will 
not  permit  the  industry  to  last." 

Mr.  Friend  stated  that  he  would  submit  to  the 
committee  the  draft  of  a  bill  that  would  be  acceptable 
to  the  companies  represented  by  him. 

Rev.  Thomas  Dixon,  the  author,  on  January  18 
sent  the  following  telegram  to  Senator  Martine  of  New 
Jersey,  the  latter  having  it  inserted  in  the  Congres- 
sional Record. 

Censorship  of  motion  pictures  is  the  most  dangerous  at- 
tack on  American  liberties  since  the  foundation  of  the  Re- 
public. 

The  motion  picture  is  a  process  of  recording  thought 
on  yellow  parchment  without  the  use  of  printer's  ink,  and  is 
as  great  an  advance  on  printings  as  Guttenberg's  invention 
was  over  the  quill  pen.  The  printing  press  revolutionized 
the  world  by  bringing  knowledge  within  the  reach  of  thou- 
sands. 

The  motion  picture  brings  knowledge  within  the  reach 
of  hundreds  of  millions.  To  strangle  this  great  art  in  its 
infancy  will  be  a  crime  against  humanity.  Free  speech  is  the 
foundation  of  our  Republic.  There  is  no  reason  for  censor- 
ship. 

The  motion  picture  is  now  cleaner  than  the  spoken 
drama  or  the  press.  The  police  powers  of  the  State  are 
already  ample.  Any  citizen  can  close  any  theater  within  an 
hour  if  the  laws  of  morality  are  violated.  A  censorship  of 
opinion  is  the  aim  of  our  enemies.  Our  fathers  fled  the  Old 
World  to  escape  this  and  founded  the  Republic  to  free  the 
human  mind  from  such  shackles.  Shall  we  go  back  to  the 
dark  ages?  I  first  preached  the  Clansman  as  a  sermon.  The 
censor  dared  to  silence  my  pulpit.  I  turned  my  sermon  into 
a  lecture  and  delivered  it  from  Maine  to  California  without 
license. 

I  turned  the  lecture  into  a  novel,  and  no  censor  has 
yet  stopped  the  press  of  Doubleday,  Page  &  Co.  I  turned  the 
novel  into  a  spoken  play,  and  no  censor  has  dared  to  inter- 
fere. 

I  turned  the  play  into  a  motion  picture,  and  it  has  cost 
me  $75,000  in  lawyers'  fees  to  fight  the  local  censors  the  first 
ten  months. 

This  condition  of  affairs  is  infamous.  It  is  the  immediate 
duty  of  Congress  to  reaffirm  the  principles  of  free  speech  in- 
America  and  abolish  all  censors. 

David  W.  Griffith  is  in  Washington  in  opposition 
to  the  Hughes  bill  and  in  advocacy  of  the  Towner 
bill.  "We  are  going  to  fight  the  Hughes  bill  to  a 
finish,"  said  Mr.  Griffith. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


"All  the  big  reputable  producers  of  motion  pictures 
are  unalterably  opposed  to  Federal  censorship.  The 
Towner  bill  would  put  out  of  business  the  only  kinds 
of  pictures  to  which  anybody  can  possibly  object,  those 
dealing  with  improper  and  shocking  subjects.  I  feel 
that  this  is  exactly  what  the  American  public  wants 
and  nothing  more.  We  are  for  it,  and  we  are  going 
to  try  and  lend  all  the  influence  we  possess  to  see  it 
enacted  into  a  law. 

"The  creation  of  a  board  of  five  commissioners 
to  pass  on  all  the  motion  pictures  manufactured  in 
this  country  day  by  day,  proposes  a  task  that  no  five 
men  can  perform,  even  if  they  work  twenty-four  hours 
every  day.  It  has  been  suggested  that  under  the 
Hughes  bill,  which  proposes  the  board  of  censorship, 
the  five  censors  may  appoint  deputies  to  help  them. 
Has  anyone  calculated  how  many  deputies  would  be 
required?  And  is  it  fair  to  the  educated  American 
public  to  have  such  work  passed  on  by  men  who  would 
be  willing  to  take  a  job  at  the  usual  salaries  paid  to 
deputies  by  the  Government? 

"We  have  absolutely  no  objection  to  the  enact- 
ment of  the  Towner  bill.  This  law  would  put  improper 
and  obscene  pictures  under  the  provisions  of  the  crim- 
inal code  forbidding  the  interstate  shipment  in  any 
form  of  any  improper  thing,  picture,  newspaper  or 
book.  This  would  put  a  stop  effectively  to  the  manu- 
facture by  irresponsible  and  unscrupulous  parties  of 
films  that  are  objectionable." 


Fox  Signs  Virginia  Pearson 

Virginia  Pearson  is  the  latest  nationally  known 
actress  and  film  favorite  to  be  taken  into  the  William 
Fox  family  of  film  stars.  Miss  Pearson  this  week 
signed  a  long-term  contract  with  the  Fox  Film  Corpo- 
ration and  within  the 
next  few  days  will 
begin  work  in  her 
first  picture,  the  title 
of  which  is  being 
closely  guarded. 
This  already  widely 
known  player  re- 
ceived a  hearty  wel- 
come into  the  Wil- 
liam Fox  organiza- 
tion and  will  be  liber- 
ally exploited  in  a  se- 
ries of  pictures  that 
will  provide  her  with 
the  greatest  oppor- 
tunities of  her  life 
for  big  dramatic 
work.  In  making  a 
contract  with  Miss 
Pearson  the  William 
Fox  organization  not 
only  acquired  an- 
other woman  who 
has  gained  country-wide  fame  in  the  so-called  "Vam- 
pire'" roles  but  an  actress  of  distinction  and  vast  pos- 
sibilities hitherto  undeveloped.  She  is  known  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  as  the  original  "Vampire"  in  "A 
Fool  There  Was,"  with  Robert  Hilliard,  which  part 
she  played  for  two  years.  Oddly  enough  this  is  the 
role  first  created  in  motion  pictures  by  Theda  Bara 
and  through   which   Mis-    Bara  gained  her  first  fame 


that  formed  the  basic  foundation  of  her  present  enor- 
mous vogue. 

Virginia  Pearson  is  a  member  of  a  famous  Ken- 
tucky family — the  Calloways.  Her  mother,  Mary  Alice 
Calloway,  was  a  descendant  of  men  who  opened  the 
trail  of  civilization  to  the  middle  and  far  west  in  com- 
pany with  Daniel  Boone.  County  after  county  in  the 
south  and  west  bears  the  name  Calloway  to  make  per- 
manent the  memory  of  a  family  of  venturesome  males. 
Miss  Pearson  was  born  in  Louisville,  where  she  lived 
until  the  call  of  the  theater  took  her  to  New  York  City. 
Both  Miss  Pearson's  father,  Joseph,  and  her  mother 
were  born  in  Louisville,  Mr.  Pearson  descending  from 
a  long  line  of  painters  and  writers,  well-known  in  Eng- 
land. Miss  Pearson  received  her  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  her  native  city,  graduating  from  the 
Commercial  High  School. 

She  then  became  assistant  librarian  of  the  Book- 
lovers'  Library  in  Louisville,  which  position  she  held 
until  a  contract  signed  by  Henry  W.  Savage  gave  her 
a  first  glimpse  of  stage-life.  Although  the  play  in 
which  she  made  her  first  personal  appearance  was  not  a 
financial  success,  Miss  Pearson  was  commended  for  her 
excellent  work. 

Following  this  she  firmly  established  herself  as  a 
stock  actress.  As  a  member  of  the  New  Theater  organ- 
ization in  Washington,  D.  C,  she  played  Portia  in  "The 
Merchant  of  Venice"  and  other  classical  roles;  she  suc- 
ceeded Gabrielle  Dorziat  with  William  Faversham  in 
his  production  of  "The  Hawk,"  appeared  in  Eugene 
Walters'  "The  Better  Way"  now  revised  considerably 
and  known  as  "Just  a  Woman,"  and  she  was  one  of  the 
principal  players  in  the  original  "Nearly  Married"  com- 
pany at  the  Gaiety  theater,  New  York.  Miss  Pearson 
next  joined  the  Vitagraph  organization,  from  which  she 
came  to  Fox. 


Second  Mirror  Feature  Begun 

The  second  feature  for  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  was 
started  last  week  at  the  Glendale  studio  under  the  di- 
rection of  Harry  Hyde.  The  story,  from  the  pen  of 
Adrian  Johnson,  is  an  impressionist  detective  drama 
and,  as  Mr.  Hyde  is  a  recognized  expert  in  this  form 
of  amusement  production,  a  treat  will  be  given  the 
Mirror  patrons. 

Estelle  Mardo  will  have  the  principal  feminine  role 
and  Harry  Garvill.  a  veteran  of  the  London  and  Con- 
tinental stage,  will  be  featured  in  the  picture.  Captain 
Harry  Lambart,  the  Mirror's  chief  producer,  has  as- 
signed a  well-balanced  cast. 

Mr.  Hyde  was  originally  with  the  Biograph  com- 
pany, where  he  produced  many  of  that  company's  suc- 
cesses for  a  number  of  years.  Among  those  having 
more  prominent  roles  in  Mr.  Hyde's  feature  are  Robert 
Entwhistle,  Clifford  B.  Gray,  Arthur  Dumavity,  Mar- 
shall Welch,  Thomas  F.  Morrissey  and  Rea  Martin. 
Miss  Martin  will  have  her  first  ingenue  role  in  a  Mirror 
picture  under  Mr.  Hyde's  direction. 


Pathe's  "Light  That  Failed"  Completed 

Edward  Jose,  the  Pathe  producer,  has  now  fin- 
ished "The  Light  That  Failed,"  the  Gold  Rooster  Play 
adapted  from  Kipling's  famous  novel.  He  says  that 
in  his  opinion  it  is  the  best  picture  he  ever  made.  An 
extraordinarily  large  company  was  employed,  and 
many  big  effects  obtained. 


February  5,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Ince  Culver  City  Studios  Now  Open 


THREE  PRODUCERS  BUSY 


WITH  upwards  of  five  hundred  persons  working 
steadily  at  various  tasks  and  with  virtually 
every  department  of  importance  in  full 
swing,  the  new  quarter-million  dollar  Ince-Triangle 
studios  at  Culver  City  became  a  reality  this  week, 
and  swung  into  line  one  of  the  largest,  costliest,  most 
complete  and  beautiful  motion  picture  producing  plants 
in  the  world.  Although  there  yet  remains  to  be  ap- 
plied the  finishing  touches  to  most  of  the  buildings 
and  although  the  wardrobe  and  property  rooms  have 
by  no  means  as  yet  been  stocked  to  their  respective 
capacities,  the  work  of  production  has  begun  in  earnest 
and  henceforth  a  vast  majority  of  the  scenes  in  forth- 
coming Ince-Triangle-Kay-Bee  features  will  be  made 
at  the  new  plant.  In  other  words,  the  Culver  City 
studios  of  the  New  York  Motion  Picture  Corporation, 
in  future,  will  be  regarded  as  the  producing  headquar- 
ters of  the  organization. 

No  ceremonies,  other  than  the  reception  and  ball 
held  last  week,  marked  the  opening  of  the  plant.  For 
nearly  two  months  much  of  the  equipment  at  Ince- 
ville  has  been  undergoing  removal  and  the  general 
commencement  of  activities  by  all  the  Ince  subordi- 
nate directors  necessitated  a  migration  of  the  employes 
to  the  new  home. 

Scattered  about  on  the  four  mammoth  glass-en- 
closed stages  four  of  the  six  Ince  directors  are  now 
staging  subjects  under  the  general  supervision,  of 
course,  of  Producer  Ince.  They  are  Reginald  Barker, 
Raymond  B.  West,  Walter  Edwards  and  Charles  Gib- 
lyn. 

Barker  is  engaged  in  doing  the  interior  scenes  for 
'the  current  feature  in  which  William  Collier,  Jr.,  is  to 
be  starred.  This  is  a  heart  interest  war  drama  and 
will  present  young  Collier  as  the  boyish  hero  of  a 
romance.  All  the  sensational  rides  of  the  United  States 
cavalry  and  what  battle  scenes  were  necessary  have 


been  made,  and  the  camera  is  now  registering  the 
quaint  living  rooms  of  a  southern  dwelling.  These, 
it  is  said,  will  rival,  if  not  eclipse,  the  realistic  beauty 
of  those  which  scored  such  a  distinct  hit  in  "The  Cow- 
ard," the  second  Ince  production  on  the  Triangle  pro- 
gram. 

The  second  company,  which  moved  bag  and  bag- 
gage to  Culver  City  studios  this  week,  is  that  which 
is  working  under  the  direction  of  Charles  Giblyn  in 
the  pretentious  modern  society  story  in  which  Bessie 
Barriscale  will  be  seen  as  star.  Production  of  this  ve- 
hicle was  begun  about  two  weeks  ago  and  is  now  at 
its  height.  So  many  handsome  settings  are  required 
by  the  piece  that  if  has  been  necessary  to  augment  the 
force  of  carpenters  at  the  plant.  Miss  Barriscale  is 
said  to  have  a  splendid  role,  which  is  that  of  a  young 
society  matron.  She  is  being  supported  in  this  piece 
by  William  Desmond  and  Franklin  Ritchie. 

Raymond  B.  West,  too,  is  doing  a  story  which 
demands  the  erection  of  a  number  of  elaborate  sets. 
This  is  the  subject  in  which  Enid  Markey  will  make 
her  debut  as  a  Triangle  star.  It  is  a  romance  enacted 
in  a  mythical  country  and  is  declared  to  be  one  of 
the  most  appealing  plays  ever  turned  out  by  C.  Gard- 
ner Sullivan. 

The  fourth  production  under  way  at  the  new  plant 
is  that  in  which  William  H.  Thompson,  dean  of  the 
American  stage,  and  Charles  Ray,  th^,  popular  Ince 
juvenile,  will  be  presented  as  co-stars.  Work  on  this 
subject  has  just  commenced  under  the  direction  of 
Walter  Edwards.  It  is  a  virile  modern  problem  play, 
some  of  the  big  scenes  of  which  require  the  presence 
of  nearly  four  hundred  persons. 

Ince's  other  directors,  William  S.  Hart  and 
Charles  Swickard,  are  spending  their  time  at  the  Ince- 
ville  studios,  which  without  them  would  be  practically 
deserted.     Hart   is   filming  mountain   exterior   scenes 


view  perspective  of  NY  MP  plant  being  erected  at  Culver  City,  Cat.,  for  Ince  forces.  The  buildings,  numbered,  are  as  follow, 
ation  building;  (2)  wardrobe  building;  (3)  cleaning  plant;  4)  receiving  depot;  (5)  carpenter  shop;  (6)  garage;  (7)  comfort  station 
■00m;  9  darkroom;  (10)  film  vault;  (11)  cutting  room;  (12)  cafe,  (13)  director's  office;  (14)  Permanent  scene  setting  (i5  to  2 
iges;    (23)    director's   office;    (24)    factory;    (25)    scene    dock;    (26)  heating  plant;  (27J  director's  office;  fa)  stars'  dressing-rooms;  (29)   dr/s 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


Front   of    Thomas  H.    Ince    administration    building   at    new    "city 


for  the  big  story  of  the  Canadian  Northwest  in  which 
he  will  be  starred,  while  Swickard  is  preparing  to  un- 
dertake the  production  of  his  next  story. 

Virtually  the  only  building  yet  to  be  erected  at  the 
new  plant  is  the  administration  building.  This  is  to 
be  a  two-story  structure,  of  Italian  Renaissance  archi- 
tecture, situated  immediately  next  the  long  row  of 
dressing  rooms,  fronting  on  Washington  boulevard. 
Inasmuch  as  this  building  is  not  as  essential  to  the  pro- 
duction of  subjects  as  are  the  stages  and  other  struc- 
tures, work  on  its  erection  will  not  be  started  until 
everything  else  is  complete.  Then  attention  will  be 
devoted  exclusively  to  it  and  it  is  likely  that  within  six 
or  eight  weeks  Business  Manager  E.  H.  Allen,  to- 
gether with  the  bookkeeping,  scenario  and  publicity 
departments  will  have   removed  from   Inceville. 

The  largest  building  in  the  "city"  is  the  dressing 
room  structure  which  faces  the  boulevard.  It  is  500 
feet  long  and  two  stories  high.  This  structure  with  a 
facade  of  an  attractive  and  dignified  design,  contains 
more  than  100  dressing  rooms.  Adjoining  this  build- 
ing will  be  the  administration  building,  a  brick  struc- 
ture two  stories  high.  The  two  will  form  a  continuous 
frontage  of  more  than  700  feet. 

The  wardrobe  building  of  brick  and  three  stories 
high ;  the  "scene  dock,"  almost  as  large  as  the  dressing 
room  structure ;  the  cafe,  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
more  than  400,  and  the  film  storehouse  are  nearly 
ready  for  occupancy.  The  central  heating  plant  is 
built  with  a  view  to  fire  protection  as  most  of  the  plant 
is  under  ground. 

The  cost  of  the  new  Ince  plant,  it  is  estimated, 
will  be  more  thain  $250,000. 

The  new  plant  stands  as  a  monument  to  the 
genius  of  Producer  Ince  and  to  the  grim  determina- 
tion of  Messrs.  Kessel  and  Baumann,  executives  of 
the  New  York  Motion  Picture  Corporation.  It  was 
made  necessary  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  Inceville 
does  not  afford  the  facilities  Ince  wants  for  the  making 
of  his  Triangle  Kay-Bee  picture-plays.  Shortly  fol- 
lowing the  incorporation  of  the  Triangle  Film  Cor- 
poration at  La  Junta,  Colorado,  last  July,  Ince  nego- 
tiated with  Many  II.  Culver,  the  Southern  California 
real  estate  magnate,  alter  whom  Culver  City  was 
named,  for  the  acquisition  of  approximately  15  acres 
of  property.  \\  ith  tin-  completion  of  the  architects' 
plans,  work  immediately  was  begun  on  the  construc- 
tion  of  the  buildings. 


SELIG  GETS  GRAND  OPERA  STAR 

Marguerite    Beriza,    Wonderful    Soprano   of    Chicago 

Grand  Opera  Company,  Contracts  to  Appear  in 

a  Number  of  Selig  Polyscope  Productions 

Marguerite  Beriza,  the  wonderful  soprano  with  the 
Chicago  Grand  Opera  Company,  has  signed  a  contract 
to  become  a  Selig  Polyscope  Company  star.  Madame 
Beriza,  whose  salary  as  a  song  bird  runs  into  four 
figures,  has  never  appeared  on  the  motion  picture  screen. 
She  began  singing  in  the  Paris  Opera  Comique  and  won 
first  prize  in  the  Paris  Conservatory  as  a  pianist  and 
vocalist.  She  was  formerly  the  wife  of  Lucien  Mura- 
tore,  and  together  they  scored  many  artistic  triumphs. 

The  new  star  to  join  the  Selig  Company  sang  in  the 
Boston  Opera  Company  for  three  years ;  was  a  member 
of  the  Metropolitan  Opera  Company,  of  New  York  City, 
and  her  wonderful  singing  of  the  leading  character  roles 
in  such  operas  as  "Faust,"  "Tales  of  Hoffman,"  "La 
Tosca,"  "Louise,"  etc.,  are  too  well  known  to  necessitate- 
repetition  here.  Madame  Beriza  says  she  loves  true  art. 
in  every  form  and  she  considers  motion  pictures  as  an 
art  and  as  another  artistic  opportunity  for  her  talents. 
Beriza  will  join  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company  early  in 
February  and  will  probably  be  employed  at  both  the 
Chicago  and  Los  Angeles  studios  of  that  organization. 


Drews  Busy  on  First  Metro  Releases 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew,  the  popular  refined 
fun  makers  of  motion  pictures,  who  recently  signed  a. 
contract  to  appear  exclusively  on  the  Metro  program, 
have  begun  work  on  their  first  feature  which  is  called 
"Sweet  Charity."  The  comedy,  which  is  one  reel  in 
length,  was  written  by  Mr.  Drew. 

Besides  writing  the  story  Mr.  Drew  is  directing  his- 
own  features  and,  being  the  author,  he  did  not  neglect 
to  give  himself  a  good  part  in  the  comedy,  as  he  ap- 
pears in  thirty-four  of  the  thirty-five  scenes.  The 
scene  where  Mr.  Drew  does  not  appear  is  where  a 
maid  answers  the  door.  But  the  next  shows  Mr.  Drew 
entering,  and  from  then  on  he  is  the  center  of  a  riot  of 
wholesome  fun.  Mrs.  Drew  is  also  prominent  in  the 
feature.  Their  second  feature  will  probably  be  "The 
Swooners."  These  features,  which  will  be  released  on 
Metro  program,  will  be  known  as  the  Metro-Drew 
comedies. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Board  Completes  Plans  for  Wilson  Dinner 


PRESIDENT'S  WIFE  TO  BE  GUEST 


THE  officers  and  committees  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Board  of  Trade  of  America  have  completed  ten- 
tative arrangements  for  the  Board's  first  annual 
dinner,  Thursday,  January  27,  at  which  President 
Woodrow  Wilson  will  be  a  guest  and  the  principal 
speaker.  The  latest  announcement  is  that  the  presi- 
dent's bride,  formerly  Mrs.  Norman  Gait,  will  honor 
the  affair  by  her  presence,  occupying  a  balcony  box 
with  a  party  of  friends  from  Washington  and  New 
York.  This  will  be  the  initial  visit  of  Mrs.  Wilson 
to  New  York  as  the  First  Lady  of  the  Land  and  that 
fact  alone  will  make  the  dinner  one  of  unique  interest, 
especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  has  been  decided 
to  invite  ladies  to  occupy  seats  at  the  tables  on  the 
floor. 

The  great  ball  room  of  the  Hotel  Biltmore,  seat- 
ing 850  people,  will  be  entirely  filled,  each  table  being 
occupied  by  from  six  to  ten  persons.  The  dinner 
itself  will  not  vary  greatly  from  the  annual  affairs 
to  which  New  York  is  accustomed,  such  as  Chamber 
of  Commerce  dinners  and  those  of  the  other  large  com- 
mercial and  civic  organizations.  The  positive  state- 
ment was  made  that  there  will  be  no  "stunts"  or 
other  special  features.  The  speeches  will  be  the  thing. 
The  affair  will  mark  the  full  recognition  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  as  one  of  the  most  substantial 
in  the  country  from  the  standpoint  of  capital  invested 
and  the  character  of  the  men  engaged  in  it. 

"The  future  is  veiled  to  a  certain  extent,  of 
course,"  said  J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary  of  the 
Board,  "but  the  recent  past  has  shown  what  can  be 
done  in  the  way  of  upbuilding  and  broadening.  The 
public  realizes  that  the  motion  picture  is  one  of  the 
three  or  four  great  moral  forces  in  the  moral,  intellec- 
tual and  social  life  of  America.  The  visit  of  President 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  as  our  guests  is  auspicious  and  sig- 
nificant." 

Commodore  J.  Stuart  Blackton  will  be  the  toast- 
master.  Other  than  the  President  and  Mr.  Blackton, 
the  speakers  chosen  are  Supreme  Court  Justice  Samuel 
Seabury,  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  Senator 
Henry  A.  Ashurst  of  Arizona,  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  Dudley  Field  Malone,  Martin  W.  Littleton, 
Dr.  Stephen  S.  Wise,  and,  it  is  expected,  Thomas  A. 
Edison  and  Governor  Martin  G.  Brumbaugh  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Governor  Whitman  and  Mayor  Mitchel  are 
on  the  guest  list  and  others  who  have  been  asked  to 
occupy  seats  at  the  guest  table  are  Cardinal  Farley, 
William  F.  McCombs,  Admiral  Robert  E.  Peary,  Ad- 
miral Charles  B.  Sigsbee,  Major  General  Leonard 
Wood,  George  Eastman,  Melville  E.  Stone,  Governor 
Arthur  Capper  of  Kansas,  Governor  Frank  B.  Willis 
of  Ohio,  David  Bispham,  Robert  J.  Collier,  Roy  How- 
ard, Edwin  Markham,  Hudson  Maxim,  Robert  Adam- 
son  and  George  H.  Bell. 

The  committees  in  immediate  charge  of  the  affair 
are  made  up  as  follows : 

Invitations  :  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  Vitagraph  ;  J.  E. 
Brulatour,  Eastman  Kodak  Co. ;  William  A.  Johnston, 
Motion  Picture  News;  J.  W.  Binder,  ex  officio. ' 

Arrangements :  Walter  W.  Irwin,  general  mana- 
ger, V.  L.  S.  E. ;  John  R.  Freuler,  president  Mutual 
Film   Corporation ;  J.   A.    McKinney,   Universal   Film 


president  Industrial  Motion  Picture  Company  of  Chi- 
cago; Paul  Gulick,  Universal;  J.  W.  Binder,  ex  officio. 
Secretary  Tumulty  and  Dr.  Cary  Grayson  will  be 
in  the  presidential  party  and  will  have  seats  near  Mr. 
Wilson.  Secretary  Tumulty  long  has  been  a  friend 
of  the  motion  picture  and  is  an  appreciative  patron  of 
the  picture  theaters  in  Washington.  According  to  of- 
ficers of  the  Board,  there  was  never  any  question  of 
the  Avives  and  other  feminine  members  of  the  motion 
picture  men  and  their  guests  attending  the  affair.  The 
dinner  will  start  at  7  :30  o'clock  and  it  is  expected  that 
the  arrival  of  President  Wilson  and  the  White  House 
party  will  not  be  long  delayed. 


KLEINE  NEW  PRESIDENT  OF  G.  F. 

Annual  Election  Results  in  Selection  of  George  Kleine 

as  Head  of  Big  Film  Organization — Berst 

Returns  to  Pathe  Freres 

The  usual  annual  election  of  the  General  Film 
Company  took  place  Wednesday,  January  19,  and  as  is 
customary  followed  the  annual  stockholders'  meeting. 
New  officers  were  elected  as  follows : 

George  Kleine,  president;  George  K.  Spoor,  vice- 
president;  Frank  J.  Marion,  secretary,  and  Paul  G. 
Melies,  treasurer. 

Mr.  Kleine  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  suc- 
cessful film  manufacturers  in  the  industry.  He  is  one 
of  the  group  of  men  who  have  made  the  motion  picture 
business  what  it  is  to-day.  He  succeeds  J.  A.  Berst, 
who  resigned  to  return  to  Pathe  Freres  as  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager. 

George  K.  Spoor,  now  vice-president,  is  president 
of  the  Essanay  Manufacturing  Company  and  represents 
that  organization  upon  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
General  Film  Company. 

Frank  J.  Marion,  who  was  formerly  vice-president, 
and  who  is  now  secretary,  is  president  of  the  Kalem 
Company,  another  of  the  group  of  manufacturers  who 
distribute  their  products  through  the  General  Film 
Company.  As  in  the  past,  Mr.  Marion  represents  the 
Kalem  Company  as  a  director  of  the  General  Film 
Company.  The  new  treasurer  of  the  General  Film 
Company  is  Paul  G.  Melies,  who  is  president  of  the 
Melies  Manufacturing  Company. 

The  executive  committee  it  is  announced  through 
the  offices  of  the  company,  200  Fifth  avenue,  will  con- 
sist of  President  Kleine,  Frank  J.  Marion,  and  Albert 
E.  Smith.  Mr.  Smith,  it  will  be  remembered,  is  treas- 
urer of  the  Vitagraph  Company  of  America. 

At  the  directors'  meeting  which  preceded  the  elec- 
tion of  officers,  but  two  changes  in  the  directorate 
were  made.  P.  L.  Waters  of  the  Biograph  succeeds 
J.  J.  Kennedy  of  the  same  organization,  and  W.  N. 
Selig,  president  of  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company,  be- 
comes a  director. 

The  complete  board  and  the  manufacturing  organ- 
ization which  each  director  represents  is  as  follows: 
George  Kleine,  Kleine ;  Frank  L.  Marion,  Kalem ;  Paul 
G.  Melies,  Melies;  W.  N.  Selig,  Selig;  Ferdinand 
Singhi,  Lubin ;  Albert  E.  Smith,  Vitagraph ;  George  K. 


292 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


Spoor,  Essanay;  P.  L.  Waters,  Biograph,  and  C.  H. 
Wilson,  Edison. 

The  election  was  the  annual  occasion  following 
the  directors'  meeting.  It  is  stated  authoritatively 
that  there  will  be  no  change  in  the  policies  of  the 
General  Film  Company. 


SOME  YOUNGER  KEYSTONERS 

Louise    Fazenda,    Harry   Gribben   and   Harry   McCoy 

Making  Names  for  Themselves  in  Triangle 

Comedies — All  Display  Versatility 

The  past  three  months  have  witnessed  the  rise  to 
artistic  prominence  of  a  dozen  or  more  comparatively 
new  Triangle-Keystone  players.  Such  daredevil  come- 
dies as  "A  Submarine  Pirate,"  "Dizzy  Heights  and 
Daring  Hearts,"  and  "Saved  by  Wireless,"  have 
brought  out  a  new  sort  of  reckless  valor  in  the  films. 
The  comic  character  delineation,  on  the  other  hand, 
plays  like  "Her  Painted  Hero,"  "His  Father's  Foot- 
steps," "The  Hunt"  and  "The  Great  Pearl  Robbery," 
have  afforded  unusual  opportunities  for  the  younger 
artists  as  well  as  the  stars. 

In  particular  Miss  Louise  Fazenda  has  developed 
a  quite  new  line  of  eccentric  comedy  character  which 
has  stamped  her  as  a  comer  in  the  film  world.  In 
"A  Game  Old  Knight"  she  played  the  ugly  princess 
with  a  rare  sense  of  humor.  Then  in  "The  Vacuum 
Robbery"  she  was  the  lady  crook  at  the  other  extreme 
of  looks  from  the  ugly  maid,  extremely  knowing  and 
fascinating.  Now  in  "His  Hereafter,"  a  burlesque  of 
the  western  type  of  story,  she  is  fittingly  described  as 
"a  sweet  character  in  a  faro  frame,"  being  the  daughter 
of  Harry  Booker,  who  has  the  role  of  a  gambling  house 
proprietor.  Her  versatility  has  proven  equal  to  each 
of  these  parts  and  she  will  no  doubt  get  the  lead  in  a 
forthcoming  play.  The  young  woman,  who  is  only 
19,  is  a  native  of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  and  undertook 
serious  dramatic  roles  at  the  start.  Her  sense  of  hu- 
mor and  her  love  of  grimaces  inevitably  led  her  into 
comics.  After  a  short  period  with  another  film  com- 
pany she  joined  the  Keystone. 


Harry  Gribben,  another  young  Keystoner,  has- 
been  made  use  of  during  the  fall  and  winter  in  a  large 
number  of  more  or  less  straight  roles.  Among  these 
have  been  the  artist  in  "A  Janitor's  Wife's  Tempta- 
tion," the  bomb-thrower  in  "The  Worst  of  Friends,'r 
the  husband  in  "Perils  of  the  Park,"  and  the  escort  in 
"A  Movie  Star."  Mr.  Gribben  is  an  extremely  agile 
worker,  equal  to  all  the  strenuous  demands  of  Keyston- 
ing.  Another  rising  player  is  Harry  McCoy,  who  is 
seen  as  the  gardener  in  "Perils  of  the  Park." 


William  S.  Hart  in  the  Wilds 

William  S.  Hart,  one  of  the  most  popular  of  all 
portrayers  of  virile  roles,  has  been  spending  the  last 
fortnight  with  his  company  in  the  wilds  of  the  Boulder 
Creek  region  in  Northern  California.  Among  the  great 
quantity  of  equipment  taken  to  Boulder  Creek  were  a 
large  number  of  sleighs  and  horses  to  depict  the  snow 
scenes  in  the  story.  It  is  laid  in  Northern  Canada 
and  involves  several  hazardous  feats,  among  them  be- 
ing a  fierce  hand  to  hand  combat  beneath  the  surface 
of  an  icy  lake.  Another  is  a  daring  ride  on  horseback 
over  a  rope  bridge  that  crosses  a  deep  gulley.  The 
scenario  was  written  by  J.  G.  Hawks. 

The  company  traveled  in  true  theatrical  style,  hav- 
ing three  sleeping  cars  and  several  baggage  cars  of  its 
own.  It  was  preceded  by  an  advance  agent,  or  rather 
a  location  man  who  picked  out  the  best  scenes  in  the 
wild  and  rocky  country  for  staging  the  story. 

It  is  said  that  "Hell's  Hinges,"  the  coming  Tri- 
angle release,  in  which  Hart  is  starred  as  a  western 
character,  will  prove  a  revelation  of  dramatic  strength. 


Strand  Shows  Many  Pathe  Films 

Pathe  is  contributing  largely  to  the  program  of 
the  Strand,  New  York's  million  dollar  film  palace. 
Last  week  a  three-reel  subject,  "The  Gold  Cobra,"  a 
colored  scenic,  "Old  Unchanging  Holland,"  an  educa- 
tional, "Quaint  Dances  of  Japan,"  the  Pathe  New 
and  "Monkey  Shines,"  a  "Heinie  and  Louie"  comedy 
all  Pathe  pictures,  were  shown. 


Harry   Gribbon. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


293 


MUTUAL'S   ''EXCLUSIVE"  POLICY 

Proctor's  Theater  of  Newark,  New  Jersey,   Is   First 

House  to  Accept  New  Mutual  Plan — Florence 

La  Badie  as  Extra  Attraction 

The  biggest  picture  event  in  the  history  of  New- 
ark, New  Jersey,  occurred  Wednesday  night  of  last 
week  at  the  magnificent  Proctor's  Park  Place  theater. 
It  signalized  a  change  in  the  policy  of  the  house,  as 
well  as  the  inauguration  of  a  very  new  system  of  film 
rental  by  the  Mutual  Corporation.  Some  weeks  ago 
the  Mutual  exchange  managers  were  called  together 
for  a  conference  by  President  Freuler  and  it  was  there 
decided  that  each  manager  endeavor  to  secure  a  certain 
number  of  customers  on  an  "exclusive  service"  basis. 
This  meant  that  they  could  offer  to  a  first  class  theater 
a  service  of  Mutual  Masterpictures  Edition  De  Luxe 
and  Mutual  pictures,  with  the  protection  of  several 
weeks  before  any  other  house  within  a  great  radius 
would  run  the  same  production. 

Heretofore  this  plan  has  been  considered  possible 
only  in  the  case  of  a  certain  class  of  features,  but  with 
the  enormous  strides  which  the  Mutual  managers  have 
made  in  the  quality  of  their  productions  President 
Freuler  feels  that  the  time  is  right  for  the  inaugura- 
tion of  such  a  system  for  a  permanent  policy.  The 
first  manager  to  hold  down  one  of  the  coveted  contracts 
is  Mr.  Beck,  general  manager  of  the  Mutual's  New 
York  exchange.  He  signed  up  Proctor's  Park  Place 
theater,  which  had  been  using  open  market  features. 

With  the  inauguration  of  the  new  policy,  Manager 
Sayre  of  the  theater  found  his  business  increasing  and 
learned  to  his  surprise  that  Newark  is  a  film  fan  city. 
This  fact  was  brought  home  to  him  with  such  force  that 
he  found  it  necessary  to  arrange  a  novelty  for  his 
patrons,  and  he  let  them  vote  on  what  it  should  be. 
A  great  majority  of  them  enthusiastically  endorsed  the 
proposition  of  a  Thanhouser  night,  at  which  an  all 
Thanhouser  program  should  be  given  with  Thanhouser 
players  appearing  on  the  stage  in  person.  Through  the 
local  Mutual  manager,  L.  S.  Card,  arrangements  were 
completed  with  Mr.  Thanhouser,  and  Wednesday  night 
found  Florence  La  Badie  in  Newark.  The  feature  of 
the  bill  was  the  five-reel  sensational  Thanhouser  film 
"The  Five  Faults  of  Flo,"  in  which  Miss  La  Badie  does 
some  wonderful  work.  After  the  picture  was  finished 
Miss  La  Badie  was  introduced  in  person  and  her  ova- 
tion very  much  resembled  that  of  a  favorite  candidate 
at  a  political  rally. 

"The  Phantom  Witness,"  a  three-reel  Thanhouser 
picture,  was  next  run,  presenting  Kathryn  Adams  and 
Edwin  Stanley,  after  which  these  players  appeared  and 
acquitted  themselves  credibly.  The  fun  of  the  evening 
was  supplied  by  Claude  Cooper,  the  Falstaff  comedian, 
who  was  there  in  person,  and  also  in  a  Falstaff  comedy, 
"Pete's  Persian  Princess."  Manager  Sayre  reported 
after  counting  up  the  house  that  the  attendance  had 
broken  all  records  by  almost  one  hundred  per  cent. 

"Macbeth"  Cast  is  Selected 

Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree's  cast  for  his  Triangle 
film  version  of  "Macbeth"  was  announced  this  week 
and,  as  rumored,  Constance  Collier  will  be  seen  as 
Lady  Macbeth.  She  has  played  this  part  with  Sir 
Herbert  in  his  London  seasons  and  was  obtained  by 
arrangement  with  Oliver  Morosco.  The  remainder  of 
the  company  as  selected  by  John  Emerson,  assigned  by 


David  W.  Griffith  to  make  the  production,  includes 
twelve  players  who  have  appeared  in  Shakespearian 
roles,  all  but  two  having  had  parts  in  "Macbeth."  The 
entire  support  is  drawn  from  the  Griffith  permanent 
forces  at  the  Fine  Arts  studios.  Wilfred  Lucas  will  be 
the  Macduff;  Mary  Alden,  Lady  Macduff;  Spottis- 
woode  Aitken,  Duncan;  Ralph  Lewis,  Banquo;  Olga 
Grey,  Lady  Agnes ;  and  I.  Nowskowski,  Malcolm.  Miss 
Alden  and  Mr.  Aitken  will  be  remembered  as  having 
had  prominent  roles  in  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation."  Mr. 
Lucas  has  already  been  seen  in  several  Triangle  plays 
at  the  Knickerbocker  theater,  New  York,  where  the 
Tree  production  will  be  made  in  the  early  spring. 


GENERAL  GETS  FOX  EXCHANGES 


Greater    New   York   Film   Rental    Company    and    Its 

Numerous    Branches    Purchased   by    General 

Film  Company  This  Week 

The  William  Fox  interests  this  week  sold  the 
Greater  New  York  Film  Rental  Company  to  the 
General  Film  Company,  because  of  Mr.  Fox's  decision 
to  abandon  altogether  the  supplying  of  regular  service 
to  exhibitors,  and  to  devote  himself  entirely  to  his 
feature  business.  Mr.  Fox  takes  this  action  because 
of  the  increasing  demands  upon  his  energies  in  con- 
nection with  the  Fox  Features. 

It  happened  that  shortly  after  Mr.  Fox  had  decided 
to  handle  features  alone,  the  General  Film  Company 
was  rearranging  some  of  its  distribution  methods  with 
a  view  to  securing  greater  co-operation  for  the  benefit 
of  the  exhibitor.  Consequently,  Mr.  Fox's  representa- 
tives entered  into  negotiations  with  the  General  Film 
Company,  the  successful  conclusion  of  which  is  now 
announced. 

The  Greater  New  York  Film  Rental  Company  has 
offices  in  Atlanta,  Baltimore,  Cleveland,  Newark,  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Scranton,  and  Syra- 
cuse. These  offices  will  be  combined  with  the  branches 
of  the  General  Film  Company.  The  purchase  means 
that  exhibitors  now  have  greater  opportunities  of  hav- 
ing their  needs  supplied  promptly. 

As  marking  Mr.  Fox's  entire  withdrawal  from  the 
distributing  of  regular  service  a  further  contract  be- 
tween the  General  Film  Company  and  Mr.  Fox  is  in- 
stanced. Under  the  contract,  which  runs  for  two 
years,  the  General  Film  Company  will  supply  service 
to  all  of  the  Fox  circuit  of  theaters.  The  contract 
covers  some  of  the  best  known  and  most  successful 
theaters  in  New  York  City,  such  as  the  Academy  of 
Music  and  the  City  theater  in  Fourteenth  street.  In  all, 
there  are  sixteen  of  the  leading  theaters  of  New  York, 
Newark,  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  New  Britain,  Conn. 


Raver  Releases  "The  Other  Girl" 

The  Raver  Film  Corporation  set  Monday,  January 
24,  as  the  official  release  date  of  its  first  production, 
"The  Other  Girl,"  the  five-part  feature  adapted  from  a 
successful  play  by  Augustus  Thomas,  which  played 
for  five  years  in  the  larger  theaters  throughout  the 
country  and  seven  more  in  leading  stock  houses. 

James  J.  Corbett,  who  has  gained  considerable 
fame  as  a  hero  actor,  is  starred  in  this  picture  in  con- 
junction with  Paul  Gilmore.  William  Muldoon,  the 
famous  repairer  of  millionaires'  health,  is  also  seen  in 
the  production. 

Since  the  pre-distribution  presentation  of  the  sub- 


294 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  6. 


ject  bids  and  offers  for  territory  have  been  coming  into 
the  Raver  offices  from  state  rights  buyers  of  the  coun- 
try that  number  many  hundred. 

The  picture  is  said  to  be  out  of  the  ordinary  run 
of  features.  It  has  not  the  sensational  nor  the  spec- 
tacular situations  that  predominate  in  most  of  the 
photoplays  of  today.  For  its  big  punches  it  depends 
upon  novelties  that  are  original  and  amusing.  One  of 
the  oddities  of  the  film  that  has  been  remarked  on  by 
everyone  who  has  witnessed  its  exhibition  is  the  night 
scene  of  Times  square,  looking  up  Broadway  from 
the  Times  Square  building.  Its  humor  is  subtle  and 
pleasing.  Nearly  every  one  of  the  three  hundred 
scenes  that  make  up  the  picture  is  either  tinted  or 
toned. 


BERST  NOW  BACK  WITH  PATHE 

Pathe's     First     Employe     Returns     to     Organization 
Which  He  Started  in  United  States  as  Its  Vice- 
President  and  General  Manager 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pathe  board  of  directors  held 
this  week,  J.  A.  Berst,  president  of  the  General  Film 
Company,  was  elected  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Pathe  Exchange,  Inc.,  to  succeed  L.  J. 
Gasnier,  who  resigned 
last  week.  Mr.  Berst, 
who  for  years  has 
been  one  of  the  big 
men  of  the  motion 
picture  industry,  thus 
again  allies  himself 
with  the  organization 
in  which  for  years  he 
held  the  same  posi- 
tion to  which  he  is 
now  called.  Pathe's 
new  vice-president 
was  born  in  Paris, 
France,  and  up  to 
December,  1913,  his 
entire  business  career 
was  bound  up  with 
the  house  of  Pathe. 
His  first  position  was 
that  of  being  Pathe's 
only  employe  way 
back  in  1896,  when  he 
was  called  upon  to  do 
everything  from  manufacturing  to  selling.  In  1904  he 
was  sent  by  Charles  Pathe  to  the  United  States  to  develop 
the  market  for  Pathe  films  here.  The  stock  of  films  he 
brought  with  him  was  small  and  some  of  them  were  as 
short  as  fifteen  feet.  Mr.  Berst  rented  offices  on  Twenty- 
third  street,  New  York,  and  marketed  the  films  himself 
at  prices  that  seem  very  low  nowadays.  His  infant  busi- 
ness prospered — so  much  so  that  he  engaged  a  cashier 
and  office  boy.  Each  year  saw  such  increases  that  in 
1908  it  was  decided  to  install  a  factory  equipment  at 
Bound  Brook,  N.  J.,  where  the  main  Pathe  American 
factory  has  ever  since  been  located.  The  year  following 
the  big  studio  in  Jersey  City  was  built,  and  Louis  J. 
i  ni<  r,  also  for  many  years  identified  with  Pathe  in- 
terests, came  over  from  France  to  be  chief  studio 
director.  At  this  time  was  begun  the  production  of 
Pathe  American  dramas  and  comedies,  and  the  stock 
company  formed,  which  later  was  to  contain  such  sterling 


players  as  Pearl  White,  Henry  Walthall,  Gwendoline 
Pates,  Paul  Panzer,  Crane  Wilbur,  Octavia  Handworth, 
Lillian  Wiggins,  the  late  Joseph  Graybill,  Charles  Arling, 
Francis  Carlyle,  Eleanor  Woodruff  and  Irving  Cum- 
mings. 

The  all-around  experience  which  Mr.  Berst  had  re- 
ceived in  the  Pathe  factory  and  office  in  France,  united 
with  his  selling  experience  in  this  country,  stood  him  in 
good  stead  and  took  concrete  form  in  the  phenomenal 
growth  of  the  business.  In  telling  of  those  early  days 
Mr.  Berst  mentions  the  fact  that  the  first  long  Pathe 
picture  in  any  way  comparable  to  the  modern  features 
was  the  four-part  Passion  Play  which  was  brought  over 
from  France  in  1906. 

In  December  of  1913,  Mr.  Berst  resigned  and  be- 
came treasurer  of  the  General  Film  Company.  Early  in 
1915  he  was  proffered  and  accepted  the  position  of  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  Selig  Company. 
Several  months  ago  he  resigned  to  accept  the  presidency 
of  the  General  Film  Company,  which  office  he  now  re- 
signs to  go  back  with  Pathe. 

Mr.  Berst  knows  the  film  business  as  do  few  men. 
With  all  its  branches  of  manufacturing,  producing  and 
marketing,  he  is  thoroughly  familiar.  He  has  made  a 
most  enviable  record  as  an  executive  and  business  builder, 
and  the  news  that  he  again  is  with  the  organization  which 
he  so  materially  aided  in  bringing  to  its  present  impor- 
tance will  interest  the  entire  film  world. 

Mr.  Gasnier,  whom  he  succeeds,  will  very  likely 
become  the  Pathe  director  of  production,  the  end  of  the 
business  which  has  always  been  the  nearest  to  his  heart. 
As  a  judge  of  pictures  and  as  an  expert  in  the  knowledge 
of  those  qualities  that  every  good  picture  must  have  and 
how  those  qualities  may  be  attained,  he  is  doubtless  un- 
surpassed. He  has  been  for  the  interests  of  Pathe  first, 
last  and  all  the  time,  and  is  generally  recognized  in  the 
Pathe  organization  as  a  positive  genius. 


California's  Governor  Visits  Vogue  Studio 

Governor  Johnson  of  California  has  a  strong  strain 
of  humor  running  through  him.  The  governor  is  well 
known  for  his  advocacy  of  preparedness.  Recently 
he  witnessed  the  production  of  "He  Thought  He  Went 
to  War"  at  the  Vogue  studios  in  Los  Angeles.  This 
is  the  story  of  a  roustabout  wdio  dreams  that  he  be- 
comes a  dashing  trooper,  performs  thrilling  exploits 
on  the  field  of  battle  and  wins  the  admiration  of  the 
general's  daughter. 

The  comical  situation  and  fast  work  of  the  clever 
Vogue  Company  kept  the  governor  in  an  uproar  of 
laughter  for  a  full  half  hour.  After  a  couple  of  the 
situations  had  been  completed,  Governor  Johnson 
shook  hands  with  the  members  of  the  company  and 
expressed  his  great  interest  in  the  motion  picture 
industry  and  the  big  part  played  in  it  by  the  pro- 
ducers of  funny  films. 


Chicago  Exhibitors  Booking  Club 

Recently  there  has  been  formed  among  the  exhibi- 
tors of  Chicago  an  organization  known  as  the  Chicago 
Exhibitors  Booking  Club.  The  membership  is  said 
now  to  number  between  forty  and  fifty,  and  meetings 
are  held  regularly  at  the  Morrison  hotel.  The  present 
officials  of  the  new  organization,  which  has  for  its  pur- 
pose  the  united  booking  of  a  large  number  of  theaters, 
are:  F.  Sehaefer.  president:  Ike  BergSOn,  vice-presi- 
dent,  and  Samuel   Kat/.  secretary. 


February  5, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Picturing  Australia's  "Never  Never  Land" 

PARAMOUNT  CAMERAMAN  ACCOMPLISHES  IT 


NO  more  conclusive  evidence  of  the  fact  that  the 
screen  is  becoming  more  of  an  educator  each 
day,  particularly  in  the  matter  of  travel,  history, 
and  geography,  was  ever  given  than  in  the  second  re- 
lease of  "Australia's  Unknown,"  the  forty-first  instal- 
ment of  the  Paramount  Travel  Series,  released  through 
the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation.  The  whole  ga- 
mut of  human  experience  has  been  exploited  upon  the 
screen  from  time  to  time,  but  it  is  a  rarity  to  have  pic- 
tured before  any  audience  in  so  interesting  a  manner 
these  previously  unknown  regions  of  the  island  conti- 
nent, and  the  persons  digesting  them  will  acquire  a  far 
broader  education  than  would  be  obtainable  from  any 
other  medium. 

These  unique  pictures  of  the  continent  which  has 
more  than  half  of  its  area  still  to  be  discovered  or  ex- 
plored, were  obtained  by  Frank  Hurley,  who  was  also 
the  official  photographer  to  the  Shackleton  Antarctic 
Expedition.  There  are  four  instalments  on  "Australia's 
Unknown,"  they  having  followed  the  South  American 
Travel  Pictures  and  preceding  the  Paramount-Burton 
Holmes-Travel  Pictures,  the  first  release  of  which  will 
be  on  February  7. 

Year  after  year  the  dimensions  of  the  Australian 
"Never  Never  Land"  have  been  reduced,  and  more  is 
being  learned  of  the  nature  and  resources  of  those  un- 
inviting wastes,  from  which  early  explorers  turned 
back  in  despair  or  where  they  laid  down  their  lives  in 
the  vain  attempt  to  fathom  secrets  that  are  still  un- 
solved. The  mysteries  of  that  region  have  had  an  ap- 
peal for  all  men,  for  it  holds  fortune  and  it  holds  death 
— for  more  than  fifty  years  the  "Never  Never  Land" 
has  held  one  secret  that  many  bold  men  have  failed  to 
wrest  from  it — the  fate  of  Ludwig  Leichhardt,  the  ex- 
plorer. 

Through  this  very  country  the  Paramount  camera- 
man traveled,  picturing  salt  deserts  that  are  not  unlike 
our  own  southwest,  together  with  their  "ships  of  the 
desert,"  their  camels,  used  to  carry  the  products  across 
country  to  the  nearest  railway  center,  the  faithful 
"famed  prohibitionists"  trudging  for  days  in  single  file 
heavily  laden  with  freight. 

Interesting  in  its  every  particular  is  the  picturing 
of  the  native  blacks  gathering  the  pods  of  lilies,  found 
in  picturesque  water-lily  lagoons,  from  which,  after 
being  ground  between  round  stones  by  women,  a  flour 
is  made,  used  for  the  baking  of  a  queer  and  yet  some- 
what tasty  bread.  There,  too,  are  shown  the  aborigines 
smoking  the  intoxicating  root  of  the  Pichiri  tree  and 
also  the  gigantic  colonies  of  white  ants  in  their  moun- 
tain homes  which  have  taken  many  hundredsAof  years 
to  build. 

Alligators  galore  are  pictured,  but  of  most  interest 
is  that  of  a  nest  of  sixty-three  alligator  eggs,  from 
which  the  young  are  seen  to  hatch,  these  babies  weigh- 
ing as  much  as  two  tons  when  full  grown,  followed  by 
an  instructive  showing  of  the  herding  of  cattle  and  the 
large  flocks  of  ducks  found  in  marsh  lakes  which  would 
be  a  huge  delight  for  the  huntsman. 

The  release  closes  with  a  weird  sacred  dance  of 
the  Corroboree  savages,  which  they  call  "The  Fight- 
ing Boomerang."     Like  the  Indian  war  dance  these 


wild  savages  go  through  their  dances  when  about  to 
engage  in  a  fight  with  a  neighboring  tribe  and  they 
are  doubly  interesting  and  instructive  by  reason  of  the 
rapid  dwindling  of  this  race  of  Australian  blacks  since 
the  coming  of  the  white  man. 

There  are  evidences  everywhere  throughout  the 
release  that  all  Australia  in  its  waste  places  is  waiting 
for  live  men,  with  the  fire  and  life  in  them,  and  a 
power  of  hand  and  brain  to  translate  what  is  barren 
and  unlovely  into  something  that  shall  be  of  use  to 
man  and  as  beautiful  as  desired.  It  is  a  continent  of 
three  million  square  miles  and  yet  in  recent  years  few 
immigrants  are  arriving  to  fill  the  empty  places. 


Estelle  Mardo  Goes  to  Mirror 

Screen  devotees  well  remember  Estelle  Mardo  for 
her  artistic  work  under  direction  of  D.  W.  Griffith, 
Lawrence  Marston,  Frank  Crane  and  other  prominent 
motion  picture  directors.  The  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  has 
engaged  Miss  Mardo 
for  the  leading  wom- 
an role  in  its  second 
company.  She  was 
chosen  by  Captain 
Harry  Lambart  and 
is  considered  by  him 
one  of  the  most  val- 
uable additions  to 
his  carefully  selected 
staff  of  players. 
Coming  into  the  pro- 
fession three  years 
ago  with  the  Bio- 
graph  company, 
Miss  Mardo  ob- 
tained a  prominent 
role  in  Lawrence 
Marston's  picture, 
"The  Road  to  Yes- 
terday," and  her 
work  was  so  finished 
that  there  were 
many  inquiries 
about  the  new  "find."  She  was  put  in  stock  until  sent 
for  by  D.  W.  Griffith,  who  cast  her  opposite  Henry 
B.  Walthall  in  "The  Floor  Above."  From  the  Mutual 
she  went  to  the  Imp,  where  as  leading  woman  for 
King  Baggot  and  later  in  the  south  with  E.  K.  Lincoln 
in  "The  Littlest  Rebel,"  she  scored  signal  successes. 
With  the  Vitagraph  company  she  was  cast  opposite 
Maurice  Costello  in  features  and  since  then  she  has 
appeared  in  important  roles  with  the  World  Film. 
The  part  that  she  will  play  will  permanently  establish 
Miss  Mardo  as  one  of  the  screen's  favorites. 


Estelle    Mardo. 


Essanay  Films  Interesting  Canadian  Scenes 

A  corps  of  Essanay  camera  men  have  just  re- 
turned from  Canada  where  they  spent  a  month  in 
filming  the  picturesque  winter  sports  of  Quebec,  the 
quaint  old  French  capital.  Several  thousand  feet  of 
film  were  procured  and  it  will  be  released  in  500  foot 


296 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  6. 


lengths,  sharing  a  reel  with  the  Canimated  Nooz  Pic- 
torial. 

Canada,  the  land  of  the  great  out-of-doors,  offers 
the  greatest  advantages  for  winter  views.  In  historic 
Quebec  Essanay  camera  men  have  found  an  ideal 
array  of  topical  scenes.  Quebec  in  sports  and  Quebec 
in  war  share  the  views  alike.  Curling,  hockey  and  ski- 
ing have  been  photographed  in  the  country  where 
winter  sports  are  as  essential  as  food.  The  leaders 
in  the  various  sports  have  been  caught  in  action. 

The  motion  picture  camera  has  recorded  ski 
jumpers  in  thrilling  dashes  down  the  incline.  It  has 
held  them  in  view  while  soaring  through  the  air  and 
it  has  caught  them  as  they  alight  gracefully  after 
a  leap  of  close  to  100  feet.  None  the  less  exciting  are 
the  hockey  games,  played  with  unrivalled  speed  and 
dash  by  the  best  teams  in  the  dominion.  The  curl- 
ing contests,  among  the  oldest  of  Canadian  sports,  are 
extremely  interesting  to  those  who  have  never  seen 
the  game  and  appreciated  by  those  who  have. 

Ice  driving,  tobogganing  and  sliding  contests  all 
have  been  captured  by  the  camera.  Snowshoeing  exhi- 
bitions— and  remember  snowshoeing  is  an  art — were 
staged  on  the  historic  plains  of  Abraham  for  the  film 
men.  Not  the  least  interesting  of  the  scenes  are  those 
of  the  Indians  and  how  they  live  in  the  winter  time. 
They  are  seen  in  their  tanning  operations,  in  making 
snow  shoes  and  hunting.  Women's  sports  have  not 
been  ignored  and  how  the  fair  sex  in  Canada  enjoys 
sledding,  snow  shoeing  and  skating. 

While  the  camera  men  spent  much  of  their  time 
in  the  outskirts  where  the  huge  rinks  and  ski  slides 
were  located,  and  in  the  woods  filming  the  buffalo, 
caribou  and  other  animals,  together  with  domesticated 
silver  foxes  worth  $1,500  apiece,  the  city  proper  was 
not  ignored.  Old  Quebec,  battleground  for  Montcalm 
and  Wolfe  and  for  others,  again  sees  the  uniforms  of 
war  in  its  streets  and  hears  the  constant  tread  of  march- 
ing feet.  Quebec  again  is  a  garrison  city.  The  fa- 
mous 33rd  battalion  is  there  with  its  picturesque  pipers 
and  band,  awaiting  the  call  to  cross  the  sea.  The  cam- 
era caught  these  soldiers  on  parade  in  their  brilliant 
uniforms  and  accoutrements. 


Girl  and  Game  Company  Moves 

Helen  Holmes  and  Director  J.  P.  McGowan  have 
taken  their  "Girl  and  the  Game"  company  to  the  arid 
desert  regions  at  Las  Vegas,  New  Mexico,  where  the 
work  of  producing  Frank  H.  Spearman's  thrilling  rail- 
road film  play  will  be  continued  without  interruption  by 
unfavorable  weather.  This  precaution  has  been  taken  to 
prevent  delay. 

For  three  weeks  Los  Angeles  has  been  shadowed 
by  dull-grey  clouds.  Sunshine  has  only  been  intermit- 
tent. Under  these  conditions,  brilliant  photography 
was  impossible.  Rather  than  wait  for  good  light, 
which  is  uncertain  at  this  time  of  the  year,  the  entire 
work  of  producing  "The  Girl  and  the  Game"  was 
moved  across  the  Sierra  mountains  on  two  hours'  no- 
tice. Fast  of  the  Sierras  the  sun  is  brilliant  and  shines 
continuously  and  now  affords  excellent  opportunity 
to  film  the  thrills  staged  by  Helen  and  her  intrepid 
company. 

The  locality  chosen  by  Miss  Holmes  is  a  wild, 
rocky,  mountainous  country,  which  gradually  levels 
into  alkali  plains.  There  is  a  small  railroad  town, 
which  furnishes  all  the  settings  necessary  for  forth- 
coming exciting  chapters,  of  which  fully  three  or  four 


will  be  made  among  these  surroundings.  That  will 
bring  the  producers  up  to  the  time  when  the  rainy  sea- 
son will  be  over  in  California  and  successful  photog- 
raphy will  no  longer  be  hampered  in  and  around  Los 
Angeles. 

A  lucky  coincidence  is  that  the  next  few  chapters 
of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game"  call  for  New  Mexico  scenes 
— the  wild  wastes,  the  regular  yellow  lands  and  the  town 
that  simply  exists  because  of  the  railroad,  Reports 
from  the  company  tell  of  the  great  enthusiasm  with 
which  the  production  is  being  carried  on  in  the  new 
location.  Miss  Holmes  has  some  new  surprises  in 
store,  which  are  being  carefully  guarded  until  the  film 
be  actually  ready  for  the  screen. 


BALSHOFER  IN  FLORIDA 

Director-in-Chief    Takes    Another     Metro     Company 

South — Marguerite  Snow  to  Be  Starred 

in  Feature 

Fred  J.  Balshofer,  director-in-chief  for  Metro,  has 
gone  to  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  with  a  company  to  make  ex- 
teriors for  a  big  production  as  yet  unnamed.  There  are 
fifteen  persons  in  this  company,  including  Marguerite 
Snow,  Zella  Call,  John  Goldsworthy  and  Howard  Trues- 
dell,  who  will  assist  Mr.  Balshofer  in  the  direction  of  the 
new  photoplay,  and  also  play  a  leading  role.  The  Bals- 
hofer feature  will  be  produced  by  the  Quality  Pictures 
Corporation  for  the  Metro  program.  Miss  Snow  will 
be  starred.  Most  of  the  interior  scenes  were  made  in 
the  Rolfe  studio. 


Irving  Cummings  Joins  Ivan 

Ivan  Film  Productions  has  secured  for  the  male 
lead  in  its  next  production  the  services  of  Irving  Cum- 
mings, late  star  of  the  North  American  serial,  "The 
Diamond  from  the  Sky."  The  vehicle  in  which  Mr. 
Cummings  is  to  be  starred  is  entitled,  "The  Immortal 
Flame,"  an  original  drama  conceived  especially  for  the 
screen  by  Ivan  Abramson. 

An  exceptionally  strong  cast  is  being  assembled 
by  Director  Abramson  to  support  Mr.  Cummings  in 
his  forthcoming  feature.  It  is  expected  that  work  on 
this  new  story  will  commence  within  a  week  and  that 
the  entire  company  will  shortly  thereafter  leave  for 
Washington,  the  locale  of  several  of  the  exterior  set- 
tings in  the  new  production. 

In  "The  Immortal  Flame"  Mr.  Cummings  por- 
trays the  role  of  a  talented  young  musician  who  later 
in  life  rises  to  the  heights  of  conductor  of  his  own 
operas. 

The  success  of  "Forbidden  Fruit,"  the  January 
Ivan  release,  has  caused  some  speculation  among  ex- 
hibitors who  wondered  whether  the  next  Ivan  produc- 
tion, "A  Fool's  Paradise,"  would  be  as  good  a  produc- 
tion and  enjoy  the  same  popularity.  The  fact  that  the 
Proctor,  Loew  and  Fox  theaters  in  New  York  booked 
"Forbidden  Fruit,"  and  that  some  of  the  houses  on 
these  circuits  repeated  on  this  subject  was  received 
with  a  sense  of  gratification  by  the  producers. 


Holah  Gives  Show  for  Miss  Maude 

Miss  Marjorie  Maude,  daughter  of  the  famous 
Cyril  Maude,  is  to  be  given  a  private  motion  picture 
exhibition  of  her  father's  film  production  "The  Greater 
Will,"    through    arrangements    made    by    C.    F.    Holah 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


297 


of  the  Pathe  Company.  Miss  Maude,  who  is  appear- 
ing at  the  Grand  Opera  House  of  Cincinnati,  supported 
by  George  Arliss  of  the  Paganini  Company,  will  have  a 
private  exhibition  at  the  projection  rooms  of  the  Pathe 
Company,  where  there  will  be  shown  for  Miss  Maude 
and  her  friends,  "The  Greater  Will,"  featuring  Cyril 
Maude,  her  father.  This  will  be  Miss  Maude's  first 
opportunity  of  seeing  her  father  in  pictures  and  she 
is  greatly  elated  over  the  opportunity  on  account  of 
not  having  seen  him  for  many  months  due  to  the  tour 
of  the  Paganini  Company. 


NOVEL  PUBLICITY  STUFF 

Triangle  Film  Corporation's  Innovation  in  Advertising 
Sheets  Should  Prove  of  Much  Assistance  to  Ex- 
hibitors Running  That  Program 

The  last  word  in  newspaper  display  advertising  is 
offered  by  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation  in  the  form  of 
the  so-called  "Triangle  Ad  Sheet,"  which  has  just  been 
issued.  This  is  a  sheet  about  the  size  of  a  newspaper, 
which  contains  ten 
model  ads.  They 
are  distinguished 
from  the  usual  type 
of  theatrical  ads  by 
these  characteristics : 
(1)  The  characteris- 
tic Triangle  border 
around  each  adver- 
tisement and  a  Tri- 
angle displayed  some- 
where in  the  ad;  (2) 
plenty  of  white  space  ; 
(3)  the  upper  part  of 
a  65  screen  halftone 
of  two  or  three  at- 
tractive characters  in 
the  play;  (4)  the 
name  of  the  play  in 
large  type  followed 
by  a  few  paragraphs 
in  10  or  12  point  type  ; 
(5)  blank  space  at  the 
bottom  for  name  of 
local  theater  and  ad- 
dress. The  ads  will 
attract  because  of  the 
exceedingly  lively  pic- 
tures at  the  top.  Then 
the  name  of  the  play  is  firmly  impressed  on  the  mind  of 
the  reader,  following  which  he  is  drawn  to  see  the 
attraction  by  the  convincing  short  argument  that  follows, 
and  finally  the  address  tells  him  where  to  go.  As  an 
illustration  of  the  terse  convincing  sentences  there  are  a 
few  given  below : 

."  'The  Great  Pearl  Tangle'  presents  Sam  Bernard 
in  his  first  Triangle  picture,  a  rollicking  Keystone  comedy 
that  keeps  you  doubled  up  with  laughter." 

"  'Let  Katy  Do  It.'  You  should  see  this  marvelous 
Triangle  picture  to  appreciate  the  way  the  seven  little 
kiddies — bright,  live,  red-blooded  American  youngsters — 
act  when  they  leave  their  comfortable  New  England  home 
for  the  dangers  that  surround  existence  in  a  Mexican 
mining  camp." 

"Powerfully  dramatic  is  the  wonderful  Triangle  pic- 
ture, 'The  Corner,'  which  presents  Willard  Mack  and 
George  Farcett  in  a  particularly  strong  and  gripping  play 


that  shows  in  a  graphic  way  the  struggle  for  existence  in 
these  days  of  the  high  cost  of  living." 

•"  'Fatty  and  Mabel  Adrift.'  Roscoe  Arbuckle — 
Fatty  of  Keystone  fame — with  his  broad  trousers,  his 
broader  smile  and  inimitable  mannerisms,  and  the  popular 
Mabel  Normand — may  be  seen  together  tonight  in  what 
is  without  question  their  richest  and  funniest  picture — a 
Triangle  picture  entitled  'Fatty  and  Mabel  Adrift.'  " 


Charles  HL  Prince,  Metro  Star 

Charles  H.  Prince,  who  has  appeared  in  more 
Metro  feature  productions  than  any  other  person,  and 
who  recently  completed  the  heavy  leading  role  in 
"The  Turmoil,"  has  been  cast  for  a  similar  part  with 
Francis  X.  Bushman 
and  Beverly  Bayne 
in  "Man  and  His 
Soul,"  now  in  proc- 
ess of  production. 
Among  some  of  the 
Metro  features  in 
which  Mr.  Prince 
appeared  are  "Satan 
Sanderson,"  the  first 
Metro  release;  "The 
Flaming  Sword," 
"The  Right  of 
Way,"  "A  Royal 
Family,"  "The 
Bridge,  or  The  Big- 
ger Man,"  and  "Em- 
my of  Stork's  Nest." 
Before  coming  to 
pictures  Mr.  Prince 
was  well  known  as 
an  excellent  baritone 
singer,  and  began 
his  professional  ca- 
reer with  the  famous  John  A.  McCaull  Opera  Com- 
pany. He  was  afterward  with  the  London  Gaiety  Com- 
pany, the  New  York  Casino  for  three  seasons,  Weber 
and  Fields,  Russell  Brothers,  New  York  Roof  Garden, 
Cohan  and  Harris  companies,  Winter  Garden  produc- 
tions and  countless  other  musical  and  dramatic  attrac- 
tions. Mr.  Prince  was  in  the  original  cast  of  "Forty- 
five  Minutes  from  Broadway,"  also  with  the  Frank 
L.  Perley  Opera  Company,  and  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipals in  "The  Passing  Show  of  1912."  Mr.  Prince  is 
the  author  and  composer  of  more  than  a  dozen  popular 
songs. 


Reel  Fellows  January  Meeting 

On  Wednesday  evening,  January  19,  the  regular 
January  meeting  of  the  Reel  Fellows'  Club  was  held 
at  its  quarters  at  the  Movie  Inn,  17  North  Wabash  ave- 
nue, Chicago.  The  inclement  weather  caused  a  light 
attendance,  but  a  splendid  dinner  was  enjoyed  followed 
by  a  business  meeting. 

During  the  business  session  it  was  decided  to  hold 
a  special  meeting  on  February  2  at  6 :30  p.  m.  Plans  will 
be  made  for  a  number  of  big  nights  with  special  en- 
tertainment of  a  de  luxe  nature.  E.  A.  Hamburg  vol- 
unteered to  provide  the  entertainment  for  the  regular 
February  meeting,  to  be  held  on  the  evening  of  Febru- 
ary 16  and  A.  C.  Miller  offered  to  provide  entertain- 
ment for  the   March  gathering. 

The  Movie  Inn  began  with  the  January  dinner 
.  plan  of  serving  a  series  of  meals  which  it  designates 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Voi..  XV,  No.  6. 


as  "international  dinners."  The  one  in  January  was 
called  a  '"French  dinner,"  and  the  others  will  be  known 
as  German.  English,  Russian  and  Italian  dinners,  etc. 
Ere  the  meeting  was  adjourned  a  telegram  conveying 
greetings  to  the  club  members  was  received  from  Pro- 
ducer George  Cox  from  the  New  Willard  Hotel  in 
Washington,  D.  C.  A  meeting  of  the  board  of  gov- 
ernors of  the  club  was  held  on  Monday  evening,  Janu- 
ary 17,  at  which  several  matters  of  importance  were 
transacted.  The  governors  voted  to  draft  a  resolution 
supporting  Captain  L.  A.  Boening,  the  club's  treasurer, 
as  aldermanic  candidate  in  the  Twenty-eighth  ward, 
commending  him  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  ex- 
hibitors and  motion  picture  fans  in  that  ward.  A  reso- 
lution introduced  by  Mr.  Rothacker,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Watkins  and  unanimously  passed  read  as  follows: 

Resolved — Thai  the  Reel  Fellows  Club  of  Chicago  extend 
to  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  of  America  congratula- 
tions on  the  results  so  Ear  secured  by  that  organization  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  motion  picture  industry  and  extend  its  assurance  of 
hearty  co-operation  in  their  future  efforts  to  further  the  inter- 
ests of  the  motion  picture  business. 

After  the  consideration  of  other  matters  the  gath- 
ering was  adjourned. 


Vitagraph  Erecting  Big  Addition 

In  keeping  with  the  new  policy  about  to  be  an- 
nounced by  the  Vitagraph  Company,  plans  are  under 
ioot  to  construct  a  new  type  of  studio  on  one  of  the 
vast  plots  owned  by  the  Vitagraph  Company  in  Flat- 
bush,  New  York.  Construction  engineers  and  big 
brains  in  the  industry  have  been  at  work  on  these  plans 
and  within  a  short  while  ground  will  be  broken  for  the 
new  studio,  directly  behind  the  present  gigantic  plant. 
The  new  studio  will  approximate  150  x  200  feet,  and  it 
is  planned  to  lay  out  this  proposition  in  such  a  way 
.that  it  will  enable  at  least  ten  directors  to  work  at  the 
same  time. 

A  modern  and  unique  lighting  system  will  be  in- 
stalled, and  from  present  indications  it  looks  as  though 
many  revolutionary  effects  in  this  branch  of  the  in- 
dustry will  be  embodied  in  this  system.  The  plans  as 
outlined  make  provision  for  the  rapid  installation  of 
sets,  and  it  is  intimated  that  a  new  method  of  scenic 
effects  will  be  utilized  by  this  company. 

One  of  the  most  radical  changes  in  studio  construc- 
tion is  the  fact  that  these  enormous  studios  contain 
ten  separate  and  distinct  studios.  In  other  words,  it 
is  planned  by  the  Vitagraph  Company  to  have  a  bed 
room,  a  living  room,  drawing  room,  kitchen,  hath  room, 
and  in  fact,  every  style  room,  all  on  one  floor  of  this 
studio.  The  partitions  will  he  solid  construction  and 
each  room- will  represent  the  ideal  of  its  type. 

One  point  of  particular  interest  is  the  fact  that 
sets  will  In-  arranged  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  particu- 
larly long  throws.  The  structure  will  be  a  modern 
steel  and  concrete  affair,  and  particular  attention  has 
hem  paid  to  the  ventilating  and  heating  appliances. 


ARROW'S  FIRST  PATHE  RELEASE 

Florence  Reed  in  "The  Woman's  Law"  Will  Be  First 
Gold  Rooster  Play  Produced  by  Recently  Organ- 
ized Feature  Manufacturing  Company 

The  first  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play  to  be  made  by 
the  Arrow  is  "The  Woman's  Law,"  in  which  Florence 
Reed,  who  has  starred  in  Pathe's  "At  Bay"  and  "New 
York."  will  be  featured.  Supporting  members  of  the 
cast  are  Duncan  McRae,  brother  of  Bruce  McRae, 
the  Pathe  player,  who  appears  in  a  dual  role,  and  Anita 
Scott,  Lora  Rogers  and  Master  Jack  Curtis.  "The 
Woman's  Law"  was  adapted  from  the  well  known 
novel  of  American  society  life  by  Mrs.  Maravene 
Thompson.  The  scenario  was  written  by  Harvey  E. 
Thew  and  Albert  S.  Levine.  Lawrence  B.  McGill  is 
directing  the  picture.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Miss 
Reed,  Director  McGill  and  Duncan  McRae  unite  in 
saying  that  the  scenario  is  the  best  they  have  ever  seen 
or  played. 

Miss  Reed  finds  in  this  picture  a  role  which  offers 
her  excellent  opportunities.  It  is  that  of  a  child- 
loving  society  woman  whose  husband  is  profligate  of 
life  and  opportunity.  Mr.  McRae  is  seen  as  the  dis- 
solute husband,  and  also  the  husband's  double,  who 
takes  the  other's  place  in  a  time  of  great  stress  and 
then  keeps  it,  in  utter  ignorance  of  his  own  position. 

Director  McGill  has  had  a  long  experience  both  in 
the  picture  business  and  as  a  theatrical  manager.  He 
has  produced  more  than  three  hundred  and  fifty  photo- 
plays in  six  years,  and  more  than  four  hundred  stage 
plays  in  twenty-five  years.  He  joined  the  Arrow  forces 
only  recently,  being  especially  engaged  to  work  upon 
Pathe  Gold  Rooster  features.  Both  of  the  scenario 
authors,  Messrs.  Levino  and  Thew,  are  newspaper  men 
of  wide  experience  and  have  brought  to  their  work 
that  wide  experience  in  life  which  is  characteristic  of 
newspaper  men  and  so  valuable  in  scenario  work. 

Donald  Mackenzie,  the  Pathe  producer,  has  fin- 
ished his  Gold  Rooster  Play  "The  Precious  Packet," 
and  showed  it  privately  in  the  Pathe  showrooms. 
The  picture  made  a  most  favorable  impression  and 
will  probably  be  placed  upon  the  program  at  an  early 
date.  It  is  adapted  from  the  book  by  Fred  Jackson 
and   features  Ralph  Kellard  and   Lois   Meredith. 


Learns  to  Fly  in  a  Day 
George  Ovey,  of  Cub  Comedy  fame,  is  an  aviator, 
according  to  reports  From  the  David  Horsley  studios. 

ii  took  the  comedian  an  afternoon  to  learn  to  fly  alone 
and  then  he  made  use  of  his  studies,  taking  an  aero- 
plane into  the  cameras  three  times  before  landing, 
And    he    lives    to    tell    it.        These    flights    are    seen    in 

"An  tin  id  the  \\  did."  i  eleased  through  the  Mutual  pro 
gram,  Januarj  28. 


Otto  to  Direct  in  New  York 

Henry  Otto,  Universal  director,  who  recently  com- 
pleted the'  beautiful  photoplay,  "Undine,"  has  been  sent 
to  New  York  by  President  Laemmle.  where  he  is  to  direct 
feature  productions  for  the  Big  U  organization.  Otto 
will  proceed  directly  to  the  new  studios  of  the  Universal 
Company  at  Leonia,  N.  J.,  which  have  just  been  com- 
pleted, and  are  known  as  "Universal  City  Junior." 

Mr.  Otto,  who  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation 
as  an  artistic  director,  has  been  looking  forward  to  re- 
turning to  New  York,  where  five  years  ago  he  was  an 
exponent  of  the  spoken  drama  under  the  management 
of  I  lenrx  Savage.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Friars  Club 
and   other  Gotham   organizations. 

F.  M.  Sanford,  former  manager  for  the  World 
Film  Corporation  at  Dallas.  Tex.,  announces  that  he 
iv  starting  a  motion  picture  manufacturing  company 
at  Kl  Paso.  He  reports  that  he  will  have  120  em- 
ployes  and  will  do  business  as  the  Masterpiece  Photo- 
play Corporation, 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Stage  Star  and  the  Screen 


BY  THOMAS  H.  INCE* 


I  sav 


IT  isn't  the  lure  of  the  lucre.  Of  that  I  am  almost 
sure.  It  isn't  a  hankering  for  new  and  nation- 
wide publicity.  Of  that  I  am  certain.  It  isn't  curi- 
osity. It  isn't  vanity.  It  isn't  persuasion.  But  it  is 
an  awakening  that  has  provoked  and 
is  still  provoking  this  abandonment 
by.  stars  of  the  stage  for  a  position  of 
equal  rank  in  the  realm  of  the  photo- 
drama — an  awakening  to  the  unparal- 
leled possibilities  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture camera,  and  a  realization  that  in 
this  instrument  is  represented  a  field 
greater  than  ever  before  for  worthy 
artistic  achievement. 

The  subject  of  the  stage  star's  re- 
lation to  the  screen  is  one  that  has 
been  treated  frequently  and  at  great 
length  on  numerous  prior  occasions, 
but  not  one  in  five,  I  daresay,  of  the 
writers  •  involved  has  touched  upon 
this  phase  of  it— the  opportunities 
presented  by  the  change.  This,  likely, 
may  be  traced  to  the  fact  that  most  of 
the.  authors  have- lacked  the  chance 
that  I  have  had  of  studying  the  situa- 
tion. By  that,  I  mean  that  I  have  had 
more  admittedly  notable  actors  and 
actresses  under  my  personal  supervi- 
sion than  any  other  of  my  esteemed  confreres 
this,. standing  upon  a  foundation  of  statistics. 

Long  have  I  been  a  believer  in  the  value  of  the 
stage  star  to  the  photodramatic  production.  Possibly, 
it  is  because  I  was  reared  in  the  atmosphere  of  the 
theater  and  am  consequently  prejudiced.  At  any  rate, 
the  value  I  have  always  placed  and  do  still  place  upon 
the  big  stage  star,  as  far  as  concerns  the  motion  pic- 
ture, is  not  alone  that  of  commercialism.  It  is  an  ar- 
tistic value  as  well.  Speaking  in  the  vernacular,  it  is  a 
"fifty-fifty"  proposition:  The  star  does  this  for  the 
films ;  the  films  do  that  for  the  stars.  Let  me  point 
out  how.  I  think  the  deal  is  transacted. 

Among  the  first  reputable  artists  of  the  stage  who 
came  under  my  supervision  was  George  Beban.  For 
years  Mr.  Beban  had  sounded  the  depths  of  emotion 
by  his  masterful  characterizations  before  the  footlights 
— especially  in  his  one  act  play,  "The  Sign  of  the  Rose," 
a  true  dramatic  gem.  I  always  had  been  one  of  his 
staunchest  admirers.  And  yet,  until  I  saw  him  on  the 
screen — saw  the  very  furrows  in  his  face  come  into 
being  as  his  emotions  dictated  their  formation— I  never 
had  accorded  him  the  credit  that  was  due.  In  other 
words,  Mr.  Beban  appealed  to  me,  as  a  spectator,  far 
more  powerfully  by  his  work  on  the  screen  than  by  his 
performance  on  the  stage.  What  of  his  artistry  had 
found  no  medium  of  expression  on  the  stage  found  it 
in  the  studio.  The  limitless  powers  of  the  camera 
sought  out  and  provided  an  outlet  for  his  pantomimic 
abilities.  And  thus  was  "The  Sign  of  the  Rose" — 
now  offered  to  the  public  as  "An  Alien" — elevated  to 
heights  that  it  has  never,   I   believe,  attained  on  the 


I  could  have  cast  about  my  studios  and  selected 
an  actor  to  interpret  that  highly  difficult  part  of  the 
Italian  ditch-digger.  I  could  have  drilled  him  until  he' 
would  have  become  blue  in  the  face.  I  could  have  pro- 
duced the  picture  with  the  same  set- 
tings and  the  same  supporting  cast. 
And  yet  without  Mr.  Beban  it  would 
have  fallen  far  below  the  standard  it 
has  reached. 

Mr.  Beban  was  by  no  means  the 
first  noted  actor  to  desert  the  stage 
for  the  studio.  But  the  achievements 
of  his  predecessors  had  helped  him 
believe  that  by  acting  before  the  lens 
his  talents  would  be  more  appreciated. 
Before  doing  "The  Sign  of  the  Rose," 
he  did  the  Italian,  a  five-reel  produc- 
tion. He  had  but  to  see  himself  per- 
form to  realize  that  the  stage  could 
never  hope  to  provide  him  with  such 
facilities. 

William  S.  Hart  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  striking,  illustration  of  the 
"fifty-fifty"  proposition  I  have  stated.' 
For  twenty  years  he  played  on  the 
stage.  He  was  starred  for  season 
after  season  in  big  Broadway  produc- 
tions. His  name  was  spelled  in  elec- 
tric lights.  The  critics  lauded  his  work,  every  time  he 
opened  in  a  new  role.  His  reputation  among  the  New 
York  managers  was  such  that  virtually  every  time 
there  cropped  up  an  extremely  difficult  part  it  was 
given  to  him,  and  thus  was  the  necessity  of  combing 
the  country  for  a  man  who  could  do  it  justice  avoided. 
A  little  more  than  a  year  ago  I  prevailed  upon  Mr. 
Hart  to  come  to  California  and  work  under  my  direc- 
tion in  a  photoplay.  He  agreed  and  actually  was  sur- 
prised to  note  with  what  swiftness  he,  a  seasoned  actor,- 
had  improved.  He  also  surprised  the  revered  review- 
ers, who  had  believed  that  there  was  no  room  for  im- 
provement, and  moreover  had  often  said  so  in  their 
reviews.  That  is  what  the  photoplay  has  done  for  Mr. 
Hart. 

As  a  result  of  Mr.  Hart's  appearance  on  the  screen, 
the  "western"  drama  quickly  leaped  into  popularity — 
a  new  and  greater  popularity  than  that  which  it  had' 
previously  enjoyed.  Exhibitors  throughout  the  coun- 
try clamored,  and  in  fact,  I  understand,  are  still  clam- 
oring, for  the  Hart  pictures.  There  was  a  sudden 
though  lasting  rejuvenation.  And  that  is  what,  in  turn, 
Mr.  Hart  has  done  for  the  photoplay. 

Bessie  Barriscale  is  another  erstwhile  stage  favo- 
rite who  is  fully  appreciative  of  the  camera's  scope. 
She  is  an  actress  who  does  not  depend  upon  a  winning 
personality  to  gain  her  goal.  And,  being  an  actress, 
she  fills  theaters  with  people  who  go  to  enjoy  the 
experience  of  having  their  emotions  appealed  to  by  art. 
She  has  been  offered  handsome  sums  to  return  to  the 
stage,  but  she  is  a  convert.  She  knows  that  the  stage 
with  all  its  accoutrements,  cannot  help  her  to  entertain 
millions  at  a  time  as  can  the  camera. 

Still  another  more  recent  convert  from  the  legiti- 
mate stage  is  Frank  Keenan,  who  has  been  acclaimed 


300 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


one  of  America's  greatest  character  actors.  Mr.  Kee- 
nan  promised  to  appear  in  one  picture  for  me.  He 
worked  laboriously,  as  he  always  did  on  the  stage,  and 
then  betrayed  a  fear  that,  not  having  the  spoken  word 
to  aid  him  in  the  expression  of  the  drama,  he  would 
prove  of  no  moment  on  the  screen.  He  was  mistaken. 
The  picture  he  did  was  "The  Coward."  Now  he  is 
under  a  two-year  contract  with  me — not  because  he  is 
hoping  to  amass  a  fortune,  mind  you,  but  because  he 
knows  he  can  do  bigger  things  in  the  studio. 

Billie  Burke,  who  a  few  months  ago  completed 
her  first  motion  picture  appearance  under  my  direction, 
presents  an  interesting  citation  of  the  stage-star's  awa- 
kening. I  will  admit  that  Miss  Burke,  through  sheer 
attachment  to  her  stage  duties,  did  not  awaken  until 
she  had  experienced  a  day  under  the  studio  diffusers. 
But  the  awakening  then — when  it  did  come — was  re- 
corded in  most  emphatic  terms  : 

"Oh,  how  I  wish,"  said  Miss  Burke  to  me  when  I 
asked  her  how  she  liked  the  new  work,  "that  I  knew,  a 
few  years  ago,  as  much  about  pantomime  as  I  do  now. 
It  would  have  helped  me  immensely."  Miss  Burke 
spoke  a  truth.  She  is  an  artiste  to  her  finger  tips,  but 
she  has  never  contributed  a  more  delightful  perform- 
ance in  all  her  career  on  the  stage  than  she  has  done 
in  this  motion  picture  production  in  which  she  is  now 
being  seen.  And  I  say  this  not  in  a  spirit  of  reckless- 
ness or  egotistical  enthusiasm,  but  in  the  hope  that  my 
words  will  serve,  in  a  measure,  to  convey  my  conten- 
tion. 

The  man  who  says  that  I  am  partial  to  the  actor 
or  actress  who  has  been  associated  with  the  legitimate 
stage  is  correct.  I  am  partial,  because  I  believe  that 
true  artistry  is  prevalent  in  the  graduate  student  of  the 
drama,  rather  than  in  the  mere  personalities  which 
handsome  and  pretty  faces,  aided  by  that  potent  factor, 
publicity,  have  brought  to  the  fore.  True  artistry  can- 
not find  a  more  pronounced  medium  of  expression  than 
in  the  motion  picture  studio.  And  our  great  American 
actors  and  actresses  are  realizing  it.  That  is  why  they 
are  listening  to  our  offers.    It  is  the  awakening. 

Here  in  the  unrivalled  California  sunshine  they  are 
rubbing  their  eyes  and  joining  hands  in  making  Los 
Angeles  "The  New  Rialto." 


whose  youthful  heart  is  still  filled  with  love  of  play 
and  excitement.  Her  austere  daughter  acts  the  part 
of  a  "wet  blanket"  but  even  then  fails  to  dampen 
Granmum's  ardor.  Two  grandsons  are  her  boon  com- 
panions. 

Miss  Robson  instills  her  youthful  vigor  into  the 
role  of  Granmum,  tangoes,  runs  and  even  climbs  up 
an  ivy  vine  to  surreptitiously  enter  her  home  after 
an  escapade.  Assisting  her  are  a  capable  cast  of  Vita- 
graph  comedians,  including  Hughey  Mack,  Kate  Price, 
William  Shea,  George  Cooper,  Arthur  Cozine,  Belle 
Bruce  and  others.  George  D.  Baker  produced  the  film 
which  is  in  five  parts. 

"Bill  Peter's  Kid,"  a  three-part  comedy  from  the 
coast  company  of  the  Vitagraph,  is  released  on  Sat- 
urday, February  5.  It  is  a  simple  story,  beautifully 
told  under  Rollin  Sturgeon's  direction,  and  shows 
Mary  Anderson  as  a  child  of  the  desert.  She  hunts 
and  kills  rabbits,  skins  them  and  has  for  her  pet  a 
horned  toad  and  a  tame  wolf.  Into  her  life  comes  a 
man  from  the  city,  played  forcefully  by  William  Dun- 
can, who  tells  her  that  "none  of  the  ladies  of  his  ac- 
quaintance would  do  such  things."  Mar)'  goes  away 
to  a  convent,  returns  and  at  the  point  of  her  rifle  forces 
the  city  man  to  admit  that  in  spite  of  her  cruelty  he 
did  really  like  her.  The  role  is  one  of  the  best  that 
Miss  Anderson  has  been  seen  in,  and  the  direction 
leaves  nothing  to  be  desired. 

Edith  Storey,  whose  versatile  talents  have  won 
for  her  fame  and  fortune  under  the  Vitagraph  stand- 
ard, is  seen  in  a  new  role  in  "Jane's  Bashful  Hero," 
released  as  a  one-part  comedy  on  January  31.  Edith 
is  Jane  and  Donald  MacBride  is  Willie,  a  bashful 
young  man.  He  is  lacking  in  the  nerve  necessary  to 
"pop  the  question,"  so  Jane  helps  him  out  with  the 
aid  of  a  dummy  silhouetted  on  the  window  blind. 

In  "The  Wrong  Mr.  Wright,"  Miss  Jewell  Hunt 
plays  the  part  of  the  daughter  of  a  Mr.  Wright  who 
gets  into  the  hotel  room  of  another  Mr.  Wright.  The 
comedy  has  splendid  comedy  situations,  well  brought 
out  under  the  direction  of  C.  Jay  Williams.  It  is  re- 
leased as  a  one-part  comedy  on  Friday,  February  4. 


Four  Vitagraphs  Next  Week 

May  Robson,  Broadway's  favorite  actress,  heads 
the  cast  in  a  new  Vitagraph  Blue  Ribbon  comedy,  that 
in  turn  heads  the  releases  of  that  company  for  the 
week  commencing  January  31.  "A  Night  Out,"  is  the 
vehicle  in  which  Miss  Robson  endears  herself  to  photo- 
play fans  in  an  intensely  amusing  and  original  char- 
acter role. 

Among  the  other  releases  for  that  week  is  a 
Broadway  Star  Feature,  "Bill  Peter's  Kid,"  that  will 
send  thrills  through  even  the  most  hardened  man. 
Mary  Anderson,  sweet  and  girlish,  kills  a  rabbit  and 
proceeds  to  skin  it  with  a  nonchalance  that  belies  the 
tumultuous  emotion  in  her  heart.  "Jane's  Bashful 
Hero,"  gives  a  new  view  of  Edith  Storey  as  the  vil- 
lage belle  in  a  one-part  comedy.  "The  Wrong  Mr. 
Wright"  is  another  comedy  release,  featuring  Jewell 
limit,  "The  Dance  Girl  of  the  Films." 

"A  Night  Out,"  written  in  collaboration  by  Miss 
Robson  and  Charles  T.  Dazey,  who  is  known  for  his 
"In  Old  Kentucky,"  presents  situations  that  enable 
Miss  Robson  tn  demonstrate  her  art.  She  is  casl  as 
Granmum  to  win  mi  a  girlhood  has  been  denied  and 


Lubin's  Sales  Manual  Attractive 

R.  W.  MacFarland  of  the  Lubin  Company  is  pre- 
paring a  series  of  beautifully  colored  sales  manuals  for 
each  of  the  productions  of  that  company,  released 
through  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.  These  are  printed  on  a 
highly  coated  paper,  and  reproduce  in  the  exact  colors 
the  posters  which  are  available  for  each  production. 
The  illustrations  include  those  of  a  half  sheet,  one 
sheet,  three  sheet,  six  sheet  and  twenty-four  sheet.  In 
addition,  the  sales  manual  contains  a  synopsis  of  the 
story  with  the  cast,  and  the  complete  list  of  advertis- 
ing, which  may  be  obtained  on  the  production. 

In  each  of  these  manuals  there  is  also  enclosed, 
9x12  publicity  folders,  indexed  for  quick  reference,  and 
containing  reproductions  of  half  tones  which  the  ex- 
hibitor can  use  in  his  press  matter.  In  other  words, 
the  sales  manuals  give  the  exhibitor  all  the  informa- 
tion necessary  to  the  proper  selection  and  exploitation 
of  a  film. 


Selig's  "Ne'er  Do  Well,"  which  Sol.  Lesser  has 
recently  purchased  for  the  United  States,  has  just 
closed  a  three  weeks'  engagement  at  Chine's  Audi- 
torium, Los  Angeles.  The  production  has  proven  the 
biggest  magnet  since  "The  Clansman." 


February  5,  1916. 


M  O  T  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y 


Keep  Your  Advertising  Clean 

A  WARNING  TO  EXHIBITORS 


THOUSANDS    of    motion    picture    dollars    are    in 
jeopardy!  ,  - 

That  may  sound  like  the  cry  of  a  sensational- 
ist but  it  is  not.  The  statement  is  absolutely  true.  For 
like  mice  gnawing  a  way  into  the  granary,  there  are  those 
In  the  industry,  who,  through  ignorance  and-  greed  for 
gain,  are  fast  undermining  what '  the 
workers — the  thousands  of  right-mind- 
ed men — are  trying  to  build  up. 

The  once  despised  "movie"  has 
become  the  fifth  industry.  Millions 
have  been  taken  out  of  this  business 
.and  millions  are  being  put  back-  into 
it.  And  like  those  who  rushed  madly 
to  California  in  '49  and  thereafter  to 
put  their  all  into  the  ground  in  the 
"hope  of  panning  out  fortunes,  others 
rushed  just  as  madly  to  the  same  scenes 
in  1909  and  thereafter  to  bank  their  all 
•on  sunshine  and  studios.  (Apologies 
to  David  Horsley,  et  al.) 

As  long  -  as  there  are  mansions 
there  will  be  burglars.  As  long  as  rich 
gems  flash  as  the  wearer  passes  under 
the  arc  light  at  the  head  of  the  dark 
street  there  will  be  highwaymen.  As 
long  as  there  are  gold  mines  there  will 
be".claim  jumpers.  So  in  the  film  busi- 
ness, as  long  as  there  are  pictures  there  Uon  7 
Avill  be  parasites. 

These  are  the  ones  who  are  responsible  for  irre- 
sponsible censorship.  These  are  the  ones  who  have 
■caused  the  banker  and  the  business  man  to  hesitate 
about  investing  in  the  motion  picture  business.  These 
men  have  organized  various  companies,  on  paper  chief- 
ly, and,  in  the  vernacular,  have  allowed  the  widows  and 
•orphans  "to  hold  the  bag."  Every  legitimate  film 
manufacturer  has  suffered  just  as  every  legitimate 
gold,  digging  company  in  days  gone  by  suffered  be- 
cause of  the  wildcat  gold  "mining"  corporations  pro- 
moted on  paper. 

What  made  these  gold  "mining"  companies  pos- 
sible? 

Advertising. 

And  what  made  the  "Aim"  companies  possible? 

Advertising. 

But  it  was  advertising  that  saved  the  day  when 
promoters  were  catching  fast-  trains  and  steamships 
during  the  gold  "mining"  craze.  The  government 
would  have  been  helpless  to  a  large  degree  had  not  the 
newspapers  refused  to  take  the  copy  of  these  "get  rich 
and  get  away  quick"  promoters.  And  it  is  advertising 
that  will  save  the  widows  and  orphans  of  the  present 
generation. 

.  Little  by  little  the  newspapers  are  realizing  that 
a  motion  picture  concern  that  does,  not  maufacture 
film  cannot  prosper.  They  are  beginning  "to  refuse  the 
advertising  of  the  company  that  cannot  show  it  has 
what  it  tells  the  prospective  stock  buyer  it  has  in  its 
advertising.  •  Long  ago  the  trade  publications  took  this 
stand  for  the  protection  not  alone  of  the  widows  and 
orphans — for  few  widows  and  orphans  "read  the  trade 
papers — but  in  fairness  to  the  right-minded  men  who 


have  risked  their  all  in  making  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry what  it  is  through  clean  advertising  and  pub- 
licity methods. 

Now  comes  another  parasite  who,  through  adver- 
tising, is  jeopardizing  the  business  and  allowing  the 
manufacturer  to  shoulder  much  of  the  blame  and  all  of 
the  cost.  This  parasite  has  been  with 
us  for  some  time,  but  until  compara- 
tively recently  he  has  been  unable, 
chiefly- because  of  lack  of  cash,  to  do 
much  harm.  But  he  has  been  educated 
to  the  value  of  advertising  and,  has 
saved  his  money  against  this  time  when 
he  could  get  his  proposition  in  print. 

And  he  is  the  man  who  is  making 
capital  out  of  smut. 

He  is  the  man  who  is  giving  the 
reformer  real  reason  to  demand  and  in- 
sist upon  censorship — unlimited  and 
unrestrained. 

Formerly  he  strung  flaming  ban- 
ners across  the  front  of  his  house  and 
announced  that  the  show  was  "for  men 
only."  Now  he  screams  through  scarlet 
letters  that  his  show  is  "for  children 
only."  For  he  has  learned  that  a  sex 
play  or  a  "vampire"  film  cannot  suc- 
ceed in  his  house  unless  he  can  get  the 
mberqer  women  in  also. 

But,  sadder  than  all,  he  is  breaking 
into  the  newspapers,  and  some  of  the  publishers — few 
it  is  to  be  hoped — are  accepting  the  copy. 

Does  this  man  realize  that  he  is  undermining  not 
only  his  own  business  but  is  endangering  the  entire 
industry?  He  more  than  likely  would  scoff  at  such  a 
statement. 

■  Does  he  realize  that  the  few  dirty  dimes  he  is 
getting  as  a  result  of  this  advertising  will  cost  him 
many  dollars  when  the  time  comes  for  him  to  get  his 
theater  back  to  the  condition  where  decent  people  will 
help  him  prosper?  He  doesn't  and  he  is  too  greedy 
and  short-sighted  to  see  it  anyway. 

But  this  article  is  not  directed  at  him.  It  is  in- 
tended for  the  man  about  to  open  a  theater.  It  is  a 
warning  and  probably  needed  only  by  a  few.  But 
these  few  are  worth  while  addressing  when  it  is  con- 
sidered that  every  filthy  advertisement  is  a  weapon  in 
the  hands  of  those  who  say  that  motion  pictures  are  a 
menace  to  the  morals  of  youth. 
Keep  your  advertising  clean. 

Ask  any  manufacturer  how  much  success  he  has 
had  with  films  which  have  had  filth  as  the  chief  reason 
for  their  production.  Ask  any  producer  how  long  smut 
shows  live.  Ask  any  successful  theater  owner  the  cost 
of  living  down  a  sensational  presentation  of  a  question- 
able production.  Ask  any  body  of  exhibitors  in  any 
city  cursed  with  censorship  why  the  members  of  local 
boards  are  ever  on  the  watch  for  an  opportunity  to  cut 
films. 

And  when  any  of  these  men  tell  you  the  truth,  you 
will  realize  it  is  advertising.  And  if  you  will  stop  and 
think  and  study  your  people  around  you  with  an  honest 
view  to  getting  honest   dimes   and   dollars   into  your 


302 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


house  you  will  realize,  as  have  the  men  who  produce 
your  pictures,  that  only  advertising  can  save  the  situ- 
ation and  censor  censorship. 

So  when  you  advertise,  be  it  on  billboards,  ban- 
ners, or  in  newspapers — 

KEEP  YOUR  ADVERTISING  CLEAN. 

Editor's  note — This  article  was  suggested  by  a  story  in 
the  weekly  V.  L.  S.  E.  house  organ,  The  Big  Four  Family,  and 
which  was  written  by  Leon  J.  Bamberger,  manager  of  the  sales 
promotion  department  of  that  organization.  Mr.  Bamberger  al- 
ways has  been  in  the  fight  for  clean  films  and  his  recent  article 
is  a  rigorous  indictment  of  the  exhibitor  who  attempts  to  capi- 
talize upon  the  base  element  of  his  community  through  repre- 
senting a  picture  to  be  suggestive  and  salacious.  Every  ex- 
hibitor who  sees  The  Big  Four  Family  should  turn  back  to  that 
article,  read  it  again  and  loan  it  to  his  competitor. 


Newman's  New  Chicago  Address 

The  Newman  Manufacturing  Company,  manufac- 
turer of  a  complete  line  of  brass  poster  frames,  easels, 
railings,  ticket  choppers,  and  other  theater  equipment, 
with  factories  located  at  Cincinnati,  New  York  and 
Chicago,  reports  that  the  Chicago  plant,  located  at  108 
West  Lake  street,  suffered  a  total  loss  by  fire  on  Janu- 
ary 14.  Temporary  quarters  have  been  obtained  at 
68  West  Washington  street,  Chicago.  All  of  the  con- 
tracts of  the  Chicago  plant  are  now  being  executed  by 
the  Cincinnati  factory  of  the  company,  where  an  addi- 
tional force  has  been  put  on  in  order  to  take  care  of 
the  emergency,  so  as  to  cause  no  undue  delay  in  filling 
orders. 

AYalter  J.  Newman,  who  has  charge  of  the  tempo- 
rary quarters  in  Chicago,  has  shaped  up  things  with 
remarkable  dispatch,  and  states  that  there  positively 
will  be  no  interruption  to  business.  He  will  be  glad 
to  receive  his  friends  at  the  new  location.  The  com- 
pany reports  an  excellent  business  at  the  New  York 
factory,  located  at  101  Fourth  avenue,  and  at  the  Cin- 
cinnati plant,  717  Sycamore  street,  and  the  outlook  for 
the  year  1916  more  than  encouraging. 


Augustus  Phillips  Goes  to  Universal 

Augustus  Phillips,  late  Edison  star  and  director,  has 
joined  Universal.  Manager  Julius  Stern  has  assigned 
him  to  a  strong  part  in  "Why  Mrs.  Kentworth  Lied," 
which  Director  Matt  Moore  is  producing  and  also  appear- 
ing in,  making  two  directors  in  the  acting  cast  of  one 
picture.  Mr.  Phillips  has  long  been  considered  one  of 
Edison's  most  popular  players.  He  has  been  with  that 
studio  for  almost  four  years,  with  legions  of  admirers 
that  continued  appearance  in  one  firm's  films  gives  the 
actor.  "Why  Mrs.  Kentworth  Lied,"  which  is  a  comedy 
in  two  reels,  finds  the  popular  Jane  Gail  as  leading 
woman. 


Initiation  No  Joke  Says  Burger 

J.  K.  Burger,  the  Pathe  comptroller,  relates  with 
pride  thai  on  his  recenl  business  trip  to  the  coast,  on 
which  trip  he  took  his  wife  and  two  children,  the 
Blackfeel  [ndians  adopted  the  two  little  Burgers  into 
their  tribe.  "And  say,"  says  "Joe,"  "that  initiation  was 
jusl  about  as  expensive  as  that  in  an  exclusive  New 
York  club.  I  --pent  nearly  se\  enty  li\  e  dollars  in 
Miioki^  for  the  bucks,  trinkets  for  the  squaws  and 
candy  For  the  papooses.  If  the  Sioux  or  the  Iroquois 
or  any  other  tribe  offer  to  take  the  kids  in  I'm  going 
to  sidestep." 


Lucille  Taft  of  Gaumont 

Lucille  Taft,  the  charming,  dark  eyed  leading 
woman  for  Richard  Garrick's  company  of  Gaumont 
players,  who  appear  in  the  Mutual  Program  in  Rialto 
Star  Features,  is  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  theory 
that  it  pays  to  work 
hard. 

Seven  years  ago 
Lucille  Taft  went 
into  the  motion  pic- 
tures. Her  pretty 
dark  hair  and  ex- 
pressive face  made 
her  part  i  c  u  1  a  r  1  y 
adaptible  for  screen 
purposes,  and  she 
has  been  enormous- 
ly popular.  Some 
months  ago  she 
went  out  in  the  Gau- 
mont  studio  at 
Flushing  and  asked 
Director  Richard 
Garrick  to  let  her 
play  extra  parts.  Mr. 
Garrick  gave  her  a 
part.  She  played  her 

role     so     well,     and  Lucille  Taft. 

photographed    so 

beautifully,  that  Mr.  Garrick  decided  to  keep  her  on 
permanently.  She  was  not  elevated  to  the  position  of 
leading  woman  immediately.  But  Miss  Taft  is  quite 
sure  that  it  was  willingness  to  work  at  all  times  and 
at  all  things  which  made  Mr.  Garrick  think  her  de- 
serving of  it. 

She  appeared  to  good  advantage  in  the  three-part 
Rialto  Star  Feature  picture  released  some  time  ago, 
"The  Card  Players,"  in  which  she  played  in  support 
of  William  Roselle.  She  played  opposite  Hal  Forde 
in  "Lessons  in  Love."  At  present  she  is  playing  op- 
posite Malcolm  Williams,  the  well  known  Broadway 
star,  in  the  first  Gaumont  Masterpicture.  which  will' 
be  released  through  the  Mutual  later. 

Miss  Taft  is  right  at  home  at  the  Gaumont's 
winter  studios  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.  She  used  to  visit 
there  when  she  was  a  child,  and  many  of  her  old  play- 
mates and  school  friends  live  in  that  beautiful  tropical 
city. 


Women  Are  for  Kerrigan 

Universal  City,  which  became  a  municipality  early 
last  July,  is  looking  forward  to  an  exciting  mayoralty 
campaign  this  spring.  The  city  is  at  proem  divided 
into  two  factions,  the  Progressives,  favoring  Herbert 
Rawlinson,  the  present  mayor,  who  was  appointed  by 
President  Carl  Laemmle,  and  the  Universalites,  who 
are  trying  to  induce  J.  Warren  Kerrigan  to  toss  his 
hat  into  the  ring.  Kerrigan,  who  is  at  present  alder- 
man of  the  second  ward,  is  very  popular  with  the 
residents  of  this  ward  and  is  said  to  ha\  e  a  good  chance 
of  defeating  Rawlinson  should  he  decide  to  run.  So 
far  he  has  refused  to  be  interviewed  on  the  subject. 
Rawlinson,  however,  is  depending  on  his  clean  record 
to  win  him  a  second  term,  although  he  is  rather  fear- 
ful of  the  suffrage  vote,  for  Kerrigan  i<  high  in  favor 
with  the  women  voters,  strong  in  numbers  at  Uni- 
versal City. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Favors  State  Rights  Plan 

BEYFUSS  EXPLAINS  POLICY 


MANUFACTURERS  of  unusual  feature  produc- 
tions of  superior  quality  and  box  office  pulling 
power  will  soon  realize  that  state  rights,  after  all, 
is  the  distributing  plan  that  returns  the  largest  amount 
■of  profit  to  the  producer,  is  the  statement  made  by  Alex- 
ander E.  Beyfuss  in  an  interview  regarding  the  new 
policy  of  the  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  of 
which  he  is  vice-president  and  general  manager. 

Mr.  Beyfuss  cited  the  method  of  getting  the 
money  out  of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  most  of  the 
rights  for  which  are  still  held  by  the  Epoch  Producing 
Corporation,  which  company  bought  the  production 
outright  from  Griffith,  the  manufacturer.  In  addition, 
the  operating  company  has  sold  the  rights  to  the  pro- 
duction for  more  than  a  score  of  states.  He  also 
mentioned  "The  Spoilers,"  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace," 
and  "The  Ne'er-Do- Well"  as  examples  of  films  that 
have  been  successful  because  of  state  rights  distribu- 
tion. 

"The  manufacturer,  thus  having  received  the 
greatest  returns  from  his  product,  has  been  encour- 
aged to  make  other  pictures  that  will  stand  on  their 
•own  merits,"  said  Mr.  Beyfuss.  "This  is  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  industry.  The  manufacturer  is  the 
backbone  of  the  business ;  he  should  be  encouraged. 

"Believing  fully  in  these  facts  we  have  decided 
io  release  'The  Unwritten  Law'  by  state  rights.  Sev- 
eral program  companies  offered  us  large  sums  for 
'The  Unwritten  Law,'  but  we  are  firmly  convinced 
that  this  is  a  'better  than  program'  feature. 

"This  is  not  our  opinion  only.  Every  critic  of 
the  motion  picture  press  pronounced  it  a  strong  fea- 
ture. Three  general  managers  of  film  companies 
proved  how  highly  they  thought  of  the  picture  by  the 
attractive  figure  they  offered  for  it.  Each  one  stated 
'he  wanted  it  to  strengthen  his  program. 

"We  have  no  quarrel  with  the  program  distribu- 
tors. We  believe  that  the  average  feature  should  be 
released  through  the  program  company.  The  excep- 
tional   feature,    however,    will    earn    more    money   for 


both  exhibitor  and  manufacturer  if  it  is  handled  by  a 
state  rights  buyer  who  gives  his  entire  attention  not 
only  to  the  selling,  advertising  and  proper  presenta- 
tion, but  who  is  not  limited  to  a  fixed  program  price. 

"For  instance,  in  San  Francisco  a  certain  theater 
offered  us  $1,500  for  the  first  week's  showing  of  one 
of  our  features,  but  because  another  house  had  con- 
tracted for  the  program  we  were  releasing  on  we  re- 
ceived only  $500  for  the  same  showing,  and  our  pres- 
tige was  not  helped  any  by  being  in  the  'second'  the- 
ater. 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  contract  rate  of  our  re- 
leasing company  in  certain  smaller  towns  in  the  south 
was  $25  per  day,  which  was  more  than  the  drawing 
power  of  the  picture  in  that  territory  warranted. 

"This  kept  exhibitors  from  booking  the  picture. 
Whereas  we  might  have  received  $15  per  day  we  did 
not  get  anything  in  the  south.  We  lost  money  in 
the  coast  by  the  price  being  too  low  and  in  the  south 
by  the   price   being  too   high." 

The  directors  of  the  California  Motion  Picture 
Corporation  are  firmly  convinced  that  the  demand  is 
for  quality  pictures,  hence  they  will  only  release  six 
pictures  this  year,  but  these  six  pictures  must  be  bet- 
ter than  program  or  they  will  not  be  released. 

"Better  Than  Program  Quality"  will  hereafter 
be  the  California  slogan.  The  company  is  free  to  adopt 
this  policy  because  it  is  not  hampered  by  release  dates 
or  contract  with  any  program  company. 


Ocean  Film  Fights  Pennsy  Board 

The  Ocean  Film  Corporation  has  declared  war  on 
the  Pennsylvania  Board  of  Censors  because  of  the  con- 
demnation of  "Life  Without  Soul,"  the  initial  release 
of  the  Ocean  company.  Legal  steps  have  been  taken 
to  force  the  issuance  of  a  permit,  "for,"  contends  Gen- 
eral Manager  Goldburg,  "if  Chicago  was  willing  to 
pass  this  feature,  certainly   Pennsylvania   should  fol- 


Two  scenes  from   "The    Unwritten   L, 


is  Michclena    is    starred    by    the    California    Motion    Picture    Corforath 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6.  ■ 


LESSER  MOVES  TO  NEW  YORK 

Pacific  Coast  Film  Distributor  to  Market  "The  Ne'er- 
do-well"  from  East.     San  Francisco  Showing 
a  Success 

Sol  L.  Lesser,  who  owns  the  Selig  production,  "The 
Ne'er-do-well,"  has  gone  to  New  York  and,  according 
to  reports,  will  make  his  headquarters  in  that  city  here- 
after. He  has  taken  his  family  with  him.  San  Fran- 
cisco, for  the  time  being  at  least,  will  have  to  do  without 
this  young  film  magnate  who  has  done  so  much  to  make 
screen  history  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Mr.  Lesser's  special  representative,  E.  M.  Asher, 
who  has  been  in  Chicago  at  the  Selig  headquarters  since 
Mr.  Lesser  purchased  the  United  States  rights  for  the 
Rex  Beach  production,  also  has  gone  to  New  York.  He 
reports  that  "The  Ne'er-do-w'.eH"  opened  to  capacity 
business  at  the  Portola  theater,  San  Francisco,  January 
23,  and  that  so  far  the  house  record  has  been  broken. 

Mr.  Lesser  hasn't  decided  just  how  he  will  market 
the  production.  He  declares  he  has  received  several 
offers  for  exclusive  productions  in  legitimate  houses  and 
that  several  state  rights  buyers  have  bid  for  territory. 
When  he  gets  settled  in  New  York'  he  will  announce  his 
presentation  plans. 

Knickerbocker  Star  Shows  Balboa's 

The  Knickerbocker  Star  Features,  released  on  the 
General  Film  Company  program,  began  their  1916  show- 
ing with  four  productions  from  the  studio  of  the  Hork- 
heimer  Brothers  in  Long  Beach  Two  of  these  pictures 
feature  Jackie  Saun- 
ders, generally 
known  as  "the  Bal- 
boa girl." 

The  first  is  a 
five-reeler,  called  "A 
Daughter  of  the 
Woods."  This  is  a 
close-to-nature  story, 
in  which  Miss  Saun- 
ders has  a  chance  to 
play  with  the  care 
free  abandon  which 
is  her  best  asset.  In 
the-  other  piece,  en- 
titled "The  Heart- 
breakers,"  she  has  a 
more  dramatic  role. 

Paul  Gilmore  is 
the  featured  player 
in  "Houses  of  Mys- 
tery." This  is  a 
story  of  adventure 
and  smuggling,  in 
which  a  wealth  of  scenic  beauty  is  revealed. 

"Crimes  of  Circumstance"  is  the  fourth  Balboa- 
Knickerbocker  Star  feature.  The  cast  interpreting  it  is 
particularly  attractive,  as  it  includes  L.  J.  Cody,  Made- 
line Pardee,  R.  Henry  Grey,  Mollie  McConnell,  Daniel 
<  riftether  and  Fred  Whitman.  Bertram  Bracken  directed 
the  production. 

Gilfether,  by  the  way,  has  carried  a  life  insurance 

policy  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.     Recently  he  received 

.in  inquiry  from  the  company  as  to  his  health  and  if  he 

were  still  able  to  work.     "If  you  fellows  will  just    take 

i  the  first  two  installments  of  'The  Red  Circle,'" 


he  wrote  them,  "you'll  soon  find  out  whether  your  victim 
is  in  good  health." 

Mr.    Gilfether   rides   a    bucking   horse    and    runs    a 
foot  race  in  spite  of  his  sixty-four  years. 


TELLS  HOW  TO  BEAT  CENSORS 

David    Horsley    Advises    Exhibitors    to    Join    Local 

Chambers   of   Commerce   and   Interest   Other 

Business  Men  in  Fight 

In  his  persistent  fight  to  end  local  censorship,  Da- 
vid Horsley  has  issued  another  statement  that  should 
be  of  interest  to  every  person  connected  with  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry.  Much  of  what  is  contained  in 
his  letter  has  been  said  by  him  at  the  recent  meetings 
in  Los  Angeles  but  in  the  hope  that  exhibitors  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  who  are  fighting  censorship  will 
be  given  courage  and  inspiration  in  the  knowledge 
that  manufacturers  like  Mr.  Horsley  are  behind  them 
the  statement  is  published.    It  follows : 

"There  is  a  matter  I  have  been  agitating  among 
exhibitors  whenever  I  meet  them — one  that  should  be 
taken  up  in  a  national  way.  Exhibitors  in  some  places 
now  maintain  organizations  of  their  own  to  fight  harm- 
ful measures.  .  In  such  places  where  censorship  is  exer- 
cised, hdwever,  the  organization  has  very  little,  if  any, 
influence  on  the  officials  of  a  city.  This  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  little  interest  is  taken  in  the  censorship  ques- 
tion except  by  the  first  or  second  run  men. 

"The  thirty,  sixty  and  ninety  day  men  can  sit  back 
and  reap  the  benefits  of  the  fight  to  get  a  picture 
through  that  the  early  run  exhibitors  must  put  up,  and 
as  a  consequence  assume  the  attitude  :  'Well,  I  should 
worry.  Those  fellows  have  got  to  get  the  pictures 
through  or  close  their  shows  and  once  they  get  .them 
through  I  get  them.  If  they  don't  get  them  through 
there  are  plenty  of  pictures  that  do  get  through  to  keep 
me  going.'  So  the  burden  is  thrown  on  the  early  ex- 
hibitors. 

"Even  if  the  organization  comprises  nearly  all  the 
exhibitors  of  the  town,  it  is  numerically  of  little  con- 
sequence from  a  political  standpoint,  as  the  average 
official  is  a  politician  who  considers  only  voting 
strength. 

"Now,  then,  with  only  the  first  and  second  run 
exhibitors  fighting-censorship -with  little  or  no  backing 
from  a  none  too  large  organization,  it  readily  can  be 
seen  how  little  good  can  be  accomplished  in  this  direc- 
tion. 

"Therefore  to  make  better  progress,  I  suggest  that 
the  exhibitors  join  the  local  Chamber  of  Commerce  or 
Board  of  Trade.  They  would  get  sufficient  numerical 
strength  besides  the  voting  strength,  the  interest,  the 
influence  and  the  power  of  the  entire  business  commu- 
nity. One  active  exhibitor  in  a  Chamber  of  Commerce 
or  Board  of  Trade  can  do  more  good  with  the  backing 
of  such  an  organization  than  he  could  by  having  every 
exhibitor  in  his  city  enrolled  in  a  separate  organization 
and  helping  him.  An  exhibitors'  organization,  too,  is 
costly  to  maintain  and  in  the  way  of  eradicating  cen- 
sorship produces  very  little,  if  any.  results." 

Mr.  Horsley's  suggestion  is  good  and  if  followed 
should  be  the  means  of  ridding  a  cit\  or  state  of  ob- 
noxious censorship. 


The  first  weekly  Paramount-Burton  Holmes  trav- 
elogue  will  be  released  February  7. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Dramatic  Music  and  the  Big  Picture 


BY  ORVILLE  MAYHOOD 


Orville   Mayho, 


WHEN,  less  than  one  year  ago, 
I  was  tendered  the  conductor- 
ship  of  the  New  York  produc- 
tion of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  it 
was  with  many  doubts  and  misgiv- 
ings I  entered  upon  my  new  field  of 
endeavor.  I  feared  my  eyes  would 
find  the  strain  too  great  and  was 
quite  sure  the  two  daily  performances 
of  three  hours  duration  each  would 
prove  a  bit  too  strenuous  if  continued 
indefinitely.  Needless  to  say  my  fears 
were  groundless  and  I  am  in  the  mo- 
tion picture  game  today. 

To  a  conductor,  accustomed  to 
controlling  flesh  and  blood  singers 
and  dancers  with  a  beat  or  stop  of  his 
baton,  the  realization  of  the  fact  that 
the  silent  shadows  passing  before  his 
eyes  are  utterly  beyond  his  control 
gives  him  at  first  a  feeling  of  help- 
lessness and  irritation. 

How  often  during  my  first  days 
of  conducting  the  great  picture  did  I 
address  a  silent  but  no  less  fervid  prayer  to  the  figures 
before  me — "Move  more  quickly,  Mr." — or  a  "little 
slower,  Miss"— and  wish  that  I  might  wield  the  "big 
stick"  of  conductors  and  stage  managers — "Rehearsal 
tomorrow  at  10:30,"  but  alas,  not  for  me  that  re- 
venge— they  are  immune,  those  lucky  ones — and  I 
came  back  to  the  knowledge  that  I  was  pitting  nerv- 
ous energy  and  musical  skill  against  steel,  celluloid 
and  electricity  and  must  by  hook  or  crook  fit  the  music 
to  that  inexorable  procession  of  silent  figures. 

The  approximate  synchronization  of  a  score  to  a 
picture  by  a  composer  or  compiler  is  in  itself  a  task 
requiring  patience  and  musical  knowledge,  but  after  it 
is  once  set  his  task  is  done.  But  the  labor  of  the  con- 
ductor, like  the  immortal  brook,  "goes  on  forever." 

My  years  of  experience  in  almost  all  branches  of 
my  profession,  or  shall  I  say  art — from  grand  opera 
to  military  band — stood  me  in  good  stead  and  though 
often  I  feared  some  accident  in  the  operating  booth 
would  necessitate  an  instant  repeat  or  "cut"  in  the 
music  to  prevent  a  "bad  break"  in  the  ensemble  of 
picture  and  scores,  the  nervousness  I  may  have  felt 
was  seldom,  if  ever,  communicated  to  my  men. 

Anyone  with  even  rudimentary  musical  knowl- 
edge knows  the  dramatic  effect  of  a  certain  diminu- 
endo or  perhaps  a  crescendo  or  "cut  off"  at  some  point 
in  an  operatic  or  symphonic  score,  but  in  my  opinion 
the  great  psychological  value  of  music  accompanying 
the  human  vision  and  thought  and  imagination  has 
never  until  the  present  been  realized  or  even  surmised. 

After  almost  one  year  of  conducting  "The  Birth 
of  a  Nation"  (or  about  600  times)  I  find  almost  daily 
a  place  here  and  there  in  the  score  in  which  I  make  a 
slight  change  as  an  experiment  with  a  view  to  im- 
provement. It  may  be  a  chord  sustained  a  moment 
longer,  a  muted  trumpet  when  before  it  was  open  or 
the  violins  made  to  play  an  octave  higher.    Sometimes 


and  the  first  reading  is  reverted  to,  but 
as  a  rule  I  believe  a  conductor  who  is 
"en  rapport"  with  his  picture  almost 
unceasingly  can  make  improvement 
even  though  slight  and  perhaps  realized 
only  by  himself  at  the  time. 

But  after  all — one  number  and 
scene  perfectly  synchronized  will  not  go 
far  toward  making  a  picture  successful 
— but  the  entire  score  and  the  entire 
picture  must  be  made  absolutely  one 
from  the  rise  to  the  fall  of  the  curtain. 
And  not  only  must  music  be  perfectly 
timed  but  the  music  must  act  as  the 
absolute  interpreter  of  the  pantomime 
passing  on  the  screen. 

And  after  it  has  all  been  studied 
out  and  worked  over  until  the  combi- 
nation of  picture  and  score  seems  al- 
most perfect  there  unexpectedly  looms 
up  the  psychological  problem — and 
where  a  certain  effect  or  perhaps  a 
Nation."  trick  in  the  orchestra  combined  with 

a  corresponding  movement  on  the 
screen  has  never  failed  to  bring  a  round  of  applause  in 
one  city,  the  same  combination  may  fail  in  another. 
To  illustrate — those  who  have  seen  "The  Birth  of  a 
Nation"  will  remember  the  scene  in  which  the  hero's 
mother  appeals  to  Lincoln  to  grant  her  son  a  pardon  from 
the  death  of  a  guerilla,  and  how  Lincoln  after  first  refus- 
ing finally  yields  to  her  prayers  and,  rising,  places  in  her 
hands  the  precious  document.  In  New  York  at  the 
climax  of  this  scene  I  always  subdued  the  orchestra  to 
almost  a  whisper  and  the  burst  of  applause  seemed  to  be 
spontaneous.  In  Chicago  I  find  I  must  bring  the  orches- 
tra up  to  a  forte  and  the  applause  as  surely  follows. 

There  is  in  the  first  act  a  wonderful  portraiture,  of 
Lee's  surrender  to  Grant.  In  New  York  I  was  able  to 
get  the  real  spontaneous  outburst  of  applause  by 
"planting"  the  accompanying  music  "My  Country"  a 
second  before  the  gradual  dawning  of  the  tableau.  In 
Chicago  the  opposite  is  the  case  and  the  picture  must 
be  "planted"  in  dead  silence  and  the  music  gradually 
worked  up  to  a  climax  with  the  scene. 

I  mention  these  two  instances  to  bear  out  my  asser- 
tion that  a  conductor  will  have  such  problems  to  contend 
with  and  overcome,  with  each  and  every  great  picture 
and  doubtless  in  each  and  every  city.  One  great  diffi- 
culty in  conducting  for  a  picture  is  the  temptation  to  be- 
come temporarily  absorbed  in  the  music — perhaps  one's 
favorite  classic  or  an  old  melody  one  loves — and  to  con- 
duct "con  amore."  Therein  lies  disaster  with  any  direc- 
tor, for  there  is  no  sentiment  in  that  speedometer  in  the 
operating  booth  and  the  conductor  comes  out  of  the 
clouds  to  find  himself  behind  or  ahead  of  his  scene.  In 
time,  however,  with  his  increasing  intimacy  with  the  pic- 
ture he  will  find  many  opportunities  to  show  technical 
skill  and  give  an  artistic  and  effective  reading  of  some 
delightful  bit  of  music  without  jeopardizing  his  syn- 
chronization. 

Of  equal  importance  with  the  conductor  is  his  or- 
chestra.   It  must  be  of  the  first  grade — composed  of  men 


these  changes  do  not  make  the  point  I  am  striving  for     absolutely  masters  of  their  instruments,  men  able  to  stand 


306 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


tip  under  the  daily  six  hours'  physical  and  mental  strain 
—men  of  routine  experience — and  though  not  plentiful, 
men  with  all  these  qualifications  can  be  found.  The 
major  share  of  my  success  in  this  new  field  is,  I  believe, 
to  be  accredited  to  my  splendid  orchestras  in  both  Chi- 
cago and  New  York.  I  believe  the  orchestra  and  con- 
ductor of  a  great  picture  must  work  hand  in  glove  with 
each  other  and  the  organizations  I  have  had  the  pleasure 
of  conducting  in  these  two  cities  have  been  as  two  big 
families  and  by  good  fellowship  and  honesty  of  purpose 
have  made  smooth  a  road  that  is  so  easily  made  rough. 

Last,  but  far  from  least,  comes  "My  friend — the 
enemy."  the  operator.  He  is  quite  an  artist  too — becomes 
temperamental  at  times — independent  of  schedule  and 
speedometer,  and  gives  the  conductor  a  few  more  or  less 
interesting  seconds  where  he  least  expects  the  lightning 
to  strike ;  but  the  operators  with  whom  I  have  been  as- 
sociated have  been  good  fellows  in  every  sense  of  the 
term  and  have  shown  marked  willingness  to  give  me  any 
and  every  aid  toward  the  smooth  and  effective  perform- 
ance, the  sine  qua  non  of  success. 

Perhaps  few,  if  any,  other  pictures  will  ever  contain 
the  dramatic  and  musical  coup  Mr.  Griffith  achieved  when 
he,  by  a  real  stroke  of  genius,  introduced  that  crashing 
minor  third — shrilled  by  the  concealed  trumpet,  the  weird, 
half-mournful,  wholly  terrible  signal  call  of  the  Vig- 
ilantes of  the  south — the  Ku-Klux  Klan. 

The  ghastly  cry  of  that  brazen  voice  will  be  remem- 
bered long  after  every  other  note  in  the  long  and  effective 
score  has  been  forgotten.  And  now  that  the  gigantic 
motion  picture  with  its  equally  gigantic  and  intricate  mu- 


sical setting  has  come  to  stay,  let  me,  as  a  musician,  pay 
sincere  tribute  to  D.  W.  Griffith,  the  man  who  has  opened 
up  new  realms  for  us  to  conquer  and  has  given  to  many 
musicians  directly  and  to  each  and  every  musician  indi- 
rectly, be  he  composer,  conductor  or  instrumentalist,  op- 
portunities for  our  material  and  artistic  betterment. 


M.  G.  Watkins  Made  Secretary 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  American  Standard  Motion  Picture  Corporation, 
held  at  its  offices,  164  West  Washington  street,  Chi- 
cago, last  week,  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected 
for  the  ensuing  year  :  Samuel  Quinn  *  president ;  Taylor 
A.  Snow,  vice-president;  M.  G.  Watkins,  secretary  and 
general  manager;  and  James  H.  Quinn.  treasurer.  The 
board  of  directors  reported  the  company  in  a  satisfac- 
tory financial  condition,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
it  was  started  just  about  the  time  the  present  Euro- 
pean war  broke  out,  thus  making  the  sale  of  stock 
rather  difficult.  A  dividend  of  five  per  cent  was  de- 
clared which  will  be  paid  during  the  month  of  Janu- 
ary. 

It  is  understood  that  the  American  Standard  will 
commence  releasing  the  productions  of  its  subsidiary 
companies  in  the  very  near  future.  The  Emerald  Com- 
pany, one  of  the  last  to  be  organized,  has  been  delayed 
in  its  productions  on  account  of  the  weather,  but  it  is 
said  will  begin  the  staging  of  its  features  not  later 
than  January  31. 


ted.  left  to  nght,  are  J.  S.    Hebrew.    Philadelphia    manager; 

ana-  .  ,!,,iii   general   manauci  ; 

i  ,,,,„„, ,,„,„;   K.   ,S.    (  I, nk.    \,-;c    1  orb;   /'.'.    Mowery.   Philadelphia;  J.     X.  I  rieson.    Xew    York;   .1.    I.   Sicoel,   i 
Butler,   Boston,   I.   I'.   Ho  .,,„,    advertising    and    publici 


.    Philadelphia;   Pi  an/ 


.    Washington;   S.    P.    barber.   New'  York;    I  ■'.    IV.    Grady.    /■'.'■■ 


■ge  Balston,  Boston  manager: 
,d  publicity;  second  rou — /.  C. 
iv  to  geni    a 

I    ■.;-.  ■  / .  /.  Bam- 


February  5,  1916. 


OTOGRAPHY 


307 


Lasky  Organizes  Film  Men 

GETS  PRODUCERS  TOGETHER 


FOR  the  purpose  of  getting  the  producers  of  the 
country  banded  together  so  that  concerted  action 
can  be  taken  whenever  the  industry  is  menaced 
by  irresponsible  persons  or  organizations,  Jesse  L. 
Lasky,  president  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play 
Company,  is  in  New  York. 

When  the  reformers  of  Los  Angeles  recently  de- 
clared war  on  the  film  manufacturers  who  have  done 
so  much  for  the  development  of  the  Southern  Cali- 
fornia metropolis,  the  leaders  in  the  film  field  organ- 
ized the  Motion  Picture  Producers'  Protective  Asso- 
ciation. Mr.  Lasky  was  one  of  the  founders.  This 
organization  was  successful  in  cementing  a  closer 
friendship  between  the  Los  Angeles  authorities  and 
citizens,  and  the  studio  colonies,  with  the  result  that  it 
has  been  planned  to  advertise  the  city  throughout  the 
world  by  use  of  a  film  label. 

The  success  in  Los  Angeles  pointed  a  way  to 
greater  work  for  the  benefits  of  all  in  the  manufactur- 
ing end  of  the  business  and  so  Mr.  Lasky  combined  a 
personal  business  trip  with  one  in  the  interest  of  the 
new  organization.  Several  producers  in  the  east  al- 
ready have  signified  a  desire  to  join  their  West  Coast 
friends. 

"The  benefits  which  will  come  from  such  an  asso- 
ciation," said  Mr.  Lasky,  "are  many.  This  organiza- 
tion primarily  is  one  in  which  the  problems  of  produc- 
ing rather  than  the  problems  of  business  will  be  met 
and  solved. 

"One  of  the  association's  first  steps  in  Los  An- 
geles will  be  the  elimination  for  all  time  of  the  con- 
stantly recurring  difficulties  between  the  studios  over 
players  who  disregard  contracts.  With  the  eastern 
manufacturers  also  members  of  the  association  this 
adjustment  can  be  made  to  cover  all  the  companies. 
Contract  jumpers,  so-called,  present  only  one  problem 
that  has  arisen  as  a  result  of  the  rapid  and  extra- 
ordinary growth  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 

"Members  of  the  association  also  believe  that  with 
such  an  organization  some  equitable  solution  will  be 
reached  in  the  salary  question.  I  do  not  hesitate  to 
say  that  at  the  present  time  the  salaries  received  by 
some  of  the  stars  are  wholly  out  of  keeping  with  good 
business  and  sound  growth. 

"During  one  of  our  first  meetings  it  was  estimated 
with  some  degree  of  correctness  that  there  are  in  Los 
Angeles  approximately  fifteen  thousand  persons  ac- 
tively engaged  each  day  in  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try. It  also  is  estimated  that  about  twenty-five  mil- 
lion dollars  is  spent  annually  by  the  film  companies  in 
and  around  Los  Angeles.     I  think  this  is  fair  estimate. 

"About  a'  year  ago  there  developed  in  Los  Angeles 
a  feeling  of  hesitancy  in  extending  co-operation  to  mo- 
tion picture  manufacturers.  I  should  like  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  now,  partly  as  a  result  of  the  newly  formed 
organization  and  because  of  other  causes,  the  people 
and  the  city  government  of  Los  Angeles-  are  inclined 
to  meet  the  producers  more  than  half  way.  For  this 
reason  I  feel  that  if  any  eastern  producers  contemplat- 
ing moving  to  the  west  have  hesitated  about  doing  so, 
I  may  give  them  every  assurance  that  present  condi- 
tions are  splendid. 


"When  it  was  first  reported  that  there  was  a  cer- 
tain dissatisfaction  among  the  Los  Angeles  producers, 
it  was  interesting  to  note  the  cordial  invitations  which 
were  extended  to  the  film  companies  by  other  cities. 
Those  invitations  which  came  to  the  Lasky  studio 
probably  are  good  illustrations  of  what  were  received 
by  others.  One  community  in  California  even  went  so 
far  as  to  offer  the  Lasky  company  a  large  tract  of  land 
and  a  studio  built  and  equipped  after  designs  drawn 
by  us  if  we  would  move  from  Hollywood  and  produce 
near  that  city. 

"The  proposition  was  so  attractive  that  we  gave 
it  investigation  and  also  discovered  that  if  we  moved 
it  would  have  meant  the  emigration  from  Hollywood 
of  approximately  fifteen  hundred  men,  women  and 
children  representing  our  employes  and  their  families. 
Needless  to  say,  in  view  of  the  improved  conditions, 
we  declined  to  move." 


Griffith  Has  Small  Blaze 

A  slight  fire  in  David  W.  Griffith's  Triangle-Fine 
Arts  studios,  on  Friday,  January  21,  destroyed  a  small 
amount  of  negatives.  As  many  positive  prints  had  al- 
ready been  made  from  this  negative  it  can  easily  be 
replaced.     The  studio  fire  fighters  responded  immedi- 


ately to  a  general  alarm  and  work  was  resumed  in  the 
cutting  department  within  fifteen  minutes  after  the 
blaze  was  discovered.  Production  of  Triangle  plays 
will  not  be  hindered  by  the  fire  and  new  features  are 
being  completed  daily. 


Jesse  L.  Lasky  Studios  Busy 

Productions  being  made  at  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
studios  at  present  include  Charlotte  Walker  in  "The 
Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine"  under  Cecil  B.  De  Mille's 
direction ;  Blanche  Sweet  in  "The  Blacklist"  under 
William  C.  De  Mille's  direction ;  Mae  Murray  in  "To 
Have  and  to  Hold ;"  Fannie  Ward  in  a  new  play  and 
Victor  Moore  in  a  new  comedy.  All  these  productions 
are  for  release  on  the  Paramount  program. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


WHARTONS  SEEK  CONTRACTS 

Ithaca   Producers    Have    So    Developed   Their    Plant 

That  They  Are  Able  to  Produce  Films 

for  Others  Than  Pathe 

Theodore  and  Leopold  Wharton,  famous  pro- 
ducers of  Ithaca,  New  York,  have  publicly  announced 
that  they  seek  to  enter  into  arrangements  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  feature  productions  under  contract.  Until 
now  all  their  output  has  been  absorbed  by  the  Pathe 
organization,  but  now  their  facilities  have  been  so  far 
increased,  it  is  understood,  that  they  will  be  able  to 
make  more  film  than  Pathe  alone  will  be  able  to  han- 
dle, and  accordingly  they  are  seeking  an  opportunity 
of  producing  for  other  markets. 

Both  of  the  Whartons  are  famous  throughout  the 
industry  and  have  many  notable  productions  to  their 
credit,  among  the  best  known  of  which  may  be  men- 
tioned the  "Elaine"  serial  and  the  "Wallingford"  series, 
both  of  which  were  made  for  the  house  of  Pathe. 
Leopold  Wharton  has  been  closely  connected  with  the 
Pathe  organization  ever  since  he  undertook  the  pro- 
duction of  motion  picture  films,  and  Theodore,  after 
directing  for  Edison,  Pathe,  Kalem  and  Essanay,  re- 
turned to  Ithaca  some  time  ago  to  form  with  his 
brother  and  others  the  firm  of  Wharton,  Inc.,  which 
owns  and  controls  one  of  the  neatest  little  studios  in 
which  feature  productions  are  made. 

The  Wharton  plant  is  located  at  what  was  for- 
merly known  as  Renwick  Park,  in  Ithaca,  New  York. 
Twenty-five  acres  of  beautiful  woodland  surround  the 
studio  itself  which  lies  on  the  shore  of  Cayuga  Lake 
and  included  in  the  tract  controlled  by  the  Whartons 
are  wharfage,  boats,  boathouses,  bridges,  harbors  and 
other  structures  that  are  well  adapted  to  picture  pur- 
poses. The  growth  of  the  Ithaca  firm  has  been  a  grad- 
ual and  steady  one  and  not  in  any  sense  a  boom,  which 
is  always  a  good  sign,  and  the  studio  buildings'  mech- 
anical equipment  and  properties  are  all  of  the  finest 
that  money  can  buy  so  that  they  constitute  real  assets. 
Unquestionably  the  Whartons'  record  is  such  a  splen- 
did one  that  they  will  have  little  difficulty  in  effecting 
profitable  contracts  for  free  lance  subjects,  in  addition 
to  the  regular  ones  which  they  will  probably  continue 
to  produce  for  Pathe. 


water  up  to  his  waist,  but  he  did  not  worry  over  this 
discomfort  as  he  gained  fame  as  an  Arctic  zone  cam- 
eraman with  the  Steffanson  expedition.  Beverly  Grif- 
fith, assistant  director  to  McRae,  was  called  upon 
several  times  to  plunge  into  the  flood  to  aid  the  actors 
and  actresses  in  portraying  their  hazardous  roles. 


McRae  Utilizes  Flood  for  Thrills 

Henry  McRae,  director  of  101  Bison  features  at 
Universal  City,  is  producing  a  thrilling  drama,  "Rival 
Towns,"  the  climactic  scenes  of  which  are  located  in 
the  river  lowlands  inundated  by  the  recent  record- 
breaking  rainstorm  throughout  the  Los  Angeles  dis- 
trict, and  which  steady  downpour  for  ten  days  caused 
damage  to  railroads  and  farms.  Miss  Ora  Carew,  a 
talented  screen  artist,  who  recently  joined  the  Big  U 
forces,  is  the  heroine  of  the  photoplay,  which  was  writ- 
ten by  Frank  AI.  Wiltermood,  Universal  staff  scenari- 
os. The  leading  man  is  Lee  Mill,  while  other  roles  are 

< '•  !         I    ii      i    Harrington,  Jack  Curtis  and  E.  N. 

Wallock. 

The  story  tells  of  the  flooding  of  two  rival  towns 
and  the  players  risked  their  lives  many  times  to  de- 
pict the  rescue  of  people  in  peril  amid  the  rising  waters. 
In  one  of  the  episodes  Miss  Carew  piloted  a  raft  across 
a  storm-swollen  ri\er  to  save  her  father  from  drown- 
ing. Fred  Leroy  Branville,  cameraman  of  McRae's 
company,    had    to   operate    his   photographic   outfit    in 


University  Students  Act  for  Metro 

To  obtain  several  big  and  exciting  scenes  for  "The 
Blindness  of  Love,"  a  forthcoming  Metro  production 
in  which  Julius  Steger  is  starred,  the  entire  campus  of 
the  University  of  Florida  was  used,  together  with  hun- 
dreds of  the  students.  The  Metro  company,  headed  by 
Director  Charles  Horan,  was  making  the  exterior 
scenes  in  and  around  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  had  in- 
tended using  a  small  seminary  nearby  for  the  college 
scenes. 

On  a  chance,  Horan  communicated  with  the  uni- 
versity officials,  and  asked  if  it  would  be  possible  to 
make  some  pictures  there.  He  was  surprised  and  over- 
joyed when  word  came  back  that  they  would  be  de- 
lighted to  entertain  the  Metro  company,  and  as  for 
pictures,  they  could  go  as  far  as  they  liked.  Horan  had 
his  entire  company  at  the  university  gate,  near  Gaines- 
ville, the  next  afternoon.  They  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  day  rehearsing,  and  the  students  were  given  two 
holidays  in  order  to  participate  in  the  scenes.  Two  foot- 
ball teams  were  put  in  action,  and  they  staged  a  hotly 
contested  game  the  next  day  while  hundreds  of  stu- 
dents in  the  grand  stand  rooted,  and  the  camera  clicked 
away. 


Santa  Barbara  Proud  of  Its  Films 

Santa  Barbara  county,  California,  is  believed  to 
be  the  first  in  the  country  to  include  motion  picture 
films  in  a  compilation  of  its  principal  products.  Films 
have  fourth  place  and  in  this  particular  instance  hap- 
pen to  be  the  output  of  one  concern,  the  American 
Film  Company,  Inc.,  which  has  its  studio  in  the  city 
of  Santa  Barbara. 

There  are  twenty-seven  items  in  the  list,  includ- 
ing agricultural,  fish,  minerals,  fruits,  walnuts  and 
down  to  California  sea  lions,  which  while  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  list  at  $5,000,  is  one  of  the  most  distinctive, 
in  that  George  M.  McGuire,  proprietor  of  the  Palace 
theater,  Santa  Barbara,  heads  this  little  industry, 
which  is  exclusive  to  the  country.  Mr.  McGuire  ships 
seals  to  all  zoos  and  trained  animals  shows  the  world 
over.  The  war  greatly  affected  this  industry  the  last 
year. 

The  following  leading  figures  are  careful  esti- 
mates for  the  year  1915: 

Petroleum    $3,798,872 

Beans   2.850,000 

Beet   sugar    1.500,000 

Motion    picture    films    720,000 

Manufactured  products    582,000 

Barlej    550,000 

Hay    525.000 

Commenting  editorially  on  this,  the  Santa  Barbara 
Morning  Press  says: 

In  a  pleasing  little  schedule  oi  the  products  of  Santa  Bar- 
bara  county  during  the  past  year,  compiled  by  C,  II.  Mc Isaac, 
secretary  of  the  chamber  of  commerce,  is  a  modes!  item  of 
$700,000  worth  of  motion  picture  films  made  by  the  American 
Film  Company.  This  reminds  that  the  moving  picture  busi- 
ness is  a  much  bigger  thing  than  most  people  realize,  and 
that  locally  it  means  an  enormous  disbursement  -aid  to  be 
$50,000  a  month   or  more — that  goes   into   circulation   in   this 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


309 


EQUITABLE  LISTS  RELEASES 

Strong  Features  Announced  for  Program  on   Which 

Noted  Stars  Are  Featured;  Changes  in  Plans 

Reported 

The  Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corporation  an- 
nounces a  strong  consecutive  list  of  features.  A  new 
arrangement  of  releases  was  prompted  by  the  fact  that 
the  finished  pictures  now  on  the  shelf  and  those  al- 
most completed  are  of  such  divergent  nature  and  wide- 
ly differing  plots. 

"Behind  Closed  Doors,"  in  which  Marie  Empress 
makes  her  debut  on  the  Equitable  program,  and  which 
was  to  have  been  released  December  10,  is  the  regular 
release  for  January  3.1.  Alice  Brady  in  "The  Woman 
in  47"  will  be  seen  February  7. 

Roy  L.  McCardell's  first  contribution  to  the  Equi- 
table will  be  "The  Question,"  to  be  released  Febru- 
ary 14.  This  affords  Marguerite  Leslie  her  first 
opportunity  in  the  silent  drama  field.  Miss  Leslie, 
formerly  leading  woman  for  Sir  Henry  Irving,  Her- 
bert Tree,  and  other  famous  actors,  will  portray  the 
role  of  the  woman,  undecided  between  a  baby  and  her 
dog,  who  chooses  the  latter.  "The  Clarion"  is  the 
release  for  February  21.  Carlyle  Blackwell  is  starred. 
The  story  is  based  on  Samuel  Hopkins  Adams'  jour- 
nalistic tirade  against  patent  medicines. 

Mary  Boland,  formerly  co-starring-  with  John 
Drew,  will  become  Equitabilized  February  28  in  the 
Triumph  Film  Corporation's  production  of  "Three 
Pairs  of  Shoes."  Frank  Sheridan,  Arthur  Ashley  and 
a  cast  of  noted  artists  will' be  seen  March  6  in  "The 
Struggle,"  now  being  produced  by  John  Ince.  Gail 
Kane  will  make  her  second  appearance  on  the  program 
in  "Her  God,"  March  6. 

"Passers  By,"  C.  Haddon  Chamber's  powerful 
story,  comes  March  20  with  the  star  who  originated 
the  leading  role  in  the  stage  production,  back  in  the 
part.  Bruce  McRae  has  replaced  Emmett  Corrigan 
in  "The  Chain  Invisible,"  which  will  be  seen  March 
27,  and  which  will  be  Frank  Powell's  first  contribution 
to  Equitable. 

Contrary  to  previous  reports,  Irving  Cummins  will 
not  be  co-featured  in  support  of  Jane  Grey  in  "Man 


and  His  Angel,"  it  having  been  decided  to  place  Henri 
Bergman  in  the  role. 

One  of  the  most  unusual  episodes  in  connection 
with  "The  Question"  is  the  fact  that  Roy  L.  McCardell 
wrote  the  first  four  reels  in  scenario  form  in  four 
weeks,  then  required  two  months  to  complete  the  final 
reel.  During  that  time  he  changed  the  denouement 
eight  times,  and  rewrote  the  story  seven  times.  It 
was  originally  termed  "The  Pain  Flower,"  but  when 
the  story  was  semi-complete,  it  was  found  to  be  suf- 
ficiently virile  to  bear  a  more  appropriate  and  formid- 
able title,  hence  "The  Question." 


HOLIDAY  FOR  ACTORS'  FUND 

February   10  Is   Set  Aside  in  Los  Angeles  to   Begin 

Campaign  for  Raising  of  One  Million 

Dollars 

Los  Angeles  will  declare  February  10  an  Actors' 
Fund  holiday,  according  to  an  announcement  made 
by  Jesse  L.  Lasky  on  his  arrival  in  New  York.  As 
chairman  of  the  California  motion  picture  committee 
of  the  Actors'  Fund  million  dollar  campaign,  he  had 
completed  arrangements  for  raising  a  large  sum 
from  persons  interested  in  the  motion  picture  industry. 
Samuel  Goldfish  is  chairman  of  the  general  commit- 
tee appointed  by  Daniel  Frohman.  Mr.  Lasky  in  mak- 
ing his  report  to  Mr.  Goldfish  says  unquestionably 
other  cities  besides  Los  Angeles  will  join  in  concerted 
movement. 

A  two  months'  campaign  will  be  started  February 
10,  on  which  day  stars  from  the  studios  will  appear 
in  Los  Angeles  motion  picture  theaters  and  will  sell 
tickets  on  the  streets  for  any  of  the  motion  picture 
theaters.  An  extra  charge  will  also  be  made  by  the 
managers  of  the  vaudeville  and  higher  priced  theaters 
for  their  seats  on  that  day  and  it  is  expected  that  a 
large  sum  of  money  will  be  raised  in  that  manner. 

On  February  12  there  will  be  a  big  ball  and 
money  received  for  the  sale  of  tickets  will  be  turned 
over  to  the  fund.  On  March  3  Al  Levy  will  give  a 
special  "Actors'  Fund  Night."  The  campaign  will  be 
concluded  March  31  with  a  benefit  at  the  largest  the- 
ater obtainable  in  Los  Angeles. 


Two  photographs   made   at  Am 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.   XV.  No.  6. 


DESERTS  STAGE  FOR  SCREEN 

Wiliam  A.  Brady  Abandons  Stage  to  Turn  Producing 

Genius  to  the  Screen.     To  Give  Greatest  Pro- 
ductions to  World  Film  Corporation 

The  World  Film  Corporation  announces  that  Wil- 
liam A.  Brady,  possibly  the  most  active  force  in  the- 
atrical production  till  the  present  time,  has  definitely 
decided  to  devote  his  producing  genius  to  the  making 
of  feature  motion  pictures.  From  now  on  the  manager 
will  practically  desert  the  stage  and  center  his  entire 
energies  upon  screen  direction  upon  a  big  scale.  His 
productions,  in  which  will  appear  such  noted  stars  as 
Robert  Warwick,  .-Mice  Brady,  Frances  Nelson  and 
many  others,  will  be  released  exclusively  through  the 
agency  of  World  Film,  which  recently  absorbed  the 
Equitable  Film  Corporation  and  added  a  million-dollar 
capitalization  to  the  already  titanic  concern. 

The  advent  of  Mr.  Brady  as  a  film  producer  marks 
a  distinct  epoch  in  the  history  of  motion  pictures.  For 
the  remarkable  directorial  genius  of  Mr.  Brady  to  be 
transferred  from  the  stage  to  the  screen  is  of  marked 
importance  to  the  industry,  as  a  whole.  Never  before 
in  fact  has  a  master  producer,  such  as  Mr.  Brady,  de- 
liberately turned  his  back  upon  the  theater  and  taken 
up  the  studio.  "The  Ballet  Girl,"  Mr.  Brady's  first  mo- 
tion picture  production,  featuring  Alice  Brady  and  Hol- 
brook  Blinn,  is  the  manager-director's  first  film  pro- 
duction and  it  bids  fair  to  enhance  the  fame  he  has 
already  acquired  as  a  visualizer  of  things  dramatic. 
In  the  past  when  it  was  said  "Staged  by  William  A. 
Brady"  the  play  referred  to  was  at  once  stamped  as 
the  work  of  a  master  hand.  Now,  however,  "Screened 
by  William  A.  Brady"  will  possess  equal  significance 
and  import. 

"The  motion-picture  industry  has  now  gained  the 
dignity  and  importance  attaching  to  any  great  enter- 
prise," said  Mr.  Brady  in  speaking  of  his  decision,  "and 
it  offers  a  field  for  the  best  endeavors  of  the  producer." 


Eustace  Hale  Ball,  in  which  lien  Wilson  will  appear. 
This  will  be  done  in  five  episodes  of  two  reels  each. 

Mary  Fuller  will  appear  in  an  adaptation  of  Wal- 
lace Irwin's  "Thrown  to  the  Lions,"  and  also  in  "The 
Huntress,"  by  G.  Vera  Tyler.  Among  the  other  stories 
are  "The  Ivy  and  the  Oak,"  by  Reginald  Wright 
Kaufman;  "The  Diamond  Master,"  by  Jacques  Fu- 
trelle ;  "The  Social  Buccaneer"  and  "Black  Fridav," 
by  Frederick  Isham  ;  "The  Texas  Ranger."  by  McLeod 
Raine,  and  "The  First  Lady  of  the  Land."  by  Acton 
Davies  and  Charles  Nirdlinger. 

The  Universal  Company  has  eliminated  its  staff  of 
scenario  writers  and  substituted  writers  whose  chief 
duties  will  be  to  adapt  stories,  books  and  ideas  which 
are  being  purchased  by  the  Universal. 


LAEMMLE  GUEST  OF  DAVIS 

Head    of    Universal    Company    Entertained    by    Vice- 
President  at  Dinner  in  Celebration  of  His 
Birthday 

Carl  Laemmle,  president  of  the  Universal  com- 
pany, celebrated  a  birthday  while  in  Universal  City  at 
a  dinner  given  in  his  honor  by  H.  O.  Davis,  vice-presi- 
dent. The  entertainment  included  songs  by  Mvrtle 
Stedman,  and  costume  dances  by  Lena  Baskette.  a 
talented  eight-year-old  performer. 

Those  at  the  dinner  besides  Messrs.  Laemmle  and 
Davis  were  :  George  E.  Kami,  Charles  Rankin,  H.  H. 
Barter,  Frank  D.  Ormston,  H.  R.  Hough.  Marshall 
Stedman,  John  M.  Nickolaus,  E.  G.  Patterson.  Otis 
Turner,  Allen  Curtis,  Joseph  De  Grasse.  William  C. 
Dowlan,  Francis  Ford,  Jay  Hunt,  Jacques  Jaccard, 
Rupert  Julian,  L.  B.  Carleton,  Robert  Leonard.  Lynn 
Reynolds,  Phillips  Smalley,  William  Worthington, 
Richard  Stanton,  Roy  Clements.  Henry  McRae,  E.  J. 
Le  Saint,  Henry  Lehrmann,  Abe  Stern.  Sam  Behrendt 
and  M.  G.  Jonas. 


Metro  Captures  New  England 

Metro  "wonderplays"  have  invaded  New  England, 
according  to  an  announcement  from  the  Metro  Pic- 
tures Corporation.  A  contract  has  been  signed  whereby 
.Marcus  Loew  will  use  Metro  features  in  all  of  his  New 
England  theaters  including  the  million-dollar  Orpheum 
in  Boston  which  will  run  a  split-week  program  with 
the  St.  James,  the  largest  motion  picture  theater  in 
New  England.  The  Bijou  theater  in  Fall  River,  an- 
other large  house,  also  is  included  in  the  booking. 
Louis  B.  Mayer,  manager  of  the  Metro  branch  in 
Boston,  held  an  informal  reception  in  the  lobby  of  the 
(  )rpheum  the  night  of  the  opening  of  Metro  pictures. 
January  20. 

Universal  Buys  Book  Rights 

The  Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Company  has 
obtained  some  of  the  besl  stories  of  writers  of  inter- 
national fame  as  vehicles  for  the  actors  and  actresses 
who  will  appear  in  the  Red  Feather  productions.  H. 
J.  Shepard,  head  of  the  scenario  department,  has  had 
charge  of  this  pari  of  the  work,  and  as  a  result  of  his 
efforts  film  rights  to  many  famous  stories  have  been 
secured,  among  them  Paul  Leicester  Ford's  "The  Hon- 
orable Peter  Stirling,"  in  which  King  Baggol  will 
appear.     Another   is   "The    Voice   on    the    Wire."   by 


Law  Allows  Films  in  Schools 

The  Chicago  city  council  has  passed  an  ordinance 
that  should  increase  the  number  of  motion  picture  en- 
tertainments in  schoolhouses  and  churches,  for  it 
grants  permission  to  use  portable  projection  ma- 
chines without  inclosing  booths,  on  condition  that  in- 
combustible or  slow  burning  films  alone  be  used.  The 
ordinance,  which  had  been  before  the  council  for  six 
months,  was  at  first  opposed  by  the  labor  unions  be- 
cause the  law  did  not  require  the  services  of  union 
operators.  This  opposition,  however,  declined,  and 
at  the  final  hearing  the  question  of  safety  alone  was 
discussed.  When  the  council  was  convinced  that  there 
was  little  or  no  danger  of  fire  under  these  conditions 
it  passed  the  ordinance  by  a  vote  of  37  to  26.  Mayor 
Thompson  has  promised  to  sign  the  measure,  which 
will  then  become  effective  within  three  week-. 


Triangle  Offices  Moved 

On  Monday,  January  24.  the  Triangle  Film  Cor- 
poration opened  its  new  offices  in  the  Brokavs  build- 
ing. 1459  Broadway,  New  York  City.  The  new  quar- 
ters will  he  described  in  a  later  issue.  They  include 
all  departments  of  the  organization  as  well  a-  the  Mew 
York  exchange  through  which  Triangle  films  are  re- 
leased. The  telephone  number  of  the  new  offices  is 
Bryant  (>500. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


PAUL  H.WOODRUFF,  Editor 

Associate  Editors 

ALLEN  L.  HAASE,  Advertising  Manager 

NEW  YORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGACRE  BUILDING 

-second  Street  and  Broadway 
Telephone  Bryant  7030 
CHARLES  R.  CONDON,  Eastern  Representative 


t  Chicago  Post   Office 


THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED.  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCR  BUILDING 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:     Harrison  3014 — All  Departments 


Change 

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in'    Oi'hiim 

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NOTICE    TO    ADVERTISERS 

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in  not  be  shown  in   advance   of  publication. 

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dress  should   be  given  as  well  as  the 

two  weeks  in  advance  of  the  desired 
change. 


Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  5,  1916 


Number  6 


Where  the  Scenario  Writer's  Opportunity  Lies 

IN  HIS  recent  discussion  with  George  Broadhurst  on  the  subject  of  playwrights,  Thomas 
H.  Ince  made  these  statements: 

The  name  of  an  author  means  practically  nothing  to  a  motion  picture  production. 
People  don't  flock  to  the  motion  picture  theater  just  because  the  play  is  the  work  of 
this,  that  or  the  other  author.  The  name  of  an  author  is  precious  to  me  only  on  a  con- 
tract. It  possesses  no  commercial  magnetism.  It  is  valuable  from  this  standpoint — 
that  I  can  expect  more  good  products  from  his  pen.  The  writer  who  provides  the  pro- 
ducer with  a  script  whose  production  bids  fair  to  prove  successful  is,  I  think,  being  ade- 
quately compensated  for  his  work.  A  fifteen-year-old  schoolboy  might  submit  the  foun- 
dation for  a  story,  the  value  of  which  would  be  tenfold  that  of  a  successful  playwright's 
trunkful  of  scripts. 

Purely  by  coincidence,  in  the  same  issue  that  reported  this  we  said  editorially: 

In  the  printed  story  the  author  himself  draws  the  word  picture  that  gains  for  his  char- 
acters the  affection  of  his  readers.  The  scenario  author  cannot  do  that;  he  can  only  tell 
the  director  what  kind  of  a  character  to  use.  So  the  film  publisher  assumes  part  of  an 
author's  work;  which  may  be  one  reason  why  scenario  writing  has  never  reached  the 
heights  of  story  writing. 

If  scenario  authorship  is  to  mean  more  than  it  has  meant  so  far,  the  author  must  be  big 
enough  to  force  his  opportunity.  What  that  opportunity  is,  and  along  what  lines  it  may  be 
forced,  will  bear  discussion. 

If  we  ask  ourselves  what  has  made  fame  for  certain  authors — whether  they  be  contem- 
poraneous or  "classical" — we  must  conclude  that  it  is  their  power  of  character  delineation. 
That  we  are  brought  involuntarily  into  intimacy  and  friendship  with  the  puppets  of  a  writ- 
er's pen — that  is  what  makes  the  writer.  Plot — the  only  other  important  factor  in  story  tell- 
ing— never  yet,  by  itself,  gained  permanent  recognition  for  its  inventor.  Action,  consistent 
development,  all  the  technical  tricks  of  the  story  writer,  in  the  larger  sense  are  parts  of  Plot. 

The  free-lance  scenario  writer,  the  script  submitter,  is  forever  barred  by  the  nature  of  the 
art  from  the  thing  that  makes  great  writers — the  intimate  delineation  of  character.  That  van- 
tage is  held  by  the  director  and  his  players,  and  the  author  can  never  wrest  it  from  their  grasp. 
The  free-lance  in  this  field  is  a  hack  writer.  He  invents  ideas  and  sells  them  at  so  much  an 
idea.  The  better  the  idea  the  higher  the  price;  but  he  cannot  claim  the  recognition  that, 
comes  to  those  who  have  both  the  gift  and  the  opportunity  to  seize  direct  hold  upon  their  read- 
ers. Those  who  watch  a  motion  picture  screen  are  not  reading  the  author;  they  are  reading 
the  director  and  the  players.  This  is  peculiar  to  the  picture ;  it  is  not  true  even  on  the  speaking 
stage.  The  few  gifted  or  fortunate  exceptions  who  seem  immune  to  the  condition  cannot  con- 
trovert its  logic. 

The  opportunity  for  the  scenario  writer  lies  in  his  association  with  the  director.  They 
must  work  together  in  the  materialization  of  the  author's  conception.  That  opportunity  must 
always  be  closed  to  the  majority.    Only  those  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  work,  as  certain  ones  be- 


312 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


come  in  all  lines  of  effort,  will  ever  be  able  to  estab- 
lish that  relationship.  Nevertheless,  it  is  the  place  for 
all  of  them  to  strive  for,  the  high  peak  of  scenario  work. 

That  the  free  lance  writer  is,  and  must  continue 
to  be,  an  essential  part  of  the  film  publishing  busi- 
ness is  as  obvious  as  the  fact  that  he  must  continue 
to  be  the  backbone  of  the  magazine  publishing  busi- 
ness. His  inventions  (for  that,  and  not  literature,  is 
what  he  sells  to  the  producer)  will  find  market  at 
a  price  commensurate  with  their  usefulness.  They 
will  be  more  valuable  when  he  recognizes  that  his 
"scenarios"  are  mechanical  working  models  and  not 
works  of  art ;  that  he  is  not  selling  his  personal  grip 
upon  human  emotions,  but  merely  a  chart  for  the 
operation  of  some  one  else's  machinery.  For  that  work 
— and  it  is  work,  not  inspiration — he  should  receive 
adequate  compensation  and  square  treatment.  With 
the  better  companies  he  does,  as  Mr.  Ince  says. 

This  analysis  of  the  source  of  scenarios  may  be 
at  variance  with  thoughts  previously  expressed  on  the 
same  subject.  We  believe,  however,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted the  correct  view.  The  free  lance  scenario  writer 
has  asked,  and  continues  to  ask,  for  more  considera- 
tion. If  consideration  means  careful  study  of  his  place 
in  the  art,  he  gains  little  by  it. 

The  writer  who  can  work  out  of  the  strict  classi- 
fication of  the  free  lance  and  into  collaboration  with 
the  director  can  gain  pecuniary  reward,  if  not  fame, 
such  as  even  the  authorship  of  a  best  seller  novel  could 
not  give  him.  The  ninety-five  per  cent  who  must 
remain  in  the  free  lance  class  can,  by  diligent  appli- 
cation and  acquired  skill,  get  as  good  return  for  the 
time  they  spend  in  the  work  as  they  could  get  out  of 
magazine  work.  But  they  will  get  it  because  pic- 
ture producing  is  a  richer  field,  and  not  because  the 
free  lance's  scenario  has  as  much  intrinsic  value  as 
the  free  lance's  magazine  story. 

And  all  this  explains  why  Ince  is  right  when  he 
says  the  scenario  author's  name  has  no  commercial 
value.  The  "by-line"  on  a  film  can  never  be  a  draw- 
ing card  until  the  author  himself  works  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  picture. 


Just  a  Moment  Please 


Free  Shows  in  Chicago 

/CHICAGO'S  city  council  having  finally  passed  the 
^->  much  debated  ordinance  permitting  the  use  of  port- 
able projectors  without  booths  and  with  "non-flame" 
film  in  schools  and  churches,  we  probably  will  have  some 
free  shows.  That  is  about  the  only  feature  of  the 
situation  that  has  any  significance  for  exhibitors.  It 
seems  to  promise  some  neighborhood  competition  in  the 
way  of  shows  that,  while  of  no  especial  merit,  will  have 
the  advantage  of  apparently  free  admission.  We  say 
apparently,  because  of  course  the  people  must  pay  their 
way  in  by  the  indirect  method  if  not  directly. 

Assuming  that  so-called  "free"  shows  will  be  given 
in  Chicago's  schools  and  churches,  and  imagining  pro- 
grams to  be  better,  from  a  showman's  viewpoint,  than 
they  are  at  all  likely  to  be,  we  still  do  not  believe  they 
will  lake  any  money  out  of  the  exhibitor's  pocket.  Ulti- 
mately we  may  even  hope  they  will  help  him  rather  than 
injure  his  business. 

We  have  always  believed  in  the  free-sample  method 
rung  popularity  for  goods.  When  the  other  fellow 
pays  the  cost  of  the  free  samples  the  situation  is  par- 
ticularly optimistic.  The  exhibitors  of  good  programs 
have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  kind  of  shows  that  will 
be  run  free  in  churches  and  schools. 


By  our  Washington  censorship  story  (published  on  another 
page  of  this  issue)  you  will  discover  that  a  proposed  amend- 
ment to  the  Hughes  bill  will,  if  passed,  permit  the  federal  cen- 
sors to  license  a  film  after  an  examination  of  its  scenario  and 
before  its  production,  under  certain  conditions. 

Swell  chance  the  censors  have  of  judging  from  the  scenario 
the  extremes  to  which  the  leading  woman  may  go  in  her  gowns. 
And  a  still  fatter  chance  they  would  have  if  they  tried  to  induce 
some  of  these  tempermental  "leads"  to  change  their  frocks  to 
conform  to  the  wishes  of  the  board. 

It's  clearly  evident,  also,  that  the  esteemed  (so  to  speak) 
congressmen  know  little  or  nothing  about  the  liberties  a  director 
takes  with  the  author's  scenario.  Somebody  once  complained 
that  in  a  certain  spoken  drama  but  one  line  of  his  original 
manuscript  was  uttered.  In  some  photoplays  less  than  that  of 
the  original  scenario  remains. 

WHAT'S  THE  IDEA,  JAY? 
Old  Jay  Cairns,  rusticating  in  New  Orleans  (lucky  cuss) 
postcards  us  a  la  the  "rubberneck  barker,"  calling  our  attention 
to  the  beautiful  sights  just  at  the  left  and  the  imposing  structure 
that  rises  at  our  immediate  right,  as  we  look  at  the  picture  on 
the  other  side  of  the  card.  Since  the  scene  depicts  an  old 
duelling  ground  we're  almost  tempted  to  believe  that  Jay  has 
become  very  militant  all  of  a  sudden. 

Ince,  with  the  assistance  of  "Ken"  O'Hara,  pulled  a  good 
fire  story  in  our  last  issue  and  now  along  comes  Ben  Zeidman 
with  another  yarn  of  the  same  kind,  re  Griffith's  studio.  Just  to 
show  you  that  we  play  no  favorites,  we're  going  to  run  it, 
Ben,  but  gosh  you're  indiscreet  to  write  us  that  it's  "advance 
dope  on  the  fire."     Sounds  as  though  you  might  be  implicated. 

VIC  EUBANK,  PLEASE  WRITE 
From  Chas.  Ver  Halen,  we  are  in  receipt  of  the  following 
wail,  uttered  after  a  perusal  .of  the   crimson-bordered   Essanay 
ad  on  the  back  cover  of  last  week's  issue : 

I  like  your  book  from  page  one  to  twenty,  including  front 
cover,  inside  front  cover  and  the  other  pages.  I  also  like  it 
from  page  219  to  page  282,  then  again  from  page  21  to  26  and 
the  inside  back  cover.  But  I'll  be  darned  if  I  care  for  the 
back  cover.  The  bunch  of  rouge  you  have  on  it  peels  off  on 
my  hands.  When  I  read  your  valuable  magazine  I  have  to 
let  it  dangle  in  the  offing,  sort  of  divorce  it  from  the  rest  of 
the  book — segregate  it  so  to  speak.  Would  suggest  that  you 
change  to  Devoe's  waterproof  or  Hess'  never-run  paint. 

At  last  we've  found  reason  to  be  thankful  that  our  hair  is 
disappearing. 

Vitagraph's  press  matter  for  the  week  includes  a  story  to 
the  effect  that  bald-headed  men  are  being  sought  to  substitute 
for  Anita  Stewart  or  Lillian  Walker  in  a  hospital  scene  where 
it  is  necessary  to  show  the  shaven  heads  of  the  victim  on  the 
operating  table. 

Who  wouldn't  loose  all  his  hair 
either  Anita  or  Lillian? 


■  the  privilege  of  aiding 


s  a    fire  badge,   Ralph, 


honored  by  nn  invite  to  have  lunch  with  Prexie 
is  \\k.  \\  c  hope  Woo.lrow  will  have  just  as  good 
/as    there,    hut    we    simply    cant    get    away.      Thanks 

|ur   Burg's   host  known   P.   A.,   was   responsible   for 

,..,t;  ?"  T"cs-  nl  ,olks  "'Y"is  to  K,.|  into  the  Bijou 
Knnliall  i  oung  in  ■'('amil le. "  You'll  have  to  supply 
oh.   so   we   can   get   through    the   crowds,    if   this   keejps 

""'•    N,l,u    "i    American    is   entertaining   the    London    manager   of   the 
terican    offices    this   wk.    and    incidentally    showing   him   the   sites. 

Must   stop  now,  as  we  promised  to  save  the 

Last   line   tin's   week    For 

"Mac."  n.  G.  C. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


313 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

Second    Chapter   of   Essanay   Serial  Featuring   Edna 
Mayo.     Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

GOOD  as  was  the  first  chapter  of  "The  Strange  Case  of 
Mary  Page,"  the  serial  picture  in  fifteen  installments 
now  being  offered  by  the  Essanay  Film  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, the  second  goes  it  one  better.  Henry  Walthall  and 
Edna  Mayo,  the  hero  and  heroine,  respectively,  of  the  thrill- 


attempt  to  draw  a  revolver,  and  describes  how,  after  he  had 
been  forced  to  drop  it  by  Langdon,  she  had  picked  it  up. 
Later,  when  departing  for  the  banquet,  she  took  the  revolver 
with  her  for  the  purpose  of  returning  it  to  its  owner,  and  had 
it  with  her  when  she  was  called  from  the  banquet  table. 
Her  testimony  evidently  impressed  the  jurors,  and  the  second 
witness  for  the  defense  is  the  detective  who  was  summoned 
to  the  room  immediately  after  the  murder  and  who  describes 
the  finger  prints  he  found  on  Mary  Page's  left  shoulder  when 
his  attention  was  called  to  them  by  Langdon. 

While  the  detective '  is  "  still  testifying,  Mary  suddenly 
faints  in  her  chair  and  Langdon  and  other  rush  to  revive  her, 
bringing  chapter  two  to  an  end  at  a  point  that  will  surely 
lead  audiences  to  return  to  the  theaters  to  see  chapter  three. 


Mary  takt 


ing  mystery  tale,  have  not  so  much  to  do  as  in  the  first 
installment  of  the  story,  but  the  trial  scene  as  staged  by 
Director  Haydon  is  splendidly  developed  and  there  is  fully 
as  much  interest  in  its  outcome  as  though  one  were  attending 
a  real  murder  trial. 

Mr.  Walthall  as  Philip  Langdon,  attorney-at-law  and 
Mary's  sweetheart,  appears  as  her  legal  representative  during 
the  trial,  and  the  prosecuting  attorney  is  well  played  by 
that  sterling  actor,  John  Cossar.  His  bullying  of  the  wit- 
nesses is  particularly  well  handled,  and  some  good  character 
bits  are  played  by  some  of  those  not  listed  among  the  prin- 
cipals. For  instance,  the  stage  carpenter,  who  takes  the 
stand  to  describe  the  events  he  witnessed  at  the  theater 
when  "The  King's  Daughter,"  the  play  in  which  Mary  was 
appearing  on  the  evening  before  the  murder  of  Pollock,  was 
being  staged,  gives  a  splendid  bit  of  comedy  when  he  resents 
a  question  which  the  district  attorney  hurls  at  him  and 
resorts  to  profanity  to  express  his  indignation. 

Unusual  care  has  been  taken  by  the  director  in  staging 
the  courtroom  scenes  and  they  are  as  true  to  life  as  any  sim- 
ilar scenes  that  have  been  screened  of  late.  Close-ups  are 
used  effectively  when  it  is  necessary  to  make  a  fine  point, 
but  for  the  greater  part  the  action  takes  place  in  a  large 
setting. 

As  chapter  two  begins,  Mary  is  conducted  from  her 
cell  to  the  courtroom  by  Langdon,  her  attorney,  and  as  the 
trial  begins,  the  various  emotions  of  the  spectators,  the  jury- 
men and  the  judge  are  all  carefully  registered.  The  state 
begins  its  case  by  calling  as  witnesses  the  hotel  tlerk,  the 
stage  carpenter  at  the  theater  where  Mary  was  employed, 
the  bellboy  who  carried  Pollock's  message  to  Mary  at  the 
banquet  table,  and  others,  but  their  testimony  only  serves 
to  show  that  when  the  shot  was  heard  in  Pollock's  room 
and  the  crowd  rushed  in,  Mary  had  been  found  lying  on  the 
floor,  unconscious,  and  that  the  revolver  which  belonged  to 
Pollock  lay  beside  the  body  of  the  dead  man.  The  bellboy 
declared  the  message  summoning  Mary  to  Pollock's  room 
had  been  to  the  effect  that  Langdon,  and  not  Pollock,  wanted 
to  see  her. 

As  the  state  rests  its  case,  Langdon  begins  the  defense 
by  calling  Mary,  herself,  to  the  stand.  She  tells  of  Pollock's 
attack  upon  her  in  her  dressing  room  at  the  theater,  of 
Langdon's    sudden    appearance    to    rescue    her,    of    Pollock's 


"Inbad  the  Sailor" 

First    Bray-Gilbert    Silhouette    Picture    Released    by 
Paramount.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  first  Bray-Gilbert  silhouette  picture  released  by  Para- 
mount, a  fantasy  with  a  strong  'Arabian  Nights"  flavor, 
entitled  "Inbad  the  Sailor,"  justifies  fully  the  enthusiastic 
advance  notice  issued  from  the  Paramount  press  department. 
The  great  possibilities  of  the  silhouette  picture  are  recognized 
before  "Inbad  the  Sailor"  has  run  half  its  course,  and  when 
the  last  scene  has  faded,  a  point  of  first  importance  in  any 
form  of  entertainment  seems  to  establish  itself,  and  that  is 
that  the  picture  contains  the  elements  which  make  for  popu- 
lar appeal. 

To  begin  with,  these  single-reel  subjects  fit  nicely  into 
the  Paramount  program.  Offered  in  conjunction  with  a  five- 
reel  feature,  a  fantasy  of  this  kind  will  go  far  toward  accom- 
plishing that  much  talked  of  "rounding  out  the  program." 
Being  truly  artistic  effects,  the  silhouette,  besides  appealing 
generally,  can  follow  a  feature  of  the  highest  order  and  still 
win  the  approval  of  an  audience  just  given  the  best  that  the 
screen  has  to  offer  either  in  drama,  spectacle  or  straight 
comedy.  The  pictures  have  individuality,  and  consequently 
will  not  conflict  with  the  other  offerings  on  the  program. 

Of  course,  the  silhouette  has  its  limitations.  Fantasy- 
is  its  foundation,  upon  which  must  be  built  humorous  inci- 
dents. In  this  direction  its  possibilities  are  remarkable.  In 
"Inbad  the  Sailor"  there  could  be  more  humor.  But  "Inbad 
the  Sailor"  will  impress  people  with  the  fact  that  if  the 
stories  to  follow  are  not  funny,  as  long  as  Bray  and  Gilbert 
produce  them,  silhouettes  will  not  bore  one,  for  the  pretty 
effects  obtained  are  a  source  of  pure  delight. 

The  drawn  figures  are  united  with  the  actual  ones  per- 
fectly. At  the  advance  showing  of  "Inbad  the  Sailor"  the 
reviewers  were  challenged  to  discover  when  the  substitution 


took  place.  By  the  time  the  change  was  noticed  the  sub- 
stitution had  taken  place.  At  such  times,  as  when  Inbad  is 
carried  on  the  magic  rug  from  the  desert  island  to  wonderful 
Bagdad,  the  animated  drawing  is  used.  This  picture  shows 
a  sailor  alone  on  an  island,  his  only  possession  being  a  bottle 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


of  tabasco  sauce.    By  chance  he  finds  a  buried  treasure  chest 
wherein  he  discovers  a  wishing  ring. 

His  first  wish  is  granted.  He  is  magically  presented  with 
a  man  servant.  Then  he  is  transported  on  a  flying  rug  to  Bag- 
dad, where  he  is  taken  before  the  sultan,  who  promises  the 
sailor  his  daughter  in  marriage  if  he  recovers  a  rare  pearl, 
long  since  swallowed  by  a  dragon.  The  animal  encountered, 
Inbad  uses  the  tabasco  to  make  him  cough  up  the  jewel. 
When  he  sees  the  princess,  Inbad  uses  his  last  two  wishes. 
He  asks  for  the  return  of  the  pearl  and  to  be  back  once 
more  on  Broadway.  Arrived  there,  he  attempts  to  pawn 
the  gem,  but  is  told  its  value  is  thirty  cents,  if  that.  The 
silhouette  is  a  distinct  novelty,  but  its  bid  for  public  approval 
is  more  substantial  than  that.  The  pictures  will  attract  people 
for  a  time  greater  in  length  than  a  mere  novelty  ever  could. 


situations.    After  a  few  days  they  are  rescued.     Bob  regains  his 
memory  and  all  find  happiness. 

Eleanor  Woodruff  is  Dorothy  Arden  and  Zena  Keefe  is 
Dorothy  Casselis.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Charles  Kent,  Anders 
Randolf  and  Julia  Swayne  Gordon.  A  young  man  living  on  an 
obscure  island  with  two  pretty  girls,  each  claiming  him  as  her 


husband,  may  seem  like  a  rather  daring  situation  for  screen 
portrayal  but  the  scenario  treats  it  with  as  much  delicacy  and 
deftness  as  the  author  did  in  his  story,  and  the  result  is  one  sees 
in  this  picture  something  that  is  far  from  the  commonplace  and 
singularly  interesting.  "The  Island  of  Surprise"  is  a  picturesque 
romance  excellently  visualized  by  a  capable  cast  and  an  artistic 
production. 


"The  Island  of  Surprise" 

Five-Reel  Blue  Ribbon  Feature  Released  January  24 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ANOTHER  film  adaptation  of  a  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady  story 
is  presented  by  Vitagraph  in  "The  Island  of  Surprise,"  a 
Blue  Ribbon  feature  released  January  24  by  V.  L.  S.  E.  William 
Courtenay  is  featured.  Mr.  Courtenay  is  good  looking,  which  is 
a  consideration  when  actors  are  cast  in  a  role  of  this  kind,  but 
as  Robert  Lovell  he  is  entitled  to  praise  on  more  account  than 
that.     He  enacts  the  part  to  good  effect. 

"The  Island  of  Surprise"  tells  an  interesting  story  realistic- 
ally, and  it  is  finely  produced  and  photographed.  Paul  Scardon, 
well  known  for  his  many  splendid  character  portrayals  in  Vita- 
graph  pictures,  directed  "The  Island  of  Surprise."  Notable  fea- 
tures of  the  production  are  the  train  wreck,  the  savage  visitors 
to  the  island  where  Lovell  and  the  two  girls  are  stranded,  and 
some  scenes  aboard  a  U.  S.  cruiser  and  a  private  yacht.  The 
cannibals  fit  into  the  picture  nicely.  '  They  always  do  in  a 
romance  which  finds  the  characters  on  an  island  in  the  South 
Seas. 

Mr.  Courtenay  as  Robert  Lovell  is  the  son  of  a  financier,  who 
pools  his  interests  with  his  friend  in  Chicago,  Daniel  Casselis. 
The  latter  has  a  daughter.  The  two  fathers  are  anxious  to  have 
their  children  marry  each  other.  Dorothy  has  no  desire  to  meet 
Robert,  and  he,  though  the  matter  is  a  secret,  is  married  to  his 
father's  secretary.  When  Dorothy  does  meet  him,  however,  she 
is  quite  taken  with  him,  and  he,  because  of  a  silly  misunder- 
standing with  his  wife,  pays  her  a  lot  of  attention. 

All  three  are  together  on  Godfrey  Lovell's  yachting  trip. 
They  visit  an  isolated  island  in  the  Pacific  and  are  stranded  there 
when  a  storm  forces  the  party  on  board  to  make  for  sea  in  order 
to  save  the  ship.  Bob  is  injured  in  a  landslide  and  the  result  is 
he  loses  his  memory.  It  is  then  that  his  wife  tells  Dorothy 
that  he  is  her  husband.  As  he  cannot  remember,  Dorothy  thinks 
Miss  Arden  says  this  to  take  him  away  from  her,  and  she  insists 
he  is  her  husband.    This  leads  to  many  humorous  and  dramatic 


"The  Bait" 

David  Horsley-Mutual  Masterpicture  Released  Janu- 
ary 22.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  S  the  hunter  baits  the  trap  for  big  game,  so  Tom  Sloan 
•'»  of  the  "Red  Dog  Saloon"  lays  a  bait  for  the  rich  miners 
who  come  to  his  place,  and  the  unwilling  bait  is  Margot,  his 
pretty  wife.  Margot's  father,  a  tool  of  Sloan,  tries  in  vain  to 
protect  his   daughter,  and  at  last  in  a  riot  in  the   saloon  he 


Margot 


fires  a  shot  which  he  believes  fatally  wounds  Sloan.  Then  he 
and  his  daughter  steal  away  into  the  night. 

These  are  the  opening  scenes  of  an  exciting  western 
drama,  "The  Bait,"  which,  while  containing  many  of  the 
conventional  features  always  seen  in  a  play  of  this  setting,  is 
very  well  done.  The  mountain  scenes  are  beautiful,  the  char- 
acters appeal,  and  the  interest  is  not  allowed  to  decline  until 
the  play  is  over.  Betty  Hart  shows  skill  throughout,  from 
the  early  scenes,  when  she  cringes  before  her  angry  husband, 
then  plays  with  cynical  bravado  the  part  of  "the  bait."  to  the 
closing  scenes,  when  with  dramatic  and  emotional  force,  she 
pleads  for  the  man  whom  she  loves. 

After  Margot  and  her  father  have  made  their  escape  from 
"The  Red  Dog,"  after  the  shooting  episode,  they  set  out 
through  the  mountains.  On  the  way  the  father  falls  and  is 
severely  injured.  A  trapper,  Bruce  Powell  (William  Clif- 
ford), comes  to  their  aid  and  takes  the  wounded  man  to  his 
cabin.  There  he  dies,  after  telling  Margot  that  the  marriage 
which  bound  her  to  Sloan  was  illegal.  Margot  later  marries 
Powell,  and  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  is  happy. 

Powell  is  paymaster  for  a  fur  company.  Some  time  later 
strangers  arrive  in  the  community  and  stir  up  trouble  among 
the  trappers  who  work  for  the  company.  The  delay  in  the 
arrival  of  funds  to  pay  the  men  helps  the  trouble  makers, 
who  are  agents  of  a  rival  firm.  Powell  tries  to  quiet  the  men 
by  paying  them  from  his  own  savings,  but  two  mysterious 
thefts  thwart  his  plans.  The  men  become  suspicious  of 
Powell  and  an  angry  mob  decides  to  lynch  him.  In  the  mean- 
time, Margot  discovers  that  one  of  the  strangers  is  Sloan, 
whom  she  thought  dead.  And  at  this  time  Powell  learns 
about  Margot's  past  life. 

Finally  the  money  for  the  men  arrives,  but  Sloan  forces 
Margot  to  steal  it  for  him.  Margot,  who  had  lured  men  into 
a  trap  for  Sloan,  now  lures  him  into  one,  a  real  trap  this  time, 
one  which  Powell  had  set  for  game.  Powell  is  accused  of  the 
murder  as  well  as  the  thefts,  and  the  mob  is  about  to  hang 
him.  Margot's  confession  saves  him,  and  when  a  search  of 
the  body  of  Sloan  shows  him  to  be  the  real  thief,  Powell 
is  vindicated  and  he  and  Margot  are  reconciled. 

Frederick  Montague  plays  well  the  part  of  Sloan.  Others 
in  the  cast  are  Oliver  C.  Allen,  Edward  Alexander  and  Marvel 
Spencer. 


February  5,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


"The  White  Alley" 


Essanay  Offers  Carolyn  Wells  Story  in  Three  Reels 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

IN  THE  RANKS  of  detective  story  writers,  Carolyn  Wells 
A  has  long  had  a  reputation  second  to  none,  so  one  feels 
confident  as  soon  as  the  title  flashes  on  the  screen  that 
Essanay's  three-reel  feature,  "The  White  Alley,"  is  going 
to  be  a  thoroughly  enjoyable  picture,  for  that  first  sub-title 
conveys  the  information  that  Carolyn  Wells  supplied  the 
plot.  And  the  screened  picture  is  all  and  more  than  one 
'looks   forward   to. 

Dainty  Elizabeth  Burbridge,  Ernest  Maupain,  Harry 
Beaumont",  Edward  Arnold  and  Hugh  Thompson  are  but  a 
few  of  the  principals  that  enact  the  thrilling  tale,  and  a.  better 
cast  it  would  be  hard  to  find  for  such  a  story.  Miss  Bur- 
bridge  makes  of  Dorothy  Duncan,  the  ingenue-heroine  of 
the  picture,  a  gay  and  vivacious  girl,  who  finds  herself  en- 
gaged to  Justin  Arnold,  a  man  well  along  in  life  and  inclined 
to  be  extremely  jealous,  though  later  she  discovers  that  it  is 
Ernest  Chapin,  Arnold's  secretary,  that  she  really  loves. 
Though  maintaining  the  light  and  airy  manner  of  the  jolly, 
vivacious  girl  throughout  most  of  the  production,  she  proves 
her  skill  as  an  emotional  actress  in  later  scenes,  when  she 
seeks -to.  prevent  Chapin  from  confessing  a  crime  of  which 
he    is    innocent. 

Ernest  Maupain  gives  an  excellent  character  study  as 
Arnold,  and  Harry  Beaumont,  a  newcomer  to  the  Essanay 
ranks,  is  bound  to  win  many  friends  for  himself  as  Chapin. 
Edward  Arnold,  as  Crosby,  rises  to  his  opportunities  in 
the  closing  scenes  of  the  tense  little  drama,  and  Hugh  Thomp- 
son appears  as  a  marvelous  sleuth  of  the   Sherlock  Holmes 

t>rPe-  .  .  ... 

At  a  house  party  given  by  Justin  Arnold,  a  millionaire, 
Campbell  Crosby,  his  cousin;  Emery  Gale,  his  partner,  and 
Chapin,  Arnold's  secretary,  all  fall  head  over  heels  in  love 
with  Dorothy  Duncan,  Arnold's  fiancee,  and  the  girl,  for 
her  part,  flirts  outrageously  with  all  three  of  them,  much 
to  the  disgust  of  Arnold.  Crosby  and  Gale  depart,  and  later 
Arnold  finds  Dorothy  in  the  arms  of  Chapin,  and  immediately 
"breaks  off  the  engagement.  He  orders  the  girl  to  her  room 
and  then  turns  angrily  upon  the  secretary,  who  has  presumed 
to  seek  the  hand  of  the  girl  loved  by  his  employer. 

Next  morning  Arnold  is  missing  and  his  valet  declares 
he  has  not  slept  in  his  bed  that  night.  Several  days  elapse 
before  the  body  is  found  in  a  huge  brick  oven  in  the  base- 
ment, and  circumstantial  evidence  seems  to  implicate  Chapin, 
the  secretary,  particularly  since  he  fails  to  account  for  a 
check  in  the  sum  of  $5,000  which  Arnold's  check  stub  proves 
was  made  out  on  the  night  when  Arnold  disappeared.  Still 
later,  other  evidence  indicates  that  Dorothy  is  guilty  of  the 


the  wall  encircling  the  Arnold  estate,  a  sprig  of  sage  near 
the  place  where  Arnold's  body  had  been  hidden,  and  a  white 
alley,  all  of  which  he  declares  are  important  clues.  Stone 
then  summons  all  the  members  of  the  house  party  for  a 
conference  and  also  calls  Crosby  and  Gale  into  the  affair. 
Stone  begins  to  describe  his  version  of  the  happenings  in 
the  Arnold  home  on  the  night  of  the  murder,  and  soon  Crosby 
interrupts  him  with  a  confession  that  he  had  returned  to  the 
house  at  a  late  hour  by  means  of  a  scuttle  in  the  roof,  and 
after  killing  Arnold,  so  that  he  could  inherit  the  estate  and 
marry  Dorothy,  had  dragged  the  body  to  the  basement  and 
hidden  it.  As  he  finishes  his  confession  he  dies  from  poison 
that  he  has  taken  unnoticed  by  Stone.  Saturday,  January 
22,  is  the  release  date  of  the  picture. 


from 


murder,  and  just  as  the  headquarters  detective  is  about  to 
place  her  under  arrest,  Chapin  rises  and  declares  that  he  is 
guilty. 

Dorothy,  to  secure  Chapin's  freedom,  employs  Fleming 
Stone,  a  celebrated  detective,  and  the  latter,  after  a  little 
investigation    of   his    own,    finds    a    Prest-O-Lite    key    beside 


"The  Call  of  the  Cumberlands" 

A  Five-Part  Pallas-Paramount  Drama,  Released  Jan- 
uary 24.     Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 


D 


USTIN   FARNUM 


South,    is    superb    in    this 


Old  Spicer  South,  the  leader 
stalwart    son,    Samson,    with 


Call  of  the   Cumberlands." 


proud  favor,  for  he  realizes  that  the  Souths  will  be  well  cap- 
tained should  the  present  truce  between  them  and  the  Holl- 
man  faction,  their  ancient  enemies,  be  for  any  cause  broken. 

Winifred  Kingston  makes  an  appealing  characterization 
of  Sally  Spicer,  Samson's  childhood  sweetheart,  who  is 
finally  obliged  to  part  with  her  lover  when  his  chance  comes 
to  go  out  into  the  world  to  study  art — for  Samson  as  well  as 
being  a  fighter,  is  a  lover  of  nature  and  an  inborn  artist. 
He  leaves  for  New  York  to  go  to  the  studio  of  Paul  Lescott, 
a  rich  artist  who  has  become  interested  in  him,  and  rises  to 
the  heights  of  a  brilliant  artistic  career  under  the  tutelage  of 
his  benefactor. 

This  part  of  the  drama  is  characterized  by  the  strength 
of  the  young  mountaineer  in  overcoming  his  "barbarian"  man- 
ners and  also  in  teaching  society  a  little  much  needed  com- 
mon sense.  _  Some  of  this  latter  affords  a  humorous  strain. 
About  the  time  Samson  South  is  established  in  polite  society 
and  his  difficulties  in  the  city  are  over,  the  call  comes  from 
the  Cumberlands  that  the  truce  has  been  broken.  He  leaves 
at  once  for  the  stirring  scenes  of  old. 

Samson  now  shows  his  bravery  and  steel-like  courage  as 
never  before.  After  avenging  his  father's  death,  he  leads 
his  clan  directly  into  the  hostile  faction's  village,  releases  four 
prisoners  and  entirely  routs  the  enemy.  The  latter  acknowl- 
edge themselves  beaten  and  a  permanent  peace  is  decided 
upon. 

Sally  South  has,  during  the  interval  of  her  lover's  ab- 
sence, somewhat  doubted  his  love  (and  so  perhaps  has  the 
spectator).  But  both  are  reassured  when  Samson  takes  the 
devoted  girl  into  his  arms  and  squeezes  out  all  her  fears 
about  the  city  girl,  Adrienne  Lescott,  who  had  merely  made 
a  compact  with  her  brother's  friend  to  teach  him  city  man- 
ners. 

The  settings  of  this  play,  both  exterior  and  interior,  are 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


exceptionally  artistic  and  reflect  well  upon  the  director,  as 
do  the  many  other  careful  details  of  production.  Lescott's 
studio  is  an  interior  which  manifests  no  little  taste  as  well 
as  expenditure  of  time  and  money.  Beautiful  photography 
is  the  perfect  means  of  bringing  Kentuckian  atmosphere  onto 
the  screen. 

Others  in  the  cast  who  contribute  their  efforts  to  the 
quality  of  the  picture  and  in  support  of  Mr.  Farnum's  telling 
acting*  are  Herbert  Standing,  Myrtle  Stedman,  Page  Peters, 
Howard  Davies,  Dick  Le  Strange  and  Joe  Ray. 

As  a  summary  of  the  weighty  facts  of  the  matter,  it  can 
be  said  with  no  fear  of  overstatement  that  "The  Call  of  the 
Cumberlands"  in  terms  of  the  feature,  is  the  genuine  article; 
a  virile,  absorbing  and  beautifully  staged  play  worthy  of 
gracing  any  select  screen. 


Tommy  watches  her.  Then  she  is  called  on  to  "register"  fear, 
which  she  does  so  realistically  that  Tommy  rushes  to  her  rescue 
and  drives  away  the  lion.  As  a  reward,  the  leading  lady  has 
him  fired  for  spoiling  her  act. 

Tommy  feels  pretty  badly  about  it  all,  and  Buck  himself 
can  sympathize,  for,  in  another  portion  of  the  circus  story, 
he  had  been  "beaten  up"  by  a  boxing  kangaroo,  and  the  play 
ends  with  his  admonition  to  Tommy  to  beware  of  "women 
and  lions — and  kangaroos." 

The  offering  is  rather  a  series  of  incidents  than  one  story, 
but  the  incidents  are  interesting  as  well  as  funny,  and  the 
exposition  of  further  details  in  the  work  of  a  company  of  mo- 
tion picture  people  is  very  enjoyable. 


"The  Extra  Man  and  the  Milk  Fed  Lion" 

Three-Reel  Mustang  Released  February  4.     Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 

BUCK  PARVIN'S  friend,  Tommy,  was  hardly  a  success 
even  as  an  "extra  man,"  but  S.  William  Marshall  as 
"Tommy"  is  the  star  of  this  particular  "Buck  Parvin"  story. 
The  first  thing  that  Tommy  does  is  to  fall  deeply  in  love  with 
Myrtle  Manners,  leading  lady,  and  the  way  he  "moons" 
through  the  succeeding  scenes  is  a  delight.  Buck  himself 
enjoys  the  situation  and  makes  sport  of  the  love-sick  youth, 
but  Tommy  is  too  far  gone  to  notice.     When  Tommy  carries 


Jul 

Jj.    jS- 

ft  ^ 



I  I....,    SBL     -      y 

Li  ill  11 

Tommy  is  to  play  in  the  "lion"  act. 

a  bouquet  of  flowers  to  Myrtle's  door,  rings  the  bell  and 
runs  away,  Buck  picks  up  the  flowers  and  presents  them  to 
Myrtle  with  his  compliments.  So  Tommy  worships  from  afar 
and  never  has  a  chance  to  declare  his  affections  to  his  adored. 

The  clever  dialogue  which  was  the  best  feature  of  Van 
Loan's  "Buck  Parvin"  stories  of  course  is  lost  in  the  screen 
version,  except  the  few  lines  which  get  into  the  sub-titles, 
but  this  lack  is  filled  in  the  pictures  by  the  excellent  charac- 
terizations. Ben,  the  property  man,  played  by  Joe  Massey, 
continues  to  be  among  the  best  of  these.  Ben  is  told  to  get 
a  spinning  wheel  for  a  Puritan  setting  and  he  asks  Buck's 
washerwoman  to  lend  him  hers.  The  woman,  a  "neat  as  wax" 
housekeeper,  listens  graciously  for  two  minutes.  Then  she 
suddenly  refuses  and  drives  Ben  away.  Poor  Ben  can't  guess 
the  reason  why,  but  the  audience  will  know,  and  also  why  the 
woman  applied  the  scrubbing  brush  to  her  front  porch  as 
soon  as  he  has  gone. 

Later,  when  the  woman  is  away,  Ben  steals  back  for  the 
wheel,  with  the  result  that,  just  as  the  Indians  are  attacking 
the  Puritan  family  and  the  camera  is  grinding  away,  into  the 
scene  rushes  the  indignant  owner  of  the  spinning  wheel,  and 
undaunted  by  the  Indians,  snatches  it  in  her  arms  and  takes  it 
away. 

After  other  incidents  which  show  that  making  pictures  is 
not  all  sunshine,  we  come  to  the  circus  scenario  which  gives 
Tommy  the  longed-for  chance  to  play  opposite  the  adored 
Myrtle,  for  he  is  to  double  for  La  Rue,  leading  man,  in  a  lion 
act  and  rescue  the  fair  lady.  Myrtle  enters  the  cage  of  the 
beast  and  puts  him  through  his  tricks.    Terrified  for  her  safety, 


"A  Circus  Romance" 

Five-Reel   Equitable  Feature   Production.     Reviewed 
by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

DRODUCED  for  Equitable  by  Charles  Seay,  "A  Circus 
1  Romance"  is  both  fascinating  and  delightful.  It  tells  a 
pleasing  story  which  lends  itself  admirably  to  the  photo- 
play's manner  of  telling  it.  It  is  a  simple  sort  of  story,  and 
that  the  picture  is  enjoyable  is  as  much  the  result  of  the 
atmospheric  production  which  Mr.  Seay,  assisted  by  a  large 
circus  and  the  townspeople  of  Albany,  Ga.,  has  given  it. 
More  really  effective  atmosphere  could  hardly  be  crowded 
into  a  five-reel  picture.  The  often  spoken  of  fascination  of 
the  circus  life  surely  comes  into  its  own  in  "A  Circus  Ro- 
mance." 

Muriel  Ostriche  is  featured  as  the  show's  premiere  dancer, 
who  happens  to  be  the  daughter  of  a  banker  in  a  small  town 
where  circus  people  would  not  be  permitted  to  enter  if  the 
pillars  of  the  church  had  their  way.  Babette,  the  central 
character  in  this  story  by  Betty  T.  Fitzgerald,  is  a  part 
requiring  no  great  amount  of  acting.  The  part  demands 
only  that  its  player  be  girlish  of  manner  and  good  looking, 
and  Muriel  Ostriche  can  do  both  those  things  very  well. 

When  the  posters  announcing  that  the  circus,  now  play- 
ing at  a  town  near  by,  is  coming  to  Middleboro,  certain 
deacons  of  the  church  appear  horrified.  One  of  them  fears 
it  so  much  that  he  sneaks  to  the  place  where  the  show  is 
then  playing  and  even  goes  so  far  as  to  insult  Babette,  the 
little  dancer.  When  the  show  reaches  Middleboro,  Babette 
learns  that  Ezra  Butterworth  lives  there.  Among  her  dead 
mother's  effects  she  found  the  marriage  certificate  and  from 
it  knows  that  Ezra  Butterworth  is  her  father. 

She  calls  on  Butterworth,  who  believed  his  wife  dead, 
and  married  again.  He  asks  her  to  live  in  his  home,  but 
does  not  publicly  acknowledge  her  as  his  daughter.  The 
church  people  are  indignant  when  she  attends  the  church, 
and  even  go  so  far  as  to  threaten  Butterworth  with  removal 
from  his  position  as  deacon  if  he  does  not  put  her  out. 
Babette's  fiance,  Petey,  the  acrobat,  makes  known  the  secret 
trip  to  the  circus  of  the  committee's  head,  and  so  ends  all 


t  of  the  tensely  dra. 


'A  Circus  Romance." 


discussion  on  this  point.  Butterworth  then  announces  that 
Babette  is  his  daughter  and  he  presents  her  with  a  farm 
he  owns  as  a  wedding  present. 

The  action  in  the  first  four  reels  of  this  picture  is  quick 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


317 


and  continuous.  It  is  a  most  gratifying  picture  during  this 
part,  for  its  utter  lack  of  padding.  In  the  last  reel,  however, 
there  is  a  distinct  let-down  in  the  story.  The  scenes  here 
are  entertaining,  showing  Babette  again  with  the  circus,  but 
the  absence  of  a  good  reason  for  all  of  it  is  noticeable, 
because  the  preceding  reels  are  so  filled  with  action  which 
moves  steadily  and  without  unnecessary  situations  to  the 
climax.  Taken  as  a  whole,  "A  Circus  Romance"  is  an  excep- 
tionally good  picture.  The  cast  includes  Edward  Davis, 
Jack  Hopkins,   Catherine   Calhoun   and   George   Larkin. 


"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines" 

Clyde  Fitch's  Fantastic  Comedy  Filmed  by  Essanay. 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

THOROUGHLY  delightful  in  every  respect  is  Essanay's 
five-reel  adaptation  of  the  Clyde  Fitch  comedy,  "Captain 
Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines,"  which  is  a  V.  L.  S.  E.  release 
of  January  17.     Ann  Murdock,  specially  engaged  to  interpret 


meeting  the  prima  donna,  Jinks  finds  her  so  sweet  and  lov- 
able that  he  calls  the  bet  off,  though  paying  is  as  though  he 
had  lost. 

When  Gussie  finds  that  Jinks  really  loves  Trentoni  and 
that  the  opera  star  returns  his  love,  he  grows  jealous,  and 
later  plots  with  Charley  to  bring  about  Jinks'  undoing  by 
showing  the  written  agreement  of  the  wager  to  Balliarti, 
Trentoni's  guardian,  declaring  that  Jinks  knows  the  prima 
donna  is  wealthy  and  is  only  seeking  her  fortune. 

Balliarti  reveals  the  supposed  perfidy  of  Jinks  to  Tren- 
toni and  Jinks  is  ordered  to  never  call  again  upon  the  lady 
of  his  choice.  Trentoni  is  so  upset  over  the  discovery  that 
Jinks  is  a  cad  that  she  at  first  refuses  to  appear  at  the  theater, 
but  later,  to  show  the  world  that  she  is  still  heart  whole 
and  fancy  free,  she  consents  to  appear  and  scores  a  tre- 
mendous triumph.  Not  the  least  of  her  victories  is  the  win- 
ning of  the  affection  of  Mrs.  Jinks,  the  captain's  mother,  who 
had  frowned  upon  her  son's  engagement  to  a  stage  star. 

Eventually,  by  a  clever  ruse,  Jinks  secures  an  interview 
with  his  lady  fair  and  explains  all  about  the  foolish  wager. 
She  promptly  receives  him  back  into  her  good  graces  and 
all  ends  happily. 


the  role  of  Mme.  Trentoni,  the  prima  donna  who  is  the 
heroine  of  the  Fitch  comedy,  is  just  the  type  needed  for 
'  the  part,  and  by  her  hoidenish  mannerisms  wins  her  way 
straight  to  the  hearts  of  her  audience  at  her  very  first  ap- 
pearance. 

As  the  comedy  progresses  and  Miss  Mudock  continues 
to  romp  about,  now  pouting  over  the  missing  Captain  Jinks, 
who  apparently  is  seeking  only  her  fortune;  now  gushing 
over  Prof.  Belliarti,  her  ballet  master  and  guardian;  and 
now  coyly  inviting  Jinks  to  continue  his  love  making,  she 
grows  more  and  more  fascinating.  Probably  hundreds  of 
theatergoers  will  agree  with  the  letter  Captain  Jinks  writes 
to  his  mother,  in  which  he  describes  Trentoni  as  "the  dearest, 
darlingest,  most  lovable  girl  alive."  Surely  all  will  concede 
that  Miss  Murdock  is  destined  to  become  a  film  star,  of  the 
first  magnitude  if  she  decides  to  devote  her  talents  to  work 
before  the  camera  in  the  future. 

Mr.  Travers,  as  Captain  Jinks,  gets  everything  possible 
out  of  the  part,  and  you  first  laugh  at  and  then  sympathize 
with  him,  as  the  plot  concocted  by  "Gussie"  and  "Charley," 
his  supposed  friends,  appears  to  be  successful.  In  the  role 
of  "Gussie"  Von  Kolkenberg,  John  Junior  scores  a  tremen- 
dous success,  while  Edmund  F.  Cobb  as  Charlie  LaMartine 
is  also  entitled  to  much  praise.  A 

The  quaint  costumes  of  1872  add  not  a  little  interest  to 
the  picture,  and  the  director,  in  the  theater  scenes,  presents 
the  chorus  of  the  current  "Follies"  show  as  ballet  girls  of 
the  Trentoni  company  in  an  effective  fashion.  Ernest  Mau- 
pain  as  Belliarti  creates  one  of  the  best  roles  that  has  fallen 
to  his  lot  in  a  long  time,  and  is  sure  to  win  many  friends 
for  himself  by  his  careful  characterization. 

The  story  opens  in  the  Republic  Club  of  New  York, 
where  Captain  Jinks  and  his  companions  form  a  marching 
club  to  _boost_  the  presidential  campaign  of  General  Grant. 
Attired  in  their  guady  uniforms,  the  three  friends  journey  to 
the  docket  to  greet  Trentoni,  the  celebrated  prima  donna,  when 
she  lands.  Jinks,  after  reading  an  announcement  of  Tren- 
toni's coming  and  her  innumerable  charms,  bets  Gussie  $1,000 
that   he   can   win   her   love.     The   wager   is    taken,   but   after 


"Helen's  Wild  Ride" 

Chapter  Six  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game,"  Signal  Film 
Release.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

l_T  ELEN,  the  dauntless,  continues  her  thrilling  career  at  top 
^  speed.  In  this  chapter  she  detects,  follows  and  captures 
the  cracksman  Seagrue  has  hired  to  steal  the  payroll  from 
Rhinelander's  safe. 

A  telegram  tells  Rhinelander  that  the  money  to  pay  the 
men  is  to  arrive  on  Number  Four.  After  reading  the  message, 
Rhinelander  leaves  it  on  his  desk,  where  his  little  dog  finds  it 
and  carries  it  away.  Distracted  by  a  squirrel,  the  puppy  drops 
the  paper  at  the  feet  of  Spike,  Seagrue's  spy.  The  man  takes 
the  telegram  to  Seagrue,  who  determines  to  have  the  money 
stolen  and  to  stir  up  dissension  in  Rhinelander's  camp. 

When  the  money  is  taken  from  the  train,  Rhinelander 
orders  the  station  agent  to  put  it  in  the  safe,  but  before  this 
is  done,  a  bottle  of  ink  upsets  and  splashes  over  several  of 
the  bills.  That  night  Spike  and  three  pals  open  the  safe  and 
take  the  money.  While  one  of  them  goes  to  Oceanside,  the 
others  remain  to  stir  up  trouble  in  the  camp.  To  add  to  the 
trouble,  the  camp  buildings  catch  fire  early  the  next  day. 

Later  in  the  day,  the  strangers  buy  railroad  tickets  to 
Oceanside,  and  as  they  pay  Helen,  she  notices  ink  stains  on 
the  bills.  This  gives  her  a  clue  to  the  robbers  and  she  sets 
out  to  capture  them.  On  a  "speeder  car"  she  follows  the 
train,  dashing  through  the  smoke  from  the  burning  camp,  and 
after  a  wild  chase  she  overtakes  it  and  leaps  on  the  rear  plat- 
form. But  before  she  can  point  out  the  robbers,  they  jump 
from  the  car  window,  as  the  train  crosses  the  river,  into  the 
water   below.     Helen   also   jumps   from   the   train   onto   the 


I 

B|jl 

bridge.  Before  she  gets  across,  the  bridge  rises  to  let  a  boat 
through,  and  Helen  has  another  daring  leap,  from  the  end  of 
the  rising  bridge  to  the  track  below.     She  survives,  and  with 


3  IS 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


the  aid  of  a  policeman  follows  the  robbers  until  they  join 
the  third.  Then  there  is  a  great  struggle,  in  which  Helen 
pushes  one  of  the  men  from  the  roof  of  the  building,  and  then 
lets  herself  through  a  skylight  into  the  room  below,  where 
she  aids  the  policeman  in  capturing  the  men  and  recovering 
the  money,  which,  a  little  later,  they  bring  back  to  Rhine- 
lander. 

The  thrills  guaranteed  for  each  chapter  are  here  in  good 
measure.  The  story,  while  it  rushes  along  breathlessly,  is 
clear  and  entertaining. 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill 

Latest    Offerings    from    Ince    and    Sennett    Studios 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

THIS  week  the  Studebaker  theater,  Chicago,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Jones,  Linnick  &  Schaefer,  begins  its  new  policy  of 
splitting  the  Triangle  program  into  two  sections,  running 
"DArtagnan"  of  the  Ince  studios  and  "Perils  of  the  Park"  from 
the  Kevstone  the  first  half  of  the  week.  "Acquitted"  from  the 
Fine  Arts  Company  and  another  Keystone  will  go  on  the  screen 
on  Thursday  for  a  run  the  latter  half  of  this  week,  thereby 
being  too  late  for  review  in  this  issue,  but  they  will  be  described 
next  week. 

In  order  not  to  make  the  split  program  too  short,  a  Pathe 
colored  scenic  film,  one  reel  in  length,  opens  the  program  and  is 
immediately  followed  by  the  Keystone  offering,  "Perils  of  the 
Park,"  which  features  Harry  Gribbon  and  Alice  Davenport. 
The  same  picture  gives  Marie  Manley,  as  the  maid,  and  Harry 
McCoy,  as  the  gardner,  a  chance  to  display  their  ability  and  a 
bit  of  Miss  Manley's  shapely  legs. 

The  story  is  one  of  the  usual  Keystone  variety,  affording  all 
of  the  players  a  chance  to  demonstrate  their  fun-making  abilities, 
and  each  and  all  of  them  take  full  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
offered.  Hubby  forgets  to  provide  a  birthday  present  for  Wifey, 
but  having  purchased  a  handsome  locket  for  the  good  looking 
maid,  he  reclaims  that  and  offers  it  to  Wifey,  after  promising  to 
get  it  back  for  the  maid.  Later  all  adjourn  to  the  park,  where 
the  gardener  is  engaged  to  steal  the  locket  from  Wifey,  and  mean- 
while Hubby  enjoys  himself  with  the  maid.  Eventually  the 
gardener  is  punished  for  his  transgressions,  while  Hubby  suc- 
ceeds in  convincing  Wifey  that  he  is  wholly  innocent  of  any 
wrong  doing. 

Lovers  of  Dumas,  and  particularly  those  who  have  read 
"The  Three  Musketeers,"  will  fairly  revel  in  the  screen  version 
of  the  same  story,  featuring  Orrin  Johnson  as  D'Artagnan,  and 
produced  under  the  supervision  of  Thomas  H.  Ince.  Like  the 
play,  the  picture  is  based  purely  upon  the  incident  of  the  queen's 
studs  and  their  return  in  time  for  her  to  wear  at  the  court  ball, 
thus  foiling  the  schemes  of  Cardinal  Richelieu.  Nothing  of  the 
later  events  that  make  the  novel  so  interesting  are  shown,  so 
Miladi  remains  a  comparatively  minor  character,  but  as  far  as  it 
goes  the  picture  is  excellent  and  D'Artagnan,   Porthos,   Aramis 


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and  Athos  are  just  as  enjoyable  in  the  celluloid  version  of  the 
tale  as  they  were  in  Dumas'  manuscript. 

Much  care  has  been  taken  with  the  stage  settings  and  the 
costuming  and  the  quaint  old  streets  of  French  villages,  and 
later  the   views  of    Paris  are   well   done   and   convincing.     Mr. 


Johnson  makes  of  D'Artagnan  the  swashbuckling  hero  so  dear 
to  all,  while  Walt  Whitman  as  the  cardinal  and  Arthur  Maude 
as  de  Rochefort  are  ever  plotting  and  intriguing  against  the 
queen  and  her  friends.  Dorothy  Dalton  makes  of  the  queen  an 
interesting  personality,  and  Rhea  Mitchell  as  Madame  Bonacieux, 
the  lady  in  waiting,  is  all  that  can  be  desired.  Louise  Glaum  as 
Miladi,  in  the  few  scenes  in  which  she  appears,  is  excellent,  but  is 
given  little  or  nothing  to  do.  Harvey  Clark  is  Buckingham, 
and  George  Fisher  appears  as  King  Louis  XIII.  Mention  must 
also  again  be  made  of  the  decorative  sub-titles  which  are  un- 
equalled by  those  of  any  other  feature  producer.  Audiences  at 
the  Studebaker  can  be  frequently  heard  making  favorable  com- 
ments upon  the  uniqueness  of  the  Ince  offerings  in  this  respect. 

"D'Artagnan"  begins  with  the  departure  of  the  young  Gascon 
from  his  ancestral  home,  and  his  adventure  at  the  Inn  and 
meeting  with  de  Rochefort  follows  soon  after.  Arrived  in  Paris, 
he  presents  himself  to  de  Treville,  and  in  departing  brings  on 
the  three  duels  with  Aramis,  Porthos  and  Athos.  When  the 
duellists  are  set  upon  by  the  cardinal's  minions,  D'Artagnan 
takes  sides  with  the  Musketeers  and  as  a  result  soon  is  welcomed 
as  a  comrade  by  the  men  who  serve  their  king.  Anne  of  Austria 
gives  her  studs  to  Buckingham,  and  the  cardinal,  hearing  of  it 
through  his  spies,  plots  to  expose  her  to  the  king  by  suggesting 
that  she  wear  the  diamond  studs  at  a  coming  court  ball. 

Realizing  that  she  faces  exposure,  the  queen  in  her  ex- 
tremity appears  to  her  lady  in  waiting  for  aid,  and  through  her 
D'Artagnan  is  sent  with  his  friends  to  England  to  bring  back 
the  studs  which  Buckingham  obtained. 

After  many  exciting  adventures  D'Artagnan  is  successful  in 
foiling  the  plot  of  de  Rochefort  and  his  assistants,  and  arrives 
with  the  studs  barely  in  time  to  permit  the  queen  to  wear  them 
at  the  ball.  Great  is  the  amazement  of  Richelieu  when  she 
appears  with  the  necklace  intact,  and  to  cover  his  chagrin  the 
cardinal  presents  her  with  the  two  studs  which  Miladi  had 
obtained  for  him  by  a  clever  ruse.  D'Artagnan  is  rewarded  by 
winning  the  affection  of  Madame  Bonacieux,  and  the  picture 
closes  with  a  view  of  the  three  musketeers  swearing  undying 
loyalty  to  their  king. 

"The  Path  of  Happiness" 

Universal   Red   Feather   Five-Reel    Feature    Released 
January  31.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  PICTURE  so  beautiful  that  it  seems  like  a  fantasy  is  that 
offered  in  this  "Red  Feather"  release,  which  is  the  new 
name  for  the  "Broadway-Universal"  features.  Violet  Mer- 
sereau  laughs  and  dances  her  way  through  the  story,  or  rather 
one  may  say  she  is  the  story.  As  Joan  of  the  hills,  she  is  as 
lovely,  as  innocent  and  as  free  as  are  all  the  woodland  nymphs 
which  exist  in  the  imagination  of  city-tired  brains,  and  exist 
nowhere  else.  The  settings  are  almost  entirely  forest  scenes, 
beautifully  photographed.  A  further  touch  of  fantasy  is  given 
the  story  by  the  introduction  of  the  hunchback  foster  brother. 
Grekko,  who,  in  his  deformity  and  sadness  is  a  poignant  con- 
trast to  the  beauty  and  gladness  of  Joan.  He  is  excellently 
portrayed  both  in  makeup  and  action  by  Sidnejr  Bracey.  And 
then  there  is  the  prince,  in  the  guise  of  the  city  man,  Merrill, 
played  by  Harry  Benham. 

Having  decided  that  this  is  a  fairy  story,  brought  up  to 
date,  a  fairy  story  in  which  all  the  beauty  formerly  only  de- 
scribed can  be  seen,  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  enjoy  it.  Joan 
of  the  hills,  bare-legged,  clad  in  a  short,  ragged  dress  and  a 
wonderful  mane  of  curly  hair,  plays  with  the  wild  animals  and 
birds,  climbs  trees,  goes  swimming,  laughs  always  and  teases 
the  hunchback.  The  first  shock  of  real  life  comes  to  her 
when  her  father  dies  and  she  learns  what  death  means. 

At  this  time,  a  young  man  who  has  overworked  in  the 
city,  is  ordered  to  the  woods  for  a  rest.  With  his  widowed 
sister  and  her  baby  he  takes  a  camp  not  far  from  Joan's  home. 
They  meet,  and  in  a  short  time  Joan  has  learned  another  les- 
son— what  love  means. 

The  happiness  of  the  two  arouses  the  jealousy  of  Grekko. 
When  later  he  sees  Merrill  playing  with  his  sister's  child,  he 
believes  that  the  man  is  married  and  is  deceiving  Joan,  and 
decides  to  kill  him.  He  tells  Joan  of  his  discovery  and  shows 
her  Merrill,  with  his  sister,  playing  with  the  baby.  At  this 
point  Violet  Mersereau  proves  that  she  can  do  more  than 
just  toss  her  curls  and  look  pretty,  for  from  this  point  to  the 
end  of  the  story,  her  acting  is  fine.  In  Joan's  grief  there  is 
a  mixture  of  childish  temper  and  a  woman's  passion,  which 
Miss  Mersereau  portrays  admirably. 

Joan  is  willing  to  allow  Grekko  to  carry  out  his  plan  of 
killing  Merrill.  When  the  two  meet  again  at  the  trysting 
place,  Grekko  is  watching,  with  a  revolver  in  his  hand.    Joan 


MOTOGRAPHY 


has  told  him  to  shoot  when  Merrill  takes  her  in  his  arms.  But 
when  Joan  accuses  Merrill  of  duplicity,  he  in  a  word  explains 
the  matter.  Forgetting  the  plan,  Joan  throws  herself  into  his 
arms,  and  Grekko  fires,  misses  his  aim  and  the  bullet  strikes 
Joan.  Thinking  he  has  killed  her,  Grekko  goes  away.  Mer- 
rill takes  Joan  to  his  sister's  camp,  where  the  wound  proves  to 
be  slight. 

The  acting  throughout  is  good.  The  story  is  very  inter- 
esting, and  the  suspense  in  the  last  part,  when  Grekko  is 
watching  the  lovers'  meeting,  is  worked  up  to  a  pitch  which 
many  more  elaborately  planned  scenes  fail  to  reach.  The  cast 
includes  Florence  Crawford  as  Merrill's  sister  and  Dorothy 
Benham  as  his  little  niece. 


"The  Serpent" 

Five-Reel  William  Fox  Feature  Released  January  23 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

HORROR  has  been  piled  on  horror  so  heavily  in  "The 
Serpent,"  the  latest  Theda  Bara  picture,  that  the  whole 
story  becomes  almost  farcical.  It  has  taken  the  step  from 
the  tragic  toward  the  ridiculous,  and  as  a  result  has  fallen 
between  the  two. 

The  effect  of  the  story  is  confusing,  to  say  the  least. 
In  the  opening  scenes,  when  the  sordid  life  of  the  Russian 
peasants  is  shown,  we  see  in  the  pictures  what  the  extreme 
realists  put  into  literature,  revolting  animalism,  which  may  be 
true  to  life.  The  daughter  of  these  peasants,  Vania,  becomes 
the  victim  of  the  Grand  Duke  Valanoff.  This  scene  is  the 
"last  word"   in  depicting  cruelty  and  horror. 

Then  the  girl  leaves  Russia  and  goes  to  England.  There 
she  is  the  cause  of  the  ruination  of  two  brothers.  After  go- 
ing on  the  stage,  she  becomes  famous  in  Paris,  and  later  she 
meets  again  the  man  who  ruined  her.  He  does  not  recognize 
her,  and  she  lures  him  on,  hoping  some  day  to  get  her  re- 
venge. She  learns  that  the  duke  loves  only  one  person,  his 
son,  who  is  in  the  army. 

It  is  at  this  point  that  the  story  falls  to  pieces.  Until 
this  time,  cruel  as  it  is,  it  is  logical,  and  well  done.  But  in- 
stead of  acting  in  character  and  striking  at  the  duke  through 
his  son,  the  girl,  who  has  carelessly  dragged  down  every  man 
she  has  attracted,  now  has  a  change  of  heart,  without  any 
reason,  and  becomes  a  Red  Cross  nurse.  In  this  capacity, 
she  meets,  falls  in  love  with  and  finally  marries  the  duke's 
son.  They  return  to  Russia,  and  when  the  young  man  dis- 
covers his  bride's  relations  with  his  father,  he  commits 
suicide. 

Illogical  as  it  is,  unnecessarily  gruesome,  as  in  the  in- 
stance where  the  details  of  a  hospital  operation  are  shown, 
the  story  might  claim  at  least  to  excel  as  a  blood-curdler, 
were  it  not  for  the  ending.  For,  after  we  have  been  har- 
rowed to  the  limit,  the  last  scenes  flash  back  to  Vania's  early 
life,  and  we  are  told  that  it  has  all  been  a  dream.     The  pro- 


also  makes  it  impossible  to  take  the  tale  seriously,  because  a 
dream  of  this  sort,  of  playing  "Lady  Macbeth,"  of  learning 
English,  of  living  like  a  princess  in  Paris,  would  be  psycho- 
logically impossible  for  a  girl  living  in  the  environment  of 
Vania's  home,  while  emotionally,  it  is  a  fine  dream  for  a 
young  girl,  who,  the  subtitles  state,  was  "fit  to  compare  with 
the  angels,  in  spite  of  her  ragged  dress!" 

The  picture  was  directed  by  R.  A.  Walsh.  Theda  Bara 
plays  Vania,  while  James  Marcus  and  Lillian  Hathaway  are 
very  good  as  her  peasant  parents.  Charles  Harbaugh  appears 
as  the   duke. 


"Diamonds  Are  Trumps" 

Selig    Three-Reel     Mystery     Drama    of    January    31 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

TN  "DIAMONDS  ARE  TRUMPS,"  released  on  Monday,. 
1  January  31,  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company  will  offer  a 
clever  mystery-detective  tale  from  the  pen  of  A.  M.  Chis- 
holm,  in  which  Fritzi  Brunette  and  Earle  Foxe  are  featured. 

Miss  Brunette  appears  as  Kitty  Randolph,  daughter  of 
Judge  and  Mrs.  Randolph,  a  wealthy  couple  who  live  not  far 
"from  the  Canadian  border.  She  is  in  love  with  and  loved 
by  Tom  Roach,  a  detective,  who  is  assigned  to  a  diamond 
smuggling    case. 

Miss  Brunette  as  Kitty  proves  herself  a  clever  sleuth, 
for  she  succeeds  in  bringing  about  the  capture  of  the  smug- 


ducers  may  have  thought  to  soften  the  picture  by  giving  it 
a  happy  ending,  but  the  effect  on  the  spectator  is  one  of 
disappointment,  a  sense  of  being  tricked.  He  has  "supped 
on  horrors"  for  nothing, — it  was  all  a  dream!     This  ending 


Kitty. 

gler  after  Tom,  her  lover,  a  role  played  by  Earle  Foxe,  has 
failed. 

Edward  J.  Peil  as  Ludwig  Roth  makes  a  good  heavy, 
and  Lillian  Hayward  and  Frank  Clark  appear  as  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Randolph,  Kitty's  parents.  William  Robert  Daly  is 
credited  with  the  production. 

The  picture  opens  with  the  plan  of  Ludwig  Roth,  a 
smuggler,  to  secure  some  diamonds  which  have  recently  been 
purchased  by  Mrs.  Randolph,  an  account  of  which  appears 
in  the  society  columns  of  a  newspaper. 

With  the  aid  of  Mrs.  Randolph's  chauffeur,  he  learns 
that  the  diamonds  are  in  a  large  handbag  which  Mrs.  Ran- 
dolph is  to  take  with  her  on  a  trip  to  the  jeweler's  in  her 
auto.  He  provides  the  chauffeur  with  a  duplicate  bag,  which 
the  man  substitutes  for  Mrs.  Randolph's  bag  after  he  has 
purposely  dropped  the  latter. 

Roth  takes  the  jewels  across  the  border,  concealing  them 
in  cartridges  for  his  gun,  and  though  Roach,  a  detective, 
follows  him  to  Montreal  and  shadows  him  every  minute 
of  the  time  he  is  in  that  city,  even  going  on  a  hunting 
expedition  with  the  smuggler,  he  fails  to  get  a  clue  as  to 
the  hiding  place  of  the  gems. 

Kitty,  learning  of  her  lover's  failure  to  secure  evidence 
necessary  to  convict  Roth,  urges  her  father  to  accompany 
her,  on  a  trip  across  the  border  and  then  cleverly  arranges 
a  meeting  with  Roth,  from  which  a  flirtation  develops  that 
finally  leads  to  Roth  asking  her  to  help  him  in  conveying 
some    diamonds    across    the   border. 

She  agrees,  believing  that  the  diamonds  are  the  same 
ones  that  were  stolen  from  her  mother,  and  in  order  to  avoid 
the  revenue  man,  hides  the  diamonds  in  a  piccolo.  Roth 
had  given  Kitty  instructions  to  deliver  the  jewels  to  his 
accomplice  on  the  other  side  of  the  border,  but  when  he  later 


320 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


meets  this  man  and  learns  that  the  jewels  have  not  been 
delivered,   he   becomes   suspicious. 

Kitty,  however,  assures  him  over  the  telephone  that  she 
will  give  him  the  diamonds  if  he  will  call  at  her  home,  and 
then  summons  Roach,  concealing  him  behind  the  portieres 
in  the  room  in  which  she  is  to  meet  Roth. 

Kitty  shows  Roth  how  she  got  the  jewels  across  the 
border  without  being  discovered  and  then  tantalizes  him  by 
pretending  that  she  is  not  going  to  deliver  them  over  to 
him.  He  draws  a  gun  to  enforce  his  demand  that  she  give 
him  the  jewels,  and  at  this  moment  Roach  enters  and,  after 
a  struggle,   handcuffs  the   smuggler. 


supplied  is  more  than  adequate,  it  is  artistically  elaborate. 
Augustus  Phillips  is  better  as  Reynolds  than  he  was  in  many 
of  his  previous  appearances.  Miss  Davril  does  well  with  her 
part. 


later,  she  consen 


ing  Ruth  there  lakes  her  home 
become  his  wife. 

The  story  is  not  tensely  dramatic  nor  brilliantly  humor- 
ous, but  "The  Innocence  of  Ruth"  is  a  simple,  delightful 
story  and  it  is  admirably  constructed.  It  is  a  story  that  will 
not  fail  to  charm.    The  mounting  which  Director  Collin,  has 


"The  Innocence  of  Ruth" 

Kleine-Edison  Feature  With  Viola  Dana  and  Edward 
Earle,  Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WILLIAM  ADDISON  LATHROP  is  the  author  of  "The 
Innocence  of  Ruth,"  a  story  whose  admirable  qualities 
serve  as  a  basis  for  good  acting  by  Edward  Earle  and  Viola 
Dana  and  a  particularly  artistic  production  by  John  H.  Col- 
lins. In  this  Edison  five-part  comedy  drama  of  youth  the 
Kleine-Edison  service  offers  an  entirely  satisfying  picture, 
taking  story,  acting,  production  and  photography  in  account. 
The  lighting  is  very  pretty  and  the  photography  whether  the 
scene  be  interior  or  exterior  is  clear  and  deep. 

Viola  Dana  is  a  little  orphan  living  in  the  home  of  a  mil- 
lionaire bachelor  in  whose  care  her  father  entrusted  her.  It 
is  a  part  which  gives  the  winsome  and  resourceful  little  star 
frequent  occasion  for  the  display  of  her  remarkable  talent 
and  screen  technique.  In  the  light  moments  she  charms  and 
she  is  forceful  in  the  dramatic  situations,  while  in  her  scenes 
with  Reynolds  who  successfully  urges  her  to  drink  slightly 
too  much  wine,  Miss  Dana's  good  taste  in  portraying  her 
dizziness  with  such  delicacy  entitles  her  to  unstinted  praise. 

Equally  convincing  and  effective  is  the  performance  ren- 
dered by  Edward  Earle,  seen  as  the  pleasure  loving  bachelor 
who  changes  from  his  disinterested,  fatherly  attitude  toward 
his  charge  to  that  of  her  lover.  He  makes  Carter  an  attractive 
and  realistic  person,  practicing  a  restraint  that  is  at  once 
telling  and  artistic.  His  characterization  is  consistent  and 
by  his  natural,  untheatrical  presence  he  heightens  the  value 
of  situations  such  as  are  only  too  often  over-acted  in  pictures. 
Mr.  Earle's  performance  is  a  finished  one. 

The  story  tells  of  an  idle,  rather  fast  living  young  chap 
who  takes  only  a  fatherly  interest  in  the  pretty,  affectionate 
girl  who,  since  her  father's  death  has  lived  in  his  home.  Not 
until  a  former  friend  of  his  attempts  to  make  her  the  object 
of  his  rather  untamed  love  is  Carter  attracted  by  the  charm- 
ing girl.  Reynold's  mistress  persuades  Ruth  to  call  at  their 
apartment.  The  libertine  is  unsuccessful  in  his  designs,  for 
Carter  comes  to  the  place  on  a  matter  of  business  and  find- 


"The  Broken  Cross" 

American  "Flying  A"  Drama  in  Two  Reels,  Released 
February  1.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

IV/lAY  ALLISON  plays  a  dual  role,  Helen,  a  Red  Cross 
*"*•  nurse,  and  her  younger  sister,  Dora,  in  "The  Broken 
Cross,"  and  she  is  very  attractive  in  either  character.  Harold 
Lockwood  plays  the  young  man  who  falls  in  love  with 
both.     The  story  is  simple,  but  pretty  and  interesting. 

David  Keightly,  a  rich  young  man,  displeases  his  father 


because  of  his  gambling  tendencies.  He  is  sent  away  from 
home,  and  in  an  effort  to  prove  his  worth,  joins  a  fishing  fleet. 
To  the  little  town  nearby,  a  .young  girl,  Dora,  from  the  city 
comes  to  regain  her  health.  The  man  one  day  saves  her  life 
when  her  boat  is  wrecked  on  the  rocks.  During  the  days 
which  follow,  the  two  fall  in  love,  and  the  girl  gives  David,  as 
a  memento,  a  broken  cross  she  has  worn. 

Later  a  message  comes  to  David  calling  him  to  his 
father.  The  same  day  Dora  is  called  home  by  her  sister,  a 
Red  Cross  nurse  who  wishes  to  go  to  the  front.  When  David 
reaches  home,  his  father  is  dead.  Some  time  later  he  returns 
to  the  village,  but  is  told  that  Dora  has  died.  He  goes  back 
to  the  city,  and  not  long  after,  has  occasion  to  save  a  pretty 
nurse  from  a  group  of  ruffians.  He  is  wounded,  however,  and 
is  taken  care  of  by  the  nurse,  with  whom  he  falls  in  love. 
He  persuades  her  to  give  up  her  plan  of  going  abroad  and  to 

Before  they  are  married,  David  tells  the  nurse  of  his  first 
love  and  shows  her  the  cross.  She  recognizes  it  as  that  of 
her  sister,  and  guesses  the  truth.  Then  she  brings  about  the 
reunion  of  the  two  and  is  off  for  the  war  to  nurse  the  soldiers. 

There  are  many  pretty  scenes  in  the  play,  mostly  exte- 
riors. The  oceans  are  good,  particularly  the  one  in  which 
Dora's  boat  is  wrecked  and  David  saves  her  from  drowning. 
There  is  little  emotional  acting  required  of  either  May  Alli- 
son or  Harold  Lockwood.  Miss  Allison  looks  very  pretty 
at  all  times,  particularly  in  the  nurse's  uniform.  Since  the 
idea  of  self-sacrifice  is  connected  with  the  character  of  a  Red 
Cross  nurse,  when  Helen  gives  up  her  lover  and  goes  back 
to  her  noble  work,  we  are  at  once  sorry  and  glad. 


"The  Love  Trail" 

A  Five-Part  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play.  Released  Janu- 
ary 21.     Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

ADAPTED  from  Richard  Dehan's  tar-tamed  novel.  "The 
**■  Dop  Doctor,"  and  starring  Fred  Paul,  Agnes  Glynne  and 
Booth  Conway,  "The  Love  Trail"  is  a  drama  of  genuine  at- 
mosphere and  imposing  proportions,  well  fit  to  be  a  link  in 
the  Gold  Rooster  chain.     It  always  intensifies  whal  the  author 

and    the    portrayefS    of    a    drama    are    trying    to    bring    out,    to 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


321 


have  the  scenes  taken  in  whatever  part  of  the  globe  the  story 
calls  for.  This  story  is  laid  in  the  South  African  veldt  dur- 
ing the  Boer  War,  and  if  the  pictures  were  not  taken  in  that 
location,  no  one  will  ever  suspect  it  from  seeing  them. 

When  Richard  Dehan's  novel  was  published  in  Great 
Britain,  it  found  its  way  to  the  English  heart  at  once  and 
leaped  into  prosperity.  The  story  which  is  characteristically 
English,  ought  to  thrive  under  the  appreciative  interpretation 
given  by  players  of  the  same  nationality. 

Fred  Paul,  who  is  featured  as  the  "Dop  Doctor"  ("dop" 
being  the  name  applied  to  a  South  African  intoxicant)  gives 
a  virile,  appealing  interpretation  of  the  man  who  fights  down 
his  passionate  appetite  for  liquor  to  be  worthy  of  the  girl 
whom  he  comes  to  love.  The  girl,  Lynette,  who  grows  from 
sorrowful  and  parentless  childhood  into  beautiful  woman- 
hood, finally  marrying  the  man  whom  she  indirectly  saves 
from  a  drunkard's  death,  is  the  part  which  falls  to  Miss 
Glynne,   an   actress   of  pleasing  personality  and   ability. 

The  story,  its  development  and  presentation,  unite  with 
the  good  acting,  and  the  cumulative  result  is  continued  in- 
terest. There  are  no  cold-blooded  thrills,  but  tense  moments 
and  many  of  them.  The  whole  production  is  another  argu- 
ment for  the  excellent  quality  of  the  plays  which  Pathe  is 
releasing  on  the   Gold   Rooster  program. 

Lynette,  an  orphan,  grows  into  beautiful  womanhood 
with  only  a  few  bright  spots  in  her  unfortunate  experience. 
At  last  she  escapes  her  surroundings  and  wanders  aimlessly 
around  the  veldt  until  she  drops  from  exhaustion  and  hunger. 


The  above  ill, 


Here  it  is  that  some  kindly  nuns  discover  her  and  take  her 
to  their  convent,  where  Lynette  feels  the  first  affection  and 
kindness  she  has  known  since  the  death  of  her  parents. 

During  the  Boer  War,  a  frontier  town  is  garrisoned  by 
British  troops.  Lord  Beauvayse  makes  love  to  Lynette  and 
wins  her,  receiving  the  approval  of  the  nuns.  Dr.  Owen 
Durham,  whose  reputation  as  a  hopeless  drunkard  is  known, 
conquers  his  evil  passion  through  love  for  the  beautiful  girl. 
After  many  dramatic  scenes,  in  which  the  doctor  proves  him- 
self worthy  of  Lynette's  love,  Lord  Beauvayse  dies.  It  trans- 
pires that  the  latter  was  married  to  another.  Lynette  marries 
the    "Dop    Doctor." 


"Race  Suicide" 

Six  Reels.    Released  States  Rights  by  Joseph  W.  Farn- 
ham.     Reviewed  by  Charles  R.  Condon 

"THROUGH  a  series  of  parallel  scenes  of  wicked  infatua- 
1  tions,  reckless  missteps  and  sorrowful  consequences,  be- 
ginning with  the  pre-historic  ages  and  ending  with  situations 
common  today,  "Race  Suicide"  shows  that  the  sex  problem, 
if  much-discussed  and  in  need  of  solving,  is  at  least  not  new. 

The  subject,  while  hardly  one  for  discussion  between 
minors,  is  shorn  of  its  sensual  flavor  in  its  treatment,  and 
will  not  offend  any  one  who  is  accustomed  to  contact  with 
the  daily  newspapers  where  race  suicide  has  not  only  been 
treated  with  publicity,  but  has  been  the  topic  of  more  than 
one  convincing  discourse  from  the  pen  and  lips  of  Theodore 
Roosevelt. 

The  title,  "Race  Suicide,"  seems  a  little  harsh  for  this 
production  which,  throughout  its  entire  six  reels,  keeps  ever 


above  the  slime  and  filth  in  which  it  might  have  been  dipped 
at  times  and  still  retain  the  enamel  of  truth.  In  the  pre- 
historic ages,  the  flirtations  and  infidelities  of  mankind  were 
prompted  by  animal  instincts  and  wild  passion. 

The  debaucheries  of  the  Roman  period  were  the  result 


The    begin 


„g   of 


d   Innocence. 


of  wilful  abandonment.  And  so  on  up  through  mediaeval 
times  to  modernity  are  shown  tragedies  which  lay  their  orgies 
and  fateful  developments  to  various  conditions  or  causes,  all 
of  which  hinge  upon  the  one  thing — the  sex  problem  which 
is  unusually  prominent  at  the  present  time.  In  the  final 
chapter,  depicting  characters  of  the  present,  the  situation  is 
changed  somewhat.  Instead  of  actual  infidelity  on  the  part 
of  the  husband,  we  see  in  him  a  ruling  desire  for  Bohemianism 
and  a  selfish  fear  that  children  will  burden  him  beyond  finan- 
cial comfort. 

When  he  finally  decides  that  prosperity  has  smiled  upon 
him  to  the  extent  of  allowing  him  children  without  demand- 
ing sacrifice  in  order  to  provide  for  their  support,  he  com- 
municates the  fact  to  his  wife,  and  is  surprised  and  grieved 
to  learn  that  a  recent  accident  has  deprived  her  of  nature's 
precious  gift.  Here,  the  situation  is  built  up  to  the  keen 
disappointment  and  the  cruelly  shattered  anticipation  which 
is  the  lot  of  the  young  wife  whose  happiness  has  rested  upon 
the  hope  of  becoming  a  mother. 

Technically,  the  picture  is  capably  handled.  Settings, 
fitting  exteriors  and  good  photography  are  combined  in  loyal 
support  of  the  cast  of  which  the  principals  are:  Ormi  Haw- 
ley,  Earl  Metcalfe,  Kempton  Greene,  Octavia  Handworth, 
Herbert  Fortier  and  Hazel  Hubbard.  The  actors  and  actresses 
fully  meet  the  demands  of  their  characters  in  each  chapter, 
branding  them  as  clever,  versatile,  and  well-directed. 

Joseph  W.  Farnham  of  220  West  Forty-second  street, 
New  York  City,  is  distributing  the  territories  on  the  picture. 


"The  Third  Degree" 

Latest  Episode  of  Pathe's  "The  Red  Circle."  Reviewed 
by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  latest  episode  of  Pathe's  "The  Red  Circle"  brings  to  a 
close  the  crooked  operations  of  Alma  La  Salle,  or  so  it 
would  seem,  since  she  is  arrested  and  Lamar's  suspicions  of  her 
are  confirmed  by  the  finding  of  the  jewels  stolen  at  the  hotel 
dance,  which  occurred  in  the  chapter  previous.  The  part  of 
Alma  is  very  capably  played  by  Lillian  West.  She  made  the 
rather  difficult  part  convincing  and  in  her  scene  with  Lamar 
and  the  chief  of  police,  who  put  her  through  the  third  degree, 
Miss  West  wins  admiration  by  putting  to  effective  use  what 
little  opportunity  she  is  presented  with. 

The  title  of  the  chapter  is  "The  Third  Degree,"  the  title 
referring  to  the  ordeal  to  which  the  police  subject  Alma.  It  is 
not  often  that  women  are  put  through  the  third  degree  in  pic- 
tures, and  it  must  be  admitted  that  they  are  not  good  subjects 
for  this  popular  melodramatic  situation.  Having  become  used 
to  seeing  men  beaten  and  bullied  into  a  state  of  absolute  sub- 
mission on  the  stage  and  screen,  it  looks  almost  tame  to  see  two 
men  assume  hostile  attitudes  and  vicious  glances  in  questioning 
the  fair  criminal.    Needless  to  say,  the  woman  is  victorious. 

In  the  opening  scene  Lamar  arrests  Alma,  who  is  on  her 
way  to  "Smiling"  Sam's  with  the  haul  she  made  at  the  ball  con- 


322 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  o\ 


cealed  in  the  heel  of  a  shoe.  The  chief  and  Lamar  question  her 
but  are  unable  to  learn  anything.  When  the  jewels  are  discov- 
ered the  detective  resolves  to  raid  Sam  Egan's  shop.  One  of 
the  crook's  associates  is  caught  but  Sam  escapes. 

In  the  meantime  June,  who  is  still  living  at  the  beach,  is 
impelled  to  release  a  monkey  belonging  to  an  organ  grinder. 
While  he  sleeps  she  liberates  the  animal.  The  organ  grinder 
awakes  too  late  to  save  his  money-earning  pet  but  he  does  see 
the  red  circle  on  the  hand  of  the  woman  whose  compassion 
is  all  for  the  ape.  He  calls  the  police,  but  Mary,  who  has  seen 
June  commit  this  "benevolent"  crime,  sets  them  on  the  wrong 
track. 

The  picture,  while  lacking  the  quick  action  of  some  of  its 
predecessors  in  the  series,  sustains  the  interest.  Ruth  Roland  is 
in  the  picture  much  of  the  time.  None  of  her  scenes  are 
dramatic,  as  she  takes  her  latest  criminal  impulse,  that  of  de- 
siring to  release  the  monkey,  with  philosophic  good  nature, 
refusing  to  do  anything  but  smile  when  Mary  cautions  her,  and 
no  screen   actress  possesses   a   smile  more   infectious   than   hers. 


"Behind  Closed  Doors" 

Triumph  Film  Company's  Five-Reel  Equitable  Release 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

THE  hopeless  love  of  a  girl  of  low  origin  for  a  society  man, 
is  the  basic  theme  of  this  five-part  Equitable  offering.  The 
contrast  of  two  such  types  opens  a  way  for  wide  dramatic  possi- 
bilities, which  the  producer,  J.  A.  Golden,  has  taken  full  ad- 
vantage of.  There  is  a  certain  nobility  in  the  two  leading  char- 
acters that,  even  though  their  lives  have  been  led  along  opposite 
paths,  is  equally  strong  and  admirable  in  both  as  the  story  works 
toward  the  close.     The  picture  is  one  that  shows   us  that  true 


manliness  and  true  womanhood  are  qualities  which  equalize  a 
man  and  a  woman,  no  matter  what  their  station  in  life  may  be. 

We  have  in  this  picture,  the  situation  of  a  Gypsy  girl  who 
was  taken  away  from  her  father  in  a  Gypsy  camp  by  a 
wealthy  gambler.  The  girl  was  glad  to  go  with  him  to  escape 
the  cruelties  of  her  parent,  but  in  a  sense  it  was  like  jumping 
out  of  the  frying  pan  into  the  fire.  The  Rambler  sent  her  to 
school  and  in  a  couple  of  years  made  quite  a  presentable  lady 
of  her,  but  after  that  he  used  her  for  his  own  amusement  and 
for  the  amusement  of  some  of  his  star  patrons  at  the  gambling 
house.  In  this  way  she  fell  in  love  with  a  young  society  man 
who  came  there  to  gamble.  Her  love  proved  one  of  those  strong 
undying  loves  that  no  consideration  on  earth  can  change  short 
of  the  grave. 

It  was  her  affection  For  the  young  society  man  that  led  to  all 
the  trouble— blind  love  thai  either  leads  on  to  success  or  general 
wreckage.  This  general  theme  is  never  lust  sight  of  by  the  pro- 
ducer, and  on  thai  accounl  the  production  is  altogether  con- 
sistent.  rhe  love  of  the  Gypsy  woman  for  the  society  man 
eventual!)  leads  to  trouble  with  the  gambler  who  bought  her. 
It  results  in  a  mysterious  murder. 

The  evidence,  entirels    circumstantial,  points  to  the  society 

man.  There  is  a  big  trial  scene  in  which  lie  is  charged  with  the 
murder  of  the  gambler.  The  jury  disagrees  and  a  new  trial  is 
necessary.  The  Gyps\  woman  furnishes  bail  for  the  man  in  the 
hope  that  her  sacrifice  will  arouse  in  him  a  degree  di"  affection  oi 


regard  for  her.  To  her  great  sorrow,  however,  she  finds  him 
clinging  more  closely  to  the  society  girl  who  first  captured  his 
heart.  In  despair  she  writes  a  confession  that  she  herself  mur- 
dered the  gambler  and  takes  her  own  life. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  it  is  a  fast  moving  feature  with  plenty  of 
dramatic  situations.  There  are  many  sumptuous  stage  settings,, 
especially  those  in  the  gambling  palace.  The  best  work  in  the 
production  is  that  of  the  star,  Marie  Empress,  who  plays  the- 
part  of  the  Gypsy  woman  in  the  most  convincing  way. 

William  Huntington  is  featured  with  her  as  the  gambler. 
Regan  Hughston  gives  an  admirable  performance  as  the  society 
man,  and  the  other  support  is  of  a  uniformly  high  class.  The 
photography  is  extremely  good  all  the  way  through,  which,  with 
the  logical  story  and  the  generally  good  direction,  makes  it  ai 
feature  worth  showing  in  any  theater. 


"Flying  Torpedo"  Attracts  Army  Officers 

"The  Flying  Torpedo,"  offered  as  a  big  opening; 
event  of  the  Burbank  theater  in  Los  Angeles,  when 
that  noted  house  was  converted  into  a  motion  picture 
theater,  has  attracted  universal  attention. 

The  first  night  drew  most  all  of  the  celebrities  and 
notables  of  the  Southern  California  film  colonies  to  the 
house  as  guests  of  the  new  owners,  David  W.  Griffith 
and  Mack  Sennett,  much  to  the  delight  of  Manager 
Sam  Roark,  who  plans  a  glorious  season  of  films  in 
this  historical  house,  so  popular  among  Los  Angeles 
amusement  lovers. 

The  second  notable  feature  attending  the  con- 
version of  the  Burbank  into  a  motion  picture  theater 
took  place  two  days  later,  when  many  army  officers 
sojourning  in  Los  Angeles  attended  the  perform- 
ance of  "The  Flying  Torpedo"  in  a  body.  This 
wondrous  and  imaginary  picture,  taken  from  a  story 
by  Robert  M.  Baker  and  John  Emerson  and  produced 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  D.  W.  Griffith,  by 
that  artist  director  John  B.  O'Brien,  with  battle  scenes 
by  AVilliam  Christy  Cabanne,  drew  the  undivided  at- 
tention of  this  distinctive  audience  and  proved  to  be 
a  splendid  Fine  Arts'  feature.  "The  Flying  Torpedo" 
is  timely  and  thrilling,  presenting  a  supposed  invasion 
of  California  in  1920  by  a  hostile  fleet,  wherein  the  fly- 
ing torpedo  proves  its  great  and  powerful  efficiency 
in  time  of  war  under  skilled  direction  of  trained  army 
officers. 

John  Emerson,  the  noted  actor,  added  new  laurels 
to  his  splendid  reputation,  while  Bessie  Love,  a  seven- 
teen-year old  Griffith  star,  jumped  into  prominence. 
Others  in  the  cast  were  Spottiswoode  Aitken.  William 
E.  Lawrence,  Fred  J.  Butler,  Viola  Barry,  Lucille 
Younge,  Ralph  Lewis  and  Raymond  Wells,  with  a 
strong  supporting  cast. 

The  following  retired  officers  were  present  Monday 
night:  General  Ziele,  Brigadier  General  Charles  H. 
Whipple,  Brigadier  General  William  M.  Wallace,  Brig- 
adier General  James  E.  Macklin.  Colonel  Robert  W. 
Read,  Colonel  James  Mane)'-,  Lieutenant  Colonel  W. 
E.  Burviance,  Major  Edward  I.  Gormley.  Major  I.  \Y. 
Tohnson.  Captain  Alfred  T.  Eastern,  Captain  Louis 
R.  Ball. 

The  next  night  officers  and  members  of  the 
Pacific  Coast  Defense  League  attended  the  perform- 
ance in  a  body  and  were  astounded  at  the  splendid 
feature  offered  for  their  education  and  amusement. 

The  military  week  achievements  were  further 
augmented  by  the  request  that  this  night  be  military 
night  For  the  benefit  of  the  National  Guard  of  Cali- 
fornia, the  following  organizations'  officers  and  mem- 
bers attending  in  bodies : 

Battery  A  Field  Artillery.  Troop  D  First  Squad- 
ron Cavalry,  Field  Hospital  No.  1,  Hospital  Corps  De- 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


323 


tachment  Seventh  Infantry,  Seventh,  Eighth  and  Ninth 
Division  Naval  Militia,  Second  Battalion  Naval  Mi- 
litia, Machine  Gun  Company  Seventh  Infantry,  Com- 
pany A  Seventh  Infantry,  Company  B  Seventh  In- 
fantry, Company  C  Seventh  Infantry  and  Company 
F  Seventh  Infantry. 

Brigadier  General  R.  Wankowski  was  in  full 
charge  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  and  his  staff,  consist- 
ing of  Major  J.  A.  Copp,  Jr.,  and  Major  R.  I.  Tollmer, 
sat  with  their  chief.  Colonel  Schreiber  and  his  staff, 
which  consists  of  Colonel  M.  Saltmarsh,  Major  H.  B. 
Light,  Captain  H.  E.  Kunkel,  Captain  A.  F.  Moulton, 
Superintendent  F.  D.  Shearer,  Superintendent  P.  H. 
Montgomery,  Captain  F.  C.  Precott,  Jr.,  Lieutenant  S. 
Boothe  and  Lieutenant  H.  S.  Trasey,  were  in  the  audi- 
ence. 


Sherrill  Sends  Company  South 

The  whole  company  engaged  upon  the  production 
of  "Then  I'll  Come  Back  to  You,"  a  future  release 
of  the  Frohman  Amusement  Corporation,  has  been 
sent  by  William  L.  Sherrill,  president  of  the  concern, 
to  Pensacola,  North  Carolina,  to  film  exterior  scenes. 
The  theme  is  from  the  story  of  the  same  name  by 
Larry  Evans.  It  was  first  published  serially  in  the 
Metropolitan,  and  later  gotten  out  in  book  form. 

Among  the  members  of  the  cast  of  the  picture, 
which  will  be  released  through  the  World  Film  Cor- 
poration, are  Alice  Brady  and  Jack  Sherrill.  The 
former  is  the  star  of  the  play,  while  the  latter  carries 
the  leading  role  in  it.  Jack  Sherrill  is  one  of  the  rising 
juveniles  of  today.  His  last  appearance  in  pictures 
was  in  a  most  difficult  role  in  "The  Builder  of  Bridges." 
It  is  said  that  he  will  shortly  appear  in  a  drama  to  be 
"written  especially  for  him. 


Great  Northern's  Detective  Series 

Announcement  is  being  made  by  the  Great  North- 
ern Film  Company,  110  West  Fortieth  street,  New 
York,  that  it  will  release  a  series  of  detective  dramas  of 
heretofore  unprecedented  action  and  interest.  Alfred 
Hertel,  the  well  known  Great  Northern  actor,  whose 
interpretation  of  the  famous  "Gar-El-Hama"  pictures, 
is  known  all  the  world  over,  plays  the  leading  role  in 
this  series,  the  title  of  which  is  "The  Man  With  the 
Missing  Finger."  This  week  the  first  episode,  entitled 
"The  Tragedy  in  the  Villa  Falcon,"  will  be  released. 
This,  as  all  the  other  episodes,  is  a  complete,  indepen- 
dent story  in  four  parts,  and  is  replete  with  the  most 
unusually  thrilling  scenes  and  daring  feats. 


Cobb  Touring  the  Country 

C.  Lang  Cobb,  he  who  put  Ramo  films  on  the 
map  and  is  now  busy  exploiting  the  merits  of  Vim 
comedies,  is  now  touring  the  country  in  the  interests 
of  the  new  brand  of  films.  He  was  last  heard  trom  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  Orleans  but  is  expected  in  Chi- 
cago in  the  near  future. 


James  Young  Joins  Lasky 

James  Young,  a  Vitagraph  director  for  five  years, 
has  left  New  York  to  go  to  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Fea- 
ture Play  Company  at  Hollywood,  Cal.  Mr.  Young  is 
especially  well  known  for  his  excellent  work  in  direct- 
ing the  series  of  productions  in  which  his  wife,  Clara 
Kimball   Young,    starred.      He   directed   "Hearts      in 


Exile,"  "Lola,"  "The  Deep  Purple,"  "Marrying  Mon- 
ey," "Little  Miss  Brown,"  "Over  Night,"  "The  Heart 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,"  "My  Official  Wife,"  besides  the 
popular  burlesque,  "Goodness  Gracious."  Besides  Mr. 
Young  the  Lasky  directors  include  Cecil  B.  DeMille, 
William  C.  DeMille,  Frank  Reicher,  George  Melford 
and  Paul  Dickey. 


Ocean  Receives  Several  Resignations 

George  De  Carlton  severed  his  association  with 
the  Ocean  Company  during  the  past  week.  With  him 
at  the  time  of  his  resignation' went  Joseph  Smiley,  di- 
rector-in-chief of  the  Ocean  Company,  and  Martin 
Faust,  his  assistant.  Mr.  De  Carlton  up  to  the  present 
time  has  not  divulged  the  name  of  his  new  association. 

Prior  to  their  taking  up  their  duties  again  actively 
Messrs.  De  Carlton  and  Faust,  as  guests  of  Mr.  Smi- 
ley, will  take  a  well-earned  three  weeks'  vacation  in 
North  Carolina.  Both  Mr.  Smiley  and  Mr.  De  Carl- 
ton are  ardent  devotees  of  hunting,  Mr.  Faust  being 
the  winner  of  many  trophies  at  trap  shooting. 


Kleine  Offers  Exclusive  Dates 

George  Kleine  is  offering  ten  de  luxe  comedies 
featuring  Bickel  and  Watson  to  exhibitors  for  exclu- 
sive advance  showings  prior  to  release  date.  These 
are  a  series  of  ten  episodes,  one  reel  each,  called  "The 
Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer,"  in  which  Harry  Watson 
plays  "Musty."  Work  on  the  comedies  began  last 
spring  shortly  after  the  engagement  of  Bickel  and 
Watson.  The  company  also  includes  Crimmons  and 
Gore,  Tom  Nawn,  Snitz  Edwards,  Maxfield  Moree 
and  H.  W.  McCullon.  Names  of  the  comedies  are 
such  as  "Cruel  and  Unusual,"  "Keep  Moving,"  "Hold 
Fast,"  "Going  Up,"  etc. 


Wrong  Pathe  Player  Credited 

Through  a  typographical  error  in  the  cast  sheet 
for  Pathe's  "The  City,"  Motography  was  led  in  its  re- 
view to  credit  the  role  of  George  Hannock,  Jr.,  to  Dick 
Stewart.  Mr.  Stewart  played  George  Hannock,  Sr., 
and  the  role  credited  to  him  was  in  reality  played  by 
Allan  Murnane.  Motography  makes  this  correction 
in  justice  to  Mr.  Murnane  and  without  any  desire  to 
detract  in  any  way  from  the .  work  of  Mr.  Stewart, 
since  both  gentlemen  were  excellent  in  their  respective 
parts. 


Vitagraph  May  Build  Theatre 

The  Vitagraph  company  is  seeking  a  suitable  new 
playhouse  in  New  York  to  take  the  place  of  the  Vita- 
graph theater,  which  has  been  closed.  The  closing 
of  the  Vitagraph  theater,  it  is  reported,  was  due  to 
the  fact  that  the  owners  would  grant  no  more  than 
a  three  month's  cancellation  clause,  which  precluded 
the  possibility  of  having  any  alterations  made.  The 
company  may  decide  to  build  a  large  auditorium  in 
the  theater  zone,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  2,000. 

Horsley  Makes  McCardell  Play 

Roy  L.  McCardell's  five-reel  circus  drama,  "A 
Little  Lady  of  Lions,"  is  being  produced  at  the  David 
Horsley  studios  in  Los  Angeles.  This  story  will  be 
released  as  a  Mutual  Masterpice,  de  luxe  edition.  Mar- 
garet Gibson  is  featured. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NEWS 

Florence  Lawrence  and  her  company, 
under  Director  Stuart  Paton,  have  com- 
pleted many  scenes  for  "The  Elusive  Isa- 
bel," by  Jacques  Futrelle,  the  vehicle  in 
which  Miss  Lawrence  makes  her  first 
appearance  since  her  return  to  the  Uni- 
versal company.  Other  scenes  were 
taken  at   Washington,   D.   C. 

Miss  Lawrence's  company  includes 
Paul  Panzer,  Sidney  Bracy,  Wallie  Clark, 
William  Welsh,  Curtis  Benton  and  Paul 
Crampton.  The  play  probably  will  be 
released  as  a  Red  Feather. 

Edna  Hunter,  a  New  Yorker  for  many 
years,  saw  the  inside  of  a  Wall  street 
banking  house  for  the  first  time  last 
week. 

Henry  Otto,  director,  and  King  Bag- 
got,  whom  he  is  now  directing,  were 
formerly   schoolmates. 

The  Ohio  Board  of  Censors  ordered 
cut  from  "A  Boy  at  the  Throttle,"  a  re- 
cent "Hazards  of  Helen"  release,  the 
scene  where  the  engineer  shows  his  son 
how  to  run  the  engine.  The  Kalem  com- 
pany is  still  trying  to  discover  where 
the  danger  to  morals  lies  in  the  scene. 

Elsie  MacLeod,  who  began  her  picture 
career  in  child  parts  with  the  Edison 
company  and  later  played  Michaela  in 
the  Fox  production  of  "Carmen,"  is  now 
appearing  in  Vim  comedies. 

Pauline  Frederick  is  soon  to  die  on 
the  guillotine,  in  the  Famous  Players 
production  of  "The  Spider." 

Marguerite  Clark,  now  doing  a  moun- 
tain story  in  northern  New  York,  re- 
ports to  the  Famous  Players'  office  that 
she  is  "frozen  solid." 

Now  that  Mary  Pickford  is  a  partner 
in  the  Famous  Players-Mary  Pickford 
company,  every  automobile  salesman  in 
New  York  is  trying  to  sell  her  a  new 
car. 

Hazel  Dawn's  Christmas  present  auto- 
mobile has  had  to  be  sent  to  the  car 
hospital. 

F.  Lumsden  Hare,  the  English  actor, 
who  appeared  in  London  in  such  roles 
as  "Ben  Hur,"  John  Storm  in  "The  Chris- 
tian" and  "The  Admirable  Crichton,"  is 
playing  leads  in  two  World  Film  fea- 
tures— "Love's  Crucible"  with  Frances 
Nelson,  and  "As  in  a  Looking  Glass" 
with  Kitty  Gordon. 

Clara  Kimball  Young,  who  won  a  new 
automobile  in  a  recent  newspaper  pop- 
ularity contest,  has  given  her  old  one 
to  the  Red  Cross  Association  to  use  as 
a  war  ambulance. 

Frances  Nelson  is  one  of  a  little  group 
of  enthusiastic  swimmers  who  take  a 
semi-weekly  dip  in  the  icy  surf  and  eat 
lunch   sitting  on   a   cake   of  ice. 

In  filming  "The  Ballet  Girl,"  in  which 
Alice  Brady,  suspended  on  a  wire,  per- 
forms an  aerial  dance,  the  lowering  de- 
vice stuck  and  Miss  Brady  had  to  be  res- 
cued by  the  stage  hands. 

Joe  Wilson,  convict  operator  at  the 
Ohio  state  penitentiary  at  Columbus,  a 
"lifer"  on  a  murder  charge,  selected  "The 


City,"  by  Clyde  Fitch,  to  show  his  fel- 
low prisoners,  saying  that  it  contained 
a  great  moral  lesson. 

House  Peters,  who  recently  joined  the 
World  Film  Corporation,  began  work 
last  week  at  the  Paragon  studio  at  Fort 
Lee,  N.  J.,  in  "The  Hand  of  Peril,"  writ- 
ten by  Arthur  Stringer.  June  Elvidge  is 
the  leading  lady,  and  Maurice  Tourneur 
is  directing. 

Henry  Otto,  the  Universal  producer, 
is  in  New  York,  where  he  will  direct 
for  the  next  few  months. 

John  Barrymore  got  badly  battered  up 
in  a  shipboard  scene  for  "Nearly  a  King." 
He  was  sent  flying  through  his  cabin 
door  on  a  steamer  trunk  during  a  violent 
storm. 

"Love's  Crucible,"  which  is  the  screen 
version  of  Jules  Eckert  Goodman's  "The 
Point  of  View,"  is  nearing  completion 
under  Emile  Chautard's  direction,  and 
will  mark  Frances  Nelson's  debut  as  a 
star.  The  release  date  is  set  as  Febru- 
ary 14. 

Virginia  Pearson  has  joined  the  Wil- 
liam Fox  forces. 

Robert  B.  Mantell  and  Genevieve 
Hamper  gave  an  open-air  performance 
of  "Romeo  and  Juliet"  in  Jamaica,  where 
they  are  working  in  "The  Spider  and  the 
Fly."  The  play,  given  for  charity,  was 
witnessed  by  1,200  school  children. 

Little  Jane  Lee  is  among  the  cast  of 
the  Annette  Kellerman  picture  being 
made  by  the  William  Fox  company. 

Vivian  Martin,  star  of  "Merely  Mary 
Ann,"  has  published  a  book  of  verse. 


Mayor  Davis  of  Cleveland,  O.,  reversed 
a  decision  of  Judge  Leighley  of  that  city 
holding  that  motion  picture  shows  on 
Sunday  were  illegal. 

Alan  Holabur  is  suffering  from  an  at- 
tack of  pneumonia. 

Betty  Riggs,  seventeen-year-old  in- 
genue of  Metro  feature  productions,  has 
changed  her  name  to  Evelyn  Brent. 

David  Horsley's  Cub  Comedies  are 
popular  abroad,  according  to  reports 
from  D.  W.  Russell,  Mr.  Horsley's  agent 
in  London. 

E.  K.  Lincoln,  leading  man  of  the 
Lubin  Company,  lives  in  New  York  City 
and  works  each  day  at  the  studio  in  Phil- 
adelphia. Each  trip  from  home  to  busi- 
ness takes  two  hours'  time,  which  Mr- 
Lincoln  spends  writing  scenarios  and* 
planning  his  coming  roles. 

"The  Scarlet  Road,"  featuring  Malcolm: 
Duncan  and  Anna  Q.  Nilsson,  is  finished! 
and  ready  for  release  on  the  Kleine-Edi- 
son  program  February  16.  The  story 
has  Broadway  and  its  night  life  as  the 
central  theme. 

Robert  Conness  and  Mabel  Trunnelle 
are  featured  in  "The  Martyrdom  of  Phil- 
lip Strong,"  from  the  Rev.  Charles  M. 
Sheldon's  Novel,  "The  Crucifixion  of 
Phillip  Strong,"  released  on  the  Kleine- 
Edison  program  February  9. 

A  fire  department,  composed  of  em- 
ployes of  the  studio,  has  been  organized 
at  the  World  Film  Corporation  studio  at 
Fort  Lee,  N.  J.  It  works  with  the  regu- 
lar fire  department  of  the  city. 

Clara  Kimball  Young  and  company  re- 


Film   Market   Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.   D.   Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American    Film   Co.,    Inc..   88  95 

Biograph   Company    41  48 

Famous  Players  Film  Co...   78  105 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref 45 

Mutual    Film  Corp.,   pref...   40  44 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   com...    35  41 
No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  pref..    94 

No.  Am.  Film  Corp.,  com. .  .    67  75 

New  York   M.   P.  Corp 44  55 

Thanhouser    Film    Corp 3|/8  3%* 

Triangle   Film   Corp 5%  6^* 

Universal    Film    Mfg.   Co... 180 

World  Film  Corp \yA  2%* 


*Par  $5.A 

Mutual  Film  Corporation :  No  action 
was  taken  on  the  quarterly  dividend  on  the 
preferred  stock,  and  the  directors  have  not 
given  out  any  statement  as  yet  in  regard 
thereto.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  sur- 
plus account,  which  existed  in  December  of 
1914,  had  virtually  disappeared  in  the 
spring  of  1915,  the  new  management,  which 
took  hold  of  affairs  at  that  time,  are  prob- 
ably doing  the  right  thing  now  in  building 
up  the  surplus  account  to  its  old  propor- 
tions rather  than  making  a  distribution  of 
all  of  the  earnings  to  the  stockholders. 
The  market  declined  to  the  lowest  level  in 


years — preferred  having  sold  at  42j^  and 
common  at  40.  From  channels  which  we 
consider  reliable,  we  get  statements  to  the 
effect  that  the  business  is  in  better  shape 
than  it  has  been  at  any  time  within  the  last 
eight  months ;  the  company's  large  advertis- 
ing program  has  been  a  success  and  a  re- 
sumption of  dividends  on  the  preferred 
stock  may  be  expected,  if  not  by  the  next 
quarter,  certainly  by  July  1. 

Thanhouser  Film  Corporation :  Latest 
advices  are  to  the  effect  that  directors  are 
considering  putting  this  stock  on  a  ten  per 
cent  basis.  One-half  of  one  per  cent  was 
paid  in  December,  but,  until  the  directors 
meet  again,  the  policy  which  some  of  them 
advocated  at  that  time  will  not  be  decided 
definitely. 

Vogue  Films,  Inc.:  The  output  of  this 
new  "comic  film"  factory  has  met  with  in- 
stantaneous success  in  all  of  the  large  cen- 
ters of  the  country,  and  earnings — based 
on  the  price  which  is  received  for  the  out- 
put and  the  present  cost  of  production  will, 
if  continued,  insure  a  return  of  approxi- 
mately 100  per  cent  on  the  $100,000  of 
capital. 

World  Film  Corporation  :  Latest  advices 
are  to  the  effect  that  the  former  general' 
manager  of  this  company  now  no  longer 
occupies  that  position,  but  still  remains  with 
the  organization  both  in  an  official  capacity 
and  as  a  director.  Stock  declined  last  week 
to  a  level  of  1%. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  6. 


cently  made  a  round  trip  by  sea  route 
between  New  York  and  Norfolk,  \'a., 
to  take  shipboard  scenes  for  their  new 
feature,  but  Director  Edwin  August  was 
seasick  on  the  trip  down,  and  Miss 
Young  was  seasick  coming  hack,  so  they 
will   have   to   try  again. 

Kitty  Gordon,  in  "As  in  a  Looking 
•Glass,"  will  wear  twenty-five  marvelous 
gowns  and  an  imported  hat  on  which 
there  is  $800  worth  of  aigrettes, 

During  the  last  three  weeks  George 
Beban  iias  been  bitten  by  a  bulldog, 
smashed  over  the  head  with  a  Japanese 
jar,  butted  by  an  angry  ram,  buried  in 
the  debris  of  an  exploding  freight  steam- 
er, slashed  across  the  hand  with  a  sabre 
and  thrown  off  the  Palisades  of  the  Hud- 
son. 

Holbrook  Blinn  is  working  under 
Barry  O'Neill's  direction  in  a  World 
.Film  feature,  "The  Unforgivable   Sin." 

William  Duncan,  of  the  western  Vita- 
graph  studios,  is  mourning  the  death  of 
his  Collie  dog,  "Maisie,"  who  was  his 
faithful  pal  for  eight  years  and  who  ap- 
peared in  a  number  of  stage  plays  and 
pictures. 

In  "Luccia,"  the  Kleine-Edison  feature, 
Director  Burton  George  used  a  group  of 
Italians  from   New  York's   East  Side. 

Wilmuth  Merkyl,  at  present  playing 
lead  with  Olga  Petrova  in  "The  Soul 
Market,"  the  Colonial  company's  picture 
.soon  to  be  released  through  the  Mutual 
•company,  began  his  stage  career  as  a 
.arand  opera  singer.  Later  he  appeared 
in  the  musical  pieces,  "Sari,"  "Adele" 
and  "The  Debutante."  In  the  pictures 
he  has  appeared  with  Helen  Ware,  Betty 
Nansen  and   Marguerite   Clark. 

Edna  Hunter,  Universal  ieading  woman 
with  King  Baggot,  has  been  chosen  to 
represent  "Personal  Beauty"  in  the  film 
play.  "Beauty,"  which  will  be  produced 
jointly  by  thirty-five  companies  in  honor 
of  the  tercentenary  Shakespeare  celebra- 
tion. 

February  7  is  the  release  date  set  for 
"The  Yellow  Passport,"  in  which  Clara 
Kimball  Young  stars  as  Sonia  Sokoloff. 
Among  the  scenes  is  one  showing  the 
massacre  of  Hebrews  in  a  Russian  vil- 
lage. 

"The  Mouse  of  Revelation,"  Essanay 
feature,  contains  a  reproduction  of  the 
interior  of  an  English  castle  of  the  four- 
teenth   century. 

Richard  Travers  killed  two  deer  on  a 
recent  Canadian  hunting  expedition,  and 
the  beads,  mounted,  appear  in  scenes  in 
"Brought  Home,"  tin-  Essanay  feature 
in    which    he    plays   lead. 

Darwin  Karr  of  the  Essanay  company 
as  preparing  a  book  on  "Acting  in  the 
Silent  Drama." 

Marguerite  Clayton  set  out  valiantly 
to  hunt  down  the  ghost  said  to  be  haunt- 
I  .ina\  studios.  She  discov- 
ered that  it  was  a  suit  of  armor  used  in 
"'The    House    of    Revelation." 

Ernest  Maupain,  who  played  Professor 
P.elliarti  in  "Captain  Jink-  ol  the  Mors, 
Marines,"  trained  the  ballet  nirls  for  the 
production.  This  was  his  profession 
years   ago  in   Paris. 

John  Lorenz  had  a  chance  to  show  his 
skill    with    a    sword    in    "The     House    of 

Revelation." 


MIDDLE   WEST    NEWS 

By  William  Noble 
Arkansas 

In  order  to  advertise  the  University 
of  Arkansas  throughout  the  state,  a  mo- 
tion picture  play,  illustrating  the  life  of 
the  students  at  work  and  play,  will  be 
prepared  by  the  engineering  department 
of  the  university,  under  the  direction  of 
Prof.  W.  N.  Gladson.  The  students  are 
asked  to  submit  scenarios.  Prof.  Glad- 
son  will  stage  the  best  one  and  Phillip 
Rice,  an  electrical  engineering  student, 
will  photograph   it. 

Oklahoma 

P.  V.  Hoffman,  formerly  with  the 
World  exchange  at  Dallas,  is  building 
a  new  motion   picture   theater   at   Atoka. 

J.  L.  Oliver  of  the  Sugg  theater, 
Chickasha,  is  opening  a  new  motion 
picture  house  of  500  capacity  in  that  city. 
The  old  house  will  offer  vaudeville  and 
pictures,   the   new   one    pictures   only. 

The  reversal  of  the  convictions  of  Jack 
and  Joe  Davis,  Buck  Burdolf  and  Bob 
Waltham,  found  guilty  of  robbing  a  pas- 
senger train  near  Wirth,  is  being  sought 
in  the  Federal  Court  of  Appeals  in  St. 
Louis  on  the  ground  that  the  jury  which 
convicted  them  was  influenced  by  a  mo- 
tion picture  show  they  were  allowed  to 
attend,  in  which  a  stage  robbery  was 
shown  ! 

Texas 

Claude  C.  Ezell  is  now  the  special 
representative  of  the  Essanay  company, 
handling  the  southwestern  territory,  his 
headquarters  being  at  Dallas. 

Rudolph  Ort  has  purchased  the  opera 
house  at  Boerne  and  will  run  it  as  a 
motion  picture  theater. 

Comfort  has  two  newly  opened  the- 
aters, the  Peters  Opera  House,  leased 
from  A.  Rashie  of  San  Antonio,  and  the 
Franklin,  owned  by  Arthur  Franklin  & 
Sons. 

The  Guadalupe  theater  at  Laredo  has 
been  taken  over  by  Felix  Hernandez 
&  Company. 

The  city  commissioners  of  Waco  have 


ordered  an  election  to  be  held  February 
15  to  decide  whether  picture  shows  shall 
be  run  on  Sunday.  Strong  opposition 
has  been  waged  by  the  church  people 
and  the  election  may  be  restrained  by 
a  court  injunction. 

After  a  sensational  tour  of  Texas. 
Oklahoma  and  Arkansas.  "The  Birth  of 
a  Nation"  returned  to  Dallas  to  be  shown 
for  ten  days  at  the  Dallas  Opera  House, 
beginning  January  27. 

The  Gayety  Amusement  Company  01 
Waco,  a  motion  picture  company  with 
capital  stock  of  $3,750,  has  been  incor- 
porated by  W.  B.  Lawson,  M.  L.  Phil- 
lips and  W.  W.  Nash. 

Charles  L.  Sudmann,  an  artist,  of  Dal- 
las, has  invented  a  machine  which,  it  is 
believed,  will  greatly  reduce  the  labor 
involved  in  the  making  of  animated  pic- 
tures and  cartoons.  A  companv  with 
capital  stock  of  $100,000  has  been  formed 
to  maintain  a  plant  at  Dallas  for  the 
making  of  pictures  with  this  machine, 
all  of  the  pictures  to  bear  the  "Dallas" 
stamp.  Hugh  E.  Prather  and  Willie 
D'Artigue  Hopkins  are  in  the  company. 
The  first  of  the  cartoons  will  be  shown 
in   Dallas  early  this  week. 


PACIFIC  COAST  NEWS 

Louise  Welch  is  playing  feminine  lead 
in  "The  Altar  of  Friendship,"  by  Isabel 
Ostrander. 

Grace  Cunard  recently  underwent  her 
third  operation  in  three  years.  The  trou- 
ble started  more  than  two  years  ago, 
when  Miss  Cunard  was  wounded  in  a 
scene  for  the  "Lucille  Love"  serial. 

Roy  Clements  has  just  completed 
"When  Slim  Picked  a  Peace."  a  one- 
reel  comedy  featuring  Victor  Potel  and 
Eileen  Sedgwick. 

"A  Soul's  Crucible."  with  Cleo  Madi- 
son, is  nearing  completion.  Edward 
Hearn,  Ray  Hanford  and  William  Hong 

appear  in  the  cast. 

Myrtle  Gonzales  is  featured  in  "Bon- 
ita."  supported  by  Frank  Newburg,  Val 
Paul  and  Alfred  Allen. 

Director  Richard  Ridgeley  is  nursing 
a  wounded  arm  because  he  tried  to  wake 
a  bear  from  his  winter  nap  and  make  a 
screen  actor  of  him. 

Dorothy  Gish  will  appear  shortly  in 
"Katy  Bauer,"  the  fourth  of  a  series  of 
parts  she  has  played  for  the  Fine  Arts' 
Studio.     Owen  Moore  plays  opposite. 

Lillian  Drew  of  the  Essanay  company 
is  a  strict  vegetarian. 

Bessie  Barriscale  and  Enid  Markey  are 
thankful  that  the  fire  at  Inceville  did  not 
reach  the  dressing  rooms,  for  a  number 
of  the  gowns  they  intend  to  wear  in  com- 
ing productions  had  been  left  there. 

Robert  Leonard  and  his  company  of 
Rex-Universal  players  are  at  work  on 
"The  Winning  of  Miss  Construe."  a  two- 
reel  comedy  in  which  Ella  Hall  appears 
opposite  Leonard. 

Lloyd  Carleton  is  directing  Hobart 
Bosworth  in  the  live-reel  feature.  "Dr. 
Samson."  by  Agnes  Hayes. 

Dustin  Farnum  gave  a  supper  party 
recently  in  honor  of  Sir  Beerbohm  Tree, 
Anion-  those  present  were  Constance 
Collier,  Winnifred  Kingston,  William  D. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Taylor,  William  and  Mrs.  Farnum  and 
Courtenay  Foote. 

•  G.  A.  Metcalfe,  distributor  of  motion 
picture  supplies  in  San  Francisco,  re- 
cently sold  a  Power's  motion  picture  pro- 
jecting machine  to  a  mining  camp  150 
miles  inland  from  Seward,  Alaska.  The 
machine,  which  will  be  sent  by  boat  from 
Seattle  to  Seward,  will  be  transported  the 
rest  of  the  way  by  an  Alaskan  dog  team 
and  sled. 

H.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  of  the 
Balboa  company,  supplied  the  basic  idea 
of  "The  Red  Circle,"  which  was  devel- 
oped for  the  screen  by  Will  M.  Ritchey. 
Albert  Payson  Terhune  wrote  the  fiction 
version  for  the  newspapers,  after  seeing 
Mr.  Ritchey's  screen  version. 

Balboa's  managerie  has  been  increased 
recently  by  the  addition  of  three  trained 
bears  and  an  aviary  of  tropical  birds. 

Francis  Ford  and  Grace  Cunard  re- 
cently .  received  embossed  pen  and  ink 
parchments  inscribed  by  M.  Besstiri,  a 
noted  artist,  containing  sentiments  of 
good  wishes  from  members  of  their  com- 
pany. The  idea  originated  with  Jack 
Sacker,  who  made  the  presentation 
speech. 

The  "Stingaree"  series,  written  by 
E.  W.  Hornung,  deals  with  life  in  Aus- 
tralia. 

In  "Tapped  Wires,"  Helen  Gibson 
sends  a  seven-passenger  automobile  over 
a  forty-foot  cliff. 

A  recent  convention  of  California  rail- 
road men  spent  a  day  at  the  Kalem  Glen- 
dale  studios  as  guests  of  the  company 
staging  the  "Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad 
series. 

Frank  Minzey,  long  conected  with  the 
stage  production  of  "Sis  Hopkins,"  is 
with  the  Kalem  company  in  the  screen 
version. 

Paul  C.  Hurst,  who  plays  Howie  in 
"Stingaree,"  is  a  graduate  engineer  and 
usually  superintends  the  erection  of  sets 
at  the  Kalem  California  studio. 


Alexander  Moore,  the  Philadelphia 
publisher  and  husband  of  Lillian  Russell, 
was  a  visitor  to  Inceville  last  week. 

Richard  V.  Spencer,  of  the  I  nee  sce- 
nario staff,  is  ill  at  his  home  in  Holly- 
wood  with   a    cold. 

H.  B.  Warner,  after  completing  the 
Triangle-Kay-Bee  feature  in  which  he  is 
starred,  under  Charles  Swickard,  is  en- 
joying a  brief  vacation  at  San  Diego. 
With  him  is  his  wife,  Rita  Stanwood, 
who  also  has  been  working  at  Inceville. 
Warner  will  soon  be  starred  in  another 
play  written  for  him  by  J.  G.  Hawks. 

The  song,  "Peggy,"  dedicated  to  Bil- 
lie  Burke,  is  becoming  very  popular.  It 
was  introduced  in  Los  Angeles  three 
weeks  ago,  when  the  photoplay  of  the 
same  name,  directed  by  Thomas  Ince, 
was    first   shown. 

Henry  McRae,  who  has  abandoned  for 
the  present  his  plan  of  touring  the  Ori- 
ent, will  soon  begin  work  on  two-reel 
101  Bison  releases  at  Universal  City. 
Marie  Walcamp  has  been  chosen  as  lead- 
ing lady  for  these,  and  Sherman  Bain- 
bridge  probably  will  appear.  The  rest 
of  the  cast  is  not  announced.  The  east- 
ern trip  may  still  be  taken  some  time 
in    the    spring. 

Beverly  Bayne  was  recently  the  win- 
ner in  a  popularity  contest  conducted  by 
the  Minneapolis  Journal. 

Robert  Harron  and  Mae  Marsh  are 
being  starred  in  "Hoodoo  Ann,"  under 
the  direction  of  Lloyd  Ingraham. 

Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree  and  Mary 
Shaw  were  guests  of  honor  at  a  luncheon 
the  Los  Angeles  Drama  Society  gave  at 
the  Hotel  Alexandria. 

Constance  Collier  is  the  "Lady  Mac- 
beth" in  the  Fine  Arts-Triangle  produc- 
tion of  "Macbeth,"  in  which  Sir  Herbert 
Beerbohm  Tree  stars.  She  played  the 
part  with  Sir  Herbert  a  number  of  times 
on    the    legitimate   stage   in    England. 

Lillian  Gish  is  featured  in  "The  Lily 
and  the  Rose,"  with  Rozika  Dolly  and 
Wilfred  Lucas  as  associate  players. 

William  Hinckley,  who  plays  juvenile 
lead  in  "Martha's  Vindication,"  was  for- 
merly a  member  of  a  number  of  western 
stock  companies. 

The  following  people  have  been  added 
to  the  western  Universal  companies: 
Guy  Hedlund,  general  stock;  Lillian  Pea- 
cock, C.  Conklin  and  M.  Morante,  Curtis 
company;  Harry  Morris,  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son, Thelma  Francis,  Billy  Human  and 
W.  F.  Musgrose,  general  stock;  Bess 
Meredith  and  Calder  Johnstone,  scenario 
department,     and     Gilbert     Warrenton, 


Devore  Parmer  has  left  the  Triangle 
to  join  the  "Roland  West  Feature  Film 
Company.  _Mr.  Parmer  was  formerly  on 
the  vaudeville  stage. 

For  the  first  time  in  two  years,  Harry 
Carter  of  the  Universal  company  is 
playing  a  kindly  role,  that  of  Cormack 
O'Donovan,  a  millionaire  contractor,  in 
"Get   the   Boy." 

Val  Paul  of  Universal  City  is  the  father 
of  a  seven-pound  boy. 

Violet  Merser  au  has  renewed  her 
contract  with  the  Universal  Film  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  at  an  increased 
salary. 


Mildred      Gregory     who     has     left     Lubin     for 


Stella  Wiltermood,  aged  seventeen, 
daughter  of  Frank  M.  Wiltermood,  sce- 
nario writer  at  Universal  City,  is  now 
a  member  ,of  the  Grace  Cunard-Francis 
Ford  company  at  the  Universal  western 
studios. 

Calder  Johnstone,  formerly  with  the 
American  studios  at  Santa  Barbara,  has 
come  back  to  the  Universal  City  scenario 
staff  and  is  preparing  a  new  serial,  "The 
Gray  Seal,"  from  a  story  written  by 
Frank  L.  Packard,  which  was  printed  in 
The  People's  Magazine. 

Marguerite  Nichols,  Balboa  ingenue, 
has  one  hobby — coloring  photographs. 

Frank  Smith,  who  suffered  blood  poi- 
soning from  _  having  his  foot  caught  in 
a  bear  trap,  is  well  again. 

Miss  Fritzi  Brunette  wears  eighteen 
beautiful  gowns  during  the  Selig  drama 
released  March  6,  "Unto  Those  Who 
Sin." 

Helen  Rosson  two  weeks  ago  finished 
work  on  a  five-reeler  and  left  on  the 
same  afternoon  for  Los  Angeles  to  play 
in  another  five-reeler.  Now  this  is  fin- 
ished and  she  has  read  the  script  of 
the  third. 

George  W.  Peters,  professional  avia- 
tor and  motion  picture  cameraman,  who 
recently  joined  the  Popular  Plays  and 
Players,  is  working  under  Director  Fran- 
cis J.  Grandon  in  the  Petrova  feature, 
"The  Soul  Market."  Mr.  Peters  comes 
from  the  Keystone  company,  and  before 
that  was  with  the  Biograph,  Famous 
Players   and   Selig  companies. 

Daniel  Gilfether,  of  the  Balboa  forces, 
recently  received  a  "round  robin"  letter 
from  friends  in  his  former  home  town, 
Somerville,  Mass.,  congratulating  him 
on  his  work  in  "Who  Pays?" 

The  new_  Balboa  enclosed  studio  was 
completed  just  in  time  to  be  of  use  dur- 
ing the  recent  rainy  weather. 

Oscar  Steyn,  who  recently  sold  his 
publication,  The  Photoplayers  Weekly,  in 
Los    Angeles,    has    just    issued    the    initial 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  6. 


The  Idol  of  the  Stage"  a 


number  of  his  new  magazine,  The  Weekly 
Photoplay.  Frank  M.  Wiltermood  is  as- 
sociate editor. 


LOS  ANGELES 

By   "Capt.   Jack"    Poland 

Al  Christie,  one  of  the  leading  comedy 
producers  of  the  motion  picture  arts,  who 
has  been  directing  Universal-Nestor 
comedies  for  the  Universal  program  for 
years,  has  become  an  independent  pro- 
ducer. He  has  leased  convenient  stu- 
dios and  is  now  creating  comedies  on  a 
two-year  contract  for  regular  release 
for  the  Universal  program.  Christie  is 
being  congratulated  by  many  friends  and 
exhibitors  because  of  his  steadily  ad- 
vancing  success. 

Sam  Roark  is  directing  the  destinies 
of  both  the  Majestic  and  Burbank  thea- 
ters, two  of  the  leading  motion  picture 
houses  of  Los  Angeles,  both  featuring 
Triangle  made  pictures.  The  Majestic 
is  strictly  a  Triangle  house  and  the  Bur- 
bank  is  controlled  by  David  W.  Griffith 
and  Mack  Sennett,  premier  producers  of 
high  art  films  and  comedies.     Under  Mr. 


Roark's  able  management  both  houses 
are  drawing  large  audiences  and  gaining 
added  prestige  with  each  picture.  Unique 
and  attractive  advertising  is  a  feature 
that  tells  the  story.  Roark  believes  in 
telling  the  story  as  it  is  and  giving  his 
patrons  reliable  advance  information  re- 
garding  what    they   are    to    see. 

Sessue  Hayakawa,  the  celebrated  Jap- 
anese actor  is  to  be  starred  by  the  Lasky 
company  in  a  special  Oriental  play  writ- 
ten by  Jeanie  MacPherson.  He  will  be 
supported  by  his  wife,  Ysuru  Aoki.  Some 
of  the  scenes  may  be  made  in  Japan. 
This  promises  to  be  a  great  production 
resplendent    in    Oriental   coloring. 

Lillian  Russell  is  in  receipt  of  a  flat- 
tering offer  from  the  head  of  leading  Cal- 
ifornia studio  this  week  to  appear  in  a 
special  photoplay.  The  famous  star  is 
now  filling  an  Orpheum  engagement  and 
it  is  said  the  offer  is  most  tempting.  It 
may  be  that  the  world  beloved  comedi- 
enne may  be  induced  to  join  the  South- 
ern California  colony  of  professionals 
and  motion  picture  celebrities  before  the 
year  ends. 


A  prominent  theatrical  man  now  vis- 
iting in  Los  Angeles  says  that  of  the 
former  12,000  chorus  girls  usually  seen  in 
the  road  shows,  many  have  been  tempted 
by  the  regular  and  permanent  positions 
at  the  motion  picture  studios.  Some 
have  become  players  of  leads  while  oth- 
ers draw  good  salaries  in  stock  com- 
panies and  enjoy  the  comforts  of  bunga- 
low homes. 

Francis  Sullivan,  who  writes  for  the 
Photoplay  Magazine  and  Smart  Set,  is 
visiting  California  studios,  accompanied 
by  his  wife.  He  combines  business  with 
pleasure  and  is  disposing  of  scenarios. 
He  says  this  a  glorious  country  wherein 
to  get  rid  of  good  stories  and  he  is 
absorbing  much  inside  information  for 
use  in  future  photoplays. 

Monro  Lathrop,  former  dramatic  re- 
viewer for  the  Morning  Tribune  of  Los 
Angeles,  has  become  chief  of  publicity 
for  W.  H.  Clune's  great  forthcoming 
production.  "Ramona."  Being  thorough- 
ly familiar  with  the  subject  through  per- 
sonal study  the  new  publicity  specialist 
is  in  position  to  write  glowing  articles 
about  the  Clune  masterpiece. 


>ng  of  girls  seeking  chance  to  appear  in  Griffith  films. 


February  5,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


films.       Exhibit; 


>   used,   and   the   publish 


General  Program 
Monday. 

1-24   An   Adventure  in   the   Autumn   Woods Biograph  1,000 

1-24  The    Evangelist    Lubin  4,000 

1-24  Fooling  Uncle Lubin  1,000 

1-24  Tom   Martin— A   Man    Selig  1,000 

1-24  Selig-Tribune  News  Pictorial   No.   7,   1916 Selig  1,000 

1-24   Britton  of  the  Seventh Vitagraph  4,000 

1-24  Jane's  Husband Vitagraph  1.000 

1-24  The  Cold  Feet  Getaway Vitagraph  1.000 

Tuesday. 

1-25  Folly   Essanay  2,000 

1-25   Snoop  Hounds   Kalern  1,000 

Wednesday. 

1-26  Stronger  Than   Woman's  Will Biograph  3,000 

1-26  The  Fable  of  "Flora  and  Adolph  and  a  Home  Gone  Wrong" 

Essanay  1,000 

1-26  The    Villain    Worshipper    (No.    10    of   the    Stingaree    Series) 

Kalem  2,000 

Thursday. 

1-27   The  Embodied  Thought   Lubin  3,000 

1-27  A  Special  Delivery   Mina  1,000 

1-27  Selig-Tribune   News   Pictorial   No.   S,    1916 Selig  1,000 

Friday. 

1-28  The    Fate    of    America     (No.     14    of    the    Ventures    of    Mar- 
guerite)     Kalem  1,000 

1-28  The  Heart   Breakers Knickerbocker  3,000 

1-28   Busted  Hearts Vim  1,000 

1-28  Peace  at  Any  Price Vitagraph  1,000 

Saturday. 

1-29   Destiny   Essanav  3.000 

1-29  Trapped   Wires Kalem  1,000 

1-29   Cured     Lubin  3,000 

1-29   Apple    Butter   (No.    10   of   the   Chronicles   of   Bloom    Center) 

Selig  1.000 

1-29  The   Ruse Vitagraph  3,000 

Monday. 

1  -3 1   When   Kings   Were  the   Law Biograph  1 ,000 

1-31   A     Reformation     Delayed Lubin  1,000 

1-31   Diamonds    Are    Trumps Selig  1,000 

1-31   Selig-Tribune  News   Pictorial   No.   9,    1916 Selig  1.000 

1-31  Jane's    Bashful    Hero Vitagraph  1,000 

Tuesday. 

2-1     The    Chain    of   Evidence Biograph  2.000 

2-1     The    Roughneck     Essanav  2,000 

2-1  Artful   Artists    Kalem  1,000 

Wednesday. 

2-2     The    Smugglers     Biograph  3,000 

2-2     Dreamv   Dudd   Lost   at   Sea  :    Scenic Essanay  1,000 

2-2     The    Moth    and   the   Star    (No.    11    of   the    Stingaree 

Series)      Kalem  2,000 

Thursday. 

2-3     A    Modern    Paul Lubin  3,000 

2-3     Selig-Tribune   News   Pictorial   No.    10,    1915 Selig  1,000 

2-3     A    Sticky   Affair Vim  1,000 

Friday. 

2-4     The    Lurking    Peril    (No.     15    of    the    Ventures    of 

Marguerite)      Kalem  1,000 

2-4     The    Crime   of   Circumstance Knickerbocker  3,000 

2-4     The    Getaway     Vinr  1,000 

2-4     The    Wrong    Mr.    Wright Vitagraph  1.000 

Saturday. 

2-5     The    Primitive    Strain Essanay  3,000 

2-5     The    Broken    Wire Kalem  1.000 

2-5     The    Election     Bet Lubin  1.000 

2-5     The   Desert    Calls   Its   Own Selig  1,000 

2-5      Bill    Peters'    Kid Vitagraph  3,000 

V.  L.  s.  e.  r 

.  '      ■■■;■     .:■    ■•■  ■■•■  -■■■  .    •    •  ■■■■■•■:  ■■■•  ■     ^>:T^:V::;:;:;gr-;;::tfllp:j 

Oct.    11  In  the  Palace  of  the  King Essanay  6,000 

Oct.    11  The   Vallev   of   Lost   Hope Lubin  5,000 

Oct.    18  A    Black    Sheep Selig  5,000 

Oct.    18  The   Man   Who.  Couldn't  Beat   God Vitagraph  5,000 


by   maker, 


n  clsasihcation  by  maker, 
naking  up  their  programs, 
etins   as   early    as   possible. 


Oct, 

25   The 

Rights 

of    Man... 

Nov. 

1   The 

Turn    o 

the 

Road 

1  The 

Crimsor 

W 

-Nov. 

8  The 

Raven 

Lubin 

,  .Vitagraph 
. .  .Essanay 


15   Heights     of     Hazard.. 


Nov.   22  The    Natio 
Nov.  29  The    Caver 


Per 


_•    Alster    Case 

6  The    Man's    Making 

3   I'm    Glad    My   Boy   Grew 

3  The   Price  for   Folly 

0  The  Great   Divide 

0  A    Daughter   of    the    City 

7  What   Happened   to   Fathe 

3  Thou    Art    the    Man 

0  No    Greater    Love 

0   Green    Stockings 

7   My    Lady's    Slippers 

7   Captain   Jinks  of  the   Hon 

0  The   Wonderful    Wager.. 

4  Gods   of    Fate 

4   The  Island  of  Surprise 

1  A    Night    Out 

1   Souls    in    Bondage 

7   The    Crown    Prince's    Double 
7  Thou    Shalt    Not    Covet 


.  .Vitagraph 
. .  .Essanay 
Lubin 


Mar 


.  .Vitagraph 

Lubin 

. .  .Essanay 
.  .Vitagraph 
.  .Vitagraph 

Selig 

.  .Vitagraph 
,  .Vitagraph 
. .  .Essanay 


.Luljii'i 


.  .Vitagraph 
.  .Vitagraph 

.  .Vitagraph 
Selig 


5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,008 
5,006 
5,000 
4,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
2,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Mutual  Program 


Monday. 
Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 
Thursday. 


C  1-27   Bungling    Bill's    Burglar. 

C        1-27   Beaten   at   the   Bath 

T  1-27  Mutual   Weeklv   No.    56.. 

C  1-27.  Lord    Loveland    Discover: 


.  Falstaff 
.  .  Mutual 


Friday. 


D        1-28  The  Smugglers  of  Santa  Crn 

C        1-28  A  Sanitarium  Scramble 

C        1-28  Around    the    World 


. '.  .  me"cub 


Saturday. 
Sunday. 


S         1-30  See  America   First,   No.   20.  . 

I        ■        '     <■.■    ,         v      i     !       *  :■.       t 

C        1-30  Walk  This  Way   

C        1-30   He  Thought  He   Went  to   W 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


Thursday. 


C        2-3     Sammy    Versus    Cupid 

C        2-3      Harrv'-,     Happy     Honeymoon.. 
T       2-3     Mutual    Weekly    No.    57 


Friday. 


The  Extra   Man   and  the   Milk  Fed   Lio 

Mammy's    Rose     

Title   not    reported 


!!  Falstaff 

. .  Mutual 


.  .  Mustnag 

; .  mer'cub 


Saturday. 


S        2-6     See  America  First   No.   21 

C        2-6      Keeping    Cp    With    the    Toneses    No.    21.. 
C        2-6     The    Laird    O'Knees 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  6. 


Universal  Program 


Monday. 

1-24  A  Soul  Enslaved- Broadway 

1-24  Her  Steady   Cai  fare   Nestor 

1-24  America  Saved  from  War  (Graft  Series  No.  7) ...  .Universal 

Tuesday. 

1-25  Discontent Gold  Seal 

1-25  No  Release  This  Week Rex 

1-25   Hired,  Tired  and   Fired Imp 

Wednesday. 

1-26  Across  the  Line  Victor 

1-26  Knocks  and   Opportunities   L-Ko 

1-26  Animated  Weekly  No.   203 Universal 

Thursday. 

1-27   The  Red   Lie   Laemmle 

1-27  No  Release  This  Week Big  U 

1-27   Sammie    Tohnsin,    Hunter Powers 

1-27   Fishing  for   River   Lampreys    Powers 

Friday. 

1-28   The   Inner   Soul    Laemmle 

1-28   Nan   Good   for   Nothing    Big  U 

1-28  Flivvers  in  "The  Dance  of  the  Shivers" Nestor 

Saturday. 

1-29  A  Daughter  of  Penance   Bison 

1-29   Saving   Wealth   and   Building    Health    (No.    6   Uncle   Sam   at 

Work)    Powers 

1-29  Mrs.   Green's  Mistake   Joker 

Sunday. 

1-30  In  His  Own  Trap    Rex 

1-30  No  Release  This  Week Laemmle 

1-30  Cupid  at  the  Polo  Game L  Ko 

Monday. 

1-31  When    Auntie   Matilda    Fell Nestor 

1-31   Old   King   Coal    (Graft  Series  No.   S) Universal 

Tuesday. 

2-1  Three  Fingered  Jenny   (No.   3   Lord  John's  Journal) 

„  „  T     •• ....Gold     Seal 

2-1  In    Dreary    Jungle   Town Rex 

2-1  No   release  this    week Imp 

Wednesday. 

2-2     Son    o'    the    Stars Victor 

2-2     Sea   Dogs   and   Land   Cats L-Ko 

2-2     Animated   Weekly    Vol.    3   No.    4 Universal 

Thursday. 

2-3  The  Wise  Man  and   the  Fool Laemmle 

-'■':  \'"    n-kas,     ,],,.    u,„|, '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.".       Bio-    r 

2-3  Building    I.'i,   the    Health    r,f  a    Nation    No    3  Powers 

2-3  Caged    With    Polar    Bears .  . .  ]  Powers 

Friday. 

2-4     The    Soul     Man jmn 

2-4     A   Child   of   (  iix („„■ Rel. 

2-4     FK7VM3,    th;   S=clK    Ettsr  Nrstlr 

Saturday. 

2-5     Phantom    Island    Bison 

2-5      Uncle  Sam's  Children    (No.   7    Uncle  Sam 'at'w'or'k )"  " 

2-5      Wanted— A  '  pYano   Tuner. ...'.'..'...'. '.'.'.'. '.'..'.'.'. '.'.'.'.  ..jXr 

Sunday. 

2  6     O,,    Who    Passed    H\ R.v 


Miscellaneous  Features 


.  .'.'.'.'.'.French  'oYli'eial    W.iV 

•\i     th.-     I  -M.I     ,,l     ill,      Kan, l„, «     K     8     R      l,i 

A     Naval    Tr;.Kr<ly R.    &     R      Fil 

Mi.     Aral, ,,-,     I).-iiu-iiik    Gnl K     S     R      Fil 

(all,, line    Itrown      ill.     Haln     K,  II,,  „,.,,,      ,,,    |-.,,,,v    Dni.m 

and    Swimming  K    &    \<    i-,i 

On   the    Firing    I. in,     \\,th    ,h,     ,.    ,•„,.,„  \\.,r    Film    Sv, 


2,000 
1,000 


Corp 

5.(11)11 

Film 

4.000 

nhan, 

,,,1)011 

■ 

5,000 

Films 

fi.non 

n   Co. 

1,000 

n  1  .. 

1. Ill  III 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

ine   Dore    5,000 

et   Love    5,000 

line     5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

.      5  The    Unfaithful    Wife 5,000 

.     12   Her    Mother's    Secret 5,000 

.    19  A    Soldier's    Oath 5,000 

.     26  Destruction      5.000 

2  Green-Eyed   Monster    5,000 

9  A   Parisian   Romance 5,000 

16  The   Fourth   Estate 5,000 

.    23  The  Serpent  Fox  5,000 

.       30  The    Ruling    Passion 5,000 

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

.      5  The    Devil's     Prayer-Book Kleine  5,000 

12  The    Catsoaw                                            Edison  5,000 

'    19   WiTd   Oats Kleine  5,000 

.    26  The  Innocence  of  Ruth Edison  5.000 

,.      2   The    Final    Curtain Kleine  5.000 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

3  What   Will   People   Say? Metro  5,000 

10  The    Turmoil     Metro  3,000 

.     17  The  Rose  of  the  Alley Metro  5,000 

.     24  Her   Debt   of   Honor Metro  5,000 

.    31   Man    and    His    Soul Metro  5,000 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

.      6  The  Other  Side  of  the  Door American  5.000 

.     13  The   Woman    in    Politics Thanhouser  5,000 

.    17  The  Thoroughbred    American  5,000 

'0  The    Five    Faults    of   Flo Thanhouser  5,000 

:    22  The    Bait    Centaur  5,000 

i     24  As    a    Woman    Sows Gaumont  5,000 

'.    27  Lord    Loveland    Discovers    America American  5,000 

29   Betrayed                Thanhouser  5,000 

I'    31  Vengeance    Is    Mine Centaur  5,000 

j.     2  The  Idol  of  the  Stage Gaumont  5,000 

3.     5  The    White    Rosette American  5,000 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

i.     10   Paramount    Newspictures Paramount  1.000 

i.    10  Mice   and    Men Famous    Players  5,000 

i.     13  The   Golden    Chance Lasky  5,000 

l.     13   Haddem    Baad's   Elopement Bray-Paramount  1,000 

i.     1 7   Paramount   Newspictures    Paramount  1,000 

i     17  My   Ladv  Incog Famous   Players  5,000 

l.     20  Inbad    the    Sailor.: Bray-Paramount  1.000 

l      20  Nearly   a    King Famous   Plavers  5,000 

i.    24  The  Call  of  the  Cumberlands Pallas  5,000 

l.     27  The  Police  Dog  on   the  Wire Bray-Paramount  1,000 

i.    27  The    Spider Famous  Players  5  000 

i.     31   Pudd'nhead    Wilson     Lasky  5,000 

b       3   Tennessee's    Pardner    Laskv  3,000 

b.     7   The  Cliff  Dwellers  of  America. Paramount-Burton   Holmes  1,000 

Pathe. 

Released    Week    of 

i.    31  Movements   the   Eye   Misses Pathe  500 

i.     31    Glimpses     of    Java •  •  •  •  -Pathe  500 

i.    31  Luke,  the  Candy  Cut  Up PhunpMms  1.000 

l.     31   Pathe    News   No.    10 Pathe  1,000 

i      31   Pathe  News  No    11    Pathe  1.000 

i"     3 1   New    York                  Gold    Rooster  5,000 

i    31  Peace  at  Any  Price   (Red  Circle  No.   S) Balboa  2,000 

Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 

ii.    31  The   Path   of   Happiness ?.000 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released   week    of 

n.     23   The   Wood   Nymph;    Marie   Doro Fine   Arts  5,000 

n.     23    The  Perils  of  the  Park;   Harry   Grihhon .  Triangle   Keystone  2,000 

n.     23   The   Conqueror;    Willanl    Mack Triangle   Kay    Bee  2,000 

n.     23   A  Movie  Star:   Mack  Swain '  2,000 

:,.     30  The  Price  of  Power:  Orrin   Johnson Fine  Arts  5,000 

n.    30  His    Hereafter:    Chas.    Murray.    Louise    Fa 

Triangle  Keystone  2,000 

n.    30  The     Green     Swamp:       It,--,,      l!a,    i-cak.     Huiec 

McRae    Ti  iangle-Kay-Bee  5,000 

n.    30  Love    and    Lobsters:     R.    Arbuckle.    Mabel     Nor- 

mand     Triangle-Keystone  2,000 

■b.     6  The  Flying  To,,  el.,      I.,l.n    1'n ,.                         Fine   Arts  5.000 

sb.     6  D'Artaanan:   Orrin  Johnson rriangli   Kaj  Bee  5.000 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

n.      3  The    Ransom    triumph  5,000 

n.      3  Camille    Shubert  5.000 

n.     10  In    Life's    Whirlpool Brady  5.000 

n.     10  Her  Great   Hour Equitable  5.000 

n.     17   Behind    Closed     Doors Triumph  j.,000 

in.    24   Bal                                  'I"" Equitable  5,000 

n      17   The    Citv             Shubert  5,000 

a,!     24  The   Ballet    Girl Brady  5.000 

n     31   Fruits    of    Desire   Brady  5.000 


February  5, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


by    La   balle   in   the  seve. 

red.  Knouts,  Tnd. ;  after  many  years  of  neg 
lect  Harvard  athletes  have  again  taken  up  scien 
tine  sparring,  Cambridge,  Mass.;  President  \\  ll 
son  invited  to  attend  the  Lone  Star  State  Jubi- 
lee at  San  Antonio  by  a  delegation  of  Texans 
Eton,  D.  C;  Juan  Domenjos,  of  Br  "" 
flies  in  his  aeroplane  from  the  White  House  ' 
his  wife  and  loops  the  loop  over  Washingt 
Monument,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Samuel  W.  M< 
Call  inaugurated  Governor  of  Massachusetts,   Bos 

are 'given  daily  at  the  Selig  Zoo  to  perfect 
for    parts    in    Oriental    photoplays,    Los    Angeli 
Cal. ;    society    revels    in    mid-winter    sport    -* 
"Joy    Town    Tavern"    snow    carnival,    '  — 


The   Sealskin   Coat— Kalem— January   21— (A 
episode  of  the  "Ventures   of   Marguerite.") — By 
clever  ruse  a  society  thief  succeeds  in  getting 
with  a  pearl  necklace  and  passing  it  to   a  coniea- 
erate  under  the_  eyes  of  the  jeweler.  _  As  the  con- 
federate is  getting   away  he  bumps   into   a  police- 
man and  he  pursues  him.     Not  wishing  the  neck- 
lace to  be  found  on  his  person  he  slips  the 
of   pearls   into    the   pocket    of    a    sealskin    coat    ne 
finds  hanging  on  a  line.     Later  as  Marguerite,  the 
owner   of   the   coat,   is   about   to    get   into   her   car 
she   is   seen   by   the   crooks   and    Billy,   her   sweet- 
heart,  is   surprised   at   their   interest   in   her.      Fin- 
ally,   Billy    succeeds   in    exposing    the    crooks    and 
receives   the   five   hundred    dollars   offered    for   the 
return    of  the   necklace.      Marguerite   Courtot   fea- 
tured. 

The  White  Alley — (Three  Reels) — Essanay — 
January  22. — A  mystery  drama  featuring  Eliza- 
beth Burbridge,  Ernest  Maupain  and  Harry  Beau- 
mont, adapted  from  the  story  of  the  same  title  by 
Carolyn  Wells.  A  splendid  production  has  been 
made  and  the  picture  is  sure  to  be  a  box  office 
A  full  review  appears  on  another  page 
ssue.  N.  G.  C. 


i    get    thi 


fishing  and  she  tells  him  she  is  the  hei; 

They    fall    in    love    with    each    other    and    Jin 

'      ties    it    up    with    her    that    s" 

y   of   the   heiress'   entanglenr . .... 

details,    and    he    will    split    the    profits    with    her. 
'     :    confesses    to    her    father    that    she    loves 
and  he  consents  to  their  marriage,  because 


;   lov. 


of  this 

An     Adventure    i 

Marsh,  Lionel  B; 
Granddad  returning 
the  trading  post  w 
by    two    bad    men 


le  Autumn  Woods — Bio- 
,ry  24. — Featuring  Mae 
lore  and  Walter  Hiller. 
le  through  the  wilds  from 
sack  of  gold  is  set  upon 
robbed.  He  manages  at 
.  _  gold  and  reach  his  cabin, 
for   the   doctor   and   takes   the   gold 


;    the 


old 


granddaughte 
.    the    bad    mei 


steal    the   gold.      She    goes    1 


;  to   rescue  her 

e  Tragedy— (Two  Reels)— (Chapter  One  of 
:  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page") — Essanay 
juary  24.— Henry  Walthall  and  Edna  Mayo 
eatured  in  this  serial  which  begins  most  in- 
tingly   and   bids   fair   to   keep   up   th( 


appeared  o 


:  leu 


week's 


I    of   this 


j  that 

his  still  believing  her  to  be  a  maid. 

Tapped  Wires— Kalem— January  29.— An  epi- 
sode of  the  "Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad  series, 
featuring  Helen  Gibson  and  Robin  Adair.  Three 
crooks  bind  Helen  to  prevent  her  from  stopping 
the  express  train  to  have  it  await  an  armed  guard 
and  then  disable  the  messenger  and  dynamite  the 
safe.  Helen  releases  herself  and  takes  a  short 
cut  in  an  auto  and  overtakes  the  train,  but  the 
crooks  leap  into  her  car  before  she  can  warn 
the  engineer  and  train  crew.  At  the  right  moment 
Helen  leaps  from  the  speeding  auto  and  the  chauf- 
feur turns  the  car  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  then 
jumps  for  safety  himself  and  the  car  somersaults 
down  the  forty-foot  cliff,  burying  its  occupants 
beneath  it. 

A  Reformation  Delayed— (One  Reel)— Lubin— 
January  30.— Margaret,  a  social  worker,  becomes 
interested  in  Jim,  a  crook.  Even  when  she  has 
discovered  his  true  character  and  sent  him  awa 
she  cannot  forget  him.  Several  years  later,  Ji 
and  a  woman  accomplice  gain  admissior  *■"  ■ 
\1  n  _  i  it's  father  gives  and  are  caugh 
safe.  When  Margaret  recognizes  Jim,  sue  saves 
him  by  pretending  the  robbery  was  a  trick  she 
played  on  her  father.      William  J.   Spencer,  Fran- 


an   explanation  and   site  guiltily   denie 

impeachment  of  the  crowd.  Later  Willie  sees  her 
throw  the  dummy  she  used  into  the  well  and  is 
horrified.  When  the  sheriff  goes  down  the  well 
and  pulls  out  the  dummy  Jane  has  a  good  laugh 
on  them.  Willie,  now  realizing  the  depth  of 
Jane's  love,  pops  the  question  right  then  and 
there. 


^  The     Rough     Neck- 


Elsi( 


Two  Reels)— Essanay 
eaumont,  Alton  Goodri 
Jimmy  Dugan  and  Eh 
sweethearts,    live    on    t 

..it.      Dan   McGraw,    Elsi< 

fame  and  fortune  and  they  move  in 
'ghborhood,     so     Jimmy     se 


In   i 


saloc 


ay, 


rifling  the 


conspirators  plotting  to  send  McGraw  to  jail  on 
a  trumped  up  murder  charge.  Because  of  his  love 
for  Elsie  he  confesses  that  he  committed  the 
crime  in  order  to  save  her  father.  Later  Jimmy  s 
father  dving,  confesses  how  he  himself  committed 
"--"-  goes  to  Jimmy,  her  heart  over- 


wing 


about  his  neck  and   whis; 


sck." 


Teare 


Mac 


Bud 


rids — Kalem — January  25. — Featur- 
can,  Tack  MacDermott  and  Ethel 
ind    Glis,   rival   detective 


celi.     _ 
Wolcot 


split 


:    of 


:  job  of  getting  evidence 
for  a  divorce ;  Bud  by  Wifey  and  Gus  by  Hubby. 
Their  blundering  succeeds  in  healing  the  breach. 
Stronger  Than  Woman's  Will — (Three  Reels) 
— Biograph— January  26.— Featuring  Vera  Sis- 
son,  G.  Raymond  Nye,  Madge  Kirby  and  Jack 
Mulhall.  A  vital  drama  of  modern  society,  a 
""   *   rly  discussion  of  a  theme  uppermost   '—  - 


pie': 


-Kale: 


-JA. 


-True 


The    Villiam   Worshippt 
— (An   episode   of   the   "Stingai 

Boardman  featured.  Stingaree  tatces  aiong  Os- 
wald, who  worships  him  and  who  determines  to 
follow  the  same  life,  on  a  stage  coach  hold-up 
seeking  to  cure  the  boy  of  his  folly.  Oswald  is 
captured  and  later  Stingaree  learns  that  the  boy's 
mother  is  near  death 


freedor 


He 


:essful 


i  the 


village  busb 
This  episode 

:>dy's   c 

"with  Stir 

esults 
garee 

in  his   capture. 

The 
Self 

Fate  of  America — K 
sode  of  the  "Ventures 

Marguerite  Courtot. 
i  spy,   when  the  latter 

M,"!iM\i 

Mar 

is   she 

January 

1 
'"by' The 

28.— 
,"  fea- 

When  Kings  Were  the  Law-    „- 

—January  31.— Featuring  Dorothy  Bernard,  Wil- 
fred Lucas,  Harry  Hvde  and  Claire  McDowell. 
The  cardinal  plots  with  the  lady-m-waiting  to 
ruin  the  King's  favorite,  because  she  has  thwarted 
his  plans.  He  secures  her  necklace  and  places 
it  in  the  King's  cousin's  pocket,  and  believing 
his  favorite  false  the  King  orders  her  and  his 
cousin  to  be  walled  up  in  the  chambers.  Con- 
science-stricken, the  lady-in-waiting  tells  the  truth 
and  the  doomed  pair  are  rescued  when  almost  suf- 
focated. 

The  Trial— (Two  Reels)— (Chapter  Two  of 
"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page") — Essanay — 
January  31. — The  trial  of  Mary  Page  for  murder 
is  the  theme  of  the  second  chapter  of  this  serial 
and  interest  is  sustained  throughout.  Photograph- 
ically and  from  the  standpoint  of  direction  there 
is  nothing  better  to  be  desired.  A  full  review  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  issue.         N.  G.   C. 

Diamonds  Are  Trumps— (Three  Reels)— Selig 
—January  31.— William  Robert  Daly  is  the  pro- 
ducer of  this  mystery-detective  story  from  the  pen 
of  A.  M.  Chisholm.  Fritzi  Brunette  and  Earle 
Foxe  have  the  leading  roles,  Foxe  appearing  as  a 
detective  sent  out  to  catch  a  smuggler,  and  Miss 
Brunette  as  his  sweetheart,  wu-  ' 
bringing  about  the  capture  and 


Dreamy  Dud  Lost  at  Sea — Essanay — February 

..—Cartoon  by  Wallace  A.    Carlson   depicting   the 

.dbury    and    Helen     adventures    of    Dreamy    Dud    and    his    dog,    Wag, 

who    go    for    a    spin    in    the    good    motor    boat, 

"Wow."     On  this  same  reel  is  five  hundred  feet  of 

"""     film  taken  around  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 

The  Election  Bet — (One  Reel) — Lubin — Feb- 
ruary 1.— Wilkins  (Billy  Reeves)  loses  the  bet 
and  by  the  terms  must  roll  a  walnut  from  the 
boulevard  to  the  city  hall  or  forfeit  $5,000.  Dur- 
ing the  time  he  is  not  allowed  to  speak  or  write 
to  anyone.     Trying  to   carry  out  the  *— * 


asylum 


As 


he  cannot  speak  by  the  terms  of  the  bet,  they 
decide  he  is  deaf  and  dumb  as  well.  After  all 
the  trouble  he  loses  the  money.  Tames  Cassadv. 
Arthur  Matthews,  Pete  Lang  and  Carrie  Reynolds 
complete  the  cast. 


3  the  cii 
hall.      He 


>  the 


ti  of  the 


steals  his  money.  A  thief  and  a  murderer,  com- 
panions of  the  woman,  demand  a  share  of  the  gold 
but  she  wishes  to  keep  it  for  her  child.  Later 
the  child  is  hurt  and  the  woman  seeks  Paul's  aid 
in  securing  it.  Repentant,  she  returns  the  money. 
Paul  discovers  that  she  was  the  hermit's  wife. 
He  reforms  not  onlv  the  woman,  hut  the  thief  and 
murderer.  Nehin  Mavo.  Helen  Wnlcott,  George 
Routh,  Alan  Forrest,  Ben  Hopkins,  Tav  Morley 
and  Dot  Dufee  appear  in  the  cast. 


332 


The   Crime   of  Circumstance — Knickerbocker — 
February    4. — Myra    Traverse,    wife    of    Warren 
Traverse,   the   prosecuting  attorney,   depai 
ball  with  her  husband's  bi    '' 
Mason   accosts   Tony    Pet' 
"  :  ball  and   Tony 


MOTOGRAPHY 

oney.     Full  review  appears  on  another  page  o: 

The   Girl  of  His  Dreams— Cub— January  21.— 

,lvra    anH    TX     Featuring   George   Ovey.      Jerry   flirts   with   pretty 
m    and   throws     Gladvs   and   later  when   he   falls   asleep   he  dreams 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6. 


Old  Tom 


:ks"  into  the  apartment  of  the  actress  and 
>vers  Billy.  A  few  minutes  later  his  wife 
jvers  them  both.  The  press  agent's  story 
ars  in  all  the  morning  papers.  John  Step- 
r  and  Carol  Halloway  are  featured. 

Come-back — Falstaff — Febru- 
:ollie   tells  his   canine  friends   that  he 
very    much    against   his    will,    to    the 
I'll    make    them    hate    the    country," 
speaking  of  his  master's  family,   boasts   the   collie, 
and  he  does  this  by  doing  the  ghost  act.     After 
a    short    sojourn    in    the    country,    the    family    re- 
turns   hastily    to    their    old    city    quarters,    much 
the   worse   for   the   scares   they   have   encountered 
in  the  "haunted  1 

Knotted     Cord — (Three     Reels) — Than- 

___    -February    2. — With     Bert     Delany     and 

gnon    Anderson.      Two    millionaires    are    found 

igled,   and   beside   their   bodies   lies   a   knotted 

of  the  master  murderers.   The   op- 


Essanay— February  5.— Edward  Arnold,  Nell 
Craig  and  Jack  Meredith  featured.  Before  dying, 
the  father  of  John  Harris,  a  minister,  confesses  the 
unpardonable  sin  of  his  life.  He  tells  his  son 
that  years  before  he  had  betrayed  a  French- 
Canadian  girl  called  Annette  and  that 
in  the  Great  North  he  has  a  half-sister.  He  tells 
him  to  find  her  and  make  restitution.  He  goes  to 
the  barren  North  and  builds  a  mission  and  at 
Dan  McGraw's  place  he  meets  Marie,  the  dance 
hall  queen,  and  becomes  infatuated  with  her.  Mc- 
Graw  becomes  furious  when  the  people  attend 
church  instead  of  patronizing  his  gambling  den. 
He  locks  Marie  in  a  room  and  attacks  her,  but 
she  manages  to  escape  to  the  cabin  of  Tohn  Har- 
ris. Before  dying  she  tells  the  story  of  her  life 
and  John  learns  that  she  is  his  half-sister. 

The    Desert    Calls 


Billy. 

hi  ,,ii    rei 

ivers  and   finds 

>M     Man- 

wanderi 

1 In 

desert.       Vicky 

ful. Is    the 

sheriff    and 

Toe  dies 

of  thirst.      Later  Old  Mary  pla 

•es    Yickv 

in  the  a 

of  Billy. 

|UW».onJpHHP 

ktfnf 

•jlF^iJ 

i!^J 

1       • 

X  - 

^wkH^m 

Mutual  Program 


the    boys    for 

nfj    publicity 

introduce   a    ricn    | g    man 

selects  the  unsuspecting   Billy.     The   actress,  pos- 

iii"      i       i     Kikm.mi     *|.\  .    e.'iv     I'.ilh     i.>    bring    "im- 

t   papers"   to  her   room   at   midnight.     There 

"'         i'|..iientlv     about     to     be 

ll,,.        ,,,.      ,„!,,„..  Uill.r'c        fll. 


,         nl        In  i.i'.      ile.'nle- 

nch   young   man    into   the    story,   a 

The    i 


[led    ii 


I..'  the 


Hilly\ 


February  5,  1916. 


taken  by  a  society  woman  for  a  nobleman,  the 
Laird  O'Knees.  The  actor  plays  the  part  until 
his  picture  in  the  paper  brings  about  his  discov- 
ery by  his  landlady  and  the  cigarette  manufac- 
turer. Orral  Humphrey,  Johnny  Gough,  Gladys 
Kingsbury,    and    Queenie    Rosson    appear    in    the 


Universal  Program 


Universal   Animated   Weekly   N 

— January    26 — Stormy    Cloud,    w 

U.    S.    gold    corns  i and    Buffalo   nickels,    poi 


MOTOGRAPHY 


333 


ary  3. — Harry  and  his  bride  manage  to  escape 
the  well-wishing  wedding  guests  who  try  to  fol- 
low them,  but  their  peace  does  not  remain  undis- 
turbed, for  on  the  train  they  are  forced,  through 
circumstance,  to  take  into  custody  a  lost  child. 
The  latter  saves  them  from  much  embarrassment 
on  arriving  at  the  college  town  where  some  stu- 
dents are  awaiting  their  arrival.  Later,  however, 
the  boys  become  convinced  that  Harry  and  his 
wife  are  not  a  staid  old  couple,  but  their  victims, 
and  the  honeymoon  is  made  as  spectacular  as  pos- 

The  Extra  Man  and  the  Milk-fed  Lion— (Three 
Reels)— Mustang— February  4.  —  Another  Buck 
Parvin  story.  Buck  gets  his  friend  a  job  as  ex- 
tra. The  friend  falls  in  love  with  the  leading 
lady,  tries  to  save  her  from  a  lion  and  spoils  the 
scene.  Full  review  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  issue.  G.  H. 

The  Laird  O'Knees— (One  Reel)— American- 
February  6— A  vaudeville  actor,  wearing  Scotch 
kilts  to  advertise  Highland  Lad  cigarettes,  is  mis- 


:   for 


Carnegie  Art  Students,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  ;  $500,000  the  t 
fire  destroys  big  section  of  city  Passiac,  N.  J. ;  Fred  Hunt, 
Brooklyn  s  new  ten  million  dollar  subway  car- 
ries New  Yorkers  12  miles  in  18  minutes;  Un- 
dertakers' convention  held  at  Long  Island  City, 
N.  Y. ;  latest  fashion  in  head-dress;  Gen.  Villa, 
who  ordered  recent  slaying  of  18  American?:  tvpe 
of    under-sea    boat    which    exploded,    killinf 


e  of  their  discovery  to  force  he: 

(riserii  to  ineir  marriage. 

Old  King  Coal — (Two  Reels) — Universal 
Special  Feature — January  31. — Eighth  episode 
of  "Graft"  featuring  Harry  Carey,  Jane  Novak, 
Hobart  Henley  and  Glen  White.  In  this  episode, 
from  the  scenario  by  Walter  Woods,  the  Larni- 
gans  set  out  to  bring  the  Coal  Trust  and  its  high- 
handed methods  to  the  attention  of  the  Govern- 
ment. They  face  many  dangers  in  bringing  the 
officials  of  the  trust  within  reach  of  the  law, 
but  after  a  thrilling  escape  from  infernal  ma- 
chines set  for  them  and  a  railroad  disaster  delib- 
erately planned  they  enter  another  name  in  the 
victory  book. 

Lord  John's  Journal — (Threel  Reels) — Gold 
Seal — February  1. — Third  adventure  in  this  story 
by  C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson  entitled  "Three- 
Fingered  Jenny."  William  Garwood  as  Lord 
John  is  featured  with  Stella  Razeto  as  Miada 
Odell.  Miada  again  joins  the  Grey  Sisterhood. 
Lord  John,  unable  to  warn  her,  follows  Miada 
and  the  Head  Sister.  He  is  unable  to  rescue  her 
from  the  Sisterhood,  but  he  does  save,  after  a 
thrilling  chase  in  a  motor  boat.  Jenny,  the  three- 
fingered  woman,  who  has  been  the  unwilling  but 
valuable  tool  of  the  Head  Sister  and  Rameses. 

Sea  Dogs  and  Land  Rats — L-Ko — February  2. 
—Gertie's  father  objects  to  her  suitor,  a  barber  of 
the  dashing  type.  One  day  while  awaiting  him  to 
the  park  two  sailors  try  to  flirt  with  her.  Fright- 
ened, she  hurries  home,  followed  by  the  tars. 
Father  hates  men  who  follow  Gertie,  and  he 
starts  a  fight.  The  dashing  one  walks  in  upon 
this,  thus  adding  one  more  to  the  mix-up.  The 
floor  gives  way  and  all  the  fighters  fall  to  the  cel- 
lar, pausing  at  the  floor  below  only  long  enough  to 
break  up  a  wedding. 

Son  o'  the  Stars— (Three  Reels)— Victor- 
February  2. — Produced  by  Jacques  Taccard  from 
the  scenario  by  Nell  Shipman.  J.  Warren  Kerri- 
gan has  the  name  role,  a  dusky  youth  who  has 
been  brought  up  by  an  Indian  trapper.  He  be- 
comes engaged  to  a  pretty  girl  whose  father  re- 
fuses to  allow  her  to  marry  Son  o'  the  Stars  be- 
cause he  is  of  Indian  blood.  The  young  trapper 
is  bitter  and  curses  even  his  parents.  The  old 
Indian  seeing  this  tells  the  truth  about  the  boy. 
He  is  not  an  Indian.  This  is  substantiated  by 
the  priest  who  married  Son  o'  the  Stars'  parents. 
The  Indian's  account  of  the  boy's  early  history  is 

The  Wise  Man  and  the  Fool— (Two  Reels)— 
Laemmle — February  3. — Myrtle  Gonzalez  is  the 
girl  in  love  with  a  mining  engineer.  The  story  is 
of  the  human  interest  type,  telling  of  the  tem- 
porary estrangement  of  the  girl  and  her  impecuni- 

s  sweetheart  by  a  jealous  and  wealthv  chap.   In 


happy  state  at  length  with  his  butler  one  night. 
But  a  few  hours  later  he  hears  someone  enter 
stealthily  and  turning  on  the  lights  sees  a  pretty 
young  girl.  She  explains  her  position,  being  help- 
less in  the  hands  of  some  crooks  who  force  her 
to  rob,  and  he  takes  pity  on  her.  She  has  taken 
a  liking  to  the  old  man  and  accepts  his  offer  to 
become  his  adopted  daughter. 

Phantom  Island— (Two  Reels)— Bison— Feb- 
ruary 5. — Francis  Ford  and  Dorothy  Davenport 
featured.  The  girl's  father  sends  his  daughter 
and  her  fiance  off  on  his  yacht  that  they  may  be- 
come better  acquainted.  They  are  accompanied 
by  John,  Robert's  valet.  They  are  shipwrecked 
on  a  secluded  island  where  there  are  many  ex- 
citing adventures.  The  valet's  effort  to  win 
Pearl  draws  the  engaged  couple  closed  together, 
and  all  is  well  when  the  rescue  ship  arrives. 

Wanted — A  Piano  Tuner — Joker — February  S. 
— The  piano  tuner,  Bumtone,  enjoys  Mrs.  Spots' 
company  immensely  and  calls  every  day  to  tune 
the  piano.  Spots  becomes  suspicious  and  en- 
gages a  detective,  Spyer.  He  disguises  himself 
and   calls  at  the   Spots   house. 


While  he  L    . 
word  that   she 


there   the   \ 


sited  by  a  great  pianist 


Spyer,  who  cannot  refuse.  Knowing  nothing 
about  such  machines,  he  practically  wrecks  it. 
Mrs.  Largo  mistakes  Spyer  for  Bumtone  and 
Bumtone  who  when  called  in  to  fix  the  piano 
ruined  it  entirely  for  Spyer.  So  she  decides  to  let 
vengeance  go  and  consult  a  doctor. 

A  September  Morning — (Two  Reels) — L-Ko — 
February  6. — Two  artists  try  their  hands  at 
painting  a  September  Morning.  They  have  diffi- 
culty in  procuring  models.  Wandering,  they 
come  to  a  park  where  some  young  ladies  are  per- 
forming Greek  dances  in  complete,  or  is  it  incom- 
plete costume.  At  the  vantage  point  there  is  room 
for  only  one  person  and  when  two  more  come 
along   there   is    battle   and   gun-firing   and   chasing 

One  Who  Passed  By — Rex  Drama — February 
6 — Produced  by  Ben  Wilson,  who  plays  the  part 
of  the  rich  broker  who  lavishes  money  and  affec- 
tion upon  his  wife.  She  leaves  him  for  another 
man  and  then  Wright  becomes  a  tramp.  One 
kindly  woman,  who  feeds  him  well,  is  made  happy 
when  he,  by  heroic  methods,  procures  for  her  a 
dress  she  desires  greatly,  then  he  continues  his 
tramping. 

Graft — (Two  Reels) — Universal  Special  Fea- 
ture—February 7.— Ninth  episode  entitled  "The 
Insurance  .Swindlers."  In  this  episode  Tom 
ices  that  he  will  investigate  and 


'arded    and    Myrtli 


.  loklyn    Navy    Yard,    N.    Y. ; 
"Sygna"    loaded    with    muni- 

s  with  fire  in  hold,  New  York; 

5   of   Hy   Mayer. 

When  Aunt  Matilda  Fell— Nestor— January  31. 
— A  comedy  dealing  with  the  trials  of  a  loving 
young  couple.  They  are  engaged,  but  the  girl's 
aunt  objects  to  marriage  and  keeps  them  apart  as 
much   as    possible,    and,    it    seems,    nothing 


The  Soul  Man— Imp— February  4.— A  di 
bv  William  Addison  Lathrop  produced  by  H 
McRea  Webster  and  featuring  King  Ba< 
the  man,  who,  through  the  perfidity  of  h 
ness  partner,  lost  the  woman  he  loved  an 
ders  about  as  a  tramp.  He  returns  yeai 
his   financial   failure   to   his   home   town,   wl 

Hetty.^  now    the    wife   of   his    former    part- 


proceed     ag; 

ganized  in  one  trust  and  using  the  pol'ic\  h. ,1.1, 
money  to  speculate  with.  Though  Stone  resc 
to  the  most  desperate  plan  he  has  so  far 
tempted,  Larnigan  is  victorious.  Maxw< 
ided   by   Tom. 


■losing    his" 

>and.      This 


i   her 


ir    the 


illainy    of    her    hus- 


possible   to    1 
the 


:    of    the    young    people. 


msly    a 
of    ther 


A  Child  of  Circumstances— Rex— February  4. 
-Marc  Robbins  and  Ella  Hall  are  featured.  The 
tory    tells    of    an    elderly    bachelor    who,    though 

urrouiHled    by    every    luxury    his   great   wealth    can 


The  Ruling  Passion— (Five  Reels)— William 
Fox— January  30.— William  E.  Shay  and  Claire 
Whitney  are  featured  in  a  play  dealing  with  hyp- 
notism. Scenes  are  laid  in  India.  Herbert  Bre- 
non  directed  the  picture.  A  full  review  may  ap- 
pear in  a  later  issue. 


Opie,  the  Operator 


MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV.  No.  6.. 

His  Job  Fails  to  Materialize,  So  He  Quits  in  Disgust 


Kleine-Edison 


The  Finj 


-s)— Kli 


s-Edi- 


)N— Ruth  Dan-ell,  a  popi 
ries  John  Lord,  a  million; 
facturer,  and  later  leaves  him  becauL_  . 
tinues  to  find  herself  deprived  of  the  company  of 
her  husband  because  of  his  application  to  busi- 
ness. She  returns  to  the  stage  and  her  husband 
one  night  and  goes  to  see  his  young  wife  in  her 
new  part.  Lord  becomes  furious  when  he  notices 
Lyle,  whom  she  is  supporting,  play  the  lov 


gO! 


ith  Ruth  wi 
:s  to  Ruth1 
finds  Ruth 


th  i 


>re   thar 
.sing   roi 


ordinary  ardor.  He 
and  upon  entering 
He  tells  Ruth  that 


love   for    the   stage    that   has   come 
ind    her    husband,    she    deserts    the 


a  strong  cast,  which  includes  Carl  von  Schiller, 
Brooklyn  Keller,  William  Jackson  and  Gypsy 
Abbott,  who  plays  the  part  of  the  Governor's 
(Crane  Wilbur)   wife. 

The  Idol  of  the  Stage— (Five  Reels)— Gau- 
mont— January  31.— Malcolm  Williams  is  fea- 
tured in  this  storv  of  stage  life  and  in  the  role  of 
Edwin  Hargrave'he  makes  a  very  likeable  man 
in  spite  of  his  many  faults.  Lucille  Taft  plays 
the  part  of  his  wife  and  is  very  appealing.  Rich- 
ard Garrick  is  good  as  the  trusty  and  Helen 
Marten  plays  the  role  of  Marian  Well. 

The  White  Rosette — (Five  Reels) — American 
— January  31. — The  first  reel  shows  a  story  c 
thousand  years  ago.  The  remaining  reels  si 
the  same  story  in  modern  settings.  Donald  IV 
Donald  directed  the  production  in  which  E.  1 
'  Taylor  and  Helene  Rosson  a 


elsewher 


Metro 


Her  Debt  of  Honor— (Five  : 
eia-Metro — Valli  Valli  featured  i 
a  beautiful  young  girl  who  beli 
del. ted  in  one  Olin  Varcoe,  a  d 
William    Night   a      " 


ls)— Colum- 

his   story    of 

herself    in- 


i-.»].  . 


The 


i  this 


The  Bait — (Five  Reels) — Horsley— iT. 
22.— Betty  Hart  and  William  Clifford  api 
this  western  drama  produced  bv  David  K 
Frederick  Montague,  Oliver  C.  Allen,  Ed' 
exander  and  Marvel  Spencer  appeal 
Reviewed  elsewhere  in  this  issue. 


the 


eludes     William     Davidson,     J.     H.     Goldsworthy, 
Frank    Bacon    and     Mrs.     M.     Brundage.      A    full 
ippears   on    page   266    of   the  January   29th 


id's  Elopement — 
-Haddem  is  in 
er    father,    Keepa 


vith    Not 


Mutual  Special 

Betrayed      I  Fivi     Rl  I  ts)      Thanhouseb        1am 
ary   29— Grace   de   Carlton    featured    in    thi      torj 

of  the  love  of  an    fndii I     foi     cl Hi  g. 

Suppoi  tins   Mi      di    l    '  ■  i 
inn   arc   such    players   .-is    Robert    whittiei    as    her 

!■'...      I'ili  ln-r    a<    hi  i     In  •   Mi.  '  '  -    :  m  in      ..ml 
Gladys    1,,-slic   as  I,.- 
l.onergan  and   was  stave. 1   l.\    II. .u  ml    \l      \linli,ll. 

Vengeance   Is   Mint         '  HORSl  BY 

1am  ary    31.      (  ranc    Wilbur    is   ,-asl    i,, 

vi'li    'if   tin   ■  ■    i|. ii..l    punishment 

i       II       III.  in.  I    i. in.      \\  .ll.ii,     ,        ,1,1,         ,,, I     |,, 


;  church  i 


My      Lady      Incog  - 


(Five  Reels)  —  Famous 
— Hazel  Dawn  plays  the 
ding  role,  that  of  a  society  girl  thrown  upon 
nun  Ksniiri'.s,  in  this  Famous  Players  Para- 
uiii  release.  Tlie  story  tells  of  the  romance  of 
s'irl  who  attempts  In  apprehend  a  very  clever 
ml;  and  a  society  chap.  Robert  Cain  and 
,,i  m      \l.,|,  ,.,ni    .,!   ,,    ,|.        .1,  ,,,|,.      ,  ..,  I.    iii    their 

pective  parts.     A  longer  review   of  thi     , 

1    1)1     found 'I the    January    20th 


Inbad  the  Sailor— Paramount— January  20.— 
Silhouette  produced  bv  C.  Allan  Gilbert  and  J. 
R.  Bray,  in  which  drawn  figures  are  united  with 
the  actual  ones.  A  full  review  appears  on  another 
page   of  this   issue. 

The  Call  of  the  Cumberlands — (Five  Re*:ls) 
— Pallas — January  24. — Samson  South,  fighter, 
dreamer  and  a  coming  leader  of  the  Clans  of  the 
South,  leaves  for  New  York  to  work  out  a  God- 
given  talent  with  paint  and  canvas.  Sally  Spicer, 
his   sweetheart,   improves   the   time   of   South's   ab- 

and    she   improves    ; 


Notta  and  Had- 
the  back  of  his 
iadly  up  hill  and 
unci  falls  into  a 
mud    that    Keepa 


-  _j  best  she  can  her  personal 
He  returns  to  the  South  because  of 
the  breaking  out  of  hostilities  and  forces 
emy  to  ask  for  permanent  peace.  With  Sally 
Spicer  again  in  his  arms  Samson  rinds  his  soul 
in  the  grip  of  a  strong,  heroic  love  and  his  yearn- 
ings for  the  mountain  fastness  appeased.  Dustin 
Farnum  plays  the  leading  role  in  this  produc- 
tion and  he  is  supported  bv  Winifred  Kingston. 
Myrtle     Stedman,     Page     Peters     and     Dick     Le 

The  Police  Dog  on  the  Wire — Bray-Para- 
mount— January  27. — This  picture  is  another  of 
the  popular  Bray  cartoons  and  recounts  the  amaz- 
ing adventures  of  the  Boston  Bull  at  headauar- 
and  his  lady  love.  This  picture  is  something 
-"     both   as   t.i    story    ana 

ive    ReelsI    -Laski    - 

Ward    is    featured    in 

re   separated 

'    who    i 


Tennessee's     Pardner — 


story 


i    child    whose    pai 


des 


William 


left   in   care   ,  ,1    when    her   lather 

is   killed.      Many   of  the  scenes   in   this  production 
were    taken    in    San    Fernando    Mission,    a    Tesuit 

mission   built  about    IStHI       S,,,]..,,,;.;    Miss  'War" 
are    such    stars   as    lack    Dean.    Charlc- 

H 
Bradbury. 

els) — Famous    PlayekS — 

Pauline   Frederick   in   the 

e  St.   Cyr,  wife  of  a  poor  mu- 

th    l  'omit    I  lu  l',,,s»\  .   deserting 

Hocausi     Jul, .in     St.     Sams,    a 


The   Spider      (FlVl 

January   27.— Featui 

.  iile.      Yalcr' 


. I. night, 
\. .iiiiv    ai  list.    i,u  s,  -    ,. 

i.  hit.     she     I 

at    his    rebuff    and    determines    i,.    deceive 

,', ,,  s     I..     Ins     slllilio     shaliliih      dressed. 

ceeds   in   winning   his   sympatl 


Sh(    i 


MOTOGRAPHY 


her.  Julian  is  engaged  to  Joan  Marche  ; 
Valerie  induces  the  count  to  kidnap  Joan  in 
venge,  and  he  takes  her  to  his  rendezvous.  Jc 
stabs  the  count  when  he  attacks  her,  but  bef 
lie  dies  he  summons  the  police.  Valerie  lea 
that  it  is  her  daughter  whom  she  has  dehve 
to  the  count  and  goes  to  the  count's  home.  ! 
finds  the  count  murdered,  and  decides  to  m; 
the  greatest  reparation  in  her  power,  to  give  h 
self  up  as  the  guilty  one. 


taffy  and  other  dainties,  goes  to  spend  part  of  his 
lunch  hour  on  the  shaded  park  walks  and  to 
prance  on  the  lawn.  He  steals  a  young  chap's 
watch  and,  just  his  luck,  the  fellow  comes  to  the 
emporium  at  which  he  is  employed   and  spots  the 


Pathe 


Pathe  News  No.  6— Pathe— January  19.— Ed- 
mund von  Kaenel  climbs  263  feet  of  rope  while 
mercury  registers  ten  below  zero,  Chicago,  111. ; 
Emmeline  Pankhurst,  English  suffragette,  ar- 
rives to  appeal  for  war-torn  Serbia,  New  York, 
N.  Y. ;  a  Caudron  aeroplane  captured  from  Ger- 
mans, exhibited  as  a  trophy  of  war,  Paris, 
France;  Russian  soldiers  captured  by  Austrians 
.and  afterwards  freed  by  Italian  troops,  sent  back 
to  Russia  to  neht  again,  Genoa,  Italy;  submarine 
E-2  which  was  dt-troved  while  in  the  Brooklyn 
Navy  Yard,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Railroad  Construction  on  the  Dark  Continent 
—(Split  Reel)— Pathe— January  17.— An  in- 
dustrial   subject_    in     photocolor.       Railroad     con- 

-pean   methods.     The  native  labor  is  so  cheap   and 
the  transportation   of^  modern 


The  Path  of  Happiness— (Five  Reels)—  Uni- 
versal—January  31.— Violet  Mercereau  is  fea- 
:ured    as    a    little    country    girl.      Sidney    Bracey, 


tallat 


ladvis; 


On    t 


D  costly 


reel  with: 

The  Lizard— Pathe— This  interesting  zoological 

Lonesome  Luke  Lolls  in  Luxury — Pathe-Rolin 
—January   19— Luke  and  his  companion  Tin-horn 


They   are 
take  then 


___  jnfam_  . 
;t  upon  by  two  hugh  individuals,  who 
nefore  the  chief.  The  tars  are  put  to 
g  palms   over  the  heads_  of  the   chief's 


vith  the  ladic 
tries  to  make  the  chief  abdicate  in  his  favor. 
This  unwise  move  leads  to  another  move,  the  lat- 
ter being  in  the  general  direction  of  home. 

The  Horrors  of  War— (Three  Reels)— Fathe 
—January  24. — The  beginning  scenes  of  these  pic- 
tures from  the  war  zone  are  taken  from  the  deck 
of  a  Russian  battleship,   from  which   point   several 

-under  d™5  merciless  fire  of  the  Russian  fleet. 
From  then  on  scenes  are  shown  in  different  places 
-throughout  the  warring  region  depicting  terrible 
destruction  and  misery.  Heaps  of  bodies  are  seen 
being  packed  like  cord-wood  and  carried  off  to  be 
"buried.  One  scene  shows  a  dead  horse  draped 
high  on  the  branches  of  a  tree— blown  there  by  a 
terrific   explosion.  G.    W.    G. 

The  Red  Circle— (Two  Reels)— Pathe-Balboa— 
January  29.— Seventh  chapter  entitled  "The  Third 
Degree."  Lamar  has  Alma  La  Salle  placed  under 
arrest.  His  suspicions  that  she  is  the  red  circle 
thief  are  confirmed  when  the  officers  find  jewels 
"hidden  in  the  heel  of  an  old  shoe  which  she  car- 
ries. This  clew  leads  him  to  raid  the  shop  of 
"Smiling"  Sam,  the  supposed  reformed  crook, 
"i   shoemaker.      At    thir    ' — 


30. 


Triangle  Program 

Released   Week    of   January 

The  Green  Swamp— Kay-Bee— Featuring  Bes- 
sie Barriscale  and  Bruce  McRae.  The  story  of 
a  woman's  fight  against  her  jealous  nature.  A 
full  review  of  the  picture  appears  on  page  193 
of   the   January   22nd   issue   of   Motography. 

The  Price  of  Power— Fine  Arts— Featuring 
Orrin  Johnson.      A   labor  play   in   which   the   hero 

page  193,  January  22nd  issue  of  Motography. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 


.Miik-'r'     « 
for   the   c 

feftaWayefc 


es  Jane  as  his  own  daugh- 

arns  that  she  ha"s  been  de- 
She  appeals  to  Gordon 
is   in  love,   and   they   start 


June 


inder    ■> 


'Kent,   Gordon's  brother, 
tune    by    his    father,    re 


iolves 


Sthe°   tram 


er  is  asleep  she  releases  the 

The  organ  grinder,  however,  awakes  and  notices 
the  red'  circle  on  the  hand  of  the  woman  who  re- 
leased the  monkey.  When  Lamar  learns  of  this 
"he  is  sorely  troubled. 

Pathe  News  No.  7— Pathe— January  22.— 
Many  blast  furnaces  put  into  operation  by  the 
government  for  the  production  of  big  shells,  Le- 
Creusot,  France;  primitive  Esquimau  methods  of 
eel  spearing  are  resorted  to  by  local  fisherman 
-when  ice  covers  Shewsbury  river;  new  Creuset 
guns  have  been  made  which  are  expected  to  out- 
rival the  famous  Krupp  "42's",  Nancy,  France; 
Pathe's  Paris  fashions;  French  troops  arrive  at 
Saloniki.  Greece,  to  reinforce  the  Allied  Expedi- 
tionary forces;  several  blocks  of  business  district 
destroyed    by    fire,    Passiac,    N.    J. ;    Uncle    Sam's 


Riding  the  Goat — Pathe — January  22.- 
comedy  produced  bv  the  National  Film  Cor 
and  featuring  Bill  Parsons  is  released  und< 
King  Cole  brand.  The  slapstick  comedy 
from  the  efforts  of  the  "two  fools"  who  end 
to  gain  entrance  to  a  lodge  meeting  withoi 
countersign.  After  that  they  try,  with  the  same 
results,  to  enter  a  parade  of   social   organizations. 

Movements  the  Eye  Misses — (Split  Reel)— 
Pathe — January  31. — An  educational  picture  in 
Pathecolor  and  deals  with  the  eye  of  the  average 
person  and  the  many  interesting  events  it  fails 
to  note.     On  the  same  reel  with: 


carrying  Gordon  and  Jane 
Jane  and  Gordon  are  only  injured,  however,  am 
as  we  last  see  them  they  are  rapidly  recoverinj 
in  the  hospital.  Rosetta  Bruce,  Richard  Buhle 
and  Arthur  Housman  have  the  leading  roles. 

The  Writing  on  the  Wall— (Five  Reels)— Vita 
graph— Irving  Lawrence's  wife  and  his  brothe 
are  interested  in  social  uplift,   but  they  cannot  in 

ments  in  the  city's  most  objectionable  dwellinj 
places.  His  wife  discovers  that  her  husband' 
mode  of  living  is  not  all  that  it  should  be,  am 
when  Payne,  Barbara's  brother,  and  his  wife 
Muriel,  arrive,  it  evolves  that  Muriel  is  one  o 
the  victims  of  Irving's  disregard  for  others  ii 
the  past.      He   tor 


Barb 


ther 


Mui 


i   betw: 


the 


t-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial.  —  Hickory 
verflows  and  sweeps  through  streets,  caus- 
r _  damage,   Joliet,    111. ;    heavy   rains   flood 


"1 


BURNS     MANTLE'S 

Stupendous  12  Star  Production 

How  Molly  Made  Good' 


»» 


6  REELS 

Is  the  best  advertised  picture  on  the  market. 
4  Weeks  Fine  Arts,  Chicago 

ALL    IVAN    PRODUCTIONS 
Commencing  with  "Concealed  Truth" 

5  Reels  Featuring 
GERTRUDE   ROBINSON 

diana  and  Kentucky. 

GENERAL  FEATURE  FILM   CO. 

MALLEUS  BLDG.         Central  8145  CHICAGO 


Mr.  Exhibitor: 
We  < 


Bartola  Orchestra 

is  superior  to  any  other  for  your  Theatre. 
Give  us  a  chance.     Write  for  catalogue. 

Sold  on  Easy  Terms 

Bartola  Musical  Instrument  Co. 


Factory:  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin 


"BUILT  BY; 
BRAINS" 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  M  inusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  New  York 

Houser    Building  19  W.   23rd   St. 

Calgary,  Canada  Chicago 

Grand  Theatre  Bldg.  154  West  Lake  St. 

San  Francisco  Pittsburg 

117-19  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  Ave. 


Glimpses  of  Java— Pathe— January  31.— An 
educational  picture  containing  many  interesting 
scenes  taken  in  Java,  an  island  in  the  Indian 
Ocean,    famous    for    over    three    centuries    for    its 

Luke, 


r  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO d 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  6« 


t-Yit. 


__       tagraph 
of    the    Austrian 
ic  Hotel  St.  Louis, 


German  ambassador,  po: 
Xews  J'ictorial,  with  irn 
staff.  Washington,  D.  C.  ; 

where  kings  and  queens  nave  oeen  enteriaineei, 
and  where  Mrs.  Stowe  was  inspired  to  write  "Un- 
cle Tom's  Cabin,"  condemned  as  unsafe,  New  Or- 
leans, La.;  latest  fashions;  Harvard  students  en- 
list in  newly  formed  preparedness  regiment,  Cam- 
bridge. Mass.;  on  the  Western  front;  Hong  Kong 
police    march    to    Whitehall     recruiting    ofhces    to 

dered  by  Mexican  bandits,  buried  with  signal  hon- 
ors, El  Paso,  Tex.,-:  cart., on  I ■>   T.  E.  Powers. 


Miscellaneous 


His  Vindication— (Four  Reels)— Cosmofoto- 
hi.m — Charles  Rock  featured  in  the  leading  role. 
Charles  Faulkner  is  found  murdered  and  his 
brother  George  is  accused  of  the  crime  and  sen- 
tenced to  a  life  term  in  prison.     He  escapes 


He/ 


icks  by  1 


•  Margare 


Bui 


8.— Dread- 


mght 


anyone   recognizing  him. 
Captain   Haverleigh   is   the 
ing  the  man  who  killed  hi 
arrested    and    thi 


i    the 


Wit  10U{ 


gly    i 


jsed    i 


i  Di»< 


leading  "producers  and  manufacturers  of  motion 
pictures  appear  before  Congressional  committee 
to  argue  against  the  proposed  National  Board  of 
Censorship,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Federal  officers 
permit  Italian  liner  Guiseppe  Verdi  to  sail,  New 
York,  N.  V.  ;  Edmund  von  Kaenel,  steeplejack, 
climbs  rope  to  the  17th  story  of  Fort  Dearborn 
hotel.  Chicago,  111.;  latest  fashions;  Ludy  Lan- 
ger,  champion  middle  distance  swimmer,  trains 
for  coming  internal innal  championship  in  Hono- 
lulu, Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  on  the  western  front  with 
the  Germans;  scenes  along  the  Mexican  border; 
cartoon  by  T.    E.   Powers. 

Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial— January  21— 

Bluejackets  ot  cruiser  Milwaukee  man  lifeboats 
in  "man  overboard  drill,"  San  Diego.  Cal.;  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  holds  poultry  show ;  longshoremen  get 
thirty-live    cents    per_  hour  Jiustling^  $6,000, ("'" 


c„],f   ,,|, 

steamer     Corfe     Castle,     Summit,     Cal.  ; 

firs,     s„„ 

v    in    twenty    years    piles    monster    drift 

ilroad    tracks    in    Sierra    mountains    and 

MIOU       pl„ 

vs   fight    to    rescue    stalled    trains,    Sum- 

mit,    Cal. 

Percy    D.    Haughton,    former    Harvard 

coach,     becomes     president     of     Boston 

id   confers  with   Manager   Stallings,    Bos- 

ton,    Mas 

s. ;    latest    fashions;    penniless    men    get 

beds    on 

credit    at    Municipal    lodging    house    and 

them    next    day    by     working    at     city 

woodpile, 

Chicago ;  cartoons  by  T.  E.  Powers. 

Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines— (Five 
Reels)— Essanay— January  17.— Ann  Murdock 
does  splendid  work"  as  Mme.  Trentoni,  the  hero- 
ine of  the  Clyde  Fitch  comedy,  from  which  the 
play  was  adapted.  Richard  Travers  appears  as 
Captain  Jinks  and  a  strong  supporting  cast  is 
in  evidence.  A  full  review  of  the  picture  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  issue.  N.   G.   C. 


A   Night  Out— (Five  Reels)—  Vr 


who  h 


-Ja> 


enjoy  the  latter 
s  go  often  to  the 
"night 


Tin    |.!.,,  i    i-   raided   that  night,  and   though   Gran- 

,!!,.! '.  'sh'.-'al's,.'' helps  b<"'-  J  .'and  sons 'in  their  ^ove 
affairs.  May  Robson  and  C.  T.  Dazey  wrote  the 
play,  in  which  Maj  Robson,  Flora  Finch,  Kate 
Price,  Eva  Taylor,  Hnghie  .Mack,  William  Shea, 
Charles  Brown,  George  Cooper,  Belle  Bruce, 
Ethel    Corcoran,    lack    Storey    and    Arthur    Cozine 


World 

A    Circus    Romance— (Five    Reels) — Equitable 

Bal .,   beautiful   young  dancer  of  the  circus, 

learns    after    her    mother's    death    that    she    is    the 

daughter    ol     I  Butterworth    and    resolves    to 

make   her   identity   known    to   linn.      This  she  does 

I'll    bis   second    wife 

her   believe 

he     has     adopted     lie  .,,  ,ms     0f     the 

church     are     horrified     when     they     learn     this    and 
demand    that    lie    send    the   girl    aw.n    ,,i    resign    bis 

Babette,    however,    is    not 

happy    and     rclinii  id    when    the 

minister,  who  ha         Babel 

and    asks    hei    to    i,  i  s, ,,,,,-    n,n, 

nast    of   the    troupe.       Mm  icl    i  ■ 


Race  Suicide— (Six  Reels)— Joseph  W.  Farn- 
iiAM--Ormi  Hawley,  Earle  Metcalfe.  Herbert 
Fortier,  Kempton  Greene,  Hazel  Hubbart  and  Oc- 
tavia  Handworth  are  featured  in  this  remarkable 
picture,  which  is  a  vivid  presentation  of  the  sub- 
ject of  race  suicide.  The  storv  has  been  handled 
in  the  form  of  an  allegory,  showing  the  different 
periods  of  racial  development — the  cave  man 
period,  the  Roman,  the  medieval  and  the  modern, 
and  the  characters  in  each  succeeding  epoch  typify 
the  race  at  that  stage  of  its  development. 


SOME  NEW  THEATERS 

Alabama. 

Tom-Pert     Greener's     motion     picture 

house    at    312    Eighteenth    street,    North 

Birmingham,    was    damaged    by    fire    to 

the   amount  of  one  hundred  dollars. 

Arkansas. 

John  A.  Jamison  will  reopen  the  Dun- 
lap  theater  in  Clarksville,  February  1. 
The  theater  is  being  overhauled. 

The  Princess  theater  in  Batesville  has 

been   leased  by  W.  L.   Landers,   who  is 

manager  of  the   Gem.     The   theater  has 

been  closed  temporarily. 

California. 

H.  J.  Siler  and  Charles  R.  Chaple  are 
to  have  a  modern  motion  picture  theater 
erected  on  South  Greenleaf  avenue, 
Whittier,  in  the  near  future.  The  plans 
are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  contractors 
and  the  details  will  be  decided  soon. 
The  estimated  cost  is  $20,000  and  the 
building  will  be  completed  before  March. 

Georgia. 

The  Georgian  theater  in  Atlanta  is  now 
managed  by  H.  G.  Cassidy,  who  has  out- 
lined a  most  progressive  policy. 

The  city  clerk  in  Atlanta  has  been 
busy  sending  out  copies  of  the  new  film 
ordinance  which  was  one  of  the  last 
laws  adopted  by  the  council  of  1915. 
The  ordinance  as  passed  provides  for  the 
manufacture,  storage  and  handling  of 
films  and  makes  some  drastic  changes 
in  the  former  regulations. 

Idaho. 

Charles    S.    Shepherd,    of    Hurley,    has 
left  for  Pocatello,  where  he  contemplates 
purchasing  the  Rex  photoplay  theater. 
Illinois. 

A  fire  in  the  basement  of  the  Pano- 
rama theater,  5110  Prairie  avenue,  Chi- 
cago, caused  by  an  overheated  boiler, 
caused  a  slight  commotion  January  16, 
but  the  crowd  were  assured  by  the  man- 
ager, H.  C.  Friedman,  there  wasn't  any 
danger  and  they  slowly  filed  out. 

The  Rex  theater  in  Petersburg  was  de- 
sti  "\  ed  by  fire. 

The  Orpheum  theater  in  Aurora,  man- 
ag<  d  l\  Albert  T.  Downs,  will  install  a 
new  satin  gold  fiber  screen  in  the  near 
future. 

I.  I.crnv  Glassburn,  who  has  been  man- 
ager   of   the   Grand    theater   in   Tampico 


for  several  years,  will  retire  from  the 
management  February  1  and  enter  in- 
surance work,  to  which  he  will  devote 
his   entire   time. 

A  modern  fireproof  moving  picture 
theater,  to  be  erected  in  Moline,  is  being 
planned  by  A.  F.  Shallbarger. 

Extensive  improvements  will  be  made 
by  Bennett  &  Messinger  of  the  Variety 
theater  at  Westfield.  who  have  purchased 
the  building  in  which  their  show  is  lo- 
cated. 

Indiana. 

Famous  Players'  Film  Service,  Incor- 
porated, a  Delaware  corporation,  quali- 
fied to  transact  business  in  Indiana;  $1,- 
000  of  its  capital  stock  is  represented  in 
this  state:  R.  W.  McBride,  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  is  named  as  agent. 

B.  J.  Yought  and  W.  L.  Procht,  of 
Defiance,  Ohio,  are  now  the  owners  of 
the  Palace  and  Lyceum  theaters  in  Fort 
Wayne,  having  purchased  same  from 
George  Brookins.  The  new  proprietors 
took  charge  January  17. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  Royal 
Grand  theater  in  Marion  has  been  en- 
larged. 


=  PEBFECT  = 
Developing  and  Printing 

On  Regular  or    Non-lnflam    Eastman    Stock 

Keliil    To.lny  for    Kaetory  IVsenpt  l„n  nml  l'rie,-  last 

INDUSTRIAL  MOVING  PICTURE  COMPANY 

223-233  Weil  Erie  Street  Chicago 


ALLISON  &  HADAWAY 

Manufacturers  of  the 

Panchroma  Twin- Arc  Lamp 


235  FIFTH  AVE. 


NEW  YORK  CITY 


Tke  MOTION  PICTURE 


HAZEL  DAWN 

WITH 

FAMOUS  PLAYERS-PARAMOUNT 


#' 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  12%  1916 


No.  7 


THE  UNIT  PROGRAM  FOR  THE  WEEK  OF 

:  m 


FEB.  7™  1916  CONTAINS 

JUNE  DAYE 


r 

r 


%\WABPSisrfi(; 


(FOUR  ACT  DRAM At~ 


£ 


THE  NEW  JANITOR* 

DAVY  DON  COMEDY 


ALSO 
FEB.7U-! 

"THE  DIAMOND  THIEVES" 

(ONE  ACT  DRAMA) 


FEB.  8™ 

THE  LAST  SHOT 

(TWO  ACT  DRAMA) 


FEB.IOTH 


U 


SOLD  TO  SATAN" 


r 


3  ACT  DRAMA 


Wereeves»y 

"BlLLIE'S 
LUCKY 
BILL" 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


£V* 


METRO         ^^v4i 
PICTURES  CORPORATION^ 

presents 

MARY  MILES  MINTER  ff 

DIMPLES 

(2y\.Meiro  wonderplay  of  paihos  and  power 
from  a  sioxy  hy  Mary  Louise  Downing  adapted 
hy  Harry  0,Hoyi  -Direcied  hy  Edgar  Jones. 
Prod  viced,  hy 
COLUMBIA  PICTURES, 
CORPORATION 


yp,^ 


*    aJ 


"*V 


R 


,.  *'■ 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  12,  i916 


No.  7 


Hughes  Drafts  Another  Censorship  Bill 

NEW  MEASURE  MAKES  PLAN  MORE  COSTLY 


ANEW  Hughes  bill  creating  a  Federal  Motion 
Picture  Commission  for  the  censorship  of  mo- 
tion pictures  has  practically  been  completed,  and 
will  be  introduced  in  the  House  of  Representatives  by 
Chairman  Hughes  of  the  House  Committee  on  Edu- 
cation. 

The  bill  is  even  more  drastic  and  comprehensive 
than  the  original  Hughes  measure  on  which,  hearings 
were  recently  given.  If  enacted  it  will  cost  the  manu- 
facturers a  tremendous  sum  to  support  the  commis- 
sion.   The  new  bill  raises  the  censorship  fee. 

Chairman  Hughes  has  taken  as  the  basis  of  the 
new  measure  the  draft  of  a  bill  submitted  by  Arthur 
S.  Friend  and  other  attorneys  on  behalf  of  the  Para- 
mount Picture  Corporation,  Famous  Players  Co.,  Jesse 
V.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Co.,  World  Film  Corporation 
and  the  Equitable  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  who 
advocate, regulation,  and  as  described  in  Motography 
a  week  ago,  and  also  incorporated  in  it  a  few  features 
of  the  substitute  offered  by  Dr.  Craft. 

The  new  measure  now  awaits  only  a  few  finishing 
touches  when  it  will  be  introduced  in  the  House,  prob- 
ably Friday  of  this  week. 

Board  Demands  Hearing 

After  introduction  the  bill  will  at  once  be  referred 
to  the  Committee  on  Education  which  will  take  it  up 
for  consideration  apparently  with  a  view  to  report- 
ing" it. 

'  J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary,  and  William  M. 
Seabury,  general  counsel,  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board 
•of  Trade,  will  insist  on  their  right  to  be  heard  further 
on  the  measure,  as  at  the  conclusion  of  the  hearings 
two  weeks  ago,  when  Dr.  Craft  filed  the  first  substitute 
offered,  Mr.  Seabury  declared  that  in  the  last  mo- 
ments of  the  hearings  the  board  was  confronted  with  a 
new  bill.  He  filed  formal  request  to  be  allowed  to 
appear  before  the  committee  to  be  heard  on  the  ques- 
tion of  form  of  any  bill  decided  upon  by  the  Commit- 
tee. This  request  is  still  under  consideration  by  the 
Committee. 

Now,  it  is  urged  there  is  added  argument  as  to  the 
right  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  representa- 
tives to  be  heard  further,  in  that  the  new  Hughes  bill 
which  will  be  introduced  will  be  based  in  the  largest 
degree  on  a  measure  drafted  and  presented  by  attor- 
neys representing  companies  who  favor  regulation  as 
against  companies  who  oppose  it  and  for  which  Mr. 
Seabury  and  Mr.  Binder  appeared  during  the  hearings ; 
and  further,  Mr.  Friend  on  behalf  of  these  companies 
conferred  with  Chairman  Hughes  and  other  members 
•of  the  Committee  in  connection  with  the  new  bill. 


Technically,  the  Committee  on  Education  has 
never  considered  the  Hughes  bill.  It  has  only  con- 
ducted public  hearings  on  it  as  explained  by  Chairman 
Hughes  and  other  members  of  the  Committee. 

Committee  Favors  Censorship 

So,  there  now  appears  to  be  every  prospect  of 
either  further  hearings  at  which  testimony  will  be 
taken,  or  the  Committee  will  grant  an  opportunity  to 
attorneys  on  both  sides  to  appear  and  be  heard  as  to 
the  question  of  form  of  the  measure  that  is  to  be 
reported. 

The  opinion  in  Washington  is  that  the  Committee 
will  report  the  new  Hughes  bill  practically  in  the  form 
as  introduced.  It  has  been  conceded  that  a  majority  of 
the  members  of  the  Committee  favored  the  original 
Hughes  bill  or  some  similar  measure. 

The  new  bill  carries  out  all  of  Chairman  Hughes' 
ideas  as  presented  in  the  bill  first  introduced  by  him. 
He  declares  the  measure  in  its  new  form  "is  more 
workable,  practicable,  and  perfected." 

The  only  question  not  settled  to  the  satisfaction 
of  Chairman  Hughes  is  as  to  what  shall  be  done  with 
films  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  act. 
In  the  substitute  offered  they  would  not  be  affected. 
It  is  Chairman  Hughes'  idea  that  while  it  is  impossible 
to  inspect  or  examine  all  these  films  the  Commission 
ought  to  have  the  right  to  prohibit  the  interstate  trans- 
portation of  any  especially  or  notably  improper  or 
objectionable  film. 

Friend's  Suggestions  in  Bill 

Following  is  the  text  of  the  measure  as  it  now 
stands : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States  of  America  in  Conines,  assembled,  That  a 
Federal  motion  picture  commission  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby, 
created,  to  be  composed  of  five  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
President,  with  the  approval  of  the  Senate.  One  of  the  commis- 
sion shall  be  designated  as  chairman.  The  chairman  and  at  least 
one  other  member  of  the  commission  shall  be  attorneys  or  coun- 
selors at  law  dulv  admitted  to  practice  in  the  State  in  which  he 
resides.  The  commission  shall  be  a  division  of  the  Bureau  of 
Education  in  the  Department  of  the  Interior. 

Sec.  2.  That  each  commissioner  shall  hold  office  for  six  years, 
except  that  when  the  commission  is  first  constituted  two  commis- 
sioners shall  be  appointed  for  two  years,  two  for  four  years,  and 
years.  ^   Each  commissioner^  shall  thereafter  be  appointed 


for   a 


s,  except  that  any  person  appointed  ._ 
..  acancy  shall  be  appointed  only  for  the  unexpired  term  of 
the  member  whom  he  shall  succeed.  The  salary  of  the  chairman 
shall  be  $8,000  a  year  and  of  each  other  commissioner  $7,500  a  year. 
Sec.  3.  That  the  commission  may  appoint  deputy  commissioners 
and  other  assistants  and  fix  the  compensation  of  each.  Actual  and 
necessary  traveling  expenses  shall  be  allowed  to  those  who  travel 
on  the  business  of  the  commission.  The  commission  shall  be  pro- 
vided with  necessary  office  furniture,  stationery,  supplies,  project- 
ing   machines,    and    appliances    necessary    for    inspection    of    films : 

ing  salaries  and  all  other  expenses,  shall  not  exceed  $100,000  a  vear. 
Sec.  4.— That  the  commission  shall  establish  and  maintain  a 
bureau  or  sub-office  at  the  city  of  New  York,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  at  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  in  the  State  of  California. 
Each   bureau   shall   be   in   charge   of   one   of  the  commissioners,   and 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


may    be    submitted    at    such    bureaus    or    at    the    office    of   the 
'--    the   city    of    Washington.     The   action   of   the   com- 
large    of   such    bureau    shall    be   deemed    to    be    the 
action    of    the    commission,    in    so    far   as    the    granting   or    refusing 
of  licenses  may  be  concerned. 

Sec.  5.  Before  any  film  shall  be  submitted  to  the  commission 
or  to  any  bureau  an  application  shall  be  made  in  writing  on  a  form 
to  be  provided  by  the  commission  which  shall  set  forth  the  name 
of  the  film  to  be  submitted,  the  name  of  the  producer,  the  name 
of  the  party  applying  for  the  license,  and  the  number  of  linear  feet 
contained  in  the  film,  and  a  short  statement  of  the  subject  matter 
thereof.  Within  one  day  of  the  filing  of  such  application  with  the 
commission  or  any  bureau,  the  commission  or  the  bureau  shall  set 
a  time  for  the  submission  of  the  film,  which  shall  be  in  no  event 
more  than  three  davs  after  the  date  of  the  filing  of  the  application. 
At  least  one  of  the  commissioners  or  one  of  the  deputy  commis- 
sioners shall  attend  upon  and  be  present  throughout  the  exhibition 
of  each  film  submitted.  The  party  submitting  may  present  such 
evidence  in  addition  to  the  film  as  may  be  necessary  or  proper  to 
make  clear  the  purpose  and  intent  of  the  film.  All  oral  evidence 
shall   be   recorded  by  the  commission. 

The  license  applied  for  shall  be  granted  c 
day  after  the  hea— ~ 


of  approval  of  this  ac 
t,    the 


e  ther 


refused  within 


Should  any  commissioner  or  any  deputy  to  whom  the 
commission  may  delegate  the  duty  of  considering  an  application 
refuse  to  license  any  film,  the  applicant  may  file  with  the  com- 
mission in  the  city  of  Washington  an  application  for  review,  and 
within  five  days  of  the  filing  of  such  application  and  the  submis- 
sion of  the  film  the  commission  shall  review  the  same  and  the 
granting  or  refusal  of  the  license  shall  be  determined  by  the  con- 
curring votes  of  at  least  three  of  the  commissioners  after  each  of 
those   voting   shall   have   attended   throughout   the   exhibition   of   the 


shall 


applicant  for 


Sec.  7.     Should  a 


een  fit  t 
e  be  r 


sidered 


vidence 


rithin 


.    last    above    provided,    the 

ninety  days  from  the  date  of  sucn  retusai,  appeal  irom  tne  ruling 
of  the  commission  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  the  District  of 
Columbia.  Such  appeal  shall  be  perfected  in  the  following  manner, 
that  is  to  say,  a  petition  verified  by  the  applicant  shall  be  filed 
in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  said  court,  setting  forth  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  film  and  a  complete  record  of  the  original  application  for 
license,  the  action  of  the  commissioner  or  deputy,  and  the  action 
of  the  commission  on  application  for  review.  The  court  shall,  on 
the  hearing  of  such  appeal,  attend  throughout  the  exhibition  of  the 
film  and  receive  such  evidence  as  may  be  offered  by  the  applicant 
and  by  the  commission. 

Sec.  8.  That  the  commission  shall  license  every  film  sub- 
mitted to  it  and  intended  for  entrance  into  interstate  commerce 
unless  such  film  or  any  part  thereof  is  obscene,  indecent,  immoral, 
inhuman,  or  is  a  reproduction  of  an  actual  bull  fight  or  prize  fight, 
or  is  of  such  a  character  that  its  exhibition  would  tend  to  corrupt 
morals  or  incite  to  crime.  In  the  event  that  the  commission  shall 
not  license  any  film  for  any  of  the  reasons  above  set  forth  it  shall 
furnish  to  the  person,  firm  or  corporation  which  has  submitted  it  a 
written  report  setting  forth  in  detail  the  reasons  for  its  refusal  and, 
in  respect  to  such  refusals  as  are  made  because  any  part  of  parts 
of  the  film  is  or  are  obscene,  indecent,  immoral,  inhuman,  or  is  a 
reproduction  of  an  actual  bull  fight  or  prize  fight,  or  is  of  such  a 
character  that  its  exhibition  would  tend  to  corrupt  morals  or  incite 
to  crime,  the  report  shall  specifically  .describe  such  part  or  parts, 
and  upon  the  applicant's  filing  in  the  office  in  which  the  application 
for  license  is  filed  a  statement  under  oath  that  the  part  or  parts 
described  have  been  eliminated  from  the  film,  and  that  the  corre- 
sponding parts  of  the  negative  from  which  the  film  submitted  was 
made  have  been  destroyed,  a  license  shall  be  issued  forthwith.  The 
commission  may  at  any  time  by  affirmative  vote  of  not  less  than 
two  of  the  commissioners  issue  a  permit  for  the  entrance  into 
interstate  commerce  of  any  film  to  be  submitted  to  it,  which  permit, 
however,  may  be  revoked  by  like  vote  of  the  commission^  on  10 
days'  notice  to  the  applicant  to  whom  the  permit  was  originally 
granted.  Thereupon  the  film  may  be  submitted  to  the  commission 
for  license,  as  though  no  permit  had  ever  been  granted  or  revoked. 
Sec.  9.  That  when  any  film  has  been  approved  the  commis- 
sion shall  issue  a  license  to  the  film  producer  or  importer  in  the 
form  adopted  by  the  commission.  The  license  shall  describe  the 
film  and  shall  bear  a  serial  number,  and  shall  state  its  title,  the 
day  upon  which  it  was  approved  by  the  commission,  and  the  number 
of  linear  feet  contained  therein. 

Sec.  10.  That  no  person,  and  so  forth,  producer  or  importer, 
shall  carry  or  transport  or  cause  to  be  carried  or  transported  any 
film  from  or  into  any  State,  Territory,  or  possession  of  the  United 
States,  unless  such  film  has  been  licensed  by  the  commission  or 
unless  a  permit  has  been  granted  in  respect  to  such  film:  P,;,-y,drd. 
That  this  section  shall  not  be  construed  as  prohibiting  the  carriage 
or  transportation  by  the  producer  of  the  producer's  own  film  from 
or  into  any  State,  Territory,  or  possession  of  the  United  States 
for  purposes  other  than  public  exhibition. 

Sec.  11.  That  no  motion-picture  film  which  has  not  been 
licensed,  or  unless  a  permit  has  been  granted  in  respect  to  such 
film  by  the  commission,  shall  be  exhibited  in  any  place  of  amuse- 
ment or  pay  or  in  connection  with  any  business  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  or  in  any  of  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  or  in 
any  place  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United   States. 

Sec.  12.  That  a  fee  of  $2  shall  be  charged  for  each  thousand 
feet   of  film   or   a   fractional  part  thereof.     Any   change   or  alteration 


i   the   film   after  lie 
violation    of   this 


United    Stat. 
mend  film 


mrl     shnl 


lation   of  a  part,  shall  be 


ingle 


>   void   the  lie 


The   fee 


pictures. 

Sec.  14.  That  any  violation  of  this  ad 
fine  of  not  more  than  $1,000.  >>r  imprisonn 
one  year,  or  both,  and  the  films  unlawfully 
or  changed  Bhall  I Bscated. 

Sec.     IS.       That      the     fees     receive, 1     bv     ll 

paid    monthly    into    the    Treasury   of    the    1'iiii 

Sec.  16.     That  upon  the  expiri 


and    may   make  sugges- 

shall  be  punished  by  a 
ent  for  not  more  than 
transported,    exhibited. 

diall    be 

r   date 


.  shall  reduce  the  license  fee  to 
i  larger  income  than  is  necessary 
on  including  salaries  and  all  other 


Sc.  17.  That  this  act  shall  take  effect  immediately,  except 
sections  ten  and  eleven,  which  sections  shall  take  effect  three 
months  after  date  of  the  approval  of  this  act ;  but  nothing  in  this 
act  shall  apply  to  films  which  shall  have  been  exhibited  to  the 
public  prior  to  its  approval. 

The  bill  as  printed  above  will  be  further  perfected 
as  follows  : 

Measure  to  Be  Changed 

Section  1.  The  provision  that  "the  chairman  and 
at  least  one  other  member  of  the  Commission  shall  be 
attorneys"  will  be  eliminated. 

Section  4.  The  provision  "that  the  Commission 
shall  establish  and  maintain  a  bureau  or  subofhee  at 
the  city  of  New  York,  etc.,  and  at  the  city  of  Los 
Angeles,  etc.,"  will  be  extended  so  as  to  include  "such 
other  places  as  the  Commission  may  decide." 

Section  4.  The  sentence  beginning  "The  action  of 
the  Commissioner  in  charge  of  such  bureau  shall  be 
deemed  to  be  the  action  of  the  Commission,  in  so  far 
as  the  granting  or  refusing  licenses  may  be  concerned," 
will  be  eliminated,  and  will  be  changed  to  provide  that 
the  bureau  will  have  one  commissioner  and  two  depu- 
ties, and  their  decision  if  unanimous  shall  control;  if 
not,  either  the  Commissioner  or  deputy  disagreeing 
can  appeal  to  Washington  or  the  manufacturer  can 
appeal,  but  the  public  will  have  nothing  to  do  with 
these  appeals;  that  is  reformers,  etc.,  will  not  be  per- 
mitted to  intervene. 

Will  Cost  Makers  More 

Section  5.  In  second  sentence  of  section  begin- 
ning "Within  one  day"  will  be  added  "or  as  soon  as 
practicable"  and  with  corresponding  changes  as  to 
time  in  other  time  provisions. 

Section  8.  Second  sentence  beginning  "In  the 
event"  is  eliminated  and  following  inserted :  "If  the 
Commission  shall  not  license  any  film  for  any  of  the 
reasons  set  forth,  it  shall  furnish  to  the  applicant  a 
written  report  clearly  setting  forth  the  reasons  for  its 
rejection,  and  the  part  or  parts  of  the  film  objected  to, 
and  may  grant  a  license  conditioned  upon  the  elimina- 
tion of  such  part  or  parts." 

Section  9  will  be  amended  to  provide  for  a  serial 
seal  of  some  character. 

Section  12.  Investigation  has  disclosed  that  the 
fee  of  $2  for  each  thousand  feet  of  original  film  will 
not  produce  enough  revenue  to  defray  the  expense  of 
the  Commission.  It  will  therefore  be  changed  to  pro- 
vid  the  necessary  amount. 

Members  of  Congress  who  have  been  following 
the  question  of  film  censorship  carefully  are  outspoken 
in  their  opinion  that  the  manufacturers  and  exhibitors 
should  find  some  common  ground  upon  which  they 
may  as  a  unit  oppose  censorship  in  every  form  or  come 
together  on  some  form  of  censorship  that  will  be  agree- 
able to  all. 

The  attitude  of  the  several  film  manufacturers  has 
had  a  chaotic  effect  upon  some  members  of  Congress 
who  have  heretofore  believed  that  films  should  have 
exactly  the  same  license  as  the  daily  newspapers  and 
should  not  be  restricted  by  any  laws  to  which  daily 
newspapers  are  not  also  subject.  These  members  of 
Congress,  heretofore  outspoken  in  their  antagonism 
to  the  Hughes  censorship  bill  in  any  form,  now  appear 
to  be  waiting  to  see  if  the  film  manufacturers  will  not 
acl  .is  a  unit.  If  the  manufacturers  and  exhibitors  will 
battle  along  the  same  lines  it  is  openly  predicted  in 
Washington  that  all  censorship  measures  will  die  a 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


339 


legislative  death  or,  if  the  combined  film  forces  so  de- 
sire they  will  obtain  any  form  of  modified  censorship 
they  may  desire. 

On  the  other  hand  it  also  is  predicted  that  if  the 
film  forces  do  not  combine  on  some  well-defined  plan 
there  is  danger  that  Congress  will  feel  that  "where 
there  is  smoke  there  must  be  fire"  and  take  some  action 
that  may  be  regretted  by  the  film  men. 

Carter  Against  Censorship 

This  difference  of  opinion  among  the  film  manu- 
facturers is  especially  pleasing  to  Messrs.  Craft,  Pringle 
and  Chase,  who  have  been  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle 
for  censorship.  They  are  using  all  their  wily  argu- 
ments to  show  members  of  Congress  that  there  must 
be  something  wrong  when  an  industry  appears  to  be 
divided  on  so  serious  a  question.  And  they  are  using 
these  arguments  with  House  members  who  never  have 
seen  a  motion  picture. 

Representative  Corter,  of  Massachusetts,  is  one 
member  of  the  House  absolutely  outspoken  against 
any  form  of  censorship.    In  a  recent  statement  he  said : 

"We  already  have  sufficient  laws  on  our  statute 
books  to  prohibit  obscene  and  indecent  pictures.  I 
believe  that  the  police  court  judges  of  my  district  are 
fully  capable  of  taking  care  of  this  situation. 

"I  do  not  object  to  Representative  Towner's  bill 
to  add  a  section  to  the  penal  code,  providing  for  a  pen- 
alty to  transport  in  interstate  commerce  obscene  or  in- 
decent motion  picture  films.  In  fact,  I  am  strongly  in 
favor  of  the  bill,  and  trust  that  it  will  pass.  In  many 
instances  there  have  been  put  on  boards  to  censor  mo- 
tion pictures  persons  who  have  had  only  a  limited  edu- 
cation, so  far  as  the  world  at  large  goes,  and  who  were 
not  competent  to  act  on  motion  pictures. 

Clean  Plays  Pay  Best 

"Motion  picture  producers  themselves  realize  that 
nothing  pays  so  well  as  wholesome  and  clean  pictures. 
A  great  many  of  the  churches  in  my  district  are  now 
using  motion  pictures  for  the  lessons  they  teach.  I  do 
not  believe  that  these  church  lessons  displayed  on  mo- 
tion picture  films  should  be  subjected  to  a  government 
board  of  censors. 

"If  a  man  writes  a  book  or  preaches  a  sermon,  he 
is  not  required  to  submit  the  proof  of  his  book  or  his 
sermon  to  a  board  of  censors.  If  he  converts  the  same 
idea  into  a  photoplay  and  keeps  within  the  bounds  of 
decency,  as  provided  for  by  the  common  law,  then  no 
board  of  censors  should  be  allowed  to  interfere  with 


this  work.  We  do  not,  and  I  pray  God  that  we  never 
will,  have  to  show  the  proofs  of  our  newspapers  to  a 
board  of  censors  to  pass  on  before  a  paper  is  published. 

"So  long  as  the  majority  of  the  motion  picture 
producers  of  this  country  continue  to  conduct  their 
business  without  giving  offense  there  is  no  excuse  for 
subjecting  them  to  any  censorship  board.  What  this 
Congress  should  do  is  to  help  business  and  not  to 
hinder  it,  and  I  believe  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  to  vote  against  the  bill  and  to 
lend  their  support  to  the  bill  which  has  been  introduced 
by  Mr.  Towner." 

Several  Arguments  Filed 

The  censorship  fight  this  week  consisted  chiefly  of 
a  "battle  of  briefs,"  all  persons  interested  filing  their 
typewritten  arguments. 

William  M.  Seabury,  general  counsel  for  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Board  of  Trade,  filed  the  brief  of  that 
organization  in  opposition  to  the  Hughes-Smith  bill. 
The  brief  makes  three  cardinal  points. 

First — Any  Congressional  enactment  involving 
censorship  of  motion  pictures  would  be  unconstitu- 
tional. 

Second — Assuming,  without  conceding,  that  Con- 
gress may  lawfully  enact  a  censorship  bill,  the  par- 
ticular law  proposed  is  unconstitutional,  and  otherwise 
subject  to  grave  criticism. 

Third — Assuming,  without  conceding,  the  exist- 
ence of  the  power  of  Congress  to  enact  a  censorship 
law,  the  enactment  of  any  such  law  is  unnecessary. 

The  brief  continues: 

"We  predict  it  will  be  demonstrated  the  proposed 
legislation  is  not  only  wholly  unnecessary  and  an  ut- 
terly ineffective  and  useless  inexpedient  for  the  cor- 
rection of  any  existing  evil,  but  that  it  is  also  ruinous 
to  the  fifth  largest  industry  in  the  country,  and  will 
constitute  a  vicious,  dangerous  and  un-American  piece 
of  legislation,  which  is  itself  a  serious  infringement  of 
liberties  of  the  citizen,  and  in  reality  is  the  announce- 
ment of  the  commencement  of  a  governmental  censor- 
ship for  the  drama,  the  press  and  of  free  speech — 
events  also  abhorrent  and  repugnant  to  the  letter  and 
spirit  of  our  institutions  as  to  require  from  this  com- 
mittee its  emphatic  and  positive  denunciation  and  re- 
pudiation. 

"As  a  medium  of  thought  expression  the  motion 
picture  is  said  to  reach  from  eight  to  ten  millions  of 
people  daily  and  the  percentage  of  adult  and  infant  at- 
tendance at  these  exhibits  is  said  to  approximate  re- 


IVhere   Pathe  picture 


>.   made  in  the   United  States.     Studio   at  Jersey    City  (left)   and  fc 


<,d  Brook,  N.  J. 


340 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No. 


spectively  about  90  per  cent  for  adults  and  10  per  cent 
for  children. 

"Finally;  we  say,  let  there  be  a  cessation  of  govern- 
mental interference  with  the  duties  and  obligations  of 
'parents.  The  responsibility  for  the  welfare  of  the  child 
rests  primarily  with  the  parents,  and  that  responsibility 
cannot  successfully  be  assumed  by  Congress,  nor  can 
the  burden  be  taken  from  the  shoulders  of  the  parents 
and  placed  upon  those  of  any  branch  of  this  Govern- 
ment. For  all  the  reasons  given  we  urge  the  defeat 
of  the  bill." 

Hughes .  Writes  Revised  Bill 

Chairman  Hughes  of  the  House  Education  Com- 
mittee is  preparing  a  revised  draft  of  a  censorship  bill 
for  the  regulation  of  motion  picture  films  in  interstate 
commerce,  and  is  making  this  revision  on  the  basis  of 
the  objections  raised  against  the  bill. 

In  making  this  revision  Chairman  Hughes  has  be- 
fore him  a  tentative  revised  draft  of  the  bill  made  by 
the  group  of  welfare  workers  headed  by  Rev.  Wilber  F. 
Crafts,  Canon  William  Sheaf  Chase,  and  H.  Clark  Bar- 
bour, and  which  embodies  changes  suggested  by  Messrs. 
Hodkinson,  Meyers,  Lasky,  Friend,  and  others  in  the 
motion  picture  business;  also  a  draft  of  a  revised  form 
of  the  bill  as  handed  to  Chairman  Hughes  during  the 
conference  he  had  on  Tuesday  night  with  Arthur  S. 
Friend  of  New  York,  as  spokesman  for  the  Paramount- 
Famous  Players,  Lasky-World-Equitable  picture  cor- 
porations. 

The  extent  to  which  Chairman  Hughes  will  accept 
the  modifications  proposed  by  the  Crafts-Chase-Barbour 
welfare  workers  and  those  suggested  by  the  Paramount 
film-makers  group  has  not  been  determined,  but  it  is 
believed  the  new  Hughes  bill  will  embrace  most  of  the 
changes  proposed  by  both  groups,  and  will  be  submit- 
ted to  the  House  Education  Committee  next  week  for 
consideration,  paragraph  by  paragraph. 

In  the  preparation  of  his  revised  bill  Chairman 
Hughes  will  likewise  consider  the  points  contained  in 
the  briefs  that  have  been  filed  by  the  various  motion 
picture  interests. 

Paul  Cromelin,  of  the  Cosmofotofilm  Company,  of 
New  York,  filed  a  brief  particularly  with  regard  to 
the  copyright  sections  of  the  Hughes  bill.  Mr.  Crome- 
lin's  statements  at  the  hearings  directed  against  the 
provisions  of  the  bill  with  regard  to  copyrights  were 
substantially  that  not  only  were  they  unworkable  but 
that  if  enacted  into  law  treaties  of  this  country  with 
foreign  nations  would  be  violated.  As  a  result  the 
committee  already  has  conceded  that  these  sections 
will  have  to  be  changed  so  as  to  conform  to  the  copy- 
right law  affecting  motion  pictures  and  existing  trea- 
ties. 

Statements  advocating  the  reporting  of  the  bill 
were  filed  with  the  committee  by  the  Rev.  John  Mac- 
Murray,  of  the  Union  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
by  several  other  clergymen.  The  Secular  League  of 
Washington  filed  a  statement  protesting  against  favor- 
able action  on  the  bill. 

Paramount  Questions  Hughes 

The  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  as  long  ago 
as  April  29,  1915,  took  up  for  consideration  the  ques- 
tion of  censorship  as  shown  by  a  letter  addressed  to 
Chairman  Hughes  and  which  was  sent  while  the  origi- 
nal Hughes  bill  was  pending.  It  was  signed  by  Tarl- 
ton  Winchester,  and  is  as  follows: 

"New  York,  April  29,  1915. 

"We  are  anxious  to  investigate  from  every  angle 


in  order  that  we  may  bring  other  manufacturers  to 
adopt  a  definite  platform  in  regard  to  censorship  of 
motion  pictures. 

"If  it  would  be  convenient,  will  you  outline  for  us 
just  what  assurances  there  are,  that  if  the  bill  is  passed, 
local  censorship  boards  will  not  be  formed  in  every 
state,  county,  village  and  hamlet,  as  it  now  appears 
they  will  be,  and,  also  that  those  local  boards,  now  in 
force,  such  as  these  in  Philadelphia  and  Chicago,  will 
not  continue  as  strong  as  they  are  today. 

"The  majority  of  the  motion  picture  manufacturers 
are  sincere  in  their  desire  to  produce  only  clean  films. 
They  feel  the  public  is  the  ultimate  censor,  and  if  there 
is  any  real  unanimous  demand  on  the  part  of  the  pub- 
lic for  censorship  they  will  be  willing  to  advocate  it, 
but,  what  is  only  natural,  they  desire  there  should  be 
only  one  board  composed  of  men  of  such  caliber  that  a 
fiasco  comparable  to  those  in  Pennsylvania  and  Illi- 
nois would  be  impossible;  in  other  words,  a  Federal 
Motion  Picture  Commission,  having  as  its  members 
such  men  as  those  who  now  compose  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission. 

"They  feel  that  to  be  asked  to  pay  a  fee  in  every 
state  and  in  every  city  in  which  their  film  is  shown  is 
not  only  unfair,  but  that,  should  a  censorship  hysteria 
spread,  as  it  seems  well  on  its  way  to  do,  the  cost  would 
be  absolutely  prohibitive.  I  am  writing  at  this  length 
to  give  you  an  idea  of  how  a  great  many  of  us  feel, 
and  so  that  you  may  be  better  able  to  give  the  facts 
we  desire.  If  you  are  to  be  in  New  York  in  the  near 
future,  or  if  you  have  a  representative  here  with  whom 
I  can  make  an  appointment,  it  would  be  very  con- 
venient. We  want  to  find  out  all  we  can  about  your 
bill,  as  we  realize  you  are  absolutely  sincere  in  advo- 
cating it,  and  that  in  fact,  you  asked  the  motion  picture 
men  to  present  their  opinions  with  regard  to  it.  While 
they  did  not  take  advantage  of  your  offer  then,  we 
are  going  to  do  so  now." 

In  reply  Chairman  Hughes  said : 

"I  was  glad  to  get  your  letter,  as  I  have  been 
endeavoring  to  obtain  an  expression  from  the  motion 
picture  people  as  to  the  kind  of  bill  that  would,  in  their 
opinion,  meet  the  situation.  I  intend  to  present  the 
bill  at  the  next  session  of  Congress  and  to  urge  its 
passage,  and  would  like  to  receive  any  suggestion  you 
care  to  make.  There  is  no  assurance  I  can  give  that 
other  commissions,  state  and  local,  will  be  discontinued 
upon  the  creation  of  a  national  commission." 


Former  Metro  Man  Has  War  Film 

Edwin  Bower  Hesser  announces  that  he  has  been 
made  general  manager  for  the  official  Canadian  gov- 
ernment war  film  "Canada's  Fighting  Forces,"  which 
began  a  tour  at  "dollar  top"  prices  at  the  Princess 
theater,  Montreal.  Two  companies,  accompanied  by 
lecturers  returned  from  the  front,  will  show  the  film 
in  every  town  of  any  size  in  the  Dominion.  Mr.  Hes- 
ser recently  was  in  charge  of  Metro's  Canada  publicity. 
His  war  film  is  in  six  reels  and  was  made  by  Lieut. 
D.  J.  Buyer. 


Oklahoma  Exhibitors  Meet 

The  Oklahoma  branch  of  the  M.  P.  E.  of  A.  held 
its  annual  meeting  at  Oklahoma  City  February  11  and 
12.  I..  W.  Brophy  of  Muskogee  was  in  charge  of  ar- 
rangements. Censorship  was  the  chief  topic  of  dis- 
cussion. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


341 


METRO  OPPOSES  CENSORSHIP 

States     Position     in      Letters     to      Paramount     and 
Chairman  Hughes  of  the  House  Committee 
on  Education 
The  Metro  Pictures  Corporation,  in  letters  to  the 
Paramount  Pictures   Corporation  and  Representative 
Hughes,  chairman  of  the  House  committee  on  educa- 
tion and  one  of  the  sponsors  for  the  bill  which  has 
caused  so  much  debate  in  Washington  recently,  states 
that  it  is  opposed  to  federal  censorship.     The  follow- 
ing statement  given  out  by  the  Metro  officials  states 
their  side  of  .the  case: 

On  Tuesday  of  last  week  Mr.  Hodkinson  of  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  requested  that  Metro 
give  a  written  statement  of  its  view  on  the  matter  of 
federal  censorship  and  Metro  readily  responded  with 
the  following,  which  it  was  understood  was  to  be  taken 
by  Mr.  Hodkinson  with  him  to  Washington: 

We  have  been  opposed  to  the  spirit  and  essence  of  cen- 
sorship because  it  places  on  the  few  the  responsibility  of 
judging  for  the  many,  because  censorship  is  often  construed 
as  an  invitation  to  censoriousness  and  because  in  operation  it 
bears  fruit  in  rulings  that  are  hampering,  petty  and  need- 
Such  a   condition   makes   against   pro 


On   t 


regulat 


.i,  that  will  protect  the  producer  of  clean  a 
pictures  from   the   competition   of   salacious  pictures. 

In  our  opinion  such  regulation  should  in  plan  and  opera- 
tion be  broad,  sympathetic  and  designed  solely  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  public  and  the  manufacturer  against  pictures 
that   are  indecent,    obscene   or   inciting   to   crime. 

The  regulation  should  be  free  from  the  influence  of  the 
professionally  virtuous,  free  from  the  whims  of  politics  and 
operative  in  so  hard-headed  and  sensible  a  manner  as  to 
solve   the  problem   for   the   entire   country. 

We  hope  that  this  makes  our  position  clear  on  the  sub- 
ject. 


Metro  definitely  stated  that  it  was  not  for  censor- 
ship but  that  it  did  favor  federal  regulation  and  this 
view  is  in  full  accord  with  the  position  taken  by  the 
Board  of  Trade  and  other  opponents  of  the  Hughes  Bill. 

Apparently  Metro's  very  definite  letter  was  mis- 
construed because  in  the  published  reports  Metro  was 
lined  up  with  those  favoring  federal  censorship.  This 
was  diametrically  opposite  to  Metro's  position,  as  is 
shown  by  the  following  letter  written  to  W.  W.  Hod- 
kinson in  answer  to  a  request  to  sign  a  statement  ad- 
dressed to  Chairman  Hughes  of  the  committee  on  edu- 
cation, which  statement  favored  federal  censorship: 

Confirming  our  telephone  conversation  of  this  afternoon 
we  beg  to  advise  that  after  a  careful  reading  of  the  letter 
addressed  to  the  Hon.  D.  M.  Hughes,  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  education,  House  of  Representatives,  Washington, 
"      s   opposed   to   its   contents   and  there- 


lable  t 


sign   i 


.  _  j  Pictures  Corporation  stands  by  its  previous  ex- 
pression in  favor  of  regulation,  not  censorship,  and  believes 
the  proposed  amendment  to  the  penal  code,  which  includes 
motion  pictures  in  the  same  class  with  and  amenable  to  the 
laws  governing  magazines  and  newspapers,  fully  solves  the 
problem  rationally. 

Metro  Pictures  Corporation  regrets  that  it  is  forced  to 
differ  with  the  point  of  view  of  Paramount  Pictures  Cor- 
poration in  this  matter,  but  it  cannot  undertake  to  assume 
responsibility  against  its  convictions  in  a  matter  of  such 
vital  importance  to  the  welfare  of  the  motion  picture 
industry. 

METRO    PICTURES    CORPORATION, 

Richard   A.   Rowland,   President. 

Metro's  attitude  has  been  so  firmly  against  the  idea 
of    federal    censorship    that    it    is    making   these    letters 
public  in  justice  to  itself  and  its  associates  in  the  film 
industry. 
This  statement  is  published  by  Motography  that 
all  parties  to  the  controversy  shall  have  an  opportunity 
to  have  their  positions  known. 


Gets  Realism  Into  Pathe  Serial 

Edward  Jose,  directing  the  Pathe  serial,  "The  Iron 
Claw,"  insists  on  realism.  When  the  play  demanded 
a  flood,  he  hired  an  island  off  the  coast  of  South  Caro- 
lina, built  a  dike  to  shut  the  ocean  from  a  bay,  and 
there  built  a  little  village.    Then  he  broke  the  dike  and 


had  a  real  flood  to  photograph.  In  the  second  episode 
of  the  story,  he  succeeded  in  getting  a  New  York  city 
fire  company  to  pose  in  action.  His  actor  was  per- 
mitted to  send  in  a  real  alarm  and  the  engine  and 
ladder  companies  turned  out  at  full  speed  for  him. 

George  Fitzmaurice,  who  will  direct  Pathe's  "Big 
Jim  Garrity,"  from  the  A.  H.  Woods  play,  has  selected 
the  cast,  which  includes  Robert  Edeson,  Carl  Har- 
baugh,  Lyster  Chambers  and  Eleanor  Woodruff.  Ede- 
son has  just  completed  work  in  the  Gold  Rooster  play, 
"The  Light  That  Failed." 

"The  Horrors  of  War,"  released  by  Pathe  recently, 
has  proved  a  very  strong  booker.  Exhibitors  are  said 
to  have  had  to  increase  the  runs  originally  planned 
because  of  the  great  interest  it  has  aroused. 


"Fans"  to  See  Stars  at  Ball 

The  Screen  Club  and  the  Motion  Picture  Exhib- 
itors of  Greater  New  York  are  completing  arrange- 
ments for  the  costume  ball  to  be  held  at  Madison 
Square  Garden,  New  York  City,  February  19,  when 
motion  picture  "fans"  will  have  a  chance  to  see  and 
mingle  with  their  favorite  screen  stars.  Interest  at 
present  is  in  the  contest  to  determine  which  actress 
shall  lead  the  grand  march.  The  one  elected  will  re- 
ceive, among  other  gifts,  a  diamond  bracelet.  Cash 
prizes  also  have  been  offered  for  unique  costumes  at 
the  ball.  Billy  Quirk,  president  of  the  Screen  Club, 
and  Lee  A.  Ochs,  president  of  the  exhibitors,  are  in 
charge. 


Sees  Demand  for  Color  Films 

The  work  done  in  coloring  the  film  of  Pathe's 
"The  Beloved  Vagabond,"  was  highly  praised  by  Har- 
lowe  Hare  in  a  recent  issue  of  the  Boston  American. 
Mr.  Hare  expressed  his  belief  that  in  the  not  far  dis- 
tant future  all  films  will  be  colored.  While  there  are 
several  ways  of  doing  this,  he  says,  artistic  and  beau- 
tiful results  have  been  attained  so  far  only  by  coloring, 
with  great  pains  and  expense,  each  tiny  picture  by 
hand,  as  the  Pathe  film  was  colored.  While  this  will 
greatly  increase  the  expense  and  time  of  making  pic- 
tures, Mr.  Hare  declares  that  the  public  will  demand 
it  after  seeing  a  few  pictures  like  "The  Beloved  Vaga- 
bond." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Epoch  Corporation  Sued 

Suit  has  been  filed  by  the  Southern  Amusement  Com- 
pany in  the  New  York  Supreme  Court  to  collect  $500,- 
000  from  the  Epoch  Producing  Corporation,  owners  of 
"The  Birth  of  a  Nation.*'  According  to  the  complaint, 
the  Southern  Amusement  Company  contends  that  Thomas 
Dixon  assigned  to  that  company  the  producing  and  dra- 
matic rights  on  May  10,  1906  and  by  virtue  of  this  sale 
the  Southern  Amusement  Company  became  sole  owner 
of  the  dramatic  rights.  Despite  this  fact,  however,  the 
plaintiff  charges  that  on  March  3,  1915,  the  defendant 
caused  the  "Birth  of  a  Nation"  to  be  prepared  from  the 
■"Clansman"  and  presented  it  in  picture  form.  Judgment 
is  demanded  for  $500,000,  which  the  plaintiff  charges  has 
been  taken  in  at  the  Liberty  Theater  during  its  stay  in 
New  York.  The  affidavit  of  service  shows  that  the  com- 
plaint was  served  on  Max  D.  Banzhaf,  treasurer  of  the 
Epoch  Producing  Corporation,  at  2  Rector  street. 


park,  work  upon  which  will  start  as  soon  as  the  studio 
building  is  under  way. 

The  corporation  has  secured  all  rights  to  the 
works  of  Rida  Johnson  Young,  author  of  "Naughty 
Marietta"  and  numerous  other  plays. 

Mr.  Gilmore's  motion  picture  school,  designed  to 
try  out  local  talent,  started  last  Tuesday  at  the  studio 
of  Miss  Mary  Anderson,  341  Plant  avenue. 


Would  Increase  Censorship  Tax 

As  a  result  of  the  deficit  of  $9,000  which  the  cen- 
sorship board  of  Chicago  showed  for  last  year,  the 
members  of  the  city  council  finance  committee  voted  to 
have  an  ordinance  drafted  increasing  the  fee  for  censor- 
ing motion  picture  films  from  50  cents  to  $1  a  reel.  The 
committee  also  discovered  that  City  Controller  Pike  has 
cut  down  the  appropriation  of  morals  inspectors  for  1916 
from  $36,000  to  $24,000,  and  Alderman  Willis  Nance  and 
others  declared  that  a  fight  would  be  made  to  restore 
the  original  allowance. 


National  Increases  Land  Holdings 

Two  additional  lots  have  been  procured  at  Tampa, 
Fla.,  by  the  National  Film  Corporation  of  America  for 
the  site  of  the  studio  which  will  be  erected  on  the  Bay 
shore.  This  makes  ten  lots  in  all  for  the  studio  prop- 
erty, the  site  as  it  stands  now  being  350x435  feet. 

Plans  are  being  made  by  Paul  Gilmore  and  Wil- 
liam Parsons,  director-general  and  president  of  the 
company,  respectively,  for  beginning  work  on  the 
studio  building. 

The  studio  building  will  be  200x300  feet  with  an 
ornamental  front,  probably  of  stucco.  It  will  sit  forty 
feet  from  the  sidewalk  line  and  will  face  an  ornamental 


Archibald  Selwyn  Loses  Suit 

According  to  decision  handed  down  by  Justice 
Hotchkiss,  the  New  York  Supreme  Court,  Archibald 
Selwyn  must  pay  William  P.  Jeffery,  the  trustee  of 
the  bankrupt  All-Star  Feature  Corporation,  $10,000 
for  stock  subscribed  and  which  it  is  charged  he  sold 
for  $3,500.  He  was  a  director  and  vice-president  of 
the  defunct  company  and  subscribed  to  102  shares  of 
stock  at  $100  a  share,  but  it  is  held  that  he  only  paid 
to  two  shares.  In  the  complaint  it  was  alleged  that 
Selwyn  subscribed  in  good  faith  and  had  been  paid 
and  had  accepted  the  dividends  on  the  stock,  but  that 
later  he  had  sold  the  stock,  although  the  sale  was  not 
recorded  on  the  books.  The  amount  of  the  judg- 
ment allowed  by  Justice  Hotchkiss  included  interest 
on  the  stock  from  Tuly  27,  1915. 


Bowles  Off  for  Antipodes 

George  Bowles,  who  has  been  manager  of  the  Chi- 
cago engagement  of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  has  de- 
parted for  Sydney  and  Melbourne,  Australia,  the  first 
stage  of  the  journey  in  which  he  will  accompany  the  film 
drama  around  the  world.  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation" 
played  from  June  5  to  January  29,  482  performances,  in 
Chicago,  the  record  photoplay  run  in  that  city,  crowded 
houses  greeting  even  the  last  performances.  Now  it  is 
packed  in  two  trunks  and  a  duty  of  $960  covers  it. 


New  Talking-Picture  Machine 

A  new  talking  motion-picture  machine,  invented  by 
Charles  Knapp  Cregier  of  the  Chicago  bureau  of  elec- 
trical inspection,  was  given  its  first  public  demonstration 
recently  before  the  Western  Association  of  Electrical 
Inspectors.  The  machine  pleased  the  electricians,  both 
in  synchronism  between  action  and  words  and  in  quality 
of  voice  production.  Henry  Shafer,  former  president 
of  the  International  Telephone  Manufacturing  Company, 
declares  he  will  put  a  Cregier  machine  in  the  string  of 
motion  picture  theaters  he  is  building  in  southern 
Michigan. 


York.— Mutual 


Fox  Bids  for  Use  of  Zoo 

The  Fox  Film  Corporation  is  endeavoring  to  ob- 
tain a  contract  giving  it  the  exclusive  right  to  use 
the  animals  of  the  New  York  zoo  in  photoplays  for  a 
period  of  five  years.  In  a  letter  to  Commissioner  Cabot 
Ward  of  the  department  of  parks  the  corporation  em- 
phasizes the  educational  value  of  such  films  and  the  in- 
terest it  would  arouse  in  the  zoo.  In  addition  to  paying 
for  their  use.  the  company  agrees  to  give  bonds  for  the 
animals'  safety.  Credit  would  be  given  in  the  films  to 
the  New  York  menagerie. 

Will  Irwin  has  married  a  widow — Mrs.  Inez  Haynes 
Gilmore,  of  New  York,  who,  like  the  bridegroom,  is  a 
writer. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Finds  State  Rights  Plan  Wins 


BEYFUSS  AIDS  BUYER 


ALEX.  E.  BEYFUSS,  vice  president  and  general 
manager  of  the  California  Motion  Picture  Cor- 
poration, was  in  San  Francisco  on  Tuesday, 
launching  the  state  rights  campaign  of  that  company. 
Just  before  departure  Mr.  Beyfuss  said : 

"We  decided  to  release  on  the  state  rights  plan 
because  we  are  making  'better  than  program'  fea- 
tures. The  old  saying  about  hitching  your  wagon  to 
a  star  works  well  for  the  hitcher,  but  it  is  rather  rough 
on  the  star. 

"We  want  California  productions  in  the  hands  of 
every  exhibitor  who  demands  better  pictures  regardless 
of  program  limitations,  and  this  is  the  only  way  we 
can  accomplish  that  object. 

"A  good  deal  of  the  time  I  have  spent  in  New 
York  has  been  concentrated  on  an  advertising  system 
of  help  for  the  state  rights  buyer  and  exhibitor.  It 
is  not  enough,  we  believe,  to  make  a  'better  than  pro- 
gram' picture.  We  want  the  public  to  know  that  it 
is  out  of  the  ordinary  and  we  want  to  make  it  easy 
for  the  exhibitor  to  tell  it. 

"We  are  preparing  therefore  an  unusually  compre- 
hensive plan  of  advertising  and  all  the  material  neces- 
sary will  be  at  the  exhibitor's  beck  and  call.  The  same 
thing  is  true  of  the  lithographs  we  are  going  to  use. 
Instead  of  working  from  the  still,  we  have  prepared 
a  series  of  exceptionally  fine  'sketches,  treated  artisti- 
cally in  flat  color,  which  are  not  only  strong  in  adver- 
tising value,  but  have  the  'punch'  and  action  that  the 
public  likes. 

"We  shall  make  also  all  positive  prints  at  our 
own  laboratories  in  San  Rafael,  because  we  are  more 
interested  than  anyone  in  having  them  perfect  in  every 
way.  We  always  insist  on  flawless  negatives,  regard- 
less of  expense  in  retakes,  and  our  experience  has 
taught  us  that  the  only  way  to  insure  prints  that  we 
will  be  satisfied  to  have  go  to  an  exhibitor  with  the 
California  trade  mark  is  to  turn  them  out  under  our 
own  jealous  supervision."   . 

The  anxiety  of  film  men  to  close  for  "The  Un- 
written Law"  in  their  respective  states  before  the  pro- 
ducers are  prepared  to  even  set  a  figure  on  the  various 
territories,  has  caused  the  directors  of  the  California 
Corporation  to  be  enthusiastic.  And  it  is  due  to  this 
keenness  for  an  exceptional  feature,  which  "The  Un- 
written Law"  has  been  declared  to  be,  that  they  are 
going  to  some  lengths  in  exploiting  Edward  Milton 
Royle's  play  for  the  benefit  of  the  exhibitors. 

"We  are  having  prepared  special  music  for  the 
state  rights  buyer  to  supply  his  customers,"  asserted 
Mr.  Beyfuss,  "and  in  fact  now  that  we  have  definitely 
determined  upon  this  method  of  distribution  we  pro- 
pose to  go  further  in  giving  the  buyer  more  assist- 
ance to  profitably  book  our  pictures  than  they  have 
ever  received.' 

"We  firmly  believe  the  'open  market'  for  'better 
than  program'  features  is  near  at  hand.  We  intend 
with  'The  Unwritten  Law'  as  our  initial  entry  into 
this  new  field  of  distribution  to  build  up  a  business 
relation  with  the  most  prominent  and  capable  ex- 
change men  in  the  country,  a  co-operative  relationship 
that  will  place  the  California  bear,  our  trade  mark 
of  fe-ature  productions,  with  the  foremost. 


"We  realize  that  we  must  place  upon  the  market 
Al  pictures  in  every  respect  to  maintain  our  position 
of  prominence  in  this  industry  and  consequently  are 
determined  to  spend  whatever  money  and  time  are  nec- 
essary to  handle  properly  and  adequately  each  picture 
subject  engaged  upon." 

TRIANGLE'S  FEBRUARY  FILMS 

Billie  Burke,   De   Wolf   Hopper,   Douglas   Fairbanks, 

Bessie  Barriscale,  William  S.  Hart 

and  Lillian  Gish  Feature 

Eight  unusual  Griffith  and  Ince  dramatic  features 
and  a  similar  number  of  Keystone  comedies  from  the 
Mack  Sennett  studios  are  announced  by  the  Triangle 
Film  Corporation  for  release  to  exhibitors  during  the 
month  of  February.  Of  prime  importance  are  the  gen- 
eral film  debuts  of  Billie  Burke  and  De  Wolf  Hopper. 
Both  stars  have  been  seen  in  New  York,  and  "Don 
Quixote"  and  "Peggy"  have  received  metropolitan  ap- 
proval. Douglas  Fairbanks  is  due  for  his  third  Tri- 
angle release.  Also  in  prospect  is  the  first  screen  ap- 
pearance of  William  Collier. 

For  the  week  of  February  6  "Acquitted"  with  Wil- 
fred Lucas,  and  Orrin  Johnson  in  "D'Artagnan,"  a 
film  adaptation  of  "The  Three  Musketeers"  of  Dumas, 
will  be  released.  Griffith  has  provided  a  typical  Fine 
Arts  cast  in  support  of  Lucas,  who  in  "Acquitted" 
is  rewarded  for  his  good  work  with  Lillian  Gish  and 
Rozsika  Dolly  in  "The  Lily  and  the  Rose,"  and  with 
Marie  Doro  in  "The  Wood  Nymph"  by  big  type  hon- 
ors. "D'Artagnan"  is  proof  of  the  belief  of  Ince  that 
the  country  will  welcome  a  revival  of  the  good  old 
swashbuckling  drama  of  the  days  when  knights  were 
bold. 

"His  Picture  in  the  Papers,"  the  new  Fairbanks 
comedy,  and  "Honor's  Altar"  follow.  In  the  latter 
drama  from  Inceville  Bessie  Barriscale  and  Walter  Ed- 
wards are  featured  with  Lewis  S.  Stone,  the  well 
known  leading  man  of  Broadway  productions.  Fair- 
banks made  "His  Picture  in  the  Papers"  under  the  di- 
rection of  John  Emerson  in  and  around  New  York.  It 
is  a  comedy  from  start  to  finish  and  shows  the  young 
star  to  be  a  versatile  performer  of  seemingly  impos- 
sible stunts. 

The  week  of  February  20  brings  the  long  awaited 
Billie  Burke  picture,  "Peggy."  Thomas  H.  Ince  spared 
no  expense  to  obtain  this  favorite  legitimate  star,  was 
extravagant  in  his  staging  of  the  play  and  assembled 
an  unusually  distinguished  cast  headed  by  the  veteran 
character  actor,  William  H.  Thompson,  and  including 
Charles  Ray,  William  Desmond  and  Gertrude  Claire. 
The  Griffith  contribution  for  that  week  is  Lillian  Gish 
in  "Daphne."  The  French  atmosphere  of  this  piece  is 
in  marked  contrast  to  the  Scotch  settings  of  "Peggy." 

Right  on  the  heels  of  this  combination  of  star  fea- 
tures is  the  general  release  of  De  Wolf  Hopper  in  the 
picture  play  version  of  "Don  Quixote,"  by  Cervantes. 
As  Billie  Burke  is  undoubtedly  the  biggest  woman  le- 
gitimate star  snared  by  the  Triangle,  so  Hopper  is  the 
most  prominent  male  player  taken  from  the  American 
stage  for  film  productions.    Interest  in  "Don  Quixote" 


344 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


is  doubled  by  the  appearance  of  the  big  comedian  and 
the  first  pictorial  presentation  of  the  Spanish  classic. 
The  popular  William  S.  Hart  is  joined  with  Hopper  in 
the  closing  February  releases.  A  powerful  western 
play  called  "Hell's  Hinges"  is  the  medium  in  which 
this  favorite  actor  is  presented.  Real  spectacle  is  pro- 
vided by  the  burning  of  an  entire  town.  Ince  has  given 
his  star  a  well  balanced  cast. 


"The  Salamander"  a  Success 

When  thousands  of  persons  in  all  parts  of  the 
United  States  were  reading  Owen  Johnson's  "The 
Salamander,"  the  heroine  seemed  a  mysterious  sort  of 
person  yet  so  human  as  to  aggravate  the  readers.  She 
represented  some 
girl  each  one  knew 
or  had  read  about — 
some  girl  who  had 
gone  to  New  York 
from  the  home  town 
to  become  a  ques- 
tion. But  the  ques- 
tion has  been  an- 
swered and  now  she 
can  be  seen  living 
and  breathing  —  a 
composite  "salaman- 
der" in  the  person  of 
Ruth  Findlay.  B.  S. 
Moss  has  put  her  on 
the  screen  in  the 
delightful  picturized 
version  of  the  novel. 
According  to  of- 
fice records  Miss 
Findlay  was  born  in 
Ruth  Findiav  New    York    city    on 

September  19,  1895. 
She  went  on  the  stage  with  a  part  in  "Mrs.  Wiggs  of 
the  Cabbage  Patch,"  and  then  William  A.  Brady  found 
her.  It  didn't  take  him  long  to  see  stellar  possibilities 
and  he  engaged  her  for  the  leading  role  in  "Baby 
Mine."  That  he  was  correct  in  his  judgment  is  shown 
by  her  success  in  that  play,  "Rebecca  of  Sunnybrook 
Farm,"  "The  Lure,"  "The  Last  Resort,"  and  "What 
Is  Love?" 

Her  first  photoplay  appearance  was  with  Robert 
Warwick  in  "The  Man  Who  Found  Himself." 

"The  Salamander"  opened  at  the  Regent  theater 
in  New  York  to  crowded  houses. 


*    "frail 

5^  *%&% 

"  \ 

i 

New  York  V.  L.  S.  E.  Men  Meet 

The  salesmen  of  the  New  York  branch  of  V.  L. 
S.  E.,  which  is  under  the  management  of  Joseph  Part- 
ridge, met  for  a  discussion  of  distributive  policies  at 
the  home  office  recently.  As  in  the  case  of  the  con- 
vention of  the  eastern  representatives,  this  conference 
had  to  do  chiefly  with  the  "minimum  and  maximum" 
price  rating,  the  "open  booking"  policy  and  the  proper 
grading  of  the  box  office  value  of  films. 

Particular  stress  was  laid  upon  the  fact  that  not 
only  should  exhibitors  be  permitted  to  select  pictures 
which  in  their  estimation  are  best  suited  to  their  pat- 
ronage, and  pay  for  them  on  the  basis  of  merit  rather 
than  on  a  flat  rate,  but  that  the  sales  force  should  take 
into  consideration  the  exhibitor's  limitations  as  well  as 
his    possibilities — in    other    words    his    drawing   capacity 


- — and  then  see  to  it  that  he  is  charged  a  price  he  can 
afford  to  pay. 

The  convention  was  attended  by  Walter  W.  Irwin, 
general  manager ;  A.  W.  Goff,  assistant  general  man- 
ager; L.  J.  Bamberger,  manager  of  sales  promotion; 
Joseph  Partridge,  manager  New  York  branch;  F.  F. 
Flartich,  assistant  manager,  New  York  branch;  E.  L. 
Masters,  advertising  and  publicity  director;  V.  M. 
Shapiro,  assistant  advertising  and  publicity  director; 
A.  M.  Webster,  manager  Syracuse  sub-branch ;  George 
Balsdon,  Jr.,  booker  New  York  branch,  and  Salesmen 
Erickson,  Farber,  Clark,  Allen,  Reardon,  Sherry  and 
Bradner. 


BLUE  BIRD  EXECUTIVE  HERE 

General    Manager   Hoffman,    Head   of   Universal    Ex- 
changes, Visits  Chicago  and  Reports  Big  Business 
in  All  Exchanges 

M.  Henri  Hoffman,  general  manager  of  Universal 
Exchanges  and  head  of  the  recently  formed  Blue  Bird 
Photoplay  exchange  system,  was  a  Chicago  visitor  on 
Tuesday  of  this  week  where  he  was  in  consultation 
with  President  Carl  Laemmle  of  the  Universal  Film 
Manufacturing  Company,  departing  the  same  day  for 
•Detroit,  Pittsburgh,  and  other  eastern  points  before 
returning  to  New  York,  which  city  he  expects  to  reach 
about  Thursday. 

In  an  interview  with  a  Motography  representa- 
tive Mr.  Hoffman  expressed  himself  as  delighted  with 
the  business  which  the  new  Blue  Bird  productions  are 
doing,  and  explained  that  recently  a  new  system  had 
been  put  into  effect  in  several  of  the  offices,  whereby, 
instead  of  a  manager  and  an  assistant  manager,  the 
two  executives  were  made  joint  managers,  each  thus 
being  given  joint  credit  for  new  business  secured  or 
joint  blame  for  any  complaints  that  may  arise.  He 
declared  that  in  two  of  the  first  offices  where  the  new 
system  had  been  already  put  into  effect,  business 
showed  an  increase  in  excess  of  twenty  per  cent  and 
predicted  that  ere  long  all  offices  will  be  working  on  a 
similar  basis. 

In  speaking  of  coming  Blue  Bird  productions  Mr. 
Hoffman  mentioned  that  a  few  of  the  near  releases 
include  such  subjects  as  "Hop — the  Devil's  Brew," 
"The  Wrongdoer,"  a  Carter  DeHaven  subject;  "The 
Grip  of  Jealousy,"  and  "Rupert  of  Hentzau"  which, 
as  nearly  everyone  is  aware,  is  the  sequel  to  Anthony 
Hope's  celebrated  "The  Prisoner  of  Zenda."  Mr.  Hoff- 
man has  thirty-six  Universal-made  subjects  to  look 
forward  to  every  year  and  the  balance  of  the  fifty-two 
subjects  per  year  will  be  selected  from  the  very  best 
that  the  open  market  affords,  for  Mr.  Hoffman  has  no 
restrictions  placed  upon  him  as  to  the  amount  he  can 
pay  for  a  picture,  providing  the  negative  is  a  desirable 
one. 

By  way  of  advertising  the  Blue  Bird  features  some 
clexer  advertising  novelties  have  been  designed,  one  of 
them  a  silver-plated  pencil  guard,  bearing  on  its  face 
one  of  the  now  famous  Blue  Birds,  and  a  second  is  a 
tie  inn  of  similar  design,  and  both  are  so  attractive 
that  they  are  received  with  thanks  by  everyone  to 
whom  they  are  offered.  Rex  Lawhead,  a  manager  of 
the  Chicago  office,  is  credited  with  the  suggestion 
which  lead  to  the  manufacture  of  these  advertising 
no\  elties. 

M.  C.  Hughes,  formerly  of  the  Twenty-third  street 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


345 


branch  of  the  General  Film  Company  in  New  York 
City,  and  more  recently  manager  of  the  Atlanta,  Geor- 
gia, branch  of  the  same  organization,  has  been  installed 
as  manager  of  the  Universal's  Pittsburgh  office,  vice 
Mr.  Davis,  who  recently  resigned. 


FIFTEEN  VITAGRAPH  REELS 

Coming  Week  Will  See  Several  Feature  Offerings  and 

Three  One  Reelers  Released  by  Vitagraph 

Company  of  America 

Fifteen  reels  of  drama  and  comedy  will  be  released 
by  the  Vitagraph  in  the  week  of  Monday,  February  7. 
They  comprise  a  five-part  Blue  Ribbon  feature,  "The 
Crown  Price's  Double,"  a  four-part  drama;  "The  Sur- 
prises of  an  Empty  Hotel,"  a  three-part  Broadway  Star 
feature ;  "From  Out  of  the  Past,"  and  three  one-reelers, 
"A  Cripple  Creek  Cinderella,"  "Betty,  the  Boy  and  the 
Bird,"  and  "Freddy's  Last  Bean." 

"The  Crown  Prince's  Double,"  released  on  Mon- 
day, February  7,  features  Maurice  Costello,  in  a  ro- 
mantic drama  that  has  its  climax  in  his  refusal  to 
relinquish  the  true  love  of  an  American  girl,  for  a  mere 
kingdom  in  Europe.  He  plays  the  character  of  the 
prince  and  that  of  a  young  American  who  is  hired  to 
assume  the  Prince's  identity.  Costello  is  supported  by 
an  all-star  cast  of  Vitagraphers,  including  Anders 
Randolph,  Thomas  Mills,  Howard  Hall,  Anna  Laugh- 
lin  and  others. 

Film  fans  will  find  a  real  thrill  in  "The  Surprises  of 
an  Empty  Hotel,"  a  four-reel  drama  written  by  Archi- 
bald Clavering  Gunter,  produced  by  Theodore  Mars- 
ton,  picturized  by  Jasper  E.  Brady  and  released  on 
February  7.  The  100-foot  yacht,  "Wayward,"  formerly 
the  luxurious  plaything  of  a  New  York  millionaire,  was 
blown  to  pieces  in  Raritan  Bay  to  furnish  a  climax  for 
the  mystery  that  the  play  tells  of.  Charles  Richman 
and  Arline  Pretty  in  the  leading  roles  give  their  usual 
splendid  performances,  assisted  by  William  Dunn,  Leo 
Delaney,  Robert  Gaillard,  Ethel  Corcoran  and  Charles 
Eldridge.  In  lock  reel  with  this  film  is  a  one-part 
comedy  drama  from  the  coast  players  of  the  Vitagraph 
entitled  "A  Cripple  Creek  Cinderella."  William  Dun- 
can, Alfred  Vosburgh,  Carleton  Weatherby  and  others 
portray  the  principal  roles.  The  girl  in  the  play  is  a 
dance-hall  beauty  who  loses  her  slipper.     That  article 


is  found  by  a  miner  who  uses  it  to  mark  a  claim  with, 
and  when  the  mine  develops  a  rich  lead,  he  determines 
to  wed  its  owner.  He  is  shocked  to  find  that  the  girl 
works  in  the  dance-hall,  but  when  she  saves  his  life 
he  decides  that  she  is  good  enough  for  him.  Another 
Monday  release  is  "Betty,  the  Boy  and  the  Bird," 
showing  Zena  Keefe  in  a  splendid  comedy  by  Wilfrid 
North,  produced  by  Tefft  Johnson,  Gerald  Gordon,  a 
new  face  among  Vitagraphers,  makes  his  bow  to  the 
motion  picture  public.  "Freddy's  Last  Bean,"  a  one- 
part  comedy  produced  by  Frank  Currier,  written  by 
Agnes  C.  Johnston,  serves  to  show  William  Dangman 
in  a  new  successful  type.  Dangman  played  Freddie 
the  Ferrett  in  "The  Goddess."  Freddy,  through  force 
of  circumstances,  is  reduced  to  the  last  bean  of  a  can 
which  a  longshoreman  heaved  at  his  head.  He  is  saved 
from  starvation  by  a  good  expert  named  McKann, 
who  gives  him  money  for  the  last  food  delicacy. 

An  all-star  cast  of  Vitagraphers  is  seen  in  the 
Broadway  Star  Feature  "From  Out  of  the  Past,"  writ- 
ten by  Ruth  Handforth  and  .produced  by  William 
Humphrey.  The  latter,  Belle  Bruce,  Harry  Northrup, 
Charles  Welleseley,  Garry  McGarry,  Bobby  Connelly, 
Carolyn  Birch,  Eulelie  Jensen  and  Lillian  Burns  are 
seen  in  the  film.  The  story  tells  of  the  double  life  led 
by  a  wealthy  man  and  the  subsequent  meeting  of  his 
daughter  and  a  youth  believed  to  be  his  son.  It  is 
released   on   Saturday,   February   12. 


Constance  Collier  Has  New  Play 

Constance  Collier,  who  showed  her  ability  as  a 
screen  actress  in  "The  Tongues  of  Men,"  is  working 
on  her  second  photoplay,  "The  Code  of  Marcia  Gray," 
written  for  her  by  Frank  Lloyd.  In  the  cast  are  For- 
rest Stanley  and  Harry  DeVine.  Director  Lloyd  is 
sparing  neither  pains  nor  expense  to  obtain  proper 
backgrounds,  and  several  magnificent  interiors  have 
been  built.  Recently,  when  Miss  Collier,  Sir  Herbert 
Beerbohm  Tree  and  Herbert  Standing,  all  famous  on 
the  English  stage,  met  at  the  Morosco  studios,  the  dis- 
covery was  made  that  while  Sir  Herbert  gave  Miss 
Collier  her  first  chance,  he  had  obtained  his  first  part 
through  Standing's  influence. 


Thirty  Parisian  gowns,  said  to  have  cost  about 
$20,000,  are  worn  by  Anna  Held  in  the  Oliver  Morosco 
photoplay,  "Madame  La  Presidente." 


346 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Bushman  and  Bayne  in  Florida 

Francis  X.  Bushman  and  Beverly  Bayne,  having 
completed  "Man  and  His  Soul,"  have  gone  to  Florida 
to  work  on  two  new  Metro  features,  "The  Wall  Be- 
tween," from  the  novel  of  Ralph  D.  Paine,  and  "Boots 
and  Saddles,"  from  the  play  by  Eugene  Walters.  In 
"The  Wall  Between,"  the  hero  joins  the  United  States 
navy,  and  among  the  big  scenes  in  the  play  will  be  a 
scene  representing  a  battle  between  the  United  States 
marines  and  two  thousand  negroes  in  an  uprising  in 
Nicaragua.  John  W.  Noble,  who  is  to  direct  the  pro- 
duction, is  fitted  for  the  task  for  he  is  a  West  Point 
graduate  and  spent  seven  years  in  the  regular  army, 
campaigning  in  Cuba  and  the  Philippines. 

To  give  realism  to  "The  Soul  Market,"  a  Metro 
play  soon  to,  be  released,  in  which  Mme.  Olga  Petrova 
is  starred,  the  auditorium  of  the  Princess  Theater  in 
New  York  was  used.  More  than  two  hundred  persons 
appeared  on  the  stage  and  in  the  audience.  Chorus 
girls  from  the  Hippodrome  were  used  in  the  stage 
scenes.  The  story,  written  by  Aaron  Hoffman,  deals 
with  theatrical  life.  Francis  J.  Grandon  and  Virtus 
Scott  are  directing  the  production,  and  Mme.  Petrova 
is  assisted  by  a  capable  cast  including  Wilmuth  Mer- 
kyl,  Arthur  Hoops,  Gypsy  O'Brien  and  Evelyn  Brent. 


Constance  Crawley  in  Boer  War 

Constance  Crawley,  English  actress  now  with  the 
American  Film  Company,  played  Shakespeare  in  South 
Africa  at  the  time  of  the  Boer  war.  Through  the  influ- 
ence of  her  cousin,  Field  Marshal  Earl  Kitchener,  for- 
mer British  secretary  of  war,  she  and  her  company 
were  allowed  to  enter  Pretoria.  Among  her  experi- 
ences were,  crossing  the  desert  in  a  train  often  fired 
upon,  burning  cologne  instead  of  alcohol  to  make  after- 
noon tea,  having  milk,  commandeered  for  the  hospitals, 
smuggled  to  her  in  champagne  bottles  by  the  officers. 
Miss  Crawley  appears  in  "Lord  Loveland  Discovers 
America,"  and  "Powder,"  both  directed  by  another 
English  player,  Arthur  Maude,  who  also  appears  in 
the  casts. 


Three  World  Companies  Go  South 

The  World  Film  Corporation's  Peerless  plant  at 
Ft.  Lee,  N.  J.,  seems  deserted  since  three  producing 
companies  have  gone  to  sunny  climes.  Two  companies 
have  gone  to  Jacksonville  and  a  third,  with  Clara  Kim- 
ball Young,  to  the  newly  acquired  property  in  Cuba. 
Edwin  August  and  Harry  O'Neill  head  the  Florida 
players.  At  the  Paragon  studio  Maurice  Tourneur  is 
directing  the  production  of  "The  Hand  of  Peril,"  the 
Arthur  Stringer  play  in  which  House  Peters  is  starred. 
Frank  Crane  is  finishing  the  Kitty  Gordon  feature,  "As 
in  a  Looking  Glass." 


Armstrong  in  Cub  Comedies 

Billy  Armstrong,  recently  with  Charley  Chaplin 
in  Essanay  pictures  and  formerly  a  member  of  Fred 
Karno's  pantomime  companies  in  England,  made  his 
first  appearance  in  David  Horsley's  Cub  Comedies  in 
"The  Defective  Detective,"  February  4.  Hereafter  an 
Armstrong  release  will  alternate  with  an  Ovey  sub- 
ject, on  the  Mutual  program.  In  the  cast  supporting 
Armstrong  are  Grace  Gibson  and  Tommy  Hayes. 
Miss  Gibson  first  appeared  at  Volk's  Winter  Garden, 
New  York,  in   1905.     Later  she  toured  the  Orpheum 


vaudeville  circuit,  played  in  Olga  Nethersole's  com- 
pany. Then  she  played  musical  comedy  parts  in  Shu- 
bert  productions.  The  first  Armstrong  release  will  be 
followed  February  11  by  "Jerry's  Millions,"  with 
George  Ovey. 


Ambrosio  Offers  More  Foreign  Films 

Anomina  Ambrosio,  the  continental  film  producer, 
before  returning  to  Italy,  completed  arrangements  for 
the  early  American  showing  of  two  multiple  reel  fea- 
tures in  which  Rita  Jolivet  is  featured.  The  plays  are 
"Zwany"  and  "The  Hand  of  Fatma."  Mr.  Ambrosio's 
intention  is  to  specialize  in  features  for  the  American 
market.  Not  only  has  he  studied  American  conditions 
and  tastes  but  he  has  engaged  several  American  direc- 
tors and  actors.  The  films  will  be  distributed  through 
the  Authors  Film  Company,  Inc.,  1432  Broadway, 
New  York  City,  which  acts  as  sole  agent  for  Mr.  Am- 
brosio in  North  America. 


Parents  Please  Call 

When  Abraham  Canter,  the  youngest  technical 
director  with  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporat:-  \  accom- 
panied Marguerite  Snow  and  company,  under  Direc- 
tors Fred  J.  Balshofer  and  Howard  Truesdell,  to  Jack- 
sonville recently,  the  first  assignment  Mr.  Balshofer 
gave  him  was  to  get  fifty  children  to  the  park  right 
away.  Mr.  Canter  set  out  on  a  door  to  door  canvass 
for  "kids,"  but,  unsuccessful  in  this,  borrowed  the  fifty 
from  an  orphan  asylum.  All  went  well  until  Mr.  Can- 
ter returned  the  children,  when  for  the  fifty  borrowed 
he  returned  fifty-three.  When  the  company  left  Jack- 
sonville, the  three  extras  were  still  on  Mr.  Canter's 
hands. 


Herbert  Brennon  Builds  "Cities" 

Many  changes  have  been  made  in  Jamaica  since 
Herbert  Brennon  began  preparations  for  the  Annette 
Kellermann  picture  he  is  directing  for  William  Fox. 
Near  Fort  August,  he  banished  "Mosquito  Point,"  by 
disinfectants  and  a  system  of  drains,  and  built  a  white 
eastern  city,  using  500  laborers  to  accomplish  this.  At 
St.  Ann's  Bay,  he  built  a  fairy  city  where  1,000  children 
acted  for  several  weeks.  In  Kingston  itself,  he  built 
the  Rose  Gardens,  with  wonderful  eastern  furnishings. 
This  vast  amount  of  work  has  given  employment  to 
hundreds  of  the  island  people,  not  the  least  of  them  the 
seamstresses  who  made  many  of  the  costumes  for  the 
play. 


Royle  Converted  to  Film  Plays 

Edwin  Milton  Royle,  author  of  "The  Unwritten 
Law,"  "The  Squaw  Man"  and  other  plays,  did  not  al- 
ways hold  the  motion  pictures  in  the  high  esteem  he 
does  at  present,  but  his  conversion  was  complete 
when  he  first  saw  the  film  production  of  "The  Unwrit- 
ten Law."  The  play  is  his  favorite  and  for  a  long  time 
he  refused  to  sell  motion  picture  rights  to  it.  Now  he 
declares  himself  pleased  with  the  California  Company's 
presentation  and  with  the  work  of  Beatriz  Michelena. 


President  Wilson  has  congratulated  personally  the 
work  of  the  Selig-Tribune  in  connection  with  the  news 
film  being  made  of  the  president  on  his  tour  of  the 
middle  west.  A  special  cameraman,  Lewis  J.  Simons. 
is  making  a  complete  film  of  the  tour. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Essanay  Gets  Harry  Beaumont 

Harry  Beaumont  has  joined  Essanay  as  a  leading 
man.  His  first  play  for  Essanay  was  "The  White  Alley," 
a  three-act  drama  written  by  Carolyn  Wells. 

Mr.  Beaumont  has 
been  in  the  film  busi- 
ness four  years,  play- 
ing juvenile  leads  and 
directing.  He  also 
has  had  a  wide  stage 
experience.  He  has 
played  in  "Under 
Southern  Skies," 
"Captain  Clay  of  Mis- 
souri" and  "The 
County  Chairman." 
He  played  in  cities  all 
over  the  country  in 
stock  and  was  in 
vaudeville  three  years. 
He  is  a  writer  as 
well  as  actor  and  di- 
rector and  has  written 
and  produced  about 
seventy  comedies  and 
dramas  for  the  screen. 
Mr.  Beaumont 
was  born  in  Abilene, 
Kansas.     He  went  on  the  stage  at  an  early  age. 

Mr.  Beaumont's  work  in  "The  White  Alley"  has 
been  praised  by  the  majority  of  those  who  have  seen  the 
production  so  it  is -likely  he  will  be  used  continually  in 
features  put  out  by  that  company. 


KILLED 

POLICEMAN  JOHNSON  OF  CHICAGO 


GENERAL  FILM 


Wheeler  Aids  Police  Department 

Lucian  Wheeler,  editor  of  the  Selig  Tribune,  put 
the  topical  news  film  to  a  new  use  the  other  day  when, 
at  the  request  of  the  Chicago  chief  of  police,  he  pre- 
sented in  the  Selig  Tribune,  released  on  January  29, 
some  three  hundred 
$2,700   REWARD  feet  of  film  showing 

the  shooting  of  Of- 
ficer Johnson,  one  of 
Chicago's  most  ef- 
ficient  policemen, 
when  he  went  to 
interrupt  the  robbery 
of  the  office  of  the 
Cook  Tours  within 
Chicago  loop  at  the  evening  rush  hour.  The  picture 
created  by  Mr.  Wheeler  at  the  suggestion  of  the  police 
department  opens  with  a  view  of  the  chief  of  police 
making  the  request  of  Mr.  Wheeler,  following  along 
with  a  view  of  the  incidents  of  the  robbery  and  murder 
just  as  they  occurred,  the  characters  being  played  in 
many  instances  by  the  real  people  who  participated  in 
the  exciting  event,  and  the  robber  being  impersonated 
by  an  actor  made  up  to  represent  the  man  the  police 
suspect.  The  film  closes  with  a  close-up  view  of  the 
Bertillon  picture  of  the  suspected  man  and  the  offer 
of  a  reward  of  $500  by  the  Selig  Tribune  for  the  capture 
and  arrest  of  the  guilty  man.  The  manager  of  the 
General  Film  branch  at  Salt  Lake,  Utah,  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  unique  bit  of  film  in  the  topical  reel  to 
get  out  postcards  calling  attention  to  the  reward 
offered  and  looking  almost  like  the  typical  reward  no- 
tices supplied  by  police  departments  all  over  the  coun- 
try.   One  of  the  postcards  is  reproduced  above. 


FILM  MEN  BACK  AARON  JONES 

Chicago  Exhibitor,  Running  for  Alderman,  Expected 

to  Have  the  Support  of  All  in  Motion 

Picture  Field 

Aaron  Jones,  who  has  risen  from  newsboy  to 
Chicago  theater  magnate  and  still  is  a  young  man, 
is  going  "to  the  front."  But  not  to  the  trenches.  He 
is  going  to  the  front  for  those  interested  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  motion  picture  industry  in  Chicago.  He  has 
thrown  his  hat  into  the  ring  and,  if  one  may  judge  by 
the  "boosting"  he  has  received,  he  will  be  the  next 
alderman  from  Chicago's  sixth  ward. 

When  a  man  as  busy  as  Mr.  Jones  sacrifices  time 
and  money  for  such  an  office  he  must  have  a  work  of 
importance  in  mind.  While  he,  as  yet,  has  made  no- 
statement  along  these  lines,  Chicago  theater  men  and 
motion  picture  exhibitors  feel  it  is  Mr.  Jones'  thought 
that  he  can  be  the  friend  at  court  for  his  associates 
in  the  film  field.  For  that  reason,  aside  from  the  fact 
that  Mr.  Jones,  through  his  connection  with  the  firm 
of  Jones,  Linick  &  Schaefer,  is  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar exhibitors  in  Chicago,  should  give  the  candidate  the 
support  of  all  motion  picture  men  in  that  city. 

It  is  reported  that  his  campaign  will  be  carried  into 
the  theaters  and  that  slides  and  film  will  be  used  to 
interest  voters  in  the  Jones  candidacy. 

That  nickels  and  dimes  have  played  a  large  part 
in  the  business  life  of  Mr.  Jones  is  shown  in  the  follow- 
ing short  story  of  his  activities : 

While  still  a  boy  playing  around  the  Anthropolo- 
gical building  at  the  World's  Fair  of  1893,  he  saw  an 
opportunity  for  the  sale  of  magazines.  It  was  the  only 
building  where  there  was  no  such  concession.  In  a 
short  time  he  had  his  brother  and  playmates  working 
for  him  and  they  kept  him  busy  counting  nickels  and 
dimes. 

When  the  Ferris  wheel  was  moved  to  the  north 
side  of  Chicago  after  the  fair  was  closed,  young  Jones 
got  the  concession  for  the  sale  of  candies,  popcorn  and 
peanuts.     More  nickels  and  dimes. 

The  same  year,  in  October,  a  newsboy  friend  at 
the  Northwestern  railroad  station  showed  the  young 
candy  merchant  a  new  invention.  Jones  saw  more 
nickels  and  dimes  and  on  October  20,  in  partnership 
with  the  newsboy,  presented  at  Waukegan,  111.,  what  is 
said  to  have  been  the  world's  first  motion  picture  exhi- 
bition. Amet's  magniscope  was  the  invention  and 
Jones'  partner  was  George  K.  Spoor,  now  president  of 
the  Essanay  Film  Manufacturing  Co.,  vice-president  of 


*■■*-  THE  NEWS  fi 


348 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


the  General  Film  Company,  and  a  power  in  the  manu- 
facturing and  distributing  branches  of  the  industry. 

Following  the  Waukegan  exhibition,  which  was 
not  much  of  a  success  except  for  the  novelty,  the  man 
who  was  to  become  an  important  factor  in  the  theatri- 
cal business  in  Chicago  kept  his  eyes  open  for  oppor- 
tunity to  reap  in  the  nickels  and  dimes.  He  was  wil- 
ling to  listen  and  that  got  him  close  to  more  schemes 
for  small  shows  that  the  average  man  ever  would  hear 
about. 

On  the  night  of  December  26,  1905,  before  anyone 
realized  that  the  youthful  motion  picture  pioneer  had 
even  enough  of  a  shoestring  to  start  with  there  was 
opened  in  Chicago  the  first  picture  theater  in  Illinois. 
Aaron  Jones  was  the  builder.  It  was  located  in  State 
street  where  a  clothing  store  now  stands.  This  picture 
playhouse  became  the  nucleus  for  the  present  chain  of 
Jones,  Linick  &  Schaefer  theaters,  which  include  such 
loop  theaters  as  the  Colonial,  at  which  house  "The 
Birth  of  a  Nation"  has  just  closed  a  run  that  took  more 
than  $400,000  out  of  Chicago  in  eight  months  and  where 
the  Anna  Pavlowa  production  is  being  shown  now ;  Mc- 
Vicker's,  which  was  formerly  one  of  the  best  known 
theaters  in  the  country  and  which  now  is  on  a  vaude- 
ville-picture basis ;  the  LaSalle,  which  most  of  the  time 
is  given  over  to  feature  pictures  and  the  Studebaker, 
the  Chicago  home  of  first-run  Triangle  pictures. 

In  addition  to  being  president  of  Jones,  Linick  & 
Schaefer,  Mr.  Jones  is  the  directing  head  of  the  Marcus 
Loew  Western  Booking  Agency. 


ESSANAY  COMPANY  IN  NORTH 


Kleine-Edison  Feature  Renamed 

"The  Final  Curtain,"  originally  announced  as 
"Our  Lady  of  Laughter,"  the  Kleine-Edison  release 
for  February  2,  is  a  story  of  business  and  theater  life 
and  has  as  its  theme  the  clash  between  the  artistic 
temperament  and  "solid  respectability,"  which  occurs 
when  a  Broadway  star  marries  a  financier.  Arthur 
Hoops  and  Alma  Hanlon  are  featured.  "The  Martyr- 
dom of  Phillip  Strong,"  released  on  this  program  Feb- 
ruary 9,  is  founded  on  the  Rev.  Charles  M.  Sheldon's 
novel,  "The  Crucifixion  of  Phillip  Strong,"  and  is  said 
to  be  a  very  Strong  drama.  Robert  Conness  and 
Mabel  Trunnelle  appear  as  the  minister  and  his  wife. 


HARMON  PLANS  FILM  CITY 

Head  of  New  Motion  Picture  Concern  Announces  He 

Has  Obtained  Land  and  Will  Build 

"Mirrorvale" 

Clifford  B.  Harmon,  president  of  the  Mirror  Films, 
Inc.,  has  completed  the  purchase  from  the  Glendale 
Development  Company  of  extensive  acreage  adjoin- 
ing the  studio  in  Glendale,  L.  I.,  and  upon  this  land  he 
announces  he  proposes  to  build  "Mirrorvale,"  a  new 
motion  picture  city. 

While  the  present  studio  plant  is  sufficient  for 
interior  scenes,  the  company  needs  more  outdoor  room 
for  its  productions.  And  it  can  be  shown,  Mr.  Harmon 
declares,  that  there  were  more  days  when  pictures 
could  be  taken  outdoor  in  that  vicinity  last  year  than 
in  Los  Angeles. 

Plans  for  the  new  city  are  being  completed  rapidly 
and  architects  will  be  started  in  the  spring  on  the  build- 
ings most  needed.  A  station  will  be  built  on  the  rail- 
road at  "Mirrorvale"  to  accommodate  players  and  to 
facilitate  the  handling  of  freight. 


Calvert  Takes  Players  Into  Minnesota  Woods  to  Make 

Another  "Snowburner"  Feature  from 

Henry  Oyen's  Pen 

As  early  releases,  the  Essanay  company  announces 
several  feature  dramas  with  unusual  and  beautiful  out- 
door settings.  These  include  "Beyond  the  Law,"  from 
Henry  Oyen's  story,  "The  Snowburner  Pays,"  a  sequel 
to  "The  Snowburner,"  recently  released.  Scenes  for 
this  story  are  being  taken  near  Virginia,  Minn.,  the 
mining  country  in  which  the  original  story  was  laid. 
The  Edward  Hines  Lumber  Company  camp  is  the 
headquarters  of  the  players,  near  Virginia,  and  the 
dogs  and  sledges  for  the  play  have  been  obtained  from 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  E.  H.  Calvert,  who  directs 
the  play,  appears  as  "The  Snowburner."  Others  in  the 
cast  are  Marguerite  Clayton,  Arthur  Bates,  Anne 
Leigh  and  Camille  D'Arcy. 

Another  drama  of  the  north  country  is  "The  Prim- 
itive Strain,"  in  which  Edward  Arnold  and  Nell  Craig 
play  the  leads. 

The  southwest,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  will 
also  be  shown  in  an  Essanay  film  for  a  group  of  cam- 
eramen are  traveling  through  that  territory  and  the 
result,  which  will  include  views  of  the  Enchanted 
Mesa,  the  Painted  Desert,  Canyon  Diablo  and  the 
homes  of  the  cliff-dwellers,  will  be  shown  in  one  reel 
with  the  Canimated  Nooz  Pictorial. 

"The  Discard,"  five  reels,  to  be  released  through 
the  V.  L.  S.  E.,  is  the  story  of  a  mother  who  unknow- 
ingly wrongs  her  daughter,  then  rights  the  wrong  at 
the  expense  of  her  own  life.  Lawrence  Windom 
directs  the  drama,  which  was  written  by  Charles  Mich- 
elson,  a  former  managing  editor  in  the  Hearst  service 
and  a  war  correspondent  of  note. 


Ridderhof  Goes  with  Coles 

C.  Ridderhof  has  been  appointed  by  H.  B.  Coles 
as  advertising  manager  for  the  Coles  Picture  Machine 
Corporation,  120  West  Forty-first  street,  New  York. 
Mr.  Ridderhof  brings  to  his  new  position  wide  experi- 
ence and  knowledge  of  mechanical,  electrical  and  op- 
tical features.  He  holds  a  degree  from  the  South 
Bend  College  of  Optometry  and  is  the  author  of  a 
course  of  instruction  in  electricity.  Last  year  he  was 
advertising  manager  for  the  Society  for  Electrical  De- 
velopment in  its  campaign  for  electrical  prosperity 
week.  Before  that  he  was  manager  of  the  advertising 
department  of  the  Hotpoint  Electric  Heating  Com- 
pany. He  served  his  apprenticeship  as  machinist,  fore- 
man and  superintendent.  He  has  been  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Western  Gas  Engine  Corporation,  man- 
ager of  the  Wilmarth  and  Morman  Company  and 
manager  of  the  Zono  Manufacturing  Company. 


Ocean  Sells  to  State  Buyers 

The  Ocean  Film  Corporation,  which  has  marketed 
its  features  under  franchises  awarded  to  independent 
exchanges  covering  definite  territory,  at  a  recent  meet- 
ing of  its  directors  determined  upon  a  new  policy  by 
which  its  releases  throughout  the  territory  uncovered 
by  the  franchises  will  be  disposed  on  the  state  rights 
plan.  The  franchises  cover  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland.  District 
of  Columbia.  Virginia,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Wisconsin. 
Iowa  and  Xew  England. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Man  of  Tomorrow 


BY  H.  I.  DAY* 


WHO  are  the  men  of  tomorrow  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  ?  This  is  a  question  that  has  been 
asked  hundreds  of  times  "by  the  leaders  in  the 
present  day  field. 

The  prairie  schooners  filled  with  hardy  pioneers  have 
beaten  their  way  across  the  desert  and  back  again — from 
New  York  to  San  Francisco  the  gospel  of  the  motion 
picture  has  been  preached  on  a  thousand  screens. 

Doubters  have  become  enthusiasts  and  many  mil- 
lions of  dollars  have  passed  through  the  hands  of  the 
exhibitors,  the  exchanges,  and  the  producers. 

It  has  been  a  rough  shod,  rough-hewn  game,  but  it 
has  carved  out  of  solid  rock  the  foundation  stones  of  a 
future. 

New  ideas  have  sprung  up  and  made  their  quota  of 
the  millions  with  all  the  speed  of  the  lightning  shutter. 

What  is  coming  with  tomorrow? 

The   young   man — the    world   is    seemingly    full    of 

♦Editor   of  Paramount  Progress. 


young  men,  but  how  many  of  them  are  of  the  char- 
acter, of  the  calibre  to  build  an  organization,  to  create? 

President  W.  W.  Hodkinson  of  the  Paramount  Pic- 
tures Corporation  recently  made  the  statement,  "If  I 
could  only  get  men,  I  could  put  across  my  ideas." 

There  is  no  weight  so  heavy  as  a  dead  brain.  It 
is  the  excess  baggage  that  is  dropped  by  the  roadside  to 
success,  or  else  it  would  drag  down  with  it  those  who 
progress. 

The  motion  picture  industry  is  going  to  be  a  busi- 
ness for  men  with  brains  in  the  future.  Brains  enough 
to  see  the  main  issue.  Brains  enough  to  be  open-minded. 
Brains  enough  to  realize  that  anything  where  anybody 
can  go  in  without  previous  training  and  experience  is  soon 
going  to  be  overcrowded,  that  it  is  going  to  take  a  high 
degree  of  skill  and  efficiency  to  win  out. 

Clear  the  way  for  the  men  with  brains.  Worlds 
must  be  found  for  them  to  conquer  and  more  pioneer 
field  for  them  to  plow. 


Hodkinson  Tells  How  He  Won  With  Ideal 


WW.  HODKINSON,  president  of  the  Paramount 
•  Pictures  Corporation,  starting  as  an  exhib- 
itor, opened  the  first  ten-cent  motion  picture  show  in 
Chicago.  In  speaking  of  it  recently,  he  said :  "I  was  up 
against  a  hard  proposition.  Everybody  called  me  a  fool 
and  if  I  had  listened,  to  the  judgment  of -these  people,  T 
do  not  know  where  I  would  have  been  today.  I  had 
the  habit  of  asking  'Why?'  and  I  asked  it  of  everybody 
who  made  drastic  comments  on  my  ideals.  I  asked  it  of 
myself  and  I  could  not  see  why  my  proposition  would  not 
<vork.  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  was  going  to  stick  with 
my  ideals,  that  I  was  going  to  back  this  thing  until  I 
licked  it  or  it  licked  me. 

"We  opened  a  place  on  North  Clark  street  in  Chicago. 
I  think  the  front  is  still  out  there.  It  had  been  closed 
previously  to  the  time  I  bought  it  and  I  opened  with  a 
ten-cent  show  changing  twice  a  week." 

"I  chose  my  pictures  with  care  and  selected  pictures 
that  I  had  run  out  West  months  before.  I  was  not  going 
after  the  same  class  of  people  that  the  nickelodeons  were 
going  after  but  a  higher  class.  It  did  not  make  any 
difference  how  old  the  picture  was  it  was  picked  because 
we  thought  it  was  good.  We  had  a  feature,  a  comedy, 
and  kept  a  program  at  all  times. 

"At  that  time  they  were  running  one-reels.  We  got 
a  sign  painter  to  paint  a  sign  to  hang  across  the  front. 
They  said,  'You  cannot  do  this;  you  can't  put  thai  pro- 
gram on.'  I  tried  to  hire  an  operator  and  I  could  not 
get  one.  They  said,  'We  don't  run  shows  that  way.' 
Finally  I  found  a  young  man.  I  asked  him  if  he  could 
operate  a  picture  machine  and  he  said  he  could  not  but 
I  showed  him. 

"So  we  went  ahead  to  run  a  continuous  show,  or  tried 
to.  It  was  riot  continuous  because  at  that  time  in  Chi- 
cago we  had  to  run  our  films  into  a  can.  The  can  used  to 
blow  up  occasionally  and  put  the  operator  through  the 
side  of  the  building.  As  it  had  to  be  run  into  a  can  I 
was  afraid  if  I  got  No.  1  reel  at  the  bottom  I  might  get 
it  mixed  up  with  No.  2  if  I  wanted  to  show  it  again. 


After  a  good  deal  of  trouble  we  got  a  continuous  show 
running. 

"The  night  I  opened  the  place  I  thought  I  had  a 
wrong  slant  on  this  proposition.  I  said  to  myself  I  am 
wrong.  I  can't  find  anybody  in  Chicago  but  who  thinks 
this  is  wrong,  so  it  must  be  wrong.  I  have  only  been 
at  this  proposition  five  months  and  I  do  not  know  it  all. 

"Then  as  I  looked  over  those  chairs  I  said,  'If  this 
thing  goes  over  it  is  a  big  thing  and  I  am  going  to 
stick  with  it.'  That  summer  when  the  nickelodeons  did 
not  have  anybody,  the  policeman  would  come  down  and 
talk  with  me,  with  a  lobby  full  waiting  to  get  into  the 
next  show  and  he  would  say,  T  don't  know  how  it  is 
but  at  all  the  places  up  the  street  there  is  nobody.  It  is 
too  hot.'  We  had  shows  that  brought  them  out  in  spite 
of  the  heat  and  that  went  on  all  summer  and  we  had 
them  out  on  the  side  walk  and  we  didn't  get  them  from 
Lincoln  Park  either. 

"One  night  a  gentleman  came  with  a  party  and  there 
was  a  lady  who  was  very  elegantly  dressed  and  she  looked 
around  and  said,  T  have  never  been  in  a  moving  picture 
theater  before.'  She  didn't  call  it  a  moving  picture  the- 
ater but  something  else.  I  cannot  remember  exactly  what  it 
was..  I  know  I  did  not  like  it  very  well,  but  the  man  said; 
■This  is  a  refined  little  theater  catering  to  the  best  people.' 
That  was  fine.  They  enjoyed  the  show  and  when  they 
came  out  told  me  about  it. 

"People  came  to  see  us  on  the  street  cars  and  came 
past  several  nickelodeons  to  get  to  our  theater. 

"One  night  Sergeant  O'Donnell  introduced  himself 
to  me  and  gave  me  his  card.  He  told  me  his  wife  and 
family  came  regularly  to  my  little  theater  for  every 
change  of  program. 

"After  my  first  few  releases,  I  never  had  any  trou- 
ble with  the  stringent  censorship  system  then  in  vogue  in 
Chicago.  I  rather  feel  that  the  inspectors  were  awed 
by  the  class  of  people  that  came  to  my  theater." 

This  merely  shows  the  basic  principles  on  which 
Paramount  has  been,  built  by  Mr.  Hodkinson. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Drama  Critic  Assails  Censorship 

PASTOR  CALLS  CURB  ABSURD 

For  a  long  time  many  film  manufacturers  have  felt  they  have  had  to  fight  not  only  the  politicians  and  reformers  in  the 
effort  to  curb  censorship  of  motion  pictures  but  also  that  they  have  had  t  e  enmity  of  the  clergy,  stage  devotees  and  dramatic 
critics.  But  times  have  changed  with  the  remarkable  improvement  of  film  plays.  The  picture  producers  are  winning  friends. 
Proof  of  this  is  found  in  what  one  of  the  noted  dramatic  critics  of  the  country — Otheman  Stevens  of  the  Los  Angeles  Examiner 
— and  two  Los  Angeles  preachers  have  to  say  about  censorship. 

By   Otheman  Stevens 


IF  THE  Federal  censorship  of  motion  pictures  law 
is  adopted,  it  will  mean  the  death  of  the  photo  play 
business. 

Photoplays  will  relapse  again  into  the  "'movie"  stage 
only  a  degree  more  attractive  than  the  old-time  magic 
lantern  show. 

A  Federal  board  inevitably  will  feel  political  pulls. 

Any  creative  work  subject  to  politics  must  be- 
come denaturized,  unsexed  and  non-thoughtful. 

If  we  had  a  Federal  board  of  the  stage,  we  would 
never  have  seen  "Sapho,"  "War  Brides,"  "The  Man 
of  the  Hour,"  "The  Lion  and  the  Mouse,"  "L'Aiglon," 
"The  Faith  Healer,"  "The  Melting  Pot,"  "The  Nig- 
ger," "Salvation  Nell,"  "The  Mikado,"  and  scores  of 
others.  If  there  happened  to  be  a  member  of  Con- 
gress of  Danish  birth,  who  was  vocally  susceptible 
to  affairs  of  his  former  country,  "Hamlet"  would  prob- 
ably be  blacklisted. 

The  resentment  of  over-refined  sensitiveness  of 
religious,  national,  social  and  even  personal  prejudices 
is  of  such  alertness  and  aggressivess  that  it  would 
constantly  interfere  with  the  privilege  of  the  unscathed 
mass  of  people  of  being  permitted  to  judge  for  them- 
selves. 

Mayors,  police  judges  and  other  municipal  offi- 
cials with  long  ears  to  the  ground  for  rumblings  of 
re-election,  have  pestered  and  persecuted  photo-plays 
because  of  what  this  or  that  class  of  voters  felt  about 
the  scenes. 

A  smashing  slapstick  joke  of  a  picture  would  be 
exempt  from  attack.  A  picture  that  was  illmuinated 
with  thought,  history  and  psychologic  accuracy  would 
nine  times  out  of  ten  be  sent  to  the  storeroom. 

It  would  be  exactly  as  reasonable,  perhaps  more 
beneficial,  to  have  a  Federal  censorship  of  what  we 
eat  and  drink,  or  what  we  wear.  But  to  censor  what 
we  shall  think  would  be  as  intolerable  and  ridiculous 
as  some  form  of  Federal  law  covering  the  principles  of 
the  lese  majeste  laws  of  a  kingdom. 

An  amazing  instance  of  the  prevalence  of  Chinese 
methods  of  reasoning  is  found  in  the  fact  that  some  of 
the  important  photo-play  producers  favor  the  proposed 
national  legislation. 

If  the  picture  producers  do  not  fight  now,  they 
will  later  have  nothing  to  fight  for*-except  the  un- 
profitable  commonplace. 

The  Fool  Killer  seems  to  have  quit  his  job. 

What  would  happen  to  "Motherhood,"  the  "prob- 
lem play  without  high-brow  qualities,"  if  censors  ruled 
the  stage? 

Three  clergymen,  it  is  said,  having  read  the  play, 
censure  it  as  dealing  with  matters  which  should  be 
kept  under  cover. 

Other  clergymen  are  quoted  as  holding  that  ideas 
kept  under  cover  are  what  damages  a  community. 

It  was  only  a  matter  of  ten  or  twelve  years  ago 


when  "A  Doll's  House"  was  abused  because  it  por- 
trayed a  woman  as  thinking  for  herself. 


The  Rev.  Charles  Edward  Locke  calls  the  motion  picture  the 
wonder  of  the  age,  and  has  the  following  to  say : 

The  motion  picture  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
age  and  has  come  to  stay.  Its  possibilities  for  good 
or  evil  are  tremendous.  The  inclination  to  play  and 
to  be  amused  should  be  encouraged  up  to  certain  limits. 
Healthful  entertainment  has  a  proper  place  in  the 
program  of  the  individual  life. 

I  approve  of  the  pictures  when  they  are  wholesome 
and  refined,  but  today  a  person  cannot  go  indiscrimi- 
nately to  the  shows  without  encountering  much  that  is 
coarse  and  immodest  and  harmful. 

There  are  high  class  places  and  there  are  low  class 
places  and  I  am  strongly  opposed  to  abolishing  the 
censorship  of  the  moving  picture  because  there  are 
some  people  in  the  business  who  are  willing  to  make 
money  by  debauching  the  morals  of  the  public. 


Reynold  E.  Blight,  in  a  strong  sermon  on  "The  Absurdity  of 
Motion  Picture  Censorship,"  made  the  following  pointed  state- 
ment : 

Of  all-  the  follies  and  inconsistencies  of  our  Ameri- 
can life,  censorship  is  the  most  absurd.  The  people, 
governing  themselves,  yet  fearing  for  their  morals,  ap- 
point a  commission  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  to  tell  them 
what  pictures  they  may  see  and  what  plays  they  may 
observe !  Not  for  a  moment  do  I  impugn  the  motives 
of  the  citizens  who  are  acting  on  these  censorship  com- 
missions. They  are  good,  earnest  people,  who  are 
acting  in  the  interests  of  the  public  welfare.  I  am  op- 
posed to  the  principle  of  the  thing,  which  is  contrary 
to  the  fundamentals  of  liberty  and  is  an  affront  to  the 
self-respect  of  the  democracy. 


The   Red   Circle"— Pathe. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Pavlowa  Picture  Opens  in  Chicago 


PREMIER  INDICATES  SUCCESS 


<4T^HE  DUMB  GIRL  OF  POR- 
I      TICI,"   the   most  pretentious 

*  offering  ever  prepared  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Universal  Film 
Manufacturing  Company,  had  its  Chi- 
cago premier  at  the  Colonial  theater 
on  Sunday  evening,  January  30.  In 
attendance  at  the  opening  perform- 
ance were  Pavlowa,  the  famous  Rus- 
sian dancer  who  plays  the  title  role  in 
the  picture;  Carl  Laemmle,  president 
of  the  Universal  Film  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  a  group  of  other  of- 
ficials of  the  organization  who  were 
anxious  to  see  the  new  production 
well  launched. 

Despite  the  fact  that  a  drizzling 
rain  made  attendance  at  a  theater  a 
thing  to  be  looked  upon  with  dread, 
an  audience  which  packed  the  Colo- 
nial to  the  last  seat  in  the  uppermost 
gallery  assembled  to  do  homage  to  the 
picture  upon  which  Lois  Weber  and 
Phillips  Smalley,  the  directors,  have 
spent  months  of  preparation  and  oceans  of  money.  In- 
cluded in  this  throng  were  film  manufacturers,  ex- 
changemen,  exhibitors  who  own  or  control  whole 
chains  of  theaters,  dramatic  critics  from  the  big  dailies, 
trade  journal  reviewers,  patrons  of  Grand  Opera  who 
came  to  see  if  Pavlowa  in  celluloid  was  half  so  attract- 
ive as  on  the  big  Auditorium  stage,  folks  who  never 
before  had  seen  the  celebrated  Russian  and  who  conse- 
quently were  a  bit  uncertain  as  to  what  to  expect,  and 
still  other  hundreds  who  had  read  that  Pavlowa  herself 
was  to  be  present  and  came  out  of  curiosity  to  see 
what  a  star  looked  like  at  close  range.  And  none  of 
them  was  disappointed. 

From  the  standpoint  of  pure  artistry,  excellent 
photography  and  backgrounds  of  lavish  splendor 
"The  Dumb  Girl  of  Portici"  is  a  truly  wonderful 
thing.     Scene     after     scene,     each     more     beautifull " 


conceived  than  the  one  just  be- 
fore, flashes  upon  the  screen  and  the 
talented  Russian  dancer  proves  again 
and  again  beyond  all  question  that  her 
art  is  not  confined  to  mere  dancing — 
for  she  is  a  pantomomist  supreme. 
Though  one's  first  impression  is  that 
she  is  commonplace  in  looks,  as  the 
picture  proceeds  one  discovers  that 
she  has  a  smile  which  works  wonders 
and  finds  oneself  more  and  more  de- 
lighted with  her  playing  and  her  per- 
sonality. 

As  Fenella,  the  dumb  fishergirl 
who  caused  a  revolution,  Pavlowa 
runs  the  full  gamut  of  emotional  act- 
ing. She  is  gay  and  lighthearted,  sad 
and  revengeful,  desperate  and  sor- 
rowful, only  to  come  back  once  more 
to  the  gayety  and  lightheartedness 
with  which  she  began.  Once  more 
the  action  changes,  Fenella  discovers 
of  the  dances.  that  her  lover  is  false  to  her,  after  all, 

and  then  she  boldly  confronts  the  wed- 
ding party  of  which  he  is  the  chief  figure,  as  the  groom, 
and  pleads  for  even  a  kindly  look.  Though  promised 
protection  and  a  safe  escort  to  her  home  Fenella  finds 
herself  once  more  bundled  off  to  prison  and  from  this 
time  on  to  the  end  fate  has  nothing  but  sorrow  in  store 
for  the  fishermaid. 

The  story,  as  every  one  knows,  was  adapted  by 
Louis  Weber,  the  director  of  the  production,  from  the 
Auber  opera  "Masaniello,"  whose  scenes  are  laid  in 
Italy  during  the  seventeenth  century  when  the  land 
was  under  the  rule  of  the  Spanish  viceroys.  The  story 
opens  at  a  time  when  all  the  population  are  suffering 
from  heavy  taxation  and  are  ripe  for  a  revolt  against 
the  tyrants  who  rule  them.  Fenella  lives  in  an  humble 
hut  on  the  shore  with  her  brother,  Masaniello,  who, 
though  only  a  poor  fisherman,  is  so  magnetic  that  he 
is  later  able  to  sway  the  multitude  and  reign  as  a  king 


-life  Jl 


right    the    Spanish    dance    rendered    before    the    : 


352 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


while  the  revolution  against  the  Spaniards  is  at  its  height. 

Though  the  Duke  d'  Arcos.  viceroy  of  Naples,  is 
inclined  to  scoff  at  the  growing  spirit  of  revolution,  his 
two  sons,  Conde  and  Alphonso,  who  disguise  them- 
selves in  simple  attire  and  mingle  with  the  common 
people,  understand  that  trouble  is  really  at  hand.  Al- 
phonso by  chance  meets  and  is  fascinated  by  Fenella 
and  calls  upon  her  time  and  again  at  her  humble  home, 
thus  neglecting  Lady  Elvira,  his  betrothed.  The  love 
of  the  two  ripens  quickly  under  the  soft  moon,  and 
eventually  the  call  of  youth  and  warm  southern  blood 
proves  unfortunate  for  both.  When  Masaniello  finds  his 
sister,  in  the  morning,  with  the  scarf  of  Alphonso  still 
clutched  in  her  hands,  he  understands  and  sets  out  to 
wreak  vengeance  upon  her  betrayer. 

The  viceroy,  learning  of  Masaniello's  threats  and 
hearing  from  Conde  of  Alphonso's  indiscretion,  sends 
for  Fenella  that  he  may  see  the  type  of  girl  who  has 
bewitched  his  son.  AVhen  Fenella  gives  no  reply  to 
the  viceroy's  questions,  he  thinks  it  stubborness  and 
has  her  thrown  into  prison  and  flogged,  but,  being 
dumb,  she  still  can  give  no  answer  to  his  queries. 

On  the  day  when  Alphonso  and  Lady  Elvira  are 


wedded  the  people  join  in  a  great  carnival  in  the  mar- 
ketplace and  even  the  prison  guards  join  in  the  cele- 
bration, thus  giving  Fenella  an  opportunity  to  escape. 
She  flees  and,  encountering  the  wedding  party,  begs 
her  lover  for  just  one  kindly  word.  Lady  Elvira  recog- 
nizes in  the  scarf  Fenella  has,  one  which  she  gave  her 
betrothed  and  soon  the  girl's -sad  story  is  known  to 
many.  Though  Elvira  orders  Fenella  escorted  home, 
the  guard  takes  her  back  to  prison  and  she  is  there 
when  finally  revolution  breaks  forth,  lead  by  Masa- 
niello. 

The  viceroy,  finding  the  palace  besieged,  displays 
Fenella  from  a  balcony  to  the  mob  below  and  threat- 
ens to  kill  her  if  the  attack  continues.  Disregarding 
all,  Masaniello  orders  his  cohorts  into  the  palace  and 
soon  the  oppressors  are  forced  to  flee  for  their  lives 
while  Masaniello  becomes  dictator  of  alb  public  affairs. 
Pietro,  a  former  neighbor  of  Masaniello's,  seeks  more 
power  for  himself  and  gives  the  new  dictator  a  slow 
poison  which  undermines  his  reason. 

When,  as  a  result  of  his  madness,  Masaniello  loses 
all  control  of  the  people,  Alphonso  and  Conde.  who 
have  hidden  themselves  with  some  faithful  followers 
in  a  nearby  monastery,  emerge  and  soon  arc  able  to 


drive  the  drunken  mob  from  the  palace.  The  shock 
of  the  attack  restores  the  mind  of  Masaniello  and  he 
recognizes  in  Alphonso  the  betrayer  of  his  sister. 
Masaniello  makes  a  lunge  with  his  sword,  but  Fenella 
has  been  watching  the  battle  and  it  is  into  her  heart 
that  the  blade  plunges.  AVild  with  grief  Masaniello 
ends  his  own  life,  while  Alphonso,  brokenhearted,  can 
only  gather  into  his  arms  the  lifeless  form  of  the  dumb 
girl  of  Portici. 

Rupert  Julian  as  Masaniello  does  the  best  work  of 
his  entire  career,  while  Douglas  Gerrard,  as  Alphonso, 
also  rises  to  supreme  heights  in  the  part  assigned  him. 
Wadsworth  Harris  as  the  viceroy,  John  Holt  as  Conde, 
Hart  Hoxie  as  Pietro,  Betty  Schade  as  Isabella  and 
Edna  Maison  as  Elvira  are  also  splendidly  cast  and  take 
advantage  of  every  opportunity  given. 

No  review  of  the  picture  would  be  complete  with- 
out special  mention  of  the  extreme  care  taken  with  all 
the  stage  settings  and  the  wonderful  choice  that  the 
directors  have  made  of  exteriors,  all  of  which  is  won- 
derfully enhanced  by  the  splendid  photography.  The 
subtitles  are  unique  in  that  besides  the  text  matter,  all 
of  which  is  most  carefully  wOrded,  they  include  small 
vignettes  in  the  decorative  border  in  which  are  inset 
small  motion  pictures  suggestive  of  the  scene  to  fol- 
low. This  bit  of  artistry  is  handled  unusually  well  and 
whoever  is  responsible  is  deserving  of  the  utmost  credit. 

The  production  proper  is  preceded  by  a  wonder- 
ful dance  creation  in  which  the  incomparable  Pavlowa 
appears  alone,  demonstrating  the  art  in  which  she  has 
risen  to  fame.  At  the  close  another  dance  is  given, 
but  this  is  marred  by  the  double-exposed  cloud  scene 
which  is  both  hard  on  the  eyes  and  sometimes  makes  it 
difficult  to  appreciate  the  dance  itself  to  the  full. 

In  response  to  prolonged  applause  and  calls  for 
the  star  Madame  Pavlowa,  who  sat  in  a  stage  box.  rose 
and  bowed  to  the  audience  again  and  again,  though  she 
could  not  be  induced  to  say  even  a  few  words. 

The  run  of  the  picture  at  the  Colonial  is  to  con- 
tinue indefinitely,  it  is  understood,  and  the  same  pro- 
duction will  soon  be  offered  in  New  York.  Boston  and 
other  eastern  cities.  The  scale  of  prices  follows 
closely  that  of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  which  closed 
at  the  same  house  the  night  previous  to  the  Pavlowa 
opening,  and  two  performances  will  be  rendered  daily, 
accompanied  by  a  symphony  orchestra  rendering  a 
musical  score,  specially  written  for  the  picture  by 
Adolph  Schmidt  of  Convent  Garden,  London. 


Next  Bluebird  Made  by  Smalleys 

The  Bluebird  people  believe  that  their  fourth  re- 
lease, "Hop,  the  Devil's  Brew,"  a  play  directed  by  the 
Smalleys,  founded  on  incidents  in  the  government's 
fight  on  opium  smuggling,  will  aid  in  the  nation-wide 
campaign  against  habit-forming  drugs  which  has  been 
organized  under  Mrs.  W.  K.  Vanderbilt's  direction. 
The  fifth  Bluebird  release,  "The  Wrong  Door,"  featur- 
ing Carter  De  Haven  and  Flora  Parker  De  Haven,  is  a 
sensational  detective  story,  directed  by  Carter  De 
Haven.  The  first  release  of  this  company,  "Jeanne 
Dore,"  with  Mme.  Bernhardt ;  "Secret  Love,"  with 
Helen  Ware,  and  "Undine."  with  Ida  Schall.  are  being 
well  received. 


Roy  Stewart,  who  played  the  lightly  clothed  faun 
in  "A  Modern  Sphinx."  the  "Flying  A"  three-reel  re- 
lease   for    February    15,    ran    into    poison    oak    in    his 

gambols.  .... 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vitagraph  Plans  to  Duiia  Dig 

NEW  BROOKLYN  STUDIO  PROPOSED 


to  Build  Bis  Plant 


THE  Vitagraph  Company  proposes  to  build  the  largest 
studio   of   its   kind   in   the   world   at   or   near   East 
Fifteenth  street  and. Locust  avenue,  Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 
The  building  is  planned  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  mod- 
ern photoplay  director   in   every   particular   of   its   con- 
struction. 

"We  are  not  prepared  just  at  this  time  to  tell  the 
amount   of   money   we   propose    to   invest   in   the    struc- 


According  to  the 
present  plan,  the  main 
studio  will  occupy  a  space 
of  150  by  200  fee't.  In  this 
will  be  twelve  m  inor 
studios,  each  providing 
space  in  which  a  director 
can     proceed     with     his     in- 


3irds'  eye   view  of  Vitagra 

ture,"  said  J.  Stuart  Blackton.  vice-president  of  the 
Vitagraph  Company,  "but  undoubtedly  every  need  of 
the  producer  and  director  will  be  taken  care  of.  We 
have  tried  to  look  a  long  way  ahead  and  prepare  our- 
selves for  new  developments  in  the  motion  picture 
enterprise,  for  they  are  bound  to  come." 


>A  .plant  in  B 

structions.  This  will  do  away  with  wasted  time  and 
will  thus  reduce  overhead  charges,  placing  the  business 
on  the  most  efficient  basis  as  regards  film  output.  It 
will  concentrate  the  work  and  give  opportunity  for 
the  production  of  more  plays,  thus  meeting  the  con- 
tinually growing  demand  for  this  line  of  entertainment. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Board  of  Trade  Entertains  President  Wilson 


BY  CHARLES  R.  CONDON 


THE  motion  picture  industry  will  never  have  an- 
other Thursday,  January  27,  1916.  Not  only 
because  the  calendar  provides  for  but  one,  but 
also  by  reason  of  its  being  the  first  annual  dinner  of 
the  industry's  only  representative  body,  the  Motion 
Picture  Board  of  Trade,  which  combines  the  manu- 
facturers, middlemen,  and  exhibitors  in  a  protectixe 
and  progressive  organization  to  promote  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  film  business. 

That  President  Wilson  should  be  present  at  this 
first  festive  gathering  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  and  their  friends  is  a  distinct  honor  and  a  sign 
of  worthy  recognition.  Although  the  organization  is 
but  little  more  than  four  months  old  the  nation's  chief 
executive  recognized  it  as  being  representative  of  the 
fifth  industry  of  the  country,  and  at  its  first  annual  din- 
ner delivered  a  speech  which  is  better  classified  as  a 
me-to-you  talk. 

He  spoke  extemporaneously,  wittily  and  most  in- 
terestingly. International  problems  and  the  weighty 
matters  of  the  day  gave  way  to  an  intimate  talk  on 
how  the  president  must  look  to  some  people  and  how 
some  people  do  look  to  him.  Accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Wilson,  her  guests.  Secretary  Tumulty,  Dr.  Cary 
Grayson  and  several  secret  service  men.  President 
Wilson  arrived  at  the  dinner  shortly  after  ten  o'clock. 
After  speaking  he  left  with  his  party,  Mrs.  Wilson 
bowing  her  way  out  from  her  seat  in  the  gallery  op- 
posite the  speaker's  table. 

The  affair  was  held  in  the  ball  room  of  the  Hotel 
Biltmore  whose  capacity  of  eight  hundred  and  fifty 
guests  was  fully  engaged.  Many  were  disappointed  by 
not  making  reservations  while  they  were  to  be  had. 
The  enthusiastic  delight  which  pervaded  the  gathering 
was  very  much  like  the  joy  of  a  child  on  reaching  the 
age  where  it  realizes  that  it  has  a  birthday.  This  was 
the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade's  first  birthday 
party  and  Executive  Secretary  J.  W.  Binder's  promise 
that  there  would  be  more  of  them  was  received  with 
sincere  anticipation. 

At  the  speaker's  table  were  seated :  George  H. 
Bell,  Martin  W.  Littleton,  Robert  Adamson,  J.  W. 
Engel,  Roy  Howard,  Nicholas  Power,  David  Bispham, 
George  Eastman,  Dudley  Field  Malone,  W.  W.  Irwin, 
Dr.  Cary  Grayson,  J.  W.  Binder,  J.  Stuart  Blackton. 
Woodrow  Wilson,  John  Purroy  Mitchel,  J.  R.  Freuler, 
Hudson  Maxim,  W.  Stephen  Bush.  Edwin  Markham, 
J.  P.  Tumulty,  B.  S.  Weeks,  E.  A.  MacManus,  Dr. 
Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  William  F.  McCombs  and 
Bainbridge  Colby. 

Commodore  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  toastmaster.  read 
congratulatory  telegrams  from  Thomas  A.  Edison, 
Thomas  Dixon,  D.  W.  Griffith  and  Carl  Laemmle,  and 
proposed  standing  toasts  to  the  President  and  the 
ladies.    He  then  addressed  the  assembly  as  follows : 

The  purpose  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  is 
stated  in  its  insignia,  which  is  printed  on  all  the  menus ;  the 
eagle  without  spread  wings,  hearing  on  his  breast  the  words, 
"Progression,  Protection  and  Promotion."  Protection  in  every 
branch  of  this  great  industry;  protection  for  every  member  in 
that  industry ;  promotion  of  harmony,  of  unity,  and  community 
of  interestsj  promotion  0I  fa'r  and  honest  business  methods 
presented  with  malice  toward  none  and  with  charity  to  all. 

To  hark  back  to  the  beginning  of  motion  pictures  is  not  so 
very  far.     We  have  to  turn  back  time  for  about  twenty  years, 


and  I  know  of  no  other  industry  that  has  grown  with  such 
wonderful  rapidity  and  reached  such  startling  magnitude  as  this 
industry.  In  perhaps  ten  years,  one  might  say,  because  it_  is  in 
the  last  ten  years  the  wonderful  strides  have  been  accomplished. 

And  it  was  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  picture  could' 
play  upon  human  emotions,  could  evoke  tears  or  laughter  at 
will — it  was  then  that  that  other  great  art  was  enlisted,  the 
are  of  literature ;  and  so  Shakespeare,  Thackeray,  Dickens,  Vic- 
tor Hugo,  Dumas,  became  known  to  millions  of  people,  who 
before  that  had  never  known  even  what  those  names  meant. 

When  standard  and  classic  literature  began  to  be  shown 
on  the  screen  in  every  city,  town,  village  and  hamlet  in  this 
country  and  in  every  other  country  in  the  world,  men  learned! 
that  things  and  places  existed  of  which  they  had  never  dreamed, 
and  a  new  and  wonderful  world  full  of  marvelous  possibilities 
opened  up  before  the  vision  of  all  mankind ;  and  it  was  the 
motion  picture  that  presented  that  new  world  to  their  vision. 
What  have  pictures  done  for  humanity?  Rather  let  us  say 
what  have  they  not  done?  Campaigns  against  disease  have  been, 
conducted  successfully  through  the  motion  picture — warfare 
against  carelessness  and  campaigns  for  the  prevention  of  fire 
have,  I  am  told  by  our  fire  commissioner,  resulted  in  decreasing 
greatly  the  destructive  fires  in  this  and  every  other  large  city. 
The  widowed  mothers'  pension  allowance  was  passed  in  the 
state  of  New  York  because  of  the  widespread  exhibition  of  a 
motion  picture  showing  the  need  of  such  an  allowance  and' 
through  the  efforts  of  one  of  the  ladies  who  took  one  of  these 
films  to  Albany  and  showed  it  in  the  assembly  chamber. 

Preparedness  and  the  seeds  of  it  are  being  sown  to  millions 
of  American  citizens  now.  The  latent  and  perhaps  dormant 
pattriotism  in  their  hearts  is  being  aroused.  The  fear  of  God 
and  the  fear  of  the  enemy  is  being  implanted  in  their  hearts, 
and  the  motion  picture  is  doing  it. 

In  the  mining  districts  of  Pennsylvania  ten  years  ago  there 
were  4,000  saloons  flourishing.  Today  in  that  same  district 
there  are  less  than  500,  and  the  motion  picture  has  driven  the 
rest  of  them  out.  What  has  become  of  the  common  burlesque 
show,  the  low  vaudeville,  the  cheap  claptrap  melodrama?  The 
motion  picture  was  so  much  better,  so  much  more  real  and  SO' 
much  cleaner  that  it  has  put  all  of  those  very  objectionable 
shows  entirely  out  of  business.  We  hear  frantic  appeals  from 
professional  agitators  and  notoriety  seekers  about  the  need  for 
censorship.  What  has  become  of  the  plays  of  two  years  ago,, 
the   indecent   plays  ? 

The  public,  that  great  American  public,  censored  them 
through  the  box  office,  refused  to  go  to  see  them,  and  they  died' 
in  anywhere  from  two  weeks  to  less  than  a  season.  But  re- 
member that  "The  Old  Homestead"  and  "In  Old  Kentucky"' 
have  been  running  for  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  years,  and 
are  still  running  and  making  money  for  their  authors  and 
owners.  It  is  the  public,  the  fifty  million  people  who  every  week 
go  to  the  motion  picture  shows,  who  are  the  real  censors. 

The  Picture  is  the  Drama 

I  was  asked  the  other  day  to  state  what  effect  the  motion 
picture  has  had  upon  the  drama.  My  answer  to  that  was,  the 
motion  picture  today  is  the  drama.  The  stage  play  will  always 
be  a  power,  but  the  power  of  the  motion  picture  is  an  hun- 
dredfold. As  an  illustration,  a  popular  stage  favorite  such  as 
Maude  Adams  or  E.  H.  Sothern  plays  to  perhaps  one  thousand' 
people  a  night,  six  nights  in  the  week,  and  two  matinees,  or 
approximately  eight  thousand  persons  during  one  week.  Mul- 
tiply that  by  forty  weeks,  the  average  theatrical  season,  and 
you  have  three  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  people  who  have 
seen  that  play  and  that  player  in  one  year  As  a  contrast  take 
the  motion  picture  star  or  any  one  of  the  players.  They  appear 
in  from  thirty  to  fifty  different  pictures  each  year.  Those 
pictures  are  reproduced  in  great  numbers,  and  are  shown  simul- 
taneously every  day,  in  every  city,  town,  village  and  hamlet 
in   the   United    States. 

So  that  in  one  year  the  audience  of  a  motion  picture  star 
is  over  50,000,000  people,  multiplied  by  as  many  times  as  the 
film  appears  in  different  towns.  In  other  words — and  to  con- 
clude, the  motion  picture  shows  to  more  human  beings  in  one 
year  than  the  star  of  the  stage  drama  shows  to  in  his  entire 
lifetime  if  he  lives  to  be  a  hundred. 

The  motion  picture,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  is  the  drama 
nf  the  rich  and  poor  alike;  it  is  the  drama  of  the  universe. 
It  carries  its  sob  and  its  laugh,   its  message  and   its   lesson,  to 


356 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7.. 


millions  and  millions  of  people,  and  speaks  it  in  a  universal  lan- 
guage that  is  understood  in  every  country  on  the  face  of  the 
globe.  It  plays  with  a  myriad  fingered  hand  with  infinite  har- 
mony on  the  heart  strings  of  all  humanity. 

Now  what  of  the  future?  If  the  past  is  prologue  for  the 
future  what  triumphs  and  glories  may  we  expect?  There  are 
gathered  here  tonight  men  and  women  whose  names  are  the 
greatest  in  all  the  arts  and  sciences :  A  great  poet,  a  great 
scientist,  notable  writers,  successful  actors  and  actresses,  and 
every  one  of  those  people  whose  names  are  by-words  and  whom 
we  are  all  proud  to  know  and  to  be  associated  with — every 
one  of  them  is  connected  or  interested  in  or  with  some  form 
of  motion  picture  productivity. 

President  Wilson  Speaks 

Air.  Blackton  then  introduced  the  guest  of  the  eve- 
ning, President  Woodrow  Wilson.  The  President  said 
in  part : 

I  wondered,  when  I  was  on  my  way  here,  what  would  be 
expected  of  me.  It  occurred  to  me,  perhaps,  that  I  would  only 
be  expected  to  go  through  the  motions  of  a  speech.  And  then 
I  reflected  that,  never  having  seen  myself  speak,  and  generally 
having  my  thoughts  concentrated  upon  what  I  had  to  say,  I 
had  not  the  least  opinion  what  my  motions  were  when  I  made 
a  speech — because  it  has  never  occurred  to  me,  in  my  simplicity, 
to  make  a  speech  before  a  mirror. 

I  have  sometimes  been  very  much  chagrined  in  seeing  my- 
self in  a  motion  picture. 

I  have  often  wondered  if  I  really  was  that  kind  of  a  guy. 
The  extraordinary  rapidity  with  which  I  walked,  for  example, 
the  instantaneous  and  apparently  automatic  nature  of  my  mo- 
tions ;  the  way  in  which  I  produce  uncommon  grimaces  and 
altogether  the  extraordinary  exhibition  I  make  of  myself  sends 
me  to  bed  very  unhappy.  And  I  often  think  to  myself  that 
although  all  the  world  is  a  stage,  and  men  and  women  but 
actors  upon  it,  after  all,  the  external  appearances  of  things  are 
very   superficial   indeed. 

I  am  very  much  more  interested  in  what  my  fellowmen  are 


thinking  about  than  in  the  motions  through  which  they  are  going, 
and  while  we  unconsciously  display  a  great  deal  of  human  nature 
in  our  visible  actions,  there  are  some  very  deep  waters  within 
which  no  picture  can  sound. 

When  you  think  of  a  great  nation,  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
you  are  not  thinking  of  a  visible  thing;  you  are  thinking  of  a 
spiritual  thing.  I  suppose  a  man  in  public  office  feels  this  with 
a  peculiar  poignancy  because  what  it  is  important  for  him  to 
know  are  the  real,  genuine  sentiments  and  emotions  of  those 
people. 

I  came  here  to  say  that  I  hoped  you  would  not  believe 
that  I  am  what  I  appear  to  be  in  the  pictures  you  make  of  me. 
I  really  am  a  pretty  decent  fellow,  and  I  have  a  lot  of  emo- 
tions that  do  not  show  on  the  surface ;  and  the  things  that  I 
don't  say  would  fill  a  library.  The  great  cross  of  public  life 
is  that  you  are  not  allowed  to  say  all  the  things  that  you  think. 

Some  of  my  opinions  about  some  men  are  extremely  pic- 
turesque; and  if  you  could  only  take  a  motion  picture  of  them, 
you  would  think  it  was  Vesuvius  in  eruption.  And  yet  all  these 
volcanic  forces,  all  these  things  that  are  going  on  inside  of  me, 
have  to  be  concealed  under  a  most  grave  and  reverent  exterior ; 
and  I  have  to  make  believe  that  I  have  nothing  but  respectable 
and  solemn  thought  all  the  time :  whereas  there  is  a  lot 
going  on  inside  of  me  that  would  be  entertaining  to  any  audience 
anywhere. 

We  all,  in  our  hearts,  agree  upon  the  fundamental  principles 
of  our  lives,  of  our  life  as  a  nation.  Now,  we  ought  to  tax 
ourselves  with  the  duty  of  seeing  that  those  principles  are  real- 
ized in  action ;  and  no  fooling  about  it.  The  only  difficult  things 
in  life,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  are  the  applications  of  the  principles 
of  right  and  wrong.  I  can  set  forth  the  abstract  principles  of 
right  and  wrong;  and  so  can  you.  But  when  it  comes  down  to 
an  individual  item  of  conduct,  whether  in  public  affairs  or  pri- 
vate affairs — there  comes  the  pinch  !  In  the  first  place,  to  see 
the  right  way  to  do  it,  and  in  the  second  place,  to  do  it  that 
way.  If  we  could  only  agree  that  in  all  matters  of  public  con- 
cern, we  would  adjourn  our  private  interests,  look  each  other 
frankly  in  the  face,  and  say,  "We  are  all  ready  at  whatever  sacri- 
fice of  our  own   interests,   to   do   in   common  the  thing  that  the 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


357 


common    weal    demands,"    what    an    irresistible    force    Amreica 
would  be ! 

When  the  Chief  Executive  had  finished  amid  ap- 
plause, the  toastmaster  presented  Mayor  John  Purroy 
Mitchel  of  New  York,  who  then  spoke: 

I  am  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  congratulate  this  great  indus- 
try and  art  and  profession  combined,  upon  the  progress  that  the 
three  together  have  made  during  recent  years,  and  on  the  work 
that  they  are  doing  today  and  the  part  they  play  in  the  industrial 
and  the  social  life,  not  only  of  this  city  but  of  the  whole  country. 
Yours  is  a  new  industry;  that  is  proved  by  the  very  fact  that 
this  is  the  first  dinner  of  your  Board  of  Trade ;  but  already  it  has 
become  one  of  the  great  of  the  country,  in  which  a  vast  amount 
of  capital  is  invested,  and  which  serves  the  social  and  the  educa- 
tional purposes  that  your  toastmaster  has  outlined. 

As  he  said,  it  is  serving  still  another  great  purpose  this  year. 
On  the  screen  it  is  bringing  home  to  the  people  of  this  country 
the  practical  necessity  for  preparation  for  national  defense. 

What  will  it  avail  us,  what  will  it  avail  posterity,  if  we  in 
the  United  States  build  up  under  these  instructions,  democracy 
to  the  highest  conceivable  point  of  efficient  serviceability,  if  at 
the  same  time  democracy  should  fail  in  the  elemental  and  primal 
efficiency  of  self-preservation?  That  is  the  issue  and  that  is  the 
test,  and  the  appeal  is  made  by  the  leader  of  the  American  people, 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  to  the  citizenship  of  our 
nation,  to  the  patriotism  of  our  nation.  It  seems  to  me  that  we 
must  say  to  one  another  that  surely  there  was  a  time  when  that 
appeal  could  not  have  been  made  to  the  American  people  without 
an  instant  response. 

Are  we  to  admit  that  patriotism  is  languishing  in  this  nation  ? 
Surely  not!  If  there  be  any  apathy  upon  this  matter,  it  springs 
not  of  a  lack  of  patriotism,  but  of  a  lack  of  appreciation  and 
understanding  of  the  facts.  The  President  is  now  presenting 
those  facts  to  the  nation.  Throughout  the  country  there  are 
ten  thousand  others  who  are  trying  to  uphold  his  hands  and  to 
lend  every  aid  to  him  and  to  the  Government  in  bringing  about 
an  effective  system  of  national  defense.  Surely,  no  more  funda_- 
mental  appeal  could  be  made  to  our  people  than  that  which  he  i's 
making  in  these  days  of  the  trial  of  the  nation,  and  I  think  it  is  a 
privilege  that  New  York  citizens,  ctiizens  of  this  great  common- 
wealth— I  might  almost  call  it — which  perhaps,  more  than  any 
other  community  in  the  United  States,  has  a  direct  and  immediate 
influence  in  the  upbuilding  of  our  national  defenses,  to  have 
heard  the  President  upon  this  great  question  tonight ;  and  it 
should  be  a  stimulus  to  all  of  us  to  renewed  efforts  to  uphold  his 
hands  and  to  aid  him  in  securing  from  the  Congress  of  our 
country  that  legislation  which  is  necessary  to  the  upbuilding  of 
the  defenses  of  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

Remarks  by  Walter  W.  Irwin 

"You  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  motion  picture 
industry  know  that  we  have  been  having-  a  fight  in 
Washington  against  legalized  censorship,"  said  the 
toastmaster.  "I  heard  a  good  story  the  other  day,  a 
sidelight  on  a  farcical  value  of  so-called  legal  censor- 
ship. In  one  of  the  states  a  film  of  the  life  of  George 
Washington  was  censored,  and  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  was  kept  out,  and  this  was  the  report:  'British 
and  American  soldiers  both  were  shown  to  be  using 
firearms  in  a  careless  and  indiscriminate  manner  and 
with  intent  to  kill,'  and  so  they  cut  out  poor  old  Bunker 
Hill.  The  chairman  of  our  Executive  Committee  was 
one-  of  the  men  who  did  some  of  the  strenuous  fighting 
in  Washington,  and  he  will  talk  to  us  for  a  very  few 
minutes ;  Mr.  Walter  W.  Irwin." 

Mr.  Irwin  then  spoke  as  follows : 
This  meeting  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trad£  tonight 
celebrates  the  amalgamation  and  the  co-operation  of  each 
branch  of  the  industry,  for  progression,  protection  and  promo- 
tion. Progression  in  the  creation  and  maintenance  of  proper 
business  ethics  among  ourselves ;  progression  in  the  establish- 
ment of  economic  standards  in  our  business ;  progression  in  the 
development  of  the  merit  and  the  uplifting  qualities  of  our 
product,  so  that  we  may  be  able  to  fully  comply  with  our 
responsibility  to  an  exacting  public.  Protection  against  malice 
and  jealousy;  protection  against  intolerance  born  of  ignorance, 
as  demonstrated  by  legalized  censorship.  There  is  only  one 
form  of  censorship  to  which  we  will  submit,  the  censorship  of 
public  opinion,  the  only  censorship  consistent  with  American 
freedom,  without  a  reversal  of  the  United  States  Constitution; 
for  we  live  under  a  government  of  laws  and  not  of  men. 


We  welcome  and  honor  the  confidence  of  the  thinking  and 
discerning  public;  we  want  the  confidence  of  the  exhibitors, 
we  must  have  their  confidence  in  full  measure,  for  unless  we 
possess  it,  we  will  not  be  able  to  obtain  their  co-operation,  and 
without  their  co-operation  much  of  our  most  important  effort 
will  come  to  nought. 

We  seek  their  membership,  we  welcome  them;  through  their 
membership  we  will  obtain  their  co-operation,  not  only  for 
protection,  but  because  they  are  the  best  people  to  furnish  us 
with  reliable  information  of  the  higher  standards  constantly 
demanded  by  an  exacting  public. 

This  month  in  Washington,  in  opposing  the  un-American 
censorship  bill,  the  large  body  of  exhibitors  present  was  of 
great  assistance ;  at  least  equal  to  that  furnished  by  any  other 
branch  of  the  industry.  We  are  proud  of  our  industry,  proud 
of  its  success,  proud  of  its  moral  standards.  We  have  ex- 
perienced, and  we  will  continue  to  experience,  many  trials  and 
tribulations;  but  with  each  branch  working  in  perfect  harmony 
with  others,  our  difficulties  will  be  overcome  and  we  will  be 
able  to  rise  higher  in  the  estimation  of  our  fellow  men  daily. 

Our  responsibility  we  must  now  feel  to  be  the  heavier 
by  reason  of  the  recognition  and  consideration  which  have  been 
shown  to  us  tonight  by  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  country. 

Collector  Malone  Is  Heard 

The  next  speaker  introduced  by  Mr.  Blackton  was 
his  friend,  Collector-of-the-Port  Dudley  Field  Malone : 

This  idea  of  having  anything  to  do  with  the  temporary 
care  in  a  large  city  of  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  Nation  is 
a  hectic  job. 

I  have  been  on  the  firing  line  since  ten  minutes  to  six  this 
morning,  having  reached  home  at  3  o'clock  the  same  morning, 
and  I  feel  all  the  vigor  and  enthusiasm  which  you  hope  I  feel, 
and  which  may  best  speak  an  early  conclusion.  But  I  do  want 
to  say  to  you  that  I  am  very,  very  happy  to  have  come  here,  and 
particularly  happy  just  as  an  American  citizen  to  pay  my  tribute 
of  profound  gratitude  to  a  man  who  has  proved  in  national 
opinion  the  practical  national  political  and  patriotic  value  of 
the  moving  pictures  in  the  picture  which  is  doing  such  tre- 
mendous work  to  arouse  public  opinion  to  national  preparation 
and  defense — your  toastmaster  and  my  friend,  with  his  picture : 
Commodore  Blackton  and  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace" ;  because, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  is  no  spirit  of  race  prejudice,  it  is  in 
no  spirit  pro  anybody  or  pro  anything  European  that  the  people 
of  America  are  bespeaking  the  necessity  of  an  adequate  defense. 
We  are  preparing  for  a  war  against  nobody,  and  we  are  pre- 
paring for  a  war  of  no  particular  duration  and  at  no  particular 
time,  but  we  have  decided  as  a  common  sense  people  that  it 
were  an  act  of  supreme  folly  that  America,  dedicated  in  her 
benevolence  to  the  service  of  mankind,  shall  not  go  out  with  the 
smile  of  justice  on  her  face  and  with  olive  branches  in  her  hand, 
while  the  nations  of  the  earth,  armed  to  the  teeth,  may  in  the 
future  be  covetous  of  our  institutions  and  the  integrity  of  the 
nation. 

"At  the  place  of  every  speaker,"  remarked  Toast- 
master  Blackton,  "was  a  little  typewritten  card  bear- 
ing these  words,  'In  your  remarks,  please  omit  ref- 
erence to  any  motion  picture  company  or  to  individuals 
connected  with  the  industry.'  " 

"Too  late,  now!"  replied  Collector  Malone. 

Secretary  Binder  in  Conclusion 

After  the  poet,  Edwin  Markham,  had  made  a  few 
remarks  in  happy  vein,  Executive  Secretary  J.  W. 
Binder  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  addressed 
the  assembly : 

Newspaper  editors  tell  you,  when  you  bring  in  your  copy, 
"Stand  your  story  on  its  head.  Cut  off  the  heading  and  the 
second  paragraph  and  print  it  in  one  short  sentence  and  be 
done  with  it." 

I  have  a  heartful  of  matter  that  I  would  like  to  talk  to  you 
about,  about  this  great  industry  of  ours,  an  industry  which  is 
so  dear  to  me,  its  brilliant  future,  its  brilliant  past.  I  would 
like  to  stand  here  for  an  hour  and  tell  you  some  stories  I  have 
heard  of  the  people  who  made  this  industry,  who  were  re- 
sponsible for  its  beginning,  of  their  tremendous  struggles  against 
tremendous  odds ;  how  they  triumphed  over  those  odds  and 
how  they  are  today  the  honored  heads  of  great  institutions. 
Those  stories  must  be  told  at  the  same  time.  And  one  of  the 
things  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  is  attempting  to  do 
today  is  to  have  that  vast  material — interesting  human-interest 
material — gathered  up  in  a  book  of  about  four  or  five  hundred 


358 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  7. 


pages,  to  be  writen  by  one  of  the  greatest  writers  in  the  country, 
to  tell  this  wonderful  story  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 

The  history  of  the  motion  picture  is  a  fairy  tale.  It  is 
absolutely  unbelievable  to  a  man  who  comes  in  from  the  outside, 
and  views  it,  as  I  did,  three  years  ago  for  the  first  time,  to  note, 
for  one  instance,  a  Galician  Jew,  a  poor  man,  coming  to  this 
country  with  perhaps  $4  in  his  pocket,  with  nothing  except  the 
tremendous  skill  which  he  had  as  a  lens  grinder;  to  follow  the 
history  of  that  man  and  his  struggles,  as  he  came  from  poverty 
and  emerged  into  the  splendor  and  magnificence  of  the  riches 
that  he  now  has,  through  the  motion  picture  industry;  if  I  could 
tell  you  that  story  as  it  was  told  to  me,  as  it  will  appear  when 
the  real  biography  of  the  motion  picture  is  written,  it  would 
move  you  first  to  tears  and  then  to  interest,  and  finally  you 
would  share  with  him  that  splendid  triumph  which  he  now 
enjoys.  I  say  these  things  must  be  told  at  some  time,  but  this 
is  neither  the  time  nor  the  place.  I  simply  want  to  say,  before 
I  sit  down,  that  this  dinner,  the  first  dinner  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Board  of  Trade  of  America,  a  lusty  infant  of  only  four 
months  old,  is  a  fair  semblance  of  what  will  be  in  the  future ; 
because,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  this  motion  picture  industry  in 
which  we  are  engaged  and  which  we  so  dearly  love  is  but 
struggling  to  express  itself  at  the  present  time.  It  is  still 
enmeshed  and  hidden  and  tangled  by  the  threads  of  discord, 
by  the  fact  that  the  industry  itself  does  not  know  itself  thor- 
oughly, by  the  fact  that  the  men  in  it  are  just  beginning  to  find 
what  a  wonderful  force  they  have  within  their  grasp. 

The  Board  of  Trade,  or  the  organization — I  care  not  by  what 
name  you  call  it — that  has  the  least  help  or  assistance  in  shaping 
the  destinies  of  this  tremendous  industry,  in  making  them  go  for 
the  right,  in  stabilizing  the  industry,  in  eliminating  from  it  all 
the  things  that  are  bad,  whether  they  be  things  of  business  prac- 
tice, whether  they  be  things  of  morals,  or  what  not — I  say  the 
institution  which  has  the  least  part  in  doing  this,  and  thus  in 
upbuilding  and  standardizing  this  great  industry,  will  live  in 
future  generations  and  will  be  thanked  for  it. 

"I  know  of  no  man  who  can  get  more  fun  out  of 
misfortune  than  the  one  I  am  going  to  ask  now  to 
close  the  speeches  of  this  evening,"  said  the  toastmas- 
ter,  "for  it  is  almost  a  misfortune  to  be  the  last  speaker 
so  late  at  night  when  everybody  is  sitting  there  sec- 
retly hoping  that  he  will  not  say  very  much.  How 
much  he  will  say  depends  upon  how  much  you  laugh 
at  him  and  how  much  interest  you  show:  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Cyrus  Townsend  Brady. 

"How  do  you  do?"  said  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brady. 
"Good  night!" 

The  guests  attending  the  banquet  were : 

Mrs.  Nellie  Anderson,  A.  W.  Atwater,  W.  W.  Atkinson, 
Charles  Abrams,  Carl  Anderson,  Hunter  Bennett,  C.  E.  Beecroft, 
Mrs.  Stuart  Blackton,  Rex  Beach,  George  Baker,  Graham  Baker, 
Jack  Brawn,  Louise  Beaudet,  Van  Dyke  Brooke,  Fred  J.  Bee- 
croft, Eugene  V.  Brewster,  Harry  D.  Brewster,  Leon  J.  Bam- 
berger, George  Balsdon,  Fulton  Brylawski,  Raymond  S.  Binder, 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Binder,  F.  J.  Bird,  William  Barry,  J.  A.  Berst, 
George  F.  Blaisdell,  Mrs.  George  F.  Blaisdell,  King  Baggot, 
Harry  Benham,  Whitman  Bennett,  William  Brandt,  J.  E.  Bru- 
latour,  C.  T.  Bittner,  L.  F.  Blumenthal,  Naomi  Childers,  Howard 
Chandler  Christy,  F.  K.  Cannock,  Charles  R.  Condon,  Merritt 
Crawford,  Harry  J.  Cohn,  Paul  H.  Cromelin,  J.  F.  Coufal,  Clar- 
ence J.  Caine,  J.  P.  Chalmers,  J.  F.  Chalmers,  Miss  E.  J.  Chalmers, 
Robert  W.  Chambers,  Mrs.  Robert  W.  Chambers,  Harvey  A. 
Cochrane,  Airs.  Harvey  A.  Cochrane,  Mrs.  Bainbridge  Colby, 
R.  H.  Cochrane,  Mrs.  R.  H.  Cochrane,  P.  D.  Cochrane,  Mrs.  P.  D. 
Cochrane,  Harry  Cohn,  Jack  Cohn,  Mrs.  Harrv  A.  Cochrane, 
Frank  Daniels,  Harrv  Davenport,  W.  H.  Donaldson,  Lvnde 
Denig,  Mark  M.  Dintcnfass,  Joseph  W.  En-el,  Edward  Earl,  Mrs. 
Edward  Earl,  Airs.  S.  M.  Field,  Air.  Samuel  M.  Field,  Mr.  I.  H. 
Finn,  Felix  S.  Feist,  Mrs.  Felix  S.  Feist,  R.  T.  Farnum,  John  C. 
Finn,  Hugh  Ford,  Arthur  S.  Friend,  Daniel  Frohman,  Mrs.  I.  C. 
Graham,  R.  G.  Garrick,  L.  J.  Gasnicr,  John  W.  Grey,  J.  E.  Graef, 
Lambert  Guenther,  Jesse  1.  Goldberg,  Walter  E.  Greene,  Joseph 
Golden,  Kendall  F.  Gillett,  Paul  Gulick,  Philip  Gleichman",  Mrs. 
Philip  Gleichman,  Charles  \Y.  Goddard,  Samuel  B.  Goldfish,  Ben 
Goetz,  C.  B  Hi  nl  i  1,  David  Horsley,  William  Humphrey,  Guv  L. 
Harrington,  J.  II.  Ilalll,cn>,  F.  I)."  ITorkheimcr,  C.  B.  Harmon, 
Fred  Hawley,  Edgar  B.  Hattrick,  Kenneth  Hodkinson,  W.  W. 
Hodkinson,  Hugh  Hoffman,  M.  II.  Hoffman,  Mrs.  M.  H.  Hoff- 
man, Mrs.  Waller  W.  Irwin.  Ralph  Incc,  Mrs.  Ralph  lnce,  Owen 
Johnson,  Arthur  Janus,  William  A.  J, .bust,,,,,  Mrs.  William  A. 
iohn  ton,  [oseph  Kilgour,  Maxwell  Karger,  Arthur  Kane,  A.  A. 
Kaufman,  Charles  Kessell,  Dorothy  Kelly,  Stanley  Kingsbury, 
Felix  Kahn,   Vrthur  Leslie,  Florence  Fa  Badie,  (apt.  Harrv   Lam- 


bert, Roger  Lytton,  Edwin  M.  LaRoche,  A.  J.  Lang,  Mrs.  Carl 
Laemmle,  Jesse  L.  Lasky,  Tracy  H.  Lewis,  Al  Lichtman,  Otto 
Lederer,  Siegmund  Lubin,  Roy  L.  McCardell,  Mrs.  Dudley  Field 
Malone,  Mrs.  Edwin  Markham,  Mrs.  Hudson  Maxim,  Antonio- 
Moreno,  Mary  Maurice,  Harry  Morev.  James  Morrison,  Garry 
McGarry,  Miss  Estelle  J.  Murphy,  Felix  Malitz,  Joseph  Miles, 
F.  L.  Masters,  R.  W.  McFarland,  Leslie  Mason,  A.  MacArdiur, 
Iohn  F.  Miller.  Miss  Violet  Mersereau,  Mrs.  Edward  A.  Mac- 
Alanus,  J.  J.  McCarthy,  Hy  Maver,  Matt  Moore,  P.  J.  Morgan, 
Harry  Meyers,  J.  A.  Milligan,  Aubrey  Mittenthal,  Harry  Mit- 
tenthal,  J.  A.  McKinney,  Mrs.  Tom  Moore,  Tom  Moore.  Wilfred 
North,  Lee  A.  Ochs,  Evart  Overton,  Ingvald  C.  Oes,  Walton 
W.  O'Hara,  Mrs.  Walton  W.  O'Hara,  William  Oldknow,  H.  H- 
Poppe,  Kate  Price,  P.  A.  Parsons,  Carl  H.  Pierce,  Mrs.  Carl 
H.  Pierce,  Paul  Panzer,  Raymond  Pawley,  O.  A.  Powers  and 
guests,  L.  J.  Rubenstein,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Rubenstein,  Terry  Ramsaye, 
J.  V.  Ritchey,  A.  F.  Rock,  Charles  Richman,  B.  A.  Rolfe,  S.  L. 
Rothapfel,  Airs.  S.  L.  Rothapfel,  Harry  L.  Reichenbach,  Mrs. 
Harry  L.  Reichenbach,  M.  Ramirez-Torres.  Frank  H.  Richard- 
son, Harry  Rapf,  Arthur  B.  Reeve,  Edward  Roskam,  Wratterson 
R.  Rothacker,  Mrs.  Watterson  R.  Rothacker,  Nat  W.  Rothstein, 
Mr.  D.  J.  Sullivan,  Airs.  W.  E.  Shallenberger,  G.  H.  Sheldon, 
Penrhyn  Stanlaws,  Victor  Smith,  William  Shea,  S.  M.  Spedon, 
Anita  Stewart,  Paul  Scardon,  Alax  Speigel,  Edward  Speigel, 
Edward  M.  Saunders,  Charles  K.  Stern,  William  Steiner,  Victor 
Shapiro,  A.  I.  Siegel,  Rufus  Steele,  Airs.  Rufus  Steele,  J.  G. 
Skerritt,  W.  C.  Smith,  George  B.  Seitz,  William  M.  Seabury, 
Airs.  William  At.  Seabury,  Peter  Schmid,  Winfield  R.  Sheehan, 
Robert  J.  Shores,  R.  Sanborn,  F.  W.  Singhi,  Arthur  M.  Small- 
wood,  Miss  Agnes  Smith,  Julius  Stern,  Air.  Edwin  Thanhouser, 
Mrs.  Edwin  Thanhouser,  Rose  Tapley,  Harvey  F.  Thew,  W.  C. 
Toomey,  Samuel  Trigger,  Louis  Toseph  Vance,  Wally  Van, 
C.  W.  White,  Earle  Williams,  Lillian  Walker,  Dr.  J.' Victor 
Wilson,  H.  A.  Wyckoff,  Thomas  G.  Wiley,  Lloyd  D.  Willis, 
John  Wylie,  Dickson  Watts,  Leo  Wharton,  Airs.  Leo  Wharton, 
William  Welsh,  Ben  Wilson,  Otis  F.  Wood,  Adolph  Zukor. 

The  Committee  on  Arrangements  was  composed 
of  Walter  W.  Irwin,  chairman,  John  R.  Freuler,  Wat- 
terson R.  Rothaker,  Paul  Gulick  and  J.  A.  McKinney. 


Famous  March  Plays  Announced 

In  addition  to  the  seven-reel  "special"  in  which 
Mary  Pickford  is  starred,  the  Famous  Players  Film 
Company  has  promised  for  the  Paramount  program 
for  March  three  other  features  of  special  interest. 

Jack  Barrymore  will  be  seen  in  "The  Man  Who 
Found  Himself;"  Hazel  Dawn  is  said  to  have  made 
the  most  of  an  excellent  opportunity  in  "The  Longest 
Way  Round,"  and  Pauline  Frederick  is  starred  again, 
the  story  being  "Audrey." 

The  Mary  Pickford  play  is  one  in  which  she  plays 
an  Italian  girl  and  is  called  "Poor  Little  Peppina." 
Kate  Jordan  wrote  it. 

"The  Man  Who  Found  Himself"  is  from  the  pen 
of  Willard  Mack,  author  of  "Kick  In."  It  is  the  story 
of  a  respectable  young  man  who  turns  burglar  as  the 
result  of  a  blow  on  the  head. 

Hazel  Dawn  has  the  role  of  a  young  girl  whose 
father  is  at  war  with  his  next  door  neighbor.  The 
neighbor  has  a  son  the  girl  hasn't  seen.  They  meet 
and  Fall  in  love  and  then  the  trouble  begins. 

Pauline  Frederick's  vehicle  is  from  the  novel  of 
the  same  name  by  Mary  Johnston  in  the  stage  version 
of  which  Maggie  Mitchell  was  starred. 


Rothapfel  Uses  Mutual  News 

The  Mutual  Weekly  is  growing  in  popularity. 
Not  only  is  it  shown  in  the  Palace  theater  of  New 
xt  mi  City,  which  is  a  proof  of  excellence,  hut  Samuel 
I..  Rothapfel  is  now  using  it  on  Broadway.  Keith's 
Royal  theater,  leading  vaudeville  house  of  the  Bronx, 
New  York  City,  has  installed  it,  and  beginning  with 
February  6.  it  will  replace  another  news  reel  at  the 
Market   Street  theater  in   San   Francisco. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Lubin  Plants  Being  Rebuilt 

LIGHTING  SYSTEMS  INSTALLED 


THE  plant  of  the  Lubin  Manufacturing  Company 
at  26th  and  Indiana,  Philadelphia,  is  being  rear- 
ranged because  of  announced  increase  in  busi- 
ness. Extensive  alterations  are  being  made  under  the 
direction  of  Edward  L.  Simons. 

The  old  floors  are  being  replaced ;  columns  and 
abutments  are  being  removed  to  enable  the  occupants 
of  the  studio  at  any  time  to  extend  the  field  of  opera- 
tions by  throwing  the  three  studios  into  one  and  a  new 
lighting  plant  is  being  installed. 

When  all  these  alterations  are  completed  the 
Lubin  company  will  commence  work  on  several  fea- 
ture productions  safe  in  the  knowledge  that  weather  con- 
ditions will  not  interfere. 

The  Lubin  company  also  is  installing  at  the  plant 
in  Glenwood  avenue,  between  16th  and  17th  streets,  a 
new  lighting  plant  and  a  sectional  glass  roof. 

While  the  present  winter  has  not  been  severe,  the 
sun  has  been  hidden  a  good  part  of  the  time  and  this 
has  caused  many  expensive  delays  in  the  turning  out 
of  the  required  number  of  features  and  it  has  been  a 
troublesome  problem  at  times  to  keep  seven  directors 
and  their  companies  from  getting  in  each  other's  way. 

The  improvements  will  solve  all  difficulties.  Di- 
rector Jack  Pratt  and  his  company  will  occupy  the 
Glenwood  studio.  Edgar  Lewis  is  in  Georgia  with  his 
company  and  Directors  Kaufman,  Terwilliger,  Greene 
and  others  will  occupy  the  20th  street  and  Indiana  ave- 
nue studio. 

Director  Pratt  is  working  on  "Her  Bleeding 
Heart,"  a  multiple  reel  feature  by  Daniel  Carson  Good- 
man. Director  Kaufman,  when  the  studios  are  ready, 
will  begin  work  on  an  adaptation  of  Clyde  Fitch's  fa- 
mous play  "The  Woman  in  the  Case."     The  scenario 


is  being  written  by  Anthony  P.  Kelly.     Ethel  Clayton 
will  be  starred  in  this  feature. 

The  Lubin  company  recently  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment with  one  of  America's  greatest  fiction  writers 
and  will  soon  present  his  works  on  the  screen. 


At  the  second  regular  business  meeting  of  the  Lu- 
bin Beneficial  Association  112  members  were  present. 
Jack  Pratt,  the  new  president,  was  presented  with  a 
basket  of  flowers  and  a  gavel.  Mr.  Pratt  spoke  upon  the 


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Philadelphia 


future  plans  of  the  association.  He  appointed  an  enter- 
tainment committee  consisting  of  I.  Schwartz,  Richard 
Buhler,  Wally  Helston,  George  Spink,  Miss  Rosetta 
Brice,  Miss  Gertis  St.  Clair,  and  Miss  Arona  M.  Hub- 
bard.    An  informal  dance  followed  the  meeting. 


LASKY  PRESENTS  MAE  MURRAY 


Former  Comic  Opera  Star  to  Be   Seen  with  Wallace 

Reid  in  "To  Have  and  To  Hold"  on  Paramount 

Program 

The  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company  an- 
nounces a  new  star  for  the  Paramount  program  for 
March  in  the  person  of  Mae  Murray,  former  comic 
opera  star.  Miss  Murray  will  make  her  screen  debut 
as  Lady  Jocelyn  Leigh  in  "To  Have  and  To  Hold," 
Mary  Johnston's  story,  and  Wallace  Reid  will  be  the 
leading  man.  Others  in  the  cast  will  be  Tom  Forman, 
Raymond  Hatton,  William  Bradbury,  James  Neill, 
Bob  Gray,  Lucien  Littlefield,  Camille  Astor  and  Bob 
Fleming.     This  play  will  be  released  March  S. 

The  second  Lasky-Paramount  feature  will  be  "For 
the  Defense,"  in  which  Fannie  Ward,  who  was  fea- 
tured so  successfully  recently  in  "The  Cheat,"  will  be 
starred.  The  story  of  the  play  is  by  Hector  Turnbull, 
who  wrote  "The  Cheat,"  and  the  scenario  is  by  Marga- 
ret Turnbull.     Frank  Reicher  is  the  director. 

The  third  feature  for  March  will  be  Blanche  Sweet 
in  "The  Sowers,"  a  picturization  of  Henry  Seton  Mer- 
riman's  story  of  the  same  name. 


Fireman  Tricked  for  Picture 

For  the  fire  scene  in  "The  Woman  in  Politics," 
Thanhouser-Mutual  Masterpicture,  the  entire  fire  de- 
partment of  Portchester,  N.  Y.,  was  called  out.  A 
tenement  building  about  half  a  mile  from  the  center 
of  town  was  burned,  and  only  three  men  in  the  fire 
department  knew  it  was  for  a  picture  "rescue." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


MARY  PICKFORD  IN  "SPECIAL" 

Famous  Players  Star  to  Be  Seen  in  Seven-Reel  Fea- 
ture in  Large  Cities  Before  Regular  Release 
on  Paramount  Program 

"Pour  Little  Peppina,"  in  which  Mary  Pickford 
is  next  to  appear,  will  be  her  first  seven-reel  feature. 
The  play,  which  was  written  by  Kate  Jordan  and 
directed  by  Sidney  Olcott,  will  be  released  March  2 
on  the  Paramount  program,  and  is  the  first  Pickford 
picture  released  since  the  formation  of  the  Famous 
Players-Mary  Pickford  Company,  in  which  she  has  a 
half  interest. 

In  "Poor  Little  Peppina"  Miss  Pickford  again 
plays  the  part  of  the  abused  child.  This  time  she  is  a 
little  American  girl  kidnaped  in  Italy.  To  escape  her 
captors  she  puts  on  boy's  clothing  and  comes  to  Amer- 
ica. Throughout  most  of  the  play,  she  appears  as  this 
ragged  little  urchin,  who  acts  as  messenger  boy,  boot- 
black and  general  servant  for  a  group  of  counterfeiters. 

There    is    opportunity    for   many    exciting   adven- 


appalling  loss  of  human  life  through  the  negligence  on 
the  part  of  property  owners  to  safeguard  the  lives  of 
factory  workers.  The  fire  in  the  Triangle  shirt-waist 
factory  in  which  one  hundred  and  forty-five  girls  were 
either  burned  to  death  or  plunged  to  destruction  from 
the  tenth  story  of  the  Asche  building;  and  the  still 
more  recent  Diamond  shirt-waist  fire  in  Brooklyn,  have 
served  to  point  out  the  careless  manner  in  which  fire 
laws  are  enforced. 

"The  Writing  On  the  Wall"  based  its  theme  on 
the  matter  of  fire  protection.  In  filming  the  production, 
Director  Tefft  Johnson  constructed  two  one-story 
stores  in  the  lot  opposite  the  Vitagraph  studios  in  Flat- 
bush,  equipped  them  thoroughly  as  a  paint  shop  and 
a  clothing  store  and  then  proceeded  to  burn  them  up. 
He  staged  a  scene  with  three  hundred  school  children 
running  panic-stricken  from  the  suffocating  fumes  of 
the  smoke,  and  portrayed  a  scene  that  differs  little  from 
almost  daily  occurrences  in  a  big  city. 

It  is  a  film  that  every  property  owner  should  see. 
The  film  tells  of  a  wealthy  man  who  disregards  the 
safety  of  his  tenants  by  painting  his  fire  escapes  instead 
of  replacing  them.  His  own  son  is  caught  in  the  fire 
and  the  man  perishes  in  attempting  to  rescue  him.  In 
the  character  of  the  wealthy  man,  Joseph  Kilgour  gives 
a  powerful  portrayal.  Naomi  Childers,  Virginia  Pear- 
son, Bobby  Connelly,  Charles  Wellesley  and  others  are 
in  capable  roles. 

"The  Writing  On  the  Wall"  is  a  Blue  Ribbon 
Feature,  written  by  William  J.  Hurlburt.  picturized  by 
Marguerite  Bertsch  and  is  released  as  a  five-part  drama 
on  Monday  February  14. 


i    Pickford    ( 


•    from 


tures,  before  the  gang  is  captured,  and  the  girl  is  re- 
stored to  her  parents.  There  is  a  love  story  in  the 
play  also,  the  romance  between  Peppina  and  the  law- 
yer who  befriends  the  little  messenger  "boy." 

In  the  supporting  cast  are  Edwin  Mordant,  Eugene 
O'Brien,  Antonio  Maiori,  Ernesto  Torti,  Cesare  Gra- 
vina,  W.  T.  Carleton  and  Jack  Pickford. 

Special  presentations  in  New  York  and  several 
other  large  cities  will  be  given  before  the  regular  re- 
lease. The  Famous  Players  Company  has  arranged 
special  advertising  sheets  for  exhibitors. 


Property  Owners  Should  See  This  Film 

At  a  time  when  so  many  disastrous  fires  are  caus- 
ing loss  (if  life  through  inadequacyof  protection  against 
lire,  the  latest  feature  film  of  the  Vitagraph  Company 
just  completed,  comes  at  an  opportune  time,  teaching 
;i  lesson  of  preparedness  that  makes  it  a  valuable  aid  to 
reformers  seeking  to  better  conditions.  The  officials  of 
the  Vitagraph  Company  plan  to  give  a  press  exhibition 
in  the  near  future  to  which  Fire  Commissioner  Adam- 
on  .ind  -ill,,-  cit)  officials  will  he  invited. 

According    to    fire    statistics,    there   has   been    an 


Triangle  Now  Settled  in  New  Home 

With  a  five  years'  lease  that  provides  that  no 
other  film  company  may  have  quarters  in  the  building, 
the  Triangle  Film  Corporation  moved  Monday,  Jan- 
uary 24,  from  Twenty-third  street,  New  York,  to  the 
new  Brokaw  building,  in  Broadway  between  Forty- 
first  and  Forty-second  streets,  New  York.  The  Tri- 
angle takes  the  entire  upper  section  of  the  structure, 
occupying  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  floors  and  the  roof. 
On  the  eleventh  floor  are  the  executive  offices  of  H. 
E.  Aitken,  president  of  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation, 
and  the  vice-presidents  in  charge  of  production,  David 
W.  Griffith,  Thomas  H.  Ince  and  Mack  Sennett.  The 
various  departments,  exchanges,  publicity  and  promo- 
tion, etc.,  are  also  on  this  floor. 

Above  are  film  storage  vaults,  projection  rooms 
and  an  emergency  studio  for  rush  work  on  unfinished 
scenes.  The  Triangle  is  fortunate  in  obtaining  quar- 
ters in  this  modern  and  centrally  located  building.  The 
amount  of  rental  involved  in  the  lease  is  said  to  be 
between  $75,000  and  $100,000. 


Collier  Picture  Completed 

William  Collier,  well  known  stage  comedian 
signed  for  the  Triangle  by  the  New  York  Motion  Pic- 
ture Corporation,  has  nearly  completed  his  Mack  Sen- 
nett comedy.  "Getting  Married,"  and  is  preparing  to 
devote  all  his  time  to  a  new  five-reel  Kay-Bee  feature 
which  Walter  Edwards  is  directing  for  Ince.  Since 
his  arrival  on  the  coast  Collier  has  been  dividing  his 
time  between  the  two  studios.  "Buster,"  Collier's  step- 
son,  has  convinced  luce  that  he  has  ability  far  beyond 
his  fourteen  years,  and  is  to  have  an  important  part  in 
a  Forthcoming  K.n   Bee  production. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Paramount-Burton  Holmes  Films  Shown 

"EASY  CHAIR  JOURNEYS" 


NOW  that  the  new  Paramount-Burton  Holmes 
travel-pictures,  released  weekly  through  the  Para- 
mount Picture  Corporation,  have  been  shown  the 
public  , seems  to  have  realized  that  more  thought  is 
being  given  to  travel  pictures  than  ever  before. 

Travel  pictures  to  be  sure  are  not  a  new  thing  in 
the  motion  picture  industry,  but  the  affiliation  between 
Paramount  for  the  exclusive  rights  for  the  releasing  of 
the  pictures  of  Mr.  Holmes,  who  is  conceded  to  be  the 
greatest  traveler  in  the  world,  will  mark  a  new  era  in 
travel  motion  pictures  similar,  to  say  the  least,  as  was 
created  in  the  lecture  field  by  Mr.  Holmes  when  he 
brought  to  that  form  of  entertainment  something  new 
and  human  and  up-to-date. 

No  longer  will  travel  pictures,  such  as  these,  be 
tised  by  the  exhibitor  as  his  polite  means  of  telling  one 
audience  that  it  is  time  for  them  to  make  room  for 
another  crowd,  or  using  them  as  "fillers"  on  any  old 
program,  for  they  are  just  the  opposite  from  the  old 
miscellaneous  and  ill-assorted  pictures,  depicting  scenes 
in  "any  old  place,"  poorly  titled  and  a  drug  on  the  mar- 
ket. 

This  collection  of  pictures,  which  is  enormously 
large,  is  valuable  in  its  every  detail  and  will  grant  any 
person  the  privilege  of  traveling  with  absolute  safety 
and  comfort;  quickly  and  economically — even  in  the 
war-ridden  countries  of  Europe — seeing  the  world  at 
close  range  with  much  thoroughness  and  with  as  much 
leisure  as  any  multimillionaire  possessing  unlimited 
income  and  unlimited  time.  Here  is  granted  the  oppor- 
tunity of  giving  one  universal  citizenship,  taking  them 
to  alluring  nooks  and  unfrequented  corners  of  the 
world — off  the  tourists'  trail — and  on  trips  where  tips 
are  not  required. 

Aside  from  the  wonderful  pictures  which  were 
given  their  first  showing  and  which  are  to  follow  as 
"easy  chair  journeys"  each  week,  most  notable  was  the 
vast  improvement  in  the  titling  and  sub-titling  of  the 
pictures.  In  obtaining  the  co-operation  of  Mr.  Holmes, 
Paramount  has  secured  far  more  than  a  wonderful  col- 
lection of  pictures,  for  Mr.  Holmes  will  personally  ar- 
range all  of  the  films  and  write  all  of  the  titles,  thus 
infusing  them  with  that  human  interest,  that  correct 
and  authoritative  information,  and  those  occasional  bits 
of  humor  which,  for  the  past  twenty-three  years,  have 
distinguished  Mr.  Holmes'  spoken  travelogues. 

Novelty  and  variety  are  the  keynotes  of  these 
latest  travel  pictures ;  novelty  because  they  take  the 
traveler  in  the  theater  to  the  uniquely  interesting  places 
that  are  away  from  the  beaten  paths  of  the  -average 
tourist  and  show  them  instructively  interesting  places 
that  are  rare,  beautiful,  and  at  times  amusing;  variety 
because  in  all  his  travel  lectures  and  pictures  that  has 
been  the  great-  traveler's  chief  point.  He  knows 
through  his  twenty  years  of  traveling  that  audiences 
like  variety  as  much  as  he  does,  so  he  has  arranged 
his  weekly  journeyings  so  that  there  is  not  too  much 
at  any  one  time  of  any  one  country,  and  he  has  edited 
his  pictures  so  that  there  is  just  enough  of  this  or  that, 
a  glimpse  here  or  there,  intermingled  with  a  title  giv- 
ing some  necessary  information  tersely,  then  an  amus- 
ing incident,  then  something  startling  or  of  vital  human 


interest,  so  that  the  little  journeys — which  closely  fol- 
low the  lines  of  a  real  travel  experience  and  give  a 
remarkable  idea  of  the  place  visited — are  always  full  of 
life  and  interest — never  dry  or  monotonous. 

The  principle  that  "every  true  American  should 
see  America  first,"  is  the  one  upon  which  the  early  re- 
leases of  these  pictures  are  based,  for  they  will  all  treat 
of  our  native  land.  With  this  end  in  view  the  first  two 
deal  with  a  motor  trip  through  the  beautiful  state  of 
New  Mexico,  starting  in  Chicago,  where  are  first  wit- 
nessed the  "Cliff  Dwellers"  of  the  Windy  City,  later 
visiting  the  ancient  capital  city  of  Santa  Fe,  thence  to 
its  ranches  and  marvelous  mesas  and  its  pueblos,  where 
Indians  of  today  dwell  in  prehistoric  apartment  houses 
which  were  old  before  Columbus  discovered  America. 

The  second  takes  the  fellow  travelers  to  the  Grand 
Canyon,  the  biggest,  most  beautiful  thing  in  the  world, 
and  thence  down  the  awe-inspiring,  dizzy  trails  into 
its  ver}-  depths  more  than  a  mile  below  the  surface 
of  the  surrounding  country.  The  third  deals  with  West 
Point  and  the  lives  of  our  future  generals,  while  the 
fourth  takes  you  to  Annapolis,  getting  familiar 
glimpses  of  the  Naval  Academy  and  what  it  takes  to 
make  admirals  who  will  in  the  years  to  come  carry  the 
stars  and  stripes  with  honor  on  the  high  seas. 


BIDS  FOR  FILM  STUDIOS 

Jacksonville  Committee  in  New  York  Trying  to  In- 
duce Manufacturers  to  Increase  Importance 
of  Film  Center 

Jacksonville,  Florida,  is  making  a  strenuous  bid  to 
become  the  motion  picture  manufacturing  center  of  the 
country.  Mayor  J.  E.  T.  Bowden,  who  is  in  the  forefront 
of  the  movement,  recently  named  a  committee  which  now 
is  in  New  York  endeavoring  to  persuade  the  operating 
companies  of  the  metropolis  to  erect  their  plants  in  the 
Florida  city. 

The  movement  was  started  at  a  dinner  given  by  the 
Rotary  Club  of  Jacksonville  to  the  motion  picture  men 
now  working  in  and  around  the  city.  More  than  one  hun- 
dred attended  the  dinner.  The  motion  picture  men  were 
called  upon  to  express  their  opinions  of  why  Jacksonville 
was  the  logical  point  as  a  motion  picture  center. 

Louis  Burstine,  general  manager  of  the  Vim  Com- 
pany there,  advised  that  he  would  do  everything  in  his 
power  to  pave  the  way  for  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee when  they  reached  New  York,  and  George  Welsh, 
of  the  Thanhouser  Company,  gave  the  committee  letters 
of  introduction. 

Those  of  the  motion  picture  men  who  spoke  were. : 
Louis  Burstine,  of  the  Vim ;  Billy  Sullivan,  of  the  Than- 
houser; Walter  Heirs,  Thanhouser;  Riley  Chamberlain, 
Thanhouser;  Paul  Price,  assistant  director  for  the  Rolf- 
Metro  ;  Mr.  Moses,  of  the  Thanhouser ;  Tom  Boyd,  of 
the  Kalem ;  George  Welsh,  of  Thanhouser;  William  A. 
Howell,  director  of  the  Thanhouser;  Arthur  Albertson, 
Kalem;  George  Grimmer,  general  manager  of  Than- 
houser ;  Harris  Gordon,  Thanhouser ;  Mr.  Lewis,  of  the 
Vim ;  Roy  Gahris,  Vim ;  Bert  Tracy,  of  Vim,  and  Billy 
Fletcher,  of  Vim. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  7. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  BUSINESS  GROWS 

"Big  Four"  Finds  It  Necessary  to  Increase  Forces  in 

Various  Offices — Other  News  from  Branches 

All  Over  the  Country 

The  "minimum  and  maximum"  price  rating  and 
the  "open  booking"  policy  developed  by  V.  L.  S.  E. 
has  resulted  in  such  business  gains  that  the  sales  forces 
have  had  to  be  augmented  in  nearly  all  of  the  branches 
of  the  company. 

D.  F.  Heenan,  who  was  shipping  clerk  of  the  Phila- 
delphia branch,  has  been  promoted  to  the  sales  force 
and  Edward  H.  Freiberger,  formerly  an  inspector,  has 
been  made  shipping  clerk. 

I.  Van  Ronkel  in  Chicago  has  added  to  his  staff 
Marmaduke  McCaffrey,  who  has  specialized  in  pub- 
licity and  sales  development  work,  and  who  will  travel 
Iowa  and  part  of  Illinois ;  Philip  Dunas,  formerly  with 
Schiller's  Film  Company ;  Frank  W.  Redfield,  formerly 
with  the  Fox  Film  Corporation  and  the  General  Film 
Company ;  Owen  C.  Devine,  formerly  with  Robert 
Stevenson  Company,  wholesale  druggists,  and  Harry 
A.  O'Brien,  formerly  with  the  Famous  Players.  Four 
of  these  salesmen  will  work  out  of  Chicago,  and  the 
others  in  the  city. 

In  Cincinnati  C.  E.  Shurtleff  has  engaged  J.  A. 
Conant,  recently  of  the  Metro  exchange  in  Des  Moines, 
and  James  R.  Beale,  formerly  with  the  Mutual.  P.  B. 
Elliott  of  the  same  office  will  be  responsible  for  Indiana 
and  Ohio ;  Mr.  Conant,  for  Ohio  and  West  Virginia ; 
Mr.  Beale  for  part  of  Kentucky  and  the  city  of  Cin- 
cinnati. 

J.  E.  Huey,  who  has  been  the  booker  of  the  V.  L. 


S.  E.  Dallas  office,  has  been  advanced  by  C.  A.  Meade, 
branch  manager  there,  to  the  sales  force,  taking  the 
position  made  vacant  by  R.  K.  Evans,  manager  of  the 
New  Orleans  sub-office.  The  booking  department  has 
been  placed  in  charge  of  F.  J.  Murphy,  who  was  the 
shipping  clerk  in  Dallas.  Edward  Fogham  has  been 
promoted  to  shipping  clerk.  J.  B.  Dugger  has  been 
made  assistant  branch  manager  and  also  will  have 
charge  of  advertising  and  publicity. 

Fred  Solomon,  formerly  of  the  Denver  office,  will 
represent  that  organization  in  Kansas  City  hereafter. 

In  Pittsburgh  Edward  C.  Brown  and  C.  D.  Roche 
have  been  added  to  the  sales  force. 

That  sales  ability  is  not  confined  to  the  sales  force 
is  shown  in  two  deals  closed  in  the  Philadelphia  V.  L. 
S.  E.  offices.  Miss  Jennie  Geberd,  the  re-wind  girl 
whose  business  is  doctoring  films,  in  the  absence  of 
J.  S.  Hebrew,  branch  manager,  recently  booked  "The 
Rosary"  to  an  exhibitor,  because  she  spoke  so  sincerely 
of  the  film's  appeal  and  its  success.  Miss  Geberd,  in 
spreading  her  enthusiasm  to  her  girl  friends,  one  of 
whom  is  employed  by  Mr.  Hassinger  of  the  Palace 
theater,  Ardmore,  brought  in  three  more  days'  bookings 
without  any  solicitation  on  the  part  of  the  sales  force. 

V.  L.  S.  E.  has  found  business  of  such  volume  in 
New  York  state  that  it  has  been  found  desirable  to 
open  a  sub-office  in  Syracuse  under  the  management 
of  Joseph  Partridge,  the  New  York  branch  manager, 
and  directly  in  charge  of  A.  M.  Webster,  who  has  been 
representing  the  "Big  Four"  in  the  western  and  middle 
part  of  the  state  since  July.  The  Syracuse  office  will 
serve  Buffalo,  Rochester,  Ithaca,  and  all  towns  in  that 
territory. 


j  with   watches  at   Christmas   ti-me    and    Charles    Dudley,    a    member 
'  above    cartoon    dealing   with    the    distribution    of   the   timeptcccs. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Selznick  Heads  New  Company 


SPIEGEL  CONTROLS  WORLD 


THE  World  Film  Corporation  and  the  Equitable 
Motion  Pictures  Corporation  have  combined  and 
have  obtained  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars  of 
additional  working  capital,  according  to  Milton  C. 
Work,  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
World  Film  Corporation. 

Coincident  with  the  combination  comes  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  formation  of  the  Clara  Kimball 
Young  Film  Corporation  with  Lewis  J.  Selznick  as 
president  and  general  manager.  Mr.  Selznick  was  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  World  Film 
Corporation. 

With  the  combination  of  the  World  and  Equitable 
Companies  Arthur  Spiegel,  president  of  the  Spiegel, 
May,  Stern  Company,  of  Chicago,  becomes  the  direct- 
ing head.  Mr.  Spiegel  already  has  assumed  his  duties 
with  headquarters  at  the  offices  of  the  Equitable  Mo- 
tion Pictures  Corporation,  130  West  Forty-sixth  street, 
New  York  City. 

An  official  announcement  of  the  combination  was 
issued  by  Chairman  Work  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee of  the  World  company.     It  reads  : 

For  some  time  we  have  been  considering  the  acqui- 
sition of  another  film  company,  as  it  became  apparent 
that  by  doing  so  we  could  greatly  enhance  our  efficiency 
and  make  and  distribute  pictures  more  economically.  The 
board  of  the  World  Film  Corporation  has  therefore  de- 
cided, and  its  decision  has  been  ratified  by  the  voting 
trustees,  to  acquire  the  stock  of  the  Equitable  Motion  Pic- 
tures Corporation.  The  majority  of  the  Equitable  share- 
holders have  accepted  this  offer  and  we  believe  that  all  of 
the  shares  of  the  Equitable  Corporation  will  be  exchanged 
under  the  proposed  plan. 

Arthur  Spiegel,  president  of  the  Spiegel,  May,  Stern 
Company,  of  Chicago,  will  head  the  new  combination  and 
take  immediate  charge  of  the  active  conduct  of  the  busi- 
ness. Eight  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  additional  work- 
ing capital  has  been  provided.  The  corporation  will  re- 
lease two  feature  pictures  each  week.  Mr.  Spiegel  was 
induced  to  come  to  New  York  only  after  he  had  become 
satisfied  that  the  capital  requirements  of  the  new  organiza- 
tion had  been  adequately  taken  care  of,  and  that  the  fu- 
ture of  the  company  was  assured  and  that  it  might  be  used 
as  the  basis  of  a  world-wide  organization. 

Mr.  Selznick  has  cancelled  his  contract  as  general  man- 
ager   and    resigned    as    vice-president    of    the    corporation. 
He  proposes,   however,  to   engage  in   the  manufacture   of 
pictures  and  will  thoroughly  co-operate  with  the  new  man- 
agement of  the  World  Film  Corporation  in  the  future  de- 
velopment of  its  business. 
The    million-dollar    Clara    Kimball    Young    Film 
Corporation  was  incorporated  at  Richmond,  Virginia, 
and  is  the  realization  of  the  widely-known  actress'  am- 
bitions as  she  has  desired  to  have  a  motion  picture  cor- 
poration she  could  call  "all  her  own." 

The  first  release  of  the  new  corporation  is""  dated 
for  next  October,  after  which  the  present  plans  call 
for  one  release  a  month  of  the  multiple  reel  variety. 

Arrangements  have  been  made  for  three  studios. 
One  is  to  be  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City, 
another  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  a  third  at  Santiago, 
Cuba.  A  large  company  is  being  engaged,  together 
with  three  or  four  directors. 

Besides  Miss  Young  and  Mr.  Selznick  there  is  a 
wealthy  business  man  interested  in  the  venture. 

Before  each  feature  film  is  released  Mr.  Selznick 
will  go  over  every  foot  of  the  pictures.  The  direction 
■of  the  various  studios  will  also  be  under  his  supervi- 


sion. Miss  Young  will  be  featured  as  the  star  in  each 
picture. 

The  company  is  remarkable  inasmuch  as  Clara 
Kimball  Young  will  be  the  first  motion  picture  actress 
in  the  history  of  American  drama  who  ever  started  a 
motion  picture  producing  company  for  the  purpose  of 
starring  herself.  Sarah  Bernhardt  has  a  film  studio 
now  in  Paris,  based  on  the  same  idea,  but  these  two 
cases  are  the  only  ones  of  their  kind. 

Miss  Young  is  in  Cuba  for  the  World  Film  Cor- 
poration working  in  a  feature  film  there.  She  has  been 
under  contract  with  World  for  two  years.  Before  that 
she  was  with  the  Vitagraph  Company  of  America. 


E.  K.  Lincoln  Joins  Lubin 

E.  K.  Lincoln,  a  screen  actor  of  considerable  note, 
has  joined  the  Lubin  company  as  a  leading  man. 

Mr.  Lincoln  is  an  actor  whose  career  has  been 
both  interesting  and  successful  and  before  joining  the 
ranks  of  motion  pic- 
ture actors  had  a 
wide  schooling  and 
reputation  in  the 
spoken  drama. 

After  putting  in 
a  conscientious  and 
difficult  apprentice- 
ship he  soon  became 
recognized  not  only 
for  his  unusual  abil- 
ity but  also  for  the 
originality  that  char- 
acterized his  inter- 
pretation of  the 
parts  which  fell  to 
his  lot. 

His  early  experi- 
ence, like  nearly 
every  other  star  who 
has  achieved  fame 
on  the  stage,  was  in 
stock  companies  and 
at  the  time  he  de- 
cided to  enter  the  motion  picture  field  he  was  already 
regarded  as  a  promising  aspirant  for  the  highest  of 
dramatic  honors. 

He  had  in  successive  seasons  played,  during  the 
first  years  of  his  apprenticeship,  with  stock  companies 
in  Johnstown,  Pa.,  Paterson,  N.  J.,  Columbus,  Ohio, 
Janesville  Cleveland  and  Pittsburgh.  He  was  the 
leading  man  in.  such  plays  as  "Over  Night"  "The  Vir- 
ginian" and  "Graustark."  His  first  film  connection 
was  with  the  Vitagraph  company.  He  played  a  lead- 
ing part  in  "Million  Bid,"  the  photoplay  that  signal- 
ized the  opening  of  the  Vitagraph  theater  on  Broad- 
way in  New  York.  Mr.  Lincoln  has  an  office  in  New 
York  city,  where  the  E.  K.  Lincoln  Players,  Inc.,  have 
their  headquarters  and  a  studio  in  Grantwood,  N.  J. 


E.    K.    Lincoln. 


Ben  H.  Atwell  has  succeeded  P.  Powers  as  director 
of  publicity  at  the  Knickerbocker  theater.  New  York.  Mr. 
Powers  has  been  recalled  to  the  Triangle  general  offices. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  7. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  STRENGTHENS  PROGRAM 

Announcement   of    Coming    Releases   by   "Big   Four" 
Companies  Promises  Strong  Heart- 
Interest  Features 

Exhibitors  who  have  found  the  box  office  value  in 
heart-interest  features  of  unusual  quality  have  shown 
their  belief  in  the  output  of  the  Vitagraph,  Lubin, 
Selig  and  Essanay  studios  for  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program 
by  booking  the  announced  multiples  without  knowing 
anything  but  the  titles  and  the  names  of  the  players, 
according  to  a  statement  from  "big  four"  headquarters. 
The  organization  announced  a  stronger  program  and 
the  orders  have  been  increasing  steadily,  it  is  said. 

Lubin's  first  February  release,  scheduled  for  the 
14th.  is  "Dollars  and  Cents,"  by  Albert  Payson  Ter- 
hune  and  featuring  Ethel  Clayton,  who  made  such  a 
favorable  impression  in  "The  Great  Divide,"  and  Tom 
Moore  in  what  will  be  his  initial  appearance  on  the 
V.  L.  S.  E.  program.  Joseph  Kaufman  directed  the 
production. 

Following  this  release,  Lubin  will  present  "Her 
Bleeding  Heart,"  featuring  Richard  Buhler  and  Ro- 
setta  Brice,  another  story  of  intense  sentimental  car- 
rying powers,  which  will  be  ready  for  booking  Feb- 
ruary 28. 

"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  is  Selig's  release  for 
February  7.  Tyrone  Power,  Kathlyn  Williams,  Eu- 
genie Besserer,  and  Guy  Oliver  are  featured. 

On  March  6,  Selig  will  release  "Unto  Those  Who 
Sin,"  with  Fritzi  Brunette  in  the  principal  part.  This 
is  a  drama  written  by  James  Oliver  Curwood  and 
directed  by  William  Robert  Daly. 

Essanay's  offering  for  February  14  is  a  five-act 
feature,  "Vultures  of  Society,"  written  by  Richard 
Goodall  and  directed  by  E.  H.  Calvert.  Lillian  Drew, 
Marguerite  Clayton,  Ernest  Maupin  and  Mr.  Calvert 
are  the  leading  players.  For  its  second  release  in 
February,  Essanay  will  present  a  modern  day  drama 
called  "The  Discard,"  by  Charles  Michelson. 

Vitagraph  has  re-arranged  its  releases  so  the 
schedule  for  February  is  made  up  of  "The  Crown 
Prince's  Double,"  released  on  the  7th  ;  "The  AVriting 
On  the  Wall,"  on  the  14th  ;  "Kennedy  Square,"  on 
the  21st;  and  "One  Night,"  on  the  28th. 

In  March  Vitagraph  will  put  out  through  the  "big 
four" :  "The  Hunted  Woman,"  "Colton  U.  S.  N." 
"The  Two  Edged  Sword,"  and  "The  Supreme  Temp- 
tation." 


Alma  Hanlon  Now  a  Fox  Star 

The  latest  screen  star  to  sign  a  contract  with 
William  Fox,  to  appear  in  feature  pictures,  is  dainty, 
petite  Alma  Hanlon,  daughter  of  George  Hanlon  of 
the  world  famous  family  of  acrobats  who  will  be 
remembered  in  America  especially  for  their  pro- 
ductions of  such  popular  stage  success  as  "Fan- 
tasma,"  "Superba"  and  "La  Voyage  en  Suisse." 
Miss  Hanlon  was  born  in  New  York  City,  April 
30.  1894,  and  is  the  youngest  member  of  a  family,  who 
for  nine  generations  have  appeared  before  the  pub- 
lic either  on  the  stage  or  with  a  circus.  Her  father  was 
born  in  London,  England,  as  was  her  mother,  who,  be- 
fore her  marriage  was  Helena  Reynolds,  member  of  an 
old  English  family.  Miss  Hanlon's  great-great-grand- 
father was  stage  manager  of  Drury  Lane  theater  when 
Ford  Byron  was  its  director  and  another  Hanlon  was 


stage  manager  for  Edmund  Kean.  Miss  Hanlon  comes 
to  the  William  Fox  forces  with  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  requirements  of  photoplay,  having  worked  in  a 
number  of  feature  pictures  she  helped  make  successful 
through  the  excellence  of  her  work  and  unusual  beauty. 
Her  debut  as  a  William  Fox  player  will  be  in  "Gold 
and  the  Woman,"  in  which  Theda  Bara  is  being  starred 
under  the  direction  of  James  Vincent,  and  although  she 
had  just  begun  work  in  the  picture  she  has  already  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  her  director  who  predicts  for 
her  a  success  in  pictures  parallel  with  that  of  her 
family  on  the  legitimate  stage. 


Frankie  Mann  Is  Impressive 

"There  is  the  type  of  girl  that  raises  the  tone  of 
the  motion  picture — she's  a  sure  enough  little  aristo- 
crat !"  This  comment  was  heard  at  a  showing  of  the 
recent  Vitagraph  feature,  "Youth."  The  "little  aristo- 
crat" who  had  attracted  the  speaker  was  petite  Frankie 
Mann  of  Lubin  and  Vitagraph  fame.  The  little  lady 
who  carries  her  head  with  such  patrician  grace  is  one 
of  the  daughters  of  J.  R.  Mann  who,  previous  to  the 
panic  of  1907,  was  a  powerful  financier.  Accustomed 
to  every  luxury  until  that  time,  his  high  spirited  daugh- 
ter lost  no  time  in  vain  regret  but,  making  quick  in- 
ventory of  her  abilities  and  inclinations,  decided  to  try 
the  route  to  fame  via  the  footlights.  Making  good  in 
the  Castle  Square  stock  in  Boston,  she  next  essayed 
the  Orpheum  stock  in  Philadelphia.  The  flickering 
films  beckoned  and  she  deserted  spoken  drama  for  the 
screen. 

During  her  four  years  with  Lubin,  Miss  Mann  ap- 
peared in  most  of  the  big  productions,  among  them 
"The  House  Next  Door,"  "The  Sporting  Duchess," 
"The  Climbers,"  "The  .Great  Ruby,"  "The  College 
Widow,"  etc.  Skilled  in  sports,  possessed  of  a  petite 
figure,  expressive  face,  and  the  intangible  something 
that  stamps  her  as  "different,"  Frankie  Mann  is  rapidly 
winning  for  herself  an  enviable  place  in  filmdom. 


Cochrane  to  Direct  Company 

George  Cochrane,  brother  of  Robert  H.  Cochrane, 
vice-president  of  the  Universal  Film  Manufacturing 
Company  and  who  for  the  past  few  months  has  been 
acting  as  assistant  director  to  Sydney  Ayres,  has 
been  placed  at  the  head  of  a  dramatic  producing 
company  of  photoplayers  at  Universal  City.  The  first 
picture  which  he  will  make  is  a  one-reel  story  adapted 
for  screen  purposes  by  F.  McGrew  Willis  from  the 
story  by  Laura  Oakley.  In  it  Carmen  Phillips  and 
Douglas  Gerrard  play  the  leading  roles. 


Lubin  Beats  Censors  to  It 

While  there  are  motion  picture  players  there  will 
be  sex  problems  to  be  depicted,  is  the  contention  of 
Lubin  directors.  But  these  plays  can  be  handled  in  a 
manner  fit  for  presentation  to  women  and  young  folks, 
they  also  say.  The  sex  problem  films  can  be  clean  be- 
fore they  reach  the  censorship  boards  and  that  is  the 
way  Dr.  Daniel  Carson  Goodman's  "Souls  in  Bondage" 
is  being  handled,  according  to  a  statement  from  the 
Lubin  studios  in  Philadelphia. 


Beatrix  Michelena  is  about  to  have  published  in 
more  than  five  hundred  newspapers  a  second  series  of 
weekly  "talks"  to  "screen  struck"  girls. 


February  12,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


CHARLES  R.  CONDON,  Eastern  Represi 


supply    dealer,    or    1 


idMB 


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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  12,  1916 


Number  7 


The  Exhibitor — a  Big  Man  in  His  Community 

THE  exhibitor  sticks  close  to  his  work.  Most  of  his  waking  hours  he  gives  to  the  prob- 
lems of  his  theater  and  its  program.  He  feels  that  he  hasn't  time  to  mix  actively  in  the 
civic  and  social  life  of  his  community  and  run  his  own  business  too;  so  he  naturally  chooses 
the  business  and  lets  the  rest  go.  Then,  some  day,  he  is  surprised  to  find  that  the  community 
that  he  has  neglected  is  running  him. 

The  city  passes  an  ordinance  restricting  his  rights  and  affecting  his  profits.  He  discovers 
this  when  he  is  served  with  a  notice  to  change  his  house  or  to  pay  an  additional  tax.  These 
things  come  upon  him  suddenly.     He  has  never  heard  of  them  before. 

The  president  of  the  women's  club  decides  the  town  should  have  a  board  of  censorship. 
Having  nothing  else  to  do,  she  pursues  the  idea  through  its  proper  legal  channels  and  becomes 
chairman  of  the  new  board.  The  exhibitor  finds  that  out  when  he  is  notified  to  show  no  films 
that  do  not  bear  the  mark  of  the  local  censors.  Possibly  he  got  his  information  a  little  earlier 
than  that  through  the  newspaper. 

The  exhibitor  owns  and  is  responsible  for  the  most  popular  place  in  town — and  we  use 
the  word  "place"  because  it  includes  everything.  Everybody  goes  to  him.  He  has  a  firm  hold 
on  a  majority  of  the  people  in  his  community.  Yet  he  has  no  voice  in  making  the  laws  that 
govern  him;  no  part  in  appointing  the  individuals  who  are  allowed  to  dictate  his  affairs.  He 
doesn't  even  know  about  them  until  they  become  common  and  public  knowledge.  He  is  not 
consulted  on  anything. 

Why? 

Simply  because  he  does  not  take  his  part  in  the  activities  that  make  these  events.  He  is 
not  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade.  He  does  not  belong  to  the  chamber  of  commerce.  He 
joins  no  civic  societies  or  commercial  clubs.  His  fellow-townsmen  overlook  his  importance 
to  the  community  because  he  overlooks  it  himself.  The  attitude  needs  changing.  Only  he 
himself  can  change  it. 

The  exhibitor  who  protests  against  laws  and  regulations  and  censors  after  they  are  estab- 
lished is  too  late.  The  people  who  promote  those  activities  are  often  of  less  civic  importance 
than  he  is.  But  they  do  not  know  him  personally,  though  they  know  his  theater.  If  they 
realized  his  real  value  they  would  consult  him  first.  It  is  plainly  up  to  the  exhibitor  to  be- 
come a  big  man  in  his  community.  And  the  big  man  in  any  community  can  just  as  well  be 
a  motion  picture  man  as  a  railroad  man  or  a  lawyer  or  a  store-keeper.  Whatever  his  occu- 
pation, he  is  always  the  one  who  is  interested  and  active  in  public  work;  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trade  and  the  association  of  commerce;  a  booster  and  a  worker  for  his  town  and  his 
fellow  townsmen.    The  exhibitor  can  be  all  that. 

There  is  an  old  saying — when  you  want  something  done  right,  ask  a  busy  man  to  do  it. 
There  is  a  lot  of  truth  in  it.  We  all  know  men  who  appear  to  get  at  least  thirty  hours  into  a 
day.  There  may  be  a  trick  to  it ;  but  it  is  the  trick  of  success.  So  we  will  not  admit  the  argu- 
ment of  the  exhibitor  who  says  he  has  no  time  for  anything  but  his  theater. 

The  things  that  make  a  man  big  in  his  community  make  him  a  part  of  the  force  behind 


366  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 

its  government — the  government  that  dictates  and  maybe  tries  to  run  his  business.  It  is  the 
only  way  to  turn  the  tables — to  help  run  the  town,  and,  as  a  bigger  man,  to  run  a  bigger 
business  and  build  more  theaters. 


Motion  Picture  Departments  in  Newspapers 

MOTION  picture  departments  are  already  established  features  of  a  number  of  important 
newspapers.  These  publications  need  no  arguments  on  the  desirability  of  such  depart- 
ments. Their  own  demonstration  is  sufficiently  convincing.  Unfortunately  newspaper  pub- 
lishers, like  most  people,  are  not  always  willing  to  profit  by  the  experience  of  others.  The 
benefits  to  the  motion  picture  industry  accruing  from  newspaper  co-operation  is  so  self-evi- 
dent that  it  behooves  every  film  man  with  the  proper  spirit  to  assist  in  the  work  of  education. 

In  a  very  able  discussion  of  this  subject  General  Manager  Walter  W.  Irwin  of  V.  L.  S.  E. 
mentions  baseball  among  other  things  as  a  parallel  in  popularity.  We  cannot  claim,  of  course, 
that  the  people  are  interested  in  nothing  but  pictures.  The  national  sport  still  holds  a  great 
deal  of  attention.  Automobile  news  is  read  eagerly  even  by  people  who  do  not  own  cars. 
There  are  other  entertainments  besides  pictures.  With  all  these  things,  and  others,  the  films 
must  divide  their  popularity. 

Local  theater  advertising,  with  the  possibility  of  future  support  by  the  film  manufacturer, 
is  held  out  to  the  newspaper  by  Mr.  Irwin  as  the  reciprocal  benefit  of  a  motion  picture  de- 
partment. The  commercial  promise  of  this  reciprocity  is  excellent  and  practical.  We,  indeed, 
have  always  advocated  local  newspaper  advertising  by  the  exhibition,  even  when  the  newspa- 
pers were  not  so  friendly.  But  we  believe  the  broad-gauged  newspaper  man  must  see  the 
question  of  a  motion  picture  department  from  a  still  bigger  angle.  He  must  see  that  the  indi- 
rect results  of  such  a  department  outweigh  the  direct  results.  The  direct  dollars  and  cents 
return  in  advertising  is  the  small  end  of  the  proposition. 

Newspapers  maintain  sporting  departments  at  great  expense.  They  compete  for  the  serv- 
ices of  specially  trained  and  talented  editors,  writers  and  artists  for  the  sporting  sheet  only. 
They  install  extra  wire  facilities  that  their  sporting  news  may  be  the  latest.  For  all  this  ex- 
pense and  effort  do  they  get  any  direct  commercial  benefit  in  sporting  advertising? 

Take  baseball  for  a  good  example.  It  is  the  greatest  of  all  sports  because  the  greatest 
number  of  people  are  interested  in  it.  The  amount  of  newspaper  space  given  to  this  partic- 
ular amusement — summer  and  winter,  in  season  and  out — passes  all  count. 

For  all  this  lavish  devotion  to  one  subject  the  newspaper  publisher  gets  nothing  in  the 
way  of  advertising,  or  next  to  nothing.  He  presents  it  to  the  people  because  he  knows  they 
want  it — not  because  the  baseball  interests  ask  him  to.  He  would  hold  up  the  news  and  de- 
mand advertising  recompense  if  he  thought  he  could  get  away  with  it.  But  he  knows  if  he 
does  not  print  it  his  competitors  will,  and  he  will  lose  circulation.  And  there  we  have  the 
gist  of  the  whole  matter.     Circulation  is  the  real,  legitimate  reason  for  any  department. 

The  whole  philosophy  of  publishing  is  summed  up  in  this:  The  people  want  to  read 
about  certain  subjects;  the  paper  containing  the  most  or  the  best  about  those  subjects  gains 
circulation;  because  of  the  circulation  the  advertiser  buys  space.  The  newspaper's  special  de- 
partment of  any  kind  is  intended  to  gain  readers,  and  those  readers  will  buy  advertised  goods. 

Popular  as  baseball  is,  the  motion  picture  is  immeasurably  more  popular.  Mr.  Irwin 
points  out  that  more  people  attend  picture  shows  every  day  than  see  professional  baseball 
games  in  an  entire  season — or  who  own  automobiles,  move  in  society  or  are  interested  in  the 
stock  market.  Newspapers  being  printed  for  the  greatest  possible  number  of  readers,  this 
fact  is  of  the  most  vital  significance  to  them,  whether  they  realize  it  or  not. 

For  we  are  convinced  that  the  newspaper  motion  picture  department  is  not  legitimately 
a  subsidized  department.  Let  the  exhibitor  advertise.  We  urge  him  to  advertise — for  his  own 
good,  but  not  to  make  the  newspaper  department  directly  profitable.  The  newspaper  pub- 
lisher must  make  up  his  mind  to  install  the  department  anyway.  The  people  will  demand  it, 
just  as  they  demand  the  baseball  news. 

So  the  motion  picture  people  may  look  forward  with  confidence  to  the  early  day  when 
film  news  will  be  as  much  an  established  feature  of  newspaper  work  as  baseball  news  is  now. 
And  we  know,  although  the  publishers  do  not  yet  realize  it,  that  that  time  will  mark  the 
greatest  step  ever  taken  in  the  building  of  newspaper  circulations. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"Spike's  Awakening" 

Chapter  Seven  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game" 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

CHAPTER  seven  of  the  Signal  Film  Corporation's  exciting 
serial  "The  Girl  and  the  Game,"  while  perhaps  not  con- 
taining as  many  thrills  as  some  of  the  other  chapters  of  this 
spectacular  story,  contains  at  least  one  stunt  that  is  as  hair 
raising   as    any    single    incident    so    far    performed    by    the    dare 


-half    , 


Spike. 


devils  who  make  up  the  cast.  Two  thugs  named  Lug  and  Bill, 
both  in  the  employ  of  Seagrue,  undertake  to  kidnap  Helen  from 
a  moving  flyer  and  the  manner  in  which  they  perform  this 
daring  feat  will  hold  audiences  breathless  in  their  seats  until 
the  desperate  attempt  ends  in  success ;  for  while  the  two  men 
are  clambering  to  the  roof  of  the  speeding  passenger  car  by 
means  of  a  rope  and  later  lowering  themselves  from  the  roof 
and  climbing  in  an  open  window,  it  is  not  a  make-believe  per- 
formance but  the  real  thing,  and  certainly  must  have  been  ac- 
complished at  peril  to  both  life  and  limb. 

To  add  still  further  punch  to  the  exciting  incident  the  un- 
conscious form  of  Helen  is  tossed  from  the  rear  platform  of 
the  car  into  a  speeding  automobile  which  drives  alongside  at  a 
dizzy  speed. 

Chapter  seven  also  is  unique  in  that  it  shows  the  reforma- 
tion of  Spike,  the  man  who  in  past  chapters  had  been  Seagrue's 
willing  tool  in  his  nefarious  schemes.  Spike's  reformation  is 
brought  about  by  the  fact  that  Helen  takes  pity  on  him  when 
he  is  forcibly  ejected  from  a  train  on  which  he  sought  to  ride, 
and  her  kindness  wins  its  way  straight  to  his  heart  so  that 
later  he  refuses  to  do  Seagrue's  bidding. 

As  the  story  opens  we  discover  that  Rhinelander,  Helen's 
uncle,  has  moved  his  construction  camp  to  Baird  and  that  Helen 
has  been  transferred  to  Las  Vegas,  a  nearby  station.  Spike, 
who  is  forcibly  put  off  a  train  on  which  he  was  attempting  to 
steal  a  ride,  is  rescued  by  Helen  from  the  angry  train  crew, 
and  moved  by  her  generosity  Seagrue's  former  assistant  vows 
that  if  he  ever  gets  a  chance  he  will  prove  his  gratitude. 

Rhinelander  and  Storm  telegraph  Helen  that  important  right- 
of-way  contracts  are  expected  on  train  No.  19  on  Sunday  and 
they  request  her  to  bring  them  to  Baird  herself,  Storm  agree- 
ing to  meet  the  train  and  drive  her  to  the  camp.  Seagrue  learns 
of  the  plan  and  prepares  to  kidnap  Helen,  thus  securing  the 
contracts. 

When  he  broaches  the  matter  to  Spike  he  is  amazed  to 
have  the  latter  reply  that  the  man  who  harms  Helen  must 
reckon  with  him.  Failing  to  find  Spike  a  ready  tool,  Seagrue 
sends  Lug  and^Bill,  two  other  accomplices,  to  kidnap  the  girl 
operator.  Lug  and  Bill  climb  aboard  the  roof  of  the  passenger 
train  on  which  Helen  departs  from  Las  Vegas,  and  later  man- 
age to  lower  themselves  by  means  of  a  rope  and  enter  the  car 
through  an  open  window  just  behind  the   seat  in   which   Helen 


is  sitting.  They  chloroform  her  and  after  securely  binding  her 
with  stout  rope,  toss  her  from  the  speeding  train  into  an  auto- 
mobile that  is  driven  alongside  the  track  by  a  third  associate 
of  Seagrue's. 

Helen  is  taken  to  a  place  that  Seagrue  has  provided  for  her 
imprisonment  and  there  a  search  is  made  of  the  wallet  in  which 
are  many  papers,  though  not  the  contracts  that  she  was  deliver- 
ing to  Rhinelander. 

Spike  accidentally  learns  where  Helen  is  hidden  and,  later, 
when  she  fails  to  appear  at  her  destination  and  Storm  starts 
out  to  seek  her,  Spike  and  he  meet.  Storm  attempts  to  throttle 
Spike,  believing  he  is  implicated  in  Helen's  kidnaping,  but  the 
latter  succeeds  in  proving  his  innocence  and  offers  to  aid  Storm. 

The  two  manage,  after  a  terrific  fight,  to  break  into  the 
place  in  which  Helen  is  imprisoned  and  rescue  her.  Most  of 
the  gang  are  captured,  but   Seagrue  himself   escapes. 

Later  Helen  draws  from  their  hiding  place  the  contracts 
which  she  has  been  able  to  preserve  during  all  of  her  adventure 
and  with  Storm  starts  back  for  the  construction  camp.  Rhine- 
lander, though  amazed  at  the  regeneration  of  Spike,  the  former 
criminal,  believes  the  latter  is  sincere  in  his  reformation  and  a 
bond  of  real  friendship  springs  up  between  the  two. 


"Lillo  of  the  Sulu  Seas" 

A  Three-Reel  "Flying  A"  Drama  Released  February  8 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

UAROLU  LOCKWOOD  and  May  Allison  were  never  seen 
**■  to  better  advantage  than  in  the  story  of  the  tropics  entitled 
"Lillo  of  the  Sulu  Seas,"  which  will  be  released  under  the 
Flying  A  brand  on  the  Mutual  program  on  Tuesday,  February  8, 

As  its  title  indicates  the  story  is  told  for  the  greater  part 
amid  backgrounds  suggestive  of  the  Sulu  Seas,  and  with  Ameri- 
can's wonderful  photography  some  truly  superb  scenes  are  re- 
vealed. The  director  has  most  carefully  chosen  his  locations  and 
the  scenes  along  the  rugged  coast,  with  the  waves  breaking  on 
the  rocky  shore,  have  to  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

Harold  Lockwood  is  cast  as  Ralph  Holt,  the  son  of  a  pear! 
merchant  who  goes  out  to  study  the  pearl  fisheries  at  close 
range  and  there  meets  Lillo,  the  girl  portrayed  so  vividly  by 
May  Allison.  Unusually -pleasing  is  Miss  Allison  in  her  role, 
which  well  adapts  itself  to  the  player's  sprightliness  and  vivacity. 
The  heavy  role  is  in  the  hands  of  that  sterling  actor,  William 
Stowell,  and  he  makes  Jeb  Foster  a  most  villainous  sort  of  a 
chap.  Harry  Von  Meter  does  splendid  work  as  Captain  Rand  and 
is  entitled  to  no  little  credit  for  the  way  in  which  he  creates  the 
part  of  the  one-armed  sea  captain. 

As   the   story  opens   Ralph    Holt   departs   for   the    Sulu    Seas 


Lillo   f, 


and,  falling  in  with  Jeb  Foster,  master  of  a  pearl  fishing  vessel, 
he  sails  with  him  to  study  the  art  of  pearl  fishing  at  close 
range.  On  board  the  schooner  he  meets  Lillo,  a  beautiful  girl 
who  is  an  expert  diver,  whom   he   is  told  is  Foster's   daughter. 


368 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Foster  has  evil  intentions  regarding  Ralph,  but  a  typhoon  ends 
the  cruise  by  wrecking  the  schooner  and  Foster  makes  his  escape 
with  the  crew  in  the  only  small  boat  aboard  the  vessel.  Ralph 
and  Lillo  are  washed  ashore  on  a  bit  of  wreckage'  and  all  are 
cared  for  by  Captain  Rand  who  lives  on  an  island  with  only  a 
servant  named  Pahui. 

Foster  accidentally  learns  that  Rand  has  a  small  store  of 
wealth  hoarded  away  in  an  old  sea  chest  and  plans  to  steal  it. 
In  the  absence  of  Rand  he  enters  the  cabin  but  is  surprised  by 
Pahui  and,  after  a  struggle,  is  killed  with  his  own  knife.  Mean- 
while the  members  of  the  crew  secure  some  rum  and  after 
getting  thoroughly  intoxicated,  attack  Lillo,  who  is  rescued  by 
Ralph,  after  the  later  has  whipped  the  drunken  crew. 

After  Ralph,  Lillo  and  Rand  Assemble  in  the  captain's 
cabin  to  discuss  the  attack  which  has  been  made  upon  them  all, 
Captain  Rand  relates  the  story  of  Foster's  early  life  and  tells 
the  young  people  how,  years  before,  Foster  had  induced  Mrs. 
Rand  to  elope  with  him  and  the  couple  had  taken  with  them 
the  captain's  baby  daughter.  As  the  story  proceeds  Lillo  begins 
to  understand  that  she  was  not,  after  all,  Foster's  real  daughter, 
and  eventually  realizes  that  Captain  Rand  is  her  father.  A 
joyful  reunion  occurs  and  in  the  happy  days  that  follow  Ralph 
declares  his  love  for  Lillo  and  is  accepted. 

In  time  Ralph  returns  to  New  York,  but  finds  that  the  old 
society  life,  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed  before  his  de- 
parture for  the  Sulu  Seas,  has  palled  upon  him.  Eeventually 
the  firm  of  Holt  &  Company  decides  to  establish  a  branch  office 
.  on  the  island  of  Captain  Rand  near  the  fishing  grounds,  and  so, 
as  the  story  ends,  Ralph  returns  to  the  arms  and  love  of  Lillo. 


"The  White  Rosette" 

American  Mutual  Masterpicture,  Five  Reels,  Released 
January  31.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

D  EINCARNATION  is  the  theme  of  this  drama,  which 
lv-  tells  a  story  of  a  thousand  years  ago,  in  the  first  reel, 
then  puts  the  same  tale  in  the  setting  of  today  in  the  remain- 
ing reels.     That  is,  the  stories  are  alike  until  the  end,  when 


the  tragedy  which  oo 
thousand  years  later. 

The   settings   and   th< 


ghted  one 


■graphy  of  the  first  part  are 
rfully  beautiful.  Sir  Errol,  a  knight,  comes  back  to  the 
castle  of  his  liege  lord,  the  Baron,  after  a  successful  cam- 
paign. In  the  moonlight,  in  the  castle  garden,  he  meets  again 
Lady  Maud,  his  sweetheart,  a  member  of  the  baron's  house- 
hold. The  next  evening,  at  a  celebration  in  his  honor,  Sir 
Errol  meets  the  baron's  young  bride,  Lady  Elfrieda.  She 
falls  in  love  with  the  knight,  and  when  she  finds  that  he  loves 
Lady  Maud,  she  has  the  young  girl  sent  away  from  the  castle, 
hack  to  her  father.  When  Sir  Errol  and  Lady  Maud  part,  the 
girl  pins  a  white  rosette  on  his  breast,  as  her  token,  but  the 
knight  docs  not  remain  true  to  bis  love,  for  lie  succumbs  to 
the  wiles  of  the  Lady  Elfrieda,  even  going  so  far  as  to  plot 
with  her  against  her  husband,  the  baron. 

Under  the  leadership  of  l-ord  Kerrigan,  a  group  of  noble- 
men plan  to  overthrow  the  baron,  and  they  win  Sir  Errol  and 
Lady  Elfrieda  to  them  bj  promising  to  put  Sir  Errol  in  his 
place.     Lady  Maud,  al  her  Father's  home,  learns,  during  her 


father's  absence,  of  the  plot  to  kill  the  baron,  and  she  rushes 
to  the  castle,  disguised  as  a  boy,  to  save  him.  The  plotters 
arrive  just  as  she  does,  and  in  the  struggle,  she  is  wounded 
and  dies.  Then  Sir  Errol  discovers  that  he  has  killed  the 
girl  he  loved  and,  pinning  the  white  rosette  on  her  breast,  he 
swears  some  day  to  atone  for  his  crime. 

One  thousand  years  later,  Erric,  a  civil  engineer,  returns 
after  a  successful  survey,  to  his  employer,  Pierpont  Carewe. 
At  a  reception  in  his  honor  he  meets  Carewe's  wife,  Frieda, 
who  falls  in  love  with  him.  Discovering  that  he  is  in  love 
with  Joan  Long,  daughter  of  Ben  Long,  in  Carewe's  employ, 
she  has  Long  and  his  daughter  sent  away.  Then  she  tries  to 
win  Erric's  love.  Von  Kerr,  a  rival  of  Carewe,  is  trying  to 
get  control  of  Carewe's  railroad  stock  and  then  "freeze"  him 
out  of  the  company.  He  uses  Frieda  as  his  tool  to  get  some 
of  the  shares,  and  through  her  tries  to  get  control  of  Erric. 
Erric,  however,  resists  Frieda  and  she  resorts  to  trickery. 

One  night  she  gives  a  costume  ball.  Before  he  goes, 
Erric  has  a  strange  dream,  in  which  the  scene  of  the  murder 
he  committed  in  a  past  life  comes  to  him.  He  recalls  his 
vow  to  atone,  and  remembers  the  white  rosette.  At  the  party, 
Erric  wears  a  suit  of  armor,  and  both  Frieda  and  Joan,  who 
had  returned  unexpectedly,  dress  as  ladies  of  medieval  times. 
So,  in  appearance  as  they  were  in  the  first  story,  the  old 
tragedy  is  righted,  for  Carewe  discovers  the  treachery  of  Van 
Kerr  and  Frieda,  and  Erric  is  saved.  In  the  garden,  he  meets 
Joan,  to  whom  he  has  been  true,  and  on  her  breast  she  wears 
the  white  rosette. 

The  drama  was  directed  by  Donald  MacDonald.  E.  For- 
rest Taylor  appears  as  Sir  Errol  and  Erric;  Helene  Rosson  is 
Lady  Maud,  later  Joan;  Richard  La  Reno  is  her  father;  Eu- 
genie Forde  is  Lady  Elfrieda  and  Frieda  Carewe,  while  Harry 
Von  Meter  is  the  baron,  later  the  financier,  and  William 
Stowell  is  the  treacherous  friend  in  both  stories.  The  various 
roles  are  well  handled  and  the  story  is  interesting  throughout. 


The  Current  Triangle  Bill 

Latest    Offerings    of    Griffith    and    Sennett    Studios 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

ONE  would  have  to  search  a  long  time  before  he  would  be 
able  to  find  a  more  entertaining  program  than  that  offered 
the  first  half  of  this  week  at  the  Studebaker,  where  the  current 
Triangle  offerings  are  "His  Picture  in  the  Paper,"  with  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  and  "He  Did  and  He  Didn't,"  with  Roscoe  Arbuckle 
and  Mabel  Normand,  unless  it  would  be  in  the  program  which 
concluded  the  week  just  previous  when  "Acquitted,"  with  Wil- 
fred Lucas,  was  offered,  accompanied  by  another  "Fatty  and 
Mabel"   Keystone  called   "Fatty  and  Mabel  Adrift." 

To  begin  with  the  last  mentioned  program,  it  is  not  stretch- 
ing the  truth  one  iota  to  state  that  many  consider  "Acquitted" 
the  most  finished  production  which  has  come  from  the  Fine 
Arts  studios.  Wilfred  Lucas  as  John  Carter  creates  an  indi- 
vidual who  grasps  and  holds  your  sympathy  at  his  first  appear- 
ance and  maintains  your  interest  at  fever  heat  until  you  see 
him  safely  established  in  his  old  position  as  the  picture  ends. 
The  director  has  been  unusually  careful  as  to  details  and  there 
is  scarcely  a  flaw  of  even  the  smallest  sort  in  the  entire  five 
reels  of  film.  The  story  is  one  that  deals  with  just  common 
folks  and  audiences  all  over  the  United  States  are  sure  to  be 
held  spellbound  by  it. 

Mary  Alden,  as  Mrs.  Carter  gives  a  wonderfully  genuine  por- 
trayal of  a  woman  in  her  supposed  situation,  while  Bessie  Love 
as  the  daughter  is  also  seen  to  advantage.  Elmer  Clifton  makes 
of  Ned  Fowler  a  reporter  of  a  convincing  kind  and  W.  J. 
Fremont,  as  the  drug  crazed  night  watchman,  runs  Lucas  a 
close  race  for  first  honors.  The  plot  is  the  creation  of  Man- 
Roberts  Rhinehart  and  depends  for  its  success  not  upon  thrilling 
situations  or  unusual  happenings,  but  just  little  every  day  inci- 
dents which  combine  to  cast  a  dreadful  blight  upon  the  career 
of  Carter,  the  hero. 

Carter  is  a  bookkeeper  for  a  large  insurance  company  and 
when  a  drug  crazed  night  watchman  kills  Ryder,  the  cashier, 
while  the  latter  is  working  late  at  night  in  company  with  Carter, 
suspicion  falls  upon  the  man  who  is  known  to  have  been  in  the 
office  with  tin-  murdered  man.  A  typical  police  third  degree 
makes  Carter  so  nervous  that  he  appears  really  guilty  and  it 
is  only  through  Fowler's  summoning  of  the  chief  of  police  him- 
self that  Carter  escapes  from  the  "sweat-box."  Eventually  he 
is  cleared  and  the  real  murderer  locked  up,  but  then  Carter  finds 
that  tin-  publicity  has  resulted  in  his  losing  his  job.  Desperately 
be  tries  to  get  another,  but  the  weeks  pass  without  his  being 
successful  and  at  length  a  full  year  later  he  decides  upon  sui- 
cide, that  the  money  due  on  his  policy  may  give  his   family  a 


MOTOGRAPHY 


369 


new  start  in  life.  He  rents  a  hotel  room  with  his  last  change, 
turns  on  the  gas  and  prepares  to  meet  his  Maker,  but  in  the 
meantime  the  president  of  the  insurance  company  has  learned 
of  Carter's  dire  need,  and  of  his  last  effort  to  secure  funds  for 


o:  1 

■■■■>- 

Douglas   Fairbanks    and    Lcrctta    Blake   in    "His  Picture   in    the   Papers." 

his  family.  He  hurries  to  the  hotel  and  barely  succeeds  in  res- 
cuing Carter  before  it  is  too  late.  As  the  picture  ends  we  know 
that  Carter  will  next  day  return  to  his  old  job,  his  future  as- 
sured. 

"Fatty  and  Mabel  Adrift,"  the  accompanying  Keystone,  is 
a  scream  and  shows  how  Fatty  and  Mabel,  after  being  married 
and  nicely  settled  in  a  little  cottage  by  the  sea,  are  cast  adrift 
by  the  suitor  whom  Mabel  discarded  for  Fatty.  Upon  awaking 
and  finding  themselves  and  their  home  at  sea,  the  two  honey- 
mooners  dispatch  their  dog  for  aid  and  finally  are  rescued, 
wet  and  bedraggled,  but  still  as  much  in   love  with  each  other 

This  week  the  Triangle  bill  headed  by  Douglas  Fairbanks 
in  "His  Picture  in  the  Papers"  is  keeping  Chicagoans  in  gales 
of  merriment.  Besides  Fairbanks  such  excellent  players  as  Lo- 
retta  Blake,  Clarence  Handyside,  Charles  Butler  and  others  are 
in  the  cast,  but  after  all  it  is  Fairbanks  about  whom  the  suc- 
cess of  the  picture  centers  for  he  has  the  best  role  that  has 
yet  fallen  to  his  lot  and  makes  more  of  it  than  he  has  ever 
been  able  to  do  with  the  others.  The  plot  is  clean  as  a  whistle 
and  yet  just  bubbles  over  with  funny  situations  and  laughter 
producing  incidents. 

Fairbanks  appears  as  Pete  Prindle,  son  of  Proteus  Prindle, 
manufacturer  of  Prindle's  27  Variegated  Varieties,  and  proves 
himself   a   black   sheep   of   the    family   by   absolutely   refusing  to 


f; 

m.       k  *A 

A 

engaged  to  Melville,  a  devotee  at  the  shrine  of  Prindle's  27 
Varieties.  When  Christine's  father  tells  Pete  that  he  can  only 
marry  his  daughter  when  he  has  secured  a  half  interest  in 
the  Prindle  factories,  Pete  thinks  it  will  be  easy  for  him  to 
make  good,  but  he  reckons  without  his  dad,  for  that  worthy 
gentleman  insists  upon  Pete  getting  his  picture  in  the  papers 
before  he  will  give  him  even  a  quiltillioneth  interest  in  the  firm. 

Pete  vows  to  have  his  picture  in  every  New  York  paper, 
but  after  pretending  to  be  the  victim  of  an  auto  accident  and 
only  drawing  a  three  line  "reader" ;  after  appearing  as  an 
"unknown"  and  whipping  a  champion  boxer  only  to  have  the 
pictures  taken  of  him  confiscated  by  the  police  who  raid  the 
boxing'  club ;  after  being  laughed  to  scorn  by  his  dad  wnen  he 
indorses  Peruna  and  breaks  into  the  limelight  with  his  picture 
in  an  ad  for  that  medicine,  he  decides  it  is  not.  so  easy.  Finally, 
by  pure  chance,  he  happens  to  prevent  a  desperate  pot  to  blow 
up  Christopher  Cadwalader  and  his  daughter  while  they  are 
aboard  a  train  bound  for  Atlantic  City,  and  gets  whole  columns 
of  publicity  on  the  front  pages  of  the  newspapers,  with  his 
picture  in  every  story.  True  to  the  promise  previously  made, 
Pete  is  given  a  half  interest  in  the  firm  and  promptly  claims 
the  heart  and  hand  of  Christine. 

"He  Did  and  He  Didn't"  is  a, two-reel  Keystone  that  shows 
Fatty  and  Mabel  as  husband  and  wife  who  quarrel  when  Mabel's 
former  sweetheart  comes  to  visit  them.  All  eat  too  much  for 
dinner  and  Fatty  has  a  dreadful  dream  in  which  he  does  all 
sorts  of  desperate  things  to  both  Mabel  and  the  "other  man," 
but  eventually  awakes  to  discover  that  "he  didn't"  after  all 
do   half  the  dreadful  things  he  had  imagined. 


Wilfred  Luce's   as   Carter   is  given    the   "third   degree"   in   "Acquitted:' 

have  anything  to  do  with  any  of  the  27  varieties  of  food  pro- 
duced by  his  esteemed  dad.  Pete  is  strong  for  athletics  and 
pretty  girls,  so  it  is  not  hard  for  him  to  capture  Christine 
Cadwalader  even  though,  when  he  first  meets  her,  Christine  is 


"A  Night  Out" 

A      Five-Part      Vitagraph      Blue      Ribbon      Comedy 
Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

THOSE  unfortunates  who  are  made  to  toe  the  line  of  rigid 
conservatism  and  to  over-subdue  their  spirits  during  youth, 
often,  when  old  age  arrives,  leap  from  the  fetters  of  self- 
restraint  and  proceed  to  make  up  for  lost  time  in  enjoying  the 
pleasures  of  life. 

Such  a  one  is  "Granmum,"  the  main  figure  in  this  play, 
with  May  Robson  in  the  part.  When  now  and  again  "Gran- 
mum's"  safety  valve  pops  off  and  she  just  must  do  some  wicked 
thing  or  other — such  as  play  cards  or  read  trashy  novels,  she 
has  to  keep  her  weather  eye  peeled  for  storms,  which  are  sure 
to  emanate  from  the  lean  figure  of  her  ultra-strict  habited 
daughter,  Mrs.  Haslem  (Flora  Finch),  who  positively  cannot 
countenance  anything  which  departs  from  absolute  decorum. 
She  even  sees  to  it  that  her  own  rather  wild-spirited  sons, 
Jack  and  Paul,  retire  at  exactly  ten  p.  m.  This,  however,  does 
not  prevent  these  clever  youths  from  escaping  shortly  after, 
and  sneaking  forth  to  the  Three  Lights  Cafe. 

The  boys,  who  are  in  love  with  Grace  and  Betty,  daughters 
of  Mrs.  Duncan,  a  neighbor,  are  Grandmother's  pride  and  joy. 
She,  through  Airs.  Duncan,  confidentially  offers  a  costly  ring 
to   the  first  couple  to   be  married. 

Jonas  Deacon,  president  of  the  Purity  League,  calls  on  Mrs. 
Haslem  to  receive  a  contribution  to  his  noble  work,  part  of 
which  is  holding  the  threatening  sword  of  destruction  over  Jeff 
Dorgan,  the  proprietor  of  the  Three  Lights  Cafe.  Unknown 
to  his  friends,  the  sanctimonious  looking  Deacon  is  a  hypocrite 
and  a  grafter,  secretly  extracting  large  sums  of  money  from 
Jeff  Dorgan  (Hughie  Mack).  On  this  particular  visit,  Deacon 
takes  his  son,  Waldo,  who  steals  the  ring. 

To  his  father,  Waldo  is  an  angel.  Outwardly  he  is  a  molly- 
coddle and  "too  good  to  be  true,"  but  we,  who  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  viewing  some  of  his  private  affairs  through  the  aid 
of  the  screen,  see  him  every  now  and  then  making  ardent  love 
to  Nitza,  a  dancer  at  the  "Three  Lights." 

At  last  "Granmum"  catches  the  boys  returning  late  at  night 
from  the  cafe,  and  determines  to  make  a  trip  to  the  place  to 
see  if  it  is  good  enough  for  her  grandchildren  (and  possibly 
herself).  She  and  the  boys  manage  to  elude  the  vigilant  Mrs. 
Haslem  one  night  and  make  for  the  scene  of  festivities.  "Gran- 
mum" comes  perilously  near  having  "cold  feet"  at  the  last  min- 
ute but,  once  inside,  she  enters  the  whirl  and  makes  a  hit  with 
Jeff  Dorgan,  who  teaches  her  all  the  latest  steps. 

Deacon  raids  the  place  with  the  police.  "Granmum"  and  the 
boys  escape,  but  in  the  excitement  she  loses  her  bag,  which  fact 
later  compels  her  to  confess  to  the  spree.  Her  drawing  room 
becomes  filled  with  all  of  the  people  who  have  been  in  any  way 
connected  with  affairs,  including  Deacon,  Jeff  Dorgan  and  the 
young  people.  There  is  great  consternation  and  tribulation  about 
the  stolen  ring  and  other  troubles.  Nitzka  comes  in  with  some 
more  of  "Granmum's"  lost  property  and  accidentally  drops  the 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


ring  out  of  her  pocketbook.     Waldo  owns  up,  and  "Granmum" 
forgives  him. 

Mrs.  Haslem,  who  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  "Granmum" 
and  not  she  is  the  moneyed  one.  and  for  other  good  reasons, 
becomes   subdued,   and   engages   her  mother  in  the   first  genuine 


kiss  exchanged  between  them  for  some  time.  A  jubilee  dinner 
closes  the  story. 

"A  Night  Out"  is  a  genuine  comedy  which  actually  gets 
over  without  the  aid  of  horseplay.  It  is  one  of  the  best  com- 
edies Vitagraph  has  ever  put  out.  Its  five  reels  abound  with 
good  clean  humor  of  the  kind  which  appeals  to  the  intellect 
because    of    consistency. 

Besides  May  Robson,  who  has  the  role  of  "Granmum," 
this  picture  combines  the  efforts  of  some  Vitagraph  comedians 
old  in  service  and  experience — Hughie  Mack,  Kate  Price  and 
Flora  Finch ;  all  of  whom  are  at  their  best.  In  fact,  the  entire 
cast  does  well.  Eva  Taylor,  Charles  Brown,  George  Cooper, 
Belle  Bruce,  Ethel  Corcoran,  Jack  Storey  and  Arthur  Cozine 
have  good  parts   in  the  play. 

The  director,  who  knows  much  of  the  demands  of  comedy 
and  deserves  a  very  liberal  share  of  credit,  was  George  D. 
Baker.    The  story  was  written  by  May  Robson  and  C.  T.  Dazey. 


the  white  girl  a  chance  to  release  her  brother  and  they  are  about 
to  escape.  As  the  Indian  turns  to  them  again,  his  sister  seizes 
a  knife  and  kills  herself.  The  Indian's  desire  for  revenge  now 
overcome  by  his  hopeless  grief,  he  bids  the  others  leave  him 
"alone  with  his  dead." 

The  melodrama  is  very  sad  and  very  stirring.  Robert  Whit- 
tier  portrays  very  well  the  stoical  Indian,  giving  him  both  dignity 
and  pathos.  Grace  de  Carlton  plays  the  appealing  little  Indian 
girl.  The  play  is  worked  up  to  a  high  pitch  of  feeling,  in  which 
it  ends.  There  is  no  anticlimax.  Sympathy  is  with  the  Indian 
throughout  the  play,  although  he  is  not  treated  sentimentally. 
The  white  man  is  shown  more  as  a  cad  than  a  villain,  and  this  is 
not  particularly  convincing  because  through  several  reels  he 
seemed  to  be  a  typical  college  student,  and  it  is  hard  he  believe 
he  would  act  in  quite  so  cowardly  a  manner  as  he  does.  This, 
however,  serves  as  an  excellent  contrast  to  the  Indian. 

There  are  many  pretty  scenes  in  the  play,  particularly  the 
boat  race  in  the  earl)-  part  and  the  snow  scenes  in  the  last. 


"Betrayed" 

Thanhouser  Mutual  Masterpicture  Released  January  29 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

'"THE  tragedy  of  the  Indian  race  is  the  theme  of  this  five-reel 
1  drama  staged  by  Howard  M.  Mitchell.  Some  of  the  scenes 
were  taken  at  an  Indian  reservation  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
others  at  a  nearby  co-educational  college. 

A  young  Indian  from  the  reservation  enrolls  at  the  college. 
Because  of  his  athletic  ability  he  becomes  a  college  hero,  and  a 
close  friend  of  the  wealthy  young  students,  and  it  seems  that 
the  race  prejudice  counts  for  little.  When  the  crew  of  which 
he  is  a  member  wins  the  boat  race,  he  is  more  than  ever  lionized, 
and  on  this  occasion  he  meets  and  falls  in  love  with  the  sister 
of  his  chum.  Success,  however,  does  not  turn  his  head,  and  he 
realizes  that  the  race  barrier  is  still  there,  and  that  his  love  is 

The  next  year  his  sister  accompanies  him  to  college.  She  is 
also  popular  with  the  students,  but  her  brother  sees  danger  for 
her  in  her  association  with  his  chum.  In  spite  of  warnings  the 
little  Indian  girl  falls  in  love  with  the  white  man.  During  the 
Christmas  holidays  the  white  brother  and  sister  visit  near  the 
Indian  reservation  and  call  on  their  college  friend.  While  the 
Indian  is  teaching  the  white  girl  to  paddle  a  canoe,  his  sister  and 
his  chum  run  away.  The  Indian,  although  very  much  alarmed, 
first  takes  his  companion  back  to  her  friends,  then  sets  out  to 
find  his  sister.  He  finds  her  and  his  chum  the  next  morning  at  a 
hunting  camp  nearby  owned  by  the  white  man.  To  his  demand 
that  the  man  marry  his  sister,  the  white  man  answers  that  he 
cannot  marry  an  Indian. 

Wild  with  grief  and  rage,  the  Indian  thinks  of  one  fitting 
form  of  revenge.  The  white  man's  sister  shall  pay  the  price 
of  the  Indian  girl's  wrong.  Ordering  his  sister  away,  he  binds 
the  white  man  and  then  departs,  to  return  later  with  the  man's 
sister,  whom  he  tricks  into  coming.  But  the  little  Indian  girl 
returns,  and  begs  her  brother's  mercey  for  her  friend.    This  gives 


"The  Dragnet" 

Three-Reel    Selig    Melodrama    Released    February    7 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

T"HE  suspicion  that  ever  hovers  over  an  ex-convict  is  vividly 
i  illustrated  in  the  three-reel  Selig  feature,  "The  Dragnet," 
scheduled  for  release  on  Monday,  February  7.  The  police  hound 
the  man  just  released  from  the  penitentiary,  despite  his  an- 
nounced desire  to  "turn  over  a  new  leaf"  and  he  is  driven  from 
one  position  to  another  until  well  nigh  tempted  to  return  to 
his  old  criminal  habits  out  of  desperation.  He  resists  the 
temptation,  however,  and  ere  the  picture  ends  is  freed  from 
the  shadow  of  suspicion  that  has  haunted  his  life. 

Harry  Mestayer  has  the  leading  role  in  this  three-reel  story 
and  makes  of  James  Durkin,  alias  "Red"  Durkin.  a  chap  who 
quickly  wins  the  sympathy  of  the  audience.  Wheeler  Oakman 
is  given  an  opportunity  to  create  a  character  a  bit  out  of  the 
ordinary  for  him.  in  the  role  of  Bill  Avery,  Red's  former  cell- 
mate, and  Al  Filson  is  careful  not  to  overplay  his  part  of 
Detective  Schulte.  Vivian  Reed  as  May  Vernon  is  always  con- 
vincing and  will  find  many  admirers  among  screen  fans. 

Frank  Beal  directed  the  production  and  while  there  is  no 
opportunity  given  for  settings  of  a  lavish  nature  in  this  picture 
the  producer  has  arranged  his  interiors  with  care  and  they  are 
just  the  sort  that  one  expects  to  see. 

James  Durkin,  just  out  of  the  "pen,"  vows  to  turn  over  a 
■  new  leaf,  though  Schulte,  the  detective  who  "sent  him  up,"  is 
ever  suspicious  that  Durkin  is  going  to  return  to  his  evil  ways. 
After  James  secures  a  job  as  a  cigar  clerk,  Bill  Avery,  his 
former  cellmate,  finds  him  and  suggests  that  they  commit  an- 
other crime.  Bill  is  seen  in  conversation  with  Durkin,  and 
Schulte  at  once  comes  to  the  conclusion  that  "there  is  something 
doing."  He  makes  it  so  unpleasant  for  Durkin  that  the  latter 
gives  up  his  job  and  while  wandering  near  the  wharfs  of  the 
city  saves  May  Vernon,  a  homeless  girl,  from  suicide.  Durkin 
encourages  her  to  start  life  over  again  and  assists  her  in  secur- 
ing a  position  as  maid  in  the  home  of  some  wealthy  people. 


In  the  meanwhile  Bill  again  visits  Durkin  and  seeks  to 
induce  the  latter  to  assist  him  in  a  robbery.  Durkin  refuses,  but 
as  the  two  leave  the  building  in  which  Bill  has  his  lodgings  they 
are  arrested  by  Schulte  and  taken  to  headquarters.     Durkin  is 


February  12.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


371 


able  to  prove  himself  innocent  of  any  wrong-doing  and,  still 
later,  both  Bill  and  Durkin  are  released. 

By  a  happy  chance  Durkin  gets  a  job  as  an  iceman  and  thus 
is  able  to  occasionally  see  May  in  her  new  home.  When,  how- 
ever, the  lady  of  the  house  misses  some  money  and  summons 
Schulte  to  aid  her  in  finding  it.  the  latter  enters  the  kitchen 
in  time  to  see  Durkin  and  May  together  and  at  once  accuses 
the  two  of  the  theft.  Ere  he  takes  them  away  the  son  of  the 
familv  confesses  that  he  robbed  his  mother  and  once  more 
Schulte  is  foiled. 

Durkin  determines  to  leave  the  city  and  escape  further 
suspicion,  so  with  May  he  starts  for  South  America,  where,  in 
later  years  he  secures  a  good  position.  In  time,  however,  Schulte 
is  sent  to  South  America  to  bring  back  a  criminal  and  once 
more  comes  face  to  face  with  Durkin.  The  latter  resists  arrest 
and  in  the  scuffle  Schulte  drags  over  a  sewing  basket  and  so 
■discovers  some  baby  clothes  which  May  has  been  making.  His 
heart  is  touched  as  his  own  wife  has  been  busy  on  some  similar 
garments,  and  as  the  picture  ends  Schulte  tells  Durkin  that  he 
need  no  longer  fear  arrest.  The  wire  sent  back  to  New  York 
headquarters  informs  the  police  that  "the  wrong  man  has  been 
•suspected." 


"Destiny" 

Essanay  Three-Reel   Release  for  January  29 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

WITHOUT  sacrificing  its  interest  as  a  story  and  without 
sentimentality,  "Destiny"  teaches  a  strong  temperance  les- 
son. The  best  feature  of  it  is  that  it  is  presented  simply  as  a 
story.  There  are  no  texts  in  the  sub-titles,  no  scenes  dragged  in 
to  show  the  effects  of  liquor,  nothing  in  the  play  to  make  the 
.audience  feel  that  it  is  preached  at.  It  is  the  story  of  Richard, 
a  brilliant  young  lawyer,  whose  career  for  a  time  is  eclipsed  by 
his  taste  for  strong  drink.     Incidentally  we  learn  that  his  father 


had  once  been  given  to  this  vice  but  had  reformed  when  his  son 
was  a  baby. 

The  play  begins  as  Richard,  now  a  down-and-out  tramp, 
■sits  at  a  table  in  a  saloon,  thinking  over  his  past  life.  As  he 
remembers,  we  see  the  scenes  of  his  younger  days.  He  takes 
honors  at  college,  then  comes  home  to  his  adoring  parents  and 
little  sister  and  begins  his  law  practice.  At  his  first  trial,  he 
saves  a  poor  fellow  from  prison  and  puts  him  again  on  his  feet. 
A  little  later,  he  wins  the  love  of  Ethel  Dixon.  She  promises 
to  marry  him  and  the  future  looks  very  bright. 

But  Richard,  successful  and  feted,  occasionally  takes  a  glass 
or  two  of  liquor  when  persuaded  at  a  banquet,  or  when  he  feels 
tired.  At  first  it  makes  him  more  brilliant,  then  merely  over- 
talkative,  to  the  amusement  of  his  friends.  As  the  habit  grows 
•on  him,  Robert  Gray,  who  also  loves  Ethel  Dixon,  sees  a  chance 
of  winning  tfje  girl  away  from  Richard.  He  warns  her,  at  first 
vainly,  then,  shortly  before  the  day  set  for  the  wedding,  he 
manages  to  have  her  see  Richard  actually  drunk.  In  disgust,  she 
hreaks  the  engagement.  When  Richard  discovers  what  Gray 
has  done,  he  strikes  him,  almost  killing  him. 

When  Richard's  father  learns  of  this,  he  is  alarmed  and 
although  Richard  would  rather  stay  and  take  the  consequences, 


he  urges  him  to  go  away.  At  last,  when  Ethel,  too,  wishes  him 
to  go,  he  leaves  home  and  for  several  years  loses  his  grip  on 
things. 

The  story  so  far  is  told  as  Richard  remembers  events.  Then 
he  leaves  the  saloon  and  seeks  a  place  to  sleep  in  the  park.  There 
he  is  picked  up  by  a  prosperous  stranger,  who  takes  him  to  his 
lodgings  and  urges  him  to  brace  up.  He  tells  Richard  that  he 
was  once  a  tramp  and  had  been  saved  by  a  good  man,  a  lawyer. 
The  lawyer  proves  to  have  been  Richard  himself  in  his  better 
days,  for  this  is  the  man  he  defended  in  his  first  trial.  When 
the  stranger  learans  this,  he  manages  to  communicate  with 
Richard's  father,  who  comes  to  take  him  home.  There  he 
regains  control  of  himself  and  wins  Ethel's  love  once  more  "and 
they  lived   happily  ever  after." 

While  conventional  in  many  respects,  the  story  is  logical  and 
in  general  only  too  true  to  life.  The  various  roles  are  well 
handled,  Brvant  Washburn  playing  Richard;  Ruth  Stonehouse, 
Ethel;  Sydney  Stone,  Robert  Gray,  and  Charles  J.  Stine,  Rich- 
ard's father.  Bryant  Washburn  IV,  five  months  of  age.  makes 
his  screen  debut  in  this  play. 


"The  Ballet  Girl" 

A  Five-Part  Brady  Feature  Released  by  World  Film 
Corporation.     Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

THE  seamy  side  of  stage  life  is  set  forth  in  this  production 
with  a  seeming  tenacity  of  purpose  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  interest.  The  principal  interest,  of  course,  is  the 
lovely  Alice  Brady,  who  is  always  delightful  in  any  picture  she 
happens  to  do.  Holbrook  Blinn  is  featured  with  Miss  Brady, 
but  his  part  is  not  as  good  as  hers.  Mr.  Blinn  does  not  appear 
until  the  second  half  of  the  picture,  in  a  role  that  probably  does 
not  suit  him,  because  the  part  is  not  really  strong  enough  for  a 
man  of  his  ability.  Yet  he  puts  into  it  the  best  there  is  in  him. 
He  is  more  happily  cast  in  roles  that  require  an  extreme  degree 
of  masculine  forcefulness  or  depravity,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Practically  all  the  story  is  taken  up  in  illustrating  the  many 
pitfalls  that  await  a  young  woman  who  tries  to  go  it  alone 
behind  the  scenes.  There  are  so  many  thousands  and  thousands 
of  stage-struck  maids  in  the  world  that  the  lesson  carried  by 
this  story  may  well  be  reiterated  from  time  to  time,  for  the 
sake  of  the  rising  generation.  In  this  particular  story  there 
is  a  double  lesson.  In  the  first  part  of  the  picture  Alice  Brady 
plays  a  mother  who  is  a  ballet  dancer  at  the  theater.  The  pic- 
ture shows  how  her  life  was  wrecked  by  a  brutal  husband  who 
lived  on  her  wages.  The  husband  was  killed  in  a  saloon  brawl 
and  the  child  was  left  an  orphan  in  the  care  of  the  woman 
who  had  been  its  mother's  maid. 

A  period  of  years  intervenes  and  Miss  Brady  is  next  seen 
in  the  part  of  the  daughter  grown  up.  All  knowledge  of  her 
mother's  true  occupation  has  been  withheld  from  her.  and  she 
is  a  stranger  to  the  theater.  In  this  part,  as  the  young  and 
innocent  daughter,  Miss  Brady  is  extremely  charming  and  in- 
genuous. The  dancing  talent,  however,  inherited  from  her 
mother,  finally  breaks  out  and  struggles  for  recognition.  The 
girl  finds  in  an  old  trunk  one  of  her  mother's  ballet  dresses, 
and  then  the  story  of  her  mother  comes  out  by  installments 
from  her  foster  mother,  the  old  nurse,  and  the  aged  clown  who 
loved  her  mother  and  who  watches  over  her  child  with  a 
fatherly  interest. 

They  decide  to  give  her  dancing  lessons  and  prepare  her  for 
a  career  upon  the  stage.  This  being  done,  the  ballet  girl  makes 
her  appearance  on  the  stage  and  proves  immensely  successful. 
About  this  time  Holbrook  Blinn  appears  on  the  scene  as  the 
girl's  country  cousin,  who  has  loved  her  from  childhood.  He 
has  many  misgivings  and  objects  to  her  being  allowed  to  go 
upon  the  stage.  He  is  overruled  by  the  other  three  and  there- 
after is  obliged  to  spend  many  hours  reflecting  upon  the  dubious 
welfare  of  his  sweetheart.  The  ballet  girl,  surrounded  by 
flatterers  and  sycophants  in  general,  becomes  fickle  toward  her 
country  suitor  and  shows  a  preference  for  being  wined  and  dined. 

She  has  a  rude  awakening,  however,  from  one  of  her  love 
affairs  with  a  society  man,  and  in  the  end  is  quite  content  to 
accept  the  love  and  the  home  of  her  country  sweetheart.  As 
a  country  lover,  Mr.  Blinn  does  not  appear  as  a  hayseed.  He 
has  studied  out  the  character  of  the  modernized  farmer  so  that 
in  many  respects  he  resembles  a  hard-working  business  man  and 
is  not  unlike  any  respectable  worker  in  the  city.  All  of  this  is, 
of  course,  quite  true  to  life,  because  it  is  well  known  that  the 
"B'gosh"  type  of  countryman  has  pretty  well  disappeared  from 
everywhere  except  the  comic  weeklies.  Still,  the  part  did  not 
contain  any  dynamics,  which  are  a  component  part  of  the  Blinn 
personality. 

Alec  Francis,  as  the  old  clown,  registered  exceedingly  well 


372 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


in  a  part  that  required  sympathetic  treatment  at  all  times.  Con- 
sidering the  number  of  "deep-eyed  villains  that  Mr.  Francis  has 
played,  for  quite  a  while,  his  art  stands  out  well  by  contrast 
when  he  is  seen  in  his  character  of  the  gentle-hearted  old 
pantaloon. 

More  care  has  been  given  to  the  acting  than  to  the  photog- 


From   "The  Ballet   Girl,"    World. 

raphy  and  scenic  arrangements.  The  back-stage  atmosphere 
might  have  been  developed  a  little  more  by  showing  a  few  other 
people  belonging  to  the  company  besides  the  two  or  three  prin- 
cipals. This  is  only  a  matter  of  detail,  with  no  bearing  on  the 
story,  yet  it  would  have  heightened  the  idea  of  the  scenes  taking 
place  when  the  theater  was  full  of  life  instead  of  resembling 
a  cold  morning  rehearsal.  As  a  feature,  however,  its  stands 
up  very  well,  and  teaches  a  lesson  that  should  be  repeated  every 
now   and   then. 


B^B 

!U  [ 

> 

1 

^ 

■Ml 

^  «.* 

'  '     w 

Scene  fro 


Met 


"Mat 


md  His 


no  overdoing  of  certain  conditions  existing  everywhere  today. 
When  the  story  depicts  all  the  flourishing  business  establish- 
ments with  whom  the  central  character,  a  man  of  principle  and 
honor,  becomes  affiliated,  it  is  not  wandering  far  from  the  truth. 
The  story  does  not  contend  that  all  success  in  the  world  of 
business  is  built  upon  dishonorable  methods,  but  it  shows  how 
often  the  man  without  any  conscience  is  respected  in  commu- 
nities apart  from  those  that  have  been  made  to  feel  the  pain 
his  grasping  hand  causes. 

The  discomforting  part  of  it  is  that  the  circles  to  which 
most  men  aspire  are  the  very  ones  wherein  no  questions  are 
asked  of  the  person  with  wealth  enough  to  gain  entrance.  So 
why  not  smother  conscience  and  accumulate  wealth  and  power 
as  the  character  in  this  story  does.  John  Conscience,  later  John 
Power,  is  the  main  character.  He  considers  himself  a  failure 
because  he  has  a  strict  conscience  and  because  of  it  has  lost 
many  positions.  When  he  loses  the  girl  he  loves  because  he  is 
poor,  he  determines  to  gain  wealth  as  he  has  seen  others  do  it. 
and  begins  by  taking  a  bribe  to  make  known  confidences  of  his 
former  employer  to  a  rival  firm.  This  may  or  it  may  not  bring 
one  to  the  conclusion  that  John  is  a  bit  of  a  sentimentalist. 

Then  John  becomes  rich  and  powerful.  We  see  him  more 
grasping  than  any  of  those  he  so  vehemently  opposed.  But  one 
night  he  realizes  that  he  is  not  really  happy,  and  determines  to 
turn  his  power  to  accomplishing  good  for  the  oppressed.  That 
same  night  he  is  reunited1  with  the  girl  he  loves.  It  must  be 
taken  for  granted  that  he,  with  the  return  of  conscience,  will 
not  lose  his  business  as  he  did  in  the  beginning  lose  every  job 
he  could  procure  because  of  his  principles,  which,  of  course, 
means  that  "Man  and  His  Soul"  could  be  a  stronger  story 
than  it  is. 

Francis  X.  Bushman  is  featured  with  Beverly  Bayne.  Both 
of  these  popular  artists  have  ample  opportunity  "for  the  display 
of  their  talents.  John  W.  Noble  produced  the  picture.  The 
settings  are,  in  their  sumptuousness,  characteristic  of  Metro 
offerings. 


"Man  and  His  Soul" 

Francis  X.  Bushman  and  Beverly  Bayne  Star  in  Metro 
Drama  Released  January  31. 

UNDER  the  title  "Man  and  His  Soul,"  the  Quality  Pictures 
Corporation  has  produced  a  picture  for  Metro  which,  in 
addition  to  telling  a  good  story  well,  sets  forth  a  moral  of  no 
little  strength.  Conscience  is  the  subject  matter  of  the  play. 
Much  like  other  great  gifts  to  which  man  falls  heir,  conscience 
is  at  times  a  burden.     One  well-known  writer  of  modern  fiction 


said,  in  effect,  that  if  the  exact  location  of  one's  conscience 
could  be  found,  surgery  would  be  as  busy  removing  it  as  surgery 
is  now  with  the  troublesome  appendix. 

In   "Man  and   His   Soul"   the  moral  is   drawn   with  little  or 


"Vengeance  Is  Mine" 

Horsley  Masterpicture  Featuring  Crane  Wilbur 
Reviewed  by  Neil  G.  Caward 

HTHE  problem  of  capital  punishment  and  whether  or  not  -it  is 
1  ever  justified  is  most  carefully  considered  in  "Vengeance  Is 
Mine,"  the  five-reel  Mutual  Masterpicture,  de  luxe  edition,  issued 
from  the  Horsley  studios  on  January  31. 

Crane  Wilbur  is  both  the  author  and  the  star  of  this  multiple 
reel  offering,  which  was  produced  under  the  direction  of  Robert 
B.  Broadwell  and  is  excellent  both  as  to  plot,  action,  photography 
and  direction.  Mr.  Wilbur  as  John  Loring,  later  the  governor 
of  a  state,  has  given  himself  ample  opportunity  in  the  story  for 
emotional  acting,  and  he  scores  heavily  all  the  way  through. 
Opposite  Mr.  Wilbur  appears  Gypsy  Abbott  as  Marion  Grey, 
later  Mrs.  Loring;  while  Carl  von  Schiller  is  cast  as  Richard 
Loring,  John's  brother. 

As  the  story  opens  we  see  Marian  Grey,  a  gay  and  thought- 
less pretty  girl,  starting  for  an  auto  ride  with  a  man  named  Clark 
who  is  one  of  her  acquaintances.  She  knows  little  about  Clark, 
other  than  that  he  is  a  good  dancer  and  owns  a  pretty  car. 
While  many  miles  from  any  habitation  Clark  pretends  to  have 
motor  trouble  and  announces  that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  go 
farther.  After  a  tramp  down  the  road  the  two  come  to  a  road 
house  which  bears  an  unsavory  reputation  and  Clark  suggests 
that  they  enter  while  he  telephones  for  help.  Unknown  to  Mar- 
ian he  signs  the  register  "Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark"  and  then  has  the 
girl  shown  to  a  room.  The  landlord,  suspicious,  telephones  Mar- 
ian's father,  whose  address  he  secures  from  a  card  that  Marian 
drops,  and  the  angry  parent  arrives  just  as  day  breaks.  Clark, 
finding  Marian  is  able  to  resist  his  advances,  takes  the  precaution 
of  tearing  out  the  page  of  the  hotel  register  upon  which  he  had 
signed  their  names,  and  then  hurries  away. 

A  year  later  Marian  is  happy  as  the  wife  of  Governor  Loring, 
a  grim  believer  in  capital  punishment,  and  she  and  her  husband 
find  themselves  ideally  mated  and  the  future  offering  them  still 
more  happiness.  Then  suddenly  Clark  appears  to  blackmail  the 
happy  wife,  showing  her  the  page  torn  from  the  hotel  register 
and  asserting  that  he  will  tell  the  story  of  her  indiscretion  to  her 
husband  unless  she  meets  his  demand  of  a  large  sum  of  money 
without  delay. 

Richard  Loring,  the  governor's  brother,  accidentally  over- 
hears Clark's  conversation  and  follows  Marian  when  she  goes 
to  Clark's  apartments  to  announce  that  she  has  been  unable  to 
raise  the  sum  he  demands.  Richard  stalks  into  the  apartment 
while  Marian  hides  behind  some  portieres  and  insists  that  Clark 
give  him  the  page  from  the  register.    In  the  struggle  that  ensues 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Marian  discharges  a  revolver  she  has  picked  up  from  Clark's  desk 
and  the  latter  drops,  dead.  Richard  is  arrested,  tried  for  the 
murder,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  electrocuted,  though  Mar- 
ian attempts  during  the  trial  to  clear  his  name. 

Governor  Loring  finds  himself  then  faced  with  the  problem 
of  either  pardoning  his  brother  and  proving  faithless  to  his  ideals 
of  capital  punishment  or  standing  by  his  beliefs  and  seeing  his 
brother  electrocuted.  The  days  pass  and  the  problem  is  still 
unsolved.  To  escape  all  callers,  the  governor  hurries  to  his  hunt- 
ing lodge  in  the  woods  on  the  eve  of  the"  execution,  and  there 
Marian  follows  him  to  confess  that  it  was  she  who  killed  Clark. 
The  governor  attempts  to  telephone  a  pardon  to  the  prison,  but 
the  wires  are  down  and  he  leaps  into  his  auto  and  begins  a  wild 
race  with  death  that  ends  in  his  arrival  at  the  penitentiary  just  as 
Richard  is  being  strapped  into  the  electric  chair. 

The  life  of  his  brother  spared  at  the  last  moment,  Governor 
Loring,  seated  in  his  study,  seems  to  see  before  him  the  inscrip- 
tion "Vengeance  is  mine,  saith  the  Lord,"  and  knowing  that  it  is 
no  longer  possible  for  him  to  believe  in  capital  punishment  and 
that  he  has  been  false  to  his  campaign  promises,  he  resigns  his 
post  and  with  his  wife  and  brother  goes  away  to  begin  life  anew 
amid   different   surroundings. 


as  he  was  discussing  the  affair  with  the  men,  an  officer  brought 
in  Mary  Page,  whom  he  had  found  wandering,  dazed  and  almost 
delirious.  As  the  men  try  to  understand  what  she  is  saying,  she 
falls   unconscious. 

This  ends  the  episode.  The  court  scenes  are  very  vivid  and 
interesting.  The  settings  are  good,  and  the  stories  of  the  wit- 
nesses are  clear.  The  photography  is  unusually  good  in  many 
of  the  scenes.  The  story  is  nicely  advanced  by  the  chapter,  and 
those  who  have  followed  it  will  certainly  be  eager  to  learn  how 
Mary  escapes  from  the  web  now  being  woven  closely  around  her. 


"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

Essanay  Serial  Chapter  Three,  "The  Web."     Released 
February  7.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

INTEREST  in  "The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page"  will  be,  if 
*■  possible,  increased  by  this  episode,  which  shows  a  continua- 
tion  of   the   trial.     The   prosecuting  attorney  calls   to  the   stand 


Ruth  Pollock,  sister  of  the  murdered  man.  She  goes  back  to  the 
days  when  Mary,  Phillip,  her  brother  and  herself,  lived  in  a  little 
town,  where  the  girls  were  schoolmates  and  chums,  and  Mary 
and  Phillip  very  good  friends.  She  tells  of  the  discovery  that 
Mary  Page's  father  forged  Pollock's  name  to  a  check,  and  of  her 
pleading  with  her  brother  to  be  merciful  to  the  man.  Pollock 
agrees  not  to  prosecute  Page,  but  demands  as  a  reward  Mary's 
promise  to  marry  him.  Ruth  knows  that  her  chum  loves  Phillip 
and  does  not  want  to  marry  Pollock,  and  she  begs  him  to  give  her 
up. 

Brandon,  the  reporter,  is  next  called  to  the  stand.  He,  too, 
had  lived  in  the  little  town  and  had  been  Phillip's  friend.  He 
tells  of  meeting  Phillip  after  Mary's  engagement  was  announced, 
when  Phillip  was  trying  to  forget  his  troubles  in  drink.  Both 
men  know  that  Mary  does  not  love  Page.  Later  they  meet  Mary 
and  she  and  Phillip  plan  to  outwit  Pollock  by  an  elopement. 
They  succeed  in  reaching  the  minister's  house,  and  there  they 
are  overtaken  by  Pollock  and  Page,  who  arrive  in  time  to  stop 
them.  Brandon  explains  that  he  had  aided  the  eloping  couple 
until  he  overheard  Pollock  threaten  Page  with  a  prison  term 
for  forgery  if  Mary  married  Phillip.  Frightened,  Brandon 
revealed    the    plot    and    helped    to   overtake    the    runaways.      He 


hates  Pollack. 


described  the  scene  at  the  minster's  house,  when  Mary  in  rage 
declared  she  would  some  day  kill  Pollock. 

Then   the   reporter's   story  turns   to  more   recent  events,   to 
the  scene  in  the  police  court  the  morning  after  the  murder,  when, 


"The  Upstart" 

A    Metro    Five-Reel    Comedy    Released    February    1 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ADAPTED  from  the  play  of  the  same  name  by  Thomas  Barry, 
Metro's  "The  Upstart,"  is  a  diverting  comedy  founded  upon 
a  young  man's  opposition  to  divorce  and  loveless  marriages. 
Coventry  Petmore's  opposition  to  this  evil  is  vehement,  it  is 
violent.  In  fact  Coventry  is  a  "nut"'  and  nothing  short  of  that. 
The  picture  has  some  clever  situations  and  some  bright,  witty 
sub-titles.  Much  of  the  humor  depends  on  the  sub-titles,  and 
while  their  frequent  use  is  a  thing  to  be  avoided,  "The  Upstart" 
is  all  that  it  pretends  to  be,  an  amusing  play. 

The   foundation  upon  which  the  story  is  built  is   Coventry's 
theory.     There   is   repeated   reference   to   this   theory,   but   in   all 


1   I 

* 

4-      &\ 
\ 

>  fro 


"The    Ufist, 


truth  it  must  be  said  that  if  he  really  has  one  the  story  is 
shy  about  making  it  known,  and  the  spectator  never  finds  out 
what  it  is.  But  as  the  incidents  arising  from  a  source,  which 
is  more  or  less  of  an  unknown  quantity,  are  amusing  and 
the  picture  holds  the  interest  consistently,  one  is  perfectly  will- 
ing to  make  concessions.  Furthermore,  "The  LTpstart"  is,  in 
style,  a  screen  comedy  such  as  we  have  all  too  few  of,  it  repre- 
sents a  step  toward  satire,  whose  possibilities  as  far  as  the  photo- 
play is  concerned  have  scarcely  been  tested,  let  alone  developed. 

The  production,  directed  by  Edwin  Carew,  is  by  Rolfe 
Photoplays,  Inc.  The  direction  is  such  that  every  possibility  of 
the  story  is  realized  and  the  production  has  all  the  artistic  set- 
tings and  pretty  outdoor  locations  usually  found  in  a  Metro 
picture.  In  every  particular  of  acting  and  staging  "The  Upstart" 
is  praiseworthy.  It  should  appeal,  and  appeal  strongly  to  those 
who   enjoy  high-class  screen  comedies. 

The  story  is  of  a  youth  who,  in  the  opening  scene,  leaves 
his  home,  wife  and  baby  included,  to  go  out  into  the  world  and 
preach  a  sermon  against  divorce.  Through  circumstances  he  is 
invited  into  the  home  of  Judge  Mitchell,  who  often  presides 
over  divorce  proceedings.  The  judge's  son,  a  minister,  and  his 
wife  live  with  him.  Coventry  has  plenty  of  opportunity  to 
apply  his  ideas.  The  minister's  wife  is  discontented.  Her  hus- 
band is  quite  as  distant  as  a  husband  could  ever  be. 

Beatrice,  consequently,  grows  fond  of  the  chauffeur  because 
he  has  a  most  romantic  feeling  for  her.  This  Coventry  discovers 
and  he  encourages  Beatrice  by  telling  her  that  he  will  arrange 
matters  so  she  will  either  find  happiness  with  her  chauffeur 
or  remain  contented  with  the  minister.  He  instructs  her  to  tell 
her  husband  that  she  is  in  love  with  another  man.  If  her  hus- 
band really  loves  her  he  will  tell  her  to  secure  her  happiness 
at  no  matter  what  cost  to  him.  But  things  do  not  turn  out 
that  way  and  Beatrice's  reconciliation  with   her  husband   comes 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


about  through  an  unexpected  move  on  the  part  of  the  judge.    In 
the  end  Coventry  is  still  "a  nut  with  a  theory." 

The  closing  scene  is  rather  novel.  This  shows  Coventry 
preaching  the  virtues  of  his  theory  to  the  spectator.  Marguerite 
Snow  is  featured  as  Beatrice  Mitchell.  She  does  a  great  deal 
with  her  part  and  renders  a  very  pleasing  performance.  George 
Le  Guere  is  Coventry,  which  is  really  the  leading  part,  and  he 
plays  it  to  good  effect.  James  Lackaye,  Frederick  Summer  and 
Frederick   Sittenham   complete   an   exceptionally  good   cast. 


"The  Gods  of  Fate" 

Impressive     Spectacular    Scenes    in    Lubin     Offering 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  Lubin  Company  has  gone  to  great  lengths  to  add  force 
*  to  Daniel  Carson  Goodman's  "The  Gods  of  Fate"  in 
producing  in  so  spectacular  and  impressive  a  manner  two 
of  the  story's  incidents.  The  incidents  referred  to  are  the 
fire  which  causes  the  death  of  the  man  who  stole  his  friend's 
invention  and  the  train  wreck  planned  by  his  son  in  a  last 
effort  to  inherit  his  father's  ill-gotten  money. 

The  fire  scenes  and  the  head-on  collision  of  a  passenger 
and  freight  train  are  really  the  features  of  the  picture,  and 
owing  to  a  story  containing  good  melodramatic  situations 
these  feats  of  production  are  not  wasted.  By  that  we  mean 
that  one  is  not  compelled  to  sit  through  boresome  moments 
of  a  picture  which  depends  enirely  for  its  appeal  on  such  im- 
pressive effects.  As  it  happens  in  "Gods  of  Fate"  the  fire 
and  train  catastrophes  have  a  real  place  in  a  story  dealing 
with   convincing  people  and  interesting  situations. 

The  story  is  laid  in  a  factory  town.  George  Estey  and 
John  Miller  are  on  quite  friendly  terms.  Estey  lives  with 
his  motherless  daughter  and  works  most  of  his  spare  hours 
on  an  invention.  He  dies  suddenly  after  completing  his 
invention.  Miller  is  the  first  to  find  him  and  noticing  the 
machine  and  aware  of  its  value  to  the  officials  of  the  steel 
mills,  takes  it  to  his  home.  He  sells  the  invention  for  a  large 
sum.  Made  uncombortable  by  a  guilty  conscience  he  adopts 
Estey's  little  daughter. 

Fifteen  years  later  we  see  Jane  living  happily  in  the 
Miller  home  and  in  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  she  is  not  Mil- 
ler's daughter.  Miller  has  two  sons,  Gordon,  hard  working 
and  ambitious,  and  Kent,  his  favorite,  who  is  really  worthless. 
Miller  is  accidentally  killed  and  his  will  states  that  Kent  is 
to  inherit  all  his  belongings  provided  he  marries  Jane,  the 
will  explaining  that  she  is  an  adopted  child.  When  Jane 
learns  this  she  promises  to  marry  Gordon,  who  insists  that 
she  receive  the  money  her  father's  machine  brought.  Kent 
is  enraged  at  this  and  when  they  board  a  train  for  the  city, 
where  the  affairs  are  to  be  stranghtened  out,  he  causes  the 
wreck.  Fortunately  neither  Gordon  or  Jane  are  seriously 
injured. 

The  characters  are  well  interpreted.  Richard  Buhler  and 
Reseta  Brice  are  the  featured  players  but  the  most  important 
part  falls  to  William  H.  Turner  as  Miller.  Mr.  Turner  plays 
the  part  in  a  highly  effective  manner  and  whether  or  not  it  is 
because  of  the  opportunities  given  him  he  carries  off  the  act- 


"The  Ruling  Passion" 


William  Fox  Five-Reel  Feature  Released  January  30 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

HYPNOTISM  is  the  theme  of  this  drama,  the  scenes  of  which 
are  laid  in  India.  It  is  a  well-told  story,  interesting  and, 
in  the  main,  well-planned.  A  native  prince,  Ranjit  Singhi,  is 
inciting  his   followers  to   rebellion  against  the  Government.     He 


The  f 


has  a  great  fascination  for  women,  and  in  his  harem  is  an  English 
woman  whom  he  has  tired  of  and  is  putting  to  death.  This  piece 
of  cruelty  arouses  the  wrath  of  one  of  his  servants,  who  reports 
it  to  the  governor  of  the  province.  When  the  prince  discovers 
this,  he  orders  the  servant  blinded. 

A  young  English  girl,  Claire,  meets  the  prince  and  feels  his 
hypnotic  spell.  This  remains  after  she  is  married,  and  a  year 
later  the  prince  lures  her  away  from  her  husband.  The  spell 
does  not  last  long  and  she  escapes.  In  the  meantime  her  husband 
has  been  hurt  and  has  returned  to  England. 

Just  as  the  prince  is  about  to  lead  his  men  against  the 
governor,  the  blinded  servant  and  his  daughter  come  back  to 
the  palace  and  the  girl  stabs  the  prince.  Claire,  after  her  baby 
is  born,  returns  to  England  and  rejoins  her  husband.  The 
picture  ends  with  a  close-up  of  the  laughing  baby,  the  only 
cheerful  scene  in  the  play. 

As  a  play  of  cruelty  and  horror,  the  release  will  furnish 
many  thrills.  William  E.  Shay  portrays  the  prince  very  skillfully 
and  Claire  Whitney  is  the  young  English  wife. 


ing  honors.  Mr.  Buhler  is  satisfactory  as  Gordon  and  Arthur 
Housman  is  good  in  the  heavy  role.  In  a  few  of  his  scenes 
he  over-acts  but  for  the  most  part  he  does  commendably. 
Miss  Brice  as  Jane  is  pretty  and  photographs  well  but  her 
acting  deserves  no  praise.  Inez  Buck  is  pleasing  as  Mrs. 
Miller.    Jack  Pratt  produced  "The  Gods  of  Fate." 


"The  Woman  in  47" 

Five    Parts.      Released   by    World   Film    Corporation 
Featuring  Alice  Brady.  Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

THE  trials  of  an  Italian  girl,  both  before  and  after  her 
coming  to  America,  are  set  forth  in  a  very  entertaining, 
not  to  say  a  thrilling  manner  in  this  five  part  World  Film  cor- 
poration release  for  February  7.  The  picture,  produced  by  the 
Frohman  Amusement  Corporation,  was  directed  by  Edwin  Au- 
gust, who  also  appears  in  one  of  the  leading  parts.  To  Jack 
Sherrill  is  entrusted  the  difficult  and  unenviable  role  of  the 
story-mad  reporter.  It  appears  that  Mr.  August  has  lost  none 
of  his  powers  as  an  actor,  and  it  is  also  apparent  that  he  is 
improving  as  a  director,  alhtough  he  is  inclined  to  be  ultra- 
melodramatic   at   times. 

As  a  native  Italian  girl,  Miss  Brady  fit?  nicely  into  the  part, 
and  if  the  observer  is  willing  to  delude  himself  a  little  bit.  he 
can  make  himself  believe  that  Miss  Brady  is  typically  Italian. 
The  general  Italian  atmosphere  has  been  obtained  by  dint  of 
careful  attention  to  detail  in  costuming  and  scenic  effects.  It 
is  all  very  charming  to  look  at,  even  though  the  poor  girl  does 
have  to  suffer  the  lashings  of  a  cruel  father  and  the  leers  of  an 
unwelcome  fiance,  who  appraises  her  gleefully,  as  though  she 
were  some  kind  of  a  domestic  animal  about  to  become  his 
property. 

To  get  out  of  it  all,  she  runs  away  from  home  and  comes 
to  America.  But  it  is  like  jumping  out  of  the  frying  pan  into 
the  fire,  because,  having  missed  her  lover  on  this  side  of  the 
water,  she  falls  into  the  hands  of  more  men  who  would  like 
to  use  her  for  their  own  benefit,  without  being  particular  as  to 


Febku 


12.   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


375 


the  methods  employed.  In  America  she  gradually  begins 
our  ways  and  our  manner  of  dress,  until  she  becomes 
modernized  young  woman,  and  appears  finally  as  her  c 
charming  self. 

Miss   Brady  has  a  little   more  opportunity  to   do   e 
work  in  this  production  than  she  has  had  i 


to  adopt 
quite   a 


is  calling  upon  her  he  seeks  to  embrace  her  and  in  the  struggle 
the  ring  is  dropped.  Bess  hurries  into  the  house  and  Gentleman 
Dick  picks  up  the  ring  and  slips  it  on  his  finger. 

Bob  later  discovers  the  ring  in  the  gambler's  possession  and 
offers  to  pay  him  a  game  of  cards  with  the  ring  as  a  stake. 
Bob  loses,  but  the  gambler  presents  him  with  the  ring  and  he 
hurries  off  to  confront  Bess.  Refusing  to  believe  her  explanation 
of  how  it  came  into  the  gambler's  possession.  Bob  goes  to  the 
saloon  and  proceeds  to  get  himself  highly  intoxicated. 

Gentleman  Dick  and  his  pals,  Buck  and  Nick,  plan  to  hold 
up  the  stagecoach  and  induce  Bob  to  assist  them,  he  being  just 
desperate  and  drunk  enough  to  do  anything  that  is  suggested. 
During  the  hold-up  Bob  drops  the  ring,  and  later  the  Mexican 
loosens  one  of  the  shoes  of  Bob's  horse,  thus  causing  it  to  go 
lame.  The  sheriff  and  his  posse  set  out  to  capture  the  rob- 
bers and  soon  are  on  the  trail  of  the  lame  horse.  Harry  hap- 
pens along,  hears  Bob's  story  and  for  Bess'  sake  endeavors  to 
help  him  to  escape.  Bob  is  sent  afoot  to  the  village  and  Harry 
mounts  the  lame  horse.  He  escapes  from  the  sheriff's  posse,  but 
is  badly  wounded  in  so  doing  and  finds  shelter  in  Bess'  home. 

Later  Bob  comes  there  and  Bess  berates  him  for  letting 
Harry  take  the  blame  for  the  hold-up.  The  sheriff  discovers  the 
ring  dropped  by  Bob  and  sets  out  to  capture  the  latter.  Think- 
ing Gentleman  Dick  has  played  him  false  Bob  shoots  the  gambler, 
but  the  bullet  is  buried  in  a  pack  of  cards  in  the  gambler's  pocket 
and  Bob,  hurrying  away,  believes  himself  a  murderer.  Finally 
Bob  is  run  down  by  the  Sheriff  and  shot,  and  Bess,  with  her 
eyes  open  to  Bob's  real  weaknesses,  decides  to  accept  Harry's  pro- 
posal. 


•   from  "The    Worn, 


plays  of  late.  She  has  had  so  many  unemotional  parts  that 
some  were  beginning  to  suspect  that  she  could  not  do  emotional 
work.  This  picture,  however,  will  quite  dispel  that  idea,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  she  will  get  a  few  more  parts  that  will 
give  her  an  opportunity  to  show  her  ability  in  big  dramatic  scenes. 

One  of  the  morals  of  this  story  is_  well  calculated  to  get 
under  the  skin  of  newspaper  men,  particularly  the  conscience- 
less reporter,  who  would  plunge  man,  woman,  or  child  into  the 
depths  of  hell  for  the  sake  of  getting  a  story  for  the  next 
edition.  It  is  about  time  something  came  along  to  show  up  the 
inhuman  avidity  displayed  by  newspaper  men  who  ruin  the  lives 
of  unfortunate  people  who  come  within  the  eyes  of  the  law, 
either  accidentally,  innocently,  or  technically.  The  feeling  aroused 
by  Mr.  Sherrill  in  this  character  speaks  well  for  the  ability  and 
sincerity  with  which  he  plays   it. 

Many  of  these  men  are  utterly  regardless  of  consequences, 
and  in  time  they  take  a  fiendish  delight  in  their  work.  Therefore, 
more  power  to  any  author  or  producer  for  turning  out  a  story 
that   will   penetrate   the   hide    of    such    a    man. 


"Should  a  Baby  Die?" 

Arthur    Donaldson    in    Five-Reel    Hanover    Offering 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

'THE  Hanover  Film  Company  presents  "Should  a  Baby 
-!■  Die?"  a  romance  written  by  Charles  K.  Harris,  the  song- 
writer and  author  of  several  photoplays.  Arthur  Donaldson, 
who  has  appeared  in  many  notable  screen  plays,  is  starred 
in  a  Jewish  character  role  which  he  enacts  convincingly  and 
with  intelligence.  The  manner  in  which  the  producers  have 
staged  the  picture  is  commendable.  The  settings  are  re- 
markably good  and  the  photography  satisfactory. 

As  suggested  by  the  title  this  picture  touches  upon  a 
question  which  has  recently  created  quite  a  stir,  but  the 
touch  is  a  light  one.  In  explaining  that  Lydia  is  only  his 
adopted  daughter,  Jacob  Cohen  relates  how  he  took  her  into 
his  home  when  she  was  a  baby,  whom,  the  doctors  maintained, 
would  be  a  cripple  if  she  lived.  Lydia  is  now  a  pretty  girl 
of  nineteen.     After  Jacob's  story  the  spectator  is  confronted 


"A  Knight  of  the  Range" 

Latest  Red  Feather  Features  Harry  Carey.     Reviewed 
by  Neil  G.  Caward 

A  REAL  old  fashioned  rip-roaring  melodrama,  with  fast  rid- 
ing by  a  bunch  of  dust  covered  cowboys,  a  hold-up  of  a 
stage  coach,  the  wayward  lover  of  the  pretty  heroine  who  is 
protected  by  the  handsome  hero,  and  the  other  elements  that 
used  to  constitute  about  eighty  out  of  every  hundred  of  the  west- 
ern features  made  a  few  years  ago,  come  back  to  the  screen  in  "A 
Knight  of  the  Range,"  the  five-reel  Red  Feather  offering  sched- 
uled for  release  on  February  7. 

It  mustn't  be  assumed,  however,  that  because  the  producer 
has  gone  back  to  the  lurid  melodrama  for  his  play  the  subject 
is  handled  in  the  antiquated  manner  in  which  the  earlier  west- 
erns were  staged.  Quite  the  contrary — for  "A  Knight  of  the 
Range"  is  a  feature  in  the  modern  meaning  of  that  word.  To  be- 
gin with  Harry  Carey,  than  whom  there  are  few  men  better  fitted 
to  enact  the  role  of  a  cowboy,  plays  the  leading  role  and  does  it 
most  acceptably.  Olive  Fuller  Gordon  is  the  pretty  heroine  of 
the  tale  and  Hoot  Gibson  is  Bob  Graham,  the  young  man  who, 
when  he  thinks  his  sweetheart  false  to  him,  becomes  a  bandit 
for  a  day  just  for  the  sake  of  excitement. 

Jacques  Jaccard,  who  produced  the  picture,  has  given  us 
some  splendid  long  range  views  of  a  roundup  with  hundreds 
and  hundreds  of  cattle  milling  about  in  a  circle,  and  makes 
wonderfully  effective  use  of  the  close-up  in  scenes  where  such 
camera  work  is  necessary.  The  story  opens  with  the  gathering 
of  the  cowboys  in  Lariat  after  the  roundup  and  the  registering 
of  the  fact  that  Both  Bob  Graham  and  Cheyenne  Harry  (Harry 
Carey)  love  Bess  Dawson,  the  postmistress. 

Bob  has  sent  Bess  a  curious  ring  as  a  token  of  his  love 
and  while  Gentleman  Dick,  a  notorious  gambler  of  the  village, 


"Should  a  Baby  Die 


nswer  comes   quickly 


with   the   interrogatory  title,   an 
and  naturally  in  the  negative. 

The  main  part  of  the  story  is  the  romance  of  a  wealthy 
chap  who  is  working  his  way  to  a  responsible  position  in  a 
machine  shop  and  the  daughter  of  a  Jewish  pawn  broker. 
Jacob   welcomes   young   Burton   upon   his    first   few   visits   to 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


Lydia.  Then  later  he  becomes  alarmed  when  they  become 
noticeably  fond  of  each  other.  He  strenuously  objects  to 
their  engagement  because  Burton  is  a  Gentile,  but  this  ob- 
jection he  overcomes  because   Lydia's  happiness  is   at  stake. 

Through  the  jealousy  of  a  girl  who  desires  to  marry 
Burton,  Jacob  learns  that  he  is  the  son  of  a  senator,  and 
wealthy.  Then,  of  course,  he  suspects  Burton's  real  motives 
and  commands  Lydia  to  break  the  engagement.  Burton  per- 
suades his  parents  to  help  him,  but  when  they  learn  that 
Lydia  is  a  Jewish  pawn  broker's  daughter  it  is  their  turn  to 
object.  For  the  sake  of  Lydia  and  Burton,  Jacob  then  proves 
that  she  is  not  his  daughter.  It  turns  out  that  she  is  the 
grandchild  of  some  wealthy  friends  of  the  Burton's,  which 
means  that  the  end  finds  all  happy  but  the  jealous  girl. 

The  synopsis  gives  little  idea  of  how  interesting  "Should 
a  Baby  Die?"  really  is.  Its  appeal  is  not  restricted  but  the 
picture  will  find  its  most  enthusisatic  audiences  in  the  less 
pretentious  houses.  The  many  human  touches  and  the  pretty 
sentiment  as  expressed  in  the  character  of  Jacob  which  re- 
sult in  continued  interest  make  this  a  picture  that  will  please. 

Supporting  Mr.  Donaldson,  whose  characterization  is  re- 
markably impressive,  are  Gazelle  Marche,  J.  W.  Johnston, 
Sonia  Marcelle,  Florence  Hackett  and  Camille  Dalberg.  These 
are  all  plavers  of  ability  and  they  prove  adequate  in  every 
detail. 


"The  Spider" 

Famous  Players  Paramount  Drama  Featuring  Pauline 
Frederick.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

PAULINE  FREDERICK  makes  her  latest  appearance  in  a  dual 
role,  which  means  that  those  who  see  "The  Spider"  produced 
by  Famous  Players  under  the  direction  of  Robert  G.  Vignola, 
will  be  well  pleased  with  the  picture,  if  only  because  the  oppor- 
tunities given  the  star  are  so  great.  Were  it  written  especially 
for  her,  and  it  may  have  been,  this  story  by  William  H.  Clif- 
ford could  hardly  be  improved  upon  as  a  vehicle  for  Miss  Fred- 
erick, who  is  seen  as  a  famous,  or  notorious,  Paris  beauty,  and 
Joan,  Valerie's  daughter. 

In  "The  Spider"  Miss  Frederick  is,  to  use  the  word  in  its 
truest  sense,  excellent.  She  conveys  the  emotions  she  is  sup- 
posed to  experience,  and  playing  two  entirely  different  char- 
acters that  include  nearly  all  any  woman  ever  experiences,  with 
great  feeling  and  power.  It  would,  indeed,  be  difficult  to  praise 
Miss  Frederick  too  highly. 

The  author  has  used  material  that  is  of  no  great  consequence 
of  itself,  splendidly.  The  story  is  exceptionally  well  built  for 
screen  purposes.  One  might  say  that  the  scenario  has  been  ex- 
pertly devised.  Aside  from  the  smoothness  with  which  he  tells 
the  story  and  the  opportunity  he  has  given  the  star,  the  author 
has  not  done  much.  The  picture  is  remarkably  interesting,  it 
holds  the  spectator  from  beginning  to  end,  but  credit  for  that, 
it  would  seem,  belongs  to  the  cast  and  the  director. 

Valerie  St.  Cyr,  who  deserted  her  husband  and  child  in 
order  to  live  in  luxury  with  the  Count  Du  Poissy,  poses  as  a 
poor  girl  and  in  this  way  realizes  her  whim  to  have  Julian  St. 
Saens.  a  young  artist,  paint  her  portrait.  She  falls  in  love 
with  St.  Saens,  and  when  he  spurns  her,  she  misrepresents  mat- 
ters to  Du  Poissy,  inducing  him  to  formulate  a  plan  to  avenge 
her. 

The  count  serves  his  own  ends  in  avenging  Valerie.  He 
has  seen  Joan,  St.  Saens'  fiancee,  and  is  attracted  by  her  beauty. 
He  kidnaps  the  girl.  In  a  struggle  with  him  in  his  apartment, 
Joan  stabs  Du  Poissy.  At  this  time  Valerie  learns  that  Joan 
is  her  own  daughter,  and  she  assumes  the  guilt.  She  is  con- 
victed and  executed  on  the  guillotine.  Joan  remains  ignorant 
of  this  fact  and  marries  the  artist. 

The  story  is  produced  with  such  realism  that  there  is  a 
genuine  illusion.  The  interest  is  compelled  by  this  picture.  A 
picture  so  consistently  interesting  is  not  frequently  to  be  found. 
In  one  scene  the  realism  is  carried  to  an  extreme.  This  is  in 
the  execution  of  Valerie  on  the  Guillotine.  "The  Spider"  is 
somber  enough  of  tone  wit' 


depicted  and  the  situati 
admirable  as  a  pif 
Vignola  has  misuse 
Great  as  the  s 
attention,  even  agi 
the  least  commend 
Vignola's  first  Fan 
lain  its  standard, 
services.      Frank    1 


up   to   i 


manner  which   is 
a  case  where  Mr. 


"The  Drifter" 

Gaumont-Mutual  Masterpicture  Released  February  7 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

PAUMONT'S  latest  Mutual  Masterpicture,  of  the  De  Luxe 
^-*  Edition,  entitled  "The  Drifter,"  centers  about  a  man  in 
whom  there  are  two  impulses  which  conflict  strikingly.  Har- 
old Derwint  studies  diligently  for  the  ministry  and  apparently 
loves  his  vocation,  yet  he  has  a  trying  time  of  it  in  striving 
to  overcome  his  passion  for  gambling.  For  a  time  he  gives 
himself  up  to  the  game  of  chance  but  events  lead  him  back  to 
the  two  objects  he  temporarily  cut  himhelf  off  from,  the  pul- 
pit and  a  pretty  girl. 

The  story,  by  John  B.  Clymer,  has  much  about  it  that  is 
admirable.  It  is  interesting  and,  in  the  main,  convincing. 
There  is  used  the  marked  resemblance  of  the  near  minister 
and  a  real  minister,  which  occasions  some  double  exposure 
scenes  that  are  well  done,  but  two  people  who  look  exactly 
alike  can  be  found  in  stories  only,  and  as  in  this  case  the 
"double"  is  really  not  necessary  to  the  working  out  of  the 
plot  the  story  would  be  better  without  it. 

After  the  divinity  student  is  expelled  for  gambling  and 
leaves  the  girl,  the  spectator  follows  him  through  some  of 
his  experiences  at  the  race  track  and  when  the  girl  comes 
into  the  story  again  she  is  the  wife  of  another  minister  who, 
by  his  books,  cannot  be  distinguished  from  Harold.  There 
is  not  enough  explanation  by  titles  or  action  to  make  this 
point  clear  and  one  wonders  for  a  time  whether  "Pittsburg 
Hal"  is  the  divinity  student  introduced  in  the  beginning  or 
merely  a  person  who  resembles  the  minister,  who,  it  is  nat- 
ural to  believe,  has  killed  his  desire  for  gambling  and  mar- 
ried Faith  Willis. 

There  is  in  "The  Drifter,"  however,  enough  good  dra- 
matic action  to  make  it  a  thoroughly  satisfying  picture.  If 
the  story  as  a  whole  was  poor  the  weaknesses  mentioned 
would  not  be  so  noticeable,  very  probably.  Expelled  for  bet- 
ting on  horse  races,  Derwent  becomes  a  drifter.  He  leads 
a  rather  fast  life  until  reverses  come.  On  a  railroad  train  he 
meets  the  Rev.  William  Ashton,  who  is  his  double.  The  train 
is  wrecked  and  the  minister  killed.  Derwent  decides  to  im- 
personate the  minister.  He  is  successful  in  this  until  he  meets 
Mrs.  Ashton,  who  is  Faith  Willis,  the  girl  Derwent  was  once 
engaged  to.  He  is  well  liked  by  the  new  congregation  and 
in  the  end  marries  Faith,  ■  first  having  announced  his  true 
identity,  and  overcome  his  passion  for  gambling. 

Richard  Garrick  produced  the  picture.  The  scenes  at  the 
race  track  are  really  enjoyable  and  add  color  to  the  picture. 
Alexander  Gaden  is  Harold  Derwent  and  Lucille  Taft  an 
attractive  Faith  Willis.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
"The  Drifter"  will  be  well  received  by  audiences. 


George  Le  Guere  was  injured  by  being  trampled 
upon  during  the  filming  of  a  mob  scene  for  "The 
Blindness  of  Love,"  a  Metro  feature,  at  Jacksonville, 
Fla. 


Count    Du   Poissy.     Thomas   Holding  as  the  artist 
but  he  was  more  than  that  in  other  pictures. 


performance  i 

'    fyin 


V.   L.    S.    E.    (Lubin)    "Souh   i 


February   12,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


377 


Mirror  Engages  lone  Bright 

lone  Bright,  quite  recently  leading  woman  with 
Julian  Eltinge,  will  be  leading  ingenue  for  Nat  Good- 
win in  the  first  picture  in  which  he  will  star  for  the 
Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  under  the  direction  of  Lawrence 
Marston.  The  com- 
pany will  begin 
work  in  a  few  days 
at  the  G  1  e  n  d  a  1  e 
studio  of  the  Mirror 
Company.  Captain 
Harry  Lambart,  who 
engaged  Miss 
Bright,  is  said  to 
have  her  in  mind  for 
a  number  of  ingenue 
roles  in  future  pic- 
tures made  by  the 
Mirror.  Miss  Bright 
was  originally  the 
product  of  a  mining 
camp  way  up  in  the 
Sierra  Nevada  moun- 
tains of  California, 
where  she  was  born 
some  few  years  ago. 
Her  schooling  was 
had  in  a  convent  in 
^an  Francisco,  to 
which  she  went  shortly  after  the  earthquake  and  fire. 
From  the  convent  she  went  almost  immediately  to 
the  Liberty  Playhouse  in  Oakland,  where  she  had 
small  parts,  filled  admirably  because  of  the  training 
which  she  got  in  dramatic  work  in  the  convent.  The 
east  beckoned  in  the  shape  of  an  engagement  to  play 
a  role  in  "Wallingford"  under  the  direction  of  Cohan 
and  Harris  and  she  came  to  New  York.  She  has  three 
years  of  experience  in  this  and  then  went  to  the  part 
of  Miss  Patsy  in  "Officer  666,"  which  was  followed  by 
an  engagement  with  Elsie  Janis  in  "The  Lady  of  the 
Slipper."  Her  most  recent  work  on  the  stage  was  as 
leading  woman  with  Julian  Eltinge  in  "Cousin  Lucy." 
She  has  clone  picture  work  for  the  Pathe  Company. 


Three  New  Players  Join  Horsley 

The  cast  which  David  Horsley  has  selected  for 
"A  Law  Unto  Himself,"  featuring  Crane  Wilbur,  in- 
cludes three  newcomers  to  Horsley  productions,  Louis 
Durham,  the  former  big  league  ball  player,  who  comes 
from  the  New  York  Motion  Picture  Company;  Steve 
Martin,  who  was  last  with  the  Universal  in  the  "Graft" 
serial,  and  Francis  Raymond,  who,  although  only  eight- 
een, has  had  considerable  screen  experience.  In  addi- 
tion to  these,  the  cast  includes  George  Clare.  Jr.  The 
release  date  is  February  28. 


•    Bright. 


Blue  Bird  Photo  Plays,  Inc.,  announces  the  open- 
ing of  a  Buffalo  branch  office.    J.  M.  Ryan  is  manager. 


$10,000  Rug  Used  as  "Prop" 

Before  the  throne  of  the  mythical  kingdom  of 
Yeseria,  in  a  scene  from  "One  Day,"  a  sequel  to  Eli- 
nor Glyn's  "Three  Weeks,"  released  January  29  by 
the  Moss  forces,  there  is  a  rug  which  the  director,  Hal 
Clarendon,  declares  to  be  one  of  the  most  expensive 
"props"  ever  used  in  a  motion  picture.  It  is  a  Jool- 
naise  rug  of  the  sixteenth  century  and  was  sold  re- 
cently to  H.  G.  Kelekian  from  the  collection  of  Thomas 
B.  Clarke,  noted  art  collector,  for  $10,000.  It  is  six 
feet  eleven  inches  long  and  four  feet  seven  inches 
wide. 

John  W.  Grey  Quits  Vitagraph 

John  W.  Grey  announces  that  he  has  resigned 
from  the  Yitagraph  Company  of  America.  For  the 
last  nine  months  Mr.  Grey  has  been  assistant  to  Albert 
E.  Smith,  president  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.,  formerly  treas- 
urer of  the  General  Film  Co.,  and  treasurer  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Vitagraph  Company.  While  with 
Yitagraph  Mr.  Grey  was  in  charge  of  sales  plans,  sales 
manuals,  posters,  press  sheet,  the  monthly  bulletin,  the 
trade  paper  and  general  advertising.  It  is  intimated 
that  his  new  connection  will  be  announced  soon. 


Curwood  Comedy  Being  Made 

A  rollicking  single-reel  comedy  by  James  Oliver  Cur- 
wood, entitled  "The  Beauty  Hunters,"  is  now  in  course 
of  production  at  the  Selig  Zoo  studios.  James  Bradbury, 
Martha  Mattox  and  Cecil  Holland  all  have  exceptional 
opportunities.  William  Robert  Daly  is  the  producer.  T. 
N.  Heffron  is  making  extensive  preparations  for  the 
forthcoming  production  of  Hallie  Erminie  Rives'  re- 
markable story  of  Southern  life,  "The  Valiants  of  Vir- 


Mrs.  Miller  Holds  Ohio  Job 

Mrs.  Maud  Murray  Miller,  the  only  woman  mem- 
ber of  the  Ohio  State  board  of  motion  picture  cen- 
sors, has  been  reappointed  to  that  position  by  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  industrial  commission.  Mrs.  Miller 
was  appointed  to  the  board  first  by  Governor  Cox. 
There  were  two  other  candidates  for  the  place  :  Car- 
lotta  Price-Shea,  of  Bellefontaine,  and  Mrs.  Poe,  of 
Zanesville,  Ohio. 


To  meet  an  increasing  demand  for  help  in  select- 
ing proper  music  for  features,  V.  L.  S.  E.  is  sending 
to  exhibitors  music  cue  sheets  prepared  by  S.  M.  Berg, 
who  for  more  than  ten  years  has  been  a  music  director 
in  New  York  City.  Much  of  that  time  he  has  con- 
ducted for  motion  pictures. 


37S 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Small  Boy  Idolizes  "Dusty"  Farnum 

Another  Dustin  Farnum,  so  they  said,  while  a  boy 
of  seven  played  with  a  miniature  lariat.  The  small 
boy  in  chaps  with  cowboy  hat  and  make-up  was  Gor- 
don Griffith,  who  is  playing  the  childhood  days  of 
Dustin  Farnum's 
part  in  the  Pallas 
picture,  "Ben  Blair." 
Quiet  and  manly, 
with  a  childish  un- 
consciousness that 
wins  affection,  he  is 
following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  hero. 
For  in  all  things,  his 
hero,  Dustin  Far- 
num, is  always  right. 
Serious  and  busi- 
nesslike, he  swag- 
gers when  Dustin 
swaggers,  and  grows 
stern  when  his  idol 
grows  stern.  Not 
only  does  he  emulate 
his  leader,  but  al- 
ways he  is  absorbed 
in  his  work  and  car- 
ries his  part  with  the 
assurance  of  a  vet- 
eran. The  No.  00  size  chaps  he  wears  are  a  present 
from  Frank  Bonn,  the  six-footer,  who  is  also  playing 
a  leading  part  in  "Ben  Blair."  As  Mr.  Bonn,  in  a  mo- 
ment of  waiting,  glanced  from  a  prop  window  he  spied 
the  youngster  busily  performing  the  difficult  cowboy 
stunt  of  spinning  a  lariat  and  in  his  enthusiastic  appre- 
ciation had  the  woolly  trousers  made  for  his  little  pal. 


Paul  Panzer  an  "Ambassador" 

Paul  Panzer,  a  popular  screen  artist,  has  returned 
from  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  visited  the  Capitol 
and  White  House  in  the  role  of  an  Italian  ambassador. 
But  Mr.  Panzer  did  not  couple  with  this  the  role  of  im- 
postor. During  his  visit  of  several  days  he  was  a  real 
ambassador,  as  "Illusive  Isabel,"  a  future  release  of  the 
Universal  company,  will  prove.  Florence  Lawrence  is 
playing  the  part  of  Isabel  in  the  picture,  which  is  di- 
rected by  Stuart  Paton.  Mr.  Panzer  played  with  Miss 
Lawrence  in  her  second  screen  appearance. 


She's  Called  "Five  Feet  of  Fun" 

Gretchen  Hartman  of  the  Biograph  has  been  called 
five  feet  five  of  fun,  mischief,  prettiness,  cleverness 
and  sympathy.  She  is  one  of  those  bewitching  act- 
resses who  feel  their  parts  and  make  you  feel  them 
too.  She  has  dark 
brown  hair  and 
brown  eyes  which 
can  express  what  she 
feels.  She  has  a  trim, 
well-knit  figure  and 
is  both  vivacious  and 
graceful. 

With  all  that  she 
should  achieve  the 
biggest  kind  of  suc- 
cess. Miss  Hartman 
was  born  in  Chicago, 
but  both  her  father 
and  mother  declare 
Sweden  was  their 
previous  home,  al- 
though Miss  Gretch- 
en does  not  look  it 
She  ought  by  rights 
to  be  fair  and  she  is 
anything  but  fair. 

She  has  been  on 
the  stage  since  she 
was  seven  years  old.  She  traveled  with  the  Ben  Greet 
Players  for  some  time,  playing  all  the  child  roles.  She 
was  the  Cosette  in  "Les  Miserables"  in  New  York  and 
created  the  part  of  Little  Eyolf  in  Ibsen's  play.  She 
was  the  Mary  Jane  in  "Mary  Jane's  Pa"  with  Dixey 
and  played  with  Max  Figman  all  over  the  States  in 
the  same  part. 

Then  came  the  "awkward"  age  and  she  was  sent 
to  school  for  a  while,  but  she  quit  her  studies  to  come 
out  as  a  real  child  actress  with  Julius  Steger  and  Flor- 
ence Reed  in  "The  Master  of  the  House."  Sandwiched 
in  with  engagements  in  musical  comedy  under  Mort 
Singer  and  with  Christie  Macdonald  in  "Sweethearts," 
Miss  Flartman  acted  in  pictures  and  was  told  that  she 
had  a  big  future  in  them. 

So — it  became  pictures  for  her  and  she  has  been 
with  the  Biograph  Company  for  eighteen  months. 


Gretchen    Ha. 


Pathe  Educational  Very  Popular 

"Human  Movements  Analyzed"  and  its  sequel, 
"Animal  Movements  Analyzed."  two  single  reel  endu- 
cational  subjects,  have  received  larger  bookings  than 
any  Pathe  one-reel  pictures  in  years.  The  newspapers 
everywhere  have  united  in  declaring  them  to  be  as  in- 
teresting and  instructive  as  any  films  that  have  ever 
conic  under  their  observation.  At  the  Strand  theater 
in  New  York  every  audience  greeted  them  with  long 
continued  applause,  a  remarkable  tribute  for  education- 


Nathaniel  Sawyer  Dies 

Nathaniel  Sawyer,  vice-president  of  the  Industrial 
Moving  Picture  Company,  22?>  West  Erie  street,  Chi- 
cago, died  at  his  home,  4151  Sheridan  road,  February 
1.  lie  leaves  a  widow  and  two  children.  The  funeral 
services  was  set  for  February  4  from  his  residence. 
Interment  in  Graceland  cemetery. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NOTES 

In  several  scenes  for  "The  Drifter." 
Iva  Shepard  wears  an  evening  gown  in 
an  outdoor  set.  On  the  day  these  were 
taken  Jacksonville  had  its  first  snow  in 
eighteen  years! 

Albert  Macklin  is  given  the  best  role 
of  his  screen  career  as  the  divinity  stu- 
dent in  "The  Drifter,"  a  Gaumont  Mu- 
tual "masterpicture"  released  February  7. 

Robert  Mantell  is  working  on  his  sec- 
ond picture  for  the  Fox  Film  Corpora- 
tion. The  cast  includes  Genevieve  Ham- 
per, Stuart  Holmes,  Claire  Whitney, 
Henry  Leone,  William  Gerard  and 
Franklin  B.  Coates,  the  author.  The 
scenes  are  taken  in  Jamaica. 

Alice  Brady  is  in  Pensacola,  North 
Carolina.  Her  friends,  not  finding  the 
town  on  the  map,  thought  she  meant 
Pensacola,  Florida,  and  sent  her  mail 
there.  Finally  a  postal  with  the  post- 
mark "Pensacola,  N.  C,"  convinced 
them  of  the  existence  of  the  village. 

"The  Marble  Heart,"  William  Fox 
feature  film  produced  in  Jamaica,  in- 
cludes Walter  McCullough,  Rhy  Alex- 
ander, Henry  Armetta,  Louise  Rial,  Vio- 
let Horner,  Harry  Burkhardt,  Walter 
Miller,  Hal  De  Forrest,  Mile.  Marcelle, 
Mark  Price,  Cr.,  and  Arthur  Leslie. 

William  F.  Haddock  is  directing  "I 
Accuse,"  at  the  Gaumont  studios  in 
Jacksonville.  The  story  was  written  by 
Marjorie  Howe  and  adapted  for  the 
screen  by  George  D.  Proctor.  Alexander 
Gaden  has  the  leading  role. 

Edna  Mayo  once  studied  clay  modeling 
and  sculpture  at  the  Art  Students' 
League  in  New  York  City. 

Billy  Sherwood  recently  returned  to 
New  York  after  a  vacation  spent  at  his 
home  in  New  Orleans. 

Edgar  Lewis  and  his  Lubin  company, 
headed  by  Nance  O'Neil,  have  departed 
from  Philadelphia  for  Thomasville,  Ga.. 
to  take  exterior  scenes  for  "The  Fires  of 
St.  John,"  the  picture  production  of  Miss 
O'Neil's  stage  success. 

Helen  Marten,  last  seen  in  Gaumont's 
"Lessons  in  Love,"  will  appear  opposite 
Alexander  Gaden  in  "I  Accuse." 

Emmanuel  A.  Turner,  in  musical 
comedy  for  two  seasons,  is  now  working 
under  the  direction  of  Van  Dyke  Brooke 
in  a  photoplay  written  by  Leah  Baird, 
who  plays  the  lead. 

Lucille  Crane  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Vitagraph  Bay  Shore  stock  company  and 
will  appear  in  pictures  produced  by 
Ralph  W.  Ince. 

Gypsy  O'Brien,  who  makes  her  screen 
debut  in  "The  Soul  Market,"  with  Mme. 
Petrova,  was  formerly  one  of  the  ingenue 
leads  of  the  London  Gaiety  Theater 
company  in   London. 

Mary  Miles  Minter's  new  poodle  dog, 
"Woof- Woof,"  will  make  his  screen  debut 
in  "Dimples." 

"According  to  the  Law,"  in  which 
Richard  Garrick  will  direct  Howard  Hall, 


Film    Market   Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by   R.   D.   Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,   Inc....    87  95 

Biograph  Company 40  47 

Famous  Players  Film  Co...   78  103 

General   Film  Corp.,  pref 44 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   pref...    39  44 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   com...    35  41 
No.  Am.   Film  Corp.,  pref..   93 

No.  Am.   Film   Corp.,   com..    66  75 

New  York   M.   P.  Corp 43  54 

Thanhouser    Film    Corp....      3%  4     * 

Triangle  Film  Corp 5J/2  6!/2* 

Universal    Film    Mfg.   Co... 182 

World   Film  Corp 1  yA  2>4* 


Mary  Pickford 


tutu,  one  of  the  higest  paid 
the  world,  will  appear  soon 


*Par  $5.00. 

American  Film  Co..  Inc.:  It  is  re- 
ported this  company  has  just  declared 
another  dividend  of  2]A%,  payable  some- 
time this  week.  As  they  paid  a  dividend 
of  2l/2%  in  December,  this  makes  5% 
within  a  period  of  about  sixty  days.  The 
next  quarterly  dividend  of  2y2%  is  not 
payable  until  April  1st.  This  company 
has  the  cleanest  dividend  record  of  any 
company  in   the   film  industry. 

World  Film  Corp.:  According  to  ad- 
vices from  Wall  street,  Arthur  Spiegel 
of  Chicago  will  be  the  new  president  of 
this  company,  which  has  taken  over  the 
Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corporation. 

Thanhouser  Film  Corp.:  The  stock  of 
this  company  was  in  demand  the  past 
several  days  and  stock  was  sold  at  from 
$3.25  to  $4.00  per  share. 

Vogue  Films,  Inc.:  It  is  claimed  the 
present  earning  rate,  if  continued  to  July 
1,  will  enable  the  company  to  pay  over 
40%  semi-annual  dividend.  These  comedy 
productions  are  based  on  broad  burlesque 
lines  and  have  made  an  "instantaneous 
hit."  They  have  obtained  their  biggest 
popularity   in   the   eastern   cities. 


was  written  for  the  Gaumont  company  by 
Paul  M.  Bryan  and  Joseph  H.  Trant. 

The  February  6  release  of  Harry  Pal- 
mer's cartoon,  "Keepin'  Up  with  the 
Joneses,"  is  entitled  "Pa  McGinis  Fails 
to    Pass    Censorship." 

Charles  Richman,  and  a  company  of 
Vitagraph  players,  making  "The  Sur- 
prises of  an  Empty  Hotel,"  boarded  the 
yacht  Wayward,  which  was  loaded  with 
fifty  pound^  of  dynamite,  a  quantity  of 
black  powder  and  many  gallons  of  kero- 
sene and  gasoline.  After  acting  several 
emotional  scenes  aboard  the  ship,  the 
company  left  it  just  in  time  to  escape  the 
explosion  which  blew  the  yacht  to  pieces. 

Joseph  Kilgour,  of  the  Vitagraph  Com- 
pany, won  a  loving  cup  at  the  Lambs' 
Club  recently  for  the  best  account  of  a 
thrill  experienced  as  a  film  actor. 

Ernest  Truex  will  appear  in  a  forth- 
coming Vitagraph  comedy  written  by 
George  Ade. 

Hazel  Dawn  is  posing  in  riding  togs 
for   a   set   of  magazine   pictures. 


actresses  in  the  world,  will  appear  s< 
in  a  Paramount  factory  story,  as  a  mis 
able,  underpaid  child  laborer. 

Pauline  Frederick  is  pleased  with  her 
dual  role  in  "The  Spider,"  of  the  innocent 
girl  and  the  worldly  woman,  for  she  does 
not  wish  the  reputation  of  playing  only 
adventuresses. 

Jack  Barrymore,  in  "Nearly  a  King," 
fought  a  sword  battle  with  three  men. 

Richard  Garrick,  supervising  director 
of  the  Gaumont  stock  companies,  spent 
three  days  in  New  York  recently,  super- 
vising the  cutting  of  "The  Drifter," 
Mutual  Masterpicture,  released  February 
7. 

C.  M.  White  is  in  charge  of  the  Gau- 
mont studios  at  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  while 
F.  G.  Bradford,  general  manager,  is  in 
Jacksonville. 

"The  Idol  of  the  Stage,"  Malcolm 
Williams  starred,  released  February  3, 
and  "The  Drifter,"  with  Alexander 
Gaden,  released  February  7,  were  directed 
by  Richard  Garrick. 

The  first  Gaumont  Mutual  Masterpic- 
ture Edwin  Middleton  will  direct  is  "The 
Sorceress,"  by  O.  A.  Nelson,  author  of 
"As  a  Woman  Sows." 

When  "The  Yellow  Streak"  was  pre- 
sented at  the  Loew  theater  in  Newark, 
N.  J.,  William  Davidson,  who  played  the 
lead  for  the  film,  appeared  in  person  and 
made   a   speech. 

Clara  Whipple  had  a  fine  time  snow 
shoeing  and  skating  at  Lake  Saranac 
while  with  the  Equnitable  company  play- 
ing scenes  there  for  "The  Pain  Flower," 
in  which  Marguerite  Leslie  appears. 

"The  Ballet  Girl,"  in  which  Alice  Brady 
stars,  is  the  screen  adaptation  of  Comp- 
ton   Mackenzie's   novel,   "Carnival." 

Grace  Wynden  Vail,  wife  of  Director 
Edwin  Vail,  who  has  been  appointed  press 
representative  of  the  Gaumont  studios  at 
Jacksonville,  was  formerly  dramatic  ed- 
itor of  the  Battle  Creek  Enquirer.  Later 
she  was  press  agent  for  Norman  Hackett, 
then  for  Lucille  LaVerne  and  then  for 
the  Jake  Wells  houses  in  the  south.  For 
nine  months  she  had  charge  of  thirty 
theaters  of  the  Crescent  Amusement 
Company. 

One  thousand  children,  from  two  to 
nine  years  of  age,  appear  in  the  Gnome 
village  scenes  in  the  Annette  Kellerman 
picture  being  filmed  in  Jamaica  by  the 
Fox  Film   Corporation. 

Alice  Brady  has  written  a  scenario 
called  "The  Woman  Rebels."  dealing 
with  the  suffrage  question. 

Harry  McRae  Webster,  who  lately  di- 
rected King  Baggot  and  Violet  Merser- 
eau,  has  resigned  from  the  Universal 
Company  and  is  a  free  lance.  Webster 
was  for  six  years  director  general  of 
the  Essanay  studios  in  Chicago. 

Anna  Q.  Nilsson  will  play  opposite 
Robert  Warwick  in  "To  Him  That 
Hath,"  which  the  Premo  Company  will 
release  on  the  World  program. 


380 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Tom  Terriss,  in  charge  of  the  Marion 
Leonard  studio  in  Brooklyn,  has  engaged 
Harold  Vosburgh  for  his  five-reel  feature. 
Helen  Ziegfeld,  nice  of  "Flo"  Ziezfeld, 
will  play  the   ingenue   role. 

Maurice  Tourneur's  first  picture  for  the 
new  Paragon  Films,  Inc.,  is  "The  Hand 
of  Peril,"  by  Arthur  Stringer.  House 
Peters  will  star,  with  June  Elvidge  oppo- 
site, in  this  first  feature  from  the  Para- 
gon plant  at  Fort  Lee. 

Since  Ethel  Barrymore  is  playing  a 
stage  engagement  at  the  Lyceum  The- 
ater in  New  York,  "Our  Mrs.  McChes- 
ney,"  William  Nigh,  who  is  directing  her 
in  "The  Kiss  of  Hate,"  a  Metro  picture, 
has  a  hard  time  finding  suitable  snow 
covered  landscapes  required  for  the  Rus- 
sian scenes  near  enough  New  York  to 
permit    the   star   to   return   each   evening. 

"Romeo's  Overcoat,"  a  short  story  by 
Ashley  Miller,  author  of  the  "Ashton 
Kirk,  Investigator,"  series  of  photoplays, 
is  being  used  as  a  vaudeville  sketch. 

Director  Herbert  Brennon  sends  word 
from  Kingston,  Jamaica,  that  the  Annette 
Kellermann  feature  is  half  completed.  A 
large  amount  of  construction  work  had 
to  be  done  before  the  picture  was  taken. 

"Gold  and  the  Woman,"  a  William  Fox 
feature,  deals  with  Indian  land  scandals 
of  the  early  nineteenth  century.  Mary 
Murillo  wrote  the  story  and  James  Vin- 
cent directed  it.  In  the  cast  are  Theda 
Bara,  H.  Cooper  Cliffe,  Alma  Hanlon, 
Carleton  Macey,  Chief  Black  Eagle, 
George  Walsh  and  Pauline  Barry. 

Virginia  Pearson's  ambition  is  to  ap- 
pear in  vampire  roles  and  she  will  doubt- 
less have  a  chance  to  do  so  in  William 
Fox  pictures. 

William  E.  Shay  likes  to  entertain  his 
friends  at  his  Long  Island  summer  home. 
He  has  a  parrot  there  which  can  say 
"Hello,  old  man,  how  are  you"  in  five 
languages. 

Boody,  a  New  York  photographer,  has 
asked-  permission  to  make  a  series  of 
photographic  studies  of  Helen  Weir,  of 
the  Lubin  company,  for  a  coming  exhibi- 
tion. 

E.  K.  Lincoln  has  signed  a  contract  to 
appear  in  Lubin  features  for  the  coming 


year.     He   will   soon  be   seen   with   Ethel 
Clayton   in   "Ophelia,"   by   Shannon   Fife. 

Gypsy  Abbott  likes  weepy  roles.  She 
is  given  one  in  her  first  Mutual  picture, 
"Vengeance    Is   Mine,!" 

William  Davidson,  playing  leads  in 
Metro  pictures,  has  a  baritone  voice 
which  won  praise  from  Riccardo  Martin. 

Virginia  Pearson,  now  with  the  Wil- 
liam Fox  forces,  has  written  a  book  on 
"Color  Influence." 

Claire  Whitney's  earliest  ambition  was 
to  be  a  nurse. 

Alma  Hanlon,  who  appears  in  "Gold 
and  the  Woman,"  is  going  to  save  every 
penny   until   she   has    10,000  of  them. 

William  J.  Butler,  for  six  years  with 
Biograph,  is  working  at  the  Gaumont 
winter  quarters  at  Jacksonville  under  Di- 
rector Richard  Garrick. 

Valli  Valli,  now  a  Metro  star,  played 
before  the  late  King  Edward  when  she 
was  a  young  girl. 

Walter     Hitchcock,     leading     man     in 


a  bull  moose  for  a  coming  Metro  picture. 
The  wolves  were  obtained  in  a  commu- 
nity in  Northern  Maine,  where  the  ani- 
mals are  bred.  The  story  shows  an  at- 
tack on  a  hunter  by  a  pack  of  wolves,  and 
fight  between  a  man  and  bull  moose. 

Billie  Reeves  and  his  company  are 
working  on  "Hamlet  Made  Over,"  a  one- 
reel  comedy  written  by  Mark  Swan  and 
directed  by  Earl  Metcalfe. 

Charles  Griffith,  who  appears  in  "Ham- 
let Made  Over,"  as  the  property  man, 
was  for  many  years  a  clown  in  the  Drury 
Lane  Pantomime  in  London. 

Julius  Steger  was  once  a  baritone  solo- 
'n  his  native  city  of  Vienna. 

William  Bailey,  directing  "Man  and 
His  Soul,"  trained  a  stray  cat  to  play  a 
part.  But  the  cat  would  not  perform  un- 
der the  studio  lights  until  Beverly  Bayne 
came  to  Bailey's  rescue,  with  catnip. 

"The  Blindness  of  Love."  written  by 
Ruth  Comfort  Mitchell,  marks  Julius 
Steger's  debut  on  the  Metro  program. 
Steger  has  had  a  long  stage  career,  play- 
iny  everything  from  musical  comedy  to 
tragedy. 

Sydney  Ainsworth,  who  plays  Dave 
Pollock  in  "The  Strange  Case  of  Mary 
Page,"  is  a  clever  clog  dancer. 

Bryant  Washburn,  of  the  Essanay 
Company,  is  to  have  a  billiard  room  in 
his  new  bungalow,  which  will  be  com- 
pleted in  the  spring. 

In  a  scene  for  Essanay's  "Folly,"  Ran- 
dall McAllister  was  several  minutes  re- 
covering from  a  blow  from  Darwin  Karr. 

Henry  B.  Walthall  has  bought  a  new 

seven-passenger  car. 

Warda  Howard  of  the  Essanay  Com- 
pany is  in  New  Orleans  and  will  remain 
for  Mardi  Gras.  She  has  attended  the 
Mardi  Gras  in  New  Orleans  for  the  last 
five  years. 

Lillian  Drew  is  a  lover  of  grand  opera. 
She  attended  nearly  every  performance 
of  the  Chicago  season. 

Thomas  Commerford,  who  plays  the 
judge  in  the  "Mary  Page"  serial,  has  won 
cups  and  medals  in  chess  tournaments. 


Julie,  the  two-year-old-daughter  of 
Marguerite  Snow,  appears  with  her 
mother  in  "Rosemary." 

William  Nigh  wrote,  directed  and 
played  a  prominent  part  in  the  Metro 
feature   "Her  Debt  of  Honor." 

Zadee  Burbank,  who  plays  old  woi 
parts  with  Metro  productions,  is  a  sister- 
in-law  of  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Bar- 
num  and  Bailey  circus  and  once  traveled 
with    it. 

Edwin  Carewe  completed  the  five-part 
picture,  "The  Upstart,"  featuring  Mar- 
guerite Snow  and  George  Le  Guere,  in 
eight  days.  This  included  a  flying  trip 
fur  exteriors  in  Savannah,  Ga. 

Jack  Dillon  and  Chance  Howard,  di- 
rectors of  Vogue  comedies,  are  continu- 
ally thinking  up  stunts  for  their  com- 
pany   which  are  funnier  to  watch  than  to 

Howard    Truesdell    was    called    on    to 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


381 


PACIFIC  COAST  NOTES 

Blanche  Sweet  is  working  at  the  Lasky 
ranch,  under  the  direction  of  William  C. 
De  Mille,  in  the  exterior  scenes  of  "The 
Blacklist,"  written  for  her  by  Mr.  De 
Mille  and  Marion  Fairfax. 

Mae  Murray  became  lost  among  the 
sand  dunes  recently  while  acting  in  ex- 
teriors for  the  Lasky  production  of  "To 
Hold." 

Charlotte  Walker  and  supporting  com- 
pany, under  Cecil  B.  De  Mille,  are  in  the 
mountains  doing  exterior  scenes  for 
"The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine." 

"The  Girl  and  the  Lantern."  which  the 
Selig  Company  will  release  soon,  is  a 
railroad  story  featuring  Kathlyn  Wil- 
liams and  Guy  Oliver. 

"The  Grinning  Skull,"  by  W.  E.  Wing, 
a  Selig  release  for  March  6,  features 
Eugenie  Besserer. 

James  Marcus,  George  Walsh,  George 
Benoit,  John  Resse  are  at  Edencb.le,  Cal., 
where  they  will  work  under  the  direction 
of  Raoul  A.  Walsh  in  feature  productions 
for  William  Fox. 

Willard  Mack,  author  of  "Kick  In," 
and  other  plays,  is  a  recent  addition  to 
the  scenario  staff  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
company.  Others  who  are  members  of 
this  staff  are  William  C.  De  Mille,  Mar- 
ion Fairfax,  Margaret  and  Hector  Turn- 
bull,  George  Bronson-Howard  and  Paul 
Dickey. 

Director  Bertram  Bracken  has  re- 
signed  from  the   Balboa  company. 

Neva  Gerber,  who  has  appeared  prin- 
cipally in  light  roles,  is  showing  what 
she  can  do  in  an  emotional  part  in  an 
American  feature  now  being  produced  at 
Pasadena. 

"The  Fortunate  Youth,"  the  story  by 
William  J.  Locke,  released  in  February 
by  the  Ocean  Film  Company,  will  be  fol- 
lowed by  "Driftwood,  or  the  Wrong- 
Way,"  in  which  Vera  Michelena  is 
starred,  supported  by  Harry  Spingler  and 
Charles  Graham. 

Harry  Spingler  recently  showed  unsus- 


pected musical  ability  when  in  a  scene 
for  "The  Wrong  Way,"  instead  of  fak- 
ing the  piano  playing  the  act  demanded, 
he  gave  a  good  rendition  of  Rubenstein's 
"Melody  in  F." 

A  family  of  snakes,  which  came  out 
for  a  sunning  in  the  Vitagraph  studio, 
stampeded  not  only  the  fine  ladies  and 
gentlemen  appearing  in  a  "Bohemian 
Club"  scene  for  Director  Wolbert,  but 
also  a  group  of  desperate  "whisky  run- 
ners" staging  a  scene  nearby  for  Director 
Sturgeon. 

"Bill  Peter's  Kid,"  produced  by  Rollin 
S.  Sturgeon,  is  written  by  Marie  A.  Wing 
and  features  Mary  Anderson  and  William 
Duncan  of  the  western  division  of  the 
Vitagraph  company. 

Webster  Campbell,  while  appearing  in  a 
three-reeler  at  Truskee,  fell  through  the 
ice  of  a  rapid  river  and  was  swept  sixty 
feet  under  water  to  an  air  hole,  where  he 
was  rescued  by  a  frightened  company, 
led  by  Director  Wolbert. 

Winifred  Greenwood,  Edward  Coxen 
and  George  Field  appear  in  "The  Sup- 
pressed Order,"  a  Civil  War  play  soon  to 
be  released  by  the  American  Film  Com- 
pany.   Tom  Ricketts  staged  it. 

"The  Silken  Spider,"  a  "Flying  A" 
feature  directed  by  Frank  Borzage,  con- 
tains a  fight  so  realistic  that  the  con- 
testants were  quite  used  up,  one  coming 
out  with  a  swollen  jaw  and  the  other 
with  a  severely  cut  wrist. 

Chief  Big  Tree,  who  appeared  as  the 
Indian  in  the  "Buck  Parvin"  story, 
"Author!  Author!",  when  he  first  saw 
the  picture  wrote  Director  William  Ber- 
tam  a  note  of  praise. 

"The  Craven,"  produced  by  Charles 
Bartlett  at  the  American  studios,  features 
William  Russell  as  a  young  man  who 
fights  an  inherited  taste  for  liquor. 

Rollin  Sturgeon,  for  an  interior  scene, 
needed  two  antique  fire-screens.  To  get 
just  the  kind  he  wished  he  wired  to  his 
family  home  in  Illinois  and  had  shipped 
to  him  two  which  had  been  heirlooms  in 
his    family   for    several   generations. 

During  the  showing  of  a  "Red  Circle" 


William    D.    Ta: 


episode  at  a  Los  Angeles  theater  re- 
cently, just  as  Ruth  Roland  in  the  picture 
is  about  to  step  into  a  trap,  someone  in 
the  audience  shrieked  a  warning  to  her. 

Reaves  Eason  has  joined  the  Balboa 
company  as  assistant  to  Henry  King. 

A  live  fish  was  needed  recently  for  a 
Balboa  production  and  Bruce  Smith  was 
sent  to  catch  one.  It  took  him  a  whole 
day,  for  which  he  drew  a  day's  pay. 

Bessie  Barriscale  received  a  letter  the 
other  day  from  a  little  English  girl,  who 
addressed  her  as  "Dear  Bessie  Sparrows- 
tail." 

The  Los  Angeles  college  boys  who 
took  part  in  a  football  game  which  is 
shown  in  the  American  feature,  "The 
Craving,"  were  much  charmed  with 
Helene  Rosson,  who  plays  the  heroine, 
and  presented  her  with  banners,  knitted 
caps  and  a  regulation  college  sweater. 

Myrtle  Stedman  was  one  of  the  enter- 
tainers at  the  Jewish  Orphans'  Home  in 
Los  Angeles  a  short  time  ago,  when  a 
concert  was  given  for  the  Federation  of 
Charities. 

"Fighting  Blood,"  in  which  William 
Farnum  stars,  was  inspired  partly  by  the 
song,  "My  Old  Kentucky  Home."  This 
is  the  first  production  to  be  made  at  the 
William  Fox  California  studios. 

Another  company  reported  snowbound 
in  the  mountains  is  that  of  Director 
Frank  Beal,  who  is  taking  pictures  above 
San  Bernardino. 

Thomas  Santschi  has  lost  a  fob  set 
with  diamonds  and  a  valuable  watch, 
gifts  from  William  N.  Selig. 

"Major,"  the  Selig  zoo  zebra,  was 
killed  in  the  recent  flood  which  damaged 
the  zoo  studio  to  the  extent  of  more  than 
$10,000. 

"Fighting  Blood,"  in  which  William 
Farnum  stars,  has  been  completed  under 
Director  Oscar  C.  Apfel  at  the  William 
Fox   Ellendale   studios  in   California. 

The  "Lonesome  Luke"  comedies  made 
by  the   Rolin  Film   Company  for   Pathe, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  7. 


in     which     Harold     Lloyd     appears,     are 
proving-  popular  with   exhibitors. 

At  the  closing  performance  in  the 
Morosco  Burbank  Theater,  many  artists 
were  in  the  audience  who  had  played  on 
its  stage.  Among  these  was  Forrest 
Stanley,  now  a  screen  star. 

Anna  Held  is  adding  technical  film 
terms  to  her  English   vocabulary. 

Fannie  Ward  received  a  bad  shaking 
up  recently  when  the  tire  of  her  automo- 
bile exploded  and  the  machine  skidded 
into  a  ditch. 

William  Russell  declares  that  "Babe," 
the  horse  he  rides  in  "The  Thorough- 
bred," has  the  "camera  temperament" 
and  "acts"  only  when  the  crank  is  turn- 
ing. 

Anita  Snell,  five  years  old,  who  ap- 
peared with  Francis  Bushman  and  Bev- 
erly Bayne  in  "Man  and  His  Soul,"  is 
being  reared  under  the  Montessori  school 
system. 

In  the  first  Metro  picture  he  directs, 
Howard  Truesdell  wins  in  one  scene,  a 
fight  with  a  bull  moose. 

A  newcomer  in  the  Selig  Zoo  is 
"Billy,"  a  pet  fox  sent  from  Chicago  by 
William  N.  Selig. 

Julius  Steger  has  completed  work  in 
the  five-reel  picture.  "The  Blindness  of 
Lovee,"  his  first  appearance  in  Metro 
productions. 

"The  Ill-born,"  under  the  direction  of 
the  Smalleys,  is  nearing  completion. 
Tyrone  Power  is  starred  in  this  screen 
adaptation  made  by  Lois  Weber  from 
the  story  by  Lucy  Payton  and  Franklin 
Hall.  Marie  Walcamp  and  Juan  de  la 
Cruz  appear   in    the    cast. 

Harold  Lockwood  tried  to  become  a 
doctor,  a  business  man,  and  finally  a 
lawyer  before  he  went  into  the  pictures, 
while  Boyd  Marshall  studied  for  grand 
opera. 

Blanche  Sweet  is  appearing  in  the 
Lasky   production    of   "The    Blacklist." 

"Lavinia  Comes  Home,"  another  story 
by  Isabel  Ostrander,  is  being  filmed, 
under  the  direction  of  William  C.  Dow- 
Ian. 

Grace    Cunard    is    the    author    of    "Mr. 


Vampire."  the  two-reel  story  Francis 
Ford  is  working  in  while  Miss  Cunard  is 
in  the  hospital. 

"The  Breed  and  the  Girl"  is  being  pro- 
duced under  Jacques  Jaccard's  direction 
at  Universal  City.  Harry  Carey  and 
Olive  Fuller  Golden  are  featured. 

Charlotte  Walker  is  working  under 
Cecil  B.  DeMille  in  the  screen  adapta- 
tion of  "The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome 
Pine."  Miss  Walker  appeared  in  the 
stage  version  of  this  story. 

Olive  Fuller  Golden,  leading  woman  of 
Director  Jaccard's  Universal  101  Bison 
Company,  in  "In  Sunset  Land,"  is  Called 
upon  to  stampede  wild  horses,  then  in  at- 
tempting to  escape,  to  fall  from  her 
mount  running  at  full  speed.  Miss  Golden 
refused  to  have  a  "double"  and  did  the 
dangerous    trick    herself. 

A  Parisian  street  of  the  Montmartre 
district  has  been  constructed  at  the  Fine 
Arts  Studio  for  "The  Little  Apache,"  in 
which  Mae  Marsh  and  Robert  Harron 
appear. 

The  Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Com- 
pany has  added  a  new  stock  room  to  its 
plant.  Russel  Stapleton,  formerly  with 
the  H.  T.  Heinz  and  Company,  will  have 
charge.  Charles  Stallings,  formerly  with 
the  American  Company,  is  now  property 
man  for  Director  Frank  Lloyd. 

Herbert  Standing,  the  English  actor 
who  appears  as  Spicer  South  in  "The  Call 
of  the  Cumberlands,"  is  the  father  of 
seven    motion    picture    actors. 

The  Lasky  Company,  having  completed 
"Pudd'nhead  Wilson,"  announces  that 
screen  production  of  Mark  Twain's  other 
stories,  "Tom  Sawyer."  "Huckleberry 
Finn,"  and  "Innocents  Abroad,"  will  fol- 


BRITISH  FILM  GOSSIP 

H.  C.  Coupe,  lately  with  the  Waltur- 
daw  company,  Birmingham  branch,  has 
joined  the  mechanical  transport  section 
of  the  army  service  corps.  He  has  been 
in  the  cinema  trade  for  eight  years. 

The  film  version  of  "The  Charlatan." 
by  Robert  Buchanan,  produced  by  Syd- 
ney Morgan,  has  been  sold  bv  the  Davi- 
son Film  Sales  Agency  to  "the  Crown 
Film     Hiring    Company.      The    cast    in- 


cludes Violet  Graham,  Edward  Dagnall 
and  Eille  Norwood. 

Broadwest  Films,  Ltd.,  in  addition  to 
its  Esher  studios,  has  acquired  the  free- 
hold of  the  Cunard  company's  studios  at 
Walthamstow. 

The  Topical  Budget  photographed  the 
11th  service  battalion  when  it  arrived  at 
Brixton  palladium  and  showed  the  pic- 
ture four  hours  later. 

A  branch  of  the  Initial  Film  Service 
has  been  opened  at  Leeds.  The  first  pic- 
tures shown  the  trade  were  "The  Patriot 
of  Canada"  and  "The  Motto  on  the 
Wall." 

Joseph  R.  Darling,  European  repre- 
sentative of  the  Fox  Film  Corporation, 
recently  visited  exchanges  in  Cardiff, 
Birmingham,  Liverpool,  Manchester, 
Newcastle,  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh. 

The  Thompson-Thanhouser  Films 
Company  has  been  formed  by  Thomas 
Thompson  and  Paul  Kimberley  with 
branches  in  West  Middlebrough,  Man- 
chester, Leeds  and  Newcastle. 

F.  W.  Baker  of  Messrs.  Butchers  Film 
Service,  Ltd..  has  been  appointed  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  company. 

Lieutenant  F.  Watts  of  the  9th  Man- 
chester regiment,  formerly  outside  rep- 
resentative of  Pathe  Freres  at  Liverpool, 
has  been  promoted  to  a  captaincy. 

Harold  Speer  is  starting  a  film  letter- 
ing and  printing  business  at  7  Archer 
street,   London. 

The  beautiful  home  of  Alma  Taylor, 
leading  woman  of  the  Hepworth  Com- 
pany, has  been  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
house,  situated  at  Sunbury-on-Thames, 
was  once  the  home  of  Anne  Bo'.eyn. 

Picture  houses  in  the  central  district  of 
Leicester  report  good  business.  Many 
Metro  productions  are  shown.  In  the 
outlying  houses,  in  factory  districts, 
workers  are  too  busy  to  attend  the  thea- 
ters   very   regularly." 

Rowland  Talbot,  recently  scenario  edi- 
tor with  the  Barker  company  and  author 
of  the  Transatlantic  company's  "The 
Woman  Who  Dared"  and  "Love"  (Eve 
Balfour  Films),  has  written  'Fate  and  a 
Woman,"  a  four-reel  picture  produced  by 
F.  Durrant  for  the  Neptune  Films  Com- 
pany. 


yLt  4^m  m     ■  J 

t^r^mSL 

February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


.    of    film    picture 


.  nature  of  their  subjects  to  be  of  grc 
Motography  has  adopted  this  style  in  listing  current  films.  Exhibitors  are  urged  to  make  i 
Films  will  be  listed  as  long  in  advance  of  their  release  dates  as  possible.  Film  manufacturer 
Reasonable   care  is   used,   and   the   publishers   cannot   be    responsible   for  errors. 


he  exhibitor  than  clsasification  by  maker, 
t  tabulation  in  making  up  their  programs. 
•nd    us  their   bulletins   as   early   as   possible. 


General  Program 


Monday. 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


Friday. 


The    Lurking    Peril    (No.     15    of    the    Ventures    of 

Marguerite) •  •  •  •  Kalem 

The    Crime   of   Circumstance Knickerbocker 

The    Getaway    Vim 

The    Wrong    Mr.    Wright Vitagraph 


Saturday. 


Monday. 


;Bi0£ubin 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


Thursday. 


)  Sold  to  Satan.. 
)  Selig-Tribune  Ne 
)  Bungles    Rainy    . 


Friday. 


1   The   Trail's   End    (No. 


I  Title  not  report, 
1  The  High  Sign.. 
I   Freddie's  ^Last    B 


1-31   When   Kings  Were  the   Law Biograph 

1-31  A    Reformation    Delayed Lubin 

1-31   Diamonds    Are    Trumps Selig 

1-31   Selig-Tribune  News   Pictorial   No.   9,    1916 Selig 

1-31  Jane's    Bashful    Hero Vitagraph 


The    Smugglers     Biograph 

Dreamy  Dudd   Lost   at   Sea  :    Scenic Essanay 

The    Moth   and   the   Star    (No.    11    of   the   Stingaree 

Series)     Kalem 

Thursday. 

A    Modern    Paul Lubin 

Selig-Tribune   News   Pictorial   No.    10,    1915 Selig 

A    Sticky   Affair Vim 


The   Broken  Wire Kalem 

The    Election    Bet Lubin 

The   Desert   Calls   Its   Own Selig 

Bill    Peters'    Kid Vitagraph 


A     Chance     Deception 

Her    Wayward    Sister 

The    Diamond    Thieves Lubin 

The   Dragnet    Selig 

Selig-Tribune  News  Pictorial,  No.   11,   1916 Selig 

Betty  the  Boy  and  the  Bird Vitagraph 

The  Surprises  of  an  Empty  Hotel Vitagraph 

A    Cripple   Creek   Cinderella Vitagraph 


:    Shot Lubin 


The  Iron   Will Biograph 

The    Fable    of    "The    Grass    Widow    and    the    Mes- 

meree   and   the   Six    Dollars" Essanay 

The  Darkest  Hour   (No.   12  of  the  Stingaree   Series) .  .Kalem 


ickerbocker 

Vim 

.Vitagraph 


Saturday. 

I  Golden      Lies Essanay 

I  The   Peril  of  the   Rails Kalem 

I  Billy's    Lucky    Bill Lubin 

I  A   Mix-Cp   in   Movies Selig 

»   From    Out   of   the   Past Vitagraph 


3  A    Black    Sheep Selig 

3  The  Man   Who   Couldn't  Beat   God Vitagraph 

5  The    Rights    of    Man Lubin 

1   The    Turn    of    the    Road Vitagraph 

1   The    Crimson    Wing Essanay 

Essanay 


Alyss 


..Selig 


i   Heights     of     Hazard Vitagraph 

2  The    Nation's    Peril Lubin 

9  The    Caveman    Vitagraph 

6  The   Alster   Case Essanay 

6  The    Man's    Making Lubin 

3  I'm   Glad   My   Boy   Grew   Up  to   Be  a  Soldier Selig 

3   The    Price  for    Folly Vitagraph 

0  The   Great    Divide Lubin 

0  A    Daughter    of    the    City Essanay 

7  What   Happened   to   Father Vitagraph 

3  Thou    Art    the    Man Vitagraph 

0  No    Greater    Love Selig 

0  Green    Stockings Vitagraph 

7   My    Lady's    Slippers Vitagraph 

7   Captain   Jinks   of  the   Horse   Marines Essanay 

0  The    Wonderful    Wager Lubin 

4  Gods   of    Fate Lubin 

4  The  Island  of  Surprise Vitagraph 

1A    Night    Out Vitagraph 

1  Souls    in    Bondage Lubin 

7  The    Crown    Prince's    Double Vitagraph 

7  Thou    Shalt    Not    Covet Selig 

i  The   Writing  on   the   Wall Vitagraph 

*   Dollars   and    Cents Lubin 

4    Vultures    of    Society.. 

The   Misleading   Lady. 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
4,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 

5,ono 

6,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Tuesday. 

:'orne' Back .'.'.'.".'.' .'.' 

Wednesday. 

Fling. '.■.'.'.'.'. ".'.'.'." 
Thursday. 

Sammy    Versus    Cupid Vogue 

Harry's    Happy    Honeymoon Falstaff 

Mutual   Weekly    No.    57 Mutual 


1,000 
1,000 
1,000 


The  Extra  Man  an 
Mammy's  Rose  . . 
Title   not    reported. 


Friday. 

1  the  Milk  Fed   Lion.  . 


.  Mustnag 
.American 
Cub 


Saturday. 


See  America  First  No.  21. 
Keeping  Up  With  the  Jon 
The    Laird    O'Knees 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


Thursday. 


3   Snow    Storm    and    Sunshine Falstaff 

3  Mutual    Weekly,    No.    58 Mutual 

)  Title    not     reported Vogue 


Friday. 


St.    John Mustai 


;  Universal  Program 


Monday. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Tuesday. 

2-1      Three  Fingered  Jenny   (No.   3   Lord  John's  Journal) 

2-1      In    Dreary'  jungle'  Town'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. .'.  .  .' Rex 

2-1      No   release  this    week Imp 

Wednesday. 

2-2     Son    o'    the    Stars Victor 

2-2     Sea  Dogs  and  Land  Cats L-Ko 

2-2     Animated   Weekly   Vol.    3   No.    4 Universal 

Thursday. 

2-3  The  Wise   Man   and   the   Fool Laemmle 

2-3  No  release   this   week Big   U 

2-3  Building   I'p  tli,.   Health   of  a   Nation   No.   3 Powers 

2-3  Caged    With    Polar    Bears Powers 

Friday. 

2-4     The     Soul     Man :......, Imp 

'  2-4     A   Child  of  Circumstances Rex 

2-4     Flivvers,    the    Smoke    Eater Nestor 

Saturday. 

2-5      Phantom    Island     Bison 

2-5     Uncle  Sam's  Children   (No.   7   Uncle  Sam  at  Work) 

2-5      Wa'nted— A  '  Piano'  'timer'. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '. '.'...  .Joker 

Sunday. 

2-6     On    Who    Passed    By Rex 

2-6     No     release    this     week Laemmle 

2-6     A    September    Morning.,. L-Ko- 

Monday. 

2-7     Mixed    Kids - Nestor 

2-7     The   Insurance   Swindle    (Craft    Series   No.    9) Universal 

Tuesday. 

2-8     Yust   from    Sweden Gold   Seal 

2-8     No   release    this    week Rex 

2-8     Artistic    Interference     Imp 

Wednesday. 

2-9      High    Fliers    Victor 

2-9     Her    Naughty    Eyes L-Ko 

2-9     Animated    Weekly,    No.    3,    No.    5 Universal 

Thursday. 

2-10   The    Living    Lie Laemmle 

2-10   No  release   this   week Big   U 

2-10  A   Hot    Time    in    Iceland,    and    Acrobatic   Act Powers 

Friday. 

2-11    The  Trail   of  the  Wild  Wolf Imp 

2-11   The    Missing    Locket Rex 

2-1 1    A    Quiet    Supper    for   Four Nestor 

Saturday. 

2-12   His    Majesty,    Dick    Turpin Bison 

2-12   Uncle   Sam— Fisherman,    Postmaster,    Health    Officer 

(No.    8  (Uncle    Sam    at    Work) Powers 

2-12   Leap    and    Look    Thereafter Joker 

Sunday. 

2-13    No    release   this    week Rex 

2-13   Arthur's   Last    Fling Laemmle 

2-13   Firing  the   Butler  or  The  Butler   Fired L-Ko 

Miscellaneous  Features 

The    Forbidden    Fruit Ivan    Film 

The   Other   Girl Raver    Film    Corp. 

Sins  of  Great  Cities Great   Northern   Film 

Race  Suicide , Jos.   W.   Farnham 

Somewhere  in   France...- Arthur  S.    Kane 

Fighting   with    Franc- French    Official    War    Films 

At    the    End    of    the    Rainbow K.   &   R.    Film   Co. 

A   Naval   Tragedy K.    &   R.    Film   Co. 

The    Arabian    Dancinc    Gil  M     X-   T?     Film    P„ 

Gather 


R. 


His 


lm    Co. 

Ml'.'liim 


■l.t 


A    Fool's    Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Secret    Love sioOO 

i  '"i'">      S.oof) 

II"!'     5,000 

Fox    Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Dec.      5  The    Unfaithful    Wife S  OOP 

Dec.     12   Her    Mother's    Secret s'nno 

Dec      19  A    Soldier's    Oath 5^00 


23  The   Serpent    

30  The    Ruling    Passion 

6   Merely    Mary    Ann 

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

5   The     Devil's  .  Prayer-Book Klein 

12  The    Catspaw     Ediso 

19  Wild   Oats    Klein 

26  The   Innocence  of   Ruth Ediso 

2   The    Final    Cut     ' 


Feb.     9  The  M; 


i   King.. 


Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

What   Will   People   Say?.... 

The    Turmoil     

The  Rose  of  the  Alley.  . 


.Klein 
.  Kdiso 


r   Debt    of   Honor Metro 

l    Man    and    His    Soul Metro 

i  The    Upstart    Metro 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of  ' 

5  The   Other   Side  of  the  Door American 

3  The    Woman    in    Politics Thanhouser 


4   As    a    Woman    Sows Gaui 

7   Lord    Loveland     Discovers    America '.'.' Ame 

9    Betrayed Thanh, 

1  Vengeance    Is     Mine Cei 

2  The  Idol  of  the  Stage Gau 

"'-      White    Rosette.. .".'..' Ame 


"   The 
i   The 


Argument ' 

s    Cycle 

Paramount  Features. 


3  The  Golden  C 
3  Haddem  Baad 
7  Paramount  N, 
7  My  Lady  Inc 
3  Inbad    the    Sa 


Famous   Players 

Rrav-Paramount 

JNearly   a    King.., Famous   Players 

The   Call   of  the   Cumberlands Pallas 

The  Police  Dog  on   the   Wire Brav-Paramount 

The     Spider Famous   Plavers 

Pudd'nhead    Wilson  • Lasky 

Tennessee's    Pardner    Laskv 

The  Cliff  Dwellers   of  America.  Paramount-Burton    Holmes 

Madame    La    Presidente -.  .Morosco 

Nearly   a   King '.  .  Famous   Players 

Grand    Canyon Paramount-Burton    Holmes 

Farmer    Al    Falfa's    Catastrophe Brav-Paramount 

Haunts   for   Rent Bray-Paramount 


t  Bee 


Pathe. 


Released    Week    of 

7  The   Matsushimo    Islands    (Picturesque   Japan) Pathe 

7  Engineering    Feats    in    Oregon Pathe 

7  Hapless    Happenings     Starlight 

7  Pathe   News  No.    12' '.'..' Pathe 

7  Pathe   News   No.    13 .' Pathe 

7  The    Precious    Packet Gold    Rooster 

7  Dodging  the   Law    (Red  Circle   No.   9) Balboa 

Red  Feather  Production 


Triangle  Film  Corporation. 


The    Path    of   Ha 
A  Knight  of  the 

Trial 

The    Wood    Nvm 
The  Perils  of  the 

A  Movie^tair0;  \ 

The   Price   of   Po 
His    Hereafter: 

The 

Green     Sun 
McRae    .... 

ingle  Kay  Bee 
ingle  Keystone 
.    .    Fine   Arts 


World   Features. 


Released  week  of 

The    Ransom    

Triumph 

Camille    

Shubert 

In    Life's    Whirlpool 

Brady 

Her   Great    Hour 

I  guitable 

Behind    Cosed    Doors 

friumpb 

Babcttc  of  the   B.illv   Hon 

The    Citv    

The    Ballet    Girl 

Bradv 

Fruits    of    Desire 

Brady 

February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


385 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


I         General  Program 

Selig-Tribune  No.  S — January  17. —  Mayor 
Thompson  and  "Chicago  Plan"  delegation  arrive 
at  the  capital  and  are  met  by  Congressman  Mad- 
den of  Illinois,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Marion 
County  pays  over  $7,000  to  farmers  for  30,000 
gopher  and  moleskins  in  an  effort  to  rid  its  sec- 
tion of  these  pests,  Salem,  Ore. ;  one  killed,  eleven 
injured  and  property  amounting  to  thousands  of 
dollars  damaged  in  gale  at  San  Francisco,  Cal. ; 
Captain  John  Goulandis  and  his  crew  from  the 
abandoned  S.  S.  Thessaloniki  arrive  here  on  board 
the  S.  S.  Perugia,  New  York  City,  N.  Y. ;  eighty 
million  feet  of  gas  daily  runs  wild  from  a  gas 
well  at  Corpus  Christi  and  an  attempt  is  being 
made  to  cap  the  gasser  with  a  5,500  pound  lid ; 
three  dead  and  one  dying  is  the  toll  exacted  by 
the  Black  hand  in  a  dvnamite  explosion  at  the 
home  of  Peter  Apostol,  Sacramento,  Cal. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  6— January  20.— Chief  Ogal- 
lala  Fire,  a  Sioux  chieftain,  who  fought  with  Sit- 
ting Bull  in  the  Custer  massacre,  dies  at  98  years 
of  age,  Chicago,  111. ;  storm-scarred  and  battered 
by  wintry  winds  for  months,  the  Peruvian  bark 
Callao  reaches  port  with  the  captain's  wife,  four- 
year-old  daughter  and  crew  exhausted  from  terri- 
ble ordeal,  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  society  takes  ad- 
vantage of  cold  wave  and  indulges  in  the  excit- 
ing pastime  of  ice  boating,  Maiden,  Mass. ;  two 
men  killed  and  a  building  wrecked  in  the  C.  & 
N.  W.  railway  yards  by  an  explosion  of  two  gas 
tanks,  Chicago,  111. ;  Persian  pussies,  pelicans 
and   other  pets  attract  wide  attention  at   Boston, 


poses 

at  Miami,  Fla. 

Secret 

iry  Danie 

s  asks  Con- 

S 

or  $150,000  for 

the  res 

oration  of  old  frigate, 

The 

— Kalem— Februa 

ry  4.— Fea- 

Marguerite  Co 

another  c 

f  the  "Ven- 

which^Marguer 

Still  seek 

se°ssion,  the 

Wolf 

schmes  so  that 

his  too 

Zarth   is 

installed  in 

her   home   as    Butler. 

Fred, 

her   swee 

theart,   pre- 

to    fall    into    the    trap 

but    he 

leaves    the 

with    a    duplic 

ate    of 

the    book 

Queenie, 

Wolf 

accomplice,    inveigles 

Fred,    w 

to   be 

and   the 

e  he   is  at- 

by  the  Wolf. 

Later 

:he  police 

arnve,  but 

the  Wolf  and  Zarth 

make  th 

eir  escape 

by  explod- 

gas 


the 


the 


The  Wrong  Mr.  Wright— Vitagraph— Febru- 
ary 4. — Featuring  Garrv  McGarry  and  Jewell 
Hunt.  Jack  Wright,  a  lumber  magnate,  and  Jack 
Wright,  a  lawyer,  apply  for  rooms  at  the  same 
hotel.  The  lumberman's  daughter  arrives  at  the 
hotel.       She    by    mistake    gets    into    the    lawyer's 


appe 

ludicrous   incidents   folic 

utterly    disgraced.      Jack, 


ind    many 


office  the  next  day.  She  visits  a  jewelry  store 
and  under  the  name  of  Dr.  Hawthorne's  daugh- 
ter, who  is  loved  by  Dr.  Grover,  her  father's  as- 
sistant, she  orders  a  costly  set  of  diamonds  sent 
to  Hawthorne's  office.  They  arrive  at  the  doctor's 
office  after  the  jewels  have  been  delivered  and  in 
a  clever  manner  they  steal  the  diamonds.  Dr. 
Grover,  however,  is  the  means  of  bringing  about 
their  capture  and  arrest.  J.  C.  Shumway,  Ronald 
Bradburuy  and  Francelis  Billington  featured. 

The    Dragnet — (Three    Reels) — Selig — Febru- 
ary  7. — Harry    Mestayer   is   featured   in    this   pro- 
-,    Durkin,    ~ 


girl,    but    eventually    his   past    begins 

cloud  her  life  with  suspicion  also,  when  the  de- 
tective crops  up  unexpectedly  to  accuse  both  of 
theft.  James  marries  May  and  departs  for  South 
America  to  begin  life  anew,  but  the  long  arm  of 
the  law  follows  them  even  there,  though  as  the 
story  ends  the  detective  admits  he  has  been 
wrong  in  his  suspicions.  A  longer  review  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  issue.  N.  G.  C.    ' 


little 


i   they   v 
eethe 


and   sobs   that   she   i: 

._.,    however,    reminds    he 

both  school  children,  he  hac 

t  by  the  name  of  Alma  Wright 

nd  he  proposes  on  the  spot,  am 

Wright   becomes    the    right    Mr 


the    wrong    M: 
Wright. 

The    Broken    Wire— Kalem- 
episode  of  "The  Hazards  of  Helen" 


Heler 


G.bsc 


Heler 


the  trackwalker,  who  had  found  the  bag,  is  oi 
of  sight.  They  then  attempt  to  hold  up  tl 
plucky  operator.  She  runs  down  the  track  ar 
when  caught  between  two  fires  by  an  approachir 
train,    she   climbs   a   telegraph   pole.      "" 


5  the  mining  camp  of  Cripple  Creek, 
who  has  a  strong  aversion  to  dance  hall  girls, 
Nell,  who  dances  at  the  saloon  to  support  her  in- 
valid father,  loses  her  slipper  and  Dick  finds  it. 
He  strikes  gold  and  incidentally  falls  in  love,  but 
when  he  learns  that  she  is  a  girl  of  the  dance- 
hall  he  is  filled  with  misery,  but  ater  all  ends 
happily. 

Betty,  the  Boy  and  the  Bird — Vitagraph — 
February  7. — Featuring  Zeena  Keefe  and  Gerald 
Gordon.  Betty,  a  chorus  girl,  on  her  way  home 
stops  to  rescue  a  bird  from  the  clutches  of  a  boy, 
and  Jim  Derwent,  the  son  of  the  theater  manager, 
recognizes  Betty  and  drives  her  home.     The  lead- 


killed  and  more  than  a  score  injured  in  an  ex- 
plosion which  occured  at  the  Kelker  Blower  Com- 
pany, Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Frank  Janies,  a  Sioux  In- 
dian, first  Indian  ever  appointed  to  the  police 
force  of  the  Capitol  building,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
flood  in  Phoenix,  Ariz.,  destroys  bridges,  hurls 
homes  from  foundations  and  leaves  death  and  ruin 
in  its  wake;  3,000  horses  shipped  from  Water- 
town,  Mass.,  to  the  battlefront ;  huge  concealed 
searchlight  used  to  locate  marauding  warplanes, 
near  Paris,  France;  model  type  of  trench  mortar 
gun  which  hurls  a  high  explosive  into  the  enemy's 

The  Chain  of  Evidence — (Two  Reels)— Bio- 
graph — February  1. — The  young  villager,  unable 
to  bear  his  uncle's  ill-treatment  longer,  bids  good- 
bye to  his  sweetheart  and  leaves  for  the  city. 
His  uncle  is  found  murdered  and  he  is  accused 
of  the  crime.  He  proves  his  innocence,  however, 
and   everything  ends  happily. 


eight, 


a  flat  c 


is   swui 


i   the  n 


:nger 


wung  a 


laps     because    of    hi 


i  the 


._  _  stop  and 
me  urcw  capture  the  thieves. 

The  Web— Episode  3,  "The  Strange  Case  of 
Mary  Page"— (Two  Reels)— Essanay— February 
7.— A  continuation  of  the  trial  scene.  Pollock's 
sister  and  Brandon  are  on  the  stand.  They  **" 
of  Mary's  early  engagement  to  Pollock.  H 
Walthall  and  Edna  Mayo  are  featured  in  the  se 
A  full  review  appears  on  another  page  of  this  is- 
sue. G.  H. 

Her  Wayward  Sister — (Four  Reels) — Lubin — 
February  7. — Joan  and  Mary,  although  sisters, 
are  very  different  in  disposition,  Joan  being  quiet, 
Mary  wild.  Basil,  a  hunchback,  their  playmate 
since  childhood,  is  loved  by  Joan,  but  loves  Mary, 


_      i  art   student   with   much 

little  money  and  Jack,  his  rival,  with  little  art,  has 
lots  of  money.  In  a  moment  of  despair  he  sells 
his  bodv  to  Prof.  Haebus  Corpus  for  five  dol- 
lars. He  gets  the  money,  but  when  the  time 
comes  for  the  professor  to  get  his  end  there  are 
all  sorts  of  complications,  before  Ethel  and  Bud 
find   peace  and  happiness. 

The  Smugglers— (Three  Reels)— Biograph— 
February  2.— Captain  Thorne  places  his  child  in 
a  boat  and  entrusts  it  to  the  waves  when  his  ship 
flounders  at  sea.  The  boat  drifts  ashore  and  the 
child  is  found  by  a  man,  who  rears  it  as  a  sis- 
Reaching  womanhood,  the 
ith     a    vounsr    secret     service 

adopted  brother  finds  papers  which  give  a  clue 
to  her  identity  and  also  bonds  to  the  value  of 
many  thousands  of  dollars.  Many  startling  inci- 
dents follow,  but  finally  Captain  Thorne  and  his 
daughter  are  reufiited. 

The   Moth  and  the   Star— Kalem— February  2. 

— An  episode  of  the  "Stingaree"  series,  featur- 
ing True  Broadman.  Stingaree  escapes  from 
prison  by  changing  places  with  the  crank  prison 
reformer,  who  comes  to  hear  the  tale  of  his  life. 
That  evening  he  attends  a  concert  at  which  Ethel, 
his  former  sweetheart,  is  to  sing,  but  his  auda- 
cious daring  results  in  his  recapture  and  the  clos- 
ing scene  finds  him  in  the  same  position  as  the 
opening  one. 

Selig-Tribune    No.    10— February   3.— Late   pic-    , 
tures    of    President    Wilson    in    his    campaign    on 
preparedness;    latest   variety   of   anti-aircraft    guns 
used  by  the  allies  in   repelling  Zeppelins;   James 
Whitcomb     Riley,     Hoosier     Poet    of    Childhood, 


who  hates  him.  Mar> 
on  the  stage  and  lea( 
Joan  save  her.  Latei 
tion  from  Mary  to  Jo: 
and  produced  by  Clay 
eludes  June  Dayne,  C 
George    Clarki 


Clai 


Forb 


Mi  IT 


rice  Jay  Elme 
Francis  Joyner 
Elizabeth     Bo 


The  New  Janitor— (One  Reel)— Lubin— Feb- 
ruary 7.— As  a  janitor,  Otto  had  a  hard  time,  es- 
pecially when  he  acted  as  guardian  for  a  baby. 
Edwin  McKim  directs  the  story,  in  which  Davy 
Don,  Patsey  De  Forest,  Fred  Douglas,  Florence 
Williams  and   Baby  Weiser  appear. 

The   Diamond   Thieves — Lubin — February   7. — 
Jim    Clowes    and    Doris    Weyland,    London    jewel 
thieves,  arrive  in  the  city  and   immediately  plan  a 
3ris    calls    on    Dr.    Hawthorne,    a   special- 
tells    him    her    brother    is    afflicted    with 
nd   he  advises   her   to   bring  him    to   his 


lady  of  the  theater  reports  sick  and  Betty 
.__  a  chance  to  take  her  place.  She  makes  good 
nd  the  former  leading  lady  is  deposed.  Later 
however,  Betty  has  the  opportunity  to  become 
's  own  leading  lady  and  when  he  promises  to 
e  her  pets  and  herself,  she  becomes  his  bride. 

Wurra-Wurra — Kalem — February  8.  —  Featur- 
ing Bud  Duncan,  Jack  McDermott  and  Ethel 
Teare.  Bud  and  Jack  find  themselves  on  a  can- 
lbal  isle,  where  Ethel  is  the  power  behind  the 
throne.  They  gain  her  favor  and  have  a  great 
time  for  a  while,  but  it  is  not  long  before  they 
face  the  steaming  pot  as  a  possible  meal  for  the 
king. 

The  Fable  of  the  Grass  Widow  and  the  Mes- 
meree  and  the  Six  Dollars— Essanay — February 
9. — Featuring  Warda  Howard,  Carroll  C.  James 
and  Marion  Skinner.  One  day  a  Keen  Business 
Man,  who  thought  Nobody  could  show  him,  was 
sitting  at  his  desk  when  a  classy  Grass  Widow 
floated  in  and  stood  smiling  at  him.  Had  it  been 
a  man  he  would  have  kicked  him,  but  she  kept 
up  her  little  song  and  smile  and  slipped  her  pen 
into  his  hand  and  told  him  where  to  sign.  He 
carried  the  book  home  to  his  wife  and  she  flagged 
him  and  said  that  all  her  women  acquaintances 
—  ind  that  a  crowd  of  married 
l  given  a  club  rate,  but  he  re- 
-  .bject.    " 


are  entitled 


t  get  i 


:  later. 


The  Darkest  Hour — Kalem— February  9. — An 
episode  of  the  "Stingaree"  series  featuring  True 
Boardman  and  Main  Sais.  Stingaree  escapes  from 
prison  through  the  efforts  of  Howie  and,  passing 
as  a  valet  of  Kent,  who  is  Ethel's  fiance,  he  suc- 
ceeds in  getting  aboard  a  boat  for  England.  On 
the  way  he  learns  that  he  has  been  cleared  of  the 
charge  of  murder  and  has  happiness  is  later  com- 
plete when  Kent,  seeing  that  Ethel  loves  Sting- 
aree,  giveS)>  her  to  him.     This   is   the   last   of  the 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


Sold  to  Santa— (Three  Reels)— Lubin—F-i 
ruary  10.— Featuring  L.  C.  Shumway,  May  Cru; 
Alan  Forrest  and  r-dward  Sloman.  John  M< 
rill  in  his  garret  room,  declares  he  would  give  1 
soul  for  youth  and  gold.  Then  appears  1 
Majesty,     the    Prince    of    Nether     Regi  — 


if  he 


Met 


ill    i 


seats  and  the. bargain  is  on.  His  Majesty's  n 
victim  the  lirst  year  is  Archie  Ashton,  the  brother 
of  Ruth  Ashton,  .Merrill's  sweetheart.  The  sec- 
ond year  Ruth's  father  is  his  Majesty's  victim, 
and  the  third  year  he  demands  Ruth  Ashton  as 
his  victim,  but  Merrill  refuses.  His  Majesty  only 
mocks  at  him,  however,  and  he  changes  to  the 
old  man  again  in  the  garrett  room,  where  he  dies, 
while  his  Majesty  laughingly  claims  the  soul,  of 
his  latest  plaything. 

.  The  Last  Shot — (Two  Reels) — Lubin — Febru- 
ary 10.— Earle  Metcalfe  and  Ormi  Hawley  fea- 
tured. An  unfortunate  quarrel  between  James 
Nering,  a  lawyer,  and  Lieutenant  Thomas,  rival 
suitors  for  the  hand  of  Enid  Long,  results  to  the 
disadvantage    of    Thomas,    and    Nering 


him  away,  telling  him  that  she  has  known  of  the 
deception,   but   had   grown   to   love   Edward. 

The  Perils  of  the  Rails— Kalem — February  12. 
—An  episode  of  "The  Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad 
series,  featuring  Helen  Gibson.  A  gang  of  car 
—     aboard  _a    freight    and    succeed    ~~ 


thrc 


ing   the 


r    off 
vild,    the 


thieves    not    km 
ipproaching    o 
arned  of  the  dange 


The 
mig    that 


Billie's  Lucky  Bill— Lubin 
Featuring  Billie  Reeves.  Wilkins,  whose  rich 
uncle  refuses  to  give  him  any  more  money,  is 
turned  down  by  all  his  friends  and  is  even  forced 
to  give  up  his  sweetheart,  Evelyn.  Wilkins  finds 
a  thousand-dollar  bill  and  he  determines  to  use 
the  big  bill  to  raise  his  credit.  He  learns  that 
counterfeit  $1,000  bills  are  being  passed  and  that 
the  counterfeiters  have  dropped  them  on  the  street 
to  be  rid  of  them.  He  thinks  he  has  passed  one  and 


her 


t  with  Enid.     He 

ent   to   marry   him   and   Thomas.    leaT 
ship    has    been    called    to    otl 


|V\  /jjj^^rr    mk 


begs  Enid  to  take  a  last  ride  with  him  that  ei 
ing.  When  Nering  learns  of  this  he  is  furious 
accuses  his  fiance  of  being  false  and  of  beinf, 
a   disreputable    roadhouse   with_Thomas.      She 


she 


when  Thomas 
becomes  his  "wife. 

The  Trail's  End — Kalem — February  11. — This 
is  the  last  of  "The  Ventures  of  Marguerite"  series 
featuring  Marguerite  Courtot.  The  Wolf  learns 
that  Marguerite  is  carrying  the  codebook  with 
her  to  a  reception  at  the  home  of  Colonel  West. 
They  make  strenuous  efforts  to  secure  the  valued 
book,  but  their  plans  are  frustrated  by  Fred, 
Marguerite's  sweetheart.  All  ends  well  when 
the  soldiers  of  the  fort,  pursuing  The  Wolf,  en- 
gage in  a  skirmish  in  which  the  interna 
crook  is  killed  and  his  confederates  captured. 

Freddy's  Last  Bean — Vitagraph — Febri 
—Featuring  William  Dangman  and  Helen  Uur- 
ney.  Freddy  on  his  way  home  is  hit  on  the  head 
with  a  can  of  beans.  He  picks  up  the  can  and 
hastens  home  to  enjoy  his  unexpected  feast.  The 
s  and  weeps  and 


5  to  get  the  bill  back.  He  is  arrested,  but 
..iter,  the  man  who  lost  the  bill,  says  it  is  real 
I  Billie,  once  more  on  good  terms  with  his 
:le,  takes  up  his  courtship  of  Evelyn. 
\  Mix-Up  in  Movies— Selic— February  12.— A 
stern  comedy  written  and  produced  by  Tom 
x,  who  appears  in  the  cast.  It  is  the  story  of 
ee  cowpunchers  who  steal  the  property  of  a 
ition  picture  company  and  proceed  to  make 
ne  pictures  of  their  own.  Others  in  the  cast  arc 
t  Chrisman,   Sid   Jordan,   Joe   Simkin   and    Babe 

From  Out  of  the  Past— (Three  Reels)—  Vita- 
kPH— February  12.— Jack  Nash  and  Ethel  Wil- 
i,  daughter  of  a  prosperous  merchant,  meet  and 
■  attracted  and  shortly  after  become  engaged. 
.  Hudson  tells  Tohn  'Wilson  that  Tack  is  the 
i  of  Helen  Nash,  one  of  his  patients,  and  then 
"  3ii  tells  the  doctor  that  he  is  the  father  of 
he  having  known  Helen  before  his  mar- 
.      Jack   is    told    of   the   relationship    between 


Helen  is  kidnaped  from  a  speeding  passenger 
train  by  minions  of  Seagrue  for  the  purpose  of  se- 
curing from  her  contracts  which  she  is  carrying 
to  Rhinelander.  Spike,  the  ex-convict,  befriended 
by  Helen,  largely  reforms  and  ere  the  chapter 
ends,  aids  Storm,  Helen's  sweetheart,  in  rescuing 
the  girl  from  the  place  in  which  she  is  impris- 
oned. A  full  review  will  be  found  on  another 
page  of  this  issue.  N.   G.  C. 

Around  the  World— Cub— January  28.— Fea- 
turing George  Ovey — -Jerry  makes  his  get-away 
from  an  odd  mixture  of  difficulties  in  an  aero- 
plane and  is  soon  over  an  island  inhabited  by 
cannibals.  The  latter  have  all  modern  improve- 
ments, for  when  Jerry  is  captured,  the  chief  i6 
notified  by  telephone  and  not  long  after  he  pulls 
up  in  his  automobile.  Jerry  demands  his  re- 
lease, and  on  being  refused,  he  knocks  the  chief 
into  the  kettle.  Jerry  finally  gets  his  persecutors 
into  a  fight  with  themselves  and  in  the  confusion 
escapes  in  the  chief's  car,  taking  with  him  a  beau- 
tiful princess  whom  the  chief  has  been  holding  in 

See  America  First  No.  20 — Gaumont — Janu- 
ary 30.— Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  the  "Twin 
Cities"  and  "The  Gateway  of  the  Northwest,"  with 
their  wonderful  back-ground  of  lakes,  hills  and 
woody  plains,  form  the  subject  of  the  first  half  of 
this  reel.  Among  the  places  visited  are  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  the  State  Capitol,  Minne- 
haha Falls  and  Lake  Minnetonka.  On  the  same 
reel  is: 


he  Defective  Detective— Cub— February  4.— 
turing  Billy  Armstrong.  Wild  Bill,  an  in- 
e  of  Prof.  Nutt's  asylum,  escapes  detention. 
:  of  his  first  visits  is  the  Lilleford  mansion,  at 
ch  place  he  frightens  pretty  Evelyn  almost 
)  hysterics.  Littleford,  to  protect  his  daugh- 
■    against    probable   harm,    offers    Luke    Sharpe. 


Bill.     Sharpe,  a 

Jiggers,  his  aide,  as  Bill  and  tries  to 

as   the   latter   and   thus   collect   the   reward.      After 

some   trying   mix-ups,   Sharpe   succeeds   in   turning 

over  Jiggers  as  the  real  madman  and  pocketing  the 

money.      As    the    detective    is    leaving    the    house, 

however,    in    comes    a    policeman    with    Bill,    and 

the  bogus  detective's  scheme  is  laid  bare. 

See  America  First — (Split  Reel) — February  6. 
— Duluth,  Minn.,  at  the  head  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
is  the  subject  of  the  twenty-first  number  of  this 
weekly  scenic.  Glimpses  of  the  great  steel  mills, 
the  woolen  manufacturing  and  the  incoming  and 
outgoing   supply   of   ore   From   the   iron   range  are 


Freddy  shares  them  with  her.  A  friend  calls  on 
Freddy  and  while  telling  Freddv  of  the  meal  he 
had  the  night  before  eats  all  but  one  solitary 
bean.  Freddy  shows  him  the  door  and  then  en- 
joys to  the  full  that  one  little  bean.  Soon  after 
a   food   expert   visits   him   saying   he  must  get   an 


him  and  Ethel  and  he  is  heartbroken.  On  his 
twenty-first  birthday  he  opens  a  letter  which  his 
mother  had  instructed  him  to  open  when  he  was 
twentv-one.  It  proves  to  be  a  confession  from 
Helen  that  Tack  is  not  the  son  of  Wilson,  but  the 
son  of  her  husband,  Dick  Nash.  The  barriers  of 
blood  relationship  removed,  Ethel  and  Jack  are 
reunited.     Carolyn   Birch  and  Garry  McGarry  fea- 


tbe 


:    this    1 


thei 


of   Harrv   Pain 

eriences    which    "Pa    McGinnis"    and    his 
ilate   the   doings   of 


neighl: 


rs,   trie   ) 


•tide 


right 


for 


closed  and  he  offers  dazed  Freddy  tcr_  __ 
one  bean,  at  which  the  poor  lad  completely  col- 
Golden  Lies — (Three  Reels) — Essanay — Feb- 
ruary 12.— Vera  Walton  engaged  to  Thomas  Dev- 
lan  is  blinded  in  a  fire.  Tom  leaves  the  country 
and     Vera     pines     tor    him     and     wonders     why     be 

Devlan,  who  secretly  loves  Vera,  to  writi  letters 
daily  to  Vera  and  make  believe  they  arc  from 
Tom.  He  does  and  Vera  begins  to  improve. 
Somehow  she  suspcts  the  ruse  and  continually 
.asks  for  Tom  and  Edward  is  again  called  upon 
to  impersonate  his  brother  and  marry  her.  Tom 
returns     some     time     later     to     her,     but     she     sends 


Mutual  Program 


■s' 


Lillo  of  the  Sulu  Seas— (Three  Reels)— Ameri- 
can— February  8. — Harold  I.ockwood  and  May 
Allison  play  the  leads  in  this  melodrama  laid 
amid  beautiful  tropical  backgrounds.  The  tale  is 
an  interesting  one  and  the  producer  has  handled 
it  most  carefully.  A  complete  review  appears  c 
another  page  of"  this  issue. 


Booming  the  Bo: 
ruary  8.— Pupils  i 
fallen    off    to    an    al 

in  [per,   sue 

will   go  out    in    disgt 


N.  G.  C. 
— Falstaff — Feb- 
c  Academy  have 
Tim,  the  pro- 
owing  plan:  He 
respectable  peo- 


motnent  the  professor  iw'l  -foil  ,,u.  defend  the 
M'-liin      :m,l      present      ,!,,       ! ....|,      ,„,<•     of     his 

sees  Biff  and  lini  rehearsing  tins  little  scheme,  and 
this  fact  leads  to  the  putting  of  both  the  new- 
pupil  scheme  and  Biff  ,.n  the  bum.  when  the  lat- 
ter and   the  pugilist   are  destined  to  meet  again. 


February  12,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Won   By  One — Beauty— February  9.— Wallace 
MacDonald,    Dick    Rosson    and    Neva    Gerber   are 
featured   in    this    comedy,    which    was   directed    by 
Arthur  McMackin.      Connie  and  Lc  — "- 
eling    men    for    fake    jewelry    conce     . 
nie,    the    village  _  belle,  _  and  _  vie    with    each 


he 

drops    many 

supposed 

peat 

Is, 

ami 

the 

,bl< 

noting    th 

!.,. 

L 

irhi 

bv 

arm 

of   the 

publicity   he 

lor 

thei 

jew 

' 

and   r 

etu 

rns   m   tim 

e    to 

cla 

m   Fan 

Billy  Van   Deusen   and  the   Vampire      __ 

February  13. — John  Steppling,  John  Sheehan  ana 
Carol  Halloway  are  the  principles  in  this  thor- 
oughly  amusing   one-reel   comedy.      Carol,   by   her 


The  Spirit  of  the  Game— (Three  Reels)—  Than- 
houser— February  9.— Dick  Thornton  is  the  bril- 
liant captain  of  the  college  football  team.  To  his 
honest,  plodding  classmate  he  is  a  hero  who  can 
do  no  wrong.  However,  on  the  night  before  the 
•uu  a,  rival  college,  Thornton  breaks 
and    indulges    in    his    weakness — 


vie  with   < 


,    wins    the    approval    of 

,   who  promptly  vie  v  '  ' 

..^.    affection.      Carol   pre 

who   shall   prove    faithful    ; 

"-    -f  putting  the   ol 


s   struck   with  the  i»~„ 

he    city,    Billv    arranges    a    meeting    for   John 
ler   home   and   then   sends   for   Carol,   hoping   t' 
ohn    will    be    discredited    when    found    with 
—    Billy    there 


ing    hei 


'  t    day    Thornton    is 
I   hopelessly   lost. 


captain's)  uniform  and  take  his  . 
quarter.  After  the  day  is  saved  by  the  sensa- 
tional playing  of  the  seemingly  revived  captain, 
the  young  man's  headgear  is  removed  and  the  real 
hero  is  revealed.  The  classmate,  who  has  prev- 
iously made  himself  look  wrong  in  the  eyes  of 
■"""  ;   only   girl"   for  the   sake    of  his   hero,   ;~    - 


aighter 


'   Willie,   most   c 


self. 


According  to  St.  John — (Three  Reels) — Mus- 
tang— February  11. — Anna  Little,  Jack  Richard- 
son and  Tom  Chatterton  have  the  leading  roles  in 
this  three-reel  melodrama,  having  to  do  with  Ben 
Wolf,  an  all-around  bad  man;  Bessie  Gray,  the 
gentle  daughter  of  the  pastor  of  a  church,  and 
Dick,  the  sheriff,  whom  she  loves.  Bob,  Bessie's 
hrother,  gambles  away  his  money  and  later  ap- 
propriates some  of  the  church  funds  to  invest  in 
ra  fake  oil  well.  When  faced  with  ruin,  Bob, 
thoroughly  desperate,  holds  up  the  stage  in  order 
to  secure  money  necessary  to  replace  the  stolen 
funds.  Though  Dick,  the  sheriff,  suspects  Wolf 
of  the  robbery,  he  later  learns  from  circumstan- 
tial evidence  that  Bob  must  be  the  guilty  man. 
Wolf  meanwhile  has  been   largely   reformed  by 


Graft— (Two  Reels)— Universal  Special  Fea- 
ture—Starring  Harry  Carey,  Jane  Novak.  Ho- 
bart  Henley  and  Glen  White.  In  this,  the 
eighth  episode  of  "Graft,"  suggested  by  James 
Francis  Dwyer,  Carl  Weisner,  head  of  the  Coal 
Trust,  meets  with  death  while  trying  to  do  away 
with  Tom  Larnigan.  The  latter  is  saved  by  Dor- 
othy and  Kitty,  who  overhear  the  plot  against  him. 
Tom's  report  starts  government  action  and  the 
coal  situation  is  relieved.  When  Bruce  hears  of 
the   success,  he  adds  another  name  to  his  victory 


Un, 


:rsal    , 


-Univ 


vate  Davis  repeats  scout  oath  on  eve  of  organiza- 
tion's sixth  birthday,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  society 
folks  quit  Coronado  bathing  beaches  for  Sierra 
sports,    Truckee,    Cal. ;    advance    styles    in    hats ; 


SCENARIOS  WANTED 

Good  one  and  two 
reel  comedy  sce- 
narios with  a  plot. 
Must  have  a  punch. 

MONARCH  FILM  PRODUCING   CO. 
1737  First  National  Bank,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


Mr.  Exhibitor: 

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You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
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it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
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Goes  Posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO J 


388 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  7. 


"Mixed  Kids"    (Nestor 


elephant  hauls  stalled  machine  when  gasoline 
fails,  Universal  City,  Cal. ;  Ford's  peace  dele- 
gates strike  cold  weather  in  Scandinavian  coun- 
tries ;  thousands  cheer  president  Wilson  begin- 
ning speaking  tour  for  preparedness,  New  York 
City,  N.  Y. ;  cartoons  by  Hy.  Majer. 

The  Trail  of  the  Wild  Wolf— (Two  Reels)— 
Imp— February  11.— With  Paul  Panzer.  Meg 
and  Doris,  daughters  of  a  Canadian  trapper,  are 
in  danger  of  being  captured  by  Gerrier,  the  "Wild 
Wolf,"  whose  ambition  is  to  get  young  girls  into 
his  power  through  the  aid  of  the  lumber  jacks. 
After  succeeding  in  trapping  Doris'  father,  Ger- 
rier starts  off  with  the  girl  in  plain  sight  of  the 
desperate  old  man.  Doris  drops  some  of  her 
hairpins  on  the  beginning  of  the  trail,  and  this 
leads  to  the  following  of  Gerrier  by  Meg  and 
her  father,  and  the  rescue  by  the  latter  and  a 
member  of  the  Mounted  Police  of  Doris. 

Flivver's  Scrap  of  Paper — Nestor— February 
11.- — Unable  to  pay  his  rent,  and  fearing  the  ar- 
rival of  the  sheriff,  Flivver  barricades  his  apart- 
ment and  determines,  with  the  help  of  his  wife  and 
child,  to.  fight  to  the  bitter  end.  Flivver's  rich 
uncle  relents  of  his  past  harshness  and  sends  his 
doctor  to  Flivver's  home  with  a  pocketful  of  bank- 
notes. Here  the  unfortunate  doctor  is  taken  for 
an  enemy  and  treated  accordingly.  After  many 
terrible  indignities  have  been  shown  him,  the  doc- 
tor, in  a  rage,  tears  up  the  precious  notes  before 
Flivver's  eyes. 

Arthur's  Last  Fling  —  Laemmle —  February 
13. — On  the  last  night  that  Arthur  Batts  will  be 
single,  he  decides  to  celebrate  by  having  a  big 
party,  to  which  he  invites  Flora,  an  actress  and 
one  of  his  former  sweethearts.  The  party  lasts 
all  night  and  long  into  the  next  morning.  Flora 
insists  on  accompanying  Arthur  to  his  apartment, 
and  threatens  him  with  death  if  he  does  not  carry 
out  his  former  promises  to  her.  However,  Arthur 
escapes  to  his  wedding  safely,  and  leaves  his 
friend.   Fritz,  to   take  all  the  punishment. 


Bayne  are  starred  in  this  story  of  extraordinary 
lis  with  the  origin,  development 
id    importance    of   conscience.      John   W.    Noble 


The  Upstart — (Five  Reels) — Rolfe — February 
7. — George  Leguere  and  Marguerite  Snow  are 
the  featured  players  in  this  picturization  of  the 
successful  play  of  the  same  name  by  Thomas 
Barry.  The  story  deals  with  a  young  married 
man  who  becomes  fanatical  on  the  subject  of 
divorce.  James  Lackaye  also  has  a  prominent 
role  in  this  picture  which  was  contrived  and 
directed  by  Edwin  Carewe. 


Mutual  Special 

The  Soul's  Cycle— (Five  Reels)— Centaur 
Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition — February  12. 
— Theron,  a  Grecian  senator,  is  in  love  with 
Nadia,  but  the  latter  loves  Lucian,  a  young  poet. 
Theron,  realizing  that  his  suit  is  hopeless,  allows 
hatred  to  enter  his  soul,  and  finally  kills  the  two 
young  lovers.  For  this  sin  the  unseen  arbiter  of 
souls  condemns  him  to  enter  the  body  of  a  lion 
and  to  roam  the  earth  until  the  end  of  time  un- 
less he  shall  save  the  lovers.  Centuries  later 
Nadia  and  Lucian  are  reincarnated  in  the  forms 
of  a  lovely  young  woman  and  man.  Nadia  is 
now  Agnes,  the  daughter  of  a  millionaire,  and 
Lucian  is  Arthur,  a  young  broker.  The  latter 
has,  as  a  trophy  of  his  African  travels,  a  lion, 
which  he  keeps  chained  in  his  own  home.  Arthur 
and  Agnes  fall  in  love  at  once  and  are  speedily 
married,  while  Watson,  the  defeated 
ing   hatred   and   revenge 


Shooting  at  Random — Pathe — Starlight — Jan- 
uary 29. — A  Heine  and  Louie  comedy  that  is  all 
that  its  title  implies.  The  two  pals  visit  the  coun- 
try, where  there  is  a  great  deal  of  hunting  being 
done.  They  appropriate  a  gun,  and  shoot  every- 
thing in  sight.  In  some  instances  their  targets 
are  out  of  sight. 

New  York— (Five  Reels)— Pathe— Gold  Roos- 
ter— February  4. — Florence  Reed  has  the  leading 
role  in  this  social  drama  from  A.  H.  Woods'  fa- 
mous Broadway  success,  and  she  is  supported  by 
such  stars  as  John  Miltern,  Fannia  Marinoff,  For- 


Feature  Programs^ 


Kleine-Edison 

The  Martyrdom  of  Phillip  Strong — (Five 
Reels) — Edison — February  9. — Robert  Conness 
and  Mabel  Trunnelle  featured.  Phillip  Strong, 
a  rising  young  pastor,  surrounded  by  luxury, 
realizes  that  he  has  been  preaching  the  doctrines 
of  Christ,  but  his  work  has  been  the  work  of 
bare  words  only.  He  goes  to  live  in  the  slums, 
but  his  wife  refuses  to  go  with  him  and  she  and 
her  little  daughter  return  to  her  mother.  Phillip, 
fighting  the  battle  of  the  downtrodden,  arouses 
the  hate  of  powerful  forces,  but  undaunted  he 
wages  his  war.  His  wife  relents,  but  too  late, 
for  the  body  bearing  the  spirit  of  Phillip  is  not 
equal  to  the  task.  Wrecked  by  worry  and  ill- 
health,  he  gives  up  his  life  and  his  soul  to  the 
One  whose  work  he  has  been  doing. 


Other  schemes  failing, 
Watson  finally  looses  the  lion.  The  animal, 
however,  instead  of  killing  Arthur  and  his  wife, 
takes  Watson  by  surprise  and  kills  him.  Theron's 
crime  of  centuries  before  is  thus  atoned  and  the 
spirit  of  the  man  rises  triumphant,  Theron  now- 
being  free  to  work  out  his  destiny  as  a  man. 

The  Drifter— (Five  Reels)— Gaumont— Feb- 
ruary 7.— Harold  Derwent,  a  reckless  youth, 
finds  his  exact  double  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Ashton  on  a  train.  The  train  is  wrecked 
and  Ashton  is  killed  and  Harold  assumes  his 
clothes  and  impersonates  him  as  pastor  of  the 
Royalton  church.  Mrs.  Ashton  arrives  and  she 
proves  to  be  Faith  Willis,  Derwent's  former 
sweetheart.  She  sees  through  the  deception  at 
once,  but  discovering  the  good  that  Derwent  has 
already  brought  about  in  the  community  keeps 
silent.  Later,  however,  Derwent  confesses  his 
deception  to  the  congregation  and  because  of  his 
sincerity   they   forgive   him. 

Powder— (Five  Reels) — American— February 
10. — Arthur  Maude  and  Constance  Crawley  are 
featured  in  this  drama,  unique  in  theme  and 
absolutely  amazing  in  its  interest-compelling 
qualities.  The  supporting  cast  includes  such 
players  as  Tack  Prescott,  William  Carroll,  Jack 
Farrell,  Lizette  Thorne  and  George  Ahearn.  The 
production  was  directed  by  Arthur  Maude.  A 
longer  review  will  appear  on  another  page  of  this 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Hearst- Vitagraph  No.  8 — On  the  Austro- Russian 
front ;  railroad  establishes  new  talking  signal  sys- 
tem for  autoists,  Wilmette,  111.  ;  Captain  Hemple 
of  Oscar  II  is  presented  with  auto  and  shows 
his  gift  to  Dr.  Frederick  A.  Cook,  Polar  explorer, 
Copenhagen,  Denmark;  Theodore  Roosevelt  is 
received  by  friends  in  Philadelphia,  Philadelphia, 
Pa. ;  harbor  tug  smashes  way  through  ice,  car- 
rying supplies  to  the  water-intake  crib  in  Lake 
Michigan,  Chicago,  111.;  latest  fashions;  hundreds 
pay  tribute  to  Charles  A.  Pringle,  killed  in  mas- 
sacre at  Santa  Ysabel,  San  Francisco,  Cal.;  con- 
testants on  skis  strike  out  over  snow  for  daring 
speed  trial,  Stockholm,  Sweden ;  unprecedented 
rain  changes  city  streets  into  rivers,  Los  Angeles, 
Cal. ;   cartoon  by  T.   E.   Powers. 

The  Crown  Prince's  Double— (Five  Reels)— 
Vitagraph— February  7.— Featuring  Maurice  Cos- 
tello  and  Norma  Talmadge.  Oscar,  son  of  Gus- 
tave,  King  of  Ostrau,  comes  to  America  and 
marries  Isabelle,  an  American  girl.  Wishing  to 
renounce  his  claim  to  the  throne  and  become  an 
American  citizen  he  changes  identities  with 
Barry  Lawrence,  who  is  Prince  Oscar's  perfect 
double.  When  the  king  learns  of  his  son's  mar- 
riage he  sends  Baron  Hager  to  America  to  bring 
him  back.  Much  trouble  ensues,  but  finally  ex- 
planations are  made  which  result  in  the  chagrin  of 
the  baffled  Baron,  the  uniting  of  Barry  and  Shir- 
ley, his  fiancee,  while  Oscar,  prince  no  longer, 
announces  that  his  American  citizenship  papers 
and  his  bride  more  than  compensate  him  for  the 
kingdom   he   lost. 

The  Gods  of  Fate— (Five  Reels)— V.  L.  S.  E. 
-January  24.— Daniel  Carson  Goodman  is  the 
author  of  this  story  concerning  laboring  people. 
It  is  a  well  constructed,  interesting  storv  contain- 
ing two-reel  thrills.  Jack  Pratt  directed  it  and 
Richard    Buhler   and    Rosetta    Brice   are   featured. 


Metro 

The  Turmoil— (Five  Reels)— Columbia— Jan- 
uary 10.— Valli  Valli  featured  in  this  wonder- 
play  directed  by  Edgar  Jones.  George  Leguere 
supports   Valli   Valli. 

The  Lure  of  Heart's  Desire— (Five  Reels)— 
POPULAR  Plays  and  Players— January  17.— Ed- 
mund Brecsc  has  the  stellar  role  in  this  story 
of    the    Alaskan    desolate    wastes,    coupled    with    a 


Pathe 


Head-Dresses     < 

Pathe— January 
color  showing   the 

land.    '  The    Ihiloh 


Holland  - 

.—An    edii 

s  of  the  women  of  He 
in   the  country  cling  to 


(Split     Reel)  — 
tional    subject 


= PERFECT = 

Developing  and  Printing 

On  Regular  or    Non-Inflam    Eastman   Stock 

INDUSTRIAL  MOVING  PICTURE  COMPANY 

223-233  We.t  Erie  Street  Chicago 


with: 


The     Ausable     Chasm — Pathe— A     Picturesque 


Hazel    Kirke— (Five    Reels)— Pathe— Jai 


st,  including  Pearl   While, 


ALLISON  &  HADAWAY 


Panchroma  Twin-Arc  Lamp 

235  FIFTH  AVE.  NEW  YORK  CITY 


The  MOTION  PICTUI& 


Vol  XV 


EDNA  MAYO  WITH  ESSANAY 

CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  19,  1916 


No.  8 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


THIS  IS  WHAT 
TMEYSAIDADOUTIT 


Reviewed  by  Oscar  Cooper 
in  the  Motion  Picture  News— 
"This  picturization  of  Edwin 
Milton  Royle's  stage  play  af- 
fords Beatriz  Michelena  op- 
portunities for  strenuous  emo- 
tional acting  which  she  re- 
alizes well,  presenting  an  im- 
personation which  is  convinc- 
ing in  itself.  In  externals— 
that  is,  in  photography,  light- 
ing, and  sets— 'The  Unwrit- 
ten Law'  is  thoroughly  ac- 
ceptable." 

Jack  Edwards  in  The  Bill- 
board— "Volumes  might  be 
written  of  the  clever  charac- 
terization of  the  well-known 
Broadway  success,  'The  Un- 
written Law,'  and  still  it 
would  be  inadequate  to  prop- 
erly describe  her  wonderful 
portrayal  of  The  Woman." 

George  Blaisdell  in  the 
Moving  Picture  World — "The 
subject  is  well  acted  and  well 
staged.  The  picture  will  in- 
terest all  the  way.  There  are 
situations  of  real  strength, 
and  these  are  handled  in  a 
manner  to  bring  out  their 
power.  The  story  is  clearly 
told.  'The  Unwritten  Law' 
should  be  a  popular  picture." 

T.  O.  Eltonhead  in  the  New 
York  Dramatic  Mirror — "Be- 
atriz Michelena  scores  an- 
other emotional  triumph  in 
Edwin  Milton  Royle's  'The 
Unwritten  Law.'  Miss  Mich- 
elena is  called  upon  to  go 
through  a  wide  divergence  of 
emotions,  and  it  is  needless 
to  say  that  she  does  it  in  a 
thoroughly  capable  manner." 

Wid  Gunning  in  Wid's — 
"Miss  Michelena  makes  this 
a  'worth-while'  production. 
The  story  gives  her  a  chance 
to  do  some  very  good  emo- 
/  tional  work  and  she  holds  the 
interest  nicely  in  all  her 
scenes." 


Harry  Ennis  in  The  Clip- 
per— "As  an  out-of-ordinary 
type  of  picture  play,  'The 
Unwritten  Law'  should  draw 
distinctly  on  its  merits.  In 
addition  to  the  asset  it  pos- 
sesses in  Beatriz  Michelena 
as  a  stellar  drawing  card, 
there  is  also  an  excellent  act- 
ing cast  and  a  well-played 
and  produced  dramatic  enter- 
tainment incorporated  in  the 
five  reels.  Any  of  the  better 
class  of  houses  can  safely  ad- 
vertise this  feature  to  the 
limit.  It  is  of  the  type  that 
should  draw  as  well  on  a  re- 
turn date  as  the  initial  en- 
gagement." 

Thomas  C.  Kennedy  in 
Motography — "  'The  Unwrit- 
ten Law'  has  a  uniformly  ef- 
fective cast,  supported  by 
good  direction.  The  direction 
is  easily  one  of  the  picture's 
strongest  points.  The  fire 
scenes  are  handled  admir- 
ably." 

F.  R.  Buckley  in  The  Mo- 
tion Picture  Mail — "To  sum 
up,  this  is  a  picture  in  which 
there  are  no  flaws.  It  is  won- 
derful. It  goes  into  the  ex- 
clusive class — in  which  we 
have  placed  only  two  other 
five  reel  features  during  the 
last  six  months — which  we 
can  recommend  to  any  ex- 
hibitor, anywhere,  as  an  abso- 
lutely certain  success." 

Dickson  Watts  in  the  Morn- 
ing Telegraph— "Too  much 
cannot  be  said  in  praise  of 
Beatriz  Michelena's  acting.  It 
is  at  all  times  natural,  and  in 
the  strong  scenes,  of  an  emo- 
tional quality  rarely  seen. 
No  glycerine  tears  are  need- 
ed to  heighten  the  effect  of 
her  art,  for  some  of  the  close- 
ups,  which  show  real  tears 
coursing  down  her  cheeks, 
are  quite  harrowing  enough." 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  19,  i916 


No.  8 


Chicago  the  Metropolis  of  Motography 


AN  INDUSTRIAL  PROPHECY 


CHICAGO,  Avithin  two  years  at  the  most,  will  be 
the  motographic  metropolis  of  the  world!  This 
statement,  made  by  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
fifth  industry — and,  just  in  passing,  the  speaker  called 
it  the  fourth  industry — was  in  reply  to  questions  re- 
garding future  plans  of  some  of  the  largest  concerns 
in  the  business  of  making  and  marketing  motion  pic- 
tures. And  while  he  asked  that  his  name  be  not  men- 
tioned just  at  present,  he  willingly  consented  to  aid 
in  the  preparing  of  this  article  on  the  facts.  Here  is 
his  argument  in  a  few  pointed  paragraphs : 

In  the  first  place,  Chicago  is  the  natural  distributing 
center  of  the  United  States. 

It's  railroad  shipping  facilities  are  unequaled. 
It  is  nearer  the  seat  of  production — Los  Angeles — 
by  about  a  thousand  miles,  than  is  New  York. 

It  is  the  present  home  of  several  substantial  con-j 
cerns  in  the  business. 

Chicago  capital  dominates  the  industry.  While 
probably  few  persons  realize  it,  a  great  percentage  of 
the  money  originally  invested  in  most  of  the  large 
companies  was  subscribed  in  Chicago. 

Chicago   is    the    birthplace    of   the    motion    picture 
business  in  the  United  States.    If  there  are  doubters  as 
to  the  truth  of  this  statement,  let  them  look  back  upon 
the  early  days  of  some  of  the  present  magnates,  such 
as  George  K.  Spoor,  Gilbert  M.  Anderson,  William  N. 
Selig,  George  Kleine,  S.  S.  Hutchinson,  the  Cochranes 
and     Carl    Laemmle,   W.    E.    Schellenberger,    John    R. 
Freuler  and  the  like. 
For  those  interested  in  the  future  of  the  motion 
picture  industry,  these  facts  are  well  worth  study  and 
thought.     The  speaker  is  a  man  high  in  the  circles  of 
the  men  who  have  become  millionaires  because  of  their 
belief  in  the  business.     Through  his  farsightedness  he 
has  become  one  of  the  most  substantial  men   in   the 
country.      His   advice   is   sought  now   by  those   who 
laughed  at  him  only  a  few  years  ago  when  he  risked 
the   little   he   had  and  the   all   of  his   few  friends   on 
what  the  scoffers  called  a  dream.     And  he's  only  a 
young  man  now. 

The  Lure  of  the  Great  White  Way 

So  when  he  talks  for  publication,  and  it  is  seldom, 
his  words  are  given  consideration.  Although  his  suc- 
cess is  one  of  the  romances  of  business,  he  is  not  a 
dreamer  in  the  usual  sense  of  the  term.  He  is  a 
builder,  a  worker  and  a  believer  in  himself.  And  so 
it  has  come  to  pass  that  the  scoffers,  who  a  few  years 
ago  were  predicting  his  failure,  are  believing  in  him. 

All  of  the  men  in  the  trade  know  the  stories  of 
the  late  Charles  Hite,  the  Schellenbergers,  the  Coch- 
ranes, Messrs.  Hutchinson,  Spoor,  Kleine,  Selig,  Laem- 
mle, Aitken,  and  the  others  who  only  a  few  years  ago 
were  putting  Chicago  on  the  motion  picture  map.    To- 


day they  are  the  substantial  men  of  the  business. 
Mind,  the  men  who  built  up  the  great  concerns  in  the 
East  are  not  overlooked  nor  are  those  who  took  their 
little  companies  to  the  Pacific  coast.  They  all  have 
had  a  big  part  in  the  building  up  of  the  business.  But 
who  are  the  wise  ones? 

When  the  bright  lights  on  Broadway  attracted 
those,  who  saw  a  great  future  in  the  business,  what 
did  Selig  and  Spoor  and  Hutchinson  and  Kleine  do? 
They  stayed  in  Chicago  and  prospered.  Not  that 
those,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  who  moved  into  the 
East  have,  not  been  successful,  but  the  men  who  stayed 
in  Chicago  were  able  to  find  the  most  fortune  at  the 
least  outlay  by  remaining  in  the  Illinois  city.  They 
knew  that  the  cost  of  distribution  could  be  kept  at  a 
minimum. 

Now  Dame  Rumor  comes  along  with  the  story 
that  other  great  concerns  are  seeing  the  light  and  that 
those  who  shook  the  dust  of  the  Windy  City  from  their 
feet  are  planning  to  return  to  reap  the  reward  that 
those  who  remained  already  have  put  into  surplus  and 
stock  dividends.  And  this  man  high  in  the  business 
says  the  rumor  is  about  to  become  a  fact. 

Because  these  things  are  so,  Opportunity  is  knock- 
ing at  the  door  of  the  Chicago  Association  of  Com- 
merce. The  vast  sums  of  money  invested  and  spent 
in  this  fifth — or  fourth — industry  are  not  to  be  passed 
up  without  an  effort  to  give  Chicago  the  benefit.  Prob- 
ably little  persuasion  would  be  necessary  to  induce 
several  of  these  big  concerns  to  make  Chicago  at  least 
the  distribution  center  of  the  United  States  and,  at 
present,  that  means  the  world. 

Selig  About  to  Reopen  Studio 

That  it  may  become  also  the  manufacturing  center 
is  not  beyond  the  realms  of  possibility.  The  American 
Film  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  S.  S.  Hutch- 
inson is  the  head,  for  years  has  found  it  profitable  to 
retain  its  factory  and  distributing  center  in  Chicago, 
in  spite  of  the  desirability  of  maintaining  a  producing 
plant  at  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  and  has  "just  occupied 
a  new  building  at  its  Broadway  plant. 

The  Essanay  Film  Manufacturing  Company  al- 
ways has  done  most  of  its  producing  and  distributing 
at  the  Chicago  studios.  And  that  this  has  been  found 
profitable  is  proven  by  the  fact  that  within  the  last 
two  years  two  big  studios  have  been  added  to  the 
plant  on  Chicago's  north  side.  Even  now  there  is  a 
published  statement  that  little  will  be  done  at  the 
Niles,  Cal.,  studios  in  the  future.  This  may  or  mav 
not  be  so,  but  for  a  long  time  the  bulk  of  the  producing 


390 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


work  has  been  done  in  Chicago.  And  who  is  there 
to  say  that  George  K.  Spoor  is  wrong? 

A  while  ago  the  Selig  company  closed  the  Chi- 
cago studios  of  that  concern  and  all  producing  was 
done  on  the  Pacific  coast  except  when  companies  were 
sent  out  to  new  locations.  Now  it  is  stated  that  "The 
Crisis,"  the  next  great  production  of  the  "Diamond  S" 
company,  will  be  made  in  Chicago.  It  is  likely  that 
many  other  pictures  will  be  produced  there,  once  they 
get  the  plant  in  operation  again.  But  whether  that  is 
done  or  not,  it  virtually  is  assured  that  Chicago  always 
will  be  the  distribution  headquarters  of  the  Selig  com- 
pany. 

And  because  this  policy  has  won  for  these  com- 
panies, other  concerns  are  beginning  to  realize  that 
Los  Angeles  is  too  far  from  Broadway,  or  rather, 
Broadway  is  too  far  from  Los  Angeles.  There  is  too 
much  waste  of  time  and  money  in  distribution. 

This  matter  within  a  short  time  will  be  placed 
before  the  Chicago  Association  of  Commerce  and  it 
is  likely  that  some  action  of  material  importance  to 
the  trade  will  be  taken. 

Much  Chicago  Capital  Invested 

Now  as  to  capital.  It  is  a  stated  fact  that  for  years 
Chicago  has  invested  more  money  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture business  than  any  other  city  in  the  country.  Chi- 
cago money  has  made  many  of  the  New  York  con- 
cerns possible.  These  concerns  need  not  be  named, 
as  the  facts  are  too  well  known.  Recently,  when  it 
became  necessary  to  obtain  capital  for  the  organization 
of  "special"  companies,  the  organizers  sought  out  Chi- 
cago bankers  and  got  the  money.  That  the  stock  of 
several  of  these  concerns  was  subscribed  several  times 
over  is  a  matter  of  record.  That  the  men  behind  the 
companies  were  farsighted  and  wise  in  the  business  is 
proven  by  the  startlingly  high  dividends  that  these 
companies  paid. 

This  does  not  hold  true  of  all  companies  organized 
on  Chicago  capital.  This  is  not  a  suggestion  that  irre- 
sponsible persons  open  stock  selling  offices  in  Chicago. 
But  those  concerns  that  are  organized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  doing  things  have  little  trouble  in  getting 
money  in  Chicago.  And  while  on  the  subject,  it  might 
be  well  to  mention  at  this  point  a  few  men  of  the 
more  recent  motion  picture  period  as  representative 
of  those  to  whom  the  country  owes  much  of  its  picture 
prosperity. 

Most  of  us  know  of  the  sudden  interest  John  Burn- 
ham,  the  Chicago  banker,  took  in  the  business.  The 
story  of  the  organization  of  the  company  to  exploit 
"The  Million  Dollar  Mystery"  is  history.  His  other 
interests  in  the  industry  make  him  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant financial  figures  in  motion  picture  circles.  But 
the  "man  behind"  must  not  be  overlooked.  The  man 
who  saw  the  possibilities  in  this  line  of  promotion  is 
the  one  to  whom  most  of  the  credit  must  be  given.  And 
he  seldom  is  mentioned  in  print. 

Ever  hear  of  "Joe"  Finn?  If  you  have  had  any- 
thing to  do  with  advertising  you  have.  He  is  the  man 
who  a  few  years  ago  began  to  study  the  motion  picture 
business  with  both  eyes  on  the  future.  And  he  saw 
Chicago  the  cinema  capital.  Then  he  went  to  work  on 
that  basis.  What  he  has  done,  constructively,  is  known 
to  nearly  everyone  in  the  trade.  If  he  has  had  a  failure, 
it  is  not  in  the  records.  And  all  of  his  efforts  have 
been  before  the  public  as  he  was  one  of  the  first  to 
realize  the  value  of  consistent  and  constructive  adver- 
tising of  films  and  film  companies.     And  his  dream  is 


coming  true.  He  has  not  said  it  yet.  But  others,  con- 
sidered even  more  important  in  the  manufacturing  end 
of  the  business,  are  saying  it  just  as  did  the  man  who 
made  the  statement  quoted  in  the  beginning  of  this 
article. 

Home  of  Mutual  President 

And  when  "Joe"  Finn  is  mentioned,  the  name  of 
John  R.  Freuler  comes  to  mind.  True,  he  is  much 
older  in  the  business  than  is  Mr.  Finn.  He  might  be 
called  one  of  the  pioneers  even.  But  he  is  young  in 
spirit.  He  is  progressing.  A  short  time  ago  he  became 
president  of  the  Mutual  corporation  and  what  he  is 
doing  to  force  his  concern  to  the  front  and  keep  it  there 
is  important  to  those  who  are  anxious  to  see  Chicago 
the  motographic  metropolis.  For  Mr.  Freuler's  heart 
is  in  the  Middle  West.  He  is  a  Chicagoan  first.  His 
association  with  S.  S.  Hutchinson  in  the  American  and 
North  American  companies  have  taught  him  the  im- 
portance of  Chicago  as  a  film  distributing  center. 

A  short  time  ago,  Lewis  J.  Selznick,  who  is  now 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  Clara  Kimball 
Young  Film  Corporation,  desired  to  form  another  pro- 
ducing company  to  make  pictures  for  the  World  pro- 
gram of  which  he  was  general  manager.  He  came  in 
contact  with  Arthur  H.  Spiegel,  head  of  the  Spiegel, 
May,  Stern  Company  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Spiegel  became 
interested  and  the  Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corpora- 
tion was  born  with  Mr.  Spiegel  as  the  head.  Within 
the  last  few  weeks  there  has  been  a  reorganization. 
The  World  and  Equitable  companies  have  been  com- 
bined and  the  Chicagoan  is  the  head  of  both  companies. 
So  it  is  not  unlikely  that  when  the  Association  of  Com- 
merce gets  to  work  on  the  plan  that  is  to  be  presented 
to  it,  this  great  organization  may  be  made  to  see  the 
advisability  of  moving  to  the  metropolis  of  motog- 
raphy. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  American  company,  two 
brothers,  the  Shellenbergers,  were  living  in  Chicago. 
They  put  up  a  small  amount  of  money  and  almost  over- 
night made  so  much  out  of  it  that  they  decided  that 
motography  was  to  be  their  business  for  life.  It  is 
said  that  W.  E.  Shellenberger,  through  his  various  mo- 
tion picture  interests,  has  become  very  rich.  That  would 
not  be  for  Motography  to  state  even  if  the  facts  were 
at  hand.  However,  he  is  the  head  of  the  Arrow  Film 
Corporation,  manufacturing  films  for  Pathe  release  and 
is  another  man  the  Commerce  body  would  do  well  to 
interest  in  returning  to  the  home  town. 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the  Chicagoans  who  have 
made  motion  pictures  the  fourth  or  fifth  industry  in 
the  United  States.  There  have  been  and  are  many 
others.  The  prophet  may  be  scorned  but  he  is  willing 
to  be  if  his  prediction  comes  as  near  being  true  as  did 
that  of  Spoor,  the  Cochranes,  the  Shellenbergers, 
Hutchinson,  Selig,  Laemmle,  and  the  others. 

The  Matter  of  Censorship 

While  on  this  subject  it  might  be  well  to  mention 
the  drawback.  Every  plan  must  have  a  drawback. 
Otherwise  it  wouldn't  be  interesting.  When  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce  and  the  banking  interests  take  up 
the  matter  of  inducing  motion  picture  companies  to 
move  to  Chicago,  as  surely  will  be  done,  and  on  a  com- 
prehensive scale  in  the  near  future,  some  action  should 
be  taken  regarding  local  censorship.  Only  recently  in 
Los  Angeles,  it  became  necessary  for  the  producers  to 
organize  in  defense  of  this  evil  and  throw  up  their 
trenches.    The  warfare  in  the  Pacific  coast  city  became 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


so  serious  that  several  manufacturers  were  about  to 
accept  offers  from  other  communities  to  move  their 
plants.  And  not  until  it  seemed  likely  that  there  was 
actual  danger  of  such  action  on  part  of  producers  did 
Los  Angeles  rouse  herself.  Several  meetings  were 
called  and  the  producers  were  given  an  opportunity  to 
tell  their  side  of  it.  And  as  a  result  censorship  in  the 
producing  center  is  doomed  and  the  manufacturers  of 
films  have  agreed  to  remain  and,  in  addition,  help  boom 
the  cradle  of  climate. 

Now  this  matter  of  censorship  has  done  more  harm 
to  the  industry  than  any  one  thing.  It  is  not  the  pur- 
pose of  this  article  to  argue  the  point.  It  is  an  estab- 
lished fact  that  slashing  of  films  in  Chicago  after  they 
have  been  cut  elsewhere  has  cost  manufacturers  large 
sums  of  money.  The  successful  film  manufacturer  of 
today  is  a  man  of  high  ideals.  He  is  not  one  to  exploit 
lewd  and  dangerous  pictures  for  he  realizes  that  the 
greatest  profit  in  the  business  comes  from  clean  photo- 
plays.    He  insists  upon  it  in  his  department  of  pro- 


duction. His  plays  are  censored  carefully  before  they 
leave  the  plant.  And  when  they  are  cut  by  local  boards 
he  is  at  a  loss  to  understand  why.  Pennsylvania  cuts 
one  section  of  the  film,  Ohio  another,  Chicago  another, 
and  so  on.  The  financial  loss  cannot  be  figured.  And 
because  it  is  becoming  a  "one  man  opinion"  he  resents 
this  unconstitutional  picking  of  his  pockets. 

Now  before  the  Association  of  Commerce  can 
make  Chicago  the  cinema  capital,  something  will  have 
to  be  done  in  the  matter  of  censorship.  The  manufac- 
turer who  invests  his  money  in  Chicago  must  be  pro- 
tected. The  distributing  organization  which  moves  its 
organization  and  payroll  into  any  city  has  some  rights 
that  even  politicians  must  recognize.  This  is  a  mat- 
ter for  a  commerce  body  and  a  serious  one. 

Now  is  the  time  to  act.  The  trade  must  be  shown 
and  if  it  is  shown  there  is  every  likelihood  that  this 
prediction  will  come  true : 

"Chicago,  within  two  years  at  most,  will  become 
the  motographic  metropolis  of  the  world." 


American  Occupies  New  Chicago  Plant 


THE  American  Film  Company,  Incorporated,  now  is 
"at  home"  in  a  spacious  new  building  at  6227-35 
Broadway,  Chicago.  At  a  cost  of  approximately  $200,- 
000,  an  entire  new  plant  has  been  erected  in  Chicago 
to  house  the  American  and  its  ever  growing  activities. 
The  new  structure  is  of  brick  and  terra  cotta,  two  and 
one-half  stories  in  height,  and  each  floor  has  an  area 
of  9,000  square  feet.  Work  of  construction  was  begun 
April  1,  1915.  President  Hutchinson  and  his  army  of 
co-workers  expected  to  occupy  the  new  home  some 
weeks  before  the  holidays.  An  extensive  strike,  which 
tied  up  building  operations  in  Chicago  for  a  period  of 
nearly  two  months,  proved  a  severe  blow  to  the  hopes 
of  moving  in  before  Old  Man  Winter  closed  his  fist 
on  the  Windy  City. 

The  buildings  formerly  occupied  by  the  American 
are  moved  back  close  to  the  "L"  tracks  and  are  being 


used  as  store  rooms  and  for  other  activities  in  con- 
nection with  the  greatly  increased  output. 

The  former  projection  room  still  is  in  use  but  a 
new  one  also  is  in  operation.  It  is  in  this  room,  fitted 
with  four  Motioscope  motor  drive  projectors,  that  rep- 
resentatives of  the  trade  press  sit  weekly  on  Thursdays 
to  review  forthcoming  American  releases. 

The  new  projection  room  is  some  60  feet  long 
by  20  feet  wide.  It  is  fitted  with  comfortable  chairs 
and  tables  over  which  are  bent  well  shaded  electric 
lights.  A  specially  constructed  screen  is  built  in.  The 
room  is  modern  in  every  respect. 

The  new  building  houses  the  general  office,  the 
assembling  room,  the  dry  room,  the  negative  room  and 
three  spacious  storage  film  vaults.  The  general  of- 
fices are  on  the  second  floor  facing  Broadway.  Presi- 
dent Hutchinson's  suite  is  finished  in  heavy,  dark  wal- 


392 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8>* 


nut,  and  an  unique  beamed  ceiling  effect  has  been 
worked  out.  Adjoining  Mr.  Hutchinson's  offices  is  the 
room  of  R.  R.  Nehls,  manager,  and  adjoining  Mr. 
Nehl's  room  is  Mr.  Ziebarth's.  These  offices  are  fin- 
ished in  the  same  general  material  and  design  as  those 
of  Mr.  Hutchinson. 

The  year  of  1915  saw  a  tremendous  increase  in 
the  output  of  American  Company.  Early  in  the  year 
it  was  seen  that  new  offices  and  factory  rooms  were 
absolutely     necessary.       Accordingly,     Mr.     Hutchinson 


laid  plans  for  a  structure  modern  in  every  way  and 
along  lines  best  suited  to  the  motion  picture  industry. 
Nearly  all  of  the  mechanical  work,  in  connection 
with  American  films,  now  is  done  in  Chicago.  The 
large  studios  in  Santa  Barbara  and  elsewhere  in  Cali- 
fornia are  producing  headquarters.  There  are  nineteen 
American  companies  at  work  and  the  film  dramas, 
comedies  and  tragedies  produced  by  these  companies 
are  more  than  sufficient  to  keep  the  big  force  in  Chi- 
cago working  at  top  speed. 


Leading  Chicago  Houses  Ma\e  Changes  in  Programs 

eyes   are   turning   Chicagoward   is   borne      of  the  feature  transition  and  the   conti 


THAT  all  eyes  are  turning  Chicagoward  is  borne 
out  by  the  activities  of  the  big  programs  in  sign- 
ing up  theaters  for  the  exploitation  of  feature  films. 
For  a  long  time  it  has  been  reported  that  several  of 
the  leading  distributing  companies  have  been  anxious 
to  get  control  of  large  theaters  in  the  Windy  City  and 
although  three  important  deals  have  been  concluded 
to  take  effect  this  month,  it  is  likely  that  the  end  is  not 
yet. 

The  first  contract  to  be  signed  was  the  one  chang- 
ing the  policy  of  the  New  Strand  theater,  of  which 
E.  C.  Divine  is  the  head.  This  provides  for  the  show- 
ing of  Mutual  "masterpictures"  at  this  house  beginning 
February  27.  The  Strand  was  the  home  of  Para- 
mount first-run  pictures.  On  the  same  date  the 
Paramount  program  will  be  exploited  at  the  Stude- 
baker,  which  was  the  home  of  Triangle  films.  The 
Triangle  offerings  will  in  the  future  be  seen  first  at 
the  Colonial,  at  which  for  months  was  shown  the 
Griffith  spectacle,  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  and  for 
the  last  two  weeks  given  over  to  the  Universal- 
Pavlowa  film. 

Statement  Made  by  Mutual 

With  regard  to  the  change  at  the  Strand  the  fol- 
lowing statement  has  been  sent  out  from  Chicago- 
Mutual  headquarters : 

"Mutual  'masterpictures,'  de  luxe  edition,  will  dis- 
place  features   now   running  in .  the   Strand  theaters   in 


md  E.  C.  Divine 


Chicago  and  Indianapolis  beginning  February  27.  John 
R.  Freuler,  president  of  Mutual  Film  Corporation,  and 
E.  C.  Divine,  president  of  the  Strand  Theater  Com- 
pany, in  conference  in  Chicago  worked  out  the  details 


of  the  feature  transition  and  the  contract  is   signed^ 
sealed  and  delivered." 

Rumors  had  been  current  for  a  week  in  Chicago 
that  there  was  an  impending  change  in  the  feature 
policy  of  the  city's  biggest  and  most  famous  picture 
playhouse.  The  interested  principals  maintained  a  dis- 
creet, almost  uncanny  silence,  and  it  was  only  after 
an  especially  energetic  news  hunter  discovered  Mr. 
Freuler  and  Mr.  Divine  in  conference  that  official  an- 
nouncement was  made. 

"In  my  preliminary  discussions  with  Mr.  Freuler 
I  realized  I  had  met  the  head  of  a  big  distributing  or- 
ganization who  is  in  thorough  sympathy  with  my 
ideals  as  an  exhibitor,"  said  Mr.  Divine.  "Our  organi- 
zation has  done  some  strenuous  work  to  give  discrimi- 
nating motion  picture  patrons  a  presentation  of  unex- 
celled excellence  and  it  was  certainly  an  undeniable 
satisfaction  to  meet  a  man  like  Mr.  Freuler,  who  plans 
to  place  this  great  business  on  the  proper  fundamentals 
calling  for  the  most  earnest  co-operation  between  the 
distributing    organization    and    the    intelligent    exhibitor. 

"The  plans  in  conjunction  with  Mutual  'master- 
pictures,'  de  luxe  edition,  call  for  the  most  responsive 
form  of  co-operation  on  the  part  of  Mutual  as  well  as 
imposing  upon  ourselves  a  responsibility  which  we 
are  bound  to  recognize. 

"Mr.  Freuler  told  me  that  his  desire  was  to  select 
in  Chicago  and  Indianapolis  for  the  premier  presenta- 
tion of  his  great  features,  an  organization  that  has 
made  a  scientific  study  of  the  entertainment  needs  of 
the  discriminating  public,  that  has  spared  neither  time 
nor  expense  to  perfect  absolute  harmony  between  the 
two  master  arts — pictures  and  music. 

"The  possibilities  of  the  screen  both  from  an  en- 
tertainment and  educational  standpoint,  are  infinite, 
but  a  great  deal  depends  upon  proper  presentation. 
With  the  pioneer  work  done  by  the  Strand  theater 
organization  and  the  facilities  developed  I  believe  that 
we  are  setting  a  standard  for  presentation  that  will 
be  an  inspiration  to  exhibitors  all  over  the  land." 

"While  there  has  been  no  definite  decision  it  is 
probable  that  the  new  feature  regime  will  open  with 
'The  White  Rosette,'  a  five-act  drama  of  unusual  ar- 
tistry." 

Hately  Tells  Triangle  Plans 

C.  Furness  Hately,  business  representative  of  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation,  Chicago,  and  who  engi- 
neered the  deal  whereby  the  Triangle  takes  over  the 
Colonial  theater,  getting  for  his  corporation  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  theaters  in  the  world,  was  seen  in  his 
offices  by  a  representative  of  Motography.     lie  said: 

"Like  all  other  great  industries  that  come  close  to 
the  people,  motion  pictures,  to  be  successful,  must 
be  shown  with  a  sympathetic  and  rare  knowledge  of 
the  wants  of  the  people.  In  other  words,  the  producers, 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


and  yes,  the  managers  too,  who  get  closest  to  the 
people,  are  the  ones  who  are  going  to  stand  in  the 
first  rank. 

"Although  my  work  with  motion  pictures  has  been 
purely  of  an  executive  nature,  few  men  knowing  less 
about  the  mystery  of  the  making  of  films,  I  am  sure 
of  one  thing,  and  that  is,  Triangle  plays  stand  un- 
equalled and  that  is  the  reason  I  am  glad  that  we 
have  this  beautiful  theater  in  the  heart  of  Chicago 
where  we  can  show  these  plays  to  the  people  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances. 

"Mr.  Rothapfel  will  be  here  in  a  few  days.  He 
seems  to  be  the  one  man  in  the  country  who  knows 
how  to  inaugurate  a  program  in  which  photo  plays 
are  the  predominant  feature  but  are  never  allowed  to 
overtax  the  attention  of  the  audience.  He  has  spent 
years  in  studying  the  psychology  of  entertainment.  A 
varied  experience  has  taught  him  just  how  long  even 
a  most  intensely  interesting  picture  should  be  pro- 
jected without  relaxation  to  the  audience,  and  his 
ideas  as  to  just  what  should  follow  the  picture,  be  it 
classic  dancing  around  a  fountain  of  running  water, 
vocal  or  orchestral  music,  are  most  interesting. 

"I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  stage  settings  are  to 
be  done  here.  No  expense  will  be  spared.  It  may 
also  be  of  interest  to  know  that  Mr.  Rothapfel  is  a 
trained  musician.  The  music  settings  will  have  his 
personal  supervision.  An  orchestra  is  being  organ- 
ized and  although  I  do  not  know  whom  Mr.  Rothapfel 
will  select  as  conductor,  he  is  sure  to  be  a  musician  of 
standing. 

"I  could  talk  much  longer  on  Triangle  plans,  some 
of  them  still  in  the  formative  stage,  such  as  our  pro- 
posed school  for  managers.  We  have  realized  for  a  long 
time  that  anything  as  close  to  the  people  as  a  motion 
picture  theater  demands  a  man  in  charge  trained  to 
understand  the  wishes  and  the  needs  of  the  people. 
Consequently  Triangle  intends  opening  schools  in  sev- 
eral of  the  photoplay  centers  where  young  college  men 
or  high  school  graduates  can  be  fitted  to  assume  posi- 
tions of  trust  in  motion  picture  houses. 

"The  discriminating  public,  including  the  thou- 
sands of  persons  who  never  thought  of  going  to  a  pic- 
ture theater  until  they  saw  Triangle  films  are  eagerly 
anticipating  Mr.  Griffith's,  Mr.  Ince's  and  Mr.  Sen- 
nett's  work.  These  men  have  set  a  standard  and  I 
am  glad  to  say  their  work  will  be  properly  presented 
to  the  people  of  Chicago  under  the  directorship  of  Mr. 
Rothapfel." 

With  all  these  deals  and  more  in  the  wind,  Chicago 
is  becoming  an  important  exhibiting  center  and  so 
when  the  Association  of  Commerce  takes  up  the  mat- 
ter of  inducing  the  big  companies  to  move  to  Chicago 
it  will  have  another  reason  to  curb  the  activities  of 
the  censors.  If  one  could  spend  the  time  to  compare 
the  censorship  figures  for  the  last  few  years  he  might 
be  startled  by  the  discovery  that  censorship  is  becom- 
ing less  and  less^necessary.  It  might  better  be  done 
away  with.  Why  impose  the  extra  tax  on  the  manu- 
facturer of  films?  Why  make  this  man  pay  fifty  cents 
to  give  some  one  or  some  two  political  favorites  the 
privilege  of  destroying  property?  Those  are  but  a  few 
thoughts  for  the  Association  of  Commerce  to  consider 
when  the  way  is  paved  for  making  Chicago  the  metrop- 
olis of  motography. 


OKLAHOMA  EXHIBITORS  WIN 

State  Aids  Theater  Men  in  Fight  to  Prevent  Advance 

Pay  for  Film  Service — State  League 

Meets  at  Oklahoma  City 

Members  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League  of  Oklahoma  have  enlisted  the  aid  of  the  state 
corporation  commission  in  the  fight  to  eliminate  the 
practice  of  the  film  companies  in  Oklahoma  City  of 
demanding  pay  for  film  service  in  advance,  and  ac- 
cording to  L.  W.  Brophy,  of  Muskogee,  Okla.,  the 
exhibitors  won  the  first  step  towards  this  end  when 
an  oral  complaint  was  filed  with  the  commission  by 
Morris  Lowenstein,  secretary  of  the  Exhibitors'  league. 

Following  this  move,  Chairman  Jack  Love,  of  the 
commission,  forthwith  issued  a  letter  to  F.  W.  Bandy, 
of  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation;  L.  L.  Flensley,  of 
the  Universal  Film  and  Supply  Company,  and  A.  L. 
Teagarden,  of  the  General  Film  Company,  expressing 
the  adverse  attitude  with  which  the  commission  looked 
upon  the  matter,  and  intimated  that  unless  some  other 
policy  could  be  followed,  the  commission  might  pro- 
ceed to  regulate  the  film  service  on  the  ground  that 
a  monopoly  existed. 

Upon  receiving  the  letter  from  the  state  body, 
the  film  men  called  at  the  headquarters  of  the  com- 
mission and,  after  a  conference,  agreed  to  suspend  the 
practice  of  demanding  one  week's  pay  in  advance. 
They  compromised,  however,  on  a  C.  O.  D.  basis,  but 
stated  that  owing  to  the  additional  cost  of  the  handling 
of  trade  on  that  system,  it  probably  would  be  necessary 
to  advance  the  cost  of  the  service. 

The  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  Okla- 
homa held  its  annual  convention  in  Oklahoma  City 
February  14  and  15.  President  Herrington,  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  was  the  chief  speaker. 


De  Mille  Upholds  Photoplay 

That  during  the  last  year  the  photoplay  has  been 
getting  closer  to  the  spoken  drama  in  order  to  acquire 
certain  elements  of  dramatic  construction,  but  having 
acquired  them,  it  from  now  on  will  move  along  its 
own  line  of  development,  and  that  the  photoplay  of 
the  future  will  be  even  less  like  the  drama  than  the 
photoplay  of  the  past,  was  the  opinion  of  William  C. 
DeMille,  the  noted  dramatist,  who  wrote  "Warrens 
of  Virginia,"  "The  Woman"  and  other  plays  for  David 
Belasco  and  who  is  now  devoting  his  entire  time  to 
writing  for  the  silent  stage. 

"The  photodrama  will  also  reflect  more  truly  than 
the  drama  the  ideals  of  the  mass,"  said  Mr.  DeMille, 
in  an  interview  recently  at  the  studios  of  the  Lasky 
company.  "The  photodrama  is  not  subject  to  local 
opinion;  it  needs  no  Broadway  verdict,  and  is  quite 
independent  of  the  opinion  of  New  York,  the  least 
American  of  any  city  in  the  United  States." 


Poker  chips  were  selected  by  Mary  Miles  Minter, 
the  little  Metro  star,  the  other  day  as  a  gift  to  a 
Canadian  soldier  starting  for  the  front. 


Ship  Sunk  by  Iceberg  for  Play 

Many  big  scenes  are  shown  in  "The  Price  of  Mal- 
ice," the  Metro  play  in  which  Hamilton  Revelle  is  the 
star  and  Barbara  Tennant  is  featured,  but  probably  the 
most  important  and  thrilling  is  the  sinking  of  a  yacht 
by  sending  it  head  on  against  an  iceberg  off  the  coast 
of  Labrador,  where  the  entire  company  was  trans- 
ported by  special  steamer.  It  was  a  perilous  task,  as 
both  Mr.  Revelle  and  Miss  Tennant  went  down  with 
the  vessel  and  managed  to  climb  aboard  a  life  raft. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  ! 


New  Offices  of  American  Company 


5.    5.    Hutchinson,    president,    at    desk. 


R.   R.   Nchls.   general  manager,    in    office 


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February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


New  Mutual  Policy  Inaugurated 

THREE  MASTERPICTURES  RELEASED 


WITH  the  opening  of  the  week  the  new  policy 
of  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  took  effect 
and  six  new  features  were  released  including 
three  Mutual  "masterpictures,"  de  luxe  edition,  and 
three  three-reel  features.  The  "masterpictures"  were 
of  five  reels  each,  excepting  the  "Silas  Marner,"  a 
seven-reel  Thanhouser  special  feature,  which,  it  was 
contended,  would  have  lost  its  great  value  had  it  been 
cut  to  the  usual  five  reels.  The  other  "masterpictures" 
released  were :  "The  Dead  Alive,"  a  Gaumont,  and 
"Life's  Blind  Alley,"  an  American. 

In  the  seven-reel  "Silas  Marner,"  the  Mutual  com- 
pany has  one  of  the  most  pretentious  pictures  it  yet 
has  produced  and  in  the  leading  part,  that  of  a  weaver- 
miser,  is  Frederick  Warde,  a  Shakespearian  actor  of 
no  little  fame.  He  makes  his  debut  on  the  screen  in 
this  particular  showing.  George  Elliott's  novel  is  the 
theme  used  for  the  picture  and  is  both  ably  translated 
and  put  into  picture  form  by  Thanhouser  players,  di- 
rected by  Ernest  Warde,  son  of  the  star. 

A  second  Mutual  star,  Marguerite  Courtot,  is  in- 
troduced in  "The  Dead  Alive,"  February  17. 

In  "Life's  Blind  Alley,"  May  Allison  and  Harold 
Lockwood  are  featured. 

The  three  three-reel  releases  for  Tuesday, 
Wednesday  and  Friday,  were  "A  Modern  Sphinx," 
"Outwitted"  and  "When  the  Light  Came."  Wini- 
fred Greenwood,  the  American  star,  is  seen  in  one  of 
her  most  fascinating  impersonations  as  "Asa,"  a 
maiden  of  the  Nile,  in  "A  Modern  Sphinx."  The  story 
is  set,  first,  in  Egypt  of  three  thousand  years  ago. 
There  are  the  temples,  the  low  flat  stretches  of  river 
along  the  Nile,  and  the  strangeness  and  weirdness  of 
the  household  of  a  soothsayer,  pictured  in  the  drama. 
Then,  in  the  second  half,  there  is  modern  civilization, 
which  furnishes  a  peculiar  background  to  the  girl 
"Zaida,"  who  is  the  re-incarnated  soul  of  "Asa."  Ed- 
ward Coxen,  Charles  Newton,  Nan  Christy,  King 
Clark,  Ella  M.  Morrison  and  George  Field  also  are  in 
the  cast.    The  picture  was  directed  by  Charles  Bartlett. 

"Outwitted,"  a  drama  in  which  "Lady,"  a  clever 
collie,  outwits  two  villains  in  their  plot  to  steal  a  goodly 
sum  of  money  along  with  a  girl's  affections,  was  the 
Thanhouser  three-reel  offering  of  February  16.  Aside- 
from  the  remarkable  dog,  there  are  in  the  cast  Wayne 
Arey  and  Hazel  Kirk. 

Thomas  Chatterton  is  responsible  for  the  excel- 
lently produced  American  drama  of  February  18,  en- 
titled "When  the  Light  Came,"  and  Anna  Little  is 
responsible  for  somfe  charming  acting  in  her  role  of 
"Martha  Merrill,"  the  leading  woman.  Mr.  Chatter- 
ton  himself  plays  the  hero  role — that  of  Jim  Morton, 
ranchman,  who  nearly  succumbs  from  heart  failure 
when  it  comes  to  asking  the  girl  to  become  his  wife, 
but  who  wins  out  in  the  end  in  a  spectacular  manner. 
Set  as  it  is,  in  the  glorious  mountains  of  the  west,  and 
straying  for  a  time  to  the  east,  "When  the  Light 
Came"  contains  variety  of  setting  and  of  action,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  charming  features  recently  produced. 

The  Vogue  comedies  of  February  17  and  February 
20,  are  funny  pictures  of  that  quality  for  which  the 
name  "Vogue"  alone  stands.  "At  the  End  of  His 
Rope"  features  Rube  Miller  and  Madge  Kirby,  who 


are  supported  by  Alice  Neice  and  Arthur  Travares. 
"Heaven  Will  Protect  a  Woiking  Goil"— and  it  might 
be  added,  help  her  escape  in  a  "flivver" — is  a  screaming 
farce  comedy  which  features  Russ  Powell  and  Pris- 
cilla  Dean.     It  was  produced  by  Jack  Dillon. 

The  "Beauty"  comedies  for  the  week  of  February 
14,  are  "Ella  Wanted  to  Elope"  and  "The  Battle  of 
Cupidovitch,"  both  of  them  stirring  picturizations  of 
life  when  cupid's  arrows  have  struck  home.  Mutual 
Weekly,  No.  59,  showing  glimpses  of  world  events, 
and  "See  America  First,"  No.  20,  and  "Keeping  Up 
with  the  Joneses"  complete  the  list  of  Mutual  releases 
for  the  week  of  February  14. 


SMALLWOOD  ANNOUNCES  POLICY 

Pyramid  Pictures,  Inc.,  Will  Act  as  Contracting  Pro- 
ducers, According  to  Announced  Plans  of 
President  Smallwood 

It  will  be  the  policy  of  the  newly  organized  Pyra- 
mid Pictures,  Inc.,  to  act  as  contracting  producers, 
according  to  an  announcement  made  by  Arthur  N. 
Smallwood,  president  and  general  manager.  The  com- 
pany will  specialize  in  the  making  of  feature  produc- 
tions and  serials  and  at  times  will  engage  in  handling 
industrial  films.  Where  it  is  desired  the  new  com- 
pany will  assume  full  charge  of  production  including 
the  preparation  of  script  and  the  casting  of  the  players. 

Arthur  N.  Smallwood  has  been  identified  with  the 
film  industry  as  an  independent  producer  since  the  be- 
ginning of  the  independent  movement.  Early  in  1908 
he  was  associated  with  the  United  States  Film  Com- 
pany which  began  operations  in  Cincinnati  by  making 
westerns.  Later  he  conducted  the  business  of  the 
same  company  in  New  York,  establishing  an  office  in 
the  then  "Film  Row"  on  Fifteenth  street.  The  com- 
pany then  specialized  in  industrial,  advertising  and 
educational  films,  in  which  field  Smallwood  was  one  of 
the  pioneers. 

When  the  Smallwood  Film  Corporation  absorbed 
the  United  States  Film  Company,  in  1913,  Mr.  Small- 
wood  was  made  president  and  general  manager.  The 
Smallwood  corporation  made  features  for  Warner's 
Features,  Inc.,  and  later  when  the  United  Film  Serv- 
ice was  inaugurated,  the  Smallwood  company  produced 
two  brands  for  that  program,  one  featuring  Edwin 
August  and  Ruth  Blair  and  the  other  Ethel  Grandin. 

Mr.  Smallwood  was  born  in  Cincinnati  twenty- 
nine  years  ago  and  prior  to  his  advent  in  the  picture 
business  was  a  newspaper  and  advertising  man.  All 
productions  made  by  Pyramid  Pictures,  Inc.,  will  be 
under  his  personal  supervision. 


Balboa  Makes  Pathe  Color  Film 

The  success  of  "The  Beloved  Vagabond"  has 
prompted  the  Pathe  company  to  announce  the  release 
this  month  of  a  second  Gold  Rooster  color  film,  en- 
titled "The  Shrine  of  Happiness."  It  was  produced 
in  southern  California  by  Balboa  and  shows  Jackie 
Saunders  in  the  part  of  an  unsophisticated  country 
girl. 


396  MOTOGRAPHY 

GOLDBURG  TOURS  COUNTRY 


Proposes  to  Visit  Every  State  to  Make  Arrangements 

for  Sale  of  Rights  to  the  Three  New 

Ocean  Feature  Films 

For  the  purpose  of  disposing  of  the  state  and  ter- 
ritorial rights  to  the  three  new  feature  films  of  the 
Ocean  Film  Corporation,  Jesse  Goldburg,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  that  company,  has  started 
on  a  tour  of  every  state  in  the  Union.  The  three  films 
to  be  sold  are  "Life  Without  a  Soul,"  "The  Fortunate 
Youth"  and  "Driftwood."  Contracts  already  have  been 
entered  into  for  certain  territories  and  in  the  remain- 
ing states  the  deals  will  be  on  a  state  rights  basis. 

All  of  the  principal  independent  exchanges  will  be 
visited  by  Mr.  Goldburg,  who  explains  that  his  com- 
pany believes  that  certain  territory  will  not  stand  the 
handling  of  features  on  an  advance  on  account  of  a 
percentage  to  the  manufacturer,  and  that  exchange 
men  in  such  territories  prefer  to  purchase  features  out- 
right on  a  basis  of  state  rights,  while  other  territories 
will  prove  much  more  remunerative  to  the  exchange 
and  to  the  manufacturer  where  the  productions  are  on 
a  co-operative  percentage  basis. 

"We  have  made  no  attempt  to  advertise  or  dis- 
pose of  our  productions  during  the  last  six  weeks," 
said  Mr.  Goldburg,  "desiring  to  wait  until  we  finished 
our  third  play  so  the  exchanges  could  determine  the 
exact  character  and  class  of  our  productions  to  be 
made  in  the  future.  The  policy  we  will  follow  in  re- 
spect to  future  releases  will  depend  entirely  on  the 
conditions  I  find  during  my  trip." 


Metro  Men  Taken  as  War  Suspects 

United  States  customs  authorities  took  a  number 
of  Metro  property  men  into  custody  recently  when 
they  discovered  the  men  under  Danial  B.  "Kid"  Ho- 
gan,  the  chief  of  staff  from  the  Rolfe  Photoplays, 
inc.,  unloading  a  dozen  machine  guns  and  scores  of 
cases  filled  with  modern  rifles  and  crates  filled  with 
ammunition. 

They  were  released  when  it  was  explained  at  the 
Customs  House  that  the  war  material  was  to  be  used 
in  the  staging  of  the  new  production,  "The  Wall  Be- 
tween," in  which  Francis  X.  Bushman  and  Beverly 
Bayne  will  be  starred.  Scenes  to  be  reproduced  in- 
clude a  battle  between  U.  S.  marines  and  natives  in 
Nicaraugua,  in  which  more  than  two  thousand  extra 
men  will  be  used.  The  film  will  be  directed  by  John 
W.  Noble,  a  graduate  of  West  Point  and  former  army 
officer,  who  also  directed  the  Bushman-Bayne  combi- 
nation in  "Man  and  His  Soul."  He  will  be  assisted 
by  William   ("Bill")   Bailey. 


Lois  Meredith,  who  has  won  success  on  the  stage 
and  screen,  is  the  latest  star  to  join  the  Balboa  Com- 
pany and  is  already  working  in  a  five-reel  production 
under  the  direction  of  Marry  Harvey  at  the  Long 
Beach  studios.  Besides  starring  in  a  number  of  film 
productions,  Miss  Meredith  played  in  "Everywoman," 
taking  the  part  of  "Modesty"  and  followed  Laurette 
Taylor  in  "Peg  O'  My  Heart."  She  was  also  selected 
for  the  feminine  lead  in  "Help  Wanted,"  when  it 
opened  in  New  York.  She  is  one  of  the  youngest  stars 
in  films  and  is  not  yet  of  age.  Several  specially  writ- 
ten feature  film  plays  have  been  provided  for  her  by 
President  Horkheimer,  of  the  Balboa  Company. 


BOARD  OF  CENSORS  EATS 

More   Than    170    Members   of   National    Organization 

Gather  for  Interchange  of  Ideas  on  the 

Principles  of  Censorship 

With  the  idea  of  getting  together  for  an  exchange  of 
ideas,  more  than  170  members  of  the  National  Board  of 
Censors  gathered  at  luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Astor  for  the 
first  time  since  the  organization  of  the  board  five  years 
ago.  Dr.  Albert  Shields,  director  of  the  department  of 
research  of  the  Board  of  Education,  New  York,  pre- 
sided, as  Cranston  Brenton,  the  regular  chairman  of  the 
board,  was  out  of  the  city. 

One  of  the  principal  speakers  was  Frank  Persons, 
director  of  the  Charities  Organization  Society,  who  rep- 
resented the  board  in  Washington,  in  opposition  to  the 
Federal  censorship.  His  objection  to  the  federal  censor- 
ship was  that  the  federal  commissioner  could  do  no  more 
than  give  an  expression  of  personal  opinion,  whereas  what 
the  country  really  needs  is  a  large  group  of  judges  to 
view  the  pictures  in  order  to  express  a  general  idea  in- 
stead of  a  personal  conviction. 

Another  speaker  was  Raymond  P.  Kaighn,  head  of 
the  educational  department  of  the  International  Com- 
mittee of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations,  who  men- 
tioned several  types  of  audiences  and  showed  the  differ- 
ence in  the  desires.  For  instance  he  pointed  out  that 
persons  in  mining  towns  want  pictures  with  thrills  and 
exciting  features  and  are  not  keen  for  the  society  drama. 
Therefore,  he  contended,  it  would  be  unwise  for  the 
censors  to  superimpose  their  own  standards  over  the 
tastes  of  thousands  of  others. 

Myron  Scudder,  director  of  the  Scudder  School, 
suggested  that  it  would  be  wise  for  the  censors  to  go  to 
the  theaters  oftener  and  study  the  attitude  of  the  audi- 
ences. He  also  stated  he  had  been  impressed  with  the 
rising  standard  of  excellence  in  him  productions  in  the 
lasl  two  years,  and  attributed  it  to  the  higher  type  of 
producers  who  are  taking  hold  ()f  the  business. 

No  definite  action  was  taken  by  the  meeting  but  it 
was  suggested  it  would  be  a  good  thing  for  the  board  to 
hold  a  series  of  conferences  with  the  scenario  writers 
and  directors  and  everyone  called  it  a  good  suggestion. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


397 


V.  L.  S.  E.  in  New  Offices 

OFFERS  PLAN  FOR  SELECTING  PLAYS 


THE  new  home  of  V.  L.  S.  E.  on  the  sixth  floor 
of  the  Mecca  building,  New  York,  is  now  com- 
plete in  every  detail  and  all  the  debris  has  been 
cleared  away,  leaving  the  offices  in  ship  shape  and  free 
of  the  carpenters  who  have  been  working  constantly 
on  the  quarters  ever  since  the  removal  from  the  floor 
above  some  weeks  ago. 

Comfort  has  been  combined  with  efficiency  in  the 
new  headquarters  and  the  consideration  that  has  been 
given  the  caller  and  patron  seems  to  have  been  the 
first  thought  of  those  who  had  the  planning  in  charge 
and  yet  the  executive  forces  who  occupy  the  offices 
have  not  been  forgotten  in  the  final  arrangement. 
Everything  seems  to  have  been  laid  out  for  the  inter- 
ests of  all  concerned  and  it  is  indeed  an  unusual  im- 
provement over  the  former  quarters. 

The  poster  and  display  room  are  most  attractive. 
Not  only  do  these  rooms  offer  unusual  facilities  but 
the  surroundings  and  the  manner  in  which  they  are 
laid  out  have  a  pleasing  effect. 

The  projection   room   is   arranged  with   care  and 


inconvenience   or   overtaxing   the    system   that   V.    L. 
S.  E.  heads  have  mapped  out. 

That   the   public   can  be   made  to  select   its  own 
plays  and  act  as  judge  of  what  productions  it  wants 


Office   of   General  Manager    W.    W .    Irwin. 

with  the  proper  and  successful  showing  of  the  pictures 
in  mind  as  well  as  the  comfort  of  those  who  are  to 
make  use  of  it.  An  unusual  amount  of  study  was  given 
in  order  to  insure  the  presentation  of  the  pictures.  The 
room  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  New  York 
and  has  a  throw  of  at  least  fifty  feet.  No  expense  has 
been  spared  in  the  matter  of  the  furnishings  and  the 
woodwork  throughout  the  entire  floor  as  well  as  in 
the  offices,  desks,  etc.,  is  rich  mahogany.  A 

All  departments  are  arranged  to  lend  convenience 
to  the  visiting  exhibitors.  After  making  his  individual 
selection  the  patron  can  move  from  the  cashier  to  the 
stock  department  and  so  on  to  complete  his  transac- 
tion with  little  effort  and  no  confusion. 

In  view  of  the  increasing  business  the  officers  of 
the  "big  four"  are  congratulating  themselves  on  having 
been  able  to  make  the  move  at  the  time  they  did.  The 
increased  facilities  also  will  give  allowance,  for  the 
rapid  handling  of  further  increases  in  business.  In 
fact  the  present  quarters  are  designed  to  allow  the 
office  forces  to  handle  any  amount  of  business  without 


Asst.  Gen.  Mgr.   Goff  at  desk. 

is  the  theory  that  V.  L.  S.  E.  holds  at  the  present  time 
and  innovations  have  been  made  by  this  company 
along  these  lines  in  the  hope  of  perfecting  a  system 
whereby  the  patrons  of  a  theater  can  express  their 
desires  and  dislikes. 

V.  L.  S.  E.  is  now  working  on  several  plans  that 
will-  simplify  the  process  of  feeling  the  public's  pulse 
through  their  open  booking  system,  one  of  which  in- 
cludes the  issuing  of  ballots  for  insertion  in  the  pro- 
gram of  motion  picture  theaters.  These  slips  contain 
a  list  of  the  forthcoming  productions,  together  with  a 
description  of  each  play,  and  the  patron  can  tear  out 
the  slip  and  leave  it  in  a  ballot  box  on  the  way  out. 

In  this  way  the  manager  can  determine  with  ab- 


solute correctness,  the  likes  and  dislikes  of  his  patrons 
and  procure  the  productions  that  will  best  please  his 
customers.  Another  system  that  not  only  has  proved 
its  worth  but  has  brought  about  favorable  comment 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


from  the  press,  is  the  use  of  slides  which  are  displayed 
before  audiences  advising  them  of  the  various  features 
available  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program,  and  then  asking 
them  to  choose  those  they  desire  to  see. 

The  Chicago  Evening  Post  comments  on  this  idea 


KLEINE  PROMOTES  EMPLOYES 


Depart)) 


d   publicity. 


and  says :  "For  instance,  in  a  local  theater  last  week, 
several  slides  were  placed  on  the  screen  telling  the 
new  features  that  were  coming  out,  what  they  were 
about,  who  were  in  them,  and  giving  a  scene  from 
each  production.     They  made  selections  by  applause. 

"This  certainly  lessened  the  manager's  own  task, 
and  at  the  same  time  insured  an  absolute  measure  of 
his  patron's  desires.  Another  method  was  the  distri- 
bution of  ballots  bearing  the  names  of  the  coming  pro- 
ductions and  the  patrons  were  asked  to  indicate  their 
choice  and  drop  the  ballot  at  the  door  as  they  went 
out." 

V.  L.  S.  E.  contends  that  these  two  methods  are 
even  more  satisfactory  than  the  older  system  employed 
by  that  company  and  others  of  sending  out  exhibitor's 
report  slips.     Although  this  system  has  its  advantages 


AfSkom 

L0U3« 

lhiAf?j 

it  is  less  accurate  because  it  is  representative  of  only 
one  man's  opinion,  the  exhibitor's. 

That  even  better  systems  can  be  perfected,  there 
is  no  doubt,  but  this  work  is  along  the  right  lines  for 
the  companies  interested  in  the  so-called  open  booking 
.system  and  time  will  undoubtedly  bring  other  plans 
and  systems  along  the  same  lines  that  will  be  even 
more  accurate  and  less  expensive. 


Three  New  Branch  Managers  for  General  Film  Com- 
pany Appointed  by  Recently  Elected  President 
to  Improve  Efficiency 

Three  new  branch  managers  have  been  announced 
by  the  General  Film  Company  from  the  general  ex- 
ecutive headquarters,  200  Fifth  avenue,  New  York, 
and  in  each  case  the  appointments  were  made  in  the 
way  of  promotions,  in  accordance  with  President 
George  Kleine's  policy  of  advancing  employes  who 
have  done  efficient  work. 

The  new  managers  will  take  charge  at  Montreal, 
Canada;  Charlotte,  N.  C,  and  Washington,  D.  C.  The 
latter  post  was  given  to  A.  J.  Nelson,  who  has  been 
acting  in  the  capacity  of  traveling  auditor,  and  his 
appointment  to  the  important  position  as  head  of  the 
office  is  a  result  of  the  four  years  of  excellent  work. 

Mr.  Nelson  started  with  the  General  Film  Com- 
pany as  a  clerk,  and  was  soon  advanced  to  higher 
grades,  until  he  was  finally  made  an  auditor,  with  coun- 
trywide responsibilities.  In  this  department  he  won 
confidence  and  eventually  the  present  position. 

The  other  promotions  were  the  appointment  of 
E.  G.  Wells,  a  solicitor  who  has  shown  unusual  busi- 
ness-getting abilities,  and  he  is  being  sent  to  the 
Montreal  office  to  assume  charge.  There  the  General 
Film  Company  has  extensive  interests.  The  Char- 
lotte, N.  C.  branch  office  will  be  in  charge  of  William 
Conn,  who  has  been  connected  with  the  Atlanta  branch 
office  for  some  time  in  the  booking  and  soliciting  de- 
partments. 


Rescues  Comrade  from  Sea 

Howard  Davies  and  Harry  DeVere  narrowly  es- 
caped death  in  the  making  of  "The  Code  of  Marcia 
Gray,"  a  coming  Morosco-Paramount  release.  A  com- 
pany was  working  at  the  Los  Angeles  harbor  at  night, 
making  a  scene  showing  Davies  and  Devere  fighting 
on  the  edge  of  the  steamship  pier,  the  fight  ending  by 
both  toppling  over  into  the  sea  and  going  down  to- 
gether. 

After  the  cold  automobile  ride,  facing  the  sea 
breeze  while  waiting  for  the  camera  to  be  placed  did 
not  add  any  attractiveness  to  the  icy  cold  and  black 
looking  waters  below. 

The  camera  clicked  and  the  fight  was  satisfying 
even  the  director.  At  the  proper  moment  both  men 
toppled  into  the  water,  and  to  everyone's  consterna- 
tion, the  rain-swollen  tide  quickly  carried  them  out  of 
reach  of  the  life  boat  stationed  outside  of  the  lights. 

A  babble  of  shouted  orders  and  a  confusion  of 
much  running  around  would  have  been  of  no  avail 
but  that  someone,  by  a  lucky  shot,  placed  a  life  pre- 
server beside  the  bobbing  head  of  Davies.  Then  he 
showed  the  stuff  that  heroes  are  made  of.  Not  turn- 
ing to  shore  and  safety,  but  boldly  striking  out  with 
one  hand,  grasping  the  floating  support,  he  reached 
DeVere  in  the  nick  of  time.  For,  as  Harry  DeVere 
remarked  afterwards,  while  muffled  to  the  ears  in 
hot  blankets,  "Never  again  for  me !  That  was  the 
closest  I  care  to  come  to  the  edge  of  things.  The 
lights  had  all  gone  out  for  me  before  Howard  grabbed 
me." 


The  Selig  zoo  and  studios  were  damaged  to  the 
extent  of  $10,000  during  a  severe  storm.    A  large  dam 

gave  way,  flooding  the  Selig  property. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


399 


Electric  Light  Bills 

LESSONS  FOR  EXHIBITORS 


IF  YOUR  exchange  should 
overcharge  you  for  the  film 
service  of  your  theater,  it 
wouldn't  take  you  very  long  to 
find  it  out.  When  you  did  dis- 
cover you  were  being  gypped, 
it  would  take  you  still  less  time 
to  stop  the  game. 

Film  service  may  be  the 
biggest  single  item  of  your  ex- 
pense. But  it  is  not  your  only 
big  cost.  How  much  do  you 
spend  for  electricity? 

Your  film  service  may  run 
anywhere  from  $25  to  $250  a 
week  or  even  more.  But  your 
electric  light  bills  will  run  from 
$10  to  $100  a  week.  A  careless 
exchange  manager  couldn't  get 
you  for  very  much  more  than 
he  had  coming.  But  a  public 
service  company  might  over- 
charge you  several  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year  and  you  would  never 
discover  it.  For  the  chances  are 
you  don't  know  anything  about  the  electric  light  busi- 
ness. We  don't  say  any  electric  light  company  would 
intentionally  beat  you,  but  isn't  it  up  to  you  anyway, 
in  the  interests  of  efficiency  and  good  management,  to 
know  what  you  pay  for? 

People  don't  ordinarily  spend  the  interest  on  $25,- 
000  without  knowing  what  they  get  for' it.  But  when 
they  buy  electric  light  all  they  ask  is  that  the  meter  is 
all  right  and  that  the  bill  corresponds  to  the  meter. 
If  your  rate  is  10  cents  a  kilowatt  hour  and  the  meter 
reads  100  kilowatt  hours,  you  pay  $10  and  forget  it. 

What  the  dickens  is  a  kilowatt  hour,  anyway?  You 
don't  know.  But  you  have  to  have  it  in  your  busi- 
ness. It  must  be  all  right,  because  everybody  else 
pays  the  same  price,  and  all  kilowatts,  you  suppose, 
are  the  same  size. 

Let's  try  to  find  out  what  a  kilowatt  is.  You  don't 
want  a  lesson  on  electricity.  But  you  don't  want  to 
get  stung  right  along  by  the  year,  either ;  so  you  might 
as  well  learn  this  ten-minute  catechism. 

There  is  nothing  mysterious  about  a  kilowatt,  or 
a  kilowatt-hour,  except  the  name.  The  quickest  way 
to  get  it  through  your  head  is  to  stretch  your  imagina- 
tion a  little.     Like  this  : 

Electricity  is  water — or  gasoline.  A  kilowatt  is 
a  gallon.  A  kilowatt-hour  is  a  gallon  that  takes  an 
hour  to  come  through  the  pipe.  A  hundred  kilowatts 
is  a  hundred  gallons  that  takes  an  hour  to  come 
through  the  pipe — or  it  is  a  gallan  an  hour  for  a  hun- 
dred hours — or  ten  gallons  an  hour  for  ten  hours — and 
so  on. 

Now  a  gallon  of  gasoline  costs  the  same  whether 
it  takes  a  minute  or  an  hour  to  flow.  And  so  would 
electricity  if  you  could  draw  it  off  into  a  tank  and 
measure  it.  But  you  can't.  You  can  only  measure 
how  fast  it  flows — how  many  "gallons"  an  hour.  There 
you  have  the  kilowatt-hour  in  all  its  mystery. 


The  motion  picture  theater,  as  a  class, 
is  an  extremely  large  user  of  electricity. 
Those  who  have  never  thought  about  it 
will  be  surprised  to  realize  that  the 
amount  of  money  spent  in  this  business 
for  electric  current  ranks  next  in  size  to 
film  service.  That  being  the  case,  it  is 
obviously  important  that  the  exhibitor 
know  something  about  the  money  he 
spends  for  "juice"  and  be  able  to  detect  an 
overcharge.  This  is  especially  vital  since 
an  overcharge  that  is  repeated  week  in 
and  week  out — that  is,  in  fact,  a  regular 
institution — means  the  loss  of  thousands 
of  dollars  a  year  to  the  industry.  Because 
the  exhibitor  is  primarily  a  showman,  he 
knows  all  about  films  and  film  service  and 
film  values.  But  he  is  more  than  that. 
He  is  also  an  employer  and  a  buyer.  The 
money  that  goes  for  payroll  and  for 
house  rent  and  for  electric  current  is  the 
same  kind  of  money  that  goes  for  film 
service,  and  just  as  important  A  man 
need  not  be  an  electrician  to  understand 
electric  light  bills;  and  that  it  is  quite 
important  that  he  should  understand 
them  is  revealed  in  this  article. 


You  are  right  in  assuming 
that  all  kilowatts  are  the  same 
size.  The  lighting  company  can't 
put  anything  over  on  you  by 
giving  you  skimpy,  undersized 
kilowatts,  provided  the  meter  is 
right.  And  the  meter  is  practi- 
cally always  right.  Sometimes 
it  is  a  little  bit  off;  but  rarely. 
The  price  charged  per  kilo- 
watt hour  is  also  well  estab- 
lished. In  most  cases  the  com- 
pany is  not  allowed  to  charge 
more  than  a  certain  figure.  The 
city  franchise,  or  a  ruling  by  a 
state  commission,  limits  the 
price. 

The  schedule  of  rates,  of 
course,  is  graded  to  suit  the 
amount  used  by  the  consumer. 
The  householder,  who  uses  cur- 
rent only  for  lighting  his  home, 
pays  a  higher  rate  than  the  fac- 
tory which  uses  current  for  run- 
ning its  motors. 
That  is  fair  enough.  The  factory  not  only  uses 
a  much  greater  quantity  of  current,  but  it  uses  it  dur- 
ing the  daytime.  The  lighting  company  can  afford 
to  sell  current  cheaper1  during  the  daytime  to  people 
who  only  use  it  at  that  time,  because  it  enables  the 
machines  to  keep  busy.  It  is  just  like  the  tailor  who 
makes  you  a  suit  at  a  lower  price  in  the  summer  be- 
cause he  wants  to  keep  his  men  busy. 

The  electric  light  company's  machines  don't  have 
to  run  daytimes  if  no  current  is  used;  but  they  are 
there  with  money  invested  in  them,  and  if  the  com- 
pany can  run  them  both  day  and  night  the  current 
costs  less  than  if  they  were  run  nights  only.  So,  as 
the  plant  was  designed  for  lighting  at  night,  the  fel- 
low who  puts  it  to  use  out  of  regular  hours  deserves 
a  lower  rate. 

Electric  lighting  companies  in  one  respect  are 
just  like  theater  owners.  Most  of  their  business  comes 
in  a  lump  during  a  few  hours  of  the  day.  These  rush 
hours  they  call  their  "peak  load."  They  constantly  try 
to  encourage  the  use  of  current  for  purposes  that  fall 
into  hours  outside  of  the  "peak  load."  That  is  why 
they  are  so  keen  to  sell  your  wife  an  electric  flat  iron 
and  a  toaster— because  those  things  are  used  daytimes. 
This  rather  lengthy  explanation  is  given  to  you 
merely  to  show  you  that  the  motion  picture  theater 
cannot  expect  a  lower  rate  than  the  residence.  You 
see,  the  theater  comes  right  in  hard  on  the  "peak  load." 
It  uses  current  at  the  same  time  everybody  else  is 
using  it. 

So  don't  blame  the  poor  electric  company  for 
charging  your  theater  as  high  a  rate  as  it  charges 
your  residence. 

We  have  already  shown  that  the  meter  is  alright, 
the  kilowatts  are  alright,  and  the  rate  charged  is  al- 
right. How,  then,  can  your  electric  light  bill  possibly 
be  too  high? 


400 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


Let  us  look  at  this  rate  question  again.  Does  the 
electric  light  company  bill  you  by  the  week  or  by  the 
month? 

If  you  get  your  bills  only  once  a  month  the 
chances  are  that  the  price  you  pay  for  electricity  is 
perfectly  right  and  proper. 

But — if  you  pay  your  electric  light  bills  every 
week,  then  keep  on  reading. 

As  a  showman,  you  are  accustomed  to  doing  busi- 
ness by  the  week.  The  show  business  is  founded  on 
a  weekly  basis.  You  rent  your  film  service,  pay  your 
help,  and  even  settle  your  general  bills,  wherever  pos- 
sible, by  the  week.  Why,  then,  should  you  complain 
if  the  electric  light  company  asks  you  to  pay  every 
week?    Probably  you  like  it  that  way. 

Or  maybe,  on  the  other  hand,  you  have  objected. 
Perhaps  you  wanted  to  pay  your  bill  once  a  month 
as  the  other  merchants  in  your  town  do.  Very  likely 
you  told  the  electric  light  people  so.  They  raised  the 
question  of  credit.  You  were  a  pretty  big  consumer 
of  current,  they  told  you,  and  it  was  "against  their 
rules"  to  extend  so  much  credit  to  a  stranger. 

That  made  you  mad.  You  offered  to  give  refer- 
ences, or  show  your  bank  book,  or  give  them  some 
other  kind  of  proof  that  you  were  all  right.  The  com- 
pany representatives  were  polite  but  firm.  You  had 
to  have  current.  They  explained  to  you  very  carefully 
that  it  didn't  make  any  difference  in  the  amount  you 
paid  whether  you  paid  it  every  week  or  every  month. 
So  you  let  it  go  at  that. 

Nearly  all  the  electric  lighting  companies  of  any 
importance  use  a  certain  system  (not  price)  of  rate 
schedules.  Virtually  the  same  method  of  charging  is 
used  in  every  city. 

The  method  used  is  to  charge  a  certain  rate  for 
a  certain  number  of  kilowatt-hours,  and  a  lower  rate 
for  all  kilowatt-hours  beyond  that  point.  Sometimes 
there  is  a  third,  still  lower  rate  for  current  consumed 
beyond  a  second  point. 

This  explanation  may  not  seem  very  clear,  but  it 
is  really  quite  simple  and  entirely  proper.  Let  us  go 
back  to  the  gasoline  simile.  Suppose  you  made  a  con- 
tract with  an  oil  man  to  sell  you  as  much  gasoline  as 
you  needed  and  let  you  pay  for  it  once  a  month.  Sup- 
pose he  made  you  a  price  of  18  cents  a  gallon  for  the 
first  10  gallons,  and  13  cents  a  gallon  for  any  more 
you  needed.  If  you  only  used  7  gallons  a  month  your 
bill  would  read : 

7  gallons  @  18c $1.26 

0  gallons  @   13c ....        0 

$1.26 
If  you   should   use    17   gallons   some   month   your 
bill  would  be : 

10  gallons   @   18c $1.80 

7  gallons  @   13c... 91 

$2.74 

There  you  see  the  application  of  the  "primary  and 
secondary  rate." 

Or,  to  carry  the  case  home  to  your  own  business, 
imagine  that  the  Sunday  school  superintendent  came 
to  you  and  said  : 

"I  want  to  bring  my  children  to  your  theater  once 
a  week,  and  I  want  a  special  price.  I  can't  tell  how 
many  children  there  will  be,  but  probably  at  least 
10,  and  sometimes  25." 

You  say:  "For  up  to  15  tickets  I'll  have  to  charge 
you  10  cents  apiece,  but  any  more  than  that  you  can 
have  for  a  nickel  apiece." 


So  if  he  brought  12  children  he  would  pay  you 
$1.20,  but  if  he  brought  24  children  he  would  pay  you 
$1.80. 

That  is  a  perfectly  legitimate  scheme,  and  it  is 
the  one  the  electric  light  companies — or  most  of  them 
— use. 

But  the  electric  light  companies  do  not  arbitrarily 
guess  at  the  number  of  kilowatt-hours  they  sell  you 
at  the  "primary  rate."  They  figure  out  the  greatest 
amount  of  current  you  can  possibly  use,  and  call  it 
your  "maximum  demand."  They  take  one  hour's  use 
a  day,  or  jo  hours  a  month,  of  this  "maximum,"  and 
on  that  they  base  your  primary  rate.  This  charge, 
however,  is  figured  on  not  quite  the  whole  capacity, 
except  in  the  case  of  very  small  consumers.  The 
larger  consumers  pay  a  primary  rate  based  on  from 
seventy-five  to  ninety  per  cent,  approximately,  of  their 
capacity.  For  example,  a  customer  whose  entire  instal- 
lation of  lamps,  etc.,  totalled  900  watts,  or  nine-tenths 
of  a  kilowatt,  would  not  pay  the  primary  rate  on  thirty 
times  nine-tenths,  or  27  kilowatt-hours,  but  on  about 
twenty  kilowatt-hours.  A  customer  with  a  total  ca- 
pacity of  but  300  watts,  or  three-tenths  of  a  kilowatt, 
would  pay  primary  rate  on  the  whole  amount,  or  nine 
kilowatt-hours. 

However,  where  the  customer's  capacity  is  greater 
than  one  kilowatt  (as  all  picture  theaters  are)  a  max- 
imum demand  indicator,  or  maxmeter,  is  generally  in- 
stalled. With  this  instrument  the  number  of  kilowatt 
hours  to  be  charged  for  at  the  full  rate  is  read  directly 
from  the  meter,  which  reads  like  a  thermometer.  The 
maxmeter  showrs  the  greatest  amount  of  current  used 
at  any  one  moment  during  the  month  or  week.  If  you 
have  all  your  lights,  your  sign,  and  your  projection  arc 
turned  on  at  once,  even  for  a  moment,  the  maxmeter 
will  go  up  to  the  total  amount  of  current  used  and 
stay  there  until  the  meter  reader  has  turned  it  back- 
to  zero  again. 

Picture  theaters  nowadays  generally  have  three 
regular  meters  installed  besides  the  maxmeter.  Be- 
sides one  in  the  regular  lighting  circuit  supplying  the 
house  lights  and  projection  arc,  there  is  an  emergency 
circuit  with  its  own  meter;  and  then  the  ventilating 
system  has  a  meter  of  its  own  for  its  electric  motor. 
The  latter  we  can  ignore  in  this  story,  because  it  does 
not  come  under  the  head  of  "Electric  Light  Bills."  The 
emergency  circuit  may  never  be  used,  and  so  does  not 
enter  into  our  calculations.  That  leaves  us  just  the 
regular  circuit  with  its  current  meter  and  its  max- 
meter to  consider. 

A  little  later  we  will  tell  how  the  meter  is  read. 
It  is  very  simple,  and  anyone  can  do  it. 


The  Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Company  has  pre- 
pared a  novel  short  length  film  showing  Anna  Held  in 
various  attractive  poses  and  displaying  her  latest 
gowns  from  Paris  to  be  run  in  Paramount  theaters  in 
advance  of  the  appearance  of  the  Held  photoplay 
"Madame  La  Presidente." 


Suit  has  been  filed  in  New  York  against  Leo 
Rosengarten  seeking  the  recovery  of  a  film  of  "The 
Melting  Pot."  The  suit  was  brought  by  the  Cort  Film 
Corporation  on  charges  that  Rosengarten  failed  to 
make  proper  returns  and  had  charged  certain  disburse- 
ments to  which  he  was  not  entitled.  The  film  is  said 
to  have  been  leased  to  Rosengarten  for  three  years 
with  the  understanding  that  the  owners  were  to  receive 
sixty  per  cent  of  the  profits. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Court  to  Decide  Class  of  Theater 


TRIANGLE  PLAN  AT  STAKE 


WHAT  is  a  first  class  theater?  The  Triangle  Film 
Corporation  and  S.  L.  Rothapfel  are  anxious  to 
have  the  question  answered  in  connection  with 
the  suit  of  Robert  AValton  Goelet  to  enjoin  Hayman, 
Frohman,  Klaw  &  Erlanger,  as  lessees,  and  H.  E. 
Aitken,  of  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation,  as  sub- 
lessee, from  permitting  to  continue  the  S.  L.  Rothapfel 
regime  of  continuous  Triangle  pictures  and  music  at 
the  Knickerbocker  theater,  New  York. 

As  is  well  known,  Mr.  Rothapfel  took  over  the 
Knickerbocker  theater  several  weeks  ago,  and  installed 
his  highly  original  methods  of  entertainment.  The 
Triangle  pictures  now  being  given  there  are  of  ex- 
actly the  same  brand  and  quality  as  before.  The  only 
•difference  is  that  they  run  all  the  time,  and  musical 
numbers  are  given  in  between.  Also  there  is  a  scenic 
stage.  The  lease  provisions  are  fully  met,  Mr.  Roth- 
apfel believes,  by  having  some  of  the  loge  and  box 
seats  priced  at  $2,  but  the  main  prices  are  fifty  cents 
on  the  lower  floor  in  the  evening  and  twenty-five  cents 
•on  the  lower  floor  at  the  matinees. 

In  his  complaint  Mr.  Goelet's  contention  is  that  a 
first-class  theater,  within  the  meaning  of  the  lease,  is 
•one  in  which  $2  is  charged  for  all  seats  on  the  ground 
floor,  and  a  minimum  of  $1  for  all  balcony  seats. 
He  points  to  the  clause,  "the  lessees  expressly  cove- 
nant and  agree  that  they  will  not  at  any  time  during 
the  said  term  produce  or  permit  to  be  produced  or 
represented  at  the  said  theater  any  vulgar  or  second- 
class  performance,  or  any  variety  or  minstrel  show  or 
entertainment." 

W.  N.  Seligsberg,  counsel  for  H.  E.  Aitken  and 
the  Triangle  Film  Corporation,  vigorously  replies  that 
the  quality  of  a  theater,  whether  first-class  or  second- 
class,  is  not  determined  by  the  prices  charged  in  any- 
particular  portion  of  the  house.  The  class  is  deter- 
mined strictly  by  the  quality  of  the  performance,  and 


he  expects  to  prove  by  means  of  witnesses  that  the 
Triangle  pictures  are  of  the  very  highest  quality  and 
that  their  presentation  by  Mr.  Rothapfel,  with  all  the 
accessories  of  good  music  and  scenery,  constitutes  in 
every  way  a  first-class  entertainment,  and  does  not 
injure  the  property  rights  of  the  owner  in  the  slightest. 

Changes  Made  in  Releases 

Several  changes'  have  been  made  in  the  Triangle 
releases  for  the  next  eight  weeks  whereby  the  interests 
of  exhibitors  will  be  safeguarded,  and  carefully  bal- 
anced programs  will  be  presented.  For  February  13 
the  releases  were  Douglas  Fairbanks  in  "His  Picture 
in  the  Papers,"  a  Fine  Arts  comedy,  and  "Honor's 
Altar,"  a  serious  Kay-Bee  play,  featuring  Bessie  Bar- 
riscale,  Lewis  Stone  and  Walter  Edwards. 

For  the  week  of  February  20,  William  S.  Hart  in 
the  powerful  western,  entitled  "Hell's  Hinges,"  is 
strikingly  contrasted  with  Lillian  Gish  in  the  romantic 
costume  story,  "Daphne,"  the  title  of  which  has  just 
been  changed  to  "Daphne  and  the  Pirate." 

The  entertaining  but  somewhat  long  filmitization 
of  "Don  Quixote,"  starring  De  Wolf  Hopper,  has  gone 
out  to  the  Pacific  coast  for  revision,  and  has  been 
sent  back  lopped  of  superfluous  material,  so  that  it 
is  now  a  compact  five-reeler.  It  will  be  released  on 
February  27,  in  conjunction  with  the  new  Kay-Bee 
play,  "The  Last  Act,"  with  Bessie  Barriscale,  Clara 
Williams  and  Harry  Keenan. 

On  March  5,  Billie  Burke  in  "Peggy,"  and  Doro- 
thy Gish  in  "Betty  of  Greystone,"  will  be  released  to 
the  trade.  These  will  be  followed  on  March  12  by 
John  Emerson's  stirring  war  play,  "The  Flying  Tor- 
pedo," and  a  serious  Kay-Bee  drama,  "The  Moral 
Fabric."  On  March  19  takes  place  the  long-expected 
advent  of  Mae  Marsh  in  Triangle  films,  her  vehicle 
being  a   delightful   domestic   story   entitled   "Hoodoo 


aramount-Brau 
1AUNTMKNT 

SILHOUETTE  FANTAf  IE 

ORIGINATED 
by  C.ALLAN  GILBERT 


mples  of  Paramoi 


..issKkinniidwt 
ecwnesan  Aviator 

CLARENCE  RICBY 

BRAY  STUDIOS  <~c.  ggK 


DAPAWnUNT  PICTURES  CDRP. 


y  posters  being  furnished  t 


FARMER  ALFALFAS 
CATASTROPHE  i 


I  lUKtb  COKH 


402 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


Ann,"  in  which  she  is  supported  by  Robert  Harron. 
Along  with  this  will  be  presented  a  romantic  Slav 
play,  "Bullets  and  Brown  Eyes,"  starring  Bessie  Bar- 
riscale,  aided  by  William  Desmond.  March  26,  Norma 
Talmadge  and  Seena  Owen,  in  "Martha's  Vindication," 
Fine  Arts,  and  H.  B.  Warner  in  "The  Raiders,"  Kay- 
Bee,  will  be  released. 

As  there  are  now  ten  companies  working  for  Mack 
Sennett  on  as  many  Keystones,  there  will  likewise  be 
a  plentiful  supply  of  these  celebrated  comedies.  Some 
of  the  most  notable  that  are  promised  are  William 
Collier,  with  Mae  B.usch,  in  "Better  Late  Than 
Never" ;  "His  Auto  Ruination,"  featuring  Mack  Swain 
and  Harry  Gibbon,  and  a  genuine  new  dog  story  en- 
titled "Fido's  Fate,"  in  which  the  irrepressible  Charles 
Murray  will  be  starred. 

The  descriptive  and  ornamental  letters  used  by 
Thomas  H.  Ince  in  connection  with  Kay-Bee  plays 
have  come  in  for  the  warmest  praise  from  exhibitors 
and  the  trade  press.  It  is  rightly  called  the  most 
artistic  work  that  has  been  shown  on  the  mechanical 
side  of  title  making. 


LOS  ANGELES  OUSTS  CENSORS 

Commissioner    Appointed    by    Mayor    Will    Replace 

Board  to  See  That  Rulings  of  National 

Censor  Board  Are  Upheld 

By  a  vote  of  six  to  three  the  Los  Angeles  city 
council  has  abolished  its  present  board  of  motion  pic- 
ture censors  and  has  created  the  position  of  a  com- 
missioner of  moving  pictures  as  a  result  of  the  adoption 
of  a  report  of  the  public  welfare  committee.  The  city 
attorney  was  instructed  to  prepare  and  submit  the 
necessary  ordinance  creating  the  new  position. 

The  proposed  measure  will  repeal  the  old  ordi- 
nance and  the  proposed  single  commissioner  will  be 
appointed  by  the  mayor.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the 
commissioner  to  see  that  eliminations  ordered  by  the 
National  Board  of  Censors  are  made  and  that  no  pic- 
tures except  those  passed  by  the  National  Board  of 
Censors  are  shown  in  the  city  of  Los  Angeles. 

Objection  was  raised  to  the  latter  recommendation 
by  Councilman  Wheeler,  who  contended  that  such  an 
ordinance  Avould  bar  the  exhibition  of  many  good  films 
made  in  Los  Angeles,  but  not  acted  upon  by  the 
national  board.  It  was  understood  that  this  would  be 
adjusted  in  the  final  draft  of  the  ordinance  before  the 
latter  is  finally  acted  upon  by  the  council. 

In  the  report  submitted  by  the  public  welfare  com- 
mittee it  was  pointed  out  that  as  the  capital  of  the 
great  film  industry  no  uncalled  for  criticism  or 
annoyance  should  be  placed  in  the  way  of  that  indus- 
try and  that  the  National  Board  of  Censors  is  just  and 
reasonable  and  that  final  censorship  should  be  the 
supreme  censorship  of  public  opinion  and  that  the 
instinct  of  self-preservation  would  prohibit  the  show- 
ing of  any  picture  running  counter  to  public  opinion. 

Anna  Held  Sees  Self  on  Screen 

The  new  Anna  Held  film,  Madame  La  Presidente, 
was  shown  privately  at  the  Woodley  theater,  Los  An- 
geles, recently  so  Miss  Held  might  see  herself  on  the 
screen.  Los  Angeles  newspaper  writers  praise  the  star 
on  her  ability  as  a  pantomimist  and  predict  success  for 
the  film  which  will  he  released  this  month  by  Oliver 
Morosco. 


DANCER  SUES  MUTUAL 

Margaret   Hawkesworth  Asks   Film   Corporation   for 

$50,000,  Charging  Company  "Outraged  Her 

Fair  Name" 

A  suit  seeking  to  recover  some  $50,000  has  been 
filed  against  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  by  Miss 
Margaret  Hawkesworth,  who  describes  herself  as  "of 
great  social  prominence  and  the  leading,  if  not  the 
foremost,  society  dancer  in  the  world."  She  charges 
that  the  film  company  has  "outraged  her  fair  name." 

She  alleges  that  on  September  23,  1915,  the  defend- 
ant, without  her  consent,  caused  a  motion  picture  to 
be  made  and  exhibited  it  under  her  name  in  a  film 
reproduction  of  "The  House  of  a  Thousand  Scandals." 
She  not  only  complains  that  the  name  of  the  produc- 
tion is  objectionable  and  suggestive,  but  that  it  is 
stated  that  the  dances  in  question  had  been  "arranged 
by  Margaret  Hawkesworth,  under  her  personal  direc- 
tion, and  were  the  classic  Greek  dances  that  were  the 
sensation  of  Newport,  New  York  and  Palm  Beach." 

She  insists  that  the  dances  are  those  that  she 
would  never  favor  and  that  many  times  she  has 
"refused  offers  to  go  on  the  stage  or  appear  in  pictures, 
because  her  fame  as  a  society  dancer  might  be  injured." 
Being  under  twenty-one  the  suit  was  filed  by  Charles 
Sumner  Moore,  her  guardian  ad  litem.  She  is  dancing 
at  a  New  York  hotel. 


20,000  PERSONS  IN  PLAY 

Herbert  Brenon  Directing  Annette  Kellerman  Produc- 
tion for  Fox  Program;  Company  Working 
in  Jamaica 

According  to  statements  of  the  general  publicity 
bureau  of  the  Fox  Film  Corporation  more  than  20,000 
persons  are  being  employed  in  the  new  Annette  Keller- 
man  feature  which  is  being  made  at  Kingston,  Jamaica. 

Most  of  the  mermaids  who  act  with  Miss  Keller- 
man  in  the  water  scenes  are  from  New  York,  although 
some  of  them  were  obtained  in  other  cities  after  adver- 
tisements had  been  published  in  the  newspapers  of  the 
country  and  Canada.  Native  Jamaica  Indians  are  used 
in  other  scenes.  Nearly  a  thousand  children  are  to 
appear  in  the  scenes  depicting  episodes  and  life  of  a 
gnome  city.  Herbert  Brenon,  the  producer,  has  the 
charge  of  handling  all  of  these  thousands  of  actors, 
actresses  and  supernumeraries. 


One  Hundred  Scenarios  Stolen 

Sidney  Drew,  who  recently  signed  a  contract  to 
produce  one-reel  comedies  for  the  Metro  program,  re- 
ported the  theft  of  more  than  one  hundred  scenarios 
from  his  taxicab,  where  he  had  left  them  while  he  was 
dining  with  Mrs.  Drew  in  a  New  York  restaurant. 
Mr.  Drew  had  left  the  stories  in  a  leather  bag,  with 
instructions  to  the  driver  to  wait,  and  while  he  was 
eating,  another  man  stepped  out  of  the  cafe  and  in- 
formed the  taxi  driver  that  Mr.  Drew  desired  the  bag. 
The  thief  also  got  Mrs.  Drew's  purse  containing  a 
small  amount  of  money  and  some  jewelry.  The  first 
Metro-Drew  one-reeler  has  been  completed  and  is 
called  "Sweet  Charity."  The  loss  of  the  scenarios  will 
prove  a  great  inconvenience,  as  they  were  those  which 
were  to  be  produced  in  connection  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drew's  contract. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


World  Has  Many  Stars 

SEVERAL  COMPANIES  BUSY 


WITH  the  combination  of  the  World  and  Equi- 
table companies  about  to  go  into  effect  the 
stage  and  screen  talent  controlled  by  the 
World  Film  Corporation  includes  a  strong  array  of 
stars. 

Not  only  has  the  releasing  company  these  numer- 
ous stars  to  exploit,  but  the  producing  company,  under 
one  executive  staff,  will  have  the  services  of  as  many 
headliners  as  could  be  desired  and  likewise  will  it  have 
the  services  of  the  combined  scenario  staff  of  both  com- 
panies. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  two  concerns  are  such 
noted  artists  as  Clara  Kimball  Young,  Robert  War- 
wick, Holbrook  Blinn,-  Alice  Brady,  George  Beban, 
Mollie  King,  Francis  Nelson,  Kitty  Gordon,  Johnny 
Hines,  Chester  Barnett,  June  Elvidge,  Douglas  Mac- 
Lean,  Gail  Kane,  Bruce  McRae,  Charles  J.  Ross,  Jane 
Grey,  Marguerite  Leslie,  Mary  Boland,  John  Mason, 
Henry  Kolker,  Mary  Charleson,  Muriel  Ostriche,  Car- 
lyle  Blackwell,  Frank  Sheridan,  Arthur  Ashley,  Gerda 
Holmes,  Clara  Whipple  and  Edna  Wallace  Hopper. 

The  World  and  Equitable  companies  own  plays 
and  stories  from  such  producers  as  William  A.  Brady, 
the  Shuberts,  and  such  authors  and  playwrights  as 
Rachel  Crothers,  Rennold  Wolf,  Channing  Pollock,  C. 
Haddon  Chambers,  Emmett  Campbell  Hall,  Roy  L. 
McCardell,  Eve  Unsell  and  Richard  Le  Gallienne. 

No  greater  or  more  attractive  program  arrange- 
ment can  be  imagined  than  Clara  Kimball  Young  in 
■"The  Feast  of  Life,"  Holbrook  Blinn  in  "The  Unpar- 
donable Sin,"  Gail  Kane  in  "Her  God,"  Robert  War- 
wick and  Francis  Nelson  in  "Velma,"  Carlyle  Black- 
well  in  "The  Shadow  of  a  Doubt,"  Kitty  Gordon  in 
"As  in  a  Looking  Glass,"  George  Beban  in  "The  Pawn 
of  Fate,"  Marguerite  Leslie  in  "The  Question,"  Frank 
Sheridan  in  "The  Struggle,"  Bruce  McRae  and  Gerda 
Holmes  in  "The  Chain  Invisible,"  Mary  Boland  in 
"The    Price   of  Happiness,"    Edwin   August   in   "The 


Social  Highwayman,"  Muriel  Ostriche  in  "Molly  o' 
Pigtail  Alley,"  and  John  Mason  in  "The  Reapers." 
While  this  is  not  the  actual  order,  no  definite  state- 
ment having  been  given  of  rearranged  program  dates, 
the  above  list  represents  stars  and  plays  actually  at 
work  for  the  World  and  Equitable  and  the  forthcom- 
ing program  will  contain  a  great  majority  of  the  above 
named. 

Mr.  Blinn  is  at  Jacksonville  staging  two  plays. 
Gail  Kane  is  enroute  back  to  New  York  after  three 
months  on  the  Arizona  deserts,  Clara  Kimball  Young 
and  Bruce  McRae  and  their  respective  companies  are 
at  Havana,  Cuba,  Frank  Sheridan  is  at  Miami,  Fla., 
Edna  Wallace  Hopper  and  Charles  J.  Ross  are  in  the 
mountains  of  Canada,  while  the  various  other  World 
and  Equitable  companies  are  working  on  interiors  at 
the  six  studios. 

Definite  release  dates  for  the  forthcoming  quarter 
will  be  issued  within  the  next  fortnight  for  both 
concerns. 


Actor  Burned  Saving  Comrades 

As  a  result  of  burns  suffered  in  the  fire  scene  in 
"The  Unwritten  Law,"  produced  at  the  California  mo- 
tion picture  plant  in  San  Rafael,  Andrew  Robson,  who 
played  Larry  McCarthy,  is  in  St.  Luke's  Hospital, 
San  Francisco.  In  the  story  Larry  rescues  Kate  Wil- 
son (Beatriz  Michelena)  and  her  daughter  Sue  (Baby 
Rix)  from  a  burning  building.  When  filming  the  scene 
the  flames  got  beyond  control  and  the  rescue  was  a 
real  one.  All  three  were  burned,  Robson  very  badly. 
He  has  been  cast  for  an  important  role  with  Miss 
Michelena  in  "The  Woman  Who  Dared,"  but  it  is 
feared  that  he  will  not  be  well  enough  to  appear,  a 
fact  which  hurts  him  more  than  the  burns,  for  he 
has  appeared  with  Miss  Michelena  in  a  featured  role 
in  every  production  since  she  left  the  operatic  stage. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


GETS  WRECK  FILMS  IN  SNOWS 


Selig-Tribune    Cameraman    Slides    Down    Mountain- 
side in  Perilous  Journey  for  News  Pic- 
tures, and  Gets  Them 

The  story  told  by  E.  B.  Lockwood,  a  Selig- 
Tribune  cameraman,  who  obtained  exclusive  pictures 
of  the  snow  slide  which  wrecked  the  Great  Northern 
train  near  Corea,  Wash.,  demonstrates  the  hardships 
encountered  by  these  news  picture  men. 

Believing'  that  cameramen  would  not  be  wel- 
comed by  railroad  officials  and  detectives  already  on 
the  scene,  Lockwood  dropped  off  the  train  at  the  small 
mountain  station  nearest  the  wreck,  cached  his  camera 
and  went  to  the  hotel,  where  he  made  arrangements 
with  a  native  for  a  guide  and  two  packers. 

Avoiding  the  right  of  way  along  the  railroad,  the 
guide  and  the  packers  went  on  snowshoes  while  the 
Selig-Tribune  man  made  his  way  as  best  he  could.  A 
trip  of  eleven  miles  to  Scenic,  Wash.,  was  made 
through  snow  eight  feet  deep,  and  only  after  all  their 
food  had  been  exhausted.  Near  Scenic  a  big  slide 
was  encountered.  They  struggled  forty-five  minutes 
to  make  seventy-five  feet. 

After  reaching  Scenic  they  tricked  the  railroad 
detectives  by  posing  as  lumber  cruisers,  and  the  next 
morning  the  party  went  to  the  scene  of  the  wreck, 
but  on  the  way  Lockwood  stepped  into  a  hole  and 
was  carried  down  the  mountainside  250  feet.  He 
saved  himself  by  catching  hold  of  a  sapling.  He  was 
rescued  and  made  his  first  set-up  300  yards  from  the 
scene  of  the  wreck.  He  made  four  other  closer  pic- 
tures, getting  260  feet  of  film  all  told.  Pacific  coast 
papers  tell  how  other  cameramen  were  caught  by 
railroad  detectives,  locked  in  a  railroad  coach  and 
sent  back. 

Outside  of  the  fact  that  Lockwood  had  a  thrilling 
experience  and  had  his  leggings  ripped  off  and  the 
skin  stripped  from  his  legs  from  the  knee  to  the  ankle, 
he  was  otherwise  unhurt.  His  pictures  were  released 
February  7. 


circuit  court  of  Morgan  county  against  Green  L.  Lut- 
trell,  a  motion  picture  theater  owner.  The  plaintiffs 
alleged  that  they  had  bought  tickets  and  had  taken 
their  seats  when  they  were  requested  three  times  to  sit 
in  the  section  reserved  for  negroes,  and  finally  were 
compelled  by  the  manager  to  give  up  their  seats,  where- 
upon they  demanded  the  return  of  their  money.  The 
case  was  first  tried  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 
a  verdict  rendered  in  favor  of  the  defendant.  The  jury 
in  the  circuit  court  ratified  the  action  of  the  lower 
court. 


Henry  MacMahon  Quits  Triangle 

Henry  MacMahon  no  longer  is  with  the  Triangle 
Film  Corporation  and  is  making  arrangements  to  join 
some  other  film  corporation  as  press  representative. 
Mr.  MacMahon's  newspaper  list,  which  he  personally 
selected,  contains  thousands  of  names  of  leading  publi- 
cations and  represents  a  thorough  acquaintance  with 
journalistic  managers  and  motion  picture  editors  in  all 
parts  of  the  country.  He  has  many  friends  in  the  trade 
press.  His  most  recent  work  for  the  Triangle  has  been 
writing  up  first-run  houses,  which  has  put  him  in  touch 
with  the  publicity  needs  of  many  exhibitors.  On  the 
sensational  side,  he  managed  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation" 
publicity  campaign  in  Boston  from  April  to  August  of 
last  year,  thereby  assisting  the  Epoch  Producing  Cor- 
poration in  obtaining  record-breaking  receipts.  He 
can  be  addressed  at  321  West  Fifty-fifth  street,  New 
York  City,  telephone  Columbus  2969. 


Negroes  Lose  Suit  Against  Theater 

The  right  to  seclude  negro  patrons  in  a  section  re- 
moved from  the  seats  reserved  for  white  persons  was 
upheld  by  a  jury  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  recently 
when  Grace  and  Gladys  Mallory  brought  action  in  the 


HENRY  HEADS  ILLINOIS  BODY 

Austin  Theater  Owner  Elected  President  of  the  Illinois 

Exhibitors'  League ;  Sweeney  Is  Treasurer 

and  Smith  Secretary 

George  Henry,  owner  of  the  Iris  theater  in  Austin, 
was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League  of  Illinois  at  the  recent  meeting  of 
the  association.  Other  officers  chosen  for  the  year 
were  John  H.  Frundt,  vice-president ;  William  J. 
Sweeney,  treasurer;  Sidney  Smith,  secretary,  and  A. 
Balaban,  sergeant-at-arms.  The  executive  committee 
is  made  up  of  Fred  Hartman,  George  M.  Laing,  August 
Zilligan,  Julius  A.  Alcock,  H.  Lieberthal.  M.  A.  Choyn- 
ski  and  M.  S.  Johnson.  Mr.  Henry  was  president  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  Illinois  dur- 
ing the  year  1911-12,  when  the  national  convention  was 
held  in  Chicago,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
national  convention  is  to  be  held  here  again  in  July  it 
is  expected  that  the  experience  Mr.  Henry  gained  in 
the  handling  of  the  previous  event  will  make  it  pos- 
sible to  have  a  record-breaking  gathering  for  1916. 


Wilson's  Talk  Inspires  Players 

The  honor  paid  the  motion  picture  trade  by  Pres- 
ident Wilson  at  the  Board  of  Trade  dinner  impressed 
no  one  more  than  it  did  Miss  Florence  La  Badie  of 
the  Thanhouser  studios,  who  sat  directly  opposite  the 
chief  executive  and  later  sent  a  telegram  to  the  Presi- 
dent at  Washington  expressing  her  gratitude  at  his 
tribute  to  the  players  of  the  silent  drama.  Miss  La 
Badie  says  that  nothing  has  inspired  her  during  her 
long  experience  so  much  as  Mr.  Wilson's  address  and 
that  looking  back  to  the  days  when  the  film  actor  and 
actress  was  almost  an  outcast  of  the  theatrical  pro- 
fession and  a  sort  of  a  person  whose  future  was  hitched 
to  an  uncertain  star,  to  sit  and  see  the  same  film  play- 
ers honored  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  was 
the  supreme  emotion  of  her  life. 


Films  for  New  York  Schools  Favored 

A  bill  to  permit  the  use  of  motion  pictures  in  the 
public  schools  in  New  York  state  is  before  the  Assem- 
bly Committee  on  Affairs  of  Cities.  The  bill  provides 
that  no  permit  or  license  or  licensed  operator  shall  be 
required  for  the  use  or  operation  of  miniature  cinema- 
tograph machines  for  educational,  social,  lecture  and 
similar  purposes,  using  only  an  inclosed  incandescent 
light  and  cellulose  acetate  or  other  slow  burning  film 
of  a  size  and  perforation  differing  from  the  standard 
as  used  in  theatrical  machines.  Among  those  who 
spoke  in  favor  of  the  bill  were  Fred  Heminway  of  the 
Pathescope  company  and  11.  |.  Smith,  representing 
the  Rochester  Film  Company. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Important  to  Every  Motion  Picture  Exhibitor 

BEGINNING  with  next  week's  issue  of  MOTOGRAPHY,  S.  L.  Rothapfel  will  con- 
duct a  Department  of  Information  for  this  motion  picture  trade  journal.  Every  well- 
informed  exhibitor  knows  who  Mr.  Rothapfel  is.  As  an  independent  exhibitor  he  had  an 
opportunity  to  study  the  needs  and  demands  of  patrons  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 
As  the  man  who  put  over  the  Strand  idea  in  New  York  and  who  later  traveled  the  coun- 
try under  the  auspices  of  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  telling-  other  exhibitors  what  he 
has  tried  to  accomplish,  this  man's  opinions  are  well  worth  having-.  Now  Mr.  Roth- 
apfel is  with  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation  as  manager  of  the  Knickerbocker  theater  in 
New  York.  On  February  27  he  will  open  the  Colonial  theater  in  Chicago  for  the  Tri- 
angle organization.  Any  questions  you  care  to  ask  regarding  the  directing  of  your  the- 
ater, whether  it  be  about  program,  music,  advertising,  management,  lighting,  projection 
or  anything  else,  he  will  gladly  answer.    Address  him  care  of  MOTOGRAPHY,  Chicago. 


Exhibitor  Is  His  Own  Censor 

BY  HARRIET  A.   HAWKINS 


THE  fact  that  an  exhibitor  is  not  a  big  man  in  his 
community  in  contradiction  to  the  editorial  in  last 
week's  issue  of  Motography  is  the  fault  of  the  exhib- 
itor and  not  of  conditions.  He  could  be  a  big  man  if 
he  would  take  the  trouble  to  endeavor  to  reach  the 
goal  of  "bigness"  which  he  can  do  if  he  is  willing  to 
start  in  a  small  way  and  work  gradually  to  "bigness" 
instead  of  waiting  until  something  threatens  his  busi- 
ness life  and  then  wonder  why  he  is  without  friends 
to  help  fight  his  battles. 

Threatened  federal  censorship  by  this  time  should 
have  brought  home  to  the  average  exhibitor  that  pre- 
paredness for  a  battle  is  a  necessity,  and  that  a  poorly 
outfitted  army  usually  fights  a  losing  battle. 

Before  my  advent  as  an  exhibitor  in  Elmhurst,  111., 
forced  to  become  such  by  the  death  of  my  husband,  I 
believe  I  foresaw  the  troublesome  censorship  problem 
and  we  started  to  prepare  for  it.  Our  preparation  con- 
sisted of  becoming  acquainted  with  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  Elmhurst.  becoming  friendly  with  them  to 
such  an  extent  that  we  could  rely  upon  their  friend- 
ship. Those  were  the  days  before  apparently  there 
was  a  thought  of  a  federal  censorship. 

We  had  arranged  our  fences  in  such  a  manner 
that  there  was  not  a  chance  for  a  local  censorship  and 
we  insured  against  the  future  by  making  local  censor- 
ship unnecessary.  For  we  were  our  own  censors.  If 
we  rented  a  film  and  we  thought  some  scene  in  it  might 
be  objectionable  we  called  upon  the  three  most  promi- 
nent and  usually  the  three  most  conservative  business 
men  of  the  village  to  act  as  censors. 

If  they  saw  anything  objectionable  in  a  Him  we 
eliminated  the  objectionable  feature.  To  date  our  self- 
appointed  censors  have  found  nothing  to  censor.  They 
have  had  a  private  view  of  films  and  even  have  asked 
their  friends  to  accompany  them  and  then  they  have 
gone  out  and  have  been  walking  advertisements  for 
our  house. 

When  we  started  this  procedure  we  of  course  were 
preparing  ourselves  for  a  local  censorship.  We  desired 
to  place  ourselves  in  the  proper  position  to  receive 
some  consideration  if  local  censorship  was  considered. 


Our  efforts  proved  their  value.  There  never  has  been 
such  a  thing  as  local  censorship  considered.  The 
people  of  Elmhurst  first  gave  us  and  now  give  me  the 
credit  for  having  enough  foresight  to  refuse  to  show  a 
salacious  or  degrading  film. 

Today  I  am  my  own  censor.  I  have  done  nothing 
more  than  may  be  done  by  any  motion  picture  exhib- 
itor who  will  take  the  time  to  make  friends  of  his 
fellow  townsmen,  cater  to  their  ideas  and  give  them 
what  they  want.  Of  course  the  exhibitor  who  expects 
to  fill  every  seat  in  his  house  by  the  use  of  indecent 
advertising  would  not  and  could  not  follow  our  plan. 
He  is  only  in  the  business  for  a  day  and  will  attempt 
to  make  his  fortune  between  sunrise  and  sunset  to  the 
detriment  of  his  fellow  exhibitors. 

I  have  been  asked  if  all  the  careful  preliminary 
anti-censorship  work  we  have  done  has  not  been  lost 
in  the  face  of  the  federal  censorship  proposed  measures. 

Rather  than  our  work  being  a  loss  it  is  to  the 
personal  advantage  of  every  exhibitor  in  the  country 
because  the  congressman  from  this  district  will  record 
his  vote  against  any  national  censorship.  To  him  we 
are  representative  of  the  average  exhibitor  and  he 
believes  it  is  safe  to  leave  the  censorship  problem  in 
our  hands. 

What  we  have  accomplished  is  not  a  small  town 
proposition  by  any  manner  or  means.  To  be  sure,  ours 
is  the  only  house  in  a  community  of  six  thousand 
persons. 

But  the  proprietor  of  a  neighborhood  house  in  any 
large  city  in  the  country  can  do  just  what  we  have 
done.  By  careful  work  he  can  get  the  confidence  of 
the  property  owners.  He  can  get  their  support. 
Eventually  he  gets  the  volunteered  aid  of  his  alder- 
man, then  of  the  mayor  and  so  on  right  through  the 
political  ranks  until  he  gets  to  the  national  law- 
making body. 

It  is  not  too  late  to  start  this  propaganda  now. 
Many  friends  and  supporters  may  be  made  in  a  few 
months. 

The  censorship  problem  is  a  problem  for  the 
exhibitor — not  for  the  manufacturer.    The  exhibitor  is- 


406 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


the  judge  on  the  question.  He  can  force  the  elimina- 
tion of  all  salacious  and  indecent  films.  He  can  refuse 
to  lease  them. 

When  the  manufacturers  realize  that  a  film  con- 
taining a  scene  bordering  on  the  salacious  cannot  be 
rented  there  will  be  no  more  of  such  films. 

The  exhibitor  is  the  boss  of  censorship  or  regula- 
tion, whichever  you  wish  to  call  it. 


FAMOUS  PLAYERS  OFFICES  MOVE      A 


Temporary   Quarters   in    New    York   Are   Abandoned 

and  Executive  Staff  Goes  to  West  Side 

Studio 

The  Famous  Players  Film  Company  offices  have 
been  moved  from  the  Columbia  Bank  building,  507 
Fifth  avenue,  to  the  main  studio  at  130  West  Fifty- 
sixth  street,  New  York.  At  the  time  of  the  fire  which 
destroyed  the  old  studio  in  Twenty-sixth  street,  Sep- 
tember 11,  the  Famous  Players  immediately  leased 
the  old  Durland  Riding  Academy  in  Fifty-sixth  street 
as  its  main  studio,  using  it  in  conjunction  with  the 
auxiliary  producing  plant  in  Yonkers,  which  was  in 
operation  at  that  time. 

On  the  morning  after  the  fire  President  Adolph 
Zukor  called  a  meeting  of  the  Famous  Players  execu- 
tives at  the  Hotel  Astor  and  by  noon  of  that  day 
temporary  offices  had  been  taken  in  Columbia  Bank 
building.  These  offices  have  served  the  purposes  of 
the  executive  staff  until  the  present  time. 

The  work  of  remodeling  the  old  riding  academy 
for  studio  purposes  was  rushed,  as  that  was  the  con- 
sideration of  chief  moment  to  the  producers.  Several 
big  films  had  been  destroyed  or  damaged  in  the  con- 
flagration, among  them  "Bella  Donna,"  starring 
Pauline  Frederick ;  "The  White  Pearl,"  starring  Marie 
Doro;  "The  Foundling,"  starring  Mary  Pickford;  and 
"The  Red  Widow,"  starring  Jack  Barrymore.  "Zaza," 
in  which  Pauline  Frederick  was  featured,  was  the  only 
production  not  damaged. 

With  all  these  films  temporarily  removed  from  the 
Paramount  schedule,  the  Famous  Players  officials 
were  chiefly  concerned  with  the  problem  of  resuming 
producing  operations  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 
It  is  a  matter  of  record  that  the  taking  of  scenes  actu- 
ally began  on  Monday  morning  following  the  fire. 
The  great  majority  of  these  were  taken  out  of  doors 
while  the  work  of  tearing  out  the  tan-bark  ring  and 
of  reconstructing  the  academy  building  was  being 
done. 

The  first  scene  actually  taken  in  the  Fifty-sixth 
street  building  was  one  from  "The  Old  Homestead," 
the  adaptation  of  the  celebrated  rural  drama  in  which 
Denman  Thompson  starred  for  years. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Famous  Players 
Film  Company  in  1912  the  chief  activities  of  the  con- 
cern have  been  confined  to  the  old  studio  and  the 
Fifty-sixth  street  building  is  the  second  in  which  the 
company  has  been  located.  The  Yonkers  studio  has 
never  been  anything  but  a  subsidiary  affair,  and  the 
only  other  headquarters  ever  established  were  those 
taken  temporarily  in  California  for  the  producti6n  of  a 
few  films  especially  requiring  southwestern  settings. 

It  is  the  intention  of  the  company  to  make  the 
new  building  its  headquarters  until  the  erection  of  its 
studio  on  the  extensive  site  at  Two  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  street  near  Broadway,  title  to  which  was 
acquired  last  summer. 


M 


ASKS  FREE  SHOWS  FOR  PUPILS 

Los  Angeles  Mayor  Proposes  Municipal  Motion  Pic- 
tures as  Solution  of  the  Juvenile  Problems 
of  the  City 

As  a  means  of  solving  the  question  of  juvenile 
problems  in  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  Mayor  Sebastian 
has  recommended  free  motion  picture  shows  for  the 
boys  and  girls  of  his  city  who  are  so  situated  that  they 
cannot  enjoy  motion  pictures  under  proper  super- 
vision and  guardianship. 

This  suggestion  was  made  to  a  committee  of 
teachers  from  the  public  schools  who  called  on  the 
mayor  to  ask  his  advice  as  to  methods  for  exerting  a 
beneficial  influence  over  the  children  of  the  city.  In 
reference  to  the  free  municipal  motion  pictures  the 
mayor  stated  that  he  believed  that  a  free  motion 
picture  theater  for  children  who  are  unable  to  pay 
their  way  to  procure  the  amusement  and  instruction 
will  go  a  long  ways  toward  solving  the  juvenile  prob- 
lems of  Los  Angeles. 

The  plan,  as  outlined  by  Mayor  Sebastian  to  the 
teachers,  is  to  provide  film  entertainments  in  various 
districts  of  the  city  where  the  children  may  be  enter- 
tained under  the  chaperonage  and  guardianship  of  the 
city,  instead  of  being  allowed  the  freedom  of  the 
streets  which  leads  at  times  to  mischief  or  worse. 


Mutual  Wins  Texas  Appeal 

A  decision  favorable  to  the  Mutual  Film  Corpora- 
tion has  been  handed  down  by  the  Texas  Court  of 
Civil  Appeals,  reversing  a  decision  allowing  judgment 
amounting  to  $1,500.  "The  suit  involves  the  right  of 
the  Mutual  Company  to  cancel  a  contract  with  Mor- 
ris &  Daniel,  owners  of  a  theater  at  Abilene,  Texas, 
who  were  charged  with  having  left  C.  O.  D.  shipments 
in  express  offices,  having  become  delinquent  and  hav- 
ing stopped  payment  on  checks.  In  the  original  com- 
plaint Morris  &  Daniels  charged  that  they  had  con- 
tracts for  service  from  the  Mutual  so  long  as  the  the- 
ater and  the  Mutual  remained  in  existence.  The  Mu- 
tual responded  with  the  claim  that  the  contract  was 
unilateral  and  lacked  mutuality.  On  this  plea  the  case 
was  dismissed  when  it  readied  the  higher  court.  It 
is  expected  that  this  decision  will  have  an  important 
hearing  on    film   rental   and   collections   in    the   state  of 


February  19,  1916. 


MOT  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y 


Fight  on  Censorship  Grows 

CONGRESS  READY  TO  ACT 


THE  House  Committee  on  Edu- 
cation has  cleared  the  deck  for 
action  on  the  Hughes  censor- 
ship bill  by  reporting  to  the  house 
a  bill  providing  for  the  promotion  of 
vocational  training.  This  bill  was 
recommended  by  the  President  and 
therefore  as  an  administration  meas- 
ure it  had  the  right  of  way.  Now 
that  it  is  out  of  the  way,  the  com- 
mittee can  give  its  almost  undivided 
attention   to  the  censorship  bill. 

As  evidence  of  the  thoroughness 
with  which  the  committee  proposes 
to  treat  the  matter,  it  is  learned 
that  it  has  sent  to  New  York  a  semi- 
official emissary  to  interview  the 
heads  of  producing  and  distributing 
companies  and  also  exhibitors  and 
ascertain  their  position  and  secure 
from  them  suggestions  or  amend- 
ments which  would  induce  them  to 
support  the  censorship  measure. 
This  emissary  is  expected  to  get  in 
touch  with  heads  of  companies 
other  than  the  Paramount,  the  Jesse 
L.  Lasky  Company  and  others 
which  already  have  endorsed  a  cen- 
sorship or  regulation  bill. 

Members  of  Congress  continue 
to  express  the  opinion  that  manufac- 
turers and  exhibitors  should  find 
some  common  ground  upon  which 
they  may  as  a  unit  oppose  censor- 
ship in  every  form,  or  get  together 
on  some  form  of  regulation  or  censorship  that  will  be 
suitable  to  all,  particularly  while  the  proposed  legisla- 
tion is  in  a  formative  stage  in  the  House  Committee 
on  Education. 

It  is  asserted  by  some  persons  in  Washington  that 
the  Keating  child  labor  bill  passed  by  the  house  this  week 
is  in  principle  and  object  similar  to  the  proposed  Hughes 
bill.  The  agitation  for  censorship  was  largely  started  as 
an  alleged  protection  for  juveniles  and  is  based  on  the 
power  of  the  Federal  government  under  the  interstate 
commerce  clause  of  the  Constitution  to  regulate  at  the 
point  of  production  articles  intended  for  transportation 
in  interstate  commerce.  While  it  is  admitted  that  Con- 
gress cannot  go  into  the  cities  and  states  and  regulate 
the  "consumption"  of  motion  pictures,  it  attempts  to  ac- 
complish the  same  thing  by  regulating  it  at  the  source 
under  the  interstate  commerce  clause. 

The  object  of  the  Keating  bill  is  to  prevent  the  em- 
ployment of  children  under  14  in  mines  or  quarries, 
or  under  16  in  manufacturing  establishments,  or  in  either 
of  such  places,  for  more  than  eight  hours  a  day  or  48 
hours  a  week,  or  between  the  hours  of  7  in  the  morning 
and  7  at  night.  To  accomplish  this  purpose  it  is  made 
a  penal  offense,  punishable  by  fine  and  imprisonment  to 
ship  or  offer  for  shipment  in  interstate  commerce  the 
products  of  mines,  quarries,  or  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments which  have  been  produced  "in  whole  or  in  part 
by  the  labor  of  children"  below  the  age  limit  prescribed, 


Federal  Censorship 

News  in  a  Nutshell 

P.  A.  Powers,  treasurer  of  Uni- 
versal Film  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, wires  Representative  Hughes 
•a  statement  of  opposition  to  cen- 
sorship. 

The  Rev.  W.  F.  Crafts,  sponsor 
for  the  Welfare  Workers'  draft  of 
the  modified  Hughes  bill,  denounces 
J.  W.  Binder  and  W.  Stephen  Bush. 

Dr.  Crafts  asks  for  censorship  of 
speaking  stage  as  well  as  screen. 

Producers  meet  at  Hotel  Astor, 
New  York,  and  take  steps  to  fight 
indiscriminate  censoring. 
_  Jesse  L.  Lasky  resents  publica- 
tion of  statements  that  there  is  a 
factional  fight  among  film  produc- 
ers on  censorship. 

H.  E._  Aitken,  president  of  Tri- 
angle Film  Corporation,  sends  out 
statement   opposing   censorship. 

House  Committee  on  Education 
sends  to  New  York  a  special  emis- 
sary to  interview  producers  and 
distributors     and     ascertain     their 

Edward  A.  Moree  of  Albany,  as- 
sistant secretary  of  the  New  York 
State  Conference  of  Mayors,  who 
appeared  before  the  house  com- 
mittee on  January  14  in  opposition 
to  federal  censorship,  files  with 
Chairman  Hughes  a  statement  that 
at  least  fifty  mayors  are  opposed 
to  federal  censorship  and  indorse 
the  present  National  Board  of  Cen- 
sors. 


or  working  longer  than  for  the  pe- 
riod declared  or  between  the  prohib- 
ited hours  of  evening  and  morning. 
The  bill  was  vigorously  at- 
tacked as  unconstitutional,  but  not- 
withstanding this  the  house  passed 
it  by  a  vote  of  337  yeas  to  46  nays, 
3  members  answering  present,  and 
48  not  voting.  While  the  vote  of  a 
member  on  one  bill  can  never  be 
taken  as  accurately  forecasting  it  on 
another  measure,  it  is  interesting  to 
note  the  way  the  members  of  the 
Committee  on  Education  voted  for 
the  Keating  bill. 

Representatives  Rucker,  Aber- 
crombie,  Stone,  Key,  Hilliard, 
Towner,  Platte,  Fess,  Dallinger,  and 
McCracken,  10,  voted  for  the  meas- 
ure;  Chairman  Hughes  and  Repre- 
sentatives Doughton  and  Sears 
voted  against  it.  Representatives , 
Powers  and  North,  the  two  remain- 
ing members  of  the  committee,  did 
not  vote.  In  the  speculation  or 
"dope"  as  to  the  line-up  of  the  com- 
mittee on  the  censorship  bill,  the  fol- 
lowing have  been  considered  as  for 
it :  Chairman  Hughes,  Representa- 
tives Abercrombie,  Stone,  Key,  Hil- 
liard, Towner,  Fess,  Doughton,  Mc- 
Cracken, and  Sears.  Those  who  were 
believed  to  be  against  it  as  evi- 
denced by  statements  made  or  ques- 
tions asked  during  the  hearings  are 
Representatives  Powers,  Piatt,  Dallinger,  Rucker,  and 
North. 

The  opposition  to  the  Keating  child  labor  bill  came 
largely  from  southern  states  in  which  are  located  cotton 
mills  which  would  be  affected  by  the  enactment  of  the 
measure  into  law. 

Arguments  against  the  bill  presented  by  members  of 
the  Committee  on  Labor  will  be  used  as  an  argument  for 
the  passage  of  the  amendment  offered  as  a  substitute  for 
the  Hughes  bill,  that  is,  the  amendment  of  section  245 
of  the  Federal  Code  so  as  to  prohibit  the  interstate  trans- 
portation of  obscene,  immoral  or  improper  motion  pic- 
ture films.  This,  as  has  been  strongly  urged,  will  accom- 
plish all  that  is  sought  to  be  accomplished  by  the  nu- 
merous sections  of  the  Hughes  bill  as  there  is  no  doubt 
of  its  constitutionality  and  there  is  with  the  Hughes 
measure. 

These  members  after  presenting  citations  to  show 
that  the  bill  is  unconstitutional  summarize  their  objections 
to  it  as  follows: 

"The  evil  sought  to  be  cured  is  too  limited,  both  in 
size  and  probable  duration,  and  too  remediable  by  local 
law  to  justify  the  exercise  of  such  an  immense  legislative 
power  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  Government.  As  was 
aptly  said  by  another,  it  would,  indeed,  be  a  precedent 
which  would  permit  'many  an  error  by  the  same  example 
to  creep  into  the  state.' 

"It  is  estimated  that  over  90  per  cent  of  the  prod- 


408 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


ttcts  of  our  manufactures  are  consumed  in  states  other 
than  those  in  which  they  originate,  and,  hence,  sooner 
or  later  find  their  way  into  interstate  commerce.  To  per- 
mit Congress  to  prescribe  the  conditions  under  which  this 
vast  commerce  shall  be  produced,  is  to  give  at  once  power 
to  control  by  internal  regulation  the  industrial  life  of  the 
nation.  And  will  the  demand  for  this  sort  of  the  law 
stop  with  the  factory  and  the  mine?  Will  the  legislative 
lion,  having  once  tested  his  strength,  lie  down  to  rest 
by  the  door  of  the  factory  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  mine. 
or  will  he  rise  up  to  extend  his  conquest  to  the  forest  and 
in  the  field?  The  corn  of  Nebraska,  the  wheat  of  Min- 
nesota, the  tobacco  of  Kentucky,  the  cotton  of  Arkansas, 
the  cattle  of  Texas,  the  lumber  of  Oregon  have  all,  like 
the  products  of  the  mine  and  the  factory,  to  find  their 
way  to  market  through  the  door  of  interstate  commerce. 
Having  fixed  the  age  limit  for  the  factory  and  the  mine, 
why  should  not  Congress  do  the  same  for  the  farm  and 
the  pasture  and  the  lumber  camp?  And  if  it  fix  the  age 
.and  hours  of  labor,  why  should  it  not  prescribe  the  sex, 
the  language,  the  educational  standard,  the  task,  and  the 
wage  of  the  laborer?  Why  not?  Surely- no  one  is  will- 
ing now  to  have  all  this  done. 

"And  when  it  has  once  had  jurisdiction  over  the 
vast  and  complex  field  of  domestic  toil — there  to  reg- 
ulate the  daily  lives  of  the  people  in  the  grave  social, 
racial,  and  economic  problems  which  confront  them — 
what  function  will  there  remain  for  the  states  to  per- 
form in  our  dual  system;  what  will  be  left  of  local  self- 
government — that  birthright  of  our  race  come  down  to 
us  all  the  way  from  Runnymede  to  Yorktown? 

"No ;  we  believe  with  the  Supreme  Court  in  the 
case  of  United  States  v.  Knight  Co. : 

"It  is  vital  that  the  independence  of  the  commercial 
power  and  of  the  police  power,  and  the  delimitation  be- 
tween them,  however  sometimes  perplexing,  should  al- 
ways be  recognized  and  observed ;  for  while  the  one  fur- 
nishes the  strongest  bond  of  union  the  other  is  essen- 
tial to  the  preservation  of  the  autonomy  of  the  states  as 
required  by  our  dual  form  of  government;  and  acknowl- 
edged evils,  however  grave  and  urgent  they  may  appear 
to  be,  had  better  be  borne  than  the  risk  to  be  run  in  the 
effort  to  suppress  them  of  more  serious  consequences  by 
resort  to  expedients  of  even  doubtful  constitutionality. 

"And  with  a  great  chief  justice,  now  gathered  to 
his  fathers,  that — 

"The  Constitution  speaks  not  only  in  the  same  words 
but  with  the  same  meaning  and  intent  with  which  it 
spoke  when  it  came  from  the  hands  of  its  framers  and 
was  voted  on  and  adopted  by  the  people  of  the  United 
States.  Any  other  rule  of  construction  would  abrogate 
the  judicial  character  of  this  court  and  make  it  the  mere 
reflex  of  the  popular  opinion  or  passion  of  the  day. 

Representative  Reavis  of  Nebraska  in  a  speech  in  the 
house  on  the  bill  before  its  passage  made  some  declara- 
tions that  are  being  cited  as  equally  applicable  and  favor- 
able to  the  Hughes  bill.     He  said  in  part : 

"Obscene  literature  offends  the  morals.  The  fear 
of  contagion  from  diseased  cattle  offends  public  health. 
Impure  foods  and  drugs  are  injurious  to  health.  Mis- 
branding of  goods  perpetrates  a  fraud.  Antitrust  laws 
have  been  sustained  on  the  ground  that  the  offending 
combinations  should  not  be  allowed  to  use  interstate- 
commerce  channels  because  they  were  engaged  in  a 
wrong,  All  of  these  have  been  declared  to  be  offensive 
to  commerce  between  stales,  and  Congress  lias  entered 
upon  the  duty  of  keeping  the  channels  of  transportation 
pure  and  free  from  these  evils  which  affect  health, 
morals,  and  public  welfare. 


"Why,  then,  should  goods  manufactured  under  con- 
ditions that  deprive  children  of  health  and  education, 
under  conditions  that  shocks  the  conscience  of  the  na- 
tion, be  allowed  to  pollute  the  free  channels  of  inter- 
state commerce? 

"The  interstate-commerce  clause  allows  Congress  to 
strike  at  the  evil  in  all  the  states  by  denying  the  prod- 
uct of  this  system  the  right  to  be  sent  in  interstate  com- 
merce. The  court  sustained  the  lottery  act  because  the 
institution  was  offending  the  morals  of  the  people.  It 
sustained  the  Mann  white-slave  act,  which  took  away  the 
facilities  of  interstate  transportation  from  those  en- 
gaged in  prostituting  and  debauching  women  and  girls. 

"The  power  granted  is  direct,  without  limitations  or 
exceptions.  Congress  may  regulate  commerce  among  the 
states  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  public  health,  pub- 
lic morals,  and  general  welfare   of   the  people. 

"The  Congress  may  adopt  any  means  to  put  into 
force  and  effect  the  power  granted  them  by  the  states, 
even  if  such  legislation  may  to  some  extent  constitute  a 
police  regulation  within  the  state  in  so  far  as  it  may  affect 
commerce.  The  very  object  of  vesting  this  power  in 
Congress  was  to  create  uniformity  in  the  regulation  of 
commerce  between  states  so  that  one  state  could  not 
adopt  and  maintain  a  policy  offensive  to  the  morals  of 
the  people  of  another  state. 

"Under  the  provision  Congress  can  deny  to  the  cit- 
izens of  one  state  the  right  to  use  the  channels  of  com- 
merce into  other  states  when  their  methods  in  competi- 
tion or  in  the  production  of  the  article  of  commerce  are 
unfair  and  unjust  to  the  people  of  the  other  states." 

Representative  Towner,  of  Iowa,  a  member  of  the 
House  Committee  on  Education,  who  introduced  the 
amendment  to  Section  245  of  the  Federal  Code  so  as  to 
include  motion  picture  films  and  who  is  an  avowed  sup- 
porter of  the  Hughes  bill,  voted  for  the  Keating  bill  and 
among  other  things  said : 

"I  hope  no  member  of  this  house,  convinced  of  the 
desirability  of  this  legislation,  will  be  deterred  from  sup- 
porting it  merely  because  its  ingenious  and  energetic  op- 
ponents have  suggested  doubts  as  to  its  constitutionality. 
They  certainly  have  fallen  far  short  of  any  convincing 
showing  that  it  is  unconstitutional. 

"Mr.  Chairman,  the  Constitution  gives  Congress 
power  to  regulate  commerce  among  the  states.  If  this 
bill  regulates  commerce  among  the  states,  all  questions 
as  to  its  constitutionality  must  disappear.  It  provides 
that  the  products  of  child  labor  shall  not  be  transported 
in  interstate  commerce ;  that  is,  in  commerce  among  the 
states.  It  is  argued  that  the  object  of  the  bill  is  not 
to  regulate  commerce  among  the  states,  but  to  prevent 
child  labor  within  the  states.  But  upon  what  grounds 
is  that  assumption  based?  It  does  not  in  terms  provide 
that  child  labor  shall  not  be  used  by  any  mill  or  fac- 
tory within  the  state.  It  does  not  provide  that  goods 
made  by  child  labor  shall  not  be  sold  or  transported 
within  the  state.  It  does  not  attempt  in  any  way  to  reg- 
ulate commerce  within  the  state.  All  that  is  left  absolute- 
ly, without  restriction,  to  the  state.  But  if  products  made 
by  child  labor  are  offered  for  commerce  among  the  states, 
that  portion  of  commerce,  the  regulation  of  which  is  ex- 
pressly committed  to  Congress,  such  traffic  is  prohibited. 
How,  then,  can  it  be  argued  that  Congress  exceeds  its 
powers?  It  docs  not  attempt  to  interfere  with  manufac- 
ture within  the  stale;  it  does  not  attempt  to  regulate  or 
prohibit  commerce  within  the  state.  It  is  only  when  the 
makers  of  products  produced  by  child  labor  seek  to  em- 
bark in  commerce  among  the  states  that  congressional 
regulation  becomes  operative.     It  is  onl)   within  that  field 


February   19,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


409 


of  operation  which  the  Constitution  expressly  commits 
to  Congress  that  this  bill  takes  effect. 

"But  it  is  argued  that  the  ulterior  purpose  of  the 
bill  is  to  interfere  with  the  police  power  of  the  states. 
Many  times  the  supreme  court  has  held  that  the  ulterior 
effects  of  the  operation  of  an  act  will  not  defeat  its  pur- 
pose if  that  purpose  is  within  the  constitutional  power  of 
Congress. 

"In  a  decision  handed  down  January  10,  1916,  in- 
terpreting the  food  and  drugs  act,  Mr.  Justice  Hughes, 
delivering  the  opinion  of  the  supreme  court,  considered 
the  objection  that  the  measure,  although  relating  to  ar- 
ticles transported  in  interstate  commerce,  was  an  en- 
croachment on  the  reserved  rights  of  the  states.  He 
said  that  the  objection  was  not  to  be  distinguished  in 
substance  from  that  which  was  overruled  in  sustain- 
ing the  white-slave  act.     There  it  was  stated  that — 

"If  the  facility  of  interstate  transportation  can  be 
denied  in  lotteries,  obscene  literature,  diseased  cattle  and 
persons,  and  impure  food  and  drugs,  the  like  facility 
could  be  taken  away  from  the  systematic  enticement  of 
and  enslavement  in  the  prostitution  and  debauchery  of 
women. 

"Justice  Hughes  then  adds  : 

"The  court  concluded  with  the  reassertion  of  the 
simple  principle  that  Congress  is  not  to  be  denied  the 
exercise  of  its  constitutional  authority  over  interstate 
commerce  and  its  power  to  adopt  not  only  means  neces- 
sary but  convenient  to  its  exercise,  because  those  means 
may  have  the  quality  of  police  regulations. 

"Applying  that  reasoning  to  the  present  case,  may  it 
not  fairly  be  said  that  Congress  shall  not  be  denied  the 
exercise  of  its  constitutional  authority  over  interstate 
commerce  because  it  may  result  in  the  exclusion  of  the 
products  of  a  state  which  are  produced  by  child  labor? 
Neither  will  it  be  defeated  in  its  endeavor  to  regulate 
commerce  among  the  states  in  the  interest  of  all  the  peo- 
ple of  all  the  states  merely  because  that  regulation  may 
run  counter  to  the  police  laws  of  individual  states." 

The  Rev.  Wilbur  F.  Craft,  one  of  the  leaders  in 
the  movement  for  federal  censorship  or  regulation,  has 
prepared  a  lengthy  statement  which  he  states  gives 
some  inside  history  as  to  the  attitude  of  motion  pic- 
ture leaders  on  the  subject  of  censorship.  He  alleges 
that  at  one  time  nearly  all  the  motion  picture  producers 
approved  of  the  general  principle  of  regulation  in  order 
to  escape  a  vexatious  variety  of  standards  of  state  and 


local  boards,  and  as  the  result  of  a  conference  ap- 
pointed a  committee  authorized  to  proceed  with  the 
work  of  effecting  the  creation  of  a  federal  commission. 
The  committee,  he  states,  came  to  Washington  to  see 
the  President,  but  got  no  further  than  preliminary  con- 
ferences with  the  President's  secretary,  Mr.  Tumulty, 
the  President  being  absorbed  in  war  matters. 


Metro  Offers  "Special  Feature" 

Marguerite  Snow  is  the  star  of  the  new  Metro 
picture,  "A  Corner  in  Cotton,"  produced  by  the  Qual- 
ity Pictures  Corporation.  Supporting  her  are  Frank 
Bacon,  Lester  Cuneo,  John  J.  Goldworthy,  William 
Clifford  and  Helen  Dunbar.  The  picture  was  directed 
by  Fred  Balshofer,  assisted  by  Edward  Truesdell.  The 
scenes  cover  a  wide  territory  in  the  United  States,  the 
first  scenes  being  taken  in  California,  the  interiors  in 
New  York  and  the  final  scenes  in  Savannah,  Georgia. 
This  production  will  mark  an  innovation  in  the  Met- 
ro's policy  of  releasing  one  five-reel  feature  each  week. 
"A  Corner  in  Cotton"  will  be  a  "special." 


Metro  Shows  Ancient  Slave  Mart 

An  ancient  Babylonian  slave  market  will  be  one 
of  the  scenes  featured  in  the  forthcoming  Metro  pic- 
ture, "The  Soul  Market,"  in  which  Mme.  Petrova  is 
being  starred.  In  the  cast  are  Wilmuth  Merkyl,  Ar- 
thur Hoops,  Gypsy  O'Brien,  Evelyn  Brent  and  Fritz 
De  Lint.  The  play  is  being  produced  by  Popular 
Plays  and  Players.  A  score  of  artists  and  experts  were 
used  in  making  the  featured  scene,  which  shows  twen- 
ty-five beautiful  girls,  scant  of  clothing  and  fresh  from 
the  bath,  being  sold  into  slavery. 


Clune  Shows  Longest  Feature 

Ramona,  the  first  production  of  the  Clune  Film 
Producing  Company,  is  being  shown  at  dune's  Audi- 
torium, Los  Angeles.  The  house  was  dark  one  week 
while  the  elaborate  stage  settings  were  arranged.  The 
scenic  features,  the  music  score  and  the  other  inno- 
vations connected  with  the  fourteen-reel  silent  drama, 
showing  the  beloved  figures  of  Helen  Hunt  Jackson's 
world  famous  romance  of  Southern  California,  form 
the  longest  film  play  ever  shown,  it  is  said. 


$500,000  "Prop"  for  Billie  Burke 

Walter  Edwin,  director  in  chief  of  the  Kleine 
studios,  is  the  director  of  the  new  film  novel  by  Ru- 
pert Hughes  in  which  Billie  Burke  and  Henry  Kolker 
are  featured.  AYilliam  Roselle  and  William  T.  Carle- 
ton,  an  operatic  star  recently  signed  by  Mr.  Kleine, 
are  in  the  cast.  A  $500,000  diamond  necklace  will  be 
worn  by  Billie  Burke  through  the  courtesy  of  Dreicer 
&  Co.,  New  York. 


Nelson  Writes  New  "Masterpicture" 

The  Gaumont  company  will  release  its  first  Mu- 
tual "masterpicture"  with  Miss  Gertrude  Robinson 
and  Alexander  Gaden  as  the  stars  in  "As  a  Woman 
Sows."  It  was  written  by  O.  A.  Nelson,  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  screen,  one  of  his  popular  Gaumont 
pictures  having  been  "The  Vivisectionist."  Paul  Bry- 
ant has  written  another  Mutual  "masterpicture,""  de 
luxe  edition,  entitled  "The  Idol  of  the  Stage,"  in  which 
Malcolm  Williams  is  starred. 


410 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8.. 


Stars  in  Hanover  Feature 

Gazelle  Marche,  the  nineteen  year  old  actress 
who  plays  the  feminine  lead  in  "Should  a  Baby  Die?", 
the  feature  production  being  exploited  by  the  Hanover 
Film  Company  of  New  York,  has  climbed  quickly  to 
the  top  during  her 
short  screen  career. 
She  has  beauty,  a 
combination  of 
blond  hair  and  dark 
eyes  which  photo- 
graph effectively, 
and  acting  ability, 
and  besides  is  an  ex- 
pert in  swimming, 
riding  and  shooting. 
Miss  Marche 
was  born  in  Utica, 
New  York,  and 
spent  her  early  life 
in  the  south  and 
middle  west.  About 
eighteen  months  ago 
she  came  to  New 
York  to  begin  mo- 
tion picture  work. 
The  Biograph  Com- 
pany gave  her  the 
Gazelle  Marche.  nrst  opportunity  and 

she  worked  under  one  director  in  that  studio  for  five 
months,  an  experience  which  developed  her  ability  as 
an  actress.  When  the  company  was  sent  to  the  coast, 
Miss  Marche  wished  to  remain  in  New  York  and  ap- 
peared with  the  William  Fox  forces  in  "The  Valley 
of  the  Missing."  After  that  she  appeared  as  Innocent 
Inez  in  "The  Exploits  of  Elaine."  It  was  this  serial 
which  revealed  Miss  Marche's  true  ability  as  an  act- 
ress, and  when  Charles  E.  Harris  was  planning  the 
cast  for  "Should  a  Baby  Die?",  he  recalled  the  work 
of  Gazelle  Marche  and  selected  her  to  play  the  lead. 
The  manner  in  which  she  has  handled  the  role  proved 
his  choice  a  wise  one. 

Miss  Marche  is  the  niece  of  the  late  Senator  Hoar 
and  a  great  granddaughter  of  Sir  Edward  Bound  of 
England. 


Good  Music  a  Big  Factor 

Music  for  the  motion  picture  theater  has  always 
been  more  or  less  of  a  problem  to  the  exhibitor  and 
one  that  has  caused  considerable  worry  for  lack  of  the 
proper  results.  The  extreme  effort  has  been  made  to 
secure  harmony  with  the  pictures  itself  and  unless  this 
is  possible  the  music  falls  short  of  its  purpose. 

The  changes  come  so  fast  in  the  pictures  shown 
that  it  is  hard  to  regulate  the  music  to  the  nature  of 
the  scenes  so  that  they  will  both  be  in  accord.  In 
the  time  of  the  smaller  houses  this  could  be  controlled 
easier  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  only  a  piano  was  then 
considered  sufficient  and  that  the  one  person  operating 
it  could  keep  an  eye  on  the  pictures  and  fit  the  music 
to  the  occasion. 

Well  trained  orchestras  are  sometimes  able  to  ac- 
complish this  but  when  there  is  more  than  one  person 
trying  to  follow  the  picture  and  the  music  it  becomes 
complicated. 

The  question  of  cost  also  enters  into  the  matter 
for  it  is   not  every   house  that  can   afford   to   employ 


from  four  to  seven  players  for  musical  purposes.  Then 
there  is  the  automatic  instrument.  It  must  be  one  of" 
clear  tones  and  not  one  of  the  hurdy-gurdy  type,  with 
a  shrill  whine  that  will  drive  patrons  from  the  house. 

It  must  have  the  soothing,  sweet  tones  of  the 
organ  and  the  better  ones  have  attachments  of  the  vio- 
lin, clarinet,  harp  and  flute. 

Probably  one  of  the  best  instruments  of  this  type 
is  the  "fotoplayer,"  manufactured  by  The  American 
Photo  Player  Company,  of  Berkeley,  Cal.,  and  New 
York  City. 

The  "fotoplayer"  has  been  on  the  market  for  some 
four  years,  in  which  time  it  has  been  so  thoroughly 
tested  and  improved  upon  that  its  distribution  and 
popularity  is  established. 

It  is  offered  in  three  different  styles  and  sizes 
adaptable  to  the  needs  of  different  sized  theaters. 

The  "fotoplayer"  is  a  beautiful  product  of  fine  ma- 
terial and  workmanship  and  is  built  to  withstand  the 
gruelling  strains  of  a  motion  picture  theater.  The  "foto- 
player" contains  a  player  piano  of  high  grade,  a  pres- 
sure reed  organ  and  organ  pipes  of  65-note  range. 

In  addition  to  this  there  are  violin,  cornet,  cello,, 
and  flute  pipes  for  orchestral  effects. 

The  "fotoplayer,"  of  course,  is  equipped  with  or- 
chestral bells,  bass  drum,  pistol  shot,  cymbal,  tom-tom,. 


Fotoplayer 


and  all  those  traps  and  accessories  that  go  to  make  up 
a  successful  orchestra,  and  allows  the  operator  at  alii 
times  to  follow  every  action  of  the  picture. 

The  fotoplayer  is  easily  handled  by  one  operator,, 
rendering  music  that  harmonizes  with  the  picture.  It 
is  a  musical  instrument,  giving  magnificent  and  beauti- 
ful orchestra  and  organ  tones,  and  up  to  date  as  an  ex- 
ample of  technical  instrumental  construction. 

One  of  its  many  features  is  the  fact  that  it  may 
be  played  by  a  musician  of  ordinary  skill,  who  may 
thoroughly  control  the  instrument  by  hand  playing 
manually  or  by  using  the  ordinary  88-note  player  piano' 
music  which  can  be  purchased  at  any  music  shop  at  a 
nominal  figure,  giving  a  repertoire  of  many  thousands 
of  musical  selections. 

A  unique  feature  of  the  "fotoplayer"  is  the  so- 
called  double-tracker  device,  which  carries  two  rolls 
of  music  at  one  time,  and  by  a  simple  turn  of  the  lever 
the  operator  may  change  instantly  from  a  light,  snappy 
selection  for  comedies  to  the  music  of  tragedies  or  long 
photodramas. 

An  instrument  of  this  type  will  ultimately  be  in 
general  use  in  motion  picture  houses.  It  is  built  to 
fit  the  pit,  can  be  installed  on  short  notice,  and  in  the 
event  of  a  sale  of  a  theater,  may  be  removed  without 
damage  to  instrument  or  theater. 

Many  of  the  most  beautiful  theaters  throughout 
the  United  States  are  now  using  the  "fotoplayer,"'  as 
well  as  some  of  the  smaller  houses  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  where  the  exhibitor  realizes  that  music 
of  the  right  kind  is  essential  to  the  successful  theater. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Future  of  the  Photoplay 


BY  WILLIAM  D.  TAYLOR 


THE  manufacturers  who  pay  the  most  attention  to 
the  story  and  the  direction  of  that  story  are 
the  ones  who  will  reap  both  the  artistic  and 
financial  benefits  in  the  future;  of  that  I  am  convinced. 
A  marvelous  difference  has  come  over  the  photoplay 
world  since  I  first  put  on  grease  paint  for  my  initial 
picture  appearance.  In  those  days  the  stories  were 
either  written  by  one  of  the  people  connected  with  the 
studio,  not  necessarily  a  staff  writer,  or  accepted  from 
one  of  the  hundreds  submitted.  In  every  case  the 
story  had  to  be  revamped  and  entirely  rewritten.  If 
a  company  paid  twenty-five  dollars  for  a  photoplay  it 
felt  it  was  being  robbed  and  prices  of  from  five  to 
fifteen  dollars  were  regarded  as  standard. 

The  photoplay  writer  is  coming  into  his  own 
more  every  month.  Famous  writers  have  entered  the 
field,  dramatists  of  experience,  newspaper  men  of 
promise,  short  story  writers,  and  large  prices  are  being 
paid  for  the  rights  to  novels  and  plays.  This  is  the 
middle  era  and  the  day  is  coming  when  writers  will 
work  for  the  screen  productions  alone;  that  is,  they 
will  write  entirely  original  stories  of  merit  and,  what 
is  more,  the  stories  will  have  to  possess  merit  or  they 
will  not  be  accepted.  I  doubt  very  much  whether  there 
will  be  any  staff  writers  in  the  future,  although  men 
who  can  plot  and  originate  will  probably  receive  re- 
taining fees  or  be  tied  up  for  a  term  of  years  to  one 
•company. 

I  also  believe  that  the  day  of  the  conscientious  and 
capable  producer  has  arrived.  The  man  with  dramatic 
instinct  who  either  has  artistic  and  literary  attain- 
ments in  addition  to  his  knowledge  of  the  drama  or 
who  has  the  sense  to  attach  to  his  person  capable  men 
who  can  supply  that  knowledge ;  this  is  the  man  who 
will  be  more  and  more  in  demand. 

Commercialism  must  always  enter  into  the  ques- 
tion, side  by  side  with  the  artistic  and  dramatic  end 
of  the  business.  By  commercialism  I  do  not  mean 
racing  through  a  production  to  get  it  on  the  market 
within  the  shortest  possible  time !  This  I  think  is  bad 
commercialism,  the  short  road  to  the  end.  To  make  a 
good  picture,  time  is  required  for  preparation  and 
for  rehearsals,  but  when  once  a  picture  is  on  the  way 
there  is  no  necessity  for  delays ;  they  only  interfere 
with  the  concentrated  thought  which  must  be  given  a 
production.  Here  is  where  the  business  end  of  picture 
making  should  step  in  with  economy  of  time  and  more 
or  less  method  of  procedure.  I  have  known  artists 
who  deliberately  kept  everyone  waiting,  who  have 
subordinated  their  work  for  their  private  pleasures, 
but  the  time  has  already  passed  when  such  things  can 
be;  if  an  actor  delays  the  business  of  his  employer 
has  has  no  place  in  filmland  and  his  own  importance  is 
■of  no  importance  to  the  men  who  pay  him  his  salary. 

I  am  a  firm  believer  in  the  future  of  the  industry 
and  it  is  on  a  better  basis  now  than  at  any  time  in  its 
short  history.  One  thing  has  happened  and  is  still 
happening  which  must  please  all  who  have  their 
hearts  in  this  future.  There  is  a  process  of  elimination 
going  on ;  so-called  actors  and  actresses  who  have  but 
their  good  looks  to  uphold  them,  and  careless  workers, 
are  going  by  the  board.  On  the  other  hand,  people  of 
real  merit  are  getting  recognition. 


The  speaking  stage  has  been  a  great  factor  in  this 
improvement.  Artists  of  pronounced  ability  have  been 
attracted  by  necessity  or  choice  to  the  pictures  and 
many  of  them  will  remain.  Of  course  there  have  been 
"stars"  who  have  been  enaged  for  their  names  alone 
and  who  have  not  had  the  necessary  qualifications  for 
screen  work,  but  even  these  have  had  a  good  effect. 
They  have  heightened  the  ambitions  of  the  screen 
artists  and  made  them  think  a  lot  and  they  have  at- 
tracted audiences  by  the  magic  of  their  names  who 
would  not  otherwise  have  been  cajoled  into  a  motion 
picture  theater.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  many  of 
the  speaking  stage  artists  who  have  adopted  the  screen 
as  the  medium  of  their  work  have  come  to  stay  and 
have  improved  conditions  generally.  I  refer  to  those 
who  are  physically  suited  of  course — the  Farnums, 
Douglas  Fairbanks,  Geraldine  Farrar  and  many  others. 

There  are  numerous  artists  of  the  screen  who  hold 
their  own  right  along  and  will  continue  to  do  so  and 
they  are  the  men  and  women  who  have  worked  for 
their  positions  and  have  studied  and  thought.  Quite 
a  majority  of  these  have  had  previous  speaking  stage 
experience,  especially  in  stock,  which,  after  all,  is  the 
best  school  for  screen  actors.  I  refer  to  the  better 
stock  companies,  of  course. 

I  contend  that  the  director  is  the  hardest  worked 
man  in  the  business.  I  also  think  that  the  director 
ought  to  be  the  hardest  worked  man.  A  conscientious 
producer  assumes  that  much.  A  producer  gets  but 
little  time  during  the  day  to  think,  and  to  make  good 
pictures  he  must  use  his  gray  matter  a  lot  and  if  he 
cannot  do  it  during  the  days  he  must  use  it  of  evenings 
and  nights.  The  following  day's  work  must  be  out- 
lined and  the  action  studied  out  carefully  to  get  the 
best  results  in  the  shortest  time  (that  commercial  end 
must  be  kept  always  in  view). 

During  the  day  he  has  enough  to  think  about  in 
forwarding  the  progress  of  the  photoplay,  in  seeing 
that  the  sets  and  properties  are  correct,  in  a  hundred 
and  one  things.  Your  average  director  has  a  very 
earnest  and  serious  outlook  on  life  and  he  gets  puckers 
around  the  eyes  and  tell-tale  lines  on  his  forehead  and 
there  are  times  when  he  has  to  go  away  for  a  short 
time  and  rest,  for  it  is  the  only  time  he  can  get  the 
necessary  recreation. 

Once  and  for  all,  those  who  believe  that  the  di- 
rector's life  is  an  easy  one  should  try  it.  On  the  other 
hand  it  is  absorbing  and  fascinating  in  the  extreme 
and  I  for  one  would  not  do  anything  else  even  if  the 
opportunity  offered.  Take  my  present  position ;  I 
find  that  the  men  at  the  back  of  me  are  only  too  willing 
to  do  all  in  their  power  to  help  their  directors  and  to 
listen  to  them  at  all  times.  They  are  just  as  interested 
in  the  artistic  side  of  the  production  as  they  are  in  the 
financial  side  and  so  it  is  with  many  other  studios.  It 
is  a  privilege  to  be  a  producer  and  even  if  the  work  is 
very,  very  hard  there  are  compensations — such  as  the 
making  of  a  picture  which  is  well  received  and  which 
may  do  some  good — compensations  which  make  up  for 
all  the  worry  and  the  nose-to-the-grindstone  side  of  the 
game. 

The  call  is  out  for  good  producers  and  for  good 
stories  and  those  who  can  fill  the  want  need  not  worry 


412 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


about  the  compensation.  There  are  very  many  who 
can  fill  the  bill  but  where  there  is  a  demand  there  the 
the  supply  will  come  and  there  are  potential  photoplay 
authors  and  directors  coming  along  steadily  and  forc- 
ing the  old-timers  to  keep  pace  with  the  march  of 
progress  and  with  new  innovations  and  ideas. 


NEW  DETECTIVE  SERIAL 

Great  Northern  Film  Company  Announces  Release  of 

"The   Man  with  the  Missing  Finger"   on   State 

Rights  Plan 

The  Great  Northern  Film  Company  announces 
"The  Tragedy  in  the  Villa  Falcon"  as  now  ready  for 
release.  It  is  the  first  of  a  series  of  detective  dramas 
to  be  known  under  the  general  heading  of  "The  Man 
with  the  Missing  Finger."  Each  episode  will  be  com- 
plete in  its  story  and  action,  and,  according  to  present 
plans,  will  be  distributed  on  the  state  rights  plan. 

"The  Tragedy  of  the  Villa  Falcon"  is  in  four  reels, 
and  features  Alfred  Hertel,  a  capable  screen  artist  who 
is  unusually  well  fitted  for  the  leading  role  in  these 
mystery  stories.  The  play  opens  with  the  startling 
news  that  a  wealthy  widow  has  been  robbed  of  her 
jewels  and  murdered.  Harvey  Stacey  and  his  assist- 
ant, George  Warren,  central  office  men,  are  detailed  on 
the  case.. 

A  torn  telegram,  advising  the  widow  of  the  ar- 
rival of  her  nephew,  is  the  only  apparent  clue.  A 
sheet  of  paper,  upon  examination,  reveals  finger  marks 
— one  finger  is  missing.  Stacey  telephones  headquar- 
ters, ordering  a  watch  kept  on  all  railway  stations  for 
a  man  answering  this  rather  vague  description.  Mean- 
while, in  his  house,  Morton,  the  murderer,  decides  to 
make  his  get-away.  His  coat  and  gloves  almost  con- 
ceal his  deformed  hand,  but  at  the  station  a  detective 
"spots"  him. 

Stacey,  notified,  orders  the  train  held.  Morton  be- 
comes uneasy  and  attempts  to  escape.  Pursued,  he 
reaches  home  and  disguises  himself  as  an  old  woman. 
Later  he  wires  Warren  to  hurry  to  the  Villa  Falcon. 
The  detective  falls  into  the  trap  and  is  overpowered. 
Stacey,  suspicious  at  receiving  such  a  message,  enters 
the  place,  but  leaves  four  policemen  in  the  near  vicinity. 
He  also  is  overpowered.  But  he  manages  to  fire  a  pistol, 
whereupon  the  police  rush  in,  rescue  the  detectives,  and 
place  the  desperadoes  under  arrest. 


Liquor  Dealers  Fight  Films 

The  National  Retail  Liquor  Dealers'  Association, 
at  the  conclusion  of  its  annual  conference  in  Wash- 
ington on  February  4,  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions 
included  in  which  was  one  criticizing  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  as  follows : 

"Another  unfair  and  dishonest  advantage  is  being 
perpetrated  upon  the  liquor  business  is  that  of  the 
moving  picture  industry.  In  the  vast  majority  of  dis- 
plays of  mining  picture  films  portraying  the  conditions 
surrounding  the  retail  liquor  trade  have  been  so  pre- 
posterously untruthfully  magnified  by  those  operators 
who  are  paid  vast  sums  by  the  opposition  to  our  busi- 
ness for  the  purpose  of  developing  to  an  unreasonable 
degree  of  untruthfulness,  displays  of  scenes  of  actual 
occurrences  in  legitimate  bar  rooms,  and, 

"Whereas,  such  displays  have  had  ils  mislead- 
ing effects  upon  the  mind  of  the  public,  particularly 
that  of  the  women  and  children,  we  realize  how  much 


sentiment  and  damage  could  be  developed  through  this 
system,  and, 

"Whereas,  we  believe  that  the  vast  majority  of 
moving  picture  show  house  proprietors  are  indifferent 
and  fail  to  realize  the  injustice  perpetrated  upon  our 
business  by  displays  of  a  radical  character,  and  who, 
if  rightfully  informed,  would  no  doubt  discourage  the 
untruthful  and  unreal  exhibition  of  such  films,  and 

"Be  it  Resolved,  that  the  twenty-third  annual 
convention  of  the  National  Retail  Liquor  Dealers'  As- 
sociation of  America  go  on  record  as  being  in  hearty 
accord  with  the  provisions  contained  in  these  resolu- 
tions, and  that  they  use  every  effort  within  their  or- 
ganized power  to  compel  public  consideration  for  the 
trade's  welfare  from  the  brewing  industries  of  this 
country,  from  the  public  press  of  the  country,  from 
the  moving  picture  industry  of  the  country,  and  from 
other  sources  that  profit,  to  a  great  extent,  by  the  con- 
ditions emanating  from  the  retail  liquor  industry  of 
this  country,  and, 

"Be  it  Further  Resolved,  that  all  delegates  to  this 
convention  be  instructed  to  carry  back  to  their  respective 
organizations  the  desire  of  this  convention,  through  the 
adopting  of  these  resolutions,  that  the  same  may  have  an 
enthusiastic  effect  upon  the  legitimate  retail  trade  organ- 
ized or  otherwise." 


FLORIDA  INVITES  PRODUCERS 

Jacksonville  Mayor  Opens  Bureau  of  Information  for 

Manufacturers   Seeking  Studio  Property 

in  Sunny  Climate 

In  an  effort  to  induce  motion  picture  concerns  to 
establish  studios  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Mayor  Bowden 
of  that  city  is  co-operating  with  the  owners  of  sites 
that  would  be  suitable  to  the  needs  of  the  producers. 
This  information  is  to  be  on  file  for  the  convenience  of 
motion  picture  men  seeking  locations. 

In  this  and  many  other  ways  the  city  officials  of 
Jacksonville  are  trying  to  encourage  the  building  up  of 
the  industry  in  their  town  and  information  has  been 
sent  broadcast  to  various  film  concerns  giving  them 
such  facts  as  may  be  valuable  to  any  concerns  con- 
templating the  removal  of  their  studios  from  one  part 
of  the  country  to  another. 

A  recent  statement  issued  by  Mayor  Bowden 
warns  the  public  against  attempting  to  charge  for  the 
privilege  of  taking  pictures.  This  warning  was  issued 
by  the  mayor  after  two  complaints  had  been  made  by 
companies  in  Jacksonville.  One  company  was  asked 
to  pay  $7  for  the  privilege  of  taking  a  picture  of  a 
church.  In  the  other  case  the  owner  of  a  residence 
demanded  pay  for  the  photographing  of  his  property. 

The  mayor  advised  the  people  of  Jacksonville  in 
his  statement  that  companies  with  annual  payroll  of 
$30,000,000  threatened  to  quit  Los  Angeles.  Cal.,  on 
account  of  just  such  practices  and  if  Jacksonville  is  to 
win  the  patronage  of  the  motion  picture  people  through 
their  building  plants  in  Jacksonville  it  is  essential  that 
the  city  profit  through  the  mistakes  of  other  cities  by 
avoiding  those  troubles. 


Sinking  into  quicksands  is  a  "mussy"  affair,  ac- 
cording to  Anna  Little,  who  had  the  lead  in  the  "Quag- 
mire." She  was  not  frightened  at  the  ordeal,  hut  she 
had  to  have  a  still  picture  taken  while  she  was  muddy 
and  shivering  after  she  had  been  rescued  by  Tom  Chat- 
terton. 


FebrUaky   19,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


413 


Barrymore  Shy  1  20  Pounds 

Lionel  Barrymore  has  lost  120  pounds  during  the 
past  year  through  a  system  of  diet  and  exercise,  much 
of  it  during  his  training  at  the  Muldoon  farm.  The 
effects  of  this  reduction  are  shown  particularly  in  his 
appearance  in  "A 
Yellow  Streak,"  the 
Metro  picture  he  last 
played  in.  Recently 
Mr.  Barrymore 
dropped  into  a  the- 
ater to  see  again  a 
picture  in  which  he 
played  several  years 
ago,  when  he  still 
possessed  the  lost 
120  pounds.  A  wom- 
an seated  near  Mr. 
Barrymore  had  also 
seen  "The  Yellow 
Streak"  a  few  weeks 
before,  and  great 
was  her  astonish- 
ment at  Barrymore's 
appearance  in  this 
picture. 

"I  never  saw 
anyone  get  so  fat  in 
a  short  time,"  she 
exclaimed.  "Why,  three  weeks  ago  in  'The  Yellow 
Streak'  he  was  as  thin  as  a  razor,  and  look  at  him 
now!" 

Her    friend    assured    her    that    he    was    probably 
"blown  up"  like  a  clown  in  a  circus. 

Julius  Cowles,  who  plays  character  parts  in  Metro 
pictures  and  who  was  last  seen  with  Francis  Bush- 
man and  Beverley  Bayne  in  "Man  and  His  Soul,"  is 
suffering  from  a  nervous  breakdown  and  pain  in  his 
eyes,  due  to  continuous  studio  work.  His  physician 
has  ordered  him  to  give  up  motion  pictures  for  a  time 
and  do  some  light  work  in  the  open  air.  The  light 
work  Mr.  Cowles  selected  was  helping  keep  New  York 
streets  clear  from  snow,  and  he  is  now  "Number 
6389"  in  "Squad  12,  Department  of  Street  Cleaning." 
In  the  evenings  he  writes  poetry  for  the  magazines. 
Arthur  Hoops,  another  Metro  player,  now  sup- 
porting Mme.  Petrova  in  "The  Soul  Market,"  was 
claimed  recently  as  a  long  lost  son  by  an  English  gen- 
tleman who  saw  him  in  the  Famous  Players'  produc- 
tion of  "Such  a  Little  Queen."  Mr.  Hoops  explained 
that  he  was  born  in  this  country  and  was  not  the  man 
who  ran  away  from  an  English  home  about  thirty 
years  ago.  He  was  able  to  tell  the  man,  however,  of 
another  Arthur  Hoops  whom  he  met  in  Australia  when 
playing  there  with  Nat  Goodwin  several  years  ago, 
who  had  come  from  England,  and  it  may  be  that  he 
is  the  missing  son. 


Sees  Her  Father  in  Pathe  Film 

Learning  that  Miss  Marjorie  Maude,  daughter  of 
Cyril  Maude,  was  to  be  in  Cincinnati  with  the  Paga- 
nini  company,  C.  E.  Holah,  manager  of  the  Pathe  of- 
fice there,  made  arrangements  to  give  a  private  show- 
ing for  her  of  the  Gold  Rooster  Play,  "The  Greater 
Will."  The  occasion  was  made  much  of  by  Miss  Maude 
as  it  was  the  first  time  that  she  had  had  a  chance  to 
see  her  father,  who  was  on  the  screen,  in  many  months 


and  she  readily  accepted  the  invitation,  as  did  George 
Arliss,  of  the  same  company,  Paul  Gordon,  Miss 
Maude's  fiance,  Charles  Wiegel,  a  Cincinnati  exhibitor, 
and  several  others.  In  a  short  time  Mr.  Holah  expects 
to  have  Mr.  Maude  himself  as  his  guest,  as  the  latter 
is  expected  in  Cincinnati  in  a  few  weeks  with 
"Grumpy,"  in  which  the  famous  actor  is  touring.  Mr. 
Holah  also  had  the  honor  of  showing  C.  Aubrey  Smith 
a  run  of  "John  Clayde's  Honor,"  another  Gold  Rooster 
play,  in  which  Mr.  Smith  was  starred. 


PSYCHOLOGY  OF  DECORATION 

Lubin  to  Release  "Her  Bleeding  Heart"  February  28 
Through  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Showing  New  Policy  Re- 
garding Decorative  Scenery 

In  keeping  with  its  recent  announcement  that 
quality  would  be  the  keynote  of  its  output  for  the  com- 
ing year,  the  Lubin  Manufacturing  Company  has  in- 
stituted a  new  departure  in  the  making  of  motion  pic- 
tures that  is  destined  to  bring  praise  from  all  those 
interested  in  the  photoplay  and  its  making.  The  first 
example  of  this  innovation  will  be  seen  in  "Her  Bleed- 
ing Heart,"  a  multiple  reel  subject  written  by  Daniel 
Carson  Goodman,  which  will  be  released  by  the  Lubin 
Manufacturing  Company,  February  28,  on  the  V.  L. 
S.  E.  program. 

Allen  Farnham,  Lubin's  technical  director,  to- 
gether with  Dr.  Goodman  and  Jack  Pratt,  who  di- 
rected the  picture,  are  responsible  for  this  new  con- 
dition, which  can  best  be  described  as  "the  psychology 
of  decoration." 

Mr.  Farnham  has  been  at  work  for  several  weeks 
preparing  sketches  and  plans  for  the  visualizing  of 
his  theories  regarding  interior  decoration,  with  the 
result  that  in  "Her  Bleeding  Heart"  will  be  seen  for 
the  first  time  settings,  properties  and  other  adjuncts 
all  chosen  and  combined  to  harmonize  with  the  characters 
appearing  in  the  scenes  and  the  actions  coincidental  with 
their  appearance. 

In  a  recent  interview  Siegmund  Lubin  strongly 
emphasized  his  views  on  the  future  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture and  its  value  as  an  educational  factor  in  public 
life.  And  his  latest  experiment  has  proven  his  judg- 
ment correct  when  he  stated  that  the  motion  picture 
of  the  future  will  be  both  educational  and  scientific. 

It  has  been  customary  in  the  past  for  the  femi- 
nine portion  of  an  audience  attending  a  photoplay  to 
eagerly  look  forward  to  and  hail  with  delight  that  por- 
tion of  the  entertainment  wherein  the  "Modes  of  the 
•  Moment"  are  displayed,  and  so  great  was  the  interest 
aroused  by  the  showing  of  the  first  of  these  fashion 
films,  that  they  quickly  became  a  regular  feature  on 
every  exhibitor's  program.  But  in  this  new  feature 
their  interest  should  be  even  greater  because  this 
"decorative  ensemble"  will  appeal  to  everyone  who 
views  a  motion  picture. 

Its  benefit  to  those  who  specialize  in  interior  deco- 
ration is  immeasurable — and  the  educational  advan- 
tages of  Lubin  photoplays  are  apparent  in  that  they 
afford  the  patrons  of  motion  pictures  an  opportunity 
to  witness,  criticise  and  appropriate  to  their  own  use 
any  of  the  ideas  reflected  on  the  screen. 

This  privilege  should  appeal  to  those  artistically 
inclined,  and  who  either  from  lack  of  information  on 
the  subject,  or  indecision  regarding  their  own  tastes^ 
have  been  prevented  from  having  their  own  surround- 
ings as  beautiful  as  thev  would  wish. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


WILL  APPEAL  CUSTOMS  CASE 

Treasury  Department  Will  Ask  Customs  Court  of  Ap- 
peals  to   Review    Decision    Declaring   Pathescope 
Dutiable  at  25  Per  Cent  Ad  Valorem 

The  Treasury  Department  in  Washington  will 
appeal  to  the  United  States  Customs  Court  of  Appeals 
from  a  recent  decision  of  the  United  States  Board  of 
General  Appraisers  holding  that  motion  picture  ma- 
chines known  as  Pathescopes  are  dutiable  under  the 
tariff  act  at  25  per  cent  ad  valorem  and  not  35  per 
cent  as  assessed  by  the  collector  of  customs  at  New 
York. 

The  machines  were  imported  without  the  projection 
lens,  lamp,  and  lamp  house,  and  reels.  They  are  com- 
posed of  metal  and  weigh  about  50  pounds.  The  col- 
lector at  New  York  classified  them  under  paragraph 
93  of  the  tariff  act  of  1913  as  "optical  instruments  and 
frames  and  mountings  for  the  same  not  specially  pro- 
vided for,"  and  assessed  duty  at  35  per  cent  ad  va- 
lorem. The  board  held  that  the  machines  were  dutiable 
under  paragraph  94,  covering  "photographic  and  pro- 
jection lenses  and  frames  and  mountings  for  the  same." 
In  its  decision,  the  board  says  in  part : 

An  optical  instrument  pertains  to  the  science  of 
optics,  and  Congress  by  specifically  mentioning  spec- 
tacles, eyeglasses,  and  goggles,  opera  and  field  glasses, 
and  microscopes,  and  then  specifically  stating,  in 
paragraph  93,  'optical  instruments,'  did  not  intend  to 
include  within  that  term  the  articles  mentioned  or 
similar  articles,  but  rather  instruments  used  for  optical 
purposes  by  which  vision  is  corrected  or  tested,  such 
as  the  instruments  used  by  opticians  in  testing  sight 
or  examining  the  eye,  or  used  in  the  science  of  optics, 
and  not,  as  claimed  by  the  government  here,  for  wind- 
ing or  unwinding  a  reel  of  film,  as  does  this  50-pound 
machine,  that  there  may  be  thrown  upon  a  canvas  a 
view  of  an  object.  We  do  not  feel  like  engrafting  upon 
the  statute  by  a  judicial  construction  that  which  alone 
should  be  placed  there  by  legislative  enactment." 

The  assistant  attorney  general  has  been  requested 
to  file  in  the  name  of  the  secretary  of  the  treasury 
an  application  with  the  Customs  Court  of  Appeals  for 
a  review  of  the  decision. 


Abrams  Exploits  Melies  Films 

Jacques  Earl  Abrams  has  become  the  special  rep- 
resentative of  the  Knickerbocker  Star  Features  and 
Vim  Comedies  of  New  York.  Mr.  Abrams  will  go 
among  the  exchanges  and  exhibitors  throughout  the 
entire  United  States,  representing  these  two  popular 
brands,  which  have  been  making  rapid  progress  to 
the  front  in  the  film  trade. 

Mr.  Abrams  knows  the  picture  business  "from 
script  to  screen."  He  has  had  about  five  years'  experi- 
ence as  exhibitor,  writer,  actor,  director,  technical  di- 
rector and  general  representative  of  important  com- 
panies. 

Several  popular  vaudeville  acts  are  credited  to  Mr. 
Abrams.  Mr.  Abrams  was  graduated  from  acting  be- 
fore the  camera  at  the  Balboa  studios,  becoming  a  di- 
rector and  finally  technical  director  for  that  company. 

Directly  on  signing  with  the  Knickerbocker  Star 
Features  Mr.  Abrams  went  to  Boston  and  From  there 
he  will  tour  the  entire  middle  west  and  south  with  the 
Melies  products.  The  Knickerbocker  "star  features" 
and  i  lie  Vim  comedies  are  released  on  the  General  Film 


program,  Thursdays  and  Fridays  of  each  week.  Mr. 
Abrams  will  confer  with  exhibitors  generally,  endeavor 
to  learn  their  wants  and  announce  to  them  the  future 
plans  of  the  Melies  Company  to  supply  the  trade  with 
the  best  dramas  and  comedies  which  can  be  made 
today. 


High  to  Direct  Ethel  Barrymore 

William  High,  the  Metro  director,  who  recently 
completed  "Her  Debt  of  Honor,"  and  "A  Yellow 
Streak,"  will  direct  the  work  of  the  new  Ethel  Barry- 
more  picture,  "The  Kiss  of  Hate."  Mr.  High  was 
agreeably  surprised  recently  when  he  walked  into  a 
New  York  hotel  and  found  five  members  of  the  cast  of 
"Off  the  Road,"  a  play  which  Mr.  High  wrote  while  a 
student  at  the  University  of  California,  eating  to- 
gether, all  having  accidentally  selected  the  same  place 
for  noonday  luncheon.  The  five  are  now  playing  in 
New  York  successes. 


Rothapfel  Changes  Knickerbocker  Plans 

A  change  of  policy  for  the  Knickerbocker  theater 
in  New  York  has  been  announced  by  S.  L.  Rothapfel, 
manager,  which  will  take  immediate  effect.  The  semi- 
weekly  program  will  be  done  away  with  and  a  single 
program  each  week  will  be  resumed  so  that  a  photo- 
play that  has  proved  its  worth  can  be  continued  so 
the  public  will  get  a  good  chance  to  see  it.  As  the 
initial  releasing  house  for  the  Triangle  films,  the 
Knickerbocker  has  followed  a  policy  of  changing  pro- 
grams each  Sunday  and  Thursday  so  that  each  of  the 
new  productions  of  the  Triangle  corporation's  trium- 
virate of  producers,  Messrs.  D.  W.  Griffith,  Thomas 
H.  Ince  and  Mack  Sennett,  can  be  shown  in  order  of 


Miss  Margaret  Turnbull,  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
staff  of  writers,  made  her  first  visit  to  New  York  in 
more  than  a  year's  time,  having  been  on  the  Pacific 
coast  writing  feature  plays,  including  Mark  Twain's 
"Pudd'nhead  Wilson."  She  also  had  time  to  write  a 
novel,  "Handle  with  Care,"  which  has  just  been  pub- 
lished by  Harper  &  Brothers. 


During  the  week  of  February  14  the  New  York 
branch  of  the  Fox  Film  Corporation  celebrates  the 
completion  of  William  Fox's  second  year  as  a  pro- 
ducer of  feature  films. 


Two   i 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


415 


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the  flesh  added  greatly  to  the  importance  of  the  open- 
ing ceremonies.  Those  in  the  party  were  Miss  Mar- 
guerite Courtot,  Miss  Gertrude  Robinson,  Miss  Lucille 
Taft,  Miss  Helen  Marten,  Miss  Mildred  Gregory,  Al- 
exander Gaden  and  Sydney  Mason.  Each  made  a 
short  talk  from  the  stage.  The  house  was  crowded 
to  the  doors,  and  the  reception  was  extremely  cordial. 


iv    Triangle-Fine    Art 

:.    M.    and    S.    A.    Fr 

Eugene    Pallette    am. 


play,  "Martha's  Vindication. 
nklin  at  work.  In  backgroun 
Norma    Talmadge. 


GAUMONT  COMPANY  BUSY 

Many  Important  Mutual  "Masterpictures"  Are  Being 

Made  at  the  Jacksonville,  Florida, 

Winter  Quarters 

The  Gaumont  Company  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  has 
"been  especially  busy  this  month.  The  policy  of  giving 
a  director  time  to  prepare  for  a  new  production  is 
meeting  with  unqualified  success.  Three  big  feature 
photoplays  are  always  in  work,  while  the  fourth  di- 
rector is  planning  his  next  production. 

The  first  three  February  releases  are  "As  a 
Woman  Sows,"  "The  Idol  of  the  Stage"  and  the  first 
Marguerite  Courtot  photoplay,  "The  Dead  Alive." 
Director  William  F.  Haddock  is  just  filming  the  last 
scenes  of  "I  Accuse,"  the  Marjorie  Howe  story  pic- 
turized  by  George  D.  Proctor,  Gaumont  scenario  edi- 
tor. It  will  be  released  February  21,  with  Alexander 
Gaden  in  the  leading  role.  Miss  Helen  Marten  is  play- 
ing opposite  him. 

The  first  March  release  Gaumont  will  make  as 
a  Mutual  "masterpicture,"  de  luxe  edition,  will  be 
"According  to  the  Law."  For  this  production,  directed 
by  Richard  Garrick,  supervising  director  of  Gaumont 
stock  companies,  Howard  Hall  has  been  secured.  Mr. 
Hall  is  an  actor  of  forceful  personality,  who  recently 
has  turned  to  the  screen.  He  has  been  featured  in 
numerous  Broadway  productions  and  has  starred  at 
the  head  of  his  own  company  for  years.  "According 
to  the  Law"  was  written  bv  Paul  M.  Bryan  and  Toseph 
H.  Trant. 

An  East  Indian  village  is  now  rising  on  the  water 
front  along  the  St.  Johns  river  opposite  the  city  of 
Jacksonville.  Here  Director  Edwin  Middleton  is  al- 
ready taking  scenes  of  East  Indian  life,  which  is  the 
setting  for  a  story  written  by  O.  A.  Nelson. 

Marguerite  Courtot  will  be  the  star  in  the  next 
photodrama  to  be  directed  by  Henry  J.  Vernot  for 
Gaumont.  Paul  M.  Bryan,  who  wrote  "The  Idol  of 
the  Stage,"  has  written  the  new  play  with  Miss  Cour- 
tot in  mind.  It  is  called  "Feathertop,"  from  the  story 
of  this  name  by  Nathaniel  Hawthorne. 

To  make  memorable  the  inauguration  of  Mutual 
"masterpicture"  service  at  the  Lyric  theater,  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  the  Gaumont  company  sent  several  stars  from 
its  winter  studios  at  Jacksonville.     Their  presence  in 


''Salamander"  State  Rights  Going  Rapidly 

Always  a  firm  believer  in  the  state  rights  method 
of  disposing  of  motion  pictures,  B.  S.  Moss'  faith  has 
been  justified  through  the  wonderful  sale  of  his  latest 
release,  "The  Salamander,"  which  is  taken  from  the 
book  by  Owen  Johnson. 

During  a  single  week,  Mr.  Moss  disposed  of  fif- 
teen states.  Among  the  prominent  film  concerns  who 
purchased  territory  were  the  Amalgamated  Feature 
Photo  Company,  who  secured  New  York  City,  New 
York  state  and  northern  New  Jersey;  Union  Film 
Supply  Company  of  Boston,  the  New  England  states ; 
Central  Film  Company,  Chicago,  Illinois  and  Indiana; 
L.  Santikos,  Texas  and  Oklahoma,  and  Edwards  Nuss- 
baum,  California,  Nevada  and  Arizona. 

The  rights  for  Australia  and  New  Zealand  have 
been  absorbed  by  the  Australasian  Film  Company, 
Ltd.  Millard  Johnson,  the  New  York  representative, 
engineered  the  deal,  and  a  record  price  was  achieved. 

Another  instance  of  the  popularity  of  "The  Sal- 
amander" is  attested  by  the  fact  that  this  picture  has 
usurped  the  German  War  Pictures  at  the  La  Salle 
theater,  Chicago,  and  has  settled  down  for  a  run. 


Burton  Rice  Now  Universal  Artist 

Chicago  lost  one  of  its  cleverest  younger  artists 
when  the  advertising  department  of  the  Universal 
home  office  induced  Burton  Rice  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence in  New  York  and  be  one  of  its  staff.  Mr.  Rice's 
work  in  modern  art  has  been  among  the  notable 
achievements  of  Chicago's  commercial  art  circles.  His 
poster  designs  especially  have  been  the  cause  of  much 
favorable  comment.  Although  always  a  creative  de- 
partment and  the  home  of  much  unique  ad  copy,  the 
Universal  advertising  department  is  now  turning  out 
its  best  work — and  it  is  of  the  kind  which  compels 
attention.  In  Mr.  Rice,  Nat  G.  Rothstein  and  Ray 
Cavanaugh  find  a  most  capable  co-worker. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


an  ti  wa  in 


legates  arrive  in   Copenhagen.  Denmark.    Universal   We 


February   19,   1916. 


Charles  R  Condon 


This    publication    is    free    and 
dependent    of    all    business    or    hoi 
connections    or    control.      No    mar 
fact.urer    or    supply    dealer,    or    th 
—    representatives,    h: 


stockholders    < 


I    Class    Mall    Matter 


MOTOGRAPHY 

THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL  ^"^ 

PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  19,  1916 


Number  8 


New  Showmen  Versus  Old 


THE  old  order  changeth.  The  old  order  of  motion  picture  exhibitor  was  the  man  who  had 
run  circus  side  shows,  carnival  concessions  and  summer  park  specialties.  He  represented 
as  generous,  open-hearted  and  happy  a  type  of  gentleman  as  ever  entertained  the  public.  His 
ambitions  ran  either  to  the  accumulation  of  a  modest  pile  "while  the  game  was  good"  (for  he 
gave  it  little  credit  for  permanency)  or  to  the  comfortable  filling  of  the  house  he  had  and  a 
good  living.  The  old  showman !  He  was  a  fine  type.  The  picture  theater  business  owes  him 
much,  little  as  he  dreamed  of  its  future.  Some  of  him  are  still  with  it,  for  they  were  big 
enough  to  readjust  their  ideas  and  grow  to  their  opportunity.  Many  have  dropped  behind, 
and  gradually  they  will  be  eliminated  by  the  inexorable  urge  of  progress. 

The  new  showman  is  a  business  man.  Some  of  us  are  prone  to  criticize  him,  or  at  least 
to  regard  him  doubtfully,  because,  we  say,  "he  doesn't  know  the  film  business."  But  while 
we  wonder  at  his  temerity  he  makes  good;  and  presently  his  establishment  is  one  of  the  best 
and  his  profits  a  thing  of  envy.  It  doesn't  seem  to  matter  what  he  was  before.  He  may  have 
been  a  lawyer  or  a  wholesale  grocer  or  a  manufacturer.  He  not  only  does  not  know  the  film 
business ;  he  does  not  know  anything  about  any  kind  of  shows  or  show  folks.  Yet  he  succeeds, 
and  the  old  showman  drops  out  with  a  sigh.  Which  only  proves  that  the  show  business  is 
really  a  business,  and  wants  business  men. 

And  that  is  just  where  the  old  showman  falls  short,  if  anywhere.  He  was  never  a  busi- 
ness man  in  the  modern  commercial  sense — never  pretended  nor  wanted  to  be.  He  knew  banks 
only  as  places  to  deposit  surplus  cash — and  that  mostly  theoretically.  His  figuring  of  costs 
and  interest  on  investment  was  primitive,  because  he  needed  nothing  more  complex.  He  was 
"easy  going"  because  he  was  happier  that  way  and  it  didn't  matter.  He  was  a  good  politician, 
a  good  mixer  and  fixer,  and  as  sharp  as  a  needle  when  he  was  up  against  a  sharp  opponent. 
But  as  a  rule  he  never  figured  himself  into  a  million  dollar  investment  in  permanent  prop- 
erty, and  never  imagined  himself  as  "one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  community." 

The  motidn  picture  business  is  not  a  secret  society.  It  is  not  even  a  highly  technical  pro- 
fession, like  engineering.  Good  film  men  are  made,  not  born — except,  of  course,  in  the  pro- 
duction end,  where  genius  still  reigns  and  always  will.  The  good  business  man — and  most  of 
our  readers  will  know  exactly  what  we  mean  by  that  vague  and  seemingly  meaningless  term 
— will  succeed  in  the  film  business  as  .readily  as  he  would  in  any  other  line.  They  are  doing  it 
every  day.  The  new  showman  comes  out  of  the  sordid,  practical,  counting  room  atmosphere 
of  what  we  know  broadly  as  "business,"  and  immediately  the  old  showman  finds  him  a  swift 
and  positive  competitor. 

The  "old  school"  showman  still  can  shoot  the  rapids  of  the  quickening  stream  of  progress 
and  enter  the  deep  waters  of  success  right  side  up.  But  to  do  it  he  must  change  to  the  new 
school  of  showmanship.  If  he  resists  the  current  of  activity  he  will  find  himself  lashed  to  the 
mast,  watching  others  go  past,  until  his  patronage  deserts  him  and  his  little  investment  fades 
away.     Only  by  plunging  boldly  into  the  torrent  and  following   the    channels   already   well 


418  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 

known  to  the  pilots  of  other  kinds  of  business  can  he  hope  to  master  the  situation  developed 
by  the  wonderful  success  of  the  industry  as  a  whole. 

The  show  business  a  few  years  ago  was  an  incident.  Now,  thanks  to  the  motion  picture, 
that  branch  of  it  alone  is  the  fifth  industry  of  the  United  States.  Every  exhibitor  member  of 
it  must  measure  up  to  that  importance.  No  longer  can  he  represent  a  happy-go-lucky,  irre- 
sponsible, improvident  and  unprogressive  "game."  He  is  now  the  responsible  and  dignified 
representative  of  Big  Business. 


Advertising  Films  and  Slides 

EVERY  little  while  a  brief  but  spirited  discussion  breaks  out  about  putting  advertising  films 
and  slides  on  the  screen.  These  discussions  always  revolve  about  the  question  of  ethics 
rather  than  the  economic  side  of  the  subject.  The  exhibitor  who  aspires  to  the  reputation 
of  running  a  perfect  house  usually  takes  the  attitude  that  advertising  on  his  screen,  especially 
the  kind  that  usurps  the  position  of  the  regular  program,  lowers  the  artistic  standard  of  his 
show. 

The  logic  of  this  position  is  good.  Nevertheless,  the  economic  phase  of  the  question 
deserves  attention. 

The  exhibitor  who  is  already  running  the  best  program  money  can  rent,  and  making  a 
fair  profit  on  his  investment,  need  not  be  interested  in  advertising  films  and  slides.  He  is  jus- 
tified in  being  a  bear  on  the  subject.  But  the  exhibitor  who  is  merely  running  the  best  pro- 
gram he  can  afford,  and  who  wishes  he  could  spend  more  money  for  service,  really  owes  it 
to  his  patronage  to  consider  the  advertising  picture. 

It  is  obvious  by  the  simplest  kind  of  arithmetic  that  the  exhibitor  who  runs  advertising 
pictures  and  gets  paid  for  them  will  have  more  money  to  spend  for  program.  His  patrons, 
therefore,  instead  of  paying  higher  admission  prices,  pay  a  few  minutes  of  their  time  for  a 
better  show.  We  believe  the  average  patron  of  a  neighborhood  theater  would  rather  pay 
five  minutes  more  time  spent  in  looking  at  advertising  slides  than  pay  five  cents  more  money 
for  his  ticket. 

The  test  of  the  show  is  with  the  people  who  attend  it.  The  final  decision  does  not  rest 
with  the  exhibitor — every  film  man  with  experience  and  horse  sense  knows  that.  Therefore 
the  question  of  ethics  is  not  nearly  so  important  as  it  seems  at  first  blush — or  rather  let  us 
say  the  question  of  advertising  pictures  is  not  nearly  so  ethical  as  it  first  appears. 

The  exhibitor  can  give  his  people  their  choice  between  a  sixty-minute  mediocre  show, 
and  a  sixty-five  or  seventy-minute  show  of  which  five  or  ten  minutes  are  given  to  advertising 
and  all  the  rest  to  the  best  program  to  be  had.  There  is  food  for  more  than  hasty  thought 
in  the  situation. 

We  agree  that  there  is  no  excuse  for  running  advertising  pictures  solely  for  the  direct 
profit  there  is  in  them.  The  exhibitor  who  regards  them  as  representing  merely  so  much 
extra  pocket  money,  so  much  velvet,  is  apt  to  be  disappointed.  It  does  not  always  work  out 
that  way.  But  if  he  takes  that  money  from  the  advertisers  and  gives  it  to  the  people  in  the 
shape  of  better  shows,  there  may  be  considerable  merit  in  it. 

In  all  this  argument  we  are  assuming  that  advertising  films  and  slides  are  not  pleasing  in 
themselves.  That  is  not  entirely  true.  Some  of  them  are  pretty  bad,  but  some  are  better. 
They  can  be  made  good  enough  to  be  interesting,  just  as  advertising  pages  in  a  magazine  are 
made  interesting.  People  read  magazine  advertising  from  choice ;  they  don't  have  to.  Adver- 
tising pictures  on  the  screen  that  are  as  good  as  advertising  pages  in  print  need  carry  no 
apology  to  the  patrons  of  the  theater. 

To  sum  up  the  situation,  the  exhibitor  who  will  show  only  the  best  of  advertising  slides 
and  films,  and  who  will  turn  the  revenue  from  his  advertisers  over  to  his  exchange  for  better 
film  service,  has  an  opportunity  worth  some  thought.  Before  he  discards  it  entirely  he  should 
consider  whether  there  is  any  other  way  in  which  he  can  give  his  patrons  as  much  value  for 
their  admission  price.  For  they  will  never  begrudge  him  five  or  ten  minutes  use  of  the  screen 
when  they  can  see  that  he  has  greatly  improved  the  general  quality  of  his  show  without  ask- 
ing them  to  contribute  to  its  improvement. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Ne'er  Do  Well" 

Selig  Diamond  Special  Ten-Part  Feature  from  Novel 
by  Rex  Beach.  Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

ROMANCE,  adventure,  danger,  elements  which  after  all 
form  the  strongest  appeal  in  any  story  or  play,  make 
"The  Ne'er  Do  Well"  a  picture  which  should  interest  any 
audience.     There  is  romance  in  the  .setting  of  the  story,  with 


The  Ne-er-do-well." 


the  energy  and  force  of  the  American  work  of  building  the 
canal  contrasted  with  the  dreamy,  old  world  life  of  the 
natives.  And  adventure  and  danger  are  never  lacking  in  the 
career  of  Kirk  Anthony,  the  "ne'er  do  well."  With  a  good 
story,  well  produced,  against  a  background  which  would  be 
interesting  for  its  own  sake,  and  with  well  drawn  types  of 
characters,  the  play  is,  as  announced,  "a  worthy  successor  to 
'The  Spoilers,'  "  and  should  make  as  great  an  appeal  as  that 
favorite. 

The  hero  of  the  story,  played  by  Wheeler  Oakman,  is 
Kirk  Anthony,  son  of  a  railroad  millionaire,  a  youth  who 
spends  his  time  getting  into  trouble  at  college,  to  the  disgust 
of  his  father.  Frank  Clark  portrays  excellently  this  strong- 
minded,  self-made  old  chap,  who  has  no  time  for  the  frivoli- 
ties which  interest  his  son.  The  story  begins  when  Kirk  and 
a  group  of  college  chums  are  celebrating  very  enthusiastic- 
ally a  football  victory.  And  the  recklessness  of  this  celebra- 
tion  strikes  the  keynote  of  Kirk's  character. 

When  Kirk  comes  to  his  senses  the  next  morning,  he  is 
sick,  moneyless,  and  aboard  a  ship  whose  next  stop  is  Colon, 
Panama.  Kirk  never  knows  just  what  happened,  although  it 
is  explained  in  the  play.  He  tries  in  vain  to  send  a  message, 
collect,  to  his  father,  then  spends  the  rest  of  his  time  flirting 
with  Mrs.  Courtlandt,  played  by  Kathlyn  Williams,  the  wife 
of  a  diplomat  also  bound  for  the  canal  zone. 

In  Colon,  Kirk  is  taken  care  of  by  the  U.  S.  consul,  until 
an  answer  to  a  telegram  sent  to  Anthony,  Senior,  states  that 
"the  young  man  is  an  impostor.  I  have  no  son,"  when  Kirk 
realizes  that  his  father  has  carried  out  his  threat  of  disown- 
ing him  and  that  he  must  shift  for  himself.  The  first  thing 
he  does  is  to  get  in  a  fight  when  he  tries  to  introduce  Amer- 
ican ideas  in  fire  fighting,  and  to  be  put  in  jail.  The  story, 
which  has  been  going  rather  slowly,  really  gets  under  way 
at  this  point.  The  fire  scene,  with  views  of  native  types  of 
men,  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  play.  It  is  at  this  point  that 
Kirk  meets  Allan  Allan,  one  of  the  most  amusing  characters 
in  the  play,  played  by  Jack  McDonald.  Hence  forward  he 
is  Kirk's  valet  and  bodyguard. 

Mrs.  Courtlandt  at  this  point  proves  Kirk's  friend,  and 
gets  him  a  position  in  the  government  work  on  the  canal. 
She  also  tries,  vainly,  to  win  the  boy's  love.  Kirk,  at  this 
time,  meets  and  loves  Chiquita  Garavel,  a  Spanish  girl,  played 
by  Norma  Nichols.  His  rival  is  Ramon  Alfarez,  command- 
ante   of  police,  amusingly  played  by  Sidney  Smith.     A  very 


funny  scene  is  that  first  call  which  Kirk  pays  on  Chiquita, 
under  the  watchful  eye  of  her   dignified  father  and  mother. 

Afraid  lest  her  parents  force  her  to  marry  Ramon,  who 
can  help  her  father,  Kirk  secretly  marries  Chiquita.  In  the 
meantime,  Kirk's  love  affair  comes  to  the  attention  of  Mrs. 
Courtlandt,  who  is  furious.  She  shows  so  plainly  her  infatua- 
tion for  the  young  man  that  her  husband  becomes  blindly 
jealous  and  quarrels  with  Kirk.  A  little  later  Courtlandt  is 
found  dead  and  Kirk  is  accused  of  the  crime.  Mrs.  Court- 
landt holds  a  note  which  will  exonerate  Kirk,  but  she  delays 
in  producing  it,  until  Kirk's  father,  who  comes  to  protect  his 
son,  begs  her  to  do  so.  Then  Kirk  is  freed,  the  secret  is 
revealed  and  forgiven,  and  all  ends  well. 

There  are  several  interesting  views  of  the  construction 
work  on  the  Panama  Canal,  as  well  as  beautiful  scenes  of 
the  city  and  the  country  near  Colon.  The  cast  of  players  is 
well  balanced,  each  making  his  role  distinct  and  real.  Miss 
Williams  plays  the  emotional  Mrs.  Courtlandt  with  skill,  and 
Wheeler  Oakman  makes  Kirk  Anthony  a  very  live  character. 

The  first  showing  to  exhibitors  of  the  play,  of  which  Sol 
Lesser  holds  the  United  States  rights,  was  given  February  10 
at  the  Candler  Theater,  New  York  City.  Rex  Beach,  author 
of  this  and  of  "The  Spoilers,"  was  present  at  the  review. 


"Madame  La  Presidente" 

Morosco-Paramount    Comedy    Featuring    Anna    Held 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ANNA  HELD,  for  her  first  screen  appearance  has  a  good 
■<*  vehicle  in  "Madame  La  Presidente,"  and  the  best  of  support 
by  Herbert  Standing  and  Forrest  Stanley,  while  Oliver  Morosco 
has  supplied  a  production  that  is  excellent.  "Madame  La  Presi- 
dente" is  from  the  pens  of  French  authors.  It  is  a  Frenchy 
comedy  and  there  is  present  the  element  that  French  playwrights 
consider  the  greatest  of  all  for  humorous  purposes — lingerie. 
To  the  Frenchman  there  is  nothing  quite  as  funny. 

"Madame  La  Presidente"  is  a  picture  which  keeps  one  amused 
all  the  time.  There  is  no  waiting  for  things  to  happen.  Action, 
and  plenty  of  it,  one  finds  in  this  picture.  The  story  is  an 
adaptation  from  the  play,  successfully  produced  in  this  country 
with  Fanny  Ward  in  the  name  role,  and  E.  J.  Clawson,  who 
wrote  the  scenario,  has  shown  skill.  "Madame  La  Presidente" 
of  the  films  is  a  clever  and  well-told  story.  As  said  before, 
the  humor  is  built  on  lingerie.  It  is  not  a  play  for  children, 
altogether,  but  no  one  could  call  it  very  naughty. 

Anna  Held  uses  her  well-known  eyes  to  _  good  advantage 
on  the  screen.  There  is  a  close-up  of  her  singing  what  appears 
to  be  a  typical  Anna  Held  song,  and  here  the  spectator  makes 


the  acquaintance  of  the  talent  that  made  her  famous.    Miss  Held 
acts  her  part  very  pleasingly. 

The   story  tells   of _  the   troubles   arising   from   a  gay  party 
given  by  three  French  judges  to  Mile.  Gobette.     Their  superior, 


420 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


M.  Galipaux.  who  boasts  a  spotless  reputation,  is  incensed  when 
he  learns  that  his  subordinates  have  been  arrested  for  causing 
a  disturbance  at  a  cafe.  He  orders  the  police  to  put  Gobette 
out  of  the  hotel,  the  only  one  in  Gray.  Gobette  is  indignant. 
She  visits  the  home  of  this  Galipaux,  determined  to  teach  him 
a  lesson. 

Arrived  there,  she  is  urged  to  spend  the  night,  by  the  three 
judges,  who  inform  her  that  Mine.  Galipaux  is  on  her  way  to 
Paris  to  ask  the  minister  of  justice  to  give  her  husband  a  pro- 
motion. Late  that  night,  the  minister  of  justice  visits  Galipaux; 
he  is  also  traveling,  and  Gobette,  who  introduces  herself  as  Mme. 
Galipaux,  insists  that  he  be  their  guest.  The  next  morning, 
Cyprian  Gaudet  returns  to  his  duties  in  Paris,  thinking  little 
of  anything  but  the  charming  Mme.  Galipaux.  The  real  Madame, 
when  she  visits  him,  is  mistaken  for  a  janitress.  Gobette  visits, 
and  an  accident  to  her  dress  causes  complications  that  threaten 
Cyprian's  reputation  and  Galipaux's  marital  bliss.  But  out  of 
the  mix-up  comes  a  full  measure  of  happiness  for  all. 

Herbert  Standing  is  a  splendid  Galipaux  and  Forrest  Stan- 
ley makes  a  good  Frenchman  as  Cyprian  Gaudet.  Lydia  Yea- 
mans  Titus,  Page  Peters,  Helen  Eddy  and  Howard  Davies  are 
also  in  the  cast.  "Madame  La  Presidente"  is  an  unusually  good 
comedy  and  it  will  please. 


Scene  from  "Life's  Blind  Alley." 


scenes  on  the  occasion  of  his  first  call  on  the  girl  at  the  hotel. 
In  honor  of  the  event  he  buys  some  "hard-boiled  collars,"  and 
in  the  box  is  a  note  from  the  girl  who  packed  them.  When 
the  eastern  girl  shows  she  is  not  interested  in  the  love  of  the 


cowboy  and  goes  back  home,  the  boy  yields  to  the  temptation 
and  answers  the  note.  The  writer  is  the  little  factory  girl  we 
met  in  the  first  scenes.  After  they  have  exchanged  several 
letters  and  their  photographs,  the  boy,  overcome  by  loneliness, 
asks  the  girl  to  come  west  and  marry  him,  and  the  girl,  carried 
away  by  the  romance,  does  so. 

From  the  first  they  are  not  congenial.  The  girl  is  disap- 
pointed in  her  cowboy  lover,  and  is  disagreeable  to  everyone 
on  the  ranch.  In  the  meantime,  the  eastern  girl  has  married, 
unfortunately,  for  her  husband  is  a  drunkard.  The  next  sum- 
mer her  father  sends  them  both  to  the  ranch  in  which  he  owns 
part  interest.  There  the  two  unhappy  couples  discover  that 
if  they  could  exchange  partners  all  would  be  well.  When  the 
cowboy's  wife  and  the  eastern  girl's  husband  get  caught  in  the 
cmicksand,  it  seems  for  a  time  that  one  problem  will  be  solved. 
But  the  cowboy  puts  aside  temptation  and  rescues  them,  and 
we  leave  the  characters  still  mismated. 


"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

Essanay   Serial  Episode  4.     "The   Mark."     Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 


"Life's  Blind  Alley" 

American  Mutual  Masterpicture  Released  February  14 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

TTHIS  release,  featuring  May  Allison  and  Harold  Lockwood, 
*  will  delight  because  it  is  true  to  life  in  so  many  respects,  in 
details  and  in  the  plot  of  the  story.  Its  ending  is  particularly 
good,  in  that  the  conventional  "happy  ending"  has  not  been  used, 
and  yet  the  play  is  not  in  the  least  gloomy  or  of  the  problem 
variety.  In  fact,  it  is  so  wholesome,  so  full  of  fresh  air,  that 
the  act  of  heroism  which  decides  the  story  and  parts  the  lovers  is 
much  more  pleasant  than  a  more  conventional  twist  of  plot  which 
would  unite  them. 

The  early  scenes  alternate  between  the  life  of  the  cowboy, 
played  by  Harold  Lockwood,  and  the  wealthy  eastern  girl,  played 
by  May  Allison.  Ranch  scenes  are  very  familiar  to  photoplay 
audiences,  but  these  are  so  good,  so  true  in  detail  and  so  humor- 
ous that  they  will  be  keenly  enjoyed.  The  camp  cook,  and  the 
Indian  with  his  "rainmaker"  idol  are  particularly  good  types. 

While  the  eastern  girl  is  amusing  herself  with  various  phi- 
lanthropies, in  which  she  meets  a  little  factory  girl  and  obtains 
for  her  a  position  in  a  collar  factory,  the  cowboy  is  facing  ruin 
because  of  the  drouth.  The  girl's  father,  who  is  traveling  in 
the  West,  gets  lost  in  the  desert  and  is  rescued  by  the  cowboy. 
When  he  recovers,  out  of  gratitude  he  invests  money  in  the 
ranch  and,  when  the  rain  finally  comes,  the  cowboy  finds  him- 
self prosperous.  Then  the  girl  comes  west  to  care  for  her 
father,  and  of  course  the  young  ranchman  falls  in  love  with 
her.  After  she  and  her  father  have  left  the  ranch  and  go  to 
a  hotel,  the  boy  is  desperately  lonely.     There  are  several  funny 


OLLOW'ING  this  serial  is  as  interesting  as  watching  a  picture 
"come  up"  in  the  developing  fluid.     For,  after  the  main  out- 
have   appeared,    details    of   the    foggy    background   are   be- 
oming  clear  and  standing  out  as  important.     The  testimony  of 
ach  witness  clears  up  some  points  and  reveals  others. 

In    this    episode.    Mary's    mother    takes    the    stand,    and    her 


lin. 


story  as  shown  on  the  screen  has  at  least  one  excellent  char- 
acteristic— it  is  shown  entirely  from  her  point  of  view.  No 
scene  is  included  in  the  narrative  which  she  could  not  have 
seen  or,  from  a  conversation  overheard,  have  pictured  vividly. 
Too  often  when  events  are  shown  as  related  or  remembered  by 
a  character,  scenes  are  included  which  he  could  in  no  way  have 
seen  or  known  of. 

Mrs.  Page,  the  first  witness  for  the  defense,  clears  up  the 
mystery  of  the  finger-prints  on  Mary's  shoulder.  They  are  a 
birthmark,  which  only  show  themselves  when  Mary  is  terribly 
frightened  or  mentally  disturbed.  The  marks  were  first  noticed 
when  Mary,  a  little  baby,  was  frightened  by  her  father  in  one 
of  his  drunken  rages.  The  mother  tells  also  of  the  frequency  of 
these  periods  of  drunkenness  and  of  Mary's  terror  of  her 
father.  She  tells  again  the  story  of  Mary's  forced  engagement 
to  David  Pollock,  of  the  attempted  elopement  of  Mary  and 
Phillip,  which  she  knew  of  only  when  Marx's  father,  in  a  rage, 
brought  his  daughter  home. 

\l;,r\  then  told  her  mother  that  she  loved  Phillip  and  did 
not  wish  to  marry  Pollock,  and  the  mother,  sympathizing,  offers 
to  go  with  her  daughter  to  Pollock's  office  and  beg  him  to  re- 
lease Mary  from  her  promise.  There,  while  waiting  in  the  outer 
office,  they  overheard  Pollock  and  Phillip  talking.  Pollock  asks 
Phillip  to  go  away  for  two  weeks.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Mary 
may  choose  between  them.  Phillip  leaves.  Then  the  women, 
still  listening  in  the  outer  room,  hear  Mary's  father  and  Pollock 
declare  they  will  "get  Phillip  out  of  the  way."  Alarmed,  they 
leave  without  being  discovered,  and  warn  Phillip.  Late  that 
night.  Page,  coming  home  drunk,  attacks  his  wife  and  daughter. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Phillip  comes  by  in  time  to  protect  them,  but  Mary's  terror  and 
loathing  this  time  has  driven  her  temporarily  insane.  This  is 
important  evidence,  for  Mary's  defense  is  insanity. 

In  point  of  acting,  production  and  photography,  this  episode 
is  fully  as  good  as  those  preceding. 


certain  awkwardness,  he  has  a  most  pleasing  personality   and  ; 
very  convincing  way. 

Frances  Nelson  gives  an  excellent  account  of  herself  as  tin 
featured  principal  in  this  production.  She  has  appeared  in  som< 
features  lately  wherein  the  opportunities  have  been  more  or  les 


unt  P 

rogra 

n  is  a  sil 

gle  reel 

rer 

to   a 

the 

Magazine 

of  the 

as 

they 

are  v 

ery  appropriately 

lie 

little 

heard 

about,   1 

ut  thev 

"Paramount  Pictographs" 

First   Release   of  a   New   Film   Issued   Weekly.      Re- 
viewed by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  latest  addition  to  the  Para 
1  film  which  can  well  lie  refer 
Screen.  Paramount  Pictographs, 
•called,  may  at  the  present  time 

are  destined  to  hold  a  prominent  place  in  the  film  world.  At 
least,  that  was  the  general  impression  with  those  present  when 
the  first  release  was  projected.  If  this  unique  picture  must  be 
described  in  a  few  words  there  seems  only  one  way  to  do  it,  and 
that  is  to  say  that  the  Paramount  Pictograph  is  a  screen  maga- 
zine issued   weekly. 

It  differs  from  the  news  weekly  just  as  widely  as  does  the 
weekly  or  monthly  publication  from  the  newspaper.  Just  as  one 
reads  articles  by  authorities  in  their  particular  field  on  questions 
that  are  vital  and  of  the  day,  so  too  will  there  be  thrown  upon  the 
screen  this  same  type  of  article  expressed  in  pictures  instead  of 
words.  If  the  proper  subjects  can  be  procured,  and  there  seems 
little  doubt  of  it.  Paramount  Pictographs  will  flourish. 

First  there  is  seen  a  close-up  of  a  magazine,  on  whose  cover 
one  reads  the  words  "Paramount  Pictographs,  published  every 
week  by  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation.  To  picturize  the 
thoughts  foremost  in  the  minds  of  the  public."  The  cover  turned, 
an  article  on  preparedness  by  Frederick  Palmer,  is  picturized. 
The  basic  ideas  are  shown  in  printed  title,  and  to  qualify  these 
statements  pictures  are  given.  For  instance.  Palmer  states  that 
one  of  his  reasons  for  preparedness  is  "To  defend  my  neighbor's 
home,"  immediately  following  are  some  pictures  of  a  community 
being  destroyed  by  flames  resulting  from  enemy  shell-fire. 

Other  articles  included  in  the  first  release  are  by  Henry 
Reuterdahl  on  the  necessity  of  a  large  navy;  Elmer  G.  Sperry 
describes  the  Gyroscope  and  its  possibilities ;  Professor  Hugo 
Munsterberg  gives  the  first  of  a  series  on  "Testing  Your  Mind," 
which  purport  to  tell  you  whether  or  not  you  are  suited  to  your 
present  line  of  work.  This  test,  something  that  is  sure  to  in- 
terest any  audience,   is   "Have  you  a  constructive  imagination?" 

The  Woman's  Home  Companion  supplies  the  "Better  Babies 
Department,"  which  gives  some  valuable  knowledge  to  those 
ministering  to  infants ;  an  excellent  political  cartoon  by  J.  R. 
Bray  and  some  new  designs  in  feminine  apparel  are  included  in 
this  picture.  Also  there  is  play  by  toys,  entitled  "The  Birth  of 
the  Trickids,"  a  highly  amusing  bit  of  trick  photography  which 
would  be  more  enjoyable  were  it  not  so  hard  on  the  eyes. 


Love's  Crucible 

Five-Part   World   Film   Release   for   February    15 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

A  CRUCIBLE  is  more  than  a  melting  pot.  In  a  melting  pot  you 
^*  simply  melt.  But  in  a  crucible  you  are  ground  up  into  little 
fine  bits,  and  are  quite  completely  crushed.  In  this  instance  a 
young  girl's  affections  went  through  the  crucible  of  love  and  were 
pulverized  to  the  extreme.  Whether  a  girl  can  have  any  affec- 
tion left  in  her  body  after  going  through  love's  crucible  was 
not  exactly  determined  in  this  picture,  but  there  seemed  to  be 
some  slight  hope  for  her  at  the  end.  Love  had  not  been  com- 
pletely crushed,  and  was  still  able  to  wiggle  an  eyelash,  which 
means  that  there  was  still  life  in  the  apparently  lifeless  body  of 
Cupid. 

The  nicest  part  of  this  production  is  its  fine  plausibility.  It 
is  difficult  to  remember  a  feature  more  logically  constructed. 
There  are  no  transparent  attempts  to  found  a  situation.  Noth- 
ing is  dragged  in  by  the  hair  of  the  head.  The"1  author  has 
shunned  the  long  arm  of  coincidence  as  though  it  were  the  hand 
of  pestilence.  In  only  one  case  is  there  a  coincidence,  and  even 
that  has  a  fair  degree  of  logic  to  warrant  it.  The  story  dove- 
tails beautifully,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  sit  and  look  at  a  photo- 
play that  does  not  take  many  things  for  granted,  nor  ask  the 
kind  indulgence  of  the  spectators  on  any  plea  of  dramatic  license. 

There  are  three  principal  parts  in  this  picture  that  are  admir- 
ably played.  One  of  these  is  played  by  Lunsden  Hare.  His  role 
is  that  of  a  country  wooer  of  honest  heart.  His  general  style 
of  work  and  his  appearance  are  comparable  to  Tully  Marshall, 
who  has  played  many  fine  parts  of  similar  nature.     In  spite  of  a 


limited,  but  in  this  one  she  has  risen  to  greater  heights  than 
she  has  ever  done  before.  She  fits  the  part  to  a  nicety,  and  in 
every  way  resembles  a  familiar  New  York  type,  that  of  the  small 
town  girl  who  is  in  the  city  to  study  art.  Her  emotional  scenes 
are  so  strictly  true  to  anyone's  conception  of  a  disillusioned  and 
desperate  female  art  student  that  one  occasionally  trembles  at 
the  sight  of  it  all.  She  goes  through  love's  crucible  and  is 
crushed  to  a  pulp. 

Stepping  right  along  with  Miss  Nelson  is  a  classy  young 
juvenile  man  whose  name  is  Douglas  McLean.  He  gives  a  most 
remarkable  impersonation  of  a  caddish  ne'er-do-weil.  As  one 
of  the  New  Ydrk's  idle  rich  he  runs  true  to  form  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  a  chorus  girl  studio.  He  is  supposed  to  be  an  artist, 
but  the  only  art  he  practices  is  the  art  of  self-indulgence.  It 
happens  to  be  the  misfortune  of  the  country  girl  to  engage  a 
studio  next  to  his.  He  has  the  advantage  over  her  in  almost 
every  way,  and  she  soon  falls  a  prey  to  his  expert  hand.  Mr. 
McLean's  skill  in  handling  his  part  is  something  that  cannot  be 
lost  sight  of  at  any  stage  of  the  story. 

The  pleasing  continuity  of  it  all  is  really  a  treat.  By  fine 
construction,  the  principals  eventually  meet  in  the  most  logical 
way  all  at  the  same  time  in  the  same  room.  It  is  a  fine  climax 
to  a  story  that  is  interesting  from  the  very  start.  It  is  all  so 
human  and  possible  and  probable  and  contains  such  a  good 
lesson  that  it  can  be  considered  a  most  worthy  production. 


"The  Uplift" 

Three-Reel  Lubin  Feature  Released  February  17 
Reviewed  by  Kellogg  M.  Patterson 

A  N  intensely  interesting  film  treating  with  the  lower  stratum 
■'»■  of  life,  among  the  thieves  and  their  kind,  is  shown  in  "The 
Uplift,"  a  Lubin  feature  written  and  directed  by  Clay  M.  Greene. 
It  is  a  picture  exceptionally  well  done,  only  that  there  is  some 
question  whether  the  problem  dealt  with  is  solved  with  complete 
satisfaction.  The  acting  is  excellent  and  the  setting  well  but 
not  overdone.  All  in  all  it's  a  good  picture  that  is  worthy  of 
any  amount  of  consideration  and  the  situations  are  so  handled 
that  they  do  not  offend — the  touch  is  light  and  shows  the  art 
of  the  producer  in  that  respect.  It  is  full  of  action  throughout. 
John  Rudley,  a  criminal  of  some  years  standing,  has  forced 
his  two  daughters  to  follow  the  profession.  At  the  opening  of 
the  story  Tot  (Helen  Weir),  the  younger,  has  not  yet  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  police,  as  has  Peg,  her  older  sister,  who  is 
released  from  the  penitentiary  at  the  time  the  story  opens.  Tot 
provides  for  her  father  by  picking  pockets,  and  like  her  sister, 
has  a  sneak  thief  sweetheart.  Peg  (Helen  Greene)  is  released 
from  the  penitentiary  at  the  same  time  as  her  sweetheart,  Mike 
the  Bat  (Francis  Joyner),  and  he  tries  to  get  her  to  go  back  to 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


the  old  life.     She  refuses  and  in  her  efforts  to  find  employment 
she  is  hounded  by  the  police. 

She  finally  finds  employment  with  an  artist,  Rex  Hall,  who 
is  engaged  to  Grace  Drew.  .Hall  gives  Peg  a  position  in  his 
studio  as  a  model  and  makes  love   to  her,   inviting  her   out  to 


Uplift." 


dinner  and  giving  her  money  to  buy  clothes  when  she  calls  atten- 
tion to  her  appearance.  They  go  to  a  cafe,  and  as  they  are 
leaving  it  later  they  are  seen  by  Grace  Drew  and  her  father. 
The  next  day  Grace  calls  on  Rex  at  his  studio  and  finding  him 
eating  luncheon  with  his  model  she  returns  her  ring.  The  ring 
is  transferred  to  Peg,  although  he  has  no  intention  of  marry- 
ing her. 

In  the  meantime  Tot  appeals  to  Grace  Drew  to  get  her 
father  out  of  jail,  Grace  being  connected  with  the  Uplift  Society. 
After  her  father  is  released  by  Grace's  efforts  Tot  attends  a 
mission  with  her  and  is  converted.  Later  she  gives  up  the  life 
of  a  pickpocket  to  sell  flowers  and  is  found  by  Rex  in  front 
of  his  studio.  He  asks  Tot  to  pose  for  him  and  she  goes  to  his 
work  room.  In  the  meantime  Mike  and  Jim,  the  latter  Tot's 
sweetheart,  start  to  look  for  the  girls.  Peg  returns  to  the  studio 
just  as  Tot  resists  the  advances  of  Rex,  and  takes  Tot  out  of 
the  place,  denouncing  Rex.  Mike  and  Jim  meet  them  and  swear 
vengeance,  and  start  to  whip  Rex,  who  pulls  a  gun  and  in  the 
struggle  Mike  is  shot. 

Tot's  father  attempts  to  prevent  her  from  going  into  the 
mission,  but  she  takes  him  along  with  her,  and  Jim,  too,  who  is 
not  a  bad  boy  at  heart.  All  are  converted.  Mike  dies  as  a 
result  of  the  wound  and  Peg  becomes  a  nun. 

Those  appearing  in  the  picture  are  Helen  Greene,  Helen 
Weir,  George  Clark,  Francis  Joyner,  Clarence  Jay  Elmer,  Arthur 
Forbes,  Walter  Law  and  Bessie  Marmeine. 


"The  Souls  Cycle" 

Horsley  Mutual  Masterpicture.    Released  February  12 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  reincarnation  of  souls  is  dealt  with  in  a  comprehensive 
manner  in  the  Horsley  Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe 
Edition,  released  February  12.  The  philosophy  which  teaches 
that  souls  of  those  departed  may  be,  or  according  to  this 
belief  they  are  reincarnated  in  forms  that  have  come  into 
the  world  long  since.  It  is  thus  that  punishment  or  reward 
is  measured  out.  The  souls  of  the  virtuous  will  live  again 
in  a  higher  plane  upon  earth  and  the  wicked  may  be  con- 
demned to  enter  the  body  of  an  animal  and  if  deserving  again 
attain    to    human    form. 

The  reincarnation  has  been  the  subject  of  numbers  of 
photoplays.  This  doctrine  has  served  the  purposes  of  the 
story  writer  well.  "The  Soul's  Cycle"  sticks  to  its  subject 
and  in  telling  its  story  shows  just  what  is  meant  by  the 
reincarnation  of  souls,  which  in  spite  of  the  familiarity  of 
its  term  is  foreign  to  many.  Whether  it  is  acceptable  or  not 
is  beside  the  question,  witnessing  "The  Soul's  Cycle"  is  a 
good  way  to  find  out  what  it  is  all  about. 

Margaret  Gibson,  a  pretty  and  capable  actress,  is  fea- 
tured. The  picture  states  at  the  beginning  that  Margaret 
Gibson  and  the  Bostock  Animals  are  featured,  which  is  quite 
Iruc.  The  animals,  in  particular  Leo,  a  wonderfully  trained 
lion,  arc  very  important  members  of  the  cast.  Miss  Gibson 
and  Hie  lion  arc  well  supported  by  John  Oaker  and  Henry 
Watson. 


The  story  plays  in  two  ages.  The  first  shows  a  Grecian 
maiden  named  Nadia  dancing  and  running  about  as  Grecian 
maidens  did,  and  in  love  with  Lucian,  a  poet.  Her  father 
is  flattered  by  Theron's  desire  to  marry  Nadia,  and  com- 
mands her  to  prepare  for  the  nuptials.  Theron  is  a  power, 
his  possessions  are  vast.  Nadia  and  Lucian  elope.  Theron 
is  enraged  and  sends  his  slaves  to  capture  them.  He  then 
has  them  pitched  into  the  seething  crater  of  a  volcano.  For 
this  deed,  Theron  is  condemned  by  the  arbiter  of  souls  to 
enter  the  body  of  a  lion,  and  roam  the  earth  until  such  time 
as  he  makes  reparation  to  the  young  lovers,  if,  indeed,  he  is 
ever  given  such  an  opportunity. 

The  second  part,  which  occurs  centuries  later,  shows 
Nadia  a  lovely  young  girl  and  Lucian  a  noble  young  man. 
They  love  each  other.  Nadia  is  now  Agnes  and  Lucian, 
Arthur.  Arthur  has  captured  a  lion  and  keeps  him  caged 
in  his  home.  A  rival  of  Arthur's  pretends  friendship  but  is 
planning  his  financial  ruin.  The  lion  causes  the  death  of 
the  enemy,  and  for  this  deed  the  soul  of  Theron  is  liberated 
and  rises  triumphant.  Agnes  and  Arthur  enjoy  their  de- 
served happiness. 

The  picture  has  been  artistically  produced.  In  the  Greek 
age  there  is  much  picturesque  dancing  and  scenic  effects. 
The  photography  is  not  exceptional  but  none  of  the  beau- 
ties of  the  production  have  been  lost.  The  list  of  the  pro- 
duction's beauties  is  headed  by  Miss  Gibson.  "The  Soul's 
Cycle"   is   a   thoroughly   interesting   picture. 


"New  York" 

A  Five-Part  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Drama.     Released* 
February  4.     Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

ONE  of  the  most  perfectly  staged  and  engrossing  dramas  yet 
to  appear  on  the  Gold  Rooster  Program  is  its  latest  offer- 
ing— "New  York"— a  social  play  with  a  fully  rounded  out  plot 
and  clean,  well-defined  development  which  enables  the  spectator 
lo  interpret  the  signification  and  follow  the  process  of  action 
without  the  slightest  difficulty. 

It  is  a  problem  to  decide  whether  the  production  or  the 
acting  is  the  paramount  achievement,  for  both  are  all  that  they 
should  be  and  combine  in  a  telling  whole.  The  cast  is  a  re- 
markable one.  Florence  Reed  is  featured.  Her  fine  emotionalism, 
not  in  the  least  over-acted,  bespeaks  her  talent  and  fitness  for 
motion  picture  work.  The  efforts  of  this  actress,  who  has  not 
long  been  seen  on  the  screen,  put  a  pointed  fervor  into  the  spirit 
of  the  picture  which  raises  her  to  a  pinnacle  by  herself,  in  spite 
of  the  excellnt  acting  of  the  strong  supporting  cast. 

In  Florence  Reed's  support  are  four  graduates  of  the  stage,. 
John  Milton,  Fania  Marinoff,  Forrest  Winant  and  Jessie  Ralph. 
The  play  itself  is  from  A.  H.  Woods'  Broadway  success  by 
William  Hurlbut.  The  director  is  George  Fitzmaurice.  It  is  a 
noteworthy  feature  that  all  the  parts  of  the  action  bear  distinct 
relation  to  one  another.  The  environment  supplied  by  carefully 
selected  settings  is  in  strict  keeping  with  the  demands  of  the 
story. 

After  a  few  opening  scenes  typical  of  New  York  life,  we  are 
led  into  the  life  of  Rosa,  a  chorus  girl,  who  obtains  money  in  any 
and  every  way  to  keep  her  degenerate  mother  supplied  with 
drink.  Fania  Marinoff  makes  much  of  the  chorus  girl  part,  while 
the  unkempt,  drink-mad  mother  is  a  characterization  that  re- 
ceives skillful  handling  by  Jessie  Ralph. 

The  next  character  we  are  to  follow  is  Oliver  King,  a  man 
of  family  and  distinction  with  the  highest  ideals.  His  swift- 
going  club  associates  divert  King  from  his  rigid  habits  by  inter- 
esting him  in  Rosa,  who,  according  to  the  scheme,  pretends  to- 
be  the  very  personification  of  innocence  and  purity.  Thinking 
the  drunken  revelry  of  the  cafe  is  as  distasteful  to  the  girl  as 
it  is  to  himself,  he  takes  her  home. 

It  is  not  long  before  society  learns  that  Oliver  King  has 
cast  aside  his  high  ideals  for  a  chorus  girl.  For  his  mother's 
sake  he  finally  decides  to  give  the  girl  up.  On  his  last  call  at 
Rosa's  house  he  learns  the  true  stamp  of  both  her  and  her 
mother  through  the  latter's  drunken  stupidity. 

The  chorus  girl  dies,  and,  to  avoid  scandal.  King  raises  the 
boy  whom  he  believes  to  be  his  son,  although  to  all  but  himself 
he  is  only  Wendall's  guardian.  King  marries  a  girl  who  knows 
nothing  of  his  past.  Wendall,  now  a  drunkard  and  dope  fiend, 
is  expelled  from  college.  He  takes  up  his  residence  at  the 
former  studio  of  Mrs.  King,  who  tries  lo  help  him  to  make 
something  of  himself.  In  a  struggle  with  the  weak-minded  boy, 
Mrs.  King  kills  him.  Evidence,  however,  points  to  suicide.  On 
iad,  the  wife  confesses  to  her  husband,  who. 
ids  her  z 


believing  the  boy 
The   cho 


girl's   mother 


of  her  periodical 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


visits  to  collect  money,  and  being  refused,  tells  King  that  Wen- 
dall  is  not  his  son  and  threatens  to  make  his  ridiculous  position 
the  common  property  of  the  town.  "  Instead  of  having  the  desired 
■effect,  this  announcement  is  music  in  King's  ears.  He  returns  to 
his  wife,  who  has  recently  become  a  mother,  and  begs  forgive- 
ness, which  is  lovingly  conceded. 


"Haunts  for  Rent" 

Paramount's  Second  Bray-Gilbert  Silhouette  Release 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

GHOST  stories  are  exploited  in  the  second  Bray-Gilbert  Silhou- 
ette which  Paramount  will  release.  "Haunts  for  Rent"  dif- 
fers considerably  from  "Inbad  the  Sailor"  in  the  style  of  story 
told.  Where  in  the  first  picture  there  was  all  the  glory  of  the 
Bagdad  of  the  "Arabian  Nights"  fame,  "Haunts  for  Rent"  shows 
streets  in  a  part  of  the  city  where  run-down  houses,  which,  it 
seems,  are  always  haunted,  abound,  and  the  interiors  of  such 
houses.  The  shodowy  affairs  of  the  Orient  make  prettier  Silhou- 
ettes than  those  of  a  modern  city's  back  streets. 

In  this  release  the  producers  concerned  themselves  entirely 
with  the  comedy  effects  and  they  have  succeeded  in  putting  an 
"incident  here  and  there  that  will  provoke  laughter.  Colored  folks 
and  haunts  supplied  by  the  liveliest  imagination  are  the  sub- 
jects. The  haunts  are  by  L.  M.  Glacknes  of  the  Bray  Studios 
and  the  rest  by  C.  Allen  Gilbert  assisted  by  some  really  clever 
actors.  Drawn  figures  are  as  prominent  in  the  cast  as  are  the 
actual  in  this  picture.  The  transformation  of  Sam's  alluring 
haunt  into  as  terrifying  a  creature  as  Glacknes  ever  drew,  and 
that  is  saying  a  lot,_  is  a  very  striking  bit  of  work.  A  highly 
fantastic  effect  of  this  kind  is  the  Silhouette's  strong  point. 

The  story  told  in  "Haunts  for  Rent"  is  romantic.  Sam 
and  Jim  are  rivals  for  Mandy's  hand.  Her  husband  must  be 
"brave,  and  he  must  prove  it  before  there  are  any  wedding  festivi- 
ties wijh  Mandy  being  a  party  to  the  affair.  There  is  a  haunted 
"house  in  the  neighborhood  and  it  is  agreed  that  the  one  who  can 
spend  a  night  there  is  worthy  of  her.  Jim,  whose  sense  of  the 
value  of  preparedness  has  been  developed  to  a  high  degree,  con- 
sults a  mystic.  For  a  sum  to  be  paid  in  the  future,  something 
which,  characteristically,  has  no  place  in  Jim's  life,  he  is  given 
a  charm  which  will  make  him  impervious  to  the  shiver  provoking 
■powers  of  haunts. 

Jim  takes  first  turn  and  weathers  the  ordeal.  Sam  has  a 
different  experience.  Just  as  he  is  about  to  run,  a  haunt  appears 
who  makes  him  forget  Mandy.  He  implores  the  beautiful  female 
to  haunt  him  for  life.  Jim  marries  Mandy  and  Sam  and  the 
haunt  become  one.  _  But  Sam  is  the  loser.  His  beauty  turns  him 
"into  a  fowl  which  is  served  on  Jim's  wedding  table.  A  year  or 
so  later  Jim  has  some  experiences  which  cause  him  to  settle 
with  the  mystic  who  sold  him  the  charm. 


"When  Love  Is  King" 

Kleine-Edison  Feature  an  Entertaining  Romance 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

:4t"\X/HEN  Love  Is  King"  affords  the  most  pleasant  sort  of 
W  entertainment.  It  is  a  romance  with  some  exciting 
melodramatic  moments  and  really  humorous  incidents.  The 
variety  of  the  piece  is  delightful.  Sumner  Williams  is  the 
author  and  Ben  Turbett  directed  this  Edison  production. 
"When  Love  Is  King"  is  the  picture  on  which  the  author 
collaborated  with  the  director  and  the  results  obtained  show 
that  this  combination  was  a  very  judicious  arrangement. 

Carroll  McComas  and  Richard  Tucker  head  a  cast  of 
Edison  players  who  are  seen  to  marked  advantage.  Richard 
Tucker  makes  a  dashing  and  most  likeable  King  in  search 
of  true  love.  He  meets  Carroll  McComas,  so  the  search  is 
not  in  vain.  Miss  McComas  is  an  appealing  Marcia,  daughter 
of  the  world's  greatest  financeer.  Her  part  however  is  not 
as   prominent  as   Mr.   Tucker's. 

He  is  Felix,  King  of  Nordland;  wherever  that  is.  At  any 
rate  Felix  is  a  real  man,  a  true  Prince  as  seen  in  tlTe  person 
-of  Mr.  Tucker,  who  grasps  every  opportunity  to  add  to  the 
worth  of  the  picture.  All  who  see  this  picture  will  feel 
"kindly  toward  Felix  and  with  the  fair  sex  the  feeling  will 
•exceed  kindliness,  no  doubt.  But  Mr.  Tucker's  appearance 
is  not  by  any  means  the  greatest  point  in  his  favor.  "When 
Love  Is  King"  is  strictly  an  entertaining  story  and  the  actors 
therefore  must  invest  their  parts  with  personality  and  that 
is  what  Tucker  does. 

Felix  is  determined  that  he  will  marry  only  the  woman 
he  really  loves  and  is  loved  by.  Finding  that  he  has  little 
•chance  of  realizing  this  while  he  is  King,  he  leaves  Nordland 


without  ceremony  and  comes  to  America.  His  cousin  re- 
ceives this  information  from  his  spies  and  sends  Janzi,  a 
bandit,  to  make  sure  that  Felix  never  returns.  During  the 
King's  absence  Stepan  rules  Nordland. 

In  America  Felix  meets  the  daughter  of  an  immensely 
wealthy  banker  and  they  elope.  Marcia  is  not  aware  that  he 
is  a  king,  for  all  she  knows  he  may  be  a  tramp.  The  mar- 
riage is  delayed,  and  when  the  Ambassador  gives  Felix  a 
talking  to,  making  him  realize  his  duty  to  Nordland,  it 
looks  as  though  the  delay  would  be  permanent.  It  is  here 
that  the  power  of  gold  asserts  itself.  Marcia's  father  simply 
orders  that  the  price  of  oil  be  advanced  one  cent  per  gal- 
lon, and  without  dipping  into  his  principal  buys  out  the 
neighboring  kingdom.  This  makes  Marcia  Princess  of 
Trebizond  and  for  state  reasons  Felix  must  marry  the 
Princess  of  Trebizond. 

Bigelow  Cooper  is  a  splendid  J.  P.  Morton  and  Guido 
Colucci  brings  out  all  the  comedy  his  part,  the  Viscount, 
is  capable  of.  The  cast  is  large  and  it  is  correspondingly 
competent.  Harold  Meltzer,  Helen  Strickland,  T.  Tamamoto, 
Charles  Sutton  and  John  Sturgeon  are  prominent.  Carlton 
King  satisfies  and  convinces  as  Stepan,  the  vicious  cousin  of 
Felix.     The  photography  is  good  and  the  settings  agreeable. 


"The  Black  Orchid" 

Three-Reel     Selig    Feature.     Released    February     14 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

T,HE  jungle   and   wild   animal   scenes    form   the   most  pleasing 
A    feature  of  this  play,  which  was  written  by  Mrs.  Owen  Bron- 
son  and  directed  by  T.  N.  Heffron.     The  story  is  laid  at  a  mili-  ' 
tary  resort  in  India,  and  Kathlyn  Williams,  as  Viola,  the  belle 
of  the  post,  has  another  opportunity  to  play  with  wild  animals 


f^4.     i,Y,A     IB 

P«i 

and  to  portray  the  siren  type  of  woman.  Viola  falls  in  love 
with  Captain  Warren  Hastings  (Wheeler  Oakman),  who  does 
not  return  her  affection.  He  goes  home  to  England  on  a  leave 
of  absence  and  there  meets  and  becomes  engaged  to  Eleanor 
Roberts,  played  by  Grace  Darmond.  Eleanor's  hobby,  is  orchids, 
and  she  presents  Hastings  with  her  favorite,  a  black  one. 

In  the  meantime,  Viola,  evidently  not  pining  for  Hastings, 
continues  her  career  as  a  coquette,  until  she  has  brought  so  much 
trouble  into  the  camp  that  she  is  requested  to  leave.  With  her 
native  servant,  she  goes  into  the  jungle  to  live.  Here  she  is 
shown  as  a  huntress  and  a  collector  of  wild  animals  in  several 
charming  scenes,  a  contrast  to  the  rather  unpleasant  ones  which 
follow. 

Hastings,  after  making  arrangements  to  have  Eleanor  and 
her  mother  follow  him,  returns  to  India.  As  he  and  his  men 
wander  through  the  forest  one  day,  he  meets  two  children  carry- 
ing black  orchids.  The  flower  reminds  him  of  Eleanor  and 
he  penetrates  the  jungle  alone  to  find  other  specimens  of  the 
orchid.  While  gathering  them  he  is  bitten  by  a  poisonous  snake. 
His  outcry  is  heard  by  Viola's  servant,  for  her  lodge  is  not  far 
distant,  and  he  is  taken  there.  He  is  cared  for  by  Viola  until 
he  has  recovered.  Then  he  again  refuses  her  proffered  love  and 
when  he  tells  her  of  Eleanor  she  replies  that  unless  he  gives  up 
Eleanor  and  marries  her,  she  will  release  her  captive  tigers, 
who  will  tear  him  to  pieces.  Hastings,  nevertheless,  leaves 
Viola's  home  and  she  carries  out  her  threat  of  releasing  the 
tigers.    But  Hastings  reaches  the  edge  of  the  jungle  in  time  to 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  8. 


meet    the    rescuing    party,     which     contains     the    lately    arrived 
Eleanor,  and  the  tigers  turn  hack  and  kill  their  mistress. 

The  play  is  beautifully  produced  and  is  interesting.  The 
exotic  settings  help  to  overcome  the  improbability  of  the  story 
itself.  There  is  a  sub-plot,  the  love  story  of  Alta  Wade  and 
Lieutenant  Jack  Peters,  played  by  Edith  Johnson  and  Earle 
Foxe.     The  roles  are  all  well  handled. 


.     "A  Modern  Sphinx" 

Three-Reel  "Flying  A"  Drama  Released  February  15. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 


THE    "soul    transitio 
1    Bartlett    an    oppo 
effective     scenes     of 
The  settings  ..I"  the  a 
the  first   pari   of  the  | 


■rial 


Ran 


)  pois< 


tha 


■da' 


again  and  in  the  new  life  will  nol  know  love,  yet  love  shall 
finally  redeem  her.  With  this  cryptic  statement,  the  sorcerer 
puts  Asa  to  sleep.  The  next  scene,  a  modern  one,  shows  a 
baby  asleep.  Beside  the  child  stands  the  shadowy  form  of 
Ram. 

The  modern  story  tells  of  Xaida,  a  girl  who  never  falls 
in  love.  I'assmore,  artist  and  musician,  piqued  by  her  cold- 
ness  and  her  query,  "What  is  love?"  determines  to  teach  her 
through  his  music.  At  this  point  there  are  several  dissolves 
of    rial    beauty,    giving    an    allegorical    interpretation    of    love 


and  passion.  In  the  end.  Zaida  learns  to  love  the  musician, 
only  to  find  that  he  has  a  wife.  This  time  she  gives  up  her 
lover,  and  at  last  learns,  what  a  sorcerer  once  told  her,  that 
the    secret    of   love    is    sacrifice.      Having    learned    the    lesson 


"Silas  Marner" 

Thanhouser     Mutual     Masterpicture.     Adapted     from 
George  Eliot's  Novel 

IT  IS  a  truly  satisfying  Silas  Marner  that  Frederick  Warde 
1  gives  us  in  the  Thanhouser  Mutual  Masterpicture,  released 
February  19,  a  picturization  of  the  beautiful  George  Eliot 
story.  Furthermore,  Thanhouser  contributes  a  fine  photo- 
play version  of  this  well  known  book.  Mr.  Warde  is  one 
of  the  few  living  figures  who  were  prominent  on  the  stage 
in  the  days  which  the  critics,  in  lamenting  the  present  con- 
dition  of   the    drama,    speak   of   as    "the   good   old   days.' 

Mr.  Warde  brings  to  the  screen  a  presence  and  his- 
trionic ability  that  was  gained  through  association  with  such 
actors  as  Booth  and  an  experience  that,  since  the  new  order 
of  things,  is  difficult  to  acquire  today.  Though  this  is  his 
first  appearance  in  the  photoplay  he  renders  a  performance 
that  is  effective  to  a  high  degree.  His  characterization  of 
Silas  Marner  is  a  remarkably  fine  piece  of  work. 

Though  the  usual  length  of  Masterpictures  is  five  reels. 
"Silas  Marner"  is  in  seven  parts.  The  powers  that  be,  in 
the  cutting  room,  claim  that  the  offering  would  be  weakened 
were  it  cut  to  five  reels.  Throughout  the  seven  reels  there 
is  much  charm  and  human  appeal.  It  is  probable  that  it  will 
be  enjoyed  more  by  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  book. 
The  scenario,  prepared  by  Philip  Lonergan,  follows  the  novel 
faithfully.  Mr.  Lonergan  has  done  his  work  thoughtfully 
and  well.  To  him  belongs  a  share  of  the  praise  which  is 
due  the  picture. 

The  story  tells  of  the  incident  which  embitters  Marner 
toward  men.  It  then  shows  him  living  in  retirement,  lonely 
and  fast  developing  a  love  for  gold.  Then  there  is  the 
treachery  of  the  Squire's  youngest  son,  who  induces  his 
brother,  while  intoxicated,  to  marry  a  barmaid.  Their  child 
comes  into  Marner's  life  and  she  is  the  object  of  a  true 
and  noble  love.  The  only  happiness  the  weaver  knows  is 
when  he  cares  for  and  lavishes  affection  upon  the  child  he 
adopts.  All  mankind  is  redeemed  in  the  eyes  of  Silas  by 
this  little  girl  who  wanders  into  his  unkempt  shack. 

Ernest  C.  Warde  produced  "Silas  Marner"  and  he  has 
shown  skill  in  the  choice  of  settings  and  the  direction  of  the 
action  in  general.  He  has  given  the  story  a  charming  at- 
mosphere and  secured  delightful  effects  in  grouping  the 
figures  so  effectively  in  the  scenes  where  action  is  not  the 
basis.  The  interior  of  the  weaver's  hut  is  only  one  of  the 
many  pretty  and  artistic  sets  which  frame  the  action  so 
advantageously.  The  rain  storm  is  quite  as  real  and  enhanc- 
ing to  the   effect  as   is  the  snow  storm. 

Supporting  Frederick  Warde  are  Thomas  Curran,  Hector 
Dion,  Val-Kyrien,  and  Ethel  Jewett  in  the  important  roles. 
It  is  an   able   cast.     The  photography  is   good  throughout. 


and    made   her   sacrifice,   her   soul   has   paid   the   penalty.      She 
awakens  in  the   Egyptian  palace. 

The  beauty  of  the  drama  lies  in  its  settings.  While  the 
theory  of  re-incarnation  offers  opportunity  for  a  variety  of 
situations,  it  is  not  particularly  well  handled  as  a  story  in 
this  play,  and  still  the  release  is  enjoyable.  The  roles  are 
well  handled.  Winifred  Greenwood,  who  plays  Asa  and 
Zaida,  is  better  in  the  modern  than  the  ancient  role.  Charles 
Newton  plays  Ram,  the  sorcerer.  Edward  Coxen  is  Pass- 
more,  the  artist.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Nan  Christv.  King 
Clark,   Ella  M.  Morrison  and  George  Field. 


"The  Writing  on  the  Wall" 

Blue  Ribbon  Feature.     Released  February  14.     Re- 
viewed by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

|N  BOTH  subject  and  treatment  "The  Writing  on  the 
A  Wall,"  released  February  14-  by  V.  L.  S.  E.,  is  a  drama 
strictly  of  the  theater.  It  is  more  interesting  than  it  is  real, 
yet  more  probable  and  convincing  than  one  could  expect 
from  a  play  that  is  artificial  despite  the  fact  that  it  deals 
with  some  true  to  life  characters.  There  is  no  doubt  about 
its  being  suspenseful.  "The  Writing  on  the  Wall"  will  hold 
any   audience. 

Tefft  Johnson  produced  the  picture  with  skill  that  finds 
ultimate  realization  in  the  effectiveness  of  the  dramatic  sit- 
uations, from  the  story  by  William  J.  Hurlburt.  The  story 
plays  mostly  in  the  home  of  Irving  Lawrence,  a  wealthy  man 
with  a  wife  and  young  son.  Lawrence  knows  no  such  thing 
as  fidelity  to  his  wife  or  any  other  woman.  In  the  second 
reel  we  learn  of  Lawrence's  past  conquests  in  much  detail. 
Here  the  footage  is  nearly  all  given  to  depicting  action  which 
took  place  long  before.  Consequently,  there  are  a  quan- 
tity of  subtitles  in  this  portion  of  the  story.  That  the  in- 
terest is  successfully  sustained  is  proven  by  the  eagerness 
with   which   one  reads  these,  in  many  cases,  long  titles. 

The  climax  is  reached  when  a  tenement  house,  which 
Lawrence  rfuses  to  put  in  proper  condition,  takes  fire  and 
the  son  is  there  with  a  number  of  other  children  of  the  poor 
district  who  are  enjoying  a  party  given  by  Mrs.  Lawrence. 
The  fire  scenes  have  been  produced  on  a  large  scale  and  they 
impress  one.  The  scene  shifts  from  the  Lawrence  home  to 
the  flaming  building,  and  in  this  way,  suspense  is  well  worked 
up.  At  this  point  Virginia  Pearson  over-acts,  but  while  that 
mars    her    own    performance,    which    otherwise    is    good,    the 

Joseph  Kilgour  realizes  every  possibility  of  his  part  as 
Irving  Lawrence.  He  plays  the  character  consistently,  mak- 
ing him  a  cad  through  and  through.  Lawrence's  wife,  Miss 
Pearson,  has  forgiven  her  husband  one  affair  he  had  with 
a  certain  woman  and  when  she  learns  that  he  is  apparently 
successful  in  his  designs  toward  Muriel,  her  brother's  bride 
who  is  visiting,  she  becomes  bitter  and  upbraids  both  Irving 
and    Muriel. 

Muriel  is  Irving's  victim.  Some  time  before  this  he  had 
betrayed  her,  and  she  is  at  a  loss  to  do  anything  but  submit 


February  19,  1916. 


M  O-T-0  G-R  A  P  H  Y 


425 


to  Barbara's  and  her  husband's  reproaches.  Finally  the 
former  relations  of  Muriel  and  Irving  become  known  and 
Payne,  though  he  has  but  recently  become  her  husband, 
turns  against  her.  Lawrence  is  killed  in  an  attempt  to  save 
some  of  the  children  from  the  burning  house.  In  the  end 
Muriel  is  reconciled  with  her  husband  by  Barbara's  plea  to 
not  allow  the  harm  done  by  Irving  to  continue  further. 

Namoi  Childers  does  splendidly  as  Muriel  and  the  same 
may  be  said  of  Charles  Wellesley  as  Payne.  Robert  Gaillard 
bears  himself  naturally  as  Schuyler  Lawrence.  Bobby  Con- 
nelly is  prominent  and,  as  usual,  very  good. 


"Peggy" 

Triangle     Kay-Bee     Play     Featuring     Billie     Burke. 
Released  March  5.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THE  events  of  the  play  "Peggy,"  merely  form  a  back- 
*  ground  for  Billy  Burke's  charming  personality.  She  fills 
the  whole  picture,  and  we  don't  care  what  the  story  is  about, 
so  long  as  it  gives  Miss  Burke  an  opportunity  to  entertain 
us,  which  is  exactly  what  this  play  does.  This  does  not  mean 
that  the  background  is  not  beautiful  and  the  other  characters 
well  drawn.  On  the  contrary  they  are  exceptionally  well 
done,  the  Scotch  characters  particularly.  But  we  think  of 
them  only  in  connection  with  the  fascinating  heroine. 

Peggy  is  a  little  rich  orphan  whose  Scotch  uncle  orders 
her  to  live  at  his  home  in  Scotland.  So  she  leaves  her  New 
York  friends,  has  her  racing  car  packed  up,  and  is  off.  The 
play  opens  slowly,  but  entertainingly,  for  we  are  getting 
acquainted  with  the  heroine.  Then  we  meet  her  Scotch  rela- 
tives, stern  Andrew  Cameron,  beautifully  played  by  William 
H.  Thompson,  and  his  gentle  little  wife,  played  by  Gertrude 
Claire.  It  is  the  Sabbath,  and  they  are  in  church  listening 
to  the  new  "meenister,"  the  Rev.  Donald  Bruce  (William 
Desmond).  At  the  close  of  the  service,  when  the  neighbors 
are  about  to  go  home,  along  comes  Miss  Peggy  in  her  racing 
car,  frightening  them  out  of  their  wits,  and  scandalizing  her 
uncle  by  traveling  on  Sunday.  He  is  shocked  very  frequently 
hereafter,  particularly  when  he  finds  Peggy,  in  overalls,  fix- 
ing her  car. 

Peggy  doesn't  mind  his  scoldings.  While  he  rages,  she 
tells  fairy  tales  to  the  children,  an  episode  which  gives  Miss 
Burke  a  chance  to  scamper  through  fairyland.  Then  there 
are  the  scenes  showing  Peggy  and  her  car  caught  in  the  rain, 
and  the  scene  in  the  tavern,  all  amusing. 

Rather  late  in  the  story  Colin  Cameron,  the  uncle's  son, 
is  introduced,  and  also  Janet,  his  sweetheart.  Their  almost 
tragic  story  is  straightened  out  by  Peggy,  who  has  a  chance 


to  show  herself  after  all  more  charitable  than  the  narro 
minded  villagers,  whom  she  has  shocked.  Charles  Ray  a 
Nona  Thomas  are  very  good  as  Colin  and  Janet. 

Of  course  the  minister  has  fallen  in  love  with  Pegg 
and  in  the  end  persuades  her  to  stay  in  Scotland. 

The  sub-titles  are  worthy  of  attention  in  this  play,  n 
only  because  they  are  decorative,  which  always  adds  a  plej 
ing  touch,  but  because  they  are  witty  and  in  key  with  t 
spirit  of  the  play. 


"A  Race  for  the  Right  of  Way" 

Chapter  Eight  of  "The   Girl  and  the  Game,"   Signal 
Film  Feature.    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

TH 


E  lifting 
'        of  the 


Df  a  house  by  a  wrecker  and  later  the  destruc- 
house  by  a  speeding  freight  car  are  the  special 
episode  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game,"  which  is 
;■  and  well  photographed  as  the  preceding  chap- 


thrills  of  thi; 
as  entert; 
ters. 

Spike,  Seagrue's  tool,  who  had 


To 


■■The 


■    Gam, 


Chapter   eight. 


Seagn 


to  carry  out  his  good  intentions.  For 
seen  him  with  Helen,  he  reminds  him 
that  there  is  a  $500  reward  for  his  capture,  and  Spike,  fear- 
ing arrest,   thinks   it  best   to  go   with   his   former  master. 

The  trouble  just  at  present  concerns  the  right  of  way 
through  land  owned  by  Cassidy,  claimed  by  both  Seagrue 
and  Rhinelander,  superintendents  of  the  rival  companies  who 
are  building  railroads  across  Superstition  Range.  Seagrue 
attempts  to  use  force  to  prove  his  claim  to  the  right  of  way, 
while  Rhinelander  plans  to  gain  his  through  lawyers  he  is 
bringing.  Seagrue  taps  the  wires  and  overhears  Rhinelan- 
der's telegram  to  Helen,  asking  for  a  special  train  to  meet 
him  and  the  attorney. 

Seagrue's  men,  to  check  the  progress  of  Rhinelander's 
crew,  use  a  large  wrecker  to  lift  Cassidy's  house  and  place 
it  directly  across  the  tracks  being  built  by  their  rivals.  Sea- 
grue also  has  two  of  his  men  board  the  special,  bearing 
Rhinelander  and  his  lawyer.  Overpowering  the  engineer  and 
fireman,  the  men  uncouple  the  engine  and  leave  the  train  in 
the  desert.  But  the  conductor  with  an  emergency  telephone 
reaches  Helen,  who  soon  arrives  on  the  scene  with  an  old- 
time  engine  from  the  roundhouse,  and  brings  the  stranded 
coaches  to  their  destination. 

In  the  meantime,  Rhinelander's  men  get  the  house  out 
of  their  way  by  sending  a  car  at  full  speed  through  it.  Then 
follows  a  battle  between  the  men  of  the  rival  camps,  ended 
when  Helen,  with  her  old  engine,  arrives  with  a  band  of 
deputies  who  quell  the  disturbance. 


"The  Primitive  Strain" 

Three-Reel    Essanay    Feature    Released    February    5. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

T\HIS  release,  scenes  for  which  were  filmed  by  the  Essanay 
A  company  in  the  north,  depends  upon  its  well  drawn  char- 
acterizations to  lift  it  above  the  ordinary  frontier  or  "wild 
west"  story.  This  is  especially  true  of  Nell  Craig's  portrayal 
of  Marie,  the  dance  hall  girl.  She  has  handled  this  role  sym- 
pathetically, yet  without  making  it  sentimental.  She  has 
made  a  convincing  character  from  a  conventional  type.  Hugh 
Thompson  as  Dan  McGraw,  the  saloon  keeper,  and  Edward 
Arnold  as  John  Harris,  the  minister,  also  have  done  good 
work. 

The  father  of  the  young  minister  confesses,  on  his  death 
bed,  a  love  affair  with  a  Canadian  girl  and  tells  his  son  that 
he    has    a    half-sister    somewhere    in    "the    great    northwest." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


He  requests  the  boy  to  go  to  Canada  and  find  her.     Accord- 
ingly, the  next  scene  is  somewhere  in  Canada. 

The  young  minister  has  built  a  mission  at  a  little  town 
and    has    won    the    enmity    of    Dan    McGraw,    keeper    of    the 


Strain." — Essanay. 


saloon  and  dance  hall.  He  makes  many  converts  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  among  them  Marie,  called  the  queen 
of  the  dance  hall.  McGraw  is  particularly  angered  at  what 
he  believes  is  Marie's  infatuation  for  the  minister,  rather  than 
a  desire  for  a  better  life.  When  she  persists  in  her  admira- 
tion for  the  minister,  McGraw  is  furious,  locks  Marie  in  a 
room  and  attacks  her.  The  girl  later  makes  her  escape  and 
goes  to  the  minister's  cabin,  where  she  dies,  after  telling  her 
story,  which  shows  the  minister  that  she  is  the  sister  he  has 
been  seeking. 

Harris  goes  to  McGraw's  saloon  and  challenges  him. 
Then  there  follows  an  encounter  which  is  very  effective, 
against  the  background  of  frightened,  interested  men  and 
women.  It  is,  however,  rather  prolonged.  McGraw  is  killed, 
which  ends  the  play. 

The  photography  throughout  is  good,  particularly  the 
scenes  in  the  leafless  autumn  woods.  The  story  holds  the 
attention  and  in  the  main  is  convincing,  although  coincidence 
is  stretched  a  good  bit  when  the  young  minister  at  once  finds 
his  sister,  having  been  told  only  that  she  is  in  Canada,  a  very 
big  place. 


"The  Crown  Prince's  Double" 

A  Vitagraph  V.  L.  S.  E.  Romance  Released  February  7 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WEARING  smart  modern  clothes  and  playing  two  roles, 
Maurice  Costello  deserves  commendation  for  his  good 
work  in  "The  Crown  Prince's  Double,"  a  "blue  ribbon"  fea- 
ture produced  by  Van  Dyke  Brooke  from  the  story  by 
Gilbert  Patten.  Mr.  Costello  has  things  much  his  own  way 
in  this  picture.  His  parts  are  designed  to  fit  him  with  a 
nicety  that  rivals  his  attire,  but  that  is  no  reason  for  with- 
holding the  praise  his  performance  entitles  him  to.  His  act- 
ing in  "The  Crown  Prince's  Double"  is  far  superior  to  that 
of  his  last  Blue  Ribbon  feature. 

The  other  members  of  the  cast  also  interpret  their  parts 
well  and  in  addition  to  the  acting  there  is  a  story  with 
much  to  recommend  it  and  a  production  of  remarkable  and 
artistic  proportions  with  lighting  and  photography  in  keep- 
ing. The  story  is  thoroughly  interesting  and  entertaining. 
It  makes  good  use  of  the  much  used  "double,"  an  imaginary 
kingdom,  "this  time  its  name  is  Ostrau,  and  a  few  of  the 
typical  adventures  in  intrigue  and  romance  arising  therefrom. 
The  story  contains  some  melodramatic  situations  which  the 
director  has  made  more  effective  by  restraining  them.  The 
story  has  been  treated  in  a  manner  that  is  light  of  touch. 

The  first  part  of  the  story  introduces  and  establishes 
the  Crown  Prince.  It  follows  him  continuously  until  the 
double  enters  the  picture,  and  it  is  his  turn  to  hold  the 
center  of  the  stage,  which  the  author  permits  him  to  do 
uninterrupted.  The  Crown  Prince  is  then  almost  completely 
forgotten.     He   comes   into    the   story   again   near   the    close 


on  something  that  resembles  a  pretext,  but  it  serves.  But 
all  that  is  a  detail  of  story  construction  that  loses  itself  in 
a  picture  which  is  bound  to  please  generally. 

The  Prince  is  spared  the  unpleasantness  of  a  forced 
marriage  by  an  insurrection  which  make  his  and  his  father's 
temporary  abdication  necessary.  Later  he  leaves  for  the 
United  States,  where  he  marries  an  American  girl.  When 
matters  are  again  quiet  in  the  kingdom  he  is  sought  to 
return,  but  refuses.  The  minister  who  wishes  to  bring  him 
back  seeks  to  separate  him  from  his  wife.  The  Prince  meets 
his  double,  one  Barry  Lawrence,  a  bookkeeper  out  of  work. 
Barry  is  supplied  with  money  and  deludes  the  minister  until 
such  time  as  his  sweetheart  is  threatened  and  then  the  Prince 
comes  in  and  explains.  The  Prince  flatly  refuses  to  return 
to  his  kingdom  and  Barry  marries  Shirley  Rives. 

There  is  no  end  of  pretty  settings  in  this  picture.  The 
hotel  lobby,  for  instance,  might  be  picked  out  and  expanded 
upon  as  a  fine  setting,  but  there  are  many  others  as  good. 
The  production  is  real  and  colorful.  Norma  Talmadge  and 
Anna  Laughlin  are  the  leading  feminine  members  of  the 
cast.  Thomas  Mills  as  Peter  Hart  gives  an  agreeable  por- 
trayal of  an  American  and  Anders  Randolph  is  well  suited  to 
the  role  of  Baron  Hagar.  Howard  Hall,  Thomas  Brooke  and 
Leila  Blau  are  prominent.  "The  Prince's  Double"  is  a  pleas- 
ant romance  attractively  visualized  by  a  competent  cast  and 
delightful  production. 


"The  Clarion" 

Five-Part  Equitable,  Released  on  the  World  Film  Pro- 
gram.    Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

pARLYLE  BLACKWELL  is  a  very  busy  young  man  all 
^  through  this  production.  He  goes  from  one  rescue  to  an- 
other with  unflagging  energy  and  alertness.  In  the  end  he  is 
rewarded  with  a  beautiful  bride,  after  all  the  chances  of  obtain- 
ing her  seemed  to  have  gone  to  the  bowwows. 

There  is  an  odd  prologue  in  this  story  which  at  the  same 
time  is  logical  and  pleasing.  A  quack  doctor  comes  through  a 
small  town  selling  a  patent  medicine  from  a  wagon-tail.  His 
little  son  gets  injured  in  a  street  fracas,  and  the  medicine  faker 
is  obliged  to  remain  in  the  town  for  quite  a  long  time.  His 
little  boy,  recovering  from  the  injury,  forms  a  life-long  affection 
for  the  little  daughter  of  the  village  physician  who  is  attending 
him.  The  quack  doctor  remains  in  town  and  begins  to  manufac- 
ture his  narcotic  nostrum. 

After  twenty  years  he  is  the  owner  of  a  large  factory  for 
the  manufacture  of  his  remedy  which  has  become  famous  while 
he  has  become  wealthy.  The  grown-up  son,  after  years  of  study 
and  travel  abroad,  comes  home  to  engage  in  business  with  his 
father.  There  is  a  progressive  newspaper  in  the  town  known 
as  The  Clarion.  About  the  time  the  son  returns  from  Europe 
The  Clarion  decides  to  expose  the  fraudulent  nature  of  the  patent 
remedy  manufactured  in  the   town.     The   first  thing  the   manu- 


-World-1    \ 

facturer's  son  does,  as  his   father's  partner,  is   to  buy  up   77it- 
Clarion  and  run  it  to  suit  himself. 

Being  the  editor  of  a  newspaper  gives  the  young  man  an 
insight  of  the  actual  conditions  of  life  that  he  never  had  dreamed 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


of  before.  Consequently  he  becomes  a  champion  of  the  down- 
trodden, and  an  opponent  of  the  unscrupulous  rich.  In  time 
he  even  refuses  to  run  the  advertisement  of  his  father's  patent 
mdicine  company,  knowing  the  remedy  to  be  a  fake. 

Throughout  the  five  reels  he  has  a  merry  battle  with  hostile 
interests  that  hate  his  publication  because  it  is  fearless  and  fair. 
As  a  vehicle  for  Mr.  Carlyle's  impetuous  style  of  acting  there 
could  hardly  be  anything  more  happily  fitted  to  him.  It  is  full 
of  dash  and  go,  such  as  might  be  expected  from  a  willful  young- 
man  just  staring  in  business  with  plenty  of  money  at  his  com- 

The  young  man  takes  more  of  an  interest  in  the  newspaper 
than  he  does  in  the  patent  medicine  business.  His  love  affairs 
take  a  very  serious  turn  for  the  worse  when  he  opposes  the 
father  of  his  lady  love  in  one  of  the  burning  local  questions. 
In  the  end,  however,  he  triumphs  and  wins  the  girl.  The  cast 
is  unusually  competent,  and  with  the  story,  which  was  originally 
written  by  Samuel  Hopkins  Adams,  and  the  evenness  of  the 
direction,  the  whole  production  is  well  over  the  line  of  success 
and  will  prove  a  fast-moving  feature  for  any  theater. 


"Hazel  Kirke" 

Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play  with  an  All  Star  Cast 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Keenedy 

WITH  a  cast  of  such  notable  and  popular  players  as  Pearl 
White,  Bruce  McRea,  Allen  Murnane,  Creighton  Hale 
and  William  Riley  Hatch  to  interpret  the  parts,  the  latest 
Gold  Rooster  Play,  picturized  from  Steele  Mackaye's  cele- 
brated "Hazel  Kirke,"  will  doubtless  prove  an  exceptional 
attraction  at  the  theaters  where  it  is  shown.  All  the  above 
mentioned  actors,  and  others  not  mentioned,  particularly 
Florence  Edney,  who  is  seen  as  Dorothy  Wetherby,  live 
up  to  their  reputations  in  so  effectively  bringing  out  the 
best  that  their  parts   offer  them. 

Pearl  White  is  as  effective  as  she  ever  was,  perhaps  a 
little  more  so,  and  Bruce  McRea,  with  little  or  nothing  to 
do  in  this  picture,  makes  himself  prominent  in  the  scenes 
in  which  he  figures.  William  Riley  Hatch  makes  Dunstan 
Kirke  an  impressive  character  and  Arthur  Murnane  as 
Arthur  Carringford  and  Creighton  Hale  as  Pittacus  Greene, 
are  convincing.  The  Dorothy  W-etherby  of  Florence  Edney 
is  highly  pleasing. 

In  all  the  years  that  "Hazel  Kirke"  was  presented  upon 
the  American  stage  people  never  seem  to  have  tired  of  it. 
It  has  worn  so  well  that  it  should  be  put  into  the  immortal 
class.  A  play  that  can  live  through  some  of  the  stage  pro- 
ductions that  were  given  to  "Hazel  Kirke"  during  the  past 
thirty  years  surely  embodies  some  sterling  quality.  With 
such  a  story,  a  cast  whose  members  are  of  proven  ability 
and  picturesque,  realistic  settings,  the  producers  have  turned 
out  an  entertaining  picture. 

The  story  has  undergone  a  few  changes  in  the  adapta- 
tion. As  told  by  the  picture  it  shows  Dunstan  Kirke  unable 
to  make  ends  meet  at  his  grist  mill.  When  he  is  threatened 
with  foreclosure  Squire  Rodney  advances  him  the  necessary 
funds  and  asks  in  return  the  hand  of  Hazel  Kirke  in  mar- 
riage, after  she  has  been  educated  at  a  certain  well  known 
school.  Here  Hazel  meets  Arthur  Carringford  and  the  two 
are  attracted  to  each  other. 


Double   CrossciL"— 


After  her  return  home  Carringford  follows  her  there. 
They  plan  to  marry.  Arthur's  mother  is  anxious  for  her  son 
to  marry  Dorothy  Wetherby  in  order  to  save  the  family 
fortune,  so  she  sends  Pittacus  and  the  butler  to  prevent 
her  son's  marriage  to  Hazel.  Kirke  reproaches  his  daughter 
and  orders  her  to  leave  his  home.  The  butler  obtains  the 
services  of  a  supposedly  bogus  minister.  Mrs.  Carringford 
later  asks  Hazel  to  give  up  Arthur,  telling  her  that  the  mar- 
riage was  a  fake.  Broken-hearted  the  young  wife  contem- 
plates suicide,  but  it  transpires  that  the  marriage  ceremony 
was  legal  and  the  ending  is  a  happy  one. 

The  Whartons  produced  the  picture  with  the  most  exact 
care  to  have  the  settings  appropriate  to  the  action.  The 
grist  mill  is  a  delightful  background  for  the  scenes  occurring 
there.  It  gives  the  play  a  quaint  atmosphere  that  enhances 
the  picture  greatly.  The  elaborate  scale  on  which  they  have 
produced  the  picture  reaches  the  spectator  through  perfect 
photography. 


"Souls  in  Bondage" 

Lubin   Feature   Released  by  V.   L.   S.   E.  January  31 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  latest  Lubin  feature  released  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  pro- 
*•  gram  is  a  drama  centering  about  a  remarkably  unselfish 
woman,  and  marks  the  first  appearance  of  Nance  O'Neil, 
who  has  distinguished  herself  as  an  emotional  actress  of  the 
screen,  with  this  company.  The  part  presented  Miss  O'Neil 
by  this  story  is  one  calling  for  much  emotional  acting.  Rose 
B-enner,  the  character  she  interprets,  lives  through  many- 
sorrows  resulting  from  her  unselfish  shouldering  of  other 
people's   wrongdoing. 

Daniel  Carson  Goodman  is  the  author  of  "Souls  in 
Bondage"  and  Edgar  Lewis  is  the  director.  The  play  first 
introduces  the  noble-charactered  Rose  when  she  is  but  a 
mere  child  and  follows  her  fortunes  or  misfortunes  to  her 
death,  which  happens  when  she  has  reached  an  age  of  mellow 
womanhood.  The  author  has  concerned  himself  strictly 
with  the  creation  of  a  woman  who  finds  her  greatest  happi- 
ness in  sacrificing  herself  for  others,  and  one  who  will  serve 
as  a  model  for  women  who  live  merely  for  themselves. 
The  title  urging  the  latter  type  to  "look  deep  into  the  heart 
of  Rosa"  brings  one  to  this  conclusion. 

Here  is  the  story.  Of  his  two  daughters,  Mr.  Benner, 
a  musician  of  very  limited  means,  favors  the  younger,  Rita. 
Upon  her  he  lavishes  all  his  affection.  Knowing  her  father's 
preference  and  loving  him  dearly,  Rosa  keeps  in  the  back- 
ground. Rita  is  willfull  and  spoiled.  She  has  a  love  affair 
which  ends  disastrously.  Rose  then  aids  her  to  leave  home 
and  go  to  the  city  on  the  pretense  of  earning  her  own  living. 
Shortly  after  becoming  a  mother,  Rita  sends  a  letter  to  her 
sister  begging  her   to  come  to   her  aid. 

Rosa  at  once  leaves  for  the  city.  She  assumes  all  care  of 
the  child.  Rita  one  night  leaves  her  sister  and  baby  with  a 
note  saying  that  she  will  return  no  more.  At  home  Rosa 
is  accused  of  being  the  mother  of  the  child,  and  ordered 
out.     Later,  she  marries  a  very  wealthy  man  and  later  still! 


428 


MOTOGRAPHY 


she  finds  that  he  is  unfaithful.  Determined  to  kill  the  woman 
who  is  taking  him  from  her,  Rosa  follows  her  husband  and 
as  she  is  about  to  shoot  this  woman,  discovers  it  is  her 
sister.  Promptly  Rita  tells  Forbes  that  Rosa  married  him 
because  she  wanted  to  find  a  home  for  her  "brat."  After 
that  Rosa  leaves  to  nurse  the  soldiers  in  Europe.  There- 
she  is  court-martialed  for  aiding  a  homesick  youth  to  desert. 
She   faces   the   firing  squad   calmly. 

To  gain  certain  effects  the  symbolic  is  combined  with 
the  actual.  An  instance  being  the  depiction  of  the  injury 
which  Forbes  brings  upon  himself.  This  scene  shows  him 
opening  a  small  chest,  upon  which  the  word  self-respect 
flashes,  and  finding  it  empty  he  looks  heavenward,  crushed 
and  filled  with  remorse.  Ida  Stanhope,  William  Corbett,  Ber- 
nard Seigel,  Mrs.  Carr  and  Mrs.  Stuart  are  included  in  the 
cast.     "Souls   in    Bondage"   is    splendidly   photographed. 


"A  Fool's  Paradise" 

A  Six-Reel  Society  Drama  Offered  by  Ivan  Film  Pro- 
ductions, Inc.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

"TAKEN  as  a  whole  Ivan  Abramson  has  in  "The  Fool's  Para- 
1  dise"  written  and  produced  a  picture  which  will  win  the 
approval  of  the  audiences  for  whom  it  has  been  designed. 
It  is  a  society  drama  dealing  with  sex,  and  a  phase  of  it  that 
is  not  of  a  bright  hue,  but  embodying  incidents  of  human 
interest.  The  story  concerns  itself  with  the  folly  of  an 
aged  widower  who  develops  a  wild  fascination  for  a  woman 
who  practices  clairvoyancy  until  she  meets  him  and  then 
she  practices  her  wiles   to   get  his   money. 

The  picture  is  in  six  reels  and  throughout  that  space 
there  is  continued  interest  in  the  action.  The  old  man's 
foolish  desire  for  the  material  affection  the  designing  woman 
gives  him  is  reflected  in  the  pain  and  sorrow  his  daughter 
and  her  family  are  put  to.  There  is  an  unpleasant  incident 
in  the  daughter's  life  to  further  depict  the  wrongding.  Seeing 
a  young  wife  who  "fears"  that  she  is  to  become  a  mother 
consult  some  sort  of  a  quack  physician  is  not  the  most  en- 
joyable dramatic  incident  one  might  be  treated  to,  but  that 
it  is  effectively  treated  and  therefor  has  its  place  in  the  story 
must  be  freely  admitted. 

Wilfred  Morgan,  a  retired  banker,  while  on  a  visit  to 
Atlantic  City  with  his  daughter  and  her  child,  meets  a  woman 
who  tells  fortunes  under  the  name  of  Maxine.  She  imme- 
diately sets  out  to  ensnare  him.  Morgan  marries  her  under 
a  contract  which  states  that  she  will  receive  his  fortune  at 
the  expiration  of  five  years  as  his  faithful  wife.  The  contract 
is  left  in  the  hands  of  a  lawyer  who  has  been,  and  continues 
to  be  on  intimate  terms  with   Maxine. 

The  first  thing  Maxine  does  is  to  insist  that  Morgan 
order  his  daughter  and  her  husband,  with  the  little  child, 
out  of  the  house.  June's  husband  is  an  impractical  sort  and 
he  is  unable  to  support  her.  The  home  then  becomes  the 
scene  of  many  gay  parties  at  which  Maxine  and  her  friends 
make  sport  of  Morgan.  He  has  a  rude  awakening.  At  the 
point  of  a  gun  he  makes  the  lawyer  return  the  marriage  con- 
tract and  tells  Maxine  he  will  have  no  more  to  do  with  her 


&7\ 

iff  r        i    fW 

&^  u 

\   f     ^ 

He  again  brings  his  family  into  the  home  and   the  end  finds 
him   enjoying  true  happiness. 

The  story  is  well  acted  and  the  production  is  splendid. 
"A  Fool's  Paradise,"  in  telling  its  story  so  well  and  in  its 
realistic  production,  is  an  entirely  satisfying  picture.  James 
Burke  plays  the  part  of  the  banker  very  effectively.  Chrys- 
tine  Mayo  does  well  in  her  portrayal  of  a  repulsive  type. 
Paula    Shay    and    Jan 


parts   very 


mdably. 


i    her   portrayal    of   - 
Cooley    enact    the 


important 


Rows  Miles  to  Get  Pictures 

Undaunted  by  floods  which  have  made  railroad 
service  impossible,  A.  R.  Connerly.  owner  of  the  No 
Name  theater,  of  Lake  Village,  Arkansas,  braves  the 
overflowing  Mississippi  in  a  boat  twice  a  week  and 
rows  himself  eighteen  miles  down  the  river  to  Mem- 
phis to  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  exchange,  gets 
eighteen  reels  of  pictures,  enough  to  last  him  three 
days,  and  then  rows  up  stream  against  a  powerful 
current. 


J.  A.  Kent,  publicity  and  sales  manager  for  the 
Great  Northern  Film  Company,  New  York,  has  been  on 
an  extended  trip  through  the  Middle  West,  covering  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City,  Detroit,  Indianapolis.  Chicago, 
Minneapolis   and   Omaha. 


<«,l    William   S.   II a, 


February   19,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


WEST  COAST   NEWS 

Douglas  Fairbanks  has  returned  to  the 
Fine  Arts  studio  in  Los  Angeles  after 
several  months'  work  at  the  New  York 
studio.  Director  Allan  Dwan  and  Pauline 
Bush   (Mrs.  Dwan)   accompanied  him. 

Seth  D.  Perkins,  manager  of  the  Gar- 
rick  theater  of  Los  Angeles,  installed  a 
new  Mutual  program  in  his  house  Feb- 
ruary 7.  The  music  is  specially  arranged 
for  each  picture. 

The  Morals  Feature  Film  Corporation 
has  been  organized  in  Los  Angelas,  with 
W.  A.  Hoesgens  as  president  and  man- 
ager and  F.  W.  Emerson,  national  com- 
mitteeman of  the  California  Prohibition 
party,  as  vice-president.  The  corporation 
is  producing  a  twelve-reel  feature,  "The 
Beast,"  to  be  used  in  prohibition  cam- 
paigns. It  will  be  released  in  May. 
Other  uplift  pictures  will  follow. 

Anna  Held  and  Thomas  H.  Ince  led 
the  grand  march  at  the  third  annual  ball 
of  the  Static  Club  in  Los  Angeles.  Ralph 
Merollo  was  chairman  of  the  ball  com- 
mittee. 

Eugenie  Besserer  possesses  an  ivory 
velvet  gown,  richly  embroidered,  an  heir- 
loom from  a  relative  of  the  Emperor  Na- 
poleon. 

Fritzi  Brunette,  of  William  Robert 
Daly's  company  at  the  Selig  Zoo.  has  re- 
covered from  her  recent  illness.  She  is 
now  working  in  "His  Brother's  Keeper." 

A  de  luxe  edition  of  "The  Spoilers" 
in  twelve  reels  is  soon  to  be  put  out  by 
the  Selig  Company. 

Kathlyn  Williams  is  to  be  featured  in 
"The  Devil— the  Servant— and  the  Man," 
a  forthcoming  Selig  release  directed  by 
Frank  Beal.  Guy  Oliver,  Lillian  Hay- 
ward,  Harry  Lonsdale  and  Vivian  Reed 
appear  in  the  supporting  cast. 

William  Robert  Daly,  one  of  the  Selig 
producers,  seems  to  specialize  in  "crook" 


Film    Market  Quotations  and 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied   by    R.    D.   Small   of  A.    E.    Butler  &   Co.. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,   Inc....    90  98 

Biograph    Company    40  50 

Famous    Players    Film   Co..    75  108 

General   Film  Corp.,  pref 43 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   pref...    38  42|/2 

Mutual    Film    Corp.,   com...    36  45 

No.  Am.   Film   Corp.,   pref..    94  100 

No.   Am.   Film   Corp.,  com..    65  75 

New  York    M.   P.   Corp 40  55 

Thanhouser    Film    Corp....      3|/2  4     * 

Triangle  Film  Corp 5J/2  6i/2* 

Universal    Film    Mfg.    Co... 185 

World    Film  Corp 1  2     * 


*Par  $5.00. 

American  Film  Co.  Inc:  Stock  of  this 
company  has  been  in  demand  during  the 
past   few   weeks   without   any   obtainable. 

Mutual  Film  Corporation:  Stockhold- 
ers just  recently  learned  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Directors,  that  a 
very  substantial  amount  was  written  off 
representing  "Good  ■  Will."  This  is  in 
harmony  with  the  general  plan  of  the 
directors  to  make  the  company's  finan- 
cial condition  waterproof  so  that  the 
marshalling  of  their  assets  and  liabilities 
will  stand  the  closest  bankers'  investiga- 
tion. However,  the  market  on  both  pre- 
ferred and  common  during  the  last  week 
has  been   unsettled. 

World  Film  Corp.:  The  statements 
made  in  this  column  quite  a  number  of 
weeks  ago  as  to  disturbances  in  the 
World  Film  Corporation  have  now  been 
verified.  Mr.  Selznick  is  now  "out"  and 
heads  a  new  company  which  is  featuring 
Clara  Kimball  Young.  Mr.  Arthur  Spie- 
gel takes  active  charge  of  the  World 
Film  Corporation,  which  is  combined 
with  the  Equitable.  There  has,  however, 
as  yet  been  no  "uplift"  in  the  stock. 


chased  by  the  Kalem  Company,  will  be 
used  in  picture  sets  for  the  George  Bron- 
son  Howard  series  in  which  Marin  Sais 
and  Ollie  Kirkby  are  featured,  at  the 
Glendale  studios. 

Valeska  Surratt  will  return  to  the 
Lasky  studio  soon  to  begin  work  in  an- 
other production. 

Blanche  Sweet  has  finished  work  in 
"The  Blacklist,"  under  the  direction  of 
William  C.  de  Mille,  and  soon  will  start 

Cleo  Ridgley,  star  in  "The  Golden 
Chance,"  for  the  Lasky  company,  is  pre- 
paring a  wardrobe   for  her   new  produc- 


Anna  Held's  pet  dog  was  much  dis- 
turbed when  he  first  saw  his  mistress  on 
the  screen  in  a  trial  run  of  scenes  from 
"Madame  La  Presidente." 

Helen  Eddy  of  the  Morosco  forces  has 
designed  many  rings  and  other  jewelry, 
among  them  a  peacock  ring  set  with  a 
black  pearl  sent  her  from  Australia. 

Theda  Bara  is  expected  soon  at  the 
Fox  studios  in  Los  Angeles. 

Juanita  Hansen,  who  plays  opposite 
Ford  Sterling  in  Mack  Sennett's  produc- 
tions is  recovering  from  an  attack  of  ap- 
pendicitis. 

Bessie  Barriscale  is  appearing  with 
William  Desmond  in  "Bullets  and  Brown 
Eyes."  a  new  Ince  production. 

D.  W.  Griffith  at  the  Fine  Arts  studio 
is  preparing  for  his  next  play,  "The 
Philanthropist,"  a  comedy  by  Chester 
Withey,  in  which  De  Wolf  Hopper  and 
Fay  Tincher  will  appear. 

"Bull"  Durham,  once  a  famous  ball 
player  with  the  Pacific  Coast  league,  has 
joined  the  David  Horsley  company  as  an 
actor. 


Triangle    Film    Corp.: 


This 


company 
is  securing  new  business  on  a  very  satis- 
factory scale  and  its  "goods"  are  making- 
good  according  to  reports  from  a  num- 
ber of  different  centers  in  the  country. 
The   one   question   with   the   stockholders 

required  to  secure  oresent  bookings. 
There  is  little  change  in  the  market  from 
preceding  weeks'  quotations. 

Thanhouser  Film  Corp.:  Is  reported 
to  have  acquired  a  very  comfortable  sur- 
plus account  and  stock  is  in  demand, 
with  none  offered  on  the  market. 


■ected  "The  Making- 


plays.     He  has  di 

Crooks"  and  four  other  plays  with  similar 

themes. 

In  discussing  the  report  that  Lillian 
Lorraine  had  sued  the  Balboa  company 
for  $4,637.55,  H.  M.  Horkheimer  declares 
that  if  Miss  Lorraine  holds  such  a  note, 
she  has  never  presented  it  at  the  proper 
place. 


Furnishings    of    I 


Cafe    de    la    Pai 


430 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


Constance  Collier  met  with  an  accident 
at  the  studio  recently  when  a  heavy  oak 
counter  fell  on  her  hand. 

Mae  Murray,  Director  George  Melford 

and  a  company  of  two  hundred  Lasky 
players  in  the  production  of  "To  Have 
and  to  Hold,"  were  marooned  for  three 
days  during  the  heavy  rains  at  San 
Pedro. 

Frank  Reicher  is  filming  exterior 
scenes  for  the  play  in  which  Fanny  Ward 
will  appear.  Jack  Dean,  Tom  Forman, 
James  Neill  and  Camille  Astor  also  are  in 
the  cast. 

Nell  Shipman  has  discovered  that  Wil- 
liam Bainbridge,  who  plays  her  father  in 
"God's  Country — and  the  Woman,"  is 
her  god-father,  whom  she  had  never  met 
since  Mr.  Bainbridge  assumed  that  re- 
sponsibility in  Victoria,  B.  C. 

William  Bertram  will  direct  the  screen 
production  of  B.  M.  Bower's  story,  "A 
Happy  Family,"  which  will  be  renamed 
"Curlew  Horliss,"  and  will  include  Art 
Acord,  Anita  David  and  Dixie  Stratton  in 
its  cast. 

George  Field,  in  "The  Happy  Mas- 
querader."  a  "Flying  A"  three-reeler  di- 
rected by  Thomas  Ricketts,  depicts  a 
brutal  chauffeur  who  for  a  time  takes  the 


studios  after  his  vacation  in  Las  Vegas 
and  the  East. 

Richard  Stanton  is  appearing  as  the 
chief  avenging  spirit  in  "Graft." 

William  D.  Taylor,  with  Dustin  Far- 
num  and  members  of  a  Pallas  company, 
are  still  snowbound  in  Bear  Valley,  ac- 
cording to  reports. 

George  Cochran,  brother  of  one  of  the 
Universal  executives,  is  directing  Edna 
Maison  in  "Through  a  Baby's  Voice." 

A  vast  spread  of  elks'  horns— holding 
lamps  is  a  feature  of  one  interior  set  of 
the  northwest  drama  Rollin  S.  Sturgeon 
is  completing. 

Edward  J.  Brady  specializes  in  villain 
roles.  In  "Who  Pays,"  he  portrayed  half 
a  dozen  kinds,  and  in  "Neal  of  the  Navy" 
he  is  the  terrible  Hernandez. 

An  admirer  called  Myrtle  Stedman  a 
"princess  playing  in  a  Pallas." 

Just  as  the  sun  appeared,  after  Ed.  J. 
Le  Saint  and  company  had  waited  more 
than  an  hour  to  take  an  important  scene, 
the  glass  partition  of  the  office  set 
cracked  and  work  was  over  for  that  day. 

Jack  Richardson  adds  another  villain 
to  his  roles  in  "The  Quagmire, "a  three- 
reeler  directed  by  Tom  Chatterton. 

"Overalls,"  a  future  American  "master- 
oicture,"  is  the  romance  of  a  construction 
camp  foreman  and  a'  wealthy  girl.  Wil- 
liam Stowell  and  Rea  Mitchell  are  fea- 
tured. 

Stella  Razeto,  having  finished  work  in 
the  Universal  serial,  will  appear  in  a  se- 
ries of  two-reelers,  the  first  one,  "Her- 
self," under  the  direction  of  Ed  Le  Saint. 
Juan  de  la  Cruz  will  support  her. 

Tom  Chatterton,  like  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, has  a  birthday  on  February  12. 

William    Garwood    likes    directing    as 

Alan  Hale,  "heavy"  in  Lasky's  "Pudd'n- 
head  Wilson,"  has  a  reputation  for  good 


Dave  Smith,  brother  of  one  of  the  own- 
is     of    the     Yitagraph,     besides     taking 


plac 


wealthy  clul 
Tom  Chatterton    filmed   several  of  the 
jcen.es  for  "When  the  Light  Came."  at  a 


"Margy  of  the  Fo< 
pleted  for  the  Americ 
by  William  Bertram,  ( 


love!      Art    Acord,    Dixie    Stratton 
John  Prescott  are  in  the  cast. 

Fritzi  Brunette  has  a  new    pianola 


Bessie  Eyton  is  equipped  to  play  in  al- 
nosl  any  role.  She  ran  swim,  play  ten- 
lis  and  golf,  ride,  dance  and  drive  a  car. 

Kathlyn  Williams  once  studied  for 
jrand  opera.    Sbc  has  a  soprano  voice. 

Tom   Mix   has   returned    to    the   Selig 


charge  of  the  company's  books,  occa- 
sionally directs  a  comedy,  and  recently 
impersonated  a  sick  man  in  William 
Wolbert's  current  play. 

Neva  Gerber  was  held  up  in  Los  An- 
geles the  other  evening,  but  when  she 
threatened  to  scream  the  thief  ran. 

Hal  Cooley  was  presented  with  a  new 
silk  hat  after  a  visitor  sat  on  his  old  one. 

J.  P.  McGowan  and  Helen  Holmes  are 

still  at  Las  Vegas,  Nev.,  making  "The 
Girl  and  the  Game"  pictures. 

Corinne  Griffith,  when  in  Truckee, 
adopted  a  little  lost  dog.  "Nigger"  is 
now  the  mascot  of  the  Hollvwood  stu- 
dios. 

Francis  Ford  and  Grace  Cunard  will 
soon  begin  work  on  an  Irish  story. 
"Brennan  of  the  Moor."  They  plan  to 
follow  this  with  stories  of  various  na- 
tionalities of  two  reels  each,  for  which 
they  will  write  their  own  scenarios. 

John  Sheehan,  of  "Beauty"  comedies, 
has  been  sued  by  a  California  matrimo- 
nial agency.  Trouble  arose  when  the 
press  agent  stated  that  for  "Too  Much 
Married"  Sheehan  employed  a  character 
from  a  local  matrimonial  agency,  of 
which  the  name  was  given. 

David  Horsley  announces  the  post- 
ponement of  "A  Little  Lady  of  Lions," 
by  Roy  L.  McCardell.  "The  Heart  of 
Tara,"  featuring  Margaret  Gibson  and 
William  Clifford,  will  take  its  place. 
William  J.  Bowman  is  staging  the  play, 
a  Mutual  Masterpicture. 

"The  Red  Circle"  is  not  an  adaptation 
of  the  former  stage  story  of  the  same 
name.  The  serial  story  is  original  with 
tin-  Balboa  company. 

Charles  Dudley  of  the  Balboa  forces 
lias  died  eleven  times  in  the  last  twelve 
photoplays  in  which  he  has  played. 

William  Duncan  of  the  western  Vita- 
graph  forces  astonished  the  bystanders 
in  a  blacksmith  shop  recently  when  he 
lifted  a  ISO-pound  anvil,  apparently  with 
little  effort. 

Bessie  Barriscale,  with  William  Des- 
mond and  Franklin  Ritchie,  is  working  at 


February  19,  1916. 

Culver  City  under  Charles  Giblin's  di- 
rection, taking  court  room  scenes  in 
which  several  hundred  persons  are  em- 
ployed. 

Louise  Glaum  will  begin  work  soon  at 
Inceville  in  a  vampire  picture,  directed  by 
Raymond  West.  Charles  Ray,  Jack 
Standing  and  Howard  Hickman  will  ap- 
pear in  the  cast. 

Dorothy  Barrett  has  been  selected  as 
feminine  lead  for  "The  Argonauts,"  the 
eleven-reel  feature  planned  by  the  Mon- 
rovia Film  Company,  Monrovia,  Cal. 
Miss  Barrett  has  appeared  in  Solax,  Imp 
and  Lubin  features. 

In  Gretchen  Hartman's  present  Bio- 
graph  picture,  she  is  a  countess  and 
wears  some  wonderful  gowns.  J.  F.  Mc- 
Donald is  directing. 

Grace  Cunard,  on  her  release  from  the 
hospital,  at  once  went  to  work.  Only  ill- 
ness can  keep  her  away,  and  her  friends 
hope  she  has  seen  the  last  of  that. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


EAST  COAST  NEWS 

A  music  enthusiast  sent  Hazel  Dawn 
an  original  violin  sonata,  hoping  it  would 
call  her  back  to  her  violin  of  "Pink 
Lady"  fame.  Miss  Dawn  says  it  will  not 
have  that  effect. 

Niles  Welch,  who  left  the  Metro  forces 
to  play  in  the  Fox  production  of  "Merely 
Mary  Ann,"  has  returned  to  the  Metro 
Company  and  will  begin  work  in  "The 
Kiss  of  Hate,"  with  Ethel  Barrymore, 
under  William  Nigh's  direction.  Welch 
appeared  in  "Emmy  of  Stork's  Nest,"  "A 
Yellow  Streak,"  and  "Her  Debt  of 
Honor." 

Skating  scenes  were  taken  in  the  St. 
Nicholas  rink,  New  York,  for  "Black 
Fear,"  the  Metro  play  starring  Grace 
Elliston  and  featuring  Grace  Valentine 
and  Edward  Brennan. 

"The  Price  of  Malice,"  starring  Ham- 
ilton Revelle,  also  shows  a  skating  party. 

Ethel  Barrymore  and  Mary  Miles  Min- 
ter,  Metro  stars,  have  learned  to  skate 
this  winter.      • 

"The  Silent  Challenge,"  in  which  Ham- 


Webster    Campbell — Vitagraph. 


ilton  Revelle  stars,  has  been  finished  for 
the  Metro  company.  It  is  a  five-reeler, 
written  and  directed  by  Oscar  Lund  and 
dealing  with  English  secret  service  work. 
Exteriors  were  filmed  at  Portland, 
Maine.  J.  Frank  Glendon  appears  in 
the  cast. 

Arthur  Donaldson  is  depicting  a  vil- 
lainous Italian  count  in  a  five-reel  play  of 
Italian  life  being  filmed  at  the  Erbograph 
studio,  New  York,  for  Roland  West. 

The  Fox  Film  Corporation  has  opened 
a  sub-office  branch  in  New  Haven,  Conn., 
in  the  Poli's  Theater  building,  to  supply 
Connecticut  exhibitors.  Richard  Wernick 
is  in  charge. 

Pauline  Frederick  and  company  of  Fa- 
mous Players,  under  Robert  Vignola,  are 
filming  scenes  for  Mary  Johnstone's  play, 
"Audrey,"  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.  Miss 
Frederick  was  last  in  Jacksonville  when 
working  in  scenes  for  "Bella  Donna." 

Just  when  Marguerite  Clark  and  com- 
pany, under  J.  Searle  Dawley,  arrived  at 
a  location  in  Northern  New  York  for 
snow  scenes,  the  rains  came  and  melted 
the  snow. 

Three  Italian  mothers  asked  Mary 
Pickford  for  the  corduroy  trousers  she 
wore  in  "Little  Peppina."  Since  all  three 
cannot  have  them,  none  shall,  decided 
Mary.     She  will  keep  them. 

Daniel  Gilfether,  sixty-four  years  old, 
who  plays  "Circle  Jim  Borden"  in  "The 
Red  Circle,"  was  asked  by  an  insurance 
company  if  he  could  still  work.  He  re- 
ferred them  to  "The  Red  Circle"  and 
"Who  Pays,"  which  show  him  riding  a 
bucking  broncho,  doing  a  hundred-yard 
foot  race  in  about  twelve  seconds,  carry- 
ing a  woman  up  a  flight  of  stairs  and 
mixing  up  in  a  lively  fight. 

"Ham  Takes  a  Chance,"  soon  to  be  re- 
leased, will  mark  the  return  of  Lloyd  V. 
Hamilton,  absent  from  the  screen  nearly 
three  months  because  of  an  injury  sus- 
tained while  making  a  comedy.  Bud 
Duncan  and  Ethel  Teare  are  featured 
with  him. 

In  "The  Perilous  Swing,"  one  of  the 
"Hazards  of  Helen"  pictures,  Helen  Gib- 


son throws  her  lariat  over  the  girder  of  a 
rising  draw  bridge,  swings  through  the 
air  on  the  rope  to  the  opposite  bank. 

The  ill-fated  submarine  E-2  is  shown  in 
the  Kalem  one-reel  picture,  "The  Trail's 
End."  It  was  photographed  last  spring 
at  Key  West,  Fla. 

There  are  no  outdoor  scenes  in  the 
Kalem  picture,  "The  Guiding  Hand." 

Huntley  H.  Gordon,  lately  with  Ethel 
Barrymore,  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Vitagraph  Bay  Shore  stock  company, 
under  Ralph  Wi  Ince. 

S.  Rankin  Drew  is  to  produce  Louis 
Joseph  Vance's  latest  story. 

Sis  Hopkins'  famous  pig-tail  will  puzzle 
and  delight  film  fans,  as  it  has  stage  audi- 
ences, when  Rose  Melville  portrays  Sis 
on  the  screen. 

Florence  Lawrence,  by  quick-witted  ac- 
tion, checked  what  might  have  been  an 
.expensive  fire  when  a  lamp  was  over- 
turned on  inflammable  stuff  while  Stuart 
Paton  was  directing  a  scene. 

Scenes  for  "Then  I'll  Come  Back  to 
You,"  for  the  Frohman  Amusement  Com- 
pany, are  being  filmed  at  a  railroad  con- 
struction Camp  near  Black  Mountain, 
N.  C,  and  include  wonderful  scenery  in 
the  Appalachian  Range. 

Eleanor  Woodruff  wears  her  mother's 
wedding  gown  in  several  scenes  of  "Big 
Jim  Garrity,"  the  A.  H.  Woods  play 
which  George  Fitzmaurice  is  producing 
for  Pathe. 

For  the  next  episode  of  "The  Iron 
Claw,"  Director  Edward  Jose  expects 
Creighton  Hale  and  Sheldon  Lewis  to 
drive  a  motor  car  headlong  from  a  draw 
bridge  into  the  water. 

Florence  La  Badie  is  mourning  the 
death  of  her  dog. 

Doris  Grey  of  the  Thanhouser  com- 
pany, who  won  her  position  and  a  beauty 
prize  at  the  same  time,  is  back  from 
Florida,  where  she  got  a  taste  of  "stunt" 
acting. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


ducing  organization,  and  features  are  be- 
ing prepared  in  various  portions  of  Aus- 
tralia and  in  the  South  Sea  Islands. 

Picture  theater  managers  of  Melbourne 
asked  for  leave  to  appeal  against  the  de- 
cision of  the  court  upholding  the  city 
council's  prohibition  of  Sunday  pictures. 
The  application  was  refused. 

The  Mosman  Kinema  theater,  to  be 
opened  in  Mosman,  Sydney,  will  accom- 
modate 1,500  persons.  A  winter  garden 
will  adjoin  the  theater. 

Among  the  wounded  soldiers  shown  in 
a  war  picture  in  Auckland,  New  Zealand, 
one  mother  recognized  her  son,  whom 
she  had  mourned  as  dead. 


Arthur  Ellery  directs  the  Falstaff  com- 
pany from  a  large  armchair. 

Frederick  Warde  declares  that  the 
Thanhouser  "Silas  Marner"  will  be  his 
only  picture  appearance.  A  lecture  con- 
tract holds  him  for  the  next  two  years, 
after  which  he  will  devote  all  his  time  to 
writing. 

B.  D.  Carber,  long  a  technical  director 
with  Universal,  is  now  working  with 
Clarence  Dull  at  the  Thanhouser  New 
Rochelle  studios. 

Henry  B.  Walthall  writes  friends  east 
and  west  that  he  likes  Chicago,  except 
the  below-zero  lake  breezes. 

Edna  Mayo,  before  beginning  the  role 
of  Mary  Page,  the  actress  subject  to  fits 
of  insanity,  made  a  study  of  mental  dis- 
eases. 

Henry  B.  Walthall  was  burned  when  a 
blank  cartridge  exploded  in  a  scene  for 
"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page." 

Holliswood  Hall,  a  restaurant  well 
known  to  Long  Island  motorists,  will  be 
shown  in  a  film  Theodore  Marston  is 
directing    for    the    Yitagraph    company. 

Billie  Burke,  by  special  arrangement 
with  Florenz  Ziegfeld,  Jr.,  will  appear 
in  a  drama  by  Rupert  Hughes  in  twent\ 
chapters.  The  film  is  being  made  at  the 
George    Kleine    studios. 

Col.  Jasper  Ewing  Brady,  manager  of 
the  Vitagraph  scenario  department,  has 
written  a  novel.  "The  Pharisee,"  to  be 
published  by  Small.  Maynard  &  Co. 

Motion  picture  rights  to  "The  Quick 
or  the  Dead."  by  Amelie  Rives,  have  been 
obtained  by  the  William  A.  Brady  Pic- 
ture Plays  Corporation,  Alice  Brady 
will  appear  in  the  play  when  she  has 
finished  work  in  "Then  I'll  Come  Back 
to  You."     It   will   be   Miss    Brady's   tenth 


AUSTRALIAN    NOTES 


BRITISH    FILM   GOSSIP 

D.  W.  Russell,  representing  the  David 
Horsley  productions,  gave  a  reception  to 
his  friends  at  the  new  premises  recently- 
opened  at  93-95  Wardour  street,  London. 

F.  Ingram  of  the  Selig  Polyscope  Com- 
pany, has  recovered  from  his  recent  ill- 
ness and  is  back  at  his  office  in  Wardour 
street. 

The  manager  of  the  James  McEnnery    : 
Syndicate   reports   the  loss   of  two  films, 
"The  Poisoned  Cup."  a  three-reeler,  and 
"The  Adventures  of  a   Plucky  Woman." 

Jack  Shaw,  of  the  Manchester  staff,  of 
Pathe  Freres,  has  joined  the  Royal  Fusi- 
liers. 

The  Hepworth  company,  while  produc- 
ing features  like  "Iris"  and  "Annie 
Laurie,"  has  also  made  a  series  of  short 
comics  and  dramas  to  be  released  begin- 
ning February  28. 

L.  Pix  has  been  appointed  sales  man- 
ager for  Thomas  A.  Edison,  Ltd. 

Charles  Mozley  has  taken  over  the 
management  of  the  Bijou  picture  palace 
in  Doncaster.  He  announces  a  special 
tradesman's  matinee  every  Thursday,  a 
performance  for  visitors  on  Saturday 
morning  at  ten,  and  a  children's  matinee 
in  the  afternoon. 

"The  Queen  Mother,"  a  stage  drama  by 
J.  A.  Campbell,  has  been  adapted  into  a 


four-reel  film  by  the  Clarendon  Film 
Company.  Screen  production  of  another 
play  by  this  author.  "The  Little  Bread- 
winner,"  will   follow   shortly. 

"The  Puppet  Crown,"  the  Laskv  fea- 
ture with  Ina  Claire  and  Carlyle  Black- 
well,  was  well  received  at  the  Imperial 
picture  house,  Blackpool. 

Instead  of  decreasing  the  attendance 
at  picture  theaters,  the  war  seems  rather 
to  have  increased  it,  probably  because 
some  form  of  entertainment  is  a  neces- 
sity as  a  distraction,  and  the  motion  pic- 


appe; 


of 


people. 

Carl  Edouarde,  music  director  of  the 
Strand  theater,  New  York  City,  has 
adopted  a  little  Japanese  spaniel  recently 
left  in  a  grip  at  the  check  room  of  the 
theater. 

The  various  Kalem  companies  are 
widely  scattered,  one  being  in  New  York, 
two  in  Jacksonville,  Fla..  and  three  in 
California,  each  company  working  in  a 
separate   studio. 


One  of  the  most  modern  buildings  de- 
voted to  motion  pictures  is  the  new  State 
on  Twenty-seventh  and  State  streets, 
Milwaukee,  owned  and  managed  by  M. 
Rice,  a  well  known  motion  picture 
man  of  this  city.  The  theater  was 
planned   and 


F.   W. 

brick, 


And 


It    i 


and 

other  fireproof  materials  and  represents 
the  most  modern  style  of  theater  con- 
struction. Roomy  upholstered  seats  have 
been  installed,  leaving  spacious  aisles.  All 
of  the  thousand  seats  with  the  exception 
of  four  boxes  will  be  on  one  floor. 

The  Odeon  theater.  707  Tower  avenue, 
Superior,  was  damaged  by  tire  to  the  ex- 
lent  of  $1,000.  The  cause  of  the  tire  is 
unknown,  but  it  originated  between  the 
floor  of  the  building  and  a  false  floor 
which  had  been  put  in  to  lit  it  for  theater 
purposes.  The  theater  is  owned  by 
James  C.  RodgerS,  of  Warren.  Ohio,  and 
was   fully  covered  by   insurance. 

G.  H.  Dailey  has  opened  a  picture  the- 
ater in  the  Campbell  building.  Endeavor, 
and  will  show   pictures  once  a  week. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Believing  the  classilieati. 
Motography  has  adopted  th 
Films  will  >->  ««♦-'  -= 
Reasonabh 


i    of    film    pictures    by    the 


used,   and   the   publis 


2-10 
2-10 
2-10 


Monday. 

A    Chance     Deception Biograph 

The    Diamond    Thieves Lubin 

The   Dragnet    Selig 

Selig-Tribune  News   Pictorial,  No.   11,  1916 Selig 

Betty  the  Boy  and   the   Bird Vitagraph 

The  Surprises  of  an  Empty  Hotel Vitagraph 

A   Cripple   Creek   Cinderella Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

The  Man  in  Him Essanay 

Wurra- Wurra    Kalem 

The   Last    Shot Lubin 

Wednesday. 

The  Iron  Will Biograph 

The    Fable    of    "The    Grass    Widow    and    the    Mes- 

meree   and   the   Six   Dollars" Essanay 

The  Darkest  Hour   (No.   12  of  the  Stingaree   Series)  .  .Kalem 

Thursday. 

Sold    to    Satan Lubin 

Selig-Tribune  News   Pictorial,  No.   12,   1916 Selig 

Bungles    Rainy    Day Vim 

Friday. 

The  Trail's   End    (No.    16   of   the   Ventures   of   Ma 


tel 


.  .Kalcn 


1  The    High    Sign Vim 

1  Freddie's    Last    Bean Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

2  Golden     Lies Essanay 

2  The  Peril  of  the   Rails Kalem 

2  Billy's   Lucky   Bill Lubin 

2  A   Mix-Up   in    Movies Selig 

2  From   Out   of   the   Past Vitagraph 

Monday. 

4  Just    Gold     Biograph 

4  The  Strange  Case   of   Marv    Page   No.   4 Essanay 

4  A    Song    From    the    Heart Lubin 

4  The     Black     Orchid Selig 

4  Selig-Tribune    No.    13,    1916 Selig 

4  You  re   Next    Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

5  His   White    Lie Biograph 

5   Gold    Dust    Essanay 

5  Ham    Takes    a    Chance Kalem 

Wednesday. 

6  Pique     Biograph 

6  Vernon    Howe     Bailev's    Sketch     Book:    Scenic Essanay 

6  A  Molar  Mix-Up Kalem 

Thursday. 

7  The  Uplift    Lubin 

7   Selig-Tribune   No.    14.    1916 Selig 

7  One   Too    Many Vim 

Friday. 

8  The    Guiding    Hand     (No.    17    of    the    Ventures    of 

Marguerite)     Kalem 

8  The    Child    of    the    West Knickerbocker 

8  Pluck    and    Luck Vim 

i  In    Arcadia    Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

9  Politeness    Pavs    Essanay 

9  The     Perilous "  Swing Kalem 

9  A    Temporary    Husband Lubin 

9  Making    Good     .Selig 

9  The   Man    He   Used    to    Be Vitagraph 


11   In   the   Palace  of  the  King 

11  The  Vallev   of  Lost   Hope Lubin 

18  A    Black    Sheep Selig 

18  The  Man   Who   Couldn't   Beat   God Vitagraph 

25   The    Rights    of    Man Lubin 


)  be  of  greater  importance  to  the  exhibi 
to  make  use  of  this  convenient  tabulatii 
anufacturers   are   requested   to   send   us   th 


r  than  clsasification  by  maker, 
in  making  up  their  programs. 
r  bulletins  as  early   as   possible. 


Feb. 


1  The    Turn    of   the   Road Vitagraph  5,000 

1  The    Crimson    Wing Essanay  6,000 

8  The     Raven      Essanay  5,000 

5  Sweet    Alyssum    Selig  5,000 

5  Heights     of     Hazard Vitagraph  5,000 

2  The    Nation's    Peril Lubin  5,000 

9  The    Caveman    Vitagraph  5,000 

6  The   Alster   Case Essanay  5,006 

6  The    Man's    Making Lubin  5,000 

3  I'm   Glad   My   Boy   Grew  Up  to  Be  a  Soldier Selig  4,000 

3   The   Price   for   Folly Vitagraph  5,000 

0  The   Great   Divide Lubin  5,000 

0A    Daughter    of    the    City Essanay  5,000 

7  What  Happened   to   Father Vitagraph  5,000 

3  Thou    Art    the    Man Vitagraph  6,000 

0  No    Greater    Love Selig  5,000 

0  Green    Stockings Vitagraph  5,000 

7   My    Lady's    Slippers Vitagraph  5,000 

7   Captain   Jinks  of  the   Horse   Marines Essanay  5,000 

0  The    Wonderful    Wager Lubin  2,000 

4  Gods   of   Fate Lubin  5,000 

4  The  Island  of  Surprise Vitagiaph  5,000 

1  A    Night    Out Vitagraph  5,000 

1   Souls    in    Bondage Lubin  5,000 

7  The    Crown    Prince's    Double Vitagraph  5,000 

7  Thou    Shalt    Not    Covet Selig  5,000 

I  The  Writing  on  the  Wall Vitagraph  5,000 

I  Dollars  and    Cents Lubin  5,000 

(Vultures    of    Society Essanay  5,000 

The  Misleading   Lady Essanay  5,000 

1    Kennedy    Square    Vitagraph  5.000 


Tuesday. 

2-8     Lillo  of  the  Sulu  Seas American 

2-8      Booming   the    Boxing   Business Falstaff 

Wednesday. 

2-9     Won  by  One Beauty 

2-9     The  Spirit  of  the  Game Thanhouser 

Thursday. 

2-10  Paddy's     Political     Services Vogue 

2-10   Mutual    Weekly,    No.    58 Mutual 

2-10  Snow   Storm   and   Sunshine Falstaff 

Friday. 

2-11    Jerry's    Millions     Cub 

2-11  According    to     St.    John Mustang 

Sunday. 

2-13   See   America    First,    No.    22 Gaumont 

2-13    Keeping-   I'p    With    the   Joneses,    No.   22 Gaumont 

2-13    Billy    Van    I  Jensen    and    the    Vampire Beauty 

2-13   Igorrotes,    Crocodiles    and    a    Hat    Box Vogue 

Tuesday. 

2-15  A    Modern   Sphinx    American 

2-15   Ruth's    Remarkable     Reception Falstaff 

Wednesday. 

2-16   Ella    Wanted    to    Elope Beauty 

2-16   Outwitted    Thanhouser 

Thursday. 

2-17    Perkin's     Peace     Part Falstaff 

2-17    Mutual    Weekly    No.    59 Mutual 

2-17   Title     Not     Reported Vogue 

Friday. 

2-18  Title     Xot    Reported .Cub 

2-r8  When    the    Lights    Came Mustang 


Monday. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


Monday. 

Mixed    Kids    Nestor       1,000 

The  Insurance   Swindle   (Graft   Series  No.   9) Universal       2,000 

Tuesday. 

Yust  from   Sweden Gold  Seal       3,000 

No   release  this   week Rex 

Artistic    Interference    Imp       1,000 

Wednesday. 

High   Fliers   Victor       2,000 

Her    Naughty    Eyes L-Ko       1,000 

Animated   Weekly,   No.   3,   No.   5 Universal       1,000 

Thursday. 

0  The    Living    Lie Laemmle       3,000 

0  No  release  this  week Big  U 

0  A  Hot  Time   in   Iceland,   and   Acrobatic  Act Powers       1,000 

Friday. 

1  The  Trail  of  the  Wild  Wolf Imp       2,000 

1  The  Missing  Locket Rex       1,000 

1  A   Quiet   Supper   for  Four Nestor       1,000 

Saturday. 

2  His    Majesty,    Dick    Turpin Bison       1,000 

2  Uncle  Sam— Fisherman,   Postmaster,   Health   Officer 

(No.   8-  Uncle   Sam   at   Work) Powers       1,000 

2  Leap   and    Look   Thereafter Joker       1,000 

Sunday. 

3  No   release  this   week Rex 

3  Arthur's  Last  Fling Laemmle       1,000 

3  Firing  the  Butler  or  The  Butler  Fired L-Ko       2,000 

Tuesday. 

5  The  Family  Secret Gold   Seal       2,000 

5   The    Strong   Arm    Squad Rex        1,000 

5  Cinders    Imp       1 ,000 

Wednesday. 

5  As    Fate    Decides Laemmle       1,000 

6  Elevating     Father L-Ko       1,000 

S  Animated   Weekly,    Vol.    3,    No.    6 Universal       1,000 

Thursday. 

7  In    the    Night Victor       3,000 

7  No  Release  this  Week Big  U 

7  Building  Up  the  Health  of  a  Nation— and  Joe  Boko's 

Adventures     Powers       1 ,000 

Friday. 

3  Plot     and     Counter    Plot Imp        2,000 

8  Borrowed     Plumes      Rex        1,000 

B  Flivver's    Dilemma    Nestor       1 ,000 

Saturday. 

9  A    Recoiling    Vengeance Bison       3,000 

9   Bureau   of   Weights  and   Measures    (No.   9   Uncle   Sam 

at    Work)     Powers        1,000 

9  No  Release  This  Week .) Joker 

Sunday. 

0  Dolly's     Scoop     Rex        2,000 

0  No  Release  This   Week Joker 

0  Twenty  Minutes  at   the  Fair L-Ko       1,000 


Miscellaneous  Features 


Sins  of  Great  Cities Great  Northern   Film  4,000 

Race  Suicide Jos.   W.   Farnham  6,000 

Somewhere  in  France Arthur  S.    Kane  5,000 

Fighting   with    France French    Official    War   Films  6,000 

At    the   End    of   the   Rainbow K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

A   Naval  Tragedy K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

The  Arabian    Dancing   Girl K.   &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

Catherine   Brown— the   Baby    Kellerman— in   Fancy   Diving 

and    Swimming    K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

On   the  Firing   Line   With    the    Germans War    Film    Svn.lic-nte  8,500 

His    Vindication     Cosmofotofilm  4,000 

A   Fool's   Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

Bluebird    Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Jeanne   Dore   5,000 

Secret    Love    5,000 

Undine     5,000 

Hop,    the    Devil's    Brew 5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Tan.      2  Green-Eyed    Monster    5,000 

Jan.       9   A    I'arisian    Romance 5,000 

Jan     16  The    Fourth    Estate 5.000 

Jan.    23  The  Serpent    5,000 


Jan.      30  The    Ruling    Passion 5,000    • 

Feb.     6  Merely   Mary   Ann 5,000 

Feb.   13  Fighting    Blood    5,000 

Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

Jan.      5  The    Devil's    Prayer-Book Kleine  5,000 

Jan.     12  The    Catspaw     Edison  5,000 

Jan.    19  Wild  Oats   Kleine  5,000 

Jan.    26  The   Innocence  of  Ruth Edison  5,000 

Feb.     2  The    Final    Curtain Kleine  5,000 

Feb.     9  When   Love   Is   King Kleine  5,000 

Feb.     9  The  Martyrdom  of  Philip   Strong Edison  5,000 

Feb.   16  The    Scarlet    Road Kleine  5,000 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Jan.      3  What   Will  People   Say? Metro  5,000 

Jan.    10  The    Turmoil     Metro  5,000 

Jan.    17  The  Rose  of  the  Alley Metro  5,000 

Jan.    24  Her  Debt  of  Honor Metro  5,000 

Jan.    31   Man    and    His    Soul Metro  5,000 

Feb.     7  The    Upstart    Metro  5,000 

Feb.   14  Dimples Metro  5,000 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

Jan.      6  The  Other  Side  of  the  Door American  5,000 

Jan.    13  The   Woman   in    Politics Thanhouser  5,000 

Jan.     17  The  Thoroughbred    American  5,000 

Jan.    20  The   Five   Faults   of  Flo Thanhouser  5,000 

Jan.    22  The    Bait    Centaur  5,000 

Jan.    24  As    a    Woman    Sows Gaumont  5,000 

Tan.    27   Lord    Loveland    Discovers    America American  5,000 

Tan.    29   Betrayed     Thanhouser  5,000 

Tan.    31  Vengeance    Is    Mine Centaur  5,000 

Feb.     2  The  Idol  of  the  Stage Gaumont  5,000 

Feb.     5  The    White    Rosette American  -  5,000 

Feb.     7  The   Drifter    Gaumont  5,000 

Feb.   10  The    Final    Argument American  5,000 

Feb.   12  The   Soul's    Cycle Centaur  5,000 

Feb.   14  Life's    Blind    Alley American  5,000 

Feb.   17  The   Dead   Alive Gaumont  5,000' 

Feb.   19  Silas    Marner    Thanhouser  5,000 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Jan.    17  My   Lady  Incog Famous   Players  5,000 

Jan.    20  Inbad    the    Sailor Bray-Paramount  1.000 

Jan.    20  Nearly   a   King Famous  Players  5,000 

Jan.    24  The  Call  of  the  Cumberlands Pallas  5,000 

Jan.    27  The  Police  Dog  on  the  Wire Brav-Paramount  1,000 

Jan.    27  The    Spider Famous  Players  5,000 

Jan.    31  Pudd'nhead    Wilson     Laskv  5,000 

Feb.     3  Tennessee's   Pardner    Laskv  3,000 

Feb.     3  Farmer   Al    Falfa's    Catastrophe Brav-Paramount  1,000 

Feb.     7  The  Cliff  Dwellers  of  America.  Paramount-Burton   Holmes  1.000 

Feb.     7  Madame   La   Presidente Morosco  5,000 

Feb.   10  Nearly  a  King Famous  Players  5,000 

Feb.   10  Haunts  for  Rent Bray-Paramount  1,000 

Feb.  14  Grand   Canyon Paramount-Burton   Holmes  1,000 

Feb.    17   Miss  Nanny  Goat  Becomes  an  Aviator Brav-Paramount  1,000 

Feb.   14  The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome   Pine Laskv  5.000 

Feb.  17  Out  of  the  Drifts Famous  Players  5.000' 

Pathe. 

Released    Week   of 
Feb.   14  Siberia,    the    Vast   Unknown— Watching    Flowers 

Grow Pathe  1,000 

Feb.   14  Luke    Foils    the    Villain Phumphilm  1,000 

Feb.   14  Pathe   News    No.    14 Pathe  1,000 

Feb.   14  Pathe   News   No.    15 Pathe  1,000 

Feb.   14  The    Shrine    of    Happiness Gold    Rooster  5,000 

Feb.   14  Excess   Baggage    (Red   Circle   No.    10) Balboa  2.00O 

Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 

Tan.    31  The   Path   of   Happiness 5,000 

Feb.     7  A  Knight  of  the  Range 5,000 

Feb.   14  The    Sphinx    5.000 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released   week    of 

Feb.     6  The   Flying  Torpedo:   Tohn  Emerson Fine  Arts  5.000 

Feb.     6   D'Artaenan:    Orrin    Tohnson Triangle-Kay-Bee  5,000 

Feb.     6.  His   Hereafter;    Chas.    Murray,  Louise   Fazenda 

Triangle-Kevstone  2,000 

Jan.    30.  He    Did    and   He    Didn't;    R.   Ai  buckle.    Mabel 

Normand    Triangle-Keystone  2,000 

Feb.      6.   Acquitted:      Wilfred     Lucas Fine     Arts  5.000 

Feb.     6   His    Pride    and    Shame:     Ford    Sterling. Triangle-Keystone  2,000 

Feb.   13  His    Picture   in    the    Paper:    Fairbanks Fine   Arts  5,000 

Feb.    13   Honor's     Altar:      Barriscale,     Stone,     Edwards. 

Triangle-Kay    Bee  5,000 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Tan.     10  In   Life's   Whirlpool Brady  5.000 

Jan.     10  Her  Great   Hour Equitable  5,000 

Jan.     17  Behind    Closed     Doors Triumph  5.000 

Tan.     24   Babette  of  the    Bally  Hoo Equitable  5,000 

Jan.     17  The    Citv    Shubert  5,000 

Jan.    24  The  Ballet  Girl Brady  5,000 

'Ian.     31    Fruits    of    Desire Brady  5,000 

Feb.  The    Yellow    Passport Shuberl  5,000 

Feb.      1   The   Woman    in    47 Equitable  5.000 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Weeks  Film  Releases 


Vernon  Howe  Bailej 
— February  16. — Split 
sketches  of  points  of  ii 


The  Mark— (The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page 
No.  4)  — (Two  Reels)— Essanay.— Mary's  mother, 
on  the  witness  stand,  tells  of  Mary's  life  and 
the  appearance  of  the  strange  birthmark,  the  finger 
prints.  She  tells  of  the  fear  Mary  had  of  her 
father  when  he  was  drunk,  fear  which  drove  her 
at  times  insane.  A  full  review  appears  else- 
where in  this  issue.  G.  H. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  7— January  24.— Lillian  Rus- 
sell, only  lady  member  of  the  San  Francisco  Press 
Club,  accepts'  golden  kev  from  newspapermen,  San 
Francisco,  Calif. ;  "Bundle  Day"  in  Chicago,  gives 


1-L-ilH 


'  .100.0 


clothing  to  the  deserving  poor; 
Huerta,  deposed  president  of  Mexico,  dies  an 
exile.  El  Paso,  Texas;  Duke  of  Connaught, 
Governor  General  of  Canada,  accompanied  by 
the  Duchess  and  the  usual  guard,  leave  the 
Parliament    building    after   the    formal    opening    of 


Pari 


Otta 


Ont., 


Car 


Mrs 


Pankhur,.     _ 

CheddomilMiyatovitchtoobt.il'  "-•       ' 

relief;  C.  R.  Watson,  one  of  Villa's  nineteen  vic- 
tims and  former  manager  of  the  Cusi  Mining 
Company  of  Mexico,  is  buried  at  El  Paso,  Texas, 
with  full  Masonic  rites. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  8 — Tanuary  27. — Chicago  of- 
fers $2,300  reward  for  the  capture  of  the  bandit 
who  robbed  Cook's  Tourist  Agency  of  $1,000  and 
murdered  a  policeman,  Chicago,  111. ;  dead  bodies 
of     General     Jose     Rodriguez     and  _  Colonel  _  Baca 


The 

Guiding     Har 

d-  -K 

LEM  — I 

FBRUJ* 

RV        18- 

Robe. 

Kliis.    Arthur 

Albe 

ton,    R 

char, 

Purdo 

aiul   i: 

illas  Tvlcr.      Paul  Ga 

Olive. 

he    world,    ar 

,1      >M 

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.    though    he    k 

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his    pas 

ins     silence     b 

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ither   s 

.11    of 

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thirty. 

Gridlev,     a 

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Paul, 

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s  the 

oil    bN 

the    tw 

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faithfu 

1   Gridley. 

In 

Arcadia— (One 

Reel 

)— VlTV 

GRAPH 

— Febri 

—The  Youngl 

for  a 

They 

\Vimam°Dang 

troubl 

atte 

rive. 

man, 

Ethel    Corco 

an.     Ka 

"a  lies 


-  the 


eplac 


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.   ale- 


gold    bullio 
rifler 


fro 


tion   which   took   place  by   ordi 

:ials;    $5,000,000    in    South    Afi 

;    transferred    under    eye    of    e> 

the 


of 

pert 

for  "Canada.  Charlestown.  Mass..;  'New  York 
■"Newsies"  present  Mayor  Mitchell  with  resolu- 
tions thanking  him  for  his  assistance  in  helping 
to  raise  $500,000  for  the  Newsboys'  Club,  New 
York,  N.  Y. ;  hundreds  of  people  are  driven  from 
their  homes  and  a  property  loss  running  into  the 
thousands  comes  as  a  result  of  the  flood  in 
Joliet,   111. 

The  Man  in  Him— (Two  Reels)—  Essanay— 
February  8. — G.  M.  Anderson  is  featured  as 
John   Stone   who  is   sent  to   prison   when   innocent 


Saville 

A  Song  From  the  Heart — Lubin — February 
14. — Otto  Ritter.  a  musician,  composes  a  song 
for  his  little  daughter.  Later  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ter leave  him  and  he  cannot  find  them.  The  girl 
becomes  a  great  singer  and  her  father  a  composer. 
They  discover  each  other  when  the  girl  is  chosen 
as  prima  donna  for  the  opera.  The  drama  is 
written  and  directed  bv  Paul  Powell.  Melvin 
Ma\o.  Eva  Kinney,  Birdie  Priest.  Mae  T.  Prestell, 
Yelma  Whitman.  "Leona  McLean,  Milton  Massev 
and   Oscar   Stein   comprise   the   cast. 

The  Black  Orchid— (Three  Reels)— Selic— 
February  14.— Story  laid  in  India.  There  ai 
several  jungle  scenes'.  Kathlvn  Williams.  Wheel 
Oakman.  Edith  lohnson.  Grace  Darmond.  Ear 
Foxe,  Harry  Lonsdale  and  Lillian  Havward  a 
pear,  directed  by  T.  N.  Heffron.  A  full  revie 
appears   elsewhere   in   this   issue.  G.  H. 

You're  Next— (One  Reel)— Vitagra 
ary  14.— A  farce  in  which  Wallv 
Frazer  and  Charles  Eldridge  appear.  . 
assistant  is  fired  for  making  love  tc 
curist.  He  sells  safety  razors  and  pi 
ber  out  of  business.  When  the  harbe 
for  a  lady  assistant,  he  disguises  hims 
the  job,  and  causes  a  lot  of  trouble. 

Gold  Dust — (Two  Reels) — Essanay — February- 
is.— John  Cossar,  Nell  Craig,  Edmund  F.  Conn, 
Thomas  Commerford  and  Patrick  Calhoun  are 
featured.  O'Rear,  junior  partner  of  John  Strang, 
is  left  in  charge  of  the  business  while  Strang 
is  in  South  Africa.  He  discharges  all  the  old 
employes  and  puts  younger  poeple  in  their  place. 
O'Rear  closes  a  contract  with  a  construction 
company,  the  heads  of  which  are  crooks,  but  John 

and    then    he   notifies   the    old    employes  "to    return 
to   work. 

Ham  Takes  a  Chance—  Kalem— February  15.— 
Featuring  Lloyd  V.  Hamilton  and  Bud  Duncan. 
Ham  and  Bud"  gets  jobs  in  Prof.  Nonpareil's  road 
show.  Bud's  job  is  to  exercise  Ethel's  snakes, 
while  Ham  becomes  the  assistant  of  Prof.  Non- 
pareil, a  knife-throw  in.-'  artist.  The  professor  is 
taken  ill  and  Ham  takes  his  place  and  the  inci- 
dents that  follow  are  sure  laugh-getters. 


Dunn  form  the  cast. 

The  Perilous  Swing — Kalem — February  19. — 
(An  episode  of  the  "Hazards  of  Hellen"  railroad 
series,  featuring  Helen  Gibson.)  Helen  pursues 
"Red"  Purdy  and  his  aides,  who  are  escaping 
after  making  a  big  haul,  down  the  track,  while 
the  sheriff  and  his  posse  set  out  to  head  them  off 
on  a  short-cut.  The  crooks  raise  the  drawbridge. 
Helen  sudden!     ""  ' 


nd  of  the  bridge  girder,   sh 

spurs  her  horse  from 

under  her  and   then   swing 

out    through    space    t 

o    the    opposite    bank.       Sh 

boards  an  express  and  shortly  after  "Red      Purd> 

and  his  gang  are  brot 

ght  to  justice. 

The     UrJift— (Thr 

ary   19.— Helen   Greet 

:e     Reels) — Lubin — Febru 

and  Helen   Weir  appear   a 

Peg   and   Tot,    whose 

thieves.     Peg,  after  a 

"'straight,'      and    succeeds    in    spite    of    persecutioi 

by    detectives.      Latei 

her  evil   life,   and   thrc 

Toyner,   Clarence  Jay 

Elmer,   Walter   Law.   Bessi 

Marine, ne    and    Arthn 

Forbes   complete   the   cast 

Reviewed  ii 

A  Temporary  Husband — (One  Reel) — Lub 
February  19. — Dorothy  has  a  horror  of  b 
an  "old  maid."  She  goes  to  New  York 
writes  home  that  she  is  married  to  a  der 
Robert  Graham,  whom  she  reallv  knows  onh 
When  her  friends  come  tb  New  York; 


Mutual  Program 


Jerry's  Millions— Cub—  February  11.— George 
;>vey  featured.  Jerry  receives  a  telegram  that 
ie  has  inherited  three  million  dollars  and  his 
andlady,   forgetting  her  past   differences,   proposes, 

md  goes  to  bis  sw  ee'tbea'rts  home.  Many  funny 
ncidents  follow  and  finally  Jerry  is  handed  an- 
uher    telegram   stating   that    the    news   of   his    riches 


First— (Split     Ree 


A  Modern  Sphinx— (Three  Reels)— American 
February  15.— Charles  Bartlett  directs  this  story 
of  ancient  Egyptian  and  modern  American  life, 
featuring  Winifred  <  ireenwood.  Others  in  the 
cast  are  Charles  New  ton,  Xau  Christy.  Kino-  Clark, 
Edward  Coxen,  Ella  M.  Morrison  and  George 
Field.  Play  reviewed  elsewhere  in  this  issue. 
G.  H. 

Ella  Wanted  to  Elope— (One  Reel)— Beauty- 
February  16.— To  cure  her  daughter  of  romantic 
notions,   mother   plots   to   have   the   family   I 


ired    of    her    schoolmate    lover.    Dick,    falls 

r   lawyer's   trap.       Hut    Dick    has    the    lawyer 

nested    and"  carnes   off    Flla    himself      Xeva    Ger- 

~    icille    Ward,    William    Carroll    and    Richard 

form   the   cast.     James   Douglass   directed. 

Outwitted  —  (Three  Reels)  —  Thanhouser  — 
February  Ii..  — Featuring  Wayne  Arev,  Hazel 
Kirk  and  "Lady."  Through  the  evil  machinations 
of  a   corrupt   cashier,    his   clerk    is   accused   of   theft 

saved     by" 'the'1  evidence     procured     by" "bus  "IvvWt- 
subject   of   the   story. 

When  the  Light  Came— (Three  Reels)  — 
Mustang— February     KV-  Thomas    Chatterton    di- 

i,iC  love'5  with'  Ins  "partnerLs'''daugl,tei:.a  Marti" 


begs    him    to    impersonate    her    husband    for 
afternoon.       He     does,     and     many     complicat 

arise.      The    cast    includes    Billie   Reeves,    Marg_ 
Moore,    Carrie    Reynolds,    Jessie   Terry   and    M 


Making  Good— (One  Reel)- 
19. — An  exciting  western  come 
■owpuncher,    Tom   Mix,   captures 


Politeness  Pays— (Thf 
February  19. — John  Juni 
Brown  and  Marion  Skinni 
befriends  an  old  man  Nat 


:    of    $1,000,000    when    the 


played  by  Anna  Little.     Jack  Richardsc 

spending"  ,,  vacation  'nearby.  He 
Martha  to  go  to  New  York,  promising 
sical  career.  The  rancher  is  hurt  a, 
New   York  for  treatment.     There  he  is 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  S. 


its,  in  the  disillusioned  Martha  from  the  actor. 
John    Farrell   and    George    Rainey    also   appear. 

The  Battle  of  Cupidovitch—  (One  Reel)— 
Heautv— Februarv  20.— When  their  fathers  dis- 
agree over   the    war.    Hilly    and    Cutie,    sweethearts, 

Each  is  put  under  guard,  the  gardener  over  Billy) 
the  cook  over  Cutie.  The  guards  help  them  out- 
wit their  parents  and  thev  elope.  Archer  Mc- 
Mackin  directs  the  comedy'.  Dick  Rosson,  Carol 
Halloway,  John  Steppling.  |ohn  Sheehan  and  Mary 
Talbot   appear. 


I        Universal  Prosram 

I ® 


Universal  Animated  Weekly  No.  6— Universal 
-February  'J.— $6,000,000  lire  destroys  House  of 
'arliament,    Ottawa,   Canada  ;   Appam,  captured  by 

insoners,  Hampto'1'1  'k,  .ads.''  Va"  ',.»"  \  u  o"inou- 
and  alligators,  from  infants  to  great-granddaddies. 
n  world's  largest  collection.  St.  Augustine.  Fla. ; 
ieneral  lose  Rodriqucz  and  Hacca  de  Valle,  who 
ted,    Juarez, 


expected  call.  Flivver  hides  the  girls  in  double- 
quick  time,  bundling  them  into  all  corners.  After 
much  terrible  anxiety  on  the  part  of  Flivver  he 
at  last  decides  to  do  away  with  himself,  think- 
ing to  be  discovered.  However,  he  finds  his  father 
in  one  chair  with  three  girls,  while  the  curate 
is  having  a  good  time  with  the  others.  The  Rev. 
Flivver  hands  his  son  a  check  for  $5,000  to  insure 
silence  and  departs,  much  to  the  joy  of  all,  who 
forsee   a   rollicking   time. 

Mrs.  Alston's  Butler— (Two  Reels)— Gold 
Seal— February  15.— With  Herbert  Rawlinson. 
and  Agnes  Vernon.  Old  man  Markham  decides 
at  a  late  period  of  life  to  re-marry.  His  son, 
Arnold,  dreads  a  step-mother  and  decides  to  get 
an  intimate  view  of  the  future  Mrs.  Markham. 
He  takes  a  position  of  butler  in  Mrs.  Alston's 
home  and  a  mutual  attraction  between  .Madge,  her 
daughter,  and  Arnold  springs  up.  After  defeating 
a  rival,  Arnold  gives  up  his  job  and  returns 
home.  The  next  time  Markham  calls  on  the 
is    accompanied    by    his    son.       Mrs. 


Alston    recog 
Cinders—  I  > 


in  about  town.  One  night,  re- 
:xpectedly,  Warren  shoots  at  a 
ing  through  the  window.  After- 
mrglar  and  Van  Austin,  the  lat- 


burglar  is  a  worthy   man  and  helps  him ;  

effects  a  reconciliation,  and  Van  Austin  leaves  for 
other   parts    by    force    of   a    threat    of   being    shot, 

Plot  and  Counter  Plot— (Two  Reels)— Imp- 
February  IS.— With  lane  Gail,  Matt  Moore  and 
Howard  Crampton.  Jack  Hopewell,  sole  support 
of  his  invalid  mother,  is  working  for  Benjamin 
Bimb,  a  designing  manager  and  promoter  of  a 
fraudulent  mining  company.  Hopewell  learns  of 
the  dishonest  nature  of  the  business  and  threatens 
to  expose  his  emplover.  Fearing  this  threat. 
Bimb    lands  Jack    in   jail    through   a   clever  "frame- 


ophy. 


.  Pau 


Mai 


s    "S0( 

-,    Mic 


.  ;    lat 


fashio 


English  recruits  drilled  in  Cossack  and  Roman 
riding  and  jumping,  A'dershot,  England;  cartoons 
by   Hy    Mayer. 

The  Missing  Locket— Rex— February  11.— Fea- 
turing liaby  Early.  Baby  Early  lives  in  a  poor 
neighborhood  with  her  mother  and  little  crippled 
brother,  Jim.  Her  father  is  dead,  and  her  mother 
has  estranged  herself  from  the  family  by  a  run- 
away match.  Baby  Early  is  slighted  by  the 
spolied  children  of  the  rich  and  it  is  only  through 
intervention  of  her  teacher  that  she  is  invited  to 
Erma's  partv.  Her  loving  thoughtfulness  for  Jim 
at  this  affair  excites  the  sympathy  of  Erma's 
mother  and  her  grandfather  accompanies  the  child 
home.  Erma's  grandfather  proves  to  be  the  father 
of  Baby  Early's  mother.  A  forgiveness  ensues 
and  the  little  family  is  resuced   from  poverty. 

Leap    and    Look    Thereafter — Joker — February 

12.— Many  ludicrous  situations  follow  wifie's  de- 
termination to  rid  her  husband  of  the  tobacco 
habit.  After  many  complications  of  all  sorts 
her  efforts  are  crowned  with  success  and  Bill 
Durham  digs  a  grave  in  the  back  yard,  interring 
his  last  box  of   stogies  therein. 

The  Harbor  Transportation  Trust — (Two  Reels) 
— February  14. — Tenth  episode  of  "Graft,"  with 
Hobart  Henley,  Jane  Novak  and  Glen  White; 
suggested  by  Zane  Grey.  Several  of  the  develop- 
ments in  this  installment  are  the  gaining  of  evi- 
dence against  the  Harbor  Transportation  trust 
by  Tom  Larnigan ;  his  being  shanghaied  by 
enemies;  the  capture  and  sensational  release  of 
Kitty  Rockford  and  Dorothy  Maxwell,  who,  to 
gether  with  Bruce  Larnigan  are  saved  from  being 
devoured  by  lions  in  the  cellar  of  Gruen,  an  ani- 
mal dealer  and  smuggler ;  and  the  final  falling  of 
Grant  Fisher,  head  of  the  Harbor  Transportation 
trust,  into  the  den  of  lions  to  his  death.  Tom, 
who  has  been  summoned  to  go  to  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
tisfaction  when  he  learns  that  this  is 


and  the  linal  outcome  is  the  cele- 
)  engagements  instead  of  one. 
p— February  15.— With  Edith  Rob- 
in point  in  this  sotry  is  the  test 
made  by  Mr.  Pendleton,  a  rich 
10  pretends  to  commit  suicide,  but 
ilv  concealed  behind  a  -ecret  panel. 
whom    he    wills    all    his    property 


,    Jar 


Fanr 


als     I";  in 


Hoi 


scher 


thos 


clos 


s  abdue 


inging  hin 


to. 


When  the  Losers  Won— Nestor— February  14. 
— Eddie  Lyons,  Lee  Moran  and  Betty  Compson. 
At  a  house  party  the  Newlyweds  are  too  popular, 
so  FZthel  and  Percy,  flirts  who  are  accustomed  to 
ride  rough  shod  over  everybody's  feelings,  plan 
their  downfall.  However,  the  Newlyweds  prove 
'    only  do  they   successfully 


ward    off    attac 

things  that  Eth 

ing  each  other. 

Flivver's      D 


lally 


heart,  one  of  the  lattc.  .  . 
he  adopted,  who  has  brought  jov  into  his  life.  At 
the  close,  Pendleton  tells  his  niece  and  her  hus- 
band. Baron  di  Sondia,  that  they  will  thrive  bet- 
ter on  foreign  soil,  and  they  leave  in  indignation. 
The  Lumber  Yard  Gang— Rex— February  15.— 
Phil  Kelley,  one  of  the  detectives  on  the  force, 
is  ordered  to  run  down  the  "Lumber  Yard  Gang" 
to  the  last  man.  With  the  help  of  a  squad  of 
police  he  finally  routs  the  gang  and  dashes  alone 
after  their  leader.  After  exchanging  many  shots 
between  them,  both  being  wounded,  his  quarry 
slips  into  a  house.  Just  as  Kelley  is  about  to 
handcuff  his  man  after  a  terrific  struggle,  he 
learns  that  the  leader  is  the  brother  of  his  sweet- 
heart. Torn  between  duty  and  love,  he  yields 
to  the  latter  and  goes  away.  Shortly  after,  re- 
turning to  the  house  with  the  chief,  the  crook  is 
found  dead,  his  sister  having  handcuffed  him, 
and  Kelley  is  spared  the  humiliation  of  forfeit- 
As  Fate  Decides— Laemmle— February  16.— 
A  young  crook  who  is  being  assiduously  hunted, 
finds  that  he  must  have  money  and  tries  to  get 
his  wife  to  steal  for  him.  She  has  almost  con- 
sented when  the  police  enter  and  secure  him. 
The  prosecuting  attorney,  confident  of  the  wife's 
innocence,  takes  her  and  her  baby  to  his  mother's 
home  for  protection  and  to  get  her  awav  from 
old  influences.  The  husband,  hearing  of  his 
wife's  whereabouts  escapes  and  attempts  to  kill 
the  attorney.  By  a  strange  fate,  however,  he 
himself  is  killed,  and  the  big-hearted  lawyer  is 
left  free  to  love  the  girl. 


.    ..ith    Lo-_. 
her    father.       Being    warned    that    a    bill    collector 
disguised  as  a   woman  is  going  to  serve  him   with 

father,  flirtatiously  inclined,  dresses  us  a  woman 
in  order  to  follow  a  pretty  girl  who  lives  in  the 
same  hotel.  By  mistake  he  knocks  on  Bill's  door 
and  only  escapes  after  a  severe  thrashing  has 
been  administered  to  him.  Father  has  to  go  to 
bed  in  a  battered  condition.  Louise  brings  Ray 
to  visit  her  "sick"  father  and  thus  the  rumpus 
starts.  After  an  exciting  elevator  episode,  father 
and  the  unfortunate  suitor  find  themselves  on  the 
roof    of    the    hotel,    and    the    indignant    old    man 


Borrowed  Plumes— Rex— February  18.— With 
Ben  Wilson  and  Dorthv  Phillips.  The  death  of 
old  Ezra  Bryant  proves  a  financial  blessing  to 
his  two  nephews.  Hugh  Brvant  and  Ward  Simons, 
but  it  does  not  materially  assist  ooor  Marioru 
Welch,  who  continues  to  show  the  beautiful 
dresses  that  are  afterwards  to  grace  the  forms  of 
Riverside  Drive  girls.  At  last  when  Marjorie 
decides  to  borrow  one  of  the  dresses  and  try  the 
cup  of  happiness  for  one  night.  Ward  Simons 
sees  her  and  uses  the  occasion  to  force  her  into 
acquiescence  with  his  desires.  However,  the  girl 
is  spared  facing  shame  in  any  direction,  for  Hugh, 
learning    of   Ward's    scheme    against    the    girl,    en- 


s  the 


marrying    Marjoi 

prise   and   he   is    forced    to 

he  has   brought  with   him   t 

A  Recoiling  Vengeani 
Bison-— February  19.— Wit 
Hettv  Schade.  This  dram 
the  adventures  of  Tohn  < 
the    Hi 


Rosifc 


Mar 


Hel 


i   thei 


lEELS)— 

.  Jelf  with 
ohn  Clifford,  a  confidential 
Secret  Sen-ice,  and  his  wife 
;d    efforts   to   deliver   into    the 

ending  against  them  is  Mme. 
dventuress  in  the  employ  of 
ent.  and  her  agents.  After 
jits  in  the  land  of  the  harem, 
ve  wife,  who  has  all  this 
ents  under  the  scarf  of  her 
.1  bv  soldiers  from  the  army 
i  Doux  meets  her  death  in 
has    prepared     for    her     near 


— L-Ko — February 
ie^  trudging    along 


amidst  a  bevy  of  pretty 
iselves)  when  his  fathei 
the    curate,    make    a 


In  the  Night— (Thri 


-Vic 


Twenty  Minutes  at  the  Ft 
20.— With  Millie  Ritchie.  1 
the    road,    sees    the    San    Die„ 

distance,  and  sneaks  in,  thinking  to  make  some 
money.  Instead,  he  falls  asleep  on  a  bench 
and  the  following  events  concern  troubles  with 
girls,  envious  rivals,  etc..  more  than  the  hard 
business  of  making  money.  His  troubles  finally 
end  in  a  bomb  battle,  which,  after  he  is  hit.  Billi'e 
awakens  on  his  bench  to  find  himself  covered 
with  doves ;   a  couple  of  eggs  in  his  hat. 

Dolly's  Scoop— (Two  Reels)—  Rex—  February 
20.— With  Louise  Lovely  and  Lon  Chaney.  This 
is  a  newspaper  story,  in  which  Dolly,  a  girl  re- 
porter, is  instrumental  in  making  the  heartless 
and  scandal-loving  editor  change  his  policy.  The 
editor's  wife  comes  near  being  mixed  up  in  a 
scandal  through  the  efforts  of  Dollv.  who  does  not 
know  the  woman  is  the  editor's  wife.  The  latter 
is  innocent,  however,  the  affair  is  kept  from  being 
printed  bv  Dollv,  and  there  is  a  total  reconcilia- 
tion between  man  and  wife.  Through  the  storv 
runs  a  love  theme  between  Dolly  and  Dan,  a  re- 
porter,   which   culminates  happily   at   the  finish. 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Blue  Bird 

Secret  Love— (Six  Reels)— Blue  Bird.— Helen 
Ware  is  cast  in  the  leading  role  in  this  adaptation 
of  Frances  Hodgson  Burnett's  "That  Lass 
O'Lowries,"  a  story  of  the  collieries  in  England. 
Harry  Carey,  Ella  Hall  and  Mr.  Curtis  also 
have  important  roles  in  this  photoplay. 


Frederick  is  starred.  A  longer  review  will  be 
found  on  page  376  of  the  February  12th  issue. 
The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine — (Five  Reels) 
— Lasky— February  14.— This  picture  is  a 
romance  of  the  Cumberland  mountains  in  which 
Charlotte  Walker  is  featured.  In  the  cast  of 
players  who  appear  in  support  of  Miss  Walker 
are  Theodore  Roberts,  Thomas  Meigham  and  Earl 

Madame  La  Presidente— (Five  Reels)— Mo- 
rosco-Paramount. — An  adaption  of  the  play  of 
the  same  name  featuring  Anna  Held.  Herbert 
Standing    and    Forrest    Stanley    are    prominent    in 


rox 

Merely  Mary  Ann — (Five  Reels) — February  6 
— William  Fox. — Vivian  Martin  appears  in  the 
role  played  by  Eleanor  Robson  on  the  legitimate 
stage.  John  G.  Adolfi  directs  the  picture,  in 
which  Harry  Hilliard,  Laura  Lyman,  Isabel 
O'Madigan,    Sidney   Bracy    and   Niles   Welch   ap- 

Fighting  Blood — February  13. — William  Farnum 
is  starred,  with  Dorothy  Bernard  opposite.  The 
scenes  of  the  play,  inspired  by  "My  Old  Ken- 
tucky Home,"  are  laid  in  the  Kentucky  moun- 
tains. Pictures  were  taken  in  the  Edendale,  Cal., 
studio,  under  Oscar  C.  Apfei.  Farnum  is  Lem 
Hardy,  whose  rival,  Blake,  superintendent  of  a 
lumber  camp,  has  him  sent  to  prison,  and  marries 
Evie,    the    gi~'    :~ 


r  settled,   after   < 


;ting   e 


Old 


Kleine-Edison 

When  Love  Is  King— (Five  Reels)— Edison- 
February  9. — Richard  Tucker  appears  in  the  lead- 
ing role  in  this  production  concerning  one  Felix, 
the  king  of  Wallonia,  who  wants  to  be  loved 
for  himself  and  not  for  his  title  and  money. 
The  supporting  cast  includes  such  players  as  Car- 
rol McComas,  Bigelow  Cooper,  Vivian  Perry, 
Carlton  King,  T.  Tamanoto,  Charles  Sutton,  John 
Sturgeon  and  Harold  Meltzer.  The  picture  was 
directed  by  Ben  Turbett.  A  longer  review  will 
be  found  on  another  page  of  this  issue. 

The  Scarlet  Road — (Five  Reels) — Kleine — 
February  16. — Malcon  Duncan  appears  in  the 
leading  role,  that  of  a  youth  who,  when  left  a 
fortune  by  his  father,  who  had  been  a  hermit, 
squanders  his  money  and  soon  discovers  that  he 
is  penniless.  He,  however,  proves  himself  a  man 
and  wins  the  love  of  a  worthy  young  woman. 
Anna  Q.  Nilsson,  Delia  Connor,  Iva  Shepard  and 
John  Jarrott  also  have  prominent  parts  in  the 
play. 


Evar 


rille, 


;  Urn 


:  Sam 


a  decay  and  local 


Metro 

and  His  Soul— Metro— January  31.- 
f  conscience  in  which  Francis  X.  Bushm 
verly  Bayne  are  featured.  For  a  longer  : 
e  page  312  of  the  February  12th  issue. 


Mutual  Special 

The  Drifter — (Five  Reels) — Gaumont — Febru- 
ary 7. — The  story  of  a  divinity  student  who  has 
an  inherent  desire  for  gambling.  The  story  is  by 
Tohn  B.  Clymer  and  features  Alexander  Gaden  and 
Lucille  Taft.  The  picture  was  directed  by  Rich- 
and  Garrick.  Full  review  appears  on  page  376 
of  February  12th  issue. 

What  Doris  Did— (Five  Reels)— Thanhouser 
— February  14. — Doris  Grey  is  featured  in  this 
five-reel   engrossing   Thanhouser   drama   of  society 

The  Dead  Alive— (Five  Reels)— Gaumont— 
February  17. — Marguerite  Courtot  is  featured  in 
this  tale  of  twin  sisters  in  which  Miss  Courtot 
plays  both  girls — one  the  pampered  wife  of  a 
millionaire  and  the  other  a  beauty  of  the  stage 
in  the  clutches  of  an  international  crook.  This 
production  was  written  and  directed  by  Henry  J. 

Silas  Marner — (Five  Reels) — Thanhouser — 
February  19. — Frederick  Warde,  greatest  of  all 
character,  is  starred  in  this  motion  picture  version 
of  the  classic  novel  by  George  Eliot.  An  all  star 
cast  supports  Mr.  Warde,  which  includes  Val- 
Kyrien  (Baroness  Dewitz).  A  longer  review  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  issue. 


frigate  Constitute 
school  children  have  begun  : 
Boston,  Mass. ;  Joe  Rivers,  who  recently  defeated 
Richie  Mitchell  at  the  Music  Hall  with  his  mana- 
ger and  trainer,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Salt  River 
overflows  its  banks  and  floods  town,  drowning 
several  persons,  Phoenix,  Ariz.;  Al  Jennings  ar- 
rives in  Atlanta,   Ga. 

Pathe  News  No.  10 — Pathe— February  2. — 
William  Jennings  Bryan  finds  a  haven  of  jjeace 
in  the  quiet  confines  of  his  winter  home,  Miami, 
Fla. ;  Louis  D.  Brandeis,  who  has  been  nominated 
as  Associate  Justice  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
receiving  congratulations  in  his  home  town,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.;  General  Obregon,  chief  of  staff  of 
the  Constitutionalist  Army,  is  welcomed  by  Car- 
ranza  upon  his  return  from  a  successful  round-up 
of  the  Villa  bandits,  Celaya,  Mexico;  President 
Wilson  arrives  here  to  start  his  campaign  for 
National  Preparedness,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  latest 
fashions;  Princess  Go-Wah-Heah  Doongwa  jour- 
neys 1,000  miles  to  meet  Mrs.  Wilson;  the  fate 
of  the  historic  Navy  Yard  at  Charlestown,  S.  C, 
said  to  be  too  small  for  the  modern  super-dread- 
nught,    is   being   debated   by    Congress. 

Pathe  News  No.  11— February  5.— Nine  lives 
are  lost  when  the  S.  S.  Aberdeen  is  completely 
battered  to  pieces  in  a  ninety-mile  hurricane,  San 
Francisco,  Calif. ;  British  flyer  Appam  arrives  in 
American  waters,  flying  the  German  flag,  Newport 
News,  Va. ;  the  struggle  for  the  McNaughton 
Hockey  Cup  is  marked  by  a  spirited  contest  be- 
tween the  Soo  team,  holders  of  the  amateur  cham- 
pionship of  the  United  States,  and  the  St.  Paul 
Sault     St.     Marie,     Mich.;     French     and 


The  Shrine  of  Happiness— (Five  Reels)— 
Pathe-Gold  Rooster. — Jackie  Saunders,  Paul 
Gilmore  and  William  Conklin  are  featured  in  this 
story  of  Marie  Scott,  daughter  of  a  wealthy  mine 
owner  who  is  killed.  Marie  goes  to  her  father's 
old    friend    Richard    Clark    and    falls    in    love    with 


Pathe 

Pathe  News  No.  8— Pathe— January  26.— 
Episcopal  ministers  visit  Sing  Sing,  guided  by 
prison  members  of  the  Mutual  Welfare  League, 
Ossining,  N.  Y. ;  bodies  of  Jose  Rodriguez  and 
Miguel  Baca  Vallas,  supposed  to  have  participated 
in  the  killing  of  seventeen  Americans  at  San 
Ysabel,  put  on  public  exhibition  by  order  of  Gen- 
eral Carranza,  Juarez,  Mexico;  Spring  hat  fash- 
ions; champion  marksmen  meet  for  annual  mid- 
winter handicap  trap  shoot,  Pinehurst,  N.  C. ; 
scaling  ten  feet  walls  is  part  of  work  at  the  "Ca- 
nine College,"  where  dogs  are  trained  to  be  guard- 
ians of  the  law,  West  Hempstead,  L.  L;  Illinois 
river  floods  the  town  of  Ottawa,  111.;  three  thou- 
sand horses  shipped  to  French  ports  for  allies 
from  Massachusetts;  Mrs.  Amos  Pinchet  and  ""V 
Mrs.  J.  Sergeant  Cram  do  picket  duty  in  strike  T  1 
of  East  Side  cloakmakers,  New  York  City,  N.   Y.     £*}' 


m.     Clark's  son  Ted  becomes  attached  to  Marie 

id    proposes,    but    is    rejected.      He    accuses    his 

ther    of    standing    in    his    way    and    the    father 

promise    that    she    will   accept    Ted. 

er,   Ted   realizes   the   love   that   exists 

ie  and  his  father  and  leaves  home. 


Pathe  News  No.  9— Pathe— January  29.— 
Peddlers  drive  a  precarious  trade  in  the  market 
square  when  the  regular  stores  are  closed  by 
the  march  of  revolution,  Saltillo,  Mexico;  Presi- 
dent Wilson  opens  nation-wide  preparedness  cam- 
paign with  three  stirring  speeches,  New  York  City, 
N.  Y. ;  Yoshito,  the  newly  crowned  Emperor,  for- 
mally opens  Parliament  with  all  the  ceremony  of 
state,  Tokio,  Japan;  freight  steamer  Bowling 
strikes    a    submerged    rock    and    founde 


Watch   Flowers   Grow — Pathe — February 
An    educational    picture    showing    the    buds     __ 
flowers    of    the    lily    species    lying    beneath    thei 

foil —  — '  **■—  --  £--      -• 


nd 
..._  my  species  lying  beneath  their 
:nd  then  as  living  things,  the  blossoms 
separate  for  room  before  finally  opening. 

Siberia,  the  Vast  Unknown— Pathe— February 
14. — First  installment.  Preparatory  to  starting 
on  the  trip  to  Northern  Siberia,  the  Pathe  ex- 
pedition stopped  at  Nome,  Alaska,  where  many 
interesting   incidents    were   filmed. 

Hapless  Happenings— Pathe— February  7.— In 
latest  comedy  of  the  Heinie  and  Louie  series, 
Heinie  almost  wins  the  girl  who  loves  him,  and 
whom  he  loves,  by  fooling  the  mother  into  think- 
mghe  is  a  titled  suitor.  But  the  real  count  finallv 
arrives,    Heinie    is    discredited,    and    the    mother's 


Red  Feather 

A  Knight  of  the  Range— (Five  Reels)— Red 
Feather. — Harry  Carey  is  featured  in  this  west- 
ern melodrama  as  a  cowboy  who  aids  the  sweet- 
heart of  the  girl  he  himself  loves,  when  the 
latter  becomes  implicated  in  a  holdup.  Eventually 
the  guilty  man  is  discovered  and  the  loyal  cow- 
boy is  rewarded  for  his  service  with  the  hand 
and  heart  of  the  girl  he  has  long  loved.  A  full 
review  appears   on  page  375  of  the  February   12th 

N.  G.  C. 

The  Sphinx— (Five  Reels)— Red  Feather- 
February  14. — Herbert  Kelcey  and  Effie  Shannon 
are  featured  in  this  romantic  drama.  A  young 
artist  becomes  fascinated  by  the  beauty  and 
ted   dancer,   commonly   called   "The 


Sphin 


"The 


:epted  lover  is  the  boy's  father  and  they  both 
play  the  game  of  love  unknown  to  each  other. 
In  the  end,  however,  all  ends  happily. 


tish    \ 


rship 


;   the   r 


the  .  Allied  troops,  near  Lemnos,  Greece;  snow 
plows  hitched  to  Fifth  Avenue  busses  are  effec- 
tively used  to  remove  the  six-inch  blanket  of 
snow  that  mantles  the  city,  N.  Y.  City,  N.  Y. ; 
President  Wilson  carries  his  campaign  for  pre- 
paredness into  the  Middle  West,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


duced  by  Donald  MacKenzie  deals  with  _  , 
man  who  performs  an  unusual  service  for  Great 
British  "Nobles.  He  is  ordered  to  marry  an  Ameri- 
Sons,"  an  organization  of  the  younger  sons  of 
British  nobles.  He  is  ordered  to  marry  an  Ameri- 
can girl,  because  by  so  doing  he  automatically 
annuls  an  old  grant  of  hers  to  a  throne  in  Canada. 
His  instructions  are  to  open  a  packet  on  a  cer- 
tain day,  and  when  he  does,  just  after  his  mar- 
riage, he  learns  that  unwittingly  he  has  carried 
out  his  orders.  Ralph  Kellard  and  Louis  Meredith 
are  featured. 

Luke  Foils  the  Villain— Rolin-Pathe — Febru- 
ary 14.— The  villain  tries  to  get  some  papers,  but 
Luke  foils  his  plans.  Luke  is  very  happy  in  the 
thought  that  he  is  loved  by  Mazie  Nut,  but  when 
the  villain  comes  and  disturbs  them  many  amusing 
incidents  come  to  pass.     On  the  same  reel  is: 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  January  30. 
He  Did  and  He  Didn't— (Two  Reels)  — 
Triangle-Keystone. — In  the  role  of  a  jealous 
husband  Roscoe  Arbuckle  has  numerous  adven- 
tures with  Mabel  Normand,  as  his  wife,  and  Wil- 
liam Jefferson  as  her  old  school  chum.  A  longer 
review   appears   on   page   368   of   the   February    12 

Released  Week  of  February  6. 
The  Flying  Torpedo— (Two  Reels)— Keystone. 
—John  Emerson  is  cast  in  the  role  of  Winthrop 
Clevering,  a  novelist.  The  story  deals  with  an 
imaginary  war  of  the  year  1920.  The  supporting 
cast  includes  Spottiswood  Atiken,  William  H. 
Lawrence,  Viola  Barry  and  Bessie  Love.  A  full 
review  appears  on  page  261  of  the  January  29 
issue   of  Motography. 

D'Artagnan— (Five    Reels)— Kay    Bee.— Orrin 

John  is  featured  as  D'Artagnan  in  this  picture  pro- 
duced under  the  supervision  of  Thomas  H.  Ince. 
The  picture  is  based  purely  upon  the  incident 
of  the  queen's  studs  and  their  return  in  time  for 
her  to  wear  at  a  court  ball,  thus  foiling  the 
schemes  of  Cardinal  Richelieu.  Dorothy  Dalton, 
Rhea  Mitchell,  Arthur  Maude  and  Walt  Whit- 
man support  Mr.  Johnson.  A  longer  review  ap- 
pears on  page  31S  of  the  February  5  issue. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


d— (Five  Reels)— Fixe  Arts— Febru- 
story  of  an  innocent  man's  suffering 
suit  of  an  unjust  arrest  and  his  final 
i.  Wilfred  Lucas,  Mary  Alden,  Bessie 
men     LaRue,    Sam    DeGrasse    featured. 


Released   Week   of   February    13. 

Honor's     Altar  —  Triangle-Kay-Bee  —   (Five 

Reels). — Walter   Edwards  is  cast   in   the  role  of  a 


The  Worn; 
Brady  appez 
Frohman    A; 


an  Italian  girl  m  this  live-part 
ent  Corporation  feature  which 
ge    374    of    the    February    12th 


Miscellaneous 


e  wife  of  his  youth  through  an  un- 
.■complice.  Bessie  Barriscale,  Lewis 
la  Mav  and  Robert  McKim  complete 
longer    review    appears   on    page   261 


A  Fot 
■lay.     A  lull  review 
if    this    issue. 

Yust     from     Sw. 


-Tri 


E-FlNl 


His  Picture  In  the  Papert 
Arts— (Two  Reels).— Douglas  Fairbanks  has  the 
role  of  the  scapegrace  son  of  a  manufacturer  of 
peculiar  food  products  in  this  Fine  Arts  produc- 
tion.     A    longer    review    appears    on    page    368    of 


[en— (Three  Reels)  —  Gold 
-With  Robert  Leonard  and 
Ella  Hall— On  arriving  in  California  from  his  na- 
tive country,  Karl  Jensen  is  given  a  position  at  a 
camp  belonging  to  a  large  lumber  company 
through   his   friend   Orvel   Yorksen.     Jensen,  hard- 


who   will   operate    it   under   the   name   of 
the  Strand. 

Arkansas. 
The  new  Princess  theater  which  is  be- 
ing erected  in  the  Mathews  building, 
Argenta,  has  been  leased  by  Louis  Rosen- 
baum,  of  Douglas.  It  will  be  an  up-to- 
date  theater,  as  Mr.  Rosenbaum  is  ex- 
pending $10,000  on  the  front  and  interior 
decorations.  Feature  pictures  will  be 
shown  and  an  orchestra  will  furnish 
music  afternoon  and  evening. 


a  new  theater 


...=    for    debauch,    

mity"of    the    workmen    in    general.      Jones,    the 
'     rl  hv  the  "hitr  Swede"  for  fore- 


work 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Souls  in  Bondage — (Five  Reels) — Lubin — Jan- 
uary 31. — Rita  Brenner,  a  headstrong  and  im- 
pulsive girl,  is  seduced  by  a  youth  of  the  town 
and  goes  to  New  York.  After  her  child  is  born 
Rosa,  her  sister,  who  is  a  homeloving  girl,  visits 
her  and  begs  her  to  return.  She  refuses  and 
Rosa  takes  the  child  back  with  her.  She  is  ac- 
cused of  being  the  mother  of  the  child  and  rather 
than  accuse  Rita,  she  shoulders  the  burden  and 
is  driven  from  home  by  her  father.  Later  sin- 
marries  Julian  Forbes,  but  because  of  her  quiet 
and  rest  is  unable  to  hold  her  pleasure-loving 
husband.  One  night  she  follows  him  and  forcing 
open  the  door  he  has  entered,  she  comes  face  to 
face  with  Rita,  who  accuses  her  of  being  the 
mother  of  the  child  Julian  thinks  she  has  adopted. 
He  denounces  her  and  she  enlists  as  a  trained 
nurse  and  goes  abroad  to  care  for  the  sick  in 
Europe.  Later  she  is  shot^ for  having  aided 
prisoner  to  escap( 


e  O'Neil  featured. 


Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  No.  10— 
February  4. — British  liner  Appam  seized  by  a 
German  sea  raider  is  brought  into  American  port 
by  prize  crew,  Norfolk,  Va.  ;  members  of  the 
Washington  Riding  and  Hunt  Club  holds  school 
for  horses  where  steeds  are  taught  to  drive  tandem 
in  preparation  for  coming  Horse  Show,  Wash- 
ington; members  of  Y.  W.  C.  A.  in  their  new 
home  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  prepare  for  the  coming 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Na- 
tional Organization;  latest  fashions;  scenes  on  the 
Western    Front;    cartoon   by   T.    E.    Powers. 

Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet— (Five  Reels)— Selig— 
February  7. — Kathlyn  Williams  and  Tyrone 
Powers  are  featured  in  a  spectacular  melodrama. 
The  cast  includes  Guy  Oliver  and  Eugenie  Bes- 
serer.  James  Oliver  Curwood  wrote  the  story. 
A  full  review  appears  or,  page  263  of  the  January 
29th  issue. 

Vultures  of  Society— (Five  Reels) — Essanay — 
February  14. — Lillian  Drew  plays  the  leading 
role  in  this  production,  that  of  a  little  waif  of 
the  prairie  who  later  on  in  life  marries  a  prince 
whose  life  she  has  saved.  Marguerite  Clayton, 
E.   H.   Calvert,  Ernest   Maupain,   Hugh   Thompson 


t  part 


i  (his 


World 

The  Ballet  Girl— (Five  Reels) — Brady — Jan- 
uary 24.— Alice  Bardy  and  Holbrook  Blinn  have 
the  leading  roles  in  this  production  and  are  ably 
supported  by  such  players  as  Robert  Frazcr, 
Julia  Stuart,  Alec  B.  Francis  and  George  Rclph. 
Jenny  Raeburn,  a  dancer,  marries  Zachary  Trewe- 
hella,  her  cousin,  but  she  is  not  happy  with  him 
until  a  baby  is  born  to  bring  them  closer  to- 
gether. Maurice  Avery,  i  former  sweetheart,  re- 
turns from  Cuba  and  Zachary  comes  upon  the 
two  and  a  fight  ensues..  Avery  seizes  a  shotgun 
and  fires.  Jenny  interposes  her  body  to  the  shot 
and  later  she  realizes  that  she  loves  her  husband 
and  baby  and  that  her  affection  for  Avery  is  a 
thing  of  the  past.  A  full  review  appears  on  page 
371  of  the  February  12th  issue. 


Fruit; 


31.— 


T3& 


It  deals  witr 
rise,  disillusionment  and  ultimate  salvation 
man.  Robert  Warwick  is  ably  supports 
Madeline  Traverse  and  James  Mack,  as  thi 
of  the  mill   foreman,  is  of  particular  value  t 


thrashed  bv  the  "big  Swede"  for  forc- 
ing himself  upon  the  'latter's  wife,  Hilde.  Jones 
then  writes  Yorksen,  accusing  Jensen  of  drunken- 
ness and  idleness,  but,  on  learning  that  Yorksen  is 
coming  to  see  for  himself,  the  foreman  decides  to 
do  away  with  the  "big  Swede"  and  so  arranges 
it  that  a  tree  falls  upon  him.  Jensen  is  severely 
injured,  and  later,  in  his  helpless  condition,  he 
is    forced    to    see    Jones    overpower    his    wife.      At 

revolver,  wings  Jones,  who,  seeing  his  superior, 
flees  into  the  woods.  At  the  close  of  the  story  the 
"big  Swede"  is  appointed  foreman  of  the  camp. 

Artistic    Interference— Imp— February    8.— Jack 

Wilmer  proposes  to  Ethel  Miller  and  is  accepted. 
The  defeated  lover,  Louis  Blake,  gets  Jack  to  take 

is  not  the  only  apparatus  that  registers  the  close 
embrace,  for  Louis  is  there  with  his  camera. 
Louis  sends  Ethel  the  picture  with  an  anonymous 
letter  accompanying.  A  lover's  quarrel  ensues 
and  Ethel  will  not  offer  an  explanation.  They 
both  go  to  the  same  artist  to  have  miniatures 
made  of  each  other's  picture.  The  artist  discerns 
the  lover's  quarrel  and  brings  the  two  together 
by  sending  each  one  the  wrong  painting  and  the 
wrong  bill.  As  each  has  agreed  to  pay  $300  for 
the   other's   painting,    their   devotion   is   obvious. 

Her  Naughty  Eyes — L-Ko  —  February  9.  — 
Harry  and  Alice  are  engaged,  but  Dick  vows  that 
his  rival  shall  never  have  the  girl.  To  this  end 
he  engages  a  hypnotist  to  turn  Alice's  affections. 
However,  instead  of  affecting  her  heart,  he  af- 
fects her  eyes,  an  uncontrollable  and  naughty 
wink  being  the  result.  All  men  are  virtually 
brought  to  her  feet,  and  Harry  is  alarmed  at  his 
sweetheart's  brazen  flirtatiousness.  After  a  fight 
between  the  hypnotist  and  Dick,  Alice  is  relieved 
of  her  affliction..  Severe  punishment  is  meted 
out  to  Dick. 

The  Living  Life — (Three  Reels) — Laemmle — 
February  10.— Morrell,  a  sculptor,  meets  Annette, 
a  girl  of  the  underworld,  and  gets  her  to  pose  for 
him.  At  last  her  real  womanhood  asserts  itself, 
she  renounces  her  past  life,  marries  Doctor  Stev- 
ens and  settles  down  to  a  happy  home  life.  To 
further  his  own  ends,  Morrell  informs  the  doctor 
of  his  wife's  past,  making  it  seem  worse  than  it 
really  was.  After  an  estrangement  between  hus- 
band and  wife,  Morrell  repents  of  his  acts,  and 
sees  that  Stevens  and  his  wife  are  happily  re- 
Firing  the  Butler— (Two  Reels)—  L-Ko— Feb- 
ruary 13.— During  a  kitchen  romance  jealousies 
are  aroused  and  Hubbv  discharges  the  butler. 
The  new  butler,  an  awkward  Dutchman,  enters 
the  house  and  is  mistaken  by  the  wife  for  her 
father-in-law,  whom  she  has  never  seen,  and  whom 
she  expects  that  very  day.  The  true  father-in-law, 
after  seeing  his  son  at  the  office,  starts  for  the 
house,  where  he  is  taken  for  the  butler.  After 
receiving  rebuffs  on  all  sides,  and  seeing  the  wife 
kiss  the  butler,  the  old  man  becomes  wrath v,  and 
telephones  for  his  son.  The  house  is  set  afire  bv 
the  blundering  butler.     The  son  arrives,  and  after 

his  wife  and  father.  Explanations  are'made.  and 
Hans,  the  new  butler,  seeks  seclusion  amid  the 
smoking  ruins  and  calmly  finishes  his  lunch. 

Mixed  Kids— Nestor— February  7.— In  this 
comedy  considerable  complications  arise  from 
baby-trading.  The  trouble  starts  when  Doris, 
the  little  girl  of  the  Gordons,  exchanges  her  doll 
for  a  little  pickmmnv,  and  ends  after  much  search- 
ing and  apprehension.  Both  Doris  and  the  little 
negro  girl   get   punished   for  their   reckless  trading 


O.  C.  Hanbes  is  e 
at  Pine  Bluff. 

Arizona. 

The  Motion  Picture  Machine  Opera- 
tors' union  has  been  organized  in  Miami 
by  H.  S.  McClusky.  The  officers  elected 
were  John  Weible,  president;  W.  W. 
Garrett,  of  Globe,  vice-president;  E. 
Wise,  secretary;  Fred  Green,  sergeant- 
at-arms;  C.  C.  Robinson  and  Fred  Green, 
delegates  to  the  city  and  state  trades 
council.  W.  W.  Garrett  was  also 
elected  business  agent.  The  organization 
will  be  perfected  at  its  next  meeting. 

The  Clifton  theater  building  on  West 
Congress  street,  Tucson,  will  be  re- 
modelled by  Albert  Steinfeld,  the  owner 
for  Diamos  Brothers,  owners  of  the 
Lyric  theater.  No  details  of  the  plans  of 
the  structure  have  as  yet  been  made  pub- 


lic. 


California. 


Behind      Closed 


Reels) — Tri- 


tington,  Marian  Swayne  and  Regan  Hughs- 
ton  have  the  leading  roles  in  this  five-part  Equit- 
able offering,  which  deals  with  the  love  of  a  girl 
of  low  origin  for  a  society  man.  The  picture 
was  produced  by  T.  A.  Golden.  A  full  review 
appears  on  page  322  of  the  February  5th  issue. 


SOME   NEW  THEATERS 

Alabama. 
Mm      Palace    theater    in    Birmingham, 
operated  by  D.  W.  Powell,  has  been  pur- 
chased by  \V.  TT.  Couch  of  Montgomery, 


Mrs.  Lydia  Lawhead  has  been  ap- 
pointed censor  of  moving  picture  films, 
theatrical  performances  and  billboard  ad- 
vertisements by  the  city  trustees  in 
Woodland  in  conformity  with  an  ordi- 
nance passed  recently.  The  board  of 
consultation  to  act  with  Mrs.  Lawhead 
is  composed  of  Arthur  Thomas,  G.  P. 
Hurst,  Mrs.  Fred  Meier  and  Miss 
Katherine  Simmons. 

The  Burbank  theater  in  Los  Angeles, 
completely  ■  transformed,  was  recently 
opened  as  the  New  Burbank,  under  the 
direction  of  Mack  Sennett,  with  Triangle 
films.  In  its  color  scheme  of  cream  and 
gold,  softened  by  rich  tapestry  effects, 
the  Burbank  presented  a  very  beautiful 
aspect  and  the  large  audience  that  was 
present  at  the  opening  was  very  much 
pleased.  The  orchestra  is  under  the  di- 
rection of  J.  C.  Peterson. 

Another  moving-picture  theater  of 
large  proportions  is  to  be  erected  im- 
mediately on  Mason  street,  between  Turk 
and  Eddy  streets,  San  Francisco.  Plans 
have  been  completed  for  the  theater, 
which  is  estimated  to  cost  about  $65,000. 
The  construction  will  be  of  reinforced 
concrete,  with  accommodations  for  more 
than  1,000  persons.  It  is  contemplated 
that  the  theater  will  be  ready  for  its 
opening  July  1.  The  new  theater  has 
been  leased  to  the  Mason-street  Theater 
company. 

Connecticut. 

S.  A.  DeWaltoff,  owner  of  the 
Orpheum  theater,  is  having  plans  drawn 
for  a  new  moving  picture  theater  at 
Whits  City,  Savin  Rock.  The  new  build- 
ing will  connect  with  the  Orpheum  and 
work  will  be  started  as  soon  as  the 
weather  permits. 

February  3,  New  Haven's  newest  pho- 
toplay house,  the  Western  Avenue  the- 
ater on  Western  avenue  near  Starr,  was 
formally  opened.  This  new  and  pretty 
theater  is  50  x  100  feet  with  stone  front 
and    seats   800  persons.     The   interior  is 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


prettily  decorated,  large  roomy  seats, 
spacious  aisles  and  the  latest  ventilating 
system.  Adolph  Juul  is  manager,  and 
with  courteous  attendants  the  theater 
will  be  one  of  the  leading  houses  in  the 
city. 

Delaware. 

Acorn    Movie    Cartoon    Company;    to 

manufacture,  produce,  buy,  sell  or  lease 

motion  picture   films,   also   own,   manage 

theaters,  etc.     Capital,  $100,000. 

Florida. 

The  Arcade  theater  in  West  Palm 
Beach,  for  the  past  year  managed  by 
Carl  Ketter,  has  changed  hands  and  is 
now  managed  by  A.  A.  Tano. 

B.  T.  Cory  has  opened  a  picture  show 
in  Apopka. 

P.  Villiadonga  has  purchased  the 
Florida  theater  in  West  Tampa  from  M. 
Y.  Diaz.  Mr.  Villiadonga  has  been 
operating  the  Cuba  theater,  adjoining  the 
Diaz  building,  and  will  combine  the  two 
theaters  under  that  name  and  operate  at 
the  new  location. 

People's  Profit  Film  Corporation, 
manufacture  and  sale  of  moving  picture 
films;   capital,  $150,000. 

January  28  Boyd's  moving  picture  the- 
ater on  Lookerman  street  between  New 
and  Queen  streets,  Dover,  was  destroyed 
by  fire.     Loss  $3,500,  with  no  insurance. 

The  new  Queen  theater,  Fifth  and 
Market  streets,  Wilmington,  will  be 
opened    February    15. 

The  Majestic  and  Theatorium  theaters 
in  Ardmore  are  now  under  one  manage- 
ment. R.  Helbach  and  L.  Cox  will  man- 
age the  theaters  as  formerly,  but  the  two 
houses  will  be  run  as  one. 

Contracts  have  been  let  by  the  Nation- 
al Film  Corporation  of  America,  to 
Curtis  &  Glynn,  contractors,  for  the  stu- 
dio building  which  the  corporation  is  to 
erect  at  once  on  its  holdings,  recently 
acquired,  on  the  Bayshore  boulevard  near 
Ballast  Point,  Tampa.  The  studio  build- 
ing is  to  be  200  x  300  feet,  of  frame  con- 
struction. 

Georgia. 

The  Lyric  theater,  Atlanta,  will  open 
January  31,  with  a  fine  program. 

Alderman  Morgan,  of  Macon,  intro- 
duced a  rough  draft  of  an  ordinance  for 
the  regulation  of  motion  picture  opera- 
tors, providing  an  examination  to  be  con- 
ducted by  a  board  composed  of  the  city 
electrician,  fire  chief  and  an  experienced 
operator  and  laying  down  rules  and  5 
regulations  governing  the  operators.  The 
ordinance  will  be  looked  into  by  the 
committee  on  ordinances  and  resolutions. 

Work  on  the  Piedmont  theater  build- 
ing, being  erected  at  the  corner  of 
Forsyth  and  Luckie  streets,  by  Hugh 
Richardson,  is  progressing  rapidly,  and 
within  the  course  of  a  few  more  weeks 
Atlanta's  largest  moving  picture  house, 
which  will  also  offer  vaudeville,  will  be 
thrown  open  to  the  public  of  the  city. 
Peter  Mion  has  leased  the  building  for  a 
term  of  fifteen  years  from  Mr.  Richard- 
son. 

Illinois. 

Jay  Wilson  of  Astoria,  who  a  short 
time  ago  purchased  a  picture  show  in 
Macomb,  has  leased  it  to  his  piano  player. 

Chicago      Film      Company,      Chicago; 


ytaramov/iTtyn  n/n>  a  'ft/ra/riLUjnl^ftn 


ilcs  of  the  cover  used  on   ■'Paramount   Progress:1   the   house  organ   of  t 

■at ion  attractive.     The  purpose  of  the  houst 

and  exchange.     Accessories,  advertising  ci 
i   in    it   and  when    good   advertising   ideas  c 

■  •published  in  Paramount    Progress  with  a  brief  editorial  pointing  o    . 
also  are  valuable  Irints  from  the  producing   companies  and   information  s....    . 

all  parts  of  the  country  and  in  tliis  way  the  reader  is  able  to  obtain  the  experience 
other  man  many  miles  distant,  whom  lie  might  never  meet,  but  whose  ideas  might  be 
dvantage  in  his  territory,   although   they  might  need  some  change  in  order  to  meet 
The  publication  is  the  idea  of  William  W.  Hodkinsot 


gan  is,  primarily,  to  assist  each  Para- 
ind  a  portion  of  the  trade  advertising 
be  found  through  the  work  of  some 
tu~  important 


t  of  the 


A  storm  front  has  been  added  to  the 
Crystal  theater  in  Dundee. 

Galesburg's  pioneer  picture  house,  the 
Elite,  has  been  purchased  by  George 
Cashburn,  of  Bushnell.  There  will  be 
no  change  in  the  management,  the  new 
owner  preferring  to  have  the  men  whom 
the  people  have  been  accustomed  to 
meet  continue  to  meet  them. 

Harry  Kraft  has  purchased  the  com- 
bined interests  of  Shean  &  Grabs,  pro- 
prietors of  the  Olympic  theater  in  Dan- 
ville, and  is  now  sole  manager  of  the 
East  Main  street  motion  picture  and 
vaudeville  emporium.  Charles  Shean, 
erstwhile  proprietor  remains  with  the 
new  owner  as  manager  of  the  house. 

Moving  pictures  have  been  introduced 


into  the  high  schools  in  Joliet.  Trave- 
logues and  educational  pictures  are 
shown  daily  at  noon. 

A  one-story  brick  playhouse  will  be 
erected  at  6110  Paulina  street,  S.  Chi- 
cago.    C.  W.  Kollal  architect. 

Belfield  Theater  Company,  Chicago; 
capital,  $12,000;  incorporators,  Fred  D. 
Silber,  Martin  T.  Isaacs,  James  D. 
Woley. 

The  Maywood  theater  has  been  pur- 
chased by  Frank  Le  Compte  and  Elan 
G.  Harrison,  two  well  known  young  men 
who  will  give  the  public  of  Maywood  a 
fine   program   of  pictures. 

Jesse  Chance,  Jr.,  who  is  in  charge  of 
the  Lyric  and  Strand  theaters  in  Farm- 
ington  is  planning  to  enlarge  the  Strand. 
The  stage  will  be  torn  out  and  a  new  cur- 
tain painted  in  the  rear  against  the  south 


440 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 


wall,  and  the  present  false  front  will  be 
set  back,  increasing  the  seating  capac- 
ity to  450.  It  is  the  intention  of  Mr. 
Chance  to  redecorate  the  interior  in  the 

Indiana. 

Notification  has  been  received  from 
Indiana  University,  distributing  center 
for  the  commercial,  industrial,  scenic  and 
agricultural  film  service  of  the  depart- 
ment of  commerce  at  Washington,  that 
the  Hammond  chamber  of  commerce  will 
be  supplied  twice  a  month  with  moving 
pictures,  commencing  January  25,  and  to 
be  given  every  other  Tuesday. 

Incorporation  papers  have  been  filed 
at  Indianapolis  for  the  formation  of  the 
Washington  Theater  company,  headed 
by  B.  F.  Metcalf  of  the  Luna  Lite  the- 
ater, associated  with  whom  in  the  enter- 
prise are  a  number  of  other  well  known 
investors.  Capital,  $35,000.  The  purpose 
of  the  corporation  is  to  erect  one  of 
the.  finest  moving  picture  theaters  in  the 
country.  Not  the  largest  but  one  of 
the  best  which  will  represent  the  very 
latest  ideas  in  the  moving  picture  show 
line.  The  theater  will  be  two-story, 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  Mecca  Club 
home  on  West  Fourth  street,  Marion, 
work  on  which  will  be  started  as  soon  as 
the  weather  permits. 

Motion  picture  theaters  in  Indianapolis 
were  declared  safe  by  building  commis- 
sioner Jacob  H.  Hilkene  at  a  conference 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Asso- 
ciation, held  January  20  at  the  associa- 
tion headquarters  in  the  Saks  building. 
Iowa. 

Iowa  City  is  to  have  a  new  $50,000 
theater,  to  be  devoted  to  moving  pictures 
exclusively. 

The  Iris  theater  in  Webster  City,  is 
showing  Triangle  films  four  days  a  week. 

The  Orpheum  theater  in  Oskaloosa  has 
installed  a  new  Simplex  machine. 

N.  A.  Evans,  of  Marshalltown,  has 
bought  the  moving  picture  theater  in 
State  Center,  formerly  owned  by  Mr. 
Richerodt. 

The  Princess  theater  in  Boone  has 
completed  improvements  and  now  con- 
forms  with   the   city  ordinances. 

A  new  ceiling  has  been  placed  in  the 
Majestic  theater  in  Nevada. 

Frank  Bentley  has  leased  the  opera 
house  in  Corning  and  will  operate  a  first 
class  picture  show. 

Indiana 
Work  will  shortly  be  started  on  clear- 
ing  the   site   at     145     Monument    Place, 
Indianapolis,  for  the  New  Circle  moving 
picture  theater. 

A  new  curtain  has  been  installed  in 
the  Violet  theater,  Brookston. 

The  Terre  Haute  moving  picture  oper- 
ators elected  the  following  officers: 
President,  L.  G.  Thurry;  vice-president, 
H.  Prentise;  recording  secretary,  B. 
Stcinhouser;  financial  secretary,  W.  Nis- 
bet;  sergeant-at-arms,  George  James,  and 
E.  Pullen  trustee.  R.  Demsey  was 
named   as  business   agent. 

A  motion  picture  theater  is  being  in- 
stalled in  the  Stillman  block  on  Main 
street,  Riceville,  and  will  managed  by 
George  E.  Smith. 


At  a  dinner  at  the  home  of  Frank  Cota, 
moving  picture  operators  of  Mason  City 
formed  the  North  Iowa  Operators'  As- 
sociation and  elected  the  following  of- 
ficers: Charles  Armstrong,  president; 
Frank  Cota,  vice-president;  Ray  Tour- 
ney, secretary  and  treasurer. 

The  city  council  recently  passed  an 
ordinance  allowing  the  moving  picture 
theaters  in  Charles  City  to  operate  on 
Sundays  from  1:30  to  5:30,  but  no  evening 
shows. 

The  Lockard  building  on  Story  street, 
Boone,  is  being  remodeled  and  fitted  up 
for  a  motion  picture  house.  It  will  seat 
between  600  and  700. 

Strand  Theater  Company,  Des  Moines; 
capital,  $10,000.  A.  A.  Hamilton,  presi- 
dent; F.  O.  Davis,  vice-president;  H.  E. 
Evans,  secretary. 

The  Royal  theater  at  LeMars  has  been 
purchased  by  E.  F.  Bausman,  of  Omaha, 
and  J.  N.  Boyd,  of  Sioux  City. 

The  gallery  of  the  Majestic  theater  in 
Cedar  Rapids  has  been  reopened.  It  had 
been  closed  for  a  few  days  on  account  of 
re-decorating  the  walls  and  ceilings  and 
the  floors  being  scraped  and  oiled.  With 
these  improvements  made  the  gallery 
presents  an  inviting  appearance. 

_  The  Strand  is  Marshalltown's  new  mo- 
tion picture  theater,  opened  January  22. 
The  remodeling  of  the  building  located 
at  112  East  Main  street,  was  done  by 
F.  L.  Meeker,  the  owner,  and  cost  ap- 
proximately $9,000,  excluding  the  fur- 
nishings. The  entire  front  of  the  old 
building  was  removed  and  a  brick  front 
put  in.  The  brick  is  known  as  Flemish, 
with  a  trimming  of  white  terra  cotta.  On 
either  side  of  the  front  piers  run  up  from 
the  ground  to  the  top  of  the  building, 
capped  with  a  white  terra  cotta  crown, 
and  electric  lights.  Green  Spanish  tile 
is  used  for  the  mansard  roof,  and  a  new 
canopy  has  been  built  out  over  the  side- 
walk. The  interior  decorations  are 
pretty  and  attractive  while  the  venti- 
lating, lighting  and  seating  arrange- 
ments are  of  the  latest  design. 

A.  H.  Blank,  owner  of  the  Garden  the- 
ater, Des  Moines,  is  planning  to  build  a 
$150,000  motion  picture  house  in  Omaha 
next  fall. 

Moving  pictures  are  being  used  for  the 
entertainment  and  education  of  the  boys 
in  the  state  industrial  school  at  Eldora 
two  evenings  each  week. 

The  Majestic  theater  in  Cedar  Rapids, 
which  was  rumored  to  be  settling,  after 
investigating,  is  found  to  be  o.  k. 

Kansas. 

The  Palace  theater,  Wichita's  $100,000 
amusement  house,  was  formally  opened 
to  the  public  January  17. 

Plans  for  the  new  motion  picture  the- 
ater to  be  erected  by  C.  B.  Yost,  manager 
of  the  Pearl  theater,  at  114  North  Main, 
Hutchinson,  have  been  completed  by  W. 
E.  Hulse  &  Company,  local  architects. 
The  new  theater  will  be  the  most  up-to- 
date  in  the  city  and  work  will  be  started 
at  once  on  the  remodeling  of  the  build- 
ing. 

Hutchinson's  newest  motion  picture 
theater  will  be  known  as  the  Theatre 
Royal.  The  theater  will  be  a  most  at- 
tractive structure.  The  front  will  be  a 
beautiful    construction    of    metal,    stucco, 


art  glass  and  art  work.  Above  the  ticket 
office  and  entrance  and  extending  across 
the  front  of  the  building  will  be  an  artis- 
tic relief  work  in  plaster,  with  a  clock  in 
the  center.  Above  this  will  be  art  glass, 
and  metal  and  stucco  ornamentation, 
surmounted  at  the  top  by  a  big  eagle. 
The  seating  capacity  will  be  448. 

C.  B.  Yost,  who  will  own  and  manage 
the  theater,  will  continue  the  operation 
of  his  present  house,  the  Pearl,  and  says 
about  the  middle  of  March  he  will  open 
the  Theatre  Royal. 

Baldwin's  new  motion  picture  theater 
being  erected  by  Thomas  Hitchcock,  is 
about  completed.  It  is  located  on  Eighth 
street  and  seats  300  people. 

A  charter  has  been  granted  in  Topeka 
to  the  Overland  Park  Film  Manufactur- 
ing Company  of  Overland  Park,  Johnson 
county,  this  state.  The  charter  author- 
izing a  capitalization  of  $100,000,  was 
taken  out  by  W.  B.  Strang,  head  of  the 
Strang  Electric  Railroad  Company,  and 
others  among  the  incorporators  of  the 
new  film  concern  are:  Thomas  Riley, 
of  Overland  Park;  H.  B.  Holland  and 
Darius  Brown,  Kansas  City,  and  Donald 
Munroe,  of  Merriam. 

Kentucky. 

Plans  are  being  prepared  by  S.  F. 
Ostrander  for  a  moving  picture  theater, 
to  be  erected  at  Walnut  and  Twelfth 
streets,  Louisville.  The  theater  will  cost 
$25,000. 

The  stage  of  the  Ben  Ali  theater  in 
Lexington  was  destroyed  by  a  recent 
fire,  and  among  other  losses  were  a  $10,- 
000  organ  recently  installed  and  a  beauti- 
ful velvet  curtain,  and  the  radium  screen. 
C.  H.  Berryman,  president  of  the  Berry- 
man  Realty  Company,  operators  of  the 
theater,  states  that  the  theater  will  be 
restored  to  its  same  beauty  in  very  short 
time. 

Amended '  articles  of  incorporation 
were  filed  changing  the  name  of  the 
Children's  Feature  Film  Corporation  to 
the  Aladdin  Film  Corporation.  The 
articles  were  signed  by  N.  M.  Sweet, 
T.  J.  Morrow,  Jr.,  Kendrick  Lewis  and 
R.  W.  Conant. 

Work  will  begin  February  10  on  a 
$30,000  motion  picture  theater  on  Wal- 
nut street,  between  Eleventh  and 
Twelfth  streets,  Louisville,  which  will 
be  one  of  the  handsomest  motion  picture 
houses  for  colored  people  in  the  city. 
The  incorporators  are  A.  B.  McAfee,  A. 
C.  Brock.  T.  C.  Brock,  Prof.  A.  E.  May- 
zek  and  W.  L.  Sanders.  The  new  the- 
ater will  be  fireproof  of  brick  and  steel 
construction.  The  front  will  be  of  cream 
enameled  brick,  with  pilasters  of  brown 
enameled  brick,  with  cut  stone  trim- 
mings, and  the  lobby  will  be  of  white 
marble  and  tiling.  On  both  sides  of  the 
auditorium  will  be  a  mezzanine  floor  of 
twenty  boxes,  with  steel  stairways  to 
the  auditorium  floor.  The  auditorium 
floor  is  so  arranged  that  every  occupant 
will  have  a  clear  vision  of  the  Stage. 
S.  P.  Ostrander  is  the  architect. 

A  deal  was  recently  closed  whereby 
the  Kerrigan  and  the  Grand  motion-pic- 
ture theater  have  been  consolidated. 
The  Kerrigan  company  will  take  over 
the  Grand  theater  and  will  operate  both 
houses.  M.  Switow,  who  was  the  chief 
stockholder  in  the  Grand  theater  com- 
pany, becomes  a  member  of  the  Kerri- 
gan company. 


February  19,  1916. 


Articles  of  incorporation  of  the  Peo- 
ple's Amusement  company,  Louisville, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $30,000,  divided 
into  3,000  shares  of  a  par  value  of  $10, 
were  filed  with  the  county  clerk.  The 
corporation  proposes  to  conduct  a  chain 
of  moving  picture  theaters  and  is  author- 
ized to  incur  liabilities  not  to  exceed 
$25,000.  The  incorporators  are  A.  B. 
McAfee,  with  100  shares;  A.  E.  Mey- 
zeck,  with  eighty-five  shares,  and  T. 
C.  Brock,  A.  S.  Brock  and  William  L. 
Sanders,  each  with  fifty  shares. 

Louisiana. 

James  Van  Lotten  has  opened  a  pic- 
ture show  in  the  People's  Bank  building, 
Donaldsville,  and  it  is  known  as  Jimmie's 
theater. 

The  old  Greenwall  theater,  in  New 
Orleans,  has  undergone  many  changes 
and  has  been  opened  by  Mr.  Boehrenger, 
as  the  Triangle  theater.  A  twelve-piece 
orchestra  furnishes  the  music. 

Maine. 

Manager  Merrill  of  the  Star  theater  in 
Dover  has  improved  his  show  house  by 
having  the  interior  tastily  decorated  and 
another  machine  installed  to  avoid  de- 
lays. It  now  presents  a  very  attractive 
appearance. 

Rothacker  Film  Manufacturing  com- 
pany, Portland,  $25,000.  T.  L.  Croteau, 
A.  B.  Farnham,  Clarence  G.  Trott,  Chas. 
W.  Hamilton,  Portland,  Me.;  George  S. 
Souie,  South  Portland,  Me. 

Flynn  &  company,  Portland,  $10,000. 
Milton  Flynn,  Haverhill,  Mass.;  Michael 
J.  Gar,  James  A.  Connellan,  Portland 
Me.  Theater  and  moving-picture  busi- 
ness. 

Maryland. 

The  Hornstein  Amusement  Company 
has  filed  with  the  inspector  of  buildings 
plans  for  a  one-story  brick  motion-pic- 
ture theater,  33.7  by  140  feet,  at  1627-29 
Pennsylvania  avenue,  Baltimore.  Spark- 
lin  &  Childs  are  the  architects  and 
Nathan  Freedman,  the  builder.  The  cost 
of  the  work  is  placed  at  $10,500. 

The  Maryland  Branch  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League  of  America  held  their 
first  weekly  meeting  and  luncheon  in 
Baltimore.  The  meeting  was  presided 
over  by  Guy  L.  Wonders,  the  president, 
and  many  of  the  members  made  short 
addresses  on  the  motion-picture  industry. 

Plans  for  improvements  to  the  Gem 
theater  at  174  East  Baltimore  street, 
Baltimore,  are  being  made  by  the  man- 
agement which  will  consist  of  new  exits, 
ticket   office    and    other    arrangements. 

Massachusetts. 

The  Central  Square  theater,  the  largest 
theater  in  East  Boston,  opened  January 
13.  This  theater  cost  200,000.  It  is  ab- 
solutely fireproof  and  can  be  emptied  of 
the  audience  in  one  minute.  The  build- 
ing is  of  steel  structure  and  has  up-to- 
date  improvements.  Loew's  vaudeville 
and  Paramount  pictures  are  being  shown. 
The  theater  seats  2,000. 

Michigan. 

The  Avenue  theater  has  been  taken 
over  by  a  group  of  Detroit  men  and  is 
known  as  the  Triangle. 

Official  War  Films  company,  Detroit, 
$20,000.  Andrew  H.  Green,  Jr.,  August 
Froebel,  Arthur  W.  Blankmeyer. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

O.  W.  Koch  and  F.  J.  Buchte,  of 
Union,  Illinois,  have  purchased  the  New 
theater,  West  Main  street,  Kalamazoo, 
from  Frank  D'Arcy  and  took  possession 
of  the  property  last  week. 

Peerless  Film  corporation,  Detroit, 
$3,000.  Otto  A.  Seestedt,  Ralph  E. 
Peckham,  Charles  J.  Welsh. 

The  local  council  has  approved  a  record 
boost  for  playhouse  licenses,  charging  the 
motion  picture  theaters  in  Muskegon 
$100  annually,  instead  of  $25,  and  the 
houses  capable  of  seating  400  or  over, 
$125,  a  boost  of  $75. 

January  20,  the  Majestic  theater,  Wyan- 
dotte's new  photoplay  house,  was  formal- 
ly opened.  Decorated  in  ivory  and  gold, 
and  built  in  amphitheater  style  the 
Majestic  presented  a  beautiful  appear- 
ance. The  theater  is  a  duplicate  to  De- 
troit's Majestic  and  seats  1,400  people. 

J.  W.  Harpstrite  and  John  T.  Con- 
nors are  opening  a  chain  of  three  the- 
aters in  this  part  of  the  state.  The 
Majestic  theater  at  Homer  and  the  New 
Majestic  at  Union  City,  have  been  pur- 
chased by  them  and  the  opera  house  at 
Cassopolis  has  been  taken  over  on  a 
lease.  The  Homer  theater  will  be  under 
the  management  of  Mr.  Connors  and 
show  pictures  while  Mr.  Harpstrite  will 
manage  the  Union  City  theater  and  the 
opera  house  at  Cassopolis,  and  pictures 
and  vaudeville  will  be  the  attraction. 
Minnesota. 

Three  times  a  week,  Mondays,  Tues- 
days and  Saturdays,  H.  A.  Nelson,  man- 
ager of  the  Princess  theater  at  St.  James, 
opens  his  theater  at  midnight,  where 
pictures  are  enjoyed  by  switchmen,  yard- 
men, car  inspectors,  roundhouse  em- 
ployes and  telegraphers. 

F.  C.  Stone,  of  Clentorf,  has  taken  pos- 
session of  the  picture  theater  which  he 
recently  purchased  in  Akeley. 

A  new  theater  with  a  seating  capacity 
of  300  is  being  erected  in  Long  Prairie 
by  Dr.  Tollman,   manager   of  the    Cozy. 

The  Bijou  theater  on  First  street 
North,  Crosby,  will  be  reopened  by  Bosel 
and  Weiss,  proprietor  of  the  Empress 
theater. 

Patrick  and  Anderson,  of  Hinkley, 
have  sold  their  moving  picture  outfit  to 
O'Malley  Brothers,  who  will  continue  to 
give  shows. 

A  license  to  operate  a  moving  picture 
theater  at  1077  Payne  avenue,  St.  Paul, 
has  been  granted  to  the  American  The- 
ater company. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  city  council  in 
Minneapolis,  January  14,  Alderman  Wil- 
liams' motion  picture  show  ordinance 
was  passed  without  opposition.  The 
ordinance  creates  zones  in  each  ward  in 
which  the  theaters  will  be  allowed,  pro- 
vides that  -no  applications  for  locations 
outside  these  zones  shall  be  received, 
limits  the  total  number  of  show  houses 
to  100  and  provides  that  applications  for 
transfers  must  be  advertised  so  that  any- 
one desiring  to  do  so  may  have  oppor- 
tunity to  object.  There  are  now  about  75 
motion  picture  houses  open  in  Minne- 
apolis. 

Missouri. 

The  Lewis  theater  in  Independence 
was  destroyed  by  fire  January  10.  The 
theater  occupied  the  ground  floor  of  the 


building   and   had   a   seating   capacity   of 
5,000.     An  overheated  furnace  is  said  to 
have  been  the  cause  of  the  fire. 
Michigan 

Mrs.  Bessie  Kosman,  of  Ahmeek  has 
purchased  the  entire  equipment  of  the 
Eagle  theater  in  Hancock,  which  she  will 
shortly  move  to  the  new  theater  which  is 
being  erected  in  Ahmeek. 

The  Temple  theater  in  Petoskey  has 
been  sold  to  S.  D.  Leahy  of  Harbor 
Springs,  who  will  close  the  house  for  a 
short  time  until  arrangements  are  made 
for  conducting  both  this  theater  and  his 
Harbor   Springs   theater. 

A.  F.  Drager  has  sold  his  interest  in 
the  Family  theater,  Richmond,  to  Carl 
Duncan,  of  Killbuck,  Ohio,  who  took  im- 
mediate possession.  Mr.  Duncan  promi- 
ses many  new  features  and  improve- 
ments. 

Deputy  Fire  Marshal  Dewey  of  Ne- 
gaunee,  will  inspect  the  moving  picture 
theaters  in  the  Torch  Lake  towns  about 
the  middle  of  this  month. 

Missouri 

The  Arsenal  Theater  company,  a  new 
concern,  plans  to  open  a  photoplay  house 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  Grand  avenue 
and  Arsenal  street,  St.  Louis.  It  will  be 
known  as  the  Arsenal  and  seats  about 
700.  Associated  in  the  Arsenal  Theater 
company  are  Herman  W.  Fay,  president, 
John  J.  Kleekamp,  Edward  Kleekamp 
and  E.  P.  Craig. 

Montana. 

The  Anaconda  Amusement  company 
has  been  granted  a  permit  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  picture  theater  at  the 
corner  of  Park  and  Oak  streets,  Ana- 
conda. The  structure  will  be  three  sto- 
ries, the  theater  occupying  the  first  two. 

The  Electric  City  Amusement  com- 
pany has  sold  the  Alcazer  theater  in 
Great  Falls  to  Le  Roy  V.  Johnson. 

The  Madison  Picture  Show  company 
will  open  a  moving  picture  show  in  Dil- 
lon, under  the  management  of  Robert 
Stalcup. 

L.  J.  Sissell,  proprietor  of  the 
Orpheum  theater  in  Whitefish,  recently 
purchased  the  business  block  occupied  by 
the  Guy  Thompson  &  Company  store  at 
the  corner  of  Central  avenue  and  Second 
street  and  it  is  his  intention  to  turn  the 
building  into  a  theater.  The  building 
will  be  occupied  by  the  tenant  for  some 
time. 

The  new  theater  which  has  just  been 
erected  by  J.  M.  Rantschler  and  W.  C. 
Bernard,  in  Harlem,  has  been  named  the 
Grand.  The  public  were  very  well 
pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the  new 
show  house.  It  has  a  seating  capacity 
of  304. 

Nebraska. 

The  Crystal  theater  in  Humboldt  has 
been  opened. 

The  Lyric  theater  in  Fremont,  which 
was  gutted  by  fire  several  weeks  ago,  is- 
being  razed  and  it  is  not  likely  the  struc- 
ture will  be  rebuilt. 

A  picture  theater  has  been  opened  in 
the  opera  house  at  Talmake  by  L.  G. 
Viox. 

The  Crystal  theater  in  Arapohoe  has 
had    a    new   ticket    office    installed.      The 


442  M  O  T  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y  Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 

theater  is  enjoying  a  good  patronage  and  February  3  in  the  common  council  cham-  A  distributing  office  for  the  Pathe  Film 
is  managed  by  A.  E.  d'  Allemand.  ber,  Rochester.  This  will  be  the  first  company  will  take  possession  of  the 
Nebraska  test  to  be  held  under  the  new  law  which  building  at  398  Broadway  soon  after 
i..!.;,  p,  lnnps  hac  '  1H  ,-,;„  ;ntPrPcf  requires  that  applicants  for  licenses  must  alterations  are  completed.  The  company 
in^Cry^^^^m&irto^  h^e  Sen?d  si*  months"  apprenticeship  is  moving  its  branch  office  from  Sy ra- 
in the  crystal  tn eater  in  Mitcneti  to  nis  under  a  hcensed  operator.  Proprietors  cuse  to  Albany, 
partner,  J.  A.  riurrman.  of    motion    picture    theaters    are    exempt  ™ 

P.    G.   Armbus   is   the    new   owner   and  from  this  provision,  but  one  of  them  will  „Tbe    motlon     P,ctuure     th?ter     at     9£4 

manager  of  the  Pastime  theater,  Shelton,  take   the   coming  test.  w^f01^?""6'  Ro,chester;  ^novm  as  ^e 

having   purchased    the    same    from    L.   J.  _     .        fi                       ,         J  f        u     „  ^  lltef  Efa|J^was  imaged  by  fire  to  the 

Cross  Forbes  &  company  leased  for  the  Ger-  extent  of  $400. 

sten    Cramer    Amusement    company    the  ^u                 „     .,      ,    .,       .                   '. 

Articles  of  incorporation  for  the  World  Lexington  theater,  at  Fifty-first  street  ihf  ne™  riartiord  theater  in  Utica 
Realty  company,  new  concern,  which  is  and  Lexington  avenue,  New  York,  to  a  was  formally  opened  under  the  manage- 
to  erect  an  $80,000  motion  picture  the-  new  corporation  being  organized  by  a  ment  of  W  H.  Hooks.  First  class  pic- 
ater  building  at  1410-1414  Farnam  street,  theatrical  syndicate  to  be  known  as  the  *"*?*,  wl1  !  bet  shown  and  a  noon-hour 
Omaha,  have  been  filed.  Samuel  H.  Biltmore  theater  corporation.  The  lease  club  fr°m  I  t0  Cach  day  W'U  be  a  fea~ 
Goldman  is  president.  The  capital  is  ;s  for  a  iong  term  of  years  and  it  is  the  ture  ot  tne  nouse- 
$200,000.  purpose  of  the  lessee  to  operate  this  big  The  Globe,  one  of  Buffalo's  finest  rao- 

The  Toto  theater  in  Havelock  has  been  theater   for   the   production    of   dramatic  tion    picture    theaters,    located    on    Main 

purchased  by   R.   Myers   of   Germantown  Photo    plays       It    is    reported    that    the  street,  corner  of  Ferry,  has  been  opened 

from  W.  C.   Emrich.  Paramount  Film  company  is  lending  its  under  the  management  of  Mr.   Lambrix. 

active  co-operation  to  this  scheme.     Miss 

R.    F.    Rupp  s    picture    show    in    Cedar  Rita    Weiman,    playwright,     assisted    in  Redecorating    and    refurnishing    being 

Rapids    has    been    purchased    by    Tony  the  negotiations.       "  completed,      the      Cumberland      theater, 

Senske  and  Dr.  Ransom.  Greene    avenue    and    Cumberland    street. 

Mato  m     •„  Orpheum   Theater   company  will  com-  Brooklyn,   was   opened   under   the    direc- 

rview  Mexico.  plete  tne  motion  picture  structure  started  tion  of  Francis  A.  Mangan. 

The    Pastime    theater   in   Albuquerque  five  years  ago  on  the  77x175,  northwest 

has  inaugurated  the  Triangle  program.  corner  of  Westchester  and  Forest  avenue,  Perfect    Publicity    Promotion    Picture 

Ne       York  New  York.    Plans  by  J.  M.  Felson,  archi-  company,  promote  publicity  of  industries 

•        w              '.  tect,  call  for  an  outlay  of  $50,000.  and    municipalities    through    motion    pic- 

Leggett-Gruen   corporation,   Eddyville,  tures>  general  advertising  business,  $500; 

advertising,     motion     pictures,     devices,  The     Biltmore     Theater     corporation,  Earl    W.     Rossman,    William    H.    Pine, 

novelties,  $42,000;  J.  J.  and  Toby  Gruen,  general  theatrical,  motion  pictures,   etc.,  James  T   O'Connor '  Manhattan 

J.    Alexander    Leggett,    142    West    21st  business,  $20,000;   C.   W.   McFatt,   H.   S. 

street.  Bunder,  Sol  Sholes,  Manhattan.  Australian  Triangle  Films,  general  mo- 

A    film   rano-Vu-  fire  in   the   mnvW  nie-  c   il         ■               1                                      t  tion  Picture  business,  theater  proprietors, 

ture   theater  It   1359  First  avenue    New  Submarm.e   exploration  company,  Inc.,  etc.,    $10,000;    E.    M.    James,    Milton    M. 

ture    theater   at   ljby^rst   avenue.    New  manufacturing    motion    picture    cameras  Eisenberg,  Agnes  Rose  May,  Manhattan. 

York,   but  was    extinguished   by  Joseph  and    accessories    for    ordinary    or    sub-  *               ,               ,            ,     ^ 

Zedemsk,    manager,    before    the    patrons  mar;ne      photography,      $20,000;       Hans  TTTh€   Biltmore  theater,  formerly  Oscar 

realized  what  happened.  Hartman,    Jere    F.    Hanley,    Francis    D  Hammerstein  s  Lexington  Avenue  Opera 

„     .     .         „                               ,            .  Pasev    New  York  Vitv       '  House,  New  York,  was  opened  January 

Exclusive     Features,     general     motion  «-asey-  ^ew    lorK  W-  23   with    a   moving   picture    and    musical 

picture   and   theatrical   business,  $75,000;  Square  Film  company,  general  moving  program   similar   to   that   at   the   Strand 

l°,l-   M.    Goldstein^  Charlotte    Goldstein,  p;cture  film  business,  $10,000;   Henry  B.  theater.      Paramount   pictures   shown    at 

Albert  M.   Goldstein,  Manhattan.  Nedham,  Margaret  Harmon,  Philip  Lind-  the  Strand  are  to  be  shown  also  at  the 

Hendrix       Amusement       corporation,  sley;  Manhattan.  Biltmore. 

general    theatrical    and     motion     picture  Cumberland    Photo    Play    corporation,  The  Pleasant  Wave  Bathing  company, 

business,  $5,0W;    Harry  M.  Peyser,   Ar-  Brooklyn,  theatrical  and  motion  picture  Inc.,   bathing   pavilion   at    Coney   Island, 

thus  M.  Harris,  Edward  M.  Kahn,  Brook-  business;    capital,    $1,000.      Directors,    D.  cafe,   restaurant,   moving-picture   theater. 

'yn-                                                             ,  W.  Hofmann,  William  Lind,  R.  A.  Field.  $10,000;  A.  K.  Ott,  H.  Pearlman,  H.   P. 

Oscar    Hammerstein's    Lexington   the-  „,.   .     ,     _.,                              T           ^  Econopouly,  1222  52d  St.,  Brooklyn, 

ater,  Fifty-first  street  and  Lexington  ave-  „ C ,m£al     P»m     company,     Inc.      New  Mel            Photoolav    Theater     conduct 

nue,    New   York,   has   passed   under   new  Yor!<   Clty.-    to   manufacture   and   deal   in  th ^te r      m ot io n     oic t u rt     house     $1 000 

m    '.„„..,        'a    i-,as    u.„    ftnm,„j    a<;  motion     picture     films,     machines,     etc.;  ^eater-     mo"on     P^ture    ."ou!.e;    *1'UW' 

management    and    has    been    opened    as  v                  Directors     GeoUe    C  Sigmund      Winters,      David      Silverman, 

the    Baltimore    theater,    with    a    program  capital,    ^UUUUU.      directors,    Ueorge    U  L»       ,            Bronx 

of    Paramount    motion    picture    features.  Refd,    Dorothy    L.    Heithaus,    Henry    A.  Leon  ^^  *ron-^ 

The  general  policy  of  the  house  will  be  Calmer.  January  23  the  Lyric  theater  in  Rah- 

similar  to  that  of  the  Strand.  Authorizations:     Centaur     Film     com-  wa^  was   damaged  by   fire. 


pany,  Inc.,  Bayonne,  N.  J.,  photographic  The    Paramount    theater,     Newark,    is 

*J*i~    TT°T'"g  i r°X  9?c?P£    «  [      u  films'    $10-000-      Representative,    Chester  under  new  management. 

tective    Union     Local   229,    Buffalo    have  Beecrofti  71  West  23rd  street,  New  York.  XT     *          .     _ 

installed    the    following   officers:      Presi-  North  Dakota. 

dent,  Henry  DeVerneuil,   Sr.;  vice-presi-  The   large   order   of  steel   for   the   new  H.  J.  Olson  has  leased  the  building  in 

dent,  J.  Smith;  treasurer,  M.  Ostrowsky;  Piccadilly  photoplav  theater  in  Rochester  Oslo    formerly    occupied    by    the    Eagle 

financial  secretary,  Leo  Hager;  recording  will  arrive  April  1,  it  is  said.  saloon,  and  will  remodel  it  into  a  picture 

secretary,    Max    J.    Aftachiner;    business  „     .     _,      ,           .               ,         ,  ,.  theater 

agent,  Henry  DeVerneuil,  Sr.;   sergenat-  .    S"  A-  Y°^r'  who  P"rchased  the  poca-  "le  ■ 

at-arms    H    Potter-  trustees    M    Affach-  hontas    building    on    Second    street.    El-  The    Empress    theater    at    Grafton    is 

iner    A*  A    Geddis'  Leo   McGuire-    dele-  mira'   a   short   time  aS°'   is  having  it  re-  under  a  new  management.     O.   N.  Vista 

gate's   to    Central    Labor    Council  'M    J  modeled  into  an  up-to-date  picture  the-  of    Princeton,     Minnesota,     is    the     new 

Affachinger,  Leo  Hager,  DeWitt  Martin!  ater'  owner.                                                                   , 

Authentic    Film    corporation     deal    in  Atlas  Educational  Projector  company,  The    De    Lux   theater   at    Grafton    has 

films,  motion  picture  supplies  and  acces-  Inc-   manufacturing  moving  picture   ma-  been     purchased    by    John     Pillar,     who 

sories     $5  000-     Fdwin    V     MacDonald     C  chines  and  supplies  of  all  kinds  and  con-  formerly  owned  the   Grand  at  Larimore. 

F.  Bates, 'Paul  Falk,  Manhattan.                '  duct   general    industrial,    advertising    de-  N 

partment    for    producing    and    exhibiting  iNonn    uaKota. 

The  Murray  theater  in  Murray  street,  moving  pictures,  $75,000;  H.  A.  L.  Sand,  The  interests  of  C.  A.  Heen  in  the  De 

Rochester,  has  been  acquired  by  Ellis  A.  F.  M.  Chambers,  R.  D.  Smith,  and  others,  Luxe   theater   in    Grafton    has   been    pur- 

Wollf.     The  Murry  is  the  largest  outside  Manhattan.  chased  by  John  Filler, 

picture    theater    in    this    city,    having    a  ^             „•   .              ..       .   .     ,  M„„a^, 

seating  capacity  of  1,200.  ,  Queen    Pictures,    theatrical    stage    pro-  Nevada. 

ducmg  and  moving  picture  business,  $1.-  The    new    motion    picture    theater    of 

A    test     for    motion    picture    operators  000;    Katherine   A.   O'Leary,    Emma   Ull-  the    Reno    Amusement    company,    which 

who  arc  seeking  licenses,  will  be  held  on  mann,  Sain'l    1.  Foley,   Jr.,  Manhattan,  is  fast  nearing  completion  on  west   First 


February  19,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Carl    Von    Sch 


street,    Reno,    has    been    opened    to    the 
public. 

Ohio. 

Buckingham  &  Fought,  owners  of  the 
Royal  theater  in  Cuero,  are  contemplat- 
ing to  enlarge  the  seating  capacity  of 
their  house. 

The  Lyric  theater  in  Springfield  is 
undergoing  extensive  improvements. 
The  entrance  will  be  lowered  one  step 
and  the  ticket  booth  moved  out  sufficient 
to  make  room  for  a  lobby.  The  seating 
arrangement  will  be  increased  100.  The 
Lyric  is  owned  by  Grant  Wooley  and 
managed  by  Elmer  Fritz. 

The  International  Film  Products  com- 
pany of  Cincinnati  has  established  a  dis- 
trict branch  in  Toledo.  The  offices  are 
at  441  Huron  street.  F.  W.  Feser  will 
be  district  manager.  The  Toledo  dis- 
trict includes  nothern  Ohio  and  south- 
ern Michigan. 

The  Pastime  Amusement  company, 
owners  of  the  Pastime  and  Hippodrome 
theaters,  Columbus,  has  secured  a  long- 
term  lease  on  the  Empress  theater.  The 
name  of  the  theater  has  been  changed 
to  the  Knickerbocker,  and  is  operated 
under  the  personal  management  of  John 
W.  Swain,  manager  of  the  two  other 
theaters  owned  by  the  Pastime  Amuse- 
ment Company. 

The  Bauer  Realty  company  has  taken 
out  a  permit  to  build  a  $20,000  structure 
at  3133  west  25th  street,  Cleveland,  con- 
taining stores  and  a  moving  picture  the- 
ater.    Izant  &  Frink  are  architects. 

Michael  Cassel  has  sold  the  Olympic 
theater  in  Wapakoneta  to  Henry  Gaslee 
of  Dayton,  who  took  charge  January  18. 
As  soon  as  the  weather  permits  the  new 
manager  will  entirely  decorate  the  the- 
ater and  increase  the  seating  capacity  to 
300. 

The  Gordon  theater  in  Middletown  has 


inaugurated  the  Triangle  program,  and 
the  music  furnished  by  an  eight-piece 
orchestra  adds  greatly  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  pictures. 

There  will  be  no  picture  shows  opened 
in  Delaware  on  Sunday,  is  the  statement 
given  out  by  Chief  of  Police  James 
Spaulding. 

Members  of  the  Cleveland  Federation 
of  Women's  Clubs  have  agreed  to  co- 
operate with  Cleveland  motion  picture 
exhibitors  in  the  presentation  of  family 
programs  certain  evenings  every  week  in 
motion  picture  theaters  in  the  downtown 
section  and  every  night  at  show  houses 
in  the  residential  section.  This  action 
was  taken  in  unanimously  passing  a  reso- 
lution introduced  by  Miss  Bertelle  M. 
Lyttle,  chairman  of  the  civic  committee. 

Philip  Morton  is  the  owner  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  house,  southwest  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Twelfth  street,  Cincinnati, 
sold  at  auction  January  21  by  Deputy 
Sheriff  Harry  Anthony.  It  was  appraised 
at  $750  and  sold  for  $1,005,  being  sub- 
ject to  a  leasehold  estate  held  by  Wood- 
ward College  and  High  School. 

It  is  rumored  a  new  picture  theater 
will  be  established  in  Harbor. 

The  Grand  theater  at  Mechanicsburg 
"s  opened  and  managed  by  E.  N.  Guck- 
ert. 

Pennsylvania. 

Sixty-four  prosecutions  for  the  display 
of  moving  picture  films  against  the  regu- 
lations of  the  State  Board  of  Moving 
Picture  Censors  were  pushed  to  conclu- 
sion and  the  exhibitors  fined  during  1915 
according  to  the  office  of  the  State  Board 
of  Censors.  The  fines  received  during 
1915  aggregated  $4,265  and  ranged  from 
$5  to  $300.  The  prosecutions  were 
mainly  in  Philadelphia,  with  a  number  in 
Pittsburgh,  Reading,  Harrisburg,  Lan- 
caster, Altoona,  Allentown  and  Scranton. 

Picture  Theater,  Germantown.  One- 
story  brick  and  concrete,  125  feet  by  150 
feet.  Lam  Building  Company,  additional 
bidder.     Hoffman  &  Co.,  architects. 

Mr.  Adams,  of  the  Olympic  theater  in 
Monaca,  will  soon   install  a  pipe   organ. 

Henry  C.  Dahl,  alterations,  theater, 
913  Market  street,  Philadelphia,  for  Cen- 
tral Market  Street  Realty  company;  cost 
$500. 

J.  W.  McCarthy  is  contemplating 
building  a  modern  and  up-to-date  photo- 
play theater  on  Liberty  avenue  near 
Taylor  street,.  Bloomfield. 

Through  the  office  of  C.  C.  McKallip 
&  company  by  Edgar  E.  Wertheimer,  the 
building  owned  by  T.  J.  Keenan  at  930- 
940  Penn  avenue,  Pittsburg,  has  been 
leased  for  a  term  of  years  and  is  to  be 
remodeled  and  have  two  additional  sto- 
ries put  to  it  as  a  headquarters  for  a 
number  of  moving  picture  companies. 

The  Belmont  theater  on  Fifty-second 
street  above  Market,  and  the  Fifty-sec- 
ond street  theater  at  Fifty-second  and 
Sansom,  Philadelphia,  have  been  taken 
over  by  Fred  Dooner  Felt  and  Marcus 
Felt,    managers    of    the    Locust    theater. 

It  has  been  announced  that  negotia- 
tions were  pending  for  the  purchase  of  a 
lot  and  the  erection  of  the  largest  the- 
ater devoted  exclusively  to  picture  plays, 
in  Philadelphia.  The  lot  in  question  is  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  Fifty-second  and 


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444 

Chestnut  streets,  and  is  owned  by  George 
H.  Earle,  Jr. 

Pennsylvania. 
Rowland  &  Clark,  have  decided  to  im- 
prove the  lot  which  they  purchased  some 
time  ago  with  a  moving  picture  theater 
to  cost  $25,000  to  $35,000.  The  lot  to  be 
built  on  is  50x140  feet  on  Liberty  avenue, 
between  Edmond  and  Mathilda  streets, 
Bloomfield. 

The  Palace  theater  in  Butler  Pike,  near 
Spring  Garden  street,  Philadelphia,  was 
damaged  to  the  extent  of  $6,000,  January 
15. 

The  Automatic  Film  Rewinding  com- 
pany of  Harrisburg,  has  been  chartered 
with  $7,000  capital.  The  incorprators  in- 
clude Ross  Oenslager,  Frank  O.  Horting, 
John  L.  Wohlfarth,  Myron  W.  Pickens, 
F.  E.  Ray,  W.  S.  Ray,  Harrisburg,  and 
L.  H.  Lamb,  Mechanicsburg. 

Motion  Picture  Theater  and  Dwellings, 
70th  street  and  Eastwick  avenue,  Phila- 
delphia. For  Louis  Silberman.  Two 
stories,  'brick  and  stone,  60  by  120  feet. 
E.  J.  Kreitzburg  estimating.  Bids  due 
January  22.     H.  M.  Pedrick,  architect. 

Ford  Film  company,  Philadelphia. 
Capital,  $25,000.  To  manufacture,  Sell 
and  deal  in  moving  picture  films  of  all 
kinds.  Incorporators,  Christine  E.  Wil- 
liams, Frank  E.  Holliday,  Joseph  H. 
Spencer,   all   of   Philadelphia. 

Architect  H.  S.  Bair  has  been  selected 
to  design  the  motion  picture  theater 
which  Rowland  &  Clark  are  going  to 
build  on  Liberty  avenue  near  Mathilda 
street,  Bloomfield.  Work  on  the  plans 
will  be  started  in  a  few  days,  the  purpose 
being  to  get  the  building  finished  by  sum- 
mer or  early  fall.  It  is  to  be  one  of  the 
finest  moving  picture  theaters  in  the  city, 
and  will  cost  from  $30,000  to  $40,000. 

The  Dreamland  theater  in  Coplay  has 
been  closed. 

H.  B.  Kester,  owner  of  the  Camera- 
phone  theater,  East  End,  Pittsburg, 
which  was  damaged  by  fire  a  short  time 
ago,  is  having  it  repaired  and  no  ex- 
pense is  being  spared  in  making  the  in- 
terior very  attractive. 

Texas. 

Henry  Putz  was  awarded,  by  the  City 
Park  Board,  the  privilege  of  giving  free 
moving  picture  shows  in  Oak  Lawn  For- 
est and  Fair  Parks,  Dallas,  the  coming 
season  from  May  1  to  September  30. 

With  but  a  few  changes  in  some  of  the 
motion  picture  houses  of  Houston  the 
buildings  are  safe  according  to  Fred  Wil- 
son and  W.  A.  Penninger,  deputy  state 
fire  marshals,  who  recently  inspected 
the  theaters. 

Following  a  ruling  given  January  13 
by  the  city  attorney  the  city  commission 
ordered  an  election  on  Feruary  15,  which 
will  decide  whether  moving  picture 
shows  are  to  remain  open  here  on  Sun- 
day afternoon. 

A  Powers  machine  has  been  installed 
in  the  new  picture  show  in  Cuero. 

Ground  has  been  broken  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  modern  theater  building  in 
Hereford,  which  will  be  used  for  a  mo- 
tion picture  show,  contract  having  been 
let  several  days  ago,  with  contract  for 
delivery  of  the  building  by  April  1. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Texas. 

The  Peoples  theater,  in  Port  Arthur, 
which  was  partially  damaged  by  fire  in 
a  recent  conflagration,  was  reopened 
January  20  after  having  been  extensively 
repaired. 

The  old  Majestic  theater,  in  Galveston, 
reopened  January  23,  under  a  new  man- 
agement. 

The  opera  house  at  Wichita  Falls  is 
now    showing    pictures. 

The  new  Mission  theater  in  Beeville 
has  been  opened. 

Virginia. 

The  Superior  theater,  on  Sixth  street, 
between  Broad  and  Grace,  Richmond, 
has  been  added  to  Jake  Wells'  string  of 
photoplay  houses.  It  has  been  newly 
decorated  and  reopened  as  the  Odeon. 

Amendment  to  charter  of  World  Film 

Corporation,     Richmond,     increasing    its 

capital  stock  from  $3,000,000  to  $6,500,000. 

West  Virginia. 

The  Metropolitan  Investment  Com- 
pany is  planning  to  erect  a  $100,000  mov- 
ing picture  theater  in  the  rear  of  the  Met- 
ropolitan block,  Third  and  State  streets, 
Milwaukee,  next  spring.  The  building, 
which  will  face  State  street,  will  have  a 
large  bowling  alley  and  billiard  hall  in 
the  basement.  Plans  are  for  a  one-story 
building,  50  by  200  feet,  with  a  balcony. 

In  spring  Otto  Bell,  proprietor  of  the 
Royal  theater  in  Sparta,  will  erect  a 
modern  theater  building. 

The  handsome  Fenroy  theater  at  Mar- 
tins Ferry  has  been  opened  to  the  public. 
Entering  the  theater  through  any  one  of 
six  French  doors,  trimmed  with  lace, 
one  is  confronted  with  a  spacious  lobby 
with  terrazza  floor,  wood  finishing  in 
mahogany,  cream  and  buff  walls.  To  the 
left  is  the  cigar  and  candy  shop,  to  the 
right  is  the  check  room  and  in  the  center, 
on  either  side  of  which  are  entrances  to 
the  theater  proper,  is  the  ticket  office. 

The  first  floor  of  the  theater  seats 
approximately  600  persons  and  is  so  ar- 
ranged that  the  steep  descent  gives  a 
perfect  view  of  the  screen  to  everyone. 
The  balcony,  seating  400,  has  comfortable 
seats  upholstered  in  leather.  Wilton 
velvet  carpet  covers  the  back  of  the  the- 
ater. The  draperies  are  in  red  and  ve- 
lour,  while  the  walls  are  wainscoated 
in  Caenstone,  trimmed  with  French  gray, 
old  rose  and  gold.  Sanitary  bubbling 
drinking  fountains  can  be  found  on  either 
side  of  the  theater.  The  projecting  room 
is  entirely  separate  from  the  theater  and 
is  encased  in  concrete  fire  walls.  The 
following  are  the  officers  who  are  inter- 
ested in  the  Fenray:  Albert  Eick  is  the 
president  of  the  company,  with  Arch 
Fallen  secretary.  C.  F.  Neugart  and 
Louis  Eick  are  vice  president  and  treas- 
urer, respectively.  The  board  of  direc- 
tors include  the  officers  and  other  stock- 
holders as  follows:     George  Brokaw,  of 


Vol.  XV,  No.  8. 

East  Liverpool;  Fred  Kurz  and  Ray  Grif- 
fin, of  Barnesville.  Griffin,  who  has  more 
than  local  reputation  in  photoplay  circles, 
is  the  manager. 

The  vestry  of  the  Episcopal  church  of 
the  Intercession,  in  Stevens  Point,  has 
purchased  a  $300  motion  picture  machine 
and  will  give  regular  performances  at  the 
parish  hall  on  Saturdays.  There  will  be 
a  children's  matinee  and  an  evening  per- 
formance. 

Otto  Anders,  manager  of  the  Grand 
theater,  a  moving  picture  house  in  Mil- 
waukee, filed  a  petition  in  bankruptcy  in 
the  federal  court.  The  liabilities  are  $6,- 
521.01  and  the  assets,  $1,900. 


=  PEBFECT  = 
Developing  and  Printing 

On  Regular  or    Non-Inflam    Eastman   Stock 

Send  Today  for  Factory  Description  and  Price  List 

INDUSTRIAL  MOVING  PICTURE  COMPANY 

Watterson  R.  Rothackeb,  President 
223-233  West  Erie  Street  Chicago 


ALLISON  &  HADAWAY 

Manufacturers  of  the 

Panchroma  Twin- Arc  Lamp 


235  FIFTH  AVE. 


NEW  YORK  CITY 


"BUILT  BY  f 
BRAINS' 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  M  inusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  oar  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  New  York 

Houser    Building  19  W.    23rd   St. 

Calgary,  Canada  Chicago 

Grand  Theatre  Bldg.  154  West  Lake  St. 

San   Francisco  Pittsburg 

117-19  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  Ave. 


r  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  Posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
, GOES-  CHICAGO d 


Ihe MOTION PICTURE 


Vol  XV 


CHARLOTTE  BURTON  WITH  AMERICAN 

CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  26,  1916 


No.  9 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  only  ifatnplapr  is  the 
ifljrttfplagtfr  we  manufacture 

And  anything  else  offered  you  as  a  iFfltOplagfr  is  an  imitation  and  fraud.  You 
should  know  that  every  genuine  iFotoplagPr  bears  the  name  iFrjtoplagpr  on  the 
sliding  door  and  on  the  bronze  name  plate. 

The  trade  name  Jflfltaplagpr  is  registered  in  the  U.  S.  Patent  Office  and  is 
legally  applied  exclusively  to  the  instrument  made  and  sold  by  us.  There  is 
only  one  iFotoplager  and  that  is  the  AMERICAN  iFotoplagpr,  the  instrument 
we  manufacture  and  sell  —  the  only  and  original  musical  instrument  for  motion 
picture   houses. 

The  JFrjtrjplagpr  with  its  orchestral  and  beautiful  pipe  organ 
tones  is  expressly  manufactured  for  your  needs.  It  is  also 
equipped  with  all  the  necessary  traps  and  effects  and  may  be 
played  by  hand  or  by  ordinary  player  piano  rolls.  Our  won- 
derful patented  shifting  device  allows  an  instant  change  of 
rolls  to  fit  every  change  in  the  pictures,  giving  appropriate 
music  at  all  times. 

We  warn  you  to  be  careful  and  not  to  consider  any  instrument  offered  you  as 
a   iflfltnrjlagfr    unless    you    are    positive  that   it   is  the  AMERICAN    3fatnplag?r. 

We  would  appreciate  any  information  you  may  send  us 
of  any  effort  of  an  interested  salesman  or  other  person 
who  has  or  is  trying  to  misrepresent  the  facts  to  you 

The  Only  itaoplapr  is  the  AMERICAN  Kfatnplapr 


iting  to   advertisers   please   i 


AMERICAN  PHOTO  PLAYER  COMPANY 

62  West  45th  Street  -  -  New  York  City 

FACTORIES  IN  BERKELEY,  CALIF.,  AND  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


i   MOTOGRAPHY 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  26,  i916 


No.  9 


Film  Tax  Menaces  Industry 


BY  THOMAS  O.  MONK 


SHALL  the  motion  picture  industry  be  burdened 
with  a  heavy  and  permanent  tax  as  a  part  of 
proposed  federal  regulation?  This  question  now 
appears  to  be  the  leading  one  in  connection  with  the 
perfection  of  the  Hughes  bill,  and  with  it  is  involved 
the  question  as  to  the  taxation  of  films  already  on  the 
market. 

Producers,  distributors,  and  others  interested, 
would  do  well  to  point  out  to  the  House  Committee 
on  Education  that  if  it  reports  a  bill  providing  for  cen- 
sorship and  containing  a  provision  to  make  the  motion 
picture  industry  pay  the  bill  for  being  regulated  and 
censored,  it  will  amount  to  distinct  and  specific  dis- 
crimination against  the  youngest  and  most  promising 
of  American  industries. 

The  railroad,  express,  telephone  and  telegraph 
companies  are  not  taxed  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission ;  nor  are  food  and 
drug  manufacturers  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  Bureau 
of  Chemistry  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  which 
administers  the  pure  food  and  drugs  act;  nor  is  the 
beef  packing  industry  taxed  to  support  the  Bureau  of 
Animal  Industry  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
this  bureau  administering  the  meat  inspection  law. 

For  the  present  fiscal  year,  which  ends  June  30, 
next,  Congress  has  appropriated  $4,765,000  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  $1,066,- 
381  for  the  Bureau  of  Chemistry,  and  $2,585,536  for 
the  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry. 

It  has  been  shown  that  compliance  with  laws 
authorizing  Federal  regulation  imposes  considerable 
expense  on  an  industry,  and  the  railroads,  food  and 
drug  manufacturers,  beef  packers,  and  other  minor 
industries  subject  to  Federal  regulation,  have  been  put 
to  large  expenditure.  For  instance,  the  railroads  are 
compelled  to  make  large  expenditures  for  the  printing 
of  railroad  tariffs,  and  for  the  clerical  force  necessary 
to  prepare  them  and  reports  required  by  the  commis- 
sion. 

That  it  will  impose  considerable  expense  on  the 
motion  picture  industry  to  comply  with  the  Hughes 
bill  or  a  similar  measure  if  enacted  into  law,  ^outside 
of  the  tax  proposed  on  films  is  admitted. 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  at  least  1,500,000 
reels  of  film  in  stock  or  in  circulation  in  the  United 
States,  and  that  10,000  additional  ones  are  produced 
each  year. 

A  statement  filed  with  the  committee  by  P.  A. 
Powers  shows  that  the  Universal  Film  Manufacturing 
Company  alone  paid  $40,000  last  year  as  the  result  of 
the   legalized   censorship   of   Ohio   and    Pennsylvania. 


He  estimates  that  the  Hughes  bill  as  originally  drawn 
would  assess  the  motion  picture  industry  at  least 
$1,000,000  per  annum  in  fees.  Mr.  Powers'  figures 
have  made  a  strong  impression  on  members  of  the 
committee. 

Cardinal  Gibbons  has  written  a  letter  to  the  Inter- 
national Reform  Bureau  of  which  Rev.  W.  F.  Crafts 
is  chairman,  stating  among  other  things  that  "films 
and  motion  pictures  have  a  wide,  formative  influence, 
and  hence  I  would  like  to  see  them  instructive  and 
moral,  at  the  same  time  entertaining  and  artistic." 

Hughes  Awaits  Reports 

Chairman  Hughes  is  awaiting  reports  from  New 
York  before  putting  the  finishing  touches  on  his  bill. 
One  report  is  to  be  received  from  the  conference  be- 
tween welfare  workers  and  the  representatives  of  mo- 
tion picture  companies  who  have  announced  them- 
selves as  favoring  regulation,  and  another  is  to  be 
received  from  the  semi-official  emissary  who  was  dele- 
gated to  interview  the  heads  of  motion  picture  com- 
panies and  ascertain  their  views  as  to  amendments 
which  would  make  the  proposed  censorship  measure 
acceptable. 

These  reports  may  clear  up  to  some  extent  the 
two  very  important  features  with  regard  to  films  now 
on  the  market,  in  stock,  and  unreleased,  and  the  license 
fees  or  taxes. 

Dr.  Craft,  Canon  Chase,  and  Howard  C.  Barber, 
and  other  welfare  workers,  are  not  satisfied  that  films 
in  existence  shall  be  disregarded,  and  are  urging  that 
a  provision  of  some  kind  be  inserted  in  the  bill.  They 
have  proposed  the  following : 

That  the  owners  and  lessees  of  motion  picture 
films  which  shall  have  been  exhibited  in  the  United 
States  prior  to  the  approval  of  this  act  shall  not  be  re- 
quired to  secure  interstate  license  for  said  films,  but 
each  shall  furnish  to  the  commission  a  list  of  all  his 
motion  picture  films  that  are  in  circulation  in  interstate 
and  foreign  commerce,  with  a  full  description  of  each, 
which  shall  be  published  for  information  of  the  com- 
mission and  its  assistants;  and  the  commission  may 
require  that  all  such  excepted  films  passing  in  inter- 
state and  foreign  commerce  shall  bear  some  designated 
mark  or  symbol  in  the  title  part  of  the  film  and  some 
durable  tag  on  the  container,  differing  from  the  tag 
on  licensed  films,  by  which  the  agents  of  the  commis- 
sion may  recognize  them  as  entitled  to  the  exemption 
herein  granted:  And  provided,  that  any  film,  old  or 
new,  transported  in  interstate  or  foreign  commerce,  or 
a  copy  thereof,  shall  be  submitted  to  the  commission 
for  inspection  if  the  commission,  on  a  complaint  of 
any  civil  official  or  any  officer  of  a  civic  society,  shall 
so  require;  and  any  film  so  inspected  shall  be  licensed 
or    excluded    from    interstate    and    foreign    commerce 


446 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


upon  the  same  terms  as  films  produced  after  this  act 
takes  effect;  and  provided,  that  any  exempted  motion 
picture  film  may  also  be  inspected  for  license  on  re- 
quest of  the  owner  or  lessee.  The  fact  that  any  film  is 
in  any  state  other  than  the  one  in  which  it  was  pro- 
duced without  a  license  or  certificate  of  exemption 
and  the  required  mark  and  tag  shall  be  prima  facie 
evidence  that  it  has  been  transported  in  interstate  com- 
merce in  violation  of  this  act. 

No  motion  picture  film  which  has  not  been  licensed 
or  exempted  by  the  commission  shall  be  exhibited  in 
any  place  of  amusement  for  pay  or  in  connection  with 
any   business   in   the    District   of   Columbia,    or   in   any 
territory   of  the   United   States,   or  in   any   other  place 
under  complete  jurisdiction  of  the  federal  government. 
As  previously  stated  in  Motography,  it  is  Chair- 
man Hughes'  idea  that  while  it  is  impossible  to  inspect 
or  examine  films  now  in  existence,  both  on  the  market, 
in   stock,   and   unreleased,   he   thinks   the   commission 
ought  to   have   the   power  to   prohibit  the   interstate 
transportation  of  any  especially  or  notably  improper 
or  objectionable  film. 

Regarding  License  Fees 

In  the  original  Hughes  bill  is  a  charge  of  $1  for 
each  film  of  1,000  feet  or  less,  and  50  cents  for  each 
duplicate  of  any  film  which  has  been  licensed.  A 
similar  provision  is  contained  in  the  substitute  offered 
by  the  Avelfare  workers.  In  the  substitute  offered  by 
the  attorneys  representing  the  Paramount  Picture  Cor- 
poration, the  Jesse  L.  Laskey  Feature  Play  Co.,  and 
others,  a  fee  of  $2  was  provided  for  each  1,000  feet  or 
less  of  film,  this  fee  to  cover  all  additional  copies  or 
duplicates  of  the  film  licensed. 

Chairman  Hughes  is  endeavoring  to  fix  fees  which 
will  yield  enough  income  to  make  the  commission  self- 
sustaining.  It  has  been  urged  that  the  fees  as  fixed 
by  him  originally  were  excessive  and  would  prove  a 
heavy  burden  on  the  industry.  It  has  been  shown 
that  a  fee  of  $2  on  each  original  1,000  feet  of  film  will 
not  by  far  yield  revenue  enough  to  support  the  com- 
mission. 

The  following  is  from  the  statement  filed  with 
the  committee  by  P.  A.  Powers : 

the     Universal     Film     Manufacturing 


:upies  the  office 


repi 

Company   of  New   York,   

capital  stock  of  the  company, 

This  corporation  has  been  in  existence  for  four  years.  X' 
organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $2,000,000,  and  took  ove 
business  of  eight  separate  and  distinct  producing  companies 
of    which    was    operated    by    the    writer,    and    all    of    which 


ended  c 


solely   of  producing   i 


of  motion  pictures  under  their  own 
who  sold  and  transferred  their  busi- 
Manufacturing  Company. 

this    company    was    in    the 


■  busi 


United  Stat. 
ing  China  __. 
outside  of  the  United  St: 
foreign  countries.  In  the  United  States 
established  and  acquired  30  distributing  orl 
We  have  found  it  necessary  to  extenc 
operations  of  the  company  to  the  distribut 
in  order  to  give  the  proper  daily  service 
theaters    throughout     the 


to  the  distribution  of  the  films,  both   in  the 

every  country   throughout  the   world,  includ- 

We    are    operating    at    the    present    time 

'    25    branches   in    the    various 


of  the 


,  but 


ested-i 


We 


thi 


for  the  ex 

time    the 
000,000. 

pended    large 


Df   the 
of    n 


>ney 


real 


tories,  etc.,  for  the  production  of  motion  pictures.  In  Los 
Angeles  we  have  acquired  a  tract  of  land  of  approximately  400 
acres,  on  which  we  have  erected  buildings  suitable  for  our 
requirements  at  an  expenditure  of  over  $1,000,000.  Our  studios 
in  California  are  operated  by  a  very  efficient  organization  employ- 
ing as  we  do  upward  of  3,000  persons  for  the  production  of  pictures 
in  Universal  City  alone. 

We  have  recently  erected  at  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.,  studios  and 
laboratories,  and  invested  more  than  $500,000  to  date.  The  pay 
roll  at  Universal  City  amounts  to  $60,000  weeklv,  and  at  Fort 
Lee  $20,000  weekly,  making  a  total  for  pay  roll  alone  of  $80,000 
weekly.  This,  together  with  the  cost  of  production  and  other 
operations,  forces  the  company  to  spend  in  the  making  of  pictures 
upward  of  $125,000  weekly. _  This  does  not  include  expenditures 
in  the  marketing  and  distribution  of  the  goods,  but  simply  the 
manufacturing  and   producing  expenditures. 

We  have  on  hand  and  invested,  according  to  our  latest  inven- 
tory of  November  1,  1915,  in  unreleased  negatives  completed 
readv    for    market    and    for    publication    approximately    $1,500,000. 

I  wish  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  bill  which  is  before  you 
for  consideration  will  place  all  of  these  investments  at  the  mercy 
of  the  commission  which  the  bill  requires  shall  be  appointed  to 
pass  upon  these  productions  which  are  already  made,  and  in  case 
the  comimission  does  not  approve  of  these  productions  and  they  are 
necessarily   a  total  loss.      The  danger  of  this  condition   appalls  the 

committee  their  earnest   consideration  of  these  facts. 

wledge   of   this 


,    order 


vitho 


ginc     i 


all    i 


present  in  the  business. 

We  also  have  on  hand  already  published  and  in  our  various 
distributing  offices  upwards  of  75,000  reels  of  films  which  are  in 
constant  use  in  transit  daily,  and  which,  according  to  your  bill, 
makes  it  obligatory  on  our  part  to  have  each  and  every  reel  of 
film  censored  by  the  proposed  commission.  Our  revenues  are 
derived  from  the  constant  use  of  these  films,  and  aside  from  the 
tax  of  censoring,  which  has  to  be  paid  to  the  commission,  and  the 
express  charges  to  and  from  our  various  offices,  and  which  would 
amount  to  approximately  $150,000  on  the  films  already  published, 
the  additional  loss  which  we  would  suffer  due  to  the  fact  of  having 
all  those  pictures  censored  and  the  loss  of  time  entailed  therein, 
mid    practically    ruin    our    business    and    the    business    of    our 


in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  the  reels 
used  in  these  territories  already  have  been  censored,  and  at  a 
very  great  expense  to  us,  both  in  fees  and.  loss  of  time.  As  stated, 
the  fees  alone  last  year  amounted  to  approximately  $40,000.  The 
loss  of  profits  I  cannot  estimate  at  the  present  time,  but  which 
expenses  and  losses  we  have  just  been  able  to  survive,  but  which 
only  applies  to  the  small  number  of  localities  in  which  official 
censorship  is  in  operation,  but  which,  if  this  bill  is  reported 
favorably  by  your  honorable  body,  will  mean  a  great  increase  in 
official    censorships    throughout    the    country    and    will    practically 


John  Edward  Goodrich,  son  of  set 
teen  in  the  arms  "I  his  mother,  Mrs. 
Wing   money.      Tins   is   the  first   of  a 


branch   /'.   I..   S.   F.._,  depositing  the  Goodrich    bonus   in   his  own    nan  _ 

I 'an    lhinnellan    of   the   Seattie   branch    is   iu-esting   his   profit- 
>  establish   along  the   Pacific  Coast.      His  "home   shop"   is  in   Seattle. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


time  in  precensoring  negatives  before  pub- 
an  added  investment  in  unreleased  nega- 
i  hand— of  $500,000.  This  will  he  caused 
amission   in  reviewing  the  films  due  to  the 


I   am  certain  t 

tat  the   c 

riginator   of  this 

bill   1 

as  not   The 

least 

conception    of   what 

of 

his   kind, 

vhich 

requires  expert  kno 

vlcl.cc    i 

The   producers 
business  if  a   bill   o 

,,iid    ma 

lufacturers    reaiiz 

e  the 

danger  to 

their 

this    !,, 

d   has    the    sancti 

on  of 

this    com.. 

and  even  though  th 

e  bill   is 

defeated  in  the  House 

the  dange 

'ofit 

being    passed    favor 
throughout     the     la 

Will       e„0, 

n_d"    1cm 

lation     througho 

and 

sorship,   and   fron 

wha 

t  the   write 

r  has 

observed,  and  from 

his     ,,;,st 

experiences  there 

nity  people  of  the  1 

■isurc    cl 

keen 

to  interfer 

and 

inject    themselves    i 

nto    a    b 

siness    of   which 

they 

know    but 

eVeofy 

little    and    in   a    gre 

at    many 

The  ^ 


■  visiles 


n.pha- 


:   the 


privilege    of    making    before 

turers  and  producers  of  motion  pictures  in  mis  country  are  not 
adverse  to  regulation  if  your  honorable  body  deems  it  necessary, 
but  they  do  strenuously  object  to  censorship,  and  particularly  the 
censorship  in  the  form  which  this  bill  represents  and  the  conditions 
which   it   entails   upon   the   industry,   and   which   in   my   opinion   will 


3   tho< 


t  pres 


Letter  From  Cardinal  Gibbons 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  written  by  Car- 
dinal Gibbons  to  the  International  Reform  Bureau  of 
which  Dr.  Craft  is  the  head,  the  letter  being  in  reply 
to  one  which  Dr.  Craft  sent  to  the  Cardinal  asking  his 
views  on  the  subject: 

Whatever  will  make  our  American  people  better, 
and  therefore  happier,  I  am,  of  course,  for. 

Films  and  motion  pictures  have  a  wide  formative 
influence,  and  hence  I  should  like  to  see  them  in- 
structive and  moral,  at  the  same  time  entertaining  and 
artistic. 

To  secure  such  we  must  both  try  to  stop  off  the 
flood  of  degrading  pictures  and  appeal  to  our  people 
to  demand  good  films. 

Like  food  for  body  that  the  government  says  must 
be   pure,   like    correspondence   in   our   mails   which   the 
government  again  says  must  be  decent  and  not  obscene, 
so,    too,   the    mental    food,    the    correspondence    that   is 
carried   daily  into   the   minds  and  hearts   of  our  rising 
generation    through   motion   picture    parlors   should   be 
wholesome  and  elevating. 
The    Rev.    Thomas    Dixon,    Jr.,    author    of    "The 
Clansman,"  the  book  upon  which  is  founded  the  Grif- 
fith production  of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  and  who 
is  also  a  classmate  of  President  Woodrow  Wilson,  has 
gone  strongly  and  squarely  on  record  before  the  House 
Committee  on  Education  in  opposition  to  the  establish- 
ment of  federal  censorship  of  motion  pictures.     In  two 
telegrams  that  have  been  made  part  of  the  record  now 
before     the     committee,     Mr.     Dixon,     internationally 
known  as  a  novelist  and  playwright,  advises  the  ad- 
vocates of  federal  censorship  to  "get  rid  of  this  bug- 
aboo,"  asserts   that   censorship  of  motion  pictures   is 
"the  most  dangerous  attack  on  American  liberties  since 
the  foundation  of  the  republic,"  and  describes  the  proj- 
ect for  censorship  as  a  step  backward  into  the  Middle 
Ages,   when    Guttenberg's    invention    of    the    printing 
press  was  greeted  with  the  shout,  "This  shall  not  be." 


Goldburg  Out  of  Ocean  Film 

Jesse  J.  Goldburg,  organizer  and  heretofore  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  Ocean  Film  Cor- 
poration, has  severed  his  connection  with  that  organi- 
zation. His  successor  has  not  been  named,  nor  has 
Mr.  Goldburg  announced  his  plans  for  the  future. 


A  beefsteak  dinner  was  given  by  the  Reel  Fel- 
lows Club  of  Chicago  at  the  club  rooms,  17  North 
Wabash  avenue,  on  the  evening  of  February  16. 


"David  Garrick"  Made  in  Secret 

Formal  announcement  has  been  made  by  the  Pallas 
general  offices  that  the  new  film  starring  Dustin  Farnum 
in  "David  Garrick"  has  been  completed  at  the  Los  An- 
geles studio  where  the  work  has  been  going  on  in  secret, 
not  even  the  general 
offices  knowing  that 
the  play  was  being 
filmed. 

The  work  on  the 
film,  which  is  to  be 
released  on  the  Para- 
mount program,  has 
been  going  on  for 
some  time  but  owing 
to  the  fact  that  con- 
templation  of  its 
filmization  was  evi- 
dent among  other 
producers,  all  public- 
ity was  withheld  until 
the  final  reel  had  been 
finished.  It  is  a  fit- 
ting vehicle  for  Dus- 
tin Farnum  and  he 
fulfills  all  the  expec- 
tations of  the  Pallas 
directors   in  the  part      Dllstin  Farmim  in  Htle  role  of  PaUas  pro. 

made  famous  in  Eng-  duction  of  "David  Garrick." 

land  by  E.  A.  Southern  in  1864. 

George  C.  Boniface  is  given  credit  for  having  pro- 
duced it  for  the  first  time  in  this  country  at  the  Kelly 
and  Leon  theater,  New  York,  1872,  and  in  the  following 
year  it  was  again  presented  by  Tomasso  Salvini  at  the 
Academy  of  Music  and  revived  by  Lawrence  Barrett  in 
1880  and  in  turn  Sir  Charles  Wyndham  starred  in  it  in 
1886,  Bogunie  Davison  in  1888,  Nat  C.  Goodwin  in  1895, 
Harrison  L.  Wolfe  in  1900,  E.  S.  Willard  in  1901  and 
1905  and  William  J.  Kelley  in  1908.  Only  a  month  ago 
the  son  of  the  creator  of  the  title  character  appeared 
in  that  role  at  the  Booth  theater,  New  York  City. 

The  release  of  "David  Garrick"  follows  that  of 
Florence  Rockwell  in  "He  Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife," 
and  both  plays  are  pointed  to  by  the  Pallas  company  as 
being  excellent  examples  of  more  and  more  pretentious 
productions  to  be  made  in  the  future. 


Capt. 


Lambert  Out  of  Mirror 

The  following  statement  comes  from  the  offices 
of  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  at  16  East  42d  street: 

"Captain  Harry  Lambert,  who  has  been  identified 
to  some  extent  with  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  is  no  longer 
connected  with  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  in  any  capacity. 
Action  leading  to  the  retiring  of  Mr.  Lambert  from  the 
organization  was  taken  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of 
directors  and  such  action  was  taken  with  the  approval 
of  each  member..  As  Mr.  Lambert  had,  at  the  time  of 
the  action,  no  official  position  with  the  company,  no 
office  has  been  left  vacant  by  him.  Mr.  Lambert  re- 
signed as  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  some  time  ago,  at  the  same  time 
resigning  as  vice-president." 


"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  the  Selig  Red  Seal  play 
released  through  V.  L.  S.  E.,  is  responsible  for  the  fre- 
quent appearance  of  the  S.  R.  O.  sign  in  the  lobby  of  the 
Ziegfeld  theater  in  Chicago,  where  it  is  now  being  shown. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


SEVEN  REEL  PICKFORD  SHOWN 

"Poor   Little   Peppina"    Opens   in   Chicago   and   New 

York  for  Long  Runs.     Regular  Release  to  Be 

Five  Reels  Only 

BOOKED  for  three  weeks  in  advance  of  regular 
release  "Poor  Little  Peppina,"  the  first  seven-reel 
production  in  which  Mary  Pickford  has  ever  appeared, 
has  opened  at  the  La  Salle  theater,  Chicago,  and  at 
the  same  time  it  is  being  shown  at  the  Broadway 
theater  in  New  York.  This  is  the  first  time,  however, 
since  the  "Eternal  City,"  which  ran  at  the  Astor  The- 
ater in  New  York  for  seven  weeks,  that  a  Famous 
Player  Film  has  been  booked  for  more  than  two  weeks 
in  any  one  theater,  with  the  exception  of  "Carmen," 
which  had  an  equal  record  of  three  weeks  at  Sym- 
phony Hall,  Boston. 

Bookings  for  the  advance  release  have  been  un- 
usually heavy,  even  for  a  Mary  Pickford  production, 
but  the  unusual  length  of  the  film  and  the  popularity 
of  the  star  have  combined  to  bring  about  an  increased 
demand. 

In  the  advance  of  regular  release  the  film  will  be 
seven  reels  in  length,  but  before  its  general  release 
the  film  will  be  cut  down  to  the  customary  five  reels 
in  order  to  best  suit  the  needs  of  the  larger  number 
of  houses.  This  is  being  done  so  that  the  showing  of 
"Poor  Little  Peppina"  will  conform  with  the  regular 
program  and  in  order  that  it  will  not  conflict  with 
other  bookings  already  contracted  for  in  the  way  of 
one  and  two  reel  specials. 

The  cuts  can  be  made  without  any  danger  of  im- 
pairing the  action  itself,  and  it  will  appear  all  the  more 
powerful  and  strong  in  the  abbreviated  form,  accord- 
ing to  those  that  have  charge  of  that  angle  of  the  fea- 
ture. Miss  Pickford  spends  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  in  the  typical  corduroys  and  flannel  shirt  of  an 
Italian  boy  and  also  appears  in  the  uniform  of  a  mes- 
senger. This  is  the  first  production  of  the  Famous 
Players-Mary  Pickford  Company,  in  which  she  has  a 
half  interest. 


honorary  chairman,  is  made  up  of  Commodore  J.  Stuart 
Blackton,  William  A.  Johnston,  John  Wylie,  Mitchell 
Mark,  George  Kleine,  J.  A.  Berst,  W.  W.  Hodkinson, 
Marcus  Loew  and  Adolph  Zukor.  Mayor  Mitchel,  of 
New  York,  has  consented  to  act  on  the  honorary  board 
of  directors. 


Film  Men  to  Raise  $500,000 

A  nation-wide  campaign  and  appeal  to  the  public 
through  the  twenty  thousand  motion  picture  theaters 
of  the  United  States  is  being  planned  in  connection 
with  the  raising  of  a  half  a  million  dollars  for  the 
Actors'  Fund  of  America  by  Samuel  Goldfish,  execu- 
tive head  of  the  John  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Com- 
pany, who  has  charge  of  the  motion  picture  division. 

By  the  very  extent  of  its  scope  and  whirlwind 
methods  it  is  expected  that  a  new  record  can  be  estab- 
lished in  the  history  of  American  benefactions  once  the 
motion  picture  campaign  is  under  way. 

In  its  general  outline  the  motion  picture  campaign 
will  be  conducted  through  the  great  network  of  dis- 
tributing forces  which  are  at  "the  command  of  the 
principal  selling  agencies  of  the  industry.  Literature 
will  be  sent  to  every  exhibitor  in  the  United  States, 
together  with  slides  and  circulars  to  be  used  in  a  con- 
centrated appeal  of  one  or  two  days  in  May  and  "Mo- 
tion Picture  Day  of  the  Actors'  Fund"  is  expected  to 
be  nationally  observed,  and  by  increasing  the  receipts 
of  all  motion  picture  theaters  on  that  day  it  is  the 
scheme  of  the  committee  in  charge  to  exact  a  small 
percentage  of  the  day's  revenue. 

The   committee,  of  which   Thomas  A.   Edison   is 


Fox  Asks  T.  R.  to  Be  Guest 

An  invitation  has  been  extended  to  Theodore 
Roosevelt  by  William  Fox  to  become  the  guest  of  the 
William  Fox  Film  Corporation  at  Kingston,  Jamaica, 
during  the  stay  of  the  former  president  in  the  West 
Indies. 

The  Roosevelt  trip  includes  a  stop  at  Bridgeton, 
Barbadoes,  and  in  case  the  invitation  is  accepted  Mr. 
Fox  will  place  his  private  yacht  "Nemesis"  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Roosevelt  party  to  convey  them  from 
Barbadoes  to  Jamaica  and  return.  Advance  reserva- 
tion of  quarters  have  been  made  at  the  Myrtle  Bank 
Hotel,  Kingston,  at  the  direction  of  Mr.  Fox,  and  Di- 
rector-General Brenon  intends  to  hold  a  great  welcom- 
ing to  be  participated  in  by  the  10,000  or  more  persons 
who  are  working  in  the  new  Annette  Kellerman  pic- 
ture. 

Co-incident  with  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Roosevelt, 
should  he  accept  the  invitation,  some  of  the  largest 
scenes  in  the  new  picture  will  be  made,  and  as  no  such 
scenes  involving  so  many  people  have  ever  been  taken 
before,  it  is  expected  that  the  honor  guest  will  find 
the  work  more  or  less  entertaining.  The  officials  of  the 
colonial  government  have  joined  in  with  Mr.  Fox  in 
extending  the  invitation. 


William  Farnum  in  "Fighting  Blood" 

William  Farnum  is  starred  in  "Fighting  Blood," 
the  new  five-reel  Fox  production,  which  was  released 
on  February  20.  It  is  a  story  of  the  mountains  of  Ken- 
tucky and  was  written  and  directed  by  Oscar  C.  Apfel. 
who  spent  several  months  in  the  wild  regions  of  that  state 
seeking  the  proper  atmosphere  and  the  life  of  the 
native  mountaineers. 

The  story  concerns  itself  with  Lem  Hardy,  the 
character  taken  by  Mr.  Farnum,  who  is  "jobbed"  by  his 
rival  for  the  hand  of  Evie  Colby.  Hardy  is  blamed 
for  the  theft  of  the  pay  roll  of  Henry  Colby's  lumber 
camp  and  on  the  evidence  of  Blake,  the  superintend- 
ent, Hardy's  rival  for  Evie's  hand,  he  is  sent  to  prison. 
Blake  later  marries  the  lumberman's  daughter. 

Upon  his  release  Hardy  becomes  a  minister  and 
his  troubles  begin  anew  when  he  holds  his  first  serv- 
ice. A  gang  of  toughs  interrupt  him  and  the  methods 
be  used  does  not  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  church 
members.  Before  they  can  unfrock  him  he  goes  west. 
In  the  meantime  Blake  has  induced  his  father-in-law 
to  gamble  in  stocks  and  at  the  time  of  Hardy's  release 
they  are  poverty  stricken  and  Blake  has  only  added 
to  Evie's  misery  by  drinking  and  gambling.  They  too 
are  in  the  west. 

Hardy  attempts  to  convert  Red  Dog,  a  mining 
camp,  and  the  miners  attempt  to  break  up  his  meeting. 
The  bully  of  the  camp  orders  him  to  quit.  He  licks 
the  bully,  who  becomes  his  staunch  supporter. 

Dorothy  Bernard,  Fred  Huntley,  Henry  J.  Her- 
bert, H.  A.  Barrows,  Dick  Le  Strange  and  Willard 
Louis  support  Mr.  Farnum  and  the  locations  of  the 
scenes  are  taken  in  the  .Mojave  desert  and  San  Ber- 
nardino mountains. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Anderson  is  Out  of  Essanay 


SPOOR  SOLE  OWNER 


ONE  of  the  most  important  trade 
announcements  made  this 
week  was  the  news  from  the 
Essanay  company  that  G.  M.  An- 
derson, secretary  of  the  organiza- 
tion, had  resigned  from  that  position 
and  that  his  block  of  stock  had  been 
taken  over  by  George  K.  Spoor,  the 
president  of  the  company,  who  now 
becomes  the  sole  owner. 

Mr.  Anderson,  known  to  the 
pictures  as  "Broncho  Billy,"  due  to 
numerous  times  he  has  taken  the 
part  of  the  western  cowboy,  had 
been  connected  with  the  company 
since  its  organization  in  1906,  and 
has,  during  that  time,  been  an  im- 
portant figure  in  the  photodrama. 

Ernest  Maupain,  who  has  been 
one  of  Essanay's  leading  character 
actors  for  the  past  year,  is  starred  in 
the  latest  feature  release  of  that 
company,  "The  Discard,"  which  is 
being  handled  through  V.  L.  S.  E. 
He  plays  opposite  Virginia  Hammond,  the  Frohman 
star,  who  takes  the  leading  feminine  role. 

Maupain  is  exceptionally  well  adapted  to  the  part, 
that  of  a  leader  of  international  swindlers,  and  as 
many  of  the  scenes  take  place  where  Mr.  Maupain  was 
born  and  reared,  he  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  almost 
every  phase  of  Parisian  life.  His  wide  experience  on 
the  stage  has  made  him  an  actor  of  great  talent,  having 
been  leading  man  with  Sarah  Bernhardt,  and  is  a  man 
of  massive  appearance,  being  six  feet  tall. 

His  first  work  with  the  Essanay  Company  was  in 
"The  White  Sister,"  playing  with  Viola  Allen.  Later 
he  appeared  in  "The  Trail  of  the  Man,"  "In  the  Palace 
of  the  King,"  "The  Raven."  "Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse 
Marines,"  "Vultures  of  Society,"  and  many  others  in 
which  he  has  played  the  important  character  roles.  He 
makes  his  appearance  as  a  lead  in  the  new  picture. 

Another  important  release  was  made  by  the  Essa- 
nay Company  when  "The  Bridesmaid's  Secret"  was 
released  on  February  22.  It  deals  with  the  pitfalls 
that  lurk  in  the  path  of  the  innocent  girl  of  small  towns, 
and  is  a  satire  on  the  morals  of  fashionable  young  men, 
who  expect  to  wed  girls  of  impeccable  character. 

The  young  girl  arrives  in  the  city  to  act  as  a 
bridesmaid  for  her  friend  and  finds  no  one  at  the  station 
to  meet  her.  She  is  lured  by  a  man  with  a  cab  who 
promises  to  take  her  to  her  friend's  home  but  takes  her 
to  a  house  where  she  is  locked  in  a  room.  That  evening 
the  bridegroom  is  a  guest  at  a  farewell  bachelor  party 
and  all  become  hilariously  intoxicated. 

The  party  winds  up  at  the  house  where  the  girl  is 
imprisoned  and  staggering  into  the  room  the  bride- 
groom tries  to  catch  her  but  strikes  his  head  and  be- 
comes unconscious.  Unable  to  escape  on  account  of 
the  locked  door  the  girl  is  still  a  prisoner,  and  the  man 
is  horrified  at  the  situation  when  he  comes  to  his 
senses.  He  promises  to  help  her  escape  if  she  promises 
never  to  tell  where  she  saw  him,  and  the  bridegroom 
takes  her  to  the  home  of  his  fiancee,  leaving  her  on  the 


porch.  She  sees  him  on  the  wedding 
night  and  is  horrified  to  learn  that  he 
is  the  man  to  wed  her  friend  and  that 
her  lips  are  sealed  by  her  promise. 
John  Lorenz  takes  the  part  of  the 
bridegroom. 

Production  is  practically  ready 
to  start  on  Essanay's  next  multiple 
reel  feature  to  follow  "The  Discard" 
on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program. 

The  photoplay  is  "The  Havoc," 
in  five  reels,  written  by  H.  S.  Shel- 
don. It  will  be  the  first  photoplay 
to  be  produced  in  Essanay's  new 
studio  which  is  now  practically  com- 
pleted. Essanay's  other  two  studios 
being  tied  up  with  other  produc- 
tions, a  temporary  lighting  system 
has  been  arranged,  work  on  the'  over- 
head crane  lights  still  going  on. 

An    all   star   cast   has   been    en- 
gaged to  appear  in  this  production. 
Gladys  Hanson,  who  has  been  play- 
ing with  Lou  Tellegen,  the  husband 
of  Geraldine  Farrar,  in  "The  Ware  Case,"  on  Broad- 
way, will  take  the  leading  role. 

Miss  Hanson  is  well  known  in  the  Frohman  pro- 
ductions, playing  for  many  years  with  E.  H.  Sothern. 
She  will  be  supported  by  Charles  Dalton  in  the  heavy 
lead  part  and  Bryant  Washburn  as  juvenile  lead. 


PROVES  FULL  LENGTH  THEORY 

"Silas  Marner"  Forces  Theory  of  Edwin  Thanhouser 

That  Natural  Length  Film  Is  Correct.     Mr. 

Freuler  Agrees 

When  it  came  to  the  editing  of  the  new  Thanhouser 
production,  "Silas  Marner,"  the  members  of  that  organi- 
zation found  it  one  of  the  hardest  problems  they  have 
ever  faced  to  attempt  to  slice  seven  reels  down  to  five 
and  still  leave  the  story  intact  in  its  important  details. 
After  having  pondered  over  the  situation  for  some  time 
it  was  decided  to  put  the  matter  up  to  Mr.  Thanhouser 
for  final  decision. 

It  was  arranged  to  show  the  picture  for  him  but 
after  it  had  been  run  off  he  was  of  the  same  opinion 
as  his  editors  and  ordered  that  the  picture  be  run  in 
its  natural  length  of  seven  reels  and  to  prepare  a 
finished  print  of  the  film.  When  it  was  finished  he 
arranged  to  give  an  exhibition  run  of  it  to  the  Mutual 
officials  that  evening,  not  making  any  mention  of  its 
length.  After  they  had  finished  viewing  it  they  con- 
gratulated Mr.  Thanhouser  on  its  uniform  quality. 

When  told  that  it  was  seven  in  place  of  the  usual 
five  reels,  however,  they  were  astounded,  but  could 
offer  no  suggestions  as  to  cutting  without  eliminating 
vital  parts.  It  was  unusual  to  run  a  "master-picture"  in 
more  than  five  reels  but  Mr.  Freuler  was  one  of  the  first 
to  insist  that  the  theory  of  natural  length  had  forced 
its  practice  and  that  "Silas  Marner"  should  be  released 
in  seven  reels.     Mr.  Thanhouser,  as  the  first  exponent 


450 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9- 


of  the  natural  length  policy,  was  well  pleased  with 
the  final  decision. 

"It  is  the  ultimate  film,"  he  said,  "and  the  action 
of  my  confreres  in  the  Mutual  is  highly  flattering. 
'Silas  Marner'  is  almost  a  perfect  picture  in  continuity, 
in  action,  in  setting.  It  bears  a  classic  stamp  entirely 
fitting  it  as  an  appropriate  vehicle  for  Frederick 
Warde.  To  sit  through  seven  reels  is  ofttimes  an 
exacting  task,  but  perhaps  I  might  say  that  the  cast 
in  "Silas  Marner"  is  the  compelling  factor.  It  is  played 
by  the  pick  of  my  entire  company  including  Valkyrien, 
Kathryn  Adams,  Louise  Emerald  Bates,  Ethel  Jewett, 
Edwin  Stanley,  Hector  Dion  and  Morgan  Jones. 

"Only  a  naturally  acted  play  will  stand  the  test 
and  justify  the  natural  length  principle.  I  am  satis- 
fied to  let  this  stand  as  my  ideal  illustration  of  natural 
length  theory.  Already  we  are  feeling  the  ultimate 
success  of  the  film  and  backed  up  with  the  Mutual 
Film  Corporation's  scintillating  advertising  equipment, 
the  outlook  for  a  record-breaking  feature  is  most  en- 
couraging." 


Lucas  Starred  by  Griffith 

Wilfred  Lucas  of  the  Griffith  forces  proves  his 
right  to  stellar  honors  in  the  Triangle-Fine  Arts  play 
"Acquitted,"  in  which  he  appears  as  a  simple,  lovable 
old  bank  clerk.  Now  he  is  cast  for  Macduff  in  the  Sir 
Herbert  Tree  produc- 
tion of  "Macbeth." 
Lucas  is  a  screen  vet- 
eran. He  has  been  in 
pictures  for  eight 
years.  And  he  was  on 
the  brink  of  theatrical 
stardom  when  he 
made  the,  at  the  time, 
momentous  break. 

It  was  D.  W. 
Griffith  who  did  it. 
The  two  men  had 
been  friends  in  pre- 
vious stage  days. 
Griffith  had  had  his 
first  chance  to  direct 
a  photoplay  and,  to 
the  amazement  of 
his  superiors  of  the 
Biograph,  it  created 
something  close  to  a 
sensation,  as  motion 
picture  sensations 
went  in  those  primitive  times.  So  Griffith  was  to  be 
allowed  to  try  his  hand  at  a  second  picture. 

There  were  two  things  that  he  wanted  for  that 
picture,  both  then  unknown  to  the  photoplay  and  both 
hard  to  get.  He  wanted  an  allowance  of  time  for  re- 
hearsal for  his  play  before  photographiing  it,  and  he 
wanted  a  real  leading  man — an  actor  of  the  first  rank. 
But  in  those  days  actors  of  any  worthy  rank 
fought  shy  of  screen  work.  In  the  first  place  the  sal- 
aries were  pitifully  small,  and  in  the  second  place  it 
wasn't  considered  dignified.  For  a  long  time  after  the 
studios  began  drawing  on  the  stage  for  talent,  players 
who  had  succumbed  went  to  their  work  by  devious 
routes  and  fibbed  to  their  friends  on  Broadway. 

Griffith,  filled  with  his  dream  of  a  new  sort  of 
motion  picture — a  screen  play  that  no  actor  need  be 
ashamed  to  appear  in,  remembered  his  old  friend  Lucas 


Wilfred 


"Macduff." 


and  went  after  him.  It  was  summer,  Lucas  was  on 
vacation.  Here  was  a  chance  to  make  a  little  extra 
pocket  money,  and  Lucas  was  signed. 

Wilfred  Lucas  helped  to  do  something  disturbing 
to  pictures  right  at  the  beginning  of  their  serious  his- 
tory, and  he  has  been  in  and  out  of  them  ever  since 
— but  chiefly  in,  and  chiefly  in  Griffith  plays.  He  has 
been  a  director,  too — was  a  successful  stage  director 
before  the  Biograph  experiment — and  has  run  a  studio. 

When  the  work  of  making  Triangle  plays  began 
Lucas  was  in  his  old  place  as  a  Griffith  leading  man. 

Lucas  is  a  Canadian  by  birth  and  a  good  deal  of 
a  wanderer  by  preference.  He  was  educated  at  Mc- 
Gill  University,  Montreal,  has  prospected  in  British 
Columbia,  sung  in  opera  from  San  Diego  to  Bangor, 
and  had  many  a  good  part  on  Broadway,  directed  his 
oavu  companies  and  studied  mining  engineering. 


NEW  FILM  COMPANY  FORMED 

Monmouth    Film    Corporation    Gets    Papers    in    New 

Jersey — Incorporated  for  $2,500,000 — Plan 

Big  Plant  in  East 

A  new  film  company  has  been  incorporated  in  New 
Jersey.  The  papers  were  issued  to  the  Monmouth 
Film  Corporation  at  Camden,  N.  J.,  to  lease,  manu- 
facture, sell  and  produce  motion  pictures.  The  new 
compafiy  will  have  capital  stock  of  $2,500,000  and  the 
incorporators  are  J.  Disbrow  Baker,  secretary  of  the 
Corporation  Trust  Company  of  New  Jersey ;  Leighton 
P.  Stradley  and  J.  Stanley  Saverman,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  new  corporation  will  build  a  plant  on  a  big 
scale  and  will  model  its  place  after  Universal  City, 
Cal.,  the  present  plans  including  the  erection  of  homes  ■ 
for  the  employees  and  performers  of  the  company. 
As  yet  no  location  has  been  announced  but  a  large 
area  of  ground  will  be  given  over  to  scenic  parapher- 
nalia necessary  to  produce  mammoth  films. 

According  to  a  statement  made  by  the  incorpora- 
tors, the  company  is  not  allied  with  any  company  now 
doing  business  and  is  expected  to  be  a  competitor  of 
the  largest  producers  of  films  in  the  world.  Van  Horn 
&  Son,  theatrical  costumers  of  Philadelphia,  are  prin- 
cipals in  the  launching  of  the  new  venture  and  have 
secured  the  co-operation  of  some  of  the  best  executive 
talent  in  that  city  to  make  the  venture  a  success. 


Serial  Now  Eight-Reel  Feature 

The  revival  of  "The  Adventures  of  Kathlyn"  as  an 
eight-reel  feature  took  place  February  19,  at  the  Fine 
Arts  Theater,  Chicago,  where  the  Selig  serial  was 
presented  for  the  first  time  as  a  complete  story.  As 
the  first  motion  picture  serial  the  putting  of  the  various 
parts  together  as  an  eight-reeler  is  an  innovation  of 
some  importance  and  adds  value  to  the  serial  after  it 
has  had  its  day  as.  such. 

Elaborate  plans  were  made  for  the  new  eight-reel 
feature  and  an  orchestra  of  thirty-five  furnished  music 
of  special  selection  and  the  ushers  were  dressed  in  the 
garb  of  the  Hindoo  with  appropriate  decorations  being 
used  on  the  exterior  and  interior  of  the  theater. 


J.  K.  Burger  announces  he  has  resigned  from  Pathe. 
Burger's  experience  for  the  last  four  years  has  been  of  a 
broad  scope,  he  having  been  connected  with  the  old 
Mutual  organization,  the  World  Special  Film  Corpora- 
tion, before  going  with  Pathe. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Opening  a  New  Theater 


BY  S.  L.  ROTHAPFEL 


IT  SEEMS  to  me  that  all  my  life 
I  have  been  starting  something. 
My  ambition  always  has  been  to 
be  the  originator  of  something 
worth  while  to  my  fellows.  If  I  have 
succeeded  then  I  am  happy.  If  I  can 
inspire  some  others  to  the  same  or 
even  greater  success  than  I  have  at- 
tained myself,  I  shall  be  happier. 
This  is  not  going  to  be  the  story  of 
my  life  but  it  is  one  of  the  first  that 
I  will  write  in  an  effort  to  help  the 
young  man  who  realizes  that  his 
future  is  in  the  exploitation  of  mo- 
tion pictures,  and  also  to  encourage 
those  who  have  given  up  the  old 
showmanship  for  the  new.  It  is 
written  chiefly  for  the  man  who  be- 
lieves in  himself  as  I  believe  in  my- 
self for  there  are  no  others  worth 
talking  to  or  writing  to.  It  is  writ- 
ten for  the  man  who  is,  or  desires 
to  be  a  big  man  in  his  city,  his  neigh- 
borhood or  his  small  town. 

Are  you  giving  your  patrons  the  best  there  is  in 
you  ?    Are  you  giving  them  what  they  deserve  ? 

These  two  questions  are  of  great  importance.  Per- 
haps you  started  in  the  motion  picture  theater  busi- 
ness in  the  old  store  days.  Perhaps  you  were  an  old 
showman  when  pictures  were  born.  Perhaps  you  are 
a  young  man 'still  and  were  enthused  by  the  click  of 
the  nickels.  Are  you  still  a  nickel  exhibitor?  Are 
you  giving  your  patrons  a  show  or  are  you  still  just 
showing  them  pictures? 

There  are  hundreds  of  questions  that  I  might  ask 
you  but  in  view  of  the  fact  that  you  already  have 
started  to  ask  me  for  information  and  that  more  of  you 
are  likely  to  continue  to  ask  me  questions,  I  will  save 
a  few  of  mine  until  later. 

First  let  me  state  that  I  don't  want  to  be  put  in 
the  position  of  one  who  believes  in  himself  to  the 
point  of  considering  himself  and  his  views  supreme 
or  even  superior.  I  have  simply  been  a  student  of  the 
public.  I  am  of  the  public,  as  every  theatrical  man 
should  be.  You  notice  I  do  not  say  "as  every  exhibitor 
should  be."  Please  leave  that  word  out  of  your  vo- 
cabulary for  a  while,  for  you  should  be  showmen.  You 
have  as  great,  if  not  a  greater  opportunity  than  ever 
was  offered  the  sponsors  for  the  speaking  stage.  And 
you  have  a  greater  task.  For  in  the  old  days  and 
even  in  the  present  days  of  the  stage,  the  play  is  either 
a  success  or  a  failure.  If  it  is  a  success,  it  runs  on 
and  on  with  little  or  no  worry  for  a  season  or  more. 
If  it  is  a  failure  another  and  another  takes  its  place 
until  a  success  is  found  to  make  the  run. 

But  you  of  the  motion  picture  theater  must  find 
success  after  success  to  hold  your  patronage.  For  those 
who  attend  the  motion  picture  houses  are  becoming 
more  and  more  exacting.  They  are  now  of  the  class 
demanding  more  than  a  film.  The  film  must  be  staged. 
The  projection  must  be  perfect.  The  music  must  be 
of  the  best  and  attuned  to  the  silent  play.  The  theater 
must  be  clean  and  more  attractive  even  than  the  the- 


Rothaffcl. 


ater  into  which  the  road  companies 
have  been  booked.  The  air  must  be 
clean.  The  lights  must  not  annoy. 
There  must  be  nothing  to  aggravate. 
For  you  are  dependent  upon  the 
same  persons  every  day  unless  you 
are  in  the  heart  of  a  great  city  or 
in  a  shopping  district.  And  even 
then  you  had  best  look  to  the  fu- 
ture of  your  house  and  make  it  right, 
NOW. 

These  are  suggestions  simply. 
They  are  written  as  a  warning  to 
the  self-satisfied  and  careless.  They 
are  only  little  pages  from  the  book 
of  experience.  And  they  are  a  pref- 
ace to  what  I  Avant  to  say  regarding 
the  opening  of  a  new  theater. 

Ever  since  I  was  called  upon  to 
present  my  ideas  in  the  Strand  the- 
ater, New  York  city,  I  have  been 
studying  results.  Recently  it  fell  to 
my  lot  to  put  the  Triangle  films  on 
the  map  at  the  Knickerbocker  the- 
ater in  the  same  city.  In  both  houses  the  public 
seemed  to  appreciate  to  capacity  point  my  efforts  to 
please.  Now  I  am  about  to  open  the  Colonial  theater 
in  Chicago  with  Triangle  programs.  This  house  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  theaters  in  the  world.  It 
was  there  that  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  played  to  rec- 
ord-breaking business  for  so  long.  I  have  a  wonder- 
ful opportunity.  And  so  have  you,  Mr.  Exhibitor,  if 
you  will  have  your  name  legally  changed  to  Mr.  Show- 
man or  Mr.  Theater  Man  as  the  first  step. 

You  may  be  running  a  motion  picture  house  now 
and  you  may  be  making  money.  But  are  you  running 
a  theater?  Are  you  giving  your  people  a  show?  Do 
you  want  to? 

Now  in  your  own  community  you  can  be  a  big 
man.  You  are  known  to  every  person  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, or  you  should  be.  The  young  folks  are  grow- 
ing up  and  some  day  they  will  point  to  you  as  the 
Frohman  of  their  early  days — unless  you  are  satisfied 
to  go  along  in  your  own  sweet  way  until  some  more 
live  theater  man  forces  you  to  pocket  your  profits  or 
losses  and  sell  out. 

That  doesn't  need  to  happen,  however.  You  may 
think  that  this  is  all  very  well  for  me  to  talk  of. 
"He  is  managing  two  great  theaters  and  building  the 
Rialto  in  New  York  with  the  support  of  capital  and 
the  confidence  of  great  men  in  the  business.  He  should 
tell  me  what  to  do.  He  should  say  that  I  should 
branch  out  and  build  a  big  theater  or  buy  one  or  lease 
one  and  close  up  the  little  house  that  has  been  making 
a  living  for  myself  and  my  family  all  these  years." 

Those  are  some  of  the  things  you  have  been  say- 
ing to  yourself  as  you  have  been  reading  this.  And 
in  thinking  them  you  have  hit  the  nail  on  the  head. 
In  the  early  days  of  the  business  you  couldn't 
get  the  support  of  big  men  in  your  community  because 
they  had  little  confidence  in  the  future  of  pictures. 
They  thought  the  business  was  a  craze  and  that  soon 
it  would  die.    They  wouldn't  gamble  with  you  to  the 


452 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


extent  of  financing  you.  And  you  lacked  confidence 
yourself.  You  didn't  think  it  would  last  but  you 
wanted  to  get  yours  "while  the  getting  was 
good."  Then  you  would  go  back  into  the  butcher 
business  or  whatever  you  were  in  before  you  converted 
your  store  into  a  "picture  house." 

But  the  business  did  last  and  many  of  you  were 
left  behind.  Meantime  the  banker  in  your  town  real- 
ized the  importance  of  this  fifth  industry  and  invested 
money  in  the  manufacturing  companies.  Have  you 
given  him  an  opportunity  to  put  his  money  where  he 
can  watch  it  grow?  Have  you  gone  to  him  and  sug- 
gested the  building  of  a  theater  or  a  theater-office 
building  or  a  theater-hotel  on  the  main  street  of  your 
town  ?  Ask  him  about  it.  Ask  him  if  he  doesn't  think 
he  should  keep  his  money  at  home.  Ask  him  if  he 
doesn't  think  that  he  and  you  should  get  into  this 
business  in  the  right  way  before  some  outsider  with 
little  but  conversation  arrives  and  talks  him  into  loan- 
ing enough  money  to  put  up  a  theater  and  present  a 
show  that  will  put  you  out  of  business  in  your  own 
home  town. 

The  money  is  there  for  you.  You  have  a  substan- 
tial balance  yourself.  You  are  entitled  to  as-  much 
consideration  as  any  other  depositor.  The  building 
of  your  house  will  give  your  fellow  citizens  employ- 
ment. The  new  building  will  improve  the  property 
around  it.  You  will  be  able  to  give  your  people  a 
show  and  they  will  be  glad  to  pay  for  it. 

All  of  us  are  human.  All  of  us  like  nice  things. 
You  are  getting  people  into  your  house  because  they 
have  no  other  place  in  which  to  see  pictures.  And 
they  want  to  see  them.  All  of  us  love  music.  All 
of  us  love  comfort  and  rest  after  toil.  You  have  a  won- 
derful opportunity,  Mr.  Theater  Man.  Many  of  you 
have  improved  it.  All  over  the  country  new  houses 
are  brightening  the  streets. 

Your  opportunity  is  here  if  you  haven't  grasped 
or  waited  just  a  bit  too  long.  If  already  some  one  has 
not  built  or  contracted  to  build  an  opposition  house, 
get  busy.  The  field  is  yours  by  right  of  discovery  and 
work.  Don't  lose  it.  Study  your  people  and  give 
them  what  they  want. 

In  next  week's  issue  of  Motography  I  will  tell 
you  of  the  opening  of  the  Colonial  theater  in  Chicago. 
If  you  can  profit  by  any  of  the  things  I  have  learned 
by  pleasant  and  bitter  experience,  take  them  and  im- 
prove on  them.  Write  and  tell  me  what  you  are  doing. 
Call  upon  me  at  any  time  for  suggestions.  Let  me 
help  you  if  I  can  but  don't  hesitate  to  reciprocate.  I 
am  not  perfection  by  any  means  and  I  need  your  help. 
If  we  work  together  we  can  force  people  to  realize 
that  it  is  unfair  to  call  this  a  "game."  It  is  not  a 
*'game"  nor  is  it  altogether  a  cold-blooded  business. 
It  is  ART  with  all  the  letters  capitalized,  and  until 
all  of  us  realize  this  we  will  not  get  the  full  measure 
of  success  out  of  it.  Let  us  work  together  for  the 
betterment  of  this  newer  drama  and  its  older  sisters, 
Poetry  and  Music. 

Editor's  Note — Mr.  Rothapfcl  is  a  busy  man.  You,  whom 
he  is  addressing,  are  busy  men.  But  it  is  the  belief  of  Motography 
thai  1/ 1 '-.  Rothapfcl  and  you  can  profit  by  this  interchange  of  ideas. 
And  none  of  you  can  be  so  busy  that  you  can  neglect  an,  oppor- 
tunity to  better  yourselves  for  the  advancement  of  the  industry 
you  already  have  helped  to  force  lo  the  front.  Address  all  ques- 
tions and  suggestions  to  Mr.  Rothapfcl,  care  of  Motography. 


Edgar  Lewis,  villi  megaphone,  is  here  shown 
.„  is  driving  this  ear  (ruin  Detroit,  Mich,,  to 
U.rie  Highway."  Mr.  Lewis  was  directing  .1 
ires  of  St.  John,"  Gaitmont-ilutital  " M asterpo 
].en   he  was  requested  to  sit  for   this  picture. 


BOOKS  "NE'ER-DO-WELL"  DIRECT 


John  Felix  Leonard  advises  Motography  he  is  out 
of  the  film  business.  He  resigned  from  the  Edison  com- 
pany recently. 


Sol  Lesser  to  Handle  All  Territory  on  Selig  Ten-Reel 

Production  of  Rex  Beach's  Popular  Story  of 

Panama  Canal 

Announcement  comes  from  the  New  York  offices 
of  Sol  Lesser  to  the  effect  that  he  will  book  his  ten- 
reel  masterpiece,  "The  Ne'er-Do-Well,"  to  the  theaters 
direct,  instead  of  selling  territories  on  it,  as  is  the  usual 
plan  with  such  productions.  Its  predecessor,  "The 
Spoilers,"  was  handled  in  this  manner. 

The  picture  has  long  been  awaited  in  the  trade, 
and  the  numerous  offers  for  bookings  already  received 
by  Mr.  Lesser  give  evidence  of  the  interest  which 
the  news  of  its  release  has  aroused.  It  is  intended  to 
place  the  film  in  big  theaters  throughout  the  country 
after  the  manner  of  the  early  presentation  of  "The 
Birth  of  a  Nation."  Its  New  York  home  will  be  an- 
nounced soon.  It  is  understood  that  negotiations  with 
several  large  theaters  there  are  under  way. 

About  ten  prints  or  companies  will  be  sent  out  at 
the  start.  The  minimum  for  the  "Ne'er-Do-Well's" 
run  is  one  week.  Being  a  production  of  cumulative 
value,  it  should  be  an  even  better  drawing  card  its 
second  week  than  its  first.  The  music  score  has  been 
arranged  by  one  alive  to  the  opportunities  for  varied 
accompaniment  for  such  a  picture. 

The  Candler  Theater  on  February  10,  housed  the 
largest  attendance  known  to  prerelease  picture  exhi- 
bitions in  New  York.  It  was  at  Sol  Lesser's  invita- 
tion that  people  of  the  trade  gathered  to  see  "The 
Ne'er-Do-Well." 

Among  those  present  were :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rex 
Beach,  Leroy  Scott,  Louis  Joseph  Vance,  Ellis  Parker 
Butler,  Bayard  Kieller,  Mrs.  Ada  Haran.  Margaret 
Wycherly,  Winchell  Smith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sol  Lesser, 
E.  M.  Asher,  Henry  W.  Savage,  James  Montgomery 
Flagg,  Elizabeth  Marbury,  B.  A.  Rolfe,  Frank 
McKee,  Daniel  Frohman,  Charles  Dana  Gibson,  Harry 
Doel  Parker,  William  L.  Sherry,  F.  Ziegfeld,  Jr.,  Junie 
McCree,  Hugh  Ford,  I.  C.  Oes,  Acton  Davies,  Roscoe 
Arbuckle,  Mabel  Normand,  Gustave  Frohman,  Sam 
Grant,  Mitchell  H.  Mark,  C.  E.  Kimball,  H.  O.  Garson, 
Edwin  Owen  Towne,  Harry  Raver,  Jesse  J.  Goldburg, 
William  Fox,  William  Harris,  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady. 
Elsie  DeWolfe,  B.  S.  Moss,  and  Fred  McClellen. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Essanay  Enlarges  Studio 

NEW  BUILDING  COMPLETED 


THE  Essanay  Company  in  Chicago  is  now  moving 
into  its  new  quarters.  The  new  studio  virtually 
is  completed,  and  while  painters  and  electricians 
are  still  hard  at  work  putting  on  the  finishing  touches, 
the  movers  are  changing  offices  from  the  first  studio 
building  to  the  newest,  and  property  men  are  busy 
fitting  up  their  new  department. 

The  new  studio  building  is  350  feet  long  by  175 
wide.  It  forms  a  west  wing  to  the  old  studios,  and 
faces  Argyle  street.  On  the  east  side  of  the  old  build- 
ing there  is  an  extension  for  factory  purposes,  while 
in  the  center  there  is  a  large  rear  portico,  so  that  the 
building  as  it  now  stands  forms  a  perfect  E. 

The  main  entrance,  of  the  offices  will  be  in  the  new 
studio  building.  There  is  a  large  reception  hall  on  the 
first  floor  at  the  entrance,  where  those  who  come  to 
the  office  on  business  will  be  attended  to  and  directed. 
To  the  right  of  the  entrance  is  a  large  carpenter  shop, 
and  back  of  this  is  the  new  studio  extending  back  to 
the  end  of  the  building,  and  said  to  be  the  largest 
indoor  artificially  lighted  studio  in  the  world. 

The  entire  two  stories  of  the  building  are  given 
over  to  the  studio,  with  the  exception  that  on  one  side 
there  is  a  long  gallery  with  50  dressing  rooms  for  men 
players  only.  Just  east  of  the  studio  is  a  large  property 
room  extending  the  full  length  of  the  studio.  Over 
this  there  are  two  new  exhibition  rooms,  gymnasiums 
and  shower  baths  for  the  men.  There  is  a  gallery  that 
connects  the  baths  with  the  dressing  rooms  so  that 
they  are  of  easy  access.  There  is  also  a  large  room  off 
the  gymnasium  for  a  general  lounging  place  for  players 
not  busy  on  the  floor. 

The  front  of  the  building  on  the  second  floor  is 


devoted  to  the  main  offices,  including  that  of  George  K. 
Spoor,  president  of  Essanay,  and  other  officials.  Here 
also  are  the  advertising,  scenario,  and  auditing  depart- 
ments, and  offices  of  the  directors  and  assistants. 

The  advertising  department,  scenario  department, 
offices  of  the  directors,  and  dressing  rooms  of  the  actors 
now  located  on  the  second  floor  of  the  old  building  all 
are  being  moved  into  the  new  building. 

This  entire  wing  of  the  old  building  will  be  given 
over  to  the  women's  department.  Carpenters  already 
have  started  remodeling  and  finishing  it  off  making 
it  more  comfortable,  while  the  office  furniture  is  being 
moved  out.  A  matron  will  be  put  in  charge  with 
several  maids  to  look  after  the  comfort  of  the  actresses. 

The  business  offices  on  the  first  floor  and  which 
now  are  being  moved  to  the  new  building  will  make 
way  for  a  factory  extension. 

The  taking  of  photoplays  already  is  progressing 
in  the  new  studio.  The  sets  are  being  snapped,  how- 
ever, by  temporary  lights,  some  floor  lights,  and  others 
fastened  to  a  scaffolding.  Work  is  going  on  rapidly 
on  the  great  cranes  which  will  carry  the  permanent 
overhead  lights,  switching  them  back  and  forth  from 
one  part  of  the  studio  to  the  other,  as  required  by  the 
various  sets. 

Essanay  having  been  cramped  for  floor  space  for 
its  multiple  reel  features,  all  of  which  require  large  sets, 
it  was  necessary  to  use  temporary  lights  in  order  to 
push  its  plays  to  completion  on  time.  It  is  expected 
that  the  new  lighting  system  will  be  completed  shortly, 
and  that  within  a  month  the  whole  plant  will  be  run- 
ning in  smooth  working  order. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  9. 


Edith  Sterling  Heads  a  Signal  Company 

Edith  Sterling,  who  has  been  playing  stellar  roles 
in  101  Bison  and  Big  U  pictures,  has  been  signed  by 
Signal  (Mutual)  Film  Corporation's  studios  for  its 
dramatic  company.  An  exceptionally  strong  company 
will  be  gathered  for 
Miss  Sterling's  sup- 
port under  the  direc- 
tion of  M  u  r  d  o  c  k 
MacQuarrie,  who  has 
been  pre-eminently 
identified  with  the 
film  industry  almost 
since  its  inception. 
Tn  addition  to  win- 
ning fame  as  a  di- 
rector, Mr.  Mac- 
Quarrie has  scored 
many  character  hits 
both  in  pictures  and 
on  the  speaking 
stage.  One  of  his 
biggest  successes 
was  playing  the  dual 
role  of  "Dr.  Jekyll 
and  Mr.  Hyde"  at 
the  New  York  the- 
ater, on  Broadway, 
for  a  run  of  twenty- 
two  weeks.  He  comes  to  Signal  from  the  Universal, 
where  in  the  last  eighteen  months  he  has  produced 
eighty-eight  thousand  feet  of  dramatic  features.  In 
the  supporting  company  will  be  Mildred  Wilson,  Nor- 
bert  Wyles  and  Francis  J.  McDonald.  The  first  pic- 
ture which  will  be  a  multiple-reel  feature  will  have  in 
it  the  throb  of  a  big  city  dealing  as  it  will  with  prob- 
lems created  by  congested  and  struggling  humanity, 
graft,  reform  and  men  higher  up ;  around  the  activities 
of  whom  will  be  woven  a  story  of  love,  with  good 
"punch  moral"  as  a  climax. 


^0^^_ . 

I                '■ 

•Mb-   • 

m 

Hawaiian  drama.  "A  Bird  of  Paradise."  The  point 
brought  up  by  the  counsel  for  the  film  producers  was 
that  there  was  "a  misjoinder  of  the  parties'  plaintiff" 
and  a  failure  to  produce  a  copy  of  the  copyrighted  play 
owned  by  Tully. 

It  was  pointed  out  to  the  court  that  in  the  con- 
tract between  Mr.  Tully  and  the  Espladian  Producing 
Corporation,  Tully  reserved  all  rights,  including  mov- 
ing picture  rights,  when  he  gave  the  producing  com- 
pany a  contract  to  produce  the  play  and  that  therefore 
the  co-plaintiff,  the  Espladian  Producing  Corporation, 
had  no  interest  in  the  matter.  The  court,  however, 
gave  Mr.  Tully  permission  to  amend  his  bill  and  it 
will  come  up  later  on  its  merits. 


Capitol  Scenes  in  New  Film 

The  permission  of  President  Wilson  was  needed 
before  the  proper  exterior  locations  could  be  obtained 
for  the  new  feature  of  the  Ivan  Film  Productions. 
Inc..  "The  Immortal  Flame,"  which  is  to  be  released 
in  the  near  future.  Certain  scenes  required  Washing- 
ton settings  and  in  order  to  use  the  buildings  that 
house  the  administrative  departments  the  consent  of 
the  President  was  necessary. 

After  this  was  finally  obtained  through  Secretary 
Tumulty  the  entire  company  was  transported  to  the 
Capitol.  In  order  to  accompany  the  rest  of  the  cast, 
however.  Miss  Maude  Fealy,  the  star,  was  forced  to 
cancel  a  vaudeville  contract  on  the  Keith  circuit, 
where  she  was  billed  as  a  headliner.  Among  the  others 
in  the  cast  who  went  on  the  trip  to  Washington  were 
Paula  Shay,  Edna  Luby,  Joseph  Burke  and  James 
Cooley. 

As  was  the  case  in  the  production  of  the  last  pro- 
duction of  the  Ivan  company,  "A  Fool's  Paradise," 
where  the  whole  of  Atlantic  City  was  shown  from 
the  board  walk,  a  panoramic  view  of  the  Capitol  will 
be  shown  in  the  coming  production,  including  all  of 
the  executive  buildings. 


Claridge  Announces  Features 

The  first  release  of  the  Claridge  Films,  Inc.,  under 
the  new  state  rights  plan  of  Agnes  Egan  Cobb,  vice-pres- 
ident and  general  manager  of  the  organization,  will  be 
"The  Heart  of  New  York,"  which  features  Robert  T. 
Haines  in  a  sequel  to  "Traffic  in  Souls."  Both  plays  were 
written  and  produced  by  Walter  McNamara  and  like  the 
first  one  it  deals  with  the  moral  problem.  Another  release 
announced  by  this  company  is  entitled  "The  Birth  of 
Character,"  featuring  William  Courtleigh,  the  star  of 
"Neal  of  the  Navy."  This  will  also  be  released  under  the 
state  rights  plan.  It  is  announced  by  Mrs.  Cobb  that 
it  will  be  the  policy  of  the  Claridge  Films,  Inc.,  to  release 
one  feature  a  month. 


New  Knickerbocker  News  Service 

Another  Rothapfel  innovation  has  been  put  into 
effect  at  the  Knickerbocker  Theater  in  New  York  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  up-to-the-minute  news  service 
for  the  exclusive  use  of  that  theater.  An  automobile 
loaded  with  motion  picture  apparatus,  flash  lights,  etc., 
stands  in  front  of  the  theater  and  as  a  tip  comes  in 
of  unusual  news  interest,  a  squad  of  camera  men  dash 
for  the  scene  in  quest  of  pictures.  In  twenty-four 
hours  they  are  shown  on  the  screen  of  the  Knicker- 
bocker theater  as  a  surprise  to  the  patrons.  The  work 
is  in  charge  of  H.  S.  Martin,  an  expert  motion  picture 
man  and  formerly  connected  with  the  New  York 
Evening  Sun. 


Richard  Tully  Loses  First  Suit 

The  suit  brought  by  Richard  Walter  Tully,  author 
of  "A  Bird  of  Paradise,"  and  the  Espladian  Producing 
Corporation,  against  the  Triangle  company,  the  New 
York  Motion  Picture  Company  and  Producer  Thomas 
H.  Ince,  was  dismissed  by  Judge  Julius  M.  Mayer  of 
the  United  States  District  Court  on  a  technical  point 
raised  by  the  attorney  for  the  defense. 

Mr.  Tully  claims  that  in  producing  the  film, 
"Aloha   Oe,"    the    defendants    were    infringing   mi    his 


Kisses  Herself  on  Screen 

In  "The  Twin  Triangle,"  a  forthcoming  Balboa  pro- 
duction, Jackie  Saunders,  in  a  dual  role,  kisses  herself. 
This  is  one  of  several  novel  effects  of  double  exposure 
which  Joseph  Brotherton,  camera-man.  has  accomplished. 
William  Conklin  plays  opposite  Miss  Saunders  and  1  Tarry 
Harvey  directs  the  play.  "The  Twin  Triangle"  lias  been 
selected  for  release  on  the  Equitable  program,  the  second 
Balboa  chosen  by  the  Equitable  in  the  last  few  months. 
The  first  was.  "Should  a  Wife  Forgive?"  with  Lillian 
Lorraine  and   1  lenrv  King. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Electric  Light  Bills 

LESSONS  FOR  EXHIBITORS* 


EVERY  exhibitor  should 
know  what  "maximum  de- 
mand" means  in  his  the- 
ater, even  though  the  maxmeter 
is  there  to  tell  him  the  proper 
figure.  It  is  not  at  all  hard  to 
calculate.     Take  it  like  this : 

If  you  use  "tungsten"  or 
"Mazda"  incandescent  lamps 
each  lamp  is  marked  with  its 
proper  number  of  watts  on  a 
little  label  pasted  on  the  glass. 
You  can  easily  count  them  up 
and  add  them  together.  Every 
1,000  watts  is  one  kilowatt. 

For    instance,    if   you    have 
100    15-watt  lamps  (1,500  watts). 
45    40- watt  lamps  (1,800  watts). 
12  100- watt  lamps  (1,200  watts). 


4,500  watts, 
you  have  Ay2  kilowatts. 

Find  out,  if  you  don't  hap- 
pen to  know  already,  just  what 
your  arc  consumes.  We  will 
say   it   takes    19   amperes    at    the 

main  circuit — not  after  the  current  has  gone  through 
some  sort  of  compensating  device.  Since  you  are 
probably  on  a  110  volt  circuit  (which  is  practically 
standard)  the  arc  accounts  for  2,090  watts  more,  or 
about  2  kilowatts.  Add  that  to  your  lighting  juice,  and 
you  have  a  total  capacity  of  6y2  kilowatts.  That  is 
your  "maximum  demand,"  because  that  is  what  you 
use  when  everything  is  going  at  once. 

(In  your  figuring,  if  you  use  the  old-style  carbon 
filament  incandescent  lamps  instead  of  tungsten — 
which  you  won't  if  you  care  for  economy — you  can 
allow  about  50  watts  for  every  16  candle-power  lamp — 
smaller  ones  in  proportion.) 

In  the  example  we  have  just  given,  with  your 
maximum  at  6j4  kilowatts,  you  should  be  charged  the 
primary  rate  on  less  than  195  kilowatt-hours — that 
is,  on  a  monthly  bill.  Because  30  (hours)  times  6V2 
equals  195.  AA^e  have  already  said  that  your  primary 
rate  includes  30  hours'  use  a  month. 

Suppose  you  use  electricity  for  5  hours  or  more 
each  evening.  Your  outside  lights  are  turned  on  con- 
tinuously. Most  of  your  inside  lights  are  on  only 
during  intermissions.  Your  arc  is  on  most  of  the  time 
but  probably  not  during  intermission.  Altogether  it 
is  safe  to  say  you  use  nearly  your  maximum  capacity 
for  5  hours  a  night,  or  150  hours  a  month,  and  that 
allowing  for  inside  lights  turned  off  while  the  arc  was 
going,  the  maxmeter  would  show  180  kilowatt-hours. 

Having  this  information,  you  can  easily  figure  in 
advance  how  much  your  juice  is  going  to  cost.  The 
way  it  works  out  shows  in  Fig.  1  ;  assuming,  of  course, 
that  you  pay  12  cents  a  kilowatt-hour  primary  rate 
and  7  cents  a  kilowatt-hour  secondary  rate.  You  may 
pay  more  or  less  than  this — it  doesn't  matter.  We  are 
only  doing  a  school  example  in  arithmetic  now. 

Take  a  look  now  at  a  bill  for  a  week  instead  of  a 


The  motion  picture  theater,  as  a  class, 
is  an  extremely  large  user  of  electricity. 
Those  who  have  never  thought  about  it 
will  be  surprised  to  realize  that  the 
amount  of  money  spent  in  this  business 
for  electric  current  ranks  next  in  size  to 
film  service.  That  being  the  case,  it  is 
obviously  important  that  the  exhibitor 
know  something  about  the  money  he 
spends  for  "juice"  and  be  able  to  detect  an 
overcharge.  This  is  especially  vital  since 
an  overcharge  that  is  repeated  week  in 
and  week  out — that  is,  in  fact,  a  regular 
institution — means  the  loss  of  thousands 
of  dollars  a  year  to  the  industry.  Because 
the  exhibitor  is  primarily  a  showman,  he 
knows  all  about  films  and  film  service 
and  film  values.  But  he  is  more  than  that. 
He  is  also  an  employer  and  a  buyer.  The 
money  that  goes  for  payroll  and  for 
house  rent  and  for  electric  current  is  the 
same  kind  of  money  that  goes  for  film 
service,  and  just  as  important.  A  man 
need  not  be  an  electrician  to  understand 
electric  light  bills;  and  that  it  is  quite 
important  that  he  should  understand 
them  is  revealed  in  this  article. 


month.      This    is    for    the    same 
house,  in  Fig.  2. 

AA'hat's  wrong  with  it? 
Something  is,  decidedly;  and  if 
you  are  clever  you  have  already 
discovered  the  bug.  The  total 
consumption — 210 — is  all  right; 
for  there  are  4^  weekks  in  a 
month,  and  4^  times  210  is  900, 
very  nearly,  and  that  was  our 
monthly  bill. 

Yet  4}i  times  $23.70  equals 
$102.70;  whereas  our  monthly 
bill  was  only  $72.00.  By  paying 
such  a  bill  weekly  instead  of 
monthly  you  would  be  over- 
charged $30.70  a  month,  or 
$368.40  a  year.  That  would  pay 
interest  on  $6,000.00. 

The  mistake  is  very  plain 
when  you  take  another  look  at 
the  last  bill  (Fig.  2).  Of  course, 
on  a  weekly  bill  it  should  say 
"First  7  hours'  use  of  maxi- 
mum," instead  of  "First  30 
hours."  Examine  your  bills  and  see  if  they  read  that 
way.    Fig.  3  is  the  way  the  same  bill  should  read. 

Of  course  that  is  pretty  clumsy,  and  easily  discov- 
ered.    But  we  are  giving  you  an  extreme   case.      In 


Total  consumption  in  kilowatt  hours 900 

First  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

180  kilowatt  hours  @  12c $21.60 

Excess  over  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

720  kilowatt  hours  @  7c 50.40 

$72.00 


real  life  the  discrepancy  would  probably  be  much  more 
refined  and  harder  to  discover.  For  instance,  suppose 
you  use  current  only  four  hours  a  night.  Then  a  week- 
ly bill  couldn't  read  "First  30  hours'  use  of  maxi- 
mum," because  at  4  hours  a  day  you  only  use  28 
hours  a  week.     But  in  that  case  the  bill  might  give 


Total  consumption  in  kilowatt  hours 210     | 

First  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

180  kilowatt  hours  @  12c $21.60 

Excess  over   30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

30  kilowatt  hours  @  7c 2.10 

$23.70      ! 

Fig.   2— Incorrect    Weekly   Bill. 

you  a  lower  maximum  than  you  were  entitled  to,  and 
still  overcharge  }'OU  while  seeming  to  do  you  a  favor. 

You  know  your  maximum  to  be  180  kilowatt- 
hours,  according  to  the  examples  we  have  been  work- 
ing out.  Fig.  4  shows  what  your  monthly  bill  should 
be  on  this  basis.  But  suppose  vou  got  a  weekly  bill 
like  Fig.  5. 

You  know  that  the  item  of  150  kilowatt-hours  @ 


456 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


12c.  is  wrong.  The  figure  apparently  should  be  180 
kilowatt  hours.  If  you  didn't  know  better,  you  might 
think  you  were  beating  the  company.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  Fig.  5  beats  you  out  of  $288.00  a  year,  as  you 

Total  consumption  in  kilowatt  hours 210 

First  7  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

42  kilowatt  hours'  @  12c $  5.04 

Excess   over   7   hours'   use  of   maximum — 

168  kilowatt  hours  @   7c 11.76 

$16.80 


Total  consumption  in  kilowatt  hours 720 

First  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

180  kilowatt  hours  @  12c $21.60 

Excess  over  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

540  kilowatt  hours  @  7c 37.80 

$59.40 


Fig.  4— Correct  Monthly  Bill. 

lose  money  at  the  game  if  you  don't  watch  your  bills. 
Look  at  Fig.  6.  There  is  a  bill  properly  made 
out  for  weekly  payment.  It  looks  perfectly  reasonable 
at  a  glance.  But  being  forearmed  in  the  knowledge 
of  your  maximum  demand,  you  know  it  is  wrong. 
If  you   figure   it  out,  you   can   see   that  it  is  $2.10   a 


Total  consumption  in  kilowatt  hours 168 

First  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

150  kilowatt  hours  @  12c $18.00 

Excess  over  30  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

18  kilowatt  hours  @  7c 1.26 

$19.26 

Fig.   5— Incorrect    Weekly  Bill. 

week,  or  $109.20  a  year,  too  high.  Your  maximum 
being  6  kilowatts,  the  first  7  hours'  use  of  it  should 
be  42  kilowatt  hours,  and  not  84. 

A  word  here  about  the  projection  arc  will  be 
useful.  To  find  out  how  many  watts  it  takes,  you 
multiply   the   voltage   of   the   line    (probably    110)    by 


ratus  reduces  the  voltage  it  also  increases  the  am- 
peres in  proportion.  So  if  the  patent  machine  is  run- 
ning your  arc  on  50  volts  and  40  amperes,  it  is  prob- 
ably taking  about  20  amperes  from  the  110  volt  wires. 
Of  course  that  isn't  true  with  a  simple  rheostat. 
The  rheostat  reduces  the  voltage,  but  it  does  not  in- 
crease the  amperes.  But  whatever  you  use,  you  will 
understand  that  it  is  only  the  number  of  amperes  that 
you  take  from  the  company's  wires  that  affects  your 
meter  and  your  bill.  If  you  don't  know  how  to  get 
this  figure,  the  manufacturer  of  the  "compensating" 
apparatus  you  use  will  tell  you,  or  the  nearest  repre- 


Fig.    s— Correct    Weekly    Bill. 

will    see    by    multiplying    the   total   of    Fig.    4   by    12 
(months)  and  the  total  of  Fig.  5  by  52  (weeks). 

You  have  learned  by  now  that  the  reference  to 
"30  hours"  has  no  place  on  a  zveekly  bill,  because  it 
means  an  hour  a  day  for  30  days  or  one  month ;  and 
that  the  weekly  bill  should  ahvays  read  "First  7  hours," 
etc.      But,   even   knowing  that,    it   is   still   possible   to 


150 

First  7  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

42  kilowatt  hours  @  12c 

Excess  over  7  hours'  use  of  maximum — 
108  kilowatt  hours  @   7c 

$  5.04 

7.56 

$12.60' 

Fig.  7—Corr 

sentative  of  your  projecting  machine  will  be  glad  to 
work  it  out  for  you. 

Learn  to  read  your  meter ;  not  because  it  is  ever 
wrong,  nor  because  the  company's  man  ever  reads  it 
wrongly,  but  for  precisely  the  opposite  reason.  The 
meter  is  an  exact  record  of  the  current  that  you  use. 
You  can  rely  on  it.     From  it  you  can  learn  to  figure 


Fig  8— Co, 


out  just  about  what  your  bill  should  be,  before  you 
ever  get  the  bill.  Fig.  9  shows  the  dials  of  an  ordinary 
electric  meter,  such  as  is  used  practically  everywhere 
in  this  country,  and  the  directions  for  reading  are 
given  just  as  the  electric  light  companies  give  them  to 
their  customers : 

1.  Read  the  dials  from  the  right  to  the  left. 

2.  The  pointers  on  the  dials  always  turn  from  the  lowest 
number  toward  the  highest  number;   that  is,   from   1  to  9. 

3.  When  the  pointers  are  between  any  two  numbers,  always 
read  the  smaller  number — the  number  which  the  pointer  last 
passed. 

4.  On  meters  having  three  or  four  dials  the  figures  on  the 


Total  consumption  in  kilowatt  hours 168 

First  7  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

84  kilowatt  hours  @   12c $10.08 

Excess  over  7  hours'  use  of  maximum — 

84  kilowatt  hours  @  7c 5.88 

$15.96 
Fig.   6 — Incorrect   Weekly   Bill. 

the  number  of  amperes.  But  that  doesn't  always  mean 
the  number  of  amperes  that  cross  the  arc  itself.  Prob- 
ably you  use  a  rotary  converter,  or  a  mercury  arc  recti- 
fier, or  some  kind  of  patented  apparatus  for  reducing 
the  voltage;  because  the  arc  only  takes  about  50  volts, 
and   the  company  supplies   110.     When  such  hh   appa- 


PRBVIOUS  READING  8800 

right-hand  ili.il  represent  units  or  kilowatt-hours.  On  meters 
having  five  dials  the  figures  on  the  right-hand  dial  represent 
tenths  of  a  unit. 

On  the  eounter-face  of  the  meter  are   four  small  dials,  as 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


457 


shown.  The  hand  on  the  one  on  the  left  reads  thousands,  the 
next  to  the  right  hundreds,  the  next  tens,  and  the  last  on 
the  right  units.  If  it  be  remembered  that  the  hand  on  each 
dial  revolves  in  an  opposite  direction  from  that  of  its  adjoining 
neighbor,  the  reading  is  extremely  simple. 

The  four-dial  meter  shown  at  the  top  has  its  pointers  set 
in  position  to  read  8889.  The  way  to  take  this  present  reading 
is  as  follows : 

The  pointer  on  the  first  right-hand  dial  points  to  9.  Write 
down  the  figure  9. 

Then  read  the  dial  to  the  left.  This  pointer  is  between  8 
and  9.  Write  down  the  figure  the  pointer  last  passed,  which 
is  8,  to  the  left  of  the  first  figure  you  wrote  down.  This  gives 
you  89. 

Then  read  the  next  dial  to  the  left.  This  pointer  is  between 
8  and  9.    Write  down  8  to  the  left  of  89  and  you  have  889. 

Then  read  the  next  dial  to  the  left.  This  pointer  is  also 
between  8  and  9.  Write  down  8  to  the  left  of  889  and  you 
have  8889,  which  is  the  present  reading  of  this  meter. 

To  find  out  how  much  current  has  been  consumed  during  a 
certain  period,  whether  it  be  a  month,  a  week  or  a  few  hours, 
all  you  have  to  do  is  to  read  the  meter  at  the  beginning  and 
at  the  end  of  the  period,  and  subtract  the  first  amount  from 
the  second. 

In  this  case,  if  the  previous  reading  was  8800,  as  shown 
on  the  lower  dials,  marked  Previous  Reading,  then  the  difference 
will  be  889  less  8800  =  89,  which  is  the  number  of  units  con- 
sumed between  readings. 

The  cost  of  using  any  light,  heat  or  power  device  is  equal 


"Reform  Him  First,  Then  Wed" 

Miss  Winnifred  Greenwood,  who  appears  as  "Elsa 
Dean"  in  "The  Happy  Masquerader,"  a  "Flying  A" 
feature,  does  not  believe  that,  in  real  life,  marrying  a 
man  to  reform  him  is  a  safe  venture.  She  says,  in- 
stead, "If  you  love 
the  man,  and  he 
needs  reforming,  do 
it  before  you  marry 
him,"  and  she  thinks 
this  reformation  can 
be  accomplished.  In 
her  role  in  this  play 
she  has  a  chance  to 
demonstrate  her  the- 
ory, and  to  prove 
that  "happiness  lies 
within,"  that  it  is 
not  a  question  of 
money  and  luxury. 

Elsa  in  this 
story  is  a  girl  whose 
guardian  loses  her 
inheritance  for  her. 
Later  she  falls  in 
love  with  a  man  she 
believes  penniless, 
although  he  is  a  mil- 
lionaire who  has 
changed  places  with  his  chaufheur  to  prove  that  one 
can  be  happy  or  unhappy  in  any  station  in  life.  Ed- 
ward Coxen  plays  the  role  of  this  "happy  masquera- 
der." 

Winnifred  Greenwood  has  preached  many  fessons 
in  her  screen  portrayals,  and  she  frequently  receives 
letters  from  all  over  the  world  written  by  men  who 
have  been  helped  and  guided  by  these  plays.  "The 
Happy  Masquerader"  is  another  which  will  teach  a 
valuable  lesson,  showing  as  it  does  the  characteristics 
which  produce  or  destroy  happiness.  The  supporting 
cast  helps  Miss  Greenwood  and  Mr.  Coxen  in  building 
up  the  drama. 

The  play  is  released  on  the  Mutual  program  Feb- 
ruary 29. 


to  the  rate  at  which  current  is  consumed  in  watts,  times  the 
number  of  hours  during  which  it  is  operated,  times  the  unit 
rate  charged  for  current,  divided  by  1000. 

For  instance,  an  8-inch  fan  is  using  up  about  20  watts.  If 
used  for  10  hours,  with  current  at  10  cents,  it  would  cost  to 
operate : 

20  X  10  X  10 

=  2  cents 

1000 

The  average  exhibitor  uses  almost  all  the  electrical 
stuff  he  has  all  the  time.  Electrically  he  is  running 
to  full  capacity  whether  he  is  doing  the  same  in  a  busi- 
ness sense  or  not.  The  projection  arc  stops  only  for 
short  intermissions— and  often  not  then,  being  used 
for  slides  or  a  spot  light.  The  ornamental  outside 
lights  and  the  lamps  in  the  lobby  run  all  the  time. 
Most  of  the  lamps  inside  the  house,  of  course,  are  dark 
most  of  the  time,  and  used  only  during  intermission. 
The  electric  sign  is  lighted  all  the  time,  unless  it  is 
a  flasher.  In  that  case  its  use  of  current  probably 
works  out  at  about  half  time. 

Knowing  all  these  conditions,  the  exhibitor  should 
be  able  with  very  little  trouble  to  figure  out  just  what 
his  electricity  should  cost  him.  We  will  take  another 
imaginary  example,  just  to  show  how  it  can  be  done. 

Suppose  the  show  runs  every  evening  from  7  to 
11  o'clock,  except  Saturdays  and  Sundays  from  2  to 
11.  That  is  38  hours  a  week.  We  will  say  the  arc, 
taking  20  amperes,  is  run  35  hours  of  that  38. 

There  are  100  outside  lamps  of  15  watts  each  and 
4  of  100  watts  each.  These  are  run  all  the  time  except 
Saturday  and  Sunday  afternoon  from  2  to  7.  That 
makes  1900  watts  for  28  hours  a  week.  In  the  flash- 
ing sign  are  40  lamps  of  10  watts  each,  operated  the 
same  hours  as  the  front  lights.  But  as  the  flasher 
keeps  the  sign  lamps  dark  half  the  time,  we  can  list 
this  as  400  watts  for  14  hours.  The  current  used  by 
the  flasher  motor  is  negligible. 

Inside  the  house  are  60  lamps  of  25  watts  each. 
Of  these  12  are  on  all  the  time,  making  300  watts  for 
38  hours.  The  balance  (48  lamps)  are  on  for  only 
five  minutes  at  each  show,  or  we  will  say  3  hours' 
total  for  the  week,  making  1,200  watts  for  3  hours. 

Let   us    tabulate    this    information,    remembering 
that  a  kilowatt  is  1,000  watts: 
Arc,  20  amperes  at  110  volts  =2200  watts; 

or  2.2  kilowatts  for  35  hours  77.0  kilowatt  hours 

Outside  lamps,   1.9  kilowatts  for  28  hours  53.2  kilowatt  hours 

Sign,     .4  kilowatts  for  14  hours     5.6  kilowatt  hours 

12  Inside  lamps,     .3  kilowatts  for  38  hours  11.4  kilowatt  hours 

48  Inside  lamps,  1.2  kilowatts  for    3  hours     3.6  kilowatt  hours 

Maximum  capacity  6.0  kw.    Total  consumption  150.8  kilowatt  hours 

In  this  imaginary  theater,  the  maximum  capacity 
is  6  kilowatts.  The  weekly  bill  should  provide  for 
not  more  than  7  hours'  use  of  this  amount  (probably  a 
little  less)  or  42  kilowatt-hours,  and  an  excess  of 
108.8  kilowatt-hours  at  the  secondary  rate.  The  meter 
takes  no  account  of  fractions,  because  the  readings  are 
progressive,  and  what  is  lost  one  reading  is  gained 
the  next.  The  bill  should  be  like  Fig.  7;  while  a  month- 
ly bill  for  the  same  house  is  shown  in  Fig.  8. 

If  the  bills  for  the  house  in  this  example  were 
for  the  amount  shown  or  less,  well  and  good.  If  they 
amount  to  more  than  that,  something  is  wrong;  and 
after  reading  this  article  the  exhibitor  should  be  able 
to  figure  out  where  the  bug  is. 

Prices  for  electricity  vary  from  one  city  to  an- 
other. The  number  of  lamps,  outside  and  inside,  is 
different  for  every  theater,  and  there  are  no  rules  to 
follow.  Even  the  current  used  by  different  arcs  varies 
surprisingly.  So  the  best  we  have  been  able  to  do 
in  this  article  is  to  explain  the  general  principles  of 


458 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


the  scheme  of  charging  and  hilling,  and  let  the  intelli- 
gent and  wide  awake  exhibitor  figure  out  for  himself 
whether  he  is  paying  more  for  his  juice  than  he  ought. 

The  examples  we  have  given  in  making  up  the 
imaginary  bills  shown  in  the  figures  are  purely  arbi- 
trary and  hypothetical.  They  are  only  presented  be- 
cause it  is  always  easier  to  understand  unfamiliar 
things  when  we  have  an  object  lesson  before  us.  But 
they  may  be  made  useful  by  the  simple  process  of 
substituting  real  figures  for  the  faked  ones,  and  then 
comparing  notes. 

Finally,  if  any  exhibitor  of  motion  pictures  finds 
that  he  cannot  understand  his  electric  light  bills,  or 
has  reason  to  suspect  that  they  are  too  high  and  can- 
not make  sure  after  reading  this  article,  we  will  be 
glad  to  advise  with  him.  In  order  to  work  intelligent- 
ly we  must  have  all  the  information  there  is  to  be  had. 
It  is  impossible  to  figure  electric  light  costs  without 
knowing  the  capacity  of  every  lamp  and  arc  in  the 
theater,  and  the  number  of  hours  per  week  each  is 
used.     But  having  this,  the  rest  is  easy. 


Finds  Reel  Danger  Real 

All  is  not  a  bed  of  roses  for  the  heroine  who  plays 
in  a  thrilling  serial,  and  the  dangerous  stunts  they 
are  required  to  do  often  result  in  narrow  escapes, 
according  to  Helen  Holmes,  who  relates  some  of  her 
experiences  in  the 
making  of  the  va- 
rious parts  of  "The 
Girl  and  The  Game." 
Driving  an 
automobile  at  fifty 
miles  an  hour  over 
railroad  ties,  speed- 
ing after  a  runaway 
box  car  to  rescue 
three  men  who  are 
being  rushed  to  cer- 
tain death,  is  one  of 
the  thrills  she  was 
required  to  do  in  the 
ninth  chapter,  enti- 
tled "A  Close  Call." 
"The  average 
patron  of  a  motion 
picture  house  enter- 
tains the  idea  that 
the  making  of  mo- 
tion pictures  of  this 
kind  is  merely  a 
he  actors  or  actresses  re- 
"  says  Mi; 


;  Ho 


ime  cases 


it  of  r 


the  filmin 
v — frequenl 
-  human  be 


Mack  (Mc 


id    R 


l  that  box  car  racing 
down  the  track  at  terrific  speed.  I  was  supposed  to 
catch  up  with  the  car  and  run  along  close  behind  it 
while  the  three  men  jumped  over  my  head  into  the 
tonneau. 

"If  I  had  failed  in  my  task,  what  would  have  been 
the  result?  They  would  all  have  risked  their  lives 
either  in  jumping  or  going  over  the  cmhankment  with 
the  doomed  ear.      I   believe  it   would  kill  me  if  an\    of 


our  boys  were  injured  through  any  failure  on  my  part 
to  do  my  duty." 

Hiss  Holmes  is  naturally  athletic  and  adept  at 
man}'  outdoor  games,  including  tennis,  outdoor  bas- 
ket ball  and  golf. 

It  is  a  great  encouragement  to  Miss  Holmes'  ath- 


letic ambitions  that  her  husband,  J.  P.  McGowan,  the 
director  of  "The  Girl  and  The  Game,"  is  himself  an 
athlete  of  some  prominence. 

Mr.  McGowan's  part  as  Spike  in  the  thrilling  rail- 
road play  is  not  altogether  an  unhappy  though  villain- 
ous one,  and  thousands  cannot  fail  to  admire  his  ath- 
letic prowess  in  many  of  the  personal  combats.  Miss 
Holmes  herself  is  no  tyro  in  the  ladylike  art  of  self- 
defense.  In  fact  she  is  very  clever  with  boxing  gloves 
and  her  blows  are  to  be  feared. 

In  chapter  seven,  where  one  sees  her  in  an  actual 
hand  to  hand  fight  with  one  of  Seagrue's  convicts,  the 
onlooker  cannot  fail  to  realize  that  she  has  a  particu- 
larly strenuous  battle  for  a  member  of  the  fair  sex. 
Miss  Holmes  has  almost  the  sturdy  build  of  a  boy, 
with  long  elastic  muscles  that  absorb  the  severe  shocks 
she  is  compelled  to  undergo  in  providing  the  various 
thrillers  which  astound  audiences  from  coast  to  coast. 

Miss  Holmes  recently  acquired  a  brand  new 
Studebaker  big  six  touring  car,  of  which  she  is  very 
proud  and  in  which  she  delights  in  driving  over  the 
thoroughly  excellent  California  roads.  Upon  the  re- 
moval of  her  companv  to  the  deserts  of  Nevada,  she 
took  the  automobile  with  her  and  it  has  done  yeoman 
service  in  transporting  her  from  one  to  the  other  va- 
rious new  locations  chosen  for  the  chapters  of  "The 
Girl  and  'Hie  Game." 


Charlotte  Burton,  prominent  in  "The  Diamond 
From  the  Sky,"  and  William  Russell  make  their  first 
appearance  as  co-stars  in  "The  Thoroughbred,"  a  story 

which  depicts  life  in   Wall  street.   New   York  city,  and 
in  the  mining  districts  and  plains  of  the  southwest. 


heap  year  day,  February  29,  is  the  date  set  for  the 
opening  of  the  Ivan  production.  "Idle  Immortal 
Flame,"  at  the  New  York  Theater.  It  is  predicted 
by  the  [van  Film  Productions,  Inc.,  that  this  latest  fea- 
ture will  be  even  more  popular  as  a  Broadway  attrac- 
tion than  anything  that  has  been  turned  out  by  that 
company  in  the  past, 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


W.  H.  Clune  Presents  "Romona" 

BY  "CAPT.  JACK"  POLAND 


THE  wonderful  cinematographic  production  of 
"Ramona"  at  Chine's  Auditorium  theater,  which 
began  February  7  at  Los  Angeles,  California,  has 
-proved  one  of  the  most  notable  features  ever  shown 
•on  the  screen.  At  every  performance  the  houses  are 
crowded  for  Mr.  Chine's  great  picture. 

"Ramona"  is  the  most  favored  and  perhaps  widely 
known  heroine  of  California  history  and  her  fame  be- 
cause of  this  production  is  destined  to  become  world 
wide. 

Many  notable  photoplays  have  been  presented  first 
in  Los  Angeles  theaters,  but  it  remained  for  W.  H. 
•Chine's  first  big  feature,  "Ramona,"  to  excel  in  pro- 
fessional tone  and  patronage  among  motion  picture 
people,  anything  previously  shown. 

The  great  "theater  beautiful"  with  its  enormous 
seating  capacity  was  filled  to  overflowing  with  hun- 
dreds turned  away  on  the  opening  night,  which  was 
made  a  great  social  event  among  photoplay  folk.  All 
the  film  stars  and  celebrities  were  present  to  greet 
"Ramona"  and  congratulate  W.  H.  Clune,  Manager 
Lloyd  Brown,  Director  Donald  Crisp  and  Cinematog- 
rapher  Enrique  J.  Vallejo. 

The  camera  version  of  Helen  Hunt  Jackson's  beau- 
tiful California  story  has  been  made  a  historical  fea- 
ture of  the  photoplay.  Donald  Crisp  seems  to  have 
"left  nothing  out  that  might  add  to  the  perfect  details 
•of  this  wondrous  picture. 

The  camera  efforts  of  Mr.  Vallejo,  an  artist  of 
world  wide  reputation,  appear  to  have  added  tone 
and  touch  to  the  romance.  Ele  has  made  animate  the 
brain  children  of  the  author. 

The  photographic  features  were  made  on  the  iden- 
tical spots  where  the  author  developed  the  plot  of 
"Ramona."  These  spots  represent  the  most  picturesque 
sections  of  California,  alternating  between  Monterey, 
the  foot  hills  of  Santa  Barbara,  and  the  famous  Mis- 
sion of  that  city,  around  San  Gabriel  Mission  near  Los 
Angeles,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Diego  and  other 
towns  along  the  Pacific  Coast. 

As  an  example  of  photographic  art  "Ramona"  is 
■worthy  of  a  place  in  the  historian's  note  book,  among 


other  important  cinema  achievements.  The  photoplay 
shows  careful  attention  to  detail,  and  the  many  inno- 
vations which  have  been  introduced  leave  the  auditor 
gasping  in  his  amazement.  Perfect  atmospherical  con- 
ditions which  prevailed  at  the  time  of  the  making 
of  the  film  resulted  in  a  most  harmonious  and  effective 
synchronization  of  light  and  lens.  For  some  reason 
or  other  the  captions  were  blurred  in  some  instances, 
thus  causing  a  strain  upon  the  eyes,  but  this  defect 
can  be  easily  overcome,  and  doubtless  will. 

Several  brilliant  examples  of  histrionism  are  note- 
worthy. Monroe  Salisbury's  "Alessandro"  is  an  excel- 
lent illustration  of  combined  sincerity  and  artistry. 
He  makes  the  Indian  character  one  commanding  sym- 
pathy and  his  characterization  is  remarkably  well  sus- 
tained. Miss  Adda  Gleason,  the  Ramona  about  whom 
the  story  is  woven,  is  a  capable  artist,  and  she  exacts 
from  the  role  all  that  the  author  and  director  intended. 
Pier  peculiarly  adaptable  Spanish  type  stood  her  in 
good  stead  and  lends  historical  atmosphere  to  the  part. 
Miss  Mabel  Van  Buren's  interpretation  of  the  original 
Ramona  is  admirably  done,  her  best  scenes,  however, 
being  toward  the  close  of  the  prologue.  A  portrayal 
of  exceptional  merit  is  the  Senora  Morena  of  Miss  Lur- 
line  Lyons,  while  Richard  Sterling  as  Angus  Phail  and 
N.  de  Bruiller  as  Filipe  do  excellent  work.  Of  all  the 
Ramonas,  the  most  charming  and  heart-luring  is  the 
child  of  four,  played  with  rare  childish  artistry  by 
little  Miss  Anna  Lehr. 

An  impromptu  reception  was  held  in  the  great 
lobby  of  the  Auditorium  theater  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  fourteen-reel  picture.  Mr.  Clune  was  the  recipient 
of  hearty  congratulations  from  many  notable  film 
heads,  directors,  artists  and  producers,  as  was  Mr1. 
Brown,  who  had  charge  of  the  production  from  its 
inception.  Messrs.  Crisp  and  Vallejo  came  in  for  a 
liberal  share  of  the  praise  bestowed  by  film  admirers, 
and  members  of  the  W.  H.  Clune  Production  Com- 
pany who  had  acted  in  the  photoplay  of  "Ramona" 
presented  Messrs.  Brown,  Crisp  and  Vallejo  with  beau- 
tiful presents.  Robert  H.  Poole,  manager  of  publicity, 
made  the  presentations. 


Rothacker  Opens  Laboratory 

Watterson  R.  Rothacker's  announcement  of  the  in- 
auguration of  a  special  research  laboratory  in  direct  con- 
nection with  the  Industrial  Moving  Picture  Company's 
factory  organization  signalizes  an  important  innovation, 
inasmuch  as  that  it  is  the  first  department  of  its  kind  to 
be  maintained  by  an  individual  motion  picture  manu- 
facturer. 

The  laboratory  of  the  Industrial  Moving  Picture 
Company  will  be  directed  by  E  H.  Spears,  who,  un- 
til February  1  of  this  year,  was  working  along  these  lines 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  Dr.  Kenneth  S.  Meese, 
director  of  the  research  laboratory  of  Eastman  Kodak- 
Company. 

Mr.  Spears  entered  the  moving  picture  business  in 
1902  with  the  Kinetograph  Company  of  New  York  City, 
and  in  1905  accepted  a  position  with  the  Eastman  Kodak- 
Company.  While  in  the  Eastman  employ,  his  work  cov- 
ered practically  everything  in  the  field  of  motion  pic- 


460 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


tures  from  camera  man  down  through  to  the  production 
of  the  finished  picture.  He  made  exhaustive  experiments 
on  the  Gaumont  three-color  process  and  went  through  all 
of  the  branches  of  the  Gaumont  work  from  camera  man 
to  the  finished  product.  For  two  years  he  was  engaged 
in  experiments  concerning  a  two-color  process  which  was 
expected  to  be  more  satisfactory  than  the  present  three- 
color  process. 

Mr.  Spears'  duties,  in  addition  to  continuing  his  ex- 
perimental research  work,  will  be  to  personally  screen 
inspect  the  product  of  the  Industrial  Moving  Picture 
Company  and  to  render  special  and  expert  advice  to  cus- 
tomers of  this  company  and  to  undertake  a  special  edu- 
cational campaign  for  the  direct  and  specific  benefit  of  the 
Rothaker  employees. 


Story  of  Mantell  Fox  Star 

Robert  Bruce  Mantell,  Shakespearean  actor  and  a 
William  Fox  photoplay  star,  was  born  in  Irvine,  Ayr- 
shire, Scotland,  February  7,  1854.  When  he  was  about 
five  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Belfast,  Ireland,  where 
he  was  educated  and 
where  he  evinced  a 
taste  for  amateur  the- 
atricals, playing  Pol- 
onius  in  "Hamlet" 
when  he  was  sixteen. 
He  was  apprenticed 
to  a  wine  merchant, 
for  his  parents  ob- 
jected to  his  ambition 
for  a  stage  career. 

Rather  than  sub- 
mit to  the  life  of  a 
tradesman,  young 
Mantell  ran  away 
from  home  and  came 
to  the  United  States 
at  the  age  of  twenty. 
He  sought  a  position 
with  the  Boston  Mu- 
seum Company  but 
was  unsuccessful  and 
remained  in  this 
country  only  two 
weeks.  Upon  his  return  to  England  he  made  his  first 
professional  appearance  as  the  sergeant  in  "Arrah-na- 
Pogue,"  at  Rochdale,  Lancashire,  in  1876.  He  took  the 
stage  name  of  "R.  Hudson." 

Mr.  Mantell  next  played  Father  Dolan  in  "The 
Shaughraun."  As  a  member  of  a  stock  company  he  sup- 
ported Charles  Calvert,  Charles  Dillon,  Barry  Sullivan 
and  Samuel  Phelps.  Phelps  took  him  to  Sadler's  Wells 
Theater,  London,  where  he  gained  a  solid  grounding  in 
Shakespeare  and  the  classics.  He  was  with  Phelps  in 
the  latter's  famous  revival  of  Macklin's  "The  Man  of  the 
World."  Next  he  went  on  tour  with  Marie  De  Grey, 
playing  Romeo,  Benedick,  Orlando,  Orsino,  Malvolio  and 
Bassanio.  He  played  Shylock  at  a  special  performance 
to  the  Portia  of  Miss  De  Grey. 

In  November,  1878,  Mr.  Mantell  made  his  first 
American  appearance  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  playing  second 
parts,  with  Madame  Modjeska.  A  year  later  he  returned 
to  Europe  in  support  of  the  American  comedian.  George 
S.  Knight,  in  the  production  there  of  "Otto."  Then  he 
went  on  tour  with  Miss  Wallis  in  Shakespearean  roles. 

In  1883  he  made  his  lirst  New  York  appearance  at 
the  Grand  Opera  House  as  Sir  Clemenl  Huntingford  in 


"The  World."  The  same  season  he  achieved  his  first  pro- 
nounced success  in  the  United  States  as  Jack  Hearn, 
originally  played  by  Wilson  Barrett  in  London,  in  "The 
Romany  Rye."  In  the  fall  of  1883  he  joined  Fanny 
Davenport  for  the  first  American  production  of  Sardou's 
"Fedora."  Though  he  was  not  starred  in  the  production 
he  achieved  the  greatest  triumph  of  any  member  of  the 
cast. 

Mr.  Mantell  created  the  part  of  Gilbert  Vaughan  in 
"Called  There  and  Back,"  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Theater 
in  New  York  in  1884.  He  appeared  in  "Dakolar"  and 
in  1886  he  became  a  star  in  "Tangled  Lives."  A  year 
later  he  scored  a  triumph  in  "Monbars."  In  1888  he  re- 
vived "The  Corsican  Brothers,"  and  produced  in  succes- 
sion 'sThe  Face  in  the  Moonlight,"  "The  Louisianian,"  "A 
Lesson  in  Acting,"  "Parrhasius,"  "A  Cavalier  of  France," 
"A  Gentleman  from  Gascony,"  "The  Light  of  Other 
Days,"  and  "The  Dagger  and  the  Cross."  He  revived 
"The  Marble  Heart,"  and  "The  Lady  of  Lyons."  He 
took  up  Shakespeare  in  1893  and  was  on  tour  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1904  he  won  praise  as  Richard  III  at  the 
Princess  Theater  in  New  York.  From  that  time  on  his 
career  has  been  a  series  of  successes.  Since  joining  the 
William  Fox  forces  Mr.  Mantell  has  been. seen  in  "The 
Blindness  of  Devotion,"  "The  Unfaithful  Wife,"  and 
"Green  Eyed  Monster." 


HOOSIER  MEN  TO  MEET 

Indianapolis'  to  Be  Scene  of  Convention  and  Exhibit 

of  Picture  Theater  Owners  and  Managers 

Early  in  March 

Indiana  theater  owners  predict  a  most  successful 
convention  and  exhibit  in  Indianapolis,  March  2  and  3. 
It  is  expected  that  when  the  chairman  raps  for  order, 
fully  ninety  per  cent  of  the  exhibitors  from  all  parts 
of  the  state  will  be  in  attendance.  F.  J.  Rembusch, 
Ernest  P.  Hunter,  John  A.  Victor,  Jos.  H.  Gavin,  J.  C. 
Lockwodd,  B.  V.  Barton,  L.  H.  O'Donnell,  J.  Hubert 
and  Fred  Sanders,  the  chairmen  of  the  various  com- 
mittees have  left  no  stone  unturned  in  their  prepara- 
tions for  the  business  to  come  before  the  members, 
and  also  for  entertainment.  Most  of  the  film  companies, 
as  well  as  the  accessory  dealers,  will  be  represented  at 
the  exhibit  to  be  held  on  the  twelfth  floor  of  the  Hotel 
Severin,  the  convention  meeting  in  the  assembly  hall 
on  the  thirteenth  floor.  The  two-day  session  will  close 
with  a  ball  in  Tonlinson  Hall,  the  largest  auditorium 
in  the  state.  Arrangements  have  been  made  to  have 
several  screen  stars  take  part  in  the  festivities. 


Seeks  Films  for  Baby  Week 

E.  G.  Routzahn,  associate  director  of  the  Department 
of  Surveys  and  Exhibits  of  the  Russell  Sage  Foundation. 
1 30  East  Twenty-second  street.  New  York  City,  writes  to 
the  editor  of  Motograpiiy  asking  for  information  con- 
cerning films  for  use  during  National  Baby  Week,  March 
4  to  11,  1916,  which  is  being  held  under  the  auspices  of 
the  U.  S.  Children's  Bureaus,  Washington,  and  the  Gen- 
eral Federation  of  Women's  clubs.  More  than  1,200 
Baby  committees  are  at  work  but  many  of  them  and 
many  yet  to  be  organized  will  hold  their  celebrations  at 
dates  later  than  March  4.  New  York  City,  Columbus, 
and  other  places  have  planned  for  later  dates.  Mr.  Rout- 
zahn suggests  that  anyone  having  suitable  films  notify 
him  and  also  get  in  touch  with  local  committees  regarding 
the  rental  of  desirable  films. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


" Jungle  Theater"  Films  Released 

BY  TARLETON  WINCHESTER 

ASPIRANTS   to   motion   picture   stardom   among  others  see  them.     Mrs.  Raymond  L.  Ditmars  is  her 

our  animal  relatives  may  come  and  they  may  husband's  most  fearless  lieutenant, 
go,  but  let  us  hope  that  those  whose  appearances  She  is  small  and  dark,  with  blue  black  hair  and 

on  the  screen  are  sponsored  by  Raymond  L.  Ditmars,  ditto  eyes  which  dilate  in  amused  amazement  when 


curator  of  the  New  York  Zoological  Park,  and  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  go  on  forever. 

It  has  been  said  of  Mr.  Ditmars  that  he  takes  films 
of  every  variety  of  animal  from  grasshoppers  to  mon- 
keys, on  stages  ranging  from  the  size  of  a  postage 
stamp  to  forty  feet  square.  After  a  visit  to  the  Dit- 
mars School  of  Dramatic  Arts  for  Inhuman  Beings  at 
Scarsdale  anyone  will  admit  the  justice  of  the  accu- 
sation. 

If  there  is  anything  that  Mr.  Ditmars  has  not  done, 
it  is  only  because  he  has  not  had  time,  never  for  lack 
of  inclination.  His  fertility  with  regard  to  ideas  is 
only  equalled  by  his  ability  to  carry  them  out— and 
the  attainments  of  his  worthy  assistant,  Charlie  Sny- 
der, head  keeper,  in  both  directions. 

Nor  are  these  sturdy  representatives  of  the  genus 
homo  the  only  persons  engaged  in  the  work  of  pre- 
senting  reptiles,   birds   and   beasts    to   themselves   as 


little  thin: 


you  suggest  that  possibly  she  was  a  bit  afraid  when  a 
giant  cobra  chased  her  around  the  room  recently  and 
forced  her  to  take  refuge  behind  the  stove. 

Everyone  who  has  seen  the  releases  of  the  Bray 
Studios,  Inc.,  through  the  Paramount  Pictures  Cor- 
poration, has  been  interested  in  the  truly  marvelous 
nature  studies  contributed  by  Mr.  Ditmars. 

We  have  had  pictures  of  the  skunk  and  weasel, 
of  the  snake  and  secretary  bird,  which  give  us  a  bet- 
ter understanding  of  these  creatures  than  we  have  had 
heretofore.  Now,  however,  Mr.  Ditmars  has  solved 
the  problem  of  stories  acted  by  animals.  His  "The 
Gathering  of  the  Clans"  is  an  amusing  and  interest- 
ing example  of  the  way  in  which  he  works. 

The  cast  is  summoned  by  the  tree  frog,  Call  Boy. 
And  then  one  by  one  the  actors  assemble  for  the  per- 
formance.    Some  are  spectators,   others  entertainers. 

Mr.   Ditmars   could  give   you   the   most   intimate 


462 

history  of  each  member 
and  everything'.  He  stop 
Finally  the  star  act 
between  a  monkey,  a  gras 
monkey    is   elected   to   ea 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9.  • 


who   his   grandmother   was  But    he   had   never   taken    a   motion    picture   of   a 

at  nothing.  genuine  wood  bred  skunk  at  close  range.    The  queerest 

s  announced,  an   eating  race  ParT  °f  it  was  that  he  wanted  to  do  just  that  thing, 

hopper  and  a  caterpillar.  The  The  wood  pussies  at  the  zoo  would  not  do.     They 

an   egg,   the  grasshopper  a  are  °ld  and  lazy.     He  searched  for  a  real  lively  one 


blade  of  grass, 
hopper  excitedl 
confidence  in  hi 
to  side  to  see  h 
Who  win 


terpillar  a  leaf.  The  grass- 
waves  a  leg  as  a  sign  of  complete 
>rowess,  the  monkey  blinks  from  side 
'  his  opponents  are  faring. 
You  remember  the  story  of  the  hare 
and  the  snail?  Well,  the  phlegmatic  old  caterpillar 
walks  off  with  the  honors  and  the  monkey  is  close  sec- 
ond. It  is  one  of  the  most  amusing  pieces  of  film  even 
Mr.  Ditmars  has  taken. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  these  pictures  are 
combined  with  celebrated  cartoons  produced  by  the 
noted  J.  R.  Bray,  the  drawing  power  of  the  release 
is  seen  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  audiences  everywhere 
go  into  convulsions  over  them. 

To  anyone  desirous  of  acquiring  a  good  tame  spec- 
imen of  the  Mephitis  Mephitica  we  say,  "See  Mr.  Dit- 
mars,— but  first  find  out  what  a  good  tame  S.  of  the 
M.  M.  is." 

The  curator  decided  some  time  ago  that  his  ex- 


ploits 


in  nature  study 


amp] 


H 


fin- 


with  a  mean  disposition  and  in  good  working  order. 

At  last  about  two  weeks  ago  he  heard  that  a  farm- 
er in  Valhalla  had  caught  one  alive  in  a  trap.  Up  he 
went  to  Valhalla  with  a  specially  constructed  airprooof 
asbestos  box  and  he  borrowed  the  skunk. 

Back  to  the  studio  at  his  home  in  Scarsdale  he 
took  it.  He  let  it  out  in  the  studio  and  then  he  buried 
the  box. 

He  spent  three  days  getting  on  friendly  terms  with 
little  Mephitis  and  the  creature  got  to  know  him  so 
well  that  at  last  he  brought  his  camera  and  a  supply 
of  formaldehyde  into  the  room  and  left  with  a  unique 
film  of  a  genuine  rip-roaring  wood  pussy  in  war  ma- 
noeuvres. 

Then  came  the  problem  of  getting  the  skunk  back. 
Mr.  Ditmars  built  a  bomb-proof  trap  and  set  it  in  his 
studio.  Mr.  Skunk  consented  to  enter  it  and  the  other 
morning  off  for  Valhalla  went   Mr.   Ditmars. 

"Here's  your  skunk  back  and  I  can't  say  how 
leeply  grateful  I  am  for  the  loan,"  he  told  the  farmer. 


■     '; 

*; 

r_ifr, 

jMlgj 

^jkfik   m          "> 

'?(IS2*V> 

^S??r  u-\ 

V-r 

^^^1 

HP  . 

ger-printed    the   orang-outang   and    milked    the    venom  .   The   farmer  reached    for  a   rake, 

from  a  lancehead  viper,  and  his  neighbors  once  threat-  unholy  beast  loose  within    130  mile 

ened  to  go  to  law   unless  lu-  gave  up  the  colony  of  tion  I'll  sue  you,"  he  shouted. 

katydids  that  he  kept  in  his  studio.  Mr.    Ditmars.  dumbfounded,   toi 


"If   you   let   that 
of    Valhalla    Sta- 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


463 


back  to  Scarsdale.     He  can't  give  it  to  the  zoo,  either. 

He  admits  that  there  wouldn't  be  a  man,  woman 
or  child  within  ten  miles  of  the  place  if  he  did. 

And  when  this  story  comes  out  he  fears  that  his 


i  shatter  the   Woe 


te  Jungle  theater 

noise   in  proporl 
uilding,  New  Yo, 


Half  the  size  of 
hat  can  be  heard 
>«  lie  could  open 


neighbors  at  Scarsdale  will  organize  a  Ku  Klux  Klan 
or  else  cancel  their  leases. 

Anybody  who  will  give  little  Mephitis  a  good 
home  can  have  him  on  application  at  the  curator's 
office. 


Long  1 


;  Beach  Film  City  Planned 

A  motion  picture  municipality  to  house  a  $15,000,- 
000  corporation  is  planned  for  Long  Beach,  California, 
according  to  Dick  Richards,  of  the  Long  Beach  Ad 
Club.  He  declares  that  the  proposed  combination  will 
include  the  Balboa  Amusement  Producing  Company  of 
Long  Beach,  two  of  the  large  film  companies  now  lo- 
cated in  Los  Angeles,  and  two  other  motion  picture 
corporations.  H.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  of  the  Bal- 
boa Company,  is  slated  for  president  of  the  combina- 
tion. 

Mr.  Horkheimer  admitted  that  the  formation  of 
a  $15,000,000  corporation  is  under  way,  but  stated  that 
he  could  not  give  details  at  present.  The  five  com- 
panies which  plan  to  combine  will  conduct  their  own 
plants  until  the  proposed  city  is  completed.  Several 
sites  are  under  consideration,  none  having  been  defi- 
nitely selected.  The  Balboa  company,  it  is  said,  was 
one  of  the  first  asked  to  join  the  combination. 

The  directors  of  the  Long  Beach  Ad  Club  have 
voted  to  co-operate  with  the  chamber  of  commerce  in 
extending  the  proposed  corporation  an  invitation  to 
locate  its  city  in  Long  Beach. 


Blackton  Again  Heads  Board 

The  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  of  America 
has  announced  the  re-election  of  Commodore  J.  Stu- 
art Blackton  of  the  Vitagraph  Company  as  president. 
Other  officers  for  1916  are;  Vice-presidents— Carl 
Laemmle,  Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Co. ;  Nicho- 
las Power,  Nicholas  Power  Co. ;  John  E.  Freuler,  Mu- 
tual Film  Corporation ;  F.  J.  Rembusch,  Mirror  Screen 
Co. ;  W.  Stephen  Bush,  editor,  Moving  Picture  World; 
W.  R.  Rothacker,  Industrial  Moving  Picture  Co.  Di- 
rectors— J.  Stuart  Blackton,  Nicholas  Power,  A.  J. 
Gilligham,  R.  E.  Cochrane,  Walter  W.  Irwin,  S.  L. 
Rothapfel,  A¥m.  A.  Johnston,  J.  E.  Brulatour,  P.  A. 
Powers,  and  J.  W.  Binder.  Executive  Committee- 
Walter  W.  Irwin,  chairman;  Nicholas  Power,  P.  A. 
Powers,  Wm.  A.  Johnston,  E.  A.  MacManus,  J.  Stuart 
Blackton,  J.  E.  Brulatour,  John  E.  Freuler,  J.  W.  Bind- 
er. Secretary — Edward  A.  MacManus.  Treasurer — 
Joseph  W.  Engel.    Executive  Secretary — J.  W.  Binder. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  endorsed 
the  motion  picture  Actors'  Fund  campaign  to  place 
the  work  of  the  Fund  on  an  assured  financial  basis. 
The  appointment  of  the  following  members  of  the 
Bureau  of  Standards  was  recommended :  Don  J.  Bell, 
Nicholas  Power,  F.  H.  Richardson,  C.  Francis  Jenkins 
and  Albert  E.  Smith. 

The  Publicity  committee,  at  its  formal  meeting  in 
New  York,  re-elected  Arthur  Jones  of  the  Metro  Com- 
pany chairman,  and  Paul  Gulick,  of  the  Universal  Com- 
pany, vice-chairman,  a  new  office.  Thomas  H.  Alex- 
ander is  secretary  of  the  committee.  Plans  were  dis- 
cussed at  the  meeting  for  the  coming  Cartoonists'  Din- 
ner and  the  following  committee  appointed  to  arrange 
the  entertainment:  Arthur  Leslie,  Sam  Spedon, 
George  Blaisdell,  Terry  Ramsaye,  P.  A.  Parsons,  Paul 
Gulick,  Carl  N.  Pierce,  J.  W.  Binder,  Arthur  James 
and  T.  M.  Alexander. 


Pathe's  "The  Horrors  of  War,"  was  reviewed  by 
fifty  of  Seattle's  prominent  men  recently  at  the  invita- 
tion of  Manager  Quimby  of  the  Seattle  Pathe  exchange. 
The  spectators  included  newspapermen,  clergymen,  physi- 
cians, merchants,  lawyers  and  army  officers,  and  all  ex- 
pressed praise  in  no  uncertain  terms. 


The  City  Council  of  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.,  has  cre- 
ated the  office  of  censor,  with  the  mayor  as  censor.  Any 
manager  showing  or  permitting  to  be  shown,  immoral 
pictures,  is  subject  to  both  a  fine  and  imprisonment  and 
to  have  his  theater  license  revoked. 


Vogue  Business  Growing 

Vogue  comedies  are  proving  that  the  film-going 
public  wants  real  fun  films.  With  Vogue  Films,  Inc., 
established  less  than  four  months,  and  comparatively 
few  releases  on  the  market,  the  Mutual  Film  Corpora- 
tion offices  report  an  astounding  volume  of  business 
on  this  brand,  with  patrons  and  exhibitors  clamoring 
for  Vogue  comedies. 

There  is  perhaps  an  explanation  of  this  unparal- 
leled success.  When  Samuel  S.  Hutchinson  and  Jo- 
seph H.  Finn  decided  to  produce  "slapstick  with  a  rea- 
son," they  combed  the  country  for  talent  that  would 
be  eminently  capable  of  producing  this  eccentric  type 
of  comedy.  Under  their  general  supervision  two  well 
known  directors,  Rube  Miller  and  Jack  Dillon,  are  pro- 
ducing "funny  business"  from  the  pens  of  Robert  A. 
Dillon  and  Thomas  Delmar,  featuring  in  the  leading 
roles  Rube  Miller,  Madge  Kirby,  Priscilla  Dean,  Ar- 
thur Moon,  Patty  McQuire,  Arthur  Tavares,  Alice 
Neice  and  Louise  Owen. 

Each  Vogue  comedy  has  a  legitimate  plot  and 
continuity  of  story  upon  which  all  eccentric  action  is 
based. 

As  the  films  acquire  wider  publicity  and  distribu- 
tion, it  is  expected  that  exhibitors  will  recognize  the 
fact  that  Vogue  slapstick  comedies  are  just  what  they 
need  to  balance  their  programs  and  satisfy  their  pa- 
trons who  come  to  their  theaters  to  be  amused  and 
entertained. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


GOOD  MUSIC  IMPORTANT 

Better  to   Have   None   at  All   Than   to   Murder   Good 

Pictures   with   Trashy   Music,    Says   Cecil   B. 

De  Mille,  of  Lasky  Company 

The  old  adage  that  half  a  loaf  is  better  than  none 
at  all  may  apply  to  hunger,  but  not  to  motion  pictures, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  noted  director,  Cecil  B.  De  Mille, 
of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company. 

Mr.  De  Mille,  who  produced  for  the  Lasky  com- 
pany the  Paramount  picture  productions  in  which 
Geraldine  Farrar  appeared,  has  taken  up  the  cudgels 
against  the  automatic  organ,  the  boy  pianist  and  the 
squeaky  violin  in  the  many  badly  managed  motion 
picture  theaters  in  the  United  States. 

"For  a  motion  picture  audience  to  watch  an  ex- 
citing production  accompanied  by  the  most  impossible 
kind  of  music  is  as  ridiculous  as  for  an  opera  audience 
to  hear  a  prima  donna  sing  to  the  music  of  the  over- 
ture. I  venture  to  say  that  fifty  per  cent  of  the  suc- 
cess of  a  motion  picture  is  dependent  upon  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  is  exhibited.  The  present  system  is 
absolutely  chaotic.  The  effect  produced  in  motion 
picture  houses  by  playing  big  selections  of  music  is 
just  the  same  as  though,  at  the  Metropolitan  Opera 
House,  the  tenor  had  finished  his  great  aria  and  the 
prima  donna  came  on  to  sing  her  love  motif  but  the 
orchestra  kept  right  on  with  the  tenor's  aria. 

"It  is  asking  too  much  of  the  public  to  analyze 
the  reasons  for  the  confusion  which  follows  in  its 
own  minds ;  the  orchestra  starting  from  nowhere  in 
particular  as  regards  the  continuity  of  the  performance 
will  start  playing  'The  Tales  of  Hoffman'  and  then 
will  play  it  through  to  its  finish  whether  the  scenes 
of  the   picture   are   comedy,   tragedy   or   pathos. 

"Motion  pictures  are  more  to  be  likened  to  the 
opera  in  its  most  popular  form  than  to  the  legitimate 
drama.  On  this  account  music  plays  a  most  impor- 
tant part  in  the  effectiveness  of  the  entertainment. 
If  the  choice  were  to  be  given  to  the  eleven  million 
people  in  the  United  States  who  attend  motion  pic- 
tures daily,  whether  they  wished  their  motion  pic- 
tures with  bad  music  or  no  music  at  all,  the  vote  for 
the  latter  condition  would  be  unanimous,   I  believe." 

Mr.  De  Mille  said  in  his  opinion,  one  of  the  next 
great  developments  of  the  photoplay  entertainment, 
will  be  the  uniform  distribution  of  music  with  the  film 
production. 

The  question  of  the  proper  music  as  an  accom- 
paniment to  the  motion  picture  production  is  not  a 
new  problem  for  Mr.  De  Mille  to  discuss.  When  Mr. 
De  Mille's  production  of  Geraldine  Farrar  in  "Carmen" 
was  shown  privately  last  September  to  Paramount  ex- 
change men  at  the  Paramount  convention  in  Chicago, 
Mr.  De  Mille  in  a  short  address  declared: 

"Now  you  have  seen  what  wc  do.  Now  you  have 
seen  our  share  towards  making  a  worthy  production. 
You  have  seen  the  results  of  hours  of  hard  work,  of 
thousands  of  dollars  investment  and  the  most  earnest 
co-operation  between  the  world's  leading  operatic  act- 
ress and  a  studio,  united  in  the  purpose  of  making  a 
masterful  production.  All  the  advice  I  have  to  tell  you 
gentlemen,  who  are  going  out  over  the  country  and 
who  are  closely  in  touch  with  the  exhibitors,  is  that 
you  tell  them  to  give  the  picture  half  a  chance  with 
the  public  and  it  will  succeed.  Tell  them  not  to  mur- 
der it  with  a  lot  of  trashy  music  and  tell  them  that  no 
music  at  all   is  better  than  bad   music.      I    venture  to 


say  that  the  producer's  part  in  the  success  of  a  pic- 
ture production  is  only  fifty  per  cent,  the  other  fifty 
per  cent  is  up  to  the  exhibitor." 

Mr.  De  Mille  said  that  after  the  difficult,  but  de- 
cidedly worth  while  efforts,  some  standardization  had 
been  reached  in  the  manner  of  projecting  the  films 
made  by  the  various  companies.  He  said  he  believed 
that  some  uniform  system  of  music  distribution  or  reg- 
ulation would  be  obtained  soon.  Mr.  De  Mille,  in 
behalf  of  the  Lasky  company,  has  taken  up  this  prob- 
lem on  an  entirely  practical  basis  with  W.  W.  Hodkin- 
son,  president  of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation. 


New  Marguerite  Clark  Picture 

A  love  story  with  the  Alps  for  its  setting  will  be 
the  next  release  of  the  Famous  Players  Film  Com- 
pany in  which  Miss  Marguerite  Clark  will  appear  as 
the  star.  The  new  photoplay,  which  is  released  on 
the  Paramount  program,  is  entitled  "Out  of  the 
Drifts,"  and  has  for  its  scene  of  action  the  celebrated 
St.  Bernard  Pass,  with  the  famous  old  monastery  as 
one  of  the  prominent  settings. 

Miss  Clark  is  starred  as  Elsie,  a  little  Alpine  or- 
phan, who  earns  her  living  as  a  shepherdess.  The  work 
of  securing  the  Alpine  scenes  was  done  in  the  north. 
Director  J.  Searle  Dawley  spending  several  weeks  with 
the  company,  which  included  Miss  Clark,  Wijliam 
Courtleigh,  Jr.,  J.  W.  Johnson,  Robert  Conville,  Ivan 
Simpson  and  others. 


Dustin  Farnum  Real  Hero 

After  being  snowbound  in  the  San  Bernardino 
Mountains  for  eight  days  after  a  severe  blizzard,  a  com- 
pany of  Pallas  players,  including  Dustin  Farnum  and 
AA'inifred  Kingston,  are  back  in  Los  Angeles.  They 
had  many  thrilling  experiences,  and  Farnum  proved  a 
hero  on  two  occasions,  once  when  he  rescued  two 
women  mountain  climbers  who  were  caught  in  the 
drifts,  and  later  when  he  saved  the  life  of  Winifred 
Kingston,  who  fell  into  a  mountain  torrent.  On  that 
occasion  the  wolves  used  in  scenes  for  "Davey  Crock- 
ett" got  loose  and  also  plunged  into  the  stream.  They 
were  finally  rounded  up  and  captured.  The  company 
filmed  many  effective  scenes  for  the  production,  how- 
ever. Herbert  Standing,  Page  Peters,  F.  F.  Aldis. 
Homer  Scott  and  various  men  of  the  technical  staff 
were  in  the  company. 


Fire  Destroys  Theater 

Fire  destroyed  the  Empire  theater  in  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa,  last  week  when  flames  starting-  in  the  basement 
of  the  structure  got  bevond  the  control  of  the  fire  de- 
partment and  caused  a  "loss  of  $7,000,  of  which  $2,000 
was  covered  by  insurance.  A.  Engle,  the  owner,  how- 
ever, has  already  made  plans  for  a  new  theater  140x40. 
which  will  seat  about  one  thousand  persons. 


American  Uses  Monographs 

O.  F.  Spahr,  vice-president  and  manager  of  the  En- 
terprise Optical  Manufacturing  Co.,  makers  of  the  "Mo- 
tiograph"  motor  drive  projectors,  calls  attention  to  the 
error  of  the  statement  that  the  machines  in  the  new  Amer- 
ican studio  opened  in  Chicago  are  "Motioscopes,"  and 
points  out  that  the  machines  in  use  there  are  the  "Mo- 
tiograph"   machines   made  by   his  concern. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Teaches  Psychology  on  Screens 

MUNSTERBERG  IS  PARAMOUNT  EDITOR 


ARE  you  a  square  peg  in  a  round  hole?  Hugo  von 
Munsterberg,  one  of  the  world's  greatest  psy- 
chologists, is  asking  over  ten  million  persons  in 
the  United  States  that  question  each  week. 

The  greatest  social  problem  of  our  time  is  to  find 
the  right  place  for  every  man  and  woman.  Every  boy 
and  girl  who  leaves  school  needs  vocational  guidance. 
Nobody  should  be  a  manager,  a  newspaperman,  a 
chauffeur,  a  farmer,  a  salesman,  a  teacher,  a  physician, 
who  has  not  the  mental  traits  for  it.  Despite  the  fact 
that  this  should  not  be  the  case,  there  are  too  many 
square  pegs  in  round  holes. 

Unique  as  the  question  of  this  great  psychologist 
is,  so  is  his  latest  form  of  testing  the  mind  unique. 
He  has  become  a  contributing  editor  to  the  wonderful 
Paramount  Pictographs  and  is  conducting  a  course  of 
psychological  experiments  upon  the  screen,  something 
never  before  accomplished  in  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry, showing  the  many  millions  how  to  find  per- 
sonal mental  traits. 

These  Pictographs — this  magazine  of  the  screen — 
where  the  big  vital  thoughts  of  the  greatest  thinkers 
of  our  country  are  visualized,  form  the  first  medium 
by  which  motion  picture  theater  is  utilized  to  influ- 
ence opinions  on  vital  questions  and  deliver  messages 
from .  great  thinkers,  messages  that  will  stimulate 
thought. 

In  the  first  production  of  the  Pictographs,  released 
Febuary  6,  in  which  Dr.  Munsterberg  takes  for  his 
subject,  "Have  you  constructive  imagination?"  there 
are  contributions  by  Frederick  Palmer,  war  corre- 
spondent; Henry  Reuterdahl,  naval  expert;  Waldemar 
Kaempffert,  editor  of  the  Popular  Science  Monthly; 
Elmer  G.  Sperry,  inventor  of  the  gyroscope,  and  other 
prominent  men.  In  future  releases  contributions  will 
be  offered  by  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Major  General 
Leonard  Wood,  U.  S.  A. ;  John  G.  Hibbons,  president 
of  Princeton  University  ;  Robert  E.  Perry,  John  Hayes 
Hammond,  Jr.,  Royal  Dixon,  novelist  and  scientist; 
Alon  Bement,  artist,  and  others  of  national  repute. 

Preparedness,  better  babies,  constructive  imagina- 
tion, putting  the  gyroscope  to  work,  what  little  boys 
'  and  girls  are  made  of,  and  a  variety  of  other  subjects 
are  treated.  Intermingled  with  the  subjects  serious  in 
their  nature,  are  inimitable  bits  of  wholesome  fun, 
both  in  cartoons  and  trick  photography,  the  whole  ap- 
pealing in  its  individual  way  for  the  betterment  and 
advancement  of  every  motion  picture  lover. 

Every  subject  is  treated  differently,  giving  won- 
derful variety.  The  psychological  experiments  are  in 
a  way  absolutely  incomparable  with  anything  ever  at- 
tempted in  motion  pictures.  They  are  entirely  dif- 
ferent from  all  other  plans  used  for  mental  "develop- 
ment. They  have  introduced  a  new  means  by  which 
a  new  era  in  the  motogTaphic  entertainment  is  opened. 
Here,  for  the  first  time,  persons  in  the  audience  are 
not  simply  passive  spectators  who  see  their  plays,  or 
news,  or  other  demonstrations,  but  are  able  to  do 
something  and  are  playing  a  game  they  enjoy,  and 
which  at  the  time,  instructs  them. 

The  child  in  the  kindergarten  learns  to  play.  The 
youth  in  the  school  room  finds  much  pleasure  in  study- 
ing the  lesson  accompanied   with   still   pictures.      But 


outside  of  the  curriculum  of  the  school  and  college,  no 
greater  medium  of  education  is  afforded  than  the  mo- 
tion picture  house,  particularly  so  now  through  the 
means  of  the  Pictographs.  The  audiences  learn  big 
things  in  a  pleasurable  manner.  They  are  not  swallow- 
ing a  big  pill  of  knowledge  as  if  they  were  forced  to 
sit  and  study.  They  see  thoughts  in  visualized  form, 
and  once  seen  they  are  never  forgotten. 

They  play  a  game.  They  call  the  game  "Testing 
the  Mind."  Hugo  von  Munsterberg  invented  the 
game.  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  issues  the 
"game"  each  week  as  a  part  of  its  big  medium  of  in- 
structive entertainment.  The  aim  of  this  one  portion 
of  the  Pictographs  is  not  mere  amusement  nor  dry 
instruction.  The  real  purpose  of  the  entire  weekly 
release  is  to  bring  every  one  in  close  touch  with  vital 
national  issues. 

Failure  on  every  side  is  principally  due  to  young 
people  rushing  into  vocations  for  which  they  are  totally 
unfit,  taking  up  work  for  which  their  minds  are  not 
made.  Workshops  would  be  a  place  of  joy  and  happi- 
ness if  everyone  found  the  right  place.  This  is  but  one 
reason  why  the  "Testing  the  Mind"  portion  of  the 
Pictographs  will  be  influentially  important. 

They  will  assist  spectators  to  build  memory  ;  to 
learn  whether  their  intelligence  works  ;  how  their  feel- 
ings respond  ;  whether  they  can  rely  on  their  percep- 
tion and  observation ;  whether  they  are  suggestible, 
discreet,  sensitive,  tempermental,  and  a  world  of  other 
things. 

In  the  first  installment  in  which  "Have  you  a  con- 
structive imagination?"  is  one  of  the  features  there  is 
visually  demonstrated  the  fact  that  many  persons  have 
wonderful  gifts  of  one  kind  or  another  but  utterly  lack 
imagination.  To  them  the  order  in  which  they  find 
things  is  final  and  they  cannot  re-arrange  the  material 
of  their  surroundings.  By  means  of  trick  photography, 
a  number  of  men  appear  on  the  screen,  each  holding  a 
candle.  From  each  candle  a  letter  pops.  They  spell 
NIOL.  You  are  told  that  the  letters  spell  an  animal. 
They  are  jumbled  together  and  then  set  aright.  The 
word 'is  LION.  So  with  a  flower,  a  town  and  a  city. 
If  the  audience  can  re-arrange  the  letters  before  they 
are  re-arranged  for  them,  it  is  assured  that  they  have 
constructive  imagination. 

The  Pictographs  are  the  visual  recorders  of  wise, 
influential  thoughts  and  have  been  received  on  all  sides 
with  greatest   enthusiasm. 


Balboa  Makes  Knickerbocker  Films 

Henry  King  is  featured  in  two  film  plays  produced 
at  the  studio  of  the  Horkheimer  Brothers,  which  will 
be  released  by  the  General  Film  Company  as  Knicker- 
bocker star  features.  One  is  "The  Big  Brother,"  deal- 
ing with  the  "big  brother"  movement.  The  other  is 
"Who  Knows,"  a  mystery  story.  Both  were  directed 
by  Mr.  King.  Two  other  Horkheimer  productions  re- 
leased as  Knickerbocker  star  features  are  "Child  of 
the  West,"  with  Jackie  Saunders,  and  "Fear  of  the 
Knife,"  with  Margaret  Landis,  making  eight  pictures 
from  this  studio  to  be  offered  under  this  brand  since 
the  first  of  the  year. 


466 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


Part  of  Billie  Burke  Film  Seen 

David  Powell,  who  took  a  feature  part  in  "The 
Dawn  of  Tomorrow,"  has  been  signed  by  George 
Kleine  to  play  the  role  of  Richard  Freneau  in  the  Ru- 
pert Hughes  novel  in  which  Miss  Billie  Burke  and 
Henry  Kolker  are  featured.  Mr.  Powell  has  had  wide 
stage  experience  both  in  this  country  and  in  England, 
where  he  played  with  Sir  H.  Beerbohm  Tree. 

There  was  a  private  showing  of  the  first  six  hun- 
dred feet  of  the  new  film  at  the  Kleine  studio  last 
week  and  the  film  was  inspected  by  George  Kleine, 
Billie  Burke  and  James  H.  Sheldon.  Mr.  Kleine  stated 
he  believed  Miss  Burke  emphasized  every  character- 
istic that  made  her  famous  on  the  stage. 

Miss  Burke  and  other  members  of  the  company 
have  chosen  Palm  Beach  for  society  scenes.  The  trip 
will  be  made  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Sheldon 
and  Director  Walter  Edwin.  Two  maids  and  a  pri- 
vate secretary  will  assist  Miss  Burke. 


Raver  to  Sell  Ocean  Films 

Arrangements  have  been  completed  whereby  the 
Raver  Film  Corporation  will  become  the  exclusive 
selling  agent  for  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation  and 
within  a  short  time  Harry  L.  Raver  expects  to  perfect 
plans  for  the  handling  the  output  of  other  companies 
producing  the  play-and-star  style  of  feature  produc- 
tions. A  lease  has  been  closed  by  Mr.  Raver  for  a 
studio  property,  one  half  hour  from  Times  Square, 
where  the  producing  companies  are  to  be  housed. 
Sixty-two  hundred  feet  of  studio  floor  space  will  be 
available  and  this  will  be  subdivided  into,  four  work- 
ing studios  for  the  average  settings  but  will  be  so  ar- 
ranged that  it  may  be  consolidated  into  one  large  space 
for  more  pretentious  scenes.  With  Mr.  Raver's  con- 
trol of  the  Augustus  Thomas  and  other  plays,  plenty 
of  fine  material  will  be  available  for  immediate  produc- 
tion. 


Pittsburgh  Show  Aids  Actors 

Thousands  of  motion  picture  enthusiasts  in  Pitts- 
burgh attended  the  entertainment  given  at  Motor  Square 
Garden  in  that  city  to  witness  the  play  given  on  February 
14  by  an  aggregation  of  stage  and  screen  stars  who  ap- 
peared in  the  interests  of  the  Actor's  Fund  of  America. 
Among  the  motion  picture  celebrities  present  were  :  Mary 
Miles  Minter,  Metro ;  Anita  Stewart,  Vitagraph ;  Hamil- 
ton Revelle,  Metro;  Hobart  Henley,  Universal;  Florence 


La  Badie,  Thanhouser ;  Billy  Quirk,  Biograph ;  Paula 
Shay,  Ivan;  Kathryn  Adams,  Thanhouser;  Wallie  Van, 
Vitagraph ;  Marguerite  Snow,  Metro ;  Teddy  Sampson, 
Equitable ;  Mrs.  Shelby,  Metro ;  Gladys  Hulette,  Mutual ; 
Mary  Maurice,  Vitagraph ;  Edith  Storey,  Vitagraph ; 
Grace  Valentine,  Metro  ;  Tefft  Johnson,  Vitagraph ;  Rose 
Stevens,  Gaumont;  Violet  Mercereau,  Universal;  Dor- 
othy Kelly,  Vitagraph;  Rose  Tapley,  Vitagraph,  and  S. 
M.  Spedon,  Vitagraph. 


Franklin  Film  Wins  Appeal 

Judge  Barrett,  of  the  Common  Pleas  court,  of  Penns- 
sylvania,  has  ruled  that  the  motion  picture  manufactur- 
ers have  the  right  to  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the 
State  Board  of  Censors,  which  may  restrict  or  forbid  the 
public  showing  of  their  products.  The  ruling  was  made 
in  the  case  of  the  film  drama  "Virtue"  on  the  appeal  of 
the  Franklin  Film  Manufacturing  Corporation.  The  mat- 
ter of  appeal  has  been  a  subject  of  bitter  controversy  for 
some  time  in  the  state.  The  picture  is  an  old-fashioned 
melodrama  which  depicts  a  contest  between  "Virtue"  and 
"Vice,"  and  the  ultimate  triumph  of  "Virtue." 


Trade  Indorses  "One  Day" 

The  B.  S.  Moss  Motion  Picture  Corporation  gave 
an  advance  showing  recently  to  the  trade  of  its  latest 
feature,  "One  Day,"  a  sequel  to  "Three  Weeks,"  by 
Elinor  Glyn.  The  play  received  enthusiastic  com- 
ments. Hal  Clarendon  directed  the  production.  The 
cast  includes  Jeanne  Iver  and  Victor  Sutherland,  and 
the  story  has  an  interesting  plot  and  thrilling  scenic 
effects,  among  them  a  rainstorm,  a  sensational  fight 
aboard  a  sinking  ocean  liner,  and  the  overthrow  of  a 
king  by  a  mob  large  enough  to  people  a  town.  Jeanne 
Iver  is  cast  as  "Opal,"  a  young  girl  who  becomes  queen 
of  Veseria,  of  which  "Paul,"  played  by  Victor  Suther- 
land, is  king. 


Criticizes  Film  Advertising 

George  A.  Magie,  of  the  War  Film  Syndicate, 
managers  of  the  release,  "On  the  Firing  Line  With 
the  Germans,"  is  calling  attention  to  the  fact  that  cer- 
tain published  documents,  "Kriegsausgabe,"  or  war 
cards,  supposed  to  prove  the  authenticity  of  other 
German  war  pictures,  are  really  Berlin  police  permits 
allowing  the  exhibition  of  a  weekly  newsletter.  "Ber- 
lin Unzeitung,"  containing  local  and  camp  scenes  prior 
to  April  24,  1915.  Also  the  printed  permit  is  for  600 
feet  of  film,  while  the  company  handling  the  pictures 
advertises  6,000  feet. 


Raver  Gets  Austrian  Films 

The  Raver  Film  Corporation,  by  special  arrangement 
with  the  Austrian  government,  announces  it  has  boon 
made  the  official  distributor  for  the  films  of  the  Austro- 
I  lungarian  empire  taken  by  enlisted  photographers  at  the 
front.  The  films  comprise  thirty  thousand  feet  of  neg- 
ative taken  to  determine  the  behavior  of  the  men  at  the 
front,  and  are  of  especial  interest  as  showing  for  the  first 
time  the  Austrian  side  of  the  war  with  the  authority  of 
the  Austrian  government.  The  Raver  Film  Company  will 
issue  the  films  in  fifteen  installments  of  two  reels  each, 
every  installment  complete.  Arrangements  for  exclusive 
territory  will  be  made,  either  on  a  basis  of  outright  sale 
or  flat  rental. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Public  Its  Own  Censor 

SAYS  MUTUAL  HEAD 


THAT  the  individual  exhibitor  can  be  a  big  factor 
in  the  education  of  the  people  to  the  rights  of  the 
motion  picture  as  opposed  to  censorship  is  the 
opinion  of  President  Freuler,  of  the  Mutual  Film  Cor- 
poration, who  believes  that  the  exhibitor  should  be 
awakened  to  the  situation  and  enlisted  to  use  his  power 
of  the  screen  in  presenting  the  censorship  issue  to  the 
people. 

In  the  first  place  Mr.  Freuler  contends  that  the 
censorship  fight  is  not  a  selfish  effort  on  behalf  of 
the  motion  picture  industry  but  that  it  is  one  for  the 
rights  of  the  public  which  is  served  by  the  motion 
picture. 

"It  is  up  to  the  exhibitor  to  carry  on  a  campaign 
against  censors  among  the  people  of  the  nation,"  said 
Mr.  Freuler  in  an  interview,  "for  he  is  in  direct  con- 
tact with  them  and  they  hear  from  him  every  day  on 
his  screen  and  because  he  is  the  publisher  of  the 
motion  picture  the  problem  of  censorship  is  his  as 
well  as  the  producer  and  manufacturer. 

"Large  sums  of  money  are  being  spent  by  the 
Mutual  and  other  companies  who  are  aligned  in  the 
fight  for  the  rights  of  the  industry,  but  our  efforts  will 
count  for  little  unless  the  exhibitor  helps  and  takes 
advantage  of  his  position  to  put  the  question  up  to 
the  people. 

"The  exhibitor  must  let  the  people  know  that  there 
is  a  movement  for  censorship ;  that  somebody  or  a  col- 
lection of  somebodies  is  trying  to  dictate  to  them  what 
shall  be  published  on  the  screen  for  the  people.  The 
great  mass  of  people  will  not  understand  that  their 
rights  are  at  stake  in  the  censorship  question  unless  the 
exhibitors  tell  them.  The  people  and  patrons  of  the 
photodrama  are  the  best  judges  of  what  they  them- 
selves want  to  see  and  they  are  the  best  censors  of 
their  own  desires  and  dislikes. 

"Any  exhibitor  will  admit  that  he  is  presenting 


clean  entertainment  to  the  public  now.  He  is  not 
running  indecent  pictures.  He  is  not  offered  any  by 
the  established  picture  concerns,  which  would  lay  him 
open  to  a  charge  of  operating  an  obscene  theater.  His 
patrons  attend  his  show  every  day  and  they  are  typical, 
good  American  citizens.  The  standards  of  the  pic- 
tures presented  to  them  are  their  standards  and  if  the 
motion  picture  of  today  was  not  in  tune  with  the  high 
moral  standards  of  the  great  American  people  those 
same  people  would  turn  their  backs  on  the  motion  pic- 
ture. The  American  people  can  be  relied  on  to  act  as 
their  own  censors." 

Storm  Delays  Films 

That  the  storm  and  flood  in  California  caused  con- 
siderable trouble  and  tied  up  business  activities  to  a 
certain  extent  and  made  it  hard  for  the  exchanges  to 
keep  the  wheels  of  progress  greased  is  borne  out  in  the 
experiences  encountered  in  more  than  one  instance. 

In  the  case  of  the  Empress  theater  at  Redlands, 
Cal.,  the  storm  put  every  railroad  and  electric  line  out 
of  service,  while  boulevards  were  transformed  into 
swirling  rivers  and  bridges  swept  away.  Weeks  in 
advance  the  manager  had  done  considerable  advertis- 
ing on  the  coming  of  "Damaged  Goods"  and  it  was 
necessary  to  get  the  film  or  stand  a  big  loss. 

Just  before  the  telephone  lines  went  out  T.  W. 
Johns,  manager  of  the  Los  Angeles  Mutual  office,  in- 
formed the  manager  of  the  Empress  that  every  effort 
would  be  made  to  get  the  film  there  on  time.  It  was 
impossible  to  find  a  jitney  driver  or  garage  owner  who 
would  risk  the  job  and  finally  FI.  F.  Reitch,  head 
booker  of  the  Los  Angeles  exchange,  and  C.  E. 
Cochard,  "The  Girl  and  the  Game"  representative, 
started  in  a  car  at  7:30  in  the  morning  for  Redlands. 

At  noontime  they  had  completed  half  of  the  jour- 
ney but  had  acquired  a  broken  spring,  which  was  re- 
paired as  well  as  possible  with  a  baling  wire  and  not 


468 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


long  afterwards  the  heavy  car  skidded  into  an  "onion 
orchard,"  hesitating  only  when  hub  deep  in  mud. 

Reitch  was  left  in  charge  of  the  car  while  Cochard 
managed  to  get  a  lift  on  a  passing  automobile  and  in 
due  time  arrived  at  Colton,  fifteen  miles  from  Red- 
lands.  Here  he  rented  another  machine  and  when  the 
Santa  Ana  River  was  reached  it  was  found  that  only 
one  bridge  was  standing  and  that  was  about  gone  as 
the  torrent  had  washed  away  the  underpinning  and  in 
the  center  the  rails  were  suspended  by  the  ties. 

Finally  a  [Mexican  was  induced  to  cross  the  bridge, 
crawling  on  his  hands  and  knees,  pushing  the  case  of 
reels  ahead  of  him.  (  )n  the  other  side  he  delivered  it 
to  another  man  who  --aw  that  it  was  safely  delivered  to 
the  Empress. 

The  Mexican  on  coming  back  across  the  bridge., 
staggered  to  his  feet  and  raising  his  right  hand  said  : 
"Nunca  no  mas,  por  jo"  (Never  again  for  me). 

"Inspiration,"  the  Mutual  "masterpicture,"  is  to 
be  presented  to  a  jury  composed  of  the  public  next 
week  at  the  Alhambra  theater  in  Middleton,  N.  Y., 
where  there  was  some  opposition  after  it  had  been 
shown.  Mr.  Goetz,  the  exhibitor,  booked  and  ran  it 
some  time  ago  with  a  big  attendance  and  the  picture 
received  the  approval  of  the  leading  citizens,  excepting 
a  minister  from  New  York,  called  to  Middleton  by  a 
local  women's  club. 

Shortly  afterwards  a  paid  advertisement  denounc- 
ing; the  picture  appeared  in  one  of  the  Middleton  news- 
papers. Not  desiring  to  have  this  attack  go  by  un- 
answered, Mr.  Goetz  made  special  arrangements  for  a 
special  showing  and  on  February  29  the  leading  citi- 
zens and  officials  of  Middleton  have  been  invited,  as 
well  as  ministers,  clubwomen,  church  workers  and 
social  leaders,  and  not  only  will  the  picture  be  rerun 
but  Miss  Audrey  Munson,  the  world  famous  model 
for  sculptors  and  artists,  who  was  the  leading  subject 
in  the  picture  in  which  she  appeared  as  an  undraped 
model,  will  be  on  hand  to  talk  before  any  body  of 
women  or  any  of  the  women's  clubs  of  the  city  about 
her  work  and  her  opinion  of  the  picture  in  which  she 
appears. 

"I  ax- ill  not  permit  the  name  of  my  theater  to  be 
attacked  with  impunity,"  said  Mr.  Goetz  on  the  occa- 
sion of  his  call  at  the  offices  of  the  Mutual  Film  Cor- 
poration. "I  have  been  operating  the  Alhambra  since 
I  built  it,  now  nearly  three  years  ago,  and  I  have  built 
for  the  house  a  clean,  fair  name,  a  good  reputation. 
The  Alhambra  has  been  known  as  the  place  to  see 
clean  pictures.  It  is  a  place  where  families,  school 
children,  and  our  best  citizens  have  sought  their 
amusement.  I  have  shown  all  of  the  best  pictures 
there  that  I  have  been  able  to  book.  The  Mutual 
special  release  of  'Damaged  Goods'  was  shown  at  the 
Alhambra  and  won  for  me  the  unsolicited  testimonials 
of  the  people  whose  judgment  I  hold  the  highest. 

"I  am  willing  to  leave  the  question  about  'Inspira- 
tion' or  any  other  picture  that  I  may  run  at  the  Al- 
hambra n])  to  the  judgment  of  my  patrons." 


C.  C.  Wilkenning,  Inc.,  220  \V.  Forty-second 
street.  New  York,  has  been  made  manager  for  Ruth 
Blair,  leading  woman  and  motion  picture  feature  star. 

Miss  Blair's  latest  screen  appearance  was  in  the 
William  Fox  feature-  "The  Fourth  Kstate."  Prior  to 
her  advent  into  pictures,  she  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Selwyn  &  Company.  Miss  Blair  is  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  tail  and  slender,  has  golden  brown 
hair  and  large  brown  eyes. 


Knappen  at  Pathe's  Atlanta  Branch 

Harry  L.  Knappen  has  been  placed  in  charge  of 
the  Atlanta  branch  of  the  Pathe  Exchange,  Inc..  after 
six  months  in  the  same  capacity  at  Denver,  and  in 
his  new  position  will  have  control  of  the  Pathe  in- 
terests in  that  territory,  which  includes  Georgia.  Flor- 
ida and  parts  of  South  Carolina  and  Alabama.  It  is 
considered  one  of  the  most  important  subdivisions  of 
the  United  States  from  the  motion  picture  standpoint 
and  Mr.  Knappen  was  selected  from  a  list  of  man- 
agers in  28  cities  to  represent  the  company  there. 

Mr.  Knappen  is  a  former  newspaper  man  and  se- 
cured his  first  experience  in  the  motion  picture  busi- 
ness as  manager  of  a  photoplay  magazine  connected 
with  the  American  theater  in  Salt  Pake  City  and  was 
enlisted  by  the  Pathe  company  there  and  was  finally 
transferred  to  a  bigger  field  at  San  Francisco,  after 
which  he  relieved  F.  C.  Quimby  at  Denver  as  man- 
ager, the  latter  going  to  Seattle. 


Tom  Mix  Still  a  Daredevil 

Tom  Mix,  the  Selig  cowboy  star,  accomplishes 
another  one  of  his  daring  feats  in  the  western  drama. 
"The  Passing  of  Pete,"  released  in  General  Film  service. 
Mix,  in  this  drama,  takes  the  role  of  a  western  desper- 
ado. Real  bullets  are  used  which  kick  up  the  dust  on  all 
sides  of  the  bandit.  Finally  a  bullet  is  supposed  to  hit 
"Pete"  and  he  pitches  headlong  down  the  side  of  a  steep 
declivity.  It  is  Tom  Mix  who  does  the  sensational  head- 
long tumble,  and  the  feat  is  both  thrilling  and  hazardous. 


Automic  Camera  Invented 

What  is  said  to  be  the  successful  operation  of  an 
automatic  camera  invented  by  J.  Gordon  Edwards. 
director  for  William  Fox,  is  reported  in  connection 
with  the  work  on  the  feature  films  in  which  Robert  B. 
Mantell  and  Genevieve  Hamper  are  starring.  No 
cameraman  was  needed  and  Director  Edwards  used 
the  new  device  in  filming  "The  Spider  and  the  Fly," 
the  next  release  in  which  Mr.  Mantell  will  be  seen. 


Raver  Provides  Attractive  Paper 

A  convincing  line  of  advertising  matter  is  being 
issued  with  the  Raver  Film  Corporation's  release  "The 
Other  Girl."  The  posters  range  from  one  to  six  sheets^ 
the  latter  being  a  splendid  view  of  an  accident  on 
Broadway.  In  the  printing  of  this  paper  the  (iocs 
Lithographing  Company  is  using  four  distinctive  basic 
colors  which,  combined,  give  many  different  hues. 


James  Cooley  Replaces  Cummings 

James  Cooley  has  been  selected  to  replace  Irving 
Cummings,  wdio  was  to  have  played  opposite  Maude 
Fealy  in  the  Ivan  Film  production  of  "The  Immortal 
Flame,"  according  to  a  statement  sent  out  by  Jacques 
Ivopfstein,  director  of  publicity  for  the  [van  Film  Pro- 
ductions. Inc.,  New  York. 


Tl 


second  annual  ball  of  the  Showman's  League 
of  America  was  held  February  Id  al  the  Lexington  hotel 
and  unusually  large  number  of  members  and  their  friends 
enjoyed  the  festivities.  The  event  was  declared  to  be  one 
of  the  most  successful  social  events  ever  given  by  the  or- 
ganization in  Chicago,  by  Yat  Keisv,  the  chairman  of  the 
executive  committee. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Forecasts  End  of  Single  Reels 

ROWLAND  SEES  RADICAL  CHANGE 


DISCUSSING  matters  that  manufacturers  must 
consider  in  the  future,  Richard  A.  Rowland,  presi- 
dent of  the  Metro  Picture  Corporation,  points  out 
that  there  are  at  least  two  important  features  in  the  pro- 
duction of  a  successful  film.  Efficiency  in  the  studio  from 
the  director  down  is  one  of  these,  while  the  second  is  the 
value  of  making  the  feature  picture  the  correct  length 
and  to  avoid  padding  in  order  to  make  the  usual  five 
reels  or  the  customary  number  of  feet. 

That  the  feature  production  should  range  from 
3,800  to  4,000  feet  and  that  greater  length  is  tiring  on 
the  patrons,  is  the  contention  of  Mr.  Rowland.  It 
would  mean  the  saving  of  many  dollars  for  the  man- 
ufacturer and  would,  at  the  same  time,  give  the  exhib- 
itor a  greater  variety  of  features. 

Those  who  appreciate  the  demands  of  the  market 
and  the  needs  of  the  exhibitor  will,  with  all  the  present 
footage  excess,  not  only  live,  but  prosper.  The  pro- 
ducers must  be  able  to  present  the  right  kind  of  a 
picture  at  a  price  that  will  not  make  a  margin  of  profit 
impossible,  says  Mr.  Rowland. 

"I  believe  that  the  old  line  companies  will  be  the 
ones  to  suffer  most  because  they  are  handicapped  by 
their  habit  of  mind.  They  look  at  motion  pictures 
from  a  one  and  two  reel  point  of  view,  and  have  failed 
to  appreciate  the  different  conditions  that  obtain  in  the 
feature   market. 

"The  feature  picture  has  nothing  whatever  to  do 
with  length.  It's  type,  story  and  quality  that  makes 
the  feature,  and  the  good  picture  is  the  only  picture 
that  has  a  chance. 

"To  my  mind  there  is  no  excuse  for  a  poor  pic- 
ture. There  are  so  many  things  that  go  into  the  mak- 
ing of  a  moving  picture  play  that  it  resolves  itself  to 
a  method  of  treatment  pure  and  simple.  To  many  man- 
ufacturers, in  fact,  the  whole  tendency  seems  to  be  to 


find  tense,  gripping,  dramatic  situations  and  build 
everything  along  those  lines.  This  is  impossible.  Sup- 
pose a  director  is  given  a  scenario  for  a  weak,  some- 
what impossible  story.  Instead  of  trying  to  bolster  it 
up  and  make  something  of  it  which  is  impossible  of 
execution,  let  him  turn  to  some  of  the  other  phases 
of  successful  picture  production.  Let  him  subordinate 
the  story,  the  plot  and  incorporate  beauty,  atmosphere 
and  unusual  photography.  There  is  always  some  man- 
ner of  treatment  that  will  evolve  a  good  picture  if 
it  is  properly  carried  out.  The  difficulty  is  to  find  it, 
but  that  is  just  what  the  director  is  paid  to  do.  If  he 
can't  do  it,  then  it  is  up  to  the  manufacturer  to  find 
the  man  who  can. 

"There  is  another  sweeping  change  that  is  going 
to  come  over  the  moving  picture  industry  in  the  very 
near  future,  and  that  is  the  elimination  to  a  large  ex- 
tent of  the  wasteful  director.  There  has  got  to  be 
evolved  a  position  for  some  man  who  will  become  a 
director  of  directors ;  one  who  shall  act  as  a  curb  in 
keeping  the  director  within  reason,  and  limiting  to  a 
large  extent  the  amount  of  money  he  shall  spend  on 
production.  Too  many  directors  have  been  handed  a 
bank  roll  and  told  to  go  ahead,  with  the  result  that 
the  cost  of  production  has  been  out  of  all  proportion 
to  the  quality  of  the  picture. 

"Another  trouble  with  the  feature  picture  is,  that 
it  is  too  long.  I  am  speaking  of  the  average  feature, 
not  the  unusual  picture  replete  with  tense,  gripping 
situations.  But  you  will  notice  if  you  go  to  a  theater 
that  about  the  time  the  fourth  reel  .of  a  feature  has 
been  finished  you  are  tired  looking  at  it,  and  the  people 
around  you  are  tired.  Just  what  does  this  mean?  It 
can  only  mean  one  thing,  and  that  is  that  the  proper 
length  for  an  average  feature  picture  is  about  thirty- 
eight  hundred  to  four  thousand  feet.     Were  features 


E.   K.   Lincoln — Lubin. 


Frank   Powell— World-Equitable. 


470 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


made  in  this  length  it  would  result  in  better  satisfac- 
tion all  around.  It  would  mean  a  saving  to  the  manu- 
facturer of  at  least  a  thousand  dollars  on  prints  alone ; 
it  would  please  the  exhibitor  because  he  would  have 
a  chance  to  vary  his  program  to  a  greater  degree,  and 
it  would  eventually  please  the  public,  for  it  would  be 
getting  better  and  greater  variety  of  pictures.  I  never 
believe  in  padding  a  picture  out  to  make  up  the  re- 
quired footage.  I  think  a  picture  should  be  made  in 
the  length  that  suits  its  worth,  but  conditions  are  such 
in  the  market  today  that  this  plan  cannot  always  be 
followed. 

"But  to  get  back  to  our  original  subject.  The 
industry  as  a  whole  is  in  a  chaotic  condition,  and  the 
next  year  will  witness  some  revolutionary  changes. 
The  company  that  can  weather  this  period  of  upheaval 
and  tearing  down  will  have  a  mighty  fine  organization 
when  the  storm  is  over." 


Maude  Fealy  is  Starred  by  Ivan 

Picturedom  has  once  again  been  favored  with 
the  pleasing  personality  of  Maude  Fealy,  one  of 
the  first  stars  of  the  legitimate  to  grace  the  screen. 
Several  years  ago  Miss  Fealy  appeared  in  mul- 
tiple reel  films,  then 
a  new  thing  to  the 
market,  and  in  these 
special  releases 
scored  an  instanta- 
neous success,  sec- 
ond only  to  the  fame 
accorded  her  on  the 
speaking  stage. 
Maude  Fealy  first 
won  distinction  by 
her  portrayal  of 
"Eunice"  in  "Quo 
V  a  d  i  s,"  and  her 
success  was  such 
that  she  was  en- 
gaged by  William 
Gillette  to  support 
h  i  m  in  "Sherlock 
Holme  s."  Later, 
Miss  Fealy  enacted 
the  roles  hitherto 
created  by  Ellen 
Terry  in  support  of 
the  great  Sir  Henry  Irving  and  she  completely  capti- 
vated the  London  public.  Returning  to  her  America, 
Maude  Fealy  was  starred  under  the  direction  of  John 
Cort  in  such  well  known  successes  as  "The  Illusion  of 
Beatrice,"  "The  Stronger  Sex,"  "The  Right  Princess," 
and  others.  She  left  Mr.  Cort's  management  to  enter 
filmdom  and  the  great  success  she  achieved  is  now 
screen  history.  Recently  Miss  Fealy  associated  herself 
with  the  Ivan  Film  Productions,  desiring  to  avail  her- 
self of  the  opportunity  to  be  starred  under  Ivan  Abram- 
spn,  whom  she  considers  one  of  lilmdom's  most  artistic 
and  original   directors. 


Accompanied  by  a  stage  director,  music  director 
and  operator,  ( iuy  Croswell  Smith  sailed  on  the  Lam- 
piorl  Molt  liner  "Vauban"  for  Buenos  Ayres,  Argen- 
tina, as  general  representative  of  the  "Birth  of  a  Na- 
tion" companies.  It  is  the  intention  to  show  the  D. 
W.  Griffith  masterpiece  in  the  southern  city  on  the 
same  scale  as  presented  in  this  country. 


Edison  Company  in  Cuba 

Director  Richard  Ridgely,  with  a  company  of  Ed- 
ison players,  has  left  New  York  for  a  three  months' 
stay  in  Cuba.  Among  the  pictures  they  will  film  is 
an  adaptation  of  Elbert  Hubbard's  "The  Message  to 
Garcia,"  in  which  Mabel  Trunnelle  will  appear  as  a 
Spanish  girl  spy.  Scenes  for  the  completion  of  the 
Kleine-Edison  "The  Ladder  of  Ambition,"  in  which 
Mabel  Trunnelle  and  Robert  Conness  are  featured, 
also  will  be   taken. 


"Traffic  in  Souls"   Sequel  Ready 

"The  Birth  of  Character"  in  which  William  Court- 
leigh  is  starred,  and  "The  Heart  of  New  York,"  in 
which  Robert  T.  Haines  makes  his  film  debut,  are 
being  offered  to  state  rights  buyers  by  the  Claridge 
Films,  Inc.,  with  offices  in  the  Longacre  building,  New 
York.  Mrs.  Agnes  Egan  Cobb  is  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  this  company.  "The  Heart  of  New 
York"  is  a  sequel  to  "Traffic  in  Souls,"  and  was  writ- 
ten and  produced  by  AValter  McNamara. 


Offers  Chance  for  Writers 

Because  there  is  no  suitable  scenario  on  hand  in 
the  Lubin  studios  for  Eleanor  Dunn,  ten  year  old 
screen  star,  this  expensive  child  is  compelled  to  remain 
idle.  Daniel  Ellis,  editor  of  the  scenario  department, 
Lubin  studios,  20th  and  Indiana  avenue,  Philadelphia, 
is  calling  for  help,  three  reels  of  it. 


Important  changes  have  been  announced  by  J.  A. 
Berst,  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  Pathe. 
W.  A.  S.  Douglas  becomes  director  of  production  and 
leaves  shortly  for  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  will 
supervise  in  the  Balboa  studios  the  making  of  a  new 
serial.  P.  Allen  Parsons  is  manager  of  publicity  and 
advertising,  with  Bertram  Millhauser  and  Harry  J. 
Walsh  as  assistants.  George  A.  Smith  becomes  mana- 
ger of  publicity  on  serials,  with  H.  W.  Francis,  form- 
erly of  the  Pathe  News,  as  his  assistant.  E.  J.  O'Con- 
nor remains  in  charge  of  the  poster  department. 

All  of  these  departments  will,  of  course,  receive 
the  personal  attention  of  Mr.  Berst. 


Director  E.  H.  Calvert,  of  the  Essanay  Company, 
has  returned  from  the  Canadian  border  above  Virginia, 
Minnesota,  with  his  troupe,  and  is  more  than  elated  with 
the  success  of  the  quest  for  the  proper  settings  for  "Be- 
yond the  Law,"  the  new  photoplay  taken  from  Henry 
Oyen's  "The  Snowburner  Pays,"  sequel  to  "The  Snow- 
burner."  Mr.  Calvert  plays  the  lead  in  the  piece  with 
Marguerite  Clayton  and  all  told  the  party  of  ten  made  a 
stay  of  two  weeks  with  the  weather  so  cold  at  times  that 
it  was  hard  to  make  a  still  and  even  difficult  at  times  to 
work  the  motion  picture  camera. 


Mayor  John  M.  Buschemeyer,  of  Louisville,  has  re- 
fused to  take  any  action  against  the  showing  of  the  film. 
"The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  which  is  scheduled  for  a  run 
there  in  the  near  future.  The  mayor  informed  a  dele- 
gation of  citizens  who  called  upon  him  thai  he  could  see 
no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  shown  and  that  it  was  of 
a  purely  historical  nature  and  that  it  should  not  he  con- 
strued as  a  reflection  on  the  negro  race.  Steps  were  taken 
some  weeks  ago  by  former  city  attorney  Clayton  Blakey 
and  other  white  men  to  bar  the  picture  :n   Louisville. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Increases  Business 

MONTREAL  OFFICES  OPENED 


STARTING  with  a  group  of  five  offices  just  ten 
months  ago  the  rapid  growth  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E. 
is  shown  in  a  recent  statement  from  the  general 
headquarters  announcing  that  the  "big  four"  combina- 
tion now  has  in  operation  twenty-three  exchanges,  the 
latest  addition  being  a  new  sub-office  opened  at  204 
Saint  Catherine  street,  Montreal. 

Of  the  twenty-three  exchanges  in  this  country  and 
in  Canada  there  are  seventeen  branches,  known  as 
buying  offices,  and  six  sub-offices,  and  the  establishment 
of  the  Montreal  office  took  place  just  a  month  after  the 
opening  of  the  Toronto  main  office  in  charge  of  W.  C. 
Gookin,  who  is  in  control  of  all  the  Canadian  business. 

Hardly  had  that  office  been  opened,  however,  be- 
fore Mr.  Gookin  found  it  necessary  to  urge  that  an 
office  be  opened  in  Montreal  as  the  growth  of  the 
V.  L.  S.  E.  business  in  Canada  was  so  pressing  that 
it  was  impossible  to  handle  the  situation  with  a  road 
force  and  a  single  office  in  Toronto. 

While  this  was  taking  place  in  Canada  it  was  also 
found  necessary  to  make  changes  in  this  country,  and 
the  St.  Louis  office  has  been  converted  into  a  branch 
from  a  sub-office  which  has  been  under  the  manage- 
ment of  S.  W.  Hatch,  who  has  been  in  charge  of  the 
"big  four"  interests  in  that  city  for  some  time  and  who 
will  continue  in  charge.  Heretofore  the  St.  Louis 
office  has  been  a  part  of  the  Kansas  City  branch,  but 
the  increase  in  business  necessitated  the  expansion  to 
give  quicker  service  and  to  issue  additional  prints. 

Selling  Force  Increased 

In  the  selling  force  it  has  been  necessary  to  make 
additions  almost  every  week  since  the  organization  of 
the  "big  four"  and  only  recently  a  number  of  important 
appointments  have  been  announced  at  Washington, 
Philadelphia,   New   York  and   Atlanta.     At   the    New 


York  office  two  acquisitions  to  the  sales  force  are  M. 
Morrison,  who  has  been  assigned  to  cover  Upper  Man- 
hattan and  a  territory  to  the  north,  and  Will  H.  Irvine, 
who  will  cover  the  territory  which  takes  in  a  part  of 
Brooklyn  and  Long  Island.  The  latter  has  been  in  the 
film  industry  for  some  years  and  at  one  time  had 
an  exchange  of  his  own  and  originally  was  manager  at 
Washington  for  the  World  Film  Corporation,  while 
Mr.  Morrison  is  new  to  the  film  world,  having  been 
identified  with  the  motor  truck  business.  All  told,  the 
New  York  sales  force  has  nine  representatives  on  its 
staff,  including  those  connected  with  the  recently 
opened  sub-office  in  Syracuse. 

At  Washington,  S.  J.  Major  has  been  added  to  the 
force  to  cover  the  city  of  Baltimore,  part  of  the  state  of 
Maryland  and  that  part  of  Virginia  which  is  served 
by  Washington.  Mr.  Major  formerly  was  manager  for 
the  General  Film  Company  in  Washington,  and  has 
also  been  connected  with  the  World  Film  Corporation 
and  the  Inter-State  Film  Company.  At  Philadelphia 
R.  Bins  has  been  announced  as  a  recent  addition  to  the 
sales  force  and  will  travel  in  Delaware,  part  of  Mary- 
land and  the  section  of  New  Jersey  which  is  in  Phila- 
delphia territory.  At  Atlanta,  H.  P.  Allen  has  been' 
promoted  from  the  position  of  shipper  to  that  of 
booker,  and  it  is  understood  that  another  salesman  will 
be  added  to  the  Atlanta  office  in  the  immediate  future 
which  will  give  the  Atlanta  office  a  traveling  force  of 
four  representatives. 

Complete  program  service  will  be  available 
through  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  with  the  release  this  week  of 
a  one-reel  comedy,  together  with  the  regular  releases 
of  the  Hearst-Vitagraph  pictorial,  which  is  being 
booked  through  the  "big  four"  offices. 

The  report  is  prevalent  through  the  trade  that  the 
release  of  the  shorter  subjects  is  simply  the  beginning 


right— Dr.  Albert  A.  Loz 


;  Dwight    L.  Elmendorf,  president;  Wm.   Cadoret,  z 


472 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


of  other  releases  of  a  similar  nature  to  be  made  by  the 
other  producing  members  of  the  organization. 

These  comedies  are  absolutely  independent  of  the . 
regular  features  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  In  other  words,  an 
exhibitor  can  book  any  or  all  of  these  comedies,  regard- 
less of  whether  he  is  using  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program. 
Frank  Daniels  will  be  featured  in  the  first  of  these 
comedies  and  he  will  be  followed  by  Sidney  Drew,  and 
re-issues  of  Vitagraph's  most  popular  comedies,  featur- 
ing John  Bunny. 

This  policy,  of  course,  differs  from  that  usually 
pursued  by  the  other  distributing  companies  which 
handle  both  features  and  short  subjects,  the  one  gener- 
ally having  been  used  to  promote  the  other.  It  is  be- 
lieved, however,  that  such  a  policy  is  in  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  exhibitors,  but  that  as  in  the  case  of  the 
"open  booking"  method  of  renting  its  features,  exhibi- 
tors should  be  permitted  to  select  that  which  they  de- 
sire, regardless  of  any  other  consideration. 

This  does  not  mean  that  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  intends  to 
lessen  its  efforts  to  make  its  features  measure  up  to 
the  very  highest  requirements  of  the  trade,  but  as  a 
matter  of  fact  it  is  stated  that  the  producing  com- 
panies are  already  working  on  plans  which  will  insure 
the  V.  L.  S.  E.  greater  success. 

Lubin   Gets  Rex  Beach 

One  of  the  latest  announcements  along  this  line 
has  to  do  with  the.  contract  just  signed  by  the  Lubin 
-Company  with  Rex  Beach,  whereby  all  the  output  of 
that  widely  known  author  will  be  produced  exclusively 
by  that  company.  Plans  are  under  way  for  the  pro- 
duction of  "The  Barrier,"  "  The  Silver  Horde,"  and 
the  "Iron  Trail."  At  the  present  time  it  is  expected 
that  these  will  be  produced  in  the  order  named  and  no 
expense  will  be  spared  in  order  to  rival  or  surpass  the 
most  noteworthy  productions  which  have  been  made 
of  Mr.  Beach's  works. 

At  the  same  time  Essanay  is  planning  some  stir- 
ring productions  of  unusual  merit  to  follow  the  "Vul- 
tures of  Society,"  which  was  released  last  week.  This 
has  made  a  big  hit  with  reviewers  for  its  strong  por- 
trayal of  life  in  the  real.  "The  Discard"  follows.  In 
March  the  same  company  will  release  "The  Havoc"  in 
five  reels,  written  by  E.  S.  Sheldon. 

The  Selig  Company  will  follow  "Thou  Shalt  Not 
Covet"  with  "Unto  Those  A'Vho  Sin,"  which  is  to  be 
released  in  March  and  will  have  Miss  Fritzi  Brunnette 
as  the  feminine  star.  From  Vitagraph  the  V.  L.  S.  E. 
has  received  a  complete  schedule  of  releases  tip  until 
June  5.  For  February  28  the  release  is  "For  a  Wom- 
an's Fair  Name,"  with  Robert  Edeson,  Bulalie  Jensen, 
Harry  Morey,  William  Dunn,  and  Belle  Bruce.  "The 
Hunted  Women"  will  be  ready  the  first  week  in  March, 
and  is  a  story  of  the  building  of  the  last  great  railroad 
through  the  Canadian  Rockies. 

"The  Flero  of  Submarine  D.2"  is  the  new  name  of 
the  widely  heralded  sensational  feature  "Colton  U.  S. 
N.,"  which  is  dated  lor  release  on  March  13.  The 
principals  are  Charles  Richrnan  and  Eleanor  Woodruff. 
"The  Two-edged  Sword"  is  scheduled  for  release  on 
March  20,  with  Edith  Storey  and  Evart  Overton  play- 
ing the  leads.  The  following  week  will  witness  the 
introduction  of  "The  Supreme  Temptation"  and  "God's 
Country  and  the  Woman,"  which  has  been  in  course  of 
preparation  at  the  Los  Angeles  studio  of  the  Vitagraph 
company,  will  be  brought  out  <>n  April  3.  Its  principals 
include  Nell  Shipman,  William  Duncan  ami  < '.rorijv 
Holt. 


Following  this  play  will  be  an  emotional  drama, 
"The  Vital  Question,"  with  Virginia  Pearson  and 
Anders  Randolph,  and  the  succeeding  week  will  mark 
the  release  of  "Artie,"  with  Charles  Richrnan  and  Ar- 
line  Pretty.  A  large  cast  of  principals  are  used  in  the 
release  of  April  24,  entitled  "A  Rift  in  the  Lute."  This 
includes  Donald  Hall,  Dorothy  Kelly,  Harry  Morey, 
Louise  Beaudet  and  Bobby  Connelly. 

In  the  May  release  will  be  "The  Ordeal  of  Eliza- 
beth," which  is  due  to  appear  on  May  8,  and  the  pre- 
ceding week  "The  Redemption  of  Dave  Darey"  will 
be  released,  followed  by  "The  Shop  Girl,"  "The  Silver 
Spell,"  "Degeneration,"  formerly  known  as  "The  Pa- 
triot," and  on  June  5  will  come  "Joan  Thursday." 


Kellerman  Film  Half  Finished 

The  new  Annette  Kellerman  picture  which  the 
William  Fox  Company  is  making  at  Kingston,  Ja- 
maica, is  reported  as  being  half  finished  and  will  be 
completed  by  April.  So  far  it  is  said  that  $700,000  has 
been  spent  on  salaries  and  equipment  and  that  when  it 
is  ready  for  exhibition  the  total  cost  will  figure  over  a 
million  dollars. 

With  more  than  ten  thousand  persons  being  used 
in  some  of  the  big  scenes  the  task  of  Herbert  Brenon, 
the  director  general,  is  no  small  one,  and  it  has  been  all 
the  more  hard  to  handle  for  reason  of  the  fact  that 
the  scenes  have  not  been  taken  in  sections  but  at  one 
shot  of  the  camera. 

In  the  handling  of  the  hundreds  of  mermaids  in  the 
water  scenes  the  problem  was  not  as  great  as  it  was 
where  thousands  of  natives,  untrained  and  uneducated 
were  used  and,  needless  to  say,  it  took  considerable 
drilling  to  get  the  proper  action. 


Seven  theaters  within  seven  miles,  on  Broadway 
between  38th  and  165th  streets  in  New  York  City,  are 
showing  Triangle  pictures.  This  computation  of  a  the- 
ater a  mile  does  not  include  the  many  houses  in  side 
streets  or  other  avenues  where  Triangle  plays  may  be 
seen.  Brooklyn  reports  41  theaters  using  the  Griffith- 
Ince-Sennett  features,  while  Philadelphia  theatergoers 
have  their  choice  of  28  first  class  Triangle  houses. 


February  26.   191  d 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Martin  Predicts  Gaumont  Success 


RETURNS  TO  NEW  YORK 


BACK  from  a  month's  sojourn  at  the  Jacksonville, 
Fla.,  winter  studios  of  the  Gaumont  company,  F.  G. 
Bradford,  general  manager,  is  in  New  York  well 
pleased  with  the  way  things  have  been  progressing.  He 
is  enthusiastic  over  the  new  release,  "The  Dead  Alive," 
the  latest  production  of  his  company,  in  which  Miss  Mar- 
guerite Courtot  is  starred. 

All  of  the  Gaumont  companies  are  in  full  swing, 
working  on  five-reel  features  for  release  as  Mutual  "Mas- 
terpictures"  and  Mr.  Bradford  was  not  only  able  to  watch 
their  work,  but  he  got  an  excellent  idea  of  how  everything 
was  going  and  more  than  a  fair  idea  of  the  prospects  of 
the  pictures  now  being  made. 

"The  work  at  Jacksonville  was  so  interesting  that 
I  hated  to  come  back  north,"  he  said  at  the  Flushing 
studio  of  the  Gaumont  concern.  "I  consider  one  of  the 
most  enjoyable  events  of  my  visit  to  be  the  witnessing  of 
the  final  scenes  of  'The  Dead  Alive,'  and  as  this  is  the 
first  Gaumont  production  in  which  Miss  Marguerite 
Courtot  is  featured  I  naturally  took  a  great  interest  in 
the  production.  I  feel  that  we  are  more  than  justified  in 
our  faith  of  Miss  Courtot  as  one  of  the  leading  film  stars 
of  the  day,  and  in  this  production  I  feel  safe  in  saying 
that  she  has  exceeded  anything  she  has  done  in  the  past. 

"Whether  this  is  due  to  a  sympathetic  bond  between 
Miss  Courtot  and  the  director,  Henry  J.  Vernot,  or  not 
I  cannot  say  for  sure,  but  I  believe  that  has  had  a  lot  to 
do  with  it.  Both  are  of  French  origin  and  Mr.  Vernot 
wrote  every  line  of  the  scenario  with  the  little  star  in 
mind,  so  the  part  fits  her  perfectly. 

"While  I  was  at  the  Jacksonville  plant  I  also  had  the 
chance  to  see  the  First  work  done  on  'According  to  Law' 
with  Miss  Mildred  Gregory  featured  under  the  direction 
of  Richard  Garrick.  Robert  Hall  was  brought  from  New 
York  especially  to  play  opposite  her  in  this  particular 
picture  and  there  is  no  doubt  of  its  success  if  the  final 
parts  are  anywhere  near  what  I  saw  in  the  first  few  parts. 
I  think  that  we  have  a  feature  that  will  answer  those 
objectors  who  maintain  that  photoplays  do  not  make  the 
people  think. 

"If  motion  pictures  are  to  serve  any  good  purpose, 
are  to  help  in  the  discussion  and  settlement  of  great  moral 
questions,  then  'According  to  Law'  will  be  of  great  good, 
in  addition  to  telling  a  story  that  holds  attention,  from  the 
unusual  opening  devised  by  the  authors  to  the  final  scene. 

"Another  play  I  had  a  chance  to  see  started  was  'The 
Haunted  Manor,'  which  certainly  should  maintain  the 
Gaumont  prestige.  It  has  a  number  of  scenes  in  East 
India  at  the  court  of  a  wealthy  rajah,  and  Edwin  Middle- 
ton,  who  directs  it  as  his  first  Masterpicture,  has  not  only 
studied  the  life  thoroughly,  but  has  had  the  aid  of  a  band 
of  East  Indians,  who  are  wintering  with  a  circus  near  the 
studio.  This  circus  has  helped  in  more  ways  than  one 
and  from  it  we  were  able  to  secure  elephants,  lion's,  tigers 
and  other  local  color. 

"Miss  Iva  Shepard,  who  received  unmeasured  praise 
for  her  work  in  'The  Drifter,'  is  starred  in  'The 
Haunted  Manor'  and  takes  the  part  of  an  American 
adventuress  with  whom  the  rajah  is  infatuated.  The  . 
scene  shifts  to  America  and  the  players  go  to  St.  Augus- 
tine for  the  settings  to  be  found  amid  the  fashionable 
surroundings  of  the  winter  colony." 

Additions  are  still  being  made  to  the  stock  companies 


of  the  Gaumont  company  at  Jacksonville  and  E.  S.  Mar- 
tin has  proved  himself  a  master  of  the  art  when  it  comes 
to  making  quick  contracts  after  he  finds  the  right  parties. 
The  story  of  how  he  landed  Miss  Courtot  is  not  an  unin- 
teresting one. 

For  some  time  the  Gaumont  company  had  been  on 
the  watch  for  a  young  woman  to  head  an  aggregation  then 
being  organized  at  Jacksonville.  On  the  way  to  Boston 
last  December,  Mr.  Martin  happened  to  see  Miss  Courtot 
on  the  train.  They  were  introduced  and  it  was  not  long 
before  she  had  been  signed.  Mr.  Martin  will  not  reveal 
just  how  he  did  it,  but  three  days  after  the  introduction 
she  affixed  her  name  to  a  Gaumont  contract. 

As  well  as  hunting  for  suitable  types  Mr.  Martin  also 
directs  the  activities  of  the  cameramen  who  are  busy  with 
the  making  of  the  Gaumont  scenic  series,  "See  America 
First,"  and  having  endured  a  plunge  into  a  Minnesota 
forest,  with  the  thermometer  way  below  the  zero  mark, 
he  has  decided  to  show  a  warmer  clime.  The  next  release 
will  show  Key  West,  Fla.,  the  home  of  the  tortoise  shell 
comb  industry. 

One  of  the  latest  catches  of  Mr.  Martin  is  Miss  Olive 
Trevor,  an  artist's  model  and  dancer  whom  he  signed  to 
strengthen  the  cast  of  "The  Haunted  Manor,"  and  who 
is  playing  the  part  of  the  model  who  endeavors  to  win  the 
love  of  the  artist  for  whom  she  is  posing. 

Miss  Trevor  was  born  in  New  Orleans  and  comes 
from  French  stock,  and  after  attending  the  fashionable 
Ward  Belmot  school  at  Nashville  she  visited  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  where  she  got  her  first  dramatic  experience. 
That  was  with  a  stock  company  in  San  Francisco,  and 
later  she  joined  the  Balboa  company,  where  she  played 
for  nearly  a  year.  A  year  of  vaudeville  followed  the 
Balboa  season  and  she  returned  after  that  to  the  Univer- 
sal company. 

The  lengths  to  which  motion  picture  companies  must 
go  in  finding  names  which  have  not  been  used  as  titles  is 
illustrated  by  the  fact  that  the  Gaumont  company  has  had 
to  change  the  title  of  a  forthcoming  Mutual  Masterpicture 
twice.  The  photoplay,  which  is  a  five-reel  feature  from 
the  pen  of  O.  A.  Nelson,  was  originally  called  "The 
Touchstone."  That  was  changed  to  "The  Sorceress." 
Now  it  is  "The  Haunted  Manor." 


Sunday  Bill  Up  in  New  York 

A  bill  to  legalize  theatrical  and  other  perform- 
ances by  providing  "that  the  governing  board  of  a 
municipal  corporation,  except  in  cities  of  the  first  class, 
may  prohibit,  or  permit  and  regulate  by  ordinance,  the 
giving,  or  exhibition  of  motion  picture  shows  on  Sun- 
day within  the  limits  of  such  municipal  corporation," 
has  been  offered  in  the  New  York  legislature  by  As- 
semblyman Welsh,  of  Albany.  The  bill  also  provides 
that  a  license  so  issued  may  be  revoked  by  the  officer 
issuing  the  same. 


Making,  manufacturing  or  producing  of  motion 
pictures  and  motion  picture  films  will  be  classified  as 
a  hazardous  employment  if  the  bill  introduced  into 
the  New  York  state  legislature  is  passed.  It  was 
offered  by  Senator  Boylan  of  New  York  City  as  an 
amendment  to  the  Workmen's  Compensation  law. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


nng  rooms  for  the  women  players  at  the  Jacksonville  studios.  T, 
within  a  few  rods  of  th°  outdoor  stage.  On  the  lower  floor  from  le 
,  Mildred  Best,   Gladys   Thorn  ton,  Helen  Marton,  Mildred  Gregory  a 


A  warm  debate  is  expected  before  the  Assembly 
Codes  Committee  when  the  state  censorship  bill  comes 
up  for  a  hearing  at  Albany.  The  bill  was  introduced 
by  Assemblyman  Fred  M.  Ahern,  who  seeks  to  estab- 
lish a  state  board  of  motion  picture  censors  in  New 
York  state.  A  similar  proposition  was  introduced  at 
the  last  session  of  the  legislature  by  Assemblyman 
Mitchell  but  after  several  hearings  it  failed  to  get 
out  of  the  committee.  The  Ahern  bill  authorizes  the 
governor  to  appoint  a  state  board  of  three  men  at  a 
salary  of  $5,000  per  year  who  shall  examine  all  motion 
picture  films  or  reels,  approve  of  those  that  are  moral 
and  proper,  and  shall  reject  those  sacrilegious,  obscene, 
indecent  or  immoral. 


H.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Balboa  Amusement  Producing  Company, 
won  the  liberty  of  a  man  charged  with  passing  a  bad 
check  in  a  Long  Beach  court  recently  when  he  was 
pressed  into  service  by  the  judge  to  help  the  man  in 
his  defense.  Mr.  Horkheimer,  who  had  gone  to  court 
in  the  interest  of  a  friend  who  was  up  for  speeding, 
presented  the  case  so  strongly  that  the  state's  attorney 
moved  to  dismiss  it.     Afterwards  the  motion  picture 


executive  redeemed  the  check  and  j 
a  job. 


:  the  defendant 


Governor  Whitman  was  invited  to  be  the  guest  of 
honor  at  the  Movie  Costume  and  Civic  ball  on  Febru- 
ary 19  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Screen  club  and  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League,  of  New  York  city.  The  Twenty-second  regi- 
ment band  was  engaged  to  furnish  the  music. 


Broadway  at  night  is  shown  in  Pathe's  "New 
York,"  adapted  from  A.  H.  Woods'  play  of  the  same 
name.  The  cameraman  was  stationed  on  the  roof  of 
an  office  building  to  film  the  ever-changing  electric 
signs,  the  endless  chain  of  surface  cars  and  automo- 
biles. 


"The  Blacklist,"  produced  by  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
Feature  Play  Company,  was  written  by  Marion  Fair- 
fax and  William  C.  De  Mille.  Blanche  Sweet  is  the 
star.  The  play  deals  with  capital  and  labor  and  the 
main  scenes  are  based  on  the  strike  in  the  Colorado 
coal  fields. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Horsley  Boomed  For  Congress 


FILM  MEN  BACK  PLAN 


CALIFORNIA  motion  picture  men  may  obtain  rep- 
resentation in  Congress  if  the  present  plans  for  the 
nomination  of  David  Horsley  are  carried  to  a  suc- 
cessful termination.  The  movement  to  boom  Mr.  Hors- 
ley has  been  begun  already  and  within  a  short  time  the 
project  will  be  in  full  swing  and  a  big  campaign  mapped 
out. 

His  indefatigable  aggressiveness  and  his  accom- 
plishments for  the  betterment  of  the  business  generally 
have  prompted  the  fifth  industry  interests  to  carry  on  the 
movement  with  vigor  and  it  is  expected  that  the  news- 
papers of  Los  Angeles  and  the  Pacific  coast  will  give  his 
cause  their  undivided  support. 

Mr.  Horsley  was  one  of  the  first  independent  mo- 
tion picture  producers  in  the  field  and  he  has  striven  for 
the  betterment  of  the  pictures  and  for  more  congenial 
conditions  to  permit  the  expansion  of  the  business.  Dur- 
ing his  early  experiences  in  the  motion  picture  field  the 
producers  were  continually  hampered  by  alleged  moral- 

Mirror  Equipment   Now  Completed 

James  H.  Harris,  who  put  up  the  United  States 
wireless  naval  plants  at  Key  West,  Colon  .and  San 
Juan,  Porto  Rico,  has  another  triumph  to  his  credit 
in  the  equipment  which  he  has  installed  in  the  Mir- 
ror studio  at  Glendale,  L.  I.,  and  where  he  will  con- 
tinue as  chief  electrician.  Mr.  Harris  built  what  is 
known  as  the  Rolfe  studio  on  Central  Park  West  and 
Sixty-first  street,  New  York  City,  and  has  been  chief 
electrician  for  the  William  Fox  Amusement  Company. 
For  the  Marconi  company  he  superintended  the  con- 
struction of  the  wireless  stations  at  Manhattan  Beach 
and  South  Boston  and  was  superintendent  of  con- 
struction for  the  American  de  Forest  Wireless  Tele- 
graph Company.  Many  of  the  help-bringing  marine 
wireless  calls  were  made  possible  and  unfailing  by  the 
thoroughness  of  Mr.  Harris'  installation  of  these  units. 


Paramount-K.  &  E.  House  Opened 

The  Paramount-Klaw  &  Erlanger  combination 
has  opened  the  Crescent  theater  in  New  Orleans  under 
the  direction  of  W.  Fred  Bosner,  head  of  the  depart- 
ment of  theaters  of  the  Paramount  corporation.  The 
Crescent,  which  formerly  was  used  for  the  road  pro- 
ductions booked  through  the  K.  &  E.  houses,  has  been 
remodelled  into  a  beautiful  picture  playhouse.  The 
stage  setting  is  said  to  be  particularly  attractive  and 
the  screen  the  largest  in  New  Orleans.  On  the  stage, 
arranged  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  showing  of 
the  films,  there  is  an  orchestra  of  fifteen  pieces. 


Heading  a  party  of  more  than  a  hundred  players, 
Thomas  H.  Ince  left  Inceville  this  week  for  San  Diego 
where  scenes  for  a  new  Triangle  Kay  Bee  feature  are  to 
be  made.  The  trip  was  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  using 
the  famous  "Painted  Desert,"  a  part  of  the  San  Diego 
exposition,  as  a  background  for  some  of  the  more  im- 
portant scenes.  At  San  Diego  nearly  five  hundred 
"extras"  are  to  be  used  in  the  making  of  "mob"  scenes 
and  it  was  for  this  purpose  that  Mr.  Ince  accompanied 
the  party. 


ists,  who  saw  in  the  motion  picture  the  doom  of  the  coun- 
try's younger  generation  and  the  then  so-called  nickel- 
odeon was  often  branded  as  a  breeding  place  for  vice. 

At  the  present  time  when  censorship  is  a  much 
mooted  question  Mr.  Horsley  has  taken  a  determined 
stand  against  censorship. 

However,  censorship  exists  and  in  combating  it  Mr. 
Horsley  has  given  his  time  and  money  for  the  cause  of 
the  industry  in  general. 

He  is  actively  interested  in  the  civic  affairs  of  Los 
Angeles,  where  his  Pacific  Coast  studios  are  located.  He 
is  chairman  of  the  reception  committee  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  there,  and  is  often  called  upon  to  entertain  men 
holding  high  public  offices.  These  men,  by  virtue  of  their 
positions,  are  able  to  grant  powerful  support  to  remove 
obnoxious ,  measures  now  standing  and  to  defeat  such 
proposed  bills  as  are  vicious  to  the  expansion  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  Mr.  Horsley  has  taken  advantage  of  their  power 
by  laying  before  them  the  motion  picture  men's  side  of 
the  argument. 

In  the  last  year  Mr.  Horsley  entertained  Vice-Presi- 
dent Marshall,  senators,  congressmen,  governors  of  states 
and  other  public  men,  showing  them  not  only  his  own  es- 
tablishment, but  the  plants  and  workings  of  many  other 
great  organizations,  and  introducing  them  to  the  leading 
players  of  the  country. 

During  the  recent  agitation  in  Los  Angeles  on  the 
part  of  the  producers  there  for  better  treatment  from 
the  city  which  they  materially  aided.  Mr.  Horsley  was 
active  and  it  was  in  a  measure  through  his  rousing 
speeches  that  conditions  were  ameliorated  and  a  better 
code  of  co-operation  instituted. 

Doubtless  the  movement  will  receive  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  the  whole  industry  for  his  election  would 
redound  to  the  benefit  of  all  concerned. 


Pathe  Club  to  Give  Ball 

The  Pathe  Club,  a  social  organization  formed  by 
members  of  the  Pathe  organization,  having  tried  its 
wings  at  its  first  "beefsteak"  last  Saturday,  is  now  pre- 
paring for  something  nifty  in  the  way  of  a  ball.  New 
York  clothiers  and  haberdashers  report  marked  ac- 
tivity in  "evening  scenery"  and  those  members  of  the 
club  who  are  unmarried  have  become  very  popular 
with  friends  of  the  fair  sex.  The  date  and  place  have 
not  yet  been  announced. 

"Captain  Jinks"  Rivals  Stage  Play 

"Captain  Jinks  of  the  Horse  Marines,"  the  Clyde 
Fitch  comedy,  was  so  popular  on  the  legitimate  stage 
that  many  will  be  glad  to  see  it  again,  in  the  films. 
With  Ann  Murdock  as  the  star,  and  with  the  costly 
settings  and  costumes  provided  by  the  Essanay  Com- 
pany, it  has  a  chance  to  rival  its  stage  success. 


A  submarine  plays  an  important  part  in  the  photo- 
play in  which  Miss  Enid  Markey  stars  at  Inceville, 
the  director  making  capital  out  of  the  severe  storm 
which  broke  over  southern  California,  which  made  it 
possible  to  use  the  submarine  in  the  stream  which 
runs  through  Inceville. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


-■^mm>>^ 

art.-. 

5N12 

~~?fc 

^ST 

&£m 

gig 

rr""'""  _rrtim    , 

-  War 


/  i  em  h  torpedo  bnai  destroy* 


February  26,  1916. 


!2  LONGACRE  BUILDING 


CHARLES  R.  CONDON, 
This    publication 


MOTOGRAPHY 

THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:      Harrison  3014 — All   Departments 


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f  issue.     Regular 


Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  FEBRUARY  26,  1916 


Number  9 


Rothapfel's  Department 

WHEN  one  of  the  largest  program  companies  in  the  country  sent  Samuel  L.  Rothapfel 
around  the  circuit  of  the  cities  as  a  missionary  of  better  theaters,  it  merely  recognized 
him  as  the  Master  Exhibitor — a  reputation  he  gained  years  ago.  Even  back  in  the  days  when 
he  managed  the  Lyric  at  Minneapolis,  Chicago's  film  magnates  used  to  take  the  four  hun- 
dred-mile trip  just  to  see  him  "put  on"  their  pet  productions.  It  was  then — in  1912 — that 
Ed  Mock,  MOTOGRAPHY'S  president,  said,  "If  I  wanted  to  render  the  motion  picture  busi- 
ness the  one  biggest,  most  magnanimous  tribute  possible,  I  would  hire  this  man  and  travel 
him,  so  that  he  might  show  others  how  the  thing  is  done." 

MOTOGRAPHY  couldn't  do  that  literally.  The  Mutual  Company  could,  and  did.  And 
Rothapfel,  who  had  already  proved  his  ability  to  do,  then  demonstrated  his  power  to  carry 
the  secret  to  others.  So  now  MOTOGRAPHY  is  going  to  do  the  next  best  thing.  Rothap- 
fel is  going  to  answer,  through  the  pages  of  this  trade  journal,  the  questions  and  problems 
of  all  those  theater  men  who  are  ambitious  to  reach  the  higher  planes  of  picture  presentation. 

There  are  in  this  broad  country  more  than  twenty  thousand  motion  picture  theaters.  Of 
this  great  company  there  are  many  who  know  the  Rothapfel  method  only  by  name.  Doubt- 
less there  are  thousands  who  have  never  dreamed  of  applying  its  principles  to  their  own  busi- 
ness. They  have  regarded  it  as  something  quite  beyond  their  reach — a  sort  of  idealistic 
affair  that  does  not  touch  their  own  homely  conditions. 

These  are  really  the  people  who  will  profit  most  by  an  exchange  of  ideas  with  the  great 
exhibitor.  The  thousand  conditions  he  has  met  and  overcome  cover  the  problems  of  all  pic- 
ture showmanship.  No  exhibitor  has  any  business  troubles  that  have  not  been  successfully 
met  somewhere  else ;  and  the  wise  business  man  profits  by  the  experience  of  others.  The  wis- 
dom gained  by  the  broadest  of  all  exhibiting  experiences  we  are  able,  by  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
Rothapfel,  to  offer  our  readers. 

The  forum  conducted  by  Mr.  Rothapfel  in  MOTOGRAPHY  will  not  exclude  any  phase 
of  picture  presentation.  Every  question,  from  the  planning  of  a  new  theater  to  the  financing 
of  a  chain  of  houses,  from  the  selection  of  a  projector  to  the  training  of  an  orchestra,  from 
the  hiring  of  a  cashier  to  the  re-organization  of  a  whole  establishment,  from  the  passing  of 
handbills  to  the  purchase  of  newspaper  pages,  will  be  answered. 

In  the  Rothapfel  philosophy  the  theater's  the  thing.  That  is  where  the  exhibitor's 
money  is  invested;  that  is  where  his  success  or  failure  in  life  is  cast;  that  is  where  he  must 
show  his  caliber  as  a  big  man  or  a  mediocre  one. 

The  selection  of  a  proper  program  is  only  one  of  many  things  upon  which  the  success  of 
picture  presentation  hangs.  The  biggest  problem  of  all  theater  managers  is  the  problem  of 
bringing  the  people  to  the  box  office.  In  that  the  Rothapfel  genius  is  supreme ;  and  it  is  that 
vital  secret — the  life  principle  of  the  art — that  he  is  willing  to  divulge  through  these  pages. 

Therefore,  we  earnestly  urge  all  exhibitors  of  motion  pictures  to  take  advantage  of  this 
unusual  opportunity  to  consult  with  one  who  is,  beyond  question,  a  specialist,  an  expert  in 


478  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 

the  things  that  make  for  motographic  success.  We  call  the  opportunity  unusual  because  mere 
money  would  not  buy  it.  It  is  one  of  those  rare  things  that  are  free  because  they  are  too  big 
to  treat  in  a  mercenary  way. 

Mr.  Rothapfel  may  be  addressed  in  care  of  MOTOGRAPHY,  Monadnock  building,  Chi- 
cago, and  all  questions  asked  him  will  be  answered  as  soon  after  their  receipt  as  possible.  And 
it  goes  without  saying  that  suggestions  from  the  many  observant  exhibitors  who  have  them- 
selves discovered  methods  of  efficient  showmanship  will  be  doubly  welcomed.  The  Rothapfel 
department  has  no  other  purpose  than  to  be  helpful  to  the  art  of  presenting  pictures,  and  we 
hope  that  all  who  can  assist  in  the  work  will  do  so. 


The  Continuous  Performance 

EVER  and  anon  some  layman  correspondent  writes  to  the  dailies  criticising  the  continuous 
performance.  The  thing  of  walking  in  at  the  middle  of  a  reel  and  staying  until  the  middle 
of  the  same  reel  appears  on  the  screen  again  is  beginning  to  jar  on  the  refined  sensibilities  of 
the  public.  Purely  on  the  mathematics  of  chance,  the  casual  visitor  to  a  picture  theater  is  much 
more  apt  to  enter  during  the  action  of  a  picture  than  he  is  to  hit  the  moment  before  it  starts. 

To  come  suddenly  upon  the  first  third  of  the  second  reel  of  a  four  or  five-reel  feature, 
without  knowing  what  any  of  it  is  about,  is  a  trifle  disconcerting.  It  is  like  reading  the  latter 
two-thirds  of  a  novel  without  even  a  synopsis  of  preceding  chapters,  and  then  going  back  later 
to  read  the  first  instalments. 

Some  sensitive  souls  even  claim  that  it  spoils  the  show. 

Those  whose  attendance  at  certain  theaters  is  habitual  (and  they  are  a  large  number) 
soon  learn  the  most  effective  moments  of  entrance  and  observe  them  carefully.  "We  just  have 
time  to  make  the  eight  o'clock  show,"  is  heard  commonly  enough  in  the  territory  of  the  neigh- 
borhood theater.  But  as  a  rule,  we  must  confess,  the  people  learn  that  perforce;  there  is  no 
attempt  to  educate  them  to  it. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  easier  for  the  exhibitor  to  handle  his  crowds  distributed  through 
the  evening  than  if  they  all  came  in  a  bunch.  The  reserved  seat  system  is  about  the  only  expe- 
dient method  of  handling  a  full  house  at  a  given  hour,  and  the  average  exhibitor  has  never 
yet  seen  the  necessity  for  confining  his  patrons  to  numbered  locations  selected  in  advance. 
As  he  grows  bigger  (which  he  doubtless  expects  to  do,  if  he  has  any  ambition)  he  may  put 
some  serious  thought  on  the  reserved  seat  plan ;  but  that  is  for  the  future.  Just  now  he  wants 
his  people  to  feel  free  to  take  any  vacant  seat  that  pleases  their  fancy,  and  to  change  to  a  better 
one  later  if  they  like. 

In  the  case  of  the  neighborhood  theater  the  majority  of  the  patrons  know  the  hours  and 
minutes  that  mark  the  beginning  of  each  show.  Even  the  infrequent  visitors  learn  from  their 
friends  the  most  convenient  time  to  lock  the  front  door  and  pilot  the  kiddies  down  to  the  near- 
est Orpheum. 

So  the  inconvenience  falls  wholly  upon  the  lonely  transient  who  walks  in  unknown  and 
unknowing.  To  him  the  objection  to  the  continuous  performance  seems  greater  than  it 
really  is. 

Of  course  we  do  not  mean  to  suggest  that  the  convenience  of  the  transient  visitor  should 
be  neglected  in  any  way.  In  the  downtown  theater  he  forms  a  majority  of  the  audience,  and 
must  be  considered  first.  He  might  be  better  satisfied  if  he  knew  the  starting  hour  of  the  next 
show  before  he  entered.  No  doubt  the  wary  exhibitor  will  argue  that  the  casual  visitor  who, 
about  to  enter,  was  confronted  by  a  sign  announcing  the  next  break  in  the  program  still  a 
half-hour  away,  would  keep  his  dime  in  his  pocket  and  pass  on.  But  that  view  does  not  accord 
with  the  ethics  of  modern  business.  Better  lose  him  that  once  and  gain  his  good  will  for 
future  visits  than  to  get  his  single  admission  at  the  cost  of  his  annoyance.  A  card  out  front 
reading  "Next  show  begins  at  — ;  come  in  and  wait  for  it,"  ought  to  satisfy  him. 

The  neighborhood  theater  that  distributes  handbills  or  weekly  heralds  (so  many  of  them 
do  nowadays)  could  easily  add  the  show  hours  to  the  announcement  without  trouble  or  cost. 
It  would  not  congest  the  traffic,  either ;  a  good  many  people  would  still  insist  on  going  in  when 
they  felt  like  it.  But  it  would  effectually  remove  one  cause  of  complaint,  which  after  all  is 
probably  a  small  one. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

Episodes  Five  and  Six  of  the  Essanay  Serial 
Reviewed  by  Ballard  Gay 

C^OURTROOjM  scenes  as  a  rule  in  photoplays  are  very  tire- 
^>  some.  This  is  especially  true  when  they  take  the  spectator 
"back  to  a  portion  of  the  story  that  perhaps  he  has  not  seen. 
However,  in  the  current  releases  of  this  continued  story  in  which 
Henry  B.  Walthall  as  Philip  Langdon,  and  Edna  Mayo  as 
Mary  Page,  are  featured,  every  point  is  clear  and  is  well 
worked  out.  The  director  has  given  much  study  to  detail  and 
Mr.  Hayden  should  be  congratulated  on  this  part  of  his  work. 
He  has  had  a  difficult  task,  because  throughout  the  entire  two 
chapters  he  has  had  to  use  the  courtroom  scenes  to  build  up  his 
story.  The  fact  that  he  has  been  able  to  retain  the  element  of 
mystery  which  holds  the  spectator  continually  presages  an  oppor- 
tunity for  future  revelations  which  should  be  startling. 

The  flash-backs  while  the  doctor  is  on  the  stand  telling  of  his 
operations  on  Mary  to  save  her  from  what  he  thought  would 
he  permanent  insanity,  help  to  relieve  any  monotony  that  might 
be  found  in  the  long  picturing  of  a  trial.  The  collapse  of  one 
of  the  jurors  causes  an  adjournment  near  the  close  of  this 
episode  and  the  audience  is  left  with  a  real  reason  to  see  the 
next  part  of  the  serial. 

Thomas  Cummerford  as  the  judge  and  Sidney  Ainsworth 
as  David  Pollock  are  particularly  strong  in  their  support  of  Mr. 
Walthall  and  Miss  Mayo. 

To  shatter  Philip  Langdon's  expected  triumph  in  submitting 
as  evidence  the  theater  manager's  threatening  letter  to  Pollock 
is  largely  the  purpose  of  the  sixth  episode.  It  also  serves  to 
indicate  that  most  of  the  flash-back  possibilities  have  been  ex- 
hausted and  also  to  give  the  spectator  a  sort  of  "now  go  on  with 
the  story"  feeling.  The  testimony  of  E.  H.  Daniels,  the  theater 
manager,  who  was  released  from  jail  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus, 
and  of  Dr.  Foster,  the  alienist,  gives  occasion  for  the  bulk  of  the 
scenes. 

The  physician  tells  how  Langdon,  a  detective,  and  himself 
were  led  to  an  asylum  by  a  crook.  Here  they  find  Mary  Page 
under  the  care  of  quack  doctors  who  had  obtained  a  court  order 
adjudging  her  insane.  While  there  Pollock  enters.  All  go  to 
Foster's  office  and  Pollock  offers  the  real  physician  a  bribe  to 
aid  in  having  Mary  confined  to  an  institution.  He  is  refused. 
Foster  then  tells  that  his  wife  saw  Mary  at  work  as  a  model 
two  weeks  later,  and  that  ended  his  knowledge  of  her. 

Daniels  is  called  to  the  stand,  to  the  apparent  consternation 
of  the  prosecution.     He  tells  his  story  which  dovetails  quite  well 


never  received  the  note  it  cannot  be  admitted.     Langdon  is  crest- 
fallen. 

But,  ever  leaving  the  seed  for  the  next  episode,  in  Daniels' 

testimony  it  is  shown  how  he  met  Dan  Page  and  informed  him 


I 

mam 

^"mmmwl 
s  8t¥ 

:                    1 

that  Pollock  had  been  found  dead.  Page  is  wildly  excited, 
protesting  that  he  told  his  daughter  not  to  kill  Pollock.  The 
jury  is  obviously  puzzled. 

Action  has  been  increased  in  comparison  with  preceding 
episodes  and  the  principals  show  the  effect  of  practiced  parts. 
Walthall  is  to  be  congratulated  in  not  addressing  the  jury  after 
each  question  is  answered  by  a  witness.  Others  will  do  well  to 
imitate  this  point,  as  it  makes  lawyers  and  other  persons  familiar 
with  a  courtroom  squirm  in  their  seats. 


with  those  preceding.  Suddenly  Langdon  produces  the  note 
found  in  Daniels'  office.  The  torn  pieces  are  pasted  on  a  piece 
of  paper.  Daniels  goes  white  and  the  prosecutor  leaps  to  his 
rescue.  The  jury  is  sent  out  while  the  two  attorneys  argue  the 
admissibility  of  the  evidence.     The  judge  rules  that  as  Pollock 


''Betty  of  Graystone" 

Dorothy  Gish  in  Triangle-Fine  Arts  Feature 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

P)OROTHY  GISH  makes  little  Betty  a  very  real  girl  in  this 
*-*  play,  directed  by  Allan  Dwan.  Betty  lives  in  a  New  Eng- 
land village  with  her  father,  a  scholarly  man  of  delicate  health, 
and  her  mother,  a  miserly  woman  who  rules  husband  and 
daughter  sternly.  Kate  Bruce  depicts  this  character  very  skill- 
fully, and  Albert  Tavernier  appears  as  the  father.  The  settings 
and  details  of  character  drawing  in  these  scenes  in  a  New  England 
village  are  excellently  done. 

Early  in  the  story  Betty's  father  dies,  and  pathos  and  humor 
are  wonderfully  blended  in  the  following  scenes,  when  Jim  Weed 
(George  Fawcett),  aided  by  his  three  sons,  comes  courting 
Betty's  mother — comedy  situations  in  which  the  quiet,  grieving 
little  girl  is  a  lonely  figure.  As  a  refuge,  Betty  creeps  into  the 
"great  house"  of  the  village,  Greystone,  whose  present  owner,  a 
young  man,  lives  in  the  city.  There  in  the  library  Betty  can 
satisfy  her  love  of  books.  Some  of  the  most  charming  scenes  in 
the  play  are  those  when  Betty  rambles  through  the  big  house, 
exploring  every  room,  startled,  then  charmed  by  her  own  reflec- 
tion in  the  big  mirror,  meeting  with  other  adventures.  That 
scene  is  pretty,  too,  in  the  library  when,  as  Betty  reads  the 
hooks,  miniature  historical  characters  walk  from  the  pages  onto 
the  table  before  her. 

To  proceed  with  the  story,  Betty  is  discovered  by  the  owner, 
Chandler,  played  by  Owen  Moore,  on  one  of  his  rare  visits  to  the 
old  place.  He  gives  her  the  key  to  the  house,  and  they  meet  there 
occasionally.  On  one  occasion  he  brings  her  a  new  dress.  It  is 
on  this  day  that  Betty  and  he  are  discovered  together  by  Jim 
Weed,  who  has  married  the  mother,  and  his  three  sons.  The 
narrow,  evil  minds  of  the  villagers  suspect  all  sorts  of  mischief, 
and  poor  Betty  is  driven  out  of  town.  This  punishment  seems 
rather  extreme,  but  serves  the  purpose  of  placing  Betty  in  city 
surroundings,    for   Chandler   rescues   her   and   takes    her  to   the 


480 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No. 


home  of  his  friends,  the  Sherwoods.  In  this  atmosphere  Betty 
brings  about  the  reconciliation  of  husband  and  wife,  redeems  a 
Bohemian  set,  and  captures  the  heart  of  Chandler.  The  course 
of  their  love  does  not  run  too  smoothly,  for  his  former  associates 


f  1 

\ 

J 

Leonora   Harris   and   Dorothy    Gish    in    "Betty    of   Graystone." 

try  to  disgust  Betty  with  her  lover,  succeed  for  a  while,  and  she 
goes  back  to  her  early  home  to  find  her  mother  dying.  After 
that  there  are  several  exciting  scenes  when  Chandler,  following, 
rescues  her  from  Bud  Weed,  played  by  Kid  McCoy,  and  throws 
the  stalwart  fellow  down  stairs.  And  then,  after  a  few  more 
scores  are  settled,  Betty  and  Chandler  are  married  and  Betty  is 
mistress  of  Greystone. 

The  story  is  thoroughly  enjoyable  throughout.  The  scenes 
are  beautiful  and  well  photographed,  and  the  roles  well  played. 
Leonore  Harris  and  Eugene  Ormonde  appear  as  the  Sherwoods, 
Grace  Rankin  and  Macey  Harlan  as  the  sister  and  brother  who 
plot  against  Betty's  romance.  The  subtitles  are  skillfully  used  to 
advance  the  plot. 


"Life's  Harmony" 

Three-Reel  "Flying  A"  Feature.   Released  February  22 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

GOOD  characterization,  clear  phtography  and  pleasing  scenes 
redeem  this  very  conventional  story.  George  Periolat  is  cast 
as  the  old  organist,  Josiah  Pringle,  a  dreamy,  fine-charactered 
old  chap,  to  whom  fate  is  never  over-kind,  until  the  last  chap- 
ter. Periolat  fills  the  role  exactly,  and  his  portrayal,  with  that 
of  Vivian  Rich  as  his  adopted  daughter,  and,  the  various  village 
personages  and  scenes  will  entertain  audiences  not  too  sophisti- 
cated or  desirous  of  thrills  of  various  sorts. 


that  his  resignation  would  be  accepted  is  a  great  shock  to  him.  A 
young  man.  Gordon  Howard,  from  the  city  takes  his  place, 
and  when  the  giggling  girls  decide  to  take  their  music  lessons 
from  the  newcomer,  things  look  very  dark  for  the  organist, 
his  wife  and  adpoted  daughter,  Faith.  He  accepts  his  fate  sadly 
but  with  resignation,  while  Faith  stormily  refuses  to  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  the  new  man.  Later,  however,  he  saves  her 
from  annoyance,  and  becomes  a  friend  of  the  family.  An  enemy 
of  his  shows  Pringle  a  picture  of  a  young  man  wanted  for  em- 
bezzlement who  looks  much  like  Howard,  but  the  organist  de- 
clares that  doubtless  he  has  reformed,  and  forgets  the  incident. 

Later  the  young  man  helps  the  old  organist  perfect  the  in- 
vention, and  then  takes  it  to  the  city  to  obtain  a  patent.  For 
a  number  of  weeks  he  is  not  heard  from,  and  the  organist 
remembers  the  picture  in  the  paper  and  the  man  wanted  for 
embezzlement.  At  last,  there  is  little  money  left  in  the  house, 
and  Faith  must  go  back  to  the  orphanage.  Just  as  she  is  leav- 
ing, and  the  hearts  of  all  are  breaking,  Howard  arrives  on  the 
the  scene,  with  a  huge  roll  of  money  he  obtained  for  the  patent. 
A  flashback  shows  that  he  met  with  an  accident  and  has  been  in 
a  hospital  for  many  weeks.  He  explains  that  the  embezzler  was 
his  brother,  now  dead.  All  are  happy  again,  and  indications  are 
that  the  romance  between  Howard  and  Faith  will  continue. 

Harold  Vosburgh  plays  the  role  of  Gordon  Howard,  and 
Vivian  Rich  is  pleasing  as  Faith.  Frank  Borzage  directed  the 
story,  which  is  told  well. 


"A  Woman's  Power" 

Five-Part  World  Film  Production.     Released  Feb.  21 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

MOLLY  KING  makes  her  bow  in  this  production  as  one  of 
the  bright  constellation  of  World  Film  stars.  From  this 
picture  it  appears  that  she  is  going  to  remain  with  us  for  a  long 
time  as  a  particular  film  favorite.     She  shows  every  qualification 


Pringle,  the  organist,  plays  in  the  little  country  church, 
gives  music  lessons  to  a  group  of  giggling  village  girls,  and 
works  on  a  certain  invention  for  organs.  The  news  that  the 
church  people  think  him  too  old  to  be  their  organist  longer  and 


Molly   King   in    "A    Woman's  Power." 

that  an  actress  should  have:  youth,  beauty,  and  ability,  that  rare 
combination  that  is  so  seldom  found.  She  is  a  brunette  with 
exquisitely  modeled  features,  and  she  screens  exceptionally  well. 

Her  first  part  is  that  of  a  young  wild  Kentucky  girl  who 
has  been  raised  bare-footed  and  speaks  the  jargon  of  the  moon- 
shine country.  From  a  wild  flower,  she  is  transformed  eventually 
into  a  fine  lady  by  the  boarding  school  method,  so  that  we 
really  see  her  in  two  extremes  of  human  conditions.  The  power 
she  exerts,  which  is  referred  to  in  the  title,  is  the  power  of 
persuasion.  She  finds  herself  suddenly  in  a  home  with  several 
step-brothers  and  step-sisters,  after  having  lived  all  of  her  life 
with  her  father  in  a  lonely  cabin.  The  father  marries  a  widow 
with  several  squalid  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  a  wild 
mountain  lad  with  a  head  full  of  the  primitive  instincts  common 
to  men. 

Douglas  MacLean  plays  the  young  mountaineer  with  whom 
the  girl  is  so  suddenly  associated.  Mr.  MacLean  is  an  actor  of 
considerable  power,  and  is  one  of  the  classiest  juvenile  leads  that 
lias  broken  into  pictures  in  a  long  time.  Any  actress  to  play  with 
him,  must  keep  going  fast  and  strong  to  keep  his  unusually 
strong  personality  from  dominating  the  situation.  He  is  not 
inclined  to  hog  things,  but  is  by  nature  a  clean  cut,  handsome 
voting  man  with  the  fire  and  strength  of  youth  in  bis  eye  and 
body,  and  one  who  is  going  to  be  quite  prominent  on  the  screen. 

As    an    impetuous   and    lawless   mountain    youth,    he    is    not 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


altogether  strange  to  the  girl 
She  has  never  seen  any  oth 
suddenly  obliged  to  liv 

She  goes  to  live  there  a 

sent   him    to   the   penit 


,  because  she  is  used  to  such  men. 

er   kind   of   man,   but   when   she   is 

ler  the  same  roof  with  such  a  fiery 

i   but   feel   his   dominating   influence. 

:hc  time  he  sets  out  to  wreak  terrible 

,n    for  having   given   testimony   that 

y.     He   has    already   murdered    one 

lion   for  revenge,  would  readily  kill 

:  compunction.     Knowing  the  good 

the  new  step-sister  starts  out  to 

ige  her  ill-advised  brother  from 

iters  the  young  man's  heart,  his 

aav  in  proportion  to  the  amount 

r  the  girl. 

far  above  all  the  others,  and  all 
m.  The  other  parts  are  all  well 
i  whole  is  going  to  prove  most 
ilic  alike.  It  transpires  that  the 
lg  man  he  hates,  are  both  in  the 
ish-American  war,  and  are  sent 
ne  exciting  battle  scenes  between 
American  troops  and  the  Filipinos  and  also  some  very  well 
arranged  native  scenes.  There  is  one  big  scene  showing  an 
entire  Filipino  village  looking  down  the  main  street,  and  it  is  a 
fine  bit  of  artistry.  In  the  meantime  the  mountain  girl,  while 
she  is  becoming  transformed  into  a  lady  at  the  boarding  school, 
gradually  transforms  her  fiery  step-brother  into  very  much  of  a 


a 

lalf  dozen  n 

len 

without  anv  c 

q\ 

alitv  of  the 

Dthe 

r  young  man 

r  si 

e  has  to  cha 

hi 

way  of  thi 

Am 

g-.     As  love  e 

bloodthirstmes 

be< 

ins  to  ooze  a 

of 

affection  he 

bet 

ins  to  feel  fc 

These  two 

par 

ts  stand  out 

the  action  c 

rs  around  th 

played,  and  th 

e  in 

oduction  as 

ac 

ceptable  to  e 

x-hil 

itors  and  pu 

vo 

ung  mounta 

neer 

and  the  rou 

sa 

me  company 

dur 

ing  the  Spar 

to 

the  Phihppn 

es. 

There  are  so 

After  a  - 
.ncl  in'  fact  ; 


Durse  of  discipline  in  the  arm}-,  he  becomes  quite 
omes  back  home  greatly  changed  for  the  better, 
real  man. 


"The  Dead  Alive" 


Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe,  Featuring  Marguerite 
Courtot.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

UEATURED  in  "The  Dead  Alive,"  a  Mutual  Masterpicture 
*  produced  by  Gaumont  under  the  direction  of  Henry  J. 
Vernot,  is  Marguerite  Courtot,  who  is  widely  known  and  popu- 
larly liked  by  patrons  of  the  screen.  Miss  Courtot  enacts  a  dual 
role  in  this  picture.  She  is  both  Jessie  and  Mary,  the  daughters 
of  a  drunkard  known  as  "Old  Jim."  The  two  girls  are  so  much 
alike  that  the  husband  of  Jessie,  the  one  who  meets  an  untimely 
death,  is  taken  in  by  a  charlatan,  who  would  win  his  confidence 
by  professing  to  be  a  spiritualist  with  the  power  to  bring  back 
to  earth  the  spirit  of  Jessie,  when  he  sees  Mar}-. 

Two  characters  so  closely  resembling  each  other  have  served 
as  the  basis  of  many  stories.  Plots  whose  developments  are 
worked  out  of  this  material  are  in  great  favor  with  producers, 
and,  apparently,  they  are  also  well  liked  by  spectators.  Certainly 
the  dual  role  permits  much  freedom  in  building  situations.  There 
is  no  limit  to  which  one  can  go  in  working  out  a  story  when  one 
character  is  consistently  mistaken  for  the  other.  "The  Dead 
Alive"  is  imaginative  romance,  and  that  it  will  hold  the  interest 
is   most  likely.     If   a   story   of  this   kind   successfully   maintains 


Ardini's  plot  to 


Stuyvesant. 


the  attention  of  the  spectator,  that  is  all  it  is  supposed  to  do; 
that  is  justification  for  the  use  of  dramatic  situations  which  are 
not  reached  through  actions  that  convince. 

The  story  is  interestingly  told,  and  it  will,  no  doubt,  win  the 


Our  Booth  of  the  Screen 

To  Henry  Walthall 

BY  JOE  ROACH 

Deep  eyes  that  can  glitter  so  brightly 

And  then  burn  with  venomous  fire ; 
Red  lips  that  are  now  laughing  lightly, 

Now  curved  with  a  poisonous  ire ; 
How  gained  you  the  power  to  attract  us  ? 

What  depths  have  you  traveled  unseen 
That  you've  changingly  pleased  us  and  racked  u 

Our  Booth  of  the  Screen. 

Have  you  drunk  deep  the  cup  of  emotion? 

Or  are  all  your  senses  just  clay 
That  you  first  mold  to  frenzied  erotion 

To  hold  all  our  feelings  in  sway ; 
And  then  with  a  touch  of  your  fingers 

The  model  is  changed  in  a  trice 
Until  never  a  trace  of  love  lingers 

In  symbolized  vice. 

To  you  must  be  given  the  glory 

Of  showing  the  phases  of  man, 
Every  twisting  and  turn  of  his  story 

Ere  Adam  in  Eden  began ; 
You  lead  us  from  springtime  of  roses 

Through  summer  lands  verdant  and  green 
To  harvest  time  when  all  reposes, 

Our  Booth  of  the  Screen. 

For  springtime  is  given  to  loving, 

Andsummer  is  given  to  toil, 
While  harvest  is  time  we  were  moving, 

To  take  our  long  rest  in  the  soil; 
In  each  with  reality  glowing 

You  carry  us  on  by  your  art. 
All  the  genius  of  mimicry  showing 

As  you  play  each  part. 

Through  hard  work  a  few  are  succeeding 

In  pleasing  the  crowds  for  a  space 
Until  popular  favor  receding, 

They  one  by  o,ne  drop  from  the  race, 
For  genius  alone  is  immortal, 

Its  laurels  must  ever  be  green; 
To  you  is  thrown  open  that  portal, 

Our  Booth  of  the  Screen. 

In  autumn  the  leaves  sere  and  yellow 

Fall  fast  and  decay  on  the  ground, 
While  winds,  like  a  deep  moaning  cello, 

Fill  woods  with  their  requiem  sound; 
We  read  in  this  message  a  token, 

Of  life  and  the  end  of  us  all — 
The  cord  of  Life  shattered  and  broken, 

We're  not  great  nor  small. 

But  still,  though  the  master  lies  dving, 

The  fruits  of  his  toil  will  remain, 
Though  upwards  his  spirit  is  flying, 

In  his  works  we  shall  see  him  again ; 
Your  art  lets  you  live  on  forever, 

In  ages  to  come  you'll  be  seen, 
From  fame  even  death  can't  dissever 

Our  Booth  of  the  Screen. 


approval  of  those  who  see  the  picture.  If  it  is  conventional  in 
some  respects,  it  is  equally  interesting  in  many  others.  Miss 
Courtot's  acting  is  one  feature  of  the  picture  which  will  please, 
and  "The  Dead  Alive"  contains  other  good  qualities. 

The  twin  sisters  come  to  the  city  to  keep  house  for  their 
father.  He  is  employed  by  Doc  Ardini,  a  crook  and  the  owner 
of  a  gambling  resort.  The  girls  are  not  aware  that  their  father 
is  employed  in  such  a  place.  Jessie  finds  work  in  a  business 
office  and  Mary  becomes  an  actress.  Jessie  attracts  the  atten- 
tion of  William  Stuyvesant,  a  millionaire.  His  love  for  her  is 
honest  and  he  asks  her  to  marry  him.  Before  she  gives  her 
deferred  answer  she  learns  that  her  father  has  been  arrested 
under  an  assumed  name  for  murder.  The  father  is  convicted 
and  sent  to  jail  for  ten  years. 

This  disgrace  upon  her  family  causes  Jessie  to  refuse  Stuyve- 
sant, but  he  insists  that  she  marry  him.  A  few  years  later 
Ardini  is  in  need  of  money.  He  has  a  hypnotic  influence  over 
Mary   and   he   plans   to   be   on    friendly   terms    with    Stuyvesapt, 


482 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  ! 


who  is  now  a  widower,  Jessie  having  met  death  at  sea.  He 
informs  Stuyvesant  that  he  can  call  back  the  spirit  of  his  dead 
wife.  When  Mary  comes  upon  the  scene  Stuyvesant  is  ovecome, 
but  at  this  point  the  girl  determines  to  free  herself  from  Ardini 
and  she  tells  her  brother-in-law  of  the  plot  to  rob  him.  Stuyve- 
sant, later,  proposes  marriage  to  Mary,  and  she  accepts. 

The  settings  and  photography  are,  as  is  usual  with  Gaumont 
productions,  entirely  satisfactory  and  the  direction  effective. 
Sydney  Mason  makes  an  attractive  and  convincing  figure  as 
Stuyvesant  and  H.  W.  Pemberton  is  a  villainous  Doc  Ardini. 
James  Levering  as  "Old  Jim"  gives  a  good  character  performance. 


The  settings  and  locations  aid  the  players  in  making  the  action 
real.  The  cherished  diamond  exchanges  hands  so  often  that 
it  alone  has  proven  sufficient  to  build  interesting  developments 
enough    to    supply   nearly   all   of    the    five    reels    of   the   picture. 


T 


"The  Redemption  of  Helene" 

Lubin  Three-Reel  Release  for  February  24.     Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 

HIS    picture,    in   which    Helen    Wolcott   and    L.   C.    Shumway 

play  the  principal  parts,  is  interesting  and  convincing 
throughout.  Its  best  feature,  perhaps,  is  Miss  Wolcott's  depic- 
tion of  Helene,  a  girl  who  is  more  irresponsible  than  bad,  more 
thoughtless  than  hard.  The  role  could  easily  have  been  made 
unpleasant,  or  at  least  unsympathetic,  but  as  Miss  Wolcott  plays 
it,  we  do  not  dislike  Helene,  but  rather  wait  for  her  to  wake 
up  to  her  folly. 

The  picture  begins  with  a  series  of  scenes  in  which  Helene's 
father,  an  invalid,  tries  to  check  her  love  for  dancing  and  other 
frivolities.  Her  sister  is  introduced,  a  foil  for  the  flighty  Helen, 
and  Helene's  lover,  who,  it  is  apparent,  is  loved  by  the  sister 
more  than  by  Helene. 

Helene  defiantly  attends  a  dance  one  evening  against  her 
father's  wishes.  During  the  party  a  friend  of  the  family  calls 
and  asks  Helene  to  come  home.  Helene  asks  for  "just  one  dance 
more,"  and  when  she  at  last  arrives  home  finds  that  her  father 
has  died.  Her  repentance  for  her  disobedience  and  her  grief  is 
very  well  acted.  But,  as  in  real  life,  the  next  scene,  a  little  later, 
shows  Helene  planning  to  use  her  share  of  the  inheritance  to  go 
on  the  stage  in  New  York,  a  project  her  father  would  never  have 
approved  of. 

In  New  York,  Helene  becomes  a  dancer  and  an  artist's 
model.  Her  treatment  of  other  men  is  as  heartless  as  was  her 
treatment  of  her  father.  An  artist  falls  in  love  with  her,  but 
she  deserts  him  without  a  pang  for  a  theatrical  producer  who 
gives  her  an  important  role  in  his  play.  Because  of  overwork, 
the  artist,  played  by  L.  C.  Shumway,  loses  his  eyesight,  tempor- 
arily, and  the  doctor  threatens  him  with  permanent  blindness  if 
he  removes  the  bandages  within  a  given  time. 

In  the  meantime  Helene  writes  him  that  she  does  not  want 
to  see  him  again,  and  that  she  is  to  try  out  the  new  play  in  her 
home  town.  There,  on  the  opening  night  of  the  play,  the  threads 
of  the  plot  are  woven  together.  Before  the  play,  in  her  dressing- 
room,  Helene  accepts  a  diamond  engagement  ring  from  the  pro- 
ducer. The  artist,  who  followed  her  after  receiving  the  letter, 
overhears  the  conversation,  tears  the  bandages  from  his  eyes, 
routs  the  producer  and  fiercely  denounces  Helene.  At  last,  in 
rage,  when  Helene  still  laughs  at  him,  he  seizes  her,  and  when 
she  falls  he  believes  he  has  killed  her  and  runs  away. 

Then  the  sister  and  former  lover  enter.  They  revive  the 
girl,  but  when  they  read  the  letter  she  had  written  the  artist, 
they  turn  against  her.  In  the  meantime  the  artist  finds  that  he 
has  become  blind  and  he  still  believes  Helene  is  dead.  In  the 
morning,  however,  Helene,  who  has  wandered,  dazed,  during  the 
night,  comes  to  his  studio,  for  she  realizes  that  she  has  cared. 
We  never  know  what  became  of  the  play,  nor  how  Helene  arrived 
at  the  studio.  On  the  whole,  though,  the  play  is  excellently  pro- 
duced. The  characters  are  well  drawn,  particularly  the  theatrical 
producer,  the  docile  sister  and  the  housekeeper,  who  furnishes 
comedy  touches. 


"The  Oval  Diamond" 

Thanhouser  Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

A  DETECTIVE  drama  in  which  there  is  quick  action  and  stir- 
■rv  ring  developments  resulting  from  the  plottings  of  several 
people  who  desire  to  possess  a  valuable  gem,  is  the  latest 
Thanhouser  Mutual  Masterpicture  offering.  It  is  one  of  those 
stories  devised  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  into  play  all  the 
screen's  great  possibilities  for  action  and  melodramatic  moments. 
The  fact  that  there  are  improbabilities  as  to  how  these  things 
happen  makes  no  difference  in  a  story  of  this  kind.  One  has 
little  time  to  think  about  how  and  why  a  person  does  this  or 
that  when  things  move  at  such  a  pace. 

The  story  is  given  every  advantage  known  to  the  director. 


■»w^ 

r^Ti 

and   Hart- 


Cord 


-The  Oval 


>«<*." 


However,  there  is  something  else  to  build  scenes  upon,  and 
that  is  the  romance  of  the  rightful  owner  of  the  gem  and  a 
courageous,  an  energetic  young  man.  These  parts  are  inter- 
preted by  players  of  pleasing  personalities ;  thus  there  is  added 
favor  to  the  enjoyable  but  not  exceptional  romance. 

Robert  and  Sylvia  meet  in  a  rather  unusual  manner.  Robert 
is  visiting  his  uncle  in  the  South  and  he  is  impressed  with  the 
rather  mysterious  appearance  of  the  house  next  door.  He  ven- 
tures to  peer  over  the  high  wall  and  discovers  in  the  yard  a 
pretty  but  unhappy-looking  girl.  He  sends  her  a  note  offering 
his  services  and  goes  over  the  wall  in  person  to  receive  his  reply. - 
He  then  hears  her  story. 

She  is  the  daughter  of  a  miner  who  found  a  wonderful 
diamond  on  his  South  African  claim.  He  left  immediately  with 
her  for  America  to  be  away  from  his  step-brother  and  some 
other  miners  who  coveted  the  gem.  The  step-brother  and  his 
associates  followed  and  one  of  their  schemes  brought  about  her 
father's  death.  Since  then  she  has  been  the  prisoner  of  Major 
Dennison. 

The  major  returns  unexpectedly  and  at  this  point  the  fight 
for  the  famous  diamond  begins.'  Ledyard  secures  the  stone 
many  times  and  loses  it  that  many  times  again,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one.  He  and  Sylvia  are  married,  and  while  on  the  train 
the  bride  and  groom  are  watched  closely  by  a  strange  man, 
who,  upon  noticing  Ledyard's  apparent  feeling  of  insecurity  as 
to  something  he  carries  in  his  pocket,  demands  that  the  package 
be  given  up  at  the  point  of  a  gun.  Robert  hands  over  the  pack- 
age and  the  man  disappears.  Sylvia  is  about  to  express  dis- 
couragement when  Robert  produces  the  real  diamond;  the  one 
he  gave  the  thief  is  paste. 

Harris  Gordon  and  Barbara  Gilroy  are  the  featured  actors, 
and  prominent  in  support  is  Arthur  Bauer  as  Major  Dennison. 
Miss  Gilroy  is  quite  fair  to  look  upon,  and  she  acts  capably. 
Harris  Gordon  has  a  well-suited  role  and  his  performance  is 
commendable. 


"Nearly  a  King" 

Famous  Players-Paramount  Offering  Featuring  John 
Barrymore.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WITH  romance  and  adventure  supplied  by  the  author  and  a 
generous  contribution  of  comedy  of  his  own  particular 
style  from  John  Barrymore,  "Nearly  a  King"  should  not  fail  to 
entertain  in  any  instance.  Mr.  Barrymore  has  a  dual  role  in  this 
fanciful  story  which  tells  of  the  affairs  of  a  Prince  and  an 
American.  The  Prince,  who  will  some  day  ascend  the  throne 
of  Bulwana.  is  in  love  with  an  actress,  and  Mcrriwell,  who 
looks  just  like  him,  finds  himself  in  a  position  much  the  same 
as  regards  impediments  to  the  fulfillment  of  his  love,  as  he  has 
a  strong  affection  for  a  Princess. 

Mr.  Barrymore  gives  more  to  the  story  than  he  receives  from 
it,  but  that  is  the  usual  thing  in  plays  written  for  a  comedian. 
The  serious  play  must  convince  but  when  comedy  is  obtained, 
and  especially  when  the  subject  is  treated  as  this  one  is,  one 
willingly  forgives  the  use  of  even  such  overworked  things  as 
doubles  and  comic  opera  kingdoms.    There  is  an  opening  and  a 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


closing  scene  in  "Nearly  a  King"  which  disarms  criticism  of 
these  and  other  things ;  such  as  one  man  coming  out  victorious 
in  a  tussle  with  dozens. 

When  a  playwright  makes  clear  his  intentions  it  is  a  point 
in  favor  of  his  work.  If  on  the  other  hand  a  play  keeps  one 
in  a  quandry  as  to  whether  the  author  intended  his  story  to  be 
drama,  straight  comedy,  farce  or  whatever,  there  is  cause  for 
complaint.  William  H.  Clifford,  who  wrote  "Nearly  a  King," 
in  building  the  story  used  comedy  material,  in  particular  when  he 
used  the  double  identity  idea.  Humorous  complications  can  be 
brought  out  of  the  double,  but  it  is  no  good  for  serious  drama. 

The  story  of  "Nearly  a  King"  tells  how  Jack  Merriwell 
meets,  on  shipboard,  the  Princess  of  Okam.  They  part  in  Lon- 
don, where  Merriwell  loses  his  purse  and  is  forced  to  drive  a 
cab.  Also  in  London  is  the  Prince  of  Bulwana,  who  is  being 
pushed  to  marry  the  Princess  of  Okam,  but  determines  he  will 
marry  the  girl  he  loves,  Daisy,  an  actress.  He  meets  Merri- 
well, and,  struck  with  the  resemblance  to  himself,  sees  a  way 
out  of  his  troubles.  Therefor  he  persuades  Merriwell  to  imper- 
sonate him  while  he  marries  Daisy  and  visits  America  with  her. 
When  Merriwell  and  the  Princess  meet  again  and  are  even  urged 
to  marry,  both  are  happy.  It  comes  to  pass  that  the  Princess 
becomes  Queen  in  time  to  keep  her  husband  in  spite  of  her 
ministers'  attempt  to  kill  him  when  they  learn  of  the  deception. 

In  the  quality  of  the  production  this  is  a  typical  Famous 
Players  offering;  the  settings  are  as  they  should  be.     "Nearly  a 


is  commendable  and  Earl  Fox  does  much  with  his  part,  Dave 
Tolliver. 

The  story,  in  telling  of  the  romance  of  a  revenue  officer 
and  a  moonshiner's   daughter,  is,   in 


John  Barrymore  in   "Nearly   a  King." 

King"  will  not  move  people  to  uproarious  laughter  or  anything 
like  that,  but  the  picture  is  enjoyable  and  well  worth  seeing.  Sup- 
porting Mr.  Barrymore  there  is  an  adequate  cast  made  up  of 
Katherine  Harris,  Russell  Bassett,  Beatrice  Prentice,  Martin 
Alsop  and  Fred  McGuirk. 


"The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine" 

Charlotte  Walker  Featured  in  the  Lasky-Paramount 
Picturization.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WHEN  Paramount  released  the  Lasky  picture  version  of 
"The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine,"  the  public  was  given 
the  story  from  the  pen  of  John  Fox,  Jr.,  through  the  only 
remaining  medium  and,  one  feels  no  uncertainty  in  remark- 
ing, the  success  of  the  novel  and  the  stage  play  will  mark 
this  photoplay  production  written  and  directed  for1  the  Lasky 
Company  by  Cecil  B.  De  Mille.  The  screen  play  is  based 
on  Eugene  Walter's  dramatization  of  the  novel. 

Charlotte  Walker,  who  created  the  role  on  the  stage,  is 
featured  as  June  Tolliver  in  the  picture.  Miss  Walker,  re- 
ceiving splendid  support  by  the  other  actors  and  a  thorough 
production,  is  an  appealing  figure  in  the  picture  at  all  times. 
The  players  appearing  in  a  cast  which  includes  Theodore 
Roberts,  must  render  a  particularly  good  performance  if  they 
would  share  honors  with  him.  Mr.  Roberts  is  a  very  im- 
pressive Judd  Tolliver  but  he  does  not  far  outdistance  the 
other  members  of  the  cast.     Thomas  Meighan  as  John  Hale 


like  most  Kentucky  mountain  stories  that  have  found  their 
way  to  the  screen.  The  picture,  however,  has  its  exciting 
moments  and  not  in  a  scene  does  the  interest  lag. 

Mr.  De  Mille's  excellent  treatment  of  the  subject  and 
the  acting,  are,  perhaps,  responsible  in  a  greater  measure  for 
the  appeal  of  the  picture  than  anything  that  the  story  pre- 
sents. The  scenery  and  the  photography  are,  in  truth,  won- 
derful. 


"He  Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife" 

Pallas-Paramount     Feature     Released     February     17 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

A  PICTURED  version  of  E.  P.  Roe's  well  known  play, 
^V  "He  Fell  in  Love  withHis  Wife,"  is  the  latest  Pallas- 
Paramount  offering,  and  a  highly  commendable  one  it  is.  The 
producers  have  made  a  pleasant  and  entertaining  film  of  this 
story  which  bears  out  the  truth  of  that  saying  which  states 
that  the  avenue  to  a  man's  heart  is  through  his  stomach.  "He 
Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife,"  is  far  better  entertainment  as 
shown  on  the  screen  than  it  was  in  any  of  the  stage  produc- 
tions most  people  have  seen.  The  play  has  lived  through 
many  stage  performances  by  many  companies  and  the  qual- 
ities which  have  made  it  wear  so  well  can  be  appreciated 
when  one  sees  the  picture. 

It  is  a  simple  story  of  two  noble  charactered  people  who 
meet,  marry  as  a  matter  of  business,  and  grow  to  love  each 
other  to  an  extent  that  changes  the  entire  complexion  of  their 
relations.  It  is  gratifying  to  a  degree  to  see  a  marriage  con- 
tracted without  love  and  ending  with  it  in  these  days  of 
stories  which  tell  of  a  love  filled  beginning  and  a  hate  and 
horror  filled  end.  The  producers  should  be  applauded  for 
giving  us  a  picture  showing  that  love  can  be  born  and  thrive 
under  the  very  conditions_  which  most  eternal  triangles  are 
bred  in.  One  may  not  give  the  lie  to  the  other,  but  in  a 
realm  where  the  one  is  fast  wearing  its  welcome  to  shreds  a 
visit  from  the  other  is  a  pleasurable  occasion. 

The  producers  are  to  be  commended  not  only  for  their 
choice  of  story  but  also  for  the  quality  of  production  they 
have  given  it.  "He  Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife"  deals  with 
simple  problems  and  it,  if  it  is  to  be  made  the  most  of, 
must  have  an  atmosphere  of  the  rural  country  in  which  it 
plays.  The  picture  has  a  delightful  atmosphere,  due  to  the 
many  pretty  backgrounds  and  capable  acting.  The  terrific 
storm  which  Alida  braves  in  preference  to  staying  a  moment 
longer  in  the  home  of  a  man  who  has  deceived  her.  is  all  of 
terrific,  as  shown  in  the  picture.  It  is  a  most  effective  touch 
and  quite  wonderful  as  an  example  of  photographic  produc- 
tion. 

James  Holcroft  has  had  many  wretched  house-keepers. 
He  visits  the  poor  house  and  asks  his  friend,  Watterly,  the 
superintendent,  if  there  is  no  woman  there  capable  of  keep- 
ing house  for  him.  Alida,  who  has  been  there  since  the  night 
she  left  the  man  she  thought  was  her  husband,  would  like  the 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


position 

the  gos 
is  that 


hey 


I  be  : 


ve  it,  but  they  fear 
led,  the  agreement 
e  only.  A  month 
11  permit  the  other 
disinterested.     The 


to  think  so,  each  believing  the  other 

return  of  Alida's  betrayer  and  his  attempt  to  make  her  return 

with  him  results  in  happiness  for  Alida  and  the  farmer. 

Florence  Rockwell  is  featured  and  gives  a  pleasing  per- 
formance as  Alida.  Forrest  Stanley  has  the  most  work  to  do 
as  Holcroft.  He  plays  the  part  with  great  ability.  William 
D.  Taylor  is  the  director  to  whom  much  praise  is  due.  Page 
Peters".  Lvdia  Yeamans  Titus  and  Howard  Davies  complete 
the  cast.   " 

"The  Craving" 

American  Mutual  Masterpicture,  Five  Reels.    Released 
February  14.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  MOST  interesting  story,  full  of  exciting  episodes,  is  this 
play  dealing  with  the  inherited  craving  for  alcohol.  Wil- 
liam Russell  plays  the  lead,  Foster  Calhoun,  while  Roy  Ber- 
ger,  as  Oliver  Bailey,  his  rival,  is  an  excellent  foil.  The  story 
begins  while  the  boys  are  in  college.  Foster  is  a  wealthy  lad 
and  member  of  the  football  team,  while.  Bailey,  in  the  same 
class,  has  pressing  debts  and  is  only  a  substitute  on  the  team. 
When  Bailey  learns  that  Foster  has  inherited  a  taste  for 
liquor,  which  showed  itself  when  he  was 'a  child  but  is  now 
dormant,  he  determines  to  revive  it  and  ruin  his  rival.  A 
doctor  has  told  him  that  a  touch  of  alcohol  on  the  tongue  is 
sufficient  to  revive  the  craving  and  during  practice  before  the 
game  he  causes  the  trainer  to  douse  Foster's  face  with  alco- 
hol.     It    has    the    desired    effect.      The    dormant    craving    is 

Oliver  has  another  motive  for  ruining  Foster.  In  an 
effort  to  pay  his  gambling  debts,  he  agrees  to  throw  the  com- 
ing football  game  so  that  his  pals,  betting  on  the  opposing 
team,  may  win.  He  places  a  bottle  of  liquor  in  Foster's  room 
that  night,  and  Foster  yields  to  the  craving  and  drinks  it. 
The  next  day,  during  the  game,  he  plays  poorly,  is  replaced 
by  Oliver  and  is  disgraced  before  the  school.  His  sweetheart, 
Margaret,  played  by  Helene  Rosson,  breaks  their  engagement, 
and  Foster  leaves  college. 

Foster,  at  this  time,  meets  a  little  crippled  newsboy, 
Crooky,  played  with  much  spirit  by  Robert  Miller,  and  when 
the  boy  expresses  a  desire  to  go  west,  Foster  takes  him  along. 
In  the  west,  Foster  meets  Roby,  a  dance  hall  girl,  a  role  very 
well  handled  by  Charlotte  Burton.  Roby  decides  to  win 
Foster,  who  shows  his  dislike  for  her.  When  he  gets  into  a 
•  hght  in  the  barroom  and  shows  his  strength,  the  proprietor 
gives  him  a  job  as  bartender,  which  he  later  loses.  Roby  at 
last  wins  her  way,  and  while  Foster  is  under  the  influence  of 
liquor,  marries  him,  to  the  disgust  of  Crooky. 

Afterwards  Roby  receives  a  letter  which  alarms  her,  and 
then  a  man  calls  at  their  home.  There  is  a  fire,  from  which 
all  escape,  but  Roby  and  Foster  each  believe  the  other  killed. 
So  Foster  determines  to  conquer  the  craving,  writes  his  inten- 
tion to  Margaret,  who  will  wait  for  him,  and  for  a  year  suc- 
cessfully overcomes  his  taste  for  alcohol.  Then,  when  he  has 
gone  east  to  meet  Margaret,  Roby,  through  Oliver,  learns 
that  he  is  living  and  follows  him.  But  Crooky  saves  the  day 
by  producing  the  mysterious  letter,  which  showed  that  Roby 
was  already  married  when  she  met  Foster  and  that  their 
marriage  was  illegal.  And  when  Oliver  arrives  on  the  scene, 
expecting  to  claim  Margaret,  Crooky  tells  of  the  plot  to  ruin 
Foster  which  he  overheard  before  the  game. 

The  story  is  clearly  told  and  the  suspense  well  handled. 
In  the  main  it  is  convincing  and  it  is  entertaining.  Charles 
Bartlett  has  directed  it  skillfully  and  the  various  actors  handle 
the  roles  well. 


to  be  dead,  but  who  in  reality  has  been  raised  in  England  under 
the  protection  of  Dimitri. 

In  order  to  replenish  the  empty  coffers  Pavlovitch  arranges 
to  have  his  daughter,  Opal,  marry  the  Prince  of  Argonne,  a  man 


"One  Day" 

A    Five-Reel   B.    S.    Moss    Production.      Reviewed   by 
George  W.  Graves 

PASSIONATE  love  between  a  young  man  and  woman  on  one 
side,  and  the  equally  passionate  craving  for  kingly  power  at 
the  expense  of  the  lovers'  happiness,  on  the  other,  are  the  forces 
which  clash  in  "One  Day,"  the  sequel  to  Elinor  Glyn's  widelj 
known  novel,  "Three  Weeks."  Pavlovitch,  tin-  regent  of  Veseria, 
usurps  the  throne  of  the  little  kingdom,  hut  his  glory  bursts  as 
a  bubble  years  later,  when  the  overtaxed  and  half-starved  people 
revolt  and  take  his  life.  The  people  are  spurred  on  by  the  return 
nf  the  rightful  heir  to  the  throne,  Paul,  whom  Pavlovitch  believes 


EbHS  JHa  If  fi 
EL  .. /v  ^     I 


Pavloivitch   and   his   daughter   differ   on   the  subject   of  marriage. 

whom  she  cannot  regard  with  thoughts  of  love.  At  last  Opal 
decides  to  make  this  supreme  sacrifice  on  one  condition;  namely, 
that  she  first  be  allowed  to  take  a  month's  vacation  in  some 
secluded  spot  unknown  to  her  father  and  suitor.  Here,  at  a  dis- 
tant aunt's  estate  in  England,  Opal  meets  Paul.  It  is  a  case  of 
almost  uncontrollable  love  from  the  start,  which  fact  both  realize 
on  one  memorable  day,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  cruel  circum- 
stance dictates  their  separation.  Neither  of  the  lovers  is  aware 
of  the  other's  true  identity. 

As  if  by  predestination,  the  two  are  brought  together  ulti- 
mately, all  the  barriers  to  their  happines  fall,  and  Paul  and  Opal 
become  king  and  queen  of  Veseria. 

The  story  is  interesting,  the  acting  mainly  good,  and  the 
scenic  effects  very  appropriate.  Portions  of  the  action  are 
slightly  vague,  but  the  situations  keep  the  interest  alive  through- 
out the  picture.  Hal  Clarendon,  who  directed  the  production,  has 
instilled  the  Elinor  Glyn  style  and  sentiment  into  the  visualiza- 
tion of  the  story. 

Jeanne  Iver,  who  is  featured  as  Opal,  does  exceedingly  well 
in  the  part.  John  Webb  Dillon's  interpretation  of  Pavlovitch  is 
very  effective.  Others  in  the  large  cast  are  Robert  Broderick, 
Victor  Sutherland,  Barclay  Barker,  Arthur  Evers  and  Hal  Clar- 
endon. 


"Vultures  of  Society" 

Five-Part  Essanay  Feature.     Released  Through  V.  L. 
S.  E.  February  14.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THE  title.  "Vultures  of  Society,"  sounds  like  a  serious  soliolog- 
*■  ical  report,  but  the  story,  on  the  contrary,  is  an  excellent 
"crook"  play,  in  which  one  character  is  as  bad  as  another.  So 
there  are  no  tears  to  be  shed  over  virtue  misled  and  those  who 
enjoy  a  combat  of  wits,  without  worrying  over  moral  conse- 
quences, will  be  entertained  by  the  adventures  of  Teddy  Bimms, 
who  becomes  Senora  Theodora  De  Menza  and  later  Princess 
Aggregio. 

Lillian  Drew  is  well  cast  in  this  role,  for  several  reasons. 
She  makes  Teddy  a  hard,  unscrupulous  woman,  but  she  avoids 
anything  like  coarseness  or  vulgarity.  Her  costuming  and 
make-up  for  the  part  are  good,  and  she  plays  with  a  certain 
vigar  and  whole-heartedness  which  is  most  entertaining.  The 
other  roles  of  the  play  are  well  handled  also.  Marguerite  Clay- 
ton as  the  frivolous  society  girl,  especially. 

The  story,  written  by  Richard  Goodall.  is  an  account  of 
the  adventures  of  Teddy,  the  adopted  daughter  of  a  ranchman. 
The  girl's  father  was  shot  by  Mexicans  and  her  mother  died 
soon  after,  leaving  the  baby  without  guardians.  The  kind- 
hearted  ranchman  cared  for  "the  little  girl,  and  when  she  grew 
up,  sent  her  east  to  school.  During  her  school  days,  her  bene- 
factor died,  without  leaving  a  will,  and  the  girl  must  shifl 
For  herself.  She  works  in  an  o\Ucc  for  a  time,  and  after  a 
disagreement  with  her  employer,  leaves.  In  the  meantime  she 
has  fallen  in  love  with  a  young  man  who  lives  at  the  same 
boarding  house.  He  departs  \er\  suddenly,  withoul  any  expla- 
nation. The  real  reason  is  that  the  police  are  after  him  for 
various   thefts   and    forgeries. 

All  of  this  part   of  the   story   is  shown  as   remembered   by 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


485 


the  heroine,  who  now,  as  Theodora  De  Menza,  lives  in  luxury. 
She  remembers  her  conquest  of  a  wealthy  manufacturer,  Abra- 
ham Cleverman,  whom  she  forced  to  introduce  her  to  society 
in  his  own  home,  as  the  daughter  of  a  South  American  business 
partner. 

Therefore,  Teddy  is  moving  in  high  society.     At  the  same 


Mr.  Kellard  is  particularly  good  in  portraying  his  intuitive 
feeling  that  something  is  amiss  when  he  is  taken  by  the 
conspirators  to  the  secluded  mansion. 

The  story  tells  of  an  Englishman  who  visits  Canada 
under  instructions  of  the  diplomatic  service.  He  carries  a 
packet  which  he  is  to  open  some  weeks  hence  and  from  it 
will  learn  the  real  object  of  his  mission.  By  an  unusual 
circumstance  he  is  kidnapped  and  held  a  prisoner  in  the  home 
of  a  girl  his  sealed  instructions  command  him  to  marry.  Thus 
he  will  do  his  country  a  great  service,  for  Jacqueline,  by  an 
ancient  grant,  is  the  heir  to  a  throne  in  Canada  which  her 
marriage  to  Nigel  will  annul.  During  his  forced  stay  in  her 
home  the  two  young  people  form  an  attachment  that  makes 
Nigel's  duty  an   eminently  agreeable  one. 

The  steeplechase  meet  at  which  Nigel  loses  his  only 
valuable  possession,  a  horse,  is  responsible  for  more  than  one 
thrill.  The  accidents  to  horses  and  riders  are  more  exciting 
than  any  train  wreck,  fire,  or  fight  on  the  edge  of  a  cliff  we 
have  seen.  In  the  selection  of  his  settings  Mr.  Mackenzie 
used  the  same  good  taste  that  he  did  in  producing  "The 
Galloper,"  and  "Mary's   Lamb." 


"Teddy    caph 


time,  a  titled  fortune-hunter  has  come  to  America  to  seek  the 
hand  of  an  heiress,  and  the  wife  and  daughter  of  Cleverman 
resort  to  tricks  to  meet  him.  Unfortunately,  before  they  cap- 
ture him,  he  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  rogues  who  hold  him 
prisoner  and  substitute  one  of  their  number  for  the  nobleman. 
So  when  Teddy  meets  the  supposed  prince,  she  recognizes  her 
former  lover  of  boarding  house  days.  There  are  plots  and  coun- 
ter-plots, during  which  the  debutante  daughter  of  Cleverman 
is  kidnapped  by  crooks  and  saved  by  Teddy,  who  later  saves 
the  real  prince  and  marries  him.  It's  a  fair  bargain,  after  all, 
for  Teddy  had  forced  Cleverman  to  deed  to  her  all  his  South 
American  property  and  she  brings  to  the  prince  all  the  money 
he  came  to  America  to  get. 

The  play,  directed  by  E.  H.  Calvert,  who  also  plays  the 
role  of  the  substitute  nobleman,  is  elaborately  and  beautifully 
produced.  The  scenes  at  the  Cleverman  ball  are  especially  rich. 
But  details  of  simpler  scenes  are  not  overlooked.  Ernest  Mau- 
pain  plays  Cleverman,  Hugh  Thompson  is  the  prince,  while 
Mae  Howard  gives  a  good  portrayal  of  "Diamond  Kate,"  whose 
flat   is   the   rendezvous   of   the   society   crooks. 


"Dimples" 

Metro  Offering.     Released  February  14.     Reviewed  by 
Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

MARY  MILES  MINTER  has  accomplished  much  in  a  short 
*"*  time.  She  has  reached  the  point  where  stories  are  written 
for  her,  stories  which  depend  entirely  for  their  sustained  inter- 
est upon  her  ability  to  center  the  sympathy  of  the  audience  in 
the  character  who  is  carried  from  scene  to  scene  made  up  of 
incidents  which  appeal  because  the  actress  appeals  so  strongly. 
Miss  Minter's  latest  appearance  is  in  a  story  of  this  type. 
"Dimples"  is  by  Harry  O.  Hoyt,  a  scenario  writer  of  proven 
ability,  and  was  produced  for  Metro  by  the  Columbia  Pictures 
Corporation,  under  the  direction  of  Edgar  Jones. 

The  story  puts  Miss  Minter  in  the  role  of  a  waif,  and 
she  carries  the  character  through  the  picture  in  an  effective 
manner.  The  leading  character  is  greatly  aided  by  her  sup- 
porting cast  and  there  must  be  included  in  the  cast  Dimples' 
doll,  which  gives  her  much  joy.  The  doll  is  very  important. 
Inthe  beginning  it  serves  to  introduce  some  delightfully  human 
episodes,  and  later,  when  it  is  stuffed  with  money  belonging 
to  Dimples,  it  makes  for  suspense.  But  a  doll,  unfortunately, 
cannot  win  one's  sympathy,  it  never  suffers  pain  or  registers 
happiness,  it  has  no  feelings,  and  its  dramatic  powers  soon 
exhaust  themselves.  In  "Dimples"  the  doll  remains  in  the  pic- 
ture after  exhaustion  has  taken  place. 

Toward  the  end,  the  words  of  Dimples'  rather  short-tem- 
pered aunt  were  flashed  upon  the  screen.  She  merely  said, 
"Good  Lord,  that  doll  again,"  and  we  felt  that  we  had  some- 
thing in  common  with  her.  The  story,  as  said  before,  was 
written  for  Miss  Minter,  and  in  doing  so  the  author  has  done 
better  than  well.     There  is  never  a  moment  when  she  is  in  the 


"The  Precious  Packet" 

Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play  Produced  by  Donald  Mac- 
kenzie.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

AN  adventure  story  playing  in  England  and  Canada  gave 
Donald  Mackenzie  the  opportunity  to  make  of  "The 
Precious  Packet"  a  picture  containing  several  melodramatic 
incidents  that  afford  thrills.  It  is  the  thrills  afforded  by  the 
horse  race,  an  automobile  chase  and  some  situations  in  which 
guns  figure  largely,  that  make  the  greatest  impression.  Ralph 
Kellard  and  Lois  Meredith  head  an  efficient  cast  but  for  all 
of  that  "The  Precious  Packet"  must  be  merited  mostly  for  the 
episodes  mentioned. 

Mr.  Mackenzie  and  his  company  have  done  a  great  deal 
with  the  story  given  them.  The  material  is  good.  It  is 
material  with  excellent  possibilities  for  screen  production,  but 
it  cannot  be  said  that  it  has  been  built  in  a  manner  to  realize 
the  best  that  is  in  it.  Therefore,  it  seems  justifiable  to  re- 
peat, the  producer  has  succeeded  in  giving  the  Gold  Rooster 
Program  an  entirely  worth  while  picture  based  upon  a  good 
but  not  skillfully  constructed  story.  The  story  being,  in  con- 
struction, more  unskillful  than  it  is  faulty,  with  the  result  that 
a  play  which  should  have  been  far  above  the  average  of  what 
is  good,  fails  to  reach  its  apparently  rightful  place. 

The  acting  is  consistently  fine.     Mr.  Kellard,  as  the  young- 
Englishman  working  in  his  country's  diplomatic  service,  and 
Miss    Meredith,   as    the   American    girl   who    casts    aside    her 
.  right  to  a  throne  in   Canada  because   she  loves  him,   receive 
a  character  of  support  worthy  of  their  highly  effective  work. 


Dimfles  leaves  her  ft 


picture    that    interest    is    not_  compelled    and    refreshing,    whole- 
some entertainment  received  in  return. 

"Dimples"   is   the   only   name   by  which   the   little  girl,   who 
lives  in  a  tenement  with  her  sickly,  impatient  old  father,  is  known. 


486 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


The  only  real  friend  she  has  is  a  half-witted  old  man  who  visits 
her  father.  The  latter  dies  suddenly,  and  Horton  uncovers 
the  gold  which  the  miserly  father  had  hidden  away.  This  he 
converts  into  notes,  and  for  safe  keeping  stuffs  them  into  a  doll 
he  has  bought  for  Dimples.  A  crook  sees  the  old  man  do  this. 
In  a  short  time  he  dies;  first  telling  Dimples  to  always  keep 
her  doll. 

Dimples  is  then  taken  care  of  by  her  aunt.  The  aunt  con- 
ducts a  boarding-house  and  there  comes  to  live  there  one  day 
a  young  man  who  has  been  disappointed  in  love.  He  is  wealthy 
but  his  fortune  is  all  in  cotton,  and  when  cotton  begins  to  drop 
it  looks  as  though  he  would  be  poor.  The  crook  rides  on  a 
freight  from  New  York  to  Florida,  and  another  attempt  of 
his  to  secure  the  doll  discloses  the  fact  that  it  is  full  of  money. 
The  money  Dimples  uses  to  save  Robert's  fortune.  In  the 
last  scene  Dimples  and  Robert  agree  to  put  their  money  in  the 
same  bank  under   one   name. 

The  production  is  a  beautiful  one.  The  scenes  laid  in  the 
South  have  backgrounds  that  are  as  pleasing  to  the  eye  and  as 
beautifying  to  the  action  as  natural  scenery  only  can  be,  and 
the  interior  sets  are  in  fine  taste. 


"Golden  Lies" 

Three-Reel    Essanay    Feature    Released    February    12 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THAT  lies  told  with  a  noble  purpose  are  golden  is  the 
1  theory  set  forth  in  this  release.  Nevertheless,  they  do  not 
seem  to  make  this  story  very  happy.  It  is  rather  a  pathetic 
little  play.  Elizabeth  Burbridge  plays  the  part  of  a  young 
girl  who,  through  an  accident,  becomes  blind.  She  handles 
the  role  so  sympathetically  that  we  feel  sorry  for  her  through- 
out the  play.  Bryant  Washburn  and  Patrick  Calhoun  appear 
with  her,  as  the  brothers,  Edward  and  Tom  Devlan.  Edward 
(Bryant  Washburn)  is  a  serious,  hard-working  mailman,  in 
love  with  Vera,  who  is  engaged  to  his  ne'er  do  well  brother, 
Tom. 

At  her  birthday  party  there  is  a  fire  and  Vera  is  injured 
so  that  she  becomes  blind.  When  Tom  learns  this  he  runs 
away  to  South  America,  telling  Edward  he  may  have  the  girl. 
Vera  becomes  despondent  when  no  letters  arrive  from  her 
lover  and  at  last  her  mother  and  the  faithful  Edward  deceive 
her  by  reading  to  her  letters  they  say  are  from  the  absent 
one,  but  which  Edward  had  written.  As  often  as  Vera  becomes 
down-hearted.  Edward  brings  her  a  "letter  from  Tom." 

After  awhile  even  the  letters  fail  to  revive  Vera,  and  the 
mother  and  Edward  fear  she  will  die.  Since  they  know  that 
Tom  left  with  no  intention  of  coming  back,  as  a  last  resort 
they  decide  to  have  Edward  impersonate  Tom  and  marry 
Vera.  So  Vera  marries  Edward,  thinking  she  is  marrying 
Tom.  The  people  around  her  keep  up  the  deception,  but 
gradually  she   suspects  the  truth.     All  goes  well  until  Tom 


"Double  Crossed" 

Three-Reel    Mustang    Drama    Released    February  25 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

WERY  beautiful  scenes,  well-photographed,  characterize  this 
v  production,  which  also  contains  an  interesting,  though  sim- 
ple story.  Thomas  Chatterton,  who  directs  the  play,  takes  the 
principal    role,   John    Kling.    a   wealthy    ranchman.     Anna   Little 


Lemp  pi 


plays  his  neglected  wife,  and  Jack  Richardson  is  Ort  Lemp,  the 
villain. 

John  Kling  is  so  ambitious  that  his  business  leaves  him  no 
private  life,  no  time  to  be  a  companion  to  his  young  wife,  Anna. 
This  theme  has  been  used  many  times  in  city  stories,  not  so  often 
in  western  plays.  After  several  pretty  scenes  of  riding  and  cattle 
driving,  there  is  the  incident  when  a  freight  car,  filled  with  val- 
uable cattle,  is  disconnected  from  the  train.  The  runaway  car 
approaches  a  steep  incline,  Kling'  and  an  assistant  are  racing  in 
an  automobile  to  catch  it,  when  a  tramp,  on  the  car,  sets  the 
brakes  and  saves  the  cattle.  In  gratitude,  Kling  offers  the  man 
a  position  on  his  ranch. 

While  accepting  the  favors  of  his  employer,  the  man,  Lemp, 
is  plotting  against  his  happiness.  He  falls  in  love  with  the  young- 
wife,  and  increases  her  discontent  by  telling  her  that  her  husband 
cares  more  for  his  valuable  cattle  than  for  her.  He  hopes  to 
win  the  young  woman,  but  since  she  really  loves  her  husband,  he 
only  makes  her  unhappy.  Anna  at  once  repulses  Lemp  when  he 
wishes  her  to  run  away  with  him.  Kling  overhears  the  conversa- 
tion and  decides  to  punish  Lemp  completely.  He  had  given 
Lemp  a  share  in  his  business,  and  he  wins  this  back.  After  he 
has  ruined  Lemp  financially  he  reveals  his  knowledge  of  Lemp's 
annoying  attentions  to  his  wife,  and  gives  him  a  thorough  "beat- 
ing up."     Then  he  and  his  wife  are  reconciled. 

The  principal  roles  are  well  handled  in  the  production,  and 
the  story  holds  the  attention. 


returns, 
reveals  tri 
the  truth 


and  the  mother  are  in  terror.  Tom 
,  but  she  tells  him  that  she  has  known 
n  away.  Then  she  tells  Edward  she 
:.    So  all  are  happy  at  last. 


"The  Girl  and  the  Game" 

Chapter  Nine  of  the  Signal  Film  Serial.     Reviewed  by 
Genevieve  Harris 

J  P.  McGOWAN'S  portrayal  of  Spike  is  adding  to  the  human 
•  interest  in  this  serial  of  thrills,  and  at  the  present  time  he 
and  his  fight  to  play  fair  against  odds  hold  the  attention  as  closely 
as  do  Helen  I  [olmes  and  her  deeds  of  daring.  Spike,  after  being 
a  tool  of  Seagrue,  the  rascal  superintendent  of  the  rival  line 
building  a  railroad  in  competition  to  Rhinclander.  decided  that  he 
wanted  to  reform,  and  aided  Helen.  In  the  last  chapter  Seagrue 
brought  Spike  back  to  his  camp  through  threats  of  revealing  him, 
for  Spike  is  an  escaped  convict. 

When  chapter  nine  opens,  Seagrue  has  been  forced  to  stop 
work  because  Rhinelander  has  the  right  of  way.  Beaten,  he 
changes  his  tactics  and  tries  to  win  the  friendship  of  Helen  and 
Rhinelander  by  offers  of  co-operation.  It  is  too  late  and  his 
efforts  are  vain.    He  goes  back  to  his  camp  angrily  and  denounces 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Spike  for  the  aid  he  gave  Rhinelander.  A  little  later  Spike  meets 
Helen,  and  she  reproves  him  for  not  leaving  Seagrue,  for  which 
he  can  give  her  no  reason.  Poor  Spike  is  in  wrong  everywhere, 
and  when  he  returns  to  camp  Seagrue,  who  saw  him  with  Helen, 
attacks  him,  the  workingmen  join  in  the  fight,  and  only  the 
arrival  of  Helen,  Storm  and  Rhinelander  saves  his  life. 

The  first  part  of  this  release  is  given  up  to  advancing  the 
story.  The  thrills  are  contained  in  the  last  part,  and  they  are 
as  hair-raising  as  any  which  preceded.  Storm  and  Rhinelander 
rescue  Spike,  and  take  him,  unconscious,  to  an  empty  freight  car. 
Helen  takes  charge  of  the  engine,  and  the  train  pulls  out.  An 
accident  disconnects  the  car  containing  the  men  from  the  rest  of 
the  train,  and  the  wild  ride  in  the  runaway  car  begins.  The  car 
is  on  the  main  line,  and  a  passenger  is  almost  due.  Helen  sees 
the  accident,  leaves  the  engine,  takes  Seagrue's  automobile  nearby 
and  drives,  on  the  railroad  tracks,  to  Arden  station.  She  writes 
a  message  on  the  cushion  of  the  car.  telling  the  operator  to  stop 
the  passenger  at  Baird,  throws  the  cushion  through  the  window 
and  speeds  on  after  the  runaway  box  car.  The  operator  gets 
word  that  the  passenger  has  already  left  Baird. 

In  the  box  car,  Storm  and  Rhinelander  realize  their  danger. 
The  brake  refuses  to  work  and  they  are  powerless.  Finally,  at 
a ,  pump  station,  Rhinelander  leaves  the  car,  and  when  Helen 
arrives  with  her  automobile,  he  aids  her  in  overtaking  the  run- 
away. They  catch  up  with  it.  Storm,  with  the  unconscious 
Spike,  jumps  from  the  top  to  the  automobile,  and  in  a  scene 
which  will  cause  many  a  gasp  they  drive  the  automobile  from 
the  high  embankment  to  the  road  below.     Later  they  are  able  to 


derail  the  car,  turning  it  from  a  bridge  i 
of  the  rapidly  approaching  passenger  tr; 
vals,  and  the  suspense  is  well  handled.  I 
ment. 


ito  the  canyon.  Views 
in  are  cut  in  at  inter- 
is  a  very  good  install- 


" Virtue  Triumphant" 

Three-Reel  Selig  Play.    Released  February  21 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 


VL 


SPITE  of  ; 


very 


ventional   beg 


"Virtue   Tri 


Jack  Pickford  play  the  leading  roles,  with  Jack's  Collie  a 
prominent  and  enthusiastic  member  of  the  supporting  cast. 
The  opening  scene  is  the  dress  rehearsal  of  a  play  of  which 
Fritzi  Brunette,  as  Helen  Lord,  is  leading  lady.  After  a 
successful  first  night  performance,  Helen  arouses  the  fury  of 
the  manager,  Thomas  Burt,  by  slapping  his  face  when  he 
tries  to  kiss  her'.  The  next  day  he  discharges  her.  She 
cannot  get  another  job,  her  money  goes  rapidly,  and  soon 
she  is  starving  in  a  hall  bedroom,  for  which  she  cannot  pay 
the  landlady. 

In  another  such  room,  in  another  part  of  the  city,  a 
young  dramatist,  Billy  Boyd,  is  likewise  starving  because 
nobody  will  produce  his  play.  He  goes  out  into  the  park 
one  day,  intending  to  end  it  all,  but  before  the  fatal  shot  is 
fired,  he  stumbles  over  the  body  of  the  actress,  who  has  fainted 
from  hunger.  He  takes  her  to  his  room  and  brings  her  back 
to  life.  The  Collie  rushes  out  and  brings  back"'breakfast,  and 
the   young   dramatist   decides    not   to    commit   suicide    after    all. 


The  actress  reads  his  play 

ment"  into  it,  and  with  her  inspiration  he  is  able  to  do  i 

The  problem  is  still  to  find  a  producer  for  the  pi  . 
that   day   Billy   meets   an  old   college   chum   whose   mother 


;gests  that  he  put  "the  love  ele- 
Later 


successful  dramatist.  The  encounter  gives  Billy  an  idea,  and 
he  decides  upon  a  ruse  to  secure  a  hearing.  He  sends  a  note  to 
the  producer,  the  one  who  had  discharged  Helen,  asking  him 
to  call  regarding  a  play.  And  he  signs  the  note  with  the  well- 
known  name  of  his  friend's  mother.  Of  course,  the  producer 
.  comes  at  once  to  the  hotel  mentioned,  where  Helen  imper- 
sonates the  woman  dramatist,  and  Billy  her  son.  Arrangements 
are  made  to  produce  the  play,  the  leading  lady  to  be  chosen  by 
Billy.  The  play  is  produced,  with  Helen  in  the  leading  role, 
and  is  a  great  success.  The  lady  whose  name  the  young  people 
used  forgives  them  graciously  and  wishes  them  success. 

Fritzi  Brunette  and  Jack  Pickford  are  entertaining  as  the 
young  people,  and  the  play  is  interesting.  It  is  well  produced 
and  well  photographed.  Other  members  of  the  cast  are  Edward 
J.  Piel,  the  theatrical  producer ;  Virginia  Kirtley,  an  actress ; 
Lillian  Hayward,  the  heartless  landlady,  and  Sidney  Smith, 
Billy's  chum.  All  handle  their  roles  well.  William  Daly  di- 
rected the  play. 


"The  Iron  Claw" 

Episode  One  of  the  Pathe  Serial.     Released  Feb.  28 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

ASA  beginning  for  a  serial  of  mystery  and  thrills,  danger  and 
**  romance,  it  would  be  hard  to  find  a  better  installment  than 
this  first  chapter,  and  the  chances  are  that  those  who  see  it  will 
make   a  great  effort  to   see  those  which   follow. 

The  story  was  written  by  Arthur  Stringer,  well  known  as 
a  weaver  of  intricate  plots,  and  the  scenario  was  selected  from 
forty-seven  manuscripts  submitted  by  skilled  writers.  George 
Seitz  prepared  the  stoo'  for  the  screen,  and  Edward  Jose  is 
directing.  Pearl  White  and  Creighton  Hale,  co-stars  of  "The 
Exploits  of  Elaine"  series,  are  featured. 

"The  Iron  Claw"  takes  its  name  from  one  of  the  leading 
characters,  a  desperate  criminal,  who,  having  lost  an  arm,  has 
in  place  of  it  a  sinister  looking  iron  claw.  Sheldon  Lewis  does 
full  justice  to  this  role.  At  the  point  when  the  story  begins,  a 
band  of  criminals  have  in  their  power  a  young  girl  (Pearl 
White).  Flash-backs  tells  of  past  events.  Scenes  on  an  island 
plantation  in  the  south  are  shown,  when  "The  Iron  Claw,"  then 
a  young  man,  was  an  employe  of  the  owner.  Even  then  he  was 
a  thief  and  he  made  love  to  his  employer's  wife  in  an  effort  to 
get  possession  of  the  family  jewels.  Failing  in  this,  he  threatens 
harm  to  her  husband  and  baby  unless  she  hands  over  the  valu- 
ables. Fearfully  she  does  this,  only  to  be  discovered  by  her 
jealous  husband,  who  drives  her  from  home  and  then  submits 
the  young  man  to  horrible  torture,  finally  cutting  off  one  arm — 
the  reason  for  "the  iron  claw." 

The  young  man  in  revenge  opens  the  dikes  and  floods  the 
island,  a  very  spectacular  scene.  Then,  as  a  still  more  cruel 
revenge,  he  carries  away  the  little  daughter  of  the  house,  telling 
her  father  that  he  will  spare  her  life  but  that  later  even  her 
father  will  wish  that  she  had  drowned.  Clare  Miller  plays 
the  role  of  the  kidnaped  child  nicely,  and  appears  in  several 
thrilling  scenes. 

Now  the  girl  has  grown  up,  under  the  care  of  an  old  crone 
and  in  a  den  of  thieves,  and  "The  Iron  Claw"  decides  that  her 


488 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


evil  career  shall  begin.  He  sends  her  to  the  leader  of  the  gang, 
and  for  a  time  it  seems  that  she  is  completely  in  the  power  of 
the  rascals.  But  against  the  criminals  is  one  they  fear,  "The 
Laughing  Mask,"  a  man  who  foils  their  best  laid  plots.  And 
just  as  the  girl  is  overpowered  by  the  criminal,  seemingly  ma- 
terialized from  the  air,  stands  this  weird,  masked  figure,  terrorizes 
the  criminal  and  rescues  the  girl. 

"The  Laughing  Mask"  is  a  very  clever  and  effective  inven- 
tion and  will  doubtless  aid  the  story  wonderfully.  To  arouse 
interest  and  curiosity  still  further,  the  producers  have  withheld 
the  name  of  the  player  in  the  role. 

Creighton  Hale  has  no  part  in  this  episode,  but  is  introduced 
to  the  audience  in  his  own  character.  The  serial  contains  twelve 
chapters  of  two  reels  each  released  weekly. 


Kennedy  Sqtta 


picture  creates  a  most  pleasant  impression.  It  plays  upon  the 
sympathies  and  stimulates  emotions  which  fill  one  with  delight. 

"Kennedy  Square"  is  a  story  finely  suited  to  the  requirements 
of  the  screen.  Picturesque  and  rich  in  pathos,  it  has  been  made 
into  a  picture  with  a  broad  appeal.  The  Vitagraph  company 
has  brought  all  the  good  which  is  in  the  story  to  the  foreground 
in  making  a  judicious  selection  of  players  to  enact  the  char- 
acters and  in  producing  it  so  attractively.  Mr.  Drew  has  created 
a  natural  air  around  the  action  by  using  remarkably  pretty 
settings.  The  photography  is  most  noticeable  for  its  effective- 
ness in   some  scenes  occurring  in  the  night. 

Tlie  story  revolves  about  St.  George  Temple,  who  for  a 
long  time  has  been  the  leading  resident  of  Kennedy  Square. 
His  home  is  beautifully  furnished  and  in  his  every  action  he 
suggests  the  gentleman,  the  aristocrat.  Harry  Rutter  comes  to 
him  for  advice.  Harry's  fiancee,  Kate  Seymore,  has  broken 
the  engagement  because  he  did  not  keep  his  promise  to  never 
again  become  intoxicated.  St.  George  scolds  the  warm-blooded 
youth  and  then  tells  him  that  he  will  do  his  best  to  help  him. 
Kate    and    wins    her    promise    to    give    Harry 


lother 
At  ; 


elm. 


letts  ha 


id  i 


Hai 


•  and  Langdon   \\  . 
due 


fig 


Willetts  i 

irascible  sort,  orders  his  son  out  of  the  house,  claiming  that 
he  has  violated  every  law  of  hospitality  and  disgraced  the 
family.  St.  George  asks  Harry  to  come  and  live  with  him. 
The  affair  also  turns  Kate  against  him. 

To  pay  some  of  his  friend's  debts.  St.  George  mortgages 
his  home,  as  a  failure  at  the  hank  has  left  him  in  financial 
difficulties.  Harry  then  determines  to  he  an  object  of  charity 
no  longer.  He  leaves  for  South  America.  During  his  absence 
St.    George    loses    his    home    through     foreclosure.      Later    Harry 


returns;  he  is  now  wealthy,  and  finding  his  friend  living  with 
one  of  his  former  servants,  purchases  the  home  and  restores  it 
to  St.  George.    Harry  and  Kate  are  reconciled. 

Charles  Kent  gives  a  convincing  and  artistic  character  sketch. 
As  St.  George  he  is  always  effective,  never  does  he  step  out  of 
the  character  nor  overdo  the  Southerner's  dignified  poise.  Mr. 
Kent's  performance  is,  in  a  word,  excellent.  Antonio  Moreno 
is  also  deserving  of  high  praise  for  his  portrayal  of  Harry 
Rutter.  The  supporting  cast  includes  Raymond  Bloomer,  Muriel 
Ostriche  and   Dan  Jarrett. 


"Kennedy  Square" 

An  Adaptation  of  the  Novel.     Released  by  V.  L.  S.  E. 
February  21.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

'THE  appealingly  human  and  altogether  charming  qualities  of 
1  F.  Hopkinson  Smith's  "Kennedy  Square"  pervade  the  screen 
version  produced  by  Vitagraph  under  the  direction  of  S.  Rankin 
Drew.  The  interest  is  sustained  by  the  sympathetic  and  pic- 
turesque characters  more  than  by  anything  there  is  in  the  plot 
of  this  story.  We  are  held  interested  in  what  is  happening 
not  so  much  because  the  action  is  compellingly  dramatic,  but 
because  these  are  the  doings  of  such  delightful  characters.     The 


An  eclipse  of  the  sun  interrupted  the  work  of  the 
new  Pathe  production,  "Big  Jim  Garrity."  which  has 
been  adapted  from  the  play  by  A.  H.  Woods  of  the 
same  name.  George  Fitzmaurice,  Avho  is  producing  it, 
took  his  players,  including  Robert  Edeson,  Lyster 
Chambers,  Charles  Warren  and  Carl  Harbaugh,  to  a 
small  town  near  Atlanta.  Ga.,  and  for  several  days  the 
weather  was  too  dark  and  they  passed  the  time  in  idle- 
ness at  the  hotel.  Finally  the  clouds  broke  away,  and 
all  hands  made  a  rush  for  the  open.  Work  was  hardly 
started  before  it  began  to  get  dark  and  yet  the  sun 
was  still  shining.  Everyone  was  mystified  until  a  small 
boy  was  seen  gazing  at  the  sun  through  smoked 
glasses. 


February  26,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NEWS 

To  deck  Miss  Iva  Shepard  in  the  role 
of  the  rajah's  favorite,  in  "The  Haunted 
Manor,"  the  Gaumont  company  borrowed 
jewels  from  a  Jacksonville  jeweler  for 
which  they  gave  bonds  for  $6,000.  Edwin 
Vail  is  directing  the  play. 

Earl  O.  Schenck,  who  plays  opposite 
Iva  Shepard,  went  on  the  legitimate  stage 
five  years  ago,  played  in  "Way  Down 
East"  on  Broadway,  and  appeared  in 
stock  companies.  He  has  appeared  in 
Pathe,  Crescent  Picture  and  other  pro- 
ductions. 

A  counterpane  once  used  by  Marie  An- 
toinette has  been  loaned  to  George  Fitz- 
maurice  for  a  scene  in  the  Pathe  picture, 
"Big  Jim  Garrity." 

Iva  Shepard's  next  appearance  will  be 
in  "The  Touchstone,"  work  for  which  has 
been  begun  under  Director  Edwin  Mid- 
dleton  at  the  Jacksonville  Gaumont  stu- 
dios. This  will  be  Mr.  Middleton's  first 
Mutual  Masterpicture. 

E.  K.  Lincoln,  now  with  the  Lubin 
Company,  will  soon  appear  with  Ethel 
Clayton  in  "Ophelia,"  a  play  by  Shannon 
Fife. 

Daniel  Ellis,  scenario  editor  of  the 
Lubin  Company,  announces  that  the  com- 
pany will  pay  $25  for  any  synopsis  sub- 
mitted of  any  play  or  story,  whether 
copyrighted  or  not,  provided  the  com- 
pany decides  to  obtain  the  rights  to  the 
stories  with  a  view  to  producing  them. 
He  hopes  in  this  way  to  find  many  ob- 
scure plays  and  stories  of  merit. 

Lubin  directors  have  still  found  no  sce- 
nario suitable  for  Eleanor  Dunn,  the  ten- 
year-old  star,  who  is  temporarily  idle. 
"Scenario  writers  with  ideas  for  a  three- 
reel  play  for  her,  please  submit  them  to 
Daniel  Ellis,  scenario  department  of  the 
Lubin  studios.  Philadelphia. 

Fifty-six  Indians  were  used  in  scenes 
for  the  William  Fox  pitcure,  "Gold  and 
the  Woman."  One  scene  shows  the  dem- 
olition of  an  Indian  camp  by  dynamite. 

Maurice  Tourneur,  finishing  his  first 
picture  for  the  new  Paragon  Films,  Inc., 
"The  Hand  of  Peril,"  starring  House 
Peters,  is  making  preparations  for  his 
next  feature,  an  original  story  by  Henry 
Almon  Wolff. 

Theda  Bara  is  at  the  Nassau  Hotel, 
Long  Branch,  enjoying  her  first  vacation 
in  fourteen  months. 

Vivian  Martin  decided  to  go  on  the 
stage  after  seeing  a  Punch  and  Judy  show 
when  she  was  three  years  old.  At  four, 
she  appeared  in  amateur  productions  and 
at  six  she  was  with  Richard  Mansfield  in 
"Cyrano  de  Bergerac." 

Warner  Oland  resigned  the  chair  of 
drama  at  Williams  College  in  1910  to  en- 
ter motion  pictures.  Since  then  he  has 
appeared  as  a  clergyman,  a  saloonkeeper, 
a  millionaire  stock  plunger,  a  negro  serv- 
ant and  an  Egyptian  mummy.  His  most 
recent  role  is  that  of  a  wealthy  libertine 
in  the  William  Fox  play,  "The  Fool's 
Revenge." 


Film    Market   Quotations  ana 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by   R.   D.   Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,  Inc 92  98 

Biograph    Company    42  50 

Famous   Players   Film   Co..    75  108 

General   Film  Corp.,  pref 43 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   pref...    38  42J/2 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   com...    35  40 

No.  Am.   Film   Corp.,  pref..    94  100 

No.  Am.   Film   Corp.,  com..    65  75 

New  York   M.   P.   Corp 45  57 

Thanhouser  Film  Corp V/2  4 

Triangle  Film  Corp 5]/2  6     * 

Universal    Film    Mfg.   Co... 185 

World   Film  Corp 1  2     * 


Lou-Tellegen  will  show  his  skill  with 
a  sword  in  "The  King  of  Nowhere,"  an- 
nounced by  the  Garrick  Producing  Com- 
pany. 

Billy  Sherwood  is  playing  at  the  Fa- 
mous Players  studio  with  Jack  Barry- 
more. 


*Par  $5.00. 

Mutual  Film  Corporation :  In  taking  over 
the  Strand  theater  in  Chicago,  this  com- 
pany has  inaugurated  a  plan  to  control  a 
number  of  the  larger  downtown  theaters  in 
the  cosmopolitan  centers  of  the  country, 
somewhat  similar  to  the  Triangle's  control 
of  the  Knickerbocker  in  New  York  and  the 
Colonial  in  Chicago.  There  has  been  very 
little  change  in  the  market  quotations  dur- 
ing the  past  ten  days. 

North  American  Film  Corporation :  It  is 
rumored  that  announcements  may  soon  be 
expected  in  regard  to  a  further  disburse- 
ment toward  liquidating  the  preferred  stock. 

American  Film  Company,  Inc. :  Stock 
continues  to  be  in  demand  with  no  avail- 
able supply  on  the  market. 


Thanhousei 


this 


•  ha; 


n  Corporation  :     Stock  c 
sold  at  4,  or  80  per  cer 


of  its  par  valui 

Triangle  Film  Corporation :  A  trading- 
level  of  between  5%  and  6  was  maintained 
throughout  the  past  week. 

World  Film  Corporation :  Market  on 
this  stock  is  now  difficult  to  quote;  trading 
has  been  so  limited  as  to  necessitate  nomi- 
nal quotations. 


while    working- 


studio. 

Frank  Bacon,  who  appears  in  "Her 
Debt  of  Honor,"  is  featured  in  "The  Cin- 
derella Man."  a  popular  Broadway  play. 
He  writes  scenarios  as  a  side  line. 

Virtus  H.  Scott,  assistant  director  of 
Metro  plays,  who  recently  completed 
"The  Lure  of  Heart's  Desire,"  starring 
Edmund  Breese,  and  "The  Soul  Market," 
starring  Mme.  Petrova,  was  for  three 
years  a  driver  of  racing  cars  and  a  par- 
ticipant in  racing  events. 

A  group  of  show  girls  from  "Stop! 
Look!  Listen!"  now  at  the  Globe  theater, 
New  York,  appear  in  one  of  the  scenes 
in  "The  Soul  Market." 

Fritz  de  Lint,  who  appears  in  Metro 
plays,  was  once  an-  army  officer  in 
Norway. 

Valli  Valli,  star  of  "The  Turmoil"  and 
"Her  Debt  of  Honor,"  will  play  the  lead- 
ing role  in  "The  Cohan  1916  Review." 
She   will    continue   in   Metro   productions 


Robert  Clugston,  formerly  with  Pathe 
and  Universal,  has  joined  the  Gaumont 
company  in  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

E.  K.  James  has  deserted  the  legiti- 
mate stage  and  will  make  his  screen 
debut  in  the  Mutual  Masterpicture,  "Ac- 
cording to  Law,"  in  which  Howard  Hall 
and  Mildred  Gregory  play  leads. 

Paula  Shay,  after  finishing  work  in  ex- 
teriors for  the  Ivan  feature,  "The  Im- 
mortal Flame,"  in  Washington,  D.  C,  left 
for  Pittsburgh  to  attend  the  first  annual 
ball  of  the  Pittsburgh  Screen  Club. 

Prince  Burjham  Kaiyl  Rmurja  of  India 
is  studying  photoplay  making  at  the  Wil- 
liam Fox  studios  in  Kingston,  Jamaica. 

The  New  Jersey  palisades,  covered 
with  snow,  appear  in  "The  Fool's  Re- 
venge," the  William  Fox  play. 

Marguerite  Courtot,  who  played  a  dual 
role  in  "The  Dead  Alive,"  plays  two  roles 
also  in  her  next  picture,  "Feathertop." 

Flavia  Arcaro  will  play  the  Queen  of 
the  Harem  in  "The  Haunted  Manor,"  the 
Gaumont  production  in  which  Iva  Shep- 
ard plays  an  American  adventuress. 

Aaron  Hoffman,  known  for  his  musical 
comedies  and  vaudeville  sketches,  is  now 
writing  photoplays  for  Mme.  Petrova, 
with  the  Metro  players. 

Cleo  Ridg>ely  and  Wallace  Reid  appear 
as  co-stars  in  "Behind  the  Mask,"  by 
Cecil  B.  De  Mille  and  Jeannie  MacPher- 
son,  which  Paul  Dickey  is  producing  for 
the  Lasky  Company. 

Among  the  theaters  which  have  booked 
"A  Fool's  Paradise,"  an  Ivan  feature,  in 
advance  of  its  release  are  the  Marcus 
Loew  and  William  Fox  houses. 

"The  Immortal  Flame,"  an  Ivan  fea- 
ture to  be  released  in  March,  includes 
Paula  Shay,  Joseph  Burke,  Edna  Luby, 
James  Cooley  and  Willard  Case  in  the 
cast.  Many  exterior  scenes  will  be  filmed 
in  Washington,  D,  C. 

Two  New  York  hold-up  men  recently 
tried  to  steal  Antonio  Moreno's  hand- 
some make-up  case,  under  the  impression 
that  it  contained  jewels. 

Jewell  Hunt,  for  a  scene  in  a  Vitagraph 
production,  lay  bound  and  gagged  under 
the  cowcatcher  of  a  locomotive. 

The  various  Ivan  exchanges  are  work-  ' 
ing    hard    to    secure    the    prize    of    $100 
which    Jacques     Kopfstein,     director     of 
Ivan  publicity,  offers  to  the  one  making 
the  best  showing  on  "Forbidden  Fruit." 

W.  S.  Davis,  who  directed  "The  Fool's 
Revenge,"  the  William  Fox  release  for 
February  13,  was  the  director  of  "De- 
struction," "The  Family  Stain"  and  "Dr. 
Rameau." 

Two  hundred  photoplay  actors  went 
with   James  Vincent,   directing  the   Wil- 


490 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


Miss  Marguerite  Cotirtot.  Gamont-Mutual  star, 
and  her  favorite  pet,  photographed  at  Jacksonville, 
h'la..  winter  studios.  Miss  Conrtot  first  saw  the 
mule  while  on  her  way  to  the  studios,  purchased 
it  and  christened  it  "Dolly  Dimples." 


Ham  Fox  play,  "Gold  and  the  Woman," 
to  the  West  Virginia  coal  district  to  film 
certain  scenes  for  the  play. 

Thomas  R.  Mills  has  forsaken  the  le- 
gitimate stage  to  appear  in_  pictures  for 
the  Vitagraph  company.  Mills  is  known 
for  his  work  with  such  stars  as  Richard 
Mansfield,  Henry  Miller  and  Harrison 
Grey  Fiske. 

Vivian  Martin,  resting  after  "Merely 
Mary  Ann,"  spends  her  time  skating, 
playing  basket  ball  and  driving  her  auto- 
mobile. 

H.  Cooper  Cliffe's  role  in  "Gold  and 
the  Woman,"  that  of  Colonel  Ernest 
Dent,  differs  from  any  he  has  played. 

William  Farnum  has  finished  work  in 
"Fighting  Blood"  and  is  beginning  in  a 
new  production  under  Director  Oscar  C. 
Apfel.  Dorothy  Bernard  and  Stuart 
Holmes  will  appear  with  him. 

"The  Marble  Heart,"  a  William  Fox 
picture  in  which  Violet  Horner  stars,  is 
completed,  under  the  direction  of  Herbert 
Brenon. 

George  Walsh,  James  Marcus  and 
others  of  the  cast  of  "The  Serpent"  are  in 
California  working  in  a  picture  under 
R.  A.  Walsh. 

Annette  Kellermann  is  said  to  have 
swum  about  56  miles  in  scenes  for  the 
William  Fox  feature  begun  last  August 
in  the  West  Indies. 

Maude  Fealy,  who  has  been  in  the 
Keith  vaudeville  houses  in  New  York  and 
working  in  the  Ivan  Films  production  of 
"The  Immortal  Flame,"  has  canceled  her 
vaudeville  engagements  until  the  picture 
is  completed. 

James  M.  Sheldon,  supervising  the  pro- 
duction of  the  Rupert  Hughes  novel  in 
which  Billie  Burke  and  Henry  Kolker 
will  appear,  paid  $200  for  an  embroidered 
bedspread  to  be  used  in  the  firsl  chapter 
of  the  play. 

Mme.  Olga  Petrova  was  a  dramatic 
critic    on    the    Loudon    Times    before    she 

went  on  the  stage. 


Virtus  Scott  was  one  of  the  first  di- 
rectors to  use  music  in  a  studio  to  assist 
in  creating  atmosphere  for  scenes. 

Frank  Glendon,  the  Metro  player,  was 
formerly  a  dry  goods  clerk  at  Butte, 
Mont. 

The  March  releases  for  the  Gaumont 
company  will  include  "According  to 
Law,"  with  Mildred  Gregory  and  Howard 
Hall;  "The  Haunted  Manor,"  with  Iva 
Shepard  and  Earl  O.  Schenk,  and  "Feath- 
ertop,"  from  Nathaniel  Hawthorne's  fan- 
tasy, with  Marguerite  Courtot. 

Mary  Miles  Minter  has  a  new  dog.  It 
was  given  her  by  Mrs.  Richard  A.  Row- 
land, wife  of  the  president  of  the  Metro 
Pictures  Corporation,  and  has  been 
named  "Dick  Metro." 

Mary  Pickford  had  little  trouble  play- 
ing the  hard-working  girl  in  ill-health  in 
"The  Grind,"  for  she  was  suffering  from 
the  grip  and  felt  the  part. 

In  "Out  of  the  Drifts,"  Marguerite 
Clark's  supporting  cast  includes  a  St. 
Bernard  dog  larger  than  she  is. 

Someone  has  presented  Hazel  Dawn 
with  a  new  dog,  a  Boston  terrier. 

Virginia  Pearson  was  invited  by  Mayor 
Armstrong  of  Pittsburgh  to  attend  the 
big  club  ball  of  that  city's  Screen  Club, 
February  14. 

In  one  scene  for  the  Annette  Keller- 
mann picture,   Director  Herbert  Brenon 

handled  10,000  persons,  using  a  New 
York  policeman's  whistle  for  his  signal 
apparatus. 

Pearl  White,  heroine  of  "The  Perils 
of  Pauline"  and  "Elaine"  serials  and 
whose  new  serial  is  "The  Iron  Claw," 
began  her  stage  career  with  an  "Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin"  company.  Later  she  spent 
two  or  three  years  with  a  circus. 

Lois  Meredith,  starred  in  the  Pathe 
picture,  "The  Precious  Packet,"  is  only 
eighteen  years  old.  She  followed  Lau- 
rette  Taylor  in  "Peg  o'  My  Heart,"  and 
was  featured  in  "Help  Wanted"  on  the 
legitimate  stage. 

The  scenario  of  "The  Iron  Claw,"  writ- 
ten by  Arthur  Stringer,  was  selected  from 


Fuller  Mellish,  Fox  Film 


tfadg,     Kerby,    Vogue-Mutual. 


"Hazel  Kirke,"  picturized  by  the  Pathe 
company,  has  been  played  on  the  legiti- 
mate stage  for  thirty  years.  It  was  writ- 
ten by  Steele  MacKaye  and  the  original 
production  featured  Charles  W.  Couldock 
and  Effie  Ellsler. 

Creighton  Hale,  who  acquired  fame  as 
Jameson,  Craig  Kennedy's  asistant,  in 
the  "Elaine"  series,  is  featured  with  Pearl 
White  in  "The  Iron  Claw." 

Lucille  Stewart  is  selected  as  the  new 
leading  woman  for  Ralph  W.  Ince  in  the 
Brightwat.ers  studio  of  the  Vitagraph 
company.  She  is  now  working  in  a  five- 
reeler  written  by  James  Oliver  Curwood, 
with  Huntley  Gordon  and  John  Robert- 
son. In  "The  Sins  of  the  Mother,"  fea- 
turing Anita  Stewart  and  Earle  Williams, 
she  played  the  society  woman. 

Albert  K.  Dawson,  a  cameraman  sent 
to  Europe  by  the  American  Correspond- 
ent Film  Company  in  November,  1914, 
is  now  at  Saloniki,  Turkey.  He  took 
pictures  for  "The  Battle  and  Fall  of 
Przemysl."  "The  Battles  of  a  Nation." 
and  "The  Warring  Millions"  for  this 
company. 

Peggy.  Oscar  C.  Apfel's  Boston  bull 
terrier,  is  a  good  canine  actor.  She  needs 
no  rehearsal,  but  is  said  to  be  tempera- 
mental. 

Barney  Oldfield,  Jess  Willard  and 
Frank  Chance  witnessed  all  the  tight 
scenes  for  "Fighting  Blood."  the  William 
Fox  feature  starring  William  Farnum, 
and  were  enthusiastic  over  them. 

J.  Gordon  Edwards,  William  Fox  di- 
rector now  in  Kingston.  Jamaica,  has  in- 
vented an  automatic  camera  which  needs 
no  cameraman.  He  used  it  in  "The  Spi- 
der and  the  Fly."  in  which  Robert  B. 
Mantell  and  Genevieve  Hamper  are  play- 
ing. 

Tom  Terriss  has  secured  an  option  on 
the  Marion  Leonard  studio  in  Rrooklyn 
for  a  long  term.  The  Terriss  Film  Com- 
pany expects  to  produce  from  eight  to 
ten  five-reel  pictures  yearly. 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Frank  Daniels,  well  known  as  a  comic 
opera  performer,  is  featured  by  the  Vita- 
graph  company  in  a  series  of  comedies 
written  by  Paul  West  and  directed  by 
C.  Jay  Williams.  The  series  will  be  re- 
leased through  V.  L.  S.  E.,  the  first  one 
February  21. 

Charles  Kent,  who  will  be  seen  in 
"Kennedy  Square,"  a  Vitagraph  Blue 
Ribbon  feature,  has  been  in  the  theatrical 
profession  since  1875,  appearing  in  many 
notable  productions.  He  supported  Dion 
Boucicault,  John  Gilbert,  Edwin  Booth 
and  Richard  Mansfield,  was  with  Mrs. 
Fiske  in  "Mary  of  Magdalene,"  with 
Florence  Roberts  in  "The  Strength  of 
the  Weak,"  and  played  in  stock  in  San 
Francisco,  Los  Angeles,  Minneapolis  and 
St.   Paul. 

Newspapers  in  the  cities  where  "The 
Fourth  Estate,"  Willim  Fox  feature,  is 
appearing  are  taking  the  occasion  to  edu- 
cate the  people  regarding  many  details 
of  newspaper  making. 

Tom  Terriss  and  his  assistants  invaded 
the  Biltmore  hotel,  New  York,  about 
midnight  recently,  and  filmed  various 
phases  of  its  working  details.  He  in- 
cluded exhibitions  of  fancy  skating  at 
the   rink  on   the  roof. 

Caryl  S.  Fleming  has  been  engaged 
by  Tom  Terriss  as  studio  manager. 

In  the  next  picture  for  the  Terriss 
Film  Company,  Tom  Terriss  plays  the 
lead.  Harold  Vosburgh,  late  of  the  "Kick 
In"  company;  Jill  Woodward,  formerly 
under  D.  W.  Griffith  and  Thomas  Ince 
in  Triangle  plays;  Helene  Ziegfeld,  a 
niece  of  "Flo";  Jack  Hopkins,  who  sup- 
ported Marian  Swayne  in  the  "Kitty, 
Cobb"  series;  Alfred  Heming,  Joseph 
Sterling  and  Joseph  Baker  complete  the 


PACIFIC  COAST  NEWS 

Jack  Richardson  declares  he  has  been 
killed  often  enough  in  the  pictures  to  fill 
a  cemetery. 

Anna  Little  and  the  other  members  of 
the  "Flying  A"  forces  arranged  a  cordial 
reception  for  Rhea  Mitchell,  who  arrived 


Cleo   Ridgley,   Lasky-Param, 


in  Santa  Barbara  to  become   one  of  the 
company. 

The  shawl  worn  by  Charlotte  Burton 
as  "queen  of  the  dance  hall"  in  "The 
Craving,"  is  an  heirloom  in  the  Burton 
family  and  is  a  fine  example  of  old  Cas- 
tillian  work,  done  in  the  early  days  in 
California. 

During  the  week  of  February  6  many 
motion  picture  stars  made  speeches  at 
Los  Angeles  theaters  in  behalf  of  the 
Actors'  Fund.  Several  thousand  dollars 
were  added  to  the  subscriptions  as  a  re- 
sult. D.  W.  Griffith  spoke  to  the  audience 
at  the  Mason  Opera  House;  Thomas  H. 
Ince  spoke  at  the  Majestic  and  Burbank 
theaters.  Others  who  addressed  audi- 
ences were  DeWolf  Hopper,  Constance 
Collier,  William  C.  DeMille,  William 
Farnum,  Theodore  Roberts,  Victor 
Moore,  Crane  Wilbur  and  Dustin 
Farnum. 

Al  Levy,  caterer  to  photoplayers,  gave 
a  dinner  party  at  his  cafe  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Actors'  Fund.  Members  of  trav- 
eling companies  playino-  at  local  theaters 
were  present,  as  well  as  film  stars. 

Hobart  Bosworth  of  the  Universal  is 
now  being  featured  in  "The  Way  of  the 
World."  an  adaptation  of  Clyde  Fitch's 
play  which  Lloyd  Carlton  is  directing. 

Preparations  are  being  made  at  the 
Vitagraph  Hollywood  studios  to  film  a 
serial  by  Jack  London,  featuring  William 
Duncan.     William  Wolbert  will  direct. 

Anna  Held  and  her  daughter,  Lianne 
Carrera,  appear  together  in  a  play  for  the 
first  time  in  "Madame  La  Presidente," 
and  it  is  the  first  time  either  has  appeared 
on  the  screen.  The  fat  waiter  who  ap- 
pears in  the  play  is  Max,  Miss  Held's  pri- 
vate chef. 

Alfred  Vosburgh  learned  in  a  few 
hours  the  art  of  holding  a  violin  prop- 
erly. He  had  to,  for  his  role  in  "Realiza- 
tion," a  story  of  theatrical  life  in  which 
he  appears  with  Vivian  Rich. 

One  of  the  largest  steam  shovels  on  the 
Pacific  Coast  became  a  "prop"  in  "Over- 
alls," being  filmed  near  Santa  Barbara. 


Arthur  Maude,  the  Broadway  favorite, 
appeared  as  an  "extra"  in  a  prize  fight 
scene  the  other  day. 

Rube  Miller,  now  appearing  in  Vogue 
comedies,  was  for  years  a  clown  in  two 
of  the  big  circuses. 

R.  A.  Walsh,  who  directed  "The  Ser- 
pent," is  now  working  on  a  new  William 
Fox  production  in  California.  He  is 
twenty-six  years  old,  one  of  the  youngest 
expert  directors. 

A  carrier  pigeon  Dorothy  Bernard 
sent  with  a  message  from  California  to 
William  Fox  in  New  York  has  reached 
Milwaukee.  Miss  Bernard  has  been 
working  in  "Fighting  Blood." 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon  is  making  the  last 
few  scenes  for  the_  Vitagraph  northwest 
feature  in  which  William  Duncan,  George 
Holt  and  Nell  Shipman  will  appear. 

A  friend  who  read  of  Myrtle  Stedman's 
appearance  in  the  Morosco  picture, 
'  "Jane,"  has  written  her  from  Australia, 
telling  her  of  his  experiences  when  he 
toured  with  "Jane"  through  the  Anti- 
podes, fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago. 

For  the  present  Vitagraph  picture, 
William  Wolbert  had  to  photograph  a 
cock  crowing,  which  was  not  an  easy 
matter.  In  this  picture  Webster  Camp- 
bell, Mary  Anderson,  Anne  Schaefer  and 
Otto  Lederer  have  important  roles. 

The  Universal  actress  who  recently 
changed  her  name  from  Louise  Carbasse 
to  Louise  Welch  has  made  another 
change  and  is  now  Louise  Lovely,  under 
which  name  she  appears  in  "Dolly's 
Scoop." 

Mary  Anderson  and  William  Duncan 
appeared  in  person  at  the  premier  of  "Bill 
Peters'  Kid"  at  Chine's  Broadway  theater 
in  Los  Angeles. 

Corinne  Griffith,  who  has  heretofore 
played  only  ingenue  roles,  appears  in  a 
"vampire"  part  in  a  Vitagraph  three- 
reeler  recently  produced  by  William 
Wolbert. 

"Sunshine"  Mary  Anderson,  Webster 
Campbell,  Anne  Schaefer  and  Otto  Led- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


erer  are  soon  to  appear  together  in  a 
one-reel  corned}'  which  Director  Wolbert 
wrote  on  a  rainy  day. 

Crane  Wilbur  plays  two  roles  in  "A 
Law  Unto  Himself,"  a  David  Horsley 
Mutual  Masterpicture  released  February 
28.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Carl  von  Schil- 
ler, Louis  Durham,  Francis  Raymond,  E. 
W.  Harris,  Steve  Murphy,  George  Clare, 
Jr.,  and  Virginia  Kirtley. 

Webster  Campbell,  one  of  the  latest 
members  of  the  Yitagraph  stock  com- 
pany, now  working  in  pictures  at  Holly- 
wood, began  his  stage  career  with  a  stock 
company  in  Kansas  City. 

Lois  Meredith  is  noted  among  sculp- 
tors for  her  beautifully  formed  hands  and 
feet. 

The  Knights  Templar,  at  their  thirty- 
third  Triennial  Conclave  in  Los  Angeles 
next  June,  will  be  entertained  at  Univer- 
sal City  on  one  afternoon,  according  to 
plans  arranged  by  H.  O.  Davis,  general 
manager  of  the  Universal  Film  Company,- 
and  Motley  H.  Flint  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  conclave. 

William  Conklin,  lately  appearing  with 
Jackie  Saunders,  is  now  playing  opposite 
Lois  Meredith. 

William  Duncan  wore  a  sealskin  cap 
with  ear  flaps  while  playing  in  Bear  Val- 
ley, but  he  forgot  about  the  flaps  and 
froze  his  ears. 

William  Desmond,  now  with  the  Mo- 
rosco  forces  in  Los  Angeles,  began  his 
career  before  the  footlights  with  a  small 
part  in  "Quo  Vadis." 

Here  is  Anna  Little's  recipe  for  keep- 
ing young:  "I  worry  little,  eat  well  and 
carefully;  sleep  like  a  top  and  give  all  my 
attention  to  work." 

Nona  Thomas  is  playing  in  a  western 
feature  with  William  S.  Hart  and  Jack 
Standing. 

Grace  Cunard  will  appear  again  as  "My 
Lady  Raffles"  in  a  series  of  photoplays, 
the  first  one  to  be  a  two-reeler,  "Master 
Crooks." 

Helene  Rosson  has  been  posing  in  Gre- 
cian robes  for  a  statuette  by  a  Santa  Bar- 
bara sculptor. 

Bessie  Barriscale  is  busy  changing  bun- 
galows. 

Dorothy  Barrett,  playing  feminine  lead 
in  a  picture  at  Monrovia,  made  her  first 
appearance  on  the  legitimate  stage  as 
Asia  in  "Mrs.  Wiggs  of  the  Cabbage 
Patch." 

Tom  Chatterton  obtained  some  beauti- 
ful views  of  a  dairy  farm  for  "The 
Ranger  of  Lonesome  Gulch." 

Charles  Ray  is  playing  in  a  picture  in 
which  Louise  Glaum  is  being  starred. 

William  D.  Taylor,  with  the  star,  Dus- 
tin  Farnum,  and  a  company  of  Pallas 
players,  have  returned  from  Bear  Valley, 
where  they  declare  they  filmed  wonder- 
ful scenes  for  "David  Crocket." 

Jack  Prescott,  who  appears  as  a  villain 
in  "Margy  of  the  Foothills,"  is  just  back 
from  Europe,  where  he  fought  for  a  year 
in  the  trenches  for  France. 

Rhea  Mitchell,  who  lately  joined  the 
\merican  players,  will  appear  in  "Over- 
alls." the  railroad  play  directed  by  Jack 
Halloway. 

George  Fisher  and  Franklin  Ritchie 
had     an     accident     the     other     day     when 


riding,  ran  into  a  street  car.  Neither  were 
hurt,  but  the  automobile  was  smashed. 

Richard  Stanton  is  driving  a  milk 
wagon,  in  the  twelfth  installment  of 
"Graft." 

Edna  Maison  and  Douglas  Gerrard  are 

playing  together  under  the  direction  of 
George  Cochrane.  In  their  present  play, 
the  child  actress,  Zoe  Zobec,  appears  with 
them. 

William  Garwood  expects  to  leave  for 
New  York  City  soon,  having  finished 
work  in  "The  Journal  of  Lord  John." 

Edgar  Kellar  is  proving  a  valuable  as- 
sistant of  Rollin  S.  Sturgeon,  producer 
with   the  western  Yitagraph  company. 

Hal  Cooley  has  written  his  first  photo- 
play, which  will  be  produced  soon.  He 
will  play  juvenile  lead. 

Howard  Hickman,  an  actor,  and  Otis 
Gove,  a  cameraman,  nearly  lost  their 
lives  when  the  Otay  dam  broke,  near 
San  Diego  last  week.  The}'  had  been 
taking  marine  scenes  in  the  harbor. 

The  song  "Peggy,"  dedicated  to  Billie 
Burke,  is  so  successful  that  Thomas  H. 
Ince  and  Victor  L.  Schertzinger  are  en- 
gaged in  the  composition  of  a  second 
song,  "The  No-Good  Guy,"  dedicated  to 
William  Collier,  to  be  distributed  when 
the  Ince  play  of  the  same  name  is  re- 
leased. 

Ruth  White  is  a  newcomer  to  the  Bal- 
boa forces  and,  although  without  pre- 
vious screen  experience,  is  making  good. 

William  Farnum  gave  a  wild  goose 
dinner  to  the  members  of  his  company 
at  Rio  Yista,  Cal.,  where  he  is  working 
in  his  second  William  Fox  picture.  He 
and  the  men  of  the  company  bagged  the 
birds  during  the  recent  rainy  weather. 

Theda  Bara  has  added  a  hairless  Mex- 
ican dog  and  a  Mexican  dwarf  pig  to 
her  "zoo,"  which  includes  a  whistling- 
frog,  a  Peruvian  green-furred  cat  and  a 
sleep-walking  orang-outang. 

A  trailer  attached  to  all  Balboa  films 
makes  a  plea  for  a  free  screen,  as  well 
as  free  speech,  free  press  and  a  free 
stage. 

"Bill"  Kearns,  Balboa's  chief  electri- 
cian, although  not  a  graduate  from  a 
technical  school,  was  able  to  give  some 
eastern  experts  points  on  installing  a 
lighting  system   recently. 

Marguerite  Marsh  is  appearing  in  the 
Fine  Arts  production  of  "Katy  Bauer," 
directed  by  Paul  Powell  from  the  sce- 
nario of  Granville  Warwick.  She  plays 
opposite  Dorothy  Gish  and  Owen  Moore. 

H.  B.  Warner,  who  made  his  Triangle 
debut  in  "The  Raiders,"  has  returned  to 
Inceville  after  a  brief  vacation,  to  work 
in  a  story  by  C.  Gardner  Sullivan.  It  is 
a  social  problem  play.  Clara  Williams. 
Leona  Hutton,  Gertrude  Claire,  Will 
Bray  and  Charles  Miller  complete  the 
cast,  which  will  be  directed  by  Reginald 
Barker. 

Jack  Standing  has  recovered  from  his 
long  illness  and  is  again  at  Inceville.  He 
is  supporting  Louise  Glaum  in  a  Triangle 
Kay-Bee  feature. 

Bessie  Barriscale  is  learning  to  play 
billiards  in  preparation  for  her  next  play, 
a  Triangle-Kay-Bee  feature  written  by 
C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  which  Charles  Gib- 
lyn  will  direct. 


Frank  Tannehill,  former  stage  director, 
now  in  the  Ince  scenario  bureau,  has  re- 
turned from  a  short  vacation  at  Arrow- 
head,  Cal. 

"Snow  Stuff"  is  the  next  "Mustang" 
comedy  of  the  "Buck  Parvin"  series. 
Art  Acord  is  the  star. 

E.  Forrest  Taylor  gave  Harry  Von 
Meter  and  John  Gough  black  eyes  in  a 
fight  for  "True  Nobility,"  an  American 
five-reel  feature   soon  to  be   released. 

Henry  King  is  now  working  in  a  Bal- 
boa western  drama  in  which  special  at- 
tention is  being  paid  to  detail.  Indians. 
Orientals,  bunch  grassers,  cattlemen,  al- 
falfa shovelers  and  sheepherders  appear 
in  the  play. 

Ruth  Roland,  now  appearing  in  "The 
Red  Circle,"  has  a  large  number  of  fol- 
lowers among  film  fans,  as  her  daily  mail 
shows.  Miss  Roland  joined  the  Balboa 
forces  a  year  ago  and  played  in  the  "Who 
Pays"   series,   with   Henry  King. 


CHICAGO   NOTES 

Director  Arthur  Berthelet  gathered 
over  one  hundred  hoboes  for  the  gam- 
bling scene  in  Essanay's  play.  "The  Prim- 
itive Strain."     They  needed  no  make-up. 

Five  Essanay  directors,  in  four  sections 
of  the  country,  wanted  Ernest  Maupain 
for  their  plays  recentlv.  He  remained  in 
Chicago,  working  in  "The  Discard." 

They  filmed  a  summer  scene  on  a 
stormy  winter  day  in  the  unfinished  F.ssa- 
nay  studio  for  the  "Mary  Page"  story, 
and  Edna  Mayo  looked  more  comfortable 
than  she  felt,  in  her  organdv  and  taffeta 
Lucille  gown. 

Lillian  Drew  first  revealed  her  expert 
horsemanship  to  her  co-workers  in  the 
Essanay  play,  "Vultures  of  Society." 

The  saloon  and  dance  hall  "set"  in 
Essanay''s  "The  Primitive  Strain"  was 
constructed  according  to  directions  given 
by  an  Indian  lately  arrived  from  Canada 
and  who  appears  in  the  play. 

Four  persons,  besides  the  contestants. 
were  hurt  in  the  fight  scene  in  "The  Prim- 
itive Strain." 

Edna  Mayo  says  she  will  never  marry 
because  she  does  not  like  to  be  bossed, 
and  all  husbands,  she  says,  are  bossy. 

Between  scenes  for  the  "Mary  Page" 
serial,  Henry  Walthall  has  a  bandaged 
finger,  the  result  of  a  gun  explosion.  Just 
before  the  camera  begins  to  grind,  off 
comes  the  bandage. 

John  Junior  is  back  after  a  flying  trip 
to  New  York.  He  arrived  in  Chicago  at 
8:30  in  the  morning  and  at  0:30  was  play- 
ing the  leading  part  in  "Politeness  Pays," 
a  three-reel  Essanay  play. 

Colin  Campbell  arrived  in  Chicago  Feb- 
ruary 11  from  Los  Angeles.  He  at  once 
went  into  conference  with  William  N. 
Selig  regarding  completed  plans  for  the 
production  of  "The  Crisis,"  Winston 
Churchill's  novel  of  Civil  War  times, 
which  he  will  direct  for  the  Selig  Poly- 
scope Company. 

Marguerite  Clayton  and  Bryant  Wash- 
burn led  the  grand  march  of  the  Wiscon- 
sin Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Rail  held 
in  Milwaukee  February  12. 

Virginia  Hammond,  for  four  years  lead- 
ing lady  with  E.  H.  Sothern,  under 
Charles    Frohman,    and    for    three    years 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


with  the  Shuberts,  makes  her  debut  in 
motion  pictures  in  the  Essanay  five-reel 
picture,  "The  Discard." 

Lillian  Drew's  beautiful  collection  of 
Oriental  rugs,  worth  about  $50,000,  were 
used  in  the  settings  for  "Vultures  of 
Society." 

At  the  announcement  that  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company  had  received  the 
latest  war  scenes  in  Poland  in  films  has 
interested  Polish  societies  in  many  differ- 
ent cities,  who  wish  to  exhibit  the  films 
under  their  auspices  and  in  this  way  gain 
money  for  the  Polish  Relief  War  Fund. 


BRITISH   TRADE  GOSSIP. 

Following  its  successful  serial,  "The 
Broken  Coin,"  the  Trans-Atlantic  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  will  release,  April  6,  the  first 
of  its  latest  serial,  "The  Purple  Iris." 

John  Pearson,  general  manager  of  the 
Yitagraph  Film  Hiring  Service,  showed 
that  company's  Blue  Ribbon  feature, 
"'Chalice  of  Courage,"  to  the  trade  re- 
cently. On  each  Wednesday  hereafter 
special  Blue  Ribbon  and  Broadway  Star 
features  will  be  shown.  The  serial,  "The 
■Goddess."  will  also  be  shown,  of  which 
good  reports  have  come  from  the  United 
States,  and  which  G.  H.  Smith  says  con- 
tains the  finest  work  Anita  Stewart  and 
Earle  Williams  have   done. 

The  main  feature  at  the  opening  of 
the  new  Kinematograph  Trading  prem- 
ises in  Manchester  was  "The  Miracle  of 
Life,"  in  which  Marguerite  Fisher  plays 
a_  convincing  role.  The  usual  American 
distinctive  quality  was  apparent  through- 
out. 

The  Seli.o-  company's  showroom  is  not 
•only  one  of  the  most  comfortable  in  Lon- 
don, but  is  one  where  first-class  pictures 
are  projected  under  perfect  conditions. 
E.  H.  Montagu,  manager,  is  congratu- 
lated on  the  high  quality  of  the  open 
market  releases  of  his  company. 

The  Trans-Atlantic  production,  "Jeanne 
Dore,"  featuring  Mme.  Bernhardt,  has 
been  acquired  by  F.  R.  Griffiths,  of  the 
New  Bioscope  Trading  Company,  who 
has  also  secured  from  this  company  "The 
Woman  Who  Lied,"  starring  Mary  Ful- 
ler; "The  Queen  of  Hearts."  with  Her- 
bert Rawlinson,  and  Hobart  Bosworth's 
"The  Scarlet"  and  "Jewel." 

Stanley  Bishop  of  the  Globe  Company, 
Ltd..  has  returned  to  London  after  an 
absence  of  more  than  two  months  in  the 
United  States. 

Adrian  Silas,  the  well-known  artist,  is 
now  painting  a  portrait  of  Mary  Miles 
Minter,  of  Metro  fame. 

His  many  friends  in  England  are  in- 
terested to  learn  that  Joe  Brandt  has 
been  appointed  general  manager  of  the 
Universal  Film  Company.  Mr.  Brandt 
became  very  popular  in  London  when 
here  a  year  ago  to  organize  the  publicity 
department  of  the  Trans-Atlantic  Film 
Company,  Eurooean  selling  representa- 
tives   for   the    Universal. 

T.  S.  Lucas  and  A.  D.  Thomas  of 
Kineco  (Cardiff).  ltd.,  have  sailed  for 
New  York,  and  G.  Dartnall  is  in  charge 
of  the  various  branches  during  their  ab- 
sence. 

At  Shaftesbury  Pavilion  "The  Heart  of 
Jennifer"  (Famous  Players)  and  "The 
Secret  Sin"  (Lasky)  were  shown  to  an 
enthusiastic   audience. 


William    (Big   Bill)    Russell. 

Mutual  Star  Knocks  Out  Fighter 

"Big  Bill"  Russell,  Mutual  star,  deliv- 
ered a  knockout  blow  to  Al  Kauffman 
(prominent  in  pugilistic  circles  a  few 
years  ago  as  a  possible  "white  hope") 
in  a  four-round  bout  staged  last  week  at 
the  American  Film  Company's  studios  at 
Santa  Barbara.  Word  of  the  coming  en- 
counter had  spread  rapidly,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  populace  of  Santa  Barbara, 
which  had  been  invited,  came  that  of 
the  surrounding  small  towns.  It  was  a 
case  of  seats  for  those  who  arrived  two 
hours  before  the  scheduled  bout,  and 
one  of  disappointment  to  the  many  who 
arrived  later  and  who,  owing  to  the  al- 
ready overlarge  attendance,  were  refused 
admission. 

Though  the  fight  was  to  be  the  big 
scene  in  "The  Bruiser,"  a  Mutual  "master- 
picture  de  luxe,"  it  was  as  thrilling  and 
real  a  one  as  two  perfectly  built  and 
well-matched  giants  could  make  it.  Two 
cameras  were  trained  on  the  scene,  and 
each  sound  of  the  gong  came  all  too 
quickly  for  the  interested  spectators. 

To  quote  from  the  Santa  Barbara  Dailv 
Press: 

"It  was  some  fight,  even  if  staged  for 
a  motion  picture  camera.  There  was  the 
usual  wild  and  disorderly  mob,  press  rep- 
resentatives, bottle  holders,  personal  at- 
tendants of  the  battlers  and  a  first-class 
referee,  who  was  not  afraid  to  step  in 
between  the  men  and  separate  them  in 
the  clinches." 

Russell,  who  is  6  feet  2  weighed  in  at 
203.  and  Kauffman,  6  feet  1,  at  225. 
Though  the  bout  was  hurriedly  arranged 
and  Kauffman  was  summoned  from  San 
Francisco  by  long-distance  telephone  but 
two  days  prior,  neither  of  the  contest- 
ants made  the  absence  of  time  for  train- 
ing a  point",  but  entered  into  the  encoun- 
ter with  an  enthusiasm  suggestive  of 
preparedness. 

"I  am  not  in  the  best  of  condition, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  we  are  putting  on 
the  fight  a  week  ahead  of  the  schedule 
and  I  have  not  had  time  for  training," 
said  Russell  before  the  bout.  "How- 
ever," he  added,  "when  the  gong  sounds 
for  the  last  round  Kauffman  will  know 
he  was  fighting."    And  Kauffman  did. 

The     latter's     confidence,     while     the 


gloves  were  being  put  on,  was,  "I  have 
had  no  special  training  for  this  fight,  but 
at  that,  I  want  Russell  to  be  the  goat 
for  a  few  tricks  I'm  going  to  try  on  Jess 
Willard  before  long." 

Originally  the  fight  was  scheduled  for 
three  rounds,  but  so  real  and  closely  con- 
tested was  the  battle,  that  it  was  the  end 
of  the  fourth  round  before  Russell  plant- 
ed his  knockout  blow  on  Kauff man's  jaw. 
The  latter  went  down  and  stayed  for  the 
full    ten    seconds   of  the   referee's    count. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  round  Russell 
had  the  best  of  Kauffman.  A  shower 
bath  refreshed  both  contestants  and  the 
second  round  recorded  whirlwind  action. 
At  its  close  Kauffman  had  the  advantage. 
The  third  round  was  a  fast  one,  in  which 
both  fighters  sought  the  ropes  at  various 
times,  and  Russell,  after  a  drop  to  earth, 
came  back  at  the  count  of  eight.  The 
fourth  round  looked  as  though  it  might 
develop  a  fifth,  when  Russell  landed  his 
unexpected  blow  and,  Kauffman  down, 
the  referee  counted  the  fatal  ten — and 
the  fight  was  Russell's.  For  the  latter, 
it  meant  re-living  briefly  the  honors  of 
several  years  ago,  when  he  took  the  ama- 
teur heavyweight  championship  away,  at 
the  end  of  an  eight-round  bout,  from  a 
Philadelphia  millionaire. 

Director  Charles  Bartlett  is  jubilant 
over  the  fine  negative  secured  and  pre- 
dicts that  the  film  world  will  see  a  real 
fight  when  "The  Bruiser"  (William  Par- 
ker, author)  is  released. 


Otto  L.  Meister  announces  that  work 
will  be  started  May  1  on  his  new  mov- 
ing picture  house  to  be  built  on  Third 
street,  just  north  of  the  Vaudette  theater, 
in  Milwaukee.  The  new  playhouse  will 
be  known  as  the  Whitehouse  theater.  It 
will  be  a  four-story  building,  with  a  white 
front,  surmounted  by  a  tower,  studded 
with  5,000  of  the  jewels  used  in  the 
temple  of  jewels  at  the  'Frisco  fair.  At 
night  a  huge  flashlight  will  be  played  on 
the  tower.  The  seating  capacity  will  be 
2,000,  the  lower  floor  accommodating 
1,200  and  the  balcony  800.  Mr.  Meister 
has  planned  several  new  ideas  in  theater 
construction,  among  them  being  a  sys- 
tem of  lighting  through  the  floor.  He 
has  a  ninety-nine  year  lease  on  the  prop- 
rty. 


4*  ■' 


494 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Motography  has  adopted  this 
Films  will  be  listed  as  long  ii 
Reasonable   care   is   used,   and   t 


of  film  pictures  by  the  nature  of  thei 
;tyle  in  listing  current  films.  Exhibito 
advance  of  their  release  dates  as  possit 
:   publishers   cannot   be    responsible   for   ei 


;  exhibitor  _  than  clsasification  by  maker, 
._.  tabulation  in  making  up  their  programs. 
send   us  their  bulletins  as   early   as  possible. 


General  Program 


Monday. 


of  Mary  Page  No. 


I  The     Black     Ore 


14  Selig-Tribune    No.    13,    1916.. 


Tuesday. 


2-15   His    White    Lie Biograph 

2-15   Gold    Dust    Essanay 

2-15  Ham    Takes    a    Chance Kalem 


Wednesday. 


Thursday. 


Friday. 

2-18  The    Guiding    Hand     (No.   17    of    t 


2-18  The    Child    of    the    West Knickerbocker 

2-18   Pluck    and    Luck Vim 

2-18   In    Arcadia    Vitagraph 


Saturday. 


Monday. 


21  His    Mother's    Son 

21   The  Strange   Case  of  Mary    ; 

21   The    Repentant     

21   Virtue    Triumphant     

21  Selig-Tribune  No.   15,   1916. 
Hughey,   the    Process   Server 


Tuesday. 


ridesmaid's    Secre 


2-22  Four    Nar 


Wednesday. 


Thursday. 


2-24  The  Redemi: 
2-24  Selig-Tril.M,, 
2-24   Bungles     I'.n 


2-25  The  Night  Watch 
2-25  Who  Knows3  .... 
2-25  Love  and  Lather. 
2-25  Freddy's   Narrow   1 


Friday. 


Saturday. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Program 


. . .  Biograph 
.  .  .Essanay 

Lubin 

Selig 

Selig 

.  .  Vitagraph 


2-16   Pique    Biograph 

2-16  Vernon    Howe    Bailey's    Sketch    Book:    Scenic Essanay 

2-16  A  Molar  Mix-Up Kalem 


-17  The  Uplift    Lubin 

-17   Selig-Tribune   No.    14,    1916 Selig 

-17   One   Too    Many Vim 


2-19   Politeness    Pays    Essanay 

2-19  The     Perilous     Swing Kalem 

2-19  A    Temporary    Husband Lubin 

2-19  Making   Good    Selig 

2-19  The  Man  He  Used   to   Be Vitagiaph 


2-23  The  Guilt  of  Stephen    Eldridge Biograph 

2-23    Canimate.l    Nooz    Pictorial    N...    5 Essanay 

2-23   Earning    His    Salt Kalem 


2-26  The   Dcspoiler    Essanay 

2-26  The    Switchman's    Story Kalem 

2-26    Billy's     Revenge     Lubin 

2-26  A    Safe    Risk Selig 


3   Green    Stockings Vitagraph  5,000 

7   My    Lady's    Slippers Vitagraph  5,000 

7   Captain    Tinks   of  the   Horse   Marines Essanav  5,000 

3  The    Wonderful    Wager Lubin  2,000 

4  Gods   of   Fate Lubin  5,000 

4  The  Island  of  Surprise Vitagraph  5,000 

1  A    Night    Out Vitagraph  5,000 

1   Souls    in    Bondage Lubin  5,000 

7   The    Crown    Prince's    Double Vitagraph  5,000 

'Thou    Shalt    Not    Covet Selig  5,000 

t  The   Writing  on  the   Wall Vitagraph  5,000 

1  Dollars  and    Cents Lubin  5,000 

I  Vultures    of    Society. . • Essanay  5,000 

The   Misleading   Lady Essanay  5,000 

:   Kennedy    Square    Vitagraph  5,000 

!   Her    Bleeding    Heart Lubin  5,000 

!  The    Discard     Ks>anav  5,000 

!   For  a  Woman's   Fair  Name Vitagraph  5,000 


Mutual  Program 
Tuesday. 

D        2-15   A   Modem   Sphinx    American 

Wednesday. 

C        2-16   Ella    Wanted    to    Elope Beauty 

D       2-16  Outwitted   Thanhouser 

Thursday. 

C       2-17  Perkin's    Peace    Part Falstag 

T        2-17   Mutual   Weekly    No.    59 Mutual 

C       2-17  At  the  End  of  the  Rope Vogue 

Friday. 

C       2-18  Too   Proud  to  Fight Cub 

D        2-18  When    the    Lights    Came Mustang 

Sunday. 

S  2-20  See  America  First,  No.  23 

C  2-20  Keeping   Lp    With    the    Tone-e-.    No.     \! 

C  2-20  The    Battle    of    Cupidov'itch Btautv 

C  2-20  Heaven  Will  Protect  the  Woiking   Coil Vogue 

Tuesday. 

D        2-22   Life's    Harmony    American 

C       2-22  Ruth's   Remarkable   Reception Falstaff 

Wednesday. 

D        2-23   The    Reunion     Thanhouser 

C        2-23   Too     Much     Married Beauty 

Thursday. 

C        2-24   Title    Not    Reported VogU« 

C       2-24  Perkins'   Peace    Party 

T        2-24   Mutual    Weekly    Xo."  60 Mutual  . 

Friday. 

D        2-25    Double    Crossed    Mustang 

C       2-25  Title  Not   Reported Cub 

Saturday. 

S  2-27  See    America    FirM    Xo.    24 C, turnout 

C  2-27  Keeping   l'p   Willi    the    Ioihm-v.    No.  24 Caumunl 

C  2-27  Cooking    His    Goose.  .  .' Beauty 

C  2-27  Title    Not    Reported Vogue 


Universal  Program 

c 

D 

Monday. 

2-14  When    the    Losers    Won 

I-!    The   Il.nl. or  Transportation    fru-o    i  Craft    No.    10  S. 

Universal 

1.000 

D 

1) 
D 

Tuesday. 

2-15  The  Family  Secret > 

LS    ii,,     Strong   Arm    Squad Rex 

2-15   Cinders    Imp 

2,000 
1,000 
1,000 

MOTOGRAPHY 


Wednesday. 


>  As    Fate    Decides Laemmle 

5   Elevating     Father L-Ko 

5  Animated    Weekly,    Vol.    3,    No.    6 Universal 

Thursday. 

'In    the    Night Victor 

'   No  Release  this  Week Big  U 

"   Building  Up  the  Health  of  a  Nation— and  Joe   Boko's 

Adventures      Powers 

Friday. 

3  Mot     and     Counter    Plot Imp 

i  Borrowed     Plumes      Rex 

i  Flivver's    Dilemma    Nestor 

Saturday. 

3  A    Recoiling    Vengeance Bison 

?   Bureau   of  Weights  and   Measures    (No.   9  Uncle   Sam 

at    Work)     Powers 

)  No   Release  This   Week Joker 

Sunday. 

D   Dolly's     Scoop     Rex 

)  No   Release  This   Week Joker 

)  Twenty   Minutes   at   the  Fair L-Ko 

Monday. 

1   The    Disappearing     Groom Nestor 

1  The  Illegal    Bucketshops    (Graft   No.   11) Universal 

Tuesday. 

2  The    Dupe    Gold    Seal 

I  The    Pipe    Dream Victor 

I  No   Release  This   Week Imp 

Wednesday. 

3  Madame    Cubist    Victor 

3  Turtle    Doves     Rex 

3  Animated    Weekly,    Vol.    3,    No.    7 Universal 

Thursday. 

4  John    Pellet's    Dream Laemmle 

4  A    Beast   of   Society Big    U 

4  No    Release    This    Week Powers 

Friday. 

5  I'll  Get  Her  Yet Imp 

5  After   the   Play Victor 

5  Her   Friend,   the   Doctor Nestor 

Saturday. 

6  The   Stampede   in    the   Night Bison 

6   Preparedness    (No.    10   Uncle   Sam   at   Work) Powers 

6  Married  on  the  Wing Joker 

Sunday. 

7  No  Release   This  Week Rex 

7  Her    Greatest    Story Laemmle 

7  Dad's    Dollars    and    Dirty    Doings L-Ko 


Miscellaneous  Features 


Sins  of  Great  Cities Great  Northern  Film  4,000 

Race  Suicide Jos.   W.   Farnham  6,000 

Somewhere  in  France Arthur  S.   Kane  5,000 

Fighting  with   France French    Official   War   Films  6,000 

At   the   End   of  the   Rainbow K.  &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

A  Naval  Tragedy K.  &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

The   Arabian    Dancing    Girl K.   &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

Catherine   Brown— the   Baby   Kellerman— in  Fancy   Diving 

and    Swimming    K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

On  the  Firing  Line  With  the   Germans War  Film  Syndicate  8,500 

His    Vindication     Cosmofotofilm  4,000 

A  Fool's   Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

The   Girl   and   the   Game Signal   Film  30,000 

The    Unwritten    Law California    M.    P.  5,000 

The  Ne'er-Do-Well    Sol  Lesser  10,000 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Jan.    24  Jeanne  Dore   -, .  .  .  5,000 

Jan.    3 1   Secret    Love    6,000 

Feb.      7  Undine    5,000 

Feb.   14   Hop,   the   Devil's   Brew 5,000 

Feb.   21   The   Wrong    Door 5,000 

Feb.   28  The    Grip    of  Jealousy 5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Jan.       2   Green-Eyed    Monster    5,000 

Jan.      9  A   Parisian   Romance 5,000 

Jan     16  The    Fourth    Estate 5.000 

Jan.    23  The  Serpent    5,000 

Jan.       30  The    Ruling    Passion 5,000 

Feb.     6   Merely    Mary    Ann 5,000 

Feb.  13  Fighting   Blood 5,000 


Kleine-Edison 


t  of 


5   The     Devi 


Prayer 


.Edis 


»  Wild  Oats    K  ei 

5  The   Innocence  of  Ruth Edisu,. 

i  The    Final    Curtain Kleine 

J  When   Love    Is    King Kleme 

)  The  Martyrdom   of   Philip   Strong Edison 

5  The    Scarlet     Road.. 


inb-nv' 


.  Ivh- 


Metro   Features. 


Released  a 

3  What   Will   People   Say?.... 

0  The    Turmoil     

7  The  Rose  of  the  Alley 

4  Her  Debt  of   Honor 

1  Man    and    His    Soul 

7  The    Upstart    

1   TmTPPrice  of  'Malice.' .'.'.'.'.'.' '. 
1  A    Corner   in    Cotton 


Feb.   21   I    Ace 


..Gar 


mond Thanhouse 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

4  As    a    Woman    Sows Gaumont 

7   Lord    Loveland    Discovers    America American 

9  Betrayed     Than houser 

1  Vengeance    Is    Mine Centaur 

2  The  Idol  of  the  Stage Gaumont 

5  The    White    Rosette American 

7  The    Drifter    Gaumont 

3  The    Final    Argument American 

2  The   Soul's   Cycle Centaur 

4  Life's     Blind    Alley American 

7  The    Dead    Alive Gaumont 

9  Silas    Marner     Thanhouser 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 
3   Tennessee's    Pardner    Lasky 

3  Farmer   Al    Falfa's    Catastrophe Bray-Paramount 

7  The  Cliff  Dwellers   of  America. Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

7   Madame   La   Presidente Morosco 

0  Nearly  a   King Famous  Players 

0  Haunts  for  Rent Bray-Paramount 

4  Grand   Canyon Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

7   Miss  Nanny  Goat  Becomes  an  Aviator. ...  Bray- Paramount 

4  The   Trail  of  the  Lonesome   Pine Lasky 

7   Out  of  the  Drifts Famous  Players 

7  He  Fell  In  Love  With   His  Wife Pallas 

1  A   Day  With  a  West  Point   Cadet 

Paramount-Burton     Holmes 

1  Blacklist    Lasky 

8  Our   Middies   at    Annapolis    and   the   U.    S.   Avia- 

tion  School    Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

8   Diplomacy    Famous   Players 

2  Poor    Little    Peppina Famous    Players 

Pathe. 

Released    Week   of 

1   By  the  Zuder  Zee   (Picturesque  Holland) Pathe 

1  Along  the   Deschutes   River Pathe 

1   Pathe  News  No.   16 Pathe 

1   Pathe  News  No.   17 Pathe 

1   Starved  to  Death  in  a  Restaurant Starlight 

I  Seeds   of   Suspicion   (Red   Circle   No.    11) Balboa 

Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 

II  The   Path   of  Happiness 

7  A  Knight  of  the  Range 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Feb.   14  The    Sphin 


;    of    Satan 5,000 

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released    week    of 

>  The   Flying  Torpedo:   John   Emerson Fine  Arts  5,000 

i  D'Artaenan:    Orrin   Johnson Triangle-Kay-Bee  5,000 

5.  His  Hereafter ;   Chas.   Murray,  Louise  Fazenda 

Triangle-Keystone  2,000 

5.   Acquitted:     Wilfred     Lucas Fine     Arts  5,000 

5   His    Pride    and    Shame:    Ford    Sterling. Triangle-Keystone  2,000 

3   His    Picture    in    the    Paper:    Fairbanks Fine    Arts  5,000 

3  Honor's     Altar:     Barriscale,     Stone,     Edwards. 

Triangle-Kay    Bee       5,000 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

0  In   Life's   Whirlpool Brady 

0  Her   Great   Hour Equitable 

7   Behind    Closed    Doors Triumph 

4  Babette  of  the  Bally  Hoo Equitable 

7  The    City    Shubert 

4  The   Ballet   Girl Brady 

1  Fruits    of    Desire Brady 

The    Yellow    Passport Shubert 

7   The   Woman    in    47 Equitable 

5  Love's    Crucible    Brady 

The    Clarion     Equitable 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Weeks  Film  Releases 


General  Program 


arr 

The  Diver— Kalem— February  22.— Lloyd 

a    farewell    dinner    and    later    in    the 

H? 

milton,     Bud    Duncan,     Ethel     Teare,    Jack 
mott   and   Juanita    Sponsler    featured.      Ham 
job  as  a  diver,  and    Bud  is  hired  to  be  his 

boys   go   to   the    resort    where   Hazel   i 

held.      He 

let 

U    ushered    into    the    room    where    Haze 

shows  him   Muriels  letter.      He  agrees 

,e°  night ''be 

tit.      When    Ham    goes    below    Bud's    job    is 

on   condition   that   the  happenings   of  t 

e  enough,   but   when  pretty   Miss   Flirt  hap- 

kept   secret.      This  she  agrees  to   do   a 

along     it     is     entirely     forgotten,     and     then 

time  she  sees  him   is  at  his   wedding   a 

gs 

begin    to   happen. 

understands  the  meaning  of  the  condi 

ion. 

•  for- 


ces in  the  desert.  The  fourth  son  remains  hon 
d  he  is  disdained  bv  his  sweetheart,  who  thinks 
n  a  weakling,  but  when  she  sees  him  daily  com- 
-ting  his  aged  parents  she  realizes  that  but  for 
em  he  would  have  gone  too  and  she  weds  him. 
le  three  brothers  separate  and  soon  after  the 
st  strikes  gold  and  the  second  brother  after  a 
litless  search  reaches  the  spot  and  starts  the 
cavated  earth  in  a  landslide  which  crushes  out 
s  brother's  life.  The  third  brother  stumbles 
ross  the  spot  and  determines  to  rob  the  miner, 
ley  both  are  mortally  wounded,  but  before  death 
mes   they    recognize   each    other,   and   later   only 


skelet 


ark  the   spot. 


Dowell,  Gretchen  Hartman,  Charles  Perley  and 
lack  Nellson  featured.  The  guardian  of  Linda 
Ford,  Peter  Rawlings,  is  murdered  by  Grace 
Martin,  a  woman  with  whom  he  has  had  an  affair, 
and  Linda's  sweetheart  is  accused  of  the  deed, 
but  he  makes  his  escape  and  goes  to  another  city 
under  the  name  of  John  Flemming.  He  sends  for 
and  marries  Linda  and  years  later  we  find  Flem- 
ming a  successful  lawyer  and  politician  running 
for  the  office  of  Mayor  against  the  Boss  Ring. 
Through  a  disloyal  secretary  the  Boss  Ring  learns 
that  Flemming  is  none  other  than  John  Barton, 
the  unpunished  murderer.  However,  Grace  Mar- 
tin, when  she  learns  of  Barton's  predicament, 
comes  forth  and  confesses  that  she  was  the  real 
slayer  of  Peter  Rawlings,  thus  clearing  John 
Barton's  name. 

Pique —  (Three  Reels) — Biograph — February 
16.— William  Russell,  Betty  Gray,  Jack  Drumeir, 
Gretchen  Hartman  and  Isabel  Rea  featured. 
Mabel  Renfrew  out  of  pique  accepts  Arthur 
Standish's  offer  of  marriage.  They  leave  on  their 
honeymoon  and  when  they  return  go  to  the 
Standish  homestead  to  live.  Mabel  cannot  get 
along  with  Arthur's  people,  who  are  very  religi- 
ous, and  this  leads  to  a  quarrel,  and  she  tells 
Arthur  that  she  married  him  out  of  pique  and 
that  she  still  loves  Ray  Lessing,  her  _  former 
admirer,  who  had  transferred  his  attentions  to 
Mabel's  young  stepmother  when  he  learned  that 
she  inherited  her  husband's  fortune.  Arthur  when 
he  learns  this  leaves  for  a  long  cruise  and  soon 
after  love  for  her  absent  husband  creeps  into 
Mabel's  heart  with  the  birth  of  her  baby  boy. 
Arthur  returns  and  Mabel  confesses  her  love  for 
him  and  thus  everything  ends  happily. 

The  Repentant — Lubin — February  21. — L.  C. 
Shumway,  Velma  Whitman,  Jay  Morley  and 
Eleanor  Belvins  featured.  The  story  deals  with 
one  George  Austin  who  becomes  a  pronounced 
atheist  because  his  fiancee  Edythe  Martin,  a  Uni- 
versity flirt,  scornfully  leaves  him.  Later,  how- 
ever, he  falls  in  love  with  Nellie,  a  Western  girl, 
and  she  is  the  means  of  saving  Austin.  A  year 
later  he  no  longer  scoffs  at  the  Bible,  but  plans 
with    Nellie    a    great    future    for    their    infant    son. 

Hughey,  the  Process  Server — Vitagraph — Feb- 
ruary 21.— Hughie  Mack,  Kate  Price,  William 
Shea,  Flora  Finch  featured.  Hughey  longs  to  be 
a  sleuth,  but  is  only  a  poor  process  server.  When 
he  is  told  to  serve  a  process  on  Binks  he  has  an 
awful  time  right  from  the  start.  Finally,  how- 
ever, with  the  aid  of  Flora,  an  old  maid,  he  suc- 
ceeds in  his  mission  and  sitting  on  their  fallen 
enemy's  chest  Flora  and  Hughey  pledge  their 
troth  of  life-long  fidelity  and  love. 


form  the  play.  It  concerns  Kentucky  mountain 
moonshiners,  revenue  officers,  etc.  In  the  end 
the  tangle  is  happily  straightened  out.  The  story, 
written  by  Marc  Edmund  Jones,  was  produced  by 
Paul   M.   Powell. 


..orth,  Jack  McDermott,  Ethel  Teare, 
victor  Rottman  and  Louise  LaSalle  featured. 
Jack,  who  likes  the  ladies,  doesn't  do  enough 
work    at    his    father's    office    to    "earn    his    salt." 

and  he  quits  his  father's  employ  and  puts  a  "To 
Hire"   sign  on  his   automobile.      With  Jack   in   the 

of  mix-ups  follow,  giving  lean  an  opportunity  to 
kill  two  birds  with  one  stone,  curing  him  of  his 
fickleness    and    frivolity. 

The  Redemption  of  Helene— (Three  Reels)— 
February  24. — L.  C.  Shumway  appears  in  the  role 
of  Charles  Stuart,  an  artist,  who  falls  in  love 
with  Helene,  a  dancer.  She  accepts  his  money 
and  attentions  and  soon  he  is  heavily  in  debt. 
He  strains  his  eyes  and  he  is  told  by  the  doctor 
that  he  must  not  remove  the  bandages  for  six 
weeks.  Helene  deserts  him  and  later  he  attends 
a  performance  in  which  she  is  featured  and  he 
removes  the  bandages.  Later  learning  of  Charles' 
affliction  Helene  is  horrified  and  then  all  her 
womanhood  and  affection  for  him  comes  to  the 
surface  and  she  goes  to  him  and  takes  him  in  her 
arms.  Helen  Wolcot,  May  Cruze  and  Melvin 
Mayo   support  Mr.   Shumway. 


and  Dallas  Tyler  featured.  Dr.  Crawford,  _ 
physician  struggling  to  kindle  into  flame  the  last 
remaining  spark  of  life  of  a  weak-willed  youth 
lying  at  death's  door,  learns  that  this  youth  is  the 
cause  of  his  life's  greatest  sorrow — his  daughter's 
downfall.  Through  the  long  watches  of  the  night 
the  physician  sways  between  the  grip  of  his  own 
bitter  feelings  toward  this  life  entrusted  to  him 
and   the  honor   of  his   calling. 

Freddy's  Narrow  Escape — Vitagraph — Febru- 
ary 25.— William  Dagman,  Helen  Gurney  and 
Daisy  Devere,  featured.  Judge  Green  appoints 
Aunt  Marie,  his  maiden  sister,  as  guardian  of 
Rose,  his  daughter,  with  whom  Freddy  is  in  love 
to  the  displeasure  of  the  judge.  Freddy  happens 
to  do  a  favor  for  Aunty  before  she  knows  who 
he  is  and  pretending  to  be  taken  with  her,  pays 
a  visit  to  her  home.  He  manages  to  slip  a  note 
to  Rose  and  that  night  when  he  whistles  outside 
Aunty  thinks  Freddy  has  come  for  her.  Heavily 
veiled  she  goes 


The  Despoiler— (Three  Reels)— Essanay— Feb- 
ruary 26.— Bryant  Washburn,  Darwin  Karr,  Ed- 
ward Arnold  and  Warda  Howard   featured.     Bruce 

his  father  when  the  latter  discover-  him  robbing- 
known  'to  the  police  as  "The  Shadow."  Bruce- 
thrusts  a  piece  of  lace  into  Mary's  cloak  when 
nearly  caught  stealing  it  himself  and  then  de- 
nounces her  and  she  fearing  an  accusation  would 
cost  her  the  position,  pays  for  his  silence.  Finally- 
desperate  she  appeals  to  Ben  Cameron,  whom  she 
had  rejected  years  before,  and  when  Bruce  comes 
to  collect  again  from  Mary  he  finds  his  father. 
Bruce  shoots  himself  and  when  the  detectives  ar- 
rive they  congratulate  Cameron  on  having  shot 
"The   Shadow/' 

Billie's  Revenge— Lubi.v— February  2d.— Billie 
Reeves  featured.  Billie's  mother  goes  or.  a  trip 
and  Billie  plans  to  give  a  series  of  poker  parties 
during  her  absence.  He  receives  a  telegram  from 
his  Aunt  Molly  to  the  effect  that  she  is  coming 
on  a  visit.  Many  laughable  situations  follow,  but 
finally  Billy  manages  to  get  out  of  the  several 
scrapes   he   has    fallen   into. 

A  Safe  Risk— Selig— February  26.— Sidney 
Smith,  Ralph  McComas  and  Bettv  Nathan  fea- 
tured. Bill  Hardluck  takes  out  an  accident  in- 
surance policy  and  later  needing  ready  money  he 
does  everything  in  his  power  to  experience  an 
accident.  He  takes  all  kinds  of  long  chances  but 
is  always  saved  in  the  nick  of  time.  Finally  lie 
is  blown  into  the  air  by  dynamite  and  "falls 
through  the  skylight  into  a  surgeon's  operating 
room.  When  he  is  released  he  is  certainly  in  need 
of  accident  insurance,  but  when  he  arrives  at  the 
office  he  discovers  that  the  Hocum  Accident  In- 
surance  Co.   has  been   closed. 


_  February  26. — Leah  Baird,  Louise 
Beaudet,  Van  Dvke  Brooke,  E.  A.  Turner  and 
Walter  McGrail  featured.  Myrtle  and  Edna  are 
twin  sisters.  Myrtle,  an  incorrigible  girl,  leaves 
town  one  night  with  Carl  Whitman,  and  her  fam- 
ily unable  to  endure  the  disgrace  move  to  an- 
other city.  Edna  marries  Harry  Anderson,  but 
does  not  tell  him  of  her  twin  sister.  Harrv  sees 
Myrtle    ' 


thinks  she  is  his  wife  and  shoots  hei 
home  and  is  stunned  by  Edna's  appe; 
ever,  things  are  explained  and  wh< 
covers  from  her  wound   she  marries 


How 


r   off  t 


the 


Wher 


..,  Freddy  break- 
away  and  runs  for  life  pursued  by  determined 
Aunty,   while   the  judge   leads   Rose   home. 

The  Bridesmaid's  Secret — (Three  Reels) — Es- 
sanay— February  26.— John  Lorenz,  Marion  Mur- 
ray and  Fritzi  Ridgcwav  featured.  Muriel  Carrol 
writes  her  schoolmate,  Hazel  Field,  to  come  to  the 
city  and  be  her  bridesmaid.  Hazel's  train  is  three 
hours  late  and  she  misses  Muriel  and  unaccus- 
tomed to  the  ways  of  the  city,  summons  a  cab 
man  to  take  her  to  Muriel's  home.  Instead  he 
brings  her  to  a  vice  resort  where  she  is  held  a 
prisoner.      John    Dempster,    Muriel's    fiance,    gives 


Selig-Tribune  No.  1 1— February  7.— Captain 
Welch  of  Miami,  Fla.,  has  captured  a  shark  weigh- 
ing 650  pounds  and  measuring  eight  feet  long, 
breaking  the  season's  record  ;  Go-H-ead-Doongwa, 
a  prince  of  the  Mohawk  tribe  and  two  Mohawk 
chiefs   reach    Cleveland,    Ohio,    after   traveling   one 

to  Mrs.  Wjodrow  Wilson:  lour  dead,  two  missing 
and  twenty-four  injured  comes  as  a  result  of  an 
avalanche  which  swept  two  coaches  off  the  tracks 
and  down  the  mountain  side,  Corea,  Wash.  ;  soccer 
football  furnishes  plenty  of  exercise  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  many  rival  teams  in  Lynn,  Mass.  ; 
Mrs.  Woodrow  Wilson,  First  Ladv  of  the  Land, 
finally  consents  to  pose  the  first  time  for  any  mo- 
tion   picture   for   the    Selig-Tribune. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  12— February  10.— Unloading 
a  bale  of  cotton  weighing  54  1  pounds  proves  an 
easy    ia.-k    for    Edward    Hianiien.    ..    modern    -Sam- 


nrW 

im 

fi 

in 

r  II 

///>,-,     /  nhiii    releases,   left   I 


-"The   Redemption   of  Helen,"   "The    Uplift,"  and  "Hamlet  Made  Or< 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


son"  who  l.ves  in  Corpus  Ch 

risti,  Texas ;  "Sandy" 

rel.      Many 

funny    and    e.xc 

ting    incidents    fc 

Sherman    has    -et    aside    lifl\ 

as  a   "bird   refuge"   with   the 

result    that    thousands 

Flooded 

with  Trouble— V 

heroes    who    when     the    Tita 

Kit!,.     Mill. 

r,   Madge   Kirby, 

Arthur    Travare 

lives   to   save   others,   will   sta 

Alice    Nek- 

featured.      Rube 

refuses  to  depa 

Washington.    D.    C,    when   c 

mpleted  ;    transporta- 

esult  of  the  swollen  waters 
servation  platform  speeches 
on  of  President  Wilson's 
campaign  through  Iowa. 


:essity    of'  * 
id.      He   ca 


[   by   cracking   a   plat 


Mutual  Program 


Mutual  Weekly  No.  59-  -Mutual.— This  issue 
of  the  weekly  contains  pictures  of  General  Joffre 
at  review  of  the  landing  of  the  allies  at  Alexandria, 
Egypt;  of  Louis  D.  Brandeis,  the  "people's  law- 
yer," recently  nominated  by  President  Wilson  to 
be  an  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court;  of 
the  saihnir  of  W.  Morgan  Slu.ster,  former  treas- 
urer-general of  Persia,  for  China ;  of  the  inven- 
tion, "the  radio  detector,"  of  Fred  Kolster  which 
will  determine  the  direction  of  another  ship;  of 
the  capturing  ..i  the  A, .pain;  and  of  lames  Whit- 
comb  Kilev  ami  M,u-f'  Henrv  U'aU-rson  enjoying 
the   sunshine   at    Miami,   Fla. 


Paddy's  Political  Dream — Vogue — February  10. 
— Paddy  dreams  that  he  is  a  political  boss.  He 
has  a  glorious  time,  until  the  whistle  blows  and 
he  wakes  up  and  finds  he  has  to  go  to  work.  Di- 
rected by  Jack  Dillon. 

Igorrotes,  Crocodiles 
February  1 .1.— Louise  . 
Paddy  McQuire  and 
Count  Romany,  a  spy  i 
of  the  Unemployed,  leai 


i   Hat   Box — Vogue- 
'     r   Mot 


i  Ow 


At  the  End  of  His  Rope—  Vu 

—Rube   Miller.    Ma.luc    Kirb,     a 
featured.      Hick    Bvbins,    who 
sheriff's    daughter,    sees    a    rew; 
arrest  of  Slick   Fingered   Malt, 
comes    to    Nickville    and    Hick 
about    the    arrest    of    Matt    and 
the   reward   but   also   Dolly,   the 

gue — February  17. 

.1   Arthur   Travares 
s    in   love    with    the 

rd    offered    for    the 
i  city  crook.     Matt 

n,.t    onK     rcceivel 
sheriff's   daughter. 

Heaven  Will  Protest  a  Woik 

February      20.— Ruse      Powell 

ing   Goil— Vogue— 

Priscill.i       Dean. 

. .  11a  Dean  featured, 
n  the  employ  of  the  Army 
ns  that  Madame  Parlevoo, 
irrying  a  hat  box  in  which 
i  secret  code  is  hidden.  He  succeeds  in  pur- 
loining the  coveted  hat  box  and  in  his  attempt  to 
escape  he  enters  the  village  of  an  Igorrote  Chief- 
tain. The  Igorrotes  tie  him  to  a  board  and  are 
about  to  kill  him  when  Count  Pooh  steals  the 
box.  The  Igorrotes  pursue  him  and  are  about 
to  lead  him  back  to  the  village  when  the  police 
intervene  and  wdien  the  box  is  opened  it  is  found 


Arthur  Moon.   Paddv   McOuire  and 
featured.     Joe  comes  to  the  city  to 


Universal  Program 


(Sel'lK 


find   1. 


father.  Nellie  is  lured  bv  the  villain  and  his  ac- 
complice and  they  take  the  girl  to  the  villain's 
office,  but  Joe  arrives  in  the  nick  of  time  to  save 
her.  They  make  their  get-away  in  a  "Flivver," 
but  they  are  captured  by  the  villain  and  tied  to 
a  railroad  track.  They  are  saved  by  a  passing 
tramp  and  the  villain  am!  his  accomplice  take  a 
terrible  leap  over  a    dizzy   cliff   in    their  "Flivver." 

Too  Much  Married— Beauty— February  23.— 
Carol  Hallowav.  John  Sheehan,  John  Steppling 
and  Lucille  Ward  'featured.  Tack  and  Nell,  newly- 
weds,  quarrel  because  of  Nell's  cool"-~ 
returns  to  her  mother.  Jack  decides 
a   surprise  and  hires  a  cook.      Jack's 


Universal  Animated  Weekly  No.  7— Universal 
—February  16.— President  Wilson  speaks  for 
national  defense,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  Americans  train 
Englishmen  to  run  war  air  craft,  Newport  News, 
Va. ;  Ex- War  Secretary  Garrison  resigns  because 
he  differed  with  President  on  army  plan;  Elephant 
Butte  Dam  will  provide  water  for  130,000  acres 
in  world's  greatest   irrigation  project,   Las  Cr 


Mex.  ; 


■     elev 


ind    she 


rried, 


promised,  and  Jack  introduces  Mrs.  O'Laugha; 
the  cook,  as  his  wife,  fearing  that  uncle  would 
"~    "f   he   learned    of   the   q 


G.  W.  Mundelcm,  Chicago,  111.; 
listed  high  in  air.  icet  first,  handcuff  king  frees 
niself  from  Muecoats'  bonds.  Houston.  Texas: 
rtoons   by   Hy    Mayer. 

Too  Proud  to  Fight— Cub— February  18.— 
maturing  George  Ovey.  Most  of  the  trouble  in 
is    picture    centers    around    Tillie,    a   servant;    her 

isky    Swede,    having    terrible    strife    to    ; 


tas*e 

Jerry's 

nem 

es    are    le 

ion 

but 

th 

ves   to    be 

the 

Howe 

s   things   « 

lb 

clever  har 

d   a 

id  at 

las 

-s  th 

to  ti 

e  hands  o 

the 

cops 

Am 

=rica   First- 

-(Si 

lit    Reel) 

— G 

T— 

20.— In  Nc 

23 

of  "See  Amer 

ca    Hi 

Traveller 

take 

th 

stle  railroac 

Key  West, 

Flo 

rida. 

Al 

ul    spots    o 

t   th 

s   locality 

are 

given 

at 

....  ind  they  become  friends.  Rube's 
s  out  to  carry  his  lunch  to  her  hubsand 
tr  carries  her  to  safety.  The  two  couples 
;ach  others'  identity  and  the  men  escape 
m  while  the  women  have  a  battle.  Ex- 
i    follow,    however,   and   all   is   serene. 


the    doings    of    the    Joi 


toon   dra 


i  by   Han 


The  Illegal  Bucket  Shops— (Two  Reels)— 11 
Chapter  of  "Graft"— February  21.— Hon.  Rob. 
A.  Harding,  Mrs.  Larnigan's  brother,  comes 
assist  her  to  get  Bruce  away  from  his  fight  wi 
the  Trusts,  as  the  mental  strain  on  the  latter  h 
brought  him  on  the  verge  of  insanity.  Bruce  1 
conies  seriously  implicate. I  while  Irving  to  sect- 
evidence  against  the  "Bucket  Shop"  operators,  a 
■'-  mgh  the  efforts  of  the  a  '    ' 


that 


i  the  charg 


of  n 


word  refers  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Hall,  an- 
member  of  the  "Trust."  His  real  assassin 
victed   by   Harding.      As  the  episode   closes, 


The  Disappearing  Groom — Nestor — February 
21.— With  Ray  Gallagher  and  Billie  Rhodes.  His 
ship  being  short-handed,  the  mighty  captain  orders 
that  three  men  shall  be  procured  anywhere  and  at 
once  to  fill  their  places.  Accordingly  the  mate 
and  a  sailor  carry  out  the  orders.  Two  of  the 
unfortunates  are  Rav,  a  groom,  and  his  best  man, 
Neal.  The  ship  puts  to  sea  and  it  is  onlv  after 
a  chase  in  a  swift  launch  that  she  is  overhauled, 
and  after  a  long  hunt  that  the  groom  is  discovered. 
On  getting  back  to  the  church  the  guests  discover 

yond    their    reach. 

Ruth's  Remarkable  Reception— Falstaff — Feb- 
ruary 22. — With  Francis  Keyes.  A  lonely  old 
maid  delights  in  helping  the  poor,  especially  the 
children.  She  determines  to  give  the  boys  of 
Hades   Squares   a   good   t' 


Mil, 


settler 

:    hout 

lued     by     the 


The 


•    gener 


,    but    they    ; 


t    of 


The  Dupe— (Three  Reels)— Gold  Seal— Feb- 
ruary 22.— Featuring  Herbert  Rawlinson  and 
Agnes  Vernon.      Herbert   Drummond   is  used  as  a 

aiid'\sent  'to'the  *p"  nilaVntiaVv.''1'  The  'shock  of°  liis 
arrest  kills  his  poor  mother,  and  Herbert  swears 
revenge  on  the  man  who  enticed  him  into  the 
scheme.      After   being   released   from   prison,   how- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No. 


trafficers,    becom 
clines   taking   re-* 

es    completely    reformed    and    de 
enge   on   the   smuggler   when   th 

The   Pipe  Dre 

im— Victor— February  22.— Fea 

.-    Thebv 


Hai 


■   Myer 


Mrs 


Hopeful  devotes  all  her  time  to  the  _ 
pletely  overlooking  hubby.  The  latter  finally  be- 
comes disgusted  with  things,  and  leaves  home 
after  his  wife  has  told  him  he  is  at  liberty  to 
depart.  In  order  to  sustain  herself,  Mrs.  Hope- 
ful hits  upon  the  plan  of  writing  a  scenario,  which 
she  does:  "Mean  Husbands,"  in  ten  reels,  being 
the  result.  She  tells  her  friends  how  much  money 
she  is  going  to  make  and  gossip  triples  that 
amount,  so  that  when  the  news  reaches  hubby 
he  believes  she  will  be  too  independent  to  repent. 
However,  the  script  is  returned  to  Mrs.  Hopeful 
the  same  time  hubby  comes  to  ask  forgiveness. 
Hubby    remains   at   home. 

Turtle  Doves — Rex — February  23. — Jack  pro- 
poses to  Maisie  and  is  accepted.  Maisie's  father 
tells  Jack  to  get  a  job,  saying  that  if  Maisie  really 
wants  him  she  will  wait.  After  the  separation 
Maisie  is  taken  sick  and  nursed  to  health  by  a 
kind  young  doctor.  Jack,  gold-digging  abroad, 
becomes  ill  through  over-work.  He  is  nursed  to 
health  by  the  beautiful  daughter  of  a  neighbor. 
When  Jack  and  Maisie  meet  again  after  five  years 
it  finally  comes  out  that  they  are  both  married, 
and    all   have   a   hearty    laugh. 

The  Reunion— (Three  Reels)— Thanhouser— 
February  23.— This  drama  tells  of  how  two  lovers 
are  brought  together  after  fifty  years,  during 
which  time  they  have  remained  apart  because  of 
a  mixing  of  letters.  The  brave  war  nurse  falls  in 
;   with   a   soldier   whom   she  has   brought   back 


d  health.     After  the  Civ 


sends 


;ethe£ 


War 


the 


f  by   r 


for  a   soldie 

-  friend  :   the  latter   re 

mis- 

understand! 

ig    which    is    not    rec 

tittv 

years   later, 

when   the   lovers,    as 

f  by  fate, 

at  a  reumor 

of  the  old  soldiers  a 

Washingt 

Madame 

Cubist— (Two    Reels 

— VlCTOR- 

-Ffb- 

ruary    23  — 

Featuring    Marv    Ful 

er.      Carl 

>nnn 

loves   Mada 

ne  Cubist    (so  called 

or  her  dar 

but    she    me 

rely    laughs    at    him. 

Determined    on 

revenge,   he 

gets   one  of   his   club 

Tom 

Decker,   who  needs  money,  to  lay 

it  he 

(Tom)   can 

and   Madame   ( ulnst. 

itual 

between  the 

woman  and  Tom.     O 

l  the  day  o 

t    the 

nt   of    the    engagement 

Tom    wri 

letter    to    hi 

s    sweetheart,    confessi 

ig    all.      E 

this  arrives, 

however,   Carl   Dana  has  had  his 

and   things 

are  in  a  turmoil.     The 

belated    m 

es,    the   woman    realiz 

s   the    wor 

1,     ol 

her  lover  an 

ae  before  h 

p  has 

time   to   leav 

e   for  other  parts. 

of  Society— (Three  Reels)— Big  U— 
February  24. — Featuring  Douglas  Gerrard  and 
Louise  Vale.  Giles  Luther  not  only  ruins  his 
partner,  Jason  Foley,  but  also  takes  his  beauti- 
ful wife,  Cora,  from  him.  Cora,  who  is  in  a  de- 
gree innocent,  spends  years  of  misery  with  Luther, 
while  her  daughter,  Elsie,  living  with  Jason  in  a 
far-off  city,  grows  up  to  be  a  beautiful  girl.  The 
remainder  of  the  story  tells  how  Luther,  moved 
to  the  same  city  with  Jason  and  his  daughter,  be- 
comes infatuated  with  the  latter,  and  throws  over 
Cora.  Finally  Cora  discovers  the  identity  of  Elsie 
and  kills  Luther  while  he  is  forcing  his  love  upon 
the  girl.  There  are  bright  promises  of  the  happy 
reunion   of   Cora   and   Jason. 

Perkins'  Peace  Party — Falstaff — February  24. 
— Henry  Perkins,  deciding  that  as  he  cannot  stop 
the  fighting  in  his  own  home,  he  will  journey 
abroad  to  stop  the  war  in  Europe,  attempts  to  put 
his  resolve  into  action.  He,  and  one  or  two  other 
peace  advocates  meet  with  many  troubles  which 
thwart  their  plans  and  which  end  in  their  being 
shanghaied  aboard  a  ship,  landing  them  not  in 
Europe,    but   in    their    home    town. 

John  Pellet's  Dream — Laemmle — February  24. 
—With  Rupert  Julian  and  Elsie  Jane  Wilson.  John 
Pellett  and  his  two  comrades  are  in  the  govern- 
ment survey  service,  and  have  been  enjoying  the 
society  of  the  charming  Marcia  while  awaiting 
orders  from  the  government.  As  each  is  strain- 
ing every  effort  to  win  the  girl,  it  is  a  sad  blow 
when  they  are  ordered  to  the  Death  Valley  coun- 
try. John,  however,  delays  for  a  while  before  he 
joins  them  on  the  journey,  during  which  time  he 
marries  Marcia.  He  at  last  reveals  to  his  com- 
rades in  such  a  clever  way  what  he  was  doing  in 
the    period    of    delay,    that    they    willingly    forgive 

I'll  Get  Her  Yet— (Two  Reels)— Imp— Febru- 
ary 25. — Featuring  Pat  Rooney  and  Marion  Bent. 
Terence  Tightwad  does  not  approve  of  the  atten- 
tions paid  his  daughter,  Marion,  by  Harry  Light- 
foot.  "Murphy,"  the  family  dog,  and  Tightwad, 
combine  in  a  free-for-all  fight  with  the  suitor,  from 
which  Harry  emerges  well  knocked  up.  When  old 
Tightwad  spirits  Marion  away  to  a  nearby  resort, 
Harry  follows  and  secures  employment  as  a  bell- 
hop in  the  same  hotel.  Harry  finallv  escapes  in  a 
spectacular  manner  with  Marion,  leaving  father 
and  the  dog  to  fight  it  out  between  themselves. 

Her  Friend,  the  Doctor — Nestor — February  25. 
— Eddie  Lyons,  Lee  Moran  and  Betty  Compson. 
Eddie  is  in  love  with  his  employer's  daughter, 
who  has  gone  off  to  college  for  "polish."  When 
she  at  last  returns,  all  is  happiness  for  Eddie,  un- 
til he  learns  that  his  sweetheart  has  become  very 
good  friends  with  a  certain  Dr.  Bonner.  Learning 
that  the  doctor  is  coming  for  a  visit,  his  jealousy 
He  and  his  friend,  Lee,  plan 
reception  for  the  doctor.  The  latter,  who 
it  to  be  a  beautiful  girl,  shoots  to  protect 
from  a  night  raid,  hitting  Lee.  Eddie 
lat  his  fears  are  unfounded  and  a  recon - 
takes  place. 

ebruary    25.— With 


that    Nell   is   the   girl 
he  really  loves. 

Married  on  the  Wing — Joker — February  26. — 
If  Ernie  is  to  get  an  inheritance  he  must  marry 
Grace  Darling,  a  girl  to  whom  he  has  luckily 
been  engaged  for  some  time,  before  a  certain  date. 
He  does  not  learn  this  until  the  very  day  men- 
tioned in  the  conditions  of  the  will.  If  Ernie  fails 
to  carry  out  his  uncle's  wishes,  as  per  the  will, 
the  estate  will  revert  to  Ernie's  cousin,  Jay  Lee 
which  latter  hears  the  condition  of  the  will 


the 


i    office 


Jay    I 


his  best  to  keep  Ernie  from  his  wedding  ceremony, 
but  all  for  naught,  for.  after  many  exciting  adven- 
tures, the  knot  is  tied  just  a  moment  before 
twelve  o'clock,  and  Jay's  scheme  is  defeated. 

Her  Greatest  Story — Laemmle — February  27. 
—With  Myrtle  Gonzalez  and  Fred  Church.  Mazie 
King  is  a  writer  on  one  of  the  daily  papers,  but 
because  of  domestic  troubles  her  stories  have  lost 
their  "punch."  Her  brute  husband  is  finally  killed 
in  a  drunken  brawl  and  by  chance  she  is  assigned 
to  the  case.  The  resulting"  story  has  such  "punch" 
and  truth  that  it  is  given  first  place.  Afterwards 
she  reveals  to  her  friend,  Tilton,  the  city-editor, 
that  the  story  is  of  her  own  life.  There  is  a 
promise  of  marriage  between   Tilton   and   the  girl. 


— L-Ko— Febru; 


however,   before   she   falls   

5.  Lizzie's  troubles  end  when  she  finds  her- 
:ooped  up  in  a  cozy  cell.  She  now  inherits 
'     '    ne.     One  of  the  vultures  rescues 


Feature  Programs 


s  fanned  t 


Blue  Bird 

Undine— i  Five  Reels)— Blue  Birb— February 
7. — Ida  Schnall  appears  in  the  leading  role  in  this 
adaptation  of  Fougue's  Fairy  Tale.  Henry  Otto 
produced  the  production  and  many  of  the  ex- 
Barbara   group   of   Islands. 

The  Wrong  Door— (Five  Reels)— Blue  Bird- 
February  21.— Carter  De  Haven  and  Flora  Parker 
De  Haven  have  the  leading  roles  m  this  twentieth 
century   romance,   which   was  also   directed   by   Mr. 


The    Stampede    in    the    Night -(Two     Ki  i 


other  girl  lives.  lack  pursues 
m!  it  is  only  alter  In  ha-  cine 
I    bj    on<    oi   in-   shots,   that   he 


■  i 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


.    -  -        o    ■ 

a 

^JjXa  1 

r 

1    :i=^:ja^     .^           1 

Vr' 

P 

:;V  '^^ 

t 

^"mj 

ff^mi 

? 

: 

i    ~     .1 

^■0 

crsal  release*   ( left  t< 


Pathe 


plete  the  c 

Hop,  the  Devil's  Brew— (I 
Bird — February  14. — Lydia  J 
customs  inspector,  becomes  ; 
Lydia's  father  is  the  head  of  ; 
gang  and  when  he  learns  that 
tributed  to  his  own  daughter's 
mils  suicide.  Phillip  Smalley  : 
cast  in  the  leading  roles  of  this 
directed   by   them. 


ti  opium  importing  Febri 

le  himself  has  con-  pictu: 

down  fall,    he    com-  rravii 

ad  Lois  Webei 


Russell,  Helene  R( 
Charlotte   Burton 


>age  420   of  the   Fel: 


has  directed  the 
n's  battle  with  his 
includes    William 


Pathe 


.nother   page    of    this 


G.  H. 

Double  Crossed— (Three  Reels)— Mustang- 
February  25.— Tom  Chatterton  directs  and  plays 
the  leading  role.  Jack  Richardson  and  Anna  Lit- 
tle support  him.  The  story  of  a  wealthy  rancher 
who  helps  a  tramp  to  have  him  later  try  to  ruin 
his  benefactor.  A  full  review  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  issue.  G.   H. 

Life's   Harmony— (Three  Reels)— Flying  A— 
February   22.- — The   story   of  an   old   organist,   his 
adopted    daughter   and   the    young   man    who    suc- 
ceeds   him    as    organist.      A    simple    village    story. 
Metro                                               George  Periolat,  Vivian  Rich  and  Alfred  Vosburgh 
_,       „  .          ,    ,,  ,.          ,„          „                _                   play    the    leading    roles,    under    the    directio-     -' 
The    Price    of    Malice — (Five    Reels) — Rolfe —     Fr-fnk  " r      ' 


Fox 

The 

Fool's 

Revenge — (F 

ive  Re 

ls)— William 

Fox — Februaf 

Y     20.— Willi 

im     H. 

Tooker     and 

Maude 

Gilbe 

t    play    the 

eading 

V,  ,11, a, 

l    Fox 

production    w 

lich    w 

s    directed    by 

w.  s. 

Davis 

Kittens    Re 

chert, 

Ruth    Findlay, 

Warne 

Olan 

d    and    Richa 

d    Nea 

support    Mr. 

looker 

and   Miss   Gilbert. 

Revelle     and     Barbara 
Tennant    are    cast    in    the    leading    roles    in    this 
five-reel  picture  directed  by  O.  A.  C.  Lund. 
A    Corner    in    Cotton — (Five    Reels) 


Reviewed  else 


G.  H. 


—February  21. — Mai 


and    the    supporting    ca: 

Lester  Cuneo,  Helen  Di 

W.    Goldsworthy   and   Zella    Call, 


Signal — (CHi- 
v  plays  the  lead-     Game.")— Spik. 
romance,    finance   and     Seagrue's    men 
irected    the    production     Rhineland, 
ncludes    Frank    Bacon,     through  it 
William  Clifford,  J.     "" 


lo.  12— Pathe— February  S.— 
Leonard  G.  Moore,  one  of  the  last  of  the  famous 
Tennessee  trappers,  still  pursues  his  craft  in  the 
rocky  fastnesses  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains, 
Smoky  Mt.,  Tenn. ;  the  problem  of  removing  the 
wounded  over  the  snow  covered  Vosges  Moun- 
tains has  been  solved  by  the  use  of  sled  stretch- 
ers drawn  by  ski  runners,  Epinal,  France;  Ger- 
man prisoners  captured  in  the  recent  trench  fight- 
ing are  marched  away,  Verdum,  France ;  fire  near- 
ly destroys  the  gas  works  on  Lawrence  Canal, 
with  a  damage  of  $50,000,  Newark,  N.  J.  ;  Steam- 
boat Tahoma  is  caught  in  ice  when  the  Columbia 
River  freezes.  Cape  Horn,  Ore. ;  fire  destroys  cen- 
ter of  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  with  a  damage  of 
$250,000. 

Pathe  News  No.  13 — Pathe — February  12. — 
Two  members  of  President  Lincoln's  bodyguard 
still  enjoy  a  hale  and  hearty  old  age,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  Lindley  M.  Garrison,  who  has  resigned  his 
position  as  Secretary  of  War  on  account  of  the 
defeat  of  his  Continental  Army  scheme,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ;  submarine  K-5,  recently  reported  as 
lost,  rejoins  its  squadron  assembled  here,  Tampa, 
Fla. ;  thousands  of  homes  are  abandoned  when  the 
Mississippi  River  overflows  its  banks,  Goldust, 
Tenn. ;  new  Military  Biplane  averages  ninety-five 
miles  an  hour  in  its  trial  flight,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. ; 
'!'.  i.if;  U-mand  foi  artificial  limbs  in  Europe  has 
increased  the  output  of  United  States  factories  by 
five  hundred   per  cent,   Chicago,   111. 


February    1 


Mutual  Special 

Mutual   Special 


I  Accuse—  (Fi 
21.— Alexander  0 
leading  roles  in 
written   by   Marj, 


ind  Helen  Marten  play  the 


goes   back   to    Seagrue  s    employ. 

)lace    a    house    across    the    track 

is    building.      Storm   runs   an    engine 

d  destroys  it.     A  full   review   of  the 

irs     on     page     425     of     Motography 

G.  H. 

A  Narrow  Escape — (Two  Reels) — Signal — 
Chapter  Nine  of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game.")— 
Spike,  Storm  and  Rhinelander  have  a  wild  run 
n  a  runaway  box  car.  Helen  overtakes  them  in 
in  automobile.  The  box  car  is  derailed  and  falls 
nto  a  canyon.  A  full  review  of  Chapter  Nine 
tppears  elsewhere  in  this  issue.  G.   H. 


Red  Feather 

Sons  of  Satan — (Five  Reels) — Red  Feather — 
February  21.— This  is  a  masterly  photoplay  of 
unique  situations  and  novel  scenic  effects.  Geo. 
L.  Tucker,  who  produced  the  masterpiece  "Traffic 
in    Souls,"    directed    this    detective    drama. 


•we  and  directed  by  Wil- 
lousy  and  intrigue  form 
many  of  the  serious  complications  of  this  picture, 
but   they   work   themselves    out    in   an   unexpected 


The  Oval  Diamond  —  (Five  Reels 
iiouser — February  24. — Harris  Gordor 
ind    Arthur     Bauer    are    featured    in    1 


—  Than- 

Barbara 
lis     story,     d'^ed  th: 

prlACe£,?     F?"est 


Paramount 

He   Fell  in   Love  with  His  Wife— (Five  Reels) 
Pallas- Paramount  —  February    17.  —  Florence 
ackwell   is   featured   in   this   adaptation    from   the 
"      same  name.     William  D.   Taylor  pro- 
bject  and  the  supporting  cast  jncludes 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  January  30. 
ove  Will  Conquer— Triangle-Keystone— Janu- 
30.— Fred  Mace,  Mack  Swain,  Harry  Grib- 
,  Polly  Moran,  Joseph  Swickard,  Billie  Brock- 
l  and  Harry  McCoy  are  featured  in  this 
'Stone  picture,  which  contains  all  kinds  of 
;hs  at  unexpected  places. 

Released  Week  of  February  6. 

Fate— Triangle-Keystoni 


Fido' 


—Charles  Mui._,, 

May  Emory  and  Frank  Hayes  are 
who  take  part  in  this  comedy.  Chai 
I.  inking  for  his  dog  Fido  experiences 
comic  fights   and   falls   because   of  the 


[IBB 

t 

MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


th  the  other   fellow' 


The    Beggar    of    Cawnpore"—A    Triangle. 

His  Hereafter  —  Triancle-Keystone  —  Febru- 
ary 6.— Charles  Murray  is  featured  in  this  Key- 
stone  comedy    as   the    sheriff   of   a    Western    town, 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Kennedy     Square — Vitagraph — February     21- 
(Five    Reels).— An    adaptation    of    F.    Hopkinsc 
Smith's    novel    of    the    same    name.      A   longer    re- 
view  appears  on   another  page   of   this   issue. 

Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  No.  12— Feb- 
ruary 11. — Entire  population  of  Hickman,  Ky., 
lives  in  tents  after  fleeing  from  the  rising  waters 
of  the  Mississippi;  many  young  women  take  part 
in  exciting  bob  sled  races,  Locust  Valley,  N.  Y. ; 
release  of  a  dove  from  a  basket  of  roses  launches 
the  Helen  ('.  Tuilliard  hospital  ship  of  St.  John's 
Guild,  built  to  care  for  sickly  children  of  New 
York.  Wilmington,  Del. ;  motor  boat  "Bohemia" 
driven  by  its  owner  J.  Paulding  Edwards,  proves 
fastest  on  Pacific  Coast,  San  Francisco,  Cal.  ; 
latest  fashions;  Axel  Henrickson,  dare-devil  ski 
jumper,  braves  death  by  somersault  from  the  ski 
slide  at  St.  Paul  Winter  Carnival,  St.  Paul,  Minn.; 
staunch  old  frigate,  Franklin,  flagship  of  Admiral 
Farragut,  is  sold  for  junk,  Norfolk,  Va. ;  car- 
toons by  T.  E.  Powers. 


World 

The  Clarion— (Five  Reels)— Equitable.— Car- 
lyle  Blackwell  is  featured  in  this  society  picture 
visualized  from  Samuel  Hopkins  Adams'  novel. 
A  longer  review  appears  on  page  42C  of  the  issue 
of   February    19. 

The  Yellow  Passport— (Five  Reels)—  Shubert 
—Clara  Kimball  Young  plays  the  part  of  a 
Russian  Tewess  in  this  photoplay  concerned  with 
Russian  life  in  its  most  brutal  aspects.  Edwin 
August    directed    this    picture. 

Love's  Crucible— (Five  Reels)— Brady— Febru- 
ary 15.— Frances  Nelson  is  cast  in  the  leading 
role  in  this  film  drama  of  distinctive  power  and 
interest  based  upon  Jules  Eckert  Goodman's 
Broadway  success,  "The  Point  of  View."  A  full 
review    appears    ,-,„    page    421    of   the    February    19 


Miscellaneous 


Rej 


Be; 


the  T'ana 
Oak  man 
Campbell 


SOME   NEW  THEATERS 

Delaware. 

Anglo  Peerless  Pictures  Corporation, 
New  York.  Capital,  $250,000.  To  con- 
duct a  general  film  distribution  agency. 
Incorporators,  Emile  Offemcn,  Howard 
C.  Griffith,  August  R.  Oehman,  all  of 
New  York:  Temple  Scott,  Stamford, 
Conn. 

United  Slates  Theater  Corporation. 
New  York;  $2,000,000. 


Federal  Feature  Film  Corporation, 
Wilmington;  motion  picture  films,  thea- 
ters; $1,500,000;  representative,  James  A. 
Dilkes. 

District  of  Columbia. 

Thomas  Armat  has  been  re-elected 
president  of  the  Armat  Moving  Picture 
Company  at  the  annual  meeting  held  in 
the  Hutchins  building,  Washington.  Ad- 
ditional members  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors were  re-elected  as  follows:  C.  M. 
Campbell,  S.  B.  Daniel,  Charles  W.  Darr, 
S.  M.  Jones,  W.  S.  Minnix,  H.  N.  Marvin, 
Waddie  B.  Wood  and  J.  E.  Woodward. 
Illinois. 

The  clearing  up  of  the  debris  of  the 
Rex  motion  picture  theater  in  Peters- 
burg, which  was  recently  destroyed  by 
fire,  has  been  started  and  A.  S.  Simon, 
formerly  manager,  states  as  soon  as  the 
ground  is  cleared  work  on  the  new  thea- 
ter will  begin. 

Vermont  will  shortly  have  a  new  and 
modern  picture  theater. 

Chicago  United  Theaters,  Inc.,  Chi- 
cago; capital,  $500,000;  incorporators,  A. 
E.  Whitbeck,  Harry  Farnham,  J.  C.  Mat- 
thews. 

At  the  directors'  meeting,  held  imme- 
diately after  the  first  stockholders'  meet- 
ing, of  the  Randolph  Film  Corporation, 
Chicago,  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Chairman  of  the  board,  George 
Kleine;  president,  James  Sheldon;  vice- 
president  and  assistant  treasurer,  Paul  H. 
Davis;  treasurer,  J.  Sidney  Burnet;  sec- 
retary, Ralph  D.  Hubbart.  The  above, 
together  with  John  Burnham  and  Aimer 
Coe,  constitute  the  board  of  directors. 

Film  Fire  Prevention  Company,  Chi- 
cago; capital,  $2,500;  incorporators,  Al- 
bert Kahn,  F.  C.  Owen,  Ella  Kraus. 

The  Majestic  theater  in  Peoria  has 
changed  its  policy  and  now  shows  high 
class  motion  pictures.  The  theater  has 
underwent  some  changes  and  the  interior 
has  been  decorated  in  old  rose. 

The    Ideal    and    Orpheum    theaters    in 
Savanna,  which   have   been   consolidated, 
are  now  managed  by  J.  E.  Gorman. 
Indiana. 

Wholesome  and  Educational  Film  Cor- 
poration, Indianapolis;  capital,  $50,000; 
motion  pictures;  directors,  Edson  G. 
Moore,  Paul  J.  Blake,  Irvin  S.  Thorpe. 

Permit  for  the  erection  of  a  motion 
picture  show  at  1825  Shelby  street,  In- 
dianapolis, has  been  granted  T.  B.  Adams. 
Cost  $2,000. 

The  completion  of  the  new  Circle  thea- 
ter on  Monument  place,  which  is  prom- 
ised early  in  the  spring,  will  give  to  In- 
dianapolis one  of  the  largest  and  finest 
amusement  houses  in  the  middle  west. 
The  building  is  to  occupy  the  site  of  the 
former  Wood  livery  barn,  on  the  south- 
east segment  of  Monument  place.  The 
old  buildings  arc  being  razed  and  the 
actual  construction  of  the  building  is  to 
be  pushed  with  all  possible  speed.  \\  hen 
completed  the  theater  will  represent  an 
investment  of  nearly  $500  000.  It  will 
have  a  seating  capacity  of  3.000. 

The  American  Amusement  Cqmpany 
will  erect  a  $75,000  moving  picture  thea- 
ter with  a  seating  capacity  of  1.000  on 
Main  street,  Evansville.  Gilbert  &  Com- 
pany, architects. 

Contract  has  been  let  For  a  motion  pic- 
ture theater  on   North    Illinois  street.  In- 


dianapolis. Limit  Amusement  Company, 
owner.  D.  A.  Bohlen  &  Son,  architects. 
Iowa. 
A.  H.  Erickson  of  Toledo  has  pur- 
chased the  Empress  theater  in  Cedar 
Falls  from  W.  A.  Mathies. 

W.  F.  Smith  of  Clarion  has  leased  the 
Cosmo  theater  at  Goldfield.  Mr.  Smith 
is  also  owner  of  the  Colonial  and  he  will 
continue  the  management  of  both. 

The  picture  show  at  Sioux  Rapids 
owned  by  H.  Christensen  has  been  pur- 
chased by  John  Rodda  of  Newell. 

Arthur  Thompson  has  sold  the  Star 
theater  on  Main  street,  between  Fourth 
and  Fifth  streets,  Dubuque,  to  Fred 
Yount,  owner  of  the  Family  theater  on 
Twenty-second  street  and  Couler  avenue. 

The  Masonic  opera  house,  What  Cheer, 
has  ended  its  career  as  a  motion  picture 
theater  and  will  book  road  shows. 

Motion  picture  theater  and  store  build- 
ing   will    be    erected    at    915-17    Fourth 
street,    Sioux    City,    after    private    plans. 
D.  Ortson  is  owner.     Cost  $10,000. 
Kansas. 

The  White  Way  theater  in  Concordia 
is  now  owned  by  F.  F.  Davis,  who  has 
taken  into  partnership  several  prominent 
Concordians,  the  new  compan'-  to  be 
known  as  F.  F.  Davis  &  Company. 

Excavation  has  been  started  for  the 
foundation  of  a  brick  and  stone  theater 
which  is  to  be  built  at  Mankato.  The 
new  theater  will  cost  approximately 
$8,000. 

C.  B.  Yost  will  install  a  Wurlitzer  in- 
strument in  his  new  picture  theater. 
which  is  being  erected  at  114  North  Main 
street,  Hutchinson. 

Kentucky. 

The   Parkland  theater  in   Louisville  is 
under    new    management    and    a    specia' 
musical  program  is  being  offered. 
Louisiana. 

The  Hippodrome  theater,  Baroone 
street,  New  Orleans,  gave  its  last  picture 
show  February  6  and  it  is  announced  by 
the  management  the  theater  will  be 
turned  into  a  skating  rink. 
Michigan. 

The  first  semi-annual  inspection  of 
Michigan  moving  picture  theaters  for 
1916  by  the  state  fire  marshal's  depart- 
ment will  be  started  February  15,  in  De- 
troit, where  about  one-fourth  of  the 
entire  number  of  such  theaters  in  the 
state  are  located.  The  inspection  will  be 
in  charge  of  Assistant  State  Fire  Marshal 
Robinson. 

Napoleon  and  Frank  Ongie  have  as- 
sumed the  management  of  the  Savoy 
theater,    Hancock.      The    two    gentlemen 


February  26,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


are  well  known  in  the  Portage  Lake 
towns  and  it  is  their  aim  to  show  fine 
programs. 

Another  moving  picture  theater,  the 
largest  in  central  Michigan,  is  being 
planned  by  Detroit  and  local  capital  for 
Lansing.  Through  Frank  E.  Church  of 
Lansing,  Howard  O.  Pierce,  George  W. 
Trendle  and  N.  F.  Fowser,  all  of  Detroit, 
have  obtained  a  lease  from  the  Baird  es- 
tate on  property  in  the  rear  of  the  old 
Hudson  hotel,  South  Washington  avenue, 
and  will  begin  work  on  the  new  theater 
in  a  short  time.  The  theater  complete 
will  cost  $70,000.  Plans  call  for  a  stage 
40  by  60  feet,  a  balcony  for  theater  par- 
ties, organ  loft  and  all  other  conveni- 
ences of  the  up-to-date  motion  picture 
house.  The  plans  will  be  similar  to  the 
Washington,  Liberty  and  Strand  moving 
picture  theaters  of  Detroit. 

A  two-story  theater  60x100  feet  will  be 

erected  on  Mack  and  Holcomb  avenues, 

Detroit.       It    will     cost    $20,000    and    is 

owned  by  Fred  Delodder. 

Minnesota. 

Negotiations  have  been  closed  and 
construction  will  be  commenced  imme- 
diately on  a  new  $40,000  theater  which 
will  be  erected  by  Martin  C.  Lawler  of 
Rochester,  on  the  two  lots  south  of  the 
Rochester  hotel,  on  Main  street.  This, 
Rochester's  latest  show  house,  will  be 
called  the  B-B  theater.  It  will  be  com- 
pleted by  May  15  and  papers  have  been 
signed  which  will  lease  the  building  to 
J.  A.  VanWie  and  J.  A.  Tyrer  of  Minne- 
apolis for  a  number  of  years. 

The  Royal  motion  picture  theater  in 
Crookston  was  destroyed  by  fire  Febru- 
ary 2.  Al  Nueman  of  Bemidji  was  the 
proprietor. 

C.  F.  Fischer  has  taken  over  the  man- 
agement of  the  Grand  theater,  on  South 
Broadway,  Rochester,  from  John  Pierce. 
Mr.  Fischer  has  for  some  time  managed 
the  Orpheum  theater  and  will  endeavor 
to  supply  Rochester  patrons  with  the 
best  of  film  shows. 

The  Royal  theater  in  Albert  Lea  is 
again  under  the  old  management  of  W. 
H.  Hodges.  Last  November  Mr.  Hodges 
sold  his  business  to  Thomlinson  & 
Wheeler,  two  young  men  of  South  Da- 
kota, who  have  been  operating  it  with- 
out success.  Mr.  Hodges  will  personally 
operate  the  show  house. 

Specifications    have    been    filed    for    a 


The   Royal   and  Princess   theaters, 
and  the   owner  and  manager,  Em 


$15,000  moving  picture  theater  on  West 
Seventh  street,  between  Daly  and  To- 
ronto streets,  St.  Paul.  It  will  be  built 
by  the  American  Theater  Company. 

The  Strand  motion  picture  theater  in 
Staples  was  damaged  by  fire  January  28 
to  the  extent  of  $2,000. 

American  Seating  Company  has  award- 
ed contracts  for  a  moving  picture  theater 
to  be  erected  on  West  Seventh  street,  St. 
Paul. 

Nebraska. 

A  picture  show  will  be  opened  in  the 
Van  Kirk  building,  Campbell,  by  M.  W. 
Wheeland  and  C.   R.  Harper. 

A  picture  show  has  been  opened  in 
Grant.         ^ 

Harding  &  Goldberg  will  erect  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater  at  1410-12-14  Farnam 
street,  Omaha,  to  cost  $60,000.  It  will  be 
one  story  and  basement,  66x132  feet. 
Architect,  Harry  Lawrie. 

New  Jersey. 

The  Monmouth  Film  Company,  a 
$2,500,000  concern,  has  been  incorporated 
in  Camden  for  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  motion  pictures. 


New  York. 

Pyramid  Amusement  Company,  Inc., 
Brooklyn;  restaurants,  moving  pictures, 
theaters,  $20,000;  J.  B.  Schlessinger,  J.  J. 
Maloney,  E.  J.  McGrath,  3020  Surf  ave- 
nue, Coney  Island. 

Frank  L.  Mueller  has  purchased  the 
Regent  theater  at  Thirteenth  street,  Col- 
lege Point,  from  the  Besio  Theater  Com- 
pany. 

Miscello  Films,  Inc.;  motion  picture 
business;  $10,000;  Emma  M.  Raefer,  Ag- 
nes R.  May,  Alice  E.  Bryan,  Manhattan. 

Stageland  Film  Corporation;  motion 
picture  business;  $600;  Louis  Meyer,  Paul 
Meyer,  Leona  Meyer,  Manhattan. 

Drury  Lane  Amusement  Company; 
production,  presentation,  etc.,  motion 
pictures,  vaudeville,  etc.;  $500:  Ralph 
Lee  White,  Chas.  L.  Hanscom,  Major 
Lee  White,  Manhattan. 

Judson  A.  Harrington  sold  to  the 
Pathescope  Company  of  America,  Inc., 
three  lots,  75x90,  on  the  north  side  of 
Harris  avenue,  28  feet  west  of  Sherman 
street,  Long  Island  City.  Part  of  the 
site  will  be  improved  with  a  three-story 
and  basement  building,  60x40,  to  be  used 
for  the  developing  and  printing  of  Pathe 
films,  imported  from  France.  The  two 
upper  floors  will  be  leased. 

Only  four  operators  appeared  at  the 
first  test  for  moving  picture  operators 
held  in  the  common  council  chamber, 
Rochester,  February  3. 

Leading  Theaters  Circuit,  Inc.;  general 
motion  picture  business;  $2,000;  Mitchel 
H.  Mark,  John  H.  Kunsky,  Louis  J.  Ditt- 
mar,  Manhattan. 

Riverview  Theater  Corporation;  theat- 
rical, photoplays,  motion  pictures;  $10,- 
000;  J.  Behrens,  H.  L.  Goss,  T.  Costello, 
222  Riverside  Drive,  New  York. 

The  Film  Renovating  Company  of 
America;  $25,000;  Wilford  L.  joke, 
Harry  S.  Hechheimer,  Heman  B.  Wilson, 
Jr.,  Manhattan. 

Huntington  Film  Company,  Inc.,  Hunt- 
ington; producing  and  manufacturing- 
moving  pictures,  films  or  plays,  and  sales 
thereof,  and  other  theatrical  entertain- 
ments, etc.;  capital,  $50,000;  incorpora- 
tors, E.  R.  Scudder,  J.  R.  Scudder,  Hunt- 
ington; C.  C.  O'Hara,  528  Riverside 
Drive,  New  York  City. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  9. 


W'inton  Film  Corporation;  motion  pic- 
ture business  and  vaudeville;  $25,000; 
Victor  C.  Winton,  W.  Stanton  Howard, 
Raoul  E.  Desvernine,  Manhattan. 

Globe  Theater  Company,  Inc.,  Buffalo; 
manufacture  and  sell  motion  picture 
films,  cameras,  slides,  etc.,  theaters,  etc.; 
capital,  $100,000;  incorporators,  G.  F. 
Donnelly.  149  Highland  avenue;  L.  F. 
Lindal.  73  Goemble  avenue;  D.  J.  O'Neil, 
112  Mariner  street,  Buffalo. 

Joe  Weber  will  reopen  the  Hudson 
theater  in  Schenectady  and  run  feature 
pictures  the  first  three  days  and  musical 
extravaganzas  the  balance  of  the  week. 
There  will  be  one  showing  in  the  after- 
noon and  one  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Weber 
formerly  managed  the  Hudson,  then 
known  as  the  Mohawk. 

The  St.  Marks  Avenue  Realty  Com- 
pany, owners  of  the  Carlton  theater,  the 
moving  picture  house  on  Flatbush  ave- 
nue, near  Seventh  avenue,  Brooklyn, 
closed  a  deal  for  the  construction  of  a 
new  theater  that  will  have  a  seating  ca- 
pacity of  2,200.  The.  structure  will  be 
built  on  the  plot  at  the  rear  of  the  pres- 
ent Carlton  theater,  which  is  used  in  the 
summer  months  for  open-air  moving  pic- 
ture shows.  The  project  is  estimated  to 
cost  upwards  of  $125,000.  The  new  pic- 
ture theater  will  be  up-to-date  in  every 
particular.  It  will  contain  a  balcony 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  900,  and  a  roof 
garden  for  summer  shows,  with  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  1,000.  Arthur  Carlson, 
architect,  has  been  engaged  to  prepare 
plans  for  the  new  theater,  and  work  will 
start  on  the  project  in  a  few  weeks. 
Ohio. 

A  new  front  is  being  installed  at  the 
Dreamland  theater  in  the  Binder  build- 
ing, West  Main  street,  Xenia.  The  in- 
terior will  be  redecorated  and  a  new 
ventilating  system  installed. 

Manager  Neufer  of  the  People's  thea- 
ter, Elyria,  who  has  been  giving  a  series 
of  Saturday  morning  pictures  for  chil- 
dren, has  discontinued  the  series. 

The  Clifford  theater,  Urbana,  has  in- 
augurated the  Triangle  film  service. 

C.  W.  Deible  and  E.  J.  Renner  have 
sold  their  lease  on  the  Dome  theater, 
North  Hazel  and  West  Federal  streets, 
Youngstown,  to  a  company  of  local  peo- 
ple, who  have  taken  charge. 

Architect  H.  O.  Wurms  has  prepared 
plans  for  the  new  motion  picture  theater 
to  be  erected  for  George  Schenker  at 
Thirtieth  street  and  and  Pearl  avenue, 
Lorain. 

The  South  Side  theater,  Ironton,  man- 
aged by  Carl  Hart,  has  been  beautifully 
decorated.  New  seats  and  carpet  have 
been  ordered  and  he  has  also  installed  a 
new  screen.  When  improvements  are 
completed  the  theater  will  be  practically 
a  new  one  and  the  patrons  will  enjoy  the 
comfort  of  so  cozy  a  picture  show. 

E.  J.  Mangans  of  Mechanicsburg  has 
purchased  the  Princess  theater  of  that 
place  from  C.  M.  Hinkle.  Mr.  Mangans 
will  redecorate  and  reseat  the  theater. 

The  Gem  theater,  Ironton,  is  showing 
Triangle  films. 

The  Cincinnati  Theater  Supply  Com- 
pany, Cincinnati;  $10,000;  Thaddeus  A. 
Tolan  ct  al. 

The  new  company  which  has  acquired 
the    Dome    theater    in    Youngstown    will 


organize  by  electing  Louis  Liebman 
president,  Dr.  Bierkamp  vice-president, 
Roy  Gerstle  treasurer,  and  Joseph  Trunk 
secretary  and  business  manager. 

Ashville  is  to  have  a  new  picture  thea- 
ter. The  house  will  be  built  by  J.  T. 
Rockey  of  Ashville,  and  will  be  a  brick 
structure  with  a  tapestry  front. 

Bids  are  under  advisement  for  a  two- 
story  motion  picture  theater,  brick  and 
stone  trim,  to  be  erected  on  Elm  street, 
Youngstown.  Cost  $10,000.  Owner,  S. 
H.  Hain. 

Pennsylvania. 

Proprietors  of  six  motion  picture  thea- 
ters at  Scranton  paid  fines  ranging  from 
$15  to  $25  for  exhibiting  films  that  had 
not  been  censored  by  the  state  board. 

Moving  picture  theater,  Greensburg, 
addition  and  remodeling;  $40,000;  one 
story  and  basement  addition,  50x60.  Total 
56x176.  Architect,  Edward  J.  Nelson. 
Owner,  Dr.  J.  B.  Keaggy.  Lessee,  M. 
Manos.  Architect  will  take  bids  about 
April  1. 

Two  stores  and  moving  picture  theater; 
$8,000;  one  story,  Carnegie.  Architect, 
Thomas  Hannah.  Owner,  Lyric  Amuse- 
ment and  Arcade  Company. 

Virginia. 

The  Clara  Kimball  Young  Film  Cor- 
poration, with  an  authorized  capital  of 
$1,000,000,  has  been  incorporated  at  Rich- 
mond. 

Wisconsin. 

R.  C.  Diggins,  manager  of  the  David- 
son theater,  Beaver  Dam,  now  controls 
the  Grant  theater.  Mr.  Diggins  is  mak- 
ing a  number  of  improvements  and  will 
shortly  reopen  the  house. 

Ted  Lewis  has  sold  the  Pastime  thea- 
ter in  Delavan  to  Gardner  &  Wilder,  and 
the  new  owners  have  taken  possession. 

Robert  Maxwell  has  opened  a  moving 
picture  show  in  Warrens  and  Wyeville, 
showing  Monday  nights  in  Warrens  and 
Tuesday  nights  in  Wyeville. 

Plans  are  in  progress  for.  a  motion,  pic- 
ture theater  to  be  erected  at  Sparta  by 
Otto  Bell.  It  will  be  of  brick  and  terra 
cotta  construction. 


MIDDLE  WEST  NOTES 

By  William  Noble. 
Oklahoma. 

The  Corporation  Commission  of  Okla- 
homa has  cited  three  motion  picture  film 
concerns  to  answer  a  charge  of  combi- 
nation against  the  anti-trust  laws  of 
Oklahoma.  B.  H.  Powell,  president  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League, 
made  the  charge  against  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation,  the  General  Film  Company 
and  the  Universal  Film  and  Supply  Com- 
pany. One  of  the  alleged  grounds  for 
action  is  the  combination  of  the  compa- 
nies for  charging  each  week  in  advance 
for  films  the  estimate  rental  of  the  same 
for  one  week. 


Pat  Hall  has  moved  his  Western  Film 
Exchange  from  Kansas  City  to  Okla- 
homa City. 

Humphrey  Brothers  have  sold  their 
Electric  theater  at  Claremore  to  Miss 
Maude  E.  Littlefield. 

The  Oklahoma  branch  of  the  M.  P.  E. 
L.  convened  in  Oklahoma  City  February 
14  and  15.  Morris  Lowenstein,  secre- 
tary of  the  league,  sent  out  over  five  hun- 
dred invitations  for  the  convention. 
Various  film  exchanges  in  Dallas  and 
Oklahoma  City  had  exhibits. 
Texas. 

The  Fidelity  Film  Company  of  Galves- 
ton has  been  incorporated  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $5,000  by  A.  C.  Bernard,  G.  W. 
Ball,  Jr.,  and  W.  L.  Moody. 

C.  E.  Palmer,  F.  J.  Rochelle  and  J.  E. 
Ritchie  of  Texarkana  have  incorporated 
the  Texarkana  Amusement  Companv. 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $5,000. 

Emmett  &  Emmett  are  running  the 
Hippodrome  theater  in  Tyler,  which  was 
formerly  operated  by  Lewis  Brothers. 

Cox  &  Sharrett  have  purchased  the 
Queen  theater  in  Aubrey  from  H.  Y. 
Simpson. 

On  March  15  C.  C.  Lindsey  will  open 
a  fine  motion  picture  theater  at  Lubbock 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  500. 

J.  C.  Stevens  has  leased  the  Bell  thea- 
ter at  Austin  for  the  1916  season  and  will 
handle  only  the  biggest  productions. 

Rudolph  Ort  has  purchased  the  opera 
house  at  Boerne  and  will  run  it  as  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater. 


"BUILT  BY; 
BRAINS" 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  oar  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 


St.  Louis.  Mo. 
Houser    Building 

Calgary,  Canada 

Grand  Theatre  Bids. 

San   Franc' 


New  York 
19  W.   23rd  St. 

154Wes*tLakeSt. 
Pittsburg 


117-19  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  Ave. 


r  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD    ^. 

(goes  posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO J 


The  MO 


Vol  XV 


CRANE  WILBUR  WITH  DAVID  HORSLEY 

CHICAGO.  MARCH  4,  1916 


No.  10 


Weaker"    WeeA  of  *J?e£. sBQ  — 
Feb.2<S>tJ> 


"T/fe  DOORS 

/DOOM 

(One  Ad Drama) 


March.  2^ 


SISTER" 

(3  Acf  Drama) 


BILLIE 
REEVES 
COMEDY 

(One  Act) 


if 


M-arcK4^ 

"HAMLET 
MADE 
OVER" 


r 

I 

ST 
T  I 

l 


March  4,  1916. 


M  O  T  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y 


7O-THE  PKONIE1ER  AND  PREMIER  PRODUCING    COMPANY. 
^I.N  THE    PRESENTATION    OF    CELEBRATED    STARS 
'-AND    PLAYS    IN    MOTION^  PICTURES  ^  "  ^ 


t>=m^ 


Paramount  exhibitors  will  re-book  this  unusual  production — 
Others  will  become  Paramount  Exhibitors  in  order  to  obtain  it. 
The  whole  vast  motion  picture  public  will  want  to  see  this 
great  production.     Show  it  to  them! 


iumuiumuiumunw»wiu'iiim 


f AMOUS  PLAYERS  FILM  CO: 

APOLFInl    OTKOR,  PRESIDENT 
^DANIEL  FROHMAN,  managing  bmector  ^-  ^^ 

STUDIOS   AND  EXECUTIVE  OFFICES  ^ 

jrlZ6~130  WEST  56m  STREET,  NEW  YORK 

-~ "—^  -^        CANADIAN  DISTFUBUTORS         ^^        -^ 

FAMOUS  PLAYERS  FILM  SERVICE, ltd.,CALGARY~MONTOEAL-TOR0NT0.    ~* 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  4,  1916 


No.  10 


People  Can  Kill  Censorship 


AID  OF  VOTERS  NEEDED 


WHILE  it  is  the  desire  of  Motography  to  aid  the 
manufacturer  and  the  exhibitor  in  every  possible 
way  in  the  fight  against  censorship  in  any  form 
save  that  curb  which  results  from  public  opinion,  little 
progress  can  be  made  until  the  big  gun  of  the  enemy- 
reformers  is  spiked.  That  gun  is  the  word  CENSOR- 
SHIP. The  admission,  when  the  National  Board  of  Cen- 
sorship was  organized,  that  there  was  a  need  for  censor- 
ship has  been  a  most  deadly  weapon  in  the  hands  of 
those  whose  activities  at  Washington  and  throughout 
the  country  are  menacing  the  fifth  industry. 

It  is  encouraging  to  notice  that  the  word  censorship 
is  being  dropped  from  the  tail  piece  of  many  films  being 
released  by  leading  manufacturers  and  that  now  the  pub- 
lic is  informed  that  such  and  such  a  feature  has  been 

PASSED   BY   THE    NATIONAL   BOARD 

instead  of,  as  formerly. 

Passed  by  the  National  Board  of  Censorship 
This  first  step  is  of  greater  importance  than  most 
realize  now,  but  the  results  will  be  seen  and  appreciated 
sooner  than  we  think.  While  it  may  be  admitted  that 
much  film  should  be  reviewed  before  general  release,  and 
much  eliminated,  there  can  be  no  good  reason  for  con- 
tinued censorship  of  the  silent  drama  any  more  than  that 
protection  offered  the  public  against  the  stage  play.  If 
a  play  at  any  theater  in  any  town  is  offensive,  immoral 
and  dangerous  to  public  welfare,  any  citizen  or  body  of 
citizens  may  appeal  to  the  police  and  have  it  closed.   That 


is  censorship  enough.   This  statement  is  important  enough 
to  repeat  and  emphasize. 

Take  it  from  the  theater  owner's  point  of  view.  If 
he  is  a  modern  showman,  he  wants  clean  plays  in  his 
house.  He  knows  that  when  he  shows  a  smut  film 
he  has  a  different  audience  from  when  he  offers  a  clean 
attraction.  He  also  notices  that  because  of  the  smut 
films  that  are  booked  now  and  then,  his  better  patrons, 
one  by  one,  are  losing  the  habit  of  dropping  into  his 
house  after  dinner.  Their  children  on  Saturdays  are 
taking  their  nickels  and  dimes  elsewhere.  The  parents 
are  boycotting  him  for  fear  the  children  will  see  some- 
thing harmful.  He  doesn't  need  any  national,  federal, 
state  or  local  board  of  censorship  to  tell  him  it  is  bad 
business  to  show  bad  pictures.  His  box  office  books  have 
proved  it  to  him.  The  bills  for  upkeep  on  his  house, 
due  to  the  continued  presence  of  careless  patrons  make 
him  realize  that  cleanliness  is  the  keynote  of  picture  the- 
ater success. 

Furthermore,  he  is  wise  enough  to  know  that  nothing- 
depreciates  in  value  quicker  than  a  run-down  theater. 

Now,  for  the  sake  of  argument,  let  us  suppose  that 
censorship  is  declared  unconstitutional,  and  that  all 
boards  are  abolished.  Also  let  us  suppose  that  the  pres- 
entation of  pictures  is  controlled  by  police  law. 

No  sane  theater  man  is  going  to  run  the  risk  of  having 
his  house  closed  by  the  police. 

Even  the  publicity  he  might  get  would  not  pay  him 
in  the  long  run. 

That  being  the  case,  he  will  not  rent  filthy  features.  His 
personal  reputation  is  at  stake.  His  success,  in  most  cases, 
depends  upon  the  patronage  of  residents  of  a  limited  area. 
He  knows  that  parents  will  hesitate  to  allow  children  to  go 
to  a  house  that  has  been  raided.  And  he  wants  those  children 
as  well  as  the  parents  for  the  youngsters  are  growing  up. 

The  theater  owner  is  coming  to  realize  more  and 
more  that  clean  plays  pay  better  in  the  long  run.  He 
knows  why  Mary  Pickford  is  loved.  He  knows  why 
every  mother  and  father  on  a  Pickford  night  willingly 
attend  the  theater  with  the  children.  He  cannot  remem- 
ber "little  Mary's"  name  having  been  connected  with  a 
questioned  production.  And  his  box  office  proves  the 
importance  of  this.  When  he  books  his  house  he  does 
it  with  an  eye  on  the  box  office.  So  eventually,  if  he 
hasn't  done  so  already,  he  resolves  to  bar  all  bad  plays 
from  his  screen.     What  will  be  the  result? 

Producers  will  realize  the  futility  of  turning  out  dirty 
dramas.  The  market  will  be  gone  and  the  vampires  will  have 
to  reform  or  find  work  elsewhere.  The  police  will  raid  the 
"redlight  theater"  until  it  becomes  a  remembrance  and  CEN- 
SORSHIP WILL  BE  UNNECESSARY. 

Only  last  week  in   Chicago  seven  houses,   showing 


504 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


•'pictures  and  burlesque"  of  the  criticized  sort,  were  closed 
by  the  police.  That  police  action  was  mure  effective  than 
censorship  could  be. 

The  public  gradually  is  turning  up  its  nose  at  filthy  films 
and  the  manufacturers  are  beginning  to  see  "the  handwriting 
on  the  wall."  We  have  come  to  the  point  where  we  are 
tired  of  being  spanked  into  decency.  We  are  sick  of  sex 
shows.  We  are  weary  of  being  reformed  for  we  are  reform- 
ing ourselves. 


The  producers  are  realizing  this,  and  the  need  for 
censorship  is  becoming  less  and  less. 

Let  us  all  unite  with  those  manufacturers  who  have  real- 
ized the  importance  of  eliminating  the  word.  This  paper  will 
do  its  part. 

Many  leading  men  in  the  industry  are  offering  their 
opinions  on  the  war  in  Washington,  and  one  of  the  most 
interesting  has  been  received  from  W.  W.  Irwin,  general 
manager  for  V.  L.  S.  E.     It  is  published  herewith. 


Censorship  Agitation  Will  Prove  Boomerang 

BY  W.  W.  IRWIN 


THIi  efforts  being  made  by  a  few  misguided  persons 
to  throttle  the  freedom  of  the  screen  will  act  as  a 
boomerang;  that  is,  will  react  to  the  advantage  of  the 
entire  motion  picture  industry.  Moreover,  the  censor 
boards  themselves  are  unwittingly  doing  a  great  work 
for  the  industry  in  helping  us  overcome  the  trials  and 
vicissitudes  which  all  young  and  great  industries  must 
experience. 

In  the  first  place,  so  ignorant,  intolerant,  arrogant— 
in  some  cases  malicious  and  spiteful — have  been  the  acts 
of  these  boards,  that  they  are  fast  becoming  the  heedless 
instrument  of  their  own  destruction;  for  the  very  char- 
acter of  their  conduct  is  gradually  causing  the  busy 
American  public  to  take  notice,  and  to  realize  that  such 
power  in  the  hands  of  a  few  is  not  only  dangerous  to  the 
principles  of  liberty,  but  is  an  insult  to  our  intelligence. 

In  the  second  place,  the  acts  of  these  censors  is  fast 
impressing  upon  the  public  the  fact  that  the  motion  pic- 
ture is  the  most  important  and  powerful  vehicle  of 
thought  transmission  so  far  known  to  man  ;  so  powerful 
that  it  is  being  punished  for  its  very  intensity,  and  that 
the  industry  itself  possesses  an  intelligence  and  dignity 
so  important  to  the  educational  welfare  of  the  people 
that  they  cannot  afford  to  allow  it  to  be  subjected  to 
injustice. 

In  the  third  place,  nothing  so  quickly  makes  for  the 
destruction  of  jealousies  and  antagonism  between  the 
various  branches  of  the  industry,  and  for  the  creation 
of  mutual  respect  and  proper  business  ethics,  as  a  fight 
against  a"  common  and  unfair  enemy. 

Almost  up  to  the  present  time  there  has  existed, 
either  with  or  without  cause,  an  unfriendly  feeling,  ap- 
proaching hostility,  between  the  manufacturers  and  ex- 
change men  on  the  one  side,  and  the  exhibitors  on  the 
other  side.  The  most  dangerous  and  common  enemy, 
censorship,  however,  has  caused  the  manufacturers,  ex- 
change men  and  exhibitors  to  realize  thoroughly  that 
each  branch  is  just  as  important  as  the  other  two;  that 
the  interests  of  the  three  are  interdependent;  that  an 
attack  upon  one  is  an  attack  upon  all;  that  each  is  en- 
titled to  respect  and  confidence;  that  working  together, 
they  constitute  a  powerful  protection,  not  only  for  them- 
selves, but  for  the  public  welfare,  and  that  no  longer 
must    they   be   "a   house   divided   against    itself." 

Thus,  without  the  common  enemy,  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Board  of  Trade  of  America,  Inc.,  formed  solely 
for  the  purpose  of  amalgamating  all  interests  to  pro- 
mote or  defeat  propaganda  benefiting  or  destructive  to 
the  industry  as  a  whole,  would  not  have  come  into  being. 

So  strenuous  is  the  life  of  Americans  they  are  slow 
i..  become  interested,  but  once  aroused  to  the  gravity 
of  this  issue,  we  of  the  motion  picture  industry  need 
have  no  fear  of  the  decision.  The  great  American'  public 
may  go  wrong  temporarily  in  some  things,  but  it  never 
has  been  known  to  go  wrong  on  an   issue  involving  the 


fundamental  principles  of  our  liberty.  Wherever  an  in- 
justice is  done,  the  public  is  quick  to  right  it,  upon  it 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  facts. 

In  the  case  of  the  railroads,  for  years  harassed,  in 
some  cases  rightfully,  until  their  securities  were  almost 
driven  behind  the  horizon  of  bankruptcy,  the  public- 
stepped  in  when  injustice  appeared  and  saw  to  it  that  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission  granted  them  a  rehear- 
ing and  an  increase  of  rates,  on  the  theorv  of  live  and 
let  live. 

So,  in  these  days,  when  we  are  ever  broadening  the 
principle  of  popular  government,  and  of  the  rule  of  the 
many,  instead  of  the  few,  we  can  depend  upon  the  Ameri- 
can people  not  to  step  backward  by  tolerating  censorship. 
when  fully  cognizant  of  the  facts. 

Consequently,  I  think  we  may  view  the  outcome  of 
the  present  agitation  with  absolute  confidence,  provided 
we  do  our  share  in  helping  our  enemies  to  continue  the 
present  fermentation,  until  the  public  full  realizes  what 
the  motion  picture  means  to  it,  and  what  we  stand  for. 

Sooner  or  later,  the  censorship  statutes  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Ohio  and  Kansas  will  be  repealed,  by  reason  of 
the  intelligent  action  of  the  exhibitors  of  these  states  in 
the  past,  and  the  present  and  future  co-operation  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade,  composed  of  manufac- 
turers, supplymen,  exchangemen  and  exhibitors,  with  the 
exhibitors'  organizations  of  these  states. 

Eventually  it  must  and  will  come  about  that  everyone 
in  every  branch  of  the  business,  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  the  whole,  will  belong  to  the  Motion  Picture  Roard 
of  Trade,  so  that,  all  together,  we  will  present  a  united 
front  in  support  of  or  against  any  issue  helpful  or  detri- 
mental to  the  welfare  of  the  public  or  to  ourselves.  This, 
however,  will  not  do  away  with  or  lessen  the  importance 
of  associations  or  organizations  in  any  one  branch.  It 
will  merely  mean  that  such  organizations  will  find  their 
own  strength  increased  by  co-operation. 

The  campaign  of  education  now  being  conducted 
gradually  will  crystallize  public  sentiment,  and  when  this 
point  is  reached,  the  injustice  and  intolerance  of  the  ex- 
isting censorship  laws  will  cause  them  to  be  stricken  from 
the  statute  hooks?;;    I 

We  have  ample  evidence  to  justify  this  confidence 
Every  attempt  made  to  foist  legalized  censorship  upon  the 
people  of  this  country  has  met  with  disaster.  Away 
hack  in  1739,  President  Adams  tried  to  restrict  the  free- 
dom of  the  press,  which  had  been  gained  only  after  years 
of  darkness  and  the  shedding  of  much  blood,  and  went 
down  to  ignominious  defeat  for  re-election. 

(  >yer  in  Pennsylvania,  only  a  few  years  ago,  Samuel 
Pcnnv  packer  sought  to  discipline  the  press,  which  had 
made  his  official  life  as  governor  far  from  a  happy  one. 
and  succeeded  only  in  bringing  down  upon  his  head  a 
storm  of  ridicule  such  as  few  public  figures  ever  have 
suffered. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


505 


But  we  do  not  need  to  go  out  of  our  own  circle  to 
satisfy  ourselves  that  the  American  people  will  never 
relinquish  the  principles  on  which  this  great  republic  was 
founded. 

Out  in  Los  Angeles,  recently,  a  local  board  of  cen- 
sors sought  to  impose  their  private  prejudices  upon  an 
entire  community.  The  outraged  public  sentiment  which 
was  directed  at  them  not  only  resulted  in  their  resigna- 
tions, but  forced  the  authorities  to  permit  the  exhibition 
of  the  picture  to  which  the  little  group  of  seven  short- 
sighted individuals  had  so  strenuously  objected.  Mass 
meetings  were  held,  editorials  promulgated,  and  the  en- 
tire community  aroused  to  the  point  where  the  mistaking 
of  its  temper  was  impossible. 

This  victory  simply  anticipates  others  all  over  the 
country,  when  the  people  realize  the  bulwarks  of  Ameri- 
can freedom  are  threatened;  when  the  public  conscience 
is  properly  stimulated  by  campaigns  of  education  along 
the  lines  now  being  waged  in  various  centers  of  the  coun- 
try, and  which  will  continue  to  be  waged  by  a  united 
industry.  This  victory  also  provides  another  of  the  rap- 
idly accumulating  examples  of  the  incapacity  of  the  aver- 
age censorship  official,  the  chairman  of  the  Los  Angeles 
Board  of  Censors  making  the  astounding  assertion  that 
the  function  of  the  motion  picture  was  "to  amuse  and 
not  to  educate." 

With  opponents  of  this  character,  we  have  only  to 
continue  our  campaign  actively  and  harmoniously — that 
is,  free  from  jealousy  and  with  confidence  in  each  other — 
until  all  of  our  insincere  or  misinformed  opponents  are 
no  longer  granted  a  hearing  by  the  public. 

The  American  citizen  is  primarily  the  embodiment 
of  common  sense.  He  demands  the  right  to  be  a  free 
agent  so  long  as,  in  the  exercise  of  his  liberty,  he  does 
not  encroach  upon  that  of  any  other  citizen.  He  may 
be  trusted  not  to  disgrace  himself  by  endeavoring  to  lower 
the  public  morals. 

Moreover,  there  is  always  the  protection  of  the  law, 
and  American  common  sense  may  be  depended  upon  to 
■  always  be  quick  to  seize  it. 

Even  were  we  willing  to  forego  the  fundamental 
American  privilege  of  deciding  for  ourselves  that  which 
is  fit  and  that  which  is  unfit,  what  purpose  is  served  by 
having  a  handful  of  ignorant  censors  make  this  decision 
for  us  ? 


Certainly  no  one  holds  that  either  in  Ohio  or  Penn- 
sylvania has  there  been  any  marked  change  in  the  tastes 
or  morals  of  the  people  through  the  creation  of  these 
censorship   boards. 

On  the  other  hand,  is  it  not  true 'that  the  press  and 
the  stage  of  this  country  as  a  whole  have  been  and  are 
far  cleaner  and  more  moral  than  those  of  countries  where 
an  official  passes  on  everything  that  may  be  published  or 
shown  ? 

The  libel  laws  and  the  statutes  against  indecency 
always  have  been  and  always  will  be  a  sufficient  safe- 
guard against  gross  abuse  of  the  privileges  of  literature 
and  the  press.  Why,  then,  should  a  picture  play  suffer 
censorship? 

The  founders  of  this  country  were  keenly  alive  to 
the  fact  that  moral  questions  are  best  determined  by 
public  opinion.  Jefferson's  comment  that  he  "would 
rather  have  a  country  without  government  and  a  free 
press  than  one  with  government  and  an  enslaved  press" 
reflects  the  jealousy  with  which  any  trespass  on  the  peo- 
ple's rights  to  know  and  learn  was  regarded  when  our 
country   was   in   the   making. 

To  what  lengths  censorship  would  go  if  it  were  per- 
mitted to  exercise  itself  unchecked  is  illustrated  by  a 
recent  request  of  a  feminine  member  of  the  Kansas  board 
of  administration  to  have  the  music  in  motion  picture 
theaters  censored,  on  the  ground  that  the  morals  of  the 
commonwealth  were  imperiled  by  the  present  liberty  per- 
mitted in  the  musical  accompaniments  of  films. 

With  such  suggestions  being  put  forward,  when  cen- 
sorship has  but  the  merest  footing  in  our  social  life,  we 
can  imagine  what  the  demands  might  be  if  it  were  given 
an  actual  hold. 

It  is,  however,  because  there  is  involved  a  much 
deeper  and  graver  question  than  the  mere  hampering  of 
the  screen — a  question  which  goes  to  the  very  essence 
of  our  constitutional  rights — that  we  may  assure  our- 
selves of  the  ultimate  destruction  of  every  movement 
designed  for  the  throttling  of  thought  expression. 

All  we  of  the  industry  need  to  do  is  to  present  these 
facts  to  the  millions  to  whom  our  product  carries  art, 
history,  science,  religion,  mechanics,  surgery,  et  cetera, 
and  to  the  scores  of  others  who  appreciate  that  this  prod- 
uct is  an  influence  in  keeping  some  of  their  neighbors 
from  injurious  indulgences. 


Hughes  Due  Back  to  Complete  Bill 


CHAIRMAN  HUGHES  of  the  House  Committee  on 
education  is  expected  back  in  Washington  soon,  to 
take  up  the  work  of  completing  the  new  censorship  bill 
and  introducing  it  in  the  house.  He  was  called  to  Georgia 
by  the  illness  of  a  son,  who  subsequently  died. 

Members  of  the  house  are  giving  attention  to  the 
bill  now  that  the  time  approaches  for  the  new  bill  to 
make  its  appearance,  and  are  waiting  with  considerable 
interest  to  see  what  it  will  contain.  They  are  hearing 
from  voters  who  live  in  their  districts,  and  so  far  it  ap- 
pears that  the  only  persons  who  favor  it  are  thdse  who 
have  been  inspired  by  the  welfare  workers  who  have  been 
identified  with  the  hearings  given  by  the  House  commit- 
tee. For  instance,  members  of  the  Minnesota  delegation, 
a  state  in  which  there  is  now  more  or  less  agitation  for 
censorship,  have  received  copies  of  an  editorial  which 
appeared  in  the  Minneapolis  Tribune,  one  of  the  most 
influential  papers  in  the  middle  west.  This  expression 
of  opinion  is  bound  to  have  considerable  weight  with  the 
ten  members  of  the  Minnesota  delegation  in  the  house. 


The  editorial,  which  incidentally,  is  an  able  one  on  the 
subject,  is  as  follows: 

From  several  points  of  view  it  would  be  regrettable  of  the  present 
bill  providing  for  a  federal  motion  picture  censorship  should  pass  congress. 
Theoretically  there  is  little  to  condemn  in  the  idea  of  the  censorship.  P.iit 
practically  it  has  been  demonstrated  repeatedly  that  the  proper  judicial 
qualities  can  not  be  found  in  sufficient  abundance  to  make  the  experiment 
successful.  History  is  firm  on  the  point  that  in  the  long  run  the  censorship 
does  more   harm  than  good. 

Questions  of  decency  are  clear-cut  and  simple,  and  are  very  easily  and 
very  effectually  handled  by  the  police.  But  the  more  intricate  question-. 
of  propriety,  good  taste,  and  morals  elude  a  definite  standardization,  and 
may  not  safely  be  entrusted  to  a  general  board.  In  such  a  tribunal  the 
human  equation  is  bound  to  enter  too  much.  The  public  is  in  the  end  forced 
to  submit  to  the  tyranny  of  utterly  illogical  whims,  prejudices,  personal 
diosyncracit'S   and   fanciful   interpretations  of  ethics. 

All  students  of  contemporary  drama  know  what  England  has  been 
forced  to  suffer  through  the  ineffable  stupidity  of  its  autocratic  censor. 
The  efforts  of  such  men  as  Pinero,  Jones  and  Shaw  to  create  a  dramatic 
literature  were  at  times  wholly  nullified  by  the  refusal  or  the  incapacity 
of  this  personage  to  see  the  light  of  reason. 

A  correspondent  writing  in  to  The  Tribune  has  suggested  another 
objection  to  the  censorship.  Parents  at  present  are  already  too  negligent 
about  observing  what  films  their  children  see.  The  establishment  of  a 
censorship  would  have  the  effect  of  lulling  them  into  a  state  of  false 
security   and   encouraging   them   in   their   present   deplorable   negligence. 

Careful  selection  on  the  part  of  individuals  is  after  all  the  best  way 
of  attacking  the  motion  picture  problem.  A  production  which  is  instructi\'c 
and  constructive  to  one  of  mature  years  may  be  damaging  and  injurious  to 
another  as  yet  intellectually  undeveloped.  It  is  unfair  to  say  that  one 
or  may  not  profit  by  a  performance  because  that  performance  works 
with   another.      The   entire  theater-going  public   should   not   be   forced 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


The  International  Reform  Bureau,  of  which  Dr. 
Crafts  is  the  head,  has  sent  out  copies  of  the  letter  which 
follows,  written  by  Bishop  Regis  Canevin,  of  Pittsburgh : 

"Your  letter  and  documents  in  regard  to  the  estab- 


lishment of  federal  censorship  of  motion  pictures  have 
been  received,  and  I  wish  to  assure  you  of  my  readiness 
to  do  all  I  can  to  assist  in  urging  our  representatives  to 
pass  adequate  legislation  to  protect  the  people  of  our 
country  from  the  corrupting  influences  of  the  vicious 
pictures  that  are  now  exhibited  in  many  of  our  theaters." 


Maryland  State  Bill  Attacked 


CENSORSHIP  in  the  state  of  Maryland  will  not  be 
had  without  a  staunch  fight  from  the  various 
members  of  the  motion  picture  trade  and  last  week 
the  first  broadside  from  the  combined  interests  in  the 
trade  were  turned  loose  at  a  hearing  before  the  Ways 
and  Means  Committee  of  the  state  legislature  at 
Annapolis. 

Bent  on  making  a  showing  that  would  command 
attention  a  large  delegation  waited  on  the  law-makers 
and  as  good  measure  a  protest  signed  by  every  in- 
dividual owner,  exhibitor  and  exchange  manager  in 
Baltimore  was  presented. 

Speeches  against  the  bill  were  delivered  by  Guy 
L.  Wonders,  president  of  the  Exhibitors'  League  of 
Maryland;  J.  W.  Binder,  secretary  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Board  of  Trade  of  New  York;  Fulton  Brylawski, 
representing  the'  distributors  of  films  in  Baltimore, 
Washington  and  other  points;  W.i  Stephen  Bush,  of 
the  Moving  Picture  World,  New  York;  Paul  Crome- 
lin,  president  of  the  Cosmofoto  Film  Company, 
New  York,  and  J.  Howard  Bennett,  of  Baltimore. 
Other  speakers  were  ready  to  present  arguments  but 
as  the  committee  had  placed  a  time  limit  of  one  hour 
on  the  motion  picture  adherents  it  was  impossible  for 
all   to  participate. 

The  result  of  the  effort  was  apparent  when  Rep- 
resentative Bryant,  of  Baltimore  county,  the  father 
of  the  proposed  censorship  bill,  consented  to  accept 
amendments  which  would  insure  censorship  of  pictures 
before  their  purchase  and  local  exhibition.  Mr.  Wilker- 


son,  a  member  of  the  committee,  also  asked  a  number 
of  questions  which  indicated  that  he  was  unwilling 
to  vote  for  any  bill  that  would  place  undue  hardships 
on  the  industry. 

After  the  opponents  of  the  bill  had  spoken  for  an 
hour  a  delegation  representing  the  Holy  Name  Society 
of  the  Catholic  church  was  heard  in  support  of  the  bill. 
Louis  Mokines,  a  Baltimore  attorney,  was  spokesman 
for  this  delegation  and  he  said  it  was  the  aim  of  the 
society  to  co-operate  with  the  exhibitors  of  moving 
pictures  in  producing  clean,  healthy  moral  shows  that 
would  uplift  and  not  degrade  those  that  see  them.  He 
contended  that  many  films  are  exhibited  in  which  vice, 
crime  and  all  other  objectionable  features  of  life  are 
displayed.  He  said  that  such  shows  are  unwholesome 
and  tend  to  create  unhealthy  sentiments. 

It  is  possible  that  another  hearing  will  be  held  be- 
fore the  bill  is  reported  out  of  the  committee. 

The  protest  which  was  signed  by  the  members  of 
the  trade  in  Baltimore  read  as  follows : 

"Believing  that  publicity  censorship  is  unwar- 
ranted and  un-American  in  principle  and  theory,  work- 
ing an  unreasonable  and  unnecessary  hardship  upon 
the  motion  picture  industry  and  all  engaged  therein, 
and  basing  this  belief  upon  the  failure  of  the  censor 
boards  of  the  States  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Kansas 
to  perform  the  duties  for  which  they  were  created,  we 
do  hereby  respectfully  and  earnestly  protest  against 
the  so-called  censor  bill  now  pending  in  the  House  of 
Delegates." 


North  Carolina  Condemns  Federal  Plan 

THE   Motion   Picture   Exhibitors'   League   of  North      censorship  of  motion  pictures  such  as  is  now  considered. 
1    Carolina,  at  its  first  annual  convention  at  Greens-  J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary  of  the  Motion 

boro,  established  a  precedent  in  the  matter  of  concise      Picture  Board  of  Trade  of  America,  'in  an  address  to 
and  direct  condemnation  of  any  federal  pre-publicity      the  convention  dealt  in  detail  with  the  censorship  efforts 

in  Washington  of  Dr.  Wilbur  F.  Crafts,  head  of  the 
so-called  International  Reform  Bureau,  and  with  the 
work  of  "agitators  and  irresponsible  agencies." 

"The  Mecklenberg  declaration  of  independence 
was  signed  in  North  Carolina  before  the  one  written 
by  Thomas  Jefferson  was  signed  at  Philadelphia,"  Mr. 
Binder  said.  "The  same  spirit  still  lives  there,  as  is 
shown  by  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions  at 
the  convention  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League : 

i\i  snlvcil.  That  the  motion  picture  exhibitors  of  North  Carolina  in 
convention  assembled,  unqualifiedly  condemn  the  efforts  now  being  made  to 
Listen  (be  principle  ot  l-e.lcr.il  p'v-publicit]  censorship  of  motion  pictures 
upon   ibe   A, lien.-. hi   people   ibcoipeb   the  several   bills  being  considered  by  the 

Resolved  further,  Th.it  the  convention  pledges  its  membership  represent- 
ing 175  theaters  in  the  Slate,  with  a  total  capital  invested  of  upwards  of 
.1  nullum  dollar-.,  attended  duly  by  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  people, 
to  use  every  ctlori  I,,  dele.u  ,  ,  c  e  'si:-  measures  of  any  kind  or  character, 
whether    they    be    Federal.    Stan-    or    municipal,    and    be  "it    further 

Motived.  Thai  in  thus  going  ,„,  record  against  governmental  interfer- 
enee   m   a    legitimate   established    in.lusir>       now    the    tit  111    in    the   country-— the 

the  making  and  exhibiting  ot  .. , i \  pi.  line  which  is  of  a  questionable  char- 
acter i.i  which  is  immoral,  indecent  or  obscene.  The  convention  records 
with  gratification  the  fact  that  the  cheap,  fly-by-night  exhibitor  who  has 
been  chiefly  to  blame  in  the  past  for  furnishing  a  market  for  this  objection- 
Chicatjo  Reel  Fellows  Club  at  a  beefsteak  dinner  in  their  club  rooms.  able   class  of   pictures   is   rapidly   being  eliminated   from   the   business.      The 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


507 


Be  *itCf ™rther° 

Resolved,  That  the  secretary  of  this  convention  be  instructed  to  give 
these  resolutions  state-wide  publicity  and  that  copies  of  the  same  be  sent 
to    each   member   of   Congress   from   North    Carolina. 

Unanimously  adopted  this  fourteenth  day  of  February,  1916,  at 
Greensboro,    N.    C. 

(Signed)      H.    B.    Varner,   A     F.    Sams,    P.    W.    Wells,    Committee. 

A  telegram  was  forwarded  to  Robert  L.  Dough- 
ton,  member  of  Congress  from  North  Carolina  and 
a  member  of  the  House  education  committee,  urging 


him  to  vote  against  a  favorable  report  of  the  Smith- 
Hughes  or  any  other  of  the  censorship  bills  being  con- 
sidered by  the  committee. 

The  North  Carolina  exhibitors  gave  full  endorse- 
ment to  the  fast  spreading  idea  of  co-operation  in  the 
motion  picture  industry.  Practical  means  of  bringing 
the  film  manufacturers,  distributors,  exhibitors  and 
others  closer  together  were  discussed  and  approved. 


Spiegel  Answers  Exhibitors 


CORRESPONDENCE  exchanged  between  the  Inter- 
national Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Association  of 
Illinois  and  Arthur  H.  Spiegel,  president  of  the  Equitable 
Motion  Pictures  Corporation  and  general  manager  of 
the  World  Film  Corporation,  dealing  with  proposed 
legalized  censorship  has  been  made  public.  Notice  of 
protest  against  legalized  censorship  in  any  form  was 
sent  to  Mr.  Spiegel  by  the  association.  The  former 
replied  in  regret  that  it  was  the  belief  of  his  companies 
that  national  censorship  would  be  to  the  best  interests 
of  every  one  engaged  in  the  motion  picture  industry. 
The  correspondence  follows : 


Equitable  Motion 

Picture   Corp 

130  W 

46th 

St.,  New  Yor 

,  N.   Y. 

Gentlemen 

last   regular  meeting   of   the 

Motion 

Picture 

Exhibitors'   Asso- 

ciation    of 

Illinois 

held    Friday 

Febru 

l      vvl.ieh 

time   the    annual 

election   of 

took   place, 

the    folic 

animously 

passed    bv 

a  very 

ring  of  Exhibito 

"That 

we,    the    Motion    P 

cture    E 

thibitor 

f5  'Illinois, 

desire   to   go    on   r 

terably 

apposed 

legal  i  zed 

censorship, 

national   or  otherwis 

■.   ami"  tl 

nost  hea 

tily    dis. 

the   recent 

attitud 

of  the  Equi 

able    M, 

'!...  "'p.' 

tures   Co 

i.   as  well 

as  the  Met 

Paramount,   i 

i  their  e 

ndorsen 

ent   of, 

md   favo 

ring  legal 

The  Secretary 

was  instructed  to  forward  a  copy  of  th 

e  above 

to  the  feat 

ire  film 

also  the 

rade  papers. 

Yours 

truly, 

Motion  Pic 

ture  Ex 

'  Assn., 

Illinoi 

By  J. 

H.    Frun 

dt,   Pres 

Sidney   Smith,   Seer 

etary. 

Mr.   Spiegel   responded, 
.  Goldfish,  as  follows  : 


after  a   conference  with 


arefully   noted   the 
that  the   attitude 


if   our   company   as   well    as   that   of   the 
has   met   with   the   disapproval   of   your   association ; 
you  that,  in   our  opinion,   our  action   will  ultimately 
of   everybody    engaged    in   the   motion   picture 


s  being  in  favor  of  proper  national  censorship  gave  this  question 
rious  and  thoughtful  consideration  before  arriving  at  any  definite 
on,  and  our  final  decision  was  based  on  the  fact  that  proper 
censorship  would  sureh  finally  result  in  great  benefits  for  pro- 
distributors  and  exhibitors.  We  are  striving  to  promote  the  best 
;  of  this  industry  and  to  establish  its  permanency.  We  know  and 
>w  that  there  is  a  certain  class  of  pictures  being  produced  today 
s  objectionable  not  only  to  the  exhibitor  but  to  his  patrons,  and 
of  this  character  should  be  suppressed  solely  because  their  sup- 
will  surely  work  for  the  best  interests  of  the  industry. 
:  motion  picture  industry,  as  an  industry,  has  thrived  simply 
the  motion  picture  theater  is  a  place  for  the  masses — for  men, 
and  children.  But  when  a  certain  kind  of  pictures  is  produced 
fill  surely  result  in  keeping  men,  women  and  children  out  of  the 
,    then    it   is   quite   evident   to    every  one   that   the   industry   will   be 

s  hoped  and  desired  that  proper  national  censorship  will  do  away 
:lass  of  productions  that  is  bound  to  ultimately  create  havoc  in  the 
;.  And  it  is  further  believed  that  once  we  have  proper  national 
lip,  all  other  forms  of  state  and  municipal  censorship  will  be  finally 


We,  'an 

3   I   think   I   may   state   the  other  producers  mentioned   in   your 

unwarranted 
first,    becau. 

;   but  we  realize  the  urgent  necessity    fur   national   censorship — 

stepping    st 

ne    to    the    complete    abolishment    of    all    forms    of    state    cen- 

vish   t 


i   this 


l  which  will  finally  resu 
ngagea  in  tnis  industry. 
Very  truly  yours, 

World  Film  Corporation. 
(Signed)      Arthur  H.  Spiegel,  General  Manager. 

The  indorsement  of  W.  W.  Hodkinson,  of  Para- 
mount, of  Mr.  Spiegel's  response  to  the  Illinois  asso- 
ciation is  given  herewith  : 

February   17,   1916. 
Mr.  Arthur  H.   Spiegel,  World   Film  Corporation, 

130  West  46th  St.,   New   York   City. 


i  Mr. 


I  think  it 
1  send  it  as 
With  kindest  regard: 


Picture   Exhibitors 
:er  of  the  ninth,  addressed  to 
comprehensive  and  good  ans 


■    letter    dated 


t  Chicago,  whi 


(Signed)     W.    W.    Hodkinson. 

Further  than  the  above  correspondance,  Mr. 
Spiegel  would  not  commit  himself  on  any  of  the  state- 
ments contained  in  his  letter  to  the  Illinois  association. 


Theater  Men  Should  Unite  Against  Censorship 


THE  many  suggestions  in  the  articles  written  by  such 
men  as  Mr.  Irwin  have  led  up  to  a  plan  which  should 
do  much  to  awaken  the  representatives  in  Washington 
of  a  liberty-loving  people  to  the  dangers  of  such  bills 
as  those  now  before  Congress  which  have  to  do  with 
censorship  in  any  form. 

While  many  of  us  might  be  satisfied  to  accept  the 
Towner  bill  as  the  lesser  evil,  why  should  we  submit  to 
any  harmful  and  dangerous  legislation?  Such  bills  as 
these  are  breeders  of  revolution.  It  was  just  this  sort 
of  thing  that  made  our  forefathers  turn  against  the  lash 
of  England.  They  fought  for  our  liberty,  and  now  it  is 
jeopardized  by  the  activities  of  a  few.  As  Mr.  Irwin 
says,  if  the  people  only  knew,  such  legislation  could  not 
come  to  pass.  So  Motography  is  going  to  let  a  repre- 
sentative number  of  people  know,  and  with  the  help  of 
the  theater  men  throughout  the  country,  the  voters  are 


going  to  let  their  representatives  in  Washington  know 
how  they  feel  about  censorship. 

On  page  554  in  this  issue  will  be  found  a  blank 
petition  to  be  filled  in  with  names  of  voters  who  desire 
to  go  on  record  against  any  legislation  menacing  personal 
liberty.  Every  theater  man  in  the  country  can  and,  we 
believe,  will  have  these  petitions  signed  and  sent  to 
Motography  for  presentation  at  the  proper  place  in 
Washington. 

While  on  the  subject  of  interesting  the  general  pub- 
lic in  the  war,  it  might  be  well  to  note  that  most  of  the 
newspapers  throughout  the  country  are  informing  the 
voters  of  the  fight  in  Washington.  The  following  edi- 
torial from  the  Chicago  Sunday  Tribune  shows  the  atti- 
tude of  the  press  on  this  subject. 

It  is  printed  in  the  hope  that  each  theater  man 
(Continued  on  page  553) 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


STARTS  NEW  PATHE  SERIAL 

Arrow    Film    Corporation    Begins    Scene-Taking    in 

Series  to  Consist  of  Fourteen  Two-Reel 

Episodes 

"Who's  Guilty?"  the  new  serial  to  be  produced  by 
the  Arrow  Film  Corporation  for  Pathe,  is  now  in  the 
making.  The  preparatory  work,  which  has  been  in  prog- 
ress for  several  weeks,  was  completed  a  few  days  ago 
as  to  sets,  costumes,  locations,  etc.  Actual  taking  of 
scenes  began  Monday,  February  21. 

The  "Who's  Guilty?"  series  will  consist  of  fourteen 
two-reel  episodes,  each  episode  a  complete  problem  play 
in  itself.  The  scenarios  for  these  episodes  have  been 
secured  by  W.  E.  Shallenberger,  president  of  the  Arrow, 
from  a  number  of  sources,  in  order  to  secure  diversity 
of  ideas  and  difference  of  treatment.  The  theme  was 
found  to  be  so  big  that  it  was  found  impossible  for  any 
one  writer  to  supply  all  the  basic  stories.  Mr.  Shallen- 
berger found  it  advisable  to  use  not  more  than  two  or 
three  plots  from  any  one  source. 

All  of  these  scenarios  have  been  Actionized  for  news- 
paper serialization  by  Mrs.  Wilson  Woodrow,  who  is 
the  author  of  several  of  the  original  scenarios  as  well. 
She  is  Actionizing  all  of  the  scenarios  of  whatever  origin, 
in  the  brilliant  and  interesting  style  that  magazine  and 
newspaper  readers  everywhere  know  is  Mrs.  Woodrow's. 

The  series  will  be  directed  jointly  by  Howell  Hansel 
and  Lawrence  B.  McGill,  Mr.  McGill  doing  the  first  epi- 
sode, Mr.  Hansel  the  second,  and  so  alternating  to  the 
conclusion. 

Miss  Anna  Nilsson,  for  several  years  leading  woman 
with  Kalem,  and  seen  more  recently  as  leading  woman 
and  star  in  "Regeneration,"  "The  Scarlet  Road"  and 
"To  Him  That  Hath,"  will  be  the  woman  star  of  "Who's 
Guilty?"  Miss  Nilsson  appeared,  it  will  be  recalled,  in 
Kalem's  first  feature,  "Shenandoah,"  and  her  work  in 
that  picture  alone  should  have  elevated  her  to  stardom. 
The  long  service  she  has  rendered  since  then  makes  her 
more  than  welcome  as  the  woman  star  in  the  new  Arrow- 
Pathe  series. 

Mr.  Tom  Moore,  who  is  known  wherever  pictures 
are  known,  and  in  other  places,  too,  will  play  opposite 
Miss  Nilsson  as  the  man  star  of  "Who's  Guilty?"  series. 
Mr.  Moore  is  a  member  of  the  famous  Moore  trio.  His 
brother    Owen    is    Mary    Pickford's    husband,    and    his 


brother  Matt  also>  is  in  motion  pictures.  Tom  Moore  is 
more  than  the  ordinary  motion  picture  star,  in  that  he 
has  written,  acted  in  and  directed  more  than  150  success- 
ful photoplays. 

Mr.  Shallenberger  has  employed  a  fashionable  Fifth 
avenue  modiste  to  make  all  of  Miss  Nilsson's  clothes  for 
the  "Who's  Guilty?"  series.  Copies  of  the  scenarios 
were  sent  to  the  designers,  so  that  each  gown  will  fit 
exactly,  from  scene  to  scene,  into  the  part  Miss  Nilsson 
plays.  The  result,  it  is  promised  by  the  modiste  and  by 
Arrow,  will  make  Miss  Nilsson  the  best-dressed  woman 
on  the  American  screen  stage,  which  means  the  best- 
dressed  woman  in  the  world. 


FAMOUS  PLAYERS  CUT  MELON 

Ten  Per  Cent  Dividend  Is  Declared ;  Zukor  Buys  $400,- 

000  in  Government  Bonds  with  Earnings; 

Porter  Out 

The  Famous  Players  Film  Company  has  declared 
an  annual  dividend  on  its  stock  of  more  than  ten  per 
cent.    This  was  paid  on  January  14. 

This  dividend  does  not  represent  all  that  the  Fa- 
mous Players  earned  during  the  last  year.  It  is  in 
the  nature  of  surplus  profits,  and  while  no  one  except 
those  on  the  inside  of  the  company's  affairs  knows 
exactly  how  much  the  company  did  make,  it  is  be- 
lieved by  many  that  the  most  favorable  results  that 
were  hoped  for  were  surpassed. 

David  S.  Porter,  who  was  general  director  of  Fa- 
mous Players,  has  sold  all  his  stock  in  the  company,  at 
par,  to  officers  and  other  employes  of  the  company, 
receiving  $500,000  in  cash  for  his  holdings.  Every  em- 
ploye from  the  office  boy  up  was  permitted  to  subscribe 
to  some  of  this  stock.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Porter  will 
retire  from  the  motion  picture  business  in  the  very 
near  future. 

Adolph  Zukor,  president,  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  one  to  conceive  the  idea  of  having  famous  stars 
of  the  speaking  stage  appear  on  the  screen  and  to  im- 
prove the  dramatic  value  of  pictures. 

Many  at  first  laughed  at  Mr.  Zukor's  idea,  but  the 
laugh  is  on  them  now.  With  the  dividends  which  Mr. 
Zukor  received  from  his  stock  in  the  Famous  Players 
this  year  he  has  purchased  $400,000  worth  of  United 
States  government  bonds. 


Rothacker  to  Branch  Out 

Watterson  R.  Rothacker,  recognized  as  a  specialist 
in  motion  picture  advertising,  announces  that  with  the 
opening  of  his  new  laboratory  and  studios,  he  will  extend 
his  operations  beyond  the  industrial  field  and  will  an- 
nounce plans  in  this  regard  some  time  during  April. 
when  the  new  plant  will  be  opened  formally.  Mr.  Roth- 
acker is  president  of  the  Rothacker  Film  Manufacturing 
Company,  successor  to  the  Industrial  Moving  Picture 
Company  of  Chicago. 


Essanay's    "The    Primitive    Stra 


The  Popular  Pictures  Corporation,  just  formed 
under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  New  York,  has  taken 
over  the  entire  building  at  218  West  Forty-second 
street,  New  York,  which  will  be  known  hereafter  as 
the  Popular  Pictures  building.  No  announcement  has 
been  made  as  to  the  officers  or  the  plan  of  operation. 
It  is  known,  however,  that  Andrew  J.  Cobe  will  be 
prominently  identified  with  the  new  organization, 
which  is  said  to  be  backed  by  sound  financial  interests. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Importance  of  Lighting  Shown 


EYE  STRAIN  ELIMINATED 


MILWAUKEE'S  newest 
photo-play  house,  the 
Merrill,  probably  has 
solved  the  illumination  problem. 
It  also  has  harnessed  electricity 
to  publicity  and  proved  its  adver- 
tising value.  The  scheme  of  light- 
ing is  the  result  of  a  large  amount 
of  original  experimental  work  on 
the  part  of  Vaughn,  Meyer  and 
Sweet,  consulting  engineers  of 
Milwaukee,  to  obtain  a  system 
giving  a  graduated  lighting  with 
enough  illumination  to  permit 
one  to  move  about,  but  yet  not 
enough  to  dim  the  picture  on  the 
screen. 

As  one  enters  the  vestibule 
and  passes  down  the  lobby  into 
the  theater,  there  is  no  noticeable 
diminution  of  light  from  the  out- 
of-doors  to  the  auditorium  itself, 
yet  the  picture  on  the  screen 
stands  out  in  sharp  contrast  to 
the  surroundings.  The  result  has 
been  obtained  by  graduated  light- 
ing, so  planned  that  the  eye  ad- 
justs itself  to  a  smaller  and  small- 
er amount  of  light  without  the  change  being  noticed  as 
one  enters. 

There  is  a  gradual  increase  in  the  amount  of  light 
from  the  screen  through  the  auditorium,  foyer  and 
lobby,  to  the  outer  entrance,  starting  at  the  screen  with 
virtually  a  deep  twilight  effect,  and  ending  at  the  en- 


trance   of    the    theater 
ing. 

This  daylight  effect 
extent  by  the  fact  that 
there  are  no  light 
sources  in  the  range  of 
vision.  Not  only  has 
the  indirect  system  of 
lighting  been  used 
throughout  the  theater, 
but  instead  of  the  light 
coming  from  the  bowls 
or  hanging  fixtures,  as 
is  generally  the  case, 
recesses  in  the  walls  of 
the  building  have  been 
used  as  the  sources  of 
the  light.  These  re- 
cesses or  "coves"  con- 
tain the  light  units,  and 
the  light  is  thrown 
onto  the  ceiling  so  as 
to  give  uniformly  grad- 
uated illumination  of  a 
very  low  intensity. 

In  the  foyer, 
where  this  arrange- 
ment is  not  possible, 
the    lighting    has    been 


vith    a    full    daylight    light- 
is  also  increased  to  a  large 


accomplished  by  the  means  of 
beautiful  art-glass  skylights, 
which  give  a  soft,  subdued  light 
and  bring  this  part  of  the  theater 
up  to  the  same  degree  of  illumi- 
nation as  the  rest. 

For  the  cleaning  of  the  the- 
ater, or  whenever  a  bright  illu- 
mination is  required,  a  third  sys- 
tem of  lighting  has  been  installed, 
which  will  give  an  illumination 
equal  to  the  average  theater  light- 
ing. 

Due  to  the  high  ceiling  of  the 
auditorium,  and  the  absence  of 
interfering  hanging  fixtures,  an 
effect  of  space  is  secured  which  is 
very  restful  to  the  audience.  This 
effect  is  further  increased  by  the 
perfect  ventilation  and  the  almost 
total  absence  of  all  eye-strain. 

The  lighting  of  the  main 
auditorium  has  been  arranged  so 
as  to  make  possible  the  very  nov- 
el and  beautiful  effect  of  follow- 
ing the  color  of  the  light  thrown 
showing  electric  "mono-  on  the  screen  by  the  lantern.  For 
nc  hmp-iettcr  sign.  this  purpose,  there  are  two  com- 

plete systems  installed  in  the  auditorium,  one  giving  a 
"twilight"  effect,  the  other  a  beautiful  "moonlight"  effect. 
This  moonlight  effect  pervades  the  whole  audi- 
torium, so  that  it  seems  to  glow  with  the  light  of 
the  picture.  These  lighting  systems  are  controlled 
from  the  booth  by  the  operator  so  that  the  change 
in  lighting  occurs  simultaneously  with  the  change 
in  the  scene  on  the  screen  from  daylight  to 
moonlight. 


The 
trance     i.( 


Ml     Theater.    Milwaukee. 
walls,  from  whic' 


theater  en- 
lighted  by 
lamps  concealed  on  top 
of  the  ticket  booth. 
These  lights  are  all  di- 
rected towards  the  ceil- 
ing of  the  entrance,  and 
the  light  is  reflected 
back.  The  lamps  used 
for  this  are  of  the  larg- 
est size  on  the  market 
today.  One  throws  a 
pure  red  light,  the  sec- 
ond a  pure  blue  light 
and  the  third  a  pure 
green  light.  By  means 
of  automatic  machin- 
ery controlling  these 
lights,  the  various  mix- 
tures are  made  to  vary 
in  intensity  and  the 
colors  are  combined  in 
such  a  way  that  the  re- 
sulting light  is  a  mix- 
ture of  red,  blue,  green 
and   white   light,   mak- 


510 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


ing  a  single  resultant  tint  of  light,  and  this  mixture 
gradually  varies  in  makeup.  The  result  is  a  varying 
color  which  passes  through  all  the  tints  of  the  rainbow, 
giving  a  wonderful  changing  color  effect. 

The  usual  separate  system  of  exit  lighting  is  pro- 
vided. 

For  advertising  and  publicity  purposes,  as  well  as 
for  the  convenience  of  the  public,  a  large,  illuminated 
"electric  clock,"  in  the  form  of  a  "monogram"  sign, 
has  been  erected  on  the  front  of  the  building,  which  is 
in  service  every  evening  after  dark. 

Over  the  canopy  itself  a  large  electric  lamp-letter 
sign  has  been  erected.  To  increase  the  attractiveness 
of  this  sign  and  bring  it  up  to  the  standard  of  the  rest 
of  the  theater,  the  surface  has  been  covered  in  a  novel 
manner  with  more  than  a  thousand  "jewels"  of  the 
same  general  type  as  were  used  at  the  Panama-Pacific 
Exposition  in  the  Tower  of  Jewels. 

These  "jewels"  are  each  backed  by  a  small  mir- 
ror and  hung  in  such  a  way  as  to  be  free  to  swing  and 
sway  with  any  passing  breeze,  thus  catching  and  re- 
flecting the  light  rays  like  scintillating  diamonds.  Light 
is  thrown  on  the  sign  by  means  of  powerful  lamps 
placed  on  top  of  the  canopy  and  on  the  front  of  the 
building.  These  are  colored  so  as  to  produce  different 
colors  in  the  jewels;  and  here,  as  in  the  entrance,  the 
color  changes  continually.  Below  the  canopy  are 
mounted  four  program  frames.  There  are  four  pow- 
erful, concealed  floodlights  located  above  and  a  little 
in  front  of  the  frame,  throwing  a  brilliant  white  light 
on  the  program  so  as  to  make  it  stand  out  from  the 
rest  of  the  surroundings,  but  without  glare. 

{Editor's,  Note— We    are    indebted    to    the    Electric    City    Magazine   for 


and  chauffeur,  the  actor  left  Los  Angeles  shortly 
after  the  Christmas  holidays  and  motored  over  the 
Rockies  through  the  heavy  blizzards  that  struck  that 
section  of  the  country.  In  Chicago  he  devoted  his  time 
to  visiting  relatives  and  renewing  acquaintances.  The 
return  trip  was  made  by  way  of  the  Southern  route. 


KEENAN  BACK  AT  INCE  PLANT 

Triangle-Kay-Bee   Star  Returns  to   Work  After   Six 

Weeks'  Vacation  in  Touring  Car  With 

His  Wife 

Following  a  vacation  that  extended  over  a  period 
of  six  weeks,  Frank  Keenan,  recognized  as  one  of 
America's  ablest  character  actors,  has  returned  to 
Inceville  to  resume  work  before  the  camera,  in  fulfill- 
ment of  his  two  years'  contract  to  appear  under  the 
direction  of  Thomas  H.  Ince  in  Triangle-Kay-Bee 
plays.  His  arrival  was  marked  by  an  ovation  equalled 
only  by  the  occasion  of  Billie  Burke's  introduction  to 
the  Ince  plant,  for  the  popularity  of  the  noted  actor 
reaches  into  the  ranks  even  of  the  cowpunchers 
employed  at  the  studio.  Keenan  stepped  from  his 
automobile  during  the  noon  hour,  when  the  majority 
of  players  were  at  lunch,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
devote  an  entire  half  hour  accepting  the  heart)-  wel- 
comes of  his  associates. 

Looking  in  splendid  physical  condition  and  feel- 
ing, according  to  his  own  admission,  as  well  as  he 
looks,  Keenan  immediately  undertook  the  task  of 
reading  the  story  in  which  he  will  next  work  before 
the  lens.  It  is  said  to  be  a  strong,  colerful  drama  of 
the  North  and  South  and  provides  the  veteran  char- 
acter man  with  a  powerful  part.  J.  G.  Hawks  is  the 
author  of  the  scenario. 

Contrary  to  his  original  expectations,  Keenan, 
during  his  vacation,  did  not  go  to  New  York.  He 
went  merely  as  far  as  Chicago.  And  the  unusual  part 
of  his  experiences  is  that  the  entire  trip  was  made  in 
his  big  touring  car.     Accompanied   only  by   his   wife 


Cub  Comedies  Popular 

The  release  of  "Too  Proud  to  Fight"  on  February 
18  marked  the  end  of  the  first  six  months  of  existence 
for  the  Cub  comedy  pictures.  Reports  on  sales  of  the 
David  Horsley  brand  indicate  much  progress  during 
the  time  the  com- 
pany has  been  in  op- 
eration. The  office 
reports  the  sale  of 
prints  today  exceeds 
by  more  than  200 
per  cent  the  number 
of  prints  made  of 
the  first  release. 

George  O  v  e  y, 
featured  comedian, 
has  won  consider- 
able popularity. 
W  hen  the  Cub 
brand  was  intro- 
duced Ovey,  though 
possessing  some  rep- 
utation through  his 
efforts  on  the  stage, 
was  unknown  to  the 
motion  picture 
world.  His  success 
has  been  earned. 
His  humorous  char- 
acterizations undoubtedly  have  won  him  a  place 
among  the  comedy  drawing  cards  in  pictures. 

The  Cub  company  believes  its  advancement  is  due 
chiefly  to  a  high  standard  of  quality.  The  company 
points  to  the  fact  that  week  after  week,  release  by  re- 
lease, there  has  been  no  drop  below  a  high  average  in 
standardization  with  the  result  that  it  has  won  over  many 
exhibitors. 

Mr.  Horsley  is  constantly  devising  new  plans  for 
increased  effectiveness  and  efficiency.  In  this  con- 
nection some  interesting  announcements  are  promised 
by  the  company.  Exhibitors  everywhere  have  ex- 
pressed their  satisfaction  with  the  brand  of  pictures 
put  out  by  the  Cub  company  and  indorse  the  standard 
upon  which  they  are  written  and  staged. 


Fox  Shows  "The  Bondman" 

"The  Bondman,"  Hall  Caine's  masterpiece,  starring 
William  Farnum  and  produced  by  Edgar  Lewis,  was 
shown  at  William  Fox's  theater  in  Springfield,  Mass. 
Appropriate  music  was  especially  prepared  for  the  action 
of  the  picture  and  an  orchestra  of  twenty-four  pieces  was 
engaged  to  play  it.  Mr.  Farnum  is  supported  by  an  ex- 
cellent cast. 


Two  newcomers  in  the  David  Horsley  stock  com- 
pany, Sherman  Bainbridge  and  Marie  James,  both  well 
known  in  the  pictures,  appear  in  the  strong  supporting 
cast  of  "The  Heart  of  Tara,"  in  which  Margaret  Gib- 
son and  William  Clifford  are  featured.  William  J. 
Bowman  is  directing  tin-  production. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Small  Town  Exhibitor 


BY  V.  C.  DECKER 


I  AM  not  an  author;  I  am 
a  small  town  motion  pic- 
ture theater  man.  For 
that  reason  the  things  I  am 
about  to  say  in  this  article 
will  not  be  as  full  of  beauti- 
ful words  and  pictures  as 
they  will  of  practical  helps 
for  motion  picture  men  who 
are  in  the  same  situation  as 
myself.  I  am  young  in 
years  and  have  indeed  a 
great  deal  to  learn — we  all 
find  new  things  bobbing  up 
each  day — but  the  results 
already  achieved  through 
my  endeavors  seem  to  me 
to  warrant  my  passing  them 
on  to  you  that  the  means 
which  I .  employed  to  build 
up  a  prosperous  picture 
business  may  possibly  prove 
beneficial  to  you  also.  It  is 
with  this  in  view  that  I 
write.  If  my  meager  efforts 
shall  bring  to  you  some  new 
idea  that  is  helpful  and  busi- 
ness-building I  will  not  have 
written  in  vain. 

In   the   first    place,    Mr. 
Manager,     I     always     have 
taken  this  view  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  business :     We  v.  c 
are    selling   productions    for 

which  we  receive  five  or  ten  cents.  When  we  pass  out 
a  ticket  of  admission  through  our  window  and  take 
a  certain  sum  in  exchange  we  are  actually  agreeing  by 
that  act  to  give  the  purchaser  of  that  ticket  the  follow- 
ing: 

(1)  Films  that  are  in  good  condition  for  running  as  well 
as  of  the  type  of  action  and  plot  most  favored  by  patrons. 
(2)  Projection  that  is  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible,  that  is 
clear,  steady  and  gets  away  from  that  rainy  effect.  (3)  Seats 
that  are  comfortable,  that  will  allow  patrons  to  give  attention 
to  the  picture  without  a  constant  writhing  and  changing  of 
position  to  divert  them.  (4)  Air  that  is  pure,  cool  in  sum- 
mer and  sufficiently  warm  in  winter. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  things  I  have  found  funda- 
mental in  making  my  business  a  success.  Other  things 
also  are  very  essential,  among  them  being  music,  and 
of  these  I  shall  speak  later. 

Concerning  the  service  to  be  used,  I  have  found 
that  features  prove  the  best  drawing  card,  and  that 
serials  are  next  in  popular  esteem.  The  "Million  Dol- 
lar Mystery"  was  a  business  boomer  that  held  through 
the  entire  run,  and  the  same  applies  to  later  serials  I 
have  run,  including  "The  Broken  Coin"  and  the  "Dia- 
mond from  the  Sky."  Above  everything  else  when 
using  a  serial  be  sure  that  it  is  started  off  with  a  bang. 
Advertise  it  and  open  it  up  with  all  the  gusto  and  en- 
thusiasm at  your  command.  Put  "pep"  into  your  an- 
nouncements regarding  it. 

In  beginning  the  "Diamond  from  the  Sky"  I  had 


a  parade  that  covered  the 
town  completely  and  made 
every  man,  woman  and 
child  in  the  village  aware  of 
the  fact  that  something  good 
was  coming.  To  head  the 
procession  I  procured  the 
services  of  the  high  school 
band  of  thirty  pieces  and 
what  they  lacked  in  melody 
they  made  up  in  good  old 
noise.  Following  the  ,  band 
was  a  friend's  touring  car  on 
both  sides  of  which  were  six 
sheets,  and  on  the  back  a 
three  sheet.  I  leaned  over 
the  radiator  and  with  a  meg- 
aphone did  some  very  cred- 
itable vocal  work.  Follow- 
ing the  car  came  a  small  boy 
with  a  banner,  then  a  Shet- 
land pony  with  three  sheets 
over  his  back.  My  own 
little  4rd,  properly  dec- 
orated in  gala  attire,  brought 
up  the  rear. 

We  made  every  street  in 
town  and  we  also  made  a  big 
impression.  Following  the 
parade  was  a  boy  with  hand 
bills  and  what  the  band, 
three  sheets  and  megaphone 
>cckcr.  failed  to  reveal  these  hand- 

bills took  care  of.  A  judi- 
cious distribution  of  a  few  complimentary  tickets  to 
persons  I  was  anxious  to  interest  in  pictures  also 
helped.  At  seven  o'clock  that  night  the  band  played 
in  front  of  the  theater. 

I  ran  five  shows  that  night,  each  to  packed  houses, 
and  closed  at  1 :05  a.  m.  The  extra  work  of  the  parade 
and  advertising  was  only  too  well  repaid  by  the  results 
obtained.  Crowds  like  that  first  night  have  not,  of 
course,  been  the  rule  for  every  night  since  then  at 
the  showing  of  the  serial,  but  the  receipts  from  this 
service  alone  have  brought  in  the  money.  I  keep  the 
interest  up  as  much  as  possible  each  week  by  the  use 
of  hand  bills  and  heralds  and  the  results  are  entirely 
satisfactory  to  me. 

Features  have  proven  good  money-makers.  The 
motion  picture  magazines,  so  much  read  by  the  "fans," 
have  stimulated  a  merited  interest  in  this  class  of  pro- 
duction. For  the  last  eight  months  I  have  been  show- 
ing a  World  film  on  Wednesdays  and  a  Paramount  on 
Fridays,  and  charging  ten  and  fifteen  cents.  The  pa- 
trons that  kicked  the  most  strenuously  at  the  raise  in 
price  on  these  features  are  now  the  most  enthusiastic 
about  them.  The  best  people  in  town  come  down  on 
these  nights  and  the  rest  are  there  ahead  of  them. 

Charley  Chaplin  jams  them  across  the  sidewalk. 
So  great  has  been  the  demand  for  Chaplins  that  I  have 
been  able  to  get  his  latest  releases  and  show  them  in 
this  town  of  1,800  at  a  profit. 

Yes,  advertising,  as  nearly  every  writer  before  me 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


Idle  Hour   tkeatei 

has  said,  pays.  But  remember,  advertising  is  not  a 
means  and  an  end  in  itself.  Advertising  must  be  backed 
up  with  service. 

Do  what  you  advertise  by  all  means  or  you  are 
wasting  your  money.  Use  discretion  and  judgment  in 
your  publicity.  A  little  diplomacy  will  enable  you  to 
get  a  good  write-up  on  your  feature  programs  in  your 
local  weekly  paper. 

Among  many  things  in  a  novelty  advertising  way 
I  have  used  souvenir  dishes  with  only  fair  results.  A 
handy  little  book  of  twelve  tickets  for  fifty  cents  which 
I  sold  through  the  children  by  offering  prizes  was  a 
splendid  stunt  that  got  them  started.  Turkeys  for 
Thanksgiving  and  a  tree  on  Christmas  eve  with  pres- 
ents and  free  admissions  to  the  poor  showed  the  peo- 
ple that  I  am  alive  to  their  patronage  and  willing  to 
spend  a  few  round  dollars  to  retain  it. 

The  best  business  getter  of  all  in  my  experience, 
however,  has  been  my  own  enthusiasm.  I  know  that 
when  a  patron'  drops  a  dime  into  my  cash  box  he  is 
going  to  get  his  money's  worth  and  I  am  so  confident 
that  he  will  be  satisfied  that  my  enthu- 
siasm is  to  a  certain  extent  contagious  and 
reacts  favorably  on  the  credit  side  of  the 
ledger. 

Good  music  is  necessary  to  success. 
Simple  music  that  follows  the  pictures 
faithfully  is  more  to  be  desired  than  the 
services  of  a  John  Phillip  Sousa  or  Wal- 
ter Damrosch.  A  piano  player  who  can  in- 
terpret the  pictures  is  an  asset. 

Then  there  is  vaudeville.  I  think  every 
small  town  exhibitor  will  unite  with  me  in 
saying  "stay  away  from  it."  Cheap  vaude- 
ville, like  cheap  film  service  will  ruin  busi- 
ness. When  I  was  operating  but  one  house 
I  found  that  the  picture  house  in  the  small 
town  cannot  afford  to  book  talent  that  is 
satisfactory  and  come  out  even  on  the 
books.  However,  since  I  have  organized 
the  Southern  Michigan  Amusement  Com- 
pany in  which  I  have  combined  four  the- 
aters it  is  possible  by  giving  an  entire  week 
of  booking  to  get  talent  that  is  acceptable 
and  which  a  single  theater,  operating  inde- 


lt  up. 


pendently,  would  be  unable  to  finance.  I 
am  at  present  endeavoring  to  increase  the 
number  of  theaters  in  the  organization, 
which  will  enable  me  to  book  not  only  bet- 
ter vaudeville  but  a  better  film  service. 

I  believe  that  the  whole  secret  of  suc- 
cess in  the  exhibiting  game,  as  nearly  as 
it  can  be  summed  up  in  a  single  paragraph, 
is  to  advertise  consistently,  continuously 
and  intelligently  and  above  all  to  hold  the 
theater  right  up  to  the  advertising. 

Amusements  are  luxuries  and  as  such 
are  bound  to  receive  consideration  after  the 
necessaries.  This  makes  it  most  urgent  for 
every  exhibitor  to  keep  up  interest  in  his 
house  all  of  the  time. 

The  Idle  Hour  Weekly  News,  a  mini- 
ature four-page  newspaper  containing  the 
program  for  the  week,  together  with  a  few 
jokes,  personals  and  ads  did  me  a  lot  of 
good.  A  "broken  coin,"  concealed  near  the 
theater  with  a  reward,  of  five  dollars  for  its 
return,  sustained  interest  in  the  "Broken 
"  serial. 

Remember  that,  like  Coca  Cola,  church-going  and 

ig  olives,   theater-going  is  a  habit.     Also,  like  a 

Year's  resolution,  it  is  easily  broken.     See  that 

patrons  "get  the  habit,"  then  see  that  they  keep 


Nat  Goodwin  and  a  company  of  forty  from  the 
forces  of  the  Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  left  New  York  last 
Sunday,  starting  the  first  southern  trip  of  any  company 
for  the  Mirror.  The  company's  destination  is  Jack- 
sonville, Fla.,  where  the  second  Mirror  picture,  featur- 
ing Mr.  Goodwin,  will  be  staged  under  the  direction  of 
Walter  McNamara,  chief  of  the  Mirror  scenario  de- 
partment. It  is  to  be  a  farce.  Among  those  who  will 
support  Mr.  Goodwin  in'  the  picture  are  Flora  Finch, 
Billy  Quirk,  Augustus  Phillips,  Mildred  Manning, 
Lina  D'Avril,  Estelle  Mardo,  William  Mandeville, 
Eddie  O'Connor  and  Charles  Brandte.  The  first  pic- 
ture starring  Mr.  Goodwin  and  made  at  the  Mirror 
studio  at  Glendale,  Long  Island,  was  finished  there  last 


March  4,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


513 


Beyfuss  Signs  Otis  Skinner 

SCREEN  WINS  STAGE  STAR 


OTIS  SKINNER,  reputed  to  be  the  greatest  roman- 
tic actor  on  the  American  stage,  has  surrendered 
to  motion  pictures. 

His  initial  screen  vehicle  will  be  the  spectacle,  "Kis- 
met," and  the  star  was  won  to  the  silent  drama  by  the 
California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  according  to  Al- 
exander. 

The  film  company  selected  "Kismet,"  one  of  the 
greatest  of  stage  productions,  in  which  his  picturesque 
and  eloquent  art  is  to  be  brought  to  a  wider  public  than 
Otis  Skinner,  even  with  his  almost  universal  popularity, 
has  ever  reached  heretofore. 

Frequently  Mr.  Skinner  has  declared  himself  op- 
posed to  the  practice  of  actors  and  actresses  confusing 
their  identity  by  alternate  appearances  on  the  stage  and 
on  the  screen.  He  was  quick  in  the  refusal  of  all  over- 
tures to  accept  a  season  in  various  motion  picture  enter- 
prises.    Fabulous  offers  failed  to  sway  him. 

Mr.  Skinner  is  said  to  be  the  best  reader  of  blank 
verse  on  the  English-speaking  stage.  He  has  starred  in 
several  celebrated  performances.  His  long  and  successful 
career  as  a  producer  of  the  plays  in  which  he  also  was 
to  star  made  his  name  a  household  title  throughout  the 
country. 

Because,  he  said,  of  his  successful  stage  career,  Mr. 
Skinner  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  lure  of  motion  pictures. 
He  repeated  the  negative  so  often  that  virtually  all  cine- 
mata  concerns  gave  up  their  efforts  to  lure  him  from  the 
footlights. 

When  "Kismet"  was  proffered  to  the  California 
Motion  Picture  Corporation,  the  concern  refused  to  con- 
sider a  production  of  such  a  magnificent  and  costly  drama 
with  any  other  than  Otis  Skinner  in  the  leading  role. 

The  star  had  previously  intimated  that  if  he  was  to 
be  lured  from  the  stage  for  even  a  single  season,  no  play 
but  "Kismet"  would  entice  him.  So  the  California  cor- 
poration bought  the  play  and  the  star  together.  Mr. 
Skinner  signed  the  contract  and  "Kismet"  will  be  pro- 
duced in  ten  reels  early  next  fall. 

Few  productions  yet  undertaken  by  a  film  producing 
concern  suggest  the  possibilities  implied  in  the  presenta- 
tion of  "Kismet."  It  presents  the  pageantry  of  an 
"Aida,"  with  the  opulence  of  "Sumurun";  it  projects  the 
charm  of  "Omar  the  Tentmaker,"  with  the  sensuous  ap- 
peal of  Gertrude  Hoffman's  "Scheherazade"  ballet-panto- 
mime; it  permits  the  development  to  the  uttermost  of 
sensationalism,  the  Hamman  of  the  Wazir  Mansur  with 
the  disporting  beauties  in  the  moonlit  pool,  and  it  is 
redolent  with  the  odor  of  the  musk  and  incense.  Mr. 
Skinner  has  promised  to  assist  in  mounting  and  project- 
ing the  great  ensemble  episodes  and  pageantry  and  the 
mob  scenes. 

The  reason  for  Mr.  Skinner's  exception  im  favor  of 
"Kismet"  as  the  one  medium  of  his  screen  appearances, 
as  given  by  himself,  is  the  expense  in  moving  so  gigantic 
a  production  from  city  to  city  precluded  all  possibility  of 
financial  gain  for  those  involved  in  its  production.  "Kis- 
met" was  like  a  grand  opera  organization  in  its  inability 
to  make  money,  for  though  the  largest  theaters  in  the 
country  were  filled  to  capacity  at  every  performance,  the 
costs  involved  were  far  too  great  and  "Kismet"  as  an  eco- 
nomic proposition  was  not  financially  capable  of  producing 
a  profit.    So  "Kismet,"  after  having  augmented  the  popu- 


larity of  the  star,  was  withdrawn,  never  again  to  be  pre- 
sented. And  that  announces  the  reason  for  its  renais- 
sance in  the  motion  picture  world,  and  for  Mr.  Skinner's 
willingness  to  abandon  temporarily  his  uninterrupted 
stage  success.  He  says  he  is  loath  to  leave  the  character 
of  Hajj  snoring  endlessly  on  the  stone  bench  before  the 
Mosque  of  Bagdad.  He  believes  with  propriety  that 
Hajj  should  be  permanently  installed  in  the  exclusive 
hall  of  fame  reserved  for  great  stage  characters,  and  he 
also  believes  that  Hajj  is  not  only  the  finest  character  in 
his  entire  gallery  of  characterizations,  but  that  it  is  ex- 
tremely unlikely  that  he  will  ever  find  another  impersona- 
tion which  will  afford  him  equal  opportunity  with  that 
of  Hajj  to  reveal  the  entire  circle  of  his  rounded  and  com- 
pletest  art. 

Naturally,  an  artist  is  jealous  of  his  finest  creations, 
and  Otis  Skinner  delights  in  the  knowledge  that  his  Hajj 
is  to  live  indefinitely  amid  surroundings  of  realistic  splen- 
dor hardly  even  dreamed  of  by  the  producers  of  the  stage 
spectacle;  for  it  is  quite  apparent  that  the  motion  pic- 
ture version  will  lend  itself  to  the  development  of  the 
gorgeous  scenes  and  to  the  pageantry  of  the  play  in  a 
manner  to  eclipse  entirely  the  canvas  production  of  the 
theater. 

That  "Kismet"  will  be  a  greater  achievement  in 
motion  picture  than  in  its  stage  presentation  is  patent  to 
those  who  know  the  resources  of  the  California  Motion 
Picture  Corporation. 

With  such  a  remarkable  career,  Otis  Skinner  has 
brought  to  the  present  day  a  ripened,  rounded  art,  which 
puts  him  at  the  very  head  of  actors  of  the  present  day, 
and  which  renders  him  uncommonly  well  equipped  to 
extend  in  the  realm  of  the  motion  picture  art  a  fame 
founded  firmly  on  the  principles  of  acting  which  motion- 
photography  enforces  and  demands. 

That  he  is  the  richest  "find"  since  the  motion  pic- 
tures began  their  universal  appeal  is  a  fact  incapable  of 
successful  contradiction. 


$500,000  ACTORS'  FUND  ASKED 

Motion  Picture  Industry  Aims  to  Raise  Half  a  Million 

Dollars  for  Endowment  in  Fifteen  Weeks 

as  Its  Contribution 

The  motion  picture  industry  plans  to  raise  half  a 
million  dollars  in  fifteen  weeks  as  its  contribution 
toward  the  million-dollar  endowment  of  the  Actors' 
Fund  of  America.  This  announcement  was  made  a 
few  days  ago  by  Samuel  Goldfish,  chairman  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  campaign. 

Within  a  year,  when  numerous  appeals  for  char- 
itable funds  are  being  made  upon  the  public,  it  is  ex- 
pected that  the  motion  picture  campaign,  by  its  scope 
and  methods,  will  establish  a  new  record  in  the  history 
of  American  benefactions. 

Recently  the  Actors'  Fund  of  America  launched 
a  movement  to  raise  a  million  dollars  to  establish  a 
permanent  endowment,  from  the  interest  of  which  all 
expenses  of  the  big  charity  could  be  met.  The  en- 
dowment also  would  forever  remove  the  Actors'  Fund 
from  the  necessity  of  appeals  to  the  public  for  support. 

Because  of  the  great  expansion  of  the  motion  pic- 


514 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


ture  industry  and  the  entrance  of  thousands  of  play- 
ers of  the  speaking  stage  into  the  film  world  there  has 
been  expressed  a  desire  on  the  part  of  those  prominent 
in  the  motion  picture  industry  to  help  the  Actors' 
Fund. 

Plans  announced  recently  embrace  a  national  ap- 
peal to  the  public  through  the  twenty  thousand  motion 
picture  theaters  of  the  United  States  and  to  the  many 
thousands  of  persons  employed  in  the  business. 

In  making  these  arrangements,  Mr.  Goldfish  has 
had  the  co-operation  of  every  leading  man  in  the  in- 
dustry. In  addition  to  the  general  committee,  of  which 
Thomas  A.  Edison  is  honorary  chairman,  the  campaign 
will  be  intimately  directed  by  an  executive  and  finance 
committee  composed  of  Commodore  J.  Stuart  Black- 
ton,  treasurer;  Arthur  H.  Spiegel,  J.  W.  Binder,  J.  E. 
Brulatour,  William  A.  Johnston,  John  Wylie,  Mitchell 
Mark,  George  Kleine,  J.  A.  Berst,  W.  W.  Hodkinson, 
Marcus  Loew  and  Adolph  Zukor.  Mayor  Mitchel  has 
consented  to  serve  on  the  board  of  honorary  directors. 

Monday,  May  15,  has  been  proclaimed  "National 
Motion  Picture  Tribute  Day."  On  this  day  every  ex- 
hibitor is  expected  to  contribute  ten  per  cent  of  his 
receipts. 

In  its  general  outline  the  motion  picture  campaign 
will  be  conducted  through  the  great  network  of  dis- 
tributing forces  which  are  at  the  command  of  the  prin- 
cipal selling  agencies.  Literature  will  be  sent  to  every 
exhibitor  in  the  United  States,  together  with  lantern 
slides  and  circulars  to  be  given  away  to  the  public 
concentrating  all  appeals  upon  one  or  several  days  in 
May. 

"Tribute  Day"  will  be  nationally  observed  and  by 
increasing  to  an  appreciable  degree  the  receipts  of  all 
motion  picture  theaters  on  that  day  it  is  the  scheme 
of  the  committee  to  assess  the  day's  revenues. 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  between  11,000,000 
and  15,000,000  persons  in  the  United  States  who  daily 
derive  amusement  and  educational  recreation  from  the 
motion  picture.  The  appeal  for  a  minute  portion  of 
the  public's  expenditures  on  one  day  already  has  been 
heartily  endorsed  in  many  sections  of  the  country. 


TRADE  SHOW  DATES  SET 

First  National  Exposition  of  Motion  Picture  Industries 

to  Be  Held  May  6  to  13.     Harry  A.  Cochrane 

Will  Assist  Management 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board 
of  Trade  of  America,  the  First  National  Exposition  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Industries  will  be  held  at  Madison 
Square  Garden,  New  York,  May  6  to  13,  and  from  pres- 
ent indications  the  affair  will  be  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful events  of  its  kind  that  has  ever  been  held  in 
that  city. 

J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Trade,  has  taken  over  the  management  of  the  Expo- 
sion,  together  with  Harry  A.  Cochrane,  general  man- 
ager of  Madison  Square  Garden  and  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful American  organizers  of  trade  shows  and  indus- 
trial expositions,  the  annual  Business  Show,  now  in 
its  twelfth  year,  the  National  Graphic  Arts,  or  Print- 
ing, Lithographing  and  Allied  Trades,  Brooklyn  Auto- 
mobile Show,  Gas  Appliances  Exposition,  Chicago  Mo- 
tor Boat  Show,  International  Wearing  Apparel,  Styles 
and  Fabric  Expositions  being  among  those  managed 
and  promoted  by  Mr.  Cochrane. 

Many  important  features  are  to  be  worked  up  for 


the  coming  event  and  it  is  already  assured  that  a  num- 
ber of  conferences  and  conventions  will  be  held  in  con- 
nection with  the  exposition.  Film  manufacturers  will 
have  their  motion  picture  stars  on  hand  to  meet  the 
public,  motion  pictures  will  be  made  while  you  wait 
to  give  the  public  an  insight  into  the  manufacturing 
end  of  the  amusement  business,  and  in  addition  all  the 
latest  devices,  accessories  and  equipment  for  studio 
and  theaters  will  be  shown  for  the  benefit  of  the  trade.. 


WOMAN  HEADS  NEW  COMPANY 

Claridge  Films,  Inc.,  in  Field  with  Mrs.  Cobb — Organ- 
ization Plans  to  Supply  State  Rights  Buyers 
With  Good  Features 

Headed  by  Mrs.  Agnes  Egan  Cobb  in  the  role  of 
vice-president  and  general  manager,  Claridge  Films,. 
Inc.,  a  new  state  rights  organization,  has  entered  the 
field.  It  will  be  the  company's  policy  to  offer  state 
rights  buyers  and 
exhibitors  clean, 
strongly  dramatic 
pictures  with  well 
known  stars.  The 
first  release,  "The 
Heart  of  New  York," 
features  Robert  T. 
Haines,  and  was  di- 
rected by  Walter 
McNamara. 

Mrs.  Cobb  has 
been  identified  with 
the  motion  picture 
business  for  seven 
years.  She  has  held 
secretarial  and  sell- 
ingpositions  in 
about  ten  of  the 
leading  film  com- 
panies of  the  coun- 
try. She  plans  to 
leave  for  a  trip 
which  will  take  her  Mrs-  A"»"  E°an  Cobb- 

to  state  rights  and  exchange  centers  throughout  the 
country. 

"Claridge  films  are  chosen  with  the  utmpst_  care 
and  deliberation  to  suit  the  needs  of  the  exhibitor,"' 
Mrs.  Cobb  declared  in  discussing  the  policy  and  plans 
of  the  new  organization.  "Our  first  release  has  a  strong 
story  and  the  production  has  been  staged  with  careful 
attention  to  detail.  The  paper  is  very  striking,  with- 
out bordering  on  the  repellantly  sensational. 

"The  pictures  are  offered  on  the  state  rights  plan. 
We  have  ready  a  number  of  releases,  the  names  of 
which  will  be  made  known  soon." 

A  nation-wide  publicity  campaign  will  be  pro- 
moted by  the  company,  it  is  announced,  and  Mrs. 
Cobb's  tour  will  further  this  plan.  The  company's 
offices  are  located  in  the  Longacre  building,  Forty- 
second  street  and  Broadway,  New  York  City. 


Howard  Irving  Young,  until  recently  a  scenario 
writer  for  the  Kalem  Company,  has  been  added  to 
the  Metro  staff  and  will  work  under  the  direction  of 
Harry  O.  Hoyt,  making  adaptations  from  books,  plays, 
and  unfinished  manuscripts.  This  will  permit  Mr 
Hoyt  to  devote  his  time  to  original  manuscripts. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


What  Theater  Men  Are  Doing 


AN  OPEN  FORUM 


BECAUSE  of  the  growing  feeling  among  modern 
showmen,  and  particularly  those  who  are  pre- 
senting motion  pictures,  that  all  will  benefit  if 
there  is  an  interchange  of  ideas,  many  letters  are  being 
received  by  Motography  that  are  of  value.  It  is  the 
purpose  of  this  paper  to  publish  as  many  of  these  as 
space  will  permit  in  the  hope  that  such  publication 
will  be  of  value  to  every  man  who  has  come  to  realize 
that  modern  picture  showmanship  means  more  than 
just  showing  pictures.  The  photoplays  must  be  pre- 
sented. 

These  film  dramas  are  being  staged,  and  well 
staged,  too.  It  might  surprise  some  of  the  managers 
of  the  large  city  theaters  if  they  attended  some  of  the 
small  town  houses.  They  might  get  inspiration  and 
ideas  from  the  so-called  "little  fellow."  He  is  giving 
his  people  a  show,  these  days,  and  trying  harder  and 
harder  to  give  them  a  better  show  each  day.  He  wants 
ideas,  too.  Every  progressive  man  in  the  business 
realizes  the  value  of  the  other  fellow's  experience. 
Therefore  each  theater  man  who  sends  his  views  and 
his  news  to  Motography  for  publication  in  some  form 
or  other  is  aiding  his  fellows. 


Finds  Courtesy  Success  Keynote 

JACK  NASH,  manager  of  the  Isis  Theater,  Trini- 
dad, Colo.,  and  considered  by  Colorado  exchange 
men  one  of  the  most  progressive  exhibitors  in  that 
state,  has  succeeded  in  making  his  theater  almost  as 
convenient  and  comfortable  as  a  home. 

The  policy  of  the  theater,  which  plays  Paramount, 
Metro  and  World  features,  according  to  Mr.  Nash, 
is  "courteous  treatment — and  the  same  to  every  one." 

The  theater  employs  a  maid  who  looks  after  the 
small  children  while  their  mothers  enjoy  the  pictures. 
There  is  a  place  to  park  automobiles  and  a  man  to 
watch  them,  an  attendant  for  women  and  many  other 
conveniences.  A  babies'  matinee  is  held  every 
Wednesday. 

Mr.  Nash's  lobby  decorations  and  the  cleanliness 
of  his  shows  have  aroused  much  favorable  comment. 


He  wrote  a  humorous  letter  a  short  time  ago  concern- 
ing the  way  he  exhibited  the  film  "Carmen."  It  follows  : 

"I  ran  Geraldine  Farrar  in  'Carmen'  recently.  And 
I  put  it  on  right.  While  I  did  not  dress  the  stage,  be- 
cause .we  have  none,  yet  we  think  we  put  on  'Carmen' 
in  a  manner  that  will  stay  in  the  minds  of  our  patrons. 

"We  dressed  the  lobby  with  Spanish  flags.  Ushers 
and  ticket  sellers  wore  Spanish  costumes.  They  an- 
swered questions  in  Spanish  (as  they  were  Mexicans) 
and  looked  the  part.  We  had  a  Spanish  five-piece 
string  orchestra  play  'Carmen'  all  through  the  picture 
and  had  a  fine  Spanish  singer  sing  in  Spanish  the 
'Gypsy  Song'  and  the  'Toreador  Song'  for  a  finale. 
We  used  the  introduction  part  of  the  film  and  then 
placed  this  slide  on  the  screen : 


It  costs  you  $5  to  hear  her  sing  CARMEN.  It  costs 
you  $3  to  buy  one  of  her  phonograph  records.  We  are 
showing  her  tonight ;  you  can  see  her  and  almost  hear  her 
for  a  DIME.    Here  she  is. 


"We  followed  immediately  with  the  picture  and 
the  effect  upon  the  audience  was  gratifying.  The  spec- 
tators were  in  a  receptive  mood." 


Asks  Aid  in  Scheduling  Shows 

A  plea  for  co-operation  between  the  exchange  and 
the  exhibitor  so  as  to  make  possible  a  regulated  time 
schedule  in  motion  picture  theaters  giving  continuous 
performances  is  voiced  in  a  letter  to  Motography 
from  Chris  G.  Behrens,  manager  of  the  Family  Thea- 
ter, Davenport,  Iowa. 

"The  manager  who  is  succeeding  today,"  com- 
ments Mr.  Behrens,  "is  the  one  who  arranges  not 
only  his  program  but  the  hours  of  each  performance 
to  please  his  patrons.  When  a  house  is  changing  its 
features  three  and  four  times  a  week,  in  the  majority 
of  cases  the  manager  is  compelled  to  change  the  run- 
ning hours  of  the  films  as  often.  This  makes  it  vir- 
tually impossible  under  present  conditions  for  his  pa- 
trons to  know  at  what  time  any  performance  will  be- 


View  of  lobby  of   Third 


516 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


gin.  If  the  exchange  office  would  co-operate  with  the 
exhibitor  in  furnishing  him  the  exact  running  time  of 
his  bookings  or  the  exact  number  of  feet  of  film  that 
would  be  shipped,  the  manager  would  be  able  to  figure 
out  a  scheduled  running  time.  He  could  compile  this 
in  advance  and  publish  it  in  his  advertising  matter. 
But  at  the  present  time  this  is  an  impossibility.  The 
manager  has  no  way  of  knowing  the  length  of  the  film 
until  he  opens  the  can  the  morning  of  the  day  of  his 
first  show. 

"We  make  it  a  rule  to  maintain  a  regular  schedule 
on  each  booking.  This  is  posted  in  the  cashier's  office 
and  many  of  our  patrons  have  learned  to  call  the  office 
by  telephone.  However,  when  a  feature  is  booked  as 
a  live-reel  picture  it  is  not  always  five  thousand  feet. 

"When  the  exchange  realizes  the  importance  of 
this  question  to  the  exhibitor  and  the  latter  is  furnished 
with  the  exact  running  time,  this  will  overcome  one 
source  of  cause  for  complaints." 

The  management  of  the  Family  Theater  has  re- 
ceived hundreds  of  compliments  on  the  beauty  of  deco- 
ration and  color  scheme  of  the  photo-play  house.  The 
management  is  proud  of  the  projection  and  size  of  the 
picture  thrown  on  the  screen.  A  shadow  box  is  used, 
which  allows  no  false  light  to  reach  the  screen.  A  foun- 
tain playing  through  colored  light  bulbs  adds  to  the 
attractiveness  of  the  house. 

Although  this  fountain  and  lights  are  in  continu- 
ous use,  it  in  no  way  affects  the  picture.  The  theater 
is  always  sufficiently  light  so  that  any  vacant  seats  are 
easily  located  and  the  fine  projection  into  the  shadow 
box  makes  possible  at  all  times  a  sufficiently  lighted 
house  in  which  a  patron  may  read  a  program. 

Mr.  Behrens  contends  that  it  is  an  important  mat- 
ter that  patrons  are  able  to  locate  friends  in  an  audi- 
ence. 


Pioneer  Film   Man  Prospers 

On  the  site  where  the  first  motion  picture  theater 
in  Easton,  Pa.,  was  built  in  January,  1907,  there  stands 
a  modern  photo-play  house,  seating  1,000  persons,  all 
on  one  floor,  and  doing  a  consistent  business. 

Charles  F.  Oldt,  the  man  who  erected  the  first 
film  theater  in  Easton,  Pa.,  nine  years  ago,  still  is 
active  in  the  management  of  the  playhouse  which  he 
built  when  his  original  venture  was  swept  awav  bv 
fire  in  March,  1912. 

Paramount  features  now  are  used  exclusively. 
The  attendance  averages  12,000  a  week  and  admission 
prices  are  ten  cents  in  the  afternoon  and  fifteen  cents 
(Continued  on  page  553) 


Jane  Grey  in  World  Feature 

Jane  Grey,  noted  film  star,  will  be  seen  on  the 
World  program  in  a  dramatization  of  the  "Man  and 
His  Angel,"  in  which  she  will  be  supported  by  Henri 
Bergman,  last  seen  as  a  star  in  a  Metro  production. 
Miss  Grey  has  been  connected  with  the  Triumph 
company  for  some  time. 

Following  "Man  and  His  Angel,"  Miss  Grey  will 
be  seen  in  "The  Surrender,"  said  to  be  a  different  type 
of  story  from  anything  she  ever  appeared  in. 

The  most  important  engagement  of  the  World 
Film  Corporation,  allied,  of  course  with  the  Equitable, 
and  of  which  the  Triumph  Film  Corporation  is  a  pro- 
ducing subsidiary,  was  the  signing  of  the  dainty  and 
charming  dramatic   and    musical   artist.    Mollic    King. 


9|H  • 

L 

lp"*y!SE| 

:ll 

Miss  King,  18  years  old,  is  the  youngest  member 
of  a  noted  theatrical  family,  being  the  sister  of  Charles 
King,  for  many  years  a  vaudeville  favorite  with  his 
partner,  Elizabeth  Brice.  Miss  King  is  well  known 
on  the  speaking  stage,  having  made  her  debut  when 
but  an  infant.  Miss  King  made  her  motion  picture 
debut  in  the  World  production.  "A  Woman's  Power," 
in  which  she  was  starred. 


FREULER  HOLDS  CHAPLIN 

Head  of  Mutual  Gets  Jump  on  All  Other  Bidders  and 

Gets  Comedian's  Name  on  Tentative 

Contract  Agreement 

While  several  of  the  newspapers  throughout  the 
country  for  weeks  have  been  playing  up  the  fact  that 
Charlie  Chaplin  has  signed  or  is  about  to  sign  a  con- 
tract calling  for  fabulous  salaries,  bonuses  and  divi- 
dends, the  one  to  which  most  credence  has  been  given 
is  that  which  will  give  the  Chaplin  films  to  the  Mutual 
program.  While  officials  of  the  Mutual  company  are 
not  willing  to  say  that  a  contract  has  been  signed,  the 
following  statement  by  John  R.  Freuler,  president  of 
the  corporation,  seems  to  make  it  clear  that  the  matter 
can  be  settled  with  little  difficulty. 

"I  have  been  negotiating  with  Chaplin  for  two 
weeks,"  said  Mr.  Freuler.  "These  negotiations  have 
been  entirely  personal  and  the  only  agreement  dis- 
cussed has  been  between  me  arid  Charlie.  As  a  result, 
last  Saturday  evening,  Chaplin  signed  a  tentative  con- 
tract agreement  with  me.  This  stands  now  as  a  per- 
sonal enterprise,  involving  only  Mr.  Chaplin  and 
myself." 

From  this  it  would  appear  that  a  new  company 
will  be  formed  to  release  Chaplin  films  through  the 
Mutual  program. 

As  for  the  financial  arrangement,  nothing  official 
has  been  given  out  and  any  figures  published  are  the 
result  of  reported  salary  demands  rather  than  salary 
agreements.  Tt  is  said  that  Chaplin's  brother  Svd  will 
be  with  him. 


To  gain  realism  for  "Merely  Mary  Ann,"  the  Wil- 
liam Fox  play  in  which  Vivian  Martin  appears  as  a 
"slavey,"  Director  John  Adolfi  invited  the  inmates  of 
a  cheap  New  York  boarding  house  to  the  studio,  served 
them  dinner,  and  photographed  the  scene,  unknown  to 
the  diners. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Film  Export  Record  Broken 


BY  THOMAS  O.  MONK 


EXPORTS  of  motion  picture  films  were  greater  in 
the  calendar  year  1915  than  in  any  preceding  year, 
and  imports  fell  off  by  more  than  $1,000,000  in 
value.  Motography  presents  the  following  figures  which 
will  appear  in  the  forthcoming  report  of  the  Department 
of  Commerce  on  exports  and  imports. 

The  figures  show  that  for  the  calendar  year  1915 
motion  picture  films  to  the  number  of  198,830,837  linear 
feet,  valued  at  $6,940,630,  were  exported,  as  against 
117,580,304  linear  feet,  valued  at  $4,742,620,  in  the  year 
1914. 

Imports  in  1915  amounted  to  68,515,367  linear  feet, 
valued  at  $1,037,036,  as  compared  with  88,464,196  linear 
feet,  valued  at  $2,132,834,  in  1914. 

The  United  Kingdom  leads  as  the  purchaser  of 
American  films,  and  in  1915  received  from  the  United 
States  $1,273,710  more  in  films  than  in  1914. 

In  December,  1915.  the  exports  to  the  United 
Kingdom  amounted  to  $352,854  as  against  only  $45,452 
in  December,  1914. 

Exports  to  France  in  December  amounted  to  $22,- 
484  as  against  only  $80  in  December,  1914,  thus  show- 
ing that  the  French  market  has  been  reopened  to  a 
substantial  extent. 

Up  to  1912  the  reports  on  motion  picture  films 
were  included  in  other  figures,  but  they  assumed  such 
proportions  that  it  became  necessary  to  give  them  a 
distinct  classification. 

Prior  to  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1912,  mo- 
tion picture  films  were  included  under  the  general 
heading,  "photographic  goods." 

For  that  year  motion  picture  films  were  exported 
to  the  amount  of  80,035,302  linear  feet,  valued  at  $6,- 
815,060. 


After  the  fiscal  year  1912  the  classification  was  still 
further  extended  by  giving  the  exports  of  "not  ex- 
posed" and  "exposed"  separately,  and  it  is  shown  that 
for  the  fiscal  year  which  ended  June  30,  1913,  motion 
picture  films  were  exported,  not  exposed,  to  the 
amount  of  41,531,004  linear  feet,  valued  at  $1,753,042; 
exposed,  32,192.018  linear  feet,  valued  at  $2,276,460; 
or  a  total  of  73,723,022  linear  feet,  valued  at  $4,029,502. 

In  the  calendar  year  1913,  January  to  December, 
films  not  exposed  were  exported  to  the  amount  of  114,- 
124,469  linear  feet,  valued  at  $3,056,097,  and  exposed, 
32,312,314  feet,  valued  at  $2,235,367,  or  a  total  of  146,- 
436,783  feet,  valued  at  $5,291,464. 

Section  380  of  the  tariff  act  imposes  duty  on  mo- 
tion picture  films,  negatives,  and  positives  as  follows : 

"Photographic-film  negatives,  imported  in  any 
form,  for  use  in  any  way  in  connection  with  motion 
picture  exhibits,  or  for  making  or  reproducing  pictures 
for  such  exhibits,  exposed  but  not  developed,  two  cents 
per  linear  or  running  foot ;  if  exposed  and  developed, 
3  cents  per  linear  or  running  foot;  photographic  film 
positives,  imported  in  any  form,  for  use  in  any  way  in 
connection  with  motion  picture  exhibits,  including- 
herein  all  moving,  motion,  motophotography  or  cine- 
matography film  pictures,  prints,  positives  or  dupli- 
cates of  every  kind  and  nature,  and  of  whatever  sub- 
stance made,  one  cent  per  linear  or  running  foot ;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  all  photographic  films  imported 
under  this  section  shall  be  subject  to  such  censorship 
as  may  be  imposed  by  the  secretary  of  the  treasury." 

Section  576  admits  free  of  duty  "photographic  and 
motion  picture  films,  sensitized  but  not  exposed  or  de- 
veloped." 

Section  404  admits  free  of  duty  films  from  motion 


Comparative  Table  of  U.  S.  Fil 

December,   1914 

Quantity  Value 

Motion  picture  films: 

Not  exposed,  linear  feet.    528,855  $  18,218 

Exposed,  linear  feet 2,326,968  178,757 

Total    2,855,823  $196,975 

Exported  to: 

France    771  $          80 

United  Kingdom    537,196  45,452 

Canada    927,395  73,676 

Brazil    19,151  2,380 

Other  countries    1,371,310  75,387 

Total    2,855,823  $196,975 

Other  sensitized  goods $  68,340 

Cameras    10,930 

Other  apparatus 3,382 

December,   1914 

Quantity  Value 

Motion  picture  films: 

Not  exposed,  linear  feet. 2,220,283  $  44,479 

Positives,  linear  feet 532,221  17,189 

Total    2,752,504  $  61,668 


m  Trade    With  Fo 

EXPORTS 

December,   1915 

Quantity       Value 

741,162     $  38,614 
6,444,068      557,460 

7,185,230     $596,074 

244,125  $  22,484 

2,131,291  352,854 

658,271  50,150 

153,500  4,471 

3,998,043  166,115 

7,185,230    $596,074 

$  76,048 

? 50,604 

12,437 

IMPORTS 

December,   1915 

Quantity       Value 

6,703,237     $  80,113 
590,500         22,520 

7,293,737     $102,633 


reign  Countries  During  Two  Years 

Calender  year,  1914  Calendar  year,  1915 


88,401,445  $2,581,138 

29,178,859  2,161,482 

117,580,304  $4,742,620 

316,020  $     26,261 

95,655,810  3,207,981 

10,981,146  856,245 

67,214  6,570 

10,560,114  645,563 

117,580,304  $4,742,620 

$1,498,027 

463,457 

110,774 

Calender  year,  1914 


125,737,821  $3,084,586 

73,093.016  3,856,044 

198,830,837  $6,940,630 

8,899,472  $  394,405 

153,568,717  4,481,691 

11,225,534  857,678 

684,305  33,767 

24,452,809  1,173,089 

198,830,837  $6,940,630 

$2,455,133 

584,927 

217,054 

Calendar  year,  1915 


70,518,288  $1,284,761   59,716,429  $  751,245 
17.945,908    848,073    8,798,938    285,791 


3,464,196  $2,132,834   68,515,367  $1,037,036 


518 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


picture  machines,  light  struck  or  otherwise  damaged, 
or  worn  out,  so  as  to  be  unsuitable  for  any  other  pur- 
pose than  the  recovery  of  the  constituent  materials, 
provided  the  basic  films  are  of  American  manufacture. 

GILLETTE  IS  ESSANAY  STAR 

"Sherlock  Holmes"  and  "Secret  Service"  Will  Be  Pro- 
duced as  Multiple  Reel  Features  for  V.  L.  S.  E. 
Program 
With   William    Gillette   in    the    star   role,    "Secret 
Service"  and  "Sherlock  Holmes"  will  be  produced  by 
Essanay  and  released  as  a  multiple  reel  feature  on  the 
V.  L.  S.  E.  program.     Gillette  has  contracted  to  ap- 
pear   in    the    photo- 
play versions  of  his 
stage  successes.    He 
has  just  begun  work 
before     the     camera 
for       "Sherlock 
Holmes,"  which  will 
be  the  first  release. 

Mr.  Gillette  has 
just  closed  an  un- 
usually successful 
season.  He  has 
never  before  con- 
sented to  adapt  to 
pictures  the  plays  he 
wrote  and  made  fa- 
mous. The  popu- 
larity awaiting  pic- 
turization  of  these 
two  gripping  dramas 
has  been  recognized 
by  producers  for 
some  time,  but  re- 
peatedly Mr.  Gillette 
rejected  all  offers  until  the  one  just  accepted  came. 

William  Gillette  has  had  a  stage  career  rivalled  by 
few  actors.  He  was  born  in  Hartfo-rd,  Conn.,  July  24, 
1855,  the  son  of  Francis  Gillette,  long  a  United  States 
senator  from  Connecticut.  His  elder  brother,  Edward 
Hooker  Gillette,  also  entered  politics,  having  served 
in  Congress  as  a  representative  from  Iowa,  to  which 
state  he  moved  from  New  England. 

Following  graduation  from  a  preparatory  school 
young  Gillette  chose  the  stage  as  his  profession  and 
played  in  stock  compnaies  while  completing  his  edu- 
cation with  special  courses  at  the  University  of  New 
York,  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology  and  Bos- 
ton University. 

In  1877  he  undertook  theatrical  work  exclusively 
and  played  with  stock  companies  successively  at  New 
Orleans,  New  York,  Boston,  Cincinnati  and  Louisville. 
By  this  time  he  had  won  national  recognition  and 
decided  to  attempt  the  staging  of  several  plays  which 
he  had  written  for  himself.  This  he  did  with  encour- 
aging success  and  since  he  has  written  everything  in 
which  he  has  appeared. 

Mr.  Gillette  is  a  member  of  the  National  Institute 
of  Arts  and  Letters  and  makes  his  home  in  New  York 
ater  part  of  the  year. 


"IRON  CLAW"  EXTENDED 


Demand  for  New  Pathe   Serial   Causes   Company  to 

Produce  Fourteen  Episodes  Instead  of  Twelve 
as  Planned 

Owing  to  the  success  of  the  new  Pathe  serial,  "The 
Iron  Claw,"  and  the  demand  of  exhibitors  all  over  the 
country,  those  in  charge  of  the  photoplay  have  decided 
to  extend  the  length  of  the  film  to  fourteen  episodes. 

It  was  originally  intended  to  make  "The  Iron  Claw" 
in  twelve  successive  reels.  Director  Hose  announces  that 
he  has  additional  material  on  hand  to  make  the  extra  reels 
of  extraordinary  merit. 

After  waiting  three  days  for  a  snow  storm  to  com- 
plete a  scene  in  the  making  of  the  new  Pathe  serial,  "The 
Iron  Claw,"  Director  Jose  found  it  necessary  to  engage 
every  wagon  available  in  Toms  River,  N.  J.,  and  pro- 
ceeding to  a  spot  a  mile  from  the  village,  where  weather 
and  street  cleaners  had  not  disturbed  the  latest  fall  of 
the  beautiful,  enough  to  cover  the  "locations"  required 
was  carted  back  to  town  and  the  making  of  "Iron  Claw" 
went  on  as  merrily  as  usual.  Had  it  not  been  for  Di- 
rector Jose's  thought,  the  company,  including  Pearl 
White,  Creighton  Hale  and  Sheldon  Lewis,  might  have 
waited  a  week  or  more  for  a  snow  fall. 

The  Pathe  office  in  Seattle  has  closed  with  the  Pan- 
tages  theaters  in  Seattle,  Tacoma  and  Spokane  for  "The 
Iron  Claw."  Representatives  of  the  Pantages  circuit,  the 
largest  in  the  northwest,  were  well  satisfied  with  it. 

The  Washington  Irving  High  School  for  Girls  in 
New  York,  one  of  the  largest  girls'  high  schools  in  the 
country,  is  having  a  poster  exhibition  in  which  are 
shown  the  best  types  of  poster  art.  The  Pathe  one- 
sheet  posters  of  Dorothy  Donnelly,  Lois  Meredith, 
Pearl  White  and  Jeanne  Eagels  are  honored  by  a 
prominent  place  in  the  exhibition. 

The  Pathe  company  wishes  to  correct  a  misunder- 
standing in  regard  to  the  Ashley  Miller-Arnold  Daly 
litigation.  One  publication  is  alleged  to  have  printed 
a  rumor  that  Pathe  owed  Mr.  Daly  $10,000  for  services 
rendered  and  that  this  money  was  attached  by  Mr. 
Miller.  A  statement  has  just  been  given  out  at  the 
Pathe  offices  to  the  effect  that  such  representations 
have  absolutely  no  foundation.  It  is  a  personal  matter 
between  Mr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Daly. 

J.  A.  Berst,  vice-president  and  general  manager  of 
the  Pathe  company,  denies  a  statement  attributed  to 
a  theatrical  magazine  to  the  effect  that  Pathe  had  cut 
down  its  program  because  of  shortage  in  raw  stock. 
"As  a  matter  of  fact,"  Mr.  Berst  said,  "Pathe  has 
enough  stock  on  hand  to  last  four  months  without  get- 
tiny  any  at  all  from  Europe." 

Pathe  News  made  fast  work  on  the  news  pictures 
of  the  fire  at  a  Brooklyn  pier,  Wednesday,  February 
16.  A  Pathe  camera  man  reached  the  scene  in  time 
to  "shoot"  the  burning  ships.  A  special  edition  of  the 
Pathe  News  showing  the  fire  scenes  was  exhibited  the 
same  night  on  Broadwav. 


ertha   Kalich  has  signed  a  contract  with  William 
ind  has  already  begun  work  in  her  first  film  pro- 
duction.   Mine.  Kalich  is  a  noted  stage  star. 


The  folly  of  jumping  at  conclusions  is  shown  in 
"Four  Narratives,"  a  late  two-reel  release  by  Lubin.  The 
story  is  built  about  the  tribulations  of  an  internal  revenue 
officer  who  traps  a  band  of  criminals  after  frequent  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  discredit  him.  The  picture, 
in  four  episodes,  throws  interesting  light  on  the  methods 
employed  by  conscienceless  detectives  in  obtaining  evi- 
dence, and  carries  the  spectator  to  many  beautiful  and 
weird   places  during  the  course   of   the  story. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Screen  Club  Ball  a  Success 

BY  CHARLES  R.  CONDON 


THE  first  annual  ball  under  the  joint  auspices  of  the 
M.  P.  E.  L.  of  A.,  New  York  Local  No.  1,  and  the 
Screen  Club  last  Saturday  night  attracted  a  crowd 
of  sensational  proportions  to  Madison  Square  Garden. 
The  garden's  great  capacity  was  taxed — taxed  to  the  ut- 
most-— and  at  midnight  when  countless  motor  cars  pulled 
tip  to  the  historic  entrance,  the  doors  were  closed  to  the  late 
arrivals,  who  thereupon  decided  to  wait  their  opportunity 
to  enter  the  huge  structure  which  at  that  moment  housed 
celebrities  of  the  films,  the  stage,  politics  and  society, 
along  with  numbers  upon  numbers  of  photoplay  enthu- 
siasts. 

Viewed  from  any  corner  or  nook,  Madison  Square 
Garden  on  that  occasion  dazzled.  Feminine  beauty  and 
rare  finery  presented  an  illusion  that  quite  set  one's 
head  in  a  whirl.  Film  magnates  and  film  stars  of  fame 
the  world  over  were  to  be  seen  in  the  boxes,  on  the  floor, 
in  the  lobby,  everywhere,  in  fact.  At  every  turn  or  glance 
one  encountered  notables.  The  best  of  it  all  was  that 
all  the  possibilities  for  crowding  the  individual's  evening 
with  enjoyment  were  realized.  They  did  not  go  for 
naught,  as  is  usual  with  large  affairs  of  this  kind,  where 
well-meant  preparations  turn  out  to  be  no  preparations 
at  all  and  everything  good  is  marred  by  what  approaches 
pandemonium. 

The  arrangement  committee,  consisting  of  Lee  A. 
Ochs,  Billy  Quirk,  Samuel  H.  Trigger  and  Jules  Burn- 
stein,  and  all  those  who  had  a  hand  in  making  the  ball 
the  splendid  affair  it  was,  should  be  applauded  and  con- 
gratulated by  all  who  participated  in  its  merriment. 

Passing  from  the  lobby  into  the  arena,  one's  first 
impression  was  that  the  Metro  company  was  giving  a 
party  all  by  itself.  From  this  point  the  name  metro 
pelted  one's  eyes  from  all  directions.  A  few  steps  further, 
however,  and  pathe,'  written  in  large,  red,  incandescent 
letters,  disclosed  the  fact  that  this  was  not  a  one-firm 
party.  Further  venturings  made  it  apparent  that  all  the 
big  film  producing  companies  were  there  to  greet  you 
and  extend  hearty  wishes  for  a  pleasant  evening.  Each 
company  made  efforts  to  provide  entertainment  and  add 
to  the  joyful  occasion,  and  incidentally  to  get  some  pub- 
licity. Each  company  did  both  those  things  remarkably 
well. 

At  9  o'clock  the  dancing  commenced,  and  it  con- 
tinued until  11,  when  the  arena  was  cleared  for  action, 
and  the  press  departments  of  the  various  companies 
commenced  their  stunts.     There  was  keen  rivalry. 

Gail  Kane,  the  Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corpora- 
tion's star,  entered  the  arena  at  the  Madison  avenue  side 
and  marched  around  the  oval  in  a  wondrous  costume 
and  bedecked  with  diamonds.  She  was  accompanied  by 
other  Equitable  stars  and  detectives,  while  all  were  fol- 
lowed by  the  Marinelli  Hawaiian  band,  whose  members 
strummed  and  hummed  their  native  airs  in  vain,  for  the 
hand-clapping  drowned  their  music.  Miss  Kane  was 
announced  by  Harry  Reichenbach,  who  conducted  the 
entire  "Equitable  Girl"  introduction. 

Shortly  after,  a  ballet  of  Metro  actresses  in  pierrot 
costumes  with  a  single  letter  on  their  blouses  which 
spelled  metro  when  they  took  their  positions,  came 
upon  the  floor  and  sang  and  danced  to  enthusiastic  out- 
bursts from  the  assemblage.  Arthur  James,  director  of 
the  press  department,  arranged  the  Metro  introduction. 


Next  came  Florence  La  Badie,  the  Thanhouser  star. 
Miss  La  Badie,  beautifully  gowned,  was  the  girl  in  the 
moving  tableau  entitled  "The  Girl  in  the  Bowl,"  which 
was  arranged  by  Leon  J.  Rubinstein.  The  "bowl"  was 
borne  by  six  men  in  Oriental  costume  from  the  Fourth 
avenue  entrance  around  the  garden.  Miss  La  Badie  was 
her  alluring,  charming  self  and  gracefully  acknowledged 
the  applause  her  appearance  aroused. 

The  Pathe  demonstration  followed  and  was  received 
enthusiastically,  and  after  that  Violet  Mersereau,  escorted 
by  Hobart  Henley  and  a  group  in  fancy  costumes, 
marched  around.  There  were  other  "stunts"  which  moved 
the  vast  audience  to  hand-clapping.  When  Anita  Stewart 
walked  across  the  floor  to  the  box  occupied  by  prominent 
Vitagraph  players,  she  was  loudly  applauded. 

Clara  Kimball  Young,  winner  of  the  popularity  con- 
test, led  the  grand  march.  Miss  Young  traveled  all  the 
way  from  Cuba  to  take  part  in  the  festivities.  Ethel 
Barrymore  arrived  at  the  garden  at  about  midnight  and 
occupied  one  of  the  Metro  arena  boxes.  Many  souvenirs 
were  distributed  by  girls  in  costume. 

During  the  floor  introductions  many  visited  the 
rooms  where  the  Metro  organization  entertained.  There 
they  danced  and  partook  of  refreshments.  Metro  held 
boxes  at  either  end  and  both  sides  of  the  arena.  Some 
of  the  Metro  stars  present  were  Francis  X.  Bushman, 
Beverly  Bayne,  William  Faversham,  Ethel  Barrymore, 
Marguerite  Snow,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Drew,  Mary 
Miles  Minter,  Mme.  Petrova,  Emmy  Wehlen,  George  Le 
Guere,  Grace  Valentine,  Peggy  Hopkins  and  a  host  of 
other  well-known  actors  and  actresses.  Joseph  Engel, 
Richard  Rowland,  Arthur  James,  Merritt  Crawford  and 
Edward  Corbett,  who  made  up  the  bulletin  with  news 
of  the  ball  which  Metro  distributed,  were  among  the 
executives  who  represented  that  company  at  the  ball. 

In  the  Pathe  party  were  Pearl  White,  Sheldon 
Lewis,  Creighton  Hale,  Bliss  Milford,  Bruce  McRae, 
Arnold  Daly,  Jackie  Saunders  and  Marie  Empress.  J. 
A.  Berst  entertained  some  friends  in  one  of  the  boxes, 
as  did  L.  J.  Gasnier,  ex-general  manager  of  Pathe.  P.  A. 
Parsons  and  Ramirez  Torres  were  also  in  the  party. 

Florence  Reed,  Duncan  McRae,  Antia  Scott,  Lorah 
Rogers,  Director  Lawrence  McGill,  Miss  Anna  Q.  Nils- 
son,  Guy  Coombs,  General  Director  Howell  Hansel  and 
Mrs.  Hansel,  Mrs.  Lawrence  McGill,  Tom  Moore  and 
Derwent  Hall  Caine  were  the  invited  guests  of  W.  E. 
Shallenberger,  president  of  the  Arrow  Film  Corporation. 
Mr.  Caine  is  just  over  from  England  and  has  signed  a 
contract  to  appear  in  Arrow  feature  pictures.  A.  S.  Le 
Vino  was  one  of  Mr.  Shallenberger's  guests. 

The  Mutual  Film  Corporation's  delegation  was  the 
guest  of  John  R.  Freuler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  B.  B.  Smith, 
J.  C.  Graham,  Terry  Ramsaye,  Arthur  Breck  and  Hunter 
Bennett  were  in  the  party.  Edwin  Thanhouser,  president 
of  the  Thanhouser  Film  Corporation,  with  Mrs.  Than- 
houser, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lloyd  Lonergan,  Philip  Lonergan, 
and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  A.  E.  Jones,  were  in  boxes  near  that 
of  the  Mutual.  Thanhouser  players  present  included 
Gladys  Hulette,  Ethyle  Cooke,  Grace  De  Carlton,  Kath- 
ryn  Adams,  Louise  Emerald  Bates,  Valkyrien,  Carey 
Hastings,  Harris  Gordon  and  Bert  Delaney. 

The  Mirror  forces  were  the  guests  of  Clifford  B. 
Harmon,  president  of  the  company.    William  C.  Toomey, 


520 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10 


vice-president  and  general  manager,  and  -Jack  Cunning- 
ham, publicity  manager,  with  other  executives,  attended. 
Nat  C.  Goodwin,  Billy  Quirk,  lone  Bright  and  Margaret 
Greene,  Mirror  players,  were  present. 

Siegmund  Lubin,  Ferdinand  Singhi  and  Ira  M. 
Lowry,  the  executive  trio  of  the  Lubin  company,  enter- 
tained a  box  party.  Billie  Reeves,  Earl  Metcalfe,  Mar- 
garet Adair,  June  Daye,  Rosetta  Brice,  Ethel  Tully,  Crau- 
furd  Kent,  Richard  Buhler  and  Director  Jack  Pratt  all 
attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  the  Lubin  boxes. 

Richard  Tucker,  Viola  Dana,  Miriam  Nesbit,  Grace 
Williams,  Mark  McDermott,  Sally  Crute,  Directors  John 
Collins,  Benjamin  Turbett,  Burton  George,  and  Stage 
Manager  B.  J.  Durning  and  Publicity  Director  Alan  Cros- 
land  were  with  the  Edison  party. 

The  New  York  branch  of  the  Essanay  forces  was 
represented  by  Gardiner  Wood,  Jerome  Beatty,  B.  F. 
Shafer,  Russell  Shanahan  and  P.  J.  Swift. 

E.  Fanning  Masters,  L.  J.  Bamberger,  A.  W.  Goff, 
A.  I.  Siegel,  A.  Partridge  and  V.  M.  Shapiro  were  with 
the  office  force  of  the  New  York  branch  of  V.  L.  S.  E. 

The  seating  arrangement  for  the  Universal,  Red 
Feather  and  Bluebird  boxes  were  as  follows  :  In  Presi- 
dent Carl  Laemmle's  box  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laemmle, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  E.  Wolff,  Anna  Fleckles,  William 
Oldknow,  Julius  Stern  and  Herman  Fitchtenberg.  With 
Pat  Powers  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  W.  Evans  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  E.  Donovan.  The  Bluebird  box 
contained  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henri  Hoffman,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jos.  Brand  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Tuchman.  William 
Garwood,  Hobart  Henley,  Ben  Wilson,  Dorothy  Phillips, 
Matt  Moore,  Jane  Gail,  Harry  Benham,  Paul  Panzer, 
Curtis  Benton,  Violet  Mersereau,  Edna  Hunter,  Edith 
Roberts,  Alan  Flolubar,  Stuart  Paton,  Ethel  Grandin, 
Harry  Millard  and  Edna  Pendleton  were  some  of  the 
Universal  players  who  occupied  boxes.  Mary  Fuller, 
King  Baggot  and  Florence  Lawrence  had  special  boxes 
of  their  own. 

The  Vitagraph  company  was  well  represented  in 
the  grand  march,  with  Anita  Stewart,  Virginia  Norden, 
Edith  Storey,  Lillian  Walker,  Leah  Baird,  Rose  Tapley, 
Jewell  Hunt,  Naomi  Childers,  Dorothy  Kelly  and  Arline 
Pretty.  The  heads  of  the  company,  J.  Stuart  Blackton, 
Albert  E.  Smith  and  William  T.  Rock,  and  Sam  Spedon, 
publicity  director,  were  present.  Earle  Williams,  Joseph 
Kilgour,  Antonio  Moreno,  Charles  Kent,  James  Morrison 
were  much  in  evidence.  So,  too,  were  Ralph  Ince,  Julia 
Swayne  Gordon,  "Mother"  Mary  Maurice,  Kate  Price, 
Hughie  Mack,  Harry  Northrup,  Billie  Billings,  Edward 
Elkas,  L.  Rogers  Lytton,  Donald  Hall,  Wallie  Van  and 
numbers  of  other  Vitagraph  celebrities.  Vitagraph  di- 
rectors present  were  George  D.  Baker,  Van  Dyke  Brooke, 
Lawrence  Semon,  C.  Tay  Williams,  Paul  Scardon,  Court- 
land  Van  Deusen,  Wilfrid  North,  S.  Rankin  Drew,  Wil- 
liam Humphrey,  Harry  Davenport.  Telegrams  of  re- 
gret were  received  from  several  actors  and  directors  of 
the  company.  Ralph  Ince  headed  a  contingent  from  the 
Bay  Shore  studio. 

The  Gaumont  company's  players,  directors  and  vir- 
tually all  its  representatives  are  now  in  the  south.  F.  G. 
Bradford  of  Gaumont  and  a  party  of  friends  occupied 
|c>ne  of  the  arena  boxes. 

Edward  Earle.  Pauline  Frederick,  George  Wright 
and  scores  and  scores  of  other  well-known  stars,  di- 
rectors, big  people  in  the  various  branches  of  the  film 
industry  were  present.  To  write  them  all  down  is  the 
work  of  many  hard-working  reporters,  and  that  is  the 
excuse  we  offer  to  those  whose  names  we  have  not  re- 
corded. 


T.  R.  STARS  IN  "THOUGHT"  FILM 

Preparedness   Convictions   of  Former   President   Vis- 
ualized on  Screen  in  Second  Picto- 
graph  Release 

Theodore  Roosevelt,  former  president  of  the 
United  States,  is  starred  in  the  second  release  of 
Paramount  Pictographs,  which  visualize  the  thoughts 
of  great  thinkers  and  which  have  created  enthusiastic 
comment  through- 
out the  country. 

Col.  Roosevelt 
walks  upon  the  ver- 
anda at  his  home  in 
Oyster  Bay  just  as 
he  is  preparing  to  go 
for  a  ride  about  the 
estate.  In  his  inim- 
itable manner  he 
shouts  forth,  show- 
ing his  famous  teeth : 
"We  must  prepare." 
He  tells  in  detail  his 
thoughts  on  this 
vital  question  a  n  d 
they  are  visualized 
upon  the  screen. 
Here  are  the 
thoughts : 

"I  believe  in  the 
fullest  liberty  within 
our  borders ;  and 
therefore  I  believe  in 
efficiency  in  preparedness  to  prevent  the  restriction  of 
this  liberty  by  people  outside  of  our  own  borders. 

"Preparedness  means  discipline ;  and  in  a  dem- 
ocracy it  is  of  the  highest  importance  for  us  to  dis- 
cipline ourselves ;  and  in  doing  so  we  would  prepare 
ourselves,  not  merely  to  defend  our  own  rights  against 
alien  foes,  but  to  encourage  the  habits  of  orderly  lib- 
erty and  disciplined  efficiency,  which  will  enable  us  to 
solve  our  own  difficult  social  and  industrial  problems. 

"In  a  democracy,  every  man  has  his  duties  as 
well  as  his  rights.  And  it  is  just  as  much  every  man's 
duty  to  train  himself  to  defend  the  rights  of  the  com- 
monwealth as  a  whole,  as  it  is  his  duty  to  pay  his  share 
of  the  taxes  for  the  running  expenses  of  the  common- 
wealth as  a  whole." 

Paramount  Pictographs  is  the  first  motion  picture 
medium  issued  for  the  visualization  of  the  thoughts  of 
the  country's  great  thinkers;  the  first  attempt  to  have 
the  great  American  amusement  loving  populace  think 
vital  thoughts  on  big  questions;  the  first  exemplifica- 
tion of  the  fact  that  the  motion  picture  theater  is  an 
institution  where  influences  for  betterment  can  best 
be  swayed. 

The  subject  "Preparedness"  is  being  picturized 
under  the  direction  of  Frederick  Palmer,  of  whom  Col. 
Roosevelt  said:  "He  has  seen  more  wars  than  any 
other  American."'  and  Henry  Reuterdahl,  the  naval 
expert. 

President  Hodkinson  of  the  Paramount  Pictures 
Corporation  believes  the  Pictographs  have  become  the 
Fifth  Estate  and  that  by  means  o\  the  motion  picture 
theater  topics  of  vital  importance  to  the  nation  can  be 
driven  home  through  the  screen  in  a  more  vivid  way  than 
by  any  other  means. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Opening  of  a  Theater 


BY  S.  L.  ROTHAPFEL 


THIS  evening  the  Colonial  theater  will  again  change 
its  policy,  becoming  the  western  home  of  the  Tri- 
angle films.  An  invitation  has  been  extended  to 
the  film  industry  of  Chicago  to  be  our  guests  for  the 
opening  performance.  The  opening  attraction  will  be 
Lillian  Gish  in  "Daphne  and  the  Pirate"  and  a  new  Key- 
stone comedy  entitled  "The  Bright  Lights,"  featuring 
Roscoe  Arbuckle  (Fatty)  and  Mabel  Normand. 

There  will  be  a  news  service  gathered  from  points 
of  interest  the  world  over,  an  education  feature,  and  a 
special  subject  entitled  "The  Stampede,"  showing  life 
in  the  west  as  it  was. 

The  music  numbers  will  be  the  overture  to  "William 
Tell,"  with  special  lighting  and  effects.  A  quartette  will 
sing  popular  numbers,  including  "Rigoletto." 

The  pictures  will  be  interpreted  by  an  orchestra  of 
twenty-five  pieces,  and  I  want  to  tell  the  exhibitors  that 
the  presentations  will  be  different  from  anything  they 
have  ever  seen.  I  want  them  to  attend  the  Colonial  pre- 
pared to  see  the  very  best  that  we  can  do. 

The  sign  in  the  front  of  the  house  is  the  very  last 
word  in  electrical  advertising;  the  makers  claiming  it  to 
be  the  finest  electrical  sign  in  the  world. 

When  you   enter  the   Colonial   foyer   tonight,   and, 


BEYFUSS  DEFENDS  PROBLEM  PLAY 

"  'Unwritten   Law'   Clean,   Wholesome  Film   With  a 

Gripping  Moral,"   He   Says  in  Response 

to    Rumors    of    Dissension 

Alexander  E.  Beyfuss,  general  manager  of  the 
California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  has  come  out 
in  defense  of  the  morality  of  "The  Unwritten  Law," 
in  which  Beatriz  Michelena  is  starred. 

"The  story  of  'The  Unwritten  Law'  is  entirely 
wholesome,"  he  said.  "In  keeping  with  the  policy  of 
previous  California  productions,  there  is  not  a  scene 
in  it  that  is  suggestive  in  the  moral  sense  of  the  word ; 
nor  one  that  lends  itself  to  cheap  sensationalism.  It  is 
our  aim  that  every  one  of  our  pictures  attain  the  high- 
est moral  level,  and  'The  Unwritten  Law'  is  no  excep- 
tion to  the  rule. 

"It  is  true  that  the  picture  concerns  itself  with 
big  human  emotions ;  some  of  them  are  markedly  ele- 
mental. They  all,  however,  are  in  the  main  of  the 
better  sort.  The  elements  of  goodness  and  love  are, 
in  the  final  analysis,  the  mainspring  to  the  action  of 
the  story.  A  mother's  love  and  her  almost  mad  desire 
to  care  for  and  shield  her  offspring  make  the  struggle 
seem  worth  the  fight  and  its  consequences. 

"Just  as  there  is  nothing  morally  questionable 
about  'The  Unwritten  Law,'  as  a  production,Athere  is 
nothing  'namby-pamby.'  It  was  never  the  prophet 
with  a  'namby-pamby'  sermon  to  preach  that  moved 
the  people  to  works  of  goodness.  The  real  prophet 
has  always  put  an  edge  on  his  words.  Likewise  in 
motion  pictures  the  'punch'  is  just  as  essential  to  moral 
benefit  as  to  box  office  receipts." 

Mr.  Beyfuss  explained  his  statement  in  behalf  of 
"The  Unwritten  Law"  as  being  the  result  of  reports 
that  some  persons  had  found  the  film  to  be  morally 
offensive. 


by  the  way,  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  world., 
please  study  the  service.  Courtesy  is  our  watchword. 
It  does  help  to  know  by  their  looks  that  everyone  from) 
doortender  to  usher  is  glad  to  see  you  and  wants  to 
make  you  comfortable. 

It  is  important  to  have  the  brasswork  shining  and 
the  uniforms  spick  and  span.  More  than  ever,  good 
music  counts  a  lot,  more  than  you  think.  Music  with 
dash  and  plenty  of  go  and  spirit  that  interprets  the  pic- 
tures ;  that  is  what  I  like.  Interludes  of  good  singers, 
properly  presented,  help,  too,  and  a  news  picture  or  a 
clean  cartoon  goes  a  long  way. 

Mabel  Normand  came  into  my  office  the  other  day 
and  sat  on  my  window  sill  hugging  her  knee.  She  said, 
"Mr.  Rothapfel,  now  I  see  why  people  like  to  come  to 
the  Knickerbocker."  As  I  had  just  seen  Mabel  and  Fatty 
Arbuckle  in  their  two  beds  floating  around  in  six  feet 
of  water,  and  the  house  with  the  beds  in  it  afloat  on  the 
ocean,  I  thought  I  understood.  "You  are  modest,"  said 
I.  Mabel  smiled — as  Mabel  Normand  only  can  smile — 
and  then — "Go  on,  Mr.  Rothapfel — it's  you  that's  so  mod- 
est," and  the  smile  was  a  grin.  And  a  good  many  agree 
with  Mabel  that  the  Knickerbocker  has  improved  a  great 
deal  in  the  few  short  weeks  of  its  new  management. 
We  are  working  on  new  innovations  every  day. 

The  Triangle  Film  Corporation  sent  me  here  per- 
sonally to  direct,  supervise  and  establish  a  few  of  these 
innovations  at  the   Colonial. 

The  performance  will  be  continuous  from  noon  until 
eleven  at  night,  and  be  divided  as  follows:  From  noon 
until  2:15  the  pictures  will  be  accompanied  with  a  piano 
and  a  pipe  organ ;  from  2:15  until  5  :30  there  will  be  two 
de  luxe  performances  in  which  will  be  heard  the  concert, 
orchestra,  vocalists,  etc. ;  from  5  :30  to  7 :30  the  pictures, 
will  again  be  accompanied  by  the  pipe  organ  and  the 
piano  without  the  vocalists ;  at  7 :30  the  first  evening  the 
de  luxe  shows  will  continue  until  9 :25.  The  last  per- 
formance will  give  the  late  diners  a  chance  to  come  down 
as  late  as  9  :45  and  still  see  the  entire  performance. 

Wherever  you  sit,  and  whatever  you  pay,  if  you  do 
not  say  you  are  glad  you  came,  the  pretty  girl  at  the 
ticket  window  will  give  you  your  money  back  and  smile 
as  she  does  it. 


TRIANGLE  WINS  SUIT 

Court  Denies  Injunction  Application  to  Oust  Pictures 

from  Knickerbocker  Theater — Finds  Film  Shows 

Do  Not  Hurt  House  Standing 

The  application  of  Robert  Walton  Goelet,  owner 
of  the  Knickerbocker  theater,  New  York,  for  an  in- 
junction restraining  the  Triangle  Film  Company  and 
others  from  operating  continuous  motion  picture  per- 
formances in  the  playhouse  and  from  selling  tickets  at 
the  present  scale  of  prices,  was  denied  by  Supreme 
Court  Justice  Cohalan. 

In  deciding  in  favor  of  the  Triangle  company, 
Justice  Cohalan  found  that  while  the  defendants  com- 
plied with  the  terms  of  their  lease,  requiring  that  they 
sell  tickets  to  performances  at  from  25  cents  to  $2  in 
the  evenings,  but  locating  the  $2  and  $1  and  50-cent 
seats  in  the  dress  circle,  this  did  not  constitute  cleanly 


522 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


a  breach  of  agreement  required  as  a  prerequisite  to 
injunctive  relief. 

Relative  to  the  question  whether  the  Knickerbock- 
er still  is  in  the  class  of  "first-class"  houses,  under  film 
company  management,  Justice  Cohalan  held  that  the 
coming  of  motion  pictures  into  the  theatrical  field 
has  resulted  in  an  "evolution"  of  the  theatrical  busi- 
ness to  such  an  extent  that  it  might  be  that  a  motion 
picture  theater,  holding  continuous  performances,  giv- 
ing high-grade  pictures  and  interspersing  pictures  with 
musical  numbers,  could  be  regarded  as  a  first-class 
playhouse  in  every  respect. 

On  February  1  a  summons  and  complaint  were 
served  upon  Al  Hayman,  Marc  Klaw,  Abraham  L.  Er- 
langer,  Alt"  Hayman  and  Daniel  Frohman  as  adminis- 
trators of  the  estate  of  Charles  Frohman,  deceased, 
Charles  Frohman,  Inc.,  Harry  E.  Aitken  and  the  Tri- 
angle Film  Corporation  to  appear  before  Justice  Don- 
nelly of  the  Supreme  Court  to  show  cause  why  an  in- 
junction should  not  issue  restraining  the  two  latter 
defendants  from  continuing  to  present  motion  pictures 
with  "singers,  actors  and  an  orchestra"  at  the  Knick- 
erbocker theater,  Broadway  at  Thirty-eighth  street. 
The  proceedings  were  brought  by  Attorneys  Carey  and 
Carroll,  in  behalf  of  Robert  Goelet,  owner  of  the  the- 
ater property  through  inheritance  from  his  father. 

It  was  the  first  effort  to  bring  about  a  judicial  rul- 
ing upon  the  subject  of  the  status  of  motion  pictures 
in  the  theatrical  world  and  to  standardize  the  designa- 
tions first-class,  second-class  and  third-class  as  applied 
to  theaters.  Mr.  Goelet  sought  to  oust  the  Triangle 
people  from  his  theater  on  the  grounds  that  by  giving 
too  much  entertainment  for  too  little  money  they 
might  change  the  classification  of  the  playhouse  in 
so  far  as  the  public  mind  is  concerned.  His  attorneys 
maintained  that  the  operation  of  a  continuous  perform- 
ance and  the  sale  of  seats  for  50  and  25  cents  in  the 
"orchestra"  or  main  floor,  is  a  violation  of  the  terms  of 
the  lease. 

A  further  violation  was  charged  in  the  presence 
of  singers  and  actors  who  perform  solos  in  the  course 
of  the  unfolding  of  the  program,  the  contention  being 
that  their  contribution  to  the  entertainment  places  ft 
■within  the  definition  of  a  variety  performance. 

In  support  of  his  view  the  plaintiff  filed  an  affi- 
davit sworn  to  by  Harry  G.  Sommers,  until  recently 
manager  of  the  theater,  in  which  he  says,  "classes  of 


w 


theaters  are  determined  by  the  character  and  not  by 
the  quality  of  the  performance  given  and  by  the  prices 
charged." 

On  February  4  a  brief  was  filed  on  behalf  of  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation  in  Justice  Donnelly's  Court, 
and  the  case  was  adjourned  until  the  following  Thurs- 
day, February  10,  to  give  Mr.  Goelet's  attorney  an  op- 
portunity to  file  his  brief.  In  the  brief  presented  Feb- 
ruary 4  "were  affidavits  from  many  men  prominent  in 
film  and  theatrical  circles. 

Mr.  Aitken,  in  his  affidavit,  declared  the  standard 
of  seat  valuation  is  reversed  when  photo-plays  follow 
the  spoken  drama.  "The  front  rows  of  the  ground, 
or  orchestra  floor,  are  the  best  seats  for  spoken  plays," 
he  averred,  "while  at  motion  picture  plays  those  seats 
are  too  near,  and  the  best  seats  are  those  at  the  front 
of  the  balcony." 

Aitken  went  into  the  history  of  the  lease  of  the 
Knickerbocker  Theater  from  Mr.  Goelet  to  Messrs. 
Klaw  &  Erlanger,  Alf  Hyman  and  Charles  Frohman, 
and  from  the  latter  to  himself.  Mr.  Sommers  was  man- 
ager of  the  theater  at  the  time  he  obtained  it,  he  swore, 
and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  on  or  about  Janu- 
ary 3,  when  Samuel  Rothapfel  was  installed  as  man- 
ager. 

"Plaintiff  made  no  objection  to  the  presentation 
of  motion  pictures  while  Mr.  Sommers  was  continued 
as  manager  in  charge  of  the  Knickerbocker  Theater," 
continued  Mr.  Aitken.  The  latter  cited  the  fact  that 
"Cabiria"  played  a  long  engagement  at  the  theater 
with  $1  as  the  highest  price  charged  for  admission ; 
that  Mr.  Sommers  advocated  and  endorsed  in  writing 
a  reduction  of  the  prices  charged  under  the  Triangle 
management  and  that  there  was  no  complaint  of  any 
kind  until  Mr.  Rothapfel  readjusted  the  prices  in  ac- 
cordance with  motion  picture  standards,  charging  $2 
and  $1.50  for  box,  loge  and  the  choice  of  balcony  seats 
and  50  and  25  cents  for  the  rest  of  the  house. 


Lesser  Buys  "Spoilers"  Rights 

Sol.  L.  Lesser  and  M.  Rosenberg  have  procured 
"The  Spoilers,"  Selig's  screen  version  of  Rex  Beach's 
Alaskan  tale,  for  exploitation  in  the  states  of  Ken- 
tucky, Maryland,  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Delaware 
and  the  District  of  Columbia.  Offices  have  been  opened 
under  the  name  of  the  L.  and  R.  Feature  Film  Com- 
panv  in  the  Bank  of  Commerce  building.  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

Mr.  Rosenberg,  president  of  the  Northwestern 
Feature  Film  Company,  of  Portland,  who  recently  pur- 
chased from  Lesser  the  rights  for  "The  Ne'er-Do- 
Well"  for  Washington,  Oregon  and  Montana,  reports 
a  two-weeks'  record-breaking  run  at  the  Clemmer  the- 
ater in  Seattle,  and  a  one  week's  run  at  the  People's 
theater  in  Portland.  Both  these  theaters  will  play 
return  engagements. 


Kuhn  Now  in  Own  Company 

J.  Sidney  Burnet  and  Paul  R.  Kuhn,  who  formerly 
were  associated  with  the  Mahin  Advertising  Company  of 
Chicago,  have  organized  a  new  advertising  agency. 
Both  are  well  known  in  Chicago  and  New  York  adver- 
tising circles.  The  new  company  is  to  be  known  as  the 
Burnet-Kuhn  Advertising  Company  and  will  plan,  write 
and  place  advertising  campaigns  in  newspapers  and  maga- 
zines. It  has  established  offices  at  625  New  York  Life 
building,  39  South  La  Salle  street,  Chicago. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Screen  as  a  Teacher 


BY  MACK  SENNET! 


THERE  is  so  much  that  may  be 
said  on  the  subject  of  motion 
pictures  as  an  educational  factor 
in  modern  civilization  that  I  almost 
hesitate  to  discuss  the  problem  in  one 
short  article.  Great  as  is  the  present 
instructive  value  of  the  film,  the  most 
conservative  students  admit  it  is  in 
its  infancy  and,  as  a  form  of  amuse- 
ment, the  very  fact  that  motion  pic- 
ture production  ranks  fourth  among 
the  industries  of  the  United  States  is 
quite  sufficient  to  prove  its  standing. 
It  is  the  combination  of  amusement 
and  instruction  that  is  to  be  found  in 
the  motion  picture  of  today  that 
assures  its  permanency. 

There  was  a  time,  a  few  years 
ago,  when  the  man  who  provided  for 
his  family  by  working  eight  or  ten 
hours  a  day,  at  a  not  exorbitant 
wage,  found  the  problem  of  paying 
for  clean  amusement  a  difficult  one  to 
solve.  Today  the  many  picture  thea- 
ters,   with    admissions    ranging    from 


cents    up, 


answers  the  amusement  question  very  satisfactorily. 
After  a  hard  day's  work,  the  head  of  the  family  is 
enabled  to  take  his  wife  and  children  to  a  comfortable 
theater,  where,  for  a  small  amount,  they  enjoy  well- 
constructed  dramas,  uproarious  comedies  and  current 
news  pictures  amplified  by  good  music. 

It  is  the  news  picture  that  has  developed  into  one 
of  the  most  valuable  educational  mediums  of  modern 
times.  A  very  few  years  ago  we  depended  entirely 
upon  newspaper  accounts  of  the  happenings  in  foreign 
countries,  frequently  garbled  and  sometimes  purposely 
distorted  and  illustrated,  at  best,  with  reproductions 
of  still  photographs.  Today  we  see  the  actual  hap- 
pening portrayed  upon  the  screen  almost  as  distinctly 
as  the  event  itself.  We  see  the  European  armies 
marching  to  the  front,  battleships  being  launched, 
generals  and  rulers  in  interesting  moments,  and  a  thou- 
sand and  one  other  happenings  that  bring  foreign 
lands  to  our  very  doors.  That  is  one  angle  of  the 
educational  value  of  motion  pictures. 

Another,  and  perhaps  more  vitally  important 
department  of  screen  education  is  that  used  by  private 
institutions.  In  schools  and  churches  the  motion  pic- 
ture machine  has  become  as  permanent  and  necessary 
as  the  library ;  not  replacing  it,  but  acting  as  a  valua- 
ble auxiliary. 

In  commercial  and  manufacturing  lines^  the  use 
of  motion  pictures  in  conjunction  with  the  efficiency 
movement  that  has  done  so  much  to  further  the  wel- 
fare of  modern  business  has  been  of  inestimable  value. 
The  new  processes  of  manufacture ;  a  new  method  of 
salesmanship,  and  kindred  details,  may  be  shown  to  a 
multitude  of  men  and  women  by  the  use  of  a  few 
hundred  feet  of  film,  educating  them  along  some  par- 
ticular line  which  formerly  would  have  required  a 
volume  of  exhaustive  explanations  and  many  weary 
hours  of  study. 

The  most  successful  shops,  factories,  and  whole- 


sale and  retail  stores  of  today  find 
that  this  method  of  bringing  the  latest 
and  best  methods  to  the  attention  of 
their  employees  are  of  mutual  benefit 
to  employer  and  employee  alike. 

In  many  ways  the  motion  picture 
replaces  the  library  in  families  where 
books  might  be  a  luxury.  In  some 
instances  it  would  be  impossible  for 
the  poor  man  to  possess  many  books. 
Today  the  family  visits  the  motion 
picture  theater  where,  for  a  few  cents, 
they  see  the  greatest  works  of  fiction 
produced  upon  the  screen  by  the  best 
actors,  with  appropriate  scenery — 
and  it  is  real  scenery,  not  the  water- 
colored  canvas  of  the  old  speaking 
stage. 

And  so  it  has  come  to  pass  that 
the  invention  which  was  at  first  re- 
garded as  a  toy,  has  been  developed 
until  it  is  at  present  one  of  the  great- 
est instruments  of  modern  civiliza- 
tion. The  elements  of  amusement 
and  education  are  so  nicely  blended  that  we  are 
amused  while  being  instructed,  and  instructed  while 
being  amused.  And  the  future  of  the  motion  picture 
is  just  as  sure  and  certain  as  the  future  of  printing, 
for  the  motion  picture  is  merely  another  means  of 
conveying  thought  and  reproducing  events. 


METRO  PRESIDENT  RE-ELECTED 

Richard    A.    Rowland   Again    Elected    to    Head    Film 

Corporation.     Board  of   Directors   Enthusiastic 

Over  Last  Twelve  Months 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Metro  Pictures  Corporation 
Richard  A.  Rowland  was  re-elected  president,  Joseph 
W.  Engel  was  re-elected  treasurer  and  both  were 
tendered  a  vote  of  thanks  and  approval.  The  directors' 
meeting  followed  the  annual  stockholders'  meeting. 
Two  days  were  spent  in  going  over  Metro's  program 
of  events  and  ratifying  the  schedule  outlined  by  its 
leaders. 

The  board  of  directors  was  increased  from  seven  to 
nine  by  the  addition  of  L.  Lawrence  Weber,  president 
of  the  Popular  Plays  and  Players,  Inc.,  and  an  associate 
of  H.  H.  Frazee  in  theatrical  enterprises,  and  A.  S. 
Beymer,  of  the  Keystone  National  Bank  of  Pittsburgh. 
Other  officers  elected  were :  first  vice-president,  James 

A.  Fitzgerald,  of  Detroit;  second  vice-president,  James 

B.  Clark,  of  Pittsburgh;  treasurer,  Joseph  W.  Engel,  of 
New  York;  secretary,  Louis  B.  Mayer,  of  Boston;  as- 
sistant secretary  and  general  counsel,  J.  Robert  Rubin, 
of  New  York. 

In  addressing  the  meeting  Secretary  Mayer  com- 
mented on  the  growth  of  the  corporation,  and  he 
ascribed  Metro's  success  to  ability,  leadership,  enthusi- 
asm and  complete  co-operation.  In  acting  as  spokes- 
man for  the  board  thanked  President  Rowland  and 
Treasurer  Engel  for  their  unremitting  labor  and  the  re- 
sults they  have  achieved.    He  also  stated  that  Metro  had 


524 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


proved  what  exchange  men  can  do  when  they  stick- 
together  as  one  man  and  by  co-operation  and  en- 
thusiastic support  of  the  central  body  turn  the  tide  of 
victory  their  way. 

In  response.  President  Rowland  said : 

"We  have  gone  forward  with  determination  to 
give  the  exhibitors  what  they  needed  and  what  they 
wanted,  and  their  response  has  been  certain  and  sure. 
We  are  proud  of  our  record,  but  we  are  not  puffed  up 
about  it  nor  content  with  it.  Along  progressive  lines 
that  were  businesslike,  we  have  tried  to  be  fair  to  the 
exhibitors,  to  the  public  and  to  ourselves." 

An  appropriation  of  $250,000  was  voted  for  public- 
it}'  and  general  advertising,  to  be  expended  in  the  next 
twelve  months.  The  program  for  the  big  series  in 
which  Francis  X.  Bushman  and  Beverly  Bayne  will  be 
starred  was  approved.  One  of  these  pictures  will  be 
released  each  week  in  addition  to  the  regular  feature 
release. 

H.  Cooper  Cliffe,  last  seen  on  the  Metro  program 
in  support  of  Ethel  Barrymore  in  "The  Final  Judg- 
ment," has  returned  to  the  Metro  ranks  after  having 
been  starred  by  another  company.  He  will  again  be 
seen  in  support  of  Miss  Barrymore  in  "The  Kiss  of 
Hate,"  a  strong",  five-part  feature,  dealing  with  the 
persecution  of  the  Jews  in  Russia.  It  is  being  pro- 
duced for  the  Metro  program  by  the  Columbia  Picture 
Corporation. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  other  officers  elected : 
First  vice-president,  James  A.  Fitzgerald  of  Detroit ; 
second  vice-president,  James  B.  Clark  of  Pittsburgh ; 
treasurer,  Joseph  W.  Engel  of  New  York;  secretary, 
Louis  B.  Mayer  of  Boston;  assistant  secretary  and 
general  counsel,  J.  Robert  Rubin  of  New  York;  execu- 
tive committee,  Richard  A.  Rowland  of  New  York,  Jo- 
seph W.  Engel  of  New  York,  Louis  B.  Mayer  of  Boston ; 
directors,  Richard  A.  Rowland  of  New  York,  Joseph 
W.  Engel  of  New  York,  Louis  B.  Mayer  of  Boston, 
James  A.  Fitzgerald  of  Detroit,  L.  Lawrence  Weber 
of  New  York,  A.  S.  Beymer  of  Pittsburgh,  O.  N. 
Davies  of  Minneapolis,  John  D.  Clark  of  Philadelphia, 
James  B.  Clark  of  Pittsburgh. 


TELLS  ABOUT  PEACE  TRIP 

Mutual  Weekly  Cameraman  Declares  "Squirrel  Gag" 

About  Ford  Expedition  to  Europe 

Was  Not  "Bunk" 

"That  squirrel  stuff  about  the  Ford  peace  expedi- 
tion was  no  bunk." 

This  is  the  opinion  of  Lawrence  Darmour,  crack 
cameraman  of  the  Mutual  Weekly  staff,  just  returned 
from  the  dash  to  Europe  in  the  interests  of  peace.  And 
he  explains  himself  very  clearly. 

"Far  be  it  from  me  to  appear  ungrateful  for  the 
most  interesting  trip  in  my  career,"  begins  "Larry," 
who  is  only  21  years  old,  "but  permit  me  to  observe 
that  several  members  of  the  party  had  it  all  wrong. 

"There  were  some  most  interesting  persons  in  the 
party.  For  instance,  there  was  a  sedate,  simple,  honest, 
bewhiskered  old  chap  along  who,  when  at  home  attend- 
ing to  business  is  the  editor  of  a  little  four-sheet  news- 
paper in  some  town  in  the  depths  of  the  state  of  Mis- 
sissippi, lie-  found  this  a  wonderful  world  when  he 
gol  away  from  his  little  town  and  he  admitted  it.  We 
were  standing  on  the  banks  of  a  canal  in  Copenhagen 
one  night  when  he  came  along.  Fie  stood  in  silence 
for  several  minutes,  looking  at   the  canal,  where  a   few 


hard  working  gulls  were  fishing  by  arc  lights  along- 
side a  bridge. 

"Say."  he  said  at  last,  "what  kind  of  a  darn  fool  bird 
is  it  that  stands  around  on  a  cake  of  ice  getthr  his  feet 
wet  all  night?  Down  whar  I  hail  from  birds  roost  in 
trees." 

"One  of  the  most  interesting  men  I  met  on  the 
whole  trip  was  Captain  S.  C.  Hiortdahl.  of  the  good 
ship  Kristianiafjord.  The  captain  was  a  commander  in 
the  Japanese  navy  in  the  Jap-Russ  war,  and  he's  about 
the  cutest  little  navigator  of  the  ocean  now  extant. 
For  a  year  after  the  war  started  he  was  able  to  dodge 
the  scout  cruisers  and  evade  search  by  the  British  in 
his  pursuit  of  neutral  commerce  between  New  York 
and  Scandinavian  ports.  He  did  this  by  the  generous 
use  of  steam  coal  and  a  new-fangled  Marconi  device 
that  warns  of  the  approach  of  battleships.  At  last  they 
got  him.  A  British  officer  at  the  head  of  a  boarding 
party  came  up  over  the  rail.  Hiortdahl  looked  down 
from  the  bridge  of  the  Kristianiafjord  and  grinned. 

"Some  chase — it  is  not,  eh?" 

"Well,  sir,  the  British  got  so  peeved  at  the  elusive- 
ness  of  this  ship  that  they  announced  that  unless  Hiort- 
dahl allowed  his  boat  to  be  caught  and  searched  they 
would  cut  off  the  supply  of  coal  for  his  port,  Bergen." 

They  tell  this  one  about  "Larry :" 

It  appears  that  the  young  Mutual  photographer 
decided  to  part  company  with  the  main  body  of  the 
expedition  in  order  to  take  some  exclusive  winter 
sport  pictures  up  on  Holmenkollen.  the  mountain 
where  the  international  skiing  contests  are  held.  He 
got  snowed  in  by  one  of  the  celebrated  Swedish  storms 
and  had  to  stay  on  the  mountain,  subsisting  largely  on 
frozen  fish  and"  milk  chocolate  for  five  days.  Not  satis- 
fied with  that,  he  went  prowling  about  with  his  camera 
in  the  Norwegian  Alps  about  Finse,  four  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea  and  colder  than  New  Year's  day  on  the 
moon.  All  these  commendable  enterprises,  divorced 
from  the  peace  party,  left  the  young  man  rather  lone- 
some.   Asked  why  he  looked  so  glum,  "Larry"  replied: 

"This  Scandinavian  silence  gets  my  goat." 


Ince  Opens  Indian  School 

Thomas  II.  Ince  has  taken  the  first  steps  in  a  plan 
to  give  instruction  to  the  121  Indians  in  his  company. 
A  school  house  has  been  opened  near  the  Indian  col- 
ony, and  a  number  of  Carlisle  graduates  who  are  in 
the  Triangle  company  will  be  enrolled  as  advanced 
students   and   assistant   instructors. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


525 


FAVOR  HORSLEY  AS  CANDIDATE 

Los  Angeles  Business  Men  and  Newspapers  Pledge 
Support;  Motion  Picture  Officials,  Enthu- 
siastic, Launch  Campaign 

News  of  the  report  of  David  Horsley's  candidacy 
for  Congress  from  the  district  in  which  Los  Angeles 
is  situated  has  created  much  favorable  comment  in 
the  east.  It  is  considered  as  obvious  that  the  eleva- 
tion of  such  an  experienced  film  man  to  so  important 
an  office  would  be  a  great  aid  to  the  entire  industry. 

Mr.  Horsley's  announcement  that  he  would  make 
the  run  was  greeted  enthusiastically  in  Los  Angeles 
and  a  movement  was  at  once  started  to  lay  plans  for 
an  active  campaign  in  his  behalf.  Reports  from  the 
west  coast  say  that  Mr.  Horsley's  name  will  be  asso- 
ciated with  the  Republican  ticket.  This  is  regarded 
as  significant  inasmuch  as  the  district  including  Los 
Angeles  has  been  strongly  in  the  Republican  ranks 
for  some  time. 

In  his  campaign  Mr.  Horsley  has  been  promised 
the  support  of  not  only  those  in  the  motion  picture 
business  but  of  the  business  interests  in  the  city  of 
Los  Angeles  as  well.  Mr.  Horsley  also  has  received 
expressions  from  civic  organiations  in  Los  Angeles, 
such  as  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  the  Realty 
Board,  in  which  the  members  of  these  groups 
announce  their  favor  of  Mr.  Horsley  as  a  candidate. 

In  addition  to  this  support,  assurances  have  come 
from  the  newspapers  of  their  good  will.  Mr.  Horsley 
has  done  so  much  for  the  good  of  the  city  of  Los 
Angeles  and  of  California  that  a  spirit  of  appreciation 
is  manifest  in  all  of  the  newspapers.  That  their  spirit 
should  follow  Mr.  Horsley's  efforts  seems  natural. 

During  his  tour  of  speech  making,  which  is  now 
being  mapped  out,  popular  film  stars  will  appear  on 
the  same  platform  with  Mr.  Horsley.  A  number 
already  have  offered  their  services.  It  is  believed 
that  larger  crowds  will  result  from  this  plan  than 
can  be  expected  to  attend  an  ordinary  political  meet- 
ing. 

Motion   picture   theaters  also  will  be  enlisted    in 


the  campaign.     They  will  be  asked  to  run  slides  in 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Horsley's  candidacy. 

The  hearty  co-operation  offered  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  has  gratified  Mr.  Horsley  and  he  declares 
he  will  make  a  strong  fight  to  be  elected. 


"One  Day"  Leaps  Into  Demand 

Much  comment  has  been  caused  among  exhibitors 
by  the  reported  success  of  B.  S.  Moss'  "One  Day," 
which  comes  to  the  screen  as  the  sequel  to  Elinor 
Glyn's  sensational  love  drama,  "Three  Weeks,"  with 
Jeanne  Iver,  noted  operatic  star  and  classic  dancer,  in 
the  leading  role.  The  Moss  offices  in  New  York  report 
that  they  have  been  besieged  with  letters  and  tele- 
grams from  anxious  exhibitors  and  that  there  is  but 
little  territory  left.  They  report  the  following  ter- 
ritories gone :  Greater  New  York  and  Northern  New 
Jersey,  to  the  Amalgamated  Photo  Feature  Booking 
"Corporation  of  New  York  City ;  New  York  state,  Esse- 
mar  Film  Company,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  New  England 
states,  Eastern  Feature  Film  Company,  Boston,  Mass. ; 
Illinois  and  Indiana,  Jones,  Linick  &  Schaeffer,  Chi- 
cago, 111. ;  Texas  and  Oklahoma,  to  L.  Santikos  of 
Waco,  Texas.  The  Australia  and  New  Zealand  rights 
were  procured  by  the  Australasian  Film,' Ltd.,  through 
their  New  York  representative,  Millard  Johnson. 


"Mutual  Traveler"  Feted 

Virtually  the  entire  middle  west  turned  out  recently 
to  greet  the  "Mutual  Traveler,"  the  pretty,  dark-haired 
maid  who  personally  conducts  the  Gaumont  scenic  "See 
America  First"  tour.  Little  of  Minnesota  and  Wiscon- 
sin escaped  the  eye  of  this  mysterious  miss  during  her 
trip.  Her  name  will  not  be  disclosed  as  long  as  she  re- 
mains the  "Mutual  Traveler." 

The  "Mutual  Traveler"  consented  on  her  return  re- 
cently to  disclose  this  much.  It  is  the  first  thing  con- 
cerned with  herself  which  she  ever  allowed  to  be  said 
about  her.  She  was  born  in  England,  and  though  she  is 
very  much  prejudiced  in  England's  favor,  she  does  not 
think  the  British  Isles  have  anything  on  the  middle  west. 


George    Beban,    who    is    being    featured    i 
Pallas  films  for  Paramount  program. 


Dorothy    Green,    who 


526 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


Louis  J.  Hill,  son  of  James  J.  Hill,  president  of  the 
Great  Northern  railroad,  Mrs.  Hill,  and  their  little  son 
Jerome,  gave  a  special  luncheon  in  their  home  in  St.  Paul 
for  the  pretty  picture  maid.  She  also  was  guest  of  honor 
at  the  Minnesota  University  and  the  surrounding  town 
and  country  clubs.  In  the  Twin  Cities  she  was  enter- 
tained at  the  winter  sport  carnival.  In  Duluth  she 
whizzed  up  and  down  on  the  incline  railroads.  Milwau- 
kee and  many  other  middle  west  cities  had  hosts  galore 
to  entertain  her. 

She  will  be  seen  next  as  she  visits  the  tortoise-shell 
comb  factory  in  Key  West,  Fla.,  and  later  at  interesting 
points  in  Florida  and  other  important  spots  throughout 
the  south. 


GAUMONT  PLAYERS  HONORED 


Mayor   Bowden  of  Jacksonville  Joins  in  Celebrating 

First  Run  of  Masterpicture.   Board  of  Trade  Holds 

Big  Reception  for  Film  Stars 

Mayor  J.  E.  T.  Bowden,  of  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  took 
a  prominent  part  in  the  celebration  of  the  first  run  of 
the  initial  production  made  in  the  new  Jacksonville  stu- 
dios of  the  Gaumont  Company,  "The  Idol  of  the  Stage," 
in  which  Malcolm  Williams  is  starred.  The  mayor  was 
present  in  his  official  capacity  and  made  a  speech  from 
the  stage  to  more  than  one  thousand  citizens  who  packed 
the  theater,  as  did  Richard  Garrick,  the  Gaumont  super- 
vising director,  who  played  the  part  second  in  impor- 
tance to  that  of  Mr.  Williams.  Others  were  called  on 
for  speeches,  including  Charles  W.  Travis,  Miss  Lucille 
Taft  and  Miss  Helen  Marten. 

Further  civic  honors  were  extended  to  the  Gaumont 
company  when  the  members  of  the  company  were  the 
guests  of  the  board  of  trade  of  South  Jacksonville.  Five 
hundred  guests  were  invited  to  partake  in  the  reception 
and  luncheon  given  at  the  country  estate  of  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  P.  J.  Mundy.  Richard  Garrick  had  trouble  in  ex- 
pressing his  thanks  for  the  cordial  hospitality  extended 
to  the  members  of  the  company,  and  he  was  cheered 
when  he  said  that  the  kindly  feeling  was  mutual,  that 
the  players  were  highly  appreciative  of  the  honor  be- 
stowed upon  them  and  pointed  out  that  the  fact  that 
so  many  had  gone  to  housekeeping  that  it  was  indicative 
of  the  influence  of  Jacksonville's  homelike  atmosphere. 

Many  humorous  incidents  gave  added  zest  to  the 
afternoon,  as  for  instance,  when  Mr.  Garrick  offered  a, 
prize  of  $100  to  the  winner  in  a  half-mile  spurt  between 
the  "two  Gaumont  kids,"  James  Levering  and  Charles 
W.  Travis,  and  again  when  he  all  but  created  a  riot  by 
asking  the  players  to  select  the  prettiest  girl,  the  hand- 
somest man,  the  homeliest  girl  and  the  ugliest  man,  from 
among  the  players.  In  the  Levering-Travis  offer,  Gerald 
Griffin  was  ready  to  challenge  the  winner,  but  in  the  stress 
of  the  day's  fun  the  event  was  not  staged. 

Among  the  (iauniont  players  present  were  Richard 
Garrick,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Travis,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Alexander  Gaden,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alan  Robinson,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sydney  Mason,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwin  Vail,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Earl  6.  Schenck,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Vemot,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  Mackin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur  Porchet, 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Edwin  Middleton,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  D. 
McDonall,  Jr.,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Kloepfer,  Miss 
Lucille  Taft,  Marguerite  Courtot,  Mrs.  Courtot.  Miss  Ju- 
liette Courtot,  Miss  Iva  Shepard,  Gertrude  Robinson, 
Helen  Marten.  Mildred  Gregory,  Matilde  Raring.  Olive- 
Trevor,  Mabel  Best,  Gladyse  Thornton,  Marie  Bain.  Sid- 
ney Vaughn,  John  Reinhard,  Howard  Hall,  Roberl  Clug 


ston,  James  Levering,  W.  C.  Butler,  E.  K.  James,  Albert 
Macklin,  Henry  Pemberton,  Charles  Graham,  Gerald 
Griffin,  Walter  Pritchard,  Quincy  Stockton,  Edwin  Goet- 
ler,  H.  L.  MacEachern,  Joseph  Ford,  R.  G.  Phillips,  Wil- 
liam Striker  and  others. 


PAULINE  FREDERICK  BACK 


Returns  to  New  York  from  Famous  Players  Studio 

in  Jacksonville,  Fla.    Snowstorm  Used  for 

Marguerite  Clark  Picture 

Pauline  Frederick  and  the  company  supporting 
her  in  the  screen  portrayal  of  Mary  Johnston's  cele- 
brated novel  and  play,  "Audrey,"  returned  to  the  Fa- 
mous Players  Film  company's  studio  from  Jacksonville, 
Fla.,  last  week,  where  most  of  the  scenes  for  this  forth- 
coming Paramount  production  were  staged  under  the 
direction  of  Robert  Vignola. 

The  cast  includes  Charles  Waldron,  Escamillo 
Fernandez,  Helen  Lindreth,  Miss  Christian  and  Tinker 
Hallam,  all  appearing  in  the  more  important  roles  with 
Miss  Frederick. 

Marguerite  Clark,  Director  J.  Searle  Dawley  and 
other  members  of  the  "Out  of  the  Drifts"  company, 
have  returned  to  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  to  take  advantage  of 
the  recent  snow  storm  in  obtaining  scenes  for  the 
Alpine  story  in  which  the  little  star  is  soon  to  be  seen. 

Meanwhile  Mary  Pickford  is  commuting  between 
Yonkers  and  New  York  by  motor  in  order  to  combine 
the  factory  scenes  and  interior  settings  of  her  next 
production  which  is  being  filmed  under  the  direction  of 
John  O'Brien. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  annals  of  motion  pictures, 
several  Italian  actors,  who  are  residents  of  New  York, 
appear  in  characterizations  of  their  own  nationality  in 
"Poor  Little  Peppina,"  the  Famous  Players-Paramount 
seven-reel  special  production  in  which  Mary  Pickford 
is  being  starred.  The  opening  scenes  of  "Peppina" 
take  place  in  Italy  and  the  entire  atmosphere  of  the 
production  is  distinctly  Latin,  as  several  of  the  princi- 
pal characters  in  the  story,  even  in  America,  are  Italian. 
Among  the  Italian  actors  appearing  in  support  of  Miss 
Pickford  are  Cesare  Gravina,  Antonio  Maiori,  Ernest 
Torti,  N.  Cervi  and  Francesca  Guerra. 


Two  New  Film  Houses  for  Broadway- 
Broadway  is  to  get  two  new  motion  picture 
houses.  Deals  assuring  this  fact  have  been  completed. 
One  will  be  a  new  Vitagraph  theater,  taking  the 
place  of  the  Gaiety  and  Fulton  theaters,  and  the  other 
will  stand  upon  the  lot  now  vacant  between  Forty- 
ninth  and  Fiftieth  streets  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway, 
and  running  through  to  Seventh  avenue. 

Commodore  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  vice-president  and 
executive  head  of  the  Vitagraph  Company  of  America, 
engineered  the  negotiations  by  which  the  Fulton  and 
the  Gaiety  theaters  pass  to  the  control  of  his  concern 
and  will  be  converted  into  one  big  playhouse  which 
will  be  the  first  place  of  exhibition  for  all  the  films 
turned  out  of  the  Flatbush,  Bay  Shore  and  Southern 
California  studios  of  the  corporation.  The  theaters  are 
separated  only  by  a  narrow  alleyway. 

The  new  house  between  Forty-ninth  and  Fiftieth 
streets  will  have  a  seating  capacity  equal  to  that  of  the 
Strand,  as  will  the  new  Vitagraph  house.  It  will  be 
conducted  under  a  policy  which  is  expected  to  make  it 
a  rival  of  the  latter. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


527 


FRANK  MILLS  TO  BE  FEATURED 

Will  Be  the  Star  in  "The  Moral  Fabric,"  a  Triangle 

Kay  Bee  Drama  Dealing  With 

Love  and  Morality 

Frank  Mills,  the  distinguished  Broadway  actor,  is 
soon  to  be  presented  by  Thomas  H.  Ince  as  the  star 
of  "The  Moral  Fabric,"  a  Triangle  Kay  Bee  feature, 
written  by  C.  Gardner  Sullivan.  "The  Moral  Fabric" 
is  a  serious  treatment  of  the  question  brought  up  by 
the  so-called  advanced  thought  of  the  last  few  years  as 
to  whether  the  rights  of  love  are  not  superior  to  the 
rights  of  morality. 

Members  of  the  Los  Angeles  police  department 
worked  unconsciously  in  a  motion  picture  recently, 
during  the  making  of  scenes  in  "The  Conqueror,"  the 
Triangle  Kay  Bee  feature  in  which  Willard  Mack  is 
starred.  Several  scenes  in  the  play  are  of  a  breadline 
in  which  Mack,  as  a  laborer  out  of  work,  applies  for 
food.  In  order  to  obtain  realism,  Thomas  H.  Ince 
staged  the  scene  in  one  of  the  poorest  sections  of  the 
city  and  invited  the  unfortunates  to  eat  at  his  expense. 
An  extra  police  guard  was  necessary. 

In  order  that  the  architecture  might  be  true  to  the 
period  of  1625,  an  unlimited  amount  of  money  was  ex- 
pended in  building  three  streets  of  houses  for  the  pro- 
duction of  "D'  Artagnan,"  the  five-part  Ince-Triangle 
feature,  in  which  Orrin  Johnson,  the  Broadway  favo- 
rite, is  starred.  When  it  was  decided  to  produce  the 
drama,  search  was  made  throughout  Southern  Cali- 
fornia for  proper  settings  for  the  street  scenes,  but 
even  the  widely  diversified  architecture  of  that  district 
did  not  afford  the  proper  atmosphere.  Ince  was  con- 
vinced that  the  "D'  Artagnan"  adaptation  of  "The 
Three  Musketeers"  contained  greater  dramatic  value 
than  any  other  story  filmed  from  a  book,  and  he  also, 
saw  that  by  close  adherence  to  details  the  production 
would  be  of  unusual  historical  value. 


will  buy,  but  if  it  fails  to  meet  our  standard,  then  we 
reject. 

"In  this  way  our  films  hold  to  our  set  standard  of 
quality  first.  Where  feature  programmes  show  weak- 
ness is  in  the  fact  that  once  a  picture  is  produced 
for  distribution  under  the  ordinary  trade  mark,  it 
must  be  marketed.  The  money  has  been  invested  on 
the  judgment  of  the  producer,  and  money  must  be 
made  out  of  the  production  regardless  of  the  showing 
of  quality. 

"Not  so  with  Bluebirds.  Films  do  not  become 
eligible  to  carry  our  trade  mark  until  they  meet  with 
our  requirements  in  every  respect.  The  standard  is 
first  set,  then  the  grade  must  match  the  standard,  there 
are  no  'seconds'  or  'cullings.' 

"For  March  we  have  been  successful  in  securing- 
very  strong  features  including  'Rupert  of  Hentzau,'  to 
be  released  March  6;  Mary  Fuller  in  'The  Strength  of 
the  Weak,'  for  release  on  March  13,  and  Hobart  Bos- 
worth  becomes  a  Bluebird  star  in  'The  Yaqui,'  for  the 
release  of  March  19. 

"Already  released  are  the  surprisingly  strong  films 
which  include  Mme.  Sarah  Bernhardt  in  'Jeanne  Dore,' 
the  initial  release,  Helen  Ware  in  'Secret  Love,'  with 
'Undine'  and  'Hop,  the  Devil's  Brew,'  which  completes 
the  list  of  features  for  the  first  four  weeks  of  Bluebird 
releases.  Most  of  the  houses  handling  these  features 
have  run  them  from  three  days  to  a  full  week,  it  being 
the  first  aim  of  the  Bluebird  company  to  secure  the 
class  of  theaters  that  can  retain  their  features  more 
than  one  day." 


STANDARD  SET  FOR  BLUEBIRDS 

New  Company  Insists  on  Uniform  Quality  of  Scenario, 

Production  and  Acting  When  Buying  in  Open 

Market  for  Feature  Programme 

Uniform  quality  and  even  distribution  in  all  mat- 
ters of  scenario,  production,  and  the  player  employed 
is  the  policy  that  the  Bluebird  company  has  adopted 
and  it  is  the  belief  of  those  in  control  that  the  motion 
picture  business  is  slowly  and  surely  arriving  at  the 
point  where  it  must  become  "the  survival  of  the  fittest" 
for  both  the  producers  and  the  exhibitors. 

That  inferior  films  are  at  times  produced  unavoid- 
ably even  by  the  best  of  producing  companies  and  by 
the  producers  of  greatest  reputation  and  that  these 
films  are  sent  out  for  distribution  in  order  to  secure 
the  money  that  has  been  spent  in  producing  them  is  the 
contention  of  the  Bluebird  people,  who  believe  that 
their  method  of  selecting  only  those  that  pass  their 
standard  of  perfection  will  eventually  establish  the 
company  with  not  only  the  exhibitor  but  with  the 
motion  picture  patrons. 

"Buying  in  the  open  market,  such  films  as  we  con- 
sider only  the  best,  eliminates  the  'second'  on  the 
Bluebird  programme,"  said  an  official  of  that  company 
recently.  "Let  others  produce,  complete  the  product, 
offer  it  for  sale  and  if  merit  is  contained  in  every 
standard  by  which  photoplays  may  be  tested,  Bluebird 


Fast  Work  on  Ottawa  Fire  Films 

The  rapidity  with  which  important  news  films  are 
handled  for  the  Mutual  weekly  was  shown  recently  when 
the  Ottawa  fire  pictures  were  given  out  in  New  York 
hardly  more  than  twenty-four  hours  after  daylight  broke 
in  the  Canadian  city.  Films  of  the  fire  were  received  by 
the  Gaumont  Company,  which  manufactures  the  Mutual 
Weekly,  Sunday  morning,  and  although  they  were  unde- 
veloped, the  same  pictures  were  being  shown  at  the  first- 
run  Broadway  houses  that  evening  and  prints  of  the  fire 
were  being  sent  broadcast  to  be  added  to  the  news  reels 
which  had  just  been  released. 

The  same  expedition  marked  the  work  of  the  Mu- 
tual Weekly  in  the  fire  which  swept  the  Brooklyn  docks 
a  few  days  later.  That  same  evening,  theaters  which 
were  subscribers  to  the  Mutual  Weekly,  getting  it  first,, 
were  showing  it  on  the  screen.  These  included  the  Pal- 
ace, America's  greatest  vaudeville  theater,  and  the  Knick- 
erbocker. 


GEORGE  BEBAN  JOINS  PALLAS 

Actor  Who  Makes  Specialty  of  Italian  Roles  Returns 

to  Photodrama  and  will  Appear  on 

Paramount  Program 

George  Beban,  the  characterizer  of  Italian  roles, 
has  closed  with  the  Pallas  company  to  again  appear  on 
the  Paramount  program. 

Mr.  Beban's  popularity  in  the  motion  pictures 
was  established  by  his  exceptional  work  in  "The  Alien" 
and  "The  Italian,"  now  appearing  throughout  the  coun- 
try with  reported  success.  He  also  has  attained  inter- 
national fame  as  a  star  of  the  speaking  stage. 

Mr.  Beban  recently  created  widespread  interest 
when  he  appeared  on  Broadway  in  "The  Alien,"  a  com- 


528 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


bination  of  motion  pictures  and  dramatic  sketch  adap- 
ted from  his  well  known  play.  "The  Sign  of  the  Rose." 
Since  then  the  complete  photoplay  has  added  greatly 
to  his  popularity  as  a  portrayer  of  Italian  characters. 

Since  he  was  eight  years  old,  Mr.  Beban  has  de- 
voted his  efforts  to  the  stage.  As  "the  boy  baritone  of 
California,"  he  toured  the  country,  later  appearing  as 
an  end  man  in  minstrel  organizations  and  then  in  stock. 
Later  he  appeared  in  principal  and  starring  roles  in 
such  productions  as  the  famous  Weber  and  Fields  Jubi- 
lee "Fantana"  and  George  M.  Cohan's  "The  American 
Idea." 

The  signing  of  Mr.  Beban  under  the  Pallas-Para- 
mount banner  brings  to  light  a  strange  coincidence  in 
the  fact  that  Elsie  Janis,  also  a  Paramount  star,  was 
instrumental  in  the  actor's  greatest  success  on  the 
stage,  "The  Sign  of  the  Rose."  Mr.  Beban  had  heard 
Miss  Janis  recite  a  little  poem  about  an  Italian  girl 
called  Rosa  which  appealed  so  to  him  that  he  included 
it  in  his  reportoire  in  dialect.  It  made  such  a  hit  that 
the  actor  wrote  a  sketch  and  called  it  "The  Sign  of  the 
Rose." 


Eleven  Keystone  Companies  Working 

Eleven  companies  are  now  working  in  the  Key- 
stone comedy  factory  under  Mack  Sennett,  who  has 
been  compelled  to  keep  things  going  overtime  in  order 
to  catch  up  with  the  demand  on  the  Triangle  program. 
Hampton  Del  Ruth,  the  managing  editor,  together  with 
Jean  Haven,  are  turning  out  the  scenarios  at  top  speed. 
Mabel  Norman  and  Roscoe  Arbuckle  have  completed 
"He  Did  and  Fie  Didn't"  at  the  eastern  Keystone 
studio,  and  are  now  working  on  "The  Lure  of  Broad- 
"way."  William  Collier's  first  Keystone  release,  "Bet- 
ter Late  Than  Never,"  is  almost  ready.  He  has  the 
support  of  Mae  Busch  in  this  effort.  Fred  Mace  is 
working  on  a  story  that  concerns  an  oil  well  that  is 
expected  to  be  a  hilarity  gusher,  and  Fred  Sterlin  has 
finished  another  with  a  number  of  scenes  on  the  roof 
of  a  Los  Angeles  skyscraper.  Harry  Gribbon  and 
Mack  Swain  are  extracting  laughs  from  a  scenario  that 
makes  fun  out  of  the  instalment  plan  of  acquiring  a 
home  and  its  furnishing.  Louise  Frazends  and  Harry 
Booker  are  working  on  "Dear  Old  Dad." 


lnce  Stars  Japanese  Actress 

Henry  Woodruff  and  Tsuru  Aoki,  the  Japanese 
actress,  are  co-starred  in  "The  Beckoning  Flame,"  a 
Triangle  Kay  Bee  feature.  Music  which  is  declared 
to  compare  favorably  with  that  of  Puccini's  score  for 
"Madame  Butterfly"  has  been  composed  by  Victor 
Schertzinger,  the  musical  genius  discovered  by  Pro- 
ducer lnce,  for  the  accompaniment.  The  story  is  one 
to  inspire  the  best  efforts  of  a  composer,  it  is  said,  and 
it  is  a  tragedy  in  which  deep  heart  interest  and  strong 
•emotions  are  intermingled  with  tense  dramatic  situa- 
tions. The  scenes  are  mostly  laid  in  India  and  are  rich 
in  Oriental  atmosphere. 


Directors  Francis  J.  Grandon  and  Virtus  R.  Scott 
ran  into  trouble  when  they  tried  to  take  scenes  for  "The 
Soul  Market,"  with  Mine.  Petrova,  in  Washington. 
D.  C,  recently.  The  play  called  for  a  chase  by  motor- 
cycle policemen  after  a  big  limousine.  They  could 
not  obtain  permission  to  stage  this,  with  the  necessary 
gun  play,  until  they  gol  the  idea  of  having  real  police- 
men do  the  chasing. 


New  Comers  in  "The  Love  Liar" 

"The  Love  Liar,"  David  Horsley's  new  romantic 
drama,  now  being  made,  has  parts  for  only  two  male 
characters.  These  are  David  McCare,  a  famous  violin- 
ist, known  as  "The  Love  Liar,"  played  by  Crane  Wil- 
bur, and  Ludwig,  McCare's  valet  and  an  old  broken 
down  musician,  played  by  Fred  Goodwins.  All  the 
others  concerned  in  the  story  are  female  characters. 
Another  unusual  circumstance  is  that  all  of  the  female 
characters  are  being  played  by  actresses  who  make  in 
this  release  their  initial  bow  in  a  David  Horsley 
release.  Two  five-reel  Horsley  productions  will  be 
released  on  the  Mutual  program  within  the  next  two 
weeks.  On  Monday,  February  28,  will  be  released 
"A  Law  Unto  Himself,"  and  on  Saturday,  March  4, 
"The  Heart  of  Tara"  will  be  distributed. 


Capital  Film  Men  Dine 

Washington,  D.  C,  exchange  men  and  exhibitors 
gathered  at  a  banquet  at  the  New  Ebbitt  Thursday  night. 
Guests  included  several  members  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. Plans  looking  to  the  improvement  of  pic- 
tures to  be  shown  in  Washington,  and  other  conditions  in 
the  motion  picture  business,  were  discussed.  The  joint 
committee  in  charge  of  the  dinner  included  Frank  Spur- 
rier, Carl  F.  Senning,  L.  M.  Day,  Frank  Brown,  C.  W. 
Bunn,  Sydney  B.  Lust  and  Herbert  M.  Osborn,  repre- 
senting the  exchange  men,  and  H.  M.  Crandall,  Tom 
Moore,  Dr.  W.  P.  Herbst,  Harry  Wolf  and  Joseph  P. 
Morgan  representing  the  exhibitors. 


"Hell's  Hinges"  Real  Place 

"Hell's  Hinges,"  the  Triangle-Kay-Bee  feature, 
in  which  William  S.  Hart  is  starred,  takes  its  name 
from  the  town  in  which  the  stirring  action  of  the 
drama  takes  place.  The  village  was  known  as  Place 
Center,  Okla.,  to  those  who  were  interested  enough  to 
peruse  a  surveyor's  map  in  the  state  capital.  To  the 
majority  of  Oklahomans  it  was  known  as  "Hell's 
Hinges,"  and  every  one  wdio  could  gave  it  a  wide  berth. 
The  story  is  built  about  "Blaze"  Tracy,  the  "baddest 
bad  man  who  ever  wore  two  guns  and  a  chip  on  his 
shoulder."  C.  Gardner  Sullivan,  the  author,  brings  an 
insincere  minister  and  his  daughter  to  Hell's  Hinges. 
The  climax  is  interesting  when  the  minister  is  about 
to  flee  in  fear  of  "Blaze"  Tracy  and  the  daughter  saves 
him  from  disgrace  by  "taming"  the  bad  man. 


Eisner  in  New  Offices 

The  film  department  of  the  Western  Vaudeville 
Managers'  Association  has  moved  to  the  Mailers  build- 
ing. Chicago.  It  previously  had  been  housed  with  the 
other  offices  of  the  association  in  the  Majestic  Theater 
building.  Manager  Adolph  Eisner  now  is  prepared  to 
book  not  only  vaudeville  houses,  as  in  the  past,  but 
theaters  of  any  sort.  He  has  a  stock  of  more  than 
fifty  multiple  reel  features,  a  long  list  of  specially  se- 
lected comedies  and  a  score  or  more  of  one-reel 
travelogues,  besides  the  famous  dance  feature,  "Ade- 
laide and  Hughes  in  Modern  Dances." 


On  account  of  the  war,  films  for  shipment  abroad 
in  British  ships  must  be  packed  in  metal  fire-proof 
boxes  because  of  the  fear  of  the  inflammable  films 
starting  a  fire  in  some  ammunition  carrying  liner. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


PAUL  H.  WOODRUFF,  Editor 


NEW  YORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGACRE  BUILDING 


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THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  4,  1916 


Number  10 


False  Logic  in  the  Federal  Control  Situation 

IT  is  perfectly  clear,  we  think,  that  the  motion  picture  interests  could  have  no  objection  to  the 
creation  of  a  Federal  Motion  Picture  Commission,  similar  in  function  to  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission  and  the  Federal  Trade  Commission.  Such  a  commission,  organized  and 
operated  along  constructive  and  reasonable  lines,  might  ultimately  do  more  good  than  harm. 
But  it  must  be  distinctly  understood  that  pre-publicity  censorship  should  form  no  part  of  the 
duties  of  such  a  commission. 

That  Congress  has  the  power  to  create  a  body  of  that  kind  we  do  not  question.  That  the 
power  of  Congress  as  exercised  in  the  direction  of  interstate  commerce  laws  against  other 
industries  has  any  parallel  in  the  proposed  laws  against  the  motion  picture  industry,  we 
deny. 

Representative  Reavis  of  Nebraska  has  stated  that  "anti-trust  laws  have  been  sustained 
on  the  ground  that  the  offending  combinations  should  not  be  allowed  to  use  interstate  com- 
merce channels  because  they  were  engaged  in  a  wrong.  The  interstate  commerce  clause 
allows  Congress  to  strike  at  the  evil  in  all  the  states  by  denying  the  product  of  this  system 
to  be  sent  in  interstate  commerce.  The  power  granted  is  direct,  without  limitations  or  excep- 
tions."    Representative  Towner  of  Iowa  enters  a  similar  argument. 

Representatives  Reavis  and  Towner  are  wrong;  there  is  no  parallel.  Violators  of  inter- 
state law  are  punished  after  the  commission  of  violations;  they  are  not  enjoined  from  viola- 
tion, nor  subjected  to  pre-performance  espionage.  Congress  nor  any  commission  has  ever 
attempted  to  forestall  by  pre-censorship  the  shipment  of  impure  foods  or  drugs,  or  diseased 
cattle,  or  the  products  of  child  labor,  or  the  prevention  of  Mann  act  violations.  If  crime  is 
committed  the  law  provides  a  penalty.  It  does  not  and  cannot  provide  a  corps  of  spies  to 
observe  and  report  intentions  to  break  the  law. 

A  motion  picture  film  offered  for  pre-publicity  censorship  is  not  an  article  of  interstate 
commerce  per  se.  Until  it  has  actually  been  shipped  in  interstate  commerce  no  federal  com- 
mission has  any  jurisdiction  whatever  over  it.  After  it  enters  interstate  commerce  it  may  or 
may  not  be  found  to  violate  the  law.  The  proposal  of  the  Hughes  and  similar  bills  is  to  try 
each  film  for  a  crime  which  it  cannot  commit  until  after  such  trial.  We  deny  that  the  federal 
government  has  jurisdiction  until  violation  of  its  interstate  laws  has  actually  been  committed. 

We  would  not  deny  the  power  of  &  federal  commission  to  prohibit  the  transportation  of 
anything  injurious  to  public  morals.  We  believe  that  is  a  beneficent  provision  of  our  law- 
makers. We  do  deny  the  power  of  such  a  commission  to  deliver  an  advance  ruling  to  elimi- 
nate articles  which,  IF  they  were  offered  in  interstate  commerce,  MIGHT  be  convicted  of 
law-breaking.     We  trust  our  argument  is  clear. 

It  is  a  fundamental  principle  of  law  that  the  commission  of  a  crime  may  not  be  enjoined. 
Yet  that  is  what  federal  censorship  bills  try  to  do,  as  Representative  Dallinger  of  Massachu- 
setts has  kindly  pointed  out. 

We  think  the  whole  argument  on  censor  bills  pivots  properly  on  this  point.    Anything  so 


530  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 

illogical  as  pre-performance  control ;  anything  so  suspiciously  lacking  in  precedent,  in  spite  of 
the  volume  of  apparently  parallel  laws;  anything  which  so  reverses  the  operations  of  all  other 
laws,  must  necessarily  be  unconstitutional. 


Getting  Into  Politics 


A  MANUFACTURER  of  films  running  for  Congress  and  an  exhibitor  candidate  for  Chi- 
cago alderman  are  evidences  of  a  new  activity.  Doubtless  there  are  others  of  the  industry 
who  are  entering  the  political  arena,  or  at  least  revolving  the  idea  occasionally  in  the  back  of 
their  heads. 

Members  of  the  motion  picture  trade  who  are  temperamentally  equipped  for  political  life 
can  do  their  industry  no  greater  good  than  to  represent  it  in  the  councils  of  law-making 
bodies. 

This,  the  fifth  industry,  has  less  political  representation  than  any  other  big  business.  In 
the  federal  censorship  crisis  there  is  no  congressman  who  has  the  interests  of  the  film  business 
at  heart.  In  censor-ridden  Chicago  not  one  member  of  the  city  council  cares  what  happens  to 
the  picture  business. 

Yet  Congress,  and  the  state  legislatures,  and  the  city  councils,  have  the  power  to  make  the 
laws  that  regulate  and  rule  and  ruin  the  industry.  And  the  one  big  reason  why  they  have  been 
able,  so  far,  to  get  away  with  it  is  because  the  picture  business  is  not  in  politics. 

There  are  a  good  many  big  industries  that  do  not  really  need  political  connections.  The 
picture  business  is  not  one  of  them.  It  touches  directly  the  lives  of  the  people,  whose  welfare 
and  morals  the  politicians  aim  to  "protect."  That  is  the  kind  of  situation  that  delights  the 
heart  of  the  law-maker.  If  any  business  needs  representatives  in  Congress  and  legislatures 
and  councils  it  is  the  motion  picture  business. 

Professional  politics  does  not  in  itself  promise  any  reward  equal  to  the  rewards  of  devo- 
tion to  the  film  business.  Picture  men  who  enter  the  political  game  will  gain  no  more  for 
their  personal  interests  than  they  gain  for  the  interests  of  their  competitors.  For  that  reason 
the  situation  has  nothing  to  do  with  business  competition.  Every  member  of  the  fifth  indus- 
try should  support  the  aspirants  to  political  position  to  the  last  ounce  of  effort,  personally  or 
on  their  screens. 

The  election  of  David  Horsley  to  Congress  is  a  foregone  conclusion  if  all  the  motion  pic- 
ture people  help  to  put  him  there.  His  devotion  to  their  interests  is  assured  if  he  gets  the 
seat. 

There  is  no  room  for  question  as  to  the  importance  of  recognizing  his  claim  to  the 
honor  and  his  ability  to  do  all  that  a  man  on  the  inside  could  do  to  straighten  out  the  tangles 
of  official  misunderstanding  and  interference. 

Down  in  Chicago's  sixth  ward,  where  Aaron  Jones  is  running  for  alderman,  there  are 
thirty-nine  picture  theaters,  for  it  is  a  large  ward.  None  of  these  theaters  is  directly  con- 
trolled by  Jones,  Linick  and  Schaefer  at  the  present  time,  so  the  theory  of  business  competi- 
tion does  not  enter. 

Virtually  all  the  theaters  in  the  ward  are  running  slides  with  each  show  announcing  the 
candidacy  of  Mr.  Jones — which  is  good  co-operation.  But — most  of  them  are  also  running 
the  slides  of  Alderman  Nance,  the  opposition.  That  neutralizes  the  co-operation  and  makes 
it  of  little  value. 

In  most  cases  a  theater  owner  would  be  foolish  to  take  sides  in  local  politics.  But  in 
this  case,  if  ever,  the  exhibitors  would  be  justified  in  giving  their  unqualified  support  to  the 
member  of  their  own  profession. 

It  is  reported  that  Mr.  Jones  has  a  fair  chance  of  success.  Why  not  make  it  an  assurance 
of  success  by  giving  all  possible  aid  to  his  effort,  thereby  providing  at  least  one  city  father  who 
would  work  for  the  freedom  of  the  theaters? 


Makch  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"Poor  Little  Peppina" 

Seven-Part  Famous  Players-Paramount  Drama 
Reviewed  by  Charles  R.  Condon 

THOSE  who  believe  that  Mary  Pickford  has  pouted  her  way 
to  fame  and  plaintively  smiled  a  path  to  success  will  find, 
after  viewing  "Poor  Little  Peppina,"  that  their  opinions  regard- 
ing her  method  of  reaching  the  highest  pinnacle  in  filmdom 
were  formed  without  perspective  and  are  sadly  in  need  of  read- 
justment. Possibly  there  are  no  such  decisions  extant.  So  much 
the  better  then  if  film  connoisseurs  have  not  yet  endeavored  to 
outline  Mary's  talents,  for  "Peppina"  will  show  them  an  angle 
of  her  interpretations  which  has  lain  dormant  until  now. 

The  play  has  several  features  which  place  it  in  a  wholly  dif- 
ferent classification  from  previous  Famous  Players  productions 
of  Mary  Pickford  distinction.  Vieing  for  prominence  among 
these  are  its  length  and  locale.  The  former's  claim  rests  upon 
the  fact  that  "Peppina"  marks  Mary's  first  appearance  in  a  pic- 
ture of  more  than  five  parts,  and  the  latter's,  upon  this  being  her 
initial  portrayal  of  a  Latin  Character.  It  is  in  seven  parts,  and 
opened  this  week  at  the  Broadway  Theater  to  an  unusually  in- 
terested and  clamorous  attendance.  It  is  understood  that  the 
play  will  later  be  cut  to  five  parts  for  general  distribution  on  the 
Paramount  Program. 

The  locale  of  the  story  is  Italian.  In  the  early  part  this 
is  found  in  Italy,  and  later,  in  a  part  of  New  York  which  is 
Italian  in  everything  that  it  can  be,  and  there  are  few  intruding 
elements  there.  Director  Sidney  Olcott's  familiarity  with  Italian 
customs,  architecture,  and  peasant  environments  meets  every  re- 
quirement for  the  instilling  of  real  atmosphere  and  goes  out  of 
its  way  at  times  to  furnish  scenic  beauty  and  native  character- 
istics which  make  for  well-balanced  direction. 

In  theme,  too,  "Poor  Little  Peppina"  differs  from  most  late 
Pickford  pictures.  The  story,  by  Kate  Jordan,  has  a  cast  of 
strong  and  important  parts.  Most  prominent  of  these,  of  course, 
is  the  one  in  which  Mary  is  seen,  but  in  being  foremost  it  does 
not  relegate  the  others  to  obscurity.  Peppina  shares  the  lime- 
light with  several  others  with  whom  she  comes  in  contact,  giving 
the  impression  of  being  the  top  unit  of  a  literary  pyramid. 

Surmounting  a  structure  firmly  built  from  the  base  to  the  tip. 
Peppina  is  a  great  deal  more  interesting  and  pleasing  than  if  her 
part  were  suspended  away  above  all  of  the  others.  And  this  does 
not  detract  from  the  individual  charms  or  opportunities  of  the 
star.  The  difference  lies  in  the  fact  that  instead  of  her  ability 
being  paraded,  it  is  seen  in  situations  which  lack  all  semblance  of 
being  played  up  to. 

Peppina's  success  in  masquerading  for  months  as  a  boy  seems 
out  of  the  natural  order  of  things.  But  probably  it  is  the  lack  of 
interest  which  everyone  but  the  spectators  have  in  the  little  wan- 
derer which  allows  her  to  keep  femininity  disguised  in  a  spacious 
suit  of  clothes,  the  trousers  of  which  form  in  impressive  folds  at 
her  shoe  tops  in  front  and  try  to  get  under  her  sloping  heels 
in  the  back.  Crowning  this  extravagant  display  of  wardrobe  is 
an  admired  and  petted  derby  which  descends  to  Peppina's  nose 
upon  the  slightest  provocation  and  hovers  just  above  her  eye- 
brows when  undisturbed. 

The  humor  and  pathos  which  might  be  aroused  by  this  piti- 
ful little  figure  has  received  full  recognition  by  Miss  Pickford  in 
her  wonderful  characterization  of  this  little  girl  who,  of  Amer- 
ican parentage,  is  as  Italian  as  the  rest  of  them  in  her  expres- 
sion and  gestures.  The  explosive  Latin  temperament  with  its 
fleeting  changes  from  calm  to  storm  furnishes  a  lot  of  simple 
fun  in  the  scene  in  which  Peppina  and  Beppo  wrangle  at  bocci, 
a  native  Italian  game. 

Antonio  Maiori  and  Ernesto  Torti  are  effective  it}  the  parts 
of  Soldo  and  Pietro,  inspiring  fear  and  dislike  as  the  kidnappers 
or  Robert  Torrens'  (Edwin  Mordant)  baby  girl  whom  thev  place 
in  the  family  of  Dominica  where  she  is  raised  as  Beppo's  little 
sister.  Jack  Pickford  is  good  as  the  boy.  Practicallv  sold  to  a 
man  she  hates,  Peppina,  in  boy's  clothes,  hides  in  the  "hold  of  an 
American  bound  vessel. 

In  New  York  the  runaway  falls  into  the  hands  of  Soldo  and 
Pietro,  who  now  own  a  saloon  on  the  East  Side.  They,  of 
course,  do  not  know  her,  as  fifteen  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
kidnapping.^  The  little  ragamuffin  innocently  becomes  a  party  in 
the  circulation  of  some  counterfeit  money,  and  is  later  arrested. 
The  case  falls  to  Hugh  Carroll,  the  assistant  district  attorney.  He 
recognizes  Peppina  as  the  stowaway  to  whom  he  took  a  liking 
on  the  ship  and  whose  fare  he  paid  across. 


Through  Peppina's  information.  Soldo  and  Pietro  are  taken 
on  the  charge  of  coining  money.  The  whole  story  then  comes 
out,  and  Carroll  restores  Peppina  to  her  parents  who  have  since 
returned  to  New  York.  The  friendship  between  the  girl  and 
Carroll  develops  into  love  and  the  story  closes  with  their  becom- 
ing engaged. 

In  the  balance  of  the  cast  are  Edith  Shayne  as  Mrs.  Tor- 
rens, Cesare  Gravina  as  Villato,  W.  T.  Carleton  as  the  detective 
chief,  N.  Cervi  as  Dominica,  Mrs.  A.  Maiori  as  Btanca,  and 
Francesca  Guerra  as  the  stoker. 


"The  Heart  of  New  York" 

Claridge   Films,   Inc.,   Drama   Featuring  Robert  T. 
Haines.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  first  production  to  be  released  by  Claridge  Films,  Inc., 
*  "The  Heart  of  New  York,"  features  Robert  T.  Haines,  who 
is  well  known  on  the  speaking  stage,  in  a  role  that  suits  him 
well.  Either  the  part  suits  his  style  of  acting  or  he  fits  himself 
into  his  part,  because  the  performance  he  renders  is  most  satis- 
factory. 

Both  the  title  of  the  picture  and  the  fact  that  it  is  offered 
as  a  sequel  to  "Traffic  in  Souls"  give  a  clear  idea  of  the  type 
of  story  this   is.     New  York's  heart  is  in  this  story  painted  in 


colors  which  are  not  calculated  to  leave  one  with  any  great 
amount  of  love  for  New  York.  But  then  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  unpleasant  things  which  the  story  depicts  are  not 
confined  to   New  York. 

Graft  and  vice  and  low  characters  are  to  lie  found  in  other 
cities.  Of  course,  "The  Heart  of  New  York"  does  not  concern 
itself  entirely  with  wicked  people ;  the  young  lawyer  and  the 
editor  of  the  newspaper  which  fights  the  grafters  are  fine  types 
of  manhood  and  they  come  out  victorious  in  the  story,  as  their 
living  models  will  triumph  in  New  York  and  other  places,  some 
day. 

The  picture  is  continuously  interesting  and  there  are  some 
melodramatic  situations  that  bring  the  interest  to  a  high  pitch. 
Judged  strictly  as  a  play,  "The  Heart  of  New  York"  is  not  all 
that  it  might  be.  There  are  developments  that  do  not  convince, 
and  owing  to  the  number  of  characters  who  play  an  important 
part  in  the  plot,  there  is  much  quick  changing  of  scene  and 
lines  of  action.  The  various  threads  of  the  story  are  brought 
together  quite  skillfully  in  the  end,  however,  and  the  offering 
as  a  whole  is  commendable  and  it  will  satisfy  generally,  chiefly 
because  it  sustains  the  interest  so  well. 

The  central  character  in  the  story  is  William  Madden,  the 
son  of  working  people  who  live  on  the  East  Side.  He  works 
his  way  through  college  and  is  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  sister 
is  kidnaped  by  Victor  Brown,  whose  father  is  a  prominent 
politician.  The  politician  collects  a  huge  revenue  from  gambling 
places  and  establishments  of  all  kinds.  Victor,  unknown  to  his 
father,  is  a  constant  visitor  to  one  of  his  father's  low  resorts. 
It  is  here  that  Victor  takes  the  girl,  who  would  not  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  him  after  she  learned  his  real  intentions. 

Mary   is   saved   by  a   discarded   toy  of   Victor's.     This   girl 


532 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


leaves  the  house  and  notifies  Bill  Madden.  He  rescues  his  sister. 
Madden  gains  popularity  with  the  people  of  his  neighborhood 
and  Brown  begins  to  fear  him.  The  politician  hires  a  gunman 
to  put  this  reformer  out  of  the  way.  While  Bill  is  struggling 
with  Victor,  who  has  insulted  the  daughter  of  the  editor,  the 
shot  is  fired  and  Victor  killed.  Madden  is  held  for  the  murder, 
tut  he  is  acquitted  when  the  gunman  confesses.  The  exposure 
of  his  crime  so  shocks  Brown  that  he  dies  from  a  heart  attack. 
In  the  closing  scene  Madden  and  the  editor's  daughter  become 
engaged. 

The  story  and  the  direction  are  by  Walter  MacNamara.  Mr. 
MacNamara,  it  will  be  remembered,  has  produced  some  highly 
successful  photoplays  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  this,  his  latest 
production,  will  meet  with  success.  The  story  is  realistically 
staged  and  the  photography  good. 


"The  Blacklist" 

Lasky-Paramount  Labor  Drama  Featuring  Blanch 
Sweet.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  latest  Lasky  offering  brings  us  once  more  in  touch  with 
■l  the  struggle  which  has  for  years  gone,  and  continues  to  go 
on,  between  capital  and  labor.  "The  Blacklist"  of  course,  offers 
no  solution,  but  it  deals  with  the  subject  in  a  manner  that  is 
"both  intelligent  and  convincing.  Perhaps  we  have  never  seen 
capital  and  labor  fight  their  battles  on  the  screen  so  realistically. 
It  is  not  unusual  to  see  plays  dealing  with  this  question  or 
condition  in  which  either  the  capitalist  or  the  laborer  it  put  in 


an  impossible  light.  Either  the  capitalist  is  hopelessly  greedy  or 
the  laborer  is  a  malcontent  for  reasons  that  are  never  clearly 
explained.  In  these  particulars  "The  Blacklist"  differs  from  the 
average ;  for  the  capitalist  is  quite  human  and  the  conditions 
which  cause  the  workers  to  grumble  about  slavery  and  oppression 
are  depicted  convincingly. 

The  story  takes  its  title  from  a  practice  of  organized  capital 
to  list  the  names  of  workers  who  will  not  submit  to  rules,  even 
if  those  rules  infringe  upon  their  own  rights.  Once  on  the 
"Blacklist"  these  laborers  cannot  hope  to  secure  employment  for 
their  particular  skill  with  other  companies.  In  "The  Blacklist" 
the  mine  workers  and  the  mine  owners  are  concerned.  The  story 
really  subordinates  the  labor  strife  to  the  romance  of  the  capi- 
talist and  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  workers.  "The  Blacklist" 
becomes  a  romantic  love  story  ere  it  has  gone  very  far.  But 
surely  it  is  an  engrossing  love  story. 

Blanch  Sweet  in  the  role  of  Vera  Maroff,  the  daughter  of  one 
of  the  leaders  of  the  "red  brotherhood"  and  herself  a  member 
and  ardent  worker  for  their  cause,  is  seen  to  marked  advantage. 
She  is  effective  and  real  in  all  her  scenes.  Charles  Clary  as  War- 
ren  rlarcourt,  the  capitalist,  is  also  highly  effective.  In  fact,  the 
entire  cast  is  splendid,  and  while  there  is  truth  in  the  saying  that 
good  toi  ies  make  good  actors,  the  players  in  this  picture  deserve 
personal  credit. 

The  story  is  by  Marion  Fairfax  and  William  C.  De  Mille, 
and  for  their  efforts  in  writing  such  a  thoroughly  good  pla\  one 
can  have  nothing  hut  admiration.  Mr.  De  Mille  is  entitled  to 
praise  on  another  scon  and  thai  is  his  direction.  The  photogra- 
phy and  the  production  both  arc  of  high  standard.  "The  Black- 
list" is  a  mighty  interesting  picture 


"The  Shrine  of  Happiness" 

Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play  Presented  in  Natural  Colors 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

BECAUSE  of  the  pretty  color  treatment  it  has  received  at 
Pathe's  Paris  studio,  "The  Shrine  of  Happiness"  will  in  all 
probability  be  enjoyed  by  the  majority.  Pathecolor  in  this  case 
proves  itself  more  important  than  anything  else  connected  with 
the  production.  This  may  seem  strange,  but  it  is  the  truth ;  for 
the  natural  colors,  which  are  liked,  and  greatly  so  by  the  many, 
make  "The  Shrine  of  Happiness"  all  that  it  is.  The  story  pre- 
tends to  be  nothing  more  than  a  vehicle  for  Jackie  Saunders. 
Miss  Saunders  appeals  in  the  "sweet  little  girl"  type  of  role. 

These  stories  put  everything  up  to  the  actress.  It  is  for  her 
to  win  the  spectators'  sympathy  and  hold  it,  in  which  event  one 
is  pleased  and  interested  at  such  times  as  when  the  innocent  little 
girl  gives  vent  to  impatience  or  even  ill-temper.  If  the  actress 
fails  to  create  a  favorable  impression,  these  things  are  very  likely 
to  strike  one  as  being  inane,  and  hoidenish  acts  instead  of  being 
charming  are  simply  the  acts  of  a  hoiden,  and  nobody  has  any 
patience  with  boorishness.  If  Miss  Saunders'  personality  is 
charming,  and  it  is  not  for  any  one  person  to  say  whether  or  not 
that  is  the  case,  then  "The  Shrine  of  Happiness"  will  entertain. 
To  be  truthful,  though,  it  must  be  said  that  Miss  Saunders  has 
been  given  flimsy  material  with  which  to  work. 

After  her  father's  death  Marie  goes  to  live  with  Richard 
Clark  and  his  brother.  The  Clarks  are  both  bachelors.  In 
time  both  are  in  love  with  her  and  she  is  in  love  with  the  elder. 
The  younger  proposes  marriage,  but  Marie  refuses.  When  she 
understands  from  Richard  that  he  would  be  pleased  if  she 
married  Ted,  she  consents. 

Richard  does  this  to  further  his  brother's  happiness  in  the 
first  place,  and  in  the  second  he  feels  that  he  is  too  old  to  marry 
the  girl.  On  the  wedding  day,  however,  Ted  learns  the  true 
state  of  affairs  and  he  disappears,  leaving  a  note  urging  his 
brother  and  Marie  to  marry  and  find  the  happiness  that  is  right- 
fully theirs. 

The  staging  is  satisfactory  in  the  detail  of  all  the  settings 
and  all  the  scenes  are  attractively  colored.  William  Qonklin  in 
the  role  of  Richard  renders  a  particularly  good  performance 
and  he  easily  earns  a  large  share  of  the  honors  accruing  to  the 
cast.  Paul  Gilmore  is  the  younger  brother.  He  has  not  a  great 
deal  to  do  and  the  part  throughout  does  not  seem  to  suit  him. 


"The  Pawn  of  Fate" 

World  Film  Corporation.     Five  Parts.     Reviewed  by 
Hugh  Hoffman 

THE  perils  of  trifling  with  the  affections  of  a  Normandy 
peasant's  wife  are  herein  set  forth  in  vivid  fashion.  While 
extremely  simple  in  theme,  this  is  one  of  the  prettiest  features  of 
European  life,  by  an  American  company,  that  has  been  offered 
in  a  long  while.  With  George  Beban  and  Doris  Kenyon  in  the 
leading  parts,  it  goes  without  saying  that  the  roles  of  the  Nor- 
mandy peasant  and  his  wife  are  perfection. 

George  Beban  has  played  Italian  and  French  parts  so  many 
years  that  the  ways  of  the  Latins  are  second  nature  to  him. 
He  has  done  this  sort  of  thing  so  long  that  he  actually  does  his 
thinking  in  dialect.  Those  who  have  heard  him  tell  his  Italian 
and  French  stories  marvel  when  they  learn  that  he  cannot  speak 
a  word  of  French  or  Italian.  He  has  made  a  deep  study  of 
European  types  without  making  a  study  of  the  languages.  So 
far  as  the  motion  pictures  are  concerned,  the  language  doesn't 
matter  much  anyhow,  therefore,  Mr.  Beban  shines  in  the  picture 
because  he  can  express  himself,  as  all  Latin  peoples  do,  with  his 
hands.  This  story  he  wrote  by  himself,  for  himself,  and  of  him- 
self.    And  for  that  reason  it  "fits  him  to  a  nicety. 

Some  of  the  exterior  scenes  in  this  photoplay  are  exquisite.  It 
is  difficult  to  remember  in  an  American  production  so  many 
artistic  exterior  locations.  Maurice  Tournier,  the  director,  surely 
knows  the  artistic  value  of  a  flock  of  sheep,  and  of  barnyard  crea- 
tures in  general.  The  use  of  sheep,  cows,  horses,  chickens,  etc., 
combined  with  picturesque  dwellings  is  in  itself  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal  merits   of   this   production. 

The  picture  goes  along  for  nearly  half  its  length  rambling 
from  one  beautiful  scene  to  another,  telling  a  simple  story  of 
peasant  life  in  peaceful  Normandy.  It  is  all  so  delightful  that 
we  do  not  care  whether  there  is  a  plot  or  not,  because  the  he- 
holder  is  lost  in  the  spell  of  fascination  that  nature  uses  to  make 
the  whole  world  kin.  There  are  a  number  of  scenes  where  no 
human  being  appears.  Just  a  shepherd  dog.  doing  his  work 
rounding  up  the  sheep,  and  making  them  keep  together.  Part  ^i 
the  time   we  see  little  black   pigs  rooting   around   in  the  barnyard, 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


'533 


and  the  spectator  becomes  as  deeply  absorbed  in  th 
as  in  the  most  dramatic  scenes. 

Somewhere,  after  the  middle  is  passed,  the  plot  begins  to 
thicken.  The  villain,  who  is  not  so  very  villainous,  appears  on 
the  scene  as  an  artist.  The  farmer's  pretty  wife  does  not  fall  im- 
mediately in  love  with  him  as  she  does  in  so  many  stories.  Nor 
does  friend  villain  attempt  to  lead  her  from  the  path  of  virtue. 
He  gets  acquainted  with  them  by  accident,  and  it  is  only  when  he 
discovers  that  the  young  farmer  has  a  talent  for  drawing  that 
he  induces  them  to  go  to  the  city  with  him  so  that  the  farmer 
may  profit  by  his  instructions. 

Later  it  develops  that  the  artist's  real  motive  was  to  steal 
the  affections  of  the  pretty  wife.  To  keep  the  game  going  nicely, 
lie  does  some  publicity  work  for  the  yokel,  and  Paris  is  agog 
over  the  discovery  of  a  new  genius.  This  is  all  a  cruel  mockery, 
for  when  the  countryman's  picture  is  finished,  and  the  private 
■exhibition  takes  place,  the  unveiling  of  the  picture  reveals  a  piece 
of  amateur  painting  that  is  really  funny.  The  rustic  mind  of  the 
painter  has  gone  back  to  his  beloved  sheep,  and  dogs  and  cows, 
and  his  picture  represents  them  in  weird  fashion.  His  sheep 
look  like  toy  sheep  that  are  seen  in  store  windows  at  Christmas 
time.  The  trees  have  the  appearance  of  being  sawed  out  of 
wood,  and  the  composition  is  such  as  one  might  look  for  on  a 
rug,  designed  for  a  children's  playroom,  with  domestic  animals 
as  motif.  The  poor  farmer's  simple  heart  is  crushed  at  the  rid- 
icule, but  he  descends  further  into  the  depths  when  he  finds  his 
wife  in  the  embrace  of  the  smooth  villain.  She  isn't  altogether 
willing-,  but  is  sufficiently  so  to   start  a  pretty  good   fight  with 


any  doubt.  The  play  seems  rather  rough,  unfinished,  but 
perhaps  for  that  it  is  all  the  more  forceful. 

The  extremes  of  society  are  shown  and  contrasted 
sharply,  the  inhabitants  of  the  half-world  who  come  to  the 
"Hall  of  Humanity,"  a  charitable  institution,  and  the  wealthy 
people  in  their  beautiful  homes.  Both  are  known  to  the  hero, 
Donald  Harvey,  played  by  Lewis  Cody.  He  is  introduced 
as  a  man  of  mystery,  for  he  regularly  receives  from  an  un- 
known source  a  large  sum  of  money  which  he  is  to  devote 
to  some  good  cause.  Donald  gives  the  money  to  "The  Hall 
of  Humanity,"  which  is  kept  up  by  the  wealthy  people  of  the 
city.  They  notice  the  large  and  regular  contributions  of  this 
youth  and  decide  that  he  must  be  a  wealthy  man  in  hiding, 
or  testing  some  queer  scheme,  and  they  at  once  lionize  him. 
All  their  homes  are  open  to  him  and  fond  mothers  bring 
their  young  daughters  to  his  attention.  At  last  he  becomes 
engaged,  almost  against  his  will,  to  Winnifred  Howe,  a 
daughter  of  wealth. 

Donald,  through  it  all,  keeps  his  poise,  and  continues  his 
good  work  in  the  slums.  He  and  the  Reverend  Giles  Kellogg 
and  the  latter's  daughter,  Dorothy,  try  to  help  the  unfortunate 
through  the  mission.  In  trying  to  save  a  woman  from  her 
own  evil  habits,  Donald  arouses  her  wrath,  and  she  tells  him 
'  that  he  is  only  a  child  of  the  slums  himself,  and  an  illegiti- 
mate one  at  that.  Then  she  is  overcome  with  grief  at  her 
revelation,  but  the  evil  is  done.  She  tells  the  boy  the  whole 
story,  of  his  mother's  death,  and  of  his  being  placed  in  an 
asylum.  The  story  of  the  woman's  revelation  reaches  the 
•  ears   of  a  man   high   in   society  and  causes  him  much  alarm. 

After  this  the  mysterious  contributions  cease  and  pay- 
ments on  Donald's  checks  are  stopped  at  the  banks.  This  is 
the  report  which  causes  alarm  in  the  homes  of  his  wealthy 
friends,  particularly  in  Winnifred's  home.  Making  the  fact 
of  his  birth  an  excuse,  the  parents  break  off  the  engagement, 
and  the  other  people  order  Donald  to  sever  his  connection 
with  ''The  Hall  of  Humanity."  Only  the  minister,  Kellogg, 
and  his  daughter  stand  by  him. 

Then  comes  the  earthquake,  and  spectacular  scenes  of 
its  destructive  work..  Donald  comes  through  the  wreck 
alive,  but  in  another  part  of  the  city  the  wealthy  man  who  had 
been  interested  in  Donald,  dies.  Later  a  will  is  found  leaving 
all  his  property  to  Donald  and  acknowledging  him  as  his  son. 
Then  the  society  people  again  flock  about  Donald,  but  he 
turns  from  them  to  Dorothy,  the  daughter  of  the  minister. 
The  point  emphasized  in  the  play  is  that,  while  Donald's 
illegitimacy  was  made  the  excuse  to  denounce  him,  his  lack 
of  money  was  the  real  cause.  For  when  he  is  again  wealthy 
they  forget  the  bar  sinister. 

George  O.  Nichols  has  directed  the  play,  the  cast  of 
which  includes  Eugenie  Besserer  as  Winnifred's  ambitious 
mother,  Virginia  Kirtley  as  Winnifred,  Marion  Warner  as 
Dorothy,  and  Fred  Hearne  as  the  minister. 


swords,  taken  from  the  studio  wall.  The  villain  nearly  dies  as 
aresult  of  the  encounter.  All  he  got  for  his  money  was  a  stingy 
hiss  from  the  farmer's  wife  who  went  back  to  live  with  her 
husband  and  sheep,  dogs,  cattle,  etc.,  all  hands  supposedly  living 
happy  ever  after. 

There  isn't  much  to  this  story.  It  is  decidedly  primitive,  and 
is  capable  of  being  summed  up  in  ten  words  if  necessary.  Yet 
in  the  way  Mr.  Tournier  has  staged  it,  the  thing  has  been  put 
together  in  five  charming,  delightful  reels,  and  it  doesn't  seem  a 
particle  too  long.  All  the  parts  are  skillfully  played,  particularly 
the  heavy  part  by  John  Davidson  whose  work  is  neat  and  clever. 
There  is  a  timid  attempt  at  the  opening  of  the  story  to  introduce 
a  nude  model.  One  can  almost  visualize  the  director  trembling 
in  fear  of  the  board  of  censors,  and  yet  wishing  to  get  some 
real  atmosphere  into  his  Parisian  studio'  scene. 

The  photography  is  extraordinary  in  quite  a  number  of  in- 
stances. The  photographer's  name  is  not  available,  which  is  a 
pity,  because  he  deserves  mention. 


"The  Grinning  Skull" 

Selig  Three-Reel  Feature  Released  February  28. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve   Harris 

THE  title  and  the  dissolve  which  opens  this  release  strike 
1  the  keynote  of  the  bitter  cynicism  of  the  play.  Beyond 
that,  the  title  has  little  to  do  with  the  story.  It  is  an  odd 
play,  oddly  produced,  but  effective.  Much  is  crowded  into 
three  reels,  and  until  the  end  of  the  play  we  are  not  sure 
what  it   is  all  about,   but  we  get   the   author's   point  without 


"The  Adventures  of  Kathlyn" 

Revival  of  the  Selig  Serial  in  Ten-Reel  Form,  Chicago. 
Reviewed   by   Genevieve    Harris 

T  HE  Selig  Polyscope  Company  has  performed  a  most  in- 
*■  teresting  experiment  in  this  revival  in  condensed  form 
of  its  earliest  serial.  A  novel  condensed  to  a  short  story  is 
a  difficult  and  frequently  unsatisfactory  piece  of  work,  yet  in 
doing  it  the  writer  is  permitted  to  use  any  words  and  ex- 
planations he  chooses  to  retell  the  story.  In  condensing  a 
photoplay,  the  original  scenes,  the  original  situations,  must 
be  used.  Cutting  and  shifting  of  scenes  is  the  only  method 
of  change.     It  becomes  a  question  of  selection  alone. 

The  result  of  this  first  condensation,  in  which  a  twenty- 
seven  reel  story  is  put  into  ten  reels,  is  surprisingly  good. 
There  are  no  apparent  gaps  in  the  tale,  nor  is  it  unduly 
rushed.  These  perhaps  are  the  first  things  to  be  guarded 
against.  The  thread  of  the  story  is  clear,  and  while  its  action 
is,  of  course,  very  rapid,  the  characters  and  situations  are  in- 
troduced properly  and  the  element  of  suspense  is  handled 
very  well. 

In  fact,  so  artistic  is  the  arrangements  of  the  play  that 
one  continually  forgets  that  it  was  not  originally  shown  in 
this  form  and  begins  to  judge  it  according  to  the  standards 
of  the  big  feature  dramas  produced  more  recently.  And 
the  play  stands  up  well  under  the  comparison.  One  adverse 
criticism,  judging  the  play  by  these  high  standards,  is  that 
since  the  most  exciting  incidents  of  each  episode  have  been 
used,  the  tension  if  the  play  is  so  great  throughout  that  it 
becomes  almost  too  much  before  the  ten  reels  are  over.  By 
the  time  Winnie  is  rescued,  in  one  of  the  best  acts  of  the 
play,  we  feel  that  the  sisters  have  had  all  the  excitement  they 


534 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


and  we  can  stand,  and  the  following  reels,  describing  the  dis- 
covery and  death  of  the  real  king,  and  the  purchase  of  free- 
dom from  the  throne,  lose  much  of  their  interest  on  this  ac- 
count. 

Another  criticism  is  that,  while  the  story,  that  is  the 
events,  are  clear,  the  motives  of  the  characters  are  not  always 
so  and  their  actions  frequently  seem  inconsistent.  This  would 
be  a  more  serious  defect  in  another  kind  of  play  but  in  this 
story  where  adventure  and  not  character  counts,  with  the 
use  of  a  little  imagination  one  can  get  over  this  difficulty. 

The  condensation  emphasises  two  strong  points  of  the 
original  production.  One  is  the  beauty  of  the  settings.  The 
other  is  the  excellent  work  of  Kathlyn  Williams.  This  ar- 
rangement, where  the  most  dramatic  points  are  brought  close 
together,  gives  Miss  Williams  the  center  of  the  stage  most 
of  the  time,  a  severe  test  of  her  ability  to  hold  the  attention, 
and  Miss  Williams  stands  the  test  beautifully.  Ten  reels  of 
action  by  a  less  talented  actress  would  certainly  become  very 
tiresome.  But  Miss  Williams  has,  besides  personal  magnet- 
ism, a  quiet  skill  which  gives  her  work  a  uniform  quality,  a 
touch  of  sincerity  from  the  first  scene  to  the  last.  There  is 
a  freedom  from  affectation,  from  annoying  mannerisms, 
which  is  most  pleasing. 

The  revival  of  the  play  opened  at  the  Fine  Arts  Theater 
in  Chicago  February  19.  While  no  definite  arrangements 
have  been  made  regarding  its  release  throughout  the  coun- 
try, the  Selig  company  expects  that  the  production  will  arouse 
the  interest  of  exhibitors  generally,  both  because  of  the  nov- 
elty and  the  quality  of  the  offering.  It  is  certainly  worth 
seeing,  both  by  those  who  followed  the  original  serial  and 
those  who  did  not. 


rison,  through  devised  circumstantial  evidence,  has  Eloise's 
father  convicted  of  murder  and  jailed.  Grey,  who  is  upon  the 
bench,  is  forced  to  pass  sentence  upon  his  sweetheart's  father. 
The  lovers  still  believe  in  each  other,  but  Eloise  refuses  to 
marry  with  the  stain  upon  her  father's  name. 

Without  dwelling  on  all  the  circumstances  which  bring  it 
about,  suffice  it  to  say  that  about  five  years  later  the  supposed 
murdered  man  reappears  and,  when  his  identity  is  established, 
Eloise's  father  is  released.  James  Harrison,  to  whom  all  the 
trouble  is  traceable,  comes  at  last  to  judgment. 


"Embers" 

Five-Reel   American   Mutual   Masterpicture   Released 
March  2-    Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

"~Y  HIS  release  begins  distinctly  as  a  "problem"  play,  the 
■*•  problem  being  set  forth  very  frankly  at  the  beginning. 
While  the  first  few  scenes  and  subtitles  may  startle  an  audi- 
ence  which   expects   thrillers   and   comedies   only  on   its   pic- 


"I  Accuse" 

Five-Reel    Gaumont    Mutual    Masterpicture    Released 
February  21.     Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

A  LEXANDER  GADEN  and  Helen  Marten  feature  in  this 
**■  Gaumont  Masterpicture  a  picture  with  numerous  dra- 
matic incidents  and  a  liberal  amount  of  the  heart-interest 
element.  A  large  cast,  prominent  in  which,  besides  those 
heading  it,  are  Charles  Travis,  Henry  Pemberton  and  John 
Reinhard,  works  together  effectively.  Alexander  Gaden  has 
the  task  of  impersonating  a  dignified  young  judge,  a  part 
into  which  he  fits  admirably,  while  Helen  Marten  does  well 
with  the  impersonation  of  Eloise,  Reverend  Landman's 
daughter. 

The  story  appears  to  be  susceptible  of  greater  results  than 
are  obtained.  The  first  two  reels  or  so  are  very  well  produced 
but  thereafter  the  dramatic  grip  loses  its  steady  hold  now  and 
again,  due  in  part  to  lack  of  explanation  of  certain  motives 
at  the  right  time,  the  insertion  of  some  unnecessary  detailed 
action  and  a  protracted  lead-up  to  the  final  climax.  The 
seemingly  hopeless  love  affair  which  runs  all  the  way  through 
the  story  serves  to  create  suspense  and  quicken  the  interest. 
The    photography    is   uniformly    good,    as    is    the    art   of   that 


which  is  photographed.    The  play  makes  a  very  good  offering, 

but  one  not  as  dramatically  forcible  as  its  name  suggests. 

The  story  begins  with  the  wholesome  hatred  which  James 
Harrison  has  against  his  successful  rival  in  love,  young  Judge 
Grey,  and  the   means   he  determines   upon    for  revenge.      Hat 


ture  programs,  the  story  becomes  very  human  and  holds 
the  attention  closely,  and  the  subject  in  the  main  is  handled 
delicately.  The  producers  have  succeeded  in  picturing  very 
intense  scenes  but  have  kept,  usually,  within  the  bounds  of 
good  taste. 

Constance  Crawley  and  Arthur  Maude  handle  the  prin- 
cipal roles  very  capably.  Miss  Crawley  appears  as  Rhea 
Woodley,  an  invalid  wife  who,  because  of  her  invalidism, 
seems  to  be  losing  the  affection  of  her  husband,  played  by 
Mr.  Maude.  Their  only  child  has  died  at  birth  and  for  a 
time  their  lives  are  very  empty.  Then  a  young  cousin  of 
Rhea,  Maysie,  comes  to  visit  them  and  Woodley  is  attracted 
by  her  wholesome  personality  and  spends  much  of  his  time 
with  her,  finding  in  the  girl  the  chum  his  wife  had  formerly 
been. 

At  this  time  a  former  suitor  of  Rhea's,  Wesley  Strange, 
sees  a  chance  to  stir  up  mischief  and  he  points  out  the  situa- 
tion to  Rhea.  Woodley,  himself,  is  oblivious  to  the  danger 
until  Rhea  offers  to  free  him  so  that  he  may  live  a  happier 
life  with  Maysie.  Woodley  refuses.  Then  Rhea  determines 
on  a  supreme  sacrifice.  She  pretends  an  infatuation  for 
Strange,  whom  she  really  despises,  arranges  that  her  hus- 
band find  them  in  a  compromising  situation,  and  succeeds  in 
her  plan  of  disillusionizing  him.  Woodley,  however,  al- 
though he  has  felt  the  attraction  for  Maysie,  was  really  in 
love  with  his  wife,  and  instead  of  making  him  happy  by  her 
well-meant  plot,  she  has  destroyed  all  his  happiness  and  faith. 

Rhea,  after  thus  taking  matters  into  her  own  hands,  goes 
into  a  sanitarium.  While  she  is  there,  another  patient  dies. 
leaving  a  little  baby,  and  the  doctor  has  the  happy  inspiration 
of  giving  the  little  waif  to  Rhea.  In  the  meantime  Woodley 
has  discovered  his  wife's  journal,  which  explains  her  plot  and 
self-sacrifice,  and  he  goes  in  search  of  her.  So  when  Rhea 
decides  that  her  life,  with  the  baby,  will  at  least  be  bearable 
without  her  husband,  Woodley  comes  into  the  picture  and 
convinces  her  that  he  has  not  the  least  desire  to  be  free. 

Compared  with  the  murky  mess  which  some  producers 
make,  purposely  or  otherwise,  of  stories  dealing  with  such 
problems,  the  play  deserves  credit  for  its  artistry.  Arthur 
Maude  directed  it,  and  he  also  plays  his  part  very  well  in 
that  while  we  feel  from  the  first  that  Woodley's  finer  nature 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


S35 


will  triumph,  we  still  are  very  much  interested  in  his  struggle, 
of  which  he  himself  is  not  fully  conscious. 

The  better  class  of  audience,  which  takes  its  pictures 
seriously,  will  be  interested  in  the  play.  A  more  flippant 
public  is  likely  to  overlook  the  finer  points  and  be  impressed 
with  the  more  sensational  aspects,  and  the  play  is  much  too 
good  to  be  put  into  the  questionable  classification. 

Nell  Franzen  appears  in  the  play  as  Maysie,  while  Wil- 
liam  Carroll  is   Wesley  Strange. 


Then,  of  course,  Nat  owns  the  property  Amy  desires, 
and  he  offers  to  be  a  partner  in  this  model  tenement  scheme. 

The  picture  contains  other  typical  characters  and  inci- 
dents.    There    are   the   ragged   little   newsboys,    the    gang   of 


"The  Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer" 

Harry  Watson,  Jr.,  Featured  In  Comedy  by  George 
Kleine.     Reviewed  by  T.  C.   Kennedy 

FIVE  of  the  ten  or  so  single  reel  comedies  produced  by 
George  Kleine  and  known  as  the  "Musty  Suffer"  series, 
were  shown  for  review  and  generally  approved,  judging  from 
the  frequent  audible  chuckles  of  the  onlookers.  These  sub- 
jects are  slapstick  comedy  of  a  pronounced  type,  and  the 
fact  that  the  vulgar  and  the  coarse  have  been  avoided  de- 
serves to  be  remarked  at  the  outset.  That  is  a  highly  com- 
mendable thing  and  exhibitors  doubtless  will  thank  the  pro- 
ducers on   that  account   first   of  all. 

These  pictures  in  the  main  differ  considerably  from 
the  usual  run  of  screen  comedies.  The  actors  are  from  the 
speaking  stage  and  their  business  is  of  the  vaudeville  and 
musical  comedy  style  more  than  it  is  of  the  pictures,  which 
have  grown  away  from  the  stage  to  quite  an  extent  in  slap- 
stick comedy.  Harry  Watson  is  Musty  Suffer,  and  his 
partner,  George  Bickle,  is  Willie  Work.  Supporting  them 
are  several  well  known  comedy  actors;  notably  Dan  Crim- 
mins  and  Rose  Gore  (the  well  known  Crimmins  and  Gore 
team),  and  Cissy  Fitzgerald. 

Watson  is  the  most  prominent  and  in  each  picture  he 
is  funny,  there  is  a  distinction  between  attempting  to  be 
comical  and  really  being  comical.  Watson  contorts  his 
face  and  wears  the  most  ridiculous  sort  of  clothes  or  rags 
to  good  effect.  Bickle  and  Watson  perform  with  the  boxing 
gloves  in  "Hold  Fast,"  and  despite  the  fact  that  comedy  prize- 
fights have  been  done  and  done  again  in  pictures,  every- 
body will  laugh  at  this  one. 

Each  one  of  the  five  releases  shown  has  a  goodly  supply 
of  laughable  incidents,  and  the  "Musty  Suffer"  series  should 
be  ranked  with  the  best  productions  of  the  slapstick  variety. 
In  the  five  reels  there  was  one  pie  thrown,  once  a  man  used 
pistols,  there  were  no  siphon  bottles  nor  was  there  a  police- 
man in  sight;  all  of  which  is  recorded  to  bear  out  the  state- 
ment that  the  "Musty  Suffer"  pictures  are  a  bit  different,  and 
wherever  there  is  a  demand  for  slapstick  comedies  thev  will 
till  the  bill  splendidly. 


"Politeness  Pays" 

Three-Reel  Essanay  Play  Released  February  19.     Re- 
viewed by  Genevieve  Harris 

C  VEN  in  its  title  this  little  play  suggests  strongly  "Try 
^  and  Trust,"  "Do  and  Dare"  and  other  Alger  books,  and 
the  story  is  of  that  type.  Those  who  have  been  worrying 
lest  the  "wild  west"  and  the  "crook"  films  corrupt  the  youth 
of  our  land  should  hail  this  play  with  delight. 

The  cast  is  very  well  selected.  John  Junior  plays  the 
polite  boy,  Nat  Holsom,  who  later  gets  a  million  dollars  for 
being  polite.  Marion  Skinner  is  his  mother,  who  is  forced 
to  pawn  her  last  treasure,  a  locket  containing  her  husband's 
and  son's  pictures.  Betty  Brown  is  Amy  Broadstreet  the 
rich  girl,  interested  in  social  work,  and  John  Cossar  is  her 
father. 

When  the  story  opens,  Nat,  his  widowed  mother's  sole 
support,  is  sick  and  cannot  attend  to  his  business  ojj  selling 
papers.  This  is  the  occasion  of  his  mother's  visit  to  the 
pawnshop.  While  she  is  away,  Amy,  playing  "Lady  Bounti- 
ful," arrives  with  a  basket  of  food,  and  Nat  directs  her  to 
the  starving  family  next  door.  Later  food  and  coal  arrive  for 
the  Holsom  family,  also  credit  is  extended  at  the  grocery 
store,  all  of  course  due  to  Amy.  Amy  wishes  to  purchase  a 
block  and  build  a  model  tenement  house,  and  she  selects  the 
block  in  which  the  boy  and  his  mother  live.  This  property 
belongs  to  an  old  miser  who  lives  in  the  building  and  who 
refuses  to  sell  it. 

Later  a  gang  of  ruffians  attack  the  old  man  and  kill  him. 
But  before  he  dies  he  has  time  to  bring  out  his  hidden  will 
in  which  he  leaves  his  property  to  Nat,  the  only  one  who  was 
always  polite  to  him. 


young  toughs  which  Nat  punishes  occasionally,  the  grasping 
debtors,  and  others,  and  there  is  the  revelation  that  Amy's 
father  and  Nat's  mother  were  once  sweethearts,  but  had 
parted  because  the  woman  preferred  Nat's  father,  a  poor  but 
honest  man. 

The  play  is  a  clear  picturization  of  the  story  and  will 
doubtless  appeal  to  the  large  audience  which  read  so  eagerly 
the    above    mentioned    books. 


"Her  Wayward  Sister" 

Three-Reel      Lubin      Feature      Released      March      4. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve   Harris 

IN  this  story  we  have  again  the  contrast  between  a  good 
*■  and  a  wayward  sister,  in  this  case,  minister's  daughters. 
June  Daye  is  the  dutiful  sister,  Joan,  while  Helen  Greene  is 
Mary,  who  is  peevish  and  disobedient  at  home  and  later 
becomes  very  wicked  and  goes  on  the  stage 

The  play  was  written  and  produced  by  Clay  M.  Greene, 
and  the  settings  are  the  parsonage  of  the  little  town  and 
later  scenes  of  stage  and  society  life  in  the  city.  The  minis- 
ter is  the  type  whose  pulpit  manners  seldom  leave  him,  even 
in  his  own  home.  His  daughter,  Joan,  also  has  something 
of  this  over-serious  manner,  and  the  two  of  them  seem  to 
have  gotten  on  the  nerves  of  the  other  girl,  Mary,  something 
one  can  easily  understand.  Another  thing  which  annoys 
Mary  is  the  love  which  Basil,  a  hunchback  lad,  professes 
for  her.  On  the  other  hand,  instead  of  disgust,  Joan  feels 
only  pity  for  the  youth,  a  pity  which  soon  becomes  love. 

A  youth  from  the  city,  the  son  of  the  minister's  college 


r? 

}       ^ 

1 

V  '  % 

chum,  visits  the  parsonage,  and  he  and  Mary  fall  in  love,  or 
at  any  rate  he  and  the  life  he  leads  appeal  to  her  imagination 
and  she  sits  up  until  twelve  o'clock  to  listen  to  his  adventure 
stories.     Because  of  this   and   other   similar   evidences   of  de- 


536 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


pravity.  the  father  orders  Mary  from  home  and  practically 
forces  her  to  go  away  with  the  boy,  an  act  in  which  some 
persons  may  see  a  deeper  wickedness  than  in  anything  poor 
Mary  ever  does. 

At  any  rate,  they  are  married,  which  surprises  the  minis- 
ter and  Joan.  But  Mary  was  unfortunate  in  her  husband  as 
well  as  in  her  father  and  sister,  and  she  leaves  him  to  go  on 
the  stage. 

When  Mary  left  the  village,  her  former  lover,  the  hunch- 
back, determined  to  follow  her  and  save  her.  He  gets  a  clew 
when  he  meets  Mary's  husband,  but  by  that  time  Mary  is  on 
the  stage.  Basil,  too,  is  surprised  that  Mary  and  the  city  man 
had  married.     Nevertheless,  Basil  is  eager  to  find  Mary. 

Mary,  in  the  meantime,  has  been  leading  a  very  gay  life, 
and  when  she  refuses  to  see  Basil,  who  calls  at  the  theater, 
and  then  allows  the  manager,  or  whoever  he  was,  to  kiss  her, 
we  know  that  she  has  become  verj'  depraved.  Basil  then  gets 
the  idea  of  sending  for  Joan,  and  when  she  arrives  they  put 
through  their  plot.  It  is  to  have  Joan  take  part  in  the  revelry, 
to  go  just  a  little  farther  than  Mary  does,  and  to  disgust  her. 
The  scheme  is  interesting,  and  it  works  well.  Mary  goes 
back  to  her  husband,  Basil  at  last  wisely  transfers  his  affection 
to  Joan,  and  they  all  go  home  to  father. 

The  last  part  of  the  play  is  the  most  interesting,  and 
strangely  enough,  Joan  acts  most  natural  when  she  is  sup- 
posed to  be  acting  a  part.  The  contrast  between  the  sisters 
is  distinctly  drawn.  The  cast  includes  Clarence  Jay  Elmer, 
George  Clarke,  Francis  Joyner  and  Arthur  Forbes. 


"The  Girl  and  the  Game" 

Chapter  Ten  of  the  Signal  Film  Serial.     Reviewed  by 
Genevieve  Harris 

Followers  of  this  serial  will  be  delighted  with  this  install- 
ment, which  contains  situations  exciting  enough  to  thrill  the 
most  hardened  "fan."  Again  Spike  is  the  center  of  interest, 
and  in  this  chapter  he  "double-crosses"  Seagrue  and  almost 
loses  his  life  as  a  result. 

The  chapter  begins  with  a  rush.  Rhinelander,  it  will  be 
remembered,  had  obtained  a  right  of  way  through  the  city. 
When  Seagrue  applied  for  one  for  the  rival  line,  the  city 
refused  it  because  of  the  previous  grant  to  Rhinelander. 
However,  Rhinelander's  copy  of  this  contract  was  destroyed 
in  the  burning  car  which  figured  in  the  previous  episode,  and 
Helen  and  Storm,  when  this  installment  begins,  set  out  for 
Las  Vegas,  in  Seagrue's  car,  which  they  still  have  from  the 
last  chapter,  to  get  a  duplicate  contract  from  the  court  house. 

In  Las  Vegas,  Seagrue  discovers  Helen  and  Storm  and 
accidentally  learns  their  mission.  He  sees  a  chance  to  ruin 
his  rival  by  destroying  the  court  house  records.  He  sends  his 
men,  Bill,  Lug  and  Spike,  to  steal  the  books.  Spike,  after 
his  rescue  from  Seagrue's  men,  had  decided  to  leave  Seagrue 
and  had  returned  to  camp  only  to  get  his  belongings.  How- 
ever, Seagrue  does  not  know  this,  and  sends  Spike  with  the 
others.  The  men  enter  the  courthouse  during  the  noon-hour 
and  get  the  book.     But  Spike  distracts  their  attention  before 


one  of  Seagrue's  men  is  struck  by  a  stray  bullet.  Spike  is 
accused  of  shooting  him  and  is  arrested  and  taken  to  the 
jail.  Seagrue's  men  storm  the  jail  in  an  effort  to  lynch  Spike 
for  his  treachery. 

In  the  meantime  Helen  and  Storm  see  the  danger,  and 
mounting  an  engine,  they  drive  back  to  Rhinelander's  camp 
and  bring  Rhinelander's  men  to  Spike's  aid.  But  before  they 
arrive,  Spike's  enemies  are  so  violent  that  the  sheriff  takes 
him  to  the  city  hall,  where  he  chains  him  to  a  post,  while  he 
fights  off  the  besiegers.     In  the  riot,  the  hall  is  set  on  fire. 

The  excitement  is  well  worked  up  and  directed.  The 
following  scenes,  in  which  the  helpless  Spike  is  chained  in  the 
burning  building,  while  his  rescuers  race  to  reach  him,  are 
terrifying.     Then   he   is  saved. 

The  chapter  ends  when  Helen,  seeing  the  stolen  book  in 
Seagrue's  possession,  orders  his  arrest,  and  Spike  gives  Helen 
the  record  he  has  saved.  Spike  is  rewarded  by  Helen's 
gratitude,  but  he  knows  there  is  to  be  a  reckoning  with  Sea- 
grue. 


"For  a  Woman's  Fair  Name" 

Modern  Drama  Released  by  V.  L.  S.  E.  February  28 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

/MARGUERITE  BERTSCH  is  the  author  of  the  latest 
1 V1  Blue  Ribbon  feature  released  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program  in 
which  Robert  Edeson  heads  a  well  balanced  and  efficient  cast. 
The  story  is  told  with  admirable  smoothness,  which  is  usually 
the  case  when  Miss  Bertsch  prepares  the  scenario.  It  has 
no  doubt  been  noticed,  and  with  much  satisfaction,  that  Miss 
Bertsch's    stories,    whether    they    be    adaptations    or    original 


they  can  deliver  ii  to  Seagrue  ai 
which   contains   the   record. 

When   Seagrue   finds   he   h. 
Spike  and  sends  his  men  a  iter  h 


scripts,  are  free  from  the  structural  crudities  which  often 
mar  good   stories   when   they   reach   the   screen. 

In  "For  a  Woman's  Fair  Name"  characterization  seems 
to  be  of  first  importance.  In  this  story  there  are  five  charac- 
ters, each  of  whom  is  developed  to  a  point  where  the  specta- 
tor is  almost  as  much  interested  in  one  as  the  other,  and 
that  seldom  makes  for  intense  interest.  But  while  the  pic- 
ture may  lack  that  which  creates  a  deep  and  lasting  impres- 
sion it  never  loses  its  hold  upon  the  spectator.  "  That  it 
is  a  particularly  good  story  is  proven  by  the  argument  it 
invites.  The  story  that  is  neither  one  thing  nor  the  other 
seldom  urges  one  to  look  very  far  below  the  surface. 

Robert  Edeson  is  given  a  place  at  the  head  of  the  cast 
but  his  part  is  no  larger  or  more  important  than  the  other 
four.  Eulalie  Jensen,  it  seems,  is  most  prominent,  and  she 
is  an  actress  who  can  well  afford  to  be  prominent.  Harry 
Morey  as  McGregor  gives  a  performance  that  is  in  his  best 
style,  and  Belle  Bruce  is  a  captivating  Alicia.  If  Uicia 
walks  into  the  picture  while  any  of  the  other  characters  are 
holding  the  center  of  the  stage,  why  they  no  longer  hold 
the  center  of  the  stage.  This  is  so  with  all  the  characters, 
first  one  and  then  another  centers  the  interest  upon  him- 
self. William  Dunn  does  remarkably  well  as  Bolles,  the 
weak  half-brother  of  McGregor.  Bolles  is  an  unusual  person, 
he  seems  more   like  a   ghost   than  a  real  person. 

The  story  tells  of  the  circumstances  which,  innocently 
brought  about,  threaten  to  part  a  happily  married  couple 
and  two  young  people  who  are  deeply  in  love.  An  automo- 
bile accident  causes  McGregor  to  have  Mrs.  Pierce,  an  old 
friend,  taken  to  a  hotel.  His  half-brother  learns  of  this,  and 
as   Vivian    fears  to  make   the   episode   known    to  her   husband, 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


the  half-brother,  who  is  a  drug  fiend,  promises  to  inform 
Mr.  Pierce  unless  both  Vivien  and  McGregor  permit  him  to 
sue  for  Alicia's  hand  in  marriage.  Bolles  becomes  crazed 
from  the  use  of  drugs  and  his  attempt  to  kill  Alicia  leads  to 
a  complete  understanding  and  happiness  for  all. 

Harry  Davenport  directed  the  picture  and  not  only  has 
he  given  the  story  an  artistic  setting  but  his  direction  of  the 
action  is  such  that   the   best   in  the  play  is   realized. 


"Bullets  and  Brown  Eyes" 

Triangle-Kay-Bee  Feature  in  Five  Reels.     Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 

THAT  a  war  play  may  be  gay  is  demonstrated  by  this 
release,  featuring  Bessie  Barriscale,  directed  by  Thomas 
Ince.  While  Miss  Barriscale  is  announced  as  the  featured 
player,  her  role  is  fully  equalled,  both  in  interest  and  quality, 
by  that  of  William  Desmond,  well  cast  as  the  gay,  reckless 
prince  who  leads  his  army  against  a  rival  kingdom. 

The  story  is  most  romantic,  dealing  with  princes  and 
countesses  and  grand  dukes,  with  daring  deeds  and  treachery 
and  love.  It  is  beautifully  produced,  the  pictures  themselves 
being  most  attractive,  apart  from  the  action  and  excitement 
which  fills  the  story. 

The  principal  feature  ■  of  the  release  is  the  battle  scenes, 
including  the  armored  automobiles,  the  aeroplanes,  the  motor- 
cycle squad,  and  other  modern  devices.  There  are  many 
views  of  cavalry  charges,  very  stirring  ones  in  which  horses 
and  riders  fall  headlong. 

The  love  story  which  runs  through  the  play  is  that  of  the 
prince  of  one  kingdom  and  a  countess  of  another.  Miss 
Barriscale  plays  the  Countess  Olga  most  delightfully,  a  role 
which  gives  her  a  chance  to  appear  for  a  number  of  scenes 
in  the  robes  of  a  nun.  William  Desmond  is  the  prince,  who 
falls  in  love  with  the  countess  on  seeing  a  painting  of  her. 

Later  there  is  a  war  between  the  countries,  and  the 
prince,  who  wins  the  title  of  "Will  o'  the  Wisp,"  invades  the 
rival  kingdom.  He  is  very  successful  and  at  last  reaches  the 
castle  where  the  Countess  Olga  lives.     Olga's  brother  plots  to 


love  for  her.  Olga  encourages  him,  for  she  is  playing  for 
time  until  her  brother  can  arrive.  Then  the  prince  is  cap- 
tured, thrown  into  prison  and  ordered  shot.  Olga,  regretting 
her  part  in  the  capture,  frees  the  prince.  Her  brother  and 
father  learn  of  her  treachery  to  her  own  people  and  order 
her  sent  to  a  convent.  But  before  this  is  accomplished  "Will 
o'  the  Wisp"  has  collected  his  band,  they  raid  the  town  and 
carry  away  Olga. 

The  other  important  players  in  this  enjoyable  offering 
are  Wyndham  Standing,  J.  J.  Dowling,  J.  Barney  Sherry 
and  R03'  Laidlow. 


have  Olga,  who  has  donned  the  nun's  garb,  detain  the  famed 
"Will  o'  the  Wisp"  in  the  castle  until  he  can  be  captured. 
Very  charming  and  humorous  scenes  follow,  in  which  the 
prince  learns  the  identity  of  Olga  and  tells  her  of  his  early 


"Margy  of  the  Foothills" 

A   Three-Reel   "Mustang"    Drama   Released    March  3 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

WONDERFULLY  beautiful  photography  characterizes 
this  release.  The  scenes,  laid  in  the  southwest,  are  so 
fine  that  one  would  enjoy  the  play  even  if  it  did  not  tell  so 
interesting  a  story.  Besides  the  photography  and  the  story, 
there  are  very  pleasing  touches  of  local  color,  for  instance 
the  scenes  showing  the  pet  animals  on  the  ranch,  the  puppies 
and  little  calves.  __. 

The  story  departs  from  the  regulation  western  plot, 
although  a  cowboy,  Ben,  played  by  Art  Acord,  is  the  hero. 
The  old  days  of  a  Spanish  California  are  recalled,  in  the  set- 
tings and  the  characters.  The  villain,  Carrillo,  is  a  landowner 
of  Spanish  descent,  and  the  story  deals  with  his  attempt  to 
kidnap  Margy,  daughter  of  an  American  rancher,  loved  by 
Ben. 

Members  of  the  cast  which  has  played  together  in  the 
"Buck  Parvin"  stories  act  in  this  one,  Dixie  Stratton  as 
Margie,  Lawrence  Peyton  as  Joe  Romez,  gambler  and  bandit, 
and  Joe  Massey  as  Pasqual,  Margy's  servant.  William  Ber- 
tram has  directed  it. 

Art  Acord  is  introduced  as  a  cowboy  who  travels  to 
Southern  California  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  finds  the  begin- 
ning of  it  in  a  card  game,  in  which  he  wins  from  Romez,  the 
outlaw,  two  thousand  acres  of  land.  He  also  takes  from 
Romez  a  bracelet  of  a  peculiar  design.  Then  Ben  decides 
to  raise  cattle  on  his  land  m.d  he  goes  to  the  home  of  his 
neighbor,  Margy's  father,  .  ^-~r  stock.  When  paying  for 
the  animals  he  gives  the  bracket  to  Margy. 

Later,  Margy's  father  dies,  and  the  girl  is  left  alone.  . 
Ben  has  fallen  in  love  with  her,  but  she  is  not  sure  'of  her 
own  feeling.  One  day  she  falls  from  her  horse,  near  the 
home  of  the  wealthy  Carrillo.  She  is  taken  to  his  house, 
where,  at  the  invitation  of  his  wife,  she  remains  as  a  com- 
panion. She  is  annoyed  by  the  attentions  of  Carrillo  and 
when  he  tells  her  it  would  be  better  for  her  to  return  home, 


538 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


she  agrees.     This  is  only  a  trick,  for  Carrillo  has  ordered  the 
bandit,  Romez,  who  is  really  his  tool,  to  kidnap  Margy. 

The  following  scenes,  which  show  the  struggle  between 
the  bandits  and   Ben  and  his  men,  who  discovered   the  plot, 


are  most   exciting.     Ben   is   successful,   and   later, 
rillo  comes  to  the  bandits'  den,  he  has  Ben  to  deal  ^ 
after    these    experiences,    Margy    has    discovered 
affections  belong. 


"The  Iron  Claw" 

Pathe  Serial,  Chapter  Two,  "The  House  of  Unhappi- 
ness."      Reviewed   by   Genevieve   Harris 

CREIGHTON  HALE,  featured  with  Pearl  White  in  this 
serial,  is  introduced  in  this  installment  as  the  flippant 
young  secretary  of  Golden,  the  father  of  Margery,  the  girl 
in  the  case,  played  by  Pearl  White.  The  master  criminal, 
Legar,  called  "The  Iron  Claw"  (Sheldon  Lewis),  as  was 
related  in  the  first  chapter,  stole  the  girl  twenty  years  ago 
to  punish  her  father.  In  this  chapter  we  meet  the  father 
again,  now  a  multi-millionaire,  but  a  bitter  man,  a  cruel 
oppressor  of  the  poor.  His  best  friend  is  this  young  secre- 
tary, to  whom  he  offers  his  fortune.  The  money  is  refused 
by  the  young  man  as  being  "rotten."  However,  he  stays  in 
the  man's  employ.  The  character  of  the  secretary,  as 
depicted  by  Mr.  Hale,  is  most  interesting  and  attractive. 

"The  Laughing  Mask,"  in  the  previous  episode,  had  res- 
cued Margery  from  her  enemies.  Now  he  leads  her,  by  a 
secret  passageway,  into  the  home  of  the  millionaire.  He 
also  gives  her  a  letter,  in  which  he  tells  Golden  that  the 
young  woman  is  his  daughter.  She  is  discovered,  the  letter 
read,  and  although  all  are  curious  to  know  how  she  got  into 


When  spies  report  to  "The  Iron  Claw"  that  Margery  is 
restored  to  her  father,  he  demands  her  return.  This  refused, 
he  strikes  Golden  through  his  friends.  All  receive  threaten- 
ing letters  and  later  mysterious,  disastrous  fires  break  out 
in  their  homes  and  factories,  which  give  occasion  for  many 
effective  fire  scenes.  The  secretary  sets  out  on  the  trail  of 
the  mysterious  criminals  and  discovers  their  laboratories  and 
enough  about  them  to  give  them  a  scare.  But  in  the  mean- 
time Margery,  who  believes  that  her  presence  in  her  father's 
home  is  the  cause  of  all  the  trouble,  goes  back  to  the  den  of 
the  bandits  and  gives  herself  up.  Margery,  however,  has  her 
mysterious  protector.  As  she  enters  the  den,  apparently  from 
the  parrot  come  the  words  of  encouragement.  But  it  was 
not  the  parrot  which  spoke,  for  in  the  chimney,  concealed, 
is  "The  Laughing  Mask." 

These  scenes  in  the  criminals'  den  are  particularly  well 
staged,  with  a  weirdness  which  is  suggestive  of  evil  and  is 
most  effective. 


"The  Happy  Masquerader" 

Three-Reel    Flying    "A"    Play   Released   February   29 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

4  4LJAPPINESS  lies  within"  is  the  text  of  this  play,  which, 
**  while  it  contains  many  improbable  incidents,  is  inter- 
esting and  will  give  the  audience  something  to  think  about. 
It  is  a  sugar-coated  lesson,  but  is  entertaining. 

Edward  Coxen  and  George  Fields  play  the  contrasting 
roles  of  the  young  millionaire  who  can  be  happy  under  any 
circumstances  and  the  cab  driver  who  would  be  discontented 
even  if  very  wealthy.  When  the  story  opens  Dick  Thorn, 
a  young  heir,  is  hunting  in  Africa,  a  few  jungle  scenes  being 
shown.  In  the  meantime  his  father  is  dying  at  home.  Be- 
fore he  dies  he  writes  a  request  that  certain  notes  against 
a  friend  of  his,  Frederick  Hudson,  be  destroyed,  a  request 
which  is  not  discovered  until  much  later  when  it  plays  an 
important  part  in  the  plot. 

Later,  when  Thorn  is  home  in  America,  he  wagers 
friends  of  his  at  the  club  that  he  could  be  happy  even  with- 
out his  wealth,  and  to  test  him  they  suggest  his  changing 
places  with  a  cab  driver  for  two  months.  David  is  the  driver 
selected,  and  we  have  been  shown  that  he  is  a  most  unhappy, 
discontented  fellow,  who  treats  his  motherless  little  girl 
cruelly.  Dodo  Newton  plays  this  little  girl,  Annie,  pleas- 
ingly. 

In  their  changed  places  Thorn  has  a  very  good  time  and 
sees  that  the  little  girl  has  many  pleasures  she  never  had 
before,  while  Davis,  as  the  millionaire,  terrorizes  the  serv- 
ants and  is  generally  as  disagreeable  as  before.  He  meets 
Elsa  Dean,  Hudson's  ward,  and  when  he  finds  the  notes 
against  Hudson,  which  should  have  been  destroyed,  he  tries 
through  their  use  to  force  Elsa  to  marry  him.  Elsa  has  also 
met  Thorn  in  his  capacity  of  cab  driver  and  when  she  fears 
her  guardian  may  force  her  to  marry  Davis  she  asks  the 
driver  to  marry  her. 

The  agreement  between  Thorn  and  Davis  expires  at  this 
time,  and  Elsa  learns  that  she  has  married  the  real  million- 
aire. The  notes  against  Hudson  are  destroyed,  and  every- 
thing comes  out  right,  except  for  little  Annie,  who  has  fallen 
ill  and  dies. 

Winnifred  Greenwood  plays  Elsa,  while  Charles  Newton 
is  Hudson,  her  guardian,  and  Ward  McAllister  appears  as 
Thorn's   father.     Thomas    Ricketts   directed   the   play. 


the  house,  when 
her  elbow,  whirl 
had  of  his  daugh 
child. 


secretary  sees  a  distinguishing 
also  was  shown  in  a  baby  pictui 
er,  she  is  gladly  accepted   as   the 


Golden 
ong  lost 


"The  Price  of  Happiness" 

Equitable    Society    Drama    Featuring    Mary    Boland 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

MARY  BOLAND,  prominent  in  several  successes  on  the 
speaking  stage  and  the  featured  player  in  two  film  pro- 
ductions, enacts  the  role  of  the  wife  of  a  man  in  moderate 
circumstances,  who  is  about  to  take  the  fatal  step  toward  the 
luxury  her  friends  enjoy  when  she  realizes  the  cost  of  such 
happiness,  in  this  five-part  Equitable  production,  directed 
by  Edmond  Lawrence.  Miss  Boland  makes  an  attractive 
and  pleasing  Bertha  Miller,  whose  husband  is  a  boot-maker. 
The  story  has  for  its  basis  the  discontent  with  her 
homely  but  truly  happy  state  as  the  wife  of  a  noble  but 
impecunious  man,  of  a  young  woman  whose  viewpoint  be- 
comes warped  by  the  seeming  happiness  of  her  richly  clothed 
friends  who  live  in  luxury.  The  story  moves  steadily,  but 
with  little  zest,  to  the  point  where  Bertha  learns  the  price 
her    three    friends    have    paid    for    their    pretty    clothes    and 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


539 


jewels,  and  then  there  are  son 
pense. 

Bertha  meets   Ruth   Taylo: 


s  which  create  sus- 

after  a  long  absence.  Ruth 
and  quite  expensively.  Ruth 
ieet  their  two  other  chums  of 


some  years  ago.  Of  the  other  two,  one  is  a  singer  with 
operatic  ambitions  and  Evelyn  lives  in  a  handsome  apartment 
which  is  paid  for  by  her  earnings  as  a  cabaret  dancer,  sup- 
posedly. 

All  these  nice  things  make  Bertha  envious.  Her  hus- 
band is  rather  worried  when  she  makes  so  many  visits  to  her 
friends'  homes  but  does  not  speak  of  it.  Bertha  attracts 
an  idler  named  Howard  Neal.  He  promises  her  all  the  lux- 
uries money  can  buy  and  gives  her  one  day  to  make  up  her 
mind.  She  seriously  considers  his  proposition,  but  before 
she  accepts  she  finds  that  the  opera  singer  is  the  mistress  of 
an  impresario,  and  that  Lucille's  husband  is  a  thief.  Evelyn, 
Bertha  learns,  is  the  mistress  of  Neal.  After  this,  Bertha 
returns  to  her  husband  and  child  in  the  knowledge  that  hers 
is  true  happiness  and  determined  to  hold  it. 

Enid  Francis,  Carlotta  De  Felico  and  Marion  Singer 
as  Bertha's  three  friends  are  effective.  Dave  Wall,  Albert 
Bechtel  and  Adolphe  Majou  interpret  their  parts  convincingly. 
The  production  is  commendable.  The  cabaret  scenes  are 
remarkable,  especially  the  one  in  which  Bertha  discovers  the 
relations  existing  between  Neal  and  Evelyn.  In  this  scene 
a  dance  is  performed  by  a  young  woman  which  is  vivid 
enough  to  suit  the  most  sophisticated  habitue  of  lively  cafes. 
''The  Price  of  Happiness"  tells  an  entertaining  story  and  it 
is  well  acted. 


Gustave  Frohman's  new  motion  picture  clearing 
house  in  Boston  is  completed  and  is  ready  to  handle  any 
high  grade  feature  by  any  producer.  It  will  not  bind 
itself    to    any    particular    lilm    manufacturer. 


"The  Red  Circle" 

Chapters  Nine  and  Ten  of  the  Balboa  Serial.  Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 

THE  ninth  episode  of  "The  Red  Circle,"  the  serial  released 
l_by  Pathe,  which  deals  with  June  Travis,  the  girl  with 
criminal  tendencies,  begins  with  a  fight  between  Max  Lamar, 
the  lawyer  on  the  trail  of  the  "Red  Circle"  band,  and  "Smli- 
ing"  Sam  Eagen,  one  of  the  band.  Charles  Gordon,  a  lawyer 
accused  of  embezzlement,  who  was  in  hiding  nearby,  saves 
Lamar's  life.  Later,  when  detectives  trace  Gordon  to  this 
seaside  resort  where  Lamar  and  the  Travis  family  are  stay- 
ing, Lamar  refuses  to  reveal  Gordon's  hiding  place.  June, 
her  wild  instincts  aroused,  begs  to  warn  Gordon,  and  pro- 
ceeds to  his  cabin.  When  the  detectives  arrive,  Gordon  is 
gone,  but  June  detains  the  men,  finally  throwing  a  lighted 
lamp  at  them.  The  cabin  is  burned.  The  men  do  not  see 
June,  but  do  catch  sight  of  her  hand,  with  the  red  circle. 

Another  one  who  sees  the  red  circle  on  June's  hand,  and 
guesses  her  secret,  is  "Smiling"  Sam.  On  the  strength  of 
his  knowledge,  he  forces  June  and  her  nurse  to  give  him 
food. 

In  the  tenth  episode  June  and  her  nurse,  to  avoid  Sam, 
persuade  Mrs.  Travis  to  return  to  the  city.  They  leave  hur- 
riedly, ordering  their  Japanese  servant  to  pack  the  trunks  and 
follow.  Sam,  on  discovering  their  flight,  forces  the  servant 
to  lock  him  into  June's  trunk.  In  this  fashion  he  obtains 
entrance  to  the  Travis  home  and  forces  the  frightened  June 
and  her  nurse  to  conceal  him. 

Later  June  goes  to  Lamar's  office,  where  she  meets 
Charles  Gordon,  who  has  come  to  throw  himself  on  Lamar's 
mercy.  The  story  is  interesting  and  in  many  instances  thrill- 
ing and  spectacular.  Lamar's  love  for  June  complicates  the 
situation,  since  the  man  he  is  seeking  is  her  father,  although 
he  does  not  know  this.  The  installment  leaves  one  with  a 
curiosity  to  see  the  next. 


Ivan  Feature  Completed 

"The  Immortal  Flame,"  the  latest  Ivan  produc- 
tion, is  completed  and  ready  for  release  in  March. 
In  it  appear  Maude  Fealy,  Paula  Shay,  Joseph  Burke 
and  James  Cooley.  Scenes  were  taken,  under  Ivan 
Abramson's  direction,  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  in 
New  York  City.  The  first  run  of  the  picture  will  take 
place  in  the  New  York  theater,  a  Marcus  Loew  house 
on  Broadway. 


The  cast  for  the  new  "masterpicture,"  "According 
to  Law,"  to  be  produced  at  Jacksonville  by  the  Gaumont 
Company,  is  now  complete  with  the  selection  of  little 
Madison  Weeks  for  the  important  part  of  the  boy.  Miss 
Mildred  Gregory  is  starred  in  the  picture  with  Howard 
Hall  playing  opposite  and  with  Helen  Marten,  John  Rein- 
hard  and  E.  K.  James  as  the  other  members  of  the  cast. 


"The  Red   Circle." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


Hearst-VHagraph. 


'  park  in  capture*  city.     I 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST   NOTES  Charles    Graham,    who    has    appeared    in 

T,            -.^          ,         ,.       ,    ,    «TT    j-      »  pictures   with   William   Farnum,   Alexan- 

Henry   Otto     who    directed      Undine,  g       Carlisle   and   Vera   Michelena,   make 

has   come   to   the   eastern   Universal   stu-  j    ir     dehut     m     Gaumont     pictures     in 

dios  to  direct  King  Baggot.    Edna  Hunt-  «Feathert       -  in  which  Marguerite  Cour- 

er    Frank  Smith  and  Howard  Crampton  .      starring    under    the    direction    of 

will  remain  in  the  company.  Henry  j    Vernot. 

Ben  Wilson  has   taken   a   company   of  A   son   was   recently  born   to   Mr.  and 

Universal  players,  including  Clara  Byers,  Mrs.    Maxwell    Karger.     Mr.    Karger    is 

Charles  Ogle  and  Joe  Gerard,  to  Saranac  general    manager    of    Rolfe    Photoplays, 

Lake,    N.    Y.,    to    produce    two    two-reel  Inc. 

plays,    "The    Man   on   the   Horse,"   by  J.  ,,             .„.     „           ,                          ,    , 

Grubb  Alexander,  and  "The  Silent  Path,"  Marguerite   Snow  has   recovered   from 

by  Raymond  L.  Schrock.  the,  injuries   she   received   while  working 

J  in  her  last  picture,    A  Corner  in  Cotton. 

Bob    Hill    wrote    and    directed    "Just  An  accident  to  the  wheel  of  a  buckboard 

Kitty,"  featuring  Edith  Roberts.     Sydell  in  which  she  was  riding  threw  Miss  Snow 

Dowling,  Curtis  Benton  and  Lois  Alex-  from    the    rig    and    besides    bruises    and 

ander  appear  in  the  play.  scratches,  the  actress  suffered  three  frac- 

_,         ,    T         ,           ,  ,    .      ,             .     .  tured  ribs. 

Edward  Jose  has  obtained   permission 

from  a  Jersey  City  bank  to  use  its  vaults  Iva  Shepard  rode  her  horse  in  a  circus 

for   several   scenes  in   "The   Iron    Claw,"  parade  recently,  in  Jacksonville, 

the  Pathe  serial  he  is  directing.  _,      „,  ^     ,  _,         ,          ....  .     , ,. 

The  Mutual  Traveler  will  visit  Miami, 

Crane  Wilbur  is  now  an  author  as  well  Florida,  next,  and  the  result  will  appear 

as  actor,  for  he  writes  the  plays  in  which  in  the  Gaumont  split  reel  scenic,  No.  22. 

he   appears   in   the    Horsley   productions.  „The    Elusive    isabel,"    by    Tsabel    Os- 

His  first  attempt  was     The  Blood  of  Our  trander   in  which  Fiorence  Lawrence  will 

£r0tl^rS-   o..H^S°  Yr°te     C°udarM,an  be   re-introduced   to   screen   audiences,   is 

Do    More?        The     Mystery    of    Carter  bd         directed    by    Stuart    Paton.      Miss 
Breene,       Vengeance  Is  Mine,    and    The 

Love    Liar,"    the    last   now   in    course    of  "~ 

production.  Film   Market  Quotations  ana 

Durham,    formerly    a   baseball    pitcher  Financial  GossiD 
with  several  of  the  big  leagues,  appears  nnanciai  UOSSip 
in  "A  Law  Unto   Himself,"   the   Horsley  Supplied  by  R.  D.  Small  of  A.  E.  Butler  &  Co- 
Mutual     Masterpicture     released     Febru-  Chicago. 
ary  28.  Bid       Asked 
Francis  X.  Bushman  will  use  two  of  his  American    Film   Co.,    Inc..   89         100 

own   thoroughbred  horses  in  "The  Wall    Biograph   Company    43  52 

Between,"   a   five-part  military  play  now  Famous  Players  Film  Corp.    75         110 

being  made   by  John  W.   Noble   for   the  General  Film  Corp.,  pref...   40           46 

Quality  Pictures  Corporation.  Mutual    Film   Corp.,  pref...   39           44 

„,,                 T       _                    ,      ,.  Mutual    Film   Corp.,  com...   36           40 

Thomas     J.     Carngan,     leading     man  No    Am    FMm  Corpv  pref .  .   93         100 

with  Mary  Miles  Minter,  wore  a  suit  of  No    Am    FMm  Corp.,  com..   60           70 

stripes  and  worked  with  real  convicts  on    New  York  M.  P.  Corp 48  55 

the  highway  for  several  days  in  making    Tnannouser  Film  Corp 4  5     * 

"Lovely  Mary."  Triangle    Film    Corp 5%         6%* 

Marguerite  Snow,  star  in  "Rosemary,"  Universal    Film    Mfg.  Co...  180 

visited  a  theater  in  the  east  side  of  New    World   Film  Corp V/A         2J4* 

York  where   the  play  was  being  shown.    

The    audience    learned    of    her    presence,  *par  $5.00. 

and  a  police  squad  had  to  rescue  her  from  "                                                 "_ 
her  admirers.  Thanhouser    Film    Corporation:      The 
„..„.         _    „    ,,      .     .                     «e:i— .*  one  big,  overwhelming  bit  of  news  in  the 
William  F    Haddock   known  as     Silent  film    £dust        last    w°eek    was    th€    pub- 
Bill,     has  returned  to  New  York  after  a  H  h<jd    statement    of   this    COmpany.     As 
four  months    engagement  with  the  Gau-  frank   statements   of  financial   conditions 
mont    Company    in    Jacksonville,    during  ,                   been  the  rule  in  this  industry, 
which  he  directed     As  a  Woman  Sows  Qn     he   Qther  hand    concealment-  of 
"I    Accuse,"      The    Ace    of    Death,      and  ass;ts  and   liabilitieS;   refusal   to   disclose 
other  five-reelers.  actual  figures  by  both  management  and 
J.    Albert    Hall,    who    appeared    with  directors   has   been    the    general   custom. 
Mary    Pickford   in    "The    Eagle's    Mate,"  This  bit  of  fairness,  therefore— indicating 
and    "Mistress    Nell,"    has    been    re-en-  an  effort  to  adopt  the  proper  outspoken 
gaged  by  the  Famous  Players   Company  methods'  of  other  industries — is  most  re- 
to   appear   with   Miss    Pickford  in   forth-  freshing.   Would  that  all  of  the  film  corn- 
coming  productions.  panies  would  take  a  page  from  the  book 
T_.        _           ..                      ,  ■             j       .«  of  this  corporation's  history  and  do  like- 
King  Baggot  is  now  working  under    he  ;ge_     ThePeffect         n  the  stock  was  in_ 
d're£tion  of  Henry  Otto  man  adaptation  stantaneouS-      The    market    immediately 
of  Hugh  Weir's  novel,     The   Honorable  adyanced    from   4   to    5    asked,    which    is 
Peter  Sterling,     for  the  Universal   Com-  equivalent  t0  from  80  to  10o,  as  the  par 
parly-,          t-.        , ,           ,          •      .     r    ■  U«A  value  of  these  shares  is  $5.    As  it  is  only 
Arthur    Donaldson    has    just    finished  about  a  y€ar  and  three-quarters  ago  that 
playing  heavy  lead  in  a  five-part  produc-  thJs  corporation  was  capitalized  at  about 
tion  made  for  Roland  West.  one-fifth  of  its  present  capital  and  had  no 
Gerald    Griffin,    known    on    both    the  dividend  record  to  speak  of,  the  showing 
American     and      European     stage,     and  last  year,  approximating  30  per  cent,  and 


Lawrence  wears  some  very  wonderful 
gowns,  and  the  settings  for  the  produc- 
tion  are  elaborate. 

Julius  Steger,  who  will  appear  as  an 
itinerant  piano  tuner  in  "The  Blindness 
of  Love,"  can  really  tune  pianos,  having 
been  educated  in  all  branches  of  music 
in  his  native  Vienna. 

Mabel  Taliaferro,  as  the  star  in  "Her 
Great  Price,"  a  Metro  play,  has  a  role 
similar  to  "Rebecca  of  Sunnybrook 
Farm,"  and  "Polly  of  the  Circus." 

Harry  Millarde  has  been  selected  as 
Florence  Lawrence's  leading  man.  Others 
who  appear  with  her  in  "The  Elusive 
Isabel"  are  Sidney  Bracy,  Paul  Panzer, 
Wallace  Clark,  William  Welsh  and  Cur- 
tis Benton. 

The  Gaumont  Company  have  built 
streets  of  East  Indian  architecture  near 
St.  Augustine,  Fla.,  and  are  filming 
scenes  for  "The  Haunted  Manor,"  a  five- 
reel  Mutual  Masterpicture  to  be  released 
March  20.    Iva  Shepard  is  the  star. 

Sidney  Drew,  the  Metro  comedian, 
writes  nearly  all  his  own  scenarios. 

Several  of  Ethel  Barrymore's  dogs, 
among  them  an  enormous   Russian   wolf 


the  attitude  of  the  board  to  put  this  stock 
on  a  permanent  dividend  basis  of  12  per 
cent  per  annum  (3  per  cent  to  be  paid  on 
February  17),  is  a  highly  creditable  one. 
The  public  should  also  not  lose  sight  of 
the  little  paragraph  at  the  end  of  the 
statement  which  reads:  "The  company 
has  no  stock  for  sale,  there  is  no  pool  in 
the  shares  and  no  stock  is  held  in  trust. 
The  shares  are  listed  on  the  Boston  and 
New  York  curb  exchanges."  Pooling  of 
shares  hits  two  other  companies  very  de- 
cidedly, voting  trust  hits  another  two. 
It  is  time  for  considerable  house-cleaning 
in  the  film  business. 

North  American  Film  Corporation: 
New  bookings  on  "The  Diamond  from 
the  Sky"  continue  to  come  in,  in  surpris- 
ingly large  figures,  and  advance  informa- 
tion on  the  situation  in  Europe  is  now 
available.  Present  orders  for  England 
are  rightnow  30  copies  per  chapter.  This 
is  a  minimum,  and,  on  that  basis  alone, 
one  of  the  officials  states  it  will  mean  not 
less  than  $18,000  for  the  30  weeks  and  it 
is  his  opinion  the"  will  bring  their  orders 
up  to  at  least  50  copies.  Some  news  in 
regard  to  the  sequel  to  "The  Diamond 
from  the  Sky"  will  be  forthcoming  in  an 
early  issue. 

Vogue  Films,  Inc.:  With  Vogue  Films 
established  less  than  four  months,  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation  reports  an  as- 
tounding volume  of  business  on  this 
brand,  with  patrons  and  exhibitors  clam- 
oring for  Vogue  comedies.  The  stock  is 
in  demand,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  those 
who  are  owners  of  securities  in  many  dif- 
ferent film  companies,  this  represents  one 
of  the  best  buys  on  the  market. 

Mutual  Film  Corporation:  It  is  unoffi- 
cially reported  that  Charles  Chaplin  has 
again  returned  to  the  Mutual.  This  news 
item  will,  naturally,  be  reflected  in  an 
advance  in  the  price  of  Mutual  shares. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


hound,  will  appear  with  her  in  "The  Kiss 
of  Hate,"  a  story  of  tyranny  and  perse- 
cution in  Russia,  written  by  Mme.  de 
Grissac. 

Mary  Fuller,  now  working  at  Univer- 
sal Heights  in  the  Wallace  Irwin  story, 
"Thrown  to  the  Lions,"  has  real  lions  to 
play  with.  Clifford  Gray  supports  Miss 
Fuller  in  this  five-reeler,  which  Lucius 
Henderson  is  directing. 

Dorothy  Green  has  joined  the  Metro 
forces  and  will  be  featured  with  Edmund 
Breese  in  his  next  production.  Miss 
Green  was  born  in  Petrograd  and  came 
to  America  when  three  years  old. 

Philip  Hahn,  appearing  with  Mme. 
Petrova  in  "Playing  with  Fire,"  was  a 
player  in  the  Passion  Play  at  Oberam- 
mergau.  He  appeared  in  the  role  of 
Christ  in  the  Famous  Players'  Passion 
Play. 

Pierre  Le  May,  also  appearing  in 
"Playing  with  Fire,"  was  once  a  Wall 
street  broker. 

Maude  Fealy,  for  the  Ivan  production 
in  which  she  stars.  "The  Immortal 
Flame,"  had  to  take  a  plunge  into  the 
Hudson  River  on  the  coldest  day  this 
winter. 

An  automobile  collision  in  which  Mme. 
Petrova  appeared,  staged  for  "The  Soul 
Market,"  at  her  country  home  near 
Flushing,  L.  I.,  greatly  excited  the  neigh- 
bors who  did  not  see  the  director  and 
camera  man. 

Alexander  Gaden  has  gone  on  a  fish- 
ing trip  to  recuperate  from  his  strenuous 
work  in  "As  a  Woman  Sows,"  "The 
Drifter,"  and  "I  Accuse." 

Mildred  Gregory  will  appear  as  a  Gau- 
mont  star  in  the  five-reel  picture,  "Ac- 
cording to  Law,"  to  be  released  March  6 
as  a  Mutual  Masterpicture.  Howard 
Hall  has  an  important  role.  Richard  Gar- 
rick,  the  director,  is  taking  many  of  the 
scenes  in  the  Florida  Everglades. 

Stanley  Walpole,  of  Eclair  fame,  has 
been  engaged  by  Manager  Julius  Stern 
for    the    Universal    Heights    studio.      He 


will  appear  first  with  Edith  Roberts  in 
"An  Unconventional  Girl,"  a  two-reel 
play. 

Augustus  Phillips,  the  Universal  star, 
has  a  six  weeks'  old  son,  Charles  Ban- 
croft Phillips. 

Ned  Reardon,  the  Universal  actor,  who 
appeared  with  King  Baggot  many  times 
during  the  past  two  years,  died  February 
4  at  St.  Luke's  hospital,  New  York  City. 
Pneumonia  was  the  cause. 

George  Fitzmaurice,  directing  Pathe's 
"Big  Jim  Garrity,"  in  Georgia,  was  ar- 
rested" and  fined  $25  for  "hunting  on 
Sunday"  because  he  practiced  shooting 
at  a  mark  in  the  back  yard  of  the  hotel 
one  Sunday  morning. 

"The  Love  Liar,"  a  David  Horsley  five- 
reel  picture  featuring  Crane  Wilbur,  will 
be  released  as  a  "Mutual  Masterpicture," 
March  27.  Robert  B.  Broadwell  has  di- 
rected the  play,  which  is  the  story  of  a 
musical    genius    much    loved    by    women. 

Anna  Rabinowits,  head  stenographer 
in  the  Bluebird  Photoplay  offices,  and 
Julius  A.  Lewis,  manager  of  the  supply 
department  of  the  Universal  Company, 
are  to  be  married  in  the  near  future. 

J.  Frank  Glendon,  formerly  with  west- 
ern companies,  is  meeting  with  success 
in  eastern  studios,  having  appeared  in 
several  Metro  features  as  well  as  Kine- 
macolor,  Kalem,  B.  S.  Moss,  and  other 
pictures. 

Mme.  Petrova  believes  that  peacocks 
and  any  representation  of  them  bring  her 
bad  luck.  She  refused  to  play  in  a  set 
containing  a  picture  of  one. 

Clara  Boyers  was  overcome  by  the 
cold  when  she  played  a  scene,  lightly 
clad,  on  a  raft  in  an  ice  filled  river  for 
"Homing  Pigeons,"  a  coming  Universal 
picture. 

Rupert  Julian,  Elsie  Jane  Wilson,  Gil- 
more  Hammond,  J.  P.  Connelly,  Yona 
Landowska  and  Peter  Gerald  are  work- 
ing together  in  Earl  R.  Hewitt's  film 
adaptation  of  Hugh  Johnstone's  story  of 
Panama  entitled  "Ship  Me — Home." 


Roscoc    Arbuckle, 

Vuockin.i    ,>ti;    ilia    Hi 
and    rescued    the    fail 

7  n'a 

nglc-Keystone    funmaker, 

Bright     Lights,"     after 

and  his  gang  of  pugilists 

Kathlyn  Williams,  who  is  featured  in  "The 
'c'er-do-ivell,"  the  film  production  of  the  Rex 
each    no-eel    which    is    being    presented    by    Sol 


Jacques  Jaccard  is  directing  Harry 
Carey  in  a  two-reel  story  by  Lucia 
Chamberlain,  "The  Wedding  Guest." 
Olive  Fuller  Golden  is  feminine  lead. 

Jay  Hunt  is  staging  a  two-reel  animal 
drama  of  African  jungles,  "Under  the 
Lion's  Paw." 

Margaret  Gibson  and  William  Clifford, 
featured  separately  in  David  Horsley 
productions,  will  appear  together  in  "The 
Heart  of  Tara,"  a  story  of  India  written 
by  Theodosia  Harris,  to  be  released 
March  4. 

Catherine  Calhoun,  prominent  on  the 
speaking  stage  where  she  played  "Amy" 
in  the  original  "Little  Women"  company, 
has  joined  the  Metro  players  and  will  be 
seen  in  "Playing  With  Fire,"  with  Olga 
Petrova. 

David  Thompson,  assisting  William 
Nigh  in  the  production  of  "The  Kiss  of 
Hate,"  a  play  in  Russian  setting,  had 
bills  printed,  as  "props"  in  the  play,  or- 
dering a  Jewish  massacre.  Some  of  the 
bills,  which  were  printed  at  an  establish- 
ment on  the  east  side  in  New  York,  were 
seen  by  Jewish  residents,  who  nearly 
mobbed  Thompson  when  he  called  for 
them. 

Francis  X.  Bushman,  Beverly  Bayne 
and  twenty-five  other  principals,  are  in 
Savannah,  Ga.,  working  in  the  Metro 
play,  "The  Wall  Between,"  which  will 
also  contain  five  hundred  regular  soldiers 
and  1,500  negroes. 

Mile.  Valkyrien,  who  appears  in  the 
Mutual  Masterpicture,  "Silas  Marner," 
was  pronounced  the  most  beautiful  girl 
in  the  Danish  kingdom  at  a  national 
beauty  contest  in  Denmark  when  she  was 
seventeen  years  old. 

Sidney  Bracy,  known  especially  for  his 
work  in  "The  Million  Dollar  Mystery," 
has  joined  the  Universal  players  and  will 
be  seen  as  Luigi  in  "Elusive  Isabel,"  the 
first  Florence  Lawrence  picture. 

John  Davidson,  now  appearing  with 
Francis  X.  Bushman  and  Beverly  Bayne 
in  "The  Wall  Between,"  left  that  com- 
pany for  a  few  days  recently  to  work  in 
scenes  being  retaken  for  "Genius-Pierre," 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


543 


nths 

William  Garwood,  who  was  featured  in 
"The  Journal  of  Lord  John,"  produced  in 
Universal  City  by  E.  J.  Le  Saint,  is  back 
east  and  will  act  and  direct  at  Universal 
Heights  under  the  direction  of  Julius 
Stern. 

Paul  Panzer,  who  broke  his  thumb  in 
an  act  for  the  camera,  and  Frank  Smith, 
who  injured  his  foot  in  a  bear  trap,  have 
both  recovered  and  are  at  work  at  Uni- 
versal Heights. 

Julius  Stern  discovered  one  of  his  staff 
of  scenario  writers  in  a  teacher  in  the 
De  Witt  Clinton  high  school.  This  was 
Greiner,  who  is  now  writing  comedies 
for  the  Universal  company. 

Clara  Kimball  Young  won  in  the  popu- 
larity contest  conducted  by  the  New 
York  American  and  led  the  grand  march 
at  the  Motion  Picture  Ball  at  Madison 
Square  Garden.  Anita  Stewart  of  the 
VitagTaph  forces  was  second. 

Edwin  Middleton  is  now  producing 
"The  Touchstone,"  a  five-reeler,  at  the 
.Gaumont  studios  in  Florida.  Iva  Shep- 
ard,  Earl  Schenck,  Helen  Marten,  John 
Reinhard,  Olive  Trevor  and  James  Lev- 
ering are  in  the  cast. 

Olive  Trevor  has  organized  a  basket- 
ball team  among  the  girls  at  the  Gau- 
mont studios.  She  and  Flavia  Arcaro 
are  the  captains. 

John  Reinhard,  the  Gaumont  player, 
has  a  reputation  as  a  chef. 


CHICAGO  GOSSIP 

The  Selig  Polyscope  Company  has  now 
on  file  sixty-seven  letters  written  by  ex- 
hibitors in  eighteen  states  praising  the 
Selig-Tribune.  The  new  style  of  poster 
is  also  praised. 

Bryant  Washburn  of  the  Essanay 
Company  never  misses  an  opportunity  to 
see  himself  on  the  screen,  not  from 
vanity  but  to  study  his  work  with  a  view 
to  improving  it. 

Harry  Beaumont  is  writing  a  two-reel 


comedy     containing    a    comic     fight,     in 
which  he  will  play  the  lead. 

Marguerite  Clayton  has  purchased  a 
new  dog,  a  beautiful  Russian  wolf-hound. 

Virginia  Hammond  and  Gladys  Han- 
son, newcomers  to  the  Essanay  studios, 
were  girlhood  chums  and  were  taken 
from  the  same  school  at  the  same  time 
to  play  in  Frohman  productions,  where 
each  was  successful.  They  have  played 
together  during  their  stage  careers,  ex- 
cept during  the  last  year. 

In  "The  Despoiler,"  Darwin  Karr  ages 
twenty-five  years  in  twenty-five.  In  the 
early  scenes  he  appears  as  a  young  fel- 
low, in  the  last  as  a  millionaire  of  fifty. 

In  a  scene  for  "Beyond  the  Law,"  the 
Essanay  play  filmed  near  Virginia,  Minn., 
one  young  woman  in  the  cast  dropped 
150  feet  down  the  steep  slope  of  a  hill. 
The  deep  snow  saved  her  from  serious 
injury. 

Gladys  Hanson  of  the  Essanay  Com- 
pany was  leading  lady  with  Lou  Tellegen 
last  season. 

John   Junior  and   Elizabeth   Burbridge 

will   appear   together   in   "The   House   of 
Surprise,"  a  two-act  Essanay  play  of  ad- 

A  score  of  Canadian  custom  officers, 
rangers  and  secret  service  officers  be- 
came picture  actors,  unknown  to  them- 
selves, in  a  scene  for  "Beyond  the  Law," 
the  northern  play  E.  H.  Calvert  directed 
for  Essanay. 


as  the  Deal  theater.  It  will  seat  500  and 
will  be  opened  about  the  middle  of  the 
summer. 

Officers  elected  at  the  recent  conven- 
tion of  the  Oklahoma  branch  of  the  M. 
P.  E.  L.  of  A.  in  Oklahoma  City  recently 
are:  President,  Ralph  Talbot,  Tulsa; 
vice-president;  A.  B.  Momand,  Shawnee; 
second  vice-president,  S.  H.  Jones,  Altus; 
secretary,  L.  W.  Brophy,  Muskegee; 
treasurer,  J.  L.  Olive,  Chickasha;  state 
national  vice-president,  S.  H.  Powell. 
Delegates  chosen  for  the  national  con- 
vention in  Chicago  are:  W.  C.  Wood, 
Lawton;  Carl  Gregg,  Tulsa;  W.  C.  Wirt, 
Enid;  H.  W.  McCaull,  Cuching;  Morris 
Lowenstein.  Oklahoma  City;  S.  H.  Jones, 
Altus,  and  John  Slocum,  Mangum.  Fred 
T.  Herrington,  national  president  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of 
America,  was  present  at  the  convention. 

The  practice  of  certain  film  exchanges 
in  Oklahoma  City  of  demanding  cash  in 
advance  for  film  service  was  stopped  re- 
cently by  the  Oklahoma  State  Corpora- 
tion Commission  after  Morris  Lowen- 
stein, seci'tary  of  the  M.  P.  E.  L.,  filed 
oral  complaint. 

Alabama. 

The    Palace    theater    at    Denham    has 
been   taken  over  by  W.  H.   Couch,  who 
will  change  the  name  to  the  Strand. 
Texas. 

Material  is  on  the  ground  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  theater  to  be  built  by  W. 
M.  Conroe  at  Conroe.  The  seating  ca- 
pacity will  be  about  250. 

S.  S.  Levy  has  opened  a  new  picture 
house  at  Ursurline  and  Dorgenois  streets, 
New  Orleans,  and  has  named  it  the 
Eugie.     The  seating  capacity  is  1,000. 

J.  K.  Miller  opened  a  theater  at  Ste- 
phensville,  February  25,  of  400  seating 
capacity. 


Andrew  Pappas  has  opened  the  Queen 
theater  at  Brownsville,  a  500  capacity 
house,  showing  motion  pictures  and 
vaudeville. 

C.  V.  Carver  will  open  a  new  motion 
picture  house  at  Stephensville  in  March, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  500. 


MIDDLE  WEST  NOTES 

By  William  Noble. 

Oklahoma. 

The  question  of  Sunday  picture  shows 
is  being  revived  in  McAlester  and  a  vote 
will  be  taken  on  the  subject  soon. 

The  mayor  of  McAlester  has  ordered 
the  removal  of  all  billboards  and  poster 
signs  in  the  fire  district.  A  number  of 
theater  managers  threaten  to  appeal  to 
a  higher  court  against  the  order. 

Frank  Deal  will  build  a  motion  pic- 
ture theater  at  Wynnewood,  to  be  known 


544 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


Virginia    Kirtley,    who    appears    opposite    Crane 
Wilbur    in     -'At   Law     Unto    Himself,"    a    Mutual 


>,*      si    L*aw     unto    mmsetr,       a    Mutual 
"Mastcrpicturc"  made  by  the  David  Horsley  ft 


Elmer  L.  Scott,  director  of  the  welfare 
board,  Dallas,  has  had  complaint  made  that 
some  of  the  pictures  shown  in  the  city- 
were  not  worth  the  price  of  admission; 
so  worn  out  were  the  films  that  they  hurt 
the  eyes. 

Citizens  of  Fort  Worth  will  vote  on 
March  8  on  the  question  of  Sunday  pic- 
ture shows. 

For  the  first  time  in  24  years,  Dad 
Spooner,  motion  picture  exhibitor  in  San 
Angelo,  has  heard  from  his  brother. 
They  found  each  other  when  Spooner 
recognized  his  brother  in  a  motion  pic- 
ture and  later  learned  that  he  was  an 
actor  in   California. 

The  Court  of  Criminal  Appeals  at  Aus- 
tin affirmed  the  case  against  Dad 
Spooner,  fined  $20  for  giving  a  picture 
show  on  Sunday.  Spooner  had  given  the 
show  for  the  benefit  of  the  tuberculosis 
sanitarium  at  Carlsbad.  No  admission 
had  been  charged,  but  contributions  were 
solicited. 


PACIFIC  COAST  NEWS 

Lloyd  Carleton  is  soon  to  produce  F. 
McGrew  Willis  film  adaptation  of  Clyde 
Fitch's  drama,  "The  Way  of  the  World," 
with  Hobart  Bosworth  as  lead. 

"When  Bosco  Disappeared,"  with 
Victor  Potel,  George  Barnes,  Jane  Ber- 
noudy  and  Eileen  Sedgwick,  is  still  occu- 
pying the  attention  of  Roy  Clements  at 
Universal   City. 

"Through  Baby's  Voice,"  George  Coch- 
rane's  second  Universal  release,  is  com- 
pleted. Douglas  Gerrard,  Edna  Maison 
and  Zoe  Beck  appear  in  the  leading  roles. 

Joseph  De  Grasse  and  his  company  of 
Rex  Universal  players  are  completing  the 
five-reel  comedy  drama  by  Isabel  Os- 
trander,  "The  Altar  of  Friendship."  The 
cast  includes  Louise  Lovely,  Lon  Chaney, 
Georgia  French,  Colin  Chase,  Hayward 
Mack,  Jay  Belasco,  Agnes  Vernon  and 
Marjorie  Ellison. 

Rainy  weather  is  holding  up  Allen 
Curtis  and  his  Joker  company  in  the  pro- 
duction of  their  present  one-reel  comedy, 


"Too  Many  Wives,"  in  which  Cale 
Henry,  Milburn  Moranti,  William  Fra- 
ney  and  Lillian  Peacock  appear. 

"Lavinia  Comes  Home,"  another  story 
by  Isabel  Ostrander,  will  soon  be  re- 
leased. Lenora  Ainsworth  adapted  the 
story  for  two  reels,  and  William  C.  Dow- 
land  directed  it.  The  cast  includes  Mar- 
cia  Moore,  Richard  Sterling,  William 
Quin,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Helen  Wright 
and  Lee  Morris. 

"Embers,"  American  Mutual  Master- 
picture  for  March  2,  is  expected  to 
arouse  discussion  since  it  pictures  the 
struggle  between  a  high  spiritual  love 
and  a  less   exalted   variety  of  attraction. 

Dorothy  Barrett,  playing  a  big  role  in 
"The  Argonauts,"  now  being  filmed  at 
the  Monrovia  Company's  studios,  was  the 
guest  of  honor  at  a  barbecue  held  re- 
cently by  G.  W.  Griffith  at  his  estate  near 
Covina,  Cal. 

Myrtle  Stedman  spends  her  spare  mo- 
ments sewing  for  the  Belgian  refugees. 

J.  Warren  Kerrigan  is  now  appearing 
in  "The  Gay  Lord  Waring,"  a  five-reel 
Universal  picture. 

In  the  fifth  chapter  of  "The  Love 
Pirates,"  the  Kalem  serial  which  James 
Home  is  producing  at  the  Glendale  stu- 
dios, Ollie  Kirby  plays  a  society  lady, 
with  Marin   Sais  disguised  as  her  maid. 

Charles  Ray,  Jack  Standing  and  How- 
ard Hickman  are  appearing  in  the  play 
in  which  Louise  Glaum  acts  a  "vampire" 
role. 

The  laboratory  just  completed  at  the 
western  Vitagraph  studios  is  now  in 
working  order  and  the  Santa  Monica 
quarters  have  been  deserted. 

Almost  twelve  hundred  dollars  was 
secured  from  the  Fine  Arts  players  for 
the  actors'  home  in  New  York. 

Cleo  Ridgely  will  soon  begin  work  on 
a  new  production  under  the  Lasky  Com- 
pany's new  director,  Paul  Dickey. 

Charlotte  Walker,  after  work  was 
finished  for  the  Lasky  production  of 
"The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine,"  left 
for  San  Diego  to  see  the  exposition. 

Anita  King  visited  Salt  Lake  City  re- 
cently to  preside  at  the  dedication  of  the 
new  Empress  theater,  a  Paramount 
house. 

Mae  Murray  was  left  all  night  on  a 
rock  during  a  storm  at  Catalina,  while 
George  Melford  and  his  company  were 
filming  "To  Have  and  to  Hold."  Wal- 
lace Reid  rescued  her.  Now  they  call 
her  "Mae  Rooned." 

William  Duncan  has  had  to  travel 
around  a  bit  for  his  recent  pictures,  to 
the  Mojave  Desert  for  "Bill  Peters' 
Kid,"  to  Big  Bear  Lake  for  scenes  in  the 
Curwood  feature,  and  for  the  present 
serial  he  and  the  company  will  probably 
go  to  Panama. 

George  Periolat's  hobby  is  collecting 
jade,  and  his  collection  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  largest  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

Johnny  Sheehan,  the  American  come- 
dian, believes  he  would  be  a  good  trage-    ,  o 
dian.      In    "Jeakusy    and    Jeopardy"    he      ' 
plays  a  hotel  man  with  theatrical  ambi- 
tions and   has   a   chance   to   do   a   bit   of 
"Hamlet." 


"The  Deserted  House,"  a  Fine  Arts- 
Triangle  play  written  by  Roy  Somerville. 

"Number  13,  Westbound,"  is  the  title 
of  the  promised  Selig  railroad  play  in 
which  Kathlyn  Williams,  who  plays  with 
tigers  and  lions  as  though  they  were 
kittens,  will  take  chances  with  a  loco- 
motive. 

"A  Social  Deception,  Selig  play  fea- 
turing Harry  Mestayer  and  Eugenie 
Besserer  will  be  released  March  27. 

Mary  Anderson,  who  had  her  first 
desert  experiences  during  the  filming  of 
"Bill  Peters'  Kid,"  has  adopted  "Pedro," 
the  wolf  who  plays  with  her  in  this  story. 

Guy  Oliver  supports  Kathlyn  Wil- 
liams in  the  Selig  railroad  play,  "Number 
13,  Westbound,"  in  which  a  girl  flags  a 
train  and  saves  the  people,  then  faints  on 
the  tracks. 

Mack  Sennett,  the  Triangle-Keystone 
director,  distributed  the  lumber  in  the 
first  buildings  for  Keystone  comedies, 
torn  down  to  make  room  for  a  new  plant, 
to  the  poor  people  of  Los  Angeles  for 
fuel. 

George  Stone,  the  six-year-old  player 
at  the  Fine  Arts  studios,  spoke  in  three 
Los  Angeles  theaters,  the  Mason,  Or- 
pheum  and  Pantages,  for  the  Actors' 
Fund. 

A  new  title  is  to  be  selected  for  "Katy 
Bauer,"  the  Fine  Arts  play  featuring 
Dorothy  Gish  and  Owen  Moore.  Miss 
Gish  appears  as  a  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
girl  in  this  story,  staged  by  Paul  Powell. 

"Hoodoo  Ann,"  written  by  Granville 
Warwick  for  Mae  Marsh  and  Robert 
Harron,  produced  by  Lloyd  Ingraham,  is 

finished  and  shipped  to  New  York  for  its 
premiere  at  the  Triangle  Knickerbocker 
theater. 

Mary  H.  O'Connor  is  the  author  of 
"Daphne  and  the  Pirate,"  first  announced 


\  J 


Norma  Talmadge  will  soon  be  seen  in 


,M'.t.  Thru  shr  played  opposite  Kyrle 
Fteltcw  and  in  support  of  Minnie  Maddcrn  Fiskr. 
Ilrr  latest  -.cork  was  as  leading  woman  with  Lou 
lellegen,  who  married  Ceraldine  Farrar.  They 
played   in    "The    Wa 


March  4,  1916. 


as  "Daphne,"  featuring  Lillian  Gish  and 
Elliott  Dexter. 

Marguerite  Marsh,  Kate  Toncray,  F.  A. 
Turner  and  James  O'Shea  appear  with 
Dorothy  Gish  and  Owen  Moore  in  "Katy 
Bauer." 

Lillian  Gish,  a  lover  of  good  music,  has 
a  victrola  in  her  dressing  room  and  enter- 
tains her  fellow  players  between  scenes. 

"Marja  of  the  Steppe,"  written  by 
William  E.  Wing  and  staged  by  William 
Christy  Cabanne,  will  be  Lillian  Gish's 
third  Triangle  play. 

De  Wolf  Hopper's  next  Triangle  com- 
edy will  be  "The  Philanthropist,"  writ- 
ten by  Chester  Withey.  Fay  Tincher 
will  appear  in  this  in  eccentric  make-up 
as  a  tramp.     Edward  Dillon  will  direct. 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon's  six-reel  produc- 
tion of  James  Oliver  Curwood's  novel  of 
the  Northwest  is  finished  and  being 
trimmed  and  it  will  soon  be  shipped  east 
for  release. 

A  fifteen-chapter  serial  production  of 
"The  Hearts  of  Three,"  by  Jack  London, 
has  been  begun  under  William  Wolbert's 
direction.  Charles  Goddard  picturized 
the  -story,  which  will  feature  William 
Duncan.  Carmen  Phillips  will  play  the 
only  female  part.  Scenes  are  laid  in 
Panama. 

Dave  Smith  is  producing  a  one-reel 
comedy  by  Joseph  F.  Poland,  featuring 
Mary  Anderson  and  Webster  Campbell. 

Max  Davidson  will  have  an  important 
role  in  "The  Philanthropist,"  with  De 
Wolf  Hopper. 

Constance  Collier  is  at  present  playing 
Lady  Macbeth  with  Sir  Herbert  Beer- 
bohm  Tree  at  the  Triangle-Fine  Arts 
studios.  Later  she  will  appear  with  Sir 
Herbert  in  New  York  when  he  gives  his 
Shakespearian  festival. 

"Betty  of  Greystone,"  the  Triangle 
play  featuring  Dorothy  Gish,  will  be 
known  hereafter  as  "Betty  the  Home- 
less." 

"Martha's  Vindication,"  by  Ella 
Woods,  presenting  Norma  Talmadge  and 
Seena  Owen,  a  Fine-Arts-Triangle  play, 
has  been  retitled  "The  Silence  of 
Martha." 

Alan  Hale,  who  is  only  twenty-three, 
is  a  reader  of  worth-while  books,  and 
believes  them  one  of  the  best  aids  to  an 
actor. 

Ed    J.    Saint    and    Stella    Razetto    are 

grieving  over  the  loss  of  Paddy  Wuffen, 
an  Irish  terrier,  who  was  not  only  a  pet 
but  a  good  screen  actor.  He  was  killed 
by  an  automobile. 

Edna  Maison  is  enjoying  a  short  rest 
while  her  director,  George  Cochrane,  is 
putting  on  a  "kid"  story  in  which  Joseph 
Jefferson  Junior  appears  with  a  clever 
child. 

Richard  Stanton  is  now  engaged  on 
the  fourteenth  installment  of  the  "Graft" 
serial. 

Lule  Warrington,  the  Universal  char- 
acter actress,  who  has  been  ill  with  pneu- 
monia, is  back  at  work. 

At  the  close  of  the  fight  scene  for  "The 
Silken  Spider,"  in  which  Frank  Borzage 
is  directing  at  the  American  studios,  the 
resulting  injuries  included  a  swollen  jaw, 
a  cut  wrist,  a  torn  set  and  several  ruined 
suits  of  clothes. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Orral  Humphrey,  who  played  Marma- 
duke  Smythe  in  "The  Diamond  from  the 
Sky,"  and  Rea  Berger,  a  character  actor 
in  American  comedies,  are  now  co-direct- 
ing one  of  the  American  "Beauty"  com- 
panies. 

Eugene  Pallette,  who  appears  in  "Sun- 
shine Dad,"  and  Ann  Slater,  also  of  the 
Fine  Arts  studio,  were  married  recently. 
They  spent  their  honeymoon  is  San 
Francisco. 

Grace  Cunard  and  Francis  Ford  are 
now  working  in  a  two-reel  play,  "A  Royal 
Robber." 

Louise  "Lovely,"  formerly  "Carbasse," 
the  Universal  star,  was  for  six  years  a 
star  on  the  legitimate  stage  in  Australia. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  she  toured  that 
country  in  "Nell  Gwynne."  For  two  years 
she  worked  in  motion  pictures  there, 
later  going  into  vaudeville.  When  the 
war  closed  many  vaudeville  houses  in 
Australia,  Miss  Carbasse  came  to  Amer- 
ica. American  difficulties  with  her 
French  name  led  to  its  change,  and  Carl 
Laemmle  suggested  "Lovely." 

William  D.  Taylor  has  had  hard  luck 
making  the  Pallas  feature,  "David  Crock- 
ett." The  star,  Dustin  Farnum,  was  sick 
for  two  weeks.  Later  the  company  got 
snow-bound  in  Bear  Valley,  and  had  a 
hard  time  getting  back.  Since  then  two 
horses  used  in  the  production  were  acci- 
dentally killed,  while  another  horse  fell 
with  his  rider,  breaking  the  man's  leg. 
And  half  of  the  picture  is  still  to  be  made. 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon  is  completing  the 
Curwood  northwest  drama  and  is  super- 
intending the  cutting  of  film.  Advance 
notices  say  that  the  picture  will  be  won- 
derful. 

Anna  Little  and  Tom  Chatterton  both 
had  birthdays  in  February,  and  Chatter- 
ton  gave  a  dinner  in  Miss  Little's  honor. 

George  Melford  has  finished  the  Lasky 
feature,  "To  Have  and  to  Hold,"  with 
Mae  Murray  as  star,  and  will  give  his 
attention  to  "The  Race,"  which  will  fea- 
ture Victor  Moore  and  Anita  King. 


545 

Each  Triangle  production  now  carries 
an  editorial  containing  an  anti-censorship 
plea,  by  which  the  producers  hope  to 
make  the  people  think  about  the  question. 

Fritzi  Brunette  makes  her  V.  L.  S.  E. 
debut  in  the  Selig  Red  Seal  play  by 
James  Oliver  Curwood,  "Unto  Those 
Who  Sin,"  released  March  6. 

Douglas  Fairbanks  will  appear  as  an 
Arizonian  in  the  next  Fine  Arts  play,  the 
story  of  which  he  wrote.  Fairbanks  is 
also  the  author  of  the  vaudeville  act, 
"The  Business  Man,"  in  which  he  form- 
erly appeared. 

When  Thomas  Santschi  leaves  Califor- 
nia for  Chicago  to  play  in  "The  Crisis," 
it  will  be  his  first  trip  east  since  he  went 
west  with  the  Selig  company  seven  years 


In  "The  Bruiser,"  a  forthcoming  Mutual 
Masterpicture,  William  Russell  will  ap- 
pear as  a  leader  of  longshoresmen  in  a 
struggle  between  the  workers  and 
society.  The  cast  includes  Roy  Stewart, 
Lizette  Thorne,  George  Ferguson  and 
Charlotte  Burton,  who  plays  opposite 
Russell. 

Vivian  Rich  in  "The  Waif,"  her  next 
play,  appears  as  a  runaway  from  an 
orphanage  who   is  adopted  by  a  farmer. 

Winifred  Greenwood,  Edward  Coxen 
and  George  Field  will  again  appear  to- 
gether in  "At  the  Eleventh  Hour." 

William  S.  Hart  will  appear  next  in  a 
play  written  by  Monte  M.  Katterjohn, 
a  romence  of  the  sixteenth  century  in 
America.  Scenes  have  been  filmed  at  the 
exposition  grounds  in  San  Diego,  using 
the  "Painted  Desert."  Charles  Swickard 
is  directing  the  play,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Thomas  H.  Ince. 

Eugenie  Besserer  will  have  a  strong 
role  in  the  forthcoming  Selig  release, 
"The  Woman  Who  Did  Not  Care." 

The  Smalleys  have  begun  the  produc- 
tion of  their  second  Tyrone  Power  fea- 
ture for  the  Universal.  Olga  Printslau 
prepared    the    play    from    the    story    by 


:,   Crocodiles  and  c 


546 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10 


Joseph  Hatton,  entitled  "John  Needham's 
Double."  Marie  Walcamp,  Frank  Elli- 
ott, Agnes  Emerson,  Richard  Sterling, 
Frank  Lanning,  Walter  Belasco,  Lew 
Short,  M.  Hajamar  and  William  Carlock 
form  the  supporting  cast. 

Harris  Merton  Lyon,  the  well-known 
short  story  writer,  has  arrived  at  the 
Ince  studios  to  become  a  member  of  the 
Triangle-Kay  Bee  staff  of  photoplay 
writers. 

Fritzi  Brunette  will  appear  as  "Cindy," 
in  "At  Pine  Ridge,"  which  William  Rob- 
ert Daly  is  producing  from  the  play  by 
David  W.  Higgins. 

Bessie  Eyton  is  preparing  a  number  of 
quaint  gowns  for  her  coming  portrayal 
of  "Virginia  Carvel,"  in  "The  Crisis." 

Henry  McRae  is  producing  a  two-reel 
story  by  Frank  M.  Wiltermood  entitled 
"Rival  Towns."  B.  B.  Wallock,  Leo 
Hill,  Jack  Curtis,  Ora  Carew  and  H.  Bar- 
rington  appear  in  the  cast. 


tive.  positive  and  raw  stock.     The  reason  The    Phoenix    Company    has   produced 

for   the   measure,   which   would   seriously  "Nurse  and  Martyr,"  dealing  with  the  life 

injure  the  film  industry  in  Great  Britain,  and  death  of  Edith  Cavell.    A  number  of 

is  to  limit  the  outflow  of  British  gold.  The  nurses    and    students    from    the    London 

film    trade,    which    is    fighting    the    idea,  Hospital,  where  Miss  Cavell  was  trained, 

points  out  the  wrong  the  measure  would  were  present  at  a  special  showing  of  the 

do    to   the    Italian  and    French   allied   na-  film. 


BRITISH   TRADE   GOSSIP 

Motion  pictures  are  serving  a  very  real 
need  of  the  people  of  the  Brtish  Isles  at 
present,  that  of  presenting  some  diver- 
sion in  the  time  of  great  anxiety  and 
stress.  Pictures  are  also  forming  the  one 
method  of  entertaining  the  wounded 
soldiers. 

A  large  room  in  the  Howard  Gardens 
War  Hospital  at  Cardiff  has  been 
equipped  as  a  temporary  cinema.  The 
audience  at  the  first  showing  consisted  of 
400  wounded  soldiers  from  the  city  hos- 
pitals. 

The  Gaumont  open  market  service  is 
increasing  in  popularity  and  another  at- 
tractive Gaumont  feature  is  the  reintro- 
duction  into  their  "Gazette"  of  Paris 
fashions,  which  seems  to  please  the  men 
as  well  as  the  women. 

The  British  government  is  considering- 
laying  an  unconditional  prohibition  on 
the  importation  of  all  foreign  films,  nega- 


The  House  of  Pathe  is  doing  good 
business  with  its  serials  and  exclusives. 
All  copies  of  the  Elaine  series  are 
booked,  and  the  demand  for  "Who  Pays" 
is  great.  The  Cosmos  and  Gold  Rooster 
exclusives  also  please  the  trade. 

Majestic  Theater  in  Hull  states  on  its 
programs  the  approximate  time  each 
feature  will  occupy  the  screen. 

The  Bridington  Town  Council  makes 
official  announcements  by  way  of  the 
screen  in  the  various  picture  houses. 

As  an  advertising  method,  the  Paisley 
Picture  Theater  issues  a  four-page  cir- 
cular printed  on  thin  card-board.  The 
front  page  shows  a  photograph  of  the 
house  and  is  headed  "Feature  Films  of 
the  Month."  The  inside  pages  contain 
brief  but  attractive  synopses  of  coming 
pictures.  The  back  page  contains  an 
accident  insurance  policy  available  for 
the  month. 

"The  Eagle's  Nest"  was  the  star  pic- 
ture at  the  Princess  Cinema,  Rathmines, 
Dublin,  recently. 

"The  Heart  of  a  Painted  Woman"  drew 
the  people  in  no  uncertain  fashion  to  the 
Bohemia  Theater,   Dublin. 

Both  the  theaters  in  Dunkalk,  Ireland, 
make  a  specialty  of  variety  acts  in  addi- 
tion of  the  usual  program  of  films.  At 
the  Town  Hall  the  third  episode  of  "The 
Broken  Coin"  was  shown  with  success, 
and  the  twelfth  part  of  "The  Black  Box." 

The  New  Bio  Company  is  now 
handling  big  exclusives,  and  W.  A.  Fen- 
ning  is  in  control  of  that  department. 
Among,  these  are  "The  Scarlet  Sin,"  a 
Bosworth  four-reeler;  "Jewel,"  and 
"Jeanne  Dore,"  the  Bernhardt  picture, 
both  trans-Atlantic  productions. 


It  is  stated  that  Madame  Curie,  the 
great  French  scientist,  is  appearing  in 
Paris  in  a  film  relating  the  history  of  the 
discovery  of  radium.  Many  scenes  were 
taken  in  Madame  Curie's  own  laboratory. 

Madame  Rejane  as  "Jeanne  Orbey" 
in  a  film  version  of  "Alsace,"  her  famed 
stage  success,  is  being  shown  by  Messrs. 
Jury's  Imperial  Pictures  at  the  West  End 
Cinema.  The  German  occupation  of  Bel- 
gium is  shown  in  the  play. 


INCE   WRITES  SONG 

FOR  COLLIER   PLAY 

Thomas  H.  Ince  and  his  musical  com- 
poser, Victor  L.  Schertzinger.  have  burst 
forth  into  song  again.  This  number 
will  be  distributed  in  connection  with 
the  forthcoming  showing  of  the  Triangle- 
Kay-Bee  feature  in  which  William  Col- 
lier will  be  starred.  The  song  is  entitled 
"The  No-Good  Guy."  by  which  the  pho- 
toplay also  is  known,  and  is  respectfully 
dedicated  to  the  comedian.     Here  it  is: 


II 'I, 


i   lad 


i   bad 


n  A 

ml. 

(    till    he 

And    1 

hi 

At    tin 

n    of   his 

All  th 

bre 

we 

d  working  night  and 

When 

his 

sails  were  a 

I  spread  out 

He    w 

aid 

"/),,«< 

>o:c!      1 

men  with  boocc! 

■■Billy 

Su 

ida 

•■s    afte, 

youse!" 

CHORUS 

He's  a 

-Good   guy; 

Oh,    he's  a   devil! 

He's   a   X 

-Go 

od  guy; 

When 

the    high 

He   »n 

h" 

thi 

•qs  fly,' 
i  olorad 

why  the  state  wen 

lies   , 

No 

he  s  alwa\  <   riekled. 

When 

*•/,', 

id     "Goc 

d-byel"     his    folks 

And  h 

is  flivw 

With 

Id   Cre 

„  Rirer 

He's  c 

No-Go 

>d   iiny. 

Said'' 

77 

"te 

ed  up  a 

at  we'll  do; 

sto 

is  bloody 

war  in  thirty  days. 

II,  ■ 


o-Good  guy 


CHORUS 


...  s  a  No-Good  o.. ., 

.hid  in    old   Berlin. 

A    Zeppelin 

Tried  to  put  his  lights  out  with  a 

And  as  the  shells  flew  by.  they  s, 

lie's  a   Xo-Good   guv;   he  lost  hi 

When    they   threw   him    baek    on 

With    Mr.    Henry    Ford: 

He's  a  No-Good  guy. 


Pat  Hall  has  moved  his  Western  Film 
Exchange  from  Kansas  City  to  Oklahoma 
City.  He  will  operate  from  the  Okla- 
homa capital  in  the  future. 


(".    S.    Ackers,   manager   of   the    Lomo   Theater, 

HattiesluirK,  Miss.,  ,1,  sires  tin-  address  of  firms 
who  desire  thcit  advertisements  thrown  on  the 
screen    and    are    willing    to    pay    for    such    service. 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


g  the  classification  of  film  pictures  by  the  nat 
...  has  adopted  this  style  in  listing  current  films 
Films  will  be  listed  as  long  in  advance  of  their  release  dat< 
Reasonable   care  is   used,   and   the   publishers  cannot   be   respor 


General  Program 


Monday. 


2-21   The  Strange   Case  of   Mary    Page,   No.    5 li-anav 

2-21   The    Repentant    Lubin 

2-21   Virtue    Triumphant     Selig 

"-   "Vibune  No.    'r     * 


C       2-21   Hughey,   the    Process    Ser 


Tuesday. 


2-22  The  Bridesn 
2-22  Ham,  the  1 
2-22  Four    Narra 


.  Kssanay 
'.'.■.Lubin1 


Wednesday. 


2-23  The  Guilt  of  Stephen   Eldridge Biograph 

2-23   Canimated   Nooz   Pictorial  No.   5 Essanay 

2-23   Earning    His    Salt Kalem 


Thursday. 


2-24  The  Redemption  of  Hel 
2-24  Selig-Tribune  No.  16,  l1 
2-24   Bungles    Enforces    the    1 


Friday. 


Saturday. 


Monday. 


>   Sketch   Book   of   Londor 


Thursday. 


Her    Wayward    Sister Lubin 

Selig-Tribune,   No.    18,   1916 Selig 

The    Serenade    Vim 


Friday. 


A  Leap  Year  Wooing Kalem 

The    Master    Smile Knickerbocker 

The  Artist's   Model Vim 

Hearst- Vitagraph  News  Pictorial,  No.   12,   1916 Vitagraph 

Tubby    Turns   the   Tables Vitagraph 


Saturday. 


Beyond    the    Law 

The  Girl  Telegrapher's 
Hamlet  Made  Over.  . 
The  Uncut  Diamond. 
La   Paloma    


10  Green    Stockings Vitagraph 

17   My    Lady's    Slippers Vitagraph 

17   Captain   jinks  of  the   Horse   Marines Essanay 

20  The    Wonderful    Wager Lubin 


•  subjects  to  be  of  greater  importance  to  the  exhibitor  than  clsasification  by  maker. 
•s  are  urged  to  make  use  of  this  convenient  tabulation  in  making  up  their  programs, 
le.      Film   manufacturers  are  requested  to  send   us  their  bulletins  as  early  as  possible. 


2-25   The     Night    Watch Kalem 

2-25   Who  Knows?    Knickerbocker 

2-25   Love    and    Lather Vim 

2-25   Freddy's    Narrow    Escape Vitagraph 


3,000 
1,000 
1,000 


2-26  The   Despoiler    Essanay 

2-26  The    Switchman's    Story Kalem 

2-26  Billy's    Revenge    Lubin 

2-26  A    Safe    Risk Selig 

2-26  The   Road   of   Many  Turnings Vitagraph 


■28  The   Strange  Case  of  Mary    rJW     '....   ...  l-.,vui;n 

■28   Selig-Tribune,    No.    17,    1916 Selig 


Tuesday. 

D       2-29  The   House    of    Surprise Essanay 

C       2-29  Winning    the     Widow Kalem 

D       2-29  What    Happened    to    Peggy Biograph 


V.I 

J.  S.  E.  Program 

4   Gods    of    Fate Lubin  5,000 

4  The   Island  of  Surprise Vitagraph  S-,000 

1A    Night    Out Vitagraph  5,000 

1   Souls    in    Bondage Lubin  5,000 

7   The    Crown     Prince'-     Double Vitagraph  5,000 

7   Thou    Shalt    Not    Covet Selig  5,000 

4  The  .Writing  on   the   Wall Vitagraph  5,000 

4  Dollars  and    Cents Lubin  5,000 

4  Vultures    of    Society Essanay  5,000 

The   Misleading   Lady Essanay  5,000 

1   Kennedy    Square    Vitagraph  5,000 

?   Her    Bleeding    Heart Lubin  5,000 

3  The    Discard     Essanay  5,000 

3   For  a  Woman's  Fair  Name Vitagraph  5,000 


Mutual  Program 


Tuesday. 

2   Life's    Harmony    American  3,000 

2  Ruth's   Remarkable    Reception Falstaff  1,000 

Wednesday. 

3  The    Reunion     Thanhouser  3,000 

3  Too     Much     Married Beauty  1,000 

Thursday. 

4  Flooded    With    Trouble Vogue  1,000 

4  Perkins'   Peace   Party Falstaff  1,000 

4  Mutual    Weekly    No.    60 Mutual  1,000 

Friday. 

5  Double    Crossed    Mustang  3,000 

5  Going  Up    Cub  1,000 

Saturday. 

7  See  America   First   No.   24 Gaumont  500 

7   Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  24 Gaumont  500 

7  Cooking   His   Goose Beauty  1,000 

7  The    Candy    Cook Vogue  1,000 

Tuesday. 

J  The    Happy    Masquerader American  3,000 

)  Rustie    Reggie's    Record Falstaff  1,000 

Wednesday. 

What    Doris    Did Thanhouser  3,000 

Johnny's  Jumble    Beauty  1,000 

Thursday. 

Title     Not     Reported Vogue 

Maud    Muller    Modernized Falstaff  1,000 

Mutual   Weekly   No.    61 Mutual  1,000 

Friday. 

Margv    of    the    Hills Mustang  3,000 

The    Desperate    Chance Cub  1,000 

Sunday. 

See  America   First,   No.    25 Gaumont  500 

Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  25 Gaumont  500 

Dad's    College    Widow Beauty  1,000 

Title     Not     Reported Vogue 


Universal   Program 


Monday. 

2-21   The    Disappearing    Groom Nestor 

2-21   The  Illegal   Bucketshops    (Graft   No.   11) Universal 

Tuesday. 

2-22  The   Dupe    Gold   Seal 

2-22  The   Pipe    Dream '. .  .Victor 

2-22  No   Release  This   Week Imp 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


Wednesday. 

3  Madame    Cubist    Victor 

3   Turtle    Doves     Rex 

3  Animated    Weekly,    Vol.    3,    No.    7 Universal 

Thursday. 

4  John   Pellet's   Dream '. Laemmle 

4  A    Beast    of   Society Big    U 

4  No    Release    This    Week Powers 

Friday. 

5  I'll   Get  Her  Yet Imp 

5  After   the   Play Victor 

5  Her   Friend,  the   Doctor Nestor 

Saturday. 

6  The  Stampede  in   the   Night Bison 

6   Preparedness    (No.    10   Uncle   Sam   at   Work) Powers 

6  Married  on  the  Wing Joker 

Sunday. 

7  No   Release   This   Week Rex 

7  Her    Greatest   Story Laemmle 

7  Dad's    Dollars    and    Dirty    Doings L-Ko 

Monday. 

8  Cupid   Trims   His   Lordship Nestor 

8  The   Milk   Battle    (Graft   No.    12) Universal 

Tuesday. 

9  The  Eye  of  the  Horus  (No.  4  Lord  John's  Journal). Gold  Seal 
9  Some    Heroes    Imp 

Wednesday. 

Blue   Blood   and    Black   Skin L-Ko 

Animated   Weekly,   Vol.   2,   No.    9 Universal 

Thursday. 

The    Heart    of    Bonita Laemmle 

Shackles     Big    U 

Love   Laughs  at  the   Law Joker 

Friday. 

The    Hoax    House Imp 

In  the  Heart  of  a  Shell Rex 

The   Lion's   Breath Nestor 

Saturday. 

The    One    Woman Bison 

To  Arms   (Uncle  Sam  at  Work,  No.   11) Powers 

Sunday. 

Saved    by    a    Song Rex 


Hitrtllif     ml,      I'.trrp 


Sins 


t  Nort 


I  Fil 


,000 

,000 

Feb. 

,000 

Feb. 

9 

Feb. 

9 

Feb. 

16 

nn 

Feb. 

23 

2,000 
1,000 


2,000 
1,000 
1,000 


4,000 


Race  Suicide Jos.   W.   Fa 

Somewhere  in  France Arthur  S.   Kane  5,000 

Fighting  with   France French    Official   War   Films  6,000 

At    the   End   of   the   Rainbow K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

A  Naval  Tragedy K.  &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

The   Arabian    Dancing    Girl K.   &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

Catherine   Brown — the   Baby   Kellerman — in  Fancy   Diving 

and    Swimming    K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

On  the  Firing  Line  With  the  Germans War  Film  Syndicate  8,500 

His    Vindication    Cosmofotofilm  4,000 

A   Fool's   Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

The   Girl  and  the  Game Signal   Film  30,000 

The    Unwritten    Law California    M.    P.  5,000 

The  Ne'er-Do-Well    Sol   Lesser  10,000 

The    Birth    of   a    Man Celebrated    Players  5,000 

The    Heart   of   New    York Claridge    Films  5,000 

Tin     ,\l;,,i    With    Ihr    Missing    Finger Croat    Northern 

One    Day    Moss    Films  5,000 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Jan.    24  Jeanne   Dore    5,000 

Jan.    31   Secret   Love    6,000 

Feb.     7  Undine    5,000 

Feb.   14   Hop,   the   Devil's    Brew 5,000 

Feb.  21  The  Wrong   Door 5,000 

Feb.   28  The    Grip    of   Jealousy 5,000 

Mar.    6  Rupert    of    Hentzau 5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Jan     16  The    Fourth    Estate 5.000 

Jan.    23  The  Serpent    5,000 

Jan.       30  The    Ruling    Passion 5,000 

Feb.     6   Merely    Mary    Ann 5,000 

Feb.   13  Fighting    Blood    5,000 

Feb.   20  The   Fool's   Revenge 5,000 

Feb.  27  The  Spider  and  the  Fly 5,000 

Mar.    6  Gold   and   the   Woman 5,000 


Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

The    Final    Curtain Kleine  5,000 

When   Love   Is   King Kleine  5,000 

The  Martyrdom  of  Philip   Strong Edison  5,000 

The    Scarlet    Road Kleine  5,000 

At  the  Rainbow's   End Edison  5,000- 

I  The   Mishaps   of   Musty   Suffer Kleine  10,000 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

7  The   Upstart    Metro  5,000 

4  Dimples Metro  5,000 

1  The  Price  of  Malice Metro  5,000 

1  A   Corner  in   Cotton Metro  5,000 

8  The    Soul    Market Metro  5,000 

5  The   Blindness   of   Love Metro  5,000 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

2  The  Idol  of  the  Stage Gaumont  5,000 

._.     5  The    White    Rosette American  5,000 

Feb.     7  The    Drifter    Gaumont  5,000 

Feb.   10  The    Final   Argument American  5,000 

Feb.   12  The   Soul's   Cycle Centaur  5,000 

American  5,000 


Feb.   14  Life's 


Feb.   17  The    Dead   Ali 
Feb.   19  "" 
Feb.  21 


Mar 


The    Oval    Diamond.. 

The    Craving    

A  Law  Unto   Himself 

The  Heart   of'  Tarsi.'.' 


..Centaur       5,000 


Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

3  Tennessee's   Pardner    Lasky 

5  Farmer   Al   Falfa's   Catastrophe Bray-Paramount 

7  The  Cliff  Dwellers  of  America. Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

7  Madame   La  Presidente Morosco 

3  Nearly  a   King Famous  Players 

)  Haunts  for  Rent Bray- Paramount 

%  Grand   Canyon Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

/  Miss  Nanny  Goat  Becomes  an  Aviator. ..  .Bray-Paramount 

1  The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome   Pine Lasky 

7  Out  of  the  Drifts Famous  Players 

7  He  Fell  In  Love  With  His  Wife Pallas 

1  A  Day  With  a  West  Point  Cadet 

Paramount-Burton     Holmes 

I   Blacklist    Lasky 

3  Our   Middies   at   Annapolis   and   the   U.   S.   Avia- 
tion  School   Paramount-Burton    Holmes 

3  Diplomacy    Famous  Players 

I   Poor    Little    Peppina Famous    Players 

I  How  Dizzy   Toe  Got  to  Heaven Brav-Paramount 

5  To    Have    and    To    Hold '. Lasky 

?  Ben    Blair    Pallas 


3,000 
1,000 
1,000 
5,000 
5,000 
1,000 
1,000 


Pathe. 

Released    Week 

:   of   Legar    (No.    1    Iron    ( 


3  Venge 
3   Pathe 

!  Pathe    News    No.    19 

3  Luke   and   the    Rural    Roughnecks. 

sil.en  i     lli,      \  .,    ,     I    ,u  ,,,-,u  ,, 
i  Like  a  Rat  in  a  Trap   (Red  Circle  No.   12)... 

Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 
7  A  Knight  of  the  Range 


Pathe 

Pathe 

Pathe 

.  .  Phunphilm 

Pathe 

Balboa 


1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
2,000 


Feb.   14  The    Sphin 


5,000 

5,000 

.    5,000 

5,000 


Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released    week    of 

5  The   Flying  Torpedo:    Tohn   Emerson Fine  Arts 

S  D'Artaenan  :    Orrin   Johnson Triangle-Kay-Bee 

5.  His   Hereafter;   Chas.   Murray,   Louise  Fazenda 

Triangle-Keystone 

6.  Acquitted:     Wilfred     Lucas Fine     Arts 

5  His    Pride    and    Shame:    Ford    Sterling. Triangle-Kevstone 
3  His    Picture   in   the   Paper:    Fairbanks Fine   Arts 

3  Honor's     Altar:     Barriscale,     Stone,     Edwards. 

Triangle-Kay    Bee 

7  Don   Quixote    Fine   Arts 

7  The    Last    Act Triangle- Kav-Bee 

7   His    Pride   and    Shame Triangle-Kevstone 

7  Cinders    of    Love Triangle- Keystone 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 
7  Behind    Closed    Doors 

4  Babette  of  the  Bally  Hon 

7   The    City    

4  The  Ballet  Girl 

1   Fruits    of    Desire Bradv 

The    Yellow    Passport Shubert 

7  The   Woman   in47 Equitable 

5  Love's    Crucible    Brady 

The    Clarion    Equitable 

1   The    Question     Equitable 

1   A   Woman's    Power Bradv 

3  The   Price   of   Happiness Equitable 

8  The   Pawn   of   Fate Bradv 

3  Man  and  His  Angel Triumph 


.  .Triumph 
.  Equitable 
...Shubert 
.  .  ..Brady 


2,000 
5,000 

J. 000 
5,000 


5.000 
5,000 

5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


aeneral  rrogram 


At  the  Door  of  Doom— Lubin— February  28. 
— L.  C.  Shumway,  Velma  Whitman,  L.  A.  Mor- 
ley  and  Melvin  Mayo  featured.  Jim  Frayne,  a 
voung  engineer,  and  Mary  Clews,  daughter  of  a 
telegraph  magnate,  are  sweethearts,  but  her  father 
wishes    Mary    to    marry    Brockton    Poole,    a    steel 

tract  of  the  huge  skull  canon  steel  siphon.  Jim 
suspects  that  Poole  will  offer  underweight  steel 
and  holds  up  the  acceptance.  Poole  has  two  of 
his  workmen  rivet  Jim  inside  the  huge  pipe  and 
then  orders  the  water  turned  on.  Through  Mary, 
Jim  is  saved  and  suspecting  who  tried  to  drown 
him  she  stages  a  scene  to  disclose  the  guilty. 

Her    Bad     Quarter    of    an    Hour— Vitagraph— 

Eehruaky  28.— Lillian  Walker,  Evart  Overton 
and  Lillian  Burns  featured.  Lillian  awaits  at 
dusk  the  calling  of  her  sweetheart,  who  told  her 
he  had  a  special  question  to  ask  her.  When  he 
arrives  he  is  greeted  by  her  widowed  cousin, 
Milly,  who  has  just  announced  her  intention  of 
getting    married.       Lillian     thinks     she    has  _been 


jilted  and  when  a  short  time  afterward  Evar 
proposes  to  her  she  is  dumbfounded.  She  asks 
him  about  Milly  and  he  tells  her  that  she  is  go- 
ing to  marry  a  friend  of  his,  and  has  asked  him 
to  be  best  man,  and  with  a  happy  sigh  Lillian 
falls  into  his  arms. 

The    Grinning    Skull— (Three    Reels)— Selig— 
February  28.— Story  written  by  William  E.  Wing, 
dealing   with   the   shallowness   of  "society"   people. 
A    full    review     appear;,    elsewhere    in    this    issue. 
G.    H. 

The   Strange  Case  of  Mary   Page,   No.  6 — (Two 

Reels)— Essanay— February   28.— The  d .md 

Daniels,  theatrical  manager,  are  on  the  witness 
stand.  A  threatening  note  from  Daniels  to  Pol- 
lock is  introduced  by  the  defense.  A  full  review 
appears  on  page  479  of  the  February  26  issue. 

The     House 

Elizabeth  Burbridge.  Sammy  _  _. 
millionaire,  is  chided  by  his  attorney  who  tells 
him  he  has  had  no  worldly  experience.  Before 
long  he  gets  into  a  fight  and  is  loaded  in  a  box 
car  by  two  tramps  after  being  knocked  uncon- 
scious. He  is  put  off  the  train  and  wanders  to 
an  unoccupied  country  home  where  he  gains  en- 
trance and  falls  asleep  on  the  couch.  Ruth  Wil- 
ton, a  wealthy  bachelor,  who  believes  every  suitor 
a  fortune  hunter,  finds  Sammy  and  thinks  him  a 
burglar  and  shoots  him.  Later  his  attorney  shows 
up  and  reveals  his  identity   and    Ruth   at  last  hav- 


ring  John  Jut 


3  be  his 


vife. 


Winning  the  Widow— Kalejv 
She  isn't  really  a  widow,  but  her  jealous  uusuaiiu 
has  pretended  suicide  and  Ham  and  Bud  seek 
the  murderer  to  gain  the  widow's  hand  and  for- 
tune. The  fix  they  find  themselves  in  is  laugh- 
able and  causes  the  pair  to  turn  in  a  disdainful 
"Never  Again"  from  the  flirtatious  invitation  of 
a  still  prettier  lass  as  the  reel  closes. 
■  Vernon  Howe  Bailey's  Sketch  Book  of  London 
— Essanay — March  1. — A  split  reel  release,  the 
Featuring  Lloyd  V.  Hamilton,  Bud  Duncan,  Jack 
McDermott  and  Adoni  Fovieri.  Ham  and  Bud 
become  rivals  for  the  hand  of  a  winsome  widow, 
first  five  hundred  feet  containing  sketches  of  all 
points  of  interest  in  London,  and  the  remaining 
five  hundred  containing  scenes  taken  of  the  win- 
ter   sports    in    Montreal. 


A  Riddle  in  Rascals— Kalem— Marc 
reare,  Jack  MacDermott  and  Victc 
rhird  of  the  popular  new  Ethel  Teai 
\  would-be  "Raffles,"  a  near-detectiv< 
ninion  of  the  law  are  involved  in  a 
rauses  Ethel  some  terrifying  hours. 


Tubby    Turns    the    Tables— Vitagraph— March 
'-■-  Mack,  Adele  DeGarde,  Bert 
'    ^illv   Whitney.      Tubby 


fac 


model 


illv    Whitney.      Tubby 
cleaning   office.      The 


p."°   This  he   cfo 
trouble   with   his 


Stev 


Nel 


Helen 


i    oper 


She 


ages   by   : 


sleep    ( 


Selig-Tribune  No.  13— February  14.— Six  per- 
sons burned  to  death  and  two  injured  when  fire 
destroys  the  home  of  the  widow  of  the  President 
of  the  German-American   Bank,   Brooklyn,   N.   Y. ; 


i    appc; 


of  "The 


nment,    New    York,    N.    Y. ; 

being  threatened  with  jail  and  having  175  feet  of 
pictures  confiscated  by  the  local  authorities,  the 
Selicr-Tribune  cameraman  succeeds  in  photograph- 
ing the  terrible  flood  conditions  at  Newport,  Ark. ; 
new  life  saving  suit  for  use  in  the  water  is  dem- 
oted to  the  Government  officials,  Washington, 
„„;.,„„  ;„  t^i,^  Kans., 
should 


of    i 

Selig-Tribune       No.       14—! 

Hooded  areas  in    Pine  Bluff,  ? 
prompted  Congress  to  s 
rtain    the 

nnlatio 


ly    nat 


irth. 


of 


erates  a  gold  mine,  the  location  of  which  is  kept 
secret,  and  compels  M.ict  Iregnr,  half  owner  of  the 
mine,  to  do  all  the  work.  Hattie,  MacGregor's 
daughter,  secures  the  assistance  of  River,  known 
as  the  Snowburner  of  "Hell"  camp,  to  look  for 
her  father,  whom  she  thinks  has  been  killed.  He 
manages  by  a  clever  ruse  to  learn  the  location  of 
the  mine  and  kills  Shanty  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight. 


nd  suspects   Ste 

to  make  him  a  prisoner  tn 
.  :s,  however,  and  flees  on  a 
stolen  engine.  Helen  follows  Steve  on  another 
locomotive  and  after  a  thrilling  chase  overhauls 
him,  couples  the  two  engines  together  and  then 
crawls  on  the  swaying  coupling  to  the  other  loco- 
motive to  bring  Nelson  to  bay.  Anna  Nillson, 
Hal  Clements,  and  Guy  Coombs  featured. 

Hamlet  Made  Over — Lubin — March  4. — -Fea- 
turing Billie  Reeves.  Jonah  Frost,  a  bad  actor 
playing  Hamlet,  is  told  by  the  manager  that 
Hamlet    ought    to    be    fixed    up    so    it    will    draw 

cuddy,  because  her  father  has  money,  is  asked  by 

and  play  "Ophelia.  Hamlet  revised  is  a  "novelty 
and  all  goes  well  until  Beatrice  forgets  her  lines 
and  starts  to  recite  "Curfew  Shall  Not  Ring  To- 
night."    Then   things   happen. 

The  Uncut  Diamonds — Selig — March  4. — 
A  large  number  of  uncut  diamonds  disappear  from 
the  home  of  John  Grayson.  Jen,  a  beautiful  girl, 
who  is  Reina  Grayson's  maid,  is  accused  of  the 
deed  because  she,  some  time  before,  was  taken 
from  jail  by  Reina  who  was  impressed  by  Ten. 
Chuck     Wilson,    Jen's     sweetheart,     tells    of 


Ivn  Xavy  Yard,  New"  York,  N.  Y.  ;  Secretary 
War  Garrison  resigns  and  is  temporarily  s 
ceeded  by  Major  General  Scott,  Washington, 
D.  C.  ;  Archbishop  .Mumlelein,  who  at  banquet 
given   in    his   honor,    narrowly    escaped    death    from) 

Too  Many— Vim— February  17.— Plump 
;s  word  from  his  rich  uncle  lli.il  he  is  com- 
=  _.i  a  visit  to  see  his  wife  and  baby.  Plump 
is  frantic,  because  he  has  been  getting  an  income 
for  this  mythical  wife  and  baby.  He  employs 
Runt,  the  janitor,  and  also  seeks  the  services  of 
Doris",  an  actress,  to  get  him  the  much  needed 
wife  and  kidlet.  Plump  persuades  Mme.  Nitouch 
to  pose  as  his  wife,  Runt  commands  his  wife  to 
help  out  Flump  and  Mrs.  Newlywed,  who  needs 
$50.00  for  a  new  dress,  also  agrees  to  pose  as  his 
wife.  Uncle  arrives  and  all  is  well  until  the  three 
women  appear  as  his  wife.  Uncle  gets  wise  and 
Plump  is  on  the  verge  of  losing  his  income  when 
Doris,  an  old  flame  of  uncle's,  arrives  on  the 
scene    and    uncle,    defeated,    gives     Plump    a    fat 


Girl  of  the  West— (Three  Reels)— Knicker- 
bocker—February  IS.— Nora,  or  the  Tomboy  as. 
she  is  called  in  the  West,  after  her  father's  death 
is  brought  to  the  city  by  her  wealthy  aunt  and! 
sent  to  boarding  school.  Two  years  later  she 
returns  a  polished  young  woman.  At  a  ball  she 
meets  Tom,  a  young  man  she  had  met  in  the  West 
while  he  was  visiting  there,  and  who  is  her  cou- 
sin's fiance.  They  fall  in  love  again,  but  Nora 
tells  him  they  must  break  because  of  Lillian. 
Lillian  overhears  Tom  making  love  to  Nora  and 
r,  Tom  breaks  his  engagement 


vith    Lillian 
Pluck     and     Luck— Vis 


i   Nora 


who    i 


sicale 


ry  18.— Mrs. 
at  her  home, 
fy     the    piano 


"sends    her    daughter    Ethel     ._ 

tuner  to  come  and  inspect  her  piano.  Pokes,  who 
is  sharing  the  piano  tuner's  store,  determines  tc 
impersonate  the  tuner  so  that  he  can  make  th< 
acquaintance  of  Ethel,  with  whom  he  is  smitten 
Two  anarchists  hide  a  time  clock  bomb  in  th< 
piano,  because  Jabbs  by  his  overbearing  mannei 
has  incurred  the  hostility  of  the  two.  Pokes  dis 
covers  the  clock  and  calls  the  attention  of  Jabbs 
to  it,  driving  both  Jabbs  and  his  wife  in  a  frenzy 


and  that  he  had  placed  then.  ... 

monds   are   discovered   and   Jen   and   her  lover  are 

exonerated.      Fritzi   Brunette   and   Edward  J.    Feil 


e  clock  lack: 
time  set  for  the  exph 
3  the  family  at  the  peril  of  h 


Howe" 


of 


,   Pokes 


The   Strange   Case  of  Mary   Page,   No.   5 — (Two 

scene  is  continued.  The  doctor'  tells  his  story  of 
his  examination  into  Marv  Page's  sanitv  and  his 
belief  that  it  was  connected  in  some  way  with 
the  strange  birthmark.  A  full  review  appears  on 
page  479  of  the  February  26  issue. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


Virtue  Triumphant— (Three  Reels)— Selig— 
February  21.— A  story  written  by  Omda  Bergere 
featuring  Fritzi  Brunette,  Jack  Pickford  and  the 
Collie  dog.  William  Daly  directed  it.  A  full 
review  appears  in  the  February  26  issue,  page  487. 


Mutual  Program 


G.  H. 

His  Mother's  Son— Biografh— Re-Issue— Feb- 
ruary 21  — Tenny  Lee,  W.  Chrystie  Miller,  Mae 
Marsh,  Walter  Miller  and  Robert  Harron  fea- 
tured. After  the  death  of  his  wife,  the  husband 
and  his  daughter  and  a  boy  whom  they  have 
treated  kindly,  comes  to  the  city  and  the  three 
secure  employment  in  a  restaurant,  the  old  man 
carrying  a  banner,  the  girl  washing  dishes  and  the 
bov  peeling  potatoes.  The  son,  who  became  a 
sai'lor  because  his  mother  turned  him  out,  ar- 
rives in  the  city  and  sees  his  father,  an  object 
of  ridicule  to  the  passing  crowd.  He  pulls  the  old 
man  out  of  the  window  and  makes  short  work  of 
the  manager  when  he  interferes.  Later  the  fam- 
ily  reunited   sits   down   to   a   gorgeous   dinner. 

The  Guilt  of  Stephen  Eldridge— (Three  Reels) 
—Biograph— February  23.— Stephen  Eldridge, 
cashier  of  a  bank,  steals  money  from  the  bank 
and  John  Gordon,  the  paying  teller,  is  arrested 
and  imprisoned  as  a  result.  His  wife  receives 
monthly  remittances  from  an  unknown  friend  of 
Gordon's  and  sometime  later  Gordon  escapes  from 
prison  and  returns  home.  Eldridge's  son  learns 
that  his  father  is  the  one  who  sends  Mrs.  Gordon 
monev  and  uses  this  knowledge  to  force  money 
from  "his  father.  Sometime  later  Douglas  Gordon 
learns    of    his    father's    crime_and    di  ' 


-(ClIAl 


:    10 


>  The 


A  Dash  Through  Flame  ,_ 
Girl  and  the  Game)— Signal— Spike  has  his  life 
saved  a  second  time  by  Helen  and  Storm.  Sea- 
grue's  men  trv  to  lynch  him,  and  then  he  is 
■-'--  building.     A  full  " 


vedding.     Johnny  has  his  t 
ire    straightened    out. 

Margy  of  the  Foothills— (Three  Reels) — Mus- 
iang— March  3.— Art  Acord,  Dixie  Stratton, 
Lawrence  Feyton,  Joe  Massey  and  Charles  James 
ippear  in  this  story  directed  by  William  Bertram. 
Western  settings  and  much  excitement.  A  full 
cview  appears   elsewhere   in   this  issue.        G.   H. 


else 


i   this 


G.   H. 


Going  Up  I  —  Cub  —  February  25.  —  Featuring 
George  Ovey.  Jerry  decides  to  part  company 
with  Slim,  but  has  some  difficulty  in  doing  so. 
Two  mysterious  individuals,  Blouie  and  Zowie, 
with  a  suitcase  full  of  money,  fall  prey  to  Jerry. 
The  suitcase  with  the  money  and  another  which 
contains  explosives,  get  mixed  frequently,  the 
latter  case,  however,  being  in  the  hands  of  Jerry's 
enemies  when   it   explodes   and   blows   up   the   ship 

Cooking  His  Goose — Beauty — February  27. — 
Orral  Humphrey,  Gladys  Kingsbury  and  Dixie 
Steward  featured.  Ima  Knut,  whose  love  for 
whiskey  is  only  exceeded  by  his  love  for  pie, 
marries  Liza  Banks  because  she  can  cook.  Ima 
soon  discovers  that  Liza  is  a  base  deceiver  as  to 
capabilities    and   the    only    thing    she 


Universal  Program 


m.l    be., 


Mis 


,ppr,lil 


:    finds 


ridge's 


William   Eldridge   charges   Douglas   with   burglary, 
but    Eleanor    Crurzon,    the    daughter    of    Stephen 

1-11.1 1- i •  lee's    old    friend,    clears    his    i 

the  police  that  William  is  the  thiei.  ^i 
shot  by  his  son  and  dying  backs  up  hi 
confession  by  a  declaration  of  his  guilt. 

Cannimated  Nooz  No.  5 — Essanay — I 
23.— Cartoon  by  Wallace  A.  Carlson.  Split  reel 
release  containing  five  hundred  feet  of  a  burlesque 
on  the  topics  of  the  day  and  the  remainder  one  of 
the  adventures  of  Dreamy  Dud. 

Bungles  Enforces  the  Law — Vim— February 
24. — Bungles,  the  world-famed  detective,  is  asked 
to  drive  three  foreigners  from  the  town  of  Mud- 
ton  who  have  come  to  marry  the  mayor's  daugh- 
ter. He  succeeds  in  locking  the  three  men  and 
the  mayor  and  his  daughter  in  jail,  but  this 
building  being  old  and  rickety,  is  easily  walked 
off  with.  Bungles  is  told  of  the  escape  of  his 
prisoners  and  many  laughable  situations  take  place 
in  his  attempt  to  capture  his  escaped  prisoners. 

Who  Knows— (Three  Reels)— Knickerbocker 
— February  25. — Henry  King  and  Daniel  Gil- 
feather  featured.  Gilbert,  an  elderly  man  and  gam- 
bling partner  of  Dick,  startled  by  a  shot  in  the 
next  room  rushes  in  and  discovers  Dick  standing 
■  the  body   of  a  man  whom  he  had  just  shot 


s  hands,  does  not  alfc  ..   _ 

to  belittle  his  crime.  Gilbert  seeing  this  confesses 
that  he  killed  the  man  and  later  when  Dick 
visits  him  in  prison  he  forgives  Gilbert  for  the 
"lie"  and  Gilbert  reflects  that  perhaps  the  Lord 
will  understand   and   forgive — "Who   knows." 

Love       and       Lather — Vim — February       25. — 
Pokes  is  persuaded  by  Spook,  the  barber, 


in  the  day  he  receives  'word  to  be  on  the  lookout 
for  an  escaped  convict  whose  chief  mark  of  identi- 
fication   is   the   absence   of 


.  „  off  half  of  his  moustache. 
This  incident  gets  Jabbs  in  wrong  with  the  police 
and  later  when  Spook  and  Jabbs  return  to  the 
barber  shop  they  wreak  full  vengeance  on  Pokes 
for  the  trouble  that  he  has  brought  upon  them. 


and  driven  desperate  bv  Ima's 
unkind  remarks  about  her  cooking,  Liza  breaks 
a  whiskey  bottle  over  Ima's  head.  When  he  comes 
to  he  finds  that  Liza  has  revived  him  with  the 
contents  of  a  milk  jug,  preferring  a  live  drunkard 
to   a  dead   husband. 

See  America  First — (Split  Reel) — Gaumont — 
February  27. — Number  24  of  the  "See  America 
First"  series  takes  us  to  Miami,  Florida,  one  of 
Amercia's  winter  playlands,  where  we  enjoy  with 
the  Mutual  Traveler,  the  wonderful  beaches,  beau- 
tiful drives,  luxuriant  gardens  and  places  of  in- 
terest, including  even  the  local  factories.     On  the 

Keeping  Up  with  the  Joneses. — An  animated 
cartoon   by    Harry   C.    Palmer. 

The  Candy  Cook — Vogue — February  27.— Fea- 
turing Lew  Trembly,  Evelyn  Thatcher  and  Buster 
Gould.  The  wife  sees  her  husband,  "The  Cook," 
flirting  with  a  pretty  girl  and  calls  a  policeman 
and  together  they  start  after  the  flirtatious  hus- 
band. The  cook  and  the  janitor  of  the  employ- 
ment agency  are  sent  to  a  candy  store  upon  re- 
ceipt of  a  call  for  an  all-around  man  and  a 
candy  cook.  The  cook  and  janitor  interrupt  the 
conduct  of  the  business  by  their  ignorance  of  the 
business  and  nearly  cause  a  riot.  The  irate  wife 
and  the  policeman  arrive  at  the  scene,  capture 
the  husband  and  cart  him  off  in  a  purloined  play- 

The  Happy  Masquerader — (Three  Reels)— 
American— February    °" 


29.— A    rich 


_  _  happy  in  any  circumstances  if  he  has  a  good 
disposition.  Winnifred  Greenwood,  Edward  Coxen, 
George  Fields,  Charles  Newton,  Dodo  Newton 
and  Ward  McAlister  are  directed  by  Thomas 
Ricketts  in  this  p!av,  which  is  reviewed  in  this 
issue.  G.   H. 

Rusty  Reggie's  Record — Falstaff — February 
29. — The  banker  is  conceited  about  his  powers 
of  hypnotism.  How  his  daughter  gives  the  over- 
confident hypnotist  a  good  lesson  with  the  help 
of  rusty  Reggie,  a  notorious  yeggman,  and  also 
gets  married  on  the  quietus,  supplies  the  comedy. 

Johnny's  Jumble— Beauty— March  1—  John 
Sheehan,  Carol  Halloway  and  John  Steppling  ea- 
tured.  Carol  and  Johnny  receive  word  that  Uncle 
and  Aunt  are  coming  to  visit  them.  The  cook 
leaves  and  Johnny  rushes  to  the  employment 
agency  to  get  a  cook  but  he  breaks  into  the 
wrong  office,  a  matrimonial  bureau.  Thinking  he  is 
in  the  employment  agency  he  picks  out  a  female 
ind  brings  her  home.      She  telepht 


The  Milk  Battle— (Two  Reels)— Twelfth 
Episode  of  "Graft"— February  28. — Featuring 
Richard  Stanton,  Jane  Novak  and  Glen  White. 
Bruce  Larnigan,  having  gone  out  of  his  mind, 
Harding,  his  cousin,  continues  the  battle  against 
the  "Graft  Trust."  He  directs  his  attentions  to 
the  Milk  Trust,  which  is  supplying  inferior  milk 
to  the  tenement  districts,  with  the  final  result 
that  this  trust  is  dissolved,  and  its  head,  Mr.  Bur- 
rows, meets  his  death. 

Universal  Animated  Weekly,  No.  8 — Univer- 
sal— February  28. — Flames  destroy  large  part  of 
city,  Fall  River,  Mass. ;  scores  of  unfortunates 
given  one  thousand  loaves  of  bread  daily  on  fa- 
mous street,  New  Orleans,  La. ;  Signal  corps, 
recruited  by  Earl  Kitchener's  sister,  drilling  in 
parks,  London,  England;  150th  battalion,  French 
Canadians,  march  from  armory   for  religious  serv- 


N.  Y. ;  General  Gavira  leads  troops  into  border 
town,  Jaurez,  Mexico;  latest  styles;  great  cere- 
monies welcome  shriners  from  all  over  the  country 
on   pilgrimage   to   Tampa,    Fla. ;    cartoons   by   Hy. 

The  Eye  of  Horus — (Three  Reels) — Gold  Seal 
—February  29.— Episode  4  of  "The  Journal  of 
Lord  John."  With  William  Garwood  and  Stella 
Razeto.  Lord  Tohn's  activities  in  this  installment 
result  in  the  frustration  of  Dr.  Rameses'  efforts 
to  steal  "The  Eye  of  Horus,"  a  rare  jewel  which 
the  latter  regards  as  a  sacred  heirloom.  Dr. 
Rameses  and  his  sister,  the  head  of  "The  Grey 
Sisterhood,"  resort  to  subtle  Egyptian  methods  to 
further  their  ends,  but  Lord  John  and  his  private 
detective,  Paul  Teano,  succeed,  after  many  perils, 
in  restoring  the  "Eye  of  Horus"  and  its  mate, 
which  has  been  stolen  from  Maida  Odell,  to  their 
rightful    owners. 

Some  Heroes — (Split  Reel) — Imp — February 
29. — Slim  Hoover,  chief  of  the  police  department, 
and  Chief  Hippo,  of  the  fire  department,  are 
enamored  of  Miss  Magneto,  the  village  beautv. 
When  a  fire  breaks  out,  and  the  fire  chief  arrives 
late,  both  chiefs  fight  to  decide  who  shall  save 
the  girl,  who  meanwhile  escapes  by  herself.  While 
searching  among  the  ruins  for  the  body  of  Miss 
Magneto,  the  object  of  their  search  confronts 
them  and  both  receive  a  "love-knockout."     On  the 


'   big   1 


other 


■ited   t 


Blue  Blood  and  Black  Skin— (Two  Reels)— 
L-Ko — March  1. — With  Louise  Orth.  George, 
the  barber,  who  is  in  love  with  Pinky,  is  the  ter- 
ror of  Darktown.  Whenever  he  thrashes  a  rival, 
however,  there  are  a  dozen  to  take  the  battered 
rival's  place.  At  last  a  Northerner  arrives  and 
tells  George  an  exaggerated  story  of  his  conquest 
of  the  girl,  not  knowing  the  bully  loves  her.  This 
leads  to  a  string  of  furious  happenings  which  only 
end  after  it  is  discovered  that  Pinky  has  married 
another   while   the   fight   was   in    progress. 

Shackles— Big  U— March  2.— Featuring  Car- 
men Phillips  and  Douglas  Gerrard.  This  story  re- 
lates   how    a     man     and    a    woman,    both    with    a 

mysterious    past    and    both    endeavoring    to    break 

min-  their  shackles  bv  forsaking  past  habits  and  start- 
the     ing   on    a    new   life,   meet    and    fall    in   love.      Each 


Scrape"    (Beauty)— (cento)     " 

(Beauty). 


MOTOGRAPHY 


finds  evidence  baring  the  other's  past,  but  this 
only  leads  to  a  better  understanding  and  the  two 
finally  decide   that   yesterday   is   dead. 

Love  Laughs  at  the  Law — Joker — March  2. — ■ 
Featuring  William  Franey  and  Gale  Henry.  Mil- 
burn,  the  son  of  Squire  Binks,  is  in  love  with 
Lillie,  an  actress  in  a  girl  show  that  is  having 
its  troubles  in  making  ends  meet.  The  squire,  be- 
lieving that  the  show  people  have  ruined  his  son, 
closes  the  tottering  show.  Milburn's  mother,  how- 
ever, sides  with  him,  and  lends  the  show  girls  a 
hand,  establishing  them  in  a  barber  shop  of  their 
own.  It  is  in  this  emporium  that  father  meets 
Lillie  and  his  fate.  Things  end  when  father  is 
forced   to   marry    the   young   people   or   else   suffer 


The  Heart  of  Bonita — (Two  Reels) — Laemmle 
— March  2. — Featuring  Fred  Church  and  Myrtle 
Gonzalez.  William  Kern,  who  has  purchased  some 
mining  property  in  Mexico,  goes  there  with  his 
engineer,  Herbert  Brennan,  to  work  the  mine. 
Bonita,  a  pretty  Spanish  girl,  falls  in  love  with 
Herbert,  but  if  the  latter  has  any  affection  for 
her,  it  cools  upon  the  arrival  of  Dorothy,  Kern's 
daughter.  A  revolution  occurs,  the  lives  of  the 
Americans  are  imperiled.  Through  Bonita's  in- 
fluence, Kern  and  his  daughter  are  allowed  to  get 
to  the  border,  and  the  Spanish  girl  thinks  she  has 
removed  her  rival  from  the  way.  After  Bonita 
has  saved  Herbert's  life  she  is  heart  broken  on 
his  return  to  America  and  Dorothy.  Neverthe- 
less, the  final  union  of  Bonita  and  her  ardent 
Spanish  lover,  Sanchez,  and  that  of  the  two  young 
Americans,   leaves    every   one   happy. 

The  Hoax  House— (Two  Reels)— Imp— March 
3. — Featuring  King  Baggott,  Edna  Hunter  and 
Wallace  Clarke.  Frank  King,  a  jobless  salesman, 
and  Belle  Adair,  an  actress  as  badly  off,  meet  and 
decide  to  form  a  business  of  their  own.  Soon  an 
ad  appears  in  the  paper  notifying  the  public  that 
"Bobo  the  Seer"  gives  advice  on  matters  of  busi- 
ness, life  and  society,  at  the  Hotel  Carleton.  After 
a  little  detective  work  in  the  affairs  of  two  clients 
who  present  themselves,  King  is  ready  to  reveal 
what  the  stars  have  told  him.  Because  of  tell- 
ing each  client  the  story  intended  for  the  other, 
much  trouble  is  caused.  Realizing  that  their  time 
is  short,  the  two  skip  out  before  their  victims  and 
the  police  arrive.  As  the  clients  paid  fabulous 
prices  for  the  professional  advice,  Belle  and  King 
decide  that  they   can   afford   marriage. 

The  Lion's  Breath— Nestor— March  3.— Clar- 
ence, a  timid  man,  does  not  find  favor  in  the  eyes 
of  his  sweetheart's  mother,  who  desires  a  bold, 
brave  man  for  her  daughter.  "Spike,"  a  bully 
with  muscles  to  enforce  his  whims,  walks  off  with 
the  girl,  right  under  Clarence's  nose.  How  Clar- 
ence becomes  the  strong-armed  terror  of  the 
neighborhood  through  the  wonderful  invention  of 
Professor  Giblets,  and  the  way  he  is  thus  enabled 
to  make  "Spike"  and  everybody  else  behave,  sup- 
plies  the  comedy. 

The     One     Woman— (Three     Reels)— Bison— 


may  choose  death  or  hand  over  the  letters.  Real- 
izing that  the  girl  will  not  be  afraid  to  shoot,  be- 
cause she  has  managed  things  so  that  there  can 
be  no  possibility  of  her  being  caught  for  murder, 
he  gives  up  the  letters  quickly.  The  woman  then 
destroys  them  before  her  husband  comes  home. 
Saved  by  a  Song— (Two  Reels)— Rex— March 
5.— Featuring  Ben  Wilson  and  Dorothy  Phillips. 
John  Meadows,  sentenced  for  life,  is  released  after 
the  real  culprit  has  made  a  death  bed  confession ; 
but  too  late,  for  the  farm  has  passed  out  of  John's 
hands,  and  his  sweetheart  has  died  of  a  broken 
heart.  John  gets  a  position  with  Hawkins,  a  man 
who  is  willing  to  trust  him,  but  when  a  fellow 
clerk  makes  a  theft,  being  an  "ex-con,"  John  is 
accused.  The  man  determines  to  resort  to  rob- 
bery as  he  will  not  be  allowed  to  make  an  honest 
living.  At  the  first  house  he  attempts  to  rob,  the 
singing  of  a  sweet-faced  girl  at  the  piano  makes 
him  see  the  error  of  his  way.  The  house  hap- 
pens to  be  the  home  of  Hawkins,  and  the  girl, 
his  daughter.  Hawkins  arrives,  promises  to  take 
John  back  with  him  and  there  is  a  promise  of 
romance   between    John    and    the   daughter. 


attracts  Dippy  Mary,  the  housekeeper,  that  she 
permits  him  the  liberty  of  her  employer's  man- 
sion during  the  latter's  absence.  Musty  makes 
himself  entirely  at  home  but  the  end  finds  him 
again   out   in   the   cold   world. 

Look  Out  Below— Kleine— (An  Episode  of 
"The  Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer"  series).  The 
two  tramps,  Musty  Suffer  and  Willie  Work,  here 
have  a  romantic  experience.  The  unexpected  en- 
trance of  Senor  Cayenne  into  the  room  where 
they  are  being  entertained  by  Mme.  Cayenne  is 
the  beginning  of  some  excitement  for  Musty. 
Bell-HoD— Kleine—  (An  _r._ 

;)•  The 
trick  staircase  and  tne  handpower  elevator  aid 
Harry  Watson  in  making  this  a  thoroughly  amus- 
ing  "Musty    Suffer"    comedy. 

Bells  and  Belles — Kleine — (An  Episode  of  "The 
Mishaps   of   Musty    Suffer"    series).      Musty   hold- 
'    11-boy   in    T       ' 


Feature  Programs 


Blue  Bird 

The  Grip  of  Jealousy— (Five  Reels)— Bluebird 
—February  28.— A  romance  of  the  Old  South  fea- 
turing Louise  Lovely  and  Lon  Chaney  which  tells 
a  story  of  the  loves  of  the  younger  generation  of 
two  families  between  whose  ancestors  there  ex- 
isted a  feud.    Joseph  De  Grasse  directed  this  pic- 


_  ..  complains  that  the  gas  leaks 
he  hangs  a  kettle  under  it  to  catch  the  leakage. 
Another  whose  bed  is  too  narrow  is  supplied  with 
a    balancing   pole. 

Keep  Moving — Kleine — (An  Episode  of  "The 
Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer"  series).  Discharged 
from  the  grocery  store  where  his  ability  was  not 
appreciated,  Musty  visits  a  barber's  shop.  He 
is  cared  for  by  the  greatest  curiositv  pytant-  a 
barber  who  does  not  talk.  When 
able  to  pay  for  services  rendered  there  i 
to  which  lands  the  barber  in  jail. 


Fox 

The  Spider  and  the  Fly— (Five  Reels)— Wil- 
liam Fox — February  27. — Robert  B.  Mantell  and 
Genevieve  Hamper  have  the  leading  roles  in  this 
picture  which  has  to  do  with  the  curse  of  drunk- 
enness, the  story  hinging  on  the  destinies  of  two 
men  and  one  woman  ruined  by  drink.  The  sup- 
porting cast  includes  Stuart  Holmes,  Claire  Whit- 

:y,  Jane   Lee,   Walter   Miller,   Henry    L( 


The  Witch — (Five  Reels) — William  Fox — 
February  _  28. — A  powerful  story  which  is  based 
on  Victorien  Sardou's  famous  play,  "The  Sorcer- 
ess." Nance  O'Neil  is  cast  in  the  leading  role 
and  is  ably  supported  by  Jane  Miller,  Ada  Nevill, 
Adah  Sherman,  June  Janin,  Alfred  Hickman, 
Harry  Kendall,  Macy  Harlam,  Frank  Russell, 
Robert  Payne,  Stuart  Holmes,  Victor  Benoit  and 
Salvatore  Maltess. 


lovers  in  a  little  fishing  village.  Irene,  however, 
is  gradually  attracted  to  Pierson,  a  strapping  sea 
captain,  and  she  finally  marries  him  for  adventure. 
Years   later,   while   Daniels   and   Kelly,   two    secret 

latter  runs  across  his  boyhood  sweetheart,  who, 
it  seems,  has  been  forced  by_  her  husband,  a 
smuggler,  to  do  his  work  for  him.  She  has  also 
become  a  victim  of  the  opium  habit.  The  smug- 
glers are  at  last  successfully  rounded  up  and 
Pierson  shot.  Before  his  death,  however,  he 
exonerates  Irene  of  all  blame  in  his  wronog  do- 
ing. Kelly  and  the  girl  return  to  the  scenes  of 
their  youth  and  plan  a  happy  future. 

The  Blackmailer — Laemmle — March  5. — With 
Elsie  Jane  Wilson  and  Rupert  Julian.  This  story 
deals  with  the  clever  way  a  married  woman,  who 
is  being  blackmailed  by  a  man  she  formerly  had 
correspondence  with,  extorts  the  letters  from 
him   by    getting  him   into   a   trap    where  he   either 


Kleine 

Cruel  and  Unusual— Kleine— (An  Episode  of 
"The  Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer"  series).  Harry 
Watson  as  Musty  Suffer  takes  a  job  as  caddy, 
but  Musty  is  not  a  good  caddy  and  after  he  "is 
bounced  he  decides  to  plav  a  little  golf  himself. 
When  he  tees  off  he  shouts  the  usual  "Fore," 
but  there  is  no  getting  out  of  the  way  of  his 
drives  and  this  gets   Musty  in  trouble.     He  seeks 


i   physi. 


s   office 


It 


>ugh 


treatment     Musty    undergoe! 
provoking. 

Hold  Fast— Kleine— (An  Episode  of  "The  Mis- 
haps of  Musty  Suffer"  series).  Most  memorable 
of  the  incidents  in  this  comedy  is  the  prize-fight 
between  Harry  Watson  as  Musty  and  George 
Bickel  as  Willie  Work.  The  bout  lasts  three 
rounds,  and  there  is  some  rare  pugilistic  strategy 
displayed    during    that    time. 


Mutual  Special 

The  Haunted  Manor— (Five  Reels)— Gaumont 
— February  20. — Iva  Shepard  takes  the  leading 
role,  that  of  an  American  adventuress  living  in 
luxury  as  the  favorite  of  a  high-born  Indian 
Rajah.  She  falls  in  love  with  Craig  Pitcairn,  an 
American  artist,  and  goes  to  America  after  stab- 
bing the  Rajah's  servant,  who  had  been  sent  by 
him  to  spy  on  her.  Craig  marries  Zoe  and  the 
warmth  of  his  love  brings  to  her  heart  the  realiza- 
tion of  her  own  unworthiness  as  his  wife.  She 
disappears  and  Celeste,  Craig's  model  who  is  in 
love  with  him,  accuses  him  of  killing  his  wife. 
He  is  arrested,  but  Zoe  appears  at  the  last  moment 
and  clears  Craig  of  the  charge.  Later  Zoe  assured 
that  her  sacrifice  has  been  wrong,  finds  happiness 
in  Craig's  affection. 

A  Law  Unto  Himself — (Five  Reels) — Horsley 
—February  28.— Crane  Wilbur  is  featured  in  this 
David  Horsley  production  which  deals  with  the 
outlaw  life  of  one  Jean  Balleau  who  has  a  double 
in  Sheriff  Dwight.  Supporting  Mr.  Wilbur  "» 
such  players  as  Carl  Von  SchiHer.  Louis  Durh_.__, 
:    Murphy 


The  Heart  of  Tara— (Five  Reels)— Horsley— 

Y  28.— Margaret  Gibson  and  William  Clif- 

eatured  in  this  story  which  centers  around 
affair    of   a   young    English    army    officer 
arem  favorite,   and   later  around   the  love 
r  of  the   captain's   daughter   and   the  vengeful 


Embers— (Five  Reels)— American— March  2. 
—Arthur  Maude  directed  the  play  in  which  he 
ind  Constance  Crawley  are  featured.  Nell  Fran- 
-.en  and  William  Carroll  also  appear.  A  full 
■eview  appears  on  another  page  of  this  issue. 
G.    H. 


Paramount 


Little    Peppina— (Seven    Reels)— Famou 
—March   2. — Mary   Pickford   is  starred   i.. 
i   story   which   deals   with   the   child   of   wealthy 
. — -  kidnapped  by  Italia 


■    Vogue-Mutual   laugh 


The  Candy   Cook"   {right). 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


Sicilian  vineyard  and  becomes  in 
:owaway  di sguised  .is  a  boy,  a  boot- 
black, an  employee  in  an  opium  den,  and  a  mes- 
senger   boy,    but    who    finally    is    restored    to   her 

The  Blacklist — (Five  Reels) — Lasky — Para- 
mount—February 24.— A  romantic  love  story 
dealing  with  labor's  struggle  with  the  money  in- 
terests. ,  Blanche  Sweet  is  featured  and  Charles 
Clary    is    prominent    in    the    supporting    cast. 


Red   Feather 

The  Lords  of  High  Decision— (Five  Reels)- 
Red  Feather— February  28.— Cyril  Scott  pc 
trays  the  leading  role,  that  of  an  idealistic  youth, 
fresh  from  college,  entering  the  business  wo 
and  discovering  that  everything  is  all  wrong  W-._ 
the  system.  Jack  Harvey  directed  the  produc- 
tion and  Tos.  Gerard,  William  Welsh,  Joe  Daly, 
Margaret  Scervin,  Mildred  Gregory  and  Mrs. 
Brundage  complete  the  cast. 


raffic   in    Chicago   s 


Pathe 


The  Red  Circle  No.  9— (Two  Reels)— Balboa 
—February  12.— Charles  Gordon,  wrongfully  ac- 
cused of  embezzling,  saves  Lamar's  life  when  he 
is  attacked  by  "Smiling  Sam."  For  this  Lamar 
protects  Gordon  from  detectives  on  his  trail.  June 
aids  in  the  escape  of  Gordon,  but  the  detectives 
catch  sight  of  her  hand,  with  the  red  circle. 
"Smiling  Sam"  later  sees  the  red  circle  on  June's 
hand,  and  guesses  her  secret.  Picture  reviewed 
elsewhere    in    this   issue.  G.    H. 

The  Shrine  of  Happiness— (Five  Reels)— Feb- 
ruary 14.— Pathe-Gold  Rooster  Play  in  natural 
colors.  The  production  is  by  Balboa  and  fea- 
tures Jackie  Saunders.  William  Conklin  and  Paul 
Gilmore    are    included    in   the   cast. 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  February  13. 
Better  Late  Than  Never— Keystone— Febru- 
ary 13.— William  Collier,  Mae  Busch,  Frank  Op- 
perman  and  Joseph  Belmont  featured.  Collier,  an 
art  student,  after  two  attempts  at  getting  married 
to  Mae  have  foiled,  is  almost  hopeless,  until  he 
sees  a  motion  picture  company,  who  are  filming 
a  marriage  scene.  Disguised  as  a  groom  he  gets 
Mae  to  stand  up  with  him,  while  Belmont,  the 
girl's  other  lover,  is  induced  to  act  as  father  of 
the  bride.  When  he  learns  how  he  has  been 
tricked  Belmont  is  furious,  but  later  appreciates 
the  humor  of  the  thing. 


■Id    by  T.  E.  Power 

Hearst-Vitagraph  No.  14— February  18. — Sen- 
ator Chamberlain,  head  of  the  committee  on 
Military  Affairs,  considers  bill  to  federalize  Na- 
tional Guard,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  members  of 
the  California  Japanese  colony  send  saddle  horses 
to  the  Emperor  as  a  coronation  gift,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Calif.;  many  hurt  when  elevated  trains 
have  rearend  collision,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  sons 
of  veterans  decorate  Lincoln  Monument,  Boston, 
Mass.;  latest  fashions;  three  steamers  loaded 
with  munitions  for  Allies  are  burned  at  their 
piers  in  Brooklyn,  New  York ;  fire  sweeps  busi- 
ness section  of  Fall  River,  causing  loss  of  $1,500,- 
000,  Fall  River;  cartoon  by  George  Her  ' 


Pathe 

News     No.     14— Fe 

BRUARY      1 

6 Greatest 

conlla.gr 

Italy;    General    I.asra 

1,   Comm 

ander  of  the 

Allied 

roops,    orders   the    oc 
nsulate,  Salonica,   Gr 

of    the    Ger- 

man   Cc 

recipient   of 

e   in   the    National    c< 

the    Ugliest 

Man   in 

America,  well  deserv 

:-s   his   ,1, 

miction,   St. 

Louis. 

Mo.  ;    crack    skaters   c 

n    keen    con- 

test   for 

the    Eastern    Speed 

Championship,    New 

N.    Y.  ;    the    Los    Angles    is 

one    of    the 

-hips   launched   in   the  effort 

.1    1'acili. 

ers  to  l 

lcrease  the  number  o 

vessels 

ailing  under 

the   Sla 

s  and  Stripes,  San  F 

Cal. ;  school 

childrei 

participate    in    the 
Chicago  Stock  Yards 

unvei  ling 

of    Lincoln 

bust    ill 

,   111.;    Dart- 

mouth 

'ollcge    students    exhibit    real 

Alpine    skill 

on    skis 

in    their    annual    Wi 

s,    Hanover, 

N.    H.; 

Chicago    Norgc    CI, 

,     Skiers 

make    some 

thrilling  jumps   at   the  Annual  Tourn 

ment,   Cary, 

__  Gish,  Ellio 
Long,  Howard  Gaye,  Lucill 
Cummings  and  Jack  Cosgrove 
ing  story  of  the  days  wher 
French  colony  and  girls  were 
to  be  sold  to  the  colonists  for 


Walter 

,     Richard 

A  thrill- 


Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  No.  IS — Feb- 
ruary 22.— Keel  of  the  torpedoboat  Shaw,  the 
largest  of  its  class  in  the  United  States  Navy,  is 
laid  at  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  Vallejo, 
Calif.;  blind  are  taught  to  weave  baskets  in  new 
Brooklyn  training  school,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Polar  Bear  of  Central  Park  Zoo  enjoy- 
the  coldest  weather  of  the  winter,  New  York, 
N.  Y.;  Belgian  Relief  ship  Clematis  is  injured  in 
clash  with  the  El  Monte  in  Galveston  Harbor, 
Galveston,  Texas;  three-year  old  boy  is  held  by 
landlady  when  mother  fails  to  pay  $20.00  board 
bill,  New  Orleans,  La.;  latest  fashions;  "Alli- 
gator Jim"  Paxton  catches  big  reptile  after  a 
Lake  Worth,  Florida; 
v    hydroplane,    built    ' 


struggle 

French     aviator    tests    : 

repel     German    air-raid 


Geo 


Herri, 


Pans ; 


by 


Her 


J   H.    Ince   produced    the 

picture  and  the  supporting  cast  includes  Clara 
Williams,  Jack  Standing,  Alfred  Hollingsworth, 
Robert  McKim,  J.  Frank  Burke  and  Louise 
Glaum. 

Released  Week  of  February  27. 
The    Last    Act— (Five    Reels)— Triangle-Kay- 
Bee.— Bessie    Barriscale    plays    the   role    of    Ethel 

city  park.  '"'"She  "is'  l.efricnde.'f  Vv  Mr's^H-aie,"  "the 
wife  of  Ernest  Hale,  who  later  meets  and  falls  in 
love  with  Ethel.  Ethel,  however,  when  she  learns 
that  Hale  is  the  husband  of  the  woman  who  be- 
friended her,  tells  him  that  all  is  over  between 
them.  Clara  Williams.  Harry  Keenan  and  Robert 
McKim  complete  the  cast. 
Cinders   of   Love— Triancl 


:ofi  on 


M..i 


Holla 


Con- 


n'hieh'V1  kept"    mo  hili/.ci,  " 

!  iH  l'ii  -.  M.i  .  business  sec- 
tion completely  destroyed  by  (ire;  charred  tim- 
bers of  900  foot  pier  and  empty-  hulls  of  three 
munition  ships  are  all  that  remain  of  $5,000,000 
jirr,    I'.,.  ■■ 

The  Red  Circle  No.  10—  (Two  Reels)— Balboa 
'■I    Sam,   but  he 
follows  her  from  the  seashore  resort  to  her  home, 
locked    in    her    trunk.      June    and    her    nurse    are 
forced    to    protect.      June    later    calls    at    Lamar's 
office,    where    she    meets    Cordon.       A    full    review 
'    page   of   this   issue.        G.    H. 
The  Iron  Claw  No.   1      (Two  Ri  i:..s)—  Pathe— 
February    28.      IY.nl    While    and    Cteighton   Hale 
Idon   Lewis  is  "The 
Iron    (law,"   a   notorious  criminal   who  has   Mar- 
gery   Golden    in   his   power.      The   chapter    shows 
the  early  events  in  hrr  life.      A   full   r.  w 
7   of  the  February  26  issue. 


W.llia 


Mas 


.  Clai 


Ander 


nadly 


,  Lois  Hoi 


—  Bleeding  Heart— (Five  Reels)— Lubin— 
February  28. — Rosetta  Brice  is  featured  in  this 
story  of  Marion  Lane  who  is  betraved  by  one 
Allen  Craven  and  who  later  marries  "Dr.  George 
Page  without  telling  him  of  her  past.  Crauford 
Kent,  Richard  Buhler,  Karva  Poloskava,  Inez 
Buck.  William  Turner  and  Mrs.  Carr  support 
Miss    Brice   and    Jack    Pratt    directed    the    produc- 

The  Discard— (Five  Reels)— Essanay— Febru- 
ary 28.— Virginia  Hammond.  Ernest  Maupain. 
Harry  Beaumont  and  Betty-  Brown  are  cast  in 
the  leading  role  of  this  picture,  which  deals  with 
one  Alys  Wynne,  the  mother  of  Doris  Wynne. 
who  unknown  to  her  daughter  is  a  criminal  and 
who  nearly  causes  the  destruction  of  her  daugh- 
ter s  happiness.  Lawrence  Windom  directed  this 
production.      For  a  longer  review   see  next   week's 

ISSUe    Of    MOTOGRAPHY. 

For    a    Woman's    Fair    Name— (Five    Reels)— 
\  itagrapii — February   28. — A    "blue   ribbon"    fea- 
ture    produced     by     Harry     Davenport     from     the 
In      Marguerite     Bertsch.        Robert     Edeson 


which   i, 
:   Bruce 


ind   William   Dili 


-Triai 


.  _  Fine  Arts. — An  adap- 
well  known  story  featuring  De  Wolf 
Hopper  in  the  title  role.  Fay  Tincher,  Max  Dav- 
■11,  Chester  Whitev,  Julia  Fave, 
Iward  Dillon.  Carl  Stockdale 
n  ■  ■  ■  ■ ' 1 1 ■  I <  le  the  cast.  A  full 
i'  ige  14  oi  the  Januarj   8  issue 


.,     Mo 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  No.  13 — 
February  14. — "Gabic."  an  old  plow  horse  wins 
race  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  Archbishop  Mundelein 
is  object  of  poison  plot  at  banquet   welcoming   him 

to  his  new  archdiocese,  Chicago.  III.;  si, ,  ,;,,,,,,,  ,  . 
-.nl  lino,, eh  tin  aii  in  me,  l  |,„-  \,,lioi,,,l  ,  |,.,n, 
pionsllips,     Minneapolis,     Mi,,,,.;     Lindlin      M       ,;,, 

rison    resigns    as    Secretary    of    War,    and    Henry 

liicokcnridgc.  his  assistant,  also  retires.  Wash- 
ington,   D.    C.  ;    latest    fashions;     Patrick     Harnion, 


World 

The  Price  of  Happiness— (Five  Reels)— Equit- 
aiu.e-W  orlp— -  February  2S. — A  modern  society 
drama  featuring  Mary  Boland.  The  story  tells 
of  a   woman's  discontent  and  envy  aroused  by  her 

liiend  s  wealth. 

The  Question  —  (Five  Reels)  —  Equitable  — 
February  21. — Marguerite  Leslie  is  starred  in  this 
drama.  This  production  is  a  problem  play  deal- 
ing with  the  wrong  wrought  by  a  woman  who 
cares  more  for  dogs  and  her  social  standing  than 
children.  George  Anderson,  Clara  Whipple  and 
Bernard  Kan, kill  support  Miss  Leslie  and  Harry 
Handworth    directed   the   picture. 

Man  and  His  Angel— (Five  Reels) — Triumph 
—February  28  .--lane  (.rev  is  featured  as  Sonia 
Deniitn,  the  daughter  of  an  exiled  Russian  noble- 
man in  this  production  and  encounters  some  ex- 
citing   adventures    before    she   learns    of   her   noble 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


553 


De^hielfe!'    .__ 

Henri  Bergman  and  Mayme  Kelso.      Burton  King 

directed  the  production. 

A  Woman's  Power — (Five  Reels) — World — 
iary  21. — Mollie  King  portrays  the  leading 
l  this  production  from  the  novel  by  Charles 
e  Buck.     A  full  review  appears  on  page  480 


Miscella 


The  Heart  of  New  York— (Five  Reels)— Cla- 
ridge  Films.  A  melodrama  dealing  with  certain 
social  conditions  of  New  York  life.  Robert  T. 
Haines  is  featured.  Walter  MacNamara  pro- 
duced   the   picture. 


the  result  of  numerous  inquiries  received 
regarding  this  tax,  "indicating  that  there 
is  a  more  or  less  general  misunderstand- 
ing regarding  the  interpretation  of  the 
sixth  subdivision."  This  is  the  statement 
or  synopsis   issued: 


This  office  is  in  receipt  of 
regarding  the  special  tax  imposed  on  proprietors 
of  theaters  under  the  sixth  subdivision  of  section 
3,  act  of  October  22,  1914,  indicating  that  there 
is  a  more  or  less  general  misunderstanding  regard- 
ing the  interpretation  of  the  subdivision  above 
'       Therefore,   this   office   deems   it   advls- 


THEATER   MEN  TELL 

HOW  THEY  SUCCEED 


{Cent 


516) 


able 


of  the 


VOTERS  ARE   INVITED 

TO  FIGHT  CENSORSHIP 

(Continued   from    page   507) 

will  be  encouraged  to  ask  the  editor  he 
knows  to  take  up  arms  if  he  has  not 
done  so  already. 

UNDERMINING   THE   AMERICAN    SYSTEM 
OF    LOCAL    SELF-GOVERNMENT 

Thirty-five  per  cent  of  the  films  shown  in  the 
principal  movie  theaters  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va., 
during  one  week  showed  cigarets  1 

This  is  one  of  the  horrifying  facts  cited  in  sup- 
port of  the  proposal  to  create  a  board  to  censor 
all  the  movie  theaters  of  the  land   from  Washing- 

This  objection  to  the  showing  of  cigarets  in  a 
film  gives  a  key  to  the  alleged  demand  for  a 
national  censorship  of  films  and  to  a  good  many 
of  the  "demands"  for  legislation  to  enforce  codes 
of  conduct  upon  individuals  by  law.  These  de- 
mands are  usually  organized  by  small  groups  of 
men  and  women  obsessed  with  one  idea,  and  they 
are  supported  by  larger  numbers  who  rely  upon  a 
vague  feeling  that  since  a  thing  seems  to  them 
wrong  "something  ought  to  be  done  about  it," 
that  something  being,  in  America  of  course,  a  law. 

Concentering  upon  politicians  who  are  super- 
sensitive as  to  organized  opposition,  these  zealots 
representing  leagues,  associations,  etc.,  of  undis- 
closed membership,  are  enabled  to  get  laws  passed 


Mibdivision  of  section  3   of  the  act  aforesaid. 

Where  the  owner  of  a  building-  pays  special  tax 
as  proprietor  of  a  theater,  coverfng  a  theater  or 
auditorium   in   the   building   in   question,    the   stamp 

given  in  such  theater  or  auditorium,  produced 
either  by  himself  or  under  his  proprietorship,  or 
produced   by   others  under  lease   of  the   theater   01 


airdoi 

capacity  indicated  on  the  face  of  the  special  tax 
stamp.  Of  course,,  if  performances  are  continued 
at  the  building  from  which  the  stamp  is  trans- 
ferred, a  new  special  tax  stamp  must  be  taken  out 
to  cover  such  building. 

Where  a  lessee  of  a  theater  pays  special  tax 
therefor,  the  special  tax  stamp  secured  by  him, 
if  not  transferred  to  another  location,  will  cover 
performances  given  in  the  theater  under  the  pro- 
prietorship of  another  who  subleases  the  theater 
from  the  lessee.  However,  if  the  lessee  sells  out 
his  lease,  and  is  no  longer  connected  with  the 
theater  in  any  capacity  whatsoever,  his  special 
tax  stamp  will  not  cover  performances  given  by 
the   purchaser   of   the   lease. 

'   'O  parties  pay   special   tax   and   oper  ' 


in  the  evening.  An  orchestra  of  four 
pieces  is  used — piano,  cello,  violin  and 
flute. 

When  the  rebuilt  theater  was  opened 
in  May,  1913,  the  management,  in  be- 
half of  the  owners,  was  assumed  by  Mr. 
Oldt  in  association  with  Dalton  D. 
Buss,  who  had  had  several  years  of 
practical  experience  in  two  other  Eastern 
theaters. 

Messrs.  Oldt  and  Buss  have  conducted 
the  theater  ever  since  to  the  constant 
satisfaction  of  the  stockholders.  In  the 
fall  of  1914,  they  asked  for  an  extension 
of  twenty-five  feet  and  it  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $10,000. 

The  theater  still  retains  the  name 
given  it  at  birth,  The  Bijou.  It  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
modern  motion  picture  houses  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 


Live  News  Notes 
For  Theater  Men 


then 


s  sellii 


the 


-  be  < 


iforc 


•  the  j 


therefore    be    

sincerity.  In  either  case  they  are  demoralizing. 
When  unenforced  they  breed  contempt  of  law. 
When  unevenly  enforced  without  the  support  of 
public  opinion  they  work  injustice  without  public 
benefit  and  are  the  instruments  of  blackmail  or 
bigotry. 

In  spite  of  our  principles  of  individual  freedom, 
of   our   carefully   considered   constitution,    and    our 

social  tyranny.  A  wishes  B  to  live  as  A  thinks  B 
ought  to  live,  not  because  B  is  injuring  A  but 
because  A  thinks  B  is  iniuring  himself.  A  is  not 
willing  that  B  should  be  left  free  to  determine 
this  matter  for  himself.  He  demands  that  B 
shall  be  compelled  by  law  to  conform  to  what  A 
thinks  is  good  for  him.  A  not  only  considers 
himself  his  brother's  keeper — he  wants  to  delegate 
his  keepership  to  the  policeman  and  the  jailer. 

This  all  goes  under  the  plausible  guise  of  morals 
and  social  betterment.  But  it  derives  from  one 
of  the  most  offensive  systems  of  oppression  ever 
developed,  the  theocratic  tyranny  of  early  New 
England  puritanism. 

The  reason  why  moralistic  reformers  resort  to 
Washington  for  certain  laws  is  not  that  local 
authority  is  unable  to  enforce  their  will,  but  that 
very  often  it  is  unwilling.  The  appeal  to  the 
central  power  is  not  to  protect  one  community 
from  another  but  to  impose  the  will  of  a  group 
or  a  class  or  a  section  upon  communities  which 
will  not  adopt  its  standards. 

An  altruistic  purpose  does  not  alter  the  fact 
that  this  is  a  subversion  of  American  principles 
which  ought  to  be  frankly  and  courageously 
opposed.  Opposition  is  certain  to  be  misinter- 
preted and  ascribed  to  a  sympathy  with  immorality 
by  the  advocates  of  the  specific  reforms.  Un- 
fortunately, yet  inevitably,  selfish  interests  will 
take  cover  under  this  legitimate  opposif 
Nevertheless  it  must  be  developed  for  the 
of  the  larger  public  issues  involved. 

Tax  Ruling  Explained 

The  commissioner  of  internal  revenue 
has  prepared  a  synopsis  of  rulings  re- 
garding tax  imposed  on  proprietors  of 
theaters  under  the  sixth  subdivision  of 
section  3,  act  of  October  22,  1914,  the  so- 
called  emergency  revenue  act.  It  is 
stated  that  the  synopsis   was  written  as 


.  tnership,  the  special  tax  stamp 
secured  by  the  first  partnership  will  cover  per- 
formances   given    by    the    succeeding    partnership. 

Where  a  hall  or  auditorium  is  maintained  for 
public  entertainment,  but  operatic  or  dramatic 
or  other  representations,  plays  or  performances 
are  given  therein  only  occasionally,  for  example, 
on  an  average  of  not  exceeding  twice  a  month,  the 
proprietors  of  such  hall  or  auditorium  do  not 
incur  special  tax  liability. 

The  owners  or  agents  of  theatrical  troupes, 
traveling  around  the  country  and  giving  perform- 
ances in  halls  or  auditoriums  for  which  special 
taxes  have  not  been  paid  by  the  owners  or  lessees 
thereof,  are  required  to  pay  special  tax  under  the 
sixth  subdivision  of  section  3  of  the  act  aforesaid, 
and  may  have  their  special  tax  stamps  transferred 
from     place     to     place,     upon     application     ' 


■    of    i 


It 


rill    : 


lffict 


entering  a  collection 
urith  the  collector  a  statement  as  tc 
nd  towns  in  which  performances  are 


collec 

the  owner  c 
district,  files 
the  theaters 

monious  with  the  above  are  revoked  to  that  extent. 

Subdivision  six  is  as  follows: 

Proprietors  of  theaters,  museums,  and  concert 
halls,  where  a  charge_  for  admission  is  made, 
having  a  seating  capacity  of  not  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty,  shall  pay  $25  ;  having  a  seating 
hapacity  of  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
and  not  exceeding  five  hundred,  shall  pay  $50 ; 
having  a  seating  capacity  exceeding  five  hundred 
and  not  exceeding  eight  hundred,  shall  pay  $75; 
having  a  seating  capacity  of  more  than  eight 
hundred,  shall  pay  $100.  Every  edifice  used  foi 
the  purpose  of  dramatic  or  operatic  or  other  repre- 
sentations, plays,  or  performances,  for  admission 
to  which  entrance  money  is  received,  not  includ- 
ing halls  or  armories  rented  or  used  occasionally 
for  concerts  or  theatrical  representations,  shall  be 
regarded  as  a  theater.  Provided.  That  wherever 
any  such  edifice  is  under  lease  at  the  passage  of 
this  Act.  the  tax  shall  be  paid  bv  the  lessee, 
unless  otherwise   stipulated   between  the  parties  to 

This  answers  questions  continually 
asked  by  many  persons  in  the  exhibition 
branch  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 


Sunday-closing  prosecution  of  Arnold 
Goodman,  manager  of  the  Wind-A-Meer 
motion  picture  theater,  by  East  Cleve- 
land authorities,  is  being  used  as  one  of 
the  arguments  in  favor  of  annexation  of 
East  Cleveland  by  the  larger  city  from 
which  it  gets  its  name. 


The  theatrical  federation  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, with  which  are  affiliated  stage  em- 
ployes, musicians  and  bill  posters,  White 
Rat  actors  and  motion  picture  operators, 
has  named  a  committee  to  appear  before 
the  police  committee  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  at  its  next  hearing  and  ask 
that  the  board  of  censorship  in  that  city 
be  abolished. 


The  proposed  federal  censorship  bill 
has  thoroughly  aroused  Milwaukee 
photoplay  exhibitors.  An  active  cam- 
paign is  being  undertaken  by  the  ex- 
hibitors to  defeat  the  proposed  measure. 

A.  T.  Lambson,  who  recently  incor- 
porated the  Reelplay  Feature  Company 
in  Seattle,  has  purchased  the  six-part 
motion  picture  attraction,  "Race  Suicide," 
from  Joseph  W.  Farnham,  as  the  leader 
in  his  program  of  features  de  luxe,  which 
he  will  book  to  the  theaters  of  the  terri- 
tory of  Oregon,  Washington,  Idaho  and 
Montana. 

The  New  York  Fox  authorities  have 
decided  to  take  the  rejected  film,  "Ser- 
pent," into  court.  One  of  Philadelphia's 
crack  lawyers  has  been  retained.  He 
will  be  assisted  by  New  York  attorneys 
in  charge  of  the  case. 

Joe  Courtney,  formerly  with  the  Pathe 
company,  has  opened  an  office  in  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  for  the  Popular  Film  Com- 
pany. 

C.  G.  ("Neal")  Kingsley  has  been  made 
manager  of  the  Detroit  office  of  the  Fox 
Film  Corporation,  succeeding  A.  I. 
Shapiro,  who  has  been  assigned  to  special 
work  in  the  eastern  territory. 

Recent  visitors  to  the  Chicago  offices 
of  the  Metro  Pictures  Service  included: 
Messrs.  Ades  and  Katzenbach,  of  the 
Variety  Theater,   Terre   Haute,   Ind.;    H. 


MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


MR.  THEATER  MAN: 

Do  you  want  to  aid  in  the  fight  to  prevent  the  passage  of  a  federal  censorship  bill?  You  can  if  you 
will  get  the  signatures  of  ten  of  your  regular  patrons  who  are  voters  and  representative  citizens  to  sign  the 
following  petition.  Then  fill  in  the  name  of  the  congressman  from  your  district  and  mail  the  petition  to 
Motography,   Monadnock  block,   Chicago,  and  it   will   be  mailed  to  Washington  with  others  immediately. 


A   PETITION. 


.member  of  Congress 


WE,  the  undersigned  voters,   protest  against  the  un-American    demand    for    censorship    against 
opposed  to  such  federal   legislation  as  a  menace  to  the  liberty   of  the  citizens  of  a  free  country. 


NAME  ADDRESS 


Signed 

( )wner  Manager theater 

Address 


March  4,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


J.  Ashby,  of  the  American  Theater,  Ev- 
ansville,  Ind.;  J.  A.  Clauer,  Dreamland 
Theater,  Galena,  111.;  H.  Rorig,  Orpheum 
Theater,  Elgin,  111.;  B.  F.  Metcalf,  Luna 
Lite  Theater,  Marion,  Ind.;  H.  E.  Hin- 
richs,  Royal  Theater,  Minonk.  111.;  and 
W.  C.  Quimby,  Alhambra  Theater,  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind. 

Proprietors  of  motion  picture  theaters 
at  Chesterton,  Ind.,  opened  recently  on 
Sunday.  They  were  not  molested,  but 
warned  by  the  prosecutor  and  sheriff  of 
the  county  not  to  do  so  again. 

A  bill  introduced  recently  into  the 
Massachusetts  legislature  provides  that 
no  person  gaining  admission  to  a  place 
of  amusement  by  paid  admission  or 
otherwise  shall  be  allowed  to  stand  there- 
in after  all  the  seats  have  been  taken. 

The  Omaha  Photoplay  Managers'  As- 
sociation was  organized  last  week  by 
forty  motion  picture  exhibitors.  Regular 
meetings  will  be  held  to  discuss  matters 
of  interest  to  the  theaters  of  the  city. 
H.  M.  Thomas  of  The  Strand  was  elected 
president,  Jake  Schlank  of  the  Hipp 
treasurer,  and  Ed  Monaghan  of  the 
Boulevard  secretary. 

Only  three  theaters  remained  open  re- 
cently in  Victoria,  B.  C,  during  an  ex- 
traordinary snowstorm. 


ter,  one  of  the  largest  downtown  houses, 
where  serials  have  not  been  used. 

C.  E.  Brown  has  been  made  manager 
for  Bluebird  Photoplays  in  Los  Angeles, 
with  surrounding  territory  also  under 
his  charge. 

J.  S.  Skirboll,  district  manager  of  the 
Metro  Pictures  Service,  has  returned  to 
Pittsburgh  after  a  visit  to  Chicago,  Kan- 
sas City,  Des  Moines  and  St.  Louis  offices 
of  his   firm.     He   reports   excellent  busi- 

Reports  from  the  Kansas  City  office 
of  the  Metro  company  say  business  is 
increasing  steadily.  The  company  now 
has  fourteen  theaters  in  Kansas  City 
using  their 


Winnipeg  censors  rejected  21  of  547 
reels  inspected  last  month.  Murders, 
robberies,  burglaries,  suicides,  in- 
decencies,, suggestive  scenes  and  sub- 
titles were  chiefly  the  cause  of  the  elimi- 
nations as  stated. 

A  marked  increase  in  business  is  re- 
ported from  the  Washington,  D.  C,  ex- 
cahnge  of  the  Metro  company.  The 
World  exchange  in  the  national  capital 
also  reports  excellent  business. 

The  Screen  Club  of  Michigan  has  been 
organized  in  Detroit.  The  club  will  hold 
luncheon  meetings  every  second  and 
fourth  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

Charles  R.  Gilmore,  manager  of  the 
World  exchange,  reports  that  owing  to 
the  snowbound  conditions  of  southern 
Colorado,  his  road  men  have  had  to 
forego  working  the  territory.  He  also 
reports  that  his  office  did  more  business 
in  the  last  two  weeks  than  in  any  six 
weeks  previous. 

Harry  I.  Garson,  of  the  Broadway  Fea- 
ture Film  Company,  Detroit,  Mich.,  has 
closed  a  deal  with  Sol  L.  Lesser  for  the 
rights  on  "The  Ne'er-Do-Well,"  for  the 
state  of  Michigan.  It  is  reported  that 
the  price  paid  was  $15,000. 

Another  floor  will  be  added  to  the  De- 
troit exchange  of  the  Mutual  Film  Cor- 
poration. 

C.  L.  Worthington,  district  manager  of 
the  Fox  company,  was  a  recent  visitor  to 
Omaha.  He  described  conditions  among 
exhibitors  in  the  middle-west  as  pros- 
perous. 

A.  J.  Nelson,  who  recently  was  made 
manager  of  the  Washington,  D.  C,  office 
of  the  General  Film  Company,  already 
has  made  a  mark  for  himself  in  placing 
the  Essanay  serial,  "The  Strange  Case 
of  Mary  Page,"  at  Moore's  Garden  Thea- 


Thc  Western  Film  Exchange,  Kansas 
City,  was  robbed  recently.  Five  hun- 
dred carbons  and  a  number  of  smaller 
articles  were  stolen. 

The  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  city  council 
has  taken  it  upon  itself  to  censor  all  local 
motion  pictures.  A  board  of  film  in- 
spection has  been  formed. 

Ralph  Rainier  of  the  Boyer  Opera 
House  at  Kendallville,  Ind.,  who  recently 
was  arrested  on  a  charge  of  running  his 
show  on  Sunday,  has  been  arrested  the 
second  time.  He  gave  bond  and  then 
went  back  and  finished  the  show. 

The  House  of  Representatives  has 
passed  the  Johnson  fake  advertising  bill, 
which  provides  "That  it  shall  be  unlaw- 
ful for  any  person,  firm,  association,  cor- 
poration or  advertising  agency,  either  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  to  display  or  ex- 
hibit to  the  public  in  any  manner,  or  to 
publish  in  any  publication  any  false,  un- 
true or  misleading  statement." 

Sydney  E.  Abel,  who  has  been  in 
charge  of  the  Cleveland  branch  of  the 
V.  L.  S.  E.  organization  since  last  July, 
has  been  promoted  to  take  charge  of  the 
Chicago  office  of  The  Big  Four. 

The  weekly  Friday  meetings  of  the 
Theater  Managers'  and  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  Association  of  St.  Louis  will 
be  held  hereafter  at  their  new  headquar- 
ters in  the  Majestic  theater  building  at 
1020-24  Franklin  avenue. 

A  bill  which  was  introduced  in  the 
Kentucky  General  Assembly  recently  by 
Representative  Ryans  of  Louisville  pro- 
vides for  a  state  board  of  censors  to  pass 
upon  motion  picture  films  before  their 
presentation  to  the  public  and  to  license 
picture   theaters   and  machine   operators. 

The  Educational  Film  Corporation  of 
America,  which  owns  and  controls  the 
Robert  C.  Bruce  Nature  Pictures  that 
have  been  playing  at  the  Knickerbocker 
Theater  in  New  York,  are  soon  to  an- 
nounce a  new  plan  of  booking  which,  it 
is  claimed,  will  make  a  strong  appeal  to 
every  exchange  man  and  exhibitor. 

C.  W.  Chiles,  formerly  with  the  Gen- 
eral Film  Company,  St.  Louis,  has  ac- 
cepted a  road  position  with  the  World 
Film  Corporation,  in  Kansas  City,  under 
Manager  Richard  Robertson.  He  will 
travel   in    Missouri   and   Kansas. 

John  H.  Plunkett,  chief  of  the  district 


police  of  Boston,  Mass.,  has  invited  ex- 
hibitors and  exchange  men  to  confer 
with  him  at  the  state  house  over  the  mis- 
understanding that  has  arisen  over  the 
methods  he  has  used  in  censoring  films 
submitted  for  Sunday  exhibition  in  Bos- 
ton. Chief  Plunkett  promises  to  make 
clear  the  reasons  why  his  censorship  of 
the  Sunday  films  is  so  drastic. 

Cleveland  police  have  eliminated  the 
stink  ball  and  electric  snuff  nuisance 
from  motion  picture  houses.  Exhibitors 
declare  the  most  important  step  was  not 
the  prosecution  of  youths  caught  in  the 
act,  but  the  confiscation  of  the  stock  of 
retail  storekeepers  and  the  warning  is- 
sued to  manufacturers. 

E.  V.  P.  Schneiderhahn,  attorney  for 
the  Federated  Catholic  Societies  of  St. 
Louis,  presented  a  petition  to  the  Board 
of  Aldermen  last  week  which  was  signed 
by  11,846  persons,  urging  the  passage  of 
a  bill  to  establish  a  censorship  board. 

Henry  Fischer,  manager  of  the  United 
Film  Service,  will  establish  offices  for 
his   company   in   Winnipeg  and   Vancou- 


The  101  Ranch  Wild  West  Show  out- 
fit, now  wintering  in  Oklahoma,  prob- 
ably will  be  converted  into  a  motion 
picture  outfit  until  the  opening  in  the 
latter  part  of  April.  The  show  will  be 
rehearsing  Feb.  20  and  already  per- 
formers are  beginning  to  gather  at  the 
ranch. 

Lewis  J.  Selznick,  president  of  the 
Clara  Kimball  Young  Film  Corporation, 
has  been  invited  by  the  National  Press 
Club  of  Washington,  D.  C,  to  address  its 
members  on  the  occasion  of  the  next 
"Inside    Dope"   night. 

Manager  Cohn  of  the  Notable  Feature 
Films  of  Denver,  reports  that  business 
is  excellent.  He  has  a  waiting  list  of 
ten  theaters,  he  writes. 

Cleveland  motion  picture  men  want 
a  screen  ball.  They  are  "feeling  out" 
the  film  men  in  town   on  the  plan. 

The  Strand  Theater,  Montreal,  reports 
a  record  in  receipts  with  the  Bluebird 
feature,  "Jeanne  Dore,"  in  which  Sarah 
Bernhardt   is   starred. 

Cleveland  soon  will  have  its  first  com- 
plete film  laboratory.  It  is  to  occupy 
one-half  of  the  eighth  floor  of  the  Ad- 
vance building.  The  new  laboratory  will 
be  equipped  for  printing  and  developing, 
and  capable  of  handling  all  kinds  of  film 
made   in   northern    Ohio. 

The  Novelty  Slide  Company,  manufac- 
turers of  all  kinds  of  lantern  slides,  has 
moved  from  its  former  quarters  at  67 
West  Twenty-third  street,  New  York, 
to  115  and  117  East  Twenty-third  street. 


SOME  NEW  THEATERS 

Alabama. 

Savoy  Theater  Company,  Inc.,  Bir- 
mingham, Jefferson  county;  motion  pic- 
tures; capital,  $2,000,  all  paid  in;  incorpo- 
rators, O.  J.  Greener,  W.  H.  Tomppert 
and  Mrs.  Lola  Tomppert. 

Arizona. 

There  was  a  slight  blaze  in  the  Royal 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  10. 


theater  in  Tuscon  caused  by  sparks  from 
the  carbons,  which  set  the   film  afire. 


Arkansas. 

The  Crystal  theater  in  Little  Rock  ^ 


show  "Madam  X"  and  "New  York," 
of  the  late  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  produc- 
tions, for  a  return  engagement  of  two 
days  each,  as  announced  by  Manager  Ed- 
wards of  the  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  branch  of 
Pathe  Exchange,  Inc. 

The  Princess  theater.  Matthews  build- 
ing, Argenta,  is  nearing  completion  and 
is  expected  to  be  ready  for  opening  about 
March  1.  This  new  theater  will  seat  650 
and  is  modern  and  up-to-date.  An  or- 
chestra will  play  both  afternoons  and 
evenings.  Louis  Rosenbaum  will  be 
manager. 

California. 

Plans  for  a  new  motion  picture  theater 
are  being  drawn  to  be  located  on  Burlin- 
game  avenue,  Burlingame. 

The  board  of  public  works  has  ap- 
proved the  petition  from  St.  Vincent's 
College  asking  that  established  educa- 
tional institutions,  under  the  management 
or  control  of  a  board  of  directors  or 
other  responsible  body,  be  permitted  to 
exhibit  moving  pictures  under  the  same 
conditions  as  those  under  which  moving 
pictures  may  be  now  exhibited  in  audi- 
toriums and  school  buildings  under  the 
authority  or  direction  of  the  board  of 
education  of  the  city  of  Los  Angeles.  The 
board  of  public  works  recommends  that 
the  council  adopt  the  necessary  amenda- 
tory ordinance. 

A  picture  theater  will  be  erected  in 
Redwood  City  by  E.  J.  Arkush. 

Colorado. 

The    Dreamland    theater    in    Montrose 
has  installed  a  Wurlitzer  piano. 
Delaware. 

The  Up-To-Date  Amusement  Com- 
pany, Dover;  capital,  $150,000;  to  conduct 
places  of  amusements  of  all  kinds;  incor- 
porators, M.  M.  Horons,  L.  B.  Phillips, 
Dover. 

The  Queen  theater,  at  Fifth  and  Mar- 
ket streets,  Wilmington,  will  be  opened 
in  a  very  short  time. 

Georgia. 

H.  P.  Diggs  will  manage  the  remod- 
eled Rowe  opera  house  in  Rome. 

The  ordinance  requiring  an  examina- 
tion for  motion  picture  operators  and 
laying  down  certain  other  rules  by  which 
they  are  to  be  governed,  in  Macon,  was 
passed  under  a  suspension  of  the  rules. 
The  ordinance  provides  that  all  operators 
must  stand  an  examination  before  the 
board  of  electrical  control  and  make  an 
average  of  75  per  cent  and  pay  a  license 
fee  of  $2  a  year. 

Statesboro    will    have    anothei 
picture  theater. 

Illinois. 

The  Majestic  theater  management  has 
announced  its  policy  will  not  be  devoted 
exclusively  to  the  snowing  of  photoplays, 
but  at  intervals  the  legitimate  will  be 
afforded  the  Peoria  public,  and  (he  best 
plays  en  tour  will  be  booked. 

The  Rialto  theater  building,  to  be 
erected  on  South  State  street,  fifty  feet 
north  of  Van   Buren  street,  will  front  100 

Feel  on  State  street,  will  cost  $350,000, 
and  will  l>e  one  of  the  mosl  modem  play- 
houses in   Chicago.     It   is   to  be   built    by 


"ShouldaBabyDie" 

A  TIMELY  FIVE-PART  ATTRACTION 

Featuring  such  well  known  stars  as  ARTHUR  DONALDSON 
of  Prince  of  Pihen  fame;  CAMILLE  D  ALBERT,  now  with  Leo 
Ditrichsteiniin  The  Great  Lover;  GAZELLE  MARCHE.  re- 
membered in  the  Valley  of  the  Missing,  and  as  Innocent  Inez 
in  Perils  of  Pauline;  DORA  MILLS  ADAMS,  gifted  ladv  in 
the  Musical  World  who  was  the  recipient  of  a  seat  in  Grand 
Opera  from  the  late  William  Steinwav.  has  appeared  in  such 
features  as  Runaway  June  Series.  The  Fashion  Shop,  and  My 
Lady  Incog. 

Produced  by  the  CHAS.  K.  HARRIS  FILM  CO. 

ovlth!ed  state   rights   plan 
HANOVER  FILM  CO. 


904  COLUMBIA  BUILDING 


NEW  YORK  CITY 


Owners  and  Distributors  of  the  Great  Itala  Production 


the  State  Street  Theater  Company,  a  cor- 
poration owned  by  the  firm  of  Jones, 
Linick  &  Schaefer.  It  will  be  five  stories 
high,  with  a  front  of  white  terra  cotta 
and  granite.  The  work  of  razing  the 
present  building  will  begin  March  1,  and 
it  is  expected  the  new  building  will  be 
completed  by  October  1. 

Pittman  &  Harn  have  sold  the  Prin- 
cess theater  in  Peoria  to  Ralph  Lee. 

The  Mensch  building,  being  erected  at 
the  southwest  corner  of  Diversey  park- 
way and  Ward  street,  Chicago,  for  the 
Industrial  Moving  Picture  Company  af- 
ter plans  prepared  by  John  Ahlschlager 
&  Son,  architects,  represents  an  invest- 
ment of  $150,000.  It  is  the  most  modern 
and  approved  type  of  fireproof  concrete 
construction,  especially  designed  to  meet 
the  requirements  of  studio  work  and  film 
production.  It  will  have  a  weekly  capac- 
ity of  2,000,000  feet  of  film  and  will  be 
the  last  word  in  modern  design,  con- 
struction and  equipment. 

The  Bowen  theater  on  East  Ninety- 
second  street,  South  Chicago,  has  inaug- 
urated the  Triangle  program. 

Indiana. 

The  rear  exits  of  the  Novelty  motion 
picture  theater  in  Evansville  will  be  in- 
clines instead  of  steps. 

The   Rex  theater  in   Decatur  has  been 
sold  to  W.  A.  Dull  of  Willshire,  Ohio. 
The   Cort  theater  in   Kokomo  presents 
otion    a  very  pleasing  appearance,  having  been 
redecorated. 

Princess  theater,  858  South  Merid- 


ian  street,   Indianapolis,  has  been   taken 
over  by  Delphi  Bramble. 


The  Empress,  a  new  moving  picture 
theater,  has  been  opened  to  the  public  in 
Rockwell  City. 


"BUILT  BY; 
BRAINS" 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Homer    Building 

Calgary,  Canada 
Grand  Theatre  Bldg. 
San   Francisco 
11 7-1 9  Golden  Gate  Ave. 


New  York 
19  W.   23rd   St. 

154  West  take  St. 
Pittsburg 
422  First  Are. 


Ir  THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD  " 
Goes  Posters 
POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO j 


The  MOTION  PICTURE 
TI(AUB  tJOUIU&LZ, 


Up 

ezJp 

1 

DHL. 

Vol  XV 


E.  K.  LINCOLN  WITH  LUBIN 

CHICAGO,  MARCH  11,1916 


No.  11 


Pallas  Pictures 


PRESENTS 


pUSTIN  fARNUM 


ft 


BEN  BLAIR 

SUPPORTED        BY 

WINIFRED  KINGSTON 

AN  D  A  STR.ONG  CAST 

RELEASED       MAf^CH     3 


Pallas  Pictures 


NEW    YORK 


LOS  ANGELES 


CA/V/4D/AN  DISTRIBUTORS     THE  FAMOUS  PLAYERS   FILM  SERVICE  LTD.    MONTREALJOPOrm). CALGARY 


PARAMOUNT  PROGRAM 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


23 


>i  the  many  News- 
papers runninaike 

few  PATHE  Serial 


j4  Episodes  oft  wo  parts  each, 
eaturmd  the  Greatest  Cast  in 


^ilmdom-  PEARL  WHITE 

XEIGHTON  HALE  and 

SHELDON  LEWIS. 

THE  PATHE'  EXCHANGE  INC. 

secutive  Offices  25  Wesi  45*>»  S±.,New  \5»rk. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  11,  1916 


No.  11 


New  Hughes  Bill  for  Prepublicity 


BY  THOMAS  O.  MONK 


CHAIRMAN  HUGHES  has  completed  the  draft 
of  the  new  censhorship  bill  to  submit  to  the 
House  Committee  on  Education.  The  bill  was 
put  in  shape  after  the  receipt  of  final  suggestions  from 
the  attorneys  representing  the  motion  picture  compa- 
nies favorable  to  regulation  or  censorship  and  the  wel- 
fare workers  who  have  been  active  in  promoting  the 
proposed  legislation.  I  am  told  that  the  new  bill  will 
be  substantially  the  same  as  that  printed  in  Motog- 
raphy  February  12  (pages  337  and  338).  Although  some 
changes  have  been  made,  the  details  are  not  given  out. 
It  is  stated,  however,  that  no  radical  changes  have 
been  made,  and  the  bill  will  contain  all  the  drastic 
provisions  establishing  prepublicity  censorship. 

Chairman  Hughes  states  that  the  committee  will 
not  conduct  any  further  hearings  on  the  measure,  but 
will  take  the  bill  up  for  consideration  with  a  view  to 
reporting  it  to  the  House  at  the  earliest  practicable 
date.  However,  he  also  stated  that  any  written  state- 
ments or  arguments  filed  would  be  considered  by  the 
committee  if  they  are  forwarded  promptly. 

Believes  In  Prepublicity 

From  statements  made  to  me  by  Chairman  Hughes 
it  is  clear  he  believes  the  only  way  to  accomplish  what 
he  contends  ought  to  be  accomplished  by  the  bill,  that 
is,  the  eliminating  of  indecent,  suggestive,  or  improper 
films,  is  through  the  medium  of  prepublicity  censor- 
ship. 

"I  look  upon  prepublicity  censorship  as  the  only 
means  to  bring  about  the  desired  results,"  he  stated, 
"and  I  think  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  commit- 
tee agree  with  me." 

"Why  would  it  not  be  better  and  fairer  to  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  to  provide  for  Federal  censorship 
after  publication?  That  is,  establish  standards  the 
same  as  in  the  present  measure,  and  then  put  upon 
the  manufacturers  the  responsibility  for  the  character 
and  the  nature  of  their  product  in  exactly  the  same 
manner  as  the  Government  has  done  with  regard  to 
drugs  and  medicines.  With  regard  to  these,  the  Gov- 
ernment does  not  attempt  to  precensor  their  product, 
but  outlines  certain  standards  and  establishes  certain 
regulations  with  the  result  that  intelligent  and  honest 
manufacturers  use  them  as  valuable  guides  and  not  as 
obstructions  to  their  business." 

"To  permit  films  to  be  shipped  subject  to  being 
passed  upon  after  distribution  in  interstate  commerce 
is  open  to  many  serious  objections,"  answered  Chair- 
man Hughes.  "For  example,  if  a  film  was  decided  to 
be  objectionable   or  improper,   there   would   be   many 


copies  of  it  in  circulation  in  several  states,  and  there 
would  be  no  practicable  means  of  suppressing  them 
before  they  had  done  considerable  harm.  In  fact,  they  ■ 
would  already  have  been  shown  to  thousands  of  per- 
sons including  children.  In  addition  to  this,  this  pro- 
cedure would  subject  the  manufacturers  to  consider- 
able loss,  and  also  the  exhibitors.  All  copies  would 
have  to  be  destroyed  or  made  over.  Of  course  the 
manufacturer  would  be  liable  to  prosecution,  but  that 
would  not  change  the  fact  that  the  improper,  obscene, 
or  suggestive  picture  had  been  exhibited  to  thousands. 

"This  bill  meets  with  the  approval  of  a  great  many 
film  companies,  and  it  ought  to  meet  the  approval  of 
the  public.  The  motion  picture  business  is  in  its  in- 
fancy. It  has  not  begun  to  approximate  its  utility  and 
usefulness  along  educational  and  recreational  lines.  I 
believe  that  this  bill  will  be  of  great  ultimate  advantage 
and  interest  to  the  manufacturers  and  those  engaged 
in  this  great  industry. 

"The  primary  object  of  this  bill  is  to  get  rid  of 
immoral  films,  and  in  my  opinion  it  can  be  done  only 
by  prepublicity  review." 

Chairman  Hughes  then  indicated  clearly  that  the 
new  bill  will  eliminate  films  now  in  existence  from  its 
provisions,  although  he  stated  that  information  had 
reached  him  that  within  the  last  three  or  four  months 
the  number  of  improper  films  on  the  market  had  ma- 
terially increased. 

Answers  Tax  Objection 

"We  probably  will  decide,"  he  said,  "not  to  inter- 
fere with  films  on  the  market.  The  manufacturers  have 
their  money  invested  in  them,  and  it  seems  only  equit- 
able that  they  should  not  be  interfered  with." 

Answering  the  objection  that  it  was  unfair  to  the 
industry  to  tax  it  for  being  regulated,  Chairman 
Hughes  said  that  the  tax,  if  it  is  decided  upon,  will  not 
exceed  $90,000  a  year.  He  said  provision  will  be  made 
to  reduce  the  amount  of  license  fees  if  after  six  months 
it  is  found  they  are  excessive  and  yield  more  than 
necessary  to  support  the  commission. 

In  conclusion  Chairman  Hughes  said : 

"I  am  a  friend  of  the  motion  picture  industry,  and 
I  would  not  do  anything  that  I  believed  would  injure 
it.  But  I  want  to  protect  the  children  of  this  country, 
and  I  am  going  to  use  my  best  efforts  in  presenting  the 
bill  to  the  House  and  in  obtaining  its  passage. 

"I  believe  if  this  bill  becomes  a  law,  the  standards 
it  establishes  ultimately  will  be  adopted  by  the  states, 
and  in  this  way  thousands  of  dollars  will  be  saved  to 
the  film  companies.     The  welfare  workers  who  have 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


been  advocating  the  measure  inform  me  that  if  the 
bill  is  passed  they  will  cease  their  activities  for  state 
or  local  legislation  on  the  subject." 

Notwithstanding  Chairman  Hughes'  undoubted 
sincerity  of  purpose  in  insisting  on  prepublicity  censor- 
ship and  the  probability  of  the  bill  being  reported  to 
the  I~Iou.se  with  that  provision  in  it,  it  is  believed  that 
the  House  will  strike  it  out  when  it  realizes  what  it 
means  and  that  the  gravest  doubt  is  expressed  as  to 
the  constitutionality  of  such  a  provision.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  the  House  will  change  the  provision  so  as 
to  provide  for  review  after  the  motion  picture  actually 
has  become  the  subject  of  interstate  commerce,  that  is, 
after  the  film  is  shipped  and  shown. 

W.  C.  T.  U.  Appeals  to  Voters 

The  procedure  to  get  the  bill  into  the  House  has 
not  been  decided  upon.  When  the  committee  approves 
the  bill,  and  it  seems  probable  it  will  approve  reporting 
some  kind  of  a  measure,  Chairman  Hughes  may  rein- 
troduce it  for  the  purpose  of  having  it  printed,  and  then 
immediately  report  it.  Or  he  may  be  authorized  to 
report  H.  R.  456,  the  original  measure,  as  amended, 
the  amendment  being  the  new  substitute  adopted  by 
the  Committee.  In  this  way  the  measure  would  re- 
tain the  original  number,  H.  R.  456,  the  number  by 
which  it  is  generally  known. 

For  instance,  members  of  the  House  are  receiving 
copies  of  printed  post  cards,  with  lines  for  four  signa- 
tures, reading  as  follows : 

We,  the  undersigned,  voters  of  your  district,  heart- 
ily favor  House  Bill  456  by  Hon.  Dudley  Hughes,  for  a 
federal  commission  on  moving  pictures.  Please  give  it 
your  earnest  support. 

In  this  connection  it  is  urged  that  theater  men 
and  others  obtain  signatures  to  the  petition  prepared 
by  Motography  and  send  them  to  the  members  of  the 
House  representing  their  districts  to  show  them  there 
are  large  numbers,  and  perhaps  larger  numbers  of  pa- 
trons of  the  motion  picture  shows,  who  do  not  want 
censorship.  The  post  card  referred  to  above  is  dis- 
tributed by  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

It  can  be  said  that  there  has  been  a  noticeable  lack 
of  protest  from  the  motion  picture  interests  along  the 
line  of  addressing  themselves  to  individual  members. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  bill  to  be  present- 
ed to  the  House  and  eventually  to  the  Senate  is  by  way 
of  recommendation,  and  of  course  is  not  final.     The 


membership  of  the  House  will  be  the  final  judge,  and 
the  bill  will  be  open  to  amendment  in  every  way,  shape 
and  form.  Therefore,  let  your  member  hear  from  you 
either  through  Motography's  petition  or  by  personal 
letter.  But  in  any  event  let  him  hear  from  you  as  to 
what  you  think  of  the  proposition  of  censorship  or 
Federal  regulation  in  any  form,  and  this  applies  to  the 
manufacturer  or  producer,  the  distributor,  the  ex- 
change man,  and  the  exhibitor. 

If  the  bill  is  reported  to  the  House  and  passes,  it 
will  go  then  to  the  Senate  and  be  referred  to  the  Senate 
committee  on  education  and  labor  before  which  is  pend- 
ing the  Smith  bill,  identical  with  the  original  Hughes 
bill  now  discarded.  Then  an  opportunity  will  be  af- 
forded for  additional  hearings  if  they  are  considered 
necessary  by  the  industry. 

National  Board  Reports 

The  National  Board  of  Censorship  has  furnished 
information  to  the  Committe  on  Education  to  the  ef- 
fect that  ninety  per  cent  of  the  motion  picture  business 
of  the  country  is  done  by  ten  firms. 

"If  you  desire  that  we  shall  compile  a  list  of  the 
producing  companies  Ave  will  gladly  do  so,"  says  the 
board  in  a  communication  to  the  committee,  "but  in 
this  connection  would  say  that  such  a  list  would  hardly 
be  of  any  service  after  it  was  a  month  old.  This  for 
the  reason  that  the  present  competition  and  the  diffi- 
culties of  financing  are  driving  many  of  the  smaller 
companies  out  of  the  business.  Probably  ninety  per 
cent  of  the  motion  picture  business  is  done  by  the  fol- 
lowing companies,  namely,  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Universal,  Mu- 
tual, World,  Equitable,  Fox,  Metro,  Famous  Players, 
Jesse  Lasky,  and  Morosco." 

It  was  also  stated  that  the  board  in  January  passed 
on  780  reels  of  films. 

Chairman  Hughes  has  addressed  a  letter  to  J.  W. 
Binder,  executive  secretary  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Board  of  Trade,  asking  him  to  furnish  for  the  use  of 
the  committee  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  board. 

It  had  been  reported  to  Chairman  Hughes  that  Mr. 
Binder  has  declared  that  only  about  three  per  cent  of 
the  motion  picture  companies  of  all  classes  advocate 
censorship  or  regulation.  Chairman  Hughes  states 
that  he  desires  this  list  to  ascertain  just  how  repre- 
sentative the  board  is  of  the  industry  in  view  of  the 
statement  of  the  National  Board  of  Censors  that  ten 
companies  do  ninety  per  cent  of  the  business,  and  all 


March   11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


559 


of  them  are  not  members  of  the  board.  He  direct  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  of  the  ten  companies  named,  the  Fa- 
mous Players  Co.,  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Co., 
the  World  Film  Corporation,  and  the  Equitable  Motion 
Picture  Corporation,  have  declared  for  prepublicity 
censorship  and  many  of  their  suggestions  are  contained 
in  the  new  draft  of  the  Hughes  Bill. 

Crafts  Asks  Publicity 

Mr.  Binder  replied  to  Chairman  Hughes  stating 
that  he  would  furnish  the  list  in  confidence  to  the  com- 
mittee with  the  understanding  that  it  was  not  to  be 
made  public.  To  this  letter  Chairman  Hughes  replied 
that  he  wanted  it  for  the  records  of  the  committee  in 
connection  with  the  consideration  of  the  bill,  and  that 
therefore  it  would  necessarily  be  public.  To  this  Mr. 
Binder  replied  that  he  had  no  authority  to  furnish  the 
list,  but  he  would  take  the  matter  up  with  the  executive 
committee. 

Dr.  Wilbur  F.  Crafts,  superintendent  of  the  Inter- 
national Reform  Bureau,  is  sending  to  religious  and 
welfare  and  similar  papers  the  following,  asking  them 
to  print  it  in  this  form  : 


Leading  Film   Companies  for  Federal 
Censorship 

The  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  the 
Famous  Players  Company,  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
Feature  Play  Company,  the  Equitable  Motion 
Picture  Corporation,  and  the  World  Film  Cor- 
poration, on  Jan.  26,  1916,  filed  a  brief  for  federal 
consorship  of  films,  signed  by  attorneys  of  all 
above  companies,  in  which  they  said: 

THE  PRODUCTION  OF  VICIOUS  PICTURES  IS 
CONSTANTLY  I  NCR  RASING.  TUST  BECAUSE 
THEY  ARE  MORE  PROF]  [\ABLE.  IF  THE  INDUS- 
TRY IS  TO  ENDURE,  IF  DECENT  PEOPLE  ARE  TO 
STAY  IN  THE  BUSINESS.  THIS  CANCER  MUST 
BE  CUT  OUT.  A  FEDERAL  REGULATORY  COM- 
MISSION SHOULD  PROVE  A  FEARLESS  SUR- 
GEON, AND  WE  THEREFORE  FAVOR  SUCH  A 
COMMISSION. 

This  gives  the  case  for  revised  Hughes  bill 
in  a  nutshell.  Write  your  Congressman  and 
both  Senators. 


of  St.  Louis,  advocating  Federal  censorship.  It  was 
written  to  Representative  Igoe,  and  filed  by  the  latter 
with  the  committee.  In  the  letter  Mr.  Schneiderhahn, 
among  other  things,  states  that  film  exchanges  them- 
selves do  not  know  the  contents  of  the  films;  that  he 
has  been  informed  that  certain  show  men  believe  that 
censorship  is  absolutely  necessary,  but  that  they  can- 
not afford  to  state  the  fact  as  they  are  dependent  on 
the  film  exchanges  and  the  producers;  that  he  has  an 
alphabetical  list  of  400  improper  films,  and  so  forth. 
Chairman  Hughes  has  requested  a  copy  of  this  list  and 
also  additional  information  from  the  writer.  The  letter 
is  in  part  as  follows : 

The  film  exchanges  themselves  do  not  know  of  the  contents  of 
the  films  they  receive,  and  the  title  as  well  as  the  prospectus  of 
the  contents  are  misleading.  Misleading  sometimes  because  they  fail 
to  disclose  indecent  contents,  and  misleading  sometimes  because  the 

the  last  few  weeks  I  have  seen  a  film  in  one  of  our  'residential 
sections  which  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  audience  the  front  view 
of  a  woman  nude  to  the  waist.  It  was  a  close-up  view,  and  there 
was  no  pretense  of  tights  or  any  covering. 

The  letter  also  describes  a  film  which  was  exhib- 
ited in  St.  Louis  in  which  there  were  several  scenes  of 
nude  posing,  and  a  prolonged  posing  scene  with  a  nude 
woman  who  was  being  "covered  with  plaster  from  head 
to  foot." 

In  connection  with  this  film  the  writer  states : 

1    can    verify 


jrship 


;"th 


y  of  witnesses  that  this  film  was  i     . 
i  passed  by  the  National   Board  of  Censorship. 
.liMT.i-.ling    have   been   verified    by    my    agents, 
L   :-    that   the   National    Board   of 
become    a    National 


nft« 


There  has  been  filed  with  the  committee  on  educa- 
tion a  letter  written  by  Edwin  V.  P.  Schneiderhahn, 
an  attorney,  and  head  of  the  public  morals  committee 


.  .  crship  to  fight  censorship.  Federal  censorship  -\ 
not  suspend  the  necessity  tor  legal  censorship  because  a  film  which 
would  be  unobjectionable  under  the  Federal  Commission  might  have 
parts  filled  in  and  that  could  not  be  reached  by  Federal  law.  It  is 
just  as  easy  to  put  parts  in  as  to  take  parts  out,  and  that  is  one  of 
the  bad  problems  produced;  that  parts  that  are  for  instance  ordered 
out  in  Chicago,  when  the  film  is  shown  in  St.  Louis  the  objection- 
able parts   are   back  in   again. 

The  war  seems  to  be  one  of  typewriters.  Letters 
by  the  thousands  are  being  received  here  daily.  Chair- 
man Hughes  has  started  something  that  will  require 
much  time  in  finishing. 

In  an  effort  to  give  a  fair  hearing  in  this  agitation 
which  seems  to  have  become  a  controversy,  Motog- 
raphy  publishes  this  article  by  Mr.  Hodkinson,  who 
for  long  has  sought  to  keep  the  industry  on  a  high 
plane.  His  words  are  worthy  of  more  than  passing 
consideration.  Perhaps  the  publication  of  this  article 
will  bring  the  solution  he  so  honestly  seeks,  namely 
"no  censorship  at  all." 


Paramount  s  Side  of  It 


By  William 

(President   of  the   Param 

FEDERAL  control  or  legalized  oppression?  That 
is  the  question  which  confronts  everyone  inter- 
ested in  the  question  of  federal  censorship  of  film  pro- 
ductions. Earnestly  have  I  awaited  some  solution 
from  any  source,  so  that  I,  too,  can 
say  with  the  rest,  "no  censorship 
at  all."  But  that  solution  has  not 
been  forthcoming.  No  one  who 
cries  forth  that  motto  has  given  con- 
sistent and  constructive  reasons  why 
there  should  be  "no  censorship  at 
all."  I  do  not  say  "no  censorship 
at  all,"  but  a  commission  in  Wash- 
ington that  protects  those  in  the  in- 
dustry who  are  trying  to  be  clean, 
from  others  who  are  not,  as  well  as 
protecting  us  from  the  evils  of  local  censorship  and 
the  inevitable  reaction  that  must  come  from  offending 


W.  Hodkinson 

ount  Pictures    Corporation.) 

the  public's  morals  and  intelligence,  as  we  know  will 
come  if  unsuitable  pictures  are  not  checked. 

Motion  pictures  are  nothing  more  than  the  fulfill- 
ment of  the  demands  of  the  amusement  loving  people 
of  the  whole  world.  This  demand  during  the  last  few 
years  has  taken  upon  itself  such  an  accelerated  speed 
that  in  many  cases  the  industry  has  gotten  away  from 
the  controllers  of  it.  The  demand  is  not  for  mere  pic- 
tures ;  what  the  public  demands  from  the  picture  theater 
owner,  and  he  from  the  distributor,  and  they  from  the 
producer,  is  a  demand  for  the  best  that  is  to  be  ob- 
tained in  art,  literature  and  science.  That  demand 
has  gone  even  further.  It  is  now  the  demand  for  clean 
pictures. 

Clean  pictures?  They  are  pictures  where  the 
quality  of  the  productions  will  appeal  to  the  people 
who  desire  to  see  the  best  and  of  Avhom  there  are  a 
wonderfully  large  number  in  every  community;  pic- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


tures  that  are  representative  of  the  desires  and  higher 
ideals  of  the  great  amusement  loving  people ;  pictures 
that  are  absolutely  conducive  to  better  theaters  which 
will  be  in  conformity  with  the  standard  and  quality  of 
the  entertainments ;  pictures  that  will  be  the  means  of 
perpetuating  and  strengthening  the  wonderful  quali- 
fications of  the  fourth  greatest  industry  in  the  world. 

"Control  or   Oppression?" 

Would  not  every  producer  of  pictures  of  that 
calibre  rather  have  federal  control  than  legalized  op- 
pression of  their  productions? 

The  picturing  of  life  on  the  stage  originally  came 
into  being  through  the  necessity  of  the  church.  Thus 
the  photodrama  which  is  a  big  step  ahead  of  the  stage, 
began  with  the  foundation  of  wholesomeness.  Its  use 
then  was  for  social  purposes  and  irrespective  of  the 
elaborations  that  have  followed  the  wake  of  its  ad- 
vancement from  the  church  service  to  the  photodramas, 
its  appeal  is  the  same  to  the  public.  Its  value  is  de- 
terminable by  the  force  of  its  appeal  to  the  masses  and 
its  longevity  depends  absolutely  upon  its  wholesome 
qualifications. 

The  film  industry  is  an  institution  ;  its  productions, 
publications.  The  theaters  in  which  real  productions 
are  shown  are  in  a  way  a  university  and  attendance  at 
these  theaters  is  an  education.  The  whole  gamut  of 
human  experience  is  exploited  upon  the  screen  and 
careful  students,  the  observer  whose  brain  digests  what 
he  sees,  will  in  time  acquire  a  broad  education,  even 
though  he  never  has  any  other  means  of  cultivating 
his  mentality. 

It  is  the  wholesome,  yet  spirited  photodrama  that 
had  body  and  value,  and  by  virtue  of  that  they  are 
growing  to  be  the  reflection  of  American  conditions 
and  are  being  influenced  by  national  characteristics; 
influencing  in  turn  every  community,  social  conditions. 
I  icing  a  social  factor,  therefore,  it  is  primarily  essential 
thai  the  public  be  directed  towards  proper,  beneficial 
and  wholesome  photoplays,  not  to  have  the  theaters 
closed  to  them,  but  to  create  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
the  many  millions  a  desire  for  the  enjoyment  of  the 
highest  quality  and  most  wholesome  pictures. 

Would  you  then,  under  existing  conditions, 
socially  and  morally  not  rather  have  federal  control 
ilia M   legalized  oppression? 

Foi  myselfj  Federal  control.     My  approbation  for 


and  desire  of  a  national  commission  for  the  regulation 
of  motion  pictures,  subject  to  appeal  to  the  federal 
courts  in  case  of  an  unfair  attitude  on  the  part  of  such 
board,  is  due  entirely  to  the  belief  that  the  establish- 
ment and  conduct  of  such  a  board  by  the  government 
would  put  us  in  a  position  effectively  to  fight  state  or 
local  censorship,  and  in  no  other  manner  can  we  see 
how  the  business  will  keep  from  being  throttled  by 
local  boards,  which  the  motion  picture  interests  will 
not  be  able  to  fight  successfully,  through  being  unable 
to  eradicate  the  causes  for  these  boards,  which  are  the 
occasional  unfit  films  largely  put  out  by  unscrupulous 
individuals ;  and  the  less  responsible  the  individual  or 
company  is  the  greater  the  temptation  to  put  out  pic- 
tures that  are  injurious  to  the  trade  as  a  whole. 

It  is  true  that  a  federal  board  would  not  control 
nor  eliminate  local  boards,  but  if  we  knew  that  out- 
own  skirts  were  clean,  we  not  only  would,  by  remov- 
ing unfit  pictures,  take  away  the  cause  of  the  various 
local  boards,  but  with  a  clean  product  we  could  suc- 
cessfully fight  in  the  courts  any  attempt  to  persecute 
us  or  the  industry  on  the  part  of  the  local  bodies. 

Seeks  Public  Confidence 

We.  are  sincere  in  our  belief  that  in  no  way  but 
through  a  Federal  Commission  can  the  evils  of  ob- 
jectionable films  and  objectionable  and  varied  censor- 
ship be  prevented,  and  the  confidence  of  the  public 
toward  our  industry  be  entirely  restored. 

The  solution  opponents  to  federal  control  are  offer- 
ing is  that  we  govern  ourselves. 
How?  is  our  query. 

Why  haven't  we  done  it  up  to  the  present  time? 
Why  did  the  picture  business  run  along  destruc- 
tive lines  until  it  was  in  a  position   to   wreck  every- 
body? 

Why  were  we  so  long  finding  out  generally  that 
more  than  a  nickel  could  be  gotten  for  motion  pic- 
tures? 

Why  is  the  industry  at  the  present  time  produc- 
ing over  twenty  five-reel  pictures  a  week  and  selling 
them   below   cost   of    production,   if   they   can   control 
themselves? 
If  the  industry  cannot  control  itself  in  regard  to 
its  financial  arrangements,  it  certainly  is  not  going  to 
be   able    to   arrive   at    a   common   viewpoint   from   the 
moral  standpoint  any  more  than  all  the  varying  censor- 
ship boards  are. 

Far  preferable  is  it  to  have  one  resonsibk  board  or 


March   11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


commission  of  high-grade  men,  appointed  by  the 
President,  who  would  work  with  us  rather  than  against 
us :  because  it  is  not  to  be  assumed  that  the  President 
would  appoint  either  fanatics  or  film  men,  but  repre- 
sentative citizens  who  have  a  desire  to  protect  our 
business  as  well  as  the  morals  of  the  community. 

Thus  it  would  be  that  the  means  towards  the  ideal 
end  would  be  attained,  the  ultimate  strenthening  of 
this  great  medium  for  good  in  the  world  today,  a 
medium  that  can  influence  character  and  by  so  doing 
influence  the  whole  people. 

The  appointment  of  a  commission  of  men  whose 
desire  would  be  to  protect  the  business  of  the  motion 
picture  industry  and  the  moral  welfare  of  the  growing 
communities  would  have  one  or  two  effects.  If  it 
were  firm,  in  its  rules,  and  eliminated  everything  that 
could  be  considered  objectionable,  the  local  boards, 
in  our  opinion,  could  not  last,  as  there  would  be  no 
reason  for  their  lasting. 

We  have  innumerable  boards  of  censorship  staring 
us  in  the  face  all  over  the  country,  and  as  long  as  any- 
body is  left  free  to  put  anything  in  films  that  they  think 
might  get  the  money,  we  will  continue  to  have  such 
boards,  and  as  long  as  we  have  such  boards,  they  will 
be  dominated  largely  by  persons  who  will  make  it 
unpleasant  and  expensive  for  all  of  us,  and  really  retard 
our  progress,  not  to  mention  the  fact  that  where  there 
are  no  boards,  the  better  class  of  people  will  be  driven 
away  from  the  picture  theaters  by  unsuitable  films 
shown. 

There  is  a  reason  today  for  their  existence,  in  the 
numbers  of  ultra-sensational  and  unfit  pictures,  from 
a  moral  viewpoint,  that  go  out.  In  this  case  all  pro- 
ducers would  have  to  be  careful  with  their  productions 
and  there  would  be  only  one  problem,  that  of  working 
with  the  commission  in  such  a  way  as  to  get  such  lati- 
tude as  our  conduct  entitled  us  to,  and  knowing  that 
we  would  be  protected  against  those  who  believe  un- 
clean subjects  should  be  given  the  public  because  more 
of  the  masses  patronize  them. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  board  did  not  do  its  duty 
and  was  lax,  it  would  not  greatly  embarrass  the  pro- 
ducer, but  the  local  censorship  problem  would  con- 
tinue. 

We  look  for  the  first  condition  in  the  case  a  board 
is  appointed,  as  we  cannot  conceive  of  a  condition 
whereby  the  better  interests  in  the  business  could  not 
work  so  as  to  accomplish  reasonable  results,  with  an 
intelligent  body  of  men,  selected  as  a  commission  to 
eliminate  indecent  and  unclean  film. 

We  are  not  supporting  any  fanatic's  bills,  but  our 
attorneys  have  approved  and  suggested  some  form  of 


regulation  looking  to  the  establishment  of  a  commis- 
sion, from  which  the  motion  picture  interests  would 
have  the  right  to  appeal  to  the  federal  courts,  in  case 
it  were  shown  that  any  of  the  committee  were  moved 
by  desires  other  than  to  be  fair  toward  the  industry ; 
and  at  the  same  time  keep  immoral  or  unfit  subjects 
from  being  imposed  on  the  public 

This  is  our  opinion,  after  a  great  deal  of  thought 
on  the  matter,  the  only  reasonable  and  feasible  solu- 
tion of  the  whole  censorship  problem,  for  without  this, 
and  with  the  continuance  of  blind  opposition,  we  are 
bound  to  be  pestered  with  local  boards,  which  would 
be  justified  on  account  of  the  immoral  and  unclean 
pictures  that  would  be  placed  on  the  market,  and  the 
number  of  local  boards  around  the  country  will  in 
time  impress  the  better  class  of  the  public  that  we 
need  federal  regulation  in  Washington,  and  we  will 
get  it  in  a  drastic  and  severe  form,  with  no  regard 
to  our  needs  and  no  consideration  for  our  just  com- 
plaint, because  the  whole  industry  at  the  present  time 
prefers  to  stick  its  head  in  the  sand,  ostrich-like  and 
say  that  there  is  no  clanger,  although  the  cloud  of  pub- 
lic opinion  expressed  in  local  boards  and  pleas  for 
federal  censorship  is  growing  larger  and  larger  all  the 
time. 

If  we  are  wrong,  and  the  others  are  right  why  all 
this  clamor  about  our  being  wrong ;  why  all  this  fear 
that  we  are  going  to  upset  something?  If  the  rest 
are  all  right  the  opposition  of  one  faction  is  not  going 
to  change  the  result. 

Many  there  are  who  are  artistic  and  fine  directors  ; 
many  there  are  who  are  writers  of  note,  but  all  their 
claims  of  the  freedom  of  the  press  are  like  the  speeches 
and  writings  on  many  other  subjects  ;  they  sound  fine, 
they  read  smoothly,  but  they  lack  practicability. 

For  more  than  eight  years,  I  have  been  on  the  fir- 
ing line  and  in  the  trenches  of  this  business,  dealing 
with  the  exhibitor,  the  exchangeman,  and  the  manu- 
facturer and  I  can  see  this  problem  only  one  way  at 
the  present  time. 

The  indefinite  assurance  that  public  opinion  and 
we  in  the  industry  will  clean  up  these  conditions 
does  not  strike  a  responsive  chord,  and  if  there  is  no 
federal  board  or  some  general  consolidation  of  in- 
terests whereby  there  is  some  control  to  the  business, 
it  is  my  belief  that  you  will  find  all  interests  in  the 
business  with  any  investment  or  that  want  to  stay 
in  the  business,  taking  our  viewpoint  a  year  from  now. 
Is  it  not  naturally  logical  that  I  should  favor  federal 
control    rather   than    legalized    opposition? 

Now  from  William  M.  Seabury  comes  the  following 
"Other  Side  of  the  Story." 


An  Answer  to  Mr.   Hodfynson 

By  William  M.  Seabury. 

(Counsel   for    Motion    Picture    Board    of    Trade) 


IT  IS  not  surprising  to  see  that  the  resentment  and,  I 
believe,  the  just  resentment,  of  the  exhibitors  of  the. 
country,  has  been  thoroughly  aroused  and  is  beginning  to 
manifest  itself  at  the  attitude  assumed  by  the  Paramount 
Pictures  Corporation,  the  World  Film  Corporation  and 
the  Equitable  Film  Corporation  on  the  subject  of  federal 
censorship. 

I  refer  to  the  correspondence  between  some  of 
these  companies  and  Lee  A.  Ochs,  president  of  the  state 
branch  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League,  and  the 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Association  of   Illinois,   as 


printed  in  the  issue  of  Motography   for  February  20. 

It  interests  anyone  opposed  to  the  basic  principle 
upon  which  all  censorship  rests,  to  learn  how  national 
censorship  may  be  advocated  while  state  censorship  is 
opposed  by  the  same  persons  at  the  same  time. 

The  gentlemen  who  advocate  federal  censorship  and 
assert  their  opposition  to  state  and  municipal  censorship, 
present  only  a  defective  argument  in  support  of  their 
position,  based  upon  considerations  of  supposed  expedi- 
ency quite  untrammeled  by  the  fundamental  principles 
of  liberty  and  right  or  of  logic. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Mr.  Hodkinson's  advocacy  of  federal  censorship  is 
said  to  be  based  entirely  upon  the  belief  that  federal 
censorship,  properly  exercised,  "would  put  us  in  a  posi- 
tion effectively  to  fight  state  or  local  censorship." 

Criticizes  Spiegel  View 

This  ingenious  but  unexampled  credulity  seems  to 
be  shared  by  Arthur  H.  Spiegel,  to  whom,  as  general 
manager  of  the  World  Film  Corporation,  the  statement 
is  attributed,  that  his  company's  final  decision  to  support 
federal  censorship  "was  based  on  the  fact  that  proper 
national  censorship  zvould  surely  finally  result  in  great 
benefits  for  producers,  distributors  and  exhibitors." 

The  term  "proper"  censorship  is  meaningless  to 
those  who  resent  and  oppose  the  principle  which  under- 
lies all  censorship.  There  can  be  no  "proper"  violation 
of  a  fundamental  right.  How  can  a  wrong  be  inflicted 
"properly?"  The  humiliating  indignity  of  censorship  is 
not  palliated  by  its  "proper"  infliction  upon  the  producer 
and  exhibitor.    There  is,  and  can  be,  no  such  thing. 

But  what  basis  is  there  for  the  assumption  that  the 
existence  of  federal  censorship  in  any  form  would  pre- 
vent the  creation  of  state  and  municipal  censorship 
boards  or  regulate  the  conduct  of  existing  state  or  local 
boards  ? 

Mr.  Hodkinson  admits  that  "It  is  true  that  a  federal 
board  would  not  control  or  eliminate  local  boards  *  *  *  " 

What  good,  then,  could  possibly  be  accomplished  by 
federal  censorship?  Mr.  Hodkinson  and  Mr.  Spiegel  try 
to  tell  us.  Mr.  Hodkinson  continues  his  argument,  say- 
ing "but  if  we  knew  that  our  own  skirts  were  clean,  we 
not  only  would,  by  removing  unfit  pictures,  take  away 
the  cause  of  the  various  local  boards,  but  with  a  clean 
product  we  could  successfully  fight  in  the  courts  anv 
attempt  to  persecute  us  or  the  industry  on  the  part  of  local 
bodies." 

There  is  no  desire  to  impugn  the  sincerity  of  those 
who  announce  such  views,  but  what  extraordinary  views 
they  are,  and  what  sinister  imputations  they  cast  upon 
our  producers ! 

Does  not  Mr.  Hodkinson  know  whether  his  skirls 
are  clean  unless  he  is  advised  by  a  national  Mrs.  Grundy 
that  they  are? 

None  of  the  producing  companies  except  the  rela- 
tively small  group  of  which  the  Paramount  and  the 
Equitable  companies  are  a  part,  has  discovered  that  a 
national  censorship  board  is  either  necessary  or  desirable 
for  any  such  purpose.     Everyone  else  knows  whether  he 


is  producing  clean  pictures  and  everyone  else  is  willing  to 
take  the  consequences,  grave  as  they  are,  if  he  oversteps 
the  boundary  and  produces  an  unclean  picture. 

But  the  imputation  is  that  there  is  cause  for  censor- 
ship because  some  unfit  pictures  are  produced,  and  that 
the  only  hope  of  avoiding  state  or  local  censorship  is  by 
creating  national   censors  to   eliminate    "unfit  pictures." 

Remedy  for  Unclean  Films 

Mr,  Spiegel  conveys  the  same  impression  by  his 
vague  assurance  that  "we  know  and  you  know  that  there 
is  a  certain  class  of  pictures  being  produced  today  which 
is  objectionable,  not  only  to  the  exhibitor,  but  to  his 
patrons,  and  pictures  of  this  character  should  be  sup- 
pressed solely  because  their  suppression  will  surely  work 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  industy." 

What  are  these  pictures  which  Mr.  Hodkinson 
describes  as  "unfit"  and  Mr.  Spiegel  calls  "objection- 
able?" Who  produces  them,  who  exhibits  them,  and 
what,  if  anything,  is  being  done  about  it? 

It  is,  of  course,  impossible  to  recognize  from  any- 
thing which  either  Mr.  Hodkinson  or  Mr.  Spiegel  has 
said,  the  particular  pictures  which  these  gentlemen  have 
in  mind.  They  may  be  pictures  which  depict  crime  or 
they  may  be  sex  pictures,  or  pictures  with  which  we  are 
not  familiar.  Not  a  suggestion  is  made  whereby  the 
identity  can  be  ascertained  of  the  kind  of  pictures  which 
these  delicate  allusions  shroud  in  obscurity.  One  instinct- 
ively inquires,  are  both  men  talking  about  the  same  kind 
of  pictures,  and  are  the  pictures  which  Mr.  Hodkinson 
calls  "unfit"  objectionable  to  Mr.  Spiegel,  or  vice  versa? 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  dealing  with  the  production 
of  obscene  or  indecent  pictures.  Those  who  exhibit  such 
pictures  or  have  them  in  their  possession,  if  any  exist, 
which  could  be  possessed  or  exhibited,  are  easily  appre- 
hended and  punished. 

Surely  expensive  national  censors  are  an  unneces- 
sary luxury  to  accomplish  such  a  result. 

If  Mr.  Hodkinson  or  Mr.  Spiegel  knows  of  a  picture 
which  offends  the  existing  law,  it  is  his  plain  duty  to 
make  a  complaint  against  those  who  produce  or  exhibit 
such  a  picture.  If  the  court  and  jury  are  in  accord  with 
Mr.  Hodkinson's  and  Mr.  Spiegel's  opinion,  the  exhibi- 
tion of  the  picture  will  be  suppressed.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  unfit  and  objectionable  pictures  which  Mr.  Hod- 
kinson and  Mr.  Spiegel  have  in  mind,  are  not  of  a  char- 
acter now  prohibited  by  law,  their  exhibition  should  not 


',.,.._//,.'„, ., 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


563 


be  suppressed  to  gratify  the  aesthetic  taste  of  a  few  pro- 
ducers or  even  the  accurate  commercial  instinct  of  the 
producer  who  regards  federal  censorship  as  a  convenient 
method  of  assisting  him  to  defeat  his  most  serious  com- 
petitor, namely,  the  producer  who  makes  the  pictures 
which  come  as  near  the  border  line  of  impropriety  and 
unlawfulness  as  possible. 

•    Why  not  discuss  the  situation  frankly? 

We  have  heard  producers  say  that  the  patrons  of 
some  exhibitors  demand  a  prurient  type  of  picture  which 
appeals  to  the  neurotic  temperament,  and  that  such  pic- 
tures are  the  most  serious  competitors  of  the  higher  and 
better  class  of  pictures,  and  that  this  competition  is  so 


keen  that  the  better  picture  morally  is  seriously  menaced 
by  its  less  elevating,  but  apparently  more  popular  rival. 

But  assuming  that  this  condition  exists,  the  proper 
remedy  is  not  federal  or  any  other  kind  of  censorship. 
Those  who  hold  that  the  situation  described  does  exist, 
in  reality  say  little  more  than  that  the  evil  influences  in 
the  industry  threaten  to  overcome  the  good. 

In  this  respect  the  motion  picture  industry  is  no 
different  from  any  other.  If  the  complaint  of  those  who 
advocate  federal  censorship  is  that  the  present  laws  are 
being  violated,  the  remedy  is  plain,  and  no  censorship  in 
any  form  is  necessary  to  correct  such  evils. 


New   York  State  Bill  Attacked 


MOTION  picture  interests  throughout  the  state  of 
New  York  have  no  doubt  that  the  bill  creating  a 
state  board  of  censors  to  regulate  film  exhibitions,  in- 
troduced into  the  assembly  by  Mr.  Ahern  of  Kings 
county  will  meet  a  natural  end  in  committee.  The  bill. 
after  its  introduction,  was  referred  to  the  assembly 
committee  on  codes,  of  which  Mr.  Ahern  is  the  chair- 
man. Even  with  that  unusual  legislative  course,  it 
now  appears  that  a  majority  of  Mr.  Ahern's  commit- 
tee associates  are  fully  awake  to  the  dangers  of  any 
form  of  pre-publicity  censorship. 

The  opponents  of  the  Ahern  bill,  which  creates  a 
censorship  board  of  three  members  who  shall  receive 
salaries  of  $5,000  each  and  have  power  to  employ  an 
army  of  clerks  and  inspectors,  succeeded  in  obtaining 
a  hearing  before  the  committee  February  23.  Those 
persons  in  favor  of  the  bill  were  heard  also  at  that 
time. 

Opposes  Pre-Publicity  Plan 

The  motion  picture  interests  were  represented  by 
Lee  A.  Ochs,  president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibit- 
ors' League,  State  of  New  York,  this  organization  in- 
cluding the  owners  of  1,800  theaters ;  J.  W.  Binder, 
executive  secretary  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of 
Trade,  which  represents  ninety-one  per  cent  of  the 
total  motion  picture  production  of  the  United  States ; 
William  P.  Capes,  secretary  of  the  educational  com- 
mittee of  the  State  Mayors'  Conference ;  W.  Stephen 
Bush,  of  the  Moving  Picture  World;  Arthur  S.  Friend, 
of  the  Paramount,  Famous  Players  and  Lasky  pro- 
ducing companies ;  Dr.  Cranston  Brenton,  chairman  of 
the  National  Board  of  Censorship ;  Orrin  G.  Cocks,  ad- 
visory secretary  of  the  National  Board  of  Censorship ; 
Samuel  Trigger,  vice-president  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League ;  James  P.  Holland,  president  of 
the  State  Federation  of  Labor;  James  Lempke,  of  the 
International  Alliance  of  Stage  and  Motion  Picture 
Employees;  Louis  Bittner  and  E.  O.  Weinberg  of  the 
Exhibitors'  League  of  Troy ;  William  McGill  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Musicians ;  William  A.  John- 
ston, of  thtMotion  Picture  News;  T.  M.  Alexander,  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade,  and  as  many  mem- 
bers of  the  Exhibitors'  League  as  could  get  into  the 
Codes  Committee  room  in  the  state  capitol. 

The  New  York  city  delegation  reached  Albany  at 
noon  and  a  conference  was  assembled  soon  thereafter 
at  the  Ten  Eyck  Hotel,  where  a  program  was  arranged 
and  speakers  selected.  The  hearing  began  at  2  o'clock 
in  the  presence  of  the  full  committee  and  went  on 
until  after  six. 

Mr.  Ochs  was  the  first  speaker  and  in  his  first 
words  he  pressed  home   the  point  that  any  form  of 


governmental,  pre-publicity  censorship  would  be  un- 
American  and  a  violation  of  all  of  the  ideals  of  the 
American  people.  The  vast  monetary  loss  to  a  great 
industry,  he  said,  was  the  least  of  the  evils  which 
would  result  from  state  or  federal  censorship  of  mo- 
tion pictures.  He  wanted  to  correct  the  fallacy,  he 
said,  now  prevailing  in  the  public  mind,  to  the  effect 
that  motion  picture  exhibitors  were  all  rich  or  getting 
rich.  He  made  the  positive  statement,  backed  up  by 
statistics,  that  fifty  per  cent  of  the  exhibitors  in  New 
York  state  were  not  making  a  living,  that  less  than 
thirty  per  cent  were  breaking  even,  and  that  a  scarce 
twenty  per  cent  were  realizing  a  fair  profit  from  their 
investment. 

"Off  color  pictures  are  absolute  failures  in  the 
neighborhoods  where  I  conduct  theaters,"  Mr.  Ochs 
declared.  "There  are  certain  neighborhoods,  of  course, 
where  such  pictures  would  draw  good  houses,  but 
those  of  us  who  know  New  York  city  and  the  other 
centers  of  the  state,  and  have  confidence  in  our  own 
citizenship,  know  that  these  neighborhoods  are  few 
and  far  between  and  count  absolutely  nothing  in  the 
business  of  motion  picture  entertainment. 

"I  may  say  to  this  committee,  with  the  authority  of 
experience,  that  the  Ahern  censorship  bill  would  de- 
stroy motion  picture  entertainment  in  this  state — a 
form  of  entertainment  and  a  means  of  education  which 
reaches  that  great  body  of  Americans  known  to  politi- 
cal oratory  as  the  common  masses  of  the  common 
people." 

Fight  Local  Boards 

Mr.  Friend,  of  the  Paramount,  Famous  Players, 
Lasky,  World  and  Equitable  organizations,  after  say- 
ing he  did  not  represent  the  Morosco  interests,  pointed 
out  that  manufacturers  of  motion  pictures  are  not  now 
engaged  in  the  production  of  pictures  for  any  state,  or 
local  community,  in  the  union,  and  that  state  censor- 
ship would  make  impossible  the  production  of  the 
great  pictures  now  demanded  by  the  public.  The  bet- 
ter and  bigger  element  among  the  manufacturer,  he 
asserted,  has  no  thought  of  realizing  quick  money  from 
bad  pictures.  The  ultimate  success  of  the  industry,  he 
was  sure,  depended  entirely  upon  clean  pictures.  State 
censorship,  he  said,  would  put  a  majority  of  the  manu- 
facturers out  of  business. 

Assemblyman  Davis  of  Rome  interjected:  "Why 
will  it  put  them  out  of  business?" 

Mr.  Friend  replied,  "if  there  were  forty-eight  dif- 
ferent enactments  there  would  be  forty-eight  different 
standards  and  brands  of  censorship,  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  manufacture  a  picture  which  would  please 
even  a  majority  of  these  forty-eight  different  boards. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  11. 


It  now  costs  from  $25,000  to  $150,000  for  a  single  pro- 
duction which  is  sure  to  meet  with  general  public  ap- 
proval. If  such  a  film  is  censored,  it  becomes  mere 
junk.  The  continuity  of  the  story  is  lost.  Then,  too, 
if  two,  three,  four  or  a  dozen  state  boards  ban  a  picture, 
all  possibility  of  profit  is  gone.  Operating  under  these 
conditions,  there  would  be  no  first  class  pictures." 

Mr.  Binder's  address  to  the  committee  was  short 
and  to  the  point.  He  showed  that  pre-publicity  censor- 
ship of  motion  picture  films  was  fundamentally  wrong, 
violating  the  basic  principles  of  a  free  government 
maintained  by  a  free  people. 

Actors  Play  Cut-Out 

To  bring  out  the  absolute  unfairness  of  any  form 
of  censorship,  Mr.  Binder  called  attention  to  a  case  in 
Pittsburgh  where  the  Pennsylvania  State  Censorship 
law  proved  its  absolute  failure.  Because,  he  said,  the 
Board  of  Censors  condemned  a  scene  in  "The  Battle 
Cry  of  Peace,"  which  shows  a  mother  preparing  to 
shoot  her  two  daughters  to  prevent  them  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  foreign  foe  in  New  York,  the 
management  of  the  Pitt  theater  removed  the  scene 
from  the  picture  and  portrayed  the  action  with  living- 
persons,  over  whom  the   Board  had  no  control. 

Dr.  Cranston  Brenton  explained  that  the  word 
"censorship"  as  used  in  the  title  of  the  National  Board 


of  Censorship  was  a  misnomer  and  probably  would" 
be  changed.  He  said  the  national  board,  as  consti- 
tuted, was  a  board  of  review — an  editorial  and  advisory 
board,  without  legally  constituted  authority,  which 
had  been  of  great  help  to  the  manufacturers  in  the 
making  of  the  right  kind  of  pictures. 

W.  Stephen  Bush  made  one  of  the  most  effective 
addresses  he  has  ever  voiced  in  his  notable  career- as 
a  student  of  motion  pictures  and  a  sound  adviser  of  the 
trade  and  the  public. 

This  whole  censorship  agitation,  Mr.  Bush  said. 
has  resulted  from  the  desire  of  everybody  to  protect 
children  from  any  possible  contamination  of  wrong 
ideas.  He  said  that  this  feeling  was  just  as  strong 
among  the  manufacturers  and  exhibitors  of  motion 
pictures  as  among  any  other  class  in  the  country, 
and  that  the  manufacturers  and  exhibitors  themselves 
were  now  at  work  on  plans  which  would  make  for  the 
more  careful  presentation  of  pictures  before  children. 
Mr.  Bush  then  pointed  out  the  impossibility  of  pro- 
ducing motion  pictures  for  children  alone,  or  to  meet 
the  comprehension  of  children's  minds. 

Samuel  Trigger,  well  known  because  of  the  high 
character  of  his  motion  picture  theaters,  told  the  com- 
mittee that  the  burdens  inflicted  upon  New  York  state 
exhibitors  were  more  than  they  could  bear.  In  Bronx 
county  there  were  128  motion  picture  theaters  in  op- 
eration one  year  ago,  he  said.  Now  there  are  64  in 
operation.  State  censorship,  he  declared,  would  be  the 
final  blow. 

The  members  of  the  committee  gave  strict  atten- 
tion to  the  voice  of  labor  as  sounded  by  Mr.  Holland 
and  others.  It  was  shown  that  in  the  state  of  New  York 
there  are  more  than  25,000  well-paid  and  contented 
workers  in  the  motion  picture  industry.  The  workers 
are  on  a  weekly  and  monthly  salary  basis,  and  do  not 
include  those  who  are  given  extra  employment  in 
the  production  of  pictures.  New  York  state  censor- 
ship, the  speaker  said,-  would  ruin  an  industry  which 
has  become  one  of  the  mainstays  of  labor  in  the  com- 
monwealth. 

The  only  speakers  who  favored  the  bill  were  the 
Rev.  M.  J.  Mooney,  of  Albany,  and  the  Rev.  A.  [. 
Dunney  of  Albany,  and  Howard  Clark  Barbour,  of  the 
Parkhurst  Society. 


Oklahoman's  Fight  Federal  Plan 


By  L.  W.  Brophy 


DELEGATES  to  the  Oklahoma  convention  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  America, 
held  in  Oklahoma  City  recently,  went  on  record  as 
foes  of  censorship  in  any  guise.  One  the  eve  prior  to 
the  opening  session  of  the  convention,  F.  J.  Herring- 
ton,  president  of  the  League,  reached  the  Oklahoma 
capital  and  attended  a  caucus  of  exhibitors,  held  for 
the  purpose  of  discussing  the  case  of  the  exhibitors  of 
Oklahoma  versus  the  Mutual,  General  and  Universal 
film  exchanges,  before  the  Corporation  Commission  of 
the  state  of  ( )klahoma. 

A  good  attendance  marked  the  fourth  convention, 
which  was  called  to  order  by  B.  H.  Powell,  president 
of  the  Oklahoma  state  branch  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League  of  America.  The  meeting  im- 
mediately adjourned  in  a  body  to  attend  the  hearing 
before  the  State's  Corporation  Commission.  Two  days 
were    consumed    by    this    hearing,    which     finally    was 


taken  under  advisement  by  the  commission.  The  ex- 
hibitors then  went  into  closed  session,  and  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year : 

President,  Ralph  Talbot,  Tulsa,  Okla. ;  vice-presi- 
dent, A.  B.  Momand,  Shawnee,  Okla.;  second  vice- 
president,  S.  II.  Jones,  Altus,  Okla.;  secretary,  L.  W. 
Brophy.  Muskogee.  Okla.;  treasurer,  J.  ]'..  Olive. 
Chickasha,  Okla.;  state  national  vice-president.  B.  H. 
Powell,  Oklahoma  City.  Okla. 

The  following  delegates  also  were  elected  to  at- 
tend the  convention  in  Chicago  in  July: 

W.  C.  Wood,  Lawton,  Okla.;  John  Slocum, 
Mangum,  Okla.;  S.  11.  [ones,  Altus,  Okla.;  Morris 
Lowenstein,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.;  R.  W.  Wirt.  Enid, 
Okla.;  Carl  Gregg,  Tulsa.  Okla.:  and  II.  W.  McCa'.l. 
dishing,   Okla. 

Following  an  address  on  censorship  by  President 
Herrington    the   convention    went   on    record   as   being 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


565 


unanimously  opposed   to   censorship   in   any   form,   as 
evidenced  by  the  following  resolution  : 

"Whereas,  censorship  is  a  transgression  upon  the 
rights  of  the  people  of  this  country,  and  we  have  been 
informed  that  there  has  been,  and  is  now  pending  be- 
fore Congress,  a  bill  known  as  the  Smith-Hughes  bill, 
for  the  purpose  of  censoring  motion  pictures.  The 
adoption  of  the  above  bill  would  deny  that  part  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  which  says  that  gov- 
ernment can  only  exist  with  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned ;  and 

"Whereas,  the  picture,  like  the  press,  is  only  a 
means  of  conveying  man's  idea  to  society  and  the  law 
governing  the  press  is  adequate  to  govern  the  motion 
pictures ;  therefore 

"Resolved :  That  the  motion  picture  exhibitors 
of  Oklahoma,  in  convention  assembled,  do  protest 
against,  and  condemn  the  efforts  now  being  made,  to 
fasten  the  principle  of  federal  censorship  of  motion  pic- 
tures upon  the  people  of  the  United  States,  through 
the  various  bills  now  pending,  and  being  considered 
by  the  House  Committee  on  Education  at  Washington, 
and  be  it  further 

"Resolved :  That  the  secretary  of  this  con- 
vention be  instructed  to  have  these  resolutions  pub- 
lished in  the  press  of  this  state,  the  trade  papers  of 
the  United  States  and  that  copies  of  the  same  be 
mailed  to  our  Oklahoma  congressmen  and  senators. 
Unanimously  adopted  at  Oklahoma  City  on  this  date. 
(Signed)  L.  W.  Brophy,  A.  B.  Momand,  Albert  Jack- 
son, committee." 

The  two  days'  hearing  before  the  Corporation 
Commission  was  taken  up  by  examination  of  wit- 
nesses on  both  sides,  the  exhibitors  charging  that  the 
film  companies  were  a  combine,  and  that  payment  for 
film  in  advance,  charges  of  five  cents  per  sheet,  paper 
rental,  and  payment  of  express  both  ways,  as  in- 
augurated by  the  Mutual,  General  and  Universal  com- 
panies, at  about  the  same  time,  was  evidence  of  such 
a  combine. 

The  film  companies,  through  their  attorneys, 
denied  the  existence  of  a  combine,  and  declared  that 
payment  of  film  in  advance  was  only  a  necessary  pre- 
caution against  bad  collections,  and  that  the  rental  of 
five  cents  per  sheet  for  paper  was  a  losing  proposition, 
as  was  their  entire  business.  The  General  Film  Com- 
pany introduced  evidence  to  show  that  during  the  year 
1915  it  made  a  profit  of  only  $24.08.  Both  of  the 
other  companies  declared  they  were  operating  at  a  loss. 
The  exhibitors  were  represented  by  Wilson  and  Tom- 
berlin.    The  film  exchanges  were  represented  by  Judge 

B.  F.  Burwell  and  other  counsel. 

The  exhibitors,  desiring  by  arbitration  to  discon- 
tinue the  hearing,  which  overshadowed  and  interrupted 
the  convention,  appointed  a  committee  of  five,  consist- 
ing of  Fred  J.  Herrington,  B.  H.  Powell,  J.  L.  Olive, 
L.  W.  Brophy  and  A.  B.  Momand  to  confer  with  repre- 
sentatives of  the  film  companies,  who  were  represented 
by  A.  L.  Teagarden,  L.  L.  Hensley,  F.  W.  Bandy  and 

C.  E.  Farrell.  The  conference  lasted  for  more^  than 
one  hour,  the  exhibitors  making  a  proposition  of  settle- 
ment, and  the  exchanges  replying  that  they  had  noth- 
ing to  compromise,  and  refused  to  make  a  counter 
proposition. 

Then  an  open  meeting  was  held  at  which  film  ex- 
change and  supply  men  from  Kansas  City,  Dallas  and 
other  cities  made  talks.  More  than  150  delegates  at- 
tended. Ninety-eight  exhibitors  from  all  portions  of 
the  state  placed  their  names  on  the  register.     Presi- 


dent Herrington  closed  the  convention  with  a  stirring 
talk  on  the  evils  of  censorship.  A  "Dutch  lunch"  was 
served  at  the  Lyric  theater,  which  the  exhibitors  and 
exchange  men  attended  in  a  body. 

The  fourth  annual  convention  was  voted  one  of 
the  best  conventions  ever  held  in  the  state  of  Okla- 
homa. President  Herrington  remained  in  Oklahoma 
City  for  another  day  after  the  meeting  closed  and 
visited  a  cotton  field.  At  noon,  he  and  the  newly 
elected  officers  were  entertained  at  a  luncheon,  given 
at  the  Lee-Huckins  Hotel,  by  the  Oklahoma  City  local, 
after  which  the  visitors  left  for  their  homes. 

Oklahoma  City  was  selected  as  the  place  for  the 
next  convention,  which  may  be  held  just  prior  to  the 
national  convention  in  Chicago  next  summer. 


V.L.S.E.  DEALS  OUT  PROMOTIONS 

Sydney   E.   Abel   Appointed   Manager   of   Big   Four's 

Chicago  Office.     Many  Others  are  Boosted 

by  Organization 

Sydney  E.  Abel  has  been  appointed  manager  of 
the  Chicago  office  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  C.  E.  Shurtleff 
has  been  given  the  Cleveland  branch.  Until  a  few 
months  ago  Mr.  Shurtleff  was  a  salesman  in  the 
Atlanta  office.  He  was  later  removed  to  Detroit  to 
take  charge  of  the  sub-office  in  that  city,  which  was 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Cleveland  branch.  He 
had  been  there  but  a  month  when  the  Big  Four  trans- 
ferred him  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  made  branch 
manager.  The  results  which  he  accomplished  there 
during  the  short  period  of  his  management  for  the  Big 
Four  interests  won  for  him  the  promotion  to  the  Cleve- 
land territory,  which  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
important  in  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  organization.  Mr.  Shurt- 
leff is  succeeded  in  Cincinnati  by  C.  E.  Holah,  who  is 
widely  known  in  the  film  circles  of  that  city  and  its 
environs. 

The  Detroit  office  is  now  being  managed  under 
Mr.  Shurtleff's  supervision  by  J.  M.  Duncan.  David 
Kline,  who  recently  was  placed  in  charge  of  that  office, 
resigned.  Mr.  Duncan  has  been  with  the  Detroit  sub- 
branch  for  some  time. 

Other  changes  in  the  Big  Four  ranks  include  the 
promotion  by  E.  O.  Child,  Pittsburgh  manager,  of 
Elmer  J.  Waner,  who  has  been  shipping  clerk  of  that 
branch,  to  assistant  booker ;  Walter  C.  Thomas,  former 
poster  clerk,  to  shipping  clerk,  and  James  G.  Hanna, 
former  night  man,  to  poster  clerk. 

The  Cincinnati  office  has  secured  the  services  of 
C.  L.  Kendall,  formerly  of  the  Universal.  Mr.  Kendall 
has  been  a  booker  for  almost  ten  years  and  is  known 
to  virtually  every  exhibitor  in  that  territory. 

A.  L.  Widner,  who  for  several  months  past  has 
been  assistant  booker  in  the  Boston  office  of  the  Big 
Four,  has  been  promoted  to  a  position  on  the  sales 
force  of  the  Philadelphia  branch.  I.  A.  Farrah,  former 
manager  of  the  General  Film  Company's  branch  office 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  is  another  addition  to  the  Phila- 
delphia office,  covering  part  of  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

In  Seattle,  Mr.  North,  manager  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E. 
offices  there,  has  added  Frank  Swimer  to  his  office 
force.  Mr.  Swimer  formerly  was  correspondent  clerk 
with  the  R.  G.  Dun  Mercantile  Agency. 

Every  photoplay  theater  in  Durham,  N.  C,  (three 
of  them)  have  signed  up  with  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  The 
contracts  covering  the  entire  city,  which  has  a  popula- 


566 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


tion  of  18.000,  reached  the  main  offices  of  the  Big  Four 
all  at  the  same  time,  without  a  word  of  comment  from 
the  salesman  who  closed  the  deal. 

Tom  North,  manager  of  the  Seattle  office  of  the 
V.  L.  S.  E..  has  composed  the  "Big  Four  March."  The 
V.  L.  S.  E.  proposes  to  send  it  to  its  exhibitors  throughout 
the  country.  The  Big  Four  will  suggest  that  the  piece  be 
distributed  among  the  theater  patrons. 

Tom  North  had  a  narrow  escape  from  injury  or 
death  recently  in  a  night  ride  over  the  mountains.  He 
volunteered  to  deliver  some  films  to  a  snow-bound 
manager  and  was  himself  trapped  by  snow  and  sleet. 

The  first  papearance  of  Edna  May  of  "Belle  of 
New  York"  fame,  before  the  screen  and  a  serial  of  a 
very  novel  treatment,  are  added  attractions  which  are 
promised  on   the  V.   L.   S.  E.  program. 


Panzer  Has  Varied  Career 

Paul  Panzer,  leading  man  with  the  eastern  Uni- 
versal Film  Manufacturing  Company,  has  had  a  varied 
career. 

Born  in  Bavaria,  of  German  and  French  parents, 
in  the  university 
town  of  Wurzburg, 
he  attended  the  local 
academy  and  also 
took  a  course  in 
vocal  music  at  the 
conservatoryof 
Wurzburg.  He 
served  in  the  army 
and  when  he  left  the 
country,  he  was  lieu- 
tenant of  the  artil- 
lery reserves. 

Mr.  Panzer  left 
Germany  after  hav- 
ing been  engaged 
with  the  P  a  t  h  e 
Freres  in  Paris  for 
several  years,  to  be- 
come administrator 
of  a  coffee  planta- 
tion   in    San    Paulo, 

Paul   Panzer.  Brazil. 

After  three  and 
a  half  years  spent  there,  he  came  to  this  country. 
Inasmuch  as  he  was  a  leading  spirit  in  club  dramatics 
at  the  university  he  attended  and  had  had  such  excel- 
lent training  with  the  Parisian  Pathe  company,  he 
naturally  drifted  into  the  dramatic  profession  here, 
securing  an  engagement  with  Augustin  Daly.  He 
played  in  "San  Toy,"  "The  Geisha,"  "The  Country 
Girl,"  "Singalce"  and  several  others  with  distinguished 
success.  Later  he  became  state  manager  for  Mr.  Daly. 
About  seven  years  ago,  his  love  for  the  motion 
picture  drama  lured  him  away  from  the  footlights  and 
he  returned  to  the  motion  picture  field,  being  for  a 
time  an  independent  producer  and  director.  It  was 
then  that  he  received  a  flattering  offer  from  the  Pathe 
Freres  in  America  and  lie  joined  their  stock  company 
in  Jersey  City  where  for  more  than  three  years  he 
played  leading  parts.  His  greatest  achievement  while 
with  Pathe,  and  the  one  which  made  him  more  popular 
than  ever,  was  his  excellent  work  in  the  "Perils  of 
Pauline"  in  which  he  played  the  part  of  the  villain. 
Until  that  time  there  had  never  been  a  serial  quite  so 
good  and  it  attained  wonderful  popularity. 


Immediately  after  the  close  of  this  serial's  run,, 
there  were  numerous  calls  for  a  personal  appearance 
of  Mr.  Panzer,  so  he  determined  to  make  a  lecture  tour 
of  the  principal  cities  of  the  east  and  middle  west. 
The  outstanding  feature  of  his  tour  was  the  receptions 
tendered  him  by  exclusive  social  clubs,  business  men 
clubs  and  by  high  public  officials.  To  these  events 
the  various  newspapers  in  the  different  cities  heralded 
the  coming  of  Mr.  Panzer  with  great  interest  and  inter- 
views with  him  appeared  on  the  first  pages  and  in  the 
society  columns. 


Film  Show  Space  Offered 

J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Board  of  Trade,  and  Harry  A.  Cochrane,  general 
manager  of  Madison  Square  Garden,  who  have  charge 
of  the  First  National  Motion  Picture  Exposition,  to  be 
held  in  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York  City,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  of 
America,  now  are  allotting  exhibition  space. 

Leading  film  producers  and  manufacturers  of  studio 
and  theater  supplies  and  equipment  already  have  been 
assigned  locations  on  the  main  floor  and  applications  are 
being  received  from  individuals  and  enterprises  that  have 
not  as  yet  become  members  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

"This  first  national  exposition  of  the  motion  picture 
industries  has  a  deep  and  important  object  and  purpose," 
declares  Mr.  Cochrane.  "It  is  not  designed  to  have  a 
theatrical  effect  upon  the  general  public.  Its  announced 
purpose  is  to  show  the  remarkable  strides  the  industry 
has  taken  within  the  last  few  years." 


Film  Head  Aids  Girl  in  Race 

H.  M.  Horkheimer,  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Balboa  company,  is  soliciting  newspaper 
subscriptions  in  an  eflort  to  help  one  of  his  employes 
win  an  automobile.  May  Brotherton  is  the  employe 
fortunate  enough  to  win  the  voluntary  services  of  a 
man  who  recently  refused  a  $50,000  a  year  job  because 
he  did  not  have  the  time  or  inclination  to  accept  it. 
To  stimulate  interest  in  its  circulation  contest,  the 
newspaper  sought  to  induce  President  Horkheimer  to 
enter  one  of  his  popular  screen  stars,  such  as  Lois 
Meredith,  Jackie  Saunders  or  Ruth  Roland.  This  he 
refused  to  do.  He  did,  however,  recall  a  young  woman 
who  had  served  the  Balboa  company  faithfully  since 
its  beginning.  He  asked  May  Brotherton,  head  of 
the  assembly  department,  if  she  wanted  an  auto- 
mobile and  received  an  affirmative  reply.  So  Mr. 
Horkheimer  entered  Miss  Brotherton  in  the  race  and 
from  the  looks  of  things  now,  she  has  an  excellent 
chance  of  winning  the  contest. 


Nita  Davis  With  American 

The  American  Film  Company,  Inc..  announces 
the  acquisition  of  Miss  Nita  Davis,  a  promising  young 
ingenue  who  henceforth  will  appear  as  the  feminine 
lead  in  American  three-reel  "Mustang"  features.  Miss 
Davis  comes  to  the  American  company  after  two  years 
of  film  experience  with  other  companies  in  the  far 
west.  Her  first  screen  appearance  was  made  while  she 
was  still  a  student  in  a  Los  Angeles  high  school.  The 
first  American  production  in  which  Miss  Davis  will 
appear  is  "Curlew  Corliss,"  one  of  the  new  "Happy 
Family,"  series  from  the  stories  by  B.  M.  Bowers, 
to  be  released  March  14. 


March   11.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Selig  Reopens  Chicago  Studios 


AT  WORK  ON  "THE  CRISIS" 


AFTER  being  closed  for  several  months  because  of 
winter  weather,  the  Selig  Polyscope  studios  in 
Chicago  were  opened  on  March  6.  There  are 
scenes  of  great  activity  at  the  big  Chicago  plant. 
Colin  Campbell,  dean  of  the  Selig 
corps  of  directors,  has  been  trans- 
ferred from  the  Los  Angeles  studios 
to  the  Chicago  studios  and  has  com- 
menced active  production  of  the  spec- 
tacular drama,  "The  Crisis,"  which 
William  N.  Selig  plans  to  be  the 
greatest  and  most  realistic  photo- 
drama  ever  released.  "The  Spoilers," 
"The  Ne'er-Do-Well,"  and  other 
plays  will  be  outdone  according  to 
the  plans  formulated  by  Mr.  Selig. 
He  is  devoting  much  of  his  personal 
attention  to  the  details  of  production 
of  "The  Crisis." 

Miss  Bessie  Eyton,  Thomas 
Santschi,  Eugenie  Besserer  and 
other  Selig  stars  have  arrived  from 
Los  Angeles  and  were  joined  by 
several  distinguished  New  York  play- 
ers. A  large  stock  company  is  or- 
ganized and  active  work  has  started. 

Colin  Campbell  directed  "The 
Spoilers,"  "T  h  e  Ne'er-Do-Well," 
"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  etc.,  and  it 
is  said  the  best  talent  available  has 
been  procured  to  make  "The  Crisis" 
the  very  last  word  in  massive  pro- 
ductions. 

Three  cars  loaded  with  special 
properties,  costumes,  armament  pe- 
culiar to  the  days  of  '61,  et  cetera,  ar- 
rived at  the  Chicago  studios  last  week 
and  a  large  force  of  scenic  artists  has 
been  working  for  weeks  on  interior 
sets.  Thousands  of  supernumeraries 
have  been  engaged  to  work  in  spec- 
tacular scenes  called  for  in  Winston 
Churchill's  novel. 

The  Chicago  newspapers  have 
made  much  of  the  fact  that  this  is  the 
first  visit  ever  paid  by  Miss  Eyton, 
a  motion  picture  star  of  international 
renown,  to  Chicago.  Miss  Eyton, 
previous  to  this  visit,  never  had  been 
outside  of  California.  She  was  given 
a  cordial  reception  by  her  Chicago  S  EytoiCwiw 
friends  and  admirers. 

It  was  seven  years  ago  that  Thomas  Santschi  left 
Chicago  with  a  pioneer  company  of  Selig  players  for 
the  Pacific  Coast.  Since  that  time  he  had  not  returned 
to  Chicago,  the  scene  of  his  initial  motion  picture  tri- 
umphs, until  he  arrived  to  enact  the  leading  role  of 
"Stephen  Brice"  in  "The  Crisis." 

Miss  Eugenie  Besserer  owns  a  pretty  home  in  Los 
Angeles  and  was  loath  to  leave  that  home,  but  she 
cheerfully  answered  to  the  call  of  duty  and  will  enact 
an  important  role  in  the  forthcoming  Selig  drama.  Miss 
Eyton  while  in  the  spoken  drama  supported  Wilton 


Campbell,  Selig  director, 
he  production  of  "The  Cl 
lyton,   who    will   be  starr 


Lackeye,  McKee  Rankin,  Margaret  Anglin,  Frank 
Keenan  and  others,  and  once  held  the  title  of  the 
champion  woman  fencer  of  the  world. 

These  and  other  stars  have  been  overwhelmed 
with  invitations  for  their  Chicago 
friends  seem  determined  to  make 
their  sojourn  in  Chicago  happy. 

Mr.  Selig  expects  to  escort  his 
players  to  St.  Louis,  Yicksburg, 
Miss.,  and  other  localities  in  order  to 
film  scenes  called  for  in  "The  Crisis." 
In  St.  Louis,  the  courthouse,  the  ar- 
senal, the  old  slave  pen,  and  other 
spots,  will  be  filmed  and  the  old  battle 
grounds  at  Vicksburg  will  also  be 
utilized.  The  Vicksburg  Chamber  of 
Commerce  has  extended  a  sincere  in- 
vitation to  Mr.  Selig  to  take  advan- 
tage of  all  locations  wished  for. 

The  entire  summer  months  prob- 
ably will  be  utilized  in  the  work  of 
producing  Winston  Churchill's  great 
novel. 

That  the  interjection  of  advertis- 
ing film  or  slides  between  worthy  pro- 
ductions is  an  imposition  upon  the  pub- 
lic and  seriously  lowers  the  dignity  and 
artistic  atmosphere  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture house,  is  the  contention  of  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company  in  a  recent  protest 
voiced  in  the  Big  Four  Family,  the 
house  organ  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.,  and  in 
Selig's  own  publication,  Paste  Pot  and 
Shears. 

"Motion  picture  fans  are  more  and 
more  strenuously  objecting  to  screen 
advertising,"  the  protest  says.  "Many 
are  openly  stating  that  they  do  not  relish 
paying  an  admission  fee  to  a  motion 
picture  theater  and  there  being  regaled, 
for  perhaps  half  an  hour,  with  the 
merits  of  'Jones'  Soap'  or  'Higgin's 
Butter.'  We  read  these  advertisements 
in  the  newspapers,  magazines  or  on  the 
billboards ;  we  go  to  the  motion  picture 
theater  to  view  photoplays. 

"There  is  a  handsome  theater, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  perhaps  $25,000. 
The  interior  and  exterior  are  all  that 
could  be  wished  for  in  architectural 
beauty.  The  interior  is  furnished  with 
comfortable  chairs,  running  water, 
greenery,  etc.  There  are  costly  aisle  carpets,  a  magnifi- 
cent pipe  organ,  and  the  orchestra  of  perhaps  a  dozen 
musicians,  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired  from  that  stand- 
point. 

Then  the  dignity,  the  artistic  atmosphere  of  this 
handsome  and  commodious  playhouse  is  frequently 
lowered  because  of  forced  advertising.  An  intelligent 
audience  is  seated  therein  and  is  in  a  mood  to  appreciate 
and  to  applaud  a  beautiful  and  appealing  screen  drama 
or  comedy.  Then  an  'ad'  is  flashed  upon  the  screen  and 
the  situation  is  lost." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Gertrude  McCoy  Gaumont  Star 

Gertrude  McCoy  has  been  added  to  the  list  of 
screen  artists  of  stellar  magnitude  now  at  the  Jack- 
sonville studios  of  the  Gaumont  company.  Miss  Mc- 
C03  is  a  motion  picture  favorite  both  in  this  country 
and  abroad  and  her 
acquisition  adds  ma- 
terial strength  to  the 
roster  of  the  Gau- 
mont players. 

The  announce- 
ment of  Miss  Mc- 
Coy's engagement 
does  not  come 
wholly  as  a  surprise, 
since  it  recently 
was  stated  that  the 
Gaumont  policy  in 
its  five-reel  produc- 
tions would  be  to 
star  photoplayers  al- 
ready famous  on  the 
screen.  Miss  Mc- 
Coy is  credited  with 
rare  intelligence, 
great  beauty  and  vi- 
vacity, thus  endow- 
ing her  impersona- 
tions with  a  piquant 
charm  that  in  no  manner  detracts  from  the  grip  she 
maintains  upon  spectators  during  moments  of  emo- 
tional intensity. 

Miss  McCoy  took  her  first  screen  lesson  under  the 
capable  direction  of  D.  W.  Griffith  at  the  Biograph  stu- 
dios.  Then  she  was  sent  for  a  time  with  Pathe.  She 
has  made  her  biggest  success,  however,  as  an  Edison 
>tar.  For  five  and  one-half  years  she  remained  an 
Edison  fixture,  in  that  time  winning  a  lasting  place  in 
the  regard  of  motion  picture  patrons. 

The  first  Gaumont  production  in  which  Miss  Mc- 
Coy is  to  be  starred  is  a  five-reel  feature,  entitled 
"The  Quality  of  Faith,"  by  Charles  T.  Gardiner.  It 
is  to  be  released  as  a  Mutual  masterpicture,  de  luxe 
edition. 


SEE  SKINNER  AS  FILM  KING 

Extraordinarily  Fit  For  Screen  Version  of  "Kismet" 

Critics  Believe;  Estrangement  From  Stage 

Stirs  Amusement  World 

The  motion  picture  world  in  general  still  is  startled 
by  the  sensational  announcement  of  Otis  Skinner's  ab- 
dication from  the  speaking  stage  in  favor  of  the  screen. 
Much  credil  is  given  the  California  Motion  Picture 
Corporation  for  its  success  in  getting  Mr.  Skinner's 
name  on  a  contract  to  appear  in  the  great  state  spec- 
tacle, "Kismet." 

Mr.  Skinner's  long  career  as  a  romantic  actor  of 
which  type  he  is  now  the  acknowledged  peer  on  the 
Stage  of  today,  fits  him  in  a  peculiarly  effective  manner 
for  the  new  work  lie  is  about  to  undertake.  His  train- 
ing, his  natural  gifts,  his  dramatic  intelligence  as  an 
actor  and  producer,  all  conspire  to  fit  him  in  advance 
for  the  position  of  superiority  in  the  motion  picture 
field  that  he  has  long  occupied  without  a  rival  on  the 
stage, 

This  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  announcement 


of  Mr.  Skinner's  engagement  by  the  California  com-  ' 
pany.  created  a  stir  in  amusement  circles. 

The  successful  star  of  a  motion  picture  drama 
must  have  the  power  to  command  and  control  the 
largest  ensemble  scenes  by  the  mere  force  of  his  per- 
sonality and  his  dignity  or  propriety  of  appearance. 
Skinner's  achievements  in  the  classic  drama,  in  the 
great  pageantries  of  Shakespeare  and  most  of  all 
"Kismet"  are  sureties  of  his  powerful  popularity  when 
he  appears  as  the  ragged  alms  gatherer  who  sits  at  the 
entrance  of  Bagdad's  mosques  and  craves  gifts  of  the 
passers  by. 

It  is  said  that  no  other  actor  on  the  English 
speaking  stage  commands  in  equal  degree  with  Skin- 
ner his  capacity  to  enforce  his  personality,  persuade 
by  a  gesture,  compel  by  a  glance  and  convince  by  the 
forthright  manner  of  a  physical  eloquence  that  needs 
nothing  more  than  inanimate  but  appropriate  scenery 
to  call  forth  his  highest  gifts  of  expressiveness. 


Triangle  Keeps  Stars  Busy 

The  Triangle  Film  Corporation  announces  for  its 
March  releases  a  roster  replete  with  noted  players. 
Lillian  Gish,  William  S.  Hart,  John  Emerson,  Bessie 
Barriscale,  Norma  Talmadge,  Mae  Marsh  and  H.  B 
Warner  are  among  the  more  promiment  Griffith  and 
Ince  players  who  will  have  the  leading  parts  in  the 
dramatic  features  of  the  month.  Sennett  will  con- 
tribute to  the  Triangle  program  the  pick  of  his  Key- 
stone funmakers. 

For  the  week  of  March  5,  "Daphne  and  the  Pirate" 
(Lillian  Gish)  and  "Hell's  Hinges"  (William  S.  Hart) 
are  the  long  pictures.  The  latter  is  a  western  play 
which  gives  Hart  a  role  similar  to  those  which  have 
made  him  so  popular. 

John  Emerson  in  a  powerful  preparedness  play, 
"The  Flying-  Torpedo,"  and  Bessie  Barriscale,  starred 
by  Ince  in  "Bullets  and  Brown  Eyes,"  give  the  week 
of  March  12  a  decided  military  atmosphere.  By  the 
invention  of  a  flying  torpedo  a  foreign  foe  is  driven 
from  the  shores  of  the  United  States.  William  Christy 
Cabanne  has  directed  many  stirring  battle  scenes, 
showing  first  the  advance  of  the  invader  and  subse- 
quently his  complete  rout.  In  "The  Flying  Torpedo," 
Bessie  Love  is  given  a  big  opportunity  in  the  portrayal 
of  a  Swedish  girl  who  helps  cause  the  discomfiture  of 
a  gang  of  international  spies. 

"Martha's  Vindication,"  and  "The  Moral  Fabric," 
week  of  March  19,  present  Norma  Talmadge,  Seena 
Owen  and  Tully  Marshall  and  Frank  Mills,  Edith 
Reeves  and  Howard  Hickman.  Both  are  gripping 
dramatic  pictures. 


Film  House  Burns:   Hint  Plot 

An  explosion  of  considerable  mystery,  followed 
by  fire  in  the  Wallace  Theatre,  Wooster.  Ohio,  caused 
authorities  of  that  city  to  invoke  the  aid  of  bloodhounds 
in  an  effort  to  apprehend  the  person  guilty  of  an  at- 
tempt to  destroy  the  house.  Eleven  sticks  of  dyna- 
mite were  found  among  the  ruins  of  the  building,  with 
a  partially  burned  fuse  attached  to  one  of  them.  This 
marks  the  second  attempt  in  two  months  to  blow  up 
the  building,  and  it  is  believed  that  some  fanatic  op- 
posed to  motion  pictures  had  determined  to  destroy  it. 
Another  Wooster  house  was  the  scene  of  a  mysterious 
fire  and  theft  during  the  last  month,  but  fortunately  it 
occurred  when  no  one  was  in  the  building. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Biff  Pi 


Ch 


ig  r  rogram  Changes  in  ^mcago 


Chi 


TRIANGLE  GETS  COLONIAL 


THE  Colonial  theater,  Chicago,  is  now  a  Triangle 
house.  This  is  one  of  several  changes  made 
recently  in  first-run  theaters  in  the  city,  for  on  the 
night  after  the  Colonial  opened  with  Triangle,  the  Strand, 
which  has  shown  Paramount,  became  a  Mutual  Master- 
picture  house.  The  Studebaker,  which  had  handled  the 
Triangle  program,  is  preparing  to  show  Paramount  pic- 
tures. 

The  Colonial  has  been  redecorated  especially  for  its 
new  pictures,  the  "Triangle"  device  being  used  wherever 
possible  in  the  scheme.  Especially  effective,  also,  is  the 
new  Triangle-Colonial  electric  sign  before  the  theater, 
and  the  attractive  system  of  billing  before  the  entrance. 
While  within,  "the  theater  beautiful"  is  a  very  pretty 
place  to  spend  an  afternoon  or  evening. 

S.  L.  Rothapfel  is  responsible  for  many  features  of 
the  present  system  of  presenting  the  pictures,  and  he 
supervised  the  opening  performances.  The  stage  of  the 
theater  is  set  elaborately  and  special  lighting  and  scenic 
effects,  accompanied  by  descriptive  music  by  the  regular 
theater  orchestra  of  twenty-five,  enlivens  each  program. 


device,    and   the    doortenders    are    i 
Courtesy   on   the   part   of   employes 


with  the   Triang 
fancy   costume, 
marked. 

The  news  letter  which  appears  on  the  Colonial  pro- 
gram  is  made  up  of   selections  from   various   weeklies. 


opened   under   the    'direction   of  C.    Fnrness  Hately   and  S.   L.   Rothapfel. 

Mr.  Rothapfel  was  one  of  the  earliest  exhibitors  to  use 
this  idea,  which  he  installed  in  other  theaters  he  has  man- 
aged. Special  orchestra  numbers  and  vocal  selections  are 
also  a  feature  of  the  program. 

The  ushers  at  the  Colonial  wear  uniforms  marked 


MySiasigiSt 


t   Chicago,   the  Strand   Theater, 

Universal  and  Pathe  pictures  were  shown  the  first  week. 
The  educational  feature  consisted  of  several  pretty  scenes 
of  Rome  and  its  environs,  a  Cines  production.  "The 
Stampede,"  a  series  of  pictures  taken  at  a  "wild  west" 
riding  contest,  was  decidedly  thrilling. 

As  the  feature  of  the  first  week,  Lillian  Gish  is  pre- 
sented in  "Daphne  and  the  Pirates,"  with  Elliott  Dexter. 
Miss  Gish  has  been  seen  at  the  Colonial  all  summer  in 
"The  Birth  of  a  Nation,"  in  a  role  far  different  from 
"Daphne."  The  play  is  a  fanciful,  romantic  tale  laid 
in  Paris  and  later  in  Louisiana,  in  early  Colonial  days. 
It  marks  Miss  Gish's  first  appearance  as  a  leading  lady 
for  Triangle.  It  is  a  pretty  play,  a  costume  drama  with 
many  romantic  scenes  into  which  Miss  Gish  fits  well,  for 
she  is  always  a  pretty  picture.  Just  at  first  she  seems 
too  much  the  "sweet"  type  to  play  the  spit-fire  Daphne, 
but  the  little  actress  plays  her  part  with  so  much  spirit 
that  she  soon  makes  Daphne  a  real  character.  Her  fits 
of  temper  delighted  the  audience. 

The  story  tells  of  a  young  courtier  who  falls  in  love 
with  a  country  lass.  She  does  not  appreciate  his  regard 
and  he  has  her  kidnaped.  Then  he  gets  into  trouble 
through  a  duel  and  must  leave  the  country.  A  band  of 
pirates  capture  him  and  take  him  aboard  their  ship.  And 
Daphne  falls  into  the  hands  of  the  soldiers,  who  place 
her  aboard  a  ship  bearing  wives  to  the  colonists  in  Louis- 
iana. So  both  are  off,  against  their  will,  for  the  new 
world. 


570 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


On  the  way  the  pirate  ship  meets  the  king's  ship,  and 
there  is  a  battle.  These  scenes  are  well  done.  Daphne 
is  instrumental  in  turning  the  battle  against  the  pirates 
and  they  are  captured.  One  of  them  is  a  former  courtier, 
and  Daphne,  who  for  valor  is  to  be  granted  one  wish, 
asks  that  his  life  be  spared.  Miss  Gish  does  a  clever  bit 
of  acting  at  this  point,  and  "puts  across''  nicely  Daphne's 
decision  first  to  let  him  die,  then  her  impulse  to  save  him. 
It  is  a  convincing  action. 

In  Louisiana,  Daphne  is  purchased  as  a  wife  by 
Jamie  d'Arcy,  a  colonist,  well  depicted  by  Walter  Long, 


but  Philip  outwits  him  and  marries  the  girl.  There  are 
many  humorous  as  well  as  exciting  scenes.  The  play  is 
well  directed  by  W.  C.  Cabanne,  and  the  cast  is  good. 

Mable  Normand  and  Roscoe  Arbuckle  appeared  in 
the  Keystone  comedy,  "Bright  Lights,"  and  were  good 
for  several  hearty  laughs. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  opening  performance  at  the 
Colonial,  David  W.  Griffith  sent  Mr.  Rothapfel  a  tele- 
gram expressing  the  interest  and  good  wishes  of  himself, 
Thomas  Ince  and  Mack  Sennett,  who  also  joined  in  send- 
ing him  a  baton  more  beautiful  than  serviceable. 


Popular  Strand  Houses  Mutual  "First-Runs" 


TNI",  first  run  of  the  Mutual  program,  including  the 
Mutual  "masterpictures,"  will  be  shown  in  Chicago 
hereafter  at  the  Strand  theater,  one  of  the  city's  most 
attractive  picture  playhouses.  Under  the  management 
of  Gene  Quigley,  the  Strand  has  become  very  popular 
with  Chicago  picture  "fans,"  and  an  unusually  large 
attendance  marked  the  recent  opening  performance  with 

SPOOR  ANNOUNCES  RELEASES 

Essanay  Head  Says  He  Has  Many  Feature  Films  in 

Store  for  Exhibitors— Gillette  Star  in  Two 

Sleuth  Dramas 

George  K.  Spoor,  president  of  Essanay,  announces 
an  unusually  strong  list  of  releases  for  the  months  of 
March  and  April.  Among  these,  released  on  the  V.  L. 
S.  E.  program,  are  "Sherlock  Holmes"  and  "Secret 
Service,"  the  two  plays  written  and  enacted  on  the 
speaking  -tage  with  such  great  success  by  William 
Gillette. 

.Mr.  Gillette's  services  were  secured  by  Mr.  Spoor 
and  this  famous  actor  will  portray  in  film  the  char- 
acter^ which  every  stage  lover  knows. 

Another  strong  multiple  release  is  "The  Havoc," 
written  by  H.  S.  Sheldon,  which  play  also  had  an  ex- 
ceptional run  on  Broadway.  Gladys  Hanson,  the 
famous  Broadway  star,  was  secured  to  enact  the  lead- 
ing role,  that  taken  in  the  stage  success  by  Laura  Hope 
Crew-.  Lewis  H.  Stone,  who  played  the  leading  role 
in  the  speaking  production  of  "The  Misleading  Lady," 


entertained  i 
il/mai,,,,   I., -on, 
I 


irts  Studios.     Left  to 

i    Musical 
I    I  adman 


the  new  program.  The  theater  has  been  the  home  of 
Paramount  pictures  but  these  will  now  be  shown  at  the 
Studebaker. 

The  Strand  theater  is  one  of  the  prettiest  in  Chicago. 
A  clever  and  effective  electric  sign  calls  attention  to  the 
theater  itself,  which  is  located  advantageously  just  south 
of  the  loop  district.  The  names  of  the  week's  feature 
play  and  of  the  star  also  are  prominently  shown  in  electric 
letters. 

The  Mutual  pictures  will  be  very  effectively  pre- 
sented at  the  Strand,  an  orchestra  of  twenty-five  pieces 
accompanying  them.  The  stage  is  attractively  set ;  scenic 
and  lighting  effects  begin  the  program.  There  are  also 
special  musical  numbers. 

The  Thanhouser-Mutual  "masterpicture,"  "Silas 
Marner,"  adapted  from  George  Eliot's  novel,  was  the 
feature  of  the  first  program  and  was  very  well  liked  by 
the  audience.  The  rest  of  the  picture  program  bore 
Mutual  trademark,  and  included  a  travelog,  topics  and  a 
comedy.  Besides  the  special  music,  a  feature  of  the 
program  was  a  rendition  of  a  bit  of  the  Shylock  speech 
given  by  Richard  Dean  in  costume. 


and  in  many  other  plays  famous  on  the  stage,  takes  the 
leading  masculine  part,  in  which  Henry  Miller  ap- 
peared in  the  stage  version.  Bryant  Washburn,  known 
to  all  film  lovers,  is  the  heavy,  and  carries  out  the  part 
with  his  characteristic  ability. 

Among  Essanay's  shorter  productions,  released 
through  the  General  Film  Company,  are  several  nota- 
ble plays.  "Beyond  the  Law"  is  one  of  the  strongest 
of  these.  This  is  a  three-reel  subject  taken  from  "The 
Snow  Burner  Pays,"  written  by  Henry  Oyen,  well 
known  novelist.  This  is  a  sequel  to  the  three-reel  pro- 
duction released  some  time  ago  by  Essanay,  "The 
Snow  Burner." 

This  story  is  of  the  North  woods  and  a  troupe 
of  players  went  to  Virginia,  Minnesota,  the  exact  loca- 
tion in  which  the  novel  is  laid.  The  play  was  taken 
under  the  direction  of  E.  H.  Calvert,  who  also  plays 
the  role  of  the  snow  burner.  All  the  characteristic 
scenery  of  the  country  of  deep  snows  is  shown.  Mar- 
guerite Clayton  takes  the  leading  feminine  role  in 
the  picture. 

Another  notable  subject  is  "Joyce's  Strategy,"  a 
two-reel  play  written  by  Harry  Beaumont  especially 
for  Joyce  Fair,  the  eleven-year-old  star  who  made  such 
a  hit  on  I '.road  way  in  "The  Dummy."  playing  opposite 
Ernesl  Truex.  Darwin  ECarr  takes  the  leading  mascu- 
line role  and  Lillian  Drew  the  heavy  lead. 

I  Ither  Strong  three-reel  releases  are  "  \  Man's 
Work,"  featuring  John  Junior  and  Elizabeth  Bur- 
bridge;   "Unknown,"    featuring   Richard    C.   Travers, 


March   11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


571 


pitfalls  and  dangers  of  this  country  lead  them  to 
error.  The  former  is  coveted  by  a  wealthy  factory 
owner  and  in  saving  her  father  is  charged  with  mur- 
der. The  strain  of  "La  Paloma"  song  runs  through 
the  film,  creating  an  atmosphere  of  old  Spain  that  is 
said  to  be  charming  and  adds  much  to  the  interpreta- 
tion of  the  role  of  the  father. 

"Her  Bad  Quarter  of  an  Hour"  is  just  fifteen 
minutes  in  duration,  but  things  happen  in  quick  rota- 
tion and  the  comedy  is  said  to  be  above  par.  In 
"Tubby  Turns  the  Tables,"  Hughie  Mack  is  the  prin- 
cipal funmaker. 


Marguerite  Clayton  and  Ernest  Maupain,  and  "I  Will 
Repay,"  featuring  Marguerite  Clayton,  John  Junior 
and  Edward  Arnold. 

"The  House  of  Surprise,"  in  which  John  Junior 
and  Elizabeth  Burbridge  are  featured,  and  "The  In- 
truder," featuring  Marguerite  Clayton  and  Richard  C. 
Travers,  are  other  strong  two-reel  releases. 

With  several  of  Vernon  Howe  Bailey's  sketch 
books  of  various  cities  in  America  and  abroad,  the 
Canimated  Nooz  Pictorials  by  Wallace  A,  Carlson  and 
"The  Mary  Page"  series  with  Henry  B.  Walthall  and 
Edna  Mayo,  the  program  is  one  of  the  best  put  out. 


EDESON  IN  VITAGRAPH  DRAMA 

Other  Well  Known  Players  Prominent  in  Four  New 

Releases — "La  Paloma"  Screened  with 

Aid  of  Music 

Robert  Edeson  is  among  a  host  of  well  known 
screen  players  seen  in  Vitagraph  releases  for  the  week 
commencing  February  28. 

Among  others  are  Lillian  Walker,  Harry  Morey, 
Mary  Anderson,  Evart  Overton,  Bobby  Connelly, 
Hughie  Mack,  William  Duncan  and  WTilliam  Dunn. 

Two  dramas  and  two  comedies  comprise  the 
week's  offerings. 

The  most  important  release  is  "For  a  Woman's 
Fair  Name."  This  film  presents  a  problem,  due  to 
arouse  considerable  discussion.  It  deals  with  a  new 
phase  of  the  old  argument  as  to  how  far  a  man  should 
sacrifice  love  and  reputation  to  protect  the  name  of 
a  married  woman,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  she  is 
innocent  of  wrong-doing. 

Miss  Marguerite  Bertsch,  the  authoress,  has 
handled  situations  well  and  the  story  is  compre- 
hensively written.  Robert  Edeson  has  an  excellent 
character  role  as  Pierce ;  Harry  Northrup  is  good  as 
McGregor ;  AVilliam  Dunn  resorts  to  his  histrionic 
ability  in  playing  the  dope  fiend  and  Eulalie  Jensen 
has  an  opportunity  to  show  her  skill  in  a  difficult  role. 

"La  Paloma,"  a  Broadway  star  feature,  in  three 
parts,  released  on  March  4,  is  a  contribution  from  the 
Coast  company  of  the  Vitagraph,  featuring  Mary 
Anderson  and  William  Duncan.  It  is  produced  under 
the  direction  of  William  Wolbert.  Mary  and  Duncan 
are  cast  as  two  immigrants  whose  ignorance  of  the 


Elinor  Glyn  Picks  Own  Star 

Ruth  Mac  Tammany,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  out  of  a 
score  of  applicants,  was  chosen  as  the  star  for  the  pro- 
duction of  "One  Day,"  by  B.  S.  Moss.  The  successful 
candidate  for  the  chief  role  has  beauty  and  talent  in 
abtmdance.  Her 

professional  name  is 
Jeanne  Ivers. 

Miss  Ivers  made 
her  first  appearance 
in  "The  Land  of 
Make-Believe"  when 
she  was  five  years 
old  with  an  Akron 
stock  company.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  at 
a  "home  talent"  con- 
cert, she  electrified 
her  audience  with  a 
voice  of  unusual 
charm.  It  was  a  for- 
tunate night  for  her, 
for  there  happened 
to  be  seated  in  the 
audience  a  represent- 
ative of  the  Boston 
Talking  Machine 
Company,  who  be- 
came   so    impressed 

by  the  singer's  marked  ability  that  he  sought  her  par- 
ents and  tendered  a  contract  for  the  appearance  of 
their  daughter  with  his  concern  for  the  period  of  one 
year. 

In  a  short  time,  the  fame  of  Miss  Ivers'  spread 
and  she  sang  frequently  at  the  famous  Tremont  Tem- 
ple of  Music,  and  duplicated  in  no  mean  measure  the 
success  of  the  celebrated  song-birds  that  preceded  her 
at  that  scene.  At  the  end  of  a  year,  Miss  Ivers  set  sail 
for  Europe  to  study,  and  after  completing  her  course, 
she  made  a  concert  tour  of  the  European  capitals. 

In  Paris,  last  July,  Elinor  Glyn,  author  of  "Three 
Weeks,"  happened  to  be  a  guest  at  the  same  hotel  as 
Miss  Ivers.  There  followed  an  introduction,  and  Miss 
Glyn  was  struck  by  Miss  Ivers'  talent.  They  became 
fast  friends.  It  was  Miss  Glyn  who  prevailed  upon 
Miss  Ivers  to  enter  the  motion  picture  game.  The 
writer  said  she  felt  she  had  met  the  ideal  type  for  the 
role  of  "Opal"  in  "One  Day."  Miss  Ivers  consented 
and  a  cable  was  sent  to  Mr.  Moss  and  the  deal  closed. 


"The  Iron  Claw"  has  created  a  "motion  picture 
ward"  in  a  Jersey  City  hospital,  because  of  the  many 
accidents  to  Pathe  players  making  the  new  serial  thriller. 
Burt  Daniels  is  the  latest  victim.  He  fell,  a  sacrifice  to 
realism,  in  a  free-for-all  fight  scene. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV, 'No.  11. 


Bank  Head?  No,  Film  Star 

From  his  air  of  unassumed  affluence  you  most 
probably  would  figure  him  as  a  bank  president.  He 
goes  about  in  quietness  and  doesn't  tell  you  what  he 
has  dune  to  make  himself  famous.  He  doesn't  insist 
on  your  knowing 
how  much  salary  he 
receives  each  week. 
On  the  contrary,  he 
goes  about  with  such 
an  air  of  graceful 
ease  that  you  know 
he  is  famous  and  that 
his  pay  envelope 
must  be  fat. 

This  description 
is  of  Arthur  Maude, 
the  American  (  Mu- 
tual )  star,  who  is  au 
English  actor. 
Those  who  have  had 
anything  to  do  with 
the  English  stage 
know  of  the  refine- 
ment and  general 
good  breeding  of  its 
representatives.  Mr. 
Maude  was  born  at 
Portefrac,  England, 
in  1881.  lie  attended  the  King  Edward  school,  where 
he  had  the  usual  thorough  education  of  the  English 
boy. 

When  he  left  school  he  entered  the  banking  busi- 
ness and  remained  there  for  three  years,  leaving-  to 
enter  the  profession  to  which  he  really  had  been  dedi- 
cated by  family  example.  Many  of  his  relatives  had 
been  actors  before  him.  His  cousin,  Cyril  Maude,  is 
now  on  the  stage. 

Mr.  Maude  made  his  initial  debut  in  the  theatrical 
profession  with  Henry  Irving  at  the  Lyceum  Theatre, 
London,  in  1902.  Later  he  was  with  the  Ben  Greet 
players  for  two  years.  Then  he  joined  the  Haymarket 
Theatre  comedy  stock  company,  where  he  had  exten- 
sive training  in  the  playing  of  character  parts.  At  the 
end  of  one  season  in  comedy,  Mr.  Maude  spent  three 
years  with  Martin  Harveywall. 

Across  the  ocean  there  lay  a  vast  continent,  full 
of  opportunity  to  one  of  talent' and  ambition.  So  Ar- 
thur Maude  narked  up  his  belongings  and  sailed  for 
Vmerica. 

In  America  he  had  the  opportunity  to  play  leads 
and  manage  the  Constance  Crawley  Shakespearian 
Company,  lie  achieved  a  great  triumph  in  this  line. 
In    1913    Mr.    Maude  and    Miss    Crawley    were    offered 


found  in  an  "exchange"  operated  at  Edinburgh,  Va..  a 
small  center  in  Shenandoah  county. 

The  Virginia  seizure,  a  step  in  a  civil  action  insti- 
tuted in  the  courts  of  Shenandoah  county,  is  a  further 
step  in  pursuit  of  the  announced  policy  of  the  Mutual 
to  take  out  of  circulation  all  of  its  films  which  have 
strayed  into  the  hands  of  irregular  exchanges,  peddlers 
and  "film  pirates." 

The  films  seized  in  Virginia  were  uncovered 
as  a  result  of  the  efforts  of  a  group  of  men  to  sell  a 
stock  of  films  made  up  largely  of  Mutual  releases.  B. 
C.  Cunningham,  manager  of  the  Washington,  D.  C. 
branch  of  the  Mutual  organization,  went  over  in  Vir- 
ginia to  look  the  films  over  before  agreeing  to  a  "pur- 
chase." He  was  shown  the  stock  and  assured  himself, 
it  is  alleged,  that  it  contained  the  property  of  the  Mu- 
tual company.  Thousands  upon  thousands  of  feet  of 
film  were  submitted  for  his  inspection. 

The  next  step  was  a  conference  by  wire  with  the 
legal  department  of  the  Mutual  company  in  New  York 
City,  which  resulted  in  instructions  to  the  Mutual  at- 
torneys in  Woodstock,  Va.,  to  take  charge  of  the  case 
and  to  institute  such  action  as  the  circumstances 
seemed  to  warrant. 

Through  these  attorneys  the  Mutual  company  has 
brought  a  suit  "in  detinue"  in  the  circuit  court  of  Shen- 
andoah county,  Virginia,  alleging  damages  and  de- 
manding delivery  of  the  films.  The  declaration  of  this 
action,  as  it  was  filed  in  the  Virginia  court,  reads: 

"The  Mutual  Film  Corporation  complains  of  A.  L. 
Hitner  of  a  plea  that  he  render  unto  the  said  plaintiff 
certain  goods  and  chattels  of  the  said  plaintiff  of  great 
value  which  he  unjustly  detains  from  him  for  this,  to 
wit :  that  heretofore,  before  the  institution  of  this  suit, 
the  said  plaintiff  delivered  to  the  said  defendant  certain 
goods  and  chattels,  all  the  various  and  sundry  films  in 
his  possession  bearing  the  name  of  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation  *  *  *  to.  be  redelivered  by  the  said 
defendant  to  the  said  plaintiff  which  he  hath  not  yet 
delivered,  although  he  was  afterward  requested  by  the 
said  plaintiffs  to  do  so.     *     *     *". 

A.  L.  Hitner,  the  defendant  named  in  the  suit  in 
detinue,  formerly  was  an  exhibitor  of  motion  pictures 
in  Hackettstown,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  a  customer  of  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation,  it  is  charged  in  the  com- 
plaint. He  is  alleged  to  have  received  reels  of  film  on 
rental  terms  and  with  the  understanding  that  they 
should  be  redelivered  to  the  Mutual.  According  to  the 
charges  set  forth  in  the  complaint,  these  reels  were 
found  still  in  his  possession. 

The  fact  that  the  stock  of  film  held  by  Hitner  in 
Edinburgh,  Va.,  the  complaint  says,  attached  as  se- 
curity by  a  local  bank  with  which  he  had  a  check  con- 
troversy, enabled  the  sheriff  to  gain  possession  of  the 
entire  stock. 


5ltl( 


pa 


oth 


ctun 


ptei 


MUTUAL  SEIZES  BIG  FILM  STOCK 

Get   125,000  Feet  in  Edinburg,   Va.,   "Exchange"  and 
Begin  Litigation,   Naming  Former  Exhibitor 

as  Defendant 
The  Mutual  Film  Corporation  has  made  its  second 

lug  seizure  of  films  which  have  \:iriousK  strayed  

the  storage  vaults  of  its  sixty  eighl  exchanges. 

The  latest  seizure  netted  125.0(H)  feel  of  its  films, 


Essanay  is  offering  for  release  a  series  oi  artistic 
sketches  of  all  the  points  of  interest  and  large  buildings 
in  the  principal  cities  of  the  world.  These  sketches 
are  drawn  by  Vernon  Howe  Bailey,  well  known  news- 
paper and  magazine  artist.  One  of  these  subjects  is 
released  e\  er\  other  week.  To  date  Mr.  Baile)  has 
made  sketches  in  and  about  New  York,  Chicago.  Phila- 
delphia, London  and  Paris,  lie  is  now  at  work  on 
New  <  (rleans  and  vicinity.  The  sketches  run  for  five 
hundred  feet,  the  remainder  <>\  the  reel  being  dew 'ted 
to  actual  scenes  taken  around  Quebec,  Santa  Fe.  N.  M.. 
and  in  the  Canadian  Rockies.  The  drawings  are  exact 
reproductions   "\    the    famous   buildings    of   the    world. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Chaplin  Company  Forming 


CHARLEY  GETS  $670,000 


CHARLES  CHAPLIN  has  signed  a  contract  that 
will  pay  him  $670,000  for  the  first  year  to  appear 
exclusively  in  the  releases  of  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation  and  as  a  result  there  is  being  formed  a 
Chaplin  producing  company  involving  the  sum  of  $1,550,- 
000.  This  stands  as  the  biggest  opera- 
tion centered  about  a  single  star  in  the 
history  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 
Following  close  on  this  announce- 
ment from  John  R.  Freuler,  president 
of  the  Mutual,  comes  his  declaration 
that  the  signing  of  Chaplin  is  but  the 
beginning  of  a  dominating  policy  on 
the  part  of  the  corporation  and  the 
suggestion  that  the  expiration  of  cer- 
tain contracts  held  by  other  famous 
stars  now  working  for  other  concerns  will  result  in 
further  announcements  rivaling  that  of  the  Mutual's 
achievement  this  week. 

Next  to  the  war  in  Europe,  Chaplin  is  the  most  ex- 
pensive item  in  contemporaneous  history.  Every  hour 
that  goes  by  brings  Chaplin  $77.55  and  if  he  should  need 
a  nickel  for  carfare  it  only  takes  two  seconds  to  earn  it. 
Mr.  Chaplin  will  be  27  years  old  April  16.  He  is  doing 
reasonably  well  for  his  age. 

The  closing  of  the  contract  ends  a  war  of  negotia- 
tions involving  unending  conferences  and  diplomatic  ex- 
changes for  weeks.  In  this  time  five  or  six  motion  pic- 
ture concerns  and  promoters  have  claimed  Chaplin  and 
audibly  whispered  figures — with  every  guess  too  low. 
A  week  ago  Freuler  put  Chaplin  under  a  tentative  con- 
tract or  option,  pending  the  completion  of  arrangements 
for  the  organization  of  a  special  producing  company. 
At  that  time  the  negotiations  were  entirely  personal  be- 
tween President  Freuler  and  Chaplin. 

Saturday  night  the  final  conference  was  held  and  the 
ceremony  of  signing  up  with  the  Mutual  proceeded,  with 
all  due  array  of  attorneys,  notaries,  and  so  forth,  includ- 
ing of  course  a  battery  of  arc  lamps  and  a  motion  picture 
camera,  since  the  motion  picture  does  its  own  reporting 
these  days. 

Chaplin  was  accompanied  as  usual  by  his  brother 
Sidney,  who  conducts  the  younger  comedian's  business 
affairs  and  salary  negotia- 
tions. 

The  lawyers  for  every- 
body looked  over  all  of  the 
papers  for  the  last  tedious 
time  and  announced  that 
everything  was  correct.  The 
ponderous  seal  was  brought 
forth  from  a  vault  by  a  law 
clerk  and  placed  with  pre- 
cise care  on  the  president's 
mahogany  office  table.  The 
lights  flared  up  under  the 
pressure  of  "more  juice" 
and  the  office  shimmered 
with  the  rippling  glare  of  a 
studio.  Charles  Chaplin  was 
draped  over  the  edge  of  the 
table  in  one  of  his  character- 
istic   off-Stage    attitudes    eye-  Charles  Chaph 


ing  the  proceedings  with  a  casual  air  of  shocking  disin- 
terestedness. 

"What's  the  action  in  this  scene?"  he  inquired  of 
his  brother,  spreading  the  expensive  Chaplin  smile. 

"Sign  here  and  here  and  here,"  explained  "Sid," 
indicating  the  neat  and  beckoning  dotted  lines  on  the 
last  page  of  the  ponderous  twenty-thousand  word  contract 
evolved  by  the  Mutual's  astonishingly  industrious  legal 
department.  President  Freuler  handed  over  his  pet 
fountain  pen  with  which  all  the  stars  sign.  Sidney 
Chaplin  called  "camera"  and  the  action  started.  In  five 
minutes  the  deed  was  done  and  the  camera  man  reported 
"three  hundred  feet''  as  President  Freuler  handed  Chap- 
lin a  check  for  $150,000,  bonus  payment. 

Chaplin  looked  over  the  check  critically,  then  with 
gingery  fingers  passed  it  on.  "Take  it,  Sidney;  take  it 
away  trom  me,  please,  my  eyes  hurt."  In  addition  to  this 
bonus,  Chaplin  recieves  a  salary  of  $10,000  a  week. 

The  new  Mutual  Chaplins  will  be  produced  in 
studios  now  being  equipped  in  Los  Angles,  Cal.,  where 
the  comedian  will  begin  work  March  20  or  at  an  earlier 
date  if  conditions  permit.  One  two-part  comedy  will  be 
produced  each  month. 

The  Chaplin  contract  is  one  of  the  most  ponderous 
and  intricate  documents  ever  evolved  for  the  employment 
of  a  motion  picture  star.  It  contains  something  more 
than  20,000  words  and  provides  conditions  and  clauses  to 
cover  anything  that  might  happen  and  a  lot  of  things  that 
can  not.  An  element  of  "war  risk"  enters  into  the  con- 
tract. Mr.  Chalpin  is  a  British  subject.  It  is  stipulated 
that  he  shall  not  leave  the  United  States  within  the  life  of 
the  contract  without  the  permission  of  the  corporation. 
Incidently,  Mr.  Freuler  has  insured  the  costlv  come- 
dian's life  for  $250,000. 

"This  contract,"  observed  Mr.  Freuler  yesterday,  is 
only  a  new  token  of  business  of  the  motion  picture  and 
the  motion  picture  industry  a  combination  of  art,  amuse- 
ment and  businesss.  The  figures  are  all  business."  he 
added  with  a  dry  smile. 

"We  can  afford  to  pay  Mr.  Chaplin  this  large  sum 
annually  because  the  public  wants  Chaplin  and  will  pav 
for  him.  I  consider  this  contract  a  very  pleasing  bargain 
for  every  body  concerned — including  this  corporation, 
Mr.  Chaplin  and  the  fun- 
loving  American  public.  I 
consider  this  the  most  im- 
portant transaction  in  the 
recent  history  of  the  motion 
picture  industry.  It  carries 
a  wide  significance  in  rela- 
tion to  the  policy  of  the  Mu- 
tual Film  Corporation.  It  is 
a  step — a  very  long  one — but 
there  will  be  more.  Nego- 
tiations for  other  great  stars 
have  been  in  progress  for 
weeks  and  months.  When 
certain  present  contracts  ex- 
pire you  will  see  these  fa- 
mous stars  appearing  in  Mu- 
tual pictures.  There  is  a 
great  deal  more  to  come." 
Mr.   Chaplin  is  not  much 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


inclined  to  talk  to  anyone  about  his  business  affairs. 
"A  great  many  people  are  inclined  to  make  wide  eyes 
at  what  is  called  my  salary,"  he  remarked.  •'Honestly,  it 
is  a  matter  I  do  not  spend  much  time  thinking  about. 
Money  and  business  are  very  serious  matters  and  I  have 
to  keep  my  mind  off  of  them.  In  fact  I  do  not  worry 
about  money  at  all.  It  would  get  in  the  way  of  my  work. 
I  do  not  want  people  to  think  that  life  is  all  a  joke  to  me, 
but  I  do  enjoy  working  on  the  sunny  side  of  it.  What 
this  contract  means  is  simply  that  I  am  in  business  with 
the  worry  left  out  and  with  the  dividends  guaranteed.  It 
means  that  1  am  left  free  to  be  just  as  funny  as  I  dare, 
to  do  the  best  work  that  is  in  me  and  to  spend  my  energies 
on  the  thing  that  the  people  want.  1  have  felt  for  a  long- 
time that  this  would  be  my  big  year  and  this  contract 
gives  me  my  opportunity.  There  is  inspiration  in  it. 
I  am  like  an  author  with  a  big  publisher  to  give  him 
circulation." 


right  eye  and  left  hand,  in  addition  to  any  hopes  that  I 

may  have  for  a  future  life,  in  return  for  their  services. 

"Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)   "Thomas  H.  Ince." 


JUNGLE  FILMS  SIGNED  UP 

Representative  Theater  and  Screen  Men  Contract  to 

Take     Output    of    New    California    Concern 
Which  Will  Feature  Comedies 

While  no  general  announcement  has  yet  been 
made  concerning  the  productions  of  the  E.  and  R. 
Jungle  Film  Company,  the  members  of  this  Los  Ange- 
les studio  have  been  busily  at  work  for  the  last  few 
months.  Its  output  is  one-reel  comedies  featuring  two 
clever  chimpanzees,  Napoleon  the  Great  and  Sally  His 
Mate. 

Until  recently,  seven  comedies  had  been  released, 
six  of  them  starring  Napoleon  and  Sally,  the  other  ex- 
hibiting about  every  remaining  inmate  of  the  E.  and 
R.  Jungle. 

"From  Jungle  to  Trouble,"  "Uncle's  Little  Ones." 
"A  Jungle  Cure,"  "What  D'Ye  Think  of  That?"  "Pa's 
Family  Tree,"  "The  Adventures  of  Sally,"  and  "The 
Jungle  Kid"  have  already  found  their  way  to  the 
screens. 

Representatives  of  Marcus  Loew,  William  Fox,  B. 
S.  Moss,  B.  F.  Keith  and  F.  F.  Proctor,  after  seeing 
several  of  the  subjects,  signed  up  the  entire  output  of 
the  company  which  comes  to  one  a  week. 

It  is  the  policy  of  the  E.  and  R.  Jungle  company  to 
produce  nothing  but  clean  cut,  rapid  action  comedies. 


INCE  SCOFFS  AT  BALLET  FILM 

Producer    Tells    Robert    Grau    Organization    Would 
Demand  His  Money,  Right  Eye,  Left  Hand 

and  Maybe  Life. 
Thomas  II.  Ince    received   a   letter   from    Robert 
recently  in   which  the  latter  recommended  that 
1 1-     producer  make  a  picture  using,  and  around,  the 
De  Daighileff  Ballet  Russe.     Ince  could  not  see 
ih''  idea  in  any  light.     His  reply  to  Mr.  Grau  follows: 
"Dear  Mr.  ( irau  : --1  have  your  communication  in 
regard  to  the  Russian  Pallet.     I  fail  to  see  the  practi- 
cability of  the  idea  of  making  a  picture  of  the  Russian 
ballet,  wonderful  and  unpre      ented    i    the  success  of 
this  notable  organization  lias  been.     You  understand, 
of  course,  thai  it  would  necessitate  bringing  the  entire 

11 to  Lo       '  ngi  i--iVL;ath  m    ol 

.lancers  that  ran  play  to  $100,000  in   two  weeks  would 
most  assuredly  demand  all  the  money  that  1  have,  my 


TALK  CHEAP?  NO,  BUT  IT  PAYS 

Conversation  Over  the  Long  Distance  Telephone  from 

New  York  to  San  Francisco  Expensive,  But 

It  Lands  Big  Contract 

"Talk  is  cheap."  Often  has  this  been  said.  It's 
an  old  adage.  But  here  it's  disproved.  Telephoning 
to  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles  from  New  York 
is  not  very  cheap.  But  in  some  instances  it  pays. 
Listen : 

Sol.  L.  Lesser  heretofore  held  a  commuter's  medal 
between  San  Francisco  and  New  York,  but  now  that 
he  is  established  in  New  York,  the  telephone  is  his 
only  recourse.  Lesser  now  uses  this  means  of  com- 
municating with  his  San  Francisco  office.  It  is  ex- 
pensive, but  the  last  message  proved  to  be  re- 
munerative. 

He  called  for  a  San  Francisco  number,  wishing  to 
speak  to  a  western  circuit  owner.'    Lesser  said: 

"How  about  that  proposition  on  'The  Ne'er-do- 
well?'" 

This  is  Avhat  he  heard : 

"Our  best  offer  for  'The  Ne'er-do-well'  is  $2,000 
for  two  weeks  in  Oakland;  $800  for  one  week  in 
Sacramento;  $500  for  one  week  in  Fresno  and  $500  for 
one  week  in  Jan  Jose." 

And  all  that  Sol.  said  was : 

"The  deal  is  closed." 

Then  "central"  told  him  the  charges  on  the  con- 
veration  were  $57.50. 

But  it  was  worth  it. 


"Peppina"  Causes  Riot 

Reserves  from  two  police  precincts  were  sum- 
moned to  handle  the  crowds  which  stormed  the  Broad- 
way theater,  New  York,  in  their  efforts  to  see  Mary 
Pick-ford  in  "Poor  Little  Peppina,"  in  which  she  is  be- 
ing starred  by  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company. 

Never,  since  the  Broadway  theater  was  converted 
into  a  motion  picture  house  by  Paramount,  has  any 
film  approached  the  record  made  by  "Peppina,"  ac- 
cording to  Manager  Langsfield.  The  former  record  for 
the  house  was  held  by  Geraldine  Farrar  in  "Tempta- 
tion," but  on  the  opening  day  for  "Peppina."  the  record 
established  by  the  noted  diva  was  eclipsed. 

On  Monday.  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  the  mobs 
which  stormed  the  theater  made  it  necessary  for  the 
manager  to  call  for  the  assistance  of  the  police.  One 
hour  after  the  first  contingent  of  reserves  had  arrived 
another  squad  was  dispatched  to  their  assistance. 


Blood  Films  Latest 

Under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  E.  Stewart,  micro- 
scopic motion  pictures,  showing  blood  circulation  in 
human  beings  finally  have  been  completed  at  the  Bat- 
tle Creek  sanitarium.  Ralph  Devol,  the  sanitarium 
photographer,  made  the  films.  These  pictures,  said  to 
be  the  first  of  their  kind,  will  show  how  blood  is  circu- 
lated through  the  body,  where,  how  and  why  obstruc- 
tions arise  and   the   methods  ^i  treating  poor  circula- 


March   11.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Pleasing  the  Public 

BY  S.  L.  ROTHAPFEL 


CRITICISM  is  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  all  of  us, 
especially  those  who  are  connected  with  the 
show  business ;  but  to  be  appreciated,  this  criti- 
cism must  be  real,  honest  and  constructive.  Seldom  is 
destructive  comment  of  any  value.  During  my  many 
years  in  the  theatrical  business  and  especially  since 
I  have  taken  interest  in  the  newer  presentation  of 
motion  pictures,  I  have  been  benefitted  wonderfully  by 
public  opinion.  It  is  not  so  difficult  to  give  the  public 
what  it  wants  when  we  realize  that  we  are  of  the 
public. 

Recently  it  became  my  pleasure  to  try  and  do 
something  with  picture  presentation  at  the  Knicker- 
bocker theater  in  New  York.  Only  a  few  days  ago 
I  opened  the  Colonial  theater  in  Chicago.  I  had  a  won- 
derful opportunity  and  too  little  time,  but  I  believe 
that  I  succeeded  in  a  large  measure  in  what  I  was 
trying  to  do.  The  theatergoing  public  of  Chicago  re- 
ceived me  with  open  arms ;  it  was  for  them  that  I 
opened  the  theater;  it  was  their  theater.  That  had 
been  my  inspiration.  With  a  supply  of  wonderful 
pictures  to  draw  upon ;  money  to  spend  for  stage  set- 
ting, musicians  and  house  organization,  I  was  able  to 
give  them  a  show.  They  wanted  it  and  seemed  to  ap- 
preciate it.  Scores  of  letters  have  been  sent  to  me 
since  and  I  feel  amply  repaid  for  what  I  tried  to  do. 

But  I  have  been  hurt.  Perhaps  I  should  not  admit 
it,  but  I  want  to  make  my  position  understood.  There 
have  been  a  few  criticims  in  regard  to  my  purpose. 
I  want  to  say  right  here  that  I  did  not  go  into  Chicago 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  managers  in  that  city  how 
to  run  a  theater.  I  simply  went  there  to  do  my  best; 
that  best  is  little  enough  to  satisfy  me.  I  do  not  believe 
there  is  a  theatrical  manag-er  in  the  country  who  opens 
a  house  in  a  town  with  the  idea  of  showing  other  man- 
agers in  that  town  what  to  do.  All  of  us  are  trying 
to  please  the  public. 

Perhaps  I  should  not  care  what  certain  critics 
say.  I  do  not  mind  when  in  their  criticisms  they  sug- 
gest ideas  that  are  of  value.  When  a  critic  helps  me 
find  out  what  the  public  wants  he  is  doing  me  a  great 
favor  just  as  he  is  aiding  every  showman,  but  when 
he  finds  fault  with  conditions  before  there  is  an  op- 
portunity to  remedy  those  conditions  he  is  unfair. 

In  all  my  work  in  the  motion  picture  business  I 
never  have  boasted  of  being  a  pioneer.  If  I  have  intro- 
duced novelties  my  desire  has  been  to  help  every  other 
manager  in  the  business  just  as  I  want  every  other 
manager  to  help  me.  All  of  us  need  help;  all  of  us 
must  work  for  the  betterment  of  the  industry.  The 
public  continually  demands  better  pictures,  better  pic- 
ture presentation,  better  music,  better  house  accommo- 
dations. -\ 

I  suppose,  being  in  the  limelight,  I  should  set  an 
example  to  every  other  manager  by  not  resenting  what 
appeared  to  be  an  attack  on  me  personally.  I  should 
bury  my  personality  perhaps  and  put  the  theater  first. 
I  try  to  do  that,  but  sometimes  I  cannot  help  feeling 
that  when  I  am  attacked  the  theater  itself  suffers.  The 
public  is  entitled  to  the  best  in  all  of  us  and  we  should 
give  it  even  though  sometimes  our  pride  is  hurt. 

Criticism,  even  when  destructive,  should  spur  us 
on  to  better  efforts.     All  of  you  at  some  time  or  other 


have  been  hurt,  but  you  have  fought  your  way  to  the 
front  just  as  I  am  fighting  and  your  reward  and  mine 
will  be  the  uplifting  of  the  industry  as  a  whole. 

If  these  things  1  am  going  to  say  about  the  open- 
ing of  the  Colonial  theater  are  of  any  value  to  you  I 
trust  that  no  one  of  you  will  take  the  view  held  by  a 
few  critics,  namely,  that  I  am  trying  to  show  you  how. 
I  am  simply  giving  back  to  you  what  you  have  given 
to  me  and  if  I  have  improved  upon  your  ideas  it  is  your 
benefit  as  well  as  mine. 

The  first  thing  that  I  demanded  when  I  was  asked 
to  take  charge  of  the  Colonial  was  an  attractive  front. 
On  another  page  in  this  issue  you  will  see  a  picture 
which  shows  what  I  accomplished  in  the  way  of  elec- 
tric lighting.  This  sign,  in  operation,  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  ever  designed.  Through  co-operation 
with  local  representatives  of  the  Triangle  Film  Cor- 
poration I  was  able  to  get  an  artistic  front  and  lobby 
showing  all  of  the  displays  for  present  and  future  at- 
tractions mounted  in  attractive  frames,  all  of  these 
frames  being  alike. 

My  next  worry  was  the  box  office.  I  always  be- 
lieve a  pretty  girl  with  smiling  face  should  greet  every 
theater  patron.  Therefore,  young  women  are  selling 
tickets.  The  foyer  was  the  next  problem.  Courteous 
attendants  in  attractive  uniforms  were  engaged  to  di- 
rect the  patrons  to  their  seats.  These  uniforms  are 
dress  military  design,  to  some  seemingly  too  expensive, 
but  I  consider  them  cheap  in  the  long  run.  Little 
negro  boys  in  East  Indian  costumes  of  rich  material, 
pass  out  the  programs. 

That  being  arranged  for  I  insisted  on  artistic  dec- 
orations for  the  auditorium.  The  results  to  me  were 
very  pleasing,  and  the  public  seemed  to  appreciate  it. 

Then  it  was  necessary  to  have  an  attractive  stage 
setting.  This  was  constructed  with  an  eye  to  scenic 
effects  such  as  sunlight,  moonlight,  rain  and  snow, 
and  was  built  along  the  lines  of  what  I  had  used  in 
the  Strand  and  Knickerbocker  in  New  York  and  what 
has  been  used  in  other  theaters  of  that  class  through- 
out the  country.  In  this  connection,  I  might  mention 
the  beautiful  setting  at  the  Strand  theater  in  Chicago. 

Then  I  had  to  arrange  for  my  back  stage  effects 
installed  to  enliven  the  interest  in  the  picture.  Then 
came  worries  over  an  orchestra.  It  is  not  easy  to  get 
25  men  who  are  trained  to  play  feature  pictures,  espe- 


576 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


dally  when,  due  to  delay  many  times,  you  have  little 
time  to  rehearse  before  an  opening.  You  all  know 
what  troubles  you  have  with  your  own  music  even 
though  many  of  you  have  much  smaller  orchestras  to 
handle.  Perhaps  in  an  article  in  the  near  future  I 
will  be  able  to  tell  you  how  1  overcame  some  of  the 
music  troubles. 

All  of  these  things  had  to  be  done  in  less  than  a 
week,  but  they  were  done  just  as  you  would  have  done 
them  had  you  been  told  to  go  ahead. 

I  want  to  take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  all  of 
the  many  managers  who  wired  or  wrote  me  congratu- 
lations. I  appreciate  every  one  of  them  and  especially 
appreciate  the  spirit  in  which  they  were  sent.  We  are 
all  working  together — we  are  working  to  please  the 
public  and  in  this  series  of  articles  which  I  am  trying 
to  write  during  the  little  spare  time  that  I  have  I  want 
you  to  understand  that  I  am  not  trying  to  show  you 
how!  1  am  simply  giving  you  bits  of  my  experience 
that  you  may  show  me  how — to  please  the  public. 


PLAN  BIG  TRADE  MEET 

Stars,    Exhibitors    and    Film    Manufacturers    to    Mix 

With  Public  at  Exposition  in  New  York 

Early  in  May 

Every  branch  of  the  film  industry  will  be  repre- 
sented at  the  national  motion  picture  trade  exposition, 
to  be  held  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York, 
May  6  to  13. 

"A  Peep  Behind  the  Screen"  will  be  the  title  of  a 
seven-day  feature  film,  to  be  staged  by  the  Motion 
Picture  Board  of  Trade  of  America. 

Every  department  of  the  industry  will  have  ex- 
hibits. Every  essential  demonstrated  and  shown  will 
be  for  the  benefit  of  the  film  maker,  the  exhibitor  and 
the  general  public. 

Leading  film  producers  will  have  all  their  stars 
and  favorites  present  every  day  for  the  film  fan  to 
meet  and  converse  with  ;  manufacturers  of  studio  and 
theater  equipment  and  supplies  will  exhibit  and  demon- 
strate their  best  productions  and  trade  conferences  or 
conventions  will  be  held  for  the  actors  and  actresses, 
the  manufacturers  of  equipment,  the  producers  of 
films  and  the  exhibitor  or  theater  owner  and  operator. 

A  motion  picture  studio  complete  in  every  up-to- 
the-minute  equipment  will  be  installed  in  Madison 
Square  Garden  and  photoplays  will  be  staged  and 
filmed  daily  to  give  the  public  this  peep  into  the  hid- 
den mysteries  of  the  studios  and  the  tricks  of  the  prop- 
erty man  and  his  producer. 


RALLY  TO  AID  ACTORS'  FUND 

Entire  Motion  Picture  Industry  Responds  to  Call  for 

$500,000  by  May  15— Theater  Owners  to 

Donate  Receipts 

The  campaign  to  raise  $500,000  by  May  15  for  the 
Actors'  Fund  of  America  has  been  responded  to  by 
the  allied  motion  picture  interests  of  the  entire  coun- 
try with  unprecedented  enthusiasm. 

Aaron  Jones  of  Chicago,  controlling  more  than 
sixty  theaters,  and  I!.  S.  Moss  of  New  York,  with 
twent]    theaters   under  his  management,  were  quick 

1o  follow  the  example  d  Marcus   Loew  in  volunteering 

to  donate  percentages  of  then-  receipts  on   March   15. 

Mr.  Jones  wmte  as  i,  ,11,  ,ws  : 


"Success  and  good  to  luck  to  this  enterprise.  It 
is  with  great  pleasure  that  I  donate  ten  per  cent  of 
the  gross  receipts  from  all  our  theaters  for  the  motion 
picture  campaign  for  the  Actors'  Fund  of  America  on 
National  Tribute  Day.  This  humanitarian  work  is  one 
that  demands  the  participation  of  the  general  public 
but  particularly  demands  our  interest.  I  want  to  see 
every  theater  in  the  United  States  engaged  eagerly 
and  enthusiastically  in  the  work  of  collecting  $500,000 
in  fifteen  weeks  and  I  feel  supremely  confident  that 
there  will  be  no  disappointment,  despite  the  magnitude 
of  the  undertaking.  Your  organization  plan  is  excel- 
lent and  you  will  get  the  co-operation  of  every  one  in 
the  film  business,  especially  exhibitors,  regardless  of 
any  business  rivalry,  because  this  object  is  so  noble. 
With  the  one  million  dollar  endowment  the  Actors' 
Fund  of  America  will  be  permanently  established  on 
the  sound  financial  basis  that  we  are  all  so  anxious 
to  see." 

Mr.  Moss  wrote  : 

"It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  I  offer  what  the- 
aters are  in  our  charge  for  the  National  Tribute  Day. 
Monday,  May  15.  I  believe  in  this  great  philanthropy 
and  I  think  the  results  will  be  immense  and  that  you 
will  get  the  $500,000  by  May  15.  Consider  me  heartily 
in  accord  with  all  the  men  in  the  film  business  who 
are  working  for  this  end.  I  will  do  the  best  I  can 
to  foster  and  promote  the  motion  picture  campaign 
for  the  Actors'  Fund  of  America." 

Individual  offerings  have  begun  to  reach  Com- 
modore J.  Stuart  Blackton,  treasurer,  at  the  office  of 
the  finance  committee  in  Locust  avenue,  Brooklyn. 

Every  one  of  the  20,000  playhouse  proprietors  will 
donate  a  share  of  receipts  to  the  fund  on  May  15,  the 
final  day  of  the  whirlwind  campaign  to  be  officially 
known  throughout  the  land  as  "National  Tribute  Day." 
But  many  exhibitors  have  been  unable  to  restrain  their 
impatience.  They  have  written  to  the  headquarters 
of  the  campaigners  at  30  East  Forty-second  street, 
New  York  City,  of  their  intention  to  make  May  15, 
a  momentously  notable  one,  but  not  content  with  the 
single  day  benefit  will  share  receipts  with  the  Actors' 
Fund  of  America  on  an  earlier  day  as  well. 

Ralph  Kettering  will  direct  the  Chicago  news- 
paper campaign.  Mr.  Kettering  is  general  publicity 
manager  for  Jones,  Linick  and  Schaefer. 

A  "National  Motion  Picture  Tag  Day"  is  the 
newest  scheme  planned  by  the  committee  in  charge  of 
the  fund  campaign.  The  date  has  not  yet  been 
selected.  On  that  day  the  public  will  have  the  un- 
usual privilege  of  seing  all  the  screen  stars  right  out 
in  the  open.  All  of  the  favorites  have  signified  their 
intentions  of  becoming  "taggers"  for  the  fund.  A 
delegation  of  the  prettiest  and  best  known  girls,  from 
each  studio  will  be  selected  for  the  purpose.  The 
public  will  be  given  opportunity  to  purchase  an  auto- 
graph photogravure  of  actors  and  actresses. 

Two  large  automobile  concerns  have  volunteered 
to  donate  touring  cars  to  be  used  in  the  campaign.  One 
will  be  given  as  a  prize  to  the  motion  picture  actor 
who  gives  the  largest  amount  to  the  cause.  The  sec- 
ond will  be  auctioned  off  at  one  of  the  numerous  bene- 
fits  being   planned. 

Charles  Chaplin  has  deposited  with  Samuel  Gold- 
fish a  check  for  $1,300.  half  of  the  amount  he  received 
for  appearing  at  the  Hippodrome.  New  York,  recently. 
This  sum  will  go  toward  the  fund  for  the  Actors' 
Fund  o!"  America.     The  balance  has  been  sent  to  Eng- 


March   11.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


What  Theater  Men  Are  Doing 


AN  OPEN  FORUM 


B 


ICAUSE  of  the  growing  feeling  among  modern 
showmen,  and  particularly  those  who  are  pre- 
senting motion  pictures,  that  all  will  benefit  if 
there  is  an  interchange  of  ideas,  many  letters  are  being 
received  by  Motography  that  are  of  value.  It  is  the 
purpose  of  this  paper  to  publish  as  many  of  these  as 
space  will  permit  in  the  hope  that  such  publication 
will  be  of  value  to  every  man  who  has  come  to  realize 
that  modern  picture  showmanship  means  more  than 
just  showing  pictures.  The  photoplays  must  be  pre- 
sented. 

These  film  dramas  are  being  staged,  and  well 
staged,  too.  It  might  surprise  some  of  the  managers 
of  the  large  city  theaters  if  they  attended  some  of  the 
small  town  houses.  They  might  get  inspiration  and 
ideas  from  the  so-called  "little  fellow."  He  is  giving 
his  people  a  show,  these  days,  and  trying  harder  and 
harder  to  give  them  a  better  show  each  day.  He  wants 
ideas,  too.  Every  progressive  man  in  the  business 
realizes  the  value  of  the  other  fellow's  experience. 
Therefore  each  theater  man  who  sends  his  views  and 
his  news  to  Motography  for  publication  in  some  form 
or  other  is  aiding  his  fellows. 

What  Gets  the  Money? 

By  Arthur  W.  Walker. 

Director    of    Publicity    and    Adrcrli-sina,    H.    L.     Walker    Circuit, 
Aberdeen,  S.   D. 

A  group  of  exhibitors  from  different  points  in 
Minnesota  and  the  Dakotas  chanced  to  meet  in  the  offices 
of  a  prominent  Min- 
neapolis film  ex- 
change recently. 
Among  them  was  my- 
self. Each  of  us  had 
but  one  object  in  view 
— to  obtain  the  best 
films  to  be  had. 

Among  the  exhib- 
itors was  a  man  who 
has  been  conducting  a 
motion  picture  thea- 
ter for  a  number  of 
years  and  who  is  sup- 
posed to  have  a  wide 
knowledge  of  the  bus- 
iness. Naturally  we 
began  to  talk  "shop" 
and  in  the  course  of 
our  conversation  a 
certain  feature  pro- 
duction was  dis- 
cussed. "I  didn't  like 
that  picture  ^at  all," 
said  he.  Replying  to  my  questions  as  to  whether  the 
feature  pleased  his  patrons  and  netted  him  a  profit,  he 
said :  "Yes,  they  liked  it  and  all  that,  but  I  didn't  like  it." 
The  result  of  this  discussion  was  that  I  called  the 
exhibitor's  attention  to  a  fact  that  opened  his  eyes  :  It  isn't 
what  pleases  you  and  I  as  exhibitors.  What  we  want  to 
know  is,  does  it  please  those  who  pay  their  money  to 
see  it? 

Numberless  are  the  elements  of  success  that  must 


be  employed  by  the  exhibitors.     Four  of  them  may  be 
called  the  prime  elements,  viz : 

1.  Find   out  what   your  patrons   want — then   GIVE 

IT  TO  THEM. 

2.  ADVERTISE.  Don't  use  stereotyped  stuff.  Don't 

elaborate  too  strong — it's  sickening.  Tell  them 
the  truth — and  in  a  way  that  they  can  under- 
stand. 

3.  CONDUCT    YOUR    THEATER    PROPERLY. 

Make  it  cheerful.  Give  them  good  music  and 
SEND  THEM  HOME  FEELING  GLAD 
THEY  CAME. 

4.  BE  COURTEOUS  AND  ACCOMMODATING. 

If  you  can't  smile  in  your  box  office  or  lobby, 
stay  in  the  office  and  shut  the  door.  See  that 
your  employes  do  likewise. 

There  are  no  fixed  rules  for  making  a  success  of  the 
motion  picture  business.  But  follow  these  four  little 
hints  and  see  if  they  wont  prove  a  magnet  for  the  small 
change.  Advertising  is  of  course  the  prime  element  of 
them  all,  though  I  have  not  listed  it  so  here.  Be  original. 
Don't  copy  everybody  else- — find  out  what  they  are  doing, 
then  improve  your  own  methods  by  the  other  fellow's 
example.  Write  your  ads  carefully,  and  make  your  copy 
legible.  Think  of  the  ad  compositor  once  in  a  while,  and 
you  wont  have  to  go  to  the  mat  with  the  poor  newspaper 
man  every  time  he  brings  your  bill. 

Keep  your  lobby  clean,  light  and  attractive.  It's  the 
first  impression  that  counts.  See  that  your  music  is  as  it 
should  be.  One  good  pianist  is  worth  a  bum  30-piece 
orchestra.  That's  what  Rothapfel  says  and  of  course 
S.  L.  is  right.  Poor  music  will  "kill"  the  best  picture  in 
the  world. 

The  Orpheum  theater  is  conducted  in  this  manner. 
Our  methods  have  brought  success  to  us.  I  never  lose 
an  opportunity  to  read  some  other  fellow's  ads  or  listen 
to  his  ideas.  That  is  how  I  learned  the  game.  Read  all 
you  can — get  a  few  new  ideas  and  put  'em  to  work.  You'll 
get  the  money. 

Twelve  years  ago  my  father,  H.  L.  Walker,  organ- 
ized the  Northwestern  Theatrical  Circuit,  including  at 
that  time  twenty  theaters  or  "opera  houses"  in  South 
Dakota.  From  the  start  the  circuit  was  a  success,  and 
grew  rapidly.  In  1906  the  name  was  changed  to  The  H. 
L.  Walker  Circuit  of  Theaters.  The  Walker  Circuit  now 
numbers  one  hundred  and  fifty  theaters  in  the  Dakotas, 
Minnesota,  Nebraska  and  Wyoming. 

Our  headquarters  are  at  Aberdeen,  S.  D.,  in  the 
Orpheum '  theater.  This  theater  was  opened  in  May, 
1913,  and  was  conducted  as  a  dramatic  house  until 
October,  1915,  at  which  time  we  concluded  to  try  feature 
film  productions  to  fill  up  dark  nights.  The  venture  was 
a  decided  success  in  every  respect.  We  are  using  V.  L. 
S.  E.  and  Equitable  productions,  interspersed  with  road 
attractions  and  an  occasional  independent  feature  booking. 

H.  L.  Walker  is  general  manager  of  the  Walker 
enterprises.  He  is  assisted  by  my  brother,  Howard  E. 
Walker,  and  myself. 

Each  of  us  has  a  separate  department.  I  am  in 
charge  of  publicity  and  advertising.  I  formerly  was  a 
newspaper  man  before  becoming  associated  with  my 
father.  I  am  editor  of  the  Orpheum  Herald,  the  house 
organ  of  the  theater  at  Aberdeen. 

My  brother  is  directing  the  photoplay  department. 
While  only  a  young  man,  having  but  recently  been  gradu- 


r7S 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  Xo.  11. 


ated  from  college,  he  is  proving  very  popular  in  his  man- 
agerial capacity. 

We  are  planning  some  "big  things"  in  the  way  of 
new  theaters  in  South  Dakota  cities,  details  of  which 
will  he  announced  later. 

Concentration  Success  Keynote 

By   Frederick  A.  Abbott 

(.Manager    of    the    Strand    theater,    Asheville,    N.    C.) 

Concentration  is  the  keynote  of  success.  Since 
the  Strand  theater  was  thrown  open  to  the  public  on 
August  2,  1915,  with  a  Metro  production,  it  has  en- 
joyed a  capacity  business  at  afternoon  and  evening 
performances. 

This  attendance  has  been  the  result  of  concentra- 
tion on  the  pan  of  all  the  theater's  employes  and  my- 
self, each  having  a  desire  to  perform  his  duties  in  keep- 
ing with  the  requirements  of  the  Strand. 

Asheville,  the  capitol  of  "The  Land  of  the  Sky," 
is  a  city  of  virtually  thirty-five  thousand  residents, 
and  in  addition  to  those  we  usually  have  about  seventy 
or  eighty  thousand  visitors  during  our  tourist  season. 
The  result  is  that  our  city  is  cosmopolitan  in  matters 
of  business  and  recreation. 

In  the  role  of  manager,  I  always  have  studied  the 
expression  of  our  patrons'  faces  as  they  were  leaving 
the  theater,  and  from  these  expressions  I  have  been 
guided  as  to  the  class  of  pictures  desired.  The  result 
has  been  that  our  program  today  is  composed  of  Tri- 
angle. Fox,  Metro  and  Equitable  productions. 

Idie  productions  of  today  are  not  merely  motion 
pictures,  but  works  of  art  and  as  music  and  art  go  hand 
in  hand,  it  is  essential  that  music  be  furnished,  and  not 
noise.  In  fact  music  that  is  not  appropriate  with 
the  theme  of  the  picture  will  cause  a  discord  that  is 
annoying  to  persons  of  taste  and  refinement.  To 
avoid  this  we  have  musicians  of  the  highest  ability  and 
to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  we  are  the  only  house  in 
this  section  of  the  country  that  furnishes  orchestra 
music  during  the  morning  performances.  This  move- 
ment was  inaugurated  in  order  that  the  musicians 
could  have  an  opportunity  to  cue  the  picture,  thus  be- 
ing fully  acquainted  with  the  changes  and  better  pre- 
pared to  play  appropriate  music  during  the  afternoon 
and  night  performances. 

I  have  always  given  my  personal  attention  to  the 
cleaning  of  the  theater.  In  fact  I  always  make  it  a 
rule  to  work  with  the  attendants  and  see  that  the  floor 
and  seats  are  not  dusted,  but  polished.     This,  of  course, 


WS     i  11! 
mm  f  i 

Scene  from  "The  End  of  His  Rope." — Vogue. 


takes  a  great  deal  of  time  and  labor,  but  the  apprecia- 
tion shown  by  the  patrons  certainly  pays  in  the  long 
run. 

Again,  I  personally  arrange  the  lobby  display  and 
from  experience  I  have  discovered  that  photographs 
displayed  attractively  are  the  best  medium  of  creating 
interest.  It  also  pays  to  advise  your  patrons  of  the 
stars  in  your  attractions.  This  we  accomplish  by  an- 
nouncing on  the  screen  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  star, 
rather  than  the  play,  and  by  the  distribution  of  maga- 
zines containing  our  weekly  program  and  also  articles 
written  especially  for  the  coming  week. 

The  Strand  also  requires  that  patrons  be  greeted 
by  ushers  in  full  dress.  Ushers  have  instructions  to  an- 
swer all  questions  politely,  but  under  no  circumstances 
to  become  too  familiar  with  any  one  or  indulge  in 
conversation  while  on  duty. 

Projection.  This  is  the  word  which  spells  suc- 
cess or  failure  and  the  operating  room  should  be  pro- 
vided with  every  requisite  necessity  to  produce  the 
best  light  on  the  screen.  Our  operators  are  skilled 
electricians  and  the  theater  is  illuminated  with  differ- 
ent color  schemes  and  by  throwing  the  switches  the 
lights  blend  with  the  colors  predominating  on  the 
screen.  This  produces  a  restful  effect  on  the  eyes  and 
our  patrons  are  kept  in  a  wonderful  state  of  mind. 

The  operating  room  is  equipped  with  both  direct 
and  alternating  current.  It  is  controlled  by  a  double 
throw  switch  which  insures  a  prompt  projection  should 
either  of  the  currents  fail. 

Another  important  matter  is  the  examination  of 
the  films  upon  arrival.  This  prevents,  to  a  certain  de- 
gree, the  pulling  apart  of  films  while  they  are  being- 
run.  By  rewinding  a  film  with  a  motor  drive,  the  film 
being  under  tension,  we  are  able  to  discover  weak 
joints  and  repair  them  before  putting  the  film  in  the 
machine,  with  the  result  that  we  seldom  break  a  film 
during  the  twelve-hour  run. 

The  chain  of  success  today  is  built  up  by  links. 
Details  form  the  individual  links.  The  chain  is  no 
stronger  than  the  weakest  of  its  links.  Consequently, 
it  behooves  motion  picture  managers  to  watch  care- 
fully these  links.  Otherwise  the  chain  is  in  grave 
danger  of  being  broken. 

The  big  links  will  demand  your  attention,  but  the 
little  links  have  to  be  hunted  and  if  you  wish  to  avoid 
trouble,  for  instance,  see  that  the  fixtures  and  circulat- 
ing fans  are  cleaned  and  that  all  other  work  that  has  a 
tendency  of  being  slighted  has  been  done.  Again,  see 
that  the  theater  atmosphere  is  properly  perfumed  after 
being  thoroughly  disinfected  and  see  that  the  ther- 
mometor  does  not  chase  up  and  down  the  glass. 

Now,   in   regard   to   doing  business   with    the   ex- 
change,  T   beg  to  state  that  my  relations   with   them 
always  have  been  pleasant,  for  the  following  reasons: 
First — I  have  one  day  for  returning  cuts,  slides, 
etc.,  and  always  see  that  they  are  returned  on  that 
specified  day. 

Second — We  have  a  certain  day  to  mail  out 
checks  and  by  being  prompt  in  this  matter  the  ex- 
change men  look  forward  to  the  date  of  arrival  of 
their  checks  without  fear  of  disappointment. 

Third — If  a  picture  or  advertising  matter  reaches 
me  in  bad  condition,  I  register  a  good,  healthy  kick, 
but  am  always  sure  to  enclose  a  reason  for  making 
the  kick,  otherwise  they  will  come  back  strong  and 
remember,  they  are  human,  and  will  be  glad  to  meet 
you  more  than  half  way  in  times  of  stress,  for  they 
appreciate  the  accounts  of  theaters  run  with  business 
methods. 
In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  state  that  the  successful 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


579 


theater  managers  of  today  must  be  progressive  and 
always  on  the  alert  for  information. 

Study  the  magazines.  Get  in  touch  with  your  ex- 
changes for  anything  new.  Experiment,  even  if  you 
lose  a  little  money.  Get  out  of  the  old  rut  and  make 
changes. 

Remember  one  thing,  people  of  today  want  some- 
thing new.  Show  your  patrons  that  you  are  a  "live 
wire."  They  will  appreciate  your  efforts  even  if  you 
fall  down  on  some  of  your  experiments.  Get  in  touch 
with  your  friends  and  find  out  what  the  people  think 
of  your  theater. 

The  above,  coupled  with  good,  steady,  conscien- 
tious efforts,  cannot  fail  to  make  your  record  spell : 
success. 

Finds  Goal  in  Two  Years 

By  V.  D.  Caldwell 

(Owner    and   manager,    Majestic    theater,    Billings,    Montana.) 

I  feel  that  I  have  made  quite  a  success  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  business  in  Billings  and  at  the  present 
time  I  own  and  manage  the  Majestic  theater,  which  is 
the  largest  and  most  commodious  motion  picture  the- 
ater in  the  city. 

I  entered  the  motion  picture  field  _  scarcely  two 
years  ago  when  in  partnership  with  a  friend  I  opened 
the  Regent  theater,  running  a  straight  feature  pro- 
gram. The  Regent,  named  by  us,  was  the  old  Acme 
theater  and  had  been  a  hoodoo  for  at  least  a  half  a 
dozen  different  managers.  We  were  so  successful 
that  out  of  our  earnings  we  were  able  to  build  the 
Majestic,  with  an  investment  of  about  $12,000. 

Not  long  ago  I  split  up  with  my  partner,  he  taking 
the  Regent  and  I  the  Majestic.  Since  then  I  have  made 
some  extensive  improvements  in  the  Majestic  and 
am  satisfied  that  I  have  the  best  motion  picture  theater 
in  Billings,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  625. 

The  Majestic  booth  has  been  pronounced  by  the 
inspector  for  the  state  board  of  fire  underwriters  to 
be  the  best  operating  booth  in  the  state  of  Montana. 
Am  using  two  Simplex  machines,  and  run  a  straight 
feature  program  with  single  reel  fillers. 

I  insist  on  good  music  and  have  a  four-piece  or- 
chestra regularly  and  extras  when  occasion  demands. 
I  have  the  reputation  for  the  best  music  in  the  city 
and  can  say  that  my  service  is  in  keeping  with  any 
of  them. 

Business  has  been  good  with  me,  although  there 
is  plenty  of  competition.  The  severe  winter  has  set 
us  back  a  little. 

Studies  Desires  of  Patrons 

By  Carol  A.  Nathan,  Manager. 
(The  Actograph  Theater,  Sacramento,  Cal.) 

As  manager  of  one  of  the  most  progressive  motion 
picture  theaters  in  Sacramento,  I  attribute  what  suc- 
cess I  have  earned  as  an  exhibitor  to  a  close  study  of 
the  wants  and  desires  of  the  people  who  come  to  see 
my  shows  every  day. 

We  aim  to  give  them  just  what  they  want  in  the 
way  of  motion  picture  attractions  and  music.  I  have 
made  it  a  strict  rule  among  myself  and  employes  to 
specialize  on  politeness.  And  I  have  found  that  it 
pays  in  many  respects.  This  rule  applies  to  the  usher 
as  well  as  the  owner  of  the  theater. 

At  all  times  we  try  to  make  our  patrons  feel  at 
home.  Every  convenience  possible  has  been  added 
to  the  itinerary  of  the  theater. 


We  change  our  program  three  times  a  week,  using 
first  run  service  of  the  World,  Equitable,  V.  L.  S.  E., 
with  General  Film  "fillers." 

We  use  an  American  Fotoplayer  organ  and  have 
found  it  to  be  very  satisfactory. 


Lesser  Books  Feature  Direct 

The  method  adopted  by  Sol.  L.  Lesser  in  market- 
ing the  Selig  ten-act  screen  version  of  Rex  Beach's 
"The  Ne'er-do-well,"  is  an  innovation  in  the  handling 
of  big  feature  attractions. 

Heretofore  the  manufacturer  has  released  his  pic- 
ture through  a  chain  of  offices  and  distributing  points 
working  large  numbers  of  prints.  Mr.  Lesser  is  mak- 
ing bookings  direct  to  the  exhibitor  from  his  New 
York  office.  Through  this  arrangement  protection  is 
given  to  big  theaters  which  play  this  attraction  so 
that  they  can  increase  their  prices  without  fear  that 
competitive  houses  will  advertise  the  attraction  as 
"coming." 

A  special  publicity  department  has  been  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  working  directly  with  the  big  the- 
aters as  soon  as  bookings  are  made.  Newspaper  pub- 
licity that  reaches  the  public  is  largely  utilized.  Very 
little  territory  has  been  disposed  of  on  the  state  rights 
basis.  Territory  is  being  sold  only  when  offers  of 
sufficient  monetary  value  to  justify  the  disposing  of 
territory  rather  than  exhibitors'  rights. 

William  Patch  of  the  Pitt  theater,  Pittsburgh,  has 
just  booked  "The  Ne'er-do-well"  for  two  weeks  or 
longer.  Mr.  Patch  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
progressive  exhibitors  in  the  country  and  is  very  well 
known  through  his  fight  with  the  censors  in  obtaining 
the  freedom  of  the  motion  picture  on  the  screen. 

Sol.  L.  Lesser  has  closed  a  deal  with  John  Cort 
whereby  "The  Ne'er-do-well"  will  play  an  indefinite 
engagement  at  the  Cort  theater  in  Atlantic  City. 


Gets  "Happy  Family"  Film  Rights 

Samuel  S.  Hutchinson,  president  of  the  American 
Film  Company,  Incorporated,  has  obtained  the  film 
rights  for  his  "Happy  Family"  stories.  The  tales  are 
from  the  pen  of  B.  M.  Bowers  and,  according  to  re- 
ports, are  exceptionally  adaptable  to  film  presentation. 
"Curlew  Corliss,"  the  first  of  the  "Happy  Family" 
series,  was  to  be  released  in  the  Mutual  Service  on 
March  4,  as  a  three-reel  American  "Mustang"  feature. 
Art  Acord,  the  noted  "Buck  Parvin,"  Nita  Davis,  a 
new  American  star,  Lawrence  Ross  Peyton,  Dixie 
Stratton  and  a  host  of  other  American  favorites,  will 
appear  in  "Curlew  Corliss"  and  in  the  other  "Happy 
Family"  productions  which  the  American  company 
will  film  during  the  coming  months. 


Chaplin  Has  a  Narrow  Escape 

Yellow  journalism,  which  has  put  Charlie  Chaplin 
in  his  grave  a  score  of  times  and  figured  him  seriously 
injured  or  dying  about  as  many  times,  missed  a  golden 
opportunity  last  week.  Charlie  was  riding  in  an  auto- 
mobile with  Clifford  B.  Harmon,  president  of  the 
Mirror  Films,  Inc.,  and  William  C.  Toomey,  general 
manager  of  the  firm.  As  the  car  turned  to  enter  the 
grounds  of  the  home  of  Commodore  E.  C.  Benedict  at 
Greenwich,  it  skidded  and  turned  turtle.  While  Chap- 
lin wasn't  seriously  hurt,  he.  was  badly  shaken  up.  It 
was  a  narrow  escape  for  the  entire  party,  none  of 
whom  was  badly  hurt. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


PRODUCES  BUSINESS  FILMS 

Pyramid  Motion  Picture  Company  Uses  Whole  Cast 

of  Players  in  Advertising,  Industrial,  Educa- 
tional and  Commercial  Work 

The  Pyramid  Motion  Picture  Company,  with 
studios  in  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  is  producing  industrial, 
educational,  scenic  advertising  and  commercial  mo- 
tion pictures.  J.  j.  Hayes  is  the  president  of  the  com- 
pany. L.  ( ).  Wakefield  is  vice-president  and  leading 
man.  Miss  Peggy  Worth,  formerly  a  vaudevillian,  is 
the  leading  woman.  The  camera  work  falls  to  J.  H. 
Slade  who  also  holds  the  executive  role  of  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  concern. 

The  Pyramid  company  has  produced  "The  Inner 
Alan,"  two  reels,  featuring  Miss  May  Godfrey,  and 
"Who  Wins?"  one-reel,  featuring  "The  Human  Fly." 
In  this  picture  H.  H.  Gardiner  earned  his  "Fly"  title  by 
a  daring  climb  to  the  top  of  the  Jefferson  Hotel,  the 
largest  hotel  in  St.  Louis. 

Mis^  Elizabeth  Marsh  is  expected  to  join  the 
Pyramid  forces  within  the  next  few  weeks. 

The  entire  cast  is  used  in  the  advertising  and 
industrial  pictures.  Mr.  Hayes,  the  company's  presi- 
dent, writes  that  he  believes  he  has  incorporated  a 
novel  feature  in  working  all  the  players  in  publicity 
reels.     He  writes : 

"We  use  the  portable  lights,  which  can  be  used  in 
any  resident  or  business  house.  Our  prices  for  ex- 
terior pictures  or  scenes  are  50  cents  per  foot  and 
interiors  85  cents  per  foot.  I  do  not  think  there  is 
another  concern  like  ours  in  the  country.  We  do  not 
con  line  our  business  to  this  immediate  locality,  but  go 
anywhere  in  the  United  States." 


Paramount  Aids  "Better  Babies" 

The  aid  of  motion  pictures  has  been  invoked  in 
the  nation-wide  fight  to  have  every  mother  receive 
the  proper  aid,  trustworthy  information  about  the 
nature  and  care  of  young  babies  and  during  the  com- 
ing three  months  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation, 
through  its  latest  medium,  the  Paramount  Pictographs, 
the  "Magazine  on  the  Screen,"  a  special  department 
will  advance  the  movement  for  better  babies. 

This  work  is  being  done  in  co-operation  with  the 
National  Federation  of  Woman's  Clubs  of  the  United 
Mates  and  the  children's  bureau  of  the  Department  of 
Labor,  at  Washington. 

During  the  week  of  March  4-11,  the  Woman's  Club 
in  each  community  will  hold  "Better  Babies  Week." 
The  country  has  been  flooded  with  literature  by  the 
children's  bureau.  The  Paramount  Pictographs  have 
given  over  to  this  movement  a  section  of  their  maga- 
zine, the  material  being  prepared  by  the  eminent 
infant  specialsit,  Dr.  Rodger  Denett  of  New  York. 
'The  picture-  are  being  ediled  by  the  Woman's  Home 
Companion. 


New  Ivan  Feature  in  Making 
The  next  Feature  production  to  be  made  by  the 
Pan  Film  Company  will  be  "The  City  of  Illusion." 
a  six-reel  drama  which  has  been  written  by  Ivan 
Abramson,  the  versatile  author  of  former  Pan  SUC- 
cesses.  Expensive  and  elaborate  settings  are  being 
prepared  in  the  [van  studio  For  the  new  production 
on     which    work     will    be    started    at    once.       Director 


General  Abramson  has  engaged  Bradley  Barker  as  the- 
lead.  Mr.  Barker  has  an  enviable  record  as  a  screen 
performer,  having  appeared  in  Famous  Players, 
Tvalem.  Fox  and  other  feature  productions  and  is  best 
remembered  as  having  been  leading  man  in  support 
of  Mme.  Olga  Petrova.  Paula  Shay,  star  of  former 
Pan  productions  and  a  great  screen  favorite,  also  has 
been  engaged  for  the  feature  film. 


Melba  and  Aids  Visit  Studio 

Madam  Nellie  Melba,  noted  operatic  star,  and  a 
party  of  six,  recently  were  entertained  at  the  Fine 
Arts-Triangle  California  studios.  In  the  party  were 
George  Armstrong,  Madam  Melba's  son  and  his  wife; 
Mile.  Ada  Bassoli,  celebrated  harpist,  her  mother  and 
Frank  Leger. 

Harry  E.  Aitken,  president  of  the  Triangle  Cor- 
poration, escorted  the  guests  through  the  Fine  Arts 
studio.  Pie  was  assisted  in  the  entertainment  by 
Frank  E.  W^oods,  manager  of  production,  and  J.  A. 
Barry,  personal  representative  of  David  W.  Griffith. 
Madam  Melba  and  her  party  witnessed  De  Wolf  Hop- 
per. Fay  Tincher  and  Edward  Dillon  playing  in  a 
scene  of  "The  Philanthropist,"  and  then  were  taken  to 
a  Russian  scene  which  Director  Cabanne  was  staging 
with  Lillian  Gish,  Frank  Bennett  and  A.  D.  Sears. 
The  party  expressed  great  interest  in  everything  they 
saw  and  declared  they  had  "an  immense  time." 


Vitagraph  Begins  3 1  -reel  Serial 

"The  Secret  Kingdom,"  a  thirty-one  reel  Blue 
Ribbon  serial,  has  taken  Director  Marston  and  a  com- 
pany of  Vitagraph  players  to  San  Antonio,  Texas. 
The  cost  of  the  film,  it  is  reported,  will  approximate 
$250,000.  At  least  one-fourth  of  the  work  in  connec- 
tion with  the  staging  of  the  photo-play  will  be  done  in 
San  Antonio  and  the  immediate  vicinity. 

The  San  Antonio  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  as- 
sured Director  Marston  of  its  co-operation  and  that 
of  all  of  the  city's  interests.  A  campaign  by  that 
business  organization  was  started  with  a  view  to  in- 
ducing- big  motion  picture  concerns  to  come  to  San 
Antonio. 

Charles  Richman,  who  was  starred  in  "The  Battle 
Cry  of  Peace,"  will  play  the  principal  role  in  "The 
Secret  Kingdom."  The  cast  includes  Arline  Pretty. 
Dorothy  Kelly,  Joseph  Kilgour,  Ned  Finley,  Robert 
Whitworth  and  William  E.  Dunn. 


Seek  Writ  Against  Railroads 

A  complaint  has  been  filed  by  the  Film  Exchange 
Board  of  Trade  with  the  Railroad  Commission  against 
the  Southern  Pacific,  Santa  Fe.  Western  Pacific, 
Northwestern  Pacific,  San  Pedro  and  Salt  Lake  rail- 
roads, asking  lor  an  order  preventing  the  defendants 
from  prohibiting  motion  picture  films  being  carried  in 
passenger  and  baggage  cars.  The  complainants  de- 
clare that  during  the  last  twenty  years  a  million  films 
for  motion  pictures  have  been  transported  on  common 
carriers.  It  is  asserted  that  in  all  those  years  there 
is  no  record  of  any  accident,  lire,  explosion  or  other 
casualty  as  a  result.  Severe  financial  loss  and  injury 
to  the  motion  picture  trade  would  result  from  these 
regulations,  the  complaint  say^.  The  minimum  cost 
■  if  shipment  at  the  present  time  on  one  reel  to  an 
exhibitor  in  an  authorized  shipping  case  is  25  cents. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Equitable  Offers  Three-Star  Features 


FEATURE  RELEASE  IN  APRIL 


MURIEL  OSTRICHE,  Edna  Wallace  Hopper 
and  Charles  J.  Ross  will  comprise  the  first 
three-star  production  to  be  created  by  the 
Equitable  Motion  Pictures  Corporation.  It  will  be 
released  on  the  World  Film  Program  early  in  April. 
The  piece  is  Channing  Pollock  and  Rennold  Wolf's 
virile  dramatic  concoction,  "Who  Killed  Simon  Baird?" 

In  this  picture  Miss  Ostriche  will  make  her  third 
appearance  with  Equitable,  her  former  vehicles,  "A 
Daughter  of  the  Sea,"  and  "A  Circus  Romance,"  having 
firmly  established  her.  Charles  J.  Ross  is  now  a 
seasoned  screen  player,  having  appeared  in  several 
other  productions,  including  "The  Senator,"  for 
Triumph-Equitable. 

Edna  Wallace  Hopper  is  debuting  in  "Who  Killed 
Simon  Baird?"  but  before  being  contracted  for  by 
Equitable,  or  before  she  would  accept  the  present  en- 
gagement, Miss  Hopper  spent  several  days  at  the 
Equitable  studio  and  proved  by  means  of  exhaustive 
tests  that  her  features  were  well  adapted  to  screen 
work. 

Rennold  Wolf  and  Channing  Pollock,  authors  of 
"Who  Killed  Simon  Baird?"  are  said  to  have  been 
responsible  for  five  Broadway  hits.  Pollock  created 
"The  Pit,"  "Such  a  Little  Queen,"  "The  Little  Grey 
Lady,"  "A  Game  of  Hearts,"  "Secret  Orchard"  and 
"The  Traitor"  and  in  collaboration  with  Rennold  Wolf, 
wrote  "My  Best  Girl,"  "The  Beauty  Doctor,"  and  "The 
Quaker  Girl."  Mr.  Wolf  is  the  dramatic  editor  of  the 
New  York  Morning  Telegraph. 

The  blending  of  stage  and  screen  personalities 
again  is  seen  in  the  placing  of  Miss  Ostriche,  Mr. 
Ross  and  Miss  Hopper  in  the  one  production  and  the 
new  policy  of  allowing  the  film,  sales,  advertising, 
publicity,  service  and  executive  staffs  to  aid  in  the 
selection  of  subjects,  it  is  reported,  is  beginning  to  bear 
fruit. 

James  Durkin,  who  was  responsible  for  Equitable's 
production  of  "The  Clarion,"  is  staging  "Who  Killed 
Simon  Baird?"  and  has  been  busily  engaged  recently 
securing  locations  and  assembling  supporting  casts. 
The  interiors  will  be  made  in  the  Fifty-second  street 
studio,  New  York  City. 

This  has  been  a  busy  season  for  Miss  Frances 
Marion,  editor  and  chief  of  the  World  Film  Corpora- 
tion's scenario  department.  Miss  Marion  now  is  work- 
ing on  six  photoplay  productions,  which  are  in  the 
course  of  construction. 

Miss  Marion  recently  completed  "The  Feast  of 
Life,"  in  which  Clara  Kimball  Young  is  now  working 
at  Havana,  Cuba,  under  the  direction  of  Albert 
Capellani  and  "Love's  Heaven  and  Hell,"  in  which 
Holbrook  Blinn  is  to  co-star  with  Frances  Nelson,  and 
under  direct  orders  from  William  A.  Brady,  Miss 
Marion  is  writing  "The  Eternal  Sacrifice,"  in  which 
Alice  Brady,  daughter  of  the  well  known  producer, 
will  appear,  following  the  completion  of  "Then  I'll 
Come  Back  to  You,"  in  which  she  is  now  working  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  Frohman  Amusement  Corpora- 
tion. Miss  Martin  also  is  working  on  "The  Heart  of  a 
Savage,"  and  "The  Eyes  of  the  Soul,"  specially  for 
Clara  Kimball  Young  and  in  which  Miss  Young  will 


appear  following  her  present  production,  "The  Feast 
of  Life."  Miss  Marion  expects  to  begin  work  early  in 
April  on  an  elaborate  film  play  for  Gail  Kane. 

Miss  Marion  began  her  film  career  as  an  extra 
girl  in  Mary  Pickford's  company,  when  Miss  Pickford 
was  working  on  the  coast  and  she  and  Miss  Pickford 
became  great  friends  and  her  first  scenario  was  a  story 
in  which  Miss  Pickford  played  under  the  direction  of 
the  Famous  Players  Film  Company.  She  later  wrote 
several  scenarios  in  which  Miss  Pickford  and  Pauline 
Frederick  were  featured. 

Fourteen  weeks  already  have  been  consumed  in 
the  making  of  Gail  Kane's  forthcoming  feature,  "Her 
God."  Eleven  weeks  of  this  time  were  spent  on  the 
deserts  of  Arizona  and  Mexico  and  three  weeks  on 
construction  of  ancient  adobe  villages  and  huts  which 
were  not  procurable  even  in  Northern  Mexico. 

The  disturbed  condition  of  affairs  prevented  Miss 
Kane  and  her  company  from  going  to  Guadlajahara, 
Mexico,  into  the  heart  of  the  Yaquis  country,  so  that 
a  number  of  primeval  adobe  huts  and  shacks  had  to 
be  constructed  and  time  was  lost  waiting  for  the  sun 
to  do  its  part  in  drying  them. 

Miss  Kane,  accompanied  by  Merlin  Hamilton, 
eight  female  and  six  male  principals,  her  director  and 
the  usual  camera  crews,  left  New  York  early  in  No- 
vember for  Jerome,  Arizona.  Upon  the  very  edge 
of  Death  Valley,  in  the  heart  of  the  dreaded  American 
desert,  they  worked  for  ten  weeks.  Hundreds  of 
Mexican  vaqueros,  typical  ranch  men  and  women,  and 
enough  nondescripts  to  populate  a  village,  were  en- 
gaged and  a  most  picturesque  film  began. 

Throughout  the  play  of  "Her  God,"  Miss  Kane 
plays  the  part  of  an  Indian  girl.  The  production  is  in 
no  way  a  western  one,  other  than  the  environment  and 
atmosphere  made  necessary  owing  to  the  peculiar  con- 
struction of  the  scenario.  During  the  taking  of  the 
scenes  in  Arizona  and  Northern  Mexico,  the  company 
traveled  several  hundred  miles  either  by  train  or  by 
caravan.  Upon  one  of  these  trips  to  a  location  in  the 
foothills,  the  entire  company,  numbering  more  than 
two  hundred,  were  overtaken  by  a  violent  blizzard, 
were  forced  to  take  refuge  in  a  ranch  house  and  were 
virtually  given  up  for  lost. 

It  will  require  three  more  weeks  to  complete  the 
interiors,  ninety  sets  being  necessary  for  the  elaborate 
production.  April  3  is  the  release  date  of  "Her  God." 
H.  R.  Durant  is  responsible  for  the  story. 


Jack  Eaton  Becomes  a  Producer 

Jack  Eaton,  manager  of  the  travel  series  depart- 
ment of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  since  its 
inception  fifteen  months  ago,  has  associated  himself 
with  C.  L.  Chester,  Inc.,  in  the  production  of  advertis- 
ing and  industrial  motion  pictures. 

Mr.  Eaton,  while  connected  with  the  Paramount 
organization,  handled  the  expedition  of  cameramen 
in  South  America  where  for  a  period  of  twelve  months 
pictures  were  taken  of  every  interesting  spot  on  the 
continent.  Thirty-nine  travel  releases  were  issued  by 
Paramount  as  the  result  of  this  expedition,  and  the 


582 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


interest  that  they  have  created  throughout  the  country 
has  received  exceptionally  praiseworthy  comment. 

It  was  through  Mr.  Eaton's  wide  knowledge  of 
the  countries  of  South  America  that  many  of  the 
unique  portions  of  the  continent  were  photographed, 
making  the  pictures  not  alone  an  entertaining  medium 
of  real  worth  but  attractive  from  a  historical,  geo- 
graphical and  educational  standpoint  as  well. 

Prior  to  Mr.  Eaton's  decision  to  enter  the  produc- 
ing field,  he  was  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the 
affiliation  between  Paramount  and  Burton  Holmes,  the 
world's  greatest  travel  lecturer,  all  of  whose  wonder- 
ful travel  motion  pictures  are  now  released  exclusively 
on  the  Paramount  program. 


With  the  Jonses"  upon  the  split-reel  with  Gaumont's 
"See  America  First"  series,  a  Mutual  weekly  release. 

"The  Gaumont  company  was  the  first  to  animate 
the  news  of  the  day  in  humorous  fashion,"  Mr.  Palmer 
said  recently,  "and  it  was  only  to  meet  conditions  that 
we  changed  to  'Keepin's  Up  With  the  Jonses.'  The 
situation  has  developed  along  the  lines  we  originally 
planned,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  that  now  I  am  returning 
to  my  first  work  in  the  animated  field.  Being  the 
father  of  these  animated  news  cartoons,  naturally  I 
am  delighted  to  find  that  we  are  to  make  them  again. 

"The  first  of  the  new  series  will  be  released  by  Mu- 
tual on  February  27.  The  work  upon  them  is  progress- 
ing rapidly  at  the  Gaumont  studios  in  Flushing." 


Lubin  Presents  Moral  Plays 

The  Lubin  company  points  to  "The  Uplift,"  "The 
Repentant,"  "A  Song  from  the  Heart,"  "At  the  Doors 
of  Doom"  and  "A  Change  of  Heart,"  late  releases,  in 
asserting  that  it  is  not  the  concern's  policy  to  cater 
to  the  morbid  and  abnormal  mind. 

Lubin  scouts  recently  had  a  difficult  time  obtain- 
ing "a  rooster  that  would  crow  at  the  right  time." 
The  bird  was  needed  for  a  "dawn"  scene  in  "The  Fires 
of  St.  John."  When  the  rooster  finally  was  obtained, 
it  held  off  on  the  "peep"  until  the  camera  men  were 
plenty  peeved. 

Melvin  Mayo,  portraying  the  role  of  Otto  Ritter, 
a  struggling  musician,  in  "A  Song  from  the  Heart," 
was  forced  to  eat  heartily  recently  in  a  dinner  scene. 
After  the  forced  meal,  he  confessed  to  the  director  that 
his  physician  had  ordered  him  on  a  diet.  Instead  of 
serious  consequences,  however,  Mr.  Mayo's  health  im- 
proved. 


Gaumont  Resumes  Cartoon  Series 

Harry  Palmer,  screen  cartoonist,  is  to  devote  the 
entire  time  of  his  Gaumont  staff  to  the  making  of  ani- 
mated cartoons  which  are  humorous  reflections  upon 
the  news  of  the  day.     This  will  replace  "Keepin'  Up 


Graduates  of  West  Point  stationed  in  the  Canal 
Zone  have  been  loaned  the  use  of  the  Burton  Holmes 
pictures  of  West  Point  as  a  special  feature  for  their 
reunion  Avhich  is  to  take  place  next  month.  Early  this 
month  Mr.  Holmes  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  James 
A.  Moss,  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Infantry  U.  S.  A.,  asking 
if  it  would  be  possible  to  secure  the  films  showing  the 
life  of  the  academy,  and  by  arrangement  with  the  Para- 
mount Features  Corporation,  through  whom  all  of 
Mr.  Holmes'  motion  pictures  are  now  being  released, 
the  request  of  the  former  cadets  will  be  granted.  Mr. 
Holmes'  pictures  show  all  of  the  phases  of  cadet 
life,  including  study,  drill  and  play,  and  give  a  wonder- 
ful reproduction  of  the  academy  itself  with  its  fine 
buildings,  drill  halls,  mess  hall,  parade  grounds,  Flirta- 
tion walk,  the  old  reminiscences  of  revolutionary  days, 
and  even  glimpses  of  the  serving  room  during  the  Sun- 
day dinner,  when  hundreds  of  roast  chickens  and  gal- 
lons of  ice  cream  are  served  to  the  future  generals. 
Another  equally  fine  set  of  Paramount-Burton  Holmes 
pictures  of  the  Naval  Academy  will  also  be  sent  to  the 
former  cadets. 


Miss  Marie  Doro,'  popular  screen  star,  having 
completed  her  last  production  for  the  Famous  Players 
Film  Company — a  picturization  of  "Diplomacy" — 
soon  will  join  the  Lasky  forces  in  the  west. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


583. 


Fil 


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ms  r  acmg  i  wo 

REFORM  AND  SALOON 


oes 


THE  motion  picture  industry  is  in  the  thick  of  a 
merry  war,  with  the  saloon,  fighting  with  a  well 
defined  motive  on  one  side,  and  the  church,  a  blind 
tool  for  its  worst  enemy,  on  the  other.  Federal  cen- 
sorship is  the  issue. 

The  motion  picture  has  been  a  thorn  in  the  side 
of  the  saloon  for  years.  Now,  apparently,  the  liquor 
men  consider  the  situation  as  precarious. 

The  attitude  of  reformers  and  certain  churches  is 
obvious.  In  their  campaign  against  the  so-called  ob- 
jectionable films,  the  church  and  reformers  uninten- 
tionally have  lined  up  with  the  saloon,  their  oldest  an- 
tagonist. 

The  motion  picture  industry  has  no  differences 
with  the  saloon  nor  reformers,  yet  it  must  protect  itself 
against  any  hostile  advance  on  the  part  of  either. 

Why  did  the  saloon  declare  war  on  motion  pic- 
tures? 

Census  figures  show  that  18,000,000  persons  in 
in  the  United  States  witness  a  film  performance  every 
day.  These  same  figures  will  inform  you  that  the 
male  attendance  at  motion  picture  exhibitions  has  in- 
creased steadily  during  the  last  two  or  three  years. 
Men  who  formerly  frequented  saloons  now  find  solace 
and  logical  diversion  at  a  film  theatre.  Men  go  home 
from  work  now,  looking  forward  to  an  evening's  en- 
tertainment before  the  screen.  The  saloons  have  been 
hit,  and  hit  hard. 

You  may  inquire :  Why  is  the  church  an  enemy 
of  the  screen?  It  is  not  an  enemy,  in  the  sense  of  the 
word,  but  an  obstacle,  brought  into  evidence  by  time- 
word  religious  traditions  and,  possibly,  by  a  few  nar- 
row-minded clergy.  If  the  motion  picture  industry 
must  look  upon  both  the  saloon  and  the  church  as 
foes,  it  must  recognize  the  strength,  the  aims  of  each. 

The  liquor  trade  reflects  its  attitude  unmistakably. 
It  is  a  fighting  unit  with  every  one  of  its  soldiers 
trained  and  loyal. 

The  church  unquestionably  is  split  on  the  ques- 
tion of  films  in  general.  Some  churches  are  out-and- 
out  foes  of  motion  pictures  of  any  description.  Oth- 
ers make  exceptions,  endorse  some  and  condemn 
some  films.  Still  others  are  the  strongest  advocates 
of  the  industry,  point  out  the  wealth  of  good  it  has 
accomplished,  its  benefits,  its  educational  instructive 
value. 

For  instance,  let  us  point  to  the  Rev.  Christan  F. 
Reisner,  pastor  of  the  Grace  M.  E.  Church  of  New 
York  City.    Here  are  his  views : 

"The  motion  picture  is  a  valuable  asset  to  the 
church.  Eye-gates  let  in  valuable  information.  The 
stereopticon  has  been  for  years  a  valuable  helper  of 
the  church  and  Sunday  school.  Everyone  ha~s  a  more 
vivid  picture  of  conditions  when  the  life  is  reproduced 
in  actual  motion.  If  there  is  no  objection  to  a  stereop- 
ticon, there  can  be  none  to  motion  pictures  for  they 
are  individual  pictures,  simply  run  through  faster  than 
when  the  stereopticon  is  used. 

"Wesley  college  would  not  permit  a  musical  in- 
strument in  the  church;  some  are  still  shocked  by  the 
use  of  the  orchestra.  Hugh  Price  Hughes  got  a  hear- 
ing in  London  with  a  brass  band    which    he    utilized 


when  he  opened  St.  James  Hall.  Motion  pictures  at- 
tract, but  they  also  teach.  If  there  is  no  intrinsic  harm. 
in  them,  we  are  foolish  to  refuse  their  use.  Children 
have  few  pleasures  in  a  great  city.  To  give  them  hap- 
piness is  to  bring  them  nearer  to  God.  If  we  have  the 
lads  in  a  church,  they  will  not  fear  it  but  it  will  place 
itself  in  the  center  of  their  affection  because  it  brought 
them  happinness. 

"Professor  Wirt  is  installing  motion  pictures  in 
all  schools  under  the  Gary  system.  The  auditorium  is 
utilized  all  day  by  different  classes  who  look  upon  the 
things  they  have  studied  in  books  and  see  them  moving 
in  actual  life.  City  children  see  little  chicks  growing, 
cows  feeding  and  being  milked,  plant  life  developing 
and  a  thousand  other  things  which  otherwise  would 
be  absolutely  foreign  to  them. 

"Why  should  the  church  hesitate  to  use  motion, 
pictures  to  teach  religion,  such  as  is  done  by  "From 
Manger  to  the  Cross'?  Why  should  the  church  fail 
to  supply  entertainment  by  utilizing  the  best  drama 
and  other  feature  reels  which  reproduce  great  litera- 
ture ? 

"Many  of  the  great  companies  which  make  reels- 
are  organizing  educational  departments.  Every  new 
church  now  erected  is  being  fitted  to  show  motion 
pictures." 

Only  recently  a  liquor  association  filed  a  protest,, 
charging  that  motion  pictures,  in  which  an  attack  on 
the  saloon  was  interpreted,  were  subsidized,  that  they 
had  been  prepared  aUd  paid  for  by  "an  interested 
party." 

In  the  resolutions,  unanimously  adopted  at  the 
twenty-third  annual  conference  of  the  National  Retail 
Liquor  Dealers'  Association  at  Washington,  D.  C.,. 
there  appeared  the  following: 

Another  unfair  and  dishonest  advantage  that  is  being  perpe- 
trated upon  the  liquor  business  is  that  of  the  moving  picture 
industry.  In  the  vast  majority  of  displays  of  moving  picture 
films  portraying  conditions  surrounding  the  retail  liquor  trade 
preposterously     untruthfully     magnified     by     those 


operators  who  are  paid  vast  sums  by  the  opposition  __ 
ness  for  the  purpose  of  developing  in  an  unreasonable  degre 
untruthfulness,  displays  of  scenes  of  actual  occurrences  in  le 
mate  bar  rooms 
Whi 


of 


h  displays  have  had  its  misleading  effects  upon 
me  mind  of  the  public,  particularly  that  of  the  women  and  chil- 
dren, we  realize  how  much  sentiment  and  damage  could  be  de- 
veloped  through    this    system,    and 

Whereas,  we  believe  that  the  vast  majority  of  moving  picture 
show  house  proprietors  are  indifferent  and  fail  to  realize  the 
injustice  perpetrated  upon  our  business  by  displays  of  a  radical 
character,  and  who,  if  rightfully  informed  would  no  doubt  dis- 
courage the  untruthful   and  unreal   exhibition  of  such  films. 

And  so  the  war  goes  on,  only  to  end  when  the- 
question  of  federal  censorship  has  been  decided  once 
for  all.  Its  victory  or  defeat,  however,  will  not  mate- 
rially affect  the  motion  picture  industry  as  a  whole. 


Selig  Clings  to  Short  Films 

The  old  argument  of  the  worth  of  the  one-reel 
photoplay  is  again  the  subject  of  much  discussion. 
Certain  film  manufacturers  continue  to  voice  the  opin- 
ion that  short  length  films  are  doomed  -while  others 
vehemently  assert  that  the  one  and  two-reel  photo- 
plays will  always  be  indispensable  to  a  well-balanced' 
program. 

William  N.  Selig,  president  of  the  Selig  Polyscope 
Company,  is  one  prominent  film  manufacturer  who  has- 


584 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


staunchly  held  to  his  ideas  of  the  worth  of  photoplays 
in  one  reel.  While  it  is  true  that  the  Selig  company 
is  noted  for  its  spectacular  dramas,  yet  Mr.  Selig  has 
never  permitted  his  single  reel  productions  to  suffer 
and  has  gone  right  ahead  releasing  one-reel  photoplays 
while  others  have  eliminated  this  class  of  film  from 
their  programs. 

That  Mr.  Selig's  policy  was  a  far-sighted  one  is 
shown  by  the  recent  revival  of  one-reel  photoplays  and 
the  statements  of  several  manufacturers  that  they 
again  will  return  to  the  production  of  one-reel  come- 
dies and  dramas. 


Films  in  Natural  Colors? 

Pineshi  Brothers  and  Santone,  the  Italian  film 
manufacturers,  in  Rome,  after  eight  years  of  experi- 
ments, have  discovered  what  is  said  to  be  an  impor- 
tant scientific  method  of  photography  reproducing 
natural  colors.  They  maintain  that  they  have  solved 
a  great  problem  on  which  experts  have  been  working 
in  the  United  States  for  years  and  that  when  complete 
tests  are  made  by  disinterested  scientists  the  full  scope 
of  the  discovery  will  astound  the  motion  picture  world. 


Charleston,  S.  C,  Wants  Studios 

The  Charleston,  S.  C,  Ad  Club  has  launched  a 
movement  to  offer  inducements  to  motion  picture 
producing  companies  to  locate  studios  in  Charleston. 
Arthur  T.  Jones,  representing  the  Pathe  motion  pic- 
ture concern,  was  in  Charleston  recently,  ostensibly 
to  look  over  the  surroundings  with  a  view  of  recom- 
mending it  as  a  spot  for  a  Pathe  studio.  The  Charles- 
ton Ad  Club  contemplates  the  publication  of  a  circular 
describing  the  advantages  of  the  city  for  motion  pic- 
ture studio  work,  which  will  be  mailed  to  all  producing 
concerns. 


Film  Advocates  Preparedness 

"Defense  or  Tribute,"  a  five-part  drama,  released 
by  the  Public  Service  Film  Company,  is  a  plea  for 
preparedness. 

The  film  shows  views  of  the  progress  and  pros- 
perity of  the  United  States.  The  training  of  large 
bodies  of  soldiers,  the  building  of  battleships  and  sub- 
marines is  advocated.  President  Wilson,  Admiral 
Dewey,  Theodore  Roosevelt  and  other  prominent  men 
are  quoted  in  the  film  as  for  preparedness.  A  dramatic 
effect  is  produced  by  the  introduction  of  the  "Charge 
of  the  Light  Brigade."  These  questions  are  asked  dur- 
ing the  run  of  the  film  : 

"Will  the  United  States  chance  similar  blundering, 
we  are  asked. 

"Where  does  our  country  stand? 

"What  must  we  do?" 

The  conclusion  of  the  board,  discussing  the  ques- 
tion during  the  course  of  the  photoplay,  is  that  all 
possible  support,  financial  as  well  as  moral,  be  given 
to  the  President,  in  this  specific  effort :  a  preparation 
to  secure  peace- 


Film  Companies  Merge 
The  Popular  Pictures  Corporation,  in  which  An- 
drew J.  Cobe  is  interested,  has  taken  over  the  Sun 
Photoplay  Company.  Inc.,  and  established  headquar- 
ters at  218  West  Forty-second  street.  New  York. 


The  merger  of  the  companies  was  completed  last 
week.  A.  C.  Langan,  former  president  and  manager 
of  the  Sun  Photoplay  Company,  will  fill  an  executive 
official  position  and  also  act  as  director  of  the  Popular 
forces. 

Exactly  what  the  scope  and  future  activities  of  the 
newly  merged  companies  will  be,  has  not  yet  been  an- 
nounced. A  director's  meeting  will  be  held  soon  at 
which  the  intended  policies  of  the  corporation  will  be 
outlined  and  made  public. 


New  Pathe  Serial  in  April 

Pathe  announces  that  "Who's  Guilty"?  is  to  be 
its  next  serial  release.  The  first  episode  is  scheduled 
to  appear  in  the  latter  part  of  April.  The  new  series  is 
being  produced  for  Pathe  by  the  Arrow  Film  Corpora- 
tion and  work  is  being  rushed  at  the  Yonkers  studios 
of  that  concern.  The  "Who's  Guilty"?  series  will  con- 
sist of  fourteen  two-reel  episodes,  each  complete  in 
itself.  The  scenarios  have  been  selected  from  a  num- 
ber of  sources,  the  theme  being  considered  altogether 
too  vast  to  be  handled  by  one  writer  alone. 


New  Gaumont  Publication 

Pocket  Edition  of  the  Mutual  Weekly  is  the 
title  of  a  new  Gaumont  publication.  Pell  Mitchell  is 
the  editor.  The  first  copy  has  just  appeared  and  addi- 
tional ones  are  to  be  issued  at  frequent  intervals.  Al- 
though the  latest  feature  is  designed  chiefly  for  camera- 
men who  are  engaged  in  furnishing  film  for  the  Mutual 
Weekly,  it  will  be  sent  to  any  cameraman  who  writes 
Editor  Mitchell  at  the  Gaumont  Studios.  Flushing,  N. 
Y.,  and  asks  to  be  placed  on  the  mailing  list. 


O'  Neil  Players  Like  Georgia 

Nance  O'Neil,  accompanied  by  thirty  players  and 
Director  Edgar  Lewis,  have  returned  from  Thomasville, 
Ga.,  where  they  have  been  for  the  last  three  weeks,  en- 
gaged in  making  the  exterior  scenes  for  "Fires  of  St. 
John,"  a  future  V.  L.  S.  E.  release,  adapted  for  the 
screen  by  Alfred  Hickman  from  the  play  of  the  same 
name  by  Hermann  Sundermann.  Director  Lewis  is  en- 
thusiastic in  his  praise  of  the  hospitality  extended  to  his 
star,  himself,  and  his  company.  Photographically,  the 
trip  was  a  great  success,  Director  Lewis  avers. 

During  one  of  the  recent  storms  that  swept  Cali- 
fornia a  water  tower  at  the  Universal  City  plant  was 
destroyed  by  the  combined  efforts  of  the  rain  and  wind. 
The  tower,  which  stood  directly  over  the  dressing 
rooms  of  the  extra  players,  weakened  under  the  pres- 
sure of  the  storm  and  crashed  to  the  ground,  carrying 
the  electric  light  wires  that  supply  the  current  for  the 
plant  and  plunged  the  studios  into  absolute  darkness. 
There  was  but  a  few  players  about  and  no  one  was 
injured.  A  corps  of  company  electricians  repaired  the 
damage  to  the  lighting  system  in  short  time. 


The  Lubin  company  is  sparing  no  expense  in  making 
"The  Fires  of  St.  John"  one  of  the  sensations  of  the 
year.  It  is  to  be  a  powerful  multiple-reel  photoplay  with 
Nance  O'Neil  in  the  stellar  role.  For  the  meaning  of 
the  title,  one  must  delve  far  back  into  the  annals  of 
the  medieval  folklore  of  the  peoples  of  central  Europe. 
It  refers  to  a  celebration  on  St.  John's  eve,  and  in  the  play 
is  thus  described  by  one  of  the  characters. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


PAUL  H.  WOODRUFF,  Editor 


NEW  YORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGaCRE  BUILDING 


CHARLES  R.  CONDDN,  Eastern  Re 


•    representatives,    I 


THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:      Harrison  3014 — All  Departments 


NOTICE    TO    ADVERTISERS 


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5  should  be  given  as  well  as  the 
and  notice  should  be  received 
weeks   in   advance  of  the   desired 


Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  11,  1916 


Number  11 


The  Campaign  for  the  Actors'  Fund 

pEOPLE  who  are  not  showfolks,  who  do  not  understand  the  showman's  ideals,  often  say 
*  that  theatrical  men  and  women,  from  players  to  producers,  live  in  a  world  apart.  The 
charge,  in  a  sense,  is  true.  They  do  live  in  a  different  sort  of  atmosphere — one  that  seems 
to  lack  some  of  the  selfishness  and  ruthlessness  and  coldness  of  the  world  out  front.  "Help 
each  other"  is  the  unwritten  code  of  the  profession.  It  is  not  with  them  merely  an  ideal — a 
theory  of  life;  it  is  the  law.  Why  this  spirit  should  confine  itself  to  one  special  division  of 
human  effort  we  do  not  know.  Possibly  if  the  world  at  large  knew  more  about  it,  and  saw 
how  it  paid  its  double  dividends  in  happiness,  the  doctrine  would  spread  and  the  sun  would 
shine  more  brightly  for  everybody. 

The  Actors'  Fund  needs  help.  To  be  more  specific,  it  needs  a  million  dollars.  Its  annual 
expenditures  are  now  seven  per  cent  of  that  amount.  With  this  million  dollar  endowment 
the  Fund  could  clear  itself  forever  of  financial  difficulties.  This,  in  the  eyes  of  the  show  world, 
is  not  a  charity;  its  is  an  obligation.  As  Samuel  Goldfish,  chairman  of  the  motion  picture 
campaign,  says,  "Success  has  perched  on  the  banners  of  the  motion  picture  industry.  It  is 
young.  Its  owners  are  young.  But  art  is  old,  and  there  are  many  artists  who  are  wrapped  in 
the  thoughts  of  their  own  sorrows,  misery,  ailments  and  failures." 

Out  of  the  bigness  of  its  heart,  the  motion  picture  industry  has  volunteered  to  contribute 
half  of  the  endowment — five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  May  15  has  been  designated  as  Na- 
tional Tribute  Day,  and  on  that  day  motion  picture  theater  managers  all  over  the  United 
States  are  asked  to  contribute  to  the  fund  a  percentage  of  their  receipts,  and  every  artist  and 
every  employe  in  the  industry  is  invited  to  make  an  optional  donation  to  the  fund. 

Raising  a  half  million  dollars  in  three  months  to  meet  an  altruistic  obligation  seems  a  big 
task.  Some  have  called  it  impossible.  That  it  is  big  we  must  all  concede.  That  it  is  impos- 
sible none  of  us  will  admit.  Nothing  is  impossible  to  motion  picture  men — they  have  already 
accomplished  a  host  of  impossibilities.  The  very  word  is  a  spur  to  action.  The  doubters 
must  be  shown  that  this  industry,  at  least,  always  accomplishes  what  it  sets  out  to  do — and 
generally  does  a  bit  more  for  good  measure. 

In  public  calamity  and  private  distress,  who  are  the  first  to  proffer  aid  and  deliver  it  in 
abundant  measure?  The  actors  and  actresses  and  show  people.  And  when  they,  in  turn,  need 
help,  not  only  their  professional  brothers  and  sisters,  but  the  whole  world,  will  respond 
gladly.  We  are  sure  of  it.  If  it  were  not  so,  this  world  would  be  a  mean,  sordid  sort  of  a 
dwelling  place. 

In  all  the  time  that  the  motion  picture  has  given  the  people  its  marvelous  entertainment 
at  a  price  almost  insignificant,  it  has  never  appealed  for  co-operation.  That  this,  its  first  and 
possibly  its  last  petition,  is  for  a  cause  wholly  unselfish  and  altruistic,  must  touch  all  the  sym- 
pathy there  is  in  human  nature. 

Helping  in  a  work  such  as  this  is  a  privilege,  and  we  trust  even  the  remotest  layman,  who 
knows  nothing  of  show  matters,  will  so  regard  it.    It  brings  to  the  people  something  of  the 


586  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  11.. 

unselfishness  and  self-sacrifice  of  the  profession— the  best  of  all  the  good  attributes  that  can 
be  claimed  for  its  members.  It  gives  them  a  chance  to  sit  at  the  spiritual  table  of  those  who 
gain  happiness,  without  a  thought  of  seeking  it,  by  dividing  their  sufficiency  with  whomso- 
ever has  insufficient. 

The  Actors'  Fund  will  get  its  million  dollars  if  those  responsible  for  its  other  half  work 
with  the  same  enthusiasm  that  is  marking  the  motion  picture  campaign.  And  from  that  work 
and  that  enthusiasm  no  picture  man  should  hold  himself  aloof.  No  member  of  the  industry 
or  its  art  is  exempt  from  the  spiritual  demand  of  service  to  others.  Let  all  work  together  to 
mark  in  big  letters  this  altruistic  milestone  on  the  long  road  of  labor. 


The  Need  for  Quality  in  Still  Pictures 

STILL  pictures,  or  single  photographs  of  scenes  in  a  motion  picture,  are  probably  regarded 
by  the  trade  as  the  least  important  of  all  the  industry's  details.  Although  there  are  always 
some  notable  exceptions,  as  a  general  rule  the  quality  of  the  average  "still"  is  evidence  of  that 
attitude.  We  are  aware,  of  course,  that  some  companies  make  a  special  study  of  still  pictures, 
even  to  the  point  of  offering  prizes  to  their  photographers  for  the  best  specimens  of  the  single 
exposure.  But  we  are  not  talking  now  about  either  the  best  or  the  worst  examples  to  be  found. 
The  general  average,  we  must  maintain,  is  not  high  enough  in  quality. 

The  reason  we  make  still  picture  quality  a  point  of  argument  is  this :  Not  only  the  exhibi- 
tor,, but  the  public  must  regard  still  pictures  as  bona  fide  samples  of  the  motion  pictures  they 
represent.  They  are  unconsciously  accepted  in  that  sense.  The  observer  does  not  give  the 
film  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.  If  the  still  is  bad,  the  film,  he  concludes,  cannot  be  good;  for  the 
still  is  the  film's  promise. 

On  heralds  and  circulars,  in  newspapers  and  house  organ  advertising,  in  the  reading  col- 
umns of  this  trade  journal,  the  still  picture  purports  to  tell  what  the  film  will  be.  It  has  no 
other  reason  for  existence.  Its  fault  is  modesty;  it  neglects  to  announce  the  good  tidings  of 
which  it  is  a  messenger. 

Of  course,  if  the  still  could  carry  the  thrill  of  the  motion  picture,  we  could  have  still  picture 
shows  and  charge  admission.  But  that  is  not  the  point.  We  cannot  expect  anything  of  the 
single  photograph  except  that  it  be  as  good  as  any  one  stopped  scene  in  the  film.  Some  of 
the  producing  companies  are  consistently  making  them  that  way.  Others  are  not.  That 
brings  down  the  average,  which  is  what  we  are  discussing. 

The  press  agent  who  is  working  hard  to  put  over  a  strong  advance  impression  of  his  com- 
pany's product  ought  to  protest  vigorously  when  the  photographer  hands  him  a  still  that  be- 
littles his  typewritten  adjectives.  He  cannot  expect  it  to  bear  out  all  he  says,  for  the  camera 
has  no  imagination;  but  at  least  it  can,  and  should,  be  either  interesting  or  pretty.  Because 
a  good  many  are  neither,  the  waste  baskets  are  receiving  more  exposed  print  paper  today  than 
the  whole  photographic  industry  used  a  few  years  ago. 


Watch  Your   Local  Newspapers 

T"\ESPITE  the  advance  motion  pictures  have  made  in  the  good  graces  of  the  newspapers, 
U  occasionally  a  bad  story  still  passes  the  editor  and  disturbs  the  community.  There  is  a 
constant  news  temptation  to  explain  the  ordinary  mischiefs  of  little  and  big  boys  and  girls  by 
a  reference  to  picture  thrills.  The  newspaper  man  means  no  harm  to  the  business;  he  isn't 
even  thinking  about  the  business.     He  merely  fails  to  observe  his  responsibility. 

The  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  has  done,  and  is  doing,  some  good  work  in  tracing 
back  and  proving  false  these  attempts  to  rest  the  burdens  of  society  on  the  pictures.  But  we 
think  the  task  really  belongs  to  the  exhibitors,  each  in  his  own  community.  They  are  citizens 
and  advertisers.  They  subscribe  for  newspapers  and  buy  space  in  them.  It  is  up  to  them  to 
tell  the  editor  he  is  wrong  when  he  says  things  about  a  business  he  knows  nothing  of.  Men  of 
importance  in  a  community  need  not  and  do  not  permit  any  newspaper  to  cast  unjust  reflec- 
tions on  their  business.  Every  exhibitor  can  tell  his  own  town's  editors  when  they  are  wrong. 
That  is  one  way  to  help  himself  first  and  the  whole  industry  second — which  is  the  best  any  of 
us  can  be  expected  to  do. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Call  of  Jacksonville 


BY  WALTER  R.  EARLY 


JACKSONVILLE,  FLORIDA,  has  convinced  mo- 
tion picture  producers  of  its  advantages  for  film 
making.  It  is  said  that  a  producer  can  work  at 
least  two  hours  longer  each  day  in  Jacksonville  than 
he  could  at  any  other  point  in  the  United  States.  Con- 
ditions are  ideal. 

The  southern  metropolis  now  houses  studios  of 
the  following  companies :  Gaumont,  Kalem,  Vim, 
Eagle,  Thanhouser  and  Palm. 

The  following  concerns  are  negotiating  with  a 
-view  of  making  Jacksonville  their  winter  headquar- 
ters :  Metro,  Columbia,  Peerless,  World  and  Ocean. 

Every  property  owner  in  the  city  is  said  to  be 
in  favor  of  encouraging  film  manufacturers  to  locate 
there.  Resolutions  to  this  effect  have  been  passed  by 
the 'Board  of  Trade,  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Tourist 
and  Convention  Bureaus,  the  Rotary  Club,  the  Real 
Estate  Exchange  and  other  prominent  civic  organiza- 
tions. Most  of  the  citizens  have  agreed  to  donate 
gratis  any  locations  the  motion  picture  men  may 
•select. 

Twelve  furniture  stores  have  announced  that  they 
will  rent  at  a  reasonable  figure  any  kind  of  furniture, 
office  fixtures  or  other  necessities  listed  under  "props." 
City  officials  have  gone  on  record  as  welcoming  pro- 
ducers to  Jacksonville.  They  have  gone  so  far  as  to 
send  plain  clothes  policemen  with  directors  to  see 
that  the  streets  are  cleared  in  order  that  there  will  be 
no  interference  with  them  in  their  work. 

Jacksonville  offers  an  abundance  of  locations. 

The  city  has  buildings  of  the  latest  designs.  Some 
of  them  are  fifteen  stories  in  height.  The  hotels  are 
equal  to  any  in'  the  land,  furnished  modern  in  every 
respect.  The  hotel  proprietors  are  willing  to  hand 
over  the  keys  to  the  motion  picture  men.  They  per- 
mit the  screen  workers  to  use  the  interiors  for  any 
kind  of  a  scene. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Jacksonville,  there 
is  nearly  any  kind  of  an  out-door  location.  One  of 
the  finest  bathing  beaches  in  the  world  is  only  eighteen 
miles  from  the  city.  Twenty  minutes  separates  the 
city  from  a  first-class  jungle.  Farm  scenes  are  every- 
Avhere.  The  St.  Johns  river  offers  boats  and  steam- 
ships of  ever  description. 

The  Florida  Ostrich  farm,  with  more  than  200 
birds  and  a  large  number  of  animals,  is  available  at 
any  time.  The  alligator  section  of  the  farm,  with 
nearly  2,000  of  the  reptiles,  offers  wide  possibilities 
for  the  director. 

•  Occasionally  mountains  are  necessitated  by 
scenarios.  While  Florida  is  considered  a  level  state, 
there  is,  a  short  distance  from  Jacksonville,  locations 
that  would  delight  the  most  skeptical  producer. 

Some  have  expressed  a  fear  that  summer  in 
Florida  is  one  degree  short  of  Hades.  The  writer 
has  spent  many  summers  in  Florida.  Of  course,  it  is 
hot.  But  even  in  July  and  August,  it  is  not  hot  enough 
to  cause  sunstroke,  nor  has  it  been  known  that  any  one 
was  overcome  by  the  heat  in  any  part  of  this  country. 
The  nights  are  cool  and  after  an  exhausting  day's 
Avork,  one  may  retire  to  enjoy  as  refreshing  a  sleep  as 
though  one  was  near  the  North  Pole,  taking  every- 
thing into  consideration. 


All  in  all,  there  seems  to  be  no  place  in  the  United 
States  that  offers  the  inducements  to  motion  picture 
producers  as  this  wonderful  city  of  Jacksonville.  The 
man  who  has  never  visited  the  city  cannot  appreciate 
the  meaning  of  the  word  "co-operation."  Once  he 
comes,  Jacksonville  will  be  satisfied  to  leave  her  case 
in  his  hands. 

An  important  feature  about  this  section  of  the 
country  is  the  fact  that  Jacksonville  is  only  a  matter 
of  twenty-six  hours  from  New  York  City  and  thirty 
hours  from  Chicago.  A  director  may  leave  his  home 
office  in  either  of  the  cities  mentioned  late  Saturday 
night  and.  start  work  in  the  southern  metropolis  Mon- 
day morning.  He  may  finish  his  picture  in  one  week 
and  be  back  home  the  following  Monday. 

There  are  firms  here  that  do  developing  and  print- 
ing, rent  studios  and  out-door  stages  for  the  use  of 
companies  merely  paying  the  city  a  visit. 

The  rays  of  the  sun  permit  the  producer  to  be  on 
the  job  early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  evening. 
Weather  conditions  are  ideal. 


Cameragraph  Club  Ball  Success 

The  Cameragraph  Club,  composed  of  the  heads  of 
departments  in  the  large  factory  of  the  Nicholas  Power 
Company,  manufacturers  of  motion  picture  projecting 
machines,  held  its  annual  ball  in  Arcadia  hall,  Brook- 
lyn, February  21. 

The  affair  was  attended  by  more  than  3,000  friends 
of  the  club  and  long  will  be  remembered  as  one  of 
the  most  successful  affairs  of  the  season.  Dancing 
commenced  at  an  early  hour  and  during  the  intermis- 
sions a  series  of  Vitagraph  motion  pictures  and  several 
acts  of  excellent  vaudeville  were  shown. 

The  grand  march  was  led  by  Nicholas  Power, 
president  of  the  company  which  bears  his  name,  and 
Miss  Hannah  Bird,  and  followed  by  the  president  of 
the  Cameragraph  Club,  Theodore  Uhlemann  and  Mrs. 
Uhlemann. 

Those  present  included  Charles  Kessel,  of  the 
New  York  Motion  Picture  Corporation;  F.  E.  Bourne, 
of  the  Park  Potter  Company;  F.  J.  Beecroft,  Dramatic 
Mirror;  Geo.  Blaisdell,  John  Bell,  Moving  Picture 
World;  Chas.  R.  Condon,  Motography  ;  John  Cava- 
naugh,  Export  American  Industries ;  Frank  Ortega, 
Cine  Mingual ;  Mr.  Hornstein,  Picture  Theatre  Equip- 
ment Co. ;  John  Lahoud,  of  Venezuela ;  Messrs.  Ed- 
ward Earl,  John  Francis  Skerrett,  Will  C.  Smith,  Wil- 
liam Barry,  Arthur  Lang,  Fred.  J.  Bird,  E.  E.  DeHart, 
J.  Ornstein,  P.  J.  Leoni  and  A.  Joseph  of  the  Nicholas 
Power  Company.  Messrs.  S.  S.  Cassard  and  H.  J. 
McKinnon  are  to  be  congratulated  on  the  manner  in 
which  they  handled  the  ball. 


There  are  a  number  of  extraordinary  night  effects 
in  the  "Fires  of  St.  John,"  new  Lubin  production  now 
in  the  making.  Special  lights  were  installed  both  in- 
side and  outside  of  a  house  in  a  scene  taken  in  Thomas- 
ville,  Ga.,  where  Director  Edgar  Lewis  is  producing 
the  film  with  Nance  O'Neil  in  the  stellar  role.  The 
general  illumination  effect  in  contrast  with  the  blanket 
of  natural  darkness  made  a  striking  picture. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"As  in  a  Looking  Glass' 

Five-Part  World  Film  Production.     Released  March  6 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

TRAGIC,  indeed,  and  abrupt,  is  the  ending  of  this  photo- 
play. To  conform  with  the  established  code  of  morals 
under  which  we  live,  it  were  perhaps  better  that  all  of  the 
criminal  characters  in  this  production  should  meet  some 
punishment  in  the  end,  but  none  of  the  four  deserved  such 
an  untimely  and  violent  demise.     It  would  seem  that  the  end 


power  of  some  big  crooks  through  their  knowledge  of  her 
past  life.  In  Washington  she  falls  in  love  with  the  man 
she  is  expected  to  dupe.  She  goes  straight,  and  marries  him, 
but  her  evil  companions  force  the  issue  quickly.  She-is  shot 
in  a  scuffle  after  they  kidnap  her  away  from  her  husband, 
and  her  three  persecutors  plunge  over  a  cliff  in  an  automo-' 
bile  as  they  hasten  from  the  scene  of  their  crime. 

The  story  works  in  a  most  logical  way  to  the  climax, 
and  then  it  plunges  over  a  cliff,  not-  only  figuratively  but 
literally.  It  does  seem  too  tragic  for  an  ending.  It  might 
have  been  written  so  that  the  adventuress-bride  could  have 
shot  down  her  tormentors  as  common  burglars  when  they 
stole  into  her  husband's  house  at  night  after  "the  papers." 
This  would  have  left  her  still  alive  and  penitent,  and  would 
have  effectually  disposed  of  the  three  rascally  men. 

The  direction  was  done  by  Frank  Crane  in  a  most  com- 
prehensive and  intelligent  way,  apart  from  our  exception  to 
the   finish. 


could  have  been  written  so  that  there  would  have  been  some 
sort  of  a  denouement. 

Kitty  Gordon  is  the  featured  lead  in  this  production, 
and  she  gives  a  superb  rendition  of  a  high-class  adventuress 
who  in  the  end  goes  straight.  Her  elegant  gowns  will  be  the 
marvel  of  all  femininity  that  witness  the  production.  On 
one  hat  alone  Miss  Gordon  has  $900  worth  of  aigrettes. 
If  the  producers  had  to  buy  all  the  finery  worn  by  Miss 
Gordon,  they  would  have  billed  it  strong  as  a  production 
costing  $50,000,  or  thereabouts.  But  aside  from  the  gowns 
and  jewelry,  Miss  Gordon  is  a  majestic  creature,  and  a  most 
proficient  actress.  She  has  an  extraordinary  presence,  which 
attracts  and  holds  like  a  magnet.  Far  and  away  above  all 
the  other  characters,  she  dominates  the  picture  by  her  per- 
sonality. 

The  cast  is  unusually  competent,  many  well-known  play- 
ers appearing  in  Miss  Gordon's  support.  For  instance,  Teddy 
Sampson  does  a  maid  part.  When  we  find  a  woman  noted 
for  ingenue  leads  playing  maid,  it  holds  out  a  promise  of  an 
all-capable  cast.  Teddy  makes  a  most  acceptable  maid.  Al- 
most too  acceptable  for  a  maid.  We  opine  that  if  anyone 
less  powerful  than  Kitty  Gordon  had  been  playing  the  lead, 
Miss  Teddy  might  have  stolen  away  some  of  the  glory  by 
her  cuteness  and  her  demure  beauty. 

Frank  Goldsmith,  as  the  principal  heavy,  gave  an  excel- 
lent portrayal,  being  natural  and  convincing  at  all  times.  F. 
Lumsden  Hare  in  the  leading  male  part  was  all  that  could 
be  desired.  It  was  really  a  supporting  role,  and  therefore 
not  exactly  one  to  cite  as  example  of  Mr.  Hare's  ability. 
although  he  did  what  he  had  to  do  in  a  finished  manner. 

Charles  Eldridge  and  Mrs.  Woodward  made  an  excellent 
elderly  couple  in  the  parts  of  the  senator  and  his  wife.  As 
a  portrayer  of  senators,  bankers  and  other  characters  of 
middle-aged  affluence,  Mr.  Eldridge  is  probably  without  a 
peer  on  the  screen.  Gladden  James  is  in  a  class  by  himself 
when  it  comes  to  the  acting  of  a  well-groomed  dilletantc. 
In  this  picture  he  plays  a  foppish  young  nobleman  to  the 
queen's  taste.  George  Majorim  is  another  screen  actor  who 
is  becoming  a  specialist  in  the  rendition  of  upper-caste  for- 
eign robs,  such  as  unscrupulous  diplomats,  secret  service 
oid  high-class  society  crooks  in  general.  In  this  pic- 
ture   he    plays   the    role    of   the    head    of   a    foreign    spy    system 

in    the    United    States,   having    headquarters    in    Washington. 

II'  does  i!  ni  In.  usual  suave  ;im]  finished  style,  which  has 
made  him  a  master  of  such  part-. 

The    story    is    all    about     an    adventuress    who    is    in     tbe 


"A  Law  Unto  Himself 

Mutual  Masterpicture  Produced  by  David  Horsley. 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ACTION  moves  quite  briskly  in  this  western  melodrama 
which  presents  Crane  Wilbur  in  a  dual  role.  The  story 
of  "A  law  Unto  Himself"  is  good  as  a  vehicle  for  Mr. 
Wilbur,  who  enacts  both  parts  with  as  much  effectiveness  as 
he   usually   does.     The   picture   should  appeal   greatly  to   Mr. 

Robert  Broadwell  produced  "A  Law  Unto  Himself"  from 
the  scenario  by  Lillian  Y.  Brockwell.  The  direction  is  satis- 
factory in  all  details.  Atmosphere  has  been  obtained  and 
the  action  throughout  is  realistic,  which  is  the  more  remark- 
able when  it  is  considered  that  the  story  is  not. 

Crane  Wilbur  is  Allen  Dwight,  sheriff,  and  Jean  Belleau, 
a  surveyor.  Both  live  in  Circle  City,  where  their  resemblance 
causes  one  to  be  mistaken  for  the  other  occasionally. 
Belleau's  brother  is  accused  and  lynched  for  another's  crime. 
This  fills  Belleau  with  hatred  and  he  is  eager  for  revenge. 
The  first  thing  he  does  is  to  kill  the  man  for  whose  crime 
Paul  was  lynched.  He  carries  the  body  to  the  town  and 
boasts. of  his  deed  to  the  people,  who  in  their  astonishment 
allow  him  to  go  his  own  way  unmolested. 

Belleau  thereafter  associates  himself  with  some  other 
rough  characters  and  one  bold  robbery  follows  another.  The 
townspeople  know  the  leader  as  "the  devil"  because  he  al- 
ways leaves  a  note  signed  thus  at  the  scene  of  his  lawless 
operations.  The  people  of  Circle  City  urge  the  sheriff  to 
run  down  this  daring  bandit.     The  robberies  continue.     Then 


then  is  a  mass  meeting  held  in  to  the  town.  Senator 
Thurston,  a  political  boss,  makes  a  speech  in  which  he  tells 
the  people  that  the  robberies  must  stop  and  calling  upon 
the  sheriff  to  apprehend  "the  devil,"  no  matter  what  the  cost 
max    be. 

The  sheriff  responds  by  saying  that  he  thinks  "the  devil" 
no  worse  than  a  number  of  politicians  who  are  looting  the 
town's    treasury,    and    he    further    announces    that    he    believes 


March   11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


"the  devil"  worthy  of  a  chance  to  make  a  man  of  himself. 
Then  circumstances  bring  about  the  arrest  of  the  sheriff  upon 
the  charge  that  he  is  "the  devil"  and  his  acquittal  when 
Belleau  gives  himself  up.  The  latter  is  killed  by  one  of  the 
bandits,  and  the  end  finds  the  sheriff  happy. 

The  photography  is  not  exceptionally  good,  but  it  can- 
not be  called  poor.  The  story  has  been  effectively  staged  by 
Mr.  Broadwell.  Included  in  the  cast  are  Louis  Durham; 
Carl  Von  Schiller,  Francis  Raymond,  E.  W.  Harris,  George 
Clare  and  Virginia  Kirtley. 


"The  Quagmire 

Three-Reel   Mustang   Drama  Released   March    10 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THIS  is  another  western  drama,  wth  several  sensational 
scenes,  presented  by  a  cast  well  known  for  excellence  in 
plays  of  this  setting.  Thomas  Chatterton,  who  plays  a  lead- 
ing role,  has  directed  it,  and  Anna  Little  Jack  Richardson 
and  Perry  Banks  have  other  prominent  parts. 

The  play  begins  with  scenes  in  a  western  mining  town, 
as  well  staged  and  photographed  as  usual,  which  means,  with 
this  company,  very  well.  Jack  Tice  (Jack  Richardson)  is  in- 
troduced as  the  proprietor  of  a  saloon  and  gambling  hall. 
Tom  Hall  (Perry  Banks)  is  the  paymaster  of  the  mines. 
Jack  Tice,  although  pretending  to  be  his  friend,  sees  to  it 
that  Hall  gambles  and  loses. 

Anna  Little  is  introduced  in  this*  play  as  a  college  girl, 
Bess,  Tom's  daughter,  in  the  east  at  school.  Thomas  Chat- 
terton is  also  a  college  student,  Ralph  Darcy,  with  whom 
Bess  is  in  love.  At  graduation,  Bess'  father  comes  east,  and 
Jack  Tice,  who  also  loves  Bess,  comes  with  him,  for  Hall 
does  not  know  that  the  man  is  a  false  friend.  At  the  same 
time  Ralph  is  told  that  he  has  tuberculosis  and  must  live  in 
the  open  for  the  next  year.  For  this  reason  he  does  not  tell 
Bess  of  his  love  for  her. 

So  Bess  goes  back  to  the  ranch.  In  this  western  setting 
Miss  Little  has  many  opportunities  to  show  her  riding  ability. 
Tice  continues  to  deceive  Tom  as  to  his  friendship.  He 
destroys  a  letter  which  comes  to  Bess  from  Ralph,  and  when 
he  convinces  her  that  he  has  given  up  his  saloon,  Bess  marries 
him. 

Bess  soon  regrets  her  marriage,  and  when  she  learns 
that  Tice  is  still  conducting  his  gambling  den,  she  leaves  him. 
Later  she  receives  a  letter  from  Ralph,  who  does  not  know 
that  she  has  married,  saying  that  he  is  coming  west  for  her. 

There   are   several   exciting  scenes   which    straighten    out 


the  tangled  affair,  one  of  them  giving  the  name  to  the  play. 
For  Bess,  escaping  from  Tice,  drives  her  horse  into  quick- 
sand and  both  are  in  danger  of  being  sucked  into  it,  when 
Ralph  comes  by  and  rescues  her  with  a  lariat.  At  the  same 
time,  cowboys  who  have  been  ruined  by  Tice's  methods 
attack  him  and  burn  his  hall.  In  the  battle  he  is  killed,  leav- 
ing Bess  free  to  go  with  Ralph. 

It  is  an  interesting,  well-presented  play. 


"True  Nobility" 

Five-Reel  American  Masterpicture.    Released  March  9 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

CHARLES  NEWTON  and  Marie  Van  Tassell  have  impor- 
tant roles  in  this  production,  for  as  the  old-fashioned 
father  and  mother  of  the  hero,  Phil  Burton,  played  by  E. 
Forrest  Taylor,  they  are  held  up  as  examples  of  true  no- 
bility, in  contrast  to  the  shallow,  self-seeking  society  people. 


Tennyson's  lines  regarding  the  nobility  of  goodness  and 
kindness  begin  the  picture  and  form  its  text. 

The  opening  scenes  show  Phil  in  his  western  home  with 
his  parents  after  his  return  from  Harvard,  and  these  will 
be  well  liked.  Mother  and  father  in  their  simple  home,  the 
table  set  in  the  kitchen,  mother's  cooking,  even  the  family 
cat,  all  come  in  for  a  share  of  attention.  Helene  Rosson  is 
introduced  at  this  time  as  Effie  Marsh,  who  is  leaving  the 
country  to  study  art  in  New  York.  She  has  an  appealing  role 
in   this   production. 

An  important  thread  of  the  plot  begins  in  these  western 
scenes,  when  Phil,  while  prospecting  in  the  hills,  comes  upon 
a  miner  dying  of  smallpox.  This  miner  gives  Phil  his  right 
to  the  mine  and  tells  him  that  his  only  living  relative  is  the 
daughter  of  his  sister,  whom  he  has  lost  trace  of. 

Then  the  story  is  taken  up  in  New  York,  and  there  are 
several  elaborate  presentations  of  life  in  society.  Phil  returns  to 
New  York  and  there  meets  Claudia,  Countess  Nicasio  (Eugenie 
Forde),  her  husband  (Harry  McCabe),  and  her  sister  Jean 
(Lizette  Thorne).  Phil  is  in  love  with  Jean,  a  charming  young 
woman,  a  contrast  to  her  sister  Claudia,  who  is  both  deceitful 
and  snobbish.  Also  Lord  Devlin  (Harry  Von  Meter)  is  in- 
troduced. He  wishes  to  marry  Jean.  Effie  Marsh  and  her 
art  career  form  an  important  part  of  the  story,  for  it  is 
through  her  that  Lord  Devlin's  true  character  is  shown  up. 
Effice  comes  under  the  evil  influence  of  Lord  Devlin,  and 
later,  when  Phil  discovers  that  she  is  the  real  heiress  of  the 
mine,  Devlin  tries  to  get  her  property  away  from  her. 

Then  the  father  and  mother  of  Phil  arrive  in  New  York 
and,  uninvited,  appear  at  a  dinner  Claudia  is  giving.  Claudia 
of  course  snubs  them  and  Phil,  too,  but  Jean  admires  them 
and  Phil.  Later  Jean  and  Phil  manage  to  outwit  Devlin, 
who  tries  to  force  Jean  to  marry  him  and  save  Effie's  for- 
tune and  Claudia's  reputation,  and  all  ends  happily. 

The  rather  complicated  story  is  interesting  and  has  been 
well  produced  by  Donald  MacDonald.    The  cast  is  very  good. 


"Diplomacy" 

Marie  Doro  Featured  in  Famous  Players-Paramount 
Offering.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

A  REMARKABLY  pretty,  a  charming  production  has  been 
given  the  film  adaptation  of  Sardou's  "Diplomacy."  The 
settings  are  beautiful,  and  with  players  whose  appearance  is 
so  handsome,  the  effect  is  particularly  pleasing  to  the  eye. 
In  its  display  of  luxury  and  utter  disregard  for  monetary 
expense  the  picture  resembles,  strikingly,  political  diplomacy. 
Sidney  Olcott  directed  this  Famous  Players  offering.  Mr. 
Olcott  and  his  company  traveled^  to  Palm  Beach  and  there 
out-Monte-Carloed  Monte  Carlo,  in  several  of  the  scenes. 
Marie    Doro    is    featured.     The   role    she    enacts    in    the 


590 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


picture  is  the  last  one  in  which  she  was  seen  on  the  speaking 
stage,  when  she  played  Dora  in  last  year's  revival  of  Sardou's 
drama.  Miss  Doro  has  appeared  in  other  pictures,  so  there 
is  no  need  here  to  enthuse  over  her  beauty  and  delicate 
charm.  Furthermore,  it  seems  unnecessary  to  comment  upon 
her  acting.  .  ..'.«■ 

The  picture  has  received  treatment  that  is  diplomatic,  if 
the  word  may  be  used  thus.  In  the  length  of  time  it  takes 
to  "get  down  to  cases"  the  story  has  a  similarity  to  diplomacy 
as  it  is  commonly  pictured.  But  if  the  play  is  slow  in  arriving 
at  its  real  goal,  it  surely  does  so  in  an  interesting  manner. 
The  story  never  drags.  It  grows  steadily  tense  in  its  move- 
ment  to  situations   that  are   highly   dramatic. 

The  picture  opens  upon  the  apparently  hopeless  love 
affair  of  Dora  and  a  young  man  named  Julian.  Dora's  mother 
is  fast  reaching  the  end  of  her  financial  resources,  and  she 
insists  that  her  daughter  marry,  not  Julian,  who  has  good 
looks,  character,  family,  everything  but  money,  but  some 
man  who  can  support  her  in  luxury.  With  the  arrival  of  his 
brother  in  Monte  Carlo,  Julian  learns  that  a  fortunate  invest- 
ment has  made  him  wealthy  and  another  stroke  of  good  for- 
tune has  made  him  attache  of  the  British  embassy. 

With  this  turn  of  affairs,  Julian  is  acceptable  to  Dora's 
mother,  and  the  two  young  lovers  are  married.  Julian  is 
entrusted  with  some  important  documents.  These,  on  the 
day  of  his  marriage,  disappear.  Suspicion  points  to  Dora 
as  the  thief,  and  the  case  is  strong  against  her  until  Julian's 
brother  unravels  the  mystery.     The  end  finds  Dora  and  her 

.kes 


a  music  teacher,  disappoints  the  latter  by  marrying  his  riva 
to  further  the  political  interests  of  her  father.  Cory,  in  ; 
fit  of  grief,  attempts  to  kill  himself,  but  is  prevented  by  on- 
of  his  pupils,  whom  he  later  marries. 

Both  Ada  and  Cory  realize  not  long  after  marriage  hov 


Julian  an  attractive  sort  and  he  is  convincing.  Frank  Losee 
gives  a  splendid  performance  as  Henri,  and  George  Majeroni 
is  highly  satisfactory  as  Count  Orloff.  Others  in  the  cast 
are  Edith  Campbell  Walker,  Russell  Bassett  and  Ruth  Rose. 


"The  Immortal  Flame" 

A  Five-Part  Ivan  Drama,  Featuring  Maude  Fealy 
Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

IN  THIS  drama  from  the  pen  of  Ivan  Abrahamson  and 
*■  directed  by  the  same  person,  the  misery  which  accrues  to 
a  young  girl  who  sacrifices  that  which  is  most  dear  to  her — 
the  happy  mating  with  the  man  of  her  heart— upon  the  altar 
of  her  father's  political  success  is  set  forth  in  detail.  What 
the  end  of  an  inU-n.se,  though  denied  and  hopeless  love  is 
comes  out  in  full  strength  in  the  tragic  ending,  when  the 
girl  disconsolately  resigns  herself  to  the  ice-laden  waves  of 
i  In  sea.  This  icy  tableau  on  the  part  of  Maude  Fealy  is  just 
another  instance  of  the  limits  to  which  motion  picture  por- 
trayers  are  willing  to  go  to  fill  their  spectators  with  awe  and 
to  secure  realism. 

If  there  is  any  moral  lesson  to  lie  gleaned  from  this  pic- 
ture, it  may  be  thai  parents  and  children,  individually,  should 
be  allowed  to  live  their  own  lives;  that  the  former  should 
not  allow  the  latter  to  criminally  impose  upon  them,  or  vice 
versa,  under  the  .guise  of  family  devotion. 

The  story  is  interesting  and  the  settings  and  photography 

ood.     Maude   Fealy's  acting  is  a  prominent    feature  of 

•Ik    picture  and  it   slmws  earnesl  ami  effective  effort.     In  her 

support    are    seen    l';uila    Shay,    lames    Cooler     and    Charles 

Edwards. 

\da  Forbes,  although  deeply  in  hue  with  Eugene  Cory, 


cruelly  they  are  mismated.  Temptation  hovers  near,  but  after 
a  supreme  effort  on  Ada's  part,  in  a  secret  meeting  between 
the  two,  she  forces  Cory  out  of  the  apartment  and  forbids 
him  to  call  upon  her  again.  When  Ada  is  far  on  the  road  to 
death  the  pathetic  fact  comes  out  that  Cory's  wife  would 
have  released  him  had  he  only  made  the  situation  plain  to  her.. 


"The  Silken  Spider" 


Three-Reel   "Flying   A"    Drama,    Released    March    7. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

AVERY  interesting  but  an  unpleasant  story  is  told  in  this- 
play  which  Frank  Borzage  has  directed  with  the  well 
known  cast  containing  Vivian  Rich,  Alfred  Vosburgh  and 
George  Periolat.  The  play  is  convincing,  and  the  characters 
are  very  real.  It  is  sad  with  the  hopeless  sadness  of  lives 
caught  in  the  web  of  "the  silken  spider"  of  vice. 

The  roles  which  stand  out  particularly  are  those  of  the 
neglected  daughter  Bona  Leonard  (Vivian  Rich),  who  ap- 
pears like  a  flower  in  unwholesome  surroundings;  Brian 
Leonard,  her  father,  called  in  the  subtitles  "the  money- 
grubber,"  but  in  whom  George  Periolat  emphasizes  not  the 
miserly  but  the  heartless  characteristics,  and  Ursala  Jacques 
(Louise  Lester),  Leonard's  mistress,  later  his  wife,  a  most 
unpleasant  role  which  Miss  Lester  has  handled  with  skill. 

The  play  opens  when  Bona  Leonard  is  a  repressed,  sad 
little  girl,  and  shows  an  incident  when  she  runs  away  from 
her  nurse  to  play  in  the  mud  with  poor  children.  This  short 
scene  is  very  natural  and  the  children  who  appear  in  it  plav 
well. 

Then  the  story  turns  to  sadder  phases  of  life,  when  Bona 
has  grown  up.  We  meet  her  father  and  we  meet  Mrs.  Jac- 
ques, "whose  bills,"  the  subtitle  states,  "are  paid  by  Leonard." 
This  time  she  wishes  money  to  meet  the  gambling  debts  of 
her  son,  Neal,  and  while  Leonard  gives  it  to  her,  he  remarks 
that  should  his  child  be  threatened  with  disgrace,  he  would 
disown  her,  not  help,  a  statement  which  has  significance  later. 

The  next  step  of  the  story  tells  of  Leonard's  trip  west 
for  his  health,  when  he  is  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Jacques.  In 
this,  events  favor  Mrs.  Jacques,  and  since  they  have  crossed 
the  state  line,  she  is  able  to  force  Leonard  to  marry  her. 
When  they  return,  she  is  sure  of  Leonard's  fortune,  but  she 
goes  too  far,  and  he  makes  a  will  leaving  his  property  to  his- 
daughter,  and  settling  an  income  on  his  wife.  Since  Leon- 
ard's health  is  uncertain,  the  question  of  getting  his  wealth 
is  a  vital  one  to  his  wife,  and  she  decides  to  have  her  no-good 
son  marry  Bona.  Bona  upsets  this  plan,  and  Mrs.  Leonard 
enters  on  another  one.  She  remembers  Leonard's  remark- 
about  disinheriting  his  daughter  if  she  disgraced  him,  and 
she  plans  to  ruin  Bona.  The  character  of  the  woman  is 
played  so  well  by  Miss  Lester  that  we  feel  she  could  be 
guilty  even  of  the  cruelty  of  this  plot. 

This  plan  succeed.  Bona,  who  has  always  been  unhappy 
and  lonely,  succumbs  to  the  gay  life  her  foster  mother  intro- 
duces   her   to,   and    falls   under   the   influence    of   the    unscrup- 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


591 


tilous  Caleb  Giles,  who.  the  mother  and  son  have  plotted, 
shall  bring  about  her  ruination. 

The  following  scenes  are  the  weakest  as  well  as  the 
most  unpleasant  of  the  play.  That  an  unhappy,  repressed 
girl  is  an  easier  prey  than  a  girl  who  has  her  share  of  fun  is 
good  psychology.  But  that  a  girl  of  Bona's  upbringing  would 
be  repelled  by  the  coarseness  of  the  life  she  is  so  suddenly 
brought  into  is  also  certain.  A  scene  in  a  cabaret  where 
Giles  first  takes  Bona  is  revolting,  and  Bona  is  shown  as 
fascinated  by  it  and  later  being  drawn  into  it.  This  is  en- 
tirely out  of  key  with  the  otherwise  consistent  character 
Miss  Rich  has  presented. 

Later  Giles  refuses  to  marry  Bona,  and  Neal  again  offers 
to.  '  This  time  Bona  consents,  but  before  the  wedding  takes 
place,  Neal  is  killed  by  Giles  in  a  gambling  den.  Bona,  dis- 
grace imminent,  tries  to  commit  suicide.  She  is  saved  by 
the  Reverend  Lewis  Dunstan  (Alfred  Vosburgh),  who  has 
appeared  before  in  the  story  on  various  occasions  when  he 
remonstrated  with  Leonard  on  his  evil  life.  The  minister 
takes  Bona  to  his  own  home.  After  her  baby  has  been 
born,  and  died,  Bona,  who  has  been  cast  off  by  her  father, 
befores  interested  in  social  work,  and  she  and  the  minister 
fall  in  love.  In  the  last  act,  Giles,  who  returns  in  a  dying 
condition,  calls  the  principal  characters  to  him  and  confesses 
the  plot,  and  Bona  is'  forgiven  by  her  father. 

Putting  aside  the  question  of  the  choice  of  subject  the 
play  is  in  the  main  convincing,  and  it  is  very  well  directed. 
The  skilled  leading  players  mentioned  are  supported  by  good 
playing  in  the  less  important  roles,  King  Clark  as  Neal, 
Warren  Ellsworth  as  Caleb  Giles,  and  Lillian  Knight  as  Mrs. 
Dunstan. 


"The  Dream  of  Eugene  Aram" 

Three-Reel  Selig  Feature  Released  March  6.     Re- 
viewed by  Genevieve  Harris 

IN  putting  this  strange,  dramatic  poem  by  Thomas  Hood 
into  a  motion  picture  the  Selig  Company  has  produced  a 
three-reel  masterpiece.  Colin  Campbell,  who  directed  it, 
has  done  an  excellent  piece  of  work,  as  has  Tyrone  Power, 
who  plays  Eugene  Aram. 

The  poem,  which  is  generally  well  known,  tells  of  a 
teacher  of  a  boys'  school,  a  scholar  and  a  dreamer,  who 
commits  a  murder.  Tortured  by  his  conscience  he  seeks 
out  one  of  the  boys  and  tells  the  child  the  terrible  story  but 
insists  that  the  murder  was  a  dream  he  had.  In  the  poem, 
we  are  led  to  believe  it  was  a  dream  until  the  last  stanza  states 
that  while  the  boy  slept  that  night  the  teacher  was  arrested 
for  the  murder.  In  the  photoplay  the  murder  is  known  to  be 
real  from  the  beginning,  but  this  is  handled  in  a  way  which 
makes  it  as  effective  .as  the  poem. 

Tyrone  Power,'  as  Eugene  Aram,  is  shown  first  in  his 
laboratory,  then  among  the  boys  at  school.  The  settings 
and  the  costumes  of.  the  characters  are  of  the  fashion  of  the 
Dickens  period  and  are  wonderfully  effective.  In  fact,  while 
the  photography  in  places  could  be  better,  the  pictorial  value 
of  each  of  the  changing  scenes  is  never  lost.     It  seems  that 


of  the  play.  Several  of  the  most  effective  scenes  are 
silhouetted,  as  that  of  the  murder,  which  is  seen  in  the 
distance,  above  the  horizon  of  a  hill. 

Visions  are  used  many  times  to  show  the  thoughts  which 
haunt  the  murderer's  mind  and  these  are  especially  well 
handled  because  they  never  become  too  substantial  and  are 
more  suggested  than  seen.  The  best  of  this  kind  is  that  in 
which  the  guilty  man  carries  his  victim's  body  into  the  woods 
and  covers  it  with  leaves.  The  sunlight  is  flickering  through 
the  trees  and  the  moving  patches  of  light  suddenly  become 
indistinct  but  terrible  faces,  and  hands  which  tear  away  the 

There  are  many  other  scenes  worthy  of  mention,  par- 
ticularly the  one  at  night  when  the  ticking  of  the  clock,  whose 
pendulum  is  shown  swinging  slowly  in  the  shadow,  drives 
the  man  almost  insane. 

The  pictures  of  the  boys  in  the  old-fashioned  school  and 
later  at  play  are  very  charming,  and  Roy  Clark,  who  is  the 
boy  to  whom  the  story  is  told,  does  very  well.  Verses  of 
the  poem  are  given  in  the  subtitles  so  that  the  play  is  clear 
even  to  one  unfamiliar  with  the  old  story.  The  production 
is  entirely  out  of  the  ordinary  and,  particularly  in  regard  to 
the  settings,  opens  up  a  field  which  has  not  been  very 
thoroughly  explored  and  which  offers  many  opportunities. 


"Unto  Those  Who  Sin" 

Selig  Red  Seal  Drama,  Released  Through  V.  L.  S.  E. 
March  6.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

CRITZI  BRUNETTE  makes  her  first  appearance  in 
*  V.  L.  S.  E.  pictures  in  this  play  by  James  Oliver  Curwood, 
which  William  Robert  Daly  has  directed.  Miss  Brunette 
handles  her  role  well;  in  fact  her  playing  is  better  than  the 


if  almost  any  of  the  scenes  on  the  screen  were  stilled  it  would 
be  an  admirable  drawing. 

Then    the    story    is    kept    in    the    same    key    throughout. 
There  are  no  jarring  scenes,  nothing  out  of  the  atmosphere 


story  itself.  The  first  part  of  the  production  is  very  good. 
Nadia,  the  little  stenographer  who  has  no  pleasures  in  life 
and  who  brings  her  money  to  the  sordid  home  where  the 
father  spends  it  in  drink,  while  the  mother  flirts  with  other 
men,  is  a  very  distinct  character,  as  Miss  Brunette  plays  it, 
more  so  than  the  later  Nadia,  after  she  has  become  a  beau- 
tifully gowned  coquette.  An  interesting  transformation  takes 
place  in  the  first  part,  in  which  the  plain,  shy  little  girl, 
when  decked  in  the  gay  plumage  her  chum  lends  her,  be- 
comes a  new  personality.  This  is  very  skillfully  acted.  An- 
other good  bit  of  character  drawing  is  that  of  the  mother, 
played  by  Lillian  Hayward.  In  fact  the  whole  cast  does  very 
commendable  work. 

The  various  scenes  which  deal  with  Nadia's  early  life 
are  interesting,  sordid  and  unpleasant,  but  true  in  many 
details. 

Nadia,  influenced  by  her  chum,  a  girl  who  prefers  fine 
feathers  to  uprightness,  goes  to  a  party  where  she  gets  her 
first  taste  of  a  gayer  life.  Disillusioned  at  home,  the  girl, 
who  is  at  heart  good,  joins  her  chum  in  her  apartment.  She 
meets  and  loves  a  young  man  of  wealth  and  marries  him. 
Then  there  is  a  lapse  of  time,  and  Nadia  appears  next  as  a 
flirtatious  widow  at  a  beach  resort.  There  has  been  a  change 
in  her  character,  which  is  not  fully  explained  as  the  story 
now  stands.  The  subtitles  have  stated  that  she  loved  the 
man  she  married,  and  we  are  led  to  suppose  that  she  is 
wealthy;  so  why  she  acts  as  she  does  later  is  puzzling.  How- 
ever, it  may  be  that  the  original  intention  of  the  producers 
was   to   portray   a   different   relationship   between   Nadia   and 


592 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Ashton.  The  present  version,  while  more  moral,  is  therefore 
not  very  consistent. 

A  decidedly  comedy  touch  is  given  the  drama  at  this 
point  by  the  introduction  of  two  ancient  but  wealthy  suitors, 
one  very  fat,  the  other  very  thin,  both  well  played  by  William 
Sheerer  and  George  Hernandez.  Nadia  encourages  them  in 
a  frivolous  way.  until  she  falls  in  love  with  Phillip  Morton 
(George  LarkinJ.  He  is  at  first  attracted  to  her,  but  is 
later  disgusted  by  her  flirtatiousness,  and  returns  to  his  earlier 
love,  Isabel  (Louise  Sothern).  Then  Nadia  marries  one 
of  her  aged  suitors.  Jules  Yillars. 

The  remaining  scenes  are  unpleasant,  though  interesting. 
Nadia  loathes  her  husband  and  seeks  to  regain  the  affections 
of  Morton,  who  has  married  Isabel.  Unsuccessful  in  this, 
she  yields  to  temptation  and  tries  to  murder  her  husband  In- 
pushing  him  from  a  cliff  into  the  ocean.  He  is  not  killed  but 
climbs  up  to  the  cliff  again.  Then  he  falls,  this  time  dragging 
Nadia  with  him.  Both  are  killed.  These  closing  scenes  are 
most  gruesome. 

Miss  Brunette's  work  in  the  lighter,  and  finer  scenes,  for 
instance  the  scenes  when  the  girl  discovers  her  mother's  true 
character,  and  where  she  is  carried  away  by  the  new  life  her 
chum  shows  her,  is  much  better  than  in  the  more  emotional 
parts. 

"Defense  or  Tribute" 

Public   Service  Company's   Spectacular  Production 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WITH  so  many  arguments  in  favor  of  a  big  increase  in 
the  armament  of  this  country  at  times  it  seems  almost 
stupid  that  the  proposed  building  up  of  the  army  and  navy 
meets  with  the  opposition  it  has  so  far  encountered.  Another 
forcible  plea  for  preparedness  is  to  be  found  in  the  Public 
Service  Film  Company's  multiple-reel  production  entitled 
"Defense  or  Tribute,"  and  so  well  built  and  convincing  in 
its  reasoning  that  good,  and  plenty  of  it,  can  only  come  from 
the  enjoyable  hour  or  so  spent  in  viewing  the  picture. 

"Defense  or  Tribute"  is  a  visualized  editorial,  and  it  is 
an  eloquent  one.  The  picture  makes  quite  clear  the  view- 
point of  all  in  favor  of  greater  military  forces,  that  this 
preparation  for  war  is  the  best  known  insurance  against  war. 
In  doing  this  the  picture  merely  turns  the  pages  of  history, 


While  "Defense  or  Tribute"  will  not  convert  those 
pacifists  whose  aversion  for  war  takes  the  form  of  senti- 
mental abhorrence  for  all  things  of  a  military  nature  or 
flavor,  it  will  no  doubt  make  many  think  more  broadly  and 
comprehensively  of  the  question. 

But  the  strongest  point  does  not  lie  in  its  power  to 
preach  the  doctrine  of  preparedness.  It  is  an  entertaining 
picture  having  to  do  with  things  of  timely  interest.  "De- 
fense or  Tribute"  offers  good  entertainment  and  it  seems 
cerrain  of  meeting  with  the  approval  of  screen  patrons. 

There  is  no  story  told  by  the  picture,  it  simply  visualizes 
portions  of  history,  past  and  present.  It  is  a  pretentious  pro- 
duction and  it  will  not  fail  to  impress.  Several  well  known 
Americans  who  favor  the  aggrandizement  of  the  United 
States  military  forces  appear  in  "Defense  or  Tribute."  The 
picture  has  been  favorably  commented  upon  by  men  whose 
names  are  frequently  connected  with  national  affairs.  For 
the  past  two  weeks  "Defense  or  Tribute"  has  drawn  well 
at  the  Park  Theater,  New  York. 


Reviewed  by 


"Soldier  Sons" 

Three-Reel  Lubin  Release  of  March  6. 
Genevieve  Harris 

A  N  interesting  story,  in  which  Helen  Wolcott  gives  an  ex- 
**■  cellent  characterization  of  Nina  Rosario,  a  Philippino 
girl,  is  "Soldier  Sons,"  written  and  directed  by  Wilbert  Mel- 
ville. Leon  C.  Shumway  plays  the  hero,  Dick  Bates,  a  grad- 
uate from  West  Point.  He  goes  to  the  Philippines  to  visit 
his  parents  there.  His  father  is  also  an  army  officer.  In 
the  islands,  Dick  engages  Carlos  Fulano  as  his  guide  on  a 
trip  into  the  jungle.  Dick  is  seized  with  fever  while  alone 
with  the  treacherous  guide,  who  robs  him  and  leaves  him  to 
die. 

Dick  is  discovered  by  Nina  Rosario,  a  native  girl,  and  is 
taken  to  her  home,  where  she  and  her  father  care  for  him 
until  he  is  well.  This  role  is  very  much  of  a  contrast  to 
Miss  Wolcott's  last  role,  in  "The  Redemption  of  Helene," 
and  she  plays  it  equally  well.  The  little  native  girl  and  the 
young  soldier  fall  in  love  and  are  married.  But  it  happens 
that  Carlos,  the  guide,  had  also  loved  Nina  and  he  kidnaps 
her,  taking  her  into  the  jungle.  Her  father  and  Dick  search 
for  her  and  believe  she  has  been  drowned.  Nina  escapes 
from  Carlos  and  makes  her  way  home,  but  Dick  has  been 
ordered  to  San  Francisco  and  has  left,  still  believing  Nina  is 
dead.  He  leaves  his  American  address  written  in  a  book  of 
her  father's. 

Carlos  follows  Nina  home,  and  in  a  struggle  with  her 
father  is  killed,  but  the  father  is  also  mortally  wounded  and 
dies  before  he  can  tell  Nina  where  Dick  is,  and  she  believes 
he  has  deserted  her.     Later  a  son  is  born. 

Then  the  story  is  taken  up  eighteen  years  later.  Except 
the  baby,  grown  to  manhood,  the  characters  have  aged  very 
little.  Dick  is  in  San  Francisco,  engaged  to  marry  a  young 
girl,  daughter  of  his  superior,  while  Nina  lives  with  her  son 
in  the  village.  Then  Dick  is  ordered  again  to  the  Philippines 
and  one  of  his  early  exploits  there  is  to  put  down  a  native 
rebellion.  Among  the  leaders  of  this  band  of  insurrectos  is 
Dick's  own  son.  The  boy  is  followed  to  his  mother's  house, 
where  Dick  again  meets  Nina  and  learns  who  the  boy  is. 
Dick  lies,  rather  than  betray  the  boy,  and  that  night  he  sadly 
resigns  his  commission  and  returns  to  Nina  and  the  boy. 

There  are  a  number  of  inconsistencies,  not  very  vital,  in 
the  play,  but  it  holds  the  interest  at  all  times  and  is  well 
played. 


where  examples  '>i"  the  value  of  preparation  for  war  in  time 
of  peace  arc  plentiful.  And  history  pictured  on  the  screen 
is    more    attractive    than    history    on    the    pages    of    printed 


"The  Red  Circle" 

Chapter  11,  "Seeds  of  Suspicion."  Pathe.  February  21. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

CHAPTER  ELEVEN  of  the  Balboa  serial  released  through 
Pathe  begins  where  chapter  ten  ended,  with  June  Travis 
( Ruth  Roland)  and  Charles  Gordon,  the  lawyer  accused  of 
embezzlement,  in  Lamar's  office.  Gordon  tells  June  of  the 
trick  which  the  company  played  to  secure  his  signature  to 
an  incriminating  document.  This  and  his  escape  when  ar- 
rested are  shown  by  flash-back  scenes.  As  June  listens,  the 
red  circle  appears  on  her  hand,  and  the  rest  of  the  episode  is 
the  account  of  another  of  her  benevolent  crimes.  For  she 
determines  to  help  Gordon,  who  had  come  to  the  office  to 
give  himself  up. 

With    the    cunning    of    criminal    instincts,    she    manages 
Gordon's  escape.     When  Lamar's  secretary  tries  to  force  an 


March   11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


entrance  into  the  locked  office  by  breaking  the  glass  in  the 
door,  June  ties  his  hand  to  the  inner  knob.  The  secretary 
does  not  see  June,  but  he  does  see  the  hand  marked  with 
the  red  circle.     While  this  is  happening,  Lamar,  in  Farwell's 


office,  is  examining  the  evidence  against  Gordon,  with  a 
view  to  taking  the  case.  Later  June  enters  the  office,  sends 
the  men  away  by  a  ruse,  and  in  their  absence  takes  the 
incriminating  bank  notes.  Leaving  a  note  signed  "The  Red 
Circle  Lady,"  she  takes  the  document  and  notes  to  Gordon. 

When  Lamar  discovers  the  theft  and  hears  of  the  inci- 
dent in  his  own  office,  his  suspicions  of  June  are  unwillingly 
but  strongly  aroused.  He  goes  to  her  home,  but  finding  her 
away,  will  return  the  next  day,  which  will  be  the  starting 
point  for  the  next  episode. 

The  installment  has  advanced  the  story  nicely  and  seems 
to  be  pointing  the  way  to  the  end.  The  characters,  now 
well  known  to  followers  of  the  serial,  are  well  played,  as 
usual. 


4 'The  Despoiler" 

Three-Reel  Essanay  Feature  Released  February  26 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  N  oddly  presented  play  is  this  three-act  drama  in  which 
**■  Bryant  Washburn,  Darwin  Karr,  Edward  Arnold  and 
Warda  Howard  play  the  important  roles.  It  begins  with  a 
struggle  in  a  hotel  room  between  two  men,  in  which  the 
younger  is  shot.  The  police  rush  in  and  recognizing  the 
dead  man,  congratulate  the  survivor  on  having  shot  a  well- 
known  criminal.  Then  the  man  telephones  to  a  woman, 
telling  her  all  is  well.  But  the  man  himself  seems  overcome 
by  emotion.     Then  the  story  follows: 

Years  ago  the  older  man,  Ben  Cameron,  played  by  Dar- 


Years  later,  when  Bruce  is  grown  up,  he  becomes  a  crim- 
inal, and  his  father,  losing  all  influence  over  him,  finally 
sends  him  away.  Bryant  Washburn  plays  the  role  of  the 
criminal  very  well. 

Mary,  who  had  married  Richard  Warner  (Edward  Ar- 
nold), works  in  a  department  store,  to  aid  her  husband,  who 
is  a  bookkeeper.  Bruce,  whose  crimes  are  of  the  petty 
variety,  selects  this  story  for  shoplifting.  Almost  detected 
in  stealing  lace,  Bruce  becomes  frightened  and  "plants"  the 
lace  in  the  pocket  of  a  coat  in  the  cloak  room  of  the  em- 
ployees. The  coat  belongs  to  Mary,  who  discovers  the  lace 
before  Bruce  can  get  it.  Bruce  had  in  his  possession  a 
policeman's  badge,  with  which  he  used  occasionally  as  an 
officer,  and  with  this  he  makes  Mary  believe  that  he  has 
come  to  arrest  her  for  theft.  But  instead  he  will  accept  a 
bribe.  Then  begins  a  system  of  blackmailing  Mary.  Fear 
makes  Mary  give  him  money  until  her  husband  begins  to 
notice  the  shortage.  Afraid  to  tell  the  truth,  Mary  remem- 
bers her  former  friend,  Cameron,  who  has  returned  from 
his  mines,  a  very  wealthy  man.  Mary  goes  to  him  for  aid, 
and  Cameron  arranges  to  trap  the  blackmailer. 

Therefore  the  father  discovers  in  the  blackmailer  his  own 
son.  There  is  a  struggle,  and  the  son  is  shot.  Then  the 
opening  scenes  are  repeated. 

While  there  are  a  few  inconsistencies  in  the  play,  it  is 
dramatically  presented  and  is  most  interesting.  The  char- 
acters play  their  parts  very  well  and  their  make-up  is  good. 
The  scene  of  the  mine,  while  not  very  necessary,  is  pretty. 


win  Karr,  was  rejected  by  the  woman,  Mary,  played  by 
Warda  Howard.  He  tells  her  to  call  upon  him  for  aid  at 
any  time  she  may  need  it.  Cameron  was  a  widower,  with 
one  little  boy,  Bruce. 


"The  Discard" 

Five-Reel  Essanay  V.  L.  S.  E.  Release  of  February  28 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  N  excellent  cast  supports  Virginia  Hammond,  the  former 
•<*■  Frohman  star,  who  came  to  Essanay  to  play  lead  in 
"The  Discard,"  a  dramatic  story  written  by  Charles  Michel- 
son.  While  the  play  deals  with  characters  and  events  which 
are  criminal,  the  emphasis  is  placed  definitely  on  the  human 
element. 

Although  Miss  Hammond  is  the  featured  player,  Betty 
Brown  holds  the  center  of  interest  during  the  first  part  of 
the  play,  and  the  two  actresses  are  so  well  contrasted  that 
the  work  of  one  greatly  aids  the  other.  Miss  Brown  appears 
first  as  a  little  convent  girl,  Doris  Wynne,  the  daughter  of 
Alys  Wynne,  who  scarcely  enters  her  daughter's  life.  The 
reason  is  that  Alys  is  a  confederate  of  "Python"  Grant,  an 
international  crook.  Ernest  Maupain  plays  this  role  excel- 
lently. Miss  Brown  plays  an  ingenue  role  charmingly 
throughout. 

After  getting  into  difficulties  with  the  police  in  Paris, 
where  the  story  begins,  Grant  and  Alys  are  forced  to  leave 
the  country  and  go  to  America.  At  the  same  time  Doris 
goes  to  England  to  visit  her  school  chum,  Isabel  Maxwell. 
There  she  meets  Isabel's  brother,  Keith,  and  later  marries 
him.  Harry  Beaumont  is  very  well  cast  in  this  role.  The 
love  affair  of  the  young  people  is  emphasized  to  contrast 
with  the  unhappiness  which  comes  later.  Also  their  youth- 
fulness  and  impulsiveness  is  clearly  shown,  and  they  are 
easy  victims  to  the  plots  of  the  accomplished  crooks.  For 
it  happens  that  after  Alys  and  Grant  have  left  for  America, 
a  wealthy  uncle  of  Keith's  leaves  him  a  fortune  on  condition 
that  he  take  his  name,  and  live  in  America. 

Since  Alys  is  not  in  touch  with  her  daughter,  she  does 
not  know  of  the  changed  name,  and  when  Grant  begins  his 
scheme  against  the  wealthy  young  man  who  has  arrived  in 
America,  she  does  her  part  to  help  him.  The  young  man  is 
Keith.  Unable  to  lure  his  money  away  from  him  by  several 
gold-brick  schemes,  they  plot  to  have  him  become  infatuated 
with  Ab'S,  then  Grant  will  sue  him  for  alienation  of  her 
affections. 

Keith  falls  into  the  trap.  From  this  point  on  Miss  Ham- 
mond's work  is  most  prominent.  It  is  pleasing  to  watch, 
being  effective  but  always  restrained  and  light.  She  is  also 
fortunate  in  selecting  gowns  which  photograph  well  and 
her  appearance  as  Alys  Wynne  is  interesting,  having  both 
refinement  and  hardness.  In  her  scenes  with  Keith,  how- 
ever, she  has  a  trick  of  looking  at  the  camera  with  an  "I  am 
only  playing  with  him,"  expression  which  is  not  necessary. 

Keith  is  sued  and  pays.  Then,  when  he  will  pay  no  more 
money,  they  proceed  to  blackmail  him  with  threats  of  telling 
his  wife.  He  fights  against  them,  and  Doris  is  sent  a  mys- 
terious telephone  message.  Made  suspicious  by  it,  she  writes 
to  her  mother,  through  her  Paris  agents,  and  the  letter  shows 
Alys  who  Keith  is.     When  Grant  will  not  cease  his  persecu- 


594 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


tions  at  her  plea,  Alys  betrays  him  to  the  police.  Then  after 
visiting  her  daughter  and  setting  things  right,  she  commits 
suicide. 

The  play   is   most   interesting  at   all   times   and   suspense 


is  handled  well.  Miss  Hammond  handles  her  big  scenes  at 
the  last  most  skillfully.  It  is  a  question,  however,  whether 
the  play  would  have  gained  if  the  affection  between  the 
daughter  and  her  husband  were  presented  as  more  sincere 
and  less  demonstrative.  Some  of  their  scenes  seem  over- 
done. 


HORSLEY  FEATURES  COMING 

Four  Interesting  Five-Reel  Productions  Will  Be  Dis- 
tributed Within  the  Next  Few  Weeks;  Also 
Four  One-Reel  Comedies 

Some  interesting  events  in  motion  picture  produc- 
tion are  promised  in  forthcoming  David  Horsley  produc- 
tions, to  be  released  on  or  before  April  1. 

Within  that  period  of  time,  four  of  Mr.  Horsley's 
five-reel  productions  will  be  distributed  as  Mutual  Mas- 
ter-pictures, de  luxe  edition,  besides  four  one-reel  sub- 
jects which  are  to  be  released  under  the  Cub  Comedy 
brand  name. 

The  first  of  the  four  five-reel  subjects  to  be  dis- 
tributed as  Mutual  Master-pictures,  de  luxe  edition,  is 
"A  Law  Unto  Himself,"  which  was  scheduled  for  release 
February  28.  Those  who  have  witnessed  pre-release 
date  showings  of  this  production  announced  that  it  was 
an  extraordinary  picture.  It  has  a  gripping  story  of  the 
Northwest  mountains  with  the  theme  of  vengeance  for 
its  plot,  which  has  been  treated  in  a  new  light  by  the 
author,  Lillian  V.  Brockwell,  a  writer  of  considerable 
reputation  for  her  powerful  stories.  As  most  of  the 
action  of  the  play  transpires  in  the  mountains  Mr.  Horsley 
sent  his  company  into  the  rugged  country  of  the  Coast 
where  some  exceptional  scenic  views  were  obtained  for 
background. 

The  characters  in  the  story  being  of  a  rugged  type, 
Mr.  Horsley  drew  not  alone  upon  the  resources  of  his 
own  playing  force,  but  went  outside  of  his  studio  and 
engaged  actors  who  not  only  looked  but  had  proven  that 
the}  i  -mid  play  such  parts. 

Crane  Wilbur  is  tin-  featured  player  in  the  piece. 
I  [e  appears  in  a  dual  role.  Among  the  other  players  are 
E.  \\  .  Harris,  Louis  Durham,  Francis  Raymond,  Steve 
Murphy,  George  Clare,  Jr.,  and  Virginia  Kirtlcv. 

Other  five-reel  productions  are  "The  Heart  of 
Tara,"  scheduled  for  March  4;  "The  Hidden  Law," 
i  heduled  for  March  25,  and  "The  Love  Liar,"  scheduled 
for  March  27. 


Petite  Star  in  "Lovely  Mary" 

"Lovely  Mary,"  the  five-part  Metro  love  drama 
in  which  little  Mary  Miles  Minter  is  starred  and  Thom- 
as J.  Carrigan,  her  new  leading  man,  is  featured,  will 
be  released  on  the  Metro  program  March  13.  This 
feature  was  produced  by  the  Columbia  Pictures  Cor- 
poration under  the  direction  of  Edgar  Jones  and  his 
assistant,  P.  T.  Volkman. 

After  being  buffeted  and  battered  around  in  the 
ice  fields  of  the  far  north  and  braving  the  storm  for 
more  than  fifty  years,  the  revenue  cutter  and  coast 
guard  ship  Woodbury  fell  a  victom  to  motion  pictures 
and  was  sent  to  the  bottom.  This  sturdy  old  vessel, 
which  in  her  time  saved  more  than  5,000  lives  in  the 
storms  off  Hatteras  and  the  Banks,  and  cleared  the 
seas  of  smugglers  and  seal  poachers,  was  purchased 
by  the  Metro  company  for  an  important  part  in  "The 
Price  of  Malice,"  a  recent  release  on  the  Metro  pro- 
gram. Hamilton  Revelle  and  Barbara  Tennant  are 
starred  in  this  film.  The  Metro  company  converted 
the  cutter  into  a  fine  appearing  yacht  and  towed  her 
to  the  ice  fields.  There  she  was  sent  head-on  against 
an  iceberg  and  rapidly  sank  to  the  bottom  as  the  Metro 
players  enacted  the  roles  assigned  them  in  the  pro- 
duction. 

Niles  Welch,  popular  juvenile  actor,  of  the  Metro 
forces,  was  injured  severely  recently  during  a  scene 
in  which  the  rifle  of  a  fellow  performer  struck  him 
across  the  forehead.     He  is  still  in  a  hospital. 

Max  Uhlig  has  been  engaged  by  the  Popular 
Plays  and  Players  as  assistant  technical  director. 

Metro  announces  its  retirement  from  participation 
in  future  motion  picture  balls  and  sets  forth  its  reasons 
in  a  statement  made  by  Joseph  W.  Engel,  Metro's 
treasurer.     Mr.  Engel  says: 

"Metro  is  somewhat  in  the  position  of  the  makers 
of  the  Stutz  automobile  who,  after  winning  three  great 
races,  announced  they  .would  give  their  competitors 
a  chance.  They  retired  from  racing  and  lived  happily 
ever  after  and  the  competitors  were  happy  also." 

Beyfuss  Signs  Capt.  Peacocke 

Alex  E.  Beyfuss,  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  has 
signed  Captain  Leslie  T.  Peacocke,  well-known  sce- 
nario writer.  Captain  Peacocke  has  been  instructed 
to  join  the  forces  of  the  California  company  at  San 
Rafael  at  once.  As  a  free-lance  journalist  as  well  as 
a  fiction  writer  of  recognized  ability,  Captain  Peacocke 
Avas  early  attracted  to  the  field  of  motion  pictures 
and  began  to  study  the  game  of  the  camera  from  all 
sides  at  a  time  when  it  was  given  little  serious  consid- 
eration by  serious-minded  persons.  As  a  matter  of 
course  when  the  importance  of  motion  pictures  was 
recognized,  Captain  Peacocke  already  had  enjoyed  sev- 
eral years  of  vigorous  tuition  in  the  fundamentals  of 
the  great  art-industry.  He  has  had  more  than  400 
photo-plays  produced.  Some  of  them  were  adaptions, 
but,  for  the  most  part,  they  were  his  original  stories. 

The  Pollard  Picture  Plays  Corporation  has  been 
formed  by  George  W.  Lederer.  Lederer's  latest  ven- 
ture in  the  him  world  will  star  Margarita  Fischer. 
Harry  Pollard  will  direct.  The  Pollard  company,  ac- 
companied by  Miss  Fischer,  has  gone  to  Los  Angeles 
to  produce  "The  Pearl  of  Paradise."  Lederer  de- 
clared this  picture  will  be  a  distinct  novelty  in  the  field 
of  features. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


J 

J»           j 

Miss  Hi-Idur  Erlandsen, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NOTES 

A  most  realistic  landslide  was  filmed 
for  "The  Hunted  Woman,"  the  Canadian 
play  by  James  Oliver  Curwood,  which 
S.  Rankin  Drew  is  directing,  with  him- 
self and  Virginia  Pearson  in  the  leading 
roles.  Many  scenes  were  taken  near 
Saranac  Lake,  N.  Y. 

Mildred  Gregory,  for  a  long  time  lead- 
ing lady  with  Romaine  Fielding,  is  fea- 
tured in  the  Gaumont'  Mutual  Masterpic- 
ture  on  March  6,  "According  to  Law," 
written  by  Paul  M.  Bryan  and  Joseph 
Trant. 

Pearl  Shepard,  winner  in  the  beauty 
contest  at  the  recent  motion  picture  ball 
at  Madison  Square  Garden,  will  be  seen 
in  Thanhouser  films  with  Doris  Grey, 
winner  of  the  Boston  beauty  contest. 

The  first  of  a  series  of  Vitagraph  one- 
reel  comedies  featuring  Frank  Daniels 
as  "Mr.  Jack"  is  finished.  Paul  West  is 
writing  the  stories  and  C.  Jay  Williams 
is  directing.  The  comedies  will  be  re- 
leased through   V.  L.  S.  E. 

Robert  Edeson  is  to  appear  in  a  drama 
by  James  Oliver  Curwood  to  be  taken 
near  Port  Henry.  Naomi  Childers  will 
be  featured  with  him.  Harry  S.  North- 
rup,  Emmanual  Turner,  Carolyn  Birch, 
Betty  Howe  and  Bobby  Connelly  are 
also  in  the  cast. 

Jewell  Hunt  is  being  featured  in  the 
Vitagraph  series  of  comedies,  "Myrtle 
the  Manicurist,"  written  by  Paul  West 
and  directed  by  Harry  Davenport. 

Betty  Howe,  a  newcomer  to  the  Vita- 
graph forces,  traces  her  ancestry  to  Eliz- 
abeth Howe,  burned  as  a  witch  in  old 
Salem  days.  She  is  also  related  to  the 
late  Julia  Ward  Howe.  Miss  Howe  has 
appeared  with  Frank  Daniels  in  "The 
Escapades  of  Mr.  Jack"  and  will  appear 
next  with  Robert  Edeson  in  the  James 
Oliver  Curwood  story. 

Nan  Carter,  of  the  William  Fox  forces, 
left  for  Los  Angeles  recently  to  become 
a  featured  member  of  Oliver  Morosco's 
stock  company.  She  will  appear  in  one 
or  two  new  motion  pictures  while  on  the 
coast. 

The  story  of  the  Bertha  Kalich  play 
which  W.  S.  Davis  is  directing  deals  with 
the  fight  a  woman  makes  against  false 
accusations  against  her  character. 

Theda  Bara  wrote  and  directed  a  split- 
reel  play  featuring  her  pet  cat,  "Tweedle- 
Dee." 

Richard  Garrick,  supervising  director 
of  the  Gaumont  studios  in  Jacksonville, 
Fla.,  has  offered  a  prize  of  $150  for  the 
best  scenario  for  a  five-reel  picture  sub- 
mitted by  a  member  of  the  company. 
A  month  has  been  allowed  for  prepara- 
tion. 

Lucille-  Stewart  is  the  new  leading 
woman  for  Ralph  Ince  at  the  Vitagraph 
studios  at  Bay  Shore,  L.  I. 

Robert  B.  Mantell's  newest  picture  to 
arrive  from  the  William  Fox  studios  in 
Jamaica  is  "A  Wife's  Sacrifice." 

One  of  Theda  Bara's  cherished  pos- 
sessions is  a  photograph  of  herself  when 
six  years  old.    She  is  perched  on  a  camel 


in  an  oasis  in  the  Sahara  desert.  Miss 
Bara  was  born  on  the  Sahara  while  her 
parents  were  members  of  an  archaeo- 
logical exploring  expedition. 

Dorothy  Bernard,  of  the  William  Fox 
players,  has  entered  her  speed  boat  in 
the  races  that  will  be  held  next  month 
during  the  Cataline  Island  regatta.  Its 
name  is  "Here's  How." 

Arthur  Donaldson,  actor  and  director, 
is  now  working  in  a  feature  production 
at  the  Standard  studio,  Yonkers,  New 
York,  for  the  Arrow  Film  Company,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Lawrence  McGill. 

Pauline  Frederick  is  in  Jacksonville, 
Fla.,  playing  in  scenes  for  the  Famous 
Players'  adaptation  of  Mary  Johnston's 
novel,  "Audrey,"  to  be  released  by  Para- 
mount in  March. 

Madison  Weeks,  formerly  a  member 
of  a  stock  company  in  his  home  town, 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  makes  his  screen  de- 
but in  "According  to  Law,"  in  which 
Mildred  Gregory  is  starring,  directed  by 
Richard  Garrick. 

Dorothy  Green  and  H.  Cooper  Cliffe, 
who  were  featured  in  the  William  Fox 
play,  "A  Parisian  Romance,"  are  both 
working  in  Metro  plays  at  present,  Miss 
Green  with  Edmund  Breese  and  Mr. 
Cliffe  with  Ethel  Barrymore  in  "The 
Kiss  of  Hate." 

Tom  Terriss  has  finished  another  five- 
reel  feature,  "The  Triangle,"  dealing 
with  the  munitions  plots  in  this  country. 
Terriss  plays  two  parts.  Jill  Woodward, 
Helene  Ziegfeld,  John  Hopkins  and  Har- 
old Vosburgh  have  important  roles.  The 
play  was  made  at  the   Marion   Leonard 


studio  in  Brooklyn  and  directed  by  Mr. 
Terriss  and  Frank  G.  Kugler. 

Alexander  Gaden,  of  the  Gaumont 
company,  had  played  over  500  parts  on 
the  legitimate  stage  before  going  into 
pictures. 

True  Boardman,  who  was  last  seen  as 
"Stingaree,"  the  bushranger,  appears  as 
a  society  man  in  the  comedy-drama  by 
George  Bronson  Howard,  "The  Social 
Pirates." 

Bertha  Kalich,  who  recently  joined  the 
William  Fox  forces,  is  working  in  her 
first  picture  in  Coytesville,  N.  J.,  under 
the  direction  of  W.  S.  Davis. 

Virginia  Pearson's  book,  "The  Book 
of  Knowledge  of  the  Movies,"  will  soon 
be  completed  and  will  be  distributed  free 
among  young  people  with  photoplay  as- 
pirations. 

Theda  Bara  received  91,250  letters  dur- 
ing the  last  year.  Hereafter  she  is  going 
to  file  all  letters  received  alphabetically 
in  two  divisions— one  for  love  letters,  the 
other  for  humorous  ones. 

Robert  B.  Mantell's  favorite  form  of 
exercise  is  horseback  riding. 

Vivian  Martin  has  begun  work  in  her 
second  William  Fox  picture. 

A  Japanese  merchant,  charmed  by 
Margaret  Gibson,  whom  he  saw  in  "The 
Soul's  Cycle,"  sent  her  a  little  yellow 
ivory  elephant  with  diamond  eyes  and 
gold  tusks. 

Wally  Van  is  to  direct  the  film  adapta- 
tion of  "The  Scarlet  Runner,"  the  novel 
by  C.  N.  and  A.  M.  Williamson.  This 
will  be  released  in  twelve  episodes,  each 


Film   Market  Quotations  ano 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by   R.    D.   Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American    Film    Co.,    Inc..  91  99 

Biograph    Company    44  51 

Famous  Players  Film  Corp.  75  108 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref . .  .  43  47 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   pref...  44  50 

Mutual   Film  Corp.,  com...  44J/-2  50 

No.  Am.   Film  Corp.,  pref..  90  100 

No.  Am.   Film  Corp.,  com..  55  67 

New  York  M.  P.  Corp 48  54 

Thanhouser   Film  Corp 4  5     * 

Triangle    Film    Corp 4%  5     * 

Universal  Film  Mfg.  Co.... 182 

World   Film  Corp 1  !4  1%* 

*Par  $5.00. 

Mutual  Film  Corporation :  Arrange- 
ments have  been  made  whereby  Charlie 
Chaplin  returns  to  the  Mutual.  The 
plans  call  for  12  releases  of  two  reels 
each,  the  Mutual  to  distribute  the  films 
on  a  percentage  basis,  which  represents 
a  potential  earning  power  of  over  $650,- 
000,  so  that  tlie  revenue  of  the  company 
for  the  year  1°16  should  show  a  splendid 
increase  over  the  preceding  year.  Strong 
interest  in  both  preferred  and  common 
has  immediately  registered  and  it  is  now 
somewhat  difficult  to  obtain  offerings  of 
either   the    major   or   minor   issues.     The 


asked  prices  on  both  preferred  and  com- 
mon have  advanced  7  points.  The  Chap- 
lin Company  is  to  be  capitalized  for 
$950,000— $400,000  preferred  and  the  bal- 
ance common. 

The  Mutual  Film  Corporation  opened 
up  the  "Strand"  theater  in  Chicago  under 
their  new  Mutual  Masterpicture — Service. 
The  initial  presentation  was  "Silas  Mar- 
ner,"  with  Frederick  Warde,  the  trag- 
edian, who  enjoyed  a  very  sterling  repu- 
tation a  number  of  years  ago.  According 
to  the  severest  film  critic  writing  for  the 
Chicago  newspapers,  this  proved  to  be 
one  of  the  most  creditable  film  presenta- 
tions ever  given  to  Chicago.  Crowded 
houses  have  responded  to  the  offering. 

Triangle  Film  Corporation :  Also 
opened  the  "Colonial"  theater  in  Chicago 
with  its  new  service  under  the  direction 
of  Samuel  L.  Rothapfel.  The  orchestral 
accompaniment  has  been  pronounced  the 
best  that  has  appeared  in  Chicago,  and, 
as  this  part  of  the  Triangle  service  was 
open  to  severe  criticism  in  the  latter 
weeks  of  its  occupancy  of  the  Stude- 
baker  theater,  the  public  has  shown  its 
approval  as  "capacity  houses"  are  now 
the  rule.  The  stock  has,  however,  not 
changed  materially  over  last  week's  quo- 
tations. 

Biograph  Company:  A  number  of  of- 
ferings of  this  stock  were  made  last 
week,  but  buyers  hard  to  locate. 


March  11,  1916. 

complete.  Earle  Williams  will  play  the 
principal  role.  Anita  Stewart,  Lillian 
Walker  and  Edith  Storey  will  appear  in 
the  cast. 

Annette  Kellermann's  latest  hobby  is 
hydro-aeroplaning. 

Herbert  Brenon,  director  general  of 
the  William  Fox-Annette  Kellermann 
picture,  is  the  son  of  a  distinguished  Lon- 
don journalist.  His  mother  was  also  a 
writer,  and  his  brother,  the  late  Algernon 
St.  John  Brenon,  was  a  well-known  op- 
eratic critic  in  New  York. 

Vivian  Martin  is  at  Tallulah  Falls,  Ga., 
working  in  her  second  William  Fox  pic- 
ture, under  the  direction  of  John  G. 
Adolfi. 


CHICAGO  NOTES 

Twelve  stenographers  operating  type- 
writers and  dictagraphs  appear  in  one 
office  scene  in  Essanay's  five-act  feature. 
■"The  Havoc,"  in  which  Gladys  Hanson 
is  featured. 

Sydney  Ainsworth,  who  plays  in  the 
"Mary  Page"  story,  has  had  four  derby 
hats  broken  while  working  in  pictures 
during  the  last  two  weeks. 

Ernest  Maupain  finds  his  principal  re- 
creation in  inspecting  Chicago's  ""' 
art  galleries. 

Lillian  Drew  of  the  Essanay  forci 
driving  a  new  motor  car. 

An  exact  duplicate  of  the  general  r 


GLENDON  OBJECTS 

Recently  a  press  agent  sent  out  an 
item  to  the  effect  that  J.  Frank  Glendon 
of  the  Metro  forces  was  a  dry  goods 
clerk  before  he  became  an  actor.  And 
now  Frank  is  peeved,  because  he  never 
had  anything  to  do  with  merchandising 
of  any  kind  except  to  deliver  the  goods 


MOTOGRAPHY 


ager's  suite  of  offices  of  one  of  Chicago's 
railroad  systems  was  built  at  the  Essanay 
studios  for  "The  Havoc." 

Ernest  Maupain  has  been  in  motion  pic- 
tures for  nine  years.  Before  that  he  was 
for  many  years  leading  man  for  Sarah 
Bernhardt. 

Henry  B.  Walthall  recently  won  in  a 
newspaper  popularity  contest  in  Sydney, 
Australia. 

"The  Havoc,"  H.  S.  Sheldon's  play,  is 
built  upon  the  activities  of  three  persons. 
Gladys  Hanson,  Lewis  S.  Stone  and 
Bryant  Washburn  play  these  important 
roles  in  the  coming  Essanay  production. 

Henry  Walthall's  favorite  singer  is 
Caruso.  He  never  misses  a  chance  to 
hear  the  singer  and  also  owns  every  rec- 
ord of  his  voice  ever  made. 


597 

lar  movement  is  being  discussed  at  Aus- 
tin, the  state  capital.  In  the  city  pri- 
mary at  Waco  the  vote  was  2,317  for 
and  631   against   Sunday   shows. 

A.  Martini  has  installed  a  new  $8,000 
pipe  organ  in  the  Dixie  Center  at  Gal- 
veston. 

The  old  opera  house  at  Mexie  col-  ■ 
lapsed  recently  and  caught  fire,  causing 
the  death  of  nine  people  and  entailing 
loss  of  more  than  $100,000. 

William  Hamilton  has  been  appointed 
member  of  the  board  of  appeals  at  Dal- 
las, to  succeed  John  S.  Aldehoff,  who 
resigned.  This  board  has  the  last  say 
in   motion   picture   censorship   in    Dallas. 


/.   Frank   Glendon. 

on  the  screen,  or  on  the  stage.  There- 
fore, this  explanation.  Mr.  Glendon  is 
the  son  of  a  Methodist  minister  in  Hel- 
ena, Mont.,  and  was  sent  to  Wesleyan 
University  in  that  city.  From  college  he 
went  upon  the  stage  as  an  opera  singer, 
and  after  a  few  years  he  became  a  lead- 
ing man  in  stock  and  dramatic  produc- 
tions. Lately  he  has  deserted  these  for 
the  motion  picture  screen.  So  there  you 
are. 


MIDDLE  WEST  NOTES 

By  William  Noble 

Florida 

■The   Alamo    theater   as    Gainsville   has 
been   purchased   by   W.    M.    Clark,    who 
will   make   many   new   improvements. 
Kentucky 
J.  M.  Pickell  &  Son  have  opened  their 
new  Rex  theater  at  Hellier  and  will  han- 
dle only  the  best  pictures  obtainable. 
Tennessee 

B.  C.  Butler  has  opened  a  new  pic- 
ture theater  which  seats  200,  at  Gaines- 
boro. 

Louisiana 

The  new  house  in  Shreveport,  owned 
by  Charles  Rick,  will  be  opened  in  the 
near  future  under  the  name  of  the  New 
Lyric. 

Oklahoma 

The  corporation  commission  of  Okla- 
homa has  taken  under  advisement  the 
question  whether  exchanges  in  the  state 
may  charge  exhibitors  a  weekly  rental 
for  films.  The  secretary  of  state  claims 
that  some  of  the  exchanges  are  not  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  of  the  state 
and  have  obtained  no  license  to  operate 
in  the  state. 

Texas 

The  right  of  a  local  exchange  to  en- 
force payment  of  rentals  on  contract  by 
annulment  of  service  is  established  by 
the  decision  in  favor  of  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation  handed  down  by  the  Court 
of  Civil  Appeals  at  Fort  Worth.  Litiga- 
tion in  the  case  was  begun  in  September, 
1914,  when  Morris  and  Daniel,  theater 
owners  at  Abilene,  brought  suit  against 
the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  of  Texas 
for  $10,000,  because  they  had  a  contract 
calling  for  Mutual  service  as  long  as  the 
theater  and  the  Mutual  corporation  re- 
mained in  existence,  and  the  company 
refused  to  furnish  the  films  when  rental 
was  not  paid.  A  jury  trial  resulted  in  a 
verdict  of  $1,500  for  Morris  and  Daniel, 
but  the  Mutual  company  won  on  the  ap- 
peal. Trie  result  will  have  a  bearing  on 
film  rental  and  collections  in  Texas. 

C.  W.  Hartman,  manager  of  the  Gar- 
rick  theater,  Dallas,  announces  that  the 
theater  will  be  enlarged  and  300  seats 
added  in  the  near  future. 

The  opera  house  at  Collinsville  was 
burned  recently.  The  loss  was  $6,100, 
partially   covered  by  insurance. 

Following  the  election  of  motion  pic- 
ture shows  on  Sunday  at  Waco,  a  simi- 


PACIFIC  COAST  NOTES 

Mack  Swain,  the  famed  creator  of  the 
"Ambrose"  character  in  Keystone  plays, 
is  spending  his  spare  time  superintending 
work  on  his  country  estate  near  Pasa- 
dena. 

Myrtle  Stedman,  the  Morosco-Para- 
mount  star,  has  had  a  varied  career, 
having  been  a  dancer,  a  miner,  a  singer, 
and  actress  on  the  legitimate  stage,  and 


DEVORE  PARMER 

Devore  Parmer,  heavy  man  with  the 
Roland  West  Film  Corporation  with  Jose 
Collins,  and  recently  heavy  man  with  the 
Triangle  supporting  Douglas  Fairbanks, 
has  headed  his  own  company  in  roman- 
tic and  classic  repertoire,  playing  such 
masterpieces  as  "Romeo  and  Juliet," 
"Richard  III,"  "Taming  of  the  Shrew" 
and   "David   Garrick." 

Mr.  Parmer's  first  appearance  in  the 
movies  was  as  leading  man  with  the  old 
Edison  outdoor  company,  under  the  di- 
rection   of    Edwin    S.    Porter.     Then    he 


Devore  Parmer. 

joined  the  Nestor  cowboy  company  in 
leading  parts.  After  that  followed  the 
Biograph,  Fox  Film  Corporation,  Cosmo- 
Features,  Kinetophote,  the  Harvard  Film 
Corporation,  et  cetera.  Mr.  Parmer  has 
also  supported  such  stars  as  Viola  Allen, 
Julia  Marlowe,  E.  H.  Sothern,  E.  M. 
Holland,  Robert  Mantell  and  many 
others.  As  an  athlete  Mr.  Parmer  ex- 
cels in  fencing,  boxing,  riding,  bag-punch- 
ing, swimming  and  big  game  hunting. 


598 

WINIFRED  KINGSTON 

Winifred  Kingston  has  appeared  with 
considerable  success  as  leading  lady  for 
Dustin  Farnuni.  Of  English  birth,  Miss 
Kingston  secured  her  education  in  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  and  Paliseul,  Belgium. 
At  an  early  age  she  appeared  on  the 
speaking    stage     in     England    and    later 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Winifred  Kingstt 


played  leading  parts  for  such  celebrities 
as  Charles  Frohman  and  Sir  Beerbohm 
Tree.  In  America,  Miss  Kingston  played 
in  many  metropolitan  successes.  As  in 
the  case  of  many  artists  of  the  speaking- 
stage  who  have  made  good.  Miss  King- 
ston upon  completion  of  her  initial  photo- 
play cast  her  lot  with  the  silent  drama 
for  all  time. 


now  a  motion  picture  favorite.  Miss 
Stedman  began  with  the  Whitney  opera 
company  in  Chicago,  as  singer  and 
dancer,  and  was  later  prima  donna.  Only 
her  success  in  picture  keeps  her  from 
returning  to  the   operatic  stage. 

C.  M.  and  S.  A.  Franklin  are  staging 
another  Fine  Arts-Triangle  play  in  which 
the  clever  children  of  the  "Let  Katy  Do 
It"  cast  will  have  prominent  parts. 
Norma  Talmadge,  William  Hinckley, 
Jewell  Carmen,  Eugene  Pallette  and 
Walter  Long  are   in    the   cast. 

Mae  Murray  will  appear  as  "Lady 
Jocelyn  Leigh"  in  Mary  Johnson's  ro- 
mance of  early  Virginia  days,  "To  Have 
and  to  Hold,"  released  by  the  Lasky 
company  on  the  Paramount  program 
March  6.  Wallace  Reid  appears  oppo- 
site Miss  Murray. 

Vivian  Edwards  will  be  seen  next  in 
"The  Village  Blacksmith,"  a  Triangle- 
Keystone  feature. 

The  new  electric  studio  and  the  open- 

.ii  ili<    Keystone  studios  having 

been  finished,  work  lias  now  been  begun 

on    the    administration    building    at    the 

i  .1.  ndale  plant. 

William  Wolbert  is  now  at  work  on 
the  Jack  London  drama,  "Hearts  of 
Three,"  in  which  William  Duncan, 
George  Holt  and  Carmen  Phillips  are  the 
"Three." 

Rollin    Sturgeon's    next     Blue     Ribbon 


feature  production  will  be  a  picturization 
of  a  story  of  mystery  and  scientific  crime 
deduction  written  by  Cleveland  Moffett. 
At  present  Mr.  Sturgeon  is  supervising 
the  work  of  assembling  ai 
the  James  Oliver  Curwood 
in   Bear  Valley. 

Mack  Sennett  sent  east  for  a  trained 
circus  horse  to  use  in  a  Keystone  pro- 
duction in  which  a  horse  jumps  from  a 
cliff  into  a  river  sixty  feet  below.  The 
horse  made  the  jump,  with  a  rider,  then 
swam  safely  ashore. 

Fanny  Ward  has  completed  her  fourth 
Lasky  picture,  "For  the  Defense,"  to  be 
released  March  13.  It  is  writen  by  Hec- 
tor Turnbull,  who  also  wrote  Miss 
Ward's  photoplay,  "The  Cheat."  Jack 
Dean,  Camille  Astor  and  Horace  B.  Car- 
penter appear  in   the  cast. 

Francelia  Billington  has  joined  the 
Universal  Film  Company  at  its  Pacific 
coast  studios  and  will  appear  in  leading 
roles  opposite  Herbert  Rawlinson  under 
the    direction    of    William    Worthington. 

Cleo  Madison  appears  in  the  leading 
role  in  "A  Soul's  Crucible,"  which  she 
wrote  in  collaboration  with  Kathleen 
Kerrigan.  Edward  Hearn,  Ray  Hanford 
and  William  Mong  appear  in  the  sup- 
porting cast. 

Robert  Leonard  and  Ella  Hall  play  the 
leads  in  "The  Crippled  Hand,"  written 
by  Calder  Johnstone.  Marc  Robbins  and 
Kingsley  Benedict  appear  in  the  cast. 

Cliff  Elfedt,  assistant  to  Richard  Stan- 
ton, is  suffering  from  an  attack  of  acute 
bronchitis,  a  result  of  exposure  and  over- 
work during  the  production  of  recent 
"Graft"  episodes. 

Five-year-old  Zoe  Beck,  who  appears 
with  Edna  Maison  and  Douglas  Gerrard 
in  "Through  a  Baby's  Voice,"  is  said 
to  be  the  star  of  the  play. 

Cleo  Ridgley  and  Wallace  Reid  have 
gone  to  the  Mojave  desert  with  Paul 
Dickey,  director,  to  film  scenes  for  the 
Jesse  L.  Lasky  production  of  "Under 
'the  Mask,"  written  by  Cecile  B.  DeMille 
and  Jeannie  MacPherson. 

Harry  Leon  Wilson,  the  writer,  has 
been  the  guest  of  Thomas  Meighan  of 
the  Lasky  company  for  the  past  week. 
Mr.  Wilson,  Irvin  Cobb,  Charles  A.  Van 
Loan  and  George  Horace  Lorimer,  edi- 
tor of  the  Saturday  Evening  Post,  are 
taking  a  brief  vacation  at  the  Grand 
Canyon. 

Work  is  progressing  on  the  new  300- 
foot  stage  at  the  Lasky  studios,  and 
James  Young,  with  the  Mae  Murray  pro- 
duction, "Sweet  Kitty  Bellaires."  will 
probably  work  in  the  first  set  on  it.  A 
new  star  dressing  room  building  is  also 
being  added  to  the  plant. 

The  Mack  Sennett  production  of  "Gyp- 
sy Joe,"  featuring  Joe  Jackson,  will  be 
held  up  for  some  time  because  of  the  ill- 
ness of  Mr.  Jackson,  who  was  injured 
during  one  of  the  scenes. 

The  Vitagraph  Hollywood  studios  an- 
nounced that  they  have  completed  ar- 
rangements with  several  local  writers  of 
repute  to  buy  their  entire  dramatic  out- 
put for  the  next  six  months,  at  least,  and 
that  Vitagraph  is  therefore  out  of  the 
market  for  anything  but  one-reel  come- 
dies of  the   "polite"  type. 

Bessie  Barriscale,  in  her  next  play, 
will    again    wear    the    robes    of   a    nun,   as 


BRUCE  JOINS  METRO 

Clifford    Bruce,    well    known    dramatic 

star,   has   been    engaged   by   the    Popular 

Plays    and    Players    and    will    make    his 

trimming    je^f.  on  t]le  Metro  program  in  "Hearts 

ory   taken    Aflame"    a    five    part    drama.       Dorothy 

Green   will   be   featured   with    Mr.    Bruce 


Clifford    Bruce. 

in  this  production.  Mr.  Bruce  has  a  large- 
following  among  motion  picture  patrons. 
He  also  is  well  known  on  the  speaking 
stage,  having  served  Charles  Frohman 
as  leading  man  for  more  than  five  years. 


in  "Bullets  and  Brown  Eyes."  Charles 
Giblyn  will  direct  the  story,  by  J.  G. 
Hawks,  and  William  Desmond  and  Gyp- 
sy Abbott  are  in  the  cast. 

Major  Clarence  B.  Blenton,  editor  of 
the  Seattle  Times,  accompanied  by  Harry 
E.  Andrews,  managing  editor  of  the 
Los  Angeles  Times,  visited  the  Universal 
plant  recently  and  expressed  his  interest 
in  the  work. 

J.  Warren  Kerrigan  has  a  postage  bill 
of  about  $100  a  month. 

U.  S.  "Dell"  Andrews,  the  young  chief 
cutter  of  the  Ince-Triangle  forces,  has 
recovered  from  the  burns  he  received  at 
the  Inceville  fire  and  is  again  at  work. 

A  massive  set  depicting  the  interior 
of  a  cathedral  is  being  used  in  a  coming 
Triangle-Kay-Bee  feature  starring  Wil- 
liam Desmond  and  Jane  Grey.  The  set 
was  made  under  stage  manager  Tom 
Brierly's  direction  from  drawings  of  a 
London  edifice. 

Blanche  Sweet,  who  has  appeared  as  a 
ragamuffin,  an  anarchist,  a  drug  fiend  and 
a  mesmerist's  subject,  among  other  roles, 
is  to  be  "a  lady"  in  the  coming  Lasky 
adaptation  of  Henry  Seton  Merriman's 
novel,  "The  Sowers,"  a  Russian  political 
story. 

In  "The  Strife  of  the  Iron  Trails,"  a 
Universal  railroad  story  produced  by 
Henry  McRae  from  the  novel  by  Frank 
M.  Wiltermood,  Marie  Walcamp  and  Lee 
Hill  jump  from  an  engine  crossing  a 
birdge   at   a    rate    of   twenty-five    miles   an 

Edna    Maison,    the    Universal    leading 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


?lene  Ziegfeld,  ingenue  with  Tom 
iss  in  his  latest  five-reel  feature, 
r    Triangle,"    to    be   releaed   soon. 


woman,  has  had  her  first  trip  in  a  flying 
machine,  and  says  she  liked  it  better  than 
horseback  riding  or  autoing. 

Harry  E.  Aitken,  president  of  the  Tri- 
angle corporation,  on  his  last  trip  to 
the  producing  studios  in  Los  Angeles, 
was  particularly  impressed  with  some  of 
the  scenes  taken  for  the  "Macbeth"  pro- 
duction. 

Frank  Case,  treasurer  of  the  Lambs' 
Club,  and  owner  of  the  New  York  Al- 
gonquin hotel,  while  visiting  De  Wolf 
Hopper,  was  persuaded  to  appear  for  the 
first  time  in  motion  pictures,  and  played 
the  part  of  a  sheriff  with  Douglas .  Fair- 
banks. 

William  Worthington  is  producing  the 
first  episode  of  the  series  by  Frank  L. 
Packard,  "The  Gray  Seal,"  in  which 
Herbert  Rawlinson  and  Francelia  Bol- 
lington  play  leads.  Calder  Johnstone  is 
writing  the  scenarios. 

J.  Warren  Kerrigan  is  to  appear  in  the 
stellar  role  of  "The  Gay  Lord  Waring," 
which  Otis  Turner  is  producing  from 
F.  McGrew  Willis'  adaptation  of  the 
novel  by  Houghton  Townley.  Bertram 
Grassby,  Leo  Wilson,  Maude  George, 
Howard  Holland  and  Harry  Carter  ap- 
pear in  the  cast. 

The  "Graft"  serial  has  reached  its  thir- 
teenth installment.  Richard  Stanton, 
who  directs,  plays  the  lead,  with  Jane 
Novak,  Gren  White,  Jack  Abbott  and 
Hare  Fenton  in  the  supporting  cast. 

Director  Alan  Dawn,  with  250  Fine  Arts 
players,  journeyed  to  the  Mojave  desert 
recently  for  scenes  for  a  western  Tri- 
angle drama.  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Bessie 
Love,  Sam  de  Grasse,  Mary  Alden,  Joseph 
Singleton,  George  Beranger,  Fred  Burns, 
Doc  Cannon,  Frank  Case  and  Art  Ros- 
son  were  the  principals. 

In  Norma  Talmadge's  new  Triangle 
play,  "Acquitted,"  Paul  Le  Blanc,  who 
played  the  eccentric  hospital  sentinel  in 
"The  Birth  of  a  Nation."  appears  as  a 
member  of  the  underworld. 

Kate  Bruce,  character  actress,  famous 
for  her  vivid  portrayals  in  the  old  Grif- 
ffth-Biograph  subjects,  has  been  engaged 


by  the  Fine  Arts  company  and  made  her 
initial  Triangle  appearance  in  "Betty  of 
Greystone." 

Paul  Dickey,  the  Lasky  director,  has 
already  begun  rehearsals  for  the  produc- 
tion of  the  Cleo  Ridgely-Wallace  Reid 
vehicle,  "Under  the  Mask." 

Helene  Rosson  is  to  play  the  name  part 
in  a  coming  five-reeler  which  Donald 
Macdonald  is  producing  for  the  Ameri- 
can company. 

"Peggy,"  the  Triangle  play  featuring 
Billy  Burke,  is  having  a  big  run  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  where  the  acting  of  Wil- 
liam Desmond  as  the  Scotch  minister 
is  especially  pleasing  to  those  who  knew 
Desmond  with  the  Morosco  companies. 
Nell  Shipman  has  finished  her  work  in 
Rollin  S.  Sturegon's  feature  drama,  in 
which  she  played  opposite  Willian  Dun- 
Bessie  Barriscale,  featured  in  "Honor's 
Altar,"  and  Lewis  Stone  and  Walter  Ed- 
wards, who  directed  it,  formerly  played 
in  stock  companies  together,  Stone  and 
Miss  Barriscale  playing  leads  with  Ed- 
wards as  the  principal  support. 

George  Melford,  the  Lasky  producer, 
and  Margaret  Anglin  were  playmates  as 
youngsters,  in  Ottawa,  Canada. 

"Undine,"  which  Henry  Otto  produced 
for  the  Bluebird  company,  has  been  se- 
lected by  the  Palace  company  to  open 
its  new  Palace  theatre  on  Seventh 
street,    Los   Angeles. 

"The  Purple  Maze,"  a  two-reeler  being 
produced  by  Ed.  J.  Le  Saint  for  the  Uni- 
versal company,  features  Stella  Razetto. 

Mary  Anderson  and  Webster  Campbell 
are  working  under  the  direction  of  Dave 
Smith  at  the  western  Vitagraph  studios 
in  a  one-reel  comedy. 

Grace    Cunard   and    Francis    Ford   are 

putting  a  one-reel  mystery  story,  "The 
House  on  the  Hill,"  while  preparing  for 
a  five-reel  mystery  drama  written  by 
Miss  Cunard. 

Dorothy  Barrett  has  finished  her  work 
in  "The  Argonauts,"  produced  at  Monro- 
via. 

Edward  Sloman,  now  a  producer  with 
the  American  company,  began  his  career 
in  a  London,  England,  stock  company. 
He  went  into  pictures  with  the  Universal 
company,  on  the  coast,  then  directed  for 
Lubin. 

Nona  Thomas  is  a  student  of  books 
and  music  as  well  as  of  acting. 

The  Jack  London  serial,  "Hearts  of 
Three,"  which  William  Wolbert  will  pro- 
duce for  the  Vitagraph  company,  is_  lo- 
cated in  Panama  and  some  mysterious 
islands  off  its  coast,  on  which  two  de- 
scendants of  Sir  Henry  Morgan  and  the 
fiancee  of  one  of  them  have  many  ex- 
citing adventures. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  son  of  the  famous 
Joseph  Jefferson  of  "Rip  Van  Winkel" 
fame,  is  now  with  the  Universal  com- 
pany and  will  appear  in  "Lavinia  Comes 
Home,"  William  C.  Dowland's  produc- 
tion of  the  story  by  Isabel  Ostrander. 

Vivian  Edwards  will  make  her  debut  as 
a  leading  lady  under  Mack  Sennett's  di- 
rection in  "The  Village  Blacksmith,"  a 
forthcoming  comedy. 


U'iliniith    Merkyl. — Metro. 


die: 


Louise  Fazenda,   the   Keystone  come- 
has  been  advanced  within  a  year 


from    minor   parts   to    head    of   her   own 
company  under  Mack  Sennett's  direction. 

Lynn  Reynolds  is  directing  "The  Dis- 
appearance of  Mary  Hale,"  which  he 
wrote  for  Myrtle  Gonzales.  Frank  New- 
burg,  Val  Paul  and  Alfred  Allen  are  also 
in  the  cast. 

"Macbeth,"  which  John  Emerson  is 
directing  at  the  Fine  Arts  studio,  with 
Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree  and  Con- 
stance Collier  in  the  leading  roles,  will 
probably  be  completed  in  eight  or  nine 
reels  and  handled  as  a  special  feature, 
independent  of  any  program. 

Several  polo  scenes  for  the  next  play 
with  Dorothy  Gish  and  Owen  Moore 
will  be  filmed  at  the  Riverside  Polo  Club, 
in  California. 

Arthur  Maude,  the  American  star,  be- 
gan his  stage  career  with  Sir  Henry 
Irving  at  the  Lyceum  in  London.  For 
two  years  he  was  with  the  Ben  Greet 
players.  After  coming  to  America,  he 
managed  and  played  leads  with  the  Con- 
stance Crawley  company,  playing  Shakes- 
pearean repertoire. 

Eugenie  Ford,  with  the  American  com- 
pany, made  her  debut  on  the  musical 
stage,  in  "The  Toreador."  Later  she  ap- 
peared on  the  speaking  stage  with 
Blanche  Walsh  in  "The  Kreutzer  So- 
nata" and  "The  Straight  Road,"  and  with 
John  Drew  in  "His  House  in  Order." 

Fritz  Shade  injured  several  of  his  ribs 
during  the  taking  of  the  Keystone  pic- 
ture, "Fido's  Fate." 

Frank  Opperman,  now  with  William 
Collier  in  "Better  Late  Than  Never," 
appeared  on  the  spoken  stage  twenty- 
nine  years  and  has  been  in  the  pictures 
seven  years. 

Art  Acord,  Anita  Davis  and  Dixie 
Stratton  will  soon  appear  in  "Curlew  Hor- 
liss,"  a  screen  adaptation  of  "A  Happy 
Family,"  by  B.  M.  Bower. 

During  the  recent  rainy  weather  in 
California,  Rube  Miller,  actor  and  di- 
rector of  Vogue  comedies,  produced  a 
"flood"  picture,  "Flooded  with  Trouble." 

Robert  Brunton,  the  technical  director 


600 

whom    Thomas    H.    Ince    engaged    six 

months  ago  to  supervise  the  construction 
of  elaborate  settings,  is  at  present  plan- 
ning scenes  of  the  Triangle-Kay-Bee 
play  featuring  Louise  Glaum. 

Owen  Moore,  who  has  a  reputation  as 
a  good  dresser,  will  appear  as  a  slum 
leader  in  his  next  play. 

For  "Marja  of  the  Steppes,"  by  Wil- 
liam E.  Wing,  Director  William  Christy 
Cabanne  has  had  a  complete  Russian 
village  built.  Lillian  Gish,  Frank  Ben- 
nett, A.  D.  Sears,  Pearl  Elmore  and  Wal- 
ter Long  appear  in  the  cast. 

Blanche  Sweet  is  working  in  the  Lasky 
production  of  "The  Sowers,"  by  Henry 
Seaton  Merriman.  William  C.  De  Mille 
is  directing.  The  cast  includes  Theodore 
Roberts,  Thomas  Meighan,  Horace  B. 
Carpenter,  Mabel  Van  Buren,  Camille 
Astor  and  Ernest  Joy. 

Frank  Reicher  finished  "For  the  De- 
fense," the  Lasky  play  featuring  Fannie 
Ward,  at  noon,  and  at  1  o'clock  of  the 
same  day  began  filming  "The  Woman 
and  the  Law,"  in  which  Charlotte  Walker 
will  star. 

Mae    Murray    is    working    in    "Sweet 

SOTHERN  WITH  VITAGRAPH 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Marguerite    Clay 


ij    the    Essanay 


E.  H.  Sothern,  one  of  the  latest  stage 
star  acquisitions  to  the  screen,  will  ap- 
pear in  three  feature  films,  produced  by 
the  Vitagraph  company. 

Contrary  to  expectations,  Mr.  Sothern 
will  not  be  shown  in  any  of  his  Shakes- 
pearian roles.  He  will  appear  in  at 
least  three  phtotoplays  for  the  Vitagraph 
in  connection  with  some  of  their  leading 
players.  Anita  Stewart  will  support  Mr. 
Sothern  in  a  romantic  drama,  and  Edith 
Storey  will  act  in  a  thrilling  drama  with 
the  sta^c  veteran. 

The  plays  will  be  written  especially  for 
Mr.    Sothern,    who   is   spending  his   spare 

time   at    lite    \  itayraph    plant    11. 

\.  Y..  mil!',  in-  Mi.  differenl  effects  and 
how  they  arc  obtained,  lie  is  also  tak- 
ol  motion  picture 
By  the  time  he  commences 
actual  work,  about  May  1,  he  will  have 
gained  enough  knowledge  and  experience 

to  enable  him  to  start  his  new  work  with- 
out   dcla\ 


Kitty  Bellaire,"  under  the  direction  of 
James  Young.  Tom  Forman  and  James 
Neill  appear   in   the   cast. 

George  Beranger  has  returned  to  the 
Fine  Arts  studio  after  an  absence  of 
three  months.  His  last  appearance  was 
as  one  of  the  Cameron  boys  in  "The 
Birth  of  a   Nation." 

Madame  Clare  West,  a  trained  Pari- 
sian designer,  formerly  head  of  "The 
Maison  Clare"  in  New  York,  is  now  head 
of  the  Fine  Arts  costume  department. 
She  designed  the  gowns  Dorothy  Gish 
wears   in   "A   Pennsylvania   Dutch    Girl." 

Louise  Fazenda  has  returned  to  work 
at  the  Keystone  studios  after  a  short 
illness   caused  by  overwork. 

Walter  Wright,  one  of  the  twelve  di- 
rectors under  the  supervision  of  Mack 
Sennett,  is  at  work  on  the  first  scenes  of 
a  Triangle-Keystone  feature  for  late 
March   release. 

Fred  Mace  has  recovered  from  burns 
he  received  recently  during  the  filming 
of  a  scene  and  will  soon  return  to  work. 

Adam  Kessel,  Jr.,  president  of  the 
Keystone  Film  Corporation,  was  much 
pleased  with  his  recent  yearly  inspection 
of  the  Edendale  plant,  where  Mack  Sen- 
nett is  director  general  of  twelve  com- 
panies. 

Dick  Jones  is  directing  Louise  Fazen- 
da, now  at  the  head  of  her  own  com- 
pany. Her  last  picture  was  "The  Judge," 
in  which   she  played  a  manicure  girl. 

Some  very  fine  snow  pictures  were 
taken  in  the  California  mountains  for  a 
coming  Keystone  comedy  in  which  Ford 
Sterling  is  featured.  A  mountain  bear 
appears  in  the  supporting  cast,  and 
causes  much  excitement. 

"Wife  and  Auto  Trouble"  is  William 
Collier's  second  comedy  taken  under 
Mack  Sennett's  direction.  "Better  Late 
Than  Never"  was  his  first  attempt  at 
screen  comedy. 

The  following  members  of  the  William 
Fox  forces  have  taken  up  residence  in 
Edendale  within  the  last  few  weeks: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Farnum,  Mr.  and 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 

Mrs.  Henry  J.  Heber,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Her- 
bert Louis,  James  Marcus,  George  G. 
Grenier  and  M.  Morris. 

Mary  Alden  plays  an  important  part 
in  the  support  of  Douglas  Fairbanks  in 
a  new  Triangle  play  which  Allan  Dwan 
directed. 

Willie  Collier  has  returned  to  the  east 
after  completing  his  second  Keystone 
comedy  at  the  Edendale  studios. 

Doris  Pawn  plays  an  important  part 
and  performs  many  feats  of  horseman- 
ship and  daring  in  the  William  Fox  play 
which  R.  A.  Walsh  is  directing  at  Eden- 
dale. 

Dorothy  Bernard  plays  a  dual  role  in 
"A  Man  of  Sorrow,"  a  thrilling  photo- 
drama  featuring  William  Farnum. 

Theda  Bara  just  escaped  serious  injury 
during  a  scene  for  "Gold  and  the  Wom- 
an," when  a  hinged  picture,  released  by 
a  spring,  swung  back  violently,  striking 
Aliss  Bara. 

Frank  Bennett,  A.  D.  Sears,  Pearl  El- 
more, Walter  Long,  Curt  Radfield,  W. 
E.  Lowery  and  G.  M.  Blue  are  appearing 
with  Lillian  Gish  in  "Marja  of  the 
Steppes." 

Charles  Stallings,  formerly  of  the 
"American"      in      Santa      Barbara,      has 


Betty   Hoive— Vitagraph. 


joined    the    Morosco    forces    as    property 
man  for  Director  Frank  Lloyd. 

Raoul  A.  Walsh  has  returned  from 
New  Mexico  with  remarkable  photo- 
graphs taken  of  a  cattle  round-up,  which 
will  be  part  of  the  William  Fox  play  he 
is  directing. 

Norma  Talmadge  and  a  company  of 
thirty  Fine  Arts  players  are  in  Santa 
Barbara,  where  C.  M.  and  S.  A.  Franklin 
will  stage  several  scenes  for  their  new 
play. 

Bernard  McConville  wrote  the  scenario 
of  the  play  in  which  Dorothy  Gish  and 
Owen  Moore  arc  working. 

Louise  Fazenda  of  the  Keystone  play- 
ers will  be  seen  next  in  "The  Judge,"  a 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


601 


two-reel  comedy,  as  a  rather  forward 
manicure  girl.  Charles  Murray  is  in  the 
cast. 

Stanley  Hollibone,  head  of  the  Mo- 
rosco  laboratory  in  Los  Angeles,  re- 
ceived a  smoking  jacket  of  maroon  silk 
from  the  laboratory  boys  and  girls  on 
his  recent  birthday. 

Russia,  Paris  and  Scotland  in  the  elev- 
enth century  are  represented  at  the  Fine 
Arts  studio  just  now,  Russia  for  "Marja 
of  the  Steppes,"  with  Lillian  Gish,  Paris 
for  the  Mae  Marsh  and  Robert  Harron 
play,  and  Scotland  for  "Macbeth." 

A  typical  '49  dance  was  staged  by 
Allan  Dwan  for  the  new  play  in  which 
Douglas  Fairbanks  will  appear.  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  cowboys  appear  in  the 
riding  scenes  in  the  play,  and  many  of 
them   in  the  dance   scene. 

Tully    Marshall    has    a   very    dramatic 
part  in  support  of  Mae  Marsh  and  Robert   : 
Harron  in  "The  Little  Apache."     Jennie 
Lee,  Bert  Hadley  and  Loyola  O'Connor 

are  in  the  cast. 

The  Fine  Arts  plays  in  production  now 
were  written  by  Grant  Carpenter,  Ber- 
nard McConville,  Roy  Somerville,  Ches- 
ter Withey,  William  E.  Wing  and  Doug- 
las Fairbanks,  who  appears  in  his  own 
play. 

George  G.  Grenier,  technical  expert  in 
charge  of  the  construction  of  the  Wil- 
liam Fox  studios  in  Edendale,  con- 
structed inside  the  studio  grounds  an 
exact  reproduction  of  the  New  York 
waterfront  for  "A  Man  of  Sorrow,"  in 
which  William  Farnum  and  Dorothy 
Bernard  star. 

Society  girls  in  San  Francisco,  Texas, 
will  appear  in  a  scene  for  "The  Secret 
Kingdom,"  which  Theodore  Marsden  is 
producing  there  for  the  Vitagraph  corn- 
Bessie  Barriscale  was  very  successful 
on  the  legitimate  stage,  particularly  in 
"The  Rose  of  the  Rancho"  and  "The 
Bird  of  Paradise." 
The  filming  of  "The  Red  Circle"  has 


been  finished.     Sherwood  Macdonald  di- 
rected the  twenty-eight  reels. 

Henry  King  has  just  finished  a  screen 
version  of  "The  Strugglers,"  for  the  Bal- 
boa company.  This  was  originally  pro- 
duced on  the  speaking  stage  several 
years  ago  by  H.  M.  Horkheimer.  Its 
atmosphere  is  western. 

"The  One-eyed  God"  is  the  first  pic- 
ture to  be  completed  by  Lois  Meredith 
at  the  Balboa  studio.  It  deals  with  the 
influence  of  the  Far  East.  William  Conk- 
lin  is  also  featured.  Harry  Harvey  di- 
rected the  play,  a  five-reeler. 

Bessie  Barriscale  plays  an  Italian  girl 
who  becomes  a  nun,  in  her  present  play, 
written  by  J.  G.  Hawks.  Charles  Giblyn 
is  directing.  William  Desmond  appears 
opposite  Miss  Barriscale. 

William  H.  Thompson,  who  appeared 
with  Billie  Burke  in  "Peggy,"  will  remain 
in  motion  pictures  under  Thomas  Ince. 
Walter  Edwards  is  directing  his  next 
play,  in  which  Thompson  appears  as  the 
keeper  of  a  lighthouse. 

Rhea  Mitchell,  who  recently  joined  the 
American  Film  Company,  will  be  fea- 
tured in  a  five-reel  Mutual  Masterpicture, 
"Overalls,"  to  be  released  soon.  Jack 
Halloway  directed  it. 

Mack  Sennett  recently  directed  Fred 
Mace  in  a  comedy  in  which  the  thrills 
depend  on  a  railroad,  a  horse  which 
jumps  sixty  feet  from  a  cliff  into  the 
water  and  a  saw  mill  where  Mace  is  tied 
to  the  saw. 

An  entire  western  town  was  built  and 
then  burned  for  "Hell's  Hinges,"  in 
which  William  S.  Hart  is  starred. 


BRITISH  TRADE  NOTES 

Harold  M.  Shaw,  for  three  years  a  pro- 
ducer for  the  London  Company,  has  re- 
signed his  position. 

The  first  trade  showing  of  the  Vita- 
graph  Film  Hiring  Service,  "An  Ameri- 
can's Home,"  was  a  decided  success. 

The    trade    is    especially    interested    in 


the  forthcoming  production  of  "The  Sec- 
ond Mrs.  Tanqueray,"  by  the  Ideal  Com- 
pany. Sir  George  Alexander  plays  Au- 
brey Tanqueray. 

R.  Collier  of  the  McEnnery  Syndicate 
has  been  appointed  London  agent  for  the 
Burlingham  scenic  films. 

The  Edison  Company  comedies  on  the 
open  market  are  pleasing.  "The  Silent 
Tongue"  and  "The  Simpleton's  Re- 
venge" set  a  good  standard,  which  "Black 
Eyes,"  "The  Seventh  Day"  and  "Car- 
toons in  a  Sanatorium"  have  equaled. 

Managers  everywhere  are  alive  to  the 
menace  to  the  whole  industry  which 
rests  on  the  Shipping  Economy  Commit- 
tee's suggestion  that  the  importation  of 
American   films,  etc.,  be  prohibited. 

"The  Cheat,"  the  Lasky  production, 
has  been  most  enthusiastically  received 
by  the  trade. 

Metro  masterpieces  are  very  popular 
in  Hull,  and  the  National  Theater  is  now 
showing^  "Destiny  or  the  Soul  of  a 
Woman"  with  great  success.' 

Green's  Film  Service  specializes  in 
serials.  It  has  the  exclusive  rights  of 
"The  Million  Dollar  Mystery"  and  "The 
Zudora  Mystery"  for  Scotland. 

The  Apex  Film  Company,  Ltd.,  has 
opened  offices  in  Glasgow.  Andrew 
Reid,  who  is  in  charge,  has  had  a  long 
experience  in  the  trade  in  South  Africa 
and  London. 

S.  G.  Newman  has  taken  over  the  rep- 
resentation of  Ruffell's  Exclusives,  Ltd., 
in  Scotland. 

The  Silver  Street  Electric  in  Leicester 
is  very  popular,  part  of  its  attraction 
being  due  to  orchestral  music  and  the 
very  cosy  little  balcony  cafe  from  which 
there  is  an  uninterrupted  view  of  the 
screen.  The  Vitagraph  production,  "The 
Juggernaut,"  has  concluded  a  most  suc- 
cessful week's  run  there. 

The  British  and  Colonial  Kinemato- 
graph  Company  recently  entertained  250 
wounded  soldiers  and  sailors  with  a  con- 
cert and  pictures. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Believing  the  classification  of  film  pictures  by  the  nature  of  their  si 
Motography  has  adopted  this  style  in  listing  current  films.  Exhibitors  a 
Films  will  be  listed  as  long  in  advance  of  their  release  dates  as  possible. 
Reasonable   care   is   used,   and   the   publishers   cannot   be   responsible   for   error; 


General  Program 


Monday. 

2-28  The    Burglar's    Dilemma Biograph 

2-28  At  the   Doors   Doom Lubin 

2-28  The  Strange  Case  of  Marv   Page,   No.   6 Essanay 

2-28  Selig-Tribune,    No.    17,    1916 Selig 

2-28  The    Grinning    Skull Selig 

2-28  Her  Bad  Quarter  of  an   Hour Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

2-29  The    House    of    Surprise Essanay 

2-29   Winning    the    Widow Kalem 

2-29  What    Happened    to    Peggy Biograph 

Wednesuay. 

3-1     The    Indian     Biograph 

3-1     Vernon   Howe   Bailey's   Sketch   Book   of   London.  ..  .Essanay 
3-1     A  Riddle  in   Rascals Kalem 

Thursday. 

3-2     Her    Wayward    Sister Lubin 

3-2     Selig-Tribune,    No.    18,    1916 Selig 

3-2     The   Serenade    Vim 

Friday. 

3-3     A   Leap   Year  Wooing Kalem 

3-3     The    Master    Smile Knickerbocker 

3-3     The  Artist's  Model Vim 

3-3     Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial,  No.  12,  1916 Vitagraph 

3-3     Tubby   Turns   the   Tables Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

3-4  Beyond    the    Law Essanay 

3-4  The  Girl  Telegrapher's  Nerve Kalem 

3-4  Hamlet    Made    Over Lubin 

3-4  The    Uncut    Diamond Selig 

3-4  La   Paloma Vitagraph 

Monday. 

3-6     The  House  of  Darkness Biograph 

3-6     The  Strange  Case  of  Mary   Page,  No.   7 Essanay 

3-6     Ophelia     Lubin 

3-6     Selig-Tribune,   No.    19,    1916 Selig 

3-6     The   Dream   of   Eugene  Aram Selig 

3-6     Pansy's    Papas     Vitagraph 

3-6     Mrs.    Dane's    Danger Vitagraph 

3-6     Bittersweet     Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

3-7     The  Intruder    Essanay 

3-7     Maybe    Moonshine     Kalem 

3-7     A   Change   of    Heart Lubin 

Wednesday. 

3-8     The    Mystery    of    Orcival Biograph 

3-8     Canimated   Nooz    Pictorial,   No.    6 Essanav 

3-8     When    Hubby    Forgot Kalem 

Thursday. 

3-9     Soldier    Sons    Lubin 

3-9     Selig-Tribune,    No.     20,    1916 Selig 

3-9      Bungle's    Elopement    Vim 

Friday. 

3-10  Title    Not    Reported Kalem 

3-10  The   Slave    of   Corruption Knickerbocker 

3-10  Their  Wedding   Day Vim 

3-10  Beaned   by   a    Beanshooter Vitagraph 

t-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial,  No.  13,  1916 Vitagraph 

Saturday. 

3-11  A   Man's  Work Essanay 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Pr< 


Jan.     17   My     I.adv's    Slippers ' 

Ian.    17  Captain    fin 
Jan.     20  Tin-    Wonderful    W:i,rn Lubin 


S.OOl) 

,ooo 

1,000 


to   the   exhibitor   than    clsasification    by    maker, 
tabulation   in   making  up  their  programs. 
send   us  their  bulletins  as  early  as   possible. 


4  Gods   of    Fate Lubin  5,000 

4  The  Island  of  Surprise Vitagraph  5,000 

1  A    Night    Out Vitagraph  5,000 

1  Souls   in    Bondage Lubin  5,000 

7  The    Crown    Prince's    Double Vitagraph  5,000 

7  Thou    Shalt    Not    Covet Selig  5,000 

*  The   Writing  on   the   Wall Vitagraph  5,000 

»  Dollars  and    Cents Lubin  5,000 

t  Vultures    of    Society Essanay  5,000 

The  Misleading   Lady Essanay  5,000 

I   Kennedy    Square    Vitagraph  5,000 

5  Her    Bleeding    Heart Lubin  5,000 

i  The    Discard    Essanay  5,000 

i  For  a  Woman's  Fair  Name Vitagraph  5,000 

i  The    Hunted     Woman Vitagraph  5,000 

i  Unto    Those   Who    Sin Selig  5,000 

!  The   Hero  of  Submarine  D  2 Vitagraph  5,000 


Mutual  Program 


Tuesday. 

D       2-29  The    Happy    Masquerader 

C       2-29  Rustie    Reggie's    Record Falstaff 

Wednesday. 

D       3-1     What    Doris    Did Thanhouser 

C       3-1     Johnny's  Jumble    Beauty 

Thursday. 

C       3-2     Love,   Dynamite  and   Baseballs Vogue 

C        3-2     Maud     Muller     Modernized Falstaff 

T       3-2     Mutual   Weekly   No.    61 Mutual 

Friday. 

D       3-3     Margy    of   the    Hills Mustang 

C       3-3     The    Desperate    Chance Cub 

Sunday. 

S  3-5  See  America   First,   No.    25 Gaumont 

C  3-5  Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  25 Gaumont 

C  3-5  Dad's    College    Widow Beauty 

C  3-5  All    Balled    Up Vogue 

Tuesday. 

D       3-7     The    Silken    Spider American 

C       3-7     Oscar  the  Oyster  Opener Falstaff 

Wednesday. 

C       3-8     The   Gav   Blade's  Last  Scrape Beauty 

D       3-8     The   Cruise  of  Fate Thanhouser 

Thursday. 

C        3-9     Ambitious   Awkward  Andv Falstaff 

T      '3-9     Mutual   Weekly   No.    62 Mutual 

D       3-9     Title    Not    Reported Vogue 

Friday. 

C       3-10  Title    Not    Reported Cub 

D        3-10   Curfew   Corliss    Mustang 


Universal  Program 
Monday. 

it*  No'.'  12)".'.'. 

Tuesday. 

D       2-29  The  Eye  of  the  Horus  (No.  4  Lord  John's  Journal). Gold  Seal 
C       2-29  Some    Heroes    Imp 

Wednesday. 

C       3-1     Blue   Blood   and    Black   Skin L-Ko 

T       3-1     Animated   Weekly,  Vol.   2,  No.  9 Universal 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Thursday. 

3-2     The    Heart    of    Bonita Laemrnle 

3-2     Shackles    BVg,U 

3-2     Love  Laughs  at  the  Law Joker 

Friday. 

3-3     The    Hoax    House Imp 

3-3     In  the  Heart  of  a  Shell Rex 

3-3     The   Lion's    Breath Nestor 

Saturday. 

3-4     The     One     Woman Bison 

3-4     To  Arms   (Uncle  Sam  at  Work,  No.   11) Powers 

Sunday. 

3-5     Saved    by    a    Song Rex 

3-5     The    Blackmailer     Laemmle 

3-5     Gertie's   Awful   Fix L-Ko 

Monday. 

3-6     Their    Only    Son Nestor 

3-6     The    Powder    Trust    and    the    War    (Graft    No.    13) 

Universal 

Tuesday. 

3-7     The   Winning  of  Miss   Construe Gold   Seal 

3-7     No   Release   This   Week Rex 

3-7     Sunlight   and   Shadows Imp 

Wednesday. 

3-8     The    Windward    Anchor Laemmle 

3-8     False   Friends   and    Fire  Alarms L-Ko 

3-8     Animated  Weekly,   Vol.   2,   No.   10 Universal 

Thursday. 

3-9  Lavina    Comes    Home Laemmle 

3-9  The    Dumb     Bandit Rex 

3-9  Warriors    of   the   Air Powers 

3-9  A  Romance   of  Toyland Powers 

Friday. 

3-10  The    Doll    Doctor Imp 

3-10  Their    Act    Victor 

3-10  When    Lizzie    Disappeared Nestor 

Saturday. 

3-1 1  The    Quarter    Breed Bison 

3-11   Uncle  Sam  at   Work,   No.    12 Powers 

3-11   No   Release  This   Week Joker 

Sunday. 

3-12   His     Brother's     Pal Rex 

3-12   Love's   Spasms    Victor 

3-12   No   Release   This   Week L-Ko 


2,000 
1,000 
1,000 


Miscellaneous  Features 


1,000 
2,000 


Sins  of  Great  Cities Great  Northern  Film  4,000 

Race  Suicide Jos.   W.   Farnham  6,000 

Somewhere  in  France Arthur  S.   Kane  5,000 

Fighting   with   France French    Official   War   Films  6,000 

At    the   End   of   the   Rainbow K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

A  Naval  Tragedy K.  &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

The   Arabian    Dancing    Girl K.   &   R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

Catherine   Brown— the   Baby   Kellerman— in   Fancy   Diving 

and    Swimming    K.   &   R.   Film   Co.  1,000 

On  the  Firing  Line  With   the   Germans War  Film  Syndicate  8,500 

His    Vindication     Cosmofotofilm  4,000 

A   Fool's   Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

The   Girl   and   the    Game Signal    Film  30,000 

The    Unwritten    Law California    M.    P.  5,000 

The  Ne'er-Do-Well    Sol   Lesser  10,000 

The    Birth    of   a    Man Celebrated    Players  5,000 

The   Heart   of   New    York Claridge    Films  5,000 

The  Man   With   the  Missing  Finger Great   Northern 

One  Day    Moss   Films  5,000 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Jan.    24  Jeanne  Dore  5,000 

Jan.    31   Secret    Love    6,000 

Feb.     7  Undine    5,000 

Feb.  14  Hop,  the  Devil's  Brew 7 5,000 

Feb.   21  The   Wrong   Door 5,000 

Feb.  28  The   Grip   of  Jealousy 5,000 

Mar.    6  Rupert    of    Hentzau 5,000 

Mar.  12  The   Strength  of  the   Weak 5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Jan     16  The    Fourth    Estate 5.000 

Jan.    23  The  Serpent    5,000 

Jan.       30  The    Ruling    Passion 5,000 

Feb.     6  Merely   Mary   Ann 5,000 

Feb.   13  Fighting   Blood    5,000 

Feb.   20  The  Fool's  Revenge 5,000 

Feb.  27  The  Spider  and  the  Fly 5,000 

Mar.     6  The    Marble    Heart 5,000 

Mar.  13   Gold   and   the   Woman 5.000 


Kleine-Edison 


Released  week  of 

Feb.     2  The    Final    Curtain Kleine 

Feb.     9  When   Love  Is   King -Kleine 

Feb.     9  The  Martyrdom  of  Philip  Strong Edison 

Feb.   16  The    Scarlet    Road KJeine 

Feb.   23  At  the   Rainbow's    End Edison 

Mar.    1  The   Mishaps   of   Musty   Suffer Kleme 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Feb.     7  The   Upstart    Metro 

Feb.    14  Dimples Metro 

Feb.   21  The  Price  of   Malice Metro 

Feb.   21  A    Corner   in    Cotton Metro 

Feb.   28  The    Soul    Market Metro 

Mar.    6  The   Blindness   of   Love Metro 

Mar.  13   Lovely    Mary     Metro 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

Feb.     2   The  Idol  of  the  Stage Gaumont 

Feb.      5   The    White    Rosette American 

Feb.     7  The   Drifter    Gaumont 

Feb.    10  The    Final    Argument American 

Feh.   12  The   Soul's   Cycle. . 
14   Life's     Blind    Alley 
"  :ad   All— 


Feb.    17  The 


Marner 


Centaur 
. .  .American 
....  Gaumont 
.Thanhouser 

Feb.  211    Accuse    Gaumont 

Feb.   24  The    Oval    Diamond Thanhouser 

Feb.   26  The    Craving    American 

Feb.   28  A   Law  Unto   Himself Centaur 

Mar.     2  Embers      American 

Mar.    4  The    Heart    of   Tara Centaur 

Mar.     6  According   to    Law Gaumont 

Mar.    6  True    Nobility    American 

Mar.    6  The  Flight  of  the  Dutchess Thanhouser 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Feb.     3  Tennessee's   Pardner    Lasky 

Feb.     3  Farmer  Al    Falfa's   Catastrophe Bray- Paramount 

Feb.      7  The  Cliff  Dwellers   of  America.  Paramount- Burton   Holmes 

Feb.     7  Madame   La   Presidente Morosco 

Feb.  10  Nearly  a  King Famous  Players 

Feb.   10  Haunts  for  Rent Bray-Paramount 

Feb.   14  Grand   Canyon Paramount-Burton  Holmes 

i  Mi--       Miny  Goat  Becomes  an  Aviator Bray-Paramount 

Feb.   14  The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome   Pine Lasky 

Feb.  17  Out  of  the  Drifts Famous  Players 

Feb.   17  He  Fell  In  Love  With  His  Wife Pallas 

Feb.  21  A  Day  With  a  West  Point   Cadet 

Paramount-Burton     Holmes 

Feb.  21  Blacklist    Lasky 

Feb.   28  Our   Middies   at   Annapolis    and    the   U.    S.   Avia- 
tion  School   Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

Feb.  28  Diplomacy    Famous  Players 

Mar.    2   Poor    Little    Peppina Famous    Players 

Mar.     2  How   Dizzy   Joe   Got   to  Heaven Bray-Paramount 

Mar.    6  To    Have    and    To    Hold Lasky 

Mar.    9  Ben   Blair    Pallas 

Pathe. 

Released    Week   of 
Mar.  13  The   House   of   Unhappiness    (No.    2    Iron    Claw) 

Pathe 

Mar.  1 3   Pathe   News   No.   20 Pathe 

Mar.  13   Pathe  News  No.   21 Pathe 

Mar.  13   Gleeful    Guardians    Starlight 

Mar.  13  Along   the    Columbia    River Pathe 

Mar.  13   Ouaint   Volendam,    Holland Pathe 

Man  13  Branded   as   a  Thief    (Red  Circle  No.    13).... 

Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 

Feb.     7  A  Knight  of  the  Range 

Feb.   14  The    Sphinx    , 

Feb.   21   Sons    of    Satan , 

Feb.   28   The   Lords  of  High  Decision 

"--    Target     


5,000 
5,000 
5,000» 

5,000 
5,000 
10,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000' 
5,000 
5,000' 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000' 
5,000' 
5.000J 


6  The 


Balboa       2,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Triangle  Film  Corporation. 


Alta 


the   Paper:    Fairbanks Fine   Arts 

:     Barriscale,     Stone,     Edwards. 

.  .Triangle- Kay    Bee 


Feb.   27  Don    Quixote    Fine    Arts 

Feb.   27  The    Last    Act Triangle-Kay-Bee 

Feb.   27   His    Pride   and    Shame Triangle-Keystone 

Feb.   27   Cinders    of    Love Triangle-Keystone 

•       ■-  -    Gish.. .„,... .Fine  Arts 


5   Daphne    and   the    Fir; 


5  Hell's   Hinges;   William   S.   Hart 

5  A   Village   Vampire;    Fred   Mace Tri; 

5   The    Judge;     Charles    Murray Tri; 


ngle-Kay-Bee 
igle-Keystone 
rgle-Keystone 


World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Feb.     7  The  Woman   in   47 Equitable 

Feb.   1 5  Love's    Crucible    Brady 

Feb.         The    Clarion    Equitable 

Feb.  21  The    Question     Equitable 

Feb.   21  A   Woman's    Power Brady 

Feb.  28  The   Price   of   Happiness Equitable 

Feb.   28  The    Pawn    of   Fate Brady 

Feb.  28  Man  and  His  Angel Triumph 

Mar.    6  As   In  a   Looking   Glass World 

Mar.    6  The    Devil's    Toy Equitable 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000' 
5,000' 
2,000 
2,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000' 
5,000' 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000' 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


Progra 


Selig — March 


this 


Ophelia— Lubin— March  6.— E.  K.  Lincoln, 
Ethel  Clayton,  Craufurd  Kent  and  Helen  Weir 
featured.  Ophelia  receives  a  letter  from  her  sis- 
ter Marv  telling  her  that  she  has  been  betrayed 
by  John  Carter,  of  the  city.  Ophelia  is  married 
to  George  Hunter,  a  good  husband,  but  who  is 
suspicious  and  jealous,  and  when  he  finds  the 
photograph  of  Carter  in  his  wife's  room  he  copies 
down  the  address  he  finds  on  the  back  of  it.  The 
next  day  he  follow-  Ins  wife  and  when  he  sees 
her  entering  Carter's  apartments  he  is  furious. 
He  forces  his  way  into  the  room  and  comes  face 
to  face  with  Carter  and  his  wife,  who  bitterly  de- 
nounces him  for  his  suspicions  and  his  actions. 
She  then  explans  the  truth  and  tells  how  Mary 
was  married  to  Carter  that  morning  and  he  had 
asked  her  to  come  to  his  apartments  and  to  keep 
their  marriage  a  secret  until  after  their  arrival 
in   Europe. 

Bittersweet — Vitagraph — March  6. — Featuring 
George  Stanley,  Anne  Schaefer  and  Webster 
Campbell.  Farmer  Slater  has  tyrannized  over  his 
family  so  long  that  they  dare  not  call  their  souls 
their  own.  Tohn,  the  elder  son,  before  his  return 
from  college"  marries  Ruth,  a  city  girl,  and  at  the 
farm  she  is  chided  and  browbeaten.  Bob,  the 
younger  son,  is  angered  because  his  father  re- 
fuses to  allow  him  to  attend  a  party  and  goes  to 
a  saloon  and  returns  home  and  steals  money 
from  his  father's  strong  box.  He  is  caught  and 
ordered  out  of  the  house,  and  Joan,  his  mother, 
for  the  first  time  defies  her  husband  and  an- 
nounces she  is  going  with  Bob.  Left  alone, 
Slater  is  overcome  bv  his  rage  and  falls  in  a  fit 
and  as  a  result  he  is  an  invalid  for  life,  but  a 
changed   man. 


production  were  taken  at  the  headquarters  of 
the  Xew  York  Police  Department  and  on  Black- 
well's  Island  and  show  the  interesting  experience 
which  applicant.-  for  the  police  department  have 
to  undergo  before  thev  receive  their  shield.  The 
picture  also  shows  the  method  of  "Imger-pnnting 
and  "mugging"  criminals  and  a  glimpse  of  the 
Rogue's  Gallery  and  other  departments  ol  the 
police  system  are  shown.  The  story  tells  of  two 
gunmen  and  their  girls  who  come  under  police 
*-  all  star  cast  featured. 
Hunted     Woman — (Four 


-Mai 


Dre 


Pearson,    George 

Cooper,    Ned    Finley    and    Billie 

Billings    featured. 

The    story    tells    of    a    woman 

who    marries    a 

death-bed   request 

of   her   father.      She    runs   away 

ars   later   learns  that  he   is   dead. 

She    marries    an 

author    and    sometime    after    her 

5    her    whereabouts.      In    a    fight 

is   killed   and   she   is   free  to   en- 

joy   the  happiness 

she   has   heretofore    been    denied 

i   Rf.e 


The  Intrud 
7. — A  sequel  to  "The  h-dac  ol  l  lungs.  menaru 
Travers,  Marguerite  Clayton  and  Ernest  Maupain 
featured.  Betty  Marsh  marries  Malcolm  Jarvis. 
a  broker,  and  one  evening  they  quarrel  and 
Tarvis  goes  to  his  club,  telling  her  to  phone  him 
when  she  is  more  reasonable.  In  a  rush  impulse 
she  phones  Waldron,  her  former  employer,  and 
he  tries  to  make  love  to  her,  but  she  fights  him 
off.  A  burglar  enters  the  house  and  confronts 
Waldron  with  a  gun.  He  proves  to  be  a  man 
whose  downfall  was  caused  by  Waldron.  After 
forcing  Betty  to  phone  her  husband  he  takes 
Waldron   outside  and  gives  him  a  good  thrashing. 


Maybe  Moonshine — Kalem — Mar 
turmg  Bud  Duncan  and  Lloyd  V.  H; 
feud    between    the    Ham    and    Bud    f 

officer     seeks     out     the  _  mountain     clam 


7.— Fea- 
lton.     The 


ind    the 


ing  Lillian  Walker 
Donald  Hall.  David  Dane,  a  rich  man,  much 
older  than  his  wife,  Alice,  is  content  that  she 
amuse  herself  in  society.  Rex  Gordon,  a  former 
sweetheart,  and  man-about-town,  attempts  to  make 
advances  to  her,  which  she  resents  until  he 
apologizes.  One  evening  he  enters  Alice's  home 
with  the  intention  of  stealing  her  valuable  pearl 
necklace,  and  at  the  same  time  Jasper  Dicey,  a 
down-and-out  broker,  enters  lor  the  same  purpose. 
Dane  returns  home  and  is  about  to  shoot  Gor- 
don when  Dicey  steps  forward  and  explains  the 
true  cause  of  Gordon's  presence,  and  after  the 
thieves  have  departed   a  happy   reconciliation   fol- 

Pansy's  Papas — Vitagraph — March  6. — Featur- 
ing Mary  Anderson,  Otto  Lederer,  Webster  Camp- 
bell, Jack  Weathcrby  and  Jack  Mower.  Pansy 
Hale  is  sent  to  a  very  strict  boarding  school  by 
her  father  and  not  liking  the  "prison"  life,  as 
she  terms  it,  she  sends  Jack  and  Tom,  her  ad- 
mirers, catalogues  of  the  school  containing  a  list 
of  the  rules  and  regulations.  Both  boys  are  struck 
by  the  clause  about  parents  and  guardians  only 
being  permitted  to  visit  the  girls.  They  both 
disguise  themselves  and  start  for  the  college. 
Many  laughable  incidents  follow  as  a  result  of 
their  make-up  and  finally  they  find  themselves 
landed  in  jail. 

The  Human  Cauldron— (Three  Reels)— Vita- 
graph—March    6.— Many    of    the    scenes    in    this 


feudists  and  as  moonshiners,  Ham  and  Bud  are 
good   comedians  and   will   draw  many   laughs. 

A  Change  of  Heart— (Two  Reels)—  Lubin— 
March  7.— Robert  Gray.  Eleanor  Blevins,  George 
Routh  and  Velma  Whitman  featured.  Ralph 
Coglan  marries  Rita  Travers,  a  cabaret  singer. 
who  is  under  the  influence  of  Ed.  Walters,  a 
crook.  Walters  demands  several  hundred  dollars 
of  Rita  and  when  she  asks  her  husband  for  same 
he  tells  her  that  Eleanor,  his  step-sister  was 
left  two-thirds  of  his  father's  fortune  and  that 
he  has  not  the  ready  cash.  When  Walters  learns 
this  he  is  furious  and  tells  Rita  to  get  rid  of 
Jane.  This  she  attempts  to  do  by  turning  on  the 
gas  in  Jane's  room.  She  however  repents  of  her 
action  and  saves  Tane  and  the  next  day  she  re- 
ceives word  that  Walters  was  killed  the  night  be- 
fore  while   trying   to    escape   arrest. 

Canimated  Nooz  No.  6 — Essanay — March  S. — 
Split  reel  release  containing  five  hundred  feet  of 
animated  cartoons,  part  of  which  is  a  burlesque 
on  the  topics  of  the  day,  and  the  remainder  one 
of    the   adventures    or    Dreamy    Dud. 

When  Hubby  Forgot— Kalem— March  8.— 
Ethel  Teare  and  Victor  Rottman  featured.  Hubby 
who  is  absent-minded  buvs  a  lavalliere  for  wifey. 
When  hubby  then  hides  it  and  forgets  where  he 
put   it   there  are   terrible  doings   in  the   household. 


for  forget 

ul   hub 

Soldier 

0—  Benin 

Woli  otl   . 

Sons— 

,in      11 
nl    Mr 

(Ti 
We 

ree   Reel 
is.    L    C 
Mavo   fea 
st   Point 

s)—  Lui 
Shum 

and   goe 

vav,    Helen 
Dick    Bates 
s  on   a  hun 

trip  to  Manila,  Philippine  Islands.  Here  he 
-ts  Nina  Rosario  and  marries  her.  Carlos 
lano,  a  scoundrel  who  forces  his  attentions  on 
ra,  forces  Nina  to  accompany  him  to  the  jungle 
I  while  she  is  away  Dick  receives  word  to 
i  his  regiment  at  once  at  San  Francisco. 
mkin-  Nina  has  fallen  over  the  cliff  and  her 
K.  rrTrrieH  o„t  ,0  sea,  he  leaves  and  sometime 
i    birth    to    a    baby    boy.      Fifteen 

^  «.jd  here 
reunited. 

Bungles'  Elopement — Vim — March  9. — Bungles 
who  earns  his  bread  by  painting  houses,  and  en- 
gaged in  this  pursuit,  sees  the  fair  face  of  a 
damsel  in  evident  distress.  He  hoists  himself 
up  to  her  window  and  learns  that  she  was  to  be 
forcibly  married  to  a  silly  old  beau  by  her  father. 
Her  father  hears  them  and  peeping  through  the 
keyhole  sees  cash  and  notes  strewn  on  the  floor, 
same  having  rolled  from  the  pockets  of  our 
Romeo.  Her  husband  returns  home  and  the  door 
is  burst  in,  but  Bungles  escapes  up  the  chimney, 
hihI    after    an    exciting    escapade    he    wins    the    girl 


A  Slave  of  Corruption  —  Knic 
March  10.— Mina,  apprentice  girl  in  ivime. 
Louise's  fashionable  dress  making  shop,  meets 
and  becomes  the  mistress  of  James  Roderick,  the 
brother  of  Rev.  David  Roderick.  James  marries 
and  goes  on  his  honeymoon  and  Mina  wanders 
into  Rev.  David's  church.  He  preaches  on  Mag- 
dalene and  Mina  goes  home  heart-broken.  Later 
David  meets  Mina  and  soon  after  declares  his 
love  for  her.  James  returns  home  and  he  tells 
Mina  he  will  not  disclose  the  fact  to  his  brother 
that  she  was  his  mistress,  but  she  confesses  all 
to  David  and  goes  back  to  her  position  at  Mme. 
Louise's  shop.  David,  however,  an  hour  later 
goes  in  search  of  Mina,  finds  her  and  all  ends 
happily. 

Their  Wedding  Day—  Vim—  March  10.— Pokes 
and  Jabbs  call  upon  Tiny,  a  fat  duckling,  whose 
father  inserted  an  ad  in  the  paper  to  the  effect 
that  he  would  settle  a  substantial  dowry  to  any- 
one who  would  marry  her,  but  both  desert  her 
when  they  see  her  pretty  sister,  Ethel.  Unknown 
to  each  other  Pokes  and  Jabbs  plan  to  kidnap 
Ethel  and  engage  two  different  pairs  of  thugs  to 
carry  out  their  instructions.  The  thugs,  how- 
ever, carrv  off  the  mother  and  Tiny,  having  never 
seen  Ethel,  and  when  thev  see  Tiny  and  her 
mother  instead  of  Ethel,  Pokes  and  Jabbs  make 
their  getaway.  Tiny's  father,  however,  manages  to 
marry    her    to    one    of    the    thugs    who    kidnapped 

Beaned  by  a  Beanshooter — Vitagraph — March 
10. — Charles  Richman,  Arline  Pretty  and  Leo 
Delaney  featured.  Count  Pastry  De  Creampuff 
abducts  the  fair  Lizzie,  but  Handsome  Harry. 
the  hero,  rescues  her  and  tells  her  to  lock  herself 
in  her  room.  Count  de  Creampuff  again  secures 
of  Lizzie  and  is  taking  her  off  in  an 
-    '-   beaned_by  a   beanshooter   in   the 

e  and  dis- 
covers an  auger  hole  in  the  ceiling.  Taking  aim 
with  his  beanshooter  he  hits  Pancake  Pinhead. 
who  is  peering  through  the  knothole.  The  vil- 
lain   gets    busy    again,    but    he    is    again    defeated 

A  Man's  Work — (Three  Reels) — Essanay — 
March  11.— Richardson  Cotton,  John  Junior, 
Elizabeth  Burbridge  and  John  Cossar  featured. 
Thomas  Wilberton,  son  of  the  wealthy  James 
YVilberton,  secretly  becomes  engaged  to  Ellen 
Barth,  who  lives  "with  her  sister,  Mary.  Pete 
Gillon  about  this  time  is  released  from  prison 
and  stops  at  the  same  boarding  house  with  Mary 
and  her  sister.  Gillon  learns  that  Wilberton  is 
the   man    who    escaped   years   before    from    prison 


March   11,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


and  tries  to  blackmail  him.  He  sends  Mary  Barth, 
over  whom  he  holds  an  influence,  to  make  the 
demand  and  Thomas  overhears  the  threat.  Later 
Mary  is  found  murdered  and  Thomas  is  accused 
of  the  murder.  However,  a  detective  traces  a 
clue  which  leads  to  Gillon  as  the  murderer  and 
later  Wilberton  learns  that  proof  of  his  innocence 
was  established  after  his  escape. 


A  Race  for  Life— Kai 
episode  of  the  "Hazards  o 
featuring  Helen  Gibson.) 
imperils  the  life  of  the  r; 
who   has   worked    his   way   up    to    engin 


11- 


rse    that    starts    "from 

the    bottom."       Helen 

the   boy    tied    to   the    r 

been  swept  away  by  th 

e  floods.     Helen  takes 

*iort   cut   on   horseback 

with    her    friend    Steve 

overtakes    the    engine. 

She    swings    to    the 

se,  then  climbs 
ips  to  the  engine  w'  ' 
i    the    brink    of  the    i 


Dime  .n.eeves.  vviiKins  cans  on  j\my,  nis  nancee, 
at  an  entertainment  given  by  her  mother  and  finds 
her  in  the  company  of  Mr.  Hammer,  a  college 
champion  boxer.  Hammer  develops  into  quite  a 
rival  and  Wilkins  volunteers  to  fight  him.  They 
box  and  Hammer  makes  a  monkey  of  Wilkins 
until  he  stops  to  wave  his  hand  at  Amy,  which 
makes  Wilkens  mad  and  as  Hammer's  head  is 
turned    away,    he    knocks    him    out    and    wins    the 

The  Passing  of  Pete — Selig — March  11.— Tom 
Mix,  Victoria  Forde  and  Ethylyn  Chrisman  fea- 
tured. Fete  steals  a  bag  of  gold  from  Bob,  pros- 
pector, and  Mona,  his  Indian  wife,  follows  him 
and  sees  him  give  the  gold  to  Loresta  of  the 
dance  hall.  She  later  tells  the  sheriff  of  her 
husband's  theft  and  the  posse  follow  the  desperado. 
After  a  desperate  battle  Pete  is  shot  and  Mona 
finds  a   new   home  in   Bob's   family. 

Husks  —  (Three  Reels)— Vitacraph— March 
11.— William  Humphrey,  Carolyn  Birch,  Nellie 
Anderson,  Rose  Tapley  and  Harrv  Northrup  fea- 
tured. Clay  McTrigger,  a  small-town  lawyer,  is 
elected  as  representative  to  Congress  and  leaves 
for  Washington  leaving  his  wife,  Hope,  behind. 
In  Washington  he  becomes  infatuated  with  Viv- 
ien, a  lobbyist  and  a  tool  of  Snell,  who  is  plot- 
ting Clay's  downfall,  and  later  divorces  his  wife 
and  marries  Vivien.  Snell  induces  Clay  to  ac- 
cept a  bribe  for  a  state  secret,  and  later  exposes 
him.  He  is  expelled  from  the  senate  and  goes 
to  Paris.  Here  he  receives  word  that  his  second 
wife  has  divorced  him  and  cut  him  off  without  a 
cent.  He  returns  to  his  old  home  to  find  Hope, 
and  her  sorrowing  mother  leads  him  to  the  little 
low  mound  where  the  woman  who  loved  him 
enough  to  give  him  up  lay  resting.  She  had 
died  of  a  broken  heart,  and  utterly  crushed, 
Clay    flings    himself    on    the    grave    in     agony    of 


Tillie's  coat,  while  Tillie  proceeds  to  impersonate 
Peggy  at  Jack's  home.  Jack's  mother  is  phoned 
and  Tillie  overhears  the  conversation  and  later 
as  they  are  entering  Tillie's  room  they  see  her 
jump  into  Jack's  automobile  after  having  stolen 
Jack's  mother's  jewelry.  She  is  pursued  by 
Jack  and  captured  and  the  prospect  of  an  al- 
liance with  Peggy  is  as  delightful  to  Jack  as  it 
was  repugnant  when  he  thought  it  would  be  Tillie. 

The  Indian  —  (Three  Reels)  —  Biograph  — 
March  1.— Blue  Feather,  the  son  of  War  Eagle, 
is  brought  up  as  the  adopted  son  of  Lieutenant 
Sterling,  the  former  having  been  left  for  dead 
after  a  battle  with  the  Indians  years  before.  War 
Eagle  and  Red  Feather,  the  twin  brother  of 
Blue  Feather,  heads  an  Indian  delegation  to  in- 
terview General  Sterling  regarding  the  Indian 
agency  appointment.  Gladys  the  daughter  of 
General  Sterling  is  kidnapped  by  Leach  and  Rig- 
West,  thinking  that  Indians  will  be°blamed  for 
her  abduction  thus  bringing  on  war  between  the 
Indians  and  the  soldiers.  Red  Feather,  however, 
rescues  Gladys  and  throws  Leach  to  his  death. 
Blue  Feather  arrives  at  this  time  to  find  his 
brother  dead  and  Gladys  declares  that  she  loves 
Blue  Feather,   the  brother  of  "The   Indian." 

The  Master  Smiles— (Three  Reels)— Knicker- 
bocker— March  3. — Emmy  Whelen  is  featured  in 
this  story  which  deals  with  life  of  a  young  girl 
who  is  governed  by  an  over  ambitious  father  and 
a  society  maddened  mother.  Howard  F.stabrook 
M,|,p,„-ts    Mi-   Whelen. 


A  Gay  Blade's  Last  Scrape — Beauty — -March  8. 
--Featuring  Carol  Halloway,  John  Sheehan  and 
Dixie  Stewart.  Mrs.  Halloway  is  determined  that 
Carol  shall  marry  Lord  Phoppie,  even  though 
Carol  doesn't  want  to.  Lord  Phoppie  sends  out 
invitations  for  an  afternoon  tea  and  when  his 
valet  in  attempting  to  shave  him  nearly  ends  his 
career,  he  telephones  the  first  barber  shop  he 
finds  listed  and  it  happens  that  he  gets  a  lady- 
barber  shop  and  Belle  is  commissioned  to  do  the 
job.  When  Belle  arrives  be  thinks  her  one  of  his 
guests  and  introduces  her  to  the  others.  She 
manages  to  get  him  into  the  bedroom,  to  the 
horror  of  Carol  and  her  mother.  Lord  Phoppie 
gets  into  numerous  mix-ups  at  this  point  and 
finally  loses  out  all  around. 

The  Cruise  of  Fate— (Three  Reels)— Than- 
houser— March  8.— With  Valkyrien,  Thomas  A. 
Curran  and  Boyd  Marshall.  Through  Kennedy's 
devotion  to  business,  his  wife  begins  to  think  his 
love  is  growing  cold,  and  the  influences  of  the 
third  member  of  "the  eternal  triangle"  stimulate 
this  thought.  Finally  Kennedy  starts  on  a  second 
honeymoon  with  his  wife,  but  because  he  wishes 
to  give  her  every  chance  to  be  with  the  other 
man,  if  she  so  desires,  the  man  is  allowed  to 
accompany  them.  The  sinking  of  their  yacht 
gives  Kennedy  a  chance  to  prove  his  love  and 
worthiness,  while  the  affinity  shows  his  true 
wicked  nature.  Thus  the  love  of  husband  and 
wife  is  renewed  and  the  intruder  is  put  out  of 
the  way  for  good. 

Ambitious  Awkward  Andy — Falstaff — March 
9.— With  Walter  Hiers  and  Riley  Chamberlin. 
Andy   is   an   awkward   negro   who   does   everything 


the 


The 


nly    : 


that 


Mutual  Program 


1 


employer  keeps  him  is  that  he  affords 
vaudeville  show.  Finally  Andy  leaves  his  em- 
ployer to  become  a  pullman-porter.  He  does  no 
better  with  this  than  he  does  with  the  subsequent 
jobs  of  chauffeur  and  expert  dynamite  blaster. 
He  then  comes  back  to  his  old  place,  whips  the 
new  incumbent  and  resumes  his  old  position. 


Wid 


-Be 


Cavens,  Dick  Rosson  and  King  Clark.  Nathaniel 
Pettibone,  a  well-to-do  banker,  receives  word  that 
his  son  is  falling  in  love  "with  a  woman  old 
enough  to  be  his  mother,"  and  immediately  leaves 
for  the  college  town.  He  meets  the  woman  in 
the  case  and  later  phones  her  that  he  will  call 
for  her  in  ten  minutes.  The  son  invites  her  to 
eet    him    at    the    Louvre    Cafe,    and    Edgar,    Na 


The 


thar 


1.  Jut 


:,   alsc 


nilar 


The  Burglar's  Dilemma—  Biograph— Re-Issue 
—February  29.— Lionel  Barrymore,  Henry  Wal- 
thall, Lillian  Gish,  Robert  Harron  and  Charles  H. 
West.  The  author  kills  his  brother  and  the  boy, 
victim  of  a  burglar,  is  accused  of  the  crime.  In 
the  other  room  an  ambulance  doctor  is  working 
over  the  body.  Suddenly  the  door  opens  and  the 
"dead"  man  appears,  led  by  the  physician.  With 
the  enormity  of  his  sin  before  him,  the  culprit 
shuns  his  brother's  accusing  finger,  but  finally 
permits  himself  to  accept  forgiveness. 

What  Happened  to  Peggy— (Two  Reels)— 
Biograph— February  29.— Viola  Smith,  Jose 
Ruben  and  Claire  McDowell  featured.  Peggy 
by  the  will  of  her  aunt  is  made  her  heiress  pro- 
viding she  marry  Jack,  son  of  an  old  friend  and 
whom  she  has  never  seen.  Tillie,  a  maid,  steals 
some  jewelry  from  her  mistress  and  makes  her 
getaway   and   later   she   steals    Peggy's   coat.      Of 


.    low.     father  and  the  w 

go  to  the  Louvre  Cafe  and  come  face  to  face  with 
the  boys.  Young  Nathaniel,  however,  manages 
to  rid  the  widow  of  father  ajd  later  the  two  have 
an   enjoyable  time. 

All  Balled  Up— Vogue— March  5.— Rube  Miller, 
Madge  Kirby,  Alice  Niece  and  Arthur  Travares 
featured.  Art,  a  cigar-stand  keeper,  engages 
Alice,  the  queen  of.  bandits,  to  kidnap  his  sweet- 
heart, Madge,  because  she  has  jilted  him  for  his 
business  rival,  Rube.  Madge  rises  in  her  sleep 
and  goes  to  Rube's  stand.  Rube  takes  Madge 
home,  foils  the  abductors  and  then  engages  in  a 
bowling  match  with  Art,  who  persuades  Rube, 
who  has  no  money,  to  play  for  Madge  against 
his  money.  Alice's  bandits  place  a  bomb  under 
Madge's  bed,  but  Madge  walking  in  her  sleep 
picks  it  up  and  carries  it  to  the  bowling  alley, 
where  it  explodes  and  blows  Art,  Alice  and  the 
bandits  into  the  skies,  leaving  Rube  and  Madge 
to  the  enjoyment  of  their  mutual  infatuation. 

The  Silken  Spider— (Three  Reels)— American 
—March  7.— Reviewed  elsewhere  in  this  issue. 

Oscar,  the  Oyster  Opener — Falstaff — March  7. 
— The  one  ambition  of  Oscar,  the  oyster  opener 
at  Hizzlebooble's  Oyster  House,  is  to  find  a  pearl 
that  will  make  his  fortune.  After  his  sweetheart, 
Mame,  tries  to  win  a  man  whom  she  thinks  is  a 
millionaire,  only  to  find  out  that  he  is  a  butler, 
she  answers  yes  to  Oscar's  proposition  of  love; 
Oscar   finds  his   long  looked   for  pearl,   and   all   is 


The  modernized  Maud  Muller  __  . 
into  court  for  smashing  another  automobile  while 
out  in  her  own.  Clancy,  the  driver  of  the  other 
car,  has  enough  charges  against  the  girl  to  send 
her  to  prison  for  life.  The  judge,  being  smitten 
with  the  girl,  fines  Clancy  ten  dollars.  When 
the  judge  next  meets  his  charmer,  she  upsets  him 
with  her  auto  and  gets  so  mussed  up  herself  that 
he  discovers  she  is  false — at  least  her  teeth,  hair 
and  complexion  are,  so  he  doubts  concerning  her 


The  Desperate  Chance— Cub— March  3.— Fea- 
turing George  Ovey.  Jerry  escapes  from  prison, 
and,  realizing  that  he  is  being  pursued  by  a  num- 
ber of  guards  and  police,  welcomes  a  forced 
change  of  clothes  with  a  bandit.  The  latter, 
however,  forgets  his  shooting  irons  and  seeks  out 
Jerry  later.  They  both  give  the  cops  a  run  for 
their  money,  but  of  no  avail,  for  both  fall  help- 
less victims  of  the  officers  of  the  law  after  they 
are    extracted    from    the    wreckage    of    an    unruly 


Universal  Program 


The  Powder  Trust  and  the  War— (Two  Reels) 
—March  6.— (Thirteenth  Episode  of  "Graft".)— 
Featuring  Richard  Stanton,  Jane  Novak  and  Glen 
White.  This  episode,  suggested  by  Will  Irwin, 
sees  the  death  of  Du  Berg,  the  head  of  the  Pow- 
der Trust  which  is  trying  to  smuggle  powder  into 
Mexico,  as  well  as  that  of  two  Mexicans  who  are 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


March  11,  1916. 


Feature  Programs 


Blue  Bird 

Rupert  of  Hentzau — -(Five  Reels) — Bluebird — 
March  6. — Jane  Gail  is  featured  in  the  character 
of  Oueen  Flavia  and  Henrv  Ainley,  an  English 
actor,  in  the  dual  role  of  King  of  Ruritania  and 
Rudolf  Rassendyll  in  this  play  founded  on  An- 
thony Hope's  novel  of  the  same  name  and  a 
sequel  to  "The  Prisoner  of  Zenda."  George  L. 
Tucker  directed  the  production  and  the  supporting- 
cast  includes  Charles  Rock,  George  Bellamy,  War- 
wick Wellington  and  Stella  St.   Andrie. 


The  Marble  Heart— (Five  Reels)— William 
Fox — March  6. — Violet  Horner  is  featured  in 
this  drama  of  love  and  intrigue.  The  supporting 
cast  includes  Walter  McCullough,  Rhye  Alex- 
ander, Henry  Armetta,  J  ,,ui-L  Rial.  Harry  Burk- 
hardt,  Walter  Miller,  Hal  De  Forrest,  Mile, 
Marcelle,  Mark  Price  and  Arthur  Leslie.  The 
production  was  staged  in  the  West  Indies  under 
the   supervision  of  Herbert   Brenon. 


Metro 

The  Soul  Market — (Five  Reels) — Popular 
Plays  and  Players — February  28. — Mme.  Petrova 
is  starred  in  this  production,  which  deals  with 
the  life  of  a  musical  comedy  prima  donna  who 
views   the   theater   and    the   high   life   attending   as 


ml    : 


wher 


bought    and    sold    the    

ancient  Babylon  and  who 
realization  when  she  is  about  to  give  herself  over 
to  a  man  of  wealth,  rather  than  marry  the  young 
man  she  loves.  An  all  star  cast  supports  "Mine. 
Petrova  and  the  production  was  directed  by 
Francis   J.    Grandon. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

of  the  fact  that  the  Allies  need  soldiers  they 
have  refused  to  accept  for  service  Babtiste  Ugo, 
an  Italian  nine  feet  tall,  and  Esmiliare  Adrien, 
a  twenty-nine  inches  high  Frenchman;  Russian 
prisoners  taken  by  the  Germans  in  recent  fighting 
are  interned  in  the  camp  which  was  once  their 
own  famous  fortress,  Brest-Litovsk,  Russia;  the 
Rotary  traffic  method  enables  five  streams  of  ve- 
hicles to  be  handled  in  one-third  the  time  pre- 
viously occupied,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Pathe  News  No.  17 — Pathe — February  26.— 
Ten  killed  and  fifty  injured  when  local  train 
crashes  into  stalled  New  Haven  express,  Milford, 
Conn. ;    nine   killed   in   wreckage   as    Opera   House 

l.'u.uincnlal  Hall  in  celebration  of  Washington's 
birthday,  Washington,  D.  C;  Varsity  oarsmen 
have  first  practice  of  the  season  in  near-zero 
weather,  Seattle,  Wash.;  military  demonstration 
in  favor  of  preparedness  marks  the  observance  of 
Washington's  birthday,  Chicago,  111.;  German 
soldiers  regulate  traffic  over  a  pontoon  bridge 
built  after  the  retreating  Russians  had  destroyed 
the  ordinary  bridges  over  the  River  Bug,  Brest 
Litovsk,    Russia. 

Starved  to  Death  in  a  Restaurant— Pathe — 
Starlight— February  23.— Heinie  and  Louie  en- 
ter a  beanery  where  beautiful  Bertha  is  in  charge. 
They  immediately  start  to  "fill-up"  with  an  eye 
to  doing  so  free  of  charge.  They  do  very  well 
until  Ben  the  Blacksmith,  strong  man  and  tyrant, 
enters  and  then,  as  usual.  Heinie  and  Louie  come 
out   second  best. 

By  the  Zuider-Zee— (Split  Reel)— Pathe— 
February  23.— Picturesque  Holland  in  natural 
colors.      The    quaintness    of    Holland    makes    it    a 

In  this  picture  the  picturesque  country  and  the 
peculiar  customs  of  the  natives  are  thoroughly  in- 
teresting.     On   the   same   reel   with: 


Mutual  Special 

According  to  Law— (Five  Reels)— Gaumont— 
March  6. — Howard  Hall  and  Mildred  Gregory 
are  featured  in  this  story  which  tells  of  a  young 
wife,  who  refuses  the  sacred  duties  of  mother- 
hood. Helen  Marten,  Alan  Robinson,  Albert 
Macklin  and  John  Reinhard  also  have  prominent 
parts  in  this  production  directed  by  Richard  Gar- 
True  Nobility  —  (Five  Reels)  —  American  — 
March  9. — E.  Forrest  Taylor,  Lizette  Thorn, 
Helene  Rosson,  and  Harry  Von  Meter  featured. 
A    full    review    appears    on    another    page    of    this 


i   Lo 


Diplomacy— (Five  Reels) — Famous  Players- 
Paramount. — Marie  Doro  is  featured  in  this 
screen  adaptation  of  Sardou's  celebrated  play, 
dealing  with  international  politics.  Sidney  01- 
cott  directed  the  production.  Elliott  Dexter, 
Frank    Losee    and    Edith     Campbell    Walker    are 


me    Luke    is    hired 

acksmith,  who  has  much  trouble  in  keeping 
lp,  because  the  village  belle  steals  them  auav. 
.ike  does  well  until  the  queen  of  queens  crosses 
s  path.  His  efforts  to  win  her  bring  on  some 
nshes    with    the    burly    smith.      A    rival    kidnaps 


belle. 


This 


general 
i   a   muddy   pool. 


Inch 


Siberia,   the   Vast   Unknown— 
—Second  installment.     The  barr 


Pathe 

Pathe  News  No.  16— Pathe— February  23  — 
Mr.  Henry  Morgenthau  arrives  home  on  leave 
after  two  years  of  service  at  Constantinople  as 
Ambassador  to  Turkey,  New  York  City,  N.  Y. ; 
"Black  Hand"  wreck  the  home  of  Modestino 
Mastrogiovanni,  whose  bank  failed,  Chicago,  111.; 
Jacques  Suzanne,  artist-explorer,  has  a  complete 
Alaskan  dog  pack  to  help  give  "local  color"  for 
his   pictures,    Fort    Montgomery,    N.    Y. ;    in   spite 


Red  Feather 


is  no  real  friendship  in  this  world  which 
stand  life's  test  except  the  affection  of  a 
:r.  The  supporting  cast  includes  Anna  Lerh, 
George.  Jane  Novak,  Dick  LeReno,  and 
t  McQuarrie.  The  picture  was  produced  by 
il   MacGregor. 


607 
Triangle  Program 

Released    Week    of    March    5. 

The  Village  Vampire— Triangle-Keystone.— An 

exciting     comedy     featuring     Fred     Mace,     Anna 

Luther,     Joseph"  Swickard,"    Earl     Rodney,     Billie 

Brockwell   and   Dale   Fuller. 

;le-Ki:ystone.  —  Featuring 

i    all    the   men    with    whom 

but    who    is    true    to    her 

yland  Trask.  Harry  Booki 

.    also    have    important    parts    i 


The     Judge  - 


;enda 


P«ggy — Kay-Bee — March     5.—  Featt 

Burke.      The    scenes    are   laid    in    New 

Yor 

Scotland.      Characters   are  very   well  d 

Ham    Desmond    and    William    H.    Thor 

important   roles.      A    full   review    appe; 

425    of  the   February   1    issue. 

V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Hearst-Vitagraph  No.  16 — February  25. — Equip 
big  barn  with  fire  escapes  that  automatically 
frees  horses  in  case  of  fire,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.; 
Henry  Morgenthau,  ambassador  to  Turkey,  re- 
turns to  America  for  a  rest  and  is  warmly  greeted 
in  New  York,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  ice  yachts  race 
in  stirring  contest  for  cup,  Mill  Neck,  N  Y. ; 
police  of  San  Francisco  are  drawn  up  for  formal 
review  by  their  chief ;  members  of  the  Polar  Bear 
Club  race  over  the  snow  covered  sands,  play  med- 
icine ball,  coast  and  then  take  a  dip  in  the  surf, 
Brighton  Beach.  N.  Y.  ;  many  athletes  start  in 
Bronx  County  marathon  of  the  Mohawk  Athletic 
club,  New  York,  N.  Y. ;  latest  fashions;  nine  die 
and  many  hurt  when  New  Haven  trains  are  piled 
in  a  heap  of  wreckage,  New  Haven,  Conn. ;  car- 
toon  by   George   Herriman. 


Little  Mary  Sunshine — (Five  Reels) — Pathe- 
Gold  Rooster — March  3. — Featuring  Henry  King 
and  Baby  Marie  Osborne.  Little  Mary  alone  in 
the  world,  creeps  into  a  standing  automobile  and 
falls  asleep.  Bob  Daley,  whose  sweetheart  has 
broken    their    engagement,    discouraged    and    dis- 

T.ittle   .Mary.      Later  she  is  the   means    r.f'  t-rTectiim 
a  reconciliation  between  Sylvia  and   Bob. 

The  Red  Circle— (Chapter  11)— (Two  Reels) 
—February    26— Balboa.— Reviewed    elsewhere    in 

Luke  and  the   Rural   Roughnecks — Pathe-Rolin 


World 

,s  In  a  Looking  Glass— (Five  Reels)— World 
[arch  6. — Featuring  Kitty  Gordon  as  an  ad- 
turess  who  enslaves  with  her  charms  every 
l  she  meets.  She  meets  Alfred  Balfour  and 
>  in  love  with  him  and  by  clever  scheming 
leads  Miss  Vyse,  Balfour's  fiancee,  to  break 
r  engagement  and  later  she  marries  him  her- 
After  a  few  happy  days  of  married  life, 
'ever,  Tack,  her  former  partner,  appears  and 
uses    Lila's   past   life,    and   realizing   that   all   is 

s    Gordon    and    Frank    Crane   directed   the   pro- 


The  Devil's  Toy— (Fr 
March  6.— Edwin  Stcvei 
:ured.        Wilfred      Barsle} 

,truggling      for 


Ree 


offers 


mself 


prayer  to  the  Devil,  proclaiming  his  willingness 
to  sell  his  soul  for  the  three  things  he  most 
desires— fame,  wealth  and  love.  He  gains  fame 
and  wealth,  but  the  Devil  tells  him  that  he  is 
powerless  to  grant  the  third  wish,   love,  which  he 

the  depths  of  dissipation  and  meets 'a  terrible  end. 
Montague  Love,  jack  Halloday,  Madge  Stevens 
and  Arnold  Lucey  support  these  two  stars  and 
Harley   Knoles   directed   the  picture. 


Miscella 


The  Immortal  Flame— Ivan.— Features  Maude 
Fealy.  A  society  drama  which  deals  with  the 
sacrifice  of  a  happy  marriage  made  by  a  young 
girl  to  further  her  father's  political  ambitions. 
Misery  in  all  its  forms  arises  from  this,  the  end 
being    the    girl's    tragic    death.      A    longer    review 


.other 


W.    G. 


§tm\  M 

wf^  •  'X  mP 

Kmj:%M 

^^^BMH 

SfilM^I&te^ 

JHf1*^  ^  Mi 

right,    "Fighting  Blood,"   "The  Fool's  Revenge,"  and  "The  Witch." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


er),  Gail  Kane   (right). 


SOME  NEW  THEATERS 

Arkansas. 
The  Arkansas  Traveler,  an  electric 
traveling  motion  picture  show,  the  only 
one  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  has  estab- 
lished a  regular  circuit  of  twelve  towns 
in  Madison  and  Washington  counties, 
and  will  appear  at  each  place  every  two 
weeks.  This  show  is  a  unique  outfit.  The 
owner  has  mounted  a  six  horsepower 
gasoline  engine  and  a  special  motion  pic- 
ture dynamo  on  a  wagon,  where  they 
operate  to  furnish  electric  current  for  the 
show.  Electric  lights  are  hung  tempo- 
rarily about  the  hall  used  as  a  theater 
and  are  lighted  until  the  show  begins. 
The  electric  current  is  carried  from  the 
wagon  into  the  building  through  a  copper 
cable.  The  service  furnished  by  this  show 
is  up-to-date  and  affords  a  luxury  to 
rural  folk  who  cannot  often  attend  the 
city  shows. 

Indiana. 

Rose  A.  A.  Kleinrichert  has  filed  a 
petition  in  bankruptcy  before  United 
States  Commissioner  T.  J.  Logan.  She 
schedules  assets  at  $314.25  and  liabilities 
at  $850.  The  petitioner  is  proprietress 
of  a  moving  picture  theater  at  Ft.  Wayne. 
Somers  &  Kennerk  arc  attorneys  for  the 
petitioner. 

The  entire  second  floor  of  the  Old 
State  bank  building  in  Evansville  has 
been  leased  to  tin-  William  I':.  French 
company  for  live  years.  The  present 
French   More  will  lie  razed  and   a  moving 

picture  theater  erected  there. 

That   the   (lennctt    theater   in    Richmond 

will  be  remodeled  by  the  Gennett  family. 
who  own  it.  in  spring,  and  later  opened 
as  a  motion  picture  theater,  lias  been 
reported. 

Iowa. 
E.  F.  Minter  has  taken  out  a  permit  for 

the  remodeling  of  the  building  at  2010 
West  Broadway,  Council  Bluffs,  into  a 
motion  picture  show.  Work  will  he 
rushed. 


D.   F.   Har 


has 


sold    ; 


the  Harvey  theater  in  Sheldon  to  Ray 
Ling,  who  will  give  his  entire  attention 
to  the  theater  business  after  March  1. 
The  gentlemen  have  in  connection 
formed  a  Harvey  theater  exchange,  and 
will  deal  in  buying  and  selling  of 
theaters. 

Charles  Forrest  has  sold  his  motion 
picture  business  at  Ruthven  and  has  pur- 
chased another  at  Farnhamville. 

A  small  blaze  in  the  Roper  theater  in 
Council  Bluffs  caused  a  loss  of  about 
fifty   dollars. 

The  Majestic  theater  in  Fredericks- 
burg has  been  sold  by  Leslie  Box  to 
Upham  Brothers,  who  will  take  posses- 
sion March  1. 

John  Boyer  has  bought  out  a  moving 
picture  business  at  Lake  Park  and  wil 
move  there  March   1. 

The  coinmercial  club  is  making  plans 
for  starting  a  moving  picture  show. 
Essex  has  been  without  a  picture  show 
since  George  Swalley  closed  his  theater 
about  a  month  ago. 

Mrs.  Theresa  Stelz  has  sold  the  Gem 
motion  picture  theater  in  Corydon  to 
E.  E.  Orris,  of  Boone,  who  took  charge 
at  once.  Mr.  Orris  has  closed  it  for 
repairs,  and  will  redecorate  it  and  have 
a  grand  opening  in  a  short  time. 

Waterville  will  have  a  moving  picture 
theater.  Fred  Mortensen  will  be  the 
proprietor. 

The  Dreamland  theater  is  in  its  new 
home  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Main  streets,  Dubuque.  Manager 
Boyd  is  proud  of  his  new  picture  house, 
which  is  modern  in  every  particular, 
having  exceptionally  ,<?ood  ventilation 
facilities  and  being  located  on  a  street 
comer,  makes  several  exits  possible  as 
required  by  state  law. 

Kansas. 
M.    W.     Bailey    of    Hutchinson    will 
shortly  open  a  picture  show  in  Arlington 
st   in     which  he  will  call  the  Com.     Pictures  will 


be  shown  on  Wednesday  and  Saturday 
nights  and  on  Saturday  afternoons. 

Joe  Girard,  manager  of  the  Pearl  thea- 
ter at  Arma,  will  manage  Ringo's  first 
motion  picture  theater.  It  was  opened 
to  the  public  February  10  and  has  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  almost  400. 

The  University  at  Lawrence  has  in- 
stalled a  Powers  cameragraph. 

A  community  motion  picture  theater 
was  opened  in  Ellsworth  February  19 
under  the  auspices  of  the  merchants  of 
the  city.  In  the  beginning  the  theater 
will  be  open  only  on  Saturdays. 

Kentucky. 

Citizens'  Amusement  Company,  Louis- 
ville; capital.  $30,000;  incorporators,  T.  C. 
Brock,  A.  S.  Brock  and  A.  B.  McAfee. 

The  Novelty  theater,  one  of  the  finest 
motion  picture  theaters  in  Louisville, 
has  undergone  a  complete  change.  It 
has  been  redecorated  with  an  elaborate 
stage  setting  and  has  been  renamed  the 
Rex.  Mutual  Pictures  de  Luxe  are  being 
shown,  as  an  exclusive  franchise  has  been 
granted  the  manager,  C.  N.  Koch. 

The  Princess  theater  in  Henderson,  the 
prettiest  moving  picture  house  in  West- 
ern Kentucky,  was  totally  destroyed  by 
fire  February  13.  The  loss  is  $20,000, 
partially  covered  by  insurance.  The 
theater  was  operated  by  Ragon  and 
Hayes. 

The  Capitol  Theater  company,  Louis- 
ville, motion  picture  operators,  filed  ar- 
ticles of  incorporation  with  an  authorized 
capital  of  $3,000.  divided  into  shares  of 
$10.  The  debt  limit  is  $10,000.  Fred  T. 
Dolle,  D.  H.  Lohq  and  Henry  Reiss  each 
hold  three  shares  of  stock. 

Maryland. 
The  Motion  Picture  Operators'  Pro- 
tective Association  held  a  business  meet- 
ing at  their  headquarters  in  the  Gayety 
theater  building,  Baltimore,  when  reports 
of  the  various  committees  wore  sub- 
mitted and  read. 


March  11,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Plans  have  been  received  by  the  build- 
ing inspector  for  the  erection  of  a  picture 
theater  at  846-48  Linden  avenue,  Balti- 
more, for  the  Linden  Amusement  Com- 
pany. Work  will  be  started  at  once  and 
it  is  expected  to  be  completed  by  May  1. 

The  Linwood  Amusement  company 
has  been  granted  a  permit  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  one-story  brick  motion- 
picture  theater,  4S.4  by  70  feet,  at  902-904 
South  Linwood  avenue,  Baltimore.  The 
cost  of  the  building  is  stated  as  $2,500. 

Michigan. 

Architect  George  T.  Appleyard  is  pre- 
paring plans  for  a  picture  theater  to  be 
built  at  the  corner  of  Grand  avenue  and 
Michigan  street,  Grand  Rapids,  for 
Thomas  Graham.  It  will  be  brick  and  tile 
construction  and  have  a  seating  capacity 
of  600. 

The  trades  and  labor  council  has  cor- 
dially endorsed  the  movement  of  the 
Junior  branch  of  the  Drama  League  in 
furnishing  educational  and  instructive 
entertainments  to  the  children  of  Kala- 
mazoo free  of  charge.  A  resolution  to 
this  effect,  signed  by  M.  K.  Randall, 
Carl  L.  Larsen  and  H.  T.  Auckerman, 
was  read  by  the  first  named  and  passed 
unanimously. 

Hancock  will  have  another  modern 
motion  picture  theater. 

The  motion  picture  theater  managed 
by  Percy,  Ralph  and  William  Seebeck  at 
Thirty-second  and  Broadway,  Bay  City, 
was  badly  damaged  by  fire. 

The  Apollo  theater  at  Monroe  and 
Michigan  street,  N.  W.,  Grand  Rapids,  is 
conducted  by  the  only  woman  motion 
picture  theater  manager  in  the  city.  This 
theater  was  taken  over  recently  by  Belle 
M.  Soule  and  John  C.  Haskens  and  the 
new  managers  will  make  it  one  of  the 
best  of  the  small  price  theaters  in  the 
city. 

All  moving  picture  machine  operators 
in  Kalamazoo  must  be  licensed  according 
to  the  provisions  of  an  ordinance  passed 
finally  by  the  city  council  February  21. 

A  new  picture  show  seating  about  300 
has  been  opened  at  Muskegon  Heights 
by  John  Lafayette,  of  Muskegon. 

The  proprietors  of  the  Starr  theater 
in  Gaylord  have  opened  a  moving  picture 
house  in  Frederic. 

F.  M.  Corey,  owner  of  the  Temple, 
Alcazar  and  Peoples  theaters  at  Pe- 
tosky,   died  February  22. 

George  Spaeth  has  become  manager 
of  the  Majestic  Gardens  at  Grand  Rap- 
ids, one  of  the  finest  photoplay  houses 
in  the  middle  west.  Mr.  Spaeth  was  for- 
merly connected  with  the  Fuller  theater . 
in  Kalamazoo. 

Prompt  work  on  the  part  of  George 
Knapp,  operator  in  the  Idlehour  motion 
picture  theater  at  Traverse  City,  averted 
a  panic  during  a  show  on  February  15. 
A  reel  of  film  became  ignited  and  he 
promptly  pitched  the  blazing  film  into 
the  main  street,  substituted  another  reel, 
and  the  show  proceeded. 

Minnesota. 

The  Hilltop  theater  in  Stillwater  is 
now  under  the  management  of  S.  E. 
Carlsson. 

A  motion  picture  theater  will  open  in 
the  Imperial  Opera  house,  St.  Hilaire,  in 


a  short  time.  Additions  and  alterations 
are  now  being  made  for  its  accommoda- 
tion and  a  new  fireproof  booth  is  being 
constructed.  Mr.  Benson,  who  will  man- 
age the  theater,  states  that  he  will  have 
a  modern  and  cozy  theater  when  it  is 
completed  and  will  operate  it  twice  a 
week. 

The  Lyceum  theater  in  Boudette  has 
been  sold  by  Herman  Miller  to  A.  M. 
Hoover  of  the  Grand  theater.  Mr. 
Hoover  has  moved  the  equipment  to  the 
Grand  building. 

License  fees  for  motion  picture  shows 
and  other  theaters  in  Minneapolis  will  be 
increased.  This  was  decided  on  by  the 
committee  on  taxes  of  the  City  Council, 
but  it  was  not  determined  how  much  of 
an  increase  will  be  made.  The  commit- 
tee is  of  the  opinion  that  the  license  fees 
should  be  based  on  seating  capacity  and 
the  committee  determined  to  hold  an- 
other session  March  1  for  the  purpose 
of  hearing  from  theater  owners. 

Slayton's  motion  picture  theater,  the 
Gem,  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Missouri. 

A  fireproof  vault  that  will  take  care  of 
3,600  reels  has  been  installed  in  the  St. 
Louis  office  of  the  Pathe  exchange. 

I.  P.  Williams  of  Carthage  has  pur- 
chased half  interest  in  the  airdome  in 
Larmar,  which  will  be  converted  into  a 
picture  theater.  D.  A.  Baker  is  the  other 
party  interested  and  after  improvements 
the  theater  will  be  known  as  the  Delphos. 

The  Pageant  theater,  St.  Louis,  will 
show  "New  York,"  Pathe's  Gold  Rooster 
release. 

The  Palace  and  Gem  theaters  in  Apple- 
ton  City  have  been  purchased  and  con- 
solidated by  the  Appleton  City  Orchestra 
and  M.  L.  Osburn  &  Son. 

On  February  13  the  St.  Louis  office  of 
Pathe  exchange  booked  the  "Horrors  of 
War"  to  the  Grand  Central  theater  of 
that  city  for  an  indefinite  run. 

The  Star  theater  in  Butler  has  been 
sold  by  Forrest  Kerrens. 

The  new  Park  theater  in  Shelbyville, 
which  is  owned  by  Winetrout  Sons,  is 
about  ready  for  opening. 

Motion  pictures  will  soon  be  shown  in 
St.  Joseph  under  a  new  set  of  regulations 
contained  in  an  ordinance  which  was 
passed  by  the  council  February  16.  The 
chief  of  police  is  made  the  examiner  or 
official  censor.  However,  there  is  pro- 
vision for  a  voluntary  board  of  censors 
which  will  be  known  as  an  appeal  board. 
It  will  be  composed  of  three  members 
to  be  appointed  by  the  mayor  for  a  term 
of  one,  two  and  three  years.  If  the  deci- 
sion of  the  chief  in  regard  to  any  picture 
is  distasteful  to  the  complainants,  it  may 
be  taken  as  a  last  resort  to  the  board. 

J.  I.  Wright  became  the  sole  owner 
and  manager  of  the  popular  Rex  theater 
in  Bevier,  February  15,  when  he  bought 
out  the  half  interest  and  good  will  of  his 
former  partner,  Edward  Watson. 

A  new  picture  show  has  been  opened 
in  Huntsville.  It  is  operated  by  Mr. 
Griffiths  of  Bevier  and  Mr.  Rogers  of 
Huntsville. 

Montana. 

The  new  picture  show  on  Main  street, 
Meadville,  will  be  ready  for  opening  in  a 


very  short  time.  The  house  is  small,  but 
has  all  the  modern  appliances  for  safety 
and  comfort. 

Manager  E.  O'Keefe  of  the  Regent 
theater,  which  was  put  out  of  business 
temporarily  by  the  burning  of  the  Acme 
building,  Billings,  has  leased  the  Gem 
theater  pending  repairs  to  the  Regent 
and  will  show  the  Regent  bookings  at 
that  house. 

0.  T.  Estlin  of  Sheridan  has  purchased 
the  new  Rex  theater  in  Dillon  from  R.  T. 
Stalcup. 

Nebraska. 

1.  B.  Connor  of  Kearney  left  for  Eddy- 
ville,  where  he  may  open  a  picture  show. 

Mr.  Cassill  of  Alma  has  leased  the 
Newhouse  building  in  Red  Cloud,  which 
he  is  having  remodeled  into  a  picture 
theater.  The  theater  will  seat  over  four 
hundred  when  completed. 

The  York  opera  house,  in  York,  has 
changed  managers,  Wes  D.  Fisher  retir- 
ing and  the  Ballengers,  managers  of  the 
Dean,  taking  charge.  It  has  been  an- 
nounced that  the  new  management  will 
install  a  new  and  up-to-date  projecting 
machine. 

New  Hampshire. 

February  14,  L.  A.  Rhodenizer  became 
the  manager  of  the  Star  and  White's 
Opera  house  in  Concord.  The  Star  will 
show  pictures  exclusively,  while  the 
opera  house  will  give  vaudeville  and  pic- 
tures. 

New  Jersey. 

Kreimer  and  Demott  have  sold  the 
Crescent  theater  at  Roosevelt  to  Maurice 
Spewak. 

The  Sidney  village  board  has  passed  an 
ordinance  imposing  a  license  fee  of  $30 
upon  motion  picture  theaters.  It  is  un- 
derstood that  the  owners  of  the  Hip- 
podrome and  the  Bright  Spot  will  con- 
test the  legality  of  the  ordinance. 

Manager  Kaiserstein  of  the  Broadway 
theater,  Bayonne,  is  contemplating  some 
very  extensive  improvements,  among 
which   will   be   a   balcony. 

New  York. 

L.  J.  Fookes,  who  operates  the  River- 
view  theater,  at  Broadway  and  One  Hun- 
dredth street,  New  York,  has  leased 
through  Joseph  A.  Wasserman  the  Park 
theater,  on  East  One  Hundred  and 
Eightieth  street,  near  Southern  boule- 
vard, for  a  year. 

Arthur  E.  Van  Croix,  manager  of  the 
Bijou  theater  in  Jamestown,  has  an- 
nounced there  will  be  no  more  Sunday 
motion  pictures  in  the  theater. 

None  of  the  four  operators  who  re- 
cently took  the  test  for  moving  picture 
operators  passed. 

Professor  E.  J.  Wall,  head  of  the  de- 
partment of  photography,  Syracuse  Uni- 
versity, delivered  a  popular  science  lec- 
ture in  Fobes  Hall,  Educational  building. 
The  lecture  was  one  of  a  series  being 
given  under  the  auspices  of  the  Technol- 
ogy Club  of  Syracuse  and  the  university. 

Marcus  Loew  has  taken  a  lease  of  the 
New  York  Roof  Garden  and  will  open 
it  with  picture  shows  immediately.  The 
seating  arrangements  will  be  altered  so 
that  1,800  people  may  be  accommodated. 

F.  A.  Jensen  of  Albion  has  purchased 
the  Lyric  moving  picture  theater  in 
Dansville. 


610 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1L 


Dick  Brad}'  Poster  Rental  Company; 
manufacturing-  signs.  advertisements, 
posters  and  motion  picture  supplies,  etc.; 
$3,000;  Herbert  D.  Seibert,  Richard  K. 
Brady,  Samuel   Bram,  Manhattan. 

P.  &  S.  Holding  Company.  Inc.;  mo- 
tion picture,  vaudeville,  supplies,  devices, 
opticians;  $50,000;  S.  M.  Kelleher,  B.  C. 
Elliott,  T.  F.  MacMahon,  1400  Broadway. 

W id's  Films  and  Film  Folk,  Inc.;  mo- 
tion picture  publications,  exhibitions, 
vaudeville;  $10,000;  J.  J.  Harvey,  H.  F. 
and  F.  C.  Gunning.  Times  building,  New 
York. 

L.  J.  Fookes  has  leased  from  the  Ca- 
sino Amusement  Company  the  Darling 
theater  at  Gloversville. 

Buffalo  Mutual  Theaters  Company, 
Inc.;  theaters,  opera  houses;  $250,000;  A. 
E.  Bagar,  E.  C.  Schienker,  E.  L.  Falk,  76 
West  Tupper  street  Buffalo. 

Kayaness  Screen  Advertising  Corpora- 
tion; general  advertising  business,  manu- 
facturing films,  screens,  apparatus  for 
use  in  theatrical  and  motion  picture  busi- 
ness; $1,000;  John  H.  Kalb,  Frederick  M. 
Buermann,  J.  Leroy  Sneckner,  Man- 
hattan. 

The  safety  council  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  which  is  conducting  its  safety 
first  campaign  among  the  school  children 
of  Rochester,  had  pictures  taken  by  the 
Eastman  Kodak  company  recently  of 
1,500  boys,  group  views  of  chamber  mem- 
bers and  also  pictures  of  the  officers  of 
the  grammar  school  safety  council  and 
chairmen  of  the  various  safety  commit- 
tees in  the  different  schools  and  will 
show  them  March  3  at  the  Grammar 
School   Safety   show. 

Bronx  Motion  Picture  Corporation 
Manhattan.  —  General  moving  picture 
business  and  amusement  business;  cap, 
$50,000.  Incorporators:  H.  Barnard, 
167  East  80th  street,  New  York  city 
W.  E.  Bardusch,  330  No.  Terrace  avenue' 
Mt.  Vernon;  E.  W.  Balling,  169  Harrison 
avenue,  Westfield,  N.  J. 

Walter  Pljmmer  Film  Corporation, 
Brooklyn.— Manufacturing  and  dealino- 
in  films,  moving  pictures,  tools,  ma"- 
chinery  etc.,  for  manufacturing  films- 
cap.,  $100,000.  Incorporators:  W  T 
Phmmer, 83  73d  street;  F.  Karison,  7015 
ft.  Hamilton  Parkway;  W.  G.  Ryan,  964 
72d  street,  Brooklyn. 

Union  Motion  Picture  Corporation, 
Manhattan.  —  General  moving  picture 
business;  cap.,  $330,000.  Incorporators- 
II.  Jlarnard,  167  East  80th  street;  R.  H 
Rucker,  27  Pine  street,  New  York  city" 
W.  E.  Bardusch,  330  North  Terrace  ave- 
nue,  Mt.   Vernon. 

The  old  buildings  at  623,  625  and  627 
Eighth  avenue,  New  York,  60x100,  and 
305  and  307  West  40th  street,  50x100, 
forming  an  "L"  around  the  northwest 
corner,  have  been  leased  by  Louis  W. 
Weill  for  a  term  of  twenty-one  years  at 
tati  rental  of  about  $300,000. 
'"'  lessee  'a  the  I',.. Ian  Amusement 
corporation,  which  plans  to  erect  a  two- 
story  moving  pi.  ture  theater,  with  stores, 
Eighth    avenue    frontage.      The 

existing  leases   expire  aboul    No 

an. I  work  on  the  new  operation 
ai  thai  time. 


The  new  Bijou  theater  in  the  Walrath 
building,  Salamanca,  opened  February  17 
under  the  management  of  Lewis  Gun- 
thrup,  owner  of  the  old  Bijou.  The  place 
has*  been  newly  decorated  and  a  new 
X-ray   screen   installed. 

Rochester  Photoplay  News  Publishing 
company,  Inc.,  Rochester,  printing,  en- 
graving^ $8,000;  H.  C.  Wyent,  S.  P.  Bur- 
hill,  E.  Huber,  Rochester. 

The  Wardwin  Realty  company  will 
improve  the  vacant  block  front  on  the 
south  side  of  167th  street,  from  Webster 
to  Brook  avenue.  New  York  city,  with  a 
moving  picture  theater  to  seat  2,000.  The 
building  will  also  contain  many  stores. 

New  Mexico. 

The  Cosy  theater  at  Portales  was  al- 
most entirely  destroyed  by  fire  a  short 
time  ago.  Defective  wiring  is  believed 
to  have  been  responsible. 

A  burning  film  in  the  moving  picture 
theater  in  Springer  caused  a  great  deal  of 
commotioin  February  14,  but  no  one  was 
injured. 

North  Carolina. 

The  North  Carolina  Exhibitors  League, 
composed  of  the  moving  picture  theater 
men  of  the  state,  convened  in  Greens- 
boro February  14. 

Following  the  merger  of  the  only  other 
motion  picture  show  at  Kinston  with  the 
Grand  theater,  it  has  been  announced 
that  two  more  picture  houses  will  be 
opened.  John  E.  Shanks,  a  veteran 
showman,  will  reopen  Loftin's  opera 
house  for  pictures  only,  and  R.  B.  Par- 
sons and  W.  C.  Sutton  are  to  equip  a 
building  on  North  street  for  the  same 
purpose. 

North  Dakota. 

Ivan  Butler  has  purchased  the  interest 
of  his  partner,  Clifford  Lemire,  in  the 
Bijou  theater  in  Roy. 

At  Langdon  the  Commercial  club  has 
appointed  a  committee  to  make  a  thor- 
ough investigation  of  the  proposition  to 
purchase  the  opera  house  at  that  place. 
Ohio. 

A  new  stage  setting  has  been  installed 
in  the  Chidester  theater  in  Bowling 
Green  by  Manager  Alfred  W.  Place, 
which  presents  a  very  attractive  appear- 
ance. 

The  Hippodromo  theater  in  Bucyrus, 
managed  by  Mr.  Newman,  is  showing- 
Triangle  films. 

The  management  of  the  Columbia 
theater  in  Dayton  will  enlarge  the  thea- 
ter to  accommodate  one  thousand  people. 

The  operating  booth  of  the  Queen 
theater,  226  Dauphin  street,  Chillicothe, 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  J.  L.  Spieth,  pro- 
prietor. 

Bids  on  a  two-story  brick  and  terra 
cotta  motion  picture  theater  and  store 
building  to  be  located  at  St.  Clair  avenue, 
near  East  One  Hundred  and  Tenth 
street,  Cleveland,  for  Mrs.  Mary  M. 
Fritts  will  shortly  be  taken. 

The  International  Film  Products  Com- 
pany, Cincinnati,  increased  its  capital 
stock  from  $10,000  to  $50,000. 

The  Theatorium,  Sandusky's  pioneer 
motion  picture  theater,  has  come  into  the 
possession  of  Gustavus  Dildine.  Mr. 
Dildine  is  already  planning  many  im- 
provements and  will  redecorate  both  the 


interior  and  exterior.  It  is  probable  the 
seating  capacity  will  be  changed  to  ac- 
commodate at  least  300  people. 

The  middle  of  March  East  Cleveland 
voters  will  decide  whether  the  suburb  is 
to  have  Sunday  motion  pictures. 

A  $75,000  picture  show  theater  for 
Mansfield  is  to  be  built  by  the  Grand 
Amusement  Company  within  the  next 
few  months.  An  option  has  been  secured 
from  William  G.  Cappeler  by  the  amuse- 
ment company  on  a  piece  of  ground  with 
a  frontage  of  62  feet  on  North'  Walnut 
street  and  110  feet  on  Dickson  avenue. 
The  building  will  occupy  the  entire  lot 
and  be  used  exclusively  by  the  photoplay 
theater.  It  will  be  capable  of  seating 
over  a  thousand  patrons. 

Plans  for  the  leasing  of  the  building 
at  Market  avenue  N  and  Second  street 
NE,  Canton,  now  occupied  by  the  W.  D. 
Caldwell  company,  for  a  new  moving 
picture  theater,  have  fallen  through,  ac- 
cording to  A.  B.  Clark,  representing  the 
Market  Avenue  Realty  company. 

Ora  L.  Brailey,  theater  owner,  has 
purchased  the  Colonial  moving  picture 
theater  in  Toledo.  E.  H.  Close,  receiver 
of  the  Exclusive  Amusement  company, 
which  operated  the  Colonial,  asked  the 
common  pleas  court  to  confirm  the  sale. 

Thomas  G.  Chapman  of  Elyria  has 
purchased  the  Mazda  theater,  Newark, 
owned  by  Bader  &  Schlegel.  Mr.  Chap- 
man has  already  taken  possession. 

Frank  Weaver,  who  has  been  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Wonderland  theater  on 
North  Main  street,  Marion,  for  some 
time,  has  sold  the  theater  to  William  D. 
Mears,  of  Scott  Town. 

Educational  moving  pictures  furnished 
by  the  government,  which  have  been  ex- 
pected by  the  students  of  the  L'niversity 
of  Akron  since  the  first  of  the  year,  are 
promised  now  for  March  1.  Professor 
S.  J.  Lockner,  head  of  the  mathematics 
department,  will  have  charge  of  showing 
the  pictures.  The  pictures  will  be  shown 
once  a  week  in  Crouse  gymnasium  and 
will  be  free  to  the  pupils  as  part  of  the 
extension  work  that  the  university  is 
now  doing. 

John  B.  McCormick.  proprietor  of  the 
Alhambra  theater  in  Wooster,  who.  fol- 
lowing his  arrest,  confessed  he  had  twice 
dynamited  the  Wallace  theater,  a  rival 
picture  theater,  was  sentenced  by  Judge 
L.  R.  Critchfield  to  serve  from  five  to  ten 
years  in  the  Ohio  penitentiary.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cormick said  he  dynamited  the  theater 
because  he  was  driven  to  desperation  as 
the  Wallace  was  taking  business  away 
from  the  theater  which  he  operated. 

The  Denison  Square  Amusement  com- 
pany, Cleveland,  $15,000;  Dave  1..  Schu- 
mann. 

William  Tallman.  manager  of  the 
Ceramic  theater  in  Fast  Liverpool,  has 
inaugurated  the  Triangle  program. 

The  Wallace  theater  in  Wooster,  which 

was  dynamited  a  short  time  ago.  will  be 

repaired  and  shortly  opened  again  to  the 

public  by  H.  H.  Ziegler,  the  owner. 

Oklahoma. 

M.  W.  Appleby  of  Luverne,  Minn.,  has 
purchased  the  Lyric  moving  picture  thea- 
ter in  Muskegon  and  took  possession 
February  7. 

The   city  commissioners   in   Tulsa    will 


March  11,  1916. 


enforce  the  city  ordinance  which  prohib- 
its the  overcrowding  of  theaters. 

Oregon. 

A  picture  theater  seating  350  persons 
is  being  constructed  in  the  Alisky  build- 
ing, Portland,  to  be  operated  by  A.  H. 
Fleischman. 

Pennsylvania. 

Announcement  has  been  made  by  the 
state  department  of  labor  and  industry 
that  15,000  feet  of  motion  picture  film 
will  be  shown  in  a  series  of  entertain- 
ments to  be  held  in  Harrisburg  beginning 
February  29,  in  co-operation  with  the 
leading  industrial  establishments  of  the 
city. 

Plans  are  being  considered  to  enlarge 
one  of  Philadelphia's  unique  theaters.  It 
is  the  Belvidere,  a  moving  picture  house 
•of  Colonial  architecture,  at  Germantown 
avenue  and  Graver's  lane,  Chestnut  Hill. 
The  theater  is  a  typical  Colonial  house 
in  appearance,  built  of  red  brick,  with 
Mack  leaders.  Wrought  iron  lanterns  and 
fixtures  add  to  its  resemblance  to  a  dig- 
nified old  mansion  of  the  early  days  of 
the  nation. 

The  vacant  store  on  the  south  side  of 
the  W.  H.  Reichenbacker  building,  on 
South  Main  street,  Honesdale,  is  being 
fitted  up  for  a  moving  picture  house.  It 
will  have  a  seating  capacity  of  150. 

The  Hippodrome  theater,  Plymouth, 
announces  the  inauguration  of  Triangle 
films. 

The  interior  decoration  of  the  Regent 
■theater  on  Washington  street,  New 
Castle,  formerly  the  Park,  has  been  com- 
pleted and  presents  a  very  artistic  ap- 
pearance. 

Bids  will  be  asked  for  in  a  few  days, 
for  enlarging  and  renovating  the  Gem 
theater,  Tenth  and  Spring  streets,  Read- 
ing, owned  by  Julius  G.  Hansen.  The 
theater  proper  will  be  widened  10  feet. 
The  south  wall  will  be  removed  and  the 
addition  built  on  the  vacant  lot  adjoining 
the  theater  on  the  south  side.  The  en- 
tire interior  will  be  renovated  and  beau- 
tiled. 

Permit  has  been  granted  to  Samuel 
Rogers,  5312  Thompson  street,  theater 
(alterations),  1205-07  North  52d  street, 
•  Philadelphia.  For  Frank  Laughran. 
Cost,  $600. 

Charles  Roth  has  sold  the  motion  pic- 
ture theater  at  2127-29  Ridge  avenue  to 
Clinton  J.  Seldonridge  subject  to  a  mort- 
gage of  $5,000. 

The  Uses  and  Abuses  of  Moving  Pic- 
tures was  the  topic  discussed  by  the 
members  of  the  Jefferson  Parent-Teach- 
ers' association  in  Allentown  at  their 
meeting  February  17.  Following  the 
discussion  the  association  took  steps  to- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


ward    procuring    a    moving    picture    ma- 
chine for  the  use  of  pupils  of  the  schools. 

Moving  Picture  Ticket  corporation  of 
Delaware,  Pittsburgh;  $500,000. 
South  Dakota. 

Articles  of  incorporation  have  been 
filed  for  the  G.  W.  Gates  Amusement 
company  at  Aberdeen,  to  engage  in  the 
moving  picture  business.  Capital,  $100,- 
000.  Incorporators:  F.  J.  Hagerty,  G. 
W.  Gates,  Nettie  Hagerty,  W.  C.  Hag- 
erty and  A.  W.  Campbell. 

Texas. 

The  new  Mission  theater,  Beeville,  was 
opened  recently  to  capacity  business. 

Four  motion  picture  theaters  at  Waco 
showed  free  pictures  to  capacity  business 
last  Sunday  to  educate  the  people  on  vot- 
ing methods  before  the  coming  election. 

Chaucer  Caver,  manager  and  owner  of 
the  Majestic  theater  at  Stephensville,  an- 
nounces that  he  will  soon  begin  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  theater  building  in  the  Carl- 
ton block  with  500  seating  capacity.  The 
front  of  the  building  will  be  of  terra 
cotta. 

The  Strand  theater  at  San  Antonio  is 
nearing  completion.  It  will  be  fireproof 
and  modern  in  every  way.  Seating  ca- 
pacity of  the  auditorium  will  be  1,200. 

Laurence  F.  Stuart  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Old  Mill  theater  in  Dal- 
las, succeeding  Ben  F.  Lewis,  who  has 
purchased  the  Pearce  theater  at  Houston. 
Mr.  Stuart,  who  is  only  23  years  old,  has 
been  advanced  from  usher,  head  usher 
and  assistant  manager  to  manager. 


611 

Chaucer  Caver,  manager  and  owner  of 
the  Majestic  theater,  Stephenville,  an- 
nounces he  will  begin  at  an  early  date  a 
new  theater,  seating  500. 

J.  C.  Clemmons  of  Beaumont  has 
leased  the  Elks'  theater  in  Port  Arthur, 
which  he  is  improving  and  will  have 
ready  for  opening  March  1  with  an  all 
feature  program. 

Following  the  election  at  Waco  in 
favor  of  the  operation  of  moving  picture 
shows  on  Sunday,  a  similar  election  is 
being  discussed  for  Austin. 

By  almost  unanimous  vote  the  city 
commission  ordered  a  special  election 
for  March  8  to  decide  if  an  ordinance 
shall  be  adopted  to  permit  the  operation 
of  theaters  and  motion  picture  shows  on 
Sundays  after  2  o'clock  p.  m.  in  Fort 
Worth. 

Voters  of  Waco,  in  a  special  election 
held  February  15,  decided  in  favor  of 
Sunday  opening  of  moving  picture  shows 
by  a  majority  of  almost  4  to  1.  There 
were  2,317  votes  cast  in  favor  of  the  Sun- 
day movies,  while  631  negative  votes 
were  registered. 

Virginia. 

February  21,  the  Cranby  theater  was 
opened.  It  is  Norfolk's  newest  picture 
house,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  1,500. 

Washington. 

The  first  anniversary  of  the  Clemmer 
theater  in  Washington  was  held  during 
the  week  of  February  20. 

West  Virginia. 

Earl  Boyd  has  purchased  half  interest 
in  the  Frat  theater  on  North  Fifth  street, 
Martins  Ferry. 

H.  L.  Hoffman,  proprietor  of  the  Gem 
theater  in  Warwood,  is  improving  the 
interior  of  the  playhouse. 

The  Palace  Amusement  company  of 
Wellsburg,  which  recently  acquired  the 
Lyric  theater,  has  just  closed  a  deal  for 
the  purchase  of  the  Royal  theater  from 
the  owner,  Albert  Carmichael,  and  took 
charge  of  the  Royal  February  21. 

Wisconsin. 

A  moving  picture  theater,  to  be  erected 
on  Greenfield  avenue,  between  Fifty- 
fourth  and  Fifty-fifth  avenues,  Milwau- 
kee, is  being  planned  by  Architect  Chas. 
Lesser  for  C.  H.  Loebel. 

Garbutt  &  Weidner,  architects,  have 
completed  plans  for  another  theater 
building  in  Riverton,  and  the  erection  of 
the  building  will  be  begun  just  as  soon 
as  weather  conditions  permit.  It  will  be 
situated  on  Main  street  and  will  be 
strictly  up  to  date  in  every  detail. 

March  1,  Jacob  Schiffman  will  be  the 
possessor  of  the  New  Park  theater,  339 
Broadway,  Waukesha,  now  operated  by- 
iiurley  &  Jones. 


0k  Should  a  Baby  Die 

/  State  Rights 

(       HANOVER  FILM  CO.,  Inc. 

&S  904  Columbia  Theatre  Building 

W?  NEW  YORK  CITY 


STATE  RIGHTS 

[  ARVELOUS 

|ACtSTE. 

HANOVER  FILM  CO.,    904  Columbia  Theatre  Building,    N.  Y.  CITY 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  11. 


?  Should  a  Baby  Die 
State  Rights 
HANOVER  FILM  CO.,  Inc. 

€> 


904  Columbia  Theatre  Building 
NEW  YORK  CITY 


STATE  RIGHTS 


[  ARVELOUS 


HANOVER  FILM  CO.,    904  Columbia  Theatre  Building,    N.  Y.  CITY 


Fred  Paulick  has  purchased  the  Postal 
property  on  Catheryn  street,  Muscoda, 
and  intends  to  build  an  opera  house. 

The  Pearl  theater  in  De  Pere  was  dam- 
aged very  badly  by  fire,  but  it  is  the  in- 
tention of  J.  A.  Speaker,  the  proprietor, 
to  immediately  repair  the  damage. 

Henry  G.  Wohlhuter,  manager  of  the 
La  Crosse  theater,  La  Crosse,  for  many 
years,  has  sold  his  interests  to  W.  F. 
Gage,  Atoka,  Okla. 

The  Pearl  theater  in  Depere,  which 
was  damaged  by  fire  a  short  time  ago,  is 
being  repaired.  It  will  be  only  a  matter 
of  a  few  days  when  it  will  be  ready  for 
opening. 


DETECTIVE  PROTECTS 

FROHMAN   CORPORATION 

Alice  Brady,  Jack  Sherrill  and  Leo 
Gordon  were  standing  by  a  camp  fire  in 
the  mountains  near  Pensacola,  North 
Carolina,  recently,  awaiting  the  return  of 
George  Irving,  the  director,  who  was  in 
the    woods    up    stream    looking   for    the 


next  location,  when  this  si 
Startled   them: 

"What    are   you    doing 
mountains?" 

Uic«    started  to  pick  up  her  skins  and 
run,    bni    remembered    that    she   was    in 

riding  breeches.  So  >lir  didn't  run  or 
even    scnain    the    name   of   "I'.ill."    but    she 

grasped  tin-  sleeves  of  lack  ami  Leo  and 
said,  "Then  I'll  Come  Hack  to  i  ou." 
The  rough  looking  questioner  drew  back 

disi  l"-inK    a    murdi 
shootei  and  a  pair  of  handcuffs  and  with 


a  searching  but  kindly  smile  said:  "Don't 
you  get  fresh  with  me,  young  woman, 
I'm  Detective  Allen." 

The  three  actors  looked  over  this  new 
brand  of  sleuth  with  interest.  A  coat 
of  many  colors  from  wear  and  dirt  and 
use,  and  a  collection  of  patches  for  pants; 
a  grizzly  beard  and  a  wrinkled  face,  but 
the  kindest,  mildest  eyes  that  ever  trailed 
a  criminal. 

Somehow,  one's  sense  of  humor  is 
dulled  in  expression  when  the  other  fel- 
low has  a  big  loaded  six-shooter  care- 
lessly at  hand,  but  Sherrill  managed  to 
say:  "Glad  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Allen,"  at 
which  the  great  detective  beamed  and 
shook  hands  all  around. 

"Anderson  Crow,"  made  famous  by 
McCutcheon,  has  nothing  on  Allen;  the 
things  which  we  think  are  only  in  books 
and  so  real  when  they  do  come  that  one 
can't  believe  them,  but  this  is  the  con- 
versation which  followed: 

Gordon — So  you  are  a  detective? 

Yes,  I  studied  detecting  by  correspond- 
ence. 

Sherrill — By  correspondence? 

Yes,  I  paid  eighteen  dollars  for  ten 
lessons  at  the  school  in  Kansas  City  and 
I  learned  so  quickly  that  I  didn't  have 
a  single  lesson  sent  back  for  correction. 

Alice — What  was  the  first  lesson? 

Have  confidence  in  yourself. 

Alice — Are  you   still   studying? 

No,  I'm  a  graduate,  but  I  send  them 
two  dollars  a  year  just  to  keep  up  with 
the  latest  dodges. 

Sherrill — That's  a  fine  pair  of  hand- 
cuffs. 

Yes,  they're  all  right,  but  I've  lost  the 
key. 

Gordon — Aren't  you  afraid  to  be  alone 
in  the  woods? 

No,  the  only  person  I'm  afraid  of  is 
my  wife.  She  gives  me  the  devil  for  not 
earning  any  rewards. 

(Mr.  Irving,  at  that  minute,  returned 
from   the   new   location.) 

Gordon — Mr.  Irving,  this  is  Detective 
Allen. 

(Mr.  Allen  here  drew  from  his  wallet 
his  license  from  the  detective  correspond- 
ence school,  giving  him  the  right  to  prac- 
tice the  profession  of  detective — and 
thanking  any  one  who  extended  him  any 
help  or  courtesy,  in  the  name  of  the 
school.) 

Mr.  Irving— Very  glad  to  have  you 
with  us,  Mr.  Allen.     Where  do  you  live? 

I   don't   live,    I  just   travel  around. 


Sherrill — Do  you  get  a  salary  from  the 
state? 

Oh  no,  just  the  rewards. 

Alice — Have  you  caught  any  one  yet? 

No,  not  yet.  I've  been  doing  this  sort 
of  work  for  fourteen  years  but  the  crim- 
inals around  here  all  know  me  so  well 
that  they 'keep  out  of  my  way.  I  think 
I'll  have  to  go  to  New  York  where  you 
folks  come  from.  They  tell  me  there 
are  lots  of  criminals  up  there. 

Gordon— (And  here  no  one  dared  to 
smile)  Why  don't  you  go  after  the  re- 
ward that  Sherrill  has  offered? 

What's  that? 

Gordon — Someone  stole  his  tonsils  and 
he  has  offered  a  reward  of  fifty  dollars 
for  their  return. 

What  are  they  like? 

Gordon — His  were  a  little  larger  than 
a  pea — he  bought  them  for  his  sweet- 
heart's necklace. 

I'll  keep  my  eyes  open  for  them. 

Mr.  Irving  then  asked  him  to  pose  for 
a  photograph  and  the  above  is  the  re- 
sult, showing  Mr.  Allen,  his  licence,  gun 
and  handcuffs. 


"BUILT  BY  f 
BRAINS' 

You  Can't  Show  a  Beautiful 
Film  on  a  Poor  Screen. 

When  you  buy  a  Minusa 
Screen  you  don't  merely  buy 
it  by  the  square  foot.  Minusa 
Screens  are  "BUILT  BY 
BRAINS"  to  suit  all  the 
particular  requirements  of 
YOUR    particular    theatre. 

Write  for  our  literature 

Minusa  Cine  Products  Co. 


New  York 

19  W.   23rd   St. 

Chicago 

154  We**  Lake  St. 

Pittiburg 

117-19  Golden  Gate  Ave.  422  First  At*. 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Homer     Building 

Calgary,  Canada 
Grand  Theatre  Bldg. 


, 


THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

goes  POSTERS 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 


GOES-  CHICAGO 


The  MOTION  PICTU1& 
TI&kDE  aOUH&AZ, 


CHARLES  CHAPLIN 

WITH 

MUTUAL 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  18,  1916 


No.  12 


^  The  film  manufacturers  and  the  exchange- 
men  depend  very  largely  on  the  big  revenues 
of  the  first-run  customers — the  showmen  of 
the  better-class.  They  rely  upon  the  quick 
turn-over  of  the  best  film  productions. 

{]J  The  first-class  showman  depends  almost  wholly 
upon  the  film  manufacturer's  best  productions. 
Motqgraphy  dominates  the  field  in  the  exalted 
position  of  representative  of  all  that  is  best  in  pro- 
duction and  presentation. 

^  A  selected  list  of  One  Thousand  Four  Hundred  Forty- 
Three  of  the  regular  subscribers  to  MOTQGRAPHY 
own  Seven  Thousand  Nine  Hundred  Thirty-six 
of  the  motion  picture  theaters  of  the  United  States. 

(J  These  regular  subscribers  have  been  designated  by 
the  branch  managers  of  the  various  film  distributors 
as  real  showmen  and  their  houses  are  declared  to 
be  the  best  motion  picture   theaters  in  the  country. 

I]J  There  is  a  vast  amount  of  difference  between  an 
ordinary  exhibitor  and  a  real  showman.  You  belong 
to  one  of  the  two  classes — you  are  one  or  the  other. 

{^  Motqgraphy  wants  to  help  you  attain  the  show- 
man class.  It  plans  to  spend  thousands  of  dollars 
this  year  to  improve  the  text  of  the  magazine. 
It  is  bound  to  be  of  inestimable  value  to  you. 
We  want  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  men  who  shall 
rightfully  belong  to  the  class  who  are  representing 
the  best  films  in   the  best  theaters. 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


When  it  was  known  that  "The 
Bright  Lights,"  a  recent  Tri- 
angle Keystone  release,  again 
presented  Mabel  Normand  and 
Roscoe  Arbuckle  the  financial 
success  of  the  picture  was  as- 
sured. 


Triangle  Stars  like  Dorothy 
Gish  and  Dorothy  Dalton  who 
appear  regularly  in  Triangle 
Plays  have  great  drawing 
power.  Their  appearance  means 
money  for  the  exhibitor. 


And  in  addition  there  is  back 
of  the  Triangle  a  competent 
Publicity  Department  to  serve 
the  interests  of  Triangle  Ex- 
hibitors. The  proper  prepara- 
tion of  advertising  material  is 
given  every  attention. 


"orporation,  New  York 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  18,  1916 


No.  12 


The  Course  of  Empire 

BY  GEORGE  K.  SPOOR 


TWO  centuries  ago  Bishop  Berkeley  predicted  that 
arts  and  learning  would  attain  their  higest  devel- 
opment in  America — Westward.  A  little  more 
than  a  century  ago  John  Quincy  Adams,  in  almost 
the  same  words,  predicted  the  upbuilding  of  a  great 
nation  in  the  West.  The  prophecies  of  both  men  have 
proven  true.  Yet  each  spoke  without  a  real  compre- 
hension as  to  the  extent  to  which  this  Western  na- 
tion would  grow.     Both  spoke  better  than  they  knew. 

Bishop  Berkeley,  from  across  the  sea,  was  speak- 
ing of  America. 

John  Quincy  Adams,  though  speaking  in  America, 
of  the  West,  naturally  was  thinking  of  the  building  of 
the  nation,  of  the  migration  of  home  builders,  of  busi- 
ness builders. 

The  star  of  empire  is  still  coursing  Westward  but 
it  now  is  the  gravitation  of  the  distributors,  who  are 
seeking  the  ideal  spot  from  which  point  to  dissemi- 
nate their  goods  to  the  consumer. 

Geographically,  Chicago  is  the  natural  center  of 
distribution.  It  is  the  body  of  the  nation  from  which 
all  points  radiate. 

That  the  course  is  Westward  holds  good  for  all 
kinds  of  business.  Just  at  present  it  holds  especially 
true  of  the  motion  picture  industry.  This  is  the  latest 
of  the  great  arts  and  industries.  It  is  the  fifth  act  of 
Bishop  Berkeley's  prophecies — time's  noblest  off- 
spring. 

With  the  opening  of  this  new  industry  it  is  natural 
that  many  of  the  leaders  located  their  business  of- 
fices, although  not  their  studios,  in  the  older  settle- 
ments of  the  East.  There  were  some,  however,  who 
believed  that  the  great  natural  center  of  the  industry 
would  finally  settle  in  the  central  West.  I  was  among 
those  who  believed  this.  I  am  a  firmer  believer  in 
this  now  than  I  was  when  I  entered  the  motion  picture 
business. 

I  doubt  if  anyone  would  dispute  the  fact  that  Chi- 
cago is  the  natural  geographical  center  of  the  motion 
picture  industry.  It  is  the  nation's  terminal;  it  is  the 
center  of  the  net  work  of  railways  that  radiate  -East, 
West,  North,  South. 

It  is  quite  obvious  that  in  the  shipment  of  goods, 
no  matter  what  they  may  be,  it  is  more  advantageous 
to  be  located  in  a  central  point,  from  which  they  can 
be  sent  in  all  directions,  rather  than  clear  across  the 
continent. 

Chicago  also  comes  very  close  to  being  the  finan- 
cial capital  of  the  motion  picture  world.  Vast  sums 
have  been  supplied  from  this  city  for  this  industry 
and  still  greater  sums  will  be  put  into  it  in  the  future. 


Not  only  do  I  believe  in  Chicago  as  a  distributing 
center,  but  as  a  manufacturing  center.  With  this  idea 
in  mind  I  have  closed  Essanay's  two  Western  studios, 
one  at  Niles,  California,  and  one  at  Los  Angeles,  con- 
centrating the  manufacture  of  pictures  in  Chicago.  Es- 
sanay  has  completed  a  new  studio  which  is  larger  than 
both  the  former  coast  studies,  and  equipped  to  take 
care  of  more  than  twice  the  work  of  the  two  com- 
bined. 

And  the  fact  that  I  believe  Chicago  is  the  natural 
manufacturing  center  of  motion  pictures  follows  my 
belief  in  this  city  as  a  distributing  center.  It  is  of 
inestimable  benefit,  to  which  I  think  all  will  agree, 
other  things  being  equal,  to  have  the  studios  and  the 
manufacturing  plant  as  near  as  possible  to  the  dis- 
tributing and  business  offices. 

The  rush  of  motion  picture  companies  to  the  West 
in  the  early  days  was  an  attempt  to  get  better  light- 
ing effects.  California  offers  better  natural  advantages 
than  Chicago  in  this  respect.  But  this  migration  to 
California  was  in  the  infancy  of  motion  picture  in- 
dustry, when  capital  was  not  so  plentiful. 

But  the  fifth  act  is  on.  The  motion  picture  busi- 
ness is  now  older,  more  solid,  and  more  substantial. 
Capital  is  not  afraid  of  it.  In  fact,  it  is  seeking  a 
chance  to  invest.  Thus  it  has  been  made  possible  to 
obtain  the  best  lighting  systems  devised  by  the  skill 
of  man.  Under  such  a  lighting  system  as  used  by  Es- 
sanay  I  believe  that  equally  good  results,  if  not 
better,  can  be  gained  in  the  taking  of  pictures. 

There  are  other  great  advantages  of  artificial 
lights — climatic.  California  climate,  while  excellent, 
is  subject  to  the  immutable  laws  of  nature.  There  are 
days  when  it  rains;  there  are  days  when  it  storms;  it 
is  not  possible  to  rely  absolutely  on  natural  lighting, 
while  with  artificial  lighting  you  are  as  certain  of  your 
work  as  you  are  that  the  next  day  will  dawn. 

For  all  out  of  door  scenes  there  are  plenty  of  days, 
even  in  Chicago,  for  the  taking  of  required  settings. 
Not  only  that,  but  when  scenes  are  required  in  other 
parts  of  the  country  for  local  color,  to  get  the  exact 
atmosphere  of  the  play — for  I  am  a  great  believer  in 
realism — Chicago  is  the  center,  from  which  you  can 
most  easily  reach  the  desired  locality. 

In  connection  with  this  I  might  cite  that  a  few 
weeks  ago  it  was  necessary  to  take  scenes  for  a  cer- 
tain play  in  the  land  of  the  deep  snows.  From  Chi- 
cago it  was  comparatively  easy  to  send  a  troupe  to 
northern  Minnesota,  where  the  desired  settings  were 
obtained.  Some,  time  before  this  Southern  mountain 
scenes  were  required.  A  troupe  was  quickly  dispatched 


614 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


to  the  Blue  Ridge  range  of  mountains  in  southern 
Tennessee.  When  Atlantic  seaboard  scenes  were  re- 
quired a  troupe  was  easily  dispatched  to  the  coast. 

Thus,  while  I  believe  that  the  distributing  center 
of  the  motion  picture  industry  is  inevitably  moving 
westward  to  Chicago,  I  believe  also,  in  time,  the  manufac- 
turing center  will  be  in  this  city  to  bring  manufac- 
turing and  distributing  together. 

The  star  of  empire  now  is  at  its  zenith  and  it 
shines  directly  over  Chicago.  Its  rays  reach  to  the 
East,  to  the  West,  to  the  North,  to  the  South,  but  the 
center   is   Chicago. 


OHIO  PASSES  "RACE  SUICIDE" 

Six-Reel  Feature  Permitted  to  Be  Shown  by  Board 

After  Fighting  Through  Two  Rejections 

and  an  Appeal 

After  two  rejections  and  an  appeal,  the  six-part 
feature,  "Race  Suicide,"  produced  by  the  Exclusive 
Photo-Play  Service,  finally  has  been  passed  by  the 
Ohio  State  Board  of  Censors  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
has  been  accorded  the  board's  certificate,  permitting 
its  showing. 

Frank  Greenwald,  treasurer  and  general  manager 
of  the  Exclusive  company,  in  presenting  the  picture 
for  the  ratification  of  the  Ohio  board,  met  with  a 
diversity  of  opinion  of  its  members  as  to  what  moral 
effect  the  picture  might  have  on  the  populace  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Greenwald,  agreeing  to  the  points  of  the 
board  which  were,  he  declared,  an  injustice  to  the 
production,  has  made  the  suggested  eliminations  and 
returned  to  his  office  in  Cleveland  to  begin  his  exploi- 
tations and  bookings  of  time  on  the  feature  film. 

It  is  said  that  at  its  first  exhibition  in  Cleveland, 
"Race  Suicide"  received  a  figure  close  to  $1,000  for  the 
week. 

Willis  Kent,  former  manager  of  the  western  offices 
of  the  General  Film  Company  and  later  directing  the 
distribution  in  the  middle  west  for  the  Bluebird  pic- 
tures, has  contracted  with  Joseph  W.  Farnham  for 
the  territorial  rights  of  "Race  Suicide"  for  the  terri- 
tory of  Colorado,  Utah,  Wyoming  and  New  Mexico. 
Mr.  Kent  also  has  contracted  with  Mr.  Farnham  for 
the  exclusive  rights  to  the  same  territory  of  the  new 
nine-reel  picture  which  the  latter  is  now  having  made 
for  his  exploitation. 

With  Gertrude  Bondhill,  star  of  "The  Awakening 
of  Bess  Morton"  and  "Sins  That  Ye  Sin,"  again  is 
featured  in  the  leading  role  in  the  third  five-reel  pro- 
duction put  out  by  the  Pike's  Peak  Photo-Play  Com- 
pany. 


Mabel  Stays  With  Triangle 

A  number  of  rumors  to  the  effect  that  Mabel  Nor- 
mand  was  "considering  making  a  change"  have  been  set 
at  rest.  Announcement  comes  from  the  offices  of  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation  that  Kessel  &  Baumann  have 
succeeded  in  obtaining  her  services  for  a  long  time  to 
come  and  that  Miss  Normand  has  signed  a  contract  to 
this  effect.  Miss  Normand  came  east  with  Roscoe 
Arbuckle  several  weeks  ago  and  has  been  starred  with 
him  in  two  Keystone  comedies  made  under  his  direction 
at  Fort  Lee.  Both  pieces,  "He  Did  and  He  Didn't"  and 
"The  Bright  Lights,"  are  now  released  generally  to 
Triangle  exhibitors  and  are  meeting  with  success,  it  is 
reported. 


Mignon  Anderson  Joins  Ivan 

Mignon  Anderson,  formerly  with  Thanhouser,  has 
joined  the  Ivan  Film  Productions.  Her  first  role  under 
the  Ivan  banner  will  be  in  "The  City  of  Illusion," 
written  by  Ivan  Abramson.  Miss  Anderson  will  por- 
tray the  role  of  a 
country  girl  who  is 
dazzled  by  the  lure 
of  the  city  and  real- 
izes in  the  end.  that 
the  happiness  that  is 
sought  in  a  big  town 
is  but  a  mirage  and 
cannot  easily  be 
found.  Disillusioned, 
she  retraces  her 
steps  and  finds  hap- 
piness where  she 
least  expected  to — 
her  home  in  the 
country.  The  cast 
supporting  Miss  An- 
derson is  said  to  be 
of  exceptional  talent. 
Among  them  are 
Paul  Sha}'',  Bradley 
Barker,  Joseph 
Burke  and  Willard 
Case. 

"The  City  of  Illusion,"  Ivan's  next  feature  pro- 
duction, is  to  be  in  six  parts.  Elaborate  settings  have 
been  prepared  in  the  Ivan  studio  for  the  new  produc- 
tion, on  which  work  will  be  started  immediately.  Ow- 
ing to  the  exceptional  strength  of  the  story,  and  the 
power  of  its  dramatic  appeal,  "The  City  of  Illusion" 
will  be  made  in  six,  instead  of  the  usual  five  reels. 
It  is  expected  that  this  feature  will  be  ready  for  re- 
lease early  in  April. 

Getting  away  from  the  usual  custom  of  private 
exhibitions  for  the  trade,  "The  Immortal  Flame,"  the 
new  Ivan  production,  was  shown  for  the  first  time  on 
Leap  Year's  Day,  February  29,  at  the  New  York 
Theater,  it  being  the  desire  of  the  Merit  Film  Corpora- 
tion, which  is  the  Ivan  distributor  in  New  York  City, 
to  have  the  trade  see  the  picture  under  the  most  criti- 
cal circumstances.  The  exhibitors  mingled  with  the 
fans  who  flocked  to  both  the  theater  and  the  roof  gar- 
den during  the  day  and  night.  The  comment  was  de- 
cidedly favorable.  The  feature  was  so  favorably  re- 
ceived by  the  audiences  at  this  Marcus  Loew  house 
that  it  was  booked  for  the  entire  circuit.  The  exhib- 
itors who  went  to  the  theater  to  learn  the  opinions  of 
the  public  concerning  the  new  feature  returned  to  the 
Merit  office  the  next  day  with  the  result,  the  Merit 
folks  report,  that  the  eight  prints  allotted  to  New  York 
state  bid  fair  to  be  employed  for  a  number  of  months. 


Cameraman  Penetrates  War  Zone 

Some  phases  of  the  European  war  that  have  not  yet 
been  seen  on  the  screen  are  shown  in  the  war  films  that 
Bleecker  Hall,  the  cameraman,  brought  back  from  Liver- 
pool recently.  Mr.  Hall's  credentials  permitted  him  to 
penetrate  to  the  actual  scenes  of  conflict,  it  is  said,  on  the 
western  front  of  the  entente  armies,  and  to  photograph 
scenes  that  heretofore  have  remained  closed  to  motion 
picture  cameramen.  These  scenes  are  shown  in  "At  the 
Front  With  the  Allies,"  to  be  distributed  shortly  by  the 
Hippodrome  Film  Company  of  New  York  City. 


March   18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


House  Against  Prepublicity  Plan 


BY  THOMAS  O.  MONK 

Washington  Correspondent  for  Motography. 


DUE  to  the  overshadowing  of  all  other  matters 
pending  before  Congress  by  the  submarine  con- 
troversy between  the  President  and  members  of 
the  House  and  Senate,  no  meeting  was  held  during 
the  week  by  the  House  Committee  on  Education  be- 
fore which  is  pending  the  proposed  legislation  for  cen- 
sorship of  motion  pictures. 

Whether  the  new  Hughes  bill  will  be  taken  tip 
this  week  or  next  is  yet  uncertain,  as  in  addition 
Chairman  Hughes  has  been  ill,  and  may  be  unable 
to  give  the  matter  early  attention. 

Opinion  seems  to  be  growing  that  the  House  of 
Representatives  will  not  approve  any  bill  regulating 
the  motion  picture  industry  that  provides  for  prepub- 
licity censorship,  as  doubt  is  expressed  of  the  consti- 
tutionality of  such  a  provision  aside  from  its  imprac- 
ticability. 

Dr.  Wilbur  F.  Crafts  has  informed  Chairman 
Hughes  that  the  welfare  workers  are  arranging  to  call 


not  be  called  until  a  satisfactory  bill  is  passed  provid- 
ing Federal  censorship,  Dr.  Crafts  has  stated,  it  may 
be  called  earlier. 

It  is  the  plan  to  have  a  central  association  which 
will  select  films  of  an  educational  and  recreational 
character,  and  send  them  out  over  a  circuit  in  much 
the  manner  of  circulating  libraries.  The  plan  is  to 
have  a  church,  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  or  some  similar  organi- 
zation in  each  town,  provide  an  auditorium,  and  pay 
a  stipulated  sum  for  either  weekly  or  semi-weekly  sup- 
plies of  films.  Dr.  Crafts  has  stated  to  Chairman 
Hughes  that  the  plan  has  made  headway  enough  for 
him  to  say  that  numerous  churches,  Y.  M.  C.  A.'s  and 
similar  organizations,  and  others,  have  received  it  with 
approval,  and  that  the  plan  would  lead  to  an  enormous 
demand  on  the  motion  picture  manufacturers  for  films 
of  an  approved  character.  At  present,  he  states,  the 
church  and  educational  institutions  have  held  back 
from  entering  into  an  arrangement  for  the  systematic 


a  big  meeting  to  be  attended  by  representatives   of  distribution  of  films  because  of  the  lack  of  standards 

educational  and  religious  organizations  to  arrange  for  and  because  of  the  general  bad  character  of  films  pro- 

the  formation  of  an  association  or  company  that  will  duced. 

establish  a  country-wide  circuit  of  motion  picture  the-  Chairman  Hughes  has  announced  himself  as  be- 
aters at  which  will  be  shown  pictures  of  an  educational  ing  considerably  impressed  with  this  plan  of  the  wel- 
and  recreational  character.     While  this  meeting  may  fare  workers. 

Mastbaum  Assails  Pennsylvania  Censor  Board 

THE  Pennsylvania  State  Board  of  Censors  is  charac-  Mr.  Mastbaum's  letter,  in  part,  reads  as  follows : 

terized  as  a  "mysterious  secret  service  organization" 
in  an  open  letter  made  public  by  Stanley  V.  Mastbaum, 
managing  director  of  the  Stanley  theater  of  Philadelphia, 
and  general  manager  of  the  Stanley  Booking  Company, 
which  supplies  photoplays  to  sixty  or  more  motion  pic- 
ture theaters  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Mastbaum  issued  the  letter  in  reply  to  a  scath- 
ing criticism  of  the  present-day  motion  picture  made 
recently  by  the  Pennsylvania  State  Board  of  Censors. 
Mr.  Mastbaum  takes  exception  to  the  allegation  of  the 
state  board  that  the  average  motion  picture  of  today  has 
little  educational  value.  He  declared  that  this  charge  was 
answered  "silently  by  the  thousands  of  mothers  and 
fathers  taking  their  children  to  the  theaters  daily." 

Mr.  Mastbaum  takes  the  opportunity  to  hurl  an  addi- 
tional fling  at  the  board  on  its  statement  that  censor  titles 
of  other  boards  should  be  barred,  stating  that  very  few 
persons  pay  any  attention  to  the  seal  of  the  state  board 
now  shown  on  the  screen  and  that,  furthermore,  there 
are  many  names  that  would  mean  more  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Mastbaum  calls  the  inspectors  employed  by  the 
state  board  "a  sort  of  mysterious  secret  service  organiza- 
tion, the  members  of  which  flash  their  badges  or  cards 
just  to  impress  an  exhibitor,  although  some  inspectors 
are  kind  and  polite  while  others  have  not  the  faintest 
idea  of  their  duty ;  in  fact,  they  never  see  films  until  they 
enter  the  theater." 

Mr.  Mastbaum  apparently  is  in  favor  of  a  censor 
board,  but  one  composed  of,  as  he  puts  it,  "authors,  busi- 
ness men  or  exhibitors  who  come  in  contact  with  the 
motion  picture  going  public  daily ;  persons  who  consider 
that  their  work  should  be  largely  composed  of  correct- 
ness and  consideration." 


Mr. 

The  people  of  Pennsylvania  have  heard  a  great  deal 
about  censorship.  The  recent  article  published  by  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Board  of  Censors  concerning-  certain 
statements,  which  no  doubt  they  believe  to  be  facts,  makes 
it  necessary  for  someone  interested  in  motion  pictures  to 
attempt  to  define  the  correctness  of  their  views. 

First — They  ask  to  confiscate  a  film  shown  within  the 
state  without  authority,  as  is  done  by  an  ordinance  in  the 
city  of  Portland,  Ore. 

Is  this  not  unnecessary?  It  is  possible  and  probable 
that  films  may  be  exhibited  through  error,  and  the  state 
board  of  censors  has  adequate  means  to  fine;  the  amount 
regulated  to  suit  their  own  wishes,  as  so  far  all  cases  have 
been  taken  before  the  same  magistrate,  who,  regardless  of 
what  your  excuse  may  be,  imposes  such  a  fine  as  he  is 
directed  to  do.  That  in  itself  is  quite  sufficient,  without 
taking  from  the  manufacturer,  who  has  absolutely  nothing 
to  do  with  the  exhibition  of  the  film,  property  which  costs 
them  a  great  deal  of  money. 

Second — To  suppress  any  other  seal  except  that  of  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Board  of  Censors  is  decidedly  unneces- 
sary, as  what  valid  objection  could  there  be  to  anyone 
stating  on  the  screen  that  they  approve  any  particular  pro- 
duction? In  my  mind,  there  are  a  great  many  more  persons 
whose  names  signed  to  the  approval  seal  of  the  firm  that 
would  mean  a  great  deai  more  than  that  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  Board  of  Censors.  Even  if  it  does  not,  why 
prevent  them  from  saying  a  picture  is  good?  Surely  that 
is  not  harmful. 

Third — They  say  the  attendance  at  motion  picture  ex- 
hibitions is  becoming  a  mania.  Is  this  true?  Is  it  not  a 
fact  that  motion  pictures  supply  a  form  of  agreeable 
amusement  at  a  nominal  admission,  and  therefore,  instead 
of  being  a  mania,  is  a  necessity,  which  is  plainly  shown 
by  the  thousands  and  thousands  of  persons  viewing  them 
daily,  and  the  motion  picture  theater,  instead  of  being 
simply  a  place  of  amusement  is  becoming  a  public  insti- 
tution? 

The  statement  about  immoral  and  degrading  pictures 
and  "the  wages  of  sin  is  death"  is  one  that  needs  very  little 
reply,  except  to  say  that  such  a  manufacturer  producing 
plays  of  that  character  and  those  theaters  exhibiting  such 
plays  (should  they  be  produced)  would  very  soon  cease  to 
be  in  existence. 

The  statement  that  exhibitors  realize  the  indispens- 
able need  of  censorship  is  correct,  but  not  in  -the  manner  or 
methods  the  present  state  board  of  censors  is  using.  The 
successful  exhibitor  will  not  screen  anything  that  is  im- 
proper or  that  offends  his  patrons:  the  fact  that  the  seal 
of  the  state  board  is  on  a  film  means  nothing  to  the  motion 
picture  going  public',  as  it  does  not  even  notice  that  this 
title  goes  on  the  screen.  It  does  notice  the  picture  and  the 
story,   also   the   theater   that   exhibits    the   picture. 

The  fact  that  the  board  states  that  it  regrets  its  power- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


is  no  greater  shows  conclusively  the  attitude  of  guardian- 
ship that  it  wishes  to  assume  for  the  millions  of  persons 
in  Pennsylvania,  desiring,  like  in  olden  times,  that  it  be 
left  to  their  sole  judgment  whether  an  infraction  of  the 
law  meets  with  a  certain  kind  of  punishment,  the  severity 
of  which  shall  be  decided  by  themselves,  without  any  right 
of  appeal.  The  board  now  has  a  number  of  employes  who 
float  around  in  and  throughout  your  business  places  like 
secret  service  men.  They  assume  a  very  serious  and  mys- 
terious manner,  flashing  either  a  badge  or  card,  even  if 
they  have  nothing  to  see  you  about,  impressing  upon  you 
that  they  are  there  watching,  and  perhaps  hoping,  for  some 
minor  infringement  of  the  law  that  will  enable  them  to 
report  you  so  that  you  can  be  arrested  and  taken  before 
the  same  magistrate  and  fined  as  heavily  as  the  law  and 
their  personal  feelings  will  permit. 

As  to  quite  a  number  of  the  statements  made  in  the 
board's  recently  published  article,  they  are,  in  my  opinion, 
equally  incorrect  as  the  foregoing  ones.  In  many  instances, 
I  will  say  that  the  board  has  done  good,  but  this  good  is 
very  small  compared  with  the  harm  on  the  other  side  of 
the   scales. 

Censorship,  in  itself,  in  my  opinion,  would  be  all  right, 
and  gratefully  received  by  the  citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  if 
handled  along  correct  lines,  that  is,  for  the  state  to  employ 
high-salaried,  capable,  efficient  persons,  either  authors,  ex- 


hibitor.- 


.  who  had  been  an  exhib- 
?ith  thousands  of  motion  picture 
going  people — persons  who  could  be  dealt  with  reasonably, 
so  that  the  manufacturer's  product  and  a  man's  business 
could  be  handled  in  a  way  that  a  form  of  censorship  would 
be  given   to  the  public  which  met  with   its  approval. 

As  to  the  progress  of  motion  pictures — you  have  only 
to  look  at  the  new  and  fine  theaters  built  and  that  are  being 
built.  As  to  the  persons  appearing  in  these  productions, 
as  a  further  convincing  argument,  you  need  only  to  glance 
at  the  names  of  those  now  appearing  and  about  to  appear 
in   motion  pictures. 

Mr.  Mastbaum  concludes  his  communication  with 
the  statement  that  if  the  contentions  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Board  of  Censors  are  correct,  then  the  mothers  and 
fathers  of  the  country,  thousands  upon  thousands  of 
them,  those  who  ought  to  be  the  best  informed  as  to  the 
welfare  of  their  children,  are  wrong. 

He  declares  that  the  motion  picture  speaks  for  itself, 
that  it  needs  no  champion. 


Censorship  Or  Meddlesomeness 

By  H.  M.  Horkheimer 

ndent    and    General   Manager,    The   Balboa   Amusement    Producing    Co. 


BUT  for  its  meddlesome  side,  this  whole  censorship  agi- 
tation would  be  funny — extremely  funny.  Therein, 
it  is  peculiarly  United  Statesian.  In  recent  years  many 
•of  our  good  people  have  become  so  poverty-stricken  in 
affairs  of  their  own  that  they  have  nothing  to  do  but 
mind  the  business  of  others.  They  are  the  ones  who 
feel  qualified  to  serve  their  community  as  censors. 

As  far  as  I  can  observe,  it  is  largely  a  personal  mat- 
ter. A  case  in  point,  as  it  affects  the  motion  picture 
industry  today.  Recently  the  Dallas,  Tex.,  board  of  cen- 
sors reversed  itself.  The  woman  who  made  this  pos- 
sible by  changing  her  vote  is  reported  to  have  said  that 
she  objected  to  the  film  the  first  time  because  it  was  tire- 
some and  she  just  didn't  like  it.  Elsewhere,  the  commit- 
tees from  a  trades  union  influenced  the  censors  to  ban 
a  picture  because  it  did  not  heroize  the  members  of  that 
organization. 

But  from  the  ridiculous  to  the  sublime ! 

Censorship  is  right  or  it  is  wrong.  There  is  no  half- 
way position.  This  applies  to  all  forms  of  expression, 
whether  it  be  spoken,  printed,  photographed,  painted  or 
by  any  other  means  that  may  yet  be  devised. 

If  censorship  be  right,  then  by  all  means  let  us  have 
a  federal  board  authorized  to  expurgate  our  literature, 
ancient,  medieval  and  modern.  Begin  with  the  Bible. 
It  contains  every  known  plot.  The  seemingly  newest 
tales  all  have  their  prototypes  in  Genesis,  Exodus,  Deu- 


teronomy, et  cetera.  If  they  are  to  be  excluded  from 
the  screen,  you  must  also  blot  them  out  of  the  Good 
Book.  Nor  will  the  daily  press  be  immune  from  this 
renovating  process. 

But  censorship  is  not  right,  just  because  a  few  pub- 
lishers or  producers  err  occasionally.  I  do  not  oppose 
censorship  because  I  favor  letting  down  the  bars.  I  am 
against  it  because  I  hold  it  to  be  wrong  in  principle.  I 
am  firm  in  the  conviction  that  that  condition  is  safest 
in  the  long  run  where  the  greatest  degree  of  liberty  pre- 
vails. In  Hyde  Park,  London,  any  anarchist,  polygamist 
or  other  extremist  may  air  his  views  unrestrictedly,  in 
public.  To  prevent  a  boiler  from  exploding,  you  need 
a  safety  valve. 

Obscene  publications,  pictures,  plays  or  films  always 
are  reachable  by  police  regulations.  Public  opinion  is 
also  an  efficient  regulator  of  -such  matters. 

Concerning  children  and  the  screen,  we  must  remem- 
ber that  as  all  books  are  not  written  for  minors,  so  there 
may  be  some  photoplays  not  produced  for  non-adults. 
Careful  parents  do  not  permit  their  young  to  indulge 
in  reading  that  which  is  intended  primarily  for  mature 
minds.  In  the  same  way,  they  should  exercise  some 
supervision  of  their  young  ones'  screen  diet. 

When  Thomas  Jefferson  said  "That  government  is 
best  which  governs  least,"  he  summed  up  the  ideal  form 
of  organized  society.  This  maxim  was  written  into  our 
constitution,  as  it  applies  to  the  expression  of  thought 
by  means  of  the  spoken  and  printed  word.  Had  the 
motion  picture  been  known  or  thought  of  in  1787.  it  would 
have  been  accorded  equal  freedom. 

The  telling  of  a  story,  whether  it  be  by  word  of 
mouth,  on  paper  or  via  the  films,  is  all  the  same.  Yet, 
there  are  instances  where  tales  have  passed  muster  with- 
out giving  offense  in  book  form  ;  but  when  photograph- 
ically retold  on  the  screen,  the  very  same  narratives  have 
been  "censored."  The  public  libraries  of  Chicago,  Bos- 
ton and  other  cities  have  volumes  on  their  shelves,  the 
visualized  versions  of  which  have  been  excluded  from 
the  screen  of  those  same  communities.  The  absurdity  and 
inconsistency  hereof  are  self-evident. 

The  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more  I  feel  we  have  taken 
this  whole  controversy  too  seriously.  Viewed  impartially, 
I  don't  believe  the  advocates  of  film  censorship  have  a 
leg  to  stand  on,  because  of  their  illogical  position.  As 
long  as  an  industry  does  not  interfere  with  public  policy, 
there  is  no  reasonable  occasion  for  government  regula- 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


617 


tion  or  interference.  For  Congress  to  establish  a  federal 
censorship  of  photoplays  would  be  class  legislation,  pure 
and  simple.  Censorship  is  so  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the 
American  Constitution  that  I  cannot  bring  myself  even  to 
think  it  possible  for  the  Supreme  Court  to  sustain  a  law 
seeking  to  establish  it,  if  the  opponents  presented  their 
case  adequately. 

If  we  film-makers  are  to  be  subjected  to  censorship, 
then  I  predict  that  ultimately  all  other  modes  of  expres- 
sion will  have  to  submit  to  it.  The  erstwhile  popular 
slogan,  "Let  the  people  rule,"  will  become  a  dead  letter 
and  in  its  stead  the  heavens  will  resound  to  "Let  the  cen- 


sors rule."  What  that  may  lead  to  in  a  government  of 
partisan  politics,  I  refuse  to  even  try  to  outline.  Yet, 
personally,  I  have  no  apprehension. 

Should  the  worst  come  to  worst  and  censorship  be 
established  I  do  not  believe  it  will  cause  the  cinema  indus- 
try to  topple  into  a  heap,  as  some  seem  to  fear.  As  boys 
say :  "There's  more  than  one  way  to  skin  a  cat."  I  am 
quite  sure  that  I  can  continue  to  make  pictures  which  will 
pass  under  those  conditions  as  well  as  mine  are  accepted 
by  the  public  now. 

But  that  is  a  matter  for  the  future.  We'll  cross  that 
bridge  when  we  come  to  it. 


Here's    Thanhouser  View  Point 


T^OR  original  thought,  to  which  he  gives  expression  at 
A  too  rare  intervals,  Edwin  Thanhouser  long  has  been 
known  to' the  industry.  It  is  his  general  principle  to  say 
very  little  on  all  occasions,  but  when  he  does  get  wrought 
up  on  a  subject  he  usually  can  be  relied  upon  for  some- 
thing unique,  enlightening  and  decisive.  In  a  statement 
made  at  the  request  of  a  committee  of  New  York  exhib- 
itors, who  are  about  to  take  up  the  Albany  censorship 
fight,  Mr.  Thanhouser  scored  a  point  which  apparently 
nobody  as  yet  had  thought  of,  and  it  makes  legal  censor- 
ship look  impossible  from  an  operative  point  of  view. 

"I  think  that  any  judge  sitting  on  the  question,"  says 
Mr.  Thanhouser,  "will  agree  with  me  that  to  photograph 
an  illegal  deed  and  reproduce  it  for  exhibition  is  no 
greater  crime  than  the  committing  of  the  actual  deed. 
That's  simple.  If  the  censors  take  exception,  under  fed- 
eral law,  to  a  scene  in  the  picture,  the  enactment  of  that 
scene  is  just  as  much  a  crime  as  its  portrayal  on  the  film. 
That  being  the  case,  the  men  who  are  charged  to  enforce 
the  law  must  in  all  consistency  see  that  nothing  objec- 
tionable is  enacted.  This  means  a  pretty  state  of  affairs 
in  the  studios.  Imagine  a  minion  of  the  law  stationed  in 
the  studio  to  see  that  nothing  is  done  at  which  the  law 
makers  might  raise  their  eyebrows. 

"Every  company  going  out  on  exteriors  would  have 
to  carry  an  added  passenger  in  the  form  of  a  federal  or 
state  representative.  He  would  have  to  stand  next  to  the 
director  and  in  order  for  the  director  to  avoid  arrest  the 
officer  would  have  to  be  given  an  account  of  the  scene 
about  to  be  enacted.  Said  officer  would  then  weigh  it 
carefully  in  his  mind,  look  up  the  precedents  and  rulings, 


and  decide  whether  the  scene  should  go  on.  If  for  any 
reason  it  should  be  impossible  for  him  to  decide  on  the 
spot,  the  director  would  have  to  postpone  his  work  until 
the  guardian  of  the  people's  morals  could  go  to  Albany  or 
Washington  for  a  ruling  on  the  scene.  This  might  seem 
far  fetched,  but  it  seems  to  me  to  be  exactly  what  we  are 
bound  for  in  all  this  censorship  agitation. 

"It  is  unfair  that  a  film  maker  be  not  given  definite 
technical  information  as  to  what  will  be  allowed  and  what 
not,  under  censorship  laws.  For  instance,  the  interstate 
commerce  law  designates  specifically  every  act  or  deed 
which  may  be  considered  a  violation  of  the  law.  I  believe 
that  there  is  no  intention  on  the  part  of  those  favoring 
censorship  to  draw  up  such  a  schedule.  I  grant  that  it  is 
a  very  difficult  task  for  them  to  do  so ;  at  the  same  time, 
without  it  the  law  remains  absolutely  incomplete  and 
unfair,  judging  by  all  the  various  plans  I  have  read.  The 
element  of  discretion  in  rulings  exists  in  most  laws  that 
are  made,  but  I  don't  believe  that  the  statute  books  of  the 
country  contain  a  law  in  which  the  element  of  discretion 
works  greater  hardships  on  a  class  of  citizens  than  the 
proposed  censorship  laws. 

"Consistency  is  a  beautiful  thing.  The  aim  of  law 
and  regulation  is  to  make  things  consistent,  but  if  our 
pro-censorship  friends  should  by  any  chance  succeed,  the 
necessity  of  consistency  will  constitute  a  bite  much  larger 
than  they  can  chew. 

"The  presence  of  an  official  censor  in  a  studio  will 
'be  the  next  step  to  a  nice  little  Siberia  of  our  own  for 
all  offending  scenario  writers,  actors,  directors  and  film 
producers." 


TV.  Y.  Exhibitors  Draft  Censorship  Protest 


AT  THE  convention  of  the  Motion  Picture  Exhib- 
itors' League  of  New  York  state  recently,  a  reso- 
lution was  unanimously  adopted  to  be  presented  to  the 
legislature  protesting  against  any  state  censorship  of 
motion  pictures,  and  for  the  formulation  of  a  bureau 
of  information  for  motion  picture  exhibitors,  to  be 
located  in  New  York  City. 

In  the  memorial  protesting  against  the  Ahern  cen- 
sorship bill,  the  league  went  on  record  as  maintaining 
that  the  freedom  of  occupation  and  the  liberty  of  pub- 
lication would  both  be  violated  by  such  a  censorship  as 
that  proposed. 

The  resolution  reads  : 

"The  motion  picture  is  at  once  a  school,  a  univer- 
sity and  a  public  press,  and  by  every  dictate  of  com- 
mon sense,  as  well  as  by  the  commands  and  guaran- 
tees of  the  Constitution  itself,  it  should  be  left  at  pub- 
lic liberty  to  exercise  its  tri-partite  function  of  amus- 
ing, informing  and  instructing  the  people. 


"The  laws  which  regulate  other  schools  and  other 
publications  are  in  full  force  to  regulate  the  motion 
picture,  to  punish  license  and  obscenity  and  vicious- 
ness,  and  those  laws  are  ample  and  sufficient  as  they 
stand,  without  any  censorship  whatever. 

"We  protest  against  this  proposed  censorship  of 
motion  pictures  on  the  same  identical  grounds  on 
which  we  would  protest  against  any  proposed  censor- 
ship of  the  printed  press.  The  motion  picture  is  not 
only  entertainment  and  instruction ;  it  is  a  moral  force. 
It  makes  people  innocently  happier. 

"More  especially  is  the  usefulness  of  the  motion 
picture  evident  in  the  smaller  communities  where, 
from  the  very  force  of  the  circumstances  of  minor  pop- 
ulation, the  broadening  influences  of  life  have  been 
somewhat  lacking. 

"To  be  liberalizing,  uplifting  and  popular,  the 
motion  picture  must  tell  the  truth  and  must  be  allowed 
to  tell  the  truth.     It  will  not  be  allowed  to  tell  the 


618 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


truth  if  it  is  ever  subjected  to  the  restrictions  of  arbi- 
trary censors. 

"Just  as  each  one  of  you  has  the  absolute  right  to 
select  and  read  the  newspapers  and  magazines  which 
best  please  you,  so  each  one  of  you  has  the  absolute 
right  to  choose  for  yourself  what  motion  picture  you 
will  go  to  see.  The  theory  of  a  censorship  is  that  the 
majority  of  the  people  do  not  know  what  is  good  for 
them  and  must  not  have  their  way — but  the  way  pre- 
scribed for  them  by  a  handful  of  wiser  overseers. 

"We  protest  against  this  un-American  theory  of 
government  and  social  life." 


The  bureau  to  be  established  will  be  national  in 
scope.  It  will  be  a  bureau  of  information,  advice  and 
assistance,  according  to  the  plans  of  the  exhibitors,  to 
collect  and  compile  a  legal  library  dealing  with  the 
legal  status  of  the  business  in  every  state. 

It  is  planned  as  a  clearing  house  of  information  to 
keep  the  exhibitors  informed  by  a  weekly  bulletin  of 
what  is  going  on  generally  in  the  motion  picture  world. 
Another  object  will  be  to  take  up  with  the  heads  of 
producing  and  distributing  companies  of  New  York 
all  grievances  which  arise  between  exhibitors  and  dis- 
tributing branches. 


Congratulated  on  Stand  for  Federal  Censorship 


CONGRATULATORY  upon  his  stand  for  federal 
control  of  motion  pictures  rather  than  legalized 
oppression  through  the  medium  of  numerous  local 
censor  boards,  is  the  letter  received  by  AVilliam  W. 
Hodkinson,  president  of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Cor- 
poration, from  L.  F.  Guimond,  president  of  the  Monti- 
cello  Amusement  company. 

The  accompanying  letter  is  but  one  of  many  that 
have  been  received  by  the  Paramount  corporation,  who 
distribute  the  productions  of  the  Famous  Players  Film 
Company,  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company, 
the  Oliver  Morosco  Photoplay  Company  and  Pallas 
Pictures,  and  who  with  other  large  interests  favor 
federal  control. 

The  letter  to  Mr.  Hodkinson  is  as  follows  : 

THE  MONTICELLO   AMUSEMENT   COMPANY, 

Mr.  W.  W.  Hodkinson, 

Paramount    Pictures    Corporation, 
New   York,  N.    Y. 
Dear  Mr.   Hodkinson: 

Permit  me  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  stand  you  are  taking 
on  the  National  Censorship  question.  It  was  to  be  expecte.l  thai 
your  position  would  be  freely  criticised,  but  I  must  confess  that 
sed  to  see   so   much   adverse   comment   in   the 


[  clean,  high-quality  subjects  can  reckon  Government  Regulation 
;  a  distinct  asset  in  that  it  will  suppress  the  salacious,  nasty- 
ory-with-a-moral  type  of  photoplay  that  is  doing  so  much  to 
ijure   the   motion    picture   industry   at    present. 

1  think  that  the  average  exhibitor  wants  nothing  but  clean 
Ictures  and  particularly  appreciates  a  program  which  he  can  show 
is  patrons,  secure  in  the  knowledge  that  there  will  be  nothing  in 
le  subject  to  cause  him  to  regret  that  he  failed  to  make  a  per- 
>nal    inspection   before   projecting   it   urjon  his   screen. 


I  am  certain  that  there  will  c 

me  in   the 

near  future  when 

all  honest 

v,  without  doubt) 

:ing  and  advising 

cipl^ 

reputable    producer   at   the   he 

ad   of 

he  proces 

sion   and  relegate 

Despite  the  fact  that  opposition  to  federal  control 
of  productions  has  been  particularly  strong  throughout 
the  country  during  the  last  two  years,  there  has  been 
noticeable  of  late  a  distinct  change  in  the  beliefs  of  the 
producers,  distributors,  exchanges  and  exhibitors  in 
every  section  of  the  country,  according  to  reports. 


better   class 

r.idc    p. 

It    is    in 

■vital. 1,,- 

th 

will  be  enac 

ed   into 

la\ 

sighted    proc 

and  helping 

t 

the  establish 

ment   of 

Iodic 


ir  later  some  form  of  regula 
mid  seem  to  me  that  every  f 
t  safety  lies  in  forcing  the  i: 
an  a  Federal  proposition.  If, 
oard,  we  can  wipe  out  our  S 
try  can  feel  that  it  has  take 
qualifying  clauses  which  pet 
3    felt    to    be   unjust,   the   prodi 


The  combined  product  of  the  Raver  Film  Corpora- 
tion and  the  Ocean  Film  Corporation  is  rapidly  being 
distributed  from  Harry  R.  Raver's  executive  offices  in 
New  York  City.  Daily  showings  of  five  productions  are 
being  given  for  visiting  state  right  buyers.  A  wide  vari- 
ety of  subjects  are  represented  in  these  films.  Territory 
is  being  sold  on  a  cash  basis.  No  films  are  being  placed 
with  exchanges  on  a  percentage  arrangement.  The  Raver 
company  announced  an  elaborate  production  of  Augustus 
Thomas'  great  play,  "Alabama."  The  film  is  to  be  finished 
for  a  showing  by  June  1. 


i 


Mustang   director. 


March   18,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


What  Theater  Men  Are  Doing 


AN  OPEN  FORUM 


Three  Cornered  Policy  Wins 

By  Max  Stearn 

Owner    of    the    Majestic    Theater,    Columbus,    Ohio 

MY    SUCCESS    has    been    due    to    a    three-cornered 
policy : 

Courtesy — Cleanliness — Publicity. 

One  will  help,  but  it  takes  them  all  to  win  you 
success. 

On  April  20,  1907,  we  opened  the  third  motion 
picture  theater  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  It 
was  called  the  Exhibit  theater  and,  at  that  time,  was 
recognized  as  being  the  leading  motion  picture  the- 
ater of  the  city.  It  held  this  reputation  for  five  years 
or  more.  Then  gradually  larger  theaters  were  built 
and  the  Exhibit  was  crowded  out  of  position  as  the 
leader  in  the  field. 

Unsatisfied  to  be  at  the  tail  end  of  the  procession, 
we  determined  to  build  a  theater  that  would  be  so  far 
ahead  of  anything  else  that  had  been  attempted  in 
Columbus  that  we  would  again  assume  the  leadership. 

The  Majestic  theater  was  opened  to  the  public 
on  January  12,  1913,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  1,200 
and  at  an  expense  of  $100,000. 

We  attribute  the  reason  for  a  greater  part  of  our 
success  to  the  fact  that  we  started  out  with  a  policy 


and  stuck  to  it.  We  felt  that  the  better  element  in 
every  community  would  be  willing  to  pay  a  little  more 
for  something  a  little  better  and  consequently  we  de- 
cided to  charge  an  admission  price  of  ten  and  twenty 
cents ;  ten  cents  in  the  balcony  and  twenty  cents  for 
the  lower  floor.  AVe  gave  the  people  the  very  best 
pictures  obtainable,  accompanied  by  good  music  and 


...'"  ]  ^  m 

i:*. 

. 

: 

njrnlf 

ifii  <> 

, 

fib 

"mm 

clean  surroundings,  and  the  results  have  proven  that 
the  public  will  pay  the  price,  providing,  of  course, 
that  you  deliver  the  goods. 

Our  watchwords  from  the  very  beginning  have 
been,  Courtesy,  Cleanliness  and  Publicity. 

In  regard  to  courtesy,  we  demand  that  our  em- 
ployes treat  our  patrons  with  the  utmost  courtesy  at 
all  times.  We  want  them  to  be  liberal  with  the  use 
of  the  word  "Please." 

In  regard  to  cleanliness,  this  means  not  only  clean- 
liness with  reference  to  the  theater  proper,  or  the  ap- 
pearance of  our  employes, .  but  also  the  class  of  pic- 
tures that  we  show. 

Publicity  means  letting  the  public  know  that  you 
are  on  the  map.  In  addition  to  newspapers,  billboard 
and  screen  advertising,  we  get  out  a  Majestic  Monthly, 


620 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


which  is  mailed  to  over  fifteen  thousand  subscribers. 

Further  than  this  we  pay  attention  to  every  de- 
tail, we  strive  for  the  confidence  and  the  good  will  of 
the  public  by  returning  to  them  forgotten  change,  lost 
articles  and  by  not  permitting  men  and  women  to  visit 
out  theater  for  the  purpose  of  making  "dates"  or  for 
carrying  on  a  flirtation.  We  try  to  surround  our  the- 
ater with  an  air  of  comfort.  We  have  a  rest  room 
for  the  ladies  with  a  maid  in  attendance,  telephones  and 
every  convenience.  We  treat  our  patrons  liberally 
and  they,  in  turn,  are  liberal  with  us.  We  take  an 
interest  in  the  progress  of  our  city,  take  an  active  part 
in  worthy  charitable  enterprises  and  let  the  public  know 
that  it  is  not  all  dollars  and  cents  that  we  are  after. 

In  conclusion,  the  success  of  the  Majestic  Theater 
has  been  due  to  the  fact  that  there  are  always  two  of 
us  on  the  job,  the  writer,  who  is  the  owner  of  the 
theater,  and  James  Maddox,  who  is  the  manager  of  the 
theater.  j  ^31 


"Keep  Plugging"  His  Motto 

By  Thomas  D.  Goldberg. 

Proprietor   of   the    Goldberg   Theater,   Baltimore,   Md. 

In  Walbrook,  a  suburb  of  Baltimore,  in  1910,  a 
motion  picture  theater  was  opened.  It  had  a  capacity 
of  200  and  was  known  as  "The  Suburban."  This  the- 
ater soon  outgrew  itself,  but  the  owners  failed  to  see 
the  need  of  enlargement.  At  the  urgent  request  of 
a  number  of  my  patrons,  who  knew  me  as  a  business 
man,  that  I  open  a  theater,  I  took  the  matter  under 
consideration,  with  the  idea  that  it  was  not  a  "nickel- 
catching"  business,  as  they  had  described  it  to  me,  but 
a  business  that  needed  attention  and  study. 

After  due  consideration  I  thought  the  time  was 
ripe  for  a  real  motion  picture  theater  in  our  section. 
So  I  set  out  to  build  it.  I  received  my  permit  in 
August,  1914,  and  on  Friday,  November  13,  1914,  I 
opened  for  business,  with  a  house  seating  500  persons, 
two  of  the  latest  model  Simplex  machines,  and  a  gold 
fiber  screen,  and  all  the  latest  and  most  modern  meth- 
ods of  pleasing  the  public,  which  was  my  only  aim. 

My  program  at  that  time  consisted  of  General 
Film  productions,  and  the  price  of  admission  was  five 
cents  for  four  reels.  My  one  object  was  to  please, 
and  this  I  hoped  to  do  by  being  polite,  courteous  and 
obliging  to  all  whom  I  might  chance  to  come  in  con- 
tact with,  especially  salesmen,  whom  you  speak  of 
as  exchange  men.  I  first  adopted  the  open-door  policy, 
being  more  than  pleased  to  see  anyone. 

As  my  experience  in  the  mercantile  lines  has  taught 
me  there  is  always  something  you  can  learn  from  the 
other  fellow,  I  think  the  one  thing  which  impressed 
exchange  men  most  was  that  when  I  booked  a  show, 
I  would  run  it — not  fool  them  by  cancellation  when 
some  other  exhibitor  said  he  failed  to  get  the  money  in 
with  it.  Furthermore,  my  check  always  went  forth 
promptly  on  terms  agreed  to.  In  other  words,  I  figure 
that  the  manufacturer  has  nothing  to  give  away,  and 
he  is  entitled  to  his  money  without  resorting  to  law- 
yers to  collect  it.  I  try  to  work  with  the  exchange 
men  and  not  against  them,  asking  only  that  they  be 
as  fair  with  me  as  I  am  with  them.  I  consider  them 
human,  and  should  a  show  fail  to  reach  me  on  time, 
or  something  goes  wrong,  I  try  to  convince  myself 
that  it  was  not  intentional,  but  only  a  mistake,  which 
we  are  all  likely  to  make.  I  don't  want  anyone  in  my 
employ  to  be  a  George  Washington,  one  who  never 
makes  mistakes,    I  lake  pleasure  in  my  business,  give 


special  attention  to  the  children,  especially  those  who 
come  unaccompanied,  run  on  schedule  time,  figuring 
it  is  better  to  have  them  standing  than  to  have  them 
go  away  disgusted  by  feeling  that  the  show  was  run 
too  fast. 

Keep  Plugging.     That's  my  motto. 

"Keep  Smiling"  Wins  Success 

By  T.  H.  Gibbs. 

Manager,    Princess    Theater,    Gaiva,    III. 

My  business  makes  a  living  for  me.  Therefore, 
it  is  worthy  of  every  minute  of  my  time  and  every 

, ounce  of  energy  which  I  devote  to 

^|^^-^  it.    My  competition  worries  me  very 

^H  little,  as  all  my  time  is  taken  up  in 

^H  ■>        attending  to  my  own  business. 

WfEyjWt    »  And  I  Keep  Smiling. 

*  I  Never  get  out  of  patience.     Al- 

^^■fc^k     \      ways     have     a  pleasant     word     for 

^^■Ty  I      everyone.     That's  my  advice  to  ex- 

^Mv  A      hibitors. 
^Aj^Jk  We  have  one  weekly  newspaper 

^41  here,     which     is     published     every 

Wednesday,  and  not  very  much  in- 
clined to  work  with  me.  By  knowing  everyone  is 
looking  for  something  for  nothing,  I  demonstrated 
to  the  editor  that  a  regular  advertisement  with  his 
paper  brought  no  returns ;  I  ran  a  coupon  one  week, 
good  for  five  cents  at  the  box  office.  Out  of  something 
over  1,200  sent  out,  only  thirteen  were  cashed  in.  I 
figure  out  some  novelty  every  week  or  so  in  the  way 
of  advertising  that  keeps  the  patrons  guessing,  and  I 
Get  Results. 

The  population  here  is  2,400,  not  5  per  cent  of 
which  attend  the  theaters.  Seventy-five  per  cent  of 
our  business  is  from  farmers.  Consequently,  when 
weather  is  bad  and  roads  likewise,  we  suffer.  This 
has  been  quite  frequent  during  the  last  eight  months. 
On  regular  three-reel  programs  I  get  five  and  ten 
cents.  On  features  I  get  five  and  fifteen  cents.  One 
word  about  features.  There  is  nothing  so  expensive 
as  cheap  features,  and  nothing  is  cheap  unless  you 
need  it.  I  never  deceive  my  patrons.  If  I  know  a 
certain  show  I  have  booked  is  good.  I  tell  them  so. 
If  not,  I  tell  them  to  take  a  chance  on  it,  as  I  am  doing ; 
that  it  is  represented  as  good  to  me,  but  that  I  don't 
know  its  worth. 

I  entered  the  theatrical  business  twenty-one  years 
ago.  I  formerly  played  parts  on  the  speaking-  stage. 
Shortly  after  the  motion  picture  game  became  organ- 
ized, I  jobbed  for  several  month  at  Selig's  in  Chicago. 
I've  been  plugging  away  ever  since. 


News  From  Seattle 

By  Anne  R.  M.  Sutton 

During  the  recent  showing  of  "New  York"  at  the 
Strand  Theater,  Seattle,  Wash.,  the  censors  ordered 
part  of  the  film  deleted.  Manager  Smythe  got  out  an 
injunction  to  stop  the  deletion,  and  the  picture  ran  its 
full  time  without  any  cutting.  The  case  is  to  come 
before  the  Supreme  Court  later. 

Manager  John  Hamrick  of  the  Rex  in  the  short 
time  since  he  has  taken  over  the  theater  has  "sprung" 
two  or  three  new  advertising  stunts  on  Seattle.  Dur- 
ing the  recent  showing  of  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace," 
he  had  a  young  man  in  khaki  uniform  standing  just 
outside  the  entrance  of  the  Rex  to  blow  a  bugle  at 
intervals. 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


621 


"The  Ne'er-do-well"  is  being  advertised  by  a  big 
placard  on  the  back  of  a  private  automobile  and  a 
smaller  sign  in  front. 

Jensen  &  Von  Herberg,  managers  of  the  Coliseum, 
the  Liberty,  the  Alhambra,  and  the  Mission,  have 
turned  the  Alhambra  into  a  vaudeville  house.  At  the 
Liberty,  which  is  now  showing  "Peggy,"  most  of  the 
scenes  being  laid  in  Scotland,  the  girl  ushers  have 
been  arrayed  in  Scotch  Highland  costume  in  honor  of 
the  occasion. 

Edward  Holland  has  been  appointed  manager  of 
the  Mission  theater,  succeeding  Ben  Ketchum,  who 
bas  been  promoted  to  the  management  of  the 
Alhambra. 


"Cinema  Concerts"  for  Orchestra  Hall,  Chicago 

Orchestra  Hall  will  inaugurate  "Cinema  Con- 
•certs"  on  May  6. 

H.  W.  Hill,  who  will  manage  the  theater,  in  mak- 
ing the  announcement  of  the  change  in  policy,  declared 
that  in  his  mind  such  a  project  had  been  brewing  for 
the  last  ten  years.  It  is,  however,  a  new  venture  for 
Wessels  and  Voegeli,  who  are  backing  it. 

According  to  the  plan,  there  is  to  be  a  symphony 
orchestra    conducted    by    Arthur    Dunham,    who    was 


Interior  Orchestra  Hall. 

.among  those  importantly  present  at  the  inauguration 
of  the  Strand  program  in  New  York  City  last  year. 

Soloists,  vocal  and  instrumental,  will  assist  the 
programs. 

While  the  pictures  are  not  specified  other  than 
that  they  are  to  be  "the  best  obtainable  on  the  film 
-markets  of  the  world,"  changing  each  week,  Mr.  Hill 
made  this  statement  to  Motography  : 

"The  introduction  of  music  into  motion  pictures 
seems  to  me  to  be  a  crowning  achievement  for  the  film 
industry.  It  has  been  considered  and  discussed  for 
quite  a  long  time,  but  there  have  been  those  who  were 
dubious  of  its  success.  There  is  no  questiori  in  my 
mind  but  that  music  and  the  screen  will  prove  a  life- 
long harmonious  agreement. 

"As  to  the  policy  of  Orchestra  Hall,  we  intend  to 
maintain  a  standard  of  efficiency  in  every  respect.  We 
will  obtain  for  exhibition  photoplay  features  from  all 
over  the  world.  The  'pick  of  the  market'  will  be  our 
selections.  Film  of  known  quality  will  be  shown. 
Travel  pictures  will  be  among  the  principal  features, 
although  the  program  by  no  means  will  consist  mainly 
of  these  subjects.  At  all  times  we  will  show  the  best 
pictures  obtainable." 


Orchestra  Hall  for  many  years  has  been  the  home 
of  the  Chicago  Symphony  Orchestra.  Mr.  Hill  has 
been  manager  of  the  house  for  some  time.  The  theater 
seats  2,577  persons. 


What  One  Woman  Did 

To  advertise  the  Dreamland  Theater,  Redding, 
California,  Mrs.  Jane  Olney,  its  owner,  organized  a 
boys'  band,  known  throughout  the  state  of  California 
as  the  Dreamland  Boys'  Band. 

A  few  years  ago  Mrs.  Olney  made  up  her  mind 
to  do  something  that  would  forever  keep  her  Dream- 
land theater  in  the  public  eye  and  she  hit  upon  the 
boys'  band  idea  and  immediately  went  to  work  and 
organized  a  band  that  is  now  known  from  one  end 
of  California  to  the  other. 

Mrs.  Olney  stood  behind  the  organization,  guar- 
anteeing everything  in  the  ways  of  uniforms,  instru- 
ments and  instruction.  Certain  nights  were  known  as 
boys'  band  nights  and  everything  over  and  above  fixed 
expense  was  given  to  the  band. 


PUT  CHICAGO  ON  FILM  MAP 

Norman    E.    Field,    Who    Opened    First    Windy    City 

House,  Is  Now  Manager  of  Studebaker 

and  LaSalle  Theaters 

By  Kenneth  Laflin  Eagon 

Just  ten  years  ago  this  month — in  March,  1906,  to 
be  precise — Norman  E.  Field  treated  Chicagoans  to  their 
first  glimpse  of  a  motion  picture.  The  spot  which  for  a 
number  of  years  later  marked  the  home  of  the  city's  first 
film  theater,  among 
the  first  to  open  in 
the  United  States, 
now  is  occupied  by 
Browning,  King  & 
Company,  retail  clo- 
thiers. This  landmark, 
at  131  South  State 
street,  was  razed 
when  the  site  was  de- 
manded by  progres- 
sive realty  men  who 
decided  to  erect  a 
modern  building  in 
its  place. 

Mr.  Field,  Chi- 
cago's first  motion 
picture  manager,  now 
is  Jones,  Linick  & 
Schaefer  representa- 
tive at  the  Studebaker 
theater,  which  was 
opened  Saturday 
night,  March  4,  as  the 
new  Chicago  home 
poration. 


Field. 

Paramount    Pictures    Cor- 


)f    the 
He  was  in  charge  of  the  Colonial  theater  in 
"Chicago  until  the  Triangle  corporation  took  over  that 
house.    Mr.  Field  also  is  in  charge  of  the  LaSalle  theater, 
where  Paramount  features  also  are  shown. 

For  the  Studebaker  and  LaSalle  theaters,  Mr.  Field 
has  mapped  out  probably  the  most  comprehensive  policy 
yet  conceived  by  the  management  of  big  film  houses.  No 
detail  has  been  overlooked.  When  the  Studebaker  be- 
came "The  Chicago  Home  of  Paramount,"  it  was  Mr. 
theater  of  perfection  in  every 


Field's  aim  to  have  i 


622 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12, 


respect.    And,  apparently,  his  dream  has  been  realized. 

In  the  first  place  it  is  Mr.  Field's  policy  to  exhibit 
nothing  but  first-run  films  of  exceptional  merit.  There 
will  be  no  so-called  "fillers" — no  padding  of  a  program. 
Every  reel  must  measure  up  to  the  standard  established 
by  Mr.  Field.  The  program  will  be  selected  with  the 
utmost  care  and  consideration  of  the  desires  of  the  thea- 
ter's patrons.  It  rests  with  the  patrons,  also,  as  to  how 
long  a  feature  will  be  retained. 

As  a  permanent  added  attraction  for  the  Studebaker 
theater,  Mr.  Field  has  obtained  the  services  of  Martin 
Ballman,  noted  musical  director,  and  his  orchestra  of 
thirty  pieces.  Few  film  theaters  are  able  to  boast  an 
orchestra  of  this  size  and  note.  The  music  program  also 
will  be  selected  with  care  and  will  be  changed  often. 

No  expense  has  been  spared  in  engaging  the  very  best 
of  singers.  Several  soloists  of  repute  have  been  engaged 
and  will  be  heard  at  each  performance.  Mr.  Field  aims 
to  have  the  music  program  second  to  none  in  the  country. 

The  ushers  are  boys.  Clean  cut,  conscientious  youths 
replace  girls,  who  formerly  were  employed  at  both  the 
Studebaker  and  LaSalle  theaters.  Before  a  young  man 
is  given  a  position  in  the  theater,  Mr.  Field  causes  him  to 
be  severely  questioned  and  put  to  a  test  of  politeness. 
Each  usher  has  his  "book  of  instructions,"  which  pro- 
vide for  manliness,  politeness,  attentiveness  and  cleanli- 
ness. A  violation  means  dismissal.  But  the  system  thus 
far  has  been  so  successful  that  the  little  group  of  uni- 
formed youths  have  won  a  name  for  themselves  among 
film  fans  who  patronize  the  Michigan  boulevard  and 
Madison  street  houses. 

Before  the  Studebaker  was  reopened  for  Paramount 
features  a  new,  modern  stage  was  put  in  place.  The 
projection  facilities  were  examined  by  experts. 

The  method  of  lighting  inaugurated  by  Mr.  Field 
can  be  termed  a  revelation.  Graduation  of  illumination 
is  shown  as  the  solution  of  motion  picture  theater  lighting. 
The  dominant  color  scheme  is  amber.  At  no  time  is  a 
person  uncertain  of  step  or  location  and  yet  the  general 
lighting  effect  aids,  rather  than  detracts  from  the  value 
of  the  picture  on  the  screen. 

Another  attraction  at  the  Studebaker  is  a  new  Kim- 
ball organ.  This  was  installed  just  before  the  house  was 
taken  over.  The  organ  is  one  of  the  largest  manufactured 
and  of  delightful  tone. 

On  March  20,  1916,  Mr.  Field  will  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  firm  of  Jones,  Linick  &  Schaefer  for 
sixteen  years.  During  that  time  he  has  left  their  service 
only  twice.  Once  he  was  forced  to  go  to  London  in  search 
of  a  man  who  is  alleged  to  have  stolen  a  number  of  con- 
cessions from  the  concern.  After  apprehending  the  man 
and  causing  him  to  be  sent  to  prison,  Mr.  Field  returned 
to  Chicago.  In  1911  he  was  sent  to  New  York  to  con- 
duct the  opening  of  the  Circle  theater  as  a  motion  picture 
house. 

While  Mr.  Field  has  given  the  policy  of  the  LaSalle 
theater  just  as  much  thought  as  he  has  that  of  the  Stude- 
baker, the  latter  house  will  be  placed  on  a  basis  of  solid 
efficiency  first;  then  Mr.  Field  will  throw  his  entire  energy 
into  the  LaSalle. 


Chicago  city  officials,  after  holding  up  for  two 
weeks  "The  Right  to  Live,"  a  photoplay  depicting  in- 
cidents connected  with  a  recent  Sunday  closing  order, 
approved  the  film  when  producers  agreed  to  eliminate 
certain  subtitles  which  censors  held  to  constitute  lese 
majesty.  A  statement  by  the  film  company  responsible 
for  the  photoplay  describes  the  action  of  the  city  offi- 
cials as  "a  travesty  on  legitimate  censorship." 


NEW  ASCHER  HOUSE  OPENS 

Oakland  Square  Theater,  Seating  1,550,  Has  Successful 

Premiere ;  Photo-play  Auditorium  One  of  the 
Finest  in  Chicago 

Modern  from  music  to  exits,  the  Oakland  Square 
theater,  newest  link  in  the  chain  of  Ascher  Brothers 
houses,  has  been  opened  to  a  waiting  public. 

From  early  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  first  ticket 
holder  was  admitted,  until  11:20  at  night,  a  crowd  was 
kept  standing  in  line.  The  last  performance  was  not 
concluded  until  midnight.  Then  the  count-up  showed 
that  between  4,000  and  5,000  persons  had  attended  the 
theater's  premiere. 

The  bill  was  most  suitable  to  the  occasion.  A  Vita- 
graph  one-reel  comedy  started  things  going  in  a  lively 
fashion,  with  the  accompaniment  of  an  orchestra  and  a 
pipe  organ  which  the  management  asserts  is  the  largest 
in  any  motion  picture  house  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 

The  feature,  "Hell's  Hinges,"  a  Triangle  master- 
piece in  a  half  dozen  reels,  told  the  story  of  a  weak, 
insincere  young  pastor,  who  yielded  to  temptation  and 
was  killed  trying  to  burn  his  own  church  in  a  western 
town  which  gained  the  name  of  "Hell's  Hinges"  because 
of  its  badness.  The  young  minister's  sister  takes  up  the 
work  her  brother  defaulted,  and  reforms  "Blaze''  Tracy, 
the  village's  baddest  of  bad  men.  There  are  some  graphic 
scenes  in  this  film,  including  the  apparent  burning  of  an 
entire  town  and  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  in  which  W.  S. 
Hart,  as  "Blaze"  Tracy,  demonstrates  his  skill  with 
his  fists  in  realistic  fashion.  "Fatty"  Arbuckle  and  Ma- 
bel Normand  in  "Bright  Lights,"  a  Key-stone  two- 
reeler,  was  the  comedy  to  close  the  program. 

Nathan  Ascher,  who  personally  will  manage  the  new 
theater,  was  part  owner  of  one  of  the  first  motion  pic- 
ture theaters  in  Chicago.  The  opening  of  the  Oakland 
Square  theater  marks  the  tenth  link  in  a  chain  of  photo- 
play theaters  which  are  now  being  operated  by  the 
Ascher  system. 

The  Oakland  Square  theater,  located  in  the  heart  of 
an  exclusive  south  side  residence  district,  was  erected 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  the  architect  Henry  L. 
Newhouse.  As  a  work  of  art,  undoubtedly  it  will  stand 
as  a  monument  of  perfection.  The  beautiful  arrange- 
ment of  the  interior,  the  excellent  acoustics  and  visual 
advantages  of  the  large  auditorium,  a  capable  orchestra 
and  a  large  pipe  organ  are  some  of  the  new  theater's 
features. 

The  management  has  left  no  stone  unturned  in  seeing 
that  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  its  patrons  are 
properly  looked  after.  The  Ascher  policy  will  be  main- 
tained in  the  arrangement  of  the  program,  and  first-run 
features  will  be  shown  exclusively.  The  arrangement 
and  color  scheme  of  the  lobby  is  very  attractive. 

There  are  1,550  seats  in  the  Oakland  Square,  all  on 
one  floor. 

The  arrangement  of  the  screen  on  which  the  pictures 
will  be  shown  is  so  as  to  afford  a  perfect  view  from  every 
seat  in  the  house.  The  amphitheater  arrangement  is 
unique  in  theater  construction.  There  are  twenty  sepa- 
rate and  distinct  exits  in  the  auditorium,  assuring  perfect 
safety. 

The  building  is  so  ventilated  that  the  air  is  intro- 
duced and  exhausted  from  the  side  walls.  The  eliminates 
the  possibility  of  draft  and  dust  caused  by  the  action  of 
the  air.  Performances  are  given  every  afternoon  and 
evening.  The  doors  are  to  be  open  at  1 :30  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  and  at  6:30  o'clock  in  the  evening. 


March   18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


House  Buried  in  Snow  Kept  Open 


BYH. 

Editor  of  Para 

THE  almost  indistinguishable  spots  in  the  illustration 
accompanying  this  article  are  men  and  women  on 
snowshoes  on  their  way  to  see  Paramount  pictures 
at  the  McCleod  Opera  House,  owned  by  Messrs.  D.  M. 
Painter  and  E.  Smith,  at  McCleod,  Cal.  These  gentle- 
men are  the  best  boosters  in  the  state  of  California.  Even 
though  the  snow  is  up  to  the  eaves  of  the  houses,  the 
citizens  of  McCleod  go  to  the  opera  house  where  Para- 
mount pictures  are  shown. 
This  little  village  with  a 
population  of  about  500  per- 
sons nestles  very  high  up  in 
the  Siskiyou  Mountains  in 
the  shadow  of  the  beautiful 
Mt.  Shasta,  the  highest  peak 
within  a  few  miles  of  the 
only  live  and  active  volcano 
in  North  America,  Mt.  Las- 
sen,'in  fact  the  very  moun- 
tain which  is  reproduced  in 
the  Paramount  trade- 
mark, that  famous  ,  __ 
brand,     originally           a^V^I 


I.DAY 


exhibitors  is  also  quite  an  unnecessary  point  to  mention. 
Into  such  communities  as  McCleod,  Paramount  fea- 
ture plays  are  being  introduced  along  with  Paramount 
news  and  travel  pictures.  On  this  program  the  plays  of 
Broadway  are  carried  to  such  isolated  communities  where 
the  great  white  way  is  truly  white  under  the  twenty-foot 
blanket  of  "driven  snow." 

The  Barton  theater  in  the  cut  is  located  at  Hobart 
Mills,  Cal.  This 
is  a  lumbering 
camp  far  up  in 
the  Sierra  Ne- 
vada Mountains 
in  the  region  of 
the  heaviest  snow 
falls  in  the 
United  States. 

It  is  not  an 
unusual  sight 
during  the  winter 
months  to  see  the 
entire  town  cov- 
ered with  snow 
and  no  landscape 
except  the  tall 
"  n  e  s  on  the 
mountains  visible 
above  a  six  to 
twenty  -  foot 
blanket    of    snow 


which  covers  everything. 

The  photograph  shows  the  disadvan- 

=T    tages  of  running  a  theater  under  these  con- 

L-f/       ditions,  but  O.  L.  Barton,  manager,  reports 

^         success  with  Paramount  pictures  and  states 

that  the  citizens  of  his  community  will  go 


The  Barton  theater,  Hobart  Mills,   Calif,    {at  top),  buried  under  . 
the    McCleod    (Calif.)    Opera    House    in    Siskiyou    Mountains    (< 
(Below)    People    plowing    through 

conceived  by  W.  W.  Hodkinson,  president  of  the  Para- 
mount Pictures  Corporation,  and  also  general  manager 
of  the  Progressive  Motion  Picture  Company,  the  Para- 
mount exchange  in  San  Francisco,  who  began  his 
career  in  California. 

It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  note  that  this  volcano 
lias  been  in  eruption  for  the  past  eighteen  months,  which 
is  almost,  to  a  day,  the  exact  time  of  the  existence  of  the 
Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  which  so  well  adapted 
it  as  a  trade-mark. 

That  the  eruption  of  the  Paramount  volcano  has 
caused  somewhat  of  a  stir  in  the  motion  picture  trade  is 
quite  unnecessary  to  state  and  that  the  lava-like  flow  of 
wonderful  photoplays  which  have  come  into  existence 
under  the  twenty-seven  stars  has  pleased  many  millions 
of  persons  and  furnished  a  means  of  profit  for  many 


through  snow  that  covers  the  house  tops  in  order  to  reach 
his  theater  on  Paramount  nights.  It  is  necessary,  ofttimes, 
that  tunnels  be  driven  through  the  snow  in  order  that  the 
stores  may  be  reached  and  business  carried  on. 

The  houses  are  built  with  very  sloping  gables  in  order 
that  the  snow  cannot  accumulate  to  any  great  depth, 
because  the  enormous  weight  would  crush  in  the  struc- 
tures. 

Mr.  Barton  is  an  enthusiastic  booster  of  Paramount 
and  in  a  recent  communication  to  the  San  Francisco 
Paramount  exchange  wrote : 


624 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


"If  people  will  turn  out  to  see  Paramount  pictures  in 
Hobart  Mills  two  nights  a  week  we  do  not  know  of  any 
town  that  should  go  without  these  photoplays." 


Gasnier  Forms  New  Company 

Louis  J.  Gasnier,  formerly  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  Pathe,  has  formed  a  new  producing 
corporation  which  will  release  through  that  company. 
The  company  has  been  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  state  of  New 
York  with  the  title 
of  the  Astra  Film 
Corporation.  Capital 
of  $50,000  is  listed. 
Mr.  Gasnier  is  pres- 
ident and  general 
manager ;  George 
Baker  of  Jersey  City 
is  vice-president, 

and  George  B.  Seitz 
is  secretary.  The 
board  of  directors  is 
comprised  of  the 
above  mentioned 

persons  with  the  ad- 
dition of  Donald 
Mackenzie  and 
George  Fitzmaurice. 
The  new  concern 
has  entered  into  a 
contract  to  release 
through  Pathe  ex- 
clusively and  has 
leased  a  large  part  of  the  Pathe  studios  in  Jersey  City. 
Work  will  be  started  at  once  on  a  serial  with  Grace 
Darmond,  Ralph  Kellard,  Lean  Bary,  Leslie  King  and 
Hallan  Mostyn  in  the  cast. 

Donald  Mackenzie,  who  with  Mr.  Gasnier  will 
direct  the  serial,  has  left  with  a  company  of  thirty- 
five  players  for  Cuba  where  many  scenes  will  be  taken. 
In  addition  to  the  players  three  cameramen  were  taken 
along  and  a  force  of  mechanics.  A  stop-over  will  be 
made  in  Key  West  and  many  scenes  taken  there. 

While  on  the  boat  Mr.  Mackenzie  will  put  on  a 
comedy  in  which  he  will  play  the  leading  part.  The 
company  will  utilize  the  natural  scenery  of  the  south 
to  make  some  interesting  scenic  and  educational  pic- 
tures. 


THEATER  MEN  COMMEND  WILSON 


Motion   Picture   League  of   Indiana  Wires   President 

Endorsing  His   Stand;   Adopt  Resolutions 

Opposing  Censorship 

The  following  telegram  was  drafted  by  the  Motion 
Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  Indiana,  in  convention  at 
Indianapolis,  and  forwarded  to  President  Wilson  at  the 
White  House : 

"The  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League  of  Indiana 
heartily  and  unanimously  commends  the  stand  you  have 
taken  to  insure  to  Americans  the  freedom  of  the  seas 
which  is  their  inalienable  right.  We  pledge  you  our 
undivided  support  in  whatever  steps  you  may  take  to 
maintain  this  right.  We  have  telegraphed  to  the  mem- 
bers of  Congress  from  Indiana,  asking  them  to  support 
your  proposals  on  the  question  without  delay." 


In  introducing  the  resolution,  J.  W.  Binder,  execu- 
tive secretary  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade  of 
America,  said  that  as  President  Wilson  had  honored  the 
motion  picture  industry  by  being  its  guest  at  the  recent 
dinner  given  by  the  board  in  New  York,  it  was  only  fair 
that  the  industry  should  now  reciprocate  by  supporting 
the  position  the  President  had  taken  in  his  controversy 
with  certain  elements  in  Congress. 

Censorship  was  discussed  at  the  convention.  Resolu- 
tions were  adopted  placing  the  convention  on  record 
against  all  forms  of  censorship,  whether  federal,  state 
or  municipal,  and  pledging  the  support  of  the  exhibitors 
in  the  suppression,  through  laws  now  enforced,  of  any 
pictures  which  are  immoral,  indecent  or  obscene. 

There  were  registered  at  the  convention  276  out  of 
Indiana's  630  exhibitors.  The  meeting  was  held  in  the 
ballroom  of  the  Hotel  Severin.  Frank  J.  Rembusch. 
exhibitors'  vice-president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board 
of  Trade  of  America,  presided  at  .the  opening  session  in 
the  absence  of  State  President  Lyman  H.  O'Donnell,  who 
reached  the  convention  hall  too  late  to  preside  at  the 
initial  gathering. 

Among  the  speakers  were  representatives  of  the  Uni- 
versal, Pathe,  Bluebird,  World,  Mutual,  Metro,  Nich- 
olas Power,  Seeburg  Piano,  Speer  Carbon  and  other 
companies. 


Holmes  Aide  Tells  of  Success 

"In  less  than  five  weeks  Burton  Holmes  has  had  proven 
to  himself  that  his  name  and  reputation  was  even  greater 
than  he  had  himself  imagined,"  is  the  statement  attrib- 
uted to  Louis  Francis  Brown,  business  associate  of  Mr. 
Holmes.  "By  reason  of  the  quality  of  travel  pictures, 
taken,  assembled,  titled  and  directed  by  himself  person- 
ally, the  pictures  are  bringing  to  the  motion  picture  thea- 
ters throughout  the  country  a  vast  number  of  perfectly 
good  citizens  who  have  never  been  inside  a  motion  picture 
house  before." 

It  was  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Brown  that  the 
Holmes  travelogue  pictures  were  given  over  to  the  Para- 
mount Pictures  Corporation  for  exclusive  distribution,  to 
become  a  part  of  its  regular  program,  and  it  is  he  who 
declares  that  "name  and  quality"  are  the  two  mediums 
that  will  always  work  best  for  the  motion  picture  industry. 


Guard  Honors  "Peace"  Aide 

Captain  Stanley  Huntley  Lewis,  who  is  in  charge  of 
the  publicity  for  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace"  in  the  state 
of  Michigan,  has  been  appointed  to  the  rank  of  captain  in 
the  First  Field  Artillery,  Michigan  National  Guard,  with 
headquarters  in  Lansing.  This  honor  was  accorded  him 
in  recognition  of  his  value  to  the  recruiting  department  of 
the  National  Guard,  in  conjunction  with  the  tour  of  "The 
Battle  Cry  of  Peace."  In  every  city  which  the  film  has 
visited,  Captain  Lewis  has  worked  with  the  local  unit  of 
the  guard,  and  by  his  activities  increased  membership 
from  about  half  the  normal  number  to  full  peace  strength. 


Cavallieri  Newest  Film  Recruit 

Lina  Cavallieri,  grand  opera  prima  donna,  has  finally 
surrendered  to  the  films.  After  successive  offers  failed  to 
tempt  her,  it  is  reported  from  a  reliable  source  that  she 
has  signed  a  contract  and  that  an  appropriate  scenario  is 
now  being  prepared  for  her.  Neither  the  sum  specified 
in  the  contract  nor  the  company  obtaining  her  services  is 
made  known. 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


First  Aid  to  Theater  Men 


BY  S.  L.  ROTHAPFEL 


WITH  the  rush  necessitated  by  the  opening  of 
the  Colonial  theater  in  Chicago,  trying  to 
manage  the  Knickerbocker  theater  in  New- 
York  and  arranging  for  the  opening  of  the  new  Rialto 
theater  in  New  York,  I  have  been  too  busy  to  take  up 
the  many  letters  that  have  been  received  since  I  un- 
dertook to  handle  this  department  for  Motography. 
In  next  week's  issue  I  will  endeavor  to  answer  several 
of  the  important  questions  that  have  been  sent  by  ex- 
hibitors from  all  parts  of  the  country. 

From  Virginia  this  week  comes  a  letter  from  a 
man  who  wants  to  open  a  first  class  motion  picture 
theater.  He  says  he  doesn't  know  anything  about  the 
business  and  would  like  to  obtain  some  information 
about  the  cost  of  films,  projection  apparatus  and  other 
details  of  the  exhibiting  end  of  the  industry. 

To  tell  a  man  how  to  open  a  house  one  should 
have  more  details  as  to  the  proposed  location,  the 
amount  of  money  that  can  be  invested,  etc.  But  first 
of  all  I  would  like  to  say  to  anyone  about  to  enter 
the  business  that  no  matter  how  little  money  he  has 
he  should  always  set  art  rather  than  gain  as  his  goal. 
If  he  does  he  will  be  successful  in  the  long  run.  I 
find  that  all  of  us  want  the  best  in  everything  if  we 
can  be  shown  what  the  best  is.  Of  course  the  select- 
ing of  a  location  in  a  small  city  is  less  important  than 
in  a  large  one,  but  many  mistakes  of  this  kind  have 
been  made  at  the  start.  If  the  house  is  not  built  al- 
ready, the  adventurous  exhibitor  should  select  an 
architect  who  has  had  experience  in  planning  theaters 
and  especially  picture  theaters.  Since  the  old  store 
days  the  theater  man  has  learned  that  much  depends 
on  the  appearance  of  his  house  for  his  success. 

The  entrance  is  most  important.  But  the  theater 
man  cannot  stop  at  just  "getting  them  in."  The  house 
must  be  so  constructed  that  the  comfort  of  the  patron 
comes  first.  You  can  build  a  beautiful  stage  setting, 
you  can  arrange  for  expensive  music ;  you  can  employ 
courteous  ushers  and  other  attendants,  but  if  the  spec- 
tator is  placed  in  a  position  where  he  is  continually 
aggravated  by  an  uncomfortable  seat  and  is  forced 
to  crane  his  neck  to  see  the  show,  your  efforts  have 
gone  to  waste.  A  few  less  chairs  in  a  house  will  bring 
more  money  in  the  long  run,  because  persons  do  not 
like  to  sit  in  cramped  positions  when  they  go  to  the 
picture  shows.  As  you  all  know,  the  habit  of  attend- 
ing picture  theaters  has  grown  with  us  during  the 
last  few  years.  We  go  several  times  a  week  and  we 
go  to  the  most  comfortable  houses.  Have  plenty  of 
arm  space,  leg  space  and  aisle  space  and  sufficient 
exits,  indicated  by  suitable  lights.  Be  sure  that  the 
ventilation  is  well  arranged  for.  Make  it  a  point  to 
see  that  there  are  conveniences  of  all  kinds  -for  your 
patrons.  That  being  done  you  can  turn  your  atten- 
tion to  the  projection. 

Be  sure  that  the  booth  is  made  large  enough  for 
the  comfort  of  the  operators.  They  are  just  as  human 
as  you  and  you  will  get  better  shows  if  you  give  the 
operators  a  better  show  to  project  them.  I  would  like 
to  tell  theater  men  what  kind  of  projection  apparatus 
I  like  best,  but  that  would  be  one  man's  opinion  and 
it  might  be  unfair,  perhaps,  to  the  manufacturers  of 
the  machines  I  did  not  select. 


I  believe  that  every  theater  owner  should  also 
arrange  for  the  comfort  of  his  employes.  Give  them 
good  quarters.  Let  them  understand  that  you  realize 
they  are  human  and  they  will  be  more  courteous  and 
more  willing  to  smile. 

Lighting  is  important.  In  a  coming  issue  I  will 
take  up  the  matter  of  lighting  the  interior  of  a  house 
with  an  eye  to  attractiveness  and  better  projection.  I 
will  also  tell  about  the  advantage  of  the  shadow  box. 
I  will  also  try  to  make  clear  the  reason  for  taking  the 
orchestra  out  of  the  pit  and  arranging  for  it  on  the 
stage.  These  are  things  that  I  have  studied  and  worked 
on  for  a  long  time  and  perhaps  I  can  work  out  some 
plan  along  these  lines  that  will  be  important  and 
advantageous  to  the  owners  of  smaller  houses.  I 
cannot  undertake  personally  to  answer  questions  as- 
to  the  cost  of  particular  films,  but  I  am  furnishing  the 
list  sent  to  me  by  this  Virginia  exhibitor.  He  evidently 
does  not  know  how  to  get  these  releases.  If  the  ex- 
changes in  this  territory  will  write  me  I  will  be  very- 
glad  to  give  them  the  address  of  this  man  who  wants 
to  start  in  the  motion  picture  theater  business. 

Let  me  again  impress  on  the  minds  of  all  those 
about  to  build  houses  that  a  small  high  class  theater 
is  a  better  bargain  than  a  large  cheap  auditorium. 
Be  sure  and  impress  this  upon  the  mind  of  the  archi- 
tect. Make  him  understand  that  the  best  is  none  too 
good  for  the  clientele  you  seek. 

The  list  of  films  sought  by  the  writer  follows : 

TITLE  Produced   by 

When   Kings  Were  the   Law Biograpb 

The    Roughneck    Essanay 

A    Modern    Paul Lubin 

The   Desert   Calls   Its   Own Selig 

Bill    Peter's    Kid Vitagraph 

In  the  Palace  of  the  King V.  L.   S'.  Essanay 

The  Raven   V.  L.  S.  Essanay 

The  Great  Divide   V.  L.  S.  E.  Lubin 

Green  Stockings   V.  L.  S.  E.  Vitagraph 

Sammy   Versus   Cupid Voge-Mutual 

Harry's    Happy    Honeymoon Falstaff  Mutual 

Mutual  Weekly  No.    57 Mutual 

See  America   First  No.   21 Gaumont 

Keeping  Up  with  the  Joneses  No.   21 Gaumont 

The  Soul  Man    Imp  Universal 

Flivvers,   the   Smoke   Eater Nestor 

Wanted  a  Piano   Tuner Joker 

High  Fliers  Victor 

Arthur's    Last    Fling ' Laemmle 

On  the  Firing  Line  with  the  Germans War  Film  Syndicate 

Destruction    Fox   Film   Corp, 

The  Green   Eyed   Monster Fox 

The   Fourth   Estate Fox 

The   Serpent    .' Fox 

The  Turmoil   Metre 

The    Upstart Metro 

The    Bait    Centaur 

Lord   Loveland   Discovers   America American 

Betrayed     Thanhouser 

The   Golden   Chance Lasky 

The  Call   of  the   Cumberlands Pallas 

The    Spider    Famous    Players 

Madame  La  Presidente   Morosco 

Haunts    for    Rent Bray-Paramount 

Pathe   News   No.    13 Pathe 

The   Wood   Nymph ..Fine  Arts-Triangle   Film    Corp. 

Love  and  Lobsters Keystone-Triangle   Film   Corp. 

7J}e    5.ansom    Triumph 

The    City Shubert 

The  Ballet  Girl    Brady 

On  with  the  Dance    Vitagraph 

The  cost  per  night  is  what  is  asked  on  each  of  the 
above  mentioned  pictures. 

"Thou  Shalt  Not  Covet,"  from  the  story  by  James 
Oliver  Curwood  and  produced  by  Colin  Campbell,  will 
be  the  next  Selig  "red  seal"  play  to  be  released  through 
the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program.  Fritzi  Brunette  made  her 
debut  March  8  in  the  Selig  "red  seal"  feature,  "Unto 
Those  Who  Sin." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


WILBUR  IN  STRONG  PLAY 

"The  Love  Liar"  Offers  Popular  Star  Exceptional  Op- 
portunities   to    Demonstrate    Histrionic    Ability — 
"The    Hidden   Law"   Also    Good    Drama 

Crane  Wilbur  has  been  featured  in  many  preten- 
tious photo-plays  but,  according  to  advices  from  the 
office  of  David  Horsley,  it  is  quite  probable  that  not 
one  of  these  compares  in  general  lavishness  and  in 
scope  for  the  star 
with  "The  Love 
Liar,"  a  five-part 
Horsley  production 
scheduled  for  release 
March  27  as  a  Mu- 
tual Masterpiece,  de 
luxe  edition,  in 
which  this  popular 
player  is  presented. 

"T  he  Love 
Liar"  is  described  as 
one  of  the  biggest 
productions  ever 
emanating  from  the 
David  Horsley  stu- 
dios. It  required 
ten  weeks  to  build 
the  settings  in  this 
picture.  Representa- 
tions are  made  of  the 
richly  furnished 
homes  of  the  ultra- 
wealthy  and  of  the 
fashionable  resorts  they  frequent,  lending  a  fine  back- 
ground to  the  narration  of  the  drama. 

The  story,  written  by  Mr.  Wilbur,  gives  the  star 
what  is  probably  the  best  part  he  has  ever  enacted  be- 
fore the  motion  picture  camera.  The  title  of. "The 
Love  Liar"  is  obtained  from  the  principal  character, 
David  McCare,  a  famous  violinist,  played  by  Mr.  Wil- 
bur. McCare,  as  explained  by  a  subtitle,  is  that  type 
of  man  who  leaves 
a  wake  of  ruined 
lives  and  broken 
hearts  behind  him  ;  a 
man  who  tells  so 
many  love  lies  that 
he  finally  believes 
them  himself,  event- 
ually to  his  undoing. 
T  h  e  character 
of  McCare  presents 
an  excellent  psycho- 
logical study  which 
by  its  treatment  de- 
fines a  powerful 
moral.  Special  act- 
ing strength  has 
been  provided  by 
Mr.  Wilbur  by  the 
engagement  express- 
ly for  this  picture  of 
Lucy  Payton,  Mae 
Gaston,  Nan  Christy, 
Ella  Golden,  Fred 
Goodwins  and  Brooklyn  Keller,  for  the  principal  sup- 
porting roles.  In  the  big  ballroom  and  cafe  scenes 
hundreds  of  supernumeraries  take  part. 


Being  of  a  popular  type  of  picture  and  one  so 
elaborately  put  on  as  this,  it  is  believed  that  "The  Love 
Liar"  will  be  in  demand  by  exhibitors. 

David  Horsley  announces  as  the  vehicle  for  the 
second  co-starring  appearance  of  Margaret  Gibson  and 
William  Clifford,  a  five-part  dramatic  feature  entitled 
"The  Hidden  Law."  It  is  from  the  scenario  by 
Theodosia  Harris,  who  has  been  responsible  for  many 
of  the  stories  used  in  the  past  in  David  Horsley  pro- 
ductions, and  is  scheduled  for  release  March  25  as  a 
Mutual  Masterpiece,  de  luxe  edition. 

The  theme  is  based  on  the  hidden  law  of  justice. 
The  author  has  treated  it  in  a  most  interesting  fashion 
by  placing  the  characters  in  familiar  spheres  and  lay- 
ing the  action  in  colorful  environment.  The  earlier 
part  of  the  action  takes  place  in  theatrical  surround- 
ings while  the  latter  half  is  unfolded  in  the  remote 
wilds  of  the  western  mountains. 

The  story  revolves  around  John  Carlton,  a  literary 
genius  and  a  "princess  of  the  mountains."  Carlton 
writes  a  successful  play,  but  is  fleeced  out  of  his  just 
reward.  He  attempts  to  obtain  by  force  what  he  feels 
belongs  to  him  and  is  arrested,  sentenced,  and  thrown 
into  prison.  When  his  term  expires  he  finds  his  genius 
has  died  meanwhile.  Embittered  toward  mankind  and 
man  laws  he  flees  to  mountain  fastnesses,  there  com- 
manding a  living  by  operating  as  a  highway  robber. 

The  "princess  of  the  mountains"  enters  his  life 
and  he  guards  her  against  intruders.  She,  however, 
meets  a  young  hunter  from  the  East  and  Carlton's 
past  life  is  brought  to  life.  In  time  he  learns  that  he 
must  bow  to  the  law  of  reckoning  and  returns  East, 
where  at  last  he  attains  happiness. 


Buffalo  Ministers  Approve  Films 

Motion  pictures  exercise  an  educative  and  uplift- 
ing influence. 

This  is  the  verdict  rendered  by  the  Buffalo 
(N.  Y.)  Ministers'  Association  which  met  recently  to 
deliberate  on  the  question  of  films. 

Rev.  William  C.  Chappell  of  the  Hudson  Street 
Baptist  Church  declared  that  what  he  had  seen  of 
motion  picture  exhibitions  in  Buffalo  had  been  in- 
structive and  beneficial  in  many  ways.  This  was  pre- 
cisely the  opinion  of  a  half  score  other  pastors. 

The  opposition  was  represented  by  Rev.  Herman 
L.  Streich  of  the  Immanuel  Evangelical  Church. 

Rev.  Edward  C.  Fellowes,  secretary  of  the  City 
Federation  of  Churches,  at  the  close  of  the  meeting 
said  that  the  ministers  were  going  to  take  up  with 
heads  of  the  department  of  education  and  city  council 
a.  proposition  for  the  establishment  of  special  Satur- 
day morning  performances  which  children  may  attend 
unescorted  by  their  parents  or  guardians  if  the  law 
allows.  The  plan  has  the  endorsement  of  the  City 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs. 


•cne  from  "The  Lot 


Sunday  Film  Bill  Up 

The  bill  introduced  by  Assemblyman  Clarence  F. 
Welsh  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  would  give  cities  the 
right  to  regulate  the  exhibition  of  motion  pictures  on 
the  Sabbath  is  at  present  being  considered  at  a  hear- 
ing held  by  the  Assembly  Codes  Committee  in  Albany. 
A  large  attendance  of  motion  picture  theater  pro- 
prietors and  others  interested  in  the  proposed  legisla- 
tion was  in  evidence.  A  decision  is  expected  within  a 
few  days. 


March   18.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


"The  Littlest  Rebel"  Wants  to  Be  Big 


BY  GENEVIEVE  HARRIS 


4<T^HE    LITTLEST    REBEL,"    of    stage    fame,    is 

growing  up!      Mary   Miles    Minter,   the   famed 

child  actress  who  played  with  William  and  Dustin 

Farnum,  and  who  is  now  a  star  in  Metro  pictures,  gives 

evidence  of  being  a  bit  of  a  rebel  in  real  life. 

"I  like  the  pictures,  but  I  do  not  like  to  play  the  roles 
they  have  given  me.  They  are  dreadful !"  So  says  Mary, 
whom  audiences  love  when  they  see  her  as  "Emmy," 
or  "Dimples."  or  some  other  personification  of  sweet 
innocence.  Well,  they  had  better  enjoy  these  pictures 
while  they  may,  for  the  little  star  is  going  to  turn  her 
talent  into  another  channel  just  as  soon  as  she  can. 

"I  want  a  serious  play,  of  real  life,  one  with  a  strong, 
vital  story.     I  don't  like  these  'dear  little  girl'  parts." 

This  was  not  exactly  the  sort  of  an  interview  I 
expected  to  have  with  Mary  Miles  Minter.  The  little 
girl  who  greeted  me  at  the  door,  her  bright  curls  framing 
a  mischievous  little  face,  might  have  stepped  out  of  the 
film  stories  she  makes  so  entertaining.  She  had  come  to 
Chicago  to  appear  with  her  pictures  in  several  of  Alfred 
Hamburger's  theaters,  and,  though  she  was  a  busy  girl  that 
morning,  she  would  tell  me  about  her  work.  So,  between 
interruptions  of  telephone  calls  regarding  a  photograph- 
er's appointment,  we  talked  of  pictures  and  picture  plays. 

"Pictures  are  harder  to  work  in  than  the  real  stage." 
"Why?"  Her  answer  unconsciously  set  forth  her  atti- 
tude toward  her  work.  "Because  when  a  picture  is  taken, 
it  stays  that  way,  and  you  can't  go  over  it  and  make  it 
better.  When  I  watch  myself  in  pictures,  I  usually  sit 
like  this."  Marv  illustrated,  with  clenched  fists  and  tense 
lips. 

"How  I'd  like  to  take  that  little  girl  and  shake  her 
and  make  her  do  it  all  differently.  That's  why  I  call 
picture  acting  hard,  because  you  can't  remedy  your  mis- 
takes in  your  next  performance." 

"But  isn't  it  more  interesting  to  play  in  pictures? 
You  have  something  new  to  do  all  the  time,"  I  suggested. 


"No,  the  stage  is  just  as  interesting,  because  you  are 
always  trying  to  do  your  part  better." 

Just  what  kind  of  a  girl  is  this,  who  takes  her  work 
so  seriously,  and  who  does  not  like  to  be  admired  for  her 
charm  alone?  Just  at  the  present  time,  she  is  a  very 
friendly,  unaffected  little  fourteen-year-old  carefully 
taken  care  of  by  her  charming  mother,  and  the  note  of 
sincerity  adds  charm  to  a  bright,  vivacious  personality. 
She  has  more  poise  and  grace  than  most  young  ladies  of 
her  age,  but  with  it  there  is  just  a  touch  of  unexpected 
shyness  which  tells  yoti  that  a  public  career  has  not  robbed 
her  of  her  childhood. 

It  came  time  for  the  photographer's  appointment,  and 
I  arose  to  leave.  "Just  wait  a  minute.  I  want  to  show 
you  the  nicest  gifts  I've  received  lately,"  and  she  ran 
away  to  bring  back  a  rich  traveling  bag,  beautifully  out- 
fitted, and  a  tiny  camera  of  English  make.  "The  Cana- 
dians gave  them  to  me.  I've  been  appearing  in  Canada, 
you  know,  with  my  pictures,  making  speeches,"  she 
laughed.  "Aren't  these  the  prettiest  things?  And  how  I 
loved  Canada  and  the  cold  weather."  She  was  bubbling 
over  with  the  unaffected  delight  of  a  child. 

Then  it  was  past  the  time  to  go.  "Good-bye,"  said 
Mary,  "but  I'll  see  you  again,  for  I'm  going  back  to 
Chicago  in  a  real  play.  I  think  I  can  do  better  work  on 
the  stage  than  in  pictures." 

"She  is  like  a  little  sunbeam,"  said  Mr.  Hamburger. 

"She  is,"  I  said,  but  I  was  thinking  of  the  serious 
spirit  which  shone  in  her  frank  blue  eyes  and  which  make 
one  believe  that  she  will  climb  to  the  goal  she  has  set  for 
herself,  above  ingenue  roles,  above  the  pedestal  of  the 
child  star,  way  up  to  the  heights  of  being  a  great  actress. 

The  World's  Salesmanship  Congress  will  be  held 
in  Detroit  July  9-13.  Salesmen  and  sales  managers  of 
the  world  will  open  the  convention  on  a  Sunday  by  oc- 
cupying   the    pulpits    of    various    Detroit    churches. 


J$ 

Am 

„ 

w 

j 

Three  poses  of  little  Mary  Miles  Minter 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


HORSLEY  TELLS  PLATFORM 

Californian  Against  Censorship;   Favors  Free  Speech 

and  Free  Press;  His  Nomination  to  Congress 

Seems  Assured 

David  Horsley  has  announced  the  platform  upon 
which  he  will  make  his  stand  to  secure  his  nomina- 
tion, at  the  primaries  in  August,  as  a  candidate  for 
a  seat  in  Congress  from  the  Tenth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict of  California.     Here  is  the  platform: 

Fair  play ;  equal  rights ;  free  speech ;  free  press ; 
uncensored  motion  pictures ;  truth  and  frankness ; 
flood  control  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States ;  the 
full  development  of  Los  Angeles  and  its  harbor;  pro- 
tection of  our  industries  through  tariff  legislation ;  pre- 
paredness against  attack;  protection  of  our  citizens  in 
Mexico  even  at  the  cost  of  intervention  and  the  up- 
holding of  the  rights  of  the  United  States  everywhere 
in  the  world ;  peace  even  if  we  have  to  use  force ;  the 
fortifying  of  the  Pacific  coast  against  attack. 

In  announcing  his  platform,  Mr.  Horsley  signified 
his  opposition  to : 

Favoritism,  censorship  of  the  press,  censorship  of 
the  platform  and  pulpit,  censorship  of  motion  pictures, 
censorship  of  the  stage,  plunder  of  the  people  through 
tariff  legislation,  baiting  the  railroads  and  corpora- 
tions into  bankruptcy. 

While  the  motion  picture  interests  all  over  the 
country — and  particularly  those  with  Pacific  coast  alli- 
ances— undoubtedly  will  read  and  digest  the  planks 
affecting  national  and  district  issues  with  considerable 
interest,  it  must  be  assumed  that  thought  will  be  cen- 
tered chiefly  in  those  planks  bearing  directly  upon  the 
motion  picture  industry. 

These  are  covered  in  Mr.  Horsley's  declaration 
that  he  stands  for  fair  play,  equal  rights,  free  speech, 
free  press,  free  motion  pictures,  and  truth  and  frank- 
ness, and  that  he  is  opposed  to  favoritism,  censorship 
of  the  platform  and  pulpit,  censorship  of  newspapers, 
censorship  of  motion  pictures  and  censorship  of  the 
stage.  The  keynote  is  freedom  from  interference  and 
oppression  for  the  motion  picture  and  those  arts  with 
which  it  is  so  closely  allied,  whether  by  censorship  or 
by  any  of  the  other  manifold  abuses  to  which  the 
motion  picture  and  its  sister  arts  have  been  subjected 
for  a  long  time. 

Mr.  Horsley  is  gratified  at  the  cordial  manner  in 


which  the  public  announcement  of  his  proposed  run 
was  greeted.    Speaking  of  his  candidacy,  he  said : 

"For  myself,  I  always  have  believed  that  our  great 
industry  should  have  representation  in  Washington, 
and  from  what  has  transpired  in  the  space  of  the  last 
few  weeks  it  is  plain  to  be  seen  that  others  in  the 
industry  are  of  the  same  mind. 

"When  the  idea  was  first  broached  to  me  that 
I  act  as  that  representative,  I  admit  I  deliberated  for 
some  time  before  consenting.  To  go  to  Washington 
meant  that  I  must  shoulder  the  legislative  burden  of 
the  producer  and  the  exhibitor;  that  my  own  private 
interests  must  be  subjugated  in  favor  of  the  industry 
at  large.  However,  I  am  willing  to  do  this ;  so  I  gave 
my  consent. 

"The  fight  I  am  about  to  make  is  not  mine  alone. 
It  is  one  in  which  the  entire  industry  should  take 
part,  for  whatever  benefit  is  to  come  from  it  will  re- 
flect to  the  good  of  all  of  us.  With  the  proper  sup- 
port, we  will  win." 

Reports  from  Los  Angeles  say  that  the  nomina- 
tion and  election  of  Mr.  Horsley  looks  like  a  foregone 
conclusion. 


THANHOUSER  FOR  FILM  BALLS 

Leon  J.  Rubinstein,  Director  of  Publicity,  Issues  State- 
ment Upholding  Activities  of  Motion  Picture 
Concerns  in  Social  Functions 

Leon  J.  Rubinstein,  director  of  publicity  for  the 
Thanhouser  Film  Corporation,  has  issued  the  following 
statement  concerning  Thanhouser's  activities  at  recent 
social  functions  of  motion  picturedom  : 

"I  am  sorry  to  note  that  any  company  sees  fit  to  with- 
draw from  these  affairs.  While  they  are  always  for  a 
good  cause,  they  have  the  additional  virtue  of  bringing 
together  the  men  of  a  branch  of  the  industry  who  seldom 
get  the  opportunity.  Dating  back  to  the  affair  at  Brighton 
Beach  last  summer,  and  covering  the  Bronx  Ball,  the 
Boston  Ball  and  the  most  recent  ball  of  the  New  York- 
exhibitors  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  I  believe  we  all 
have  hugely  enjoyed  the  good-natured  rivalry  for  public- 
ity honors.  While  I  concede  that  the  Thanhouser  com- 
pany has  gone  much  further  in  these  affairs  than  a  single 
manufacturing  concern  generally  does  go.  there  is  su- 
preme satisfaction  in  the  results  achieved.  The  gala  spirit 
everywhere  has  helped  us  spread  the  Thanhouser  slogan 
broadcast,  and  from  a  personal  standpoint  I  would  not 
miss  any  one  of  them  on  a  bet.  I  am  only  sorry  that  the 
necessity  of  the  work  here  prevents  our  players  from 
attending  these  affairs  in  greater  numbers  and  at  greater 
distances. 

"From  a  publicity  standpoint  I  must  admit  that  the 
social  functions  of  filmdom  offer  one  of  the  best  oppor- 
tunities for  men  with  ideas  to  secure  type  space.  It  is 
unfortunate  that  in  some  quarters  the  results  have  not 
been  secured  in  proportion  to  the  money  expended,  but 
that  is  a  matter  for  each  publictiy  man  to  take  care  of 
with  his  own  judgment.  In  my  case  the  expenditure  has 
been  delightfully  small  in  proportion  to  the  benefits 
derived. 

"This  statement  was  issued  on  the  eve  of  another 
great  ball  in  Salem,  Mass.,  to  which  I  escorted  a  number 
of  our  players  and  where  Florence  La  Badie  sold  auto- 
graphed photographs  for  the  benefit  of  the  Actors'  Fund. 
The  Thanhouser  company  thanks  the  promoters  of  the 
various  functions  for  the  opportunities  afforded  and  the 
benefits  derived." 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


PAUL  H.  WOODRUFF,    Editor 

NEW 

ORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGACRE  BUILDING 
Forty-second  Street  and  Broadway 
Telephone  Bryant  7030 

LES  R.  CONDON,  Eastern  Representative 

This 

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if 

tions    or     control.       No     iinuiu- 

policy. 

En 

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THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 

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Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  18,  1916 


Number  12 


The  Right  to  Refuse  Sale 


A  PUBLIC  service  corporation,  such  as  a  telephone  company  or  an  electric  light  company, 
cannot  refuse  to  give  service  to  any  responsible  person  who  asks  for  it.  A  public  servant, 
such  as  a  barber  or  a  restaurant  keeper,  cannot  refuse  to  serve  a  respectable  customer.  Motion 
picture  manufacturers  and  rental  exchanges,  however,  are  neither  public  servants  nor  public 
service  corporations.  No  one  would  question  the  right  of  an  art  dealer  to  refuse  to  sell  his  best 
works  to  a  customer  who  would  hang  them  in  a  barroom.  As  publishers,  we  need  not  sell  our 
advertising  space  to  concerns  whom  we  may  consider  objectionable,  or  whose  presence  in  our 
pages  may  be  detrimental  to  our  business.  Some  automobile  manufacturers  refuse  to  sell  cars 
to  dealers  who  do  not  keep  their  places  of  business  in  a  clean  and  attractive  condition,  and  we 
believe  this  right  has  been  upheld.  Those  things,  it  appears  to  us,  are  natural  privileges  which 
cannot  be  denied  anyone  in  private  business. 

The  supreme  court  decision  in  the  Knickerbocker  theater  case,  as  reported  in  our  issue 
of  March  4,  favorable  as  it  was  to  the  theater,  nevertheless  clearly  upheld  the  right  of  refusal  to 
serve.  For  the  court  held  that  the  theater  was  still  in  the  classification  of  "first  class"  houses, 
and  therefore  entitled  to  its  lease  and  its  service.  The  inference  is  plain  that  a  decision  which 
placed  the  house  in  a  lower  class  could  have  carried  with  it  a  permission  to  the  owner  to  cancel 
the  lease  and  consequently,  by  inference,  permission  to  a  film  service  company  to  refuse  service. 

It  is  the  usual  practice  to  write  into  the  leases  of  first-class  theaters  that  the  presentation 
of  any  performance  calculated  to  lower  the  dignity  or  reputation  of  the  house  is  cause  for  can- 
cellation of  the  lease.  The  owner  or  landlord  of  the  theater,  that  is,  refuses  to  sell  the  use  of  his 
theater  for  purposes  which  lower  the  standard  he  has  set  or  established  for  it  and  his  right  to 
do  this  is  recognized. 

It  appears  to  us  that  a  producer  or  distributor  of  films  has  the  same  right  to  refuse  service, 
that  is,  to  refuse  to  sell  his  film  or  the  use  of  it,  to  a  theater  which  has  established  the  reputa- 
tion of  running  an  inferior  grade  of  pictures.  We  should  be  willing  to  grant,  to  the  film  maker 
who  is  working  hard  for  better  theaters  and  a  better  art  of  presentation,  the  privilege  of  with- 
holding his  best  product  from  the  exhibitor  who  combats  the  uplift  effort. 

There  is  another  side  to  the  question,  of  course.  The  exhibitor,  no  matter  how  small, 
unpretentious  and  economically  equipped  his  house,  who  is  sincerely  interested  in  improvement, 
who  aspires  to  show  only  the  best  pictures  to  the  best  people,  deserves  encouragement.  The 
producer  who  denied  him  access  to  its  good  product  because  his  big  competitor  protested 
would  be  wronging  him  morally  if  not  legally. 

The  Federal  Trade  Commission  now  has  before  it  the  complaint  of  an  exhibitor  that  a 
certain  film  producer  or  distributor  refused  to  deliver  its  product  to  him  for  his  legitimate  use 
when  he  proffered  the  correct  amount  in  payment.  Previous  decisions  of  the  commission  in 
apparently  parallel  cases,  as  cited  by  our  correspondent,  seem  to  uphold  the  right  of  the  pro- 
ducer to  refuse  to  sell.  It  may  be,  however,  that  the  case  will  develop  new  features,  and  its 
action  will  be  watched  with  interest. 


630  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 

The  Art  of  Screen  Expression 

WHAT  the  motion  picture  screen  may  be  made  to  express,  beyond  the  two  specific  states  of 
object  and  motion,  determines  its  place  in  art.  In  the  ordinary  acceptance  of  screen 
expression,  it  is  generally  assumed  that  only  the  "nouns"  may  be  expressed;  that  the  "verbs," 
"adjectives"  and  "adverbs"  of  expression  cannot  be  presented. 

But  the  objects  we  see  and  their  actions,  the  "nouns"  of  the  writer,  are  invested  with 
significance  only  when  we  associate  them  with  past  experiences.  A  certain  photoplay  writer, 
a  student  of  psychology,  has  pointed  out  that  the  most  complex  states  of  emotion  are  elabora- 
tions of  the  sensations  and  the  concepts  we  have  associated  with  objects.  Emotion  of  any 
kind  is  dependent  upon  the  memory  of  what  we  have  thought,  willed  or  experienced,  and  so  is 
inseparably  bound  up  with  objects. 

When  we  say,  therefore,  that  all  the  screen  can  show  is  objects,  we  have  not  actually  placed 
a  limitation  on  its  expression.  The  supreme  achievement  of  the  photoplay  lies  not  on  the 
screen,  but  in  the  minds  of  its  spectators.  The  story  writer,  the  builder  of  word  structures 
whose  work  achieves  the  name  of  art,  does  not  construct  an  entirely  new  picture  for  his 
readers — for  that  is  almost  impossible — but  re-establishes  or  defines  an  old  and  beloved  mental 
experience.  In  thought  and  emotion  there  is  nothing  new.  The  experiences  of  an  audience 
must  be  touched  to  gain  recognition;  and  the  more  intimate  the  touch,  the  higher  the  art. 

The  psychological  fact  that  emotion  may  be  developed  in  an  audience  beyond  the  specific 
suggestion  of  either  the  object  or  the  motion  on  a  screen  is  known  to  a  few  directors.  These 
directors,  the  records  show,  are  invariably  successful.  They  are  recognized  as  masters  of  the 
art.  And  the  secret  of  their  power  lies  in  their  recognition  of  the  experience  that  lies  in  the 
human  mind  of  the  audience — not  in  the  series  of  pictured  "nouns"  they  put  on  the  screen. 

The  art  of  screen  expression  goes  beyond  the  teachings  of  scenario  writing  and  the  direct- 
ing of  players.  It  is  born  of  an  understanding  that  must  be  in  the  man — or  perhaps  in  the  men 
who  collaborate  on  the  production;  for  we  believe  the  writer  and  the  director  should  work 
together. 

Screen  psychology  is  pure  human  psychology;  both  are  objectionable,  theoretical- 
sounding  terms  whose  sense  we  should  perforce  deny  were  not  such  splendid  object-lessons 
before  us  in  the  work  of  those  few  directors  who  perform  marvels  with  motionless  players 
and  actionless  scenes. 

The  ordinary  director  projects  himself  onto  the  screen  with  every  picture  he  produces — 
often  with  an  intensity  that  bespeaks  the  earnestness  of  his  ambition  to  make  art.  But  the 
extraordinary  director  projects  himself  away  beyond  the  screen,  into  the  minds  and  even  the 
homes  of  his  audiences.  And  that,  we  think,  is  the  difference  between  mediocrity  and  brilliance 
in  picture  producing.  The  brilliant  director  knows  emotion  for  what  it  is — a  mental  experience, 
revived,  not  created,  by  the  suggestion  on  the  screen. 

The  image  on  the  screen  is  the  director  of  the  true  image  on  the  emotional  or  mental 
screen  of  the  audience. 

When  we  have  mastered  the  art  of  screen  expression,  not  just  one  or  two  but  all  of  us,  we 
will  be  able  to  develop  in  the  consciousness  of  the  audience  all  the  emotions  that  can  be  brought 
into  play  by  any  art.  The  spectacular  picture  gets  by ;  but  it  is  not  the  perfect  path  of  entry 
to  the  emotional  consciousness  of  the  audience. 

As  our  playwright  visitor  expressed  it,  many  of  the  screen  plays  of  the  day  are  but  the 
blare  of  trumpets,  the  beat  of  drums  and  the  clash  of  cymbals;  the  soft  notes  of  the  melodies, 
the  harmonic  sounds  are  left  out. 

The  master  director  is  a  master  of  emotion.  He  knows  its  history  and  composition,  and 
has  it  dissected  and  analyzed.  His  thought  is  not  "What  will  I  get  on  the  screen?"  but  rather 
"What  emotions,  what  experiences,  will  I  stir  in  the  audience?"  The  screen  is  not  his  end 
and  aim;  it  is  merely  his  transitory  vehicle. 

The  author  has  had  little  place  in  this  discussion.  He  has  a  big  place  in  the  art  of  screen 
expression — when  he  can  work  with  the  director.  It  is  his  story.  The  projection  of  his 
emotive  suggestion  onto  the  mental  screen  of  the  audience  must  lose  power  in  the  transfer 
to  another  mind — that  of  the  director.  The  wise  director  and  the  wise  author  will  welcome 
the  day  when  they  can  work  side  by  side  in  perfecting  the  art  of  screen  expression. 


March   18,   1916.. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


631 


Ince  Springs  Big  Spectacle 

WORKED  SECRETLY  TEN  MONTHS 


4  4  JNCE'S  Big  Picture"  is  about  to  be  sprung  on  the 
I  public.  Heralded  from  the  offices  of  the  Tri- 
angle company  as  the  "greatest  film  ever  made," 
this  multiple-reel  feature,  which  has  been  in  the  course 
of  production  for  nearly 
ten  months,  is  virtually 
completed.  The  veil  of 
secrecy  which  has  en- 
shrouded the  making  of 
the  film  extraordinary 
since  June,  1915,  was  lifted 
when  the  producer  of  Tri- 
angle-Kay Bee  plays 
agreed  to  abandon  his  reti- 
cence and  let  the  world  be 
informed  concerning  the 
production. 

Thomas  H.  Ince,  re- 
sponsible for  the  photo 
spectacle,  still  is  deliberat- 
ing upon  a  title.  It  is  to 
be  announced  in  a  week  or 
two.      Although    Ince    and 

his    Chief    author,     C.     Gard-  Working  a  mob  scene 

ner    Sullivan,    for    months 

previous  had  been  nurturing  in  their  minds  the  basic 
theme  of  the  story,  actual  work  on  its  production  was 
begun  June  6,  1915.  From  then  until  January  5,  1916, 
the  task  of  photographing  the  600  scenes  continued. 
Then  the  film  was  turned  over  to  the  cutters  who, 
under  Ince's  personal  supervision,  are  now  rapidly 
completing  their  work. 

What  is  said  to  be  the  largest,  costliest  and  most 
substantial  setting  ever  constructed  for  a  photo-dra- 
matic spectacle  was  used  in  this  subject.  It  was  erected 
at  an  approximate  cost  of  $35,000  and  stands  majesti- 
cally atop  one  of  the  hills  at  Inceville,  enduring  the 
elements  as  successfully  as  though  it  had  been  in- 
tended as  a  permanent  structure.  This  setting  repre- 
sents the  palace,  house  of  parliament,  prison,  royal 
court  and  adjacent  buildings  in  a  mythical  kingdom, 
which  is  the  locale  of  the  piece. 


The  first  spadeful  of  earth,  in  preparation  for  the 
erection  of  the  set,  was  turned  in  May,  1915,  a  full 
month  before  actual  photography  was  begun.  It  was 
November  when  the  set  was  in  readiness  for  use. 
Thirty  carloads,  approxi- 
mately 600,000  feet  of  lum- 
ber, were  used  in  the  con- 
struction. Glass  valued  at 
a  total  of  $4,000  was  neces- 
sary for  the  hundreds  of 
windows,  while  many  tons 
of  cement  and  plaster  were 
used  as  the  other  principal 
materials.  The  entire  set- 
ting covered  an  area  of  six 
and  a  half  acres. 

When  the  production 
has  been  given  Ince's  final 
stamp  of  approval  it  is  to 
be  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  Victor  L.  Schertzinger, 
the  well-known  young  mu- 
sical composer,  who  will 
i  new  ince  ten-redcr.  devote    his    time    uninter- 

ruptedly to  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  incidental  musical  score.  When  this  work 
is  finished,  the  piece  will  be  presented  in  public  ex- 
hibition. 

Through  what  medium  the  production  will  find 
its  way  to  the  screen  of  the  country  is  a  matter 
find  its  way  to  the  screen  of  the  country  is  a  matter 
that  has  not  been  definitely  decided.  Adam  Kessel,  Jr., 
president  of  the  New  Yo'rk  Motion  Picture  Corpora- 
tion, is  now  in  Los  Angeles  in  conference  with  Ince 
on  various  matters  relative  to  the  picture's  premiere. 
More  than  121,000  feet  of  film  were  exposed  in 
making  the  picture.  This  footage  represents  retakes, 
added  scenes,  wastes,  etc.  The  length  at  which  it  will 
be  shown,  however,  will  be  between  9,000  and  12,000 
feet. 

The  plot  about  which  the  story  revolves  still  re- 
mains unannounced,  although  modern  warfare,  its  hor- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


rors  and  uselessness  admittedly  is  its  underlying  note. 
It  is  an  original  work  of  C.  Gardner  Sullivan. 

A  pertinent  fact  in  connection  with  the  production 
is  that  Ince,  in  making  it,  enjoyed  the  undivided  col- 
laboration of  Raymond  B.  West,  who  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  foremost  photographic  experts  in  the  indus- 
try. The  cast  which  will  be  seen  in  the  production 
embraces  players  who,  with  one  exception,  have  been 
under  the  Ince  direction  throughout  their  respective 
motion  picture  careers. 

The  big  role  was  played  by  Herschel  Mayall,  the 
well  known  leading  man  of  the  speaking  stage,  who 
has  been  appearing  in  Ince  productions  for  the  last 
four  years.  Mayall,  it  is  claimed,  has  contributed,  by 
his  performance  in  this  feature,  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable characterizations  in  photo-play  history.  His 
work,  it  is  declared,  will  be  recorded  as  a  monumental 
achievement. 

Next  to  Mayall,  in  point  of  importance,  is  Howard 
Hickman,  whose  work  also,  it  is  predicted,  will  merit 
enthusiastic  praise.  The  remainder  of  the  cast  in- 
cludes J.  Frank  Burke,  Charles  French,  Lola  May, 
George  Fisher,  Ethel  Ullman,  Jerome  Storm  and  J. 
Barney   Sherry. 


Ft.  Smith  May  Get  Exchanges 

Ft.  Smith,  Ark.,  probably  will  be  the  headquarters 
of  the  motion  picture  business  in  the  Southwest  within 
the  next  month.  The  Universal  and  Mutual  film  com- 
panies are  said  to  be  considering  the  removal  of  their 
Oklahoma  City  offices  to  Fort  Smith.  It  is  said  the 
Genera]  Film  company  also  will  move  its  branch  to 
Fori  Smith  if  the  removal  of  the  other  two  concerns 
is  decided  upon. 


Ince  Runs  Triangle  Theater 

Under  the  managemenl  of  Thomas  H.  Ince,  Tri- 
angle plays  have  been  inaugurated  at  the  Ince  theater, 
Culver  City.  Cal.  It  will  be  operated  on  a  two-shows- 
a-week  basis,  one  bill  being  presented  every  Wednes- 
day night  and  one  Saturday  night.  The  "remainder 
of  the  time  the  building  is  devoted  to  the  cutting, 
assembling  and  projecting  of  the  Ince  productions. 
Following  the  recenl  removal  of  most  departments  to 
(  ulver  City,  tnce  found  it  necessary  to  accommodate 
his  cutting  forces,  in  order  thai  he  might  be  in  close 


touch  with  them.  Hence,  he  leased  the  building, 
which  is  about  a  block  from  the  site  of  the  new  plant. 
The  opening  bill  at  the  Ince  theater  was  "Old  Heidel- 
berg," with  Dorothy  Gish,  a  Fine  Arts  production, 
and  "Fickle  Fatty's  Fall,"  with  Roscoe  Arbuckle,  a 
Sennett-Keystone  comedy.  The  second  program  was 
"The  Coward,"  with  Frank  Keenan,  an  Ince-Kay-Bee 
drama,  and  "A  Favorite  Fool,"  with  Eddie  Foy, 
another  Sennett-Keystone  film. 


"Should  a  Baby  Die?"  Selling 

Following  many  successful  showings  of  "Should  a 
Baby  Die?"  the  Hanover  Film  Company's  five-reel  fea- 
ture, state  rights  men  are  endeavoring  to  get  territory. 
The  picture,  written  by  Charles  K.  Harris  and  starring 
Arthur  Donaldson,  seems  to  be  growing  in  favor  with 
buyers,  and  the  executives  of  the  Hanover  concern  are 
quite  active  at  present  considering  offers.  From  the  be- 
ginning, "Should  a  Baby  Die?"  attracted  much  attention, 
and  when  it  was  shown  for  review  by  the  trade  papers 
it  was  generally  commended.  As  the  company  is  work- 
ing under  a  definite  policy,  there  are  some  good  territories 
still  open,  but  these  are  likely  to  be  snapped  up  quickly. 


The  Lubin  company  has  taken  up  the  good  health 
propaganda  and  is  one  of  its  strongest  advocates.  The 
campaign,  which  has  been  spread  among  the  firm's  em- 
ployes, is  especially  notable  in  "The  Great  Divide."  a 
five-reel  feature.  The  film  proves  the  company's  con- 
tention that  realism  in  many  of  its  photoplays  requires 
the  investment  of  much  human  energy  and  often  consid- 
erable self-sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  performers.  In 
taking  many  of  the  scenes  the  actors  were  obliged  to 
undergo  several  rough  experiences.  In  order  to  keep 
the  cast  well  and  happy,  the  Lubin  commissary  depart- 
ment followed  the  actors  to  every  scene.  There  was  a 
steaming  hot  meal  served  from  the  automobile  grill  three 
times  a  day. 


After  Mayor  John  Buschmever,  of  Louisville,  had 
refused  to  place  a  ban  on  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation."  it  was 
thought  that  the  two  weeks'  engagement  there  would  run 
smoothly,  but  more  trouble  for  the  managers  began  when 
William  A.  Heck,  an  attorney,  swore  out  a  warrant  for 
the  arrest  of  Anson  O.  Bigelow,  manager  of  MacCauley's 
theater  there,  under  an  old-time  act  that  fofbids  plays 
that  would  incite  race  prejudice. 


March  18.   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Trade  Commission  Gets  Film  Complaint 


BY  THOMAS  O.  MONK 


A  COMPLAINT  has  been  filed  with  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  against  a  film  distributing 
company,  the  complaint  alleging  unfair  compe- 
tition or  discrimination  in  that  the  distributing  com- 
pany refuses  to  sell  to  the  complainant.  The  commis- 
sion announces  it  will  investigate. 

Further  information  on  the  subject  is  not  fur- 
nished by  the  commission,  and  therefore  the  circum- 
stances in  the  case  have  not  developed. 

The  commission  is  charged  with  the  enforcement 
of  the  Federal  Trade  Commission  act  and  also  certain 
sections  of  the  Clayton  act,  the  latter  being  designated 
as  "an  act  to  supplement  existing  laws  against  unlaw- 
ful restraints  and  monopolies,  and  for  other  purposes." 
As  the  facts  with  regard  to  the  complaint  have  not 
fully  developed,  discussion  necessarily  will  be  limited, 
but  it  is  interesting  in  this  connection  to  note  that  the 
commission  has  ruled  that  manufacturers  can  refuse 
to  sell  under  certain  circumstances,  but  it  added 
"whether  a  refusal  to  sell  under  other  circumstances 
is  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  Clayton  act  or  the 
Federal  Trade  Commission  act  the  Commission  does 
not  now  decide." 

This  ruling  of  the  commission  is  one  of  a  series 
made  by  it  on  February  1  and  it  is  as  follows : 

Refusal  to  Sell. — On  application  for  the  issuance  of 
a  complaint,  it  appeared  that  certain  manufacturers, 
pursuant  to  their  established  sales  policy  of  selling  only 
to  local  retail  dealers,  refused  to  sell  to  the  applicant, 
a  retail  dealer  doing  business  principally  by  mail,  a 
certain  commodity  for  shipment  direct  from  the  mills 
to  consumers  in  a  state  where  the  applicant  maintained 
no  place  of  business.  On  investigation  by  the  commis- 
sion it  appeared  that  there  was  no  agreement  or  under- 
standing among  the  manufacturers  complained  of  to 
prevent  the  applicant  or  others  doing  a  similar  busi- 
ness, by  refusal  to  sell  or  otherwise,  from  securing  this 
commodity,  nor  did  it  appear  that  such  manufacturers 
had  been  coerced  or  intimidated  by  retailers  affected  by 
the  competition  of  the  applicant.  Held,  That,  under 
the  circumstances,  a  refusal  of  a  manufacturer  to  sell 
to  the  applicant  for  direct  shipment  from  the  mill  to 
territory  covered  by  local  dealers  is  not  a  violation  of 
any  law  which  the  commission  is  authorized  to  enforce. 
Whether  a  refusal  to  sell  under  other  circumstances  is 
contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  Clayton  Act  or  the 
Federal  Trade  Commission  Act  the  commission  does 
not  now  decide. 
The  commission  has  also  held  that  neither  the 
trade  commission  act  nor  the  Clayton  act  prohibits 
manufacturers  selling  their  product  exclusively 
through  one  dealer  in  a  given  territory,  as  follows : 
Exclusive  Territory — Refusal  to  Sell. — On  applica- 
tion for  the  issuance  of  a  complaint,  it  appeared  that  a 
manufacturer  engaged  in  interstate  commerce,  having 
designated  an  exclusive  dealer  in  a  certain  local  terri- 
tory, refused  to  sell  to  another  dealer  within  this  terri- 
tory. It  further  appeared  that  such  exclusive  dealer  was 
under  no  obligation  to  refrain  from  dealing  in  the  prod- 
ucts of  other  manufacturers  of  the  same  commodity. 
Held,  That  neither  the  Federal  Trade  Commission  Act 
nor  the  Clayton  Act  prohibits  manufacturers  selling 
their  product  exclusively  through  one  dealer  in  a 
given  territory.  A  refusal  to  sell  to  others  in  such 
territory,  under  such  circumstances,  is,  therefore,  not 
unlawful. 
Other  rulings  on  refusal  to  sell  or  exclusive  agency 
are  are  follows : 

Refusal  to    Sell — Exclusive   Agency. — On   inquiry: 
Held,  That   the   Clayton   act   does   not   prohibit   manu- 


facturers establishing  exclusive  sales  agencies  in  cer- 
tain territory  and  selling  their  product  in  such  terri- 
tory- only  through  such  agencies.  A  refusal  to  sell  to 
others  in  such  territory,  where  such  agency  has  been 
established,  is  therefore  not  unlawful.  Whether  a 
mere  refusal  to  sell  under  any  circumstances  is  contrary 
to  the  provisions  of  the  Clayton  act  or  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  act  the  commission  does  not  now 
decide. 

Exclusive  Territory— Refusal  to  Sell.— On  applica- 
tion for  the  issuance  of  a  complaint,  it  appeared  that 
a  manufacturer  engaged  in  interstate  commerce  as- 
signed exclusive  territory  to  jobbers  of  his  product  in 
various  states  and  refused  to  sell  to  the  applicant,  a 
competing  jobber.  Held,  That  the  Federal  Trade  Com- 
mission act  and  the  Clayton  act  do  not  prohibit  manu- 
facturers selling  their  product  exclusively  through  one 
dealer  in  a  given  territory.  A  refusal  to  sell  to  others 
in  such  territory  under  such  circumstances  is  there- 
fore not  unlawful.  Whether  a  mere  refusal  to  sell 
under  any  circumstances  or  for  any  reasons  is  con- 
trary to  the  provisions  of  the  Clayton  act  or  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  act  the  commission  does  not  now 
decide. 

Exclusive  Agency — Exclusive  Territory — Refusal 
to  Sell. — On  application  for  the  issuance  of  a  com- 
plaint, it  appeared  that  a  manufacturer,  engaged  in 
interstate  commerce,  having  selected  an  exclusive  agent 
or  distributing  dealer  in  certain  territory,  refused  to 
sell  to  another  dealer  within  this  terriory.  Held,  That 
neither  the  Federal  Trade  Commission  act  nor  the 
Clayton  act  prohibits  manufacturers  establishing  ex- 
clusive agencies  or  assigning  exclusive  territory  to 
dealers.  Under  these  circumstances  a  refusal  to  sell 
to  others  than  such  agents  or  distributors  is  therefore 
not  unlawful  under  these  acts. 

Exclusive  Agency. — On  inquiry  by  a  piano  manu- 
facturer whether  the  following  clause  in  a  "consign- 
ment agreement"  is  in  contravention  of  the  Clayton  act, 
to  wit: 

,   sell,   or  lease  the   pianos   con- 


3   of- 


j. .  The  factor  shall   offer, 

him    by    the    consignor    only    to    persons    residing 

-in  the   State  of ■  and  shall   not   s 

fe   of  this   contract,   any   other  pianos  thai 


thos 


consigned  by  the 

Held,  It  appearing  that  the  "consignment  agreement" 
does  not  provide  for  a  sale  or  lease  of  the  goods  of  the 
principal  to  the  person  designated  as  "factor,"  but  only 
for  the  establishment  of  an  agency  for  the  sale  of  the 
goods  of  the  principal,  therefore  the  use  of  such  clause 
does  not  appear  to  be  in  violation  of  section  3  of  the 
Clayton  act. 

Direct  Selling. — On  application  for  the  issuance  of 
a  complaint,  it  was  alleged  that  certain  mining  oper- 
ators were  selling  their  product  direct  to  consumers  at 
wholesale  prices,  and  coercing  retail  dealers  into  hand- 
ling their  product,  either  by  threats  to  sell  or  by  tem- 
porary arrangements  for  selling  their  product  direct 
to  consumers.  Upon  investigation  by  the  commission, 
it  appeared  that  the  operators  were  in  fact  selling  their 
product  direct  to  consumers,  but  that  this  method  of 
competition  was  not  used  for  purposes  of  coercion  but 
was  necessary  in  order  to  keep  their  product  on  the 
market.  Held,  That  the  sale  by  a  mining  operator  of 
his  product  direct  to  the  consumer  is  not  of  itself  an 
unfair  method  of  competition. 

Exclusive  Territory. — On  inquiry  by  a  manufac- 
turer whether  section  3  of  the  Clayton  act  is  violated 
by  a  contract  containing  the  following  clause: 

In  consideration  of  exclusive  sale  of  your  goods  in from 

date  of  this  contract  to  March  1,  191 — ,  agree  to  neither  sell 

your  goods  outside   of  the  territory  heretofore   reserved  to , 

directly  or  indirectly,  under  penalty  of  paying  all  damages  resulting 
from  a  violation  of  this  clause  and  cancellation  of  this  contract 
at  the   option   of  the   manufacturer;    nor  to   countermand   this   order 

except     on     payment    to Manufacturing    Co.,     as     liquidated 

damages,  20  per  cent  of  the  net  amount  of  goods  hereby  purchased 

Held,  That  section  3  of  the  Clayton  act  does  not  pro- 
hibit manufacturers  selling  their  product  exclusively 
through  one  dealer  in  a  given  territory  and  requiring 


634 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


the  dealer  not  to  sell  their  product  outside  of  the  terri- 
tory assigned. 

Exclusive  Agency — Exclusive  Territory — Refusal 
to  Sell. — On  application  for  the  issuance  of  a  complaint, 
it  appeared  that  several  manufacturers,  having  ap- 
pointed exclusive  agents  or  distributors  in  a  given 
place,  refused  to  sell  to  another  dealer  at  the  same 
point.  Field,  That  neither  the  Clayton  act  nor  the 
Federal  Trade  Commission  act  prohibits  manufacturers 
establishing  exclusive  agencies  or  assigning  exclusive 
territory  to  dealers.  Under  such  circumstances  a  re- 
fusal to  sell  to  others  than  such  agents  or  distributors 
is  not  unlawful  under  these  acts. 

Refusal   to    Manufacture   and    Sell — Competition — 
Jurisdiction. — On  application  for  the  issuance  of  a  com- 
plaint, it  appeared  that  a  company  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture   of    bottle    crowns    refused    to    make    certain 
crowns  for  the  applicant,  assigning  as  the  reason  that 
the   crowns   ordered  would   constitute  an   infringement 
of  the  trademark  of  another  customer,  a  competitor  of 
the  applicant.    It  did  not  appear  that  the  refusal  com- 
plained of  was  induced  by  the  competitor.    Held,  That, 
as  the  facts  do  not  disclose  a  method  of  competition, 
the   commission    is   without   jurisdiction    to    act    in    the 
premises. 
The   rulings   of   the   commission   from   which   the 
above  are  extracts  were  the  first  to  be  made  by  the 
commission,  and  they  were  published  with  the  follow- 
ing explanatory  note : 

The  following  are  rulings  of  the  commission  in 
conference  which  are  published  as  being  of  public  in- 
terest. Future  rulings  will  be  announced  from  time  to 
time  through  the  public  press  and  subsequently  com- 
piled and  issued  by  the  commission  in  successive  bulle- 
tins. These  rulings  are  published  for  the  information 
of  business  men  engaged  in  interstate  commerce  and 
others  interested  in  the  work  of  the  commission.  They 
are  not  decisions  in  formal  proceedings,  but  merely 
expressions  of  the  opinion  of  the  commission  on  appli- 
cations for  the  issuance  of  complaints  and  informal 
inquiries  with  regard  to  particular  facts  which  involve 
the  interpretation  and  construction  of  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  act  and  of  those  sections  of  the 
Clayton  act  with  the  enforcement  of  which  the  com- 
mission is  charged. 

While  these  rulings  may  be  regarded  as  precedents 
in  so  far  as  they  are  applicable  in  proceedings  before 
the  commission,  a  more  extensive  presentation  of  facts 
in  later  cases  may  result  in  their  modification,  and  they 
should  not,  therefore,  be  regarded  as  conclusive  in  the 
determination  by  the  commission  of  any  future  action. 
Section  5  of  the  trade  commission  act  is  the  chief 
section,  and  it  is  as  follows : 

Sec.  5.  That  unfair  methods  of  competition  in  com- 
merce are  hereby  declared  unlawful. 

The  commission  is  hereby  empowered  and  directed 
to  prevent  persons,  partnerships,  or  corporations,  ex- 
cept banks,  and  common  carriers  subject  to  the  acts  to 
regulate  commerce,  from  using  unfair  methods  of  com- 
petition in  commerce. 

Whenever  the  commission  shall  have  reason  to 
believe  that  any  such  person,  partnership,  or  corpora- 
tion has  been  or  is  using  any  unfair  method  of  com- 
petition in  commerce,  and  if  it  shall  appear  to  the  com- 
mission that  a  proceeding  by  it  in  respect  thereof 
would  be  to  the  interest  of  the  public,  it  shall  issue  and 
serve  upon  such  person,  partnership,  or  corporation 
a   complaint    stating   its    charges    in    that    respect,   and 

taining  a  notice  of  a  hearing  upon  a  day  and  at  a 
place  therein  fixed  at  least  thirty  days  after  the  service 

aid    complaint.      The    person,    partnership,    or    cor- 
poration  so  complained    of  shall  have  the   right    to  ap- 
:l    the  place  and   time  so   fixed  and   show  cause 
why  an  order  should  not  be  entered   by  the   commis- 
sion requiring  such  person,  partnership,  or  corporation 
to  case  and   desisl    from  the    violation   of  the  law   so 
charged    in   said    complaint,      Any   person,   partnership, 
rporation   may  make  application,  and  upon  good 
the   commission    to 
<  <  ■  ding   hv   counsel   or 
in  person,     ["he  testimonj  in  anj   such  proceeding  shall 

'""  ed  to  writing  and  fi] m,,  ,.  ,,,  tne  (  om 

mission,     l!  upon  such  heai    .  i 


of  the  opinion  that  the  method  of  competition  in  ques- 
tion is  prohibited  by  this  act,  it  shall  make  a  report  in 
writing  in  which  it  shall  state  its  findings  as  to  the 
facts,  and  shall  issue  and  cause  to  be  served  on  such 
person,  partnership,  or  corporation  an  order  requiring 
such  person,  partnership,  or  corporation  to  cease  and 
desist  from  using  such  method  of  competition.  Until  a 
transcript  of  the  record  in  such  hearing  shall  have  been 
filed  in  a  circuit  court  of  appeals  of  the  United  States, 
as  hereinafter  provided,  the  commission  may  at  any- 
time, upon  such  notice  and  in  such  manner  as  it  shall 
deem  proper,  modify  or  set  aside,  in  whole  or  in  part, 
any  report  or  any  order  made  or  issued  by  it  under 
this  section. 

If  such  person,  partnership,  or  corporation  fails 
or  neglects  to  obey  such  order  of  the  commission  while 
the  same  is  in  effect,  the  commission  may  apply  to  the 
circuit  court  of  appeals  of  the  United  States,  within 
any  circuit  where  the  method  of  competition  in  ques- 
tion was  used  or  where  such  person,  partnership,  or 
corporation  resides  or  carries  on  business,  for  the 
enforcement  of  its  order,  and  shall  certify  and  file  with 
its  application  a  transcript  of  the  entire  record  in  the 
proceeding,  including  all  the  testimony  taken  and  the 
report  and  order  of  the  commission.  Upon  such  filing 
of  the  application  and  transcript  the  court  shall  cause 
notice  thereof  to  be  served  upon  such  person,  partner- 
ship, or  corporation  and  thereupon  shall  have  juris- 
diction of  the  proceeding  and  of  the  question  deter- 
mined therein,  and  shall  have  power  to  make  and  enter 
upon  the  pleadings,  testimony,  and  proceedings  set 
forth  in  such  transcript  a  decree  affirming,  modifying, 
or  setting  aside  the  order  of  'the  commission.  The 
findings  of  the  commission  as  to  the  facts,  if  supported 
by  testimony,  shall  be  conclusive. 

If  either  party  shall  apply  to  the  court  for  leave 
to  adduce  additional  evidence,  and  shall  show  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  court  that  such  additional  evidence 
is  material  and  that  there  were  reasonable  grounds  for 
the  failure  to  adduce  such  evidence  in  the  proceeding 
before  the  commission,  the  court  may  order  such  addi- 
tional evidence  to  be  taken  before  the  commission  and 
to  be  adduced  upon  the  hearing  in  such  manner  and 
upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  to  the  court  may- 
seem  proper.  The  commission  may  modify  its  findings  as 
to  the  facts  or  make  new  findings,  by  reason  of  the  addi- 
tional evidence  so  taken,  and  it  shall  file  such  modified 
or  new  findings,  which,  if  supported  by  testimony,  shall 
be  conclusive,  and  its  recommendation,  if  any,  for  the 
modification  or  setting  aside  of  its  original  order,  with 
the  return  of  such  additional  evidence.  The  judgment 
and  decree  of  the  court  shall  be  final,  except  that  the 
same  shall  be  subject  to  review  by  the  Supreme  Court 
upon  certiorari  as  provided  in  section  two  hundred  and 
forty  of  the  Judicial  Code. 

Any  party  required  by  such  order  of  the  commis- 
sion to  cease  and  desist  from  using  such  method  of 
competition  may  obtain  a  review  of  "such  order  in  said 
circuit  court  of  appeals  by  filing  in  the  court  a  written 
petition  praying  that  the  order  of  the  commission  be 
set  aside.  A  copy  of  such  petition  shall  be  forthwith 
served  upon  the  commission,  and  thereupon  the  com- 
mission forthwith  shall  certify  and  file  in  the  court  a 
transcript  of  the  record  as  hereinbefore  provided.  Upon 
the  filing  of  the  transcript  the  court  shall  have  the  same 
jurisdiction  to  affirm,  set  aside,  or  modify  the  order  of 
the  commission  as  in  the  case  of  an  application  by  the 
commission  for  the  enforcement  of  its  order,  and  the 
findings  of  the  commission  as  to  the  facts,  if  supported 
by  testimony,  shall   in   like  manner  be   conclusive. 

The  jurisdiction  of  the  circuit  court  of  appeals  of  the 
United  States  to  enforce,  set  aside,  or  modify  orders  of 
the  commission  shall   be  exclusive, 

Such  proceedings  in  the  circuit  court  of  appeals 
shall  be  given  precedence  over  other  cases  pending 
therein,  and  shall  he  in  every  way  expedited.  \ 
of  the  commission  or  judgment  of  the  court  to 
the  same  shall  in  any  wise  relieve  or  absolve  am 
person,  partnership,  or  corporation  from  any  liability 
under   the    anti-trust   acts. 

Complaints,  orders,  and  other  processes  of  the 
commission  under  this  section  may  be  served  by  any- 
one duly  authorized  by  the  commission,  either  (a)  by 
delivering  a  copy  thereof  to  the  person  to  be  served, 
or  to  a  member  of  the  partnership  to  he   sen.    d 


March   18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


the  president,  secretary,  or  other  executive  officer  or  a 
director   of   the   corporation    to    be    served;    or    (b)    by 
leaving  a  copy  thereof  at  the  principal  office  or  place 
of  business  of  such  person,  partnership,  or  corporation; 
or   (c)   by  registering  and  mailing  a  copy  thereof  ad- 
dressed to  such  person,  partnership,  or  corporation  at 
his   or  its   principal   office   or  place   of   business.     The 
verified  return  by  the  person  so  serving  said  complaint, 
order,    or   other   process    setting   forth   the   manner    of 
said  service  shall  be  proof  of  the  same,  and  the  return 
post-office   receipt   for  said  complaint,   order,   or   other 
process    registered    and    mailed    as    aforesaid    shall    be 
proof  of  the  service  of  the  same. 
The  commission  is  also  charged  with  the  enforce- 
ment  of  Sections   2,   3,   7   and  8  of  the   Clayton   act. 
Section  2  makes  unlawful  discrimination  in  price  where 
the  effect  may  be  to  substantially  lessen  competition 
or  tend  to  create  a  monopoly  in  any  line  of  commerce. 
Section  3  makes  so-called  tying  contracts  illegal.     Sec- 
tion 7  relates  to  intercorporate  stock  holding,  and  Sec- 
tion 8  makes  interlocking  directors  of  corporations  un- 
lawful under  certain  circumstances. 

While  the  commission  has  only  been  in  existence 
about  a  year  and  has  conducted  some  extensive  and 
important  investigations  it  has  only  brought  three 
formal  complaints  under  section  5.  These  three  com- 
plaints are  against  companies  manufacturing  mercer- 
ized or  other  cloth,  thread,  or  goods,  and  labeling  them 
as  silk.  The  commission  acted  in  these  cases  on  the 
complaint  of  the  Silk  Association  of  America,  which 
alleged  that  this  constituted  unfair  competition  against 
the  manufacturers  of  real  silk  products. 


FILM  STATISTICS  ASKED 

Federal   Trade    Commission    Seeks    Information   from 
All  Concerns  Regarding  the   Motion  Picture 

Industry — Blanks  Are  Sent  Out 
Preliminaries  have  been  completed  by  the  Federal 
T.rade  Commission  for  gathering  facts  regarding  all 
the  industries  of  the  country,  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry included,  with  a  view  to  co-operate  effort  be- 
tween the  commission  and  manufacturers  and  business 
men  of  the  United  States,  and  as  stated  by  the  com- 
mission "in  meeting  underlying  difficulties." 

The  commission  has  prepared  a  circular  outlining 
the  purpose  of  the  inquiry  as  follows : 

Many  requests  have  been  received  by  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  from  business  men  for  information 


which  would  be  of  value  to  them  concerning  the  in- 
dustry in  which  they  are  engaged.  These  requests  re- 
late particularly  to  volume  of  sales,  capital  invested  and 
the  return  thereon. 

In  order  to  supply  this  information  a  few  simple 
facts  must  be  furnished  by  each  concern.  Will  you 
therefore  kindly  furnish  the  items  asked  for  on  the 
sheet  enclosed,  and  return  the  same  in  the  addressed 
envelope  which  requires  no  postage? 

The  information  which  you  supply  will  not  be  dis- 
closed or  published  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  the  busi- 
ness of  any  particular  concern.  It  will  be  summarized 
for  your  industry  and  sent  to  you  as  soon  as  the  figures 
are  compiled. 

This  information  is  being  collected  and  prepared 
for  your  benefit  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  commission 
may  have  your  prompt  co-operation. 

Following   is   the    form    accompanying    the    letter 
setting  forth  the  nature  of  the  information  requested : 

FEDERAL  TRADE  COMMISSIOX 


Report  or.  Ind 
:port  is  requested  for  the 
y  in  which  yovir  compam 
istry  will  be  sent  to  you 
.      No   information   will  be 

.    furnished    is   for    the    yea 


of  the  i 
Commiss 
ing  the 
Informal 


published    regard- 


manufactured   c 


'  and   State) 
I    product   or 


profit 

after 
e  frc 

loss)   from 

deduclincr 

lionds    and 

m  other  so 

op 

"iV''l 

^ 

e,  1915.ar.  . 

i 

debt 

cha 

-ged   off   or 

I 

Section  6  of  the  act  creating  the  commission  gives 
it  the  authority  to  request  the  information  sought. 


636 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


Aitken  Pleased  With  Coast  Work 

H.  E.  Aitken,  president  of  the  Triangle  Film  Corpo- 
ration, writes  from  California  that  he  is  very  much  grati- 
fied by  the  results  obtained  on  pictures  at  present  in  the 
course  of  production.  He  is  particularly  impressed  with 
the  Sir  Herbert  Beer- 
bohm  Tree  produc- 
tion of  "Macbeth." 
Mr.  Aitken  will  re- 
view a  number  of 
forthcoming  releases 
before  he  returns  to 
New  York. 

"Each  rehearsal 
confirmed  the  opinion 
that  'Macbeth'  con- 
tains a  wealth  of  pic- 
turization  material," 
Mr.  Aitken  said,  "and 
indications  are  that  it 
will  create  a  sensation 
as  a  film  production. 
The  supporting  cast 
was  selected  with  the 
most  careful  consid- 
eration and  no  ex- 
pense was  spared  to 
obtain  the  appropriate 
backgrounds  and  cos- 
tumes necessary.  Sir  Herbert  and  his  director,  John 
Emerson,  have  given  a  great  deal  of  study  to  the  produc- 
tion so  that  the  film  'Macbeth'  will  live  long  in  the  minds 
of  those  who  witness  the  spectacle. 

"By  the  way,  Sir  Herbert  and  Emerson  found  that 
the  mere  problem  of  securing  historical  accuracy  for  the 
photoplay  was  an  extraordinary  task.  The  period  in 
which  'Macbeth'  was  laid  is  one  of  the  most  obscure  in 
history  and  the  setting  of  a  modern  stage  version  is 
child's  play  compared  with  the  planning  and  execution  of 
the  film  version." 

One  question  which  came  up,  Mr.  Aitken  continues, 
was  whether  there  were  mountain  sheep  among  the  Scot- 
tish hills  nine  or  ten  centuries  ago.  Sir  Herbert  thought 
it  was  quite  possible  that  wild  sheep  and  goats  roamed  in 
Britain  in  the  early  days.  He  based  his  opinion  on  the 
fact  that  as  far  back  as  history  goes  there  have  been 
domesticated  flocks,  but  Emerson  decided  that  the  big 
horn  sheep  heads  were  suggestive  of  the  California  moun- 
tains. He  fixed  upon  the  antlers  of  the  royal  stag  as 
more  in  harmony  with  the  picture.  And  the  Fine  Arts 
studio  scouts  spent  days  producing  the  goods. 


plan  to  always  'have  the  goods'  and  to  be  as  chock  full 
of  enthusiasm  as  any  person  could  be — but  we  are  going 
to  let  the  public  and  those  for  whom  we  are  making  the 
pictures  draw  their  own  conclusions,  secure  in  the  belief 
that,  with  the  equipment  which  we  have  in  hand,  these 
conclusions  can  be  nothing  other  than  profitable  to  us." 

Mr.  Beyfuss  thinks  that  there  are  entirely  too  many 
"great"  and  "only"  pictures  being  touted  in  printer's  ink- 
that  fall  away  below  par  when  show  on  the  screen.  This 
condition,  too,  he  thinks,  applies  to  screen  stars. 

The  new  feature  photoplays  of  the  California  com- 
pany which  are  being  offered  on  the  state  rights  plan  as 
"Better  Than  Program"  pictures,  are  being  handled  in  a 
manner,  it  is  reported,  that  is  calculated  to  make  the 
"superior  quality"  idea  a  fixture. 

Mr.  Beyfuss  is  operating  upon  a  particularly  lavish 
scale,  not  only  insofar  as  the  pictures  themselves  are  con- 
cerned, but  also  with  regard  to  the  advertising  matter 
which  is  being  provided  for  them. 

"The  Unwritten  Law,"  with  Beatriz  Michelena,  is 
the  first  of  the  new  series  to  be  released  and  not  only  is 
the  "superior  quality"  idea  noticeable  in  the  playing  and 
staging  of  the  production,  but  also  in  the  effective  posters 
which  have  been  devised  for  the  photoplay. 


"Macbet 


"Woman's  Law"  Arrow  Feature 

The  Arrow  Film  Corporation  will  make  its  debut  as 
a  producer  of  feature  films  through  the  Pathe  exchanges 
on  March  21,  when  it  will  release  "The  Woman's  Law," 
in  which  Miss  Florence  Reed  is  starred.  "The  Woman's 
Law"  appeared  first  as  a  serial  magazine  story  in  the 
American  Magazine.  It  is  said  that,  in  book  form,  more 
than  300,000  copies  were  sold.  Miss  Reed,  it  is  announced 
by  the  Pathe  publicity  department,  never  consents  to  play 
in  a  drama  the  scenario  of  which  she  has  not  read  in 
advance. 

When  W.  E.  Shallenberger,  president  of  the  Arrow 
company,  approached  Miss  Reed  for  the  purpose  of  get- 
ting her  to  appear  in  "The  Woman's  Law,"  he  found  that 
she  had  almost  definitely  pledged  herself  to  play  twelve 
weeks  on  the  road  in  a  special  production  of  "The  Yellow 
Ticket."  Finally  she  compromised  this  pledge  sufficiently 
to  promise  Mr.  Shallenberger  that  if  she  found  the  sce- 
nario of  "The  Woman's  Law"  all  that  he  claimed  it  to  be 
she  would  postpone  the  road  tour  long  enough  to  play 
the  stellar  role  in  the  film  play.  "The  Woman's  Law"  is 
reported  to  be  a  gripping  drama  of  every-day  life. 


SANE  PUBLICITY  BEYFUSS  AIM 

Wildcat    Advertising    and    Press    Work    Attacked    in 

Statement  by  Head  of  California  Motion 

Picture  Corporation 

In  accord   with  its  new  plan  in  the  motion  picture 

industry,   the   California   Motion   Picture  Corporation  is 

abandoning  the  line  of  advertising  and  publicity  which  has 

prevailed  for  a  long  time  in  the  amusement  field  and  lias 

been  excused  on  the  plea  of  "theatrical  licenses." 

"We  are  going  to  advertise  to  get  people  to  come  and 
sec  what  we  have,"  said    Alexander  E.  Beyfuss,  general 
manager  of  the  compan) .    \\  e  do  not  think  that  the  over- 
worked superlatives  arc  worth  much  and  we're  not  going 
travaganl  claims  for  our  wares.     It  is  our 


March   18.   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


A 


Hands  Tied,  Film  Shows 


rmys  nanas  nea,  mm 

PICTOGRAPH  BARES  "WAR  GAME" 


THAT  our  army  has  brains  but  that  its  hands  are 
tied  is  the  thought  flashed  on  the  screen  of  Para- 
mount theaters  this  week  in  their  motion  picture 
campaign  on  preparedness  through  the  medium  of  the 
Paramount  Pictographs,  the  magazine  on  the  screen. 
The  plea  is  made  during  the  picturing  of  "Playing  the 
War  Game,'"'  which  forms  the  greater  portion  of  the 
fourth  release  of  this  new  motion  picture  endeavor,  the 
principle  of  which  is  to  make  people  think,  and  think 
deeply  on  vital  questions. 

In  a  most  emphatic  manner  the  pictographs  visu- 
alize the  fact  that  there  are  brains  galore  in  our  army, 
demonstrated  on  every  side  by  the  manner  in  which 
the  picked  officers  from  the  army  gathered  at  the  War 
College  on  the  Potomac  river,  a  short  distance  beyond 
the  Washington  barracks,  an  army  post,  to  fight  mimic 
battles  on  maps,  in  accordance  with  every  modern 
method  of  warfare. 

This  particular  phase  of  the  screen  representation 
of  playing  the  war  game,  is  of  unusual  interest  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  ninety  per  cent  of  the  people  of  the 
states  do  not  know  what  the  War  College  is.  Asking 
the  average  layman  the  question  would  bring  in  re- 
sponse a  negative  reply. 

There  is  pictured  on  the  screen  the  magnificent 
building  and  its  interior,  explaining  that  the  two 
functions  of  the  institution  are  to  provide  higher  mili- 
tary education  for  officers  picked  each  year  from  the 
army,  which  to  them  is  a  great  honor,  a  goal  they 
aspire  to;  because  it  fits  them  to  efficiently  cope  with 
every  phase  that  may  possibly  arise  in  time  of  war, 
and,  also  it  is  a  depository  for  military  information,  a 
place  where  all  Avar  plans  are  prepared. 

The  War  College  came  into  being  through  the  ef- 
forts of  Elihu  Root  and  is  now  in  charge  of  Brigadier 
General  Macomb.  The  picturing  of  the  chosen  offi- 
cers playing  a  game  of  war  on  military  maps  of  large 
scales  is  unique.  The  aps  show  every  hill,  every  tree, 
every  barn  and  eve*  pump  in  the  vicinity.  The  di- 
rector chooses  one  x  of  officers  first  from  the  number 
calls  them  into  the  room  and  suggests  that  (Boston, 
for  instance)  is  to  be  attacked  by  land. 

This  first  corps  of  officers  arrange  their  regiments 
and  divisions  of  men,  represented  by  small  blocks,  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  be  impregnable  from  attack  on  the 
city.  Their  work  finished  it  is  covered  and  a  second 
set  of  officers  is  called  upon,  they  being  told  that  their 
aeroplane  officer  has  reported  "this  or  that"  about  the 
guarding  of  Boston,  about  to  be  attacked.  They  then 
make  their  moves  with  their  soldiers.  Both  sets  are 
then  put  together  and  the  strategic  points  are  discussed 
in  detail,  technically  and  from  a  military  efficiency 
standpoint.  Every  square  mile  of  coast  front,  and 
large  interior  points  are  done  each  day  by  these  offi- 
cers. 

The  mode  of  playing  the  game  of  war  brings  the 
chosen  officers  into  close  prospective  with  every  sort 
of  military  emergency ;  map  problems  are  studied  and 
every  possible  theater  of  operation,  roads,  railroads, 
industrial  centers  and  the  like,  are  taken  up  separately 
and  collectively,  making  it  possible  to  operate  a  small 
or  large  army  at  a  moment's  notice. 

From  the  War  College  at  the  beginning  of  the  war 


of  the  Nations  six  officers  were  chosen  from  the  Col- 
lege to  accompany  the  German  Army,  one  from  the 
artillery,  cavalry,  ordnance,  infantry,  engineering  and 
signal  corps  departments.  Upon  their  return  they  re- 
ported to  the  heads  of  the  college  in  long  addresses  and 
recommended  preparedness  for  the  country,  founded 
upon  their  investigations. 

Their  recommendations  are  collectively  told  in  a 
few  words,  "We  have  brains  in  our  Army,  but  where 
are  its  hands?"  These  War  College  brains  are  the 
country's  military  specialists,  who  realize  more  fully 
than  any  person  the  immediate  requirements  of  the 
country  at  this  time,  when  Preparedness  is  the  subject 
of  the  day. 

The  editors  of  the  Paramount  Pictographs  have 
completely  eclipsed  themselves  in  their  visualization 
of  the  War  College  idea.  These  pictures  on  prepared- 
ness are  edited  by  Frederick  Palmer,  who  has  seetl 
more  war  than  any  other  American  citizen,  and  Henry 
Reuterdahl,  naval  expert.  Contributions  to  this  new 
screen  idea  have  been  given  by  Theodore  Roosevelt, 
former  president  of  the  United  States ;  Major  General 
Leonard  Wood,  John  G.  Hibbons,  president  of  Prince- 
ton university ;  Robert  E.  Peary,  and  others  of  national 
repute. 


"NE'ER-DO-WELL"  VIA  V.-L.-S.-E. 

Irwin    Announces     Release     of     Extraordinary    Film 

Through  the  Offices  of  the  Big  Four  by 

Arrangement  With  Lesser 

Selig's  ten-reel  picturization  of  Rex  Beach's  well- 
known  novel,  "The  "Ne-er-do-well,"  which  was  pur- 
chased recently  by  Sol.  E.  Lesser  for  $150,000,  is 
to  be  marketed  through  the  organization  of  which 
the  Selig  company  is  one  of  the  component  parts — the 
V.-L.-S.-E.  Walter  W.  Irwin,  general  manager  of  the 
V.-L.-S.-E.,  announced  the  transaction  following  a 
series  of  negotiations  held  between  himself  and  Mr. 
Lesser. 


Scene    from    "Feathertop,"    which    is    being    produced    bv    the    Gaum 

C-mpany.      This    feature    is    based    on    the    storv     h\    A'a.'/.'ai>;.-' 
Hawthorne.     Marguerite    Courtot   is   being  starred. 


638 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


"Two  far-reaching  purposes — one  representing 
the  interests  of  the  exhibitors,  and  the  other  Mr. 
Lesser's — were  responsible  for  this  company's  acquire- 
ment of  the  distributing  rights  of  'The  Ne'er-Do- 
Well,'  "  said  Mr.  Irwin. 

"The  first  purpose  was  based  on  the  desire  of  the 
Selig  company  and  the  V.-L.-S.-E.  to  follow  out  its 
primary  policy  of  giving  its  exhibitors  every  opportu- 
nity to  share  in  the  profits  accruing  from  such  extra- 
ordinary features  as  'The  Ne'er-Do-Well'  unquestion- 
ably is. 

"The  second  purpose  was  founded  in  Mr.  Lesser's 
desire  to  give  the  production  the  widest  possible  dis- 
tribution, and  to  market  it  through  an  organization 
which  was  not  only  constituted  to  take  care,  to  the 
best  advantage,  of  the  avalanche  of  inquiries  amount- 
ing in  some  cases  to  demands,  which  have  poured  in 
for  the  picture,  but  to  render  the  exhibitors  the  most 
efficient  service  in  its  exploitation. 

"Mr.  Lesser  soon  found  after  his  arrival  in  New 
York  that  it  would  take  a  year  to  perfect  an  organiza- 
tion equipped  to  handle  the  inquiries  in  such  numbers 
as  have  flooded  the  wires  and  the  mails  since  his  acqui- 
sition of  the  picture. 

"He  was  approached  by  many  of  the  largest  and 
most  representative  distributing  companies,  to  either 
buy  or  handle  the  picture,  with  offers  which  were  most 
tempting  to  him.  Without  solicitation  on  his  part,  and 
after  full  consideration  of  the  entire  field,  Mr.  Lesser 
decided  that  this  organization,  by  reason  of  its  poli- 
cies and  practices — operating  as  it  does  upon  the  'open 
booking'  plan  and  according  to  the  drawing  strength 
of  each  individual  picture — embodies  the  ideals  and  the 
efficiency  which  would  make  for  the  most  successful 
handling  of  'The  Ne'er-Do-Well.' 

"Both  the  Selig  company  and  the  V.-L.-S.-E.  are 
delighted  that  Mr.  Lesser  felt  as  he  did  and  that  there- 
fore we  now  have  this  truly  great  production  as  an 
addition  to  our  rapidly  increasing  number  of  notable 
offerings,  and  also,  as  I  have  pointed  out,  that  our 
exhibitors  are  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  returns  to  be 
gained  for  the  great  pictures  made  by  the  manufac- 
turers of  this  organization,  as  well  as  our  general  run 
of  business." 


BESSIE  EYTON  LIKES  CHICAGO 

Longing    for    West    Overcome,    Young    Star    Settles 

Down  for   Work   on   Selig's    Latest   Feature, 

"The  Crisis" 

Direct  from  Los  Angeles,  Bessie  Eyton,  Eugenie 
Besserer  and  Thomas  Santschi  have  arrived  at  the 
Chicago  Selig  studios,  where  their  director,  Colin 
Campbell,  has  everything  in  readiness  to  take  the  first 
scenes  of  the  feature  play  adaptation  of  Winston 
Churchill's   novel   of   Civil   War  times,   "The   Crisis." 

Bessie  Eyton  and  Eugenie  Besserer  have  the  prin- 
cipal feminine  roles  in  the  production,  "Virginia  Car- 
<  1"  and  "Mrs.  Brice"  respectively.  This  is  Miss  Ey- 
ton's  first  venture  east  .if  California,  but  she  is  pre- 
paring to  work  earnestly  in  the  new  surroundings.  She 
and  Miss  Besserer  at  once  located  "a  darling  apart- 
ment" near  the  studios,  where  they  will  "bach"  to- 
gether during  their  work  in  Chicago. 

Uthougn    feeling  just    a    trifle    homesick   already 
for  the  sunshine  of  the  west,  Miss  Eyton  was  expecting 
hicago  and  be  happy  there. 


&> 

'ivJJ 

I** 

J5 

^feH    iiffi 

M 

}r    - 

..ooo    a    year    group    at    Fine    Arts    Studio.      In    order,    Dorothy    Gish, 

?na  Owen,  Norma  Talmadge,  Robert  Harron,  Harry  E.  Aitken,   Sir 

Herbert    Beerbohm    Tree,    Owen    Moore,    Wilfred    Lucas.    Douglas 

Talmadge,    Constance    Collier,    Lillian    Gish,    Fav    Tincher    and 

DeWolf  Hopper. 


"I  can  be  happy  anywhere,  when  I  like  my  work," 
she  said,  "I  think  that  is  all  that  matters,"  Miss  Besser- 
er agreed  with  her. 

Miss  Eyton  was  puzzled  by  the  frequent  requests 
for  interviews  on  her  arrival  in  Chicago.  She  is  a 
quiet,  unassuming  young  person,  who  prefers  to  keep 
her  own  personality  in  the  background.  She  takes 
her  work  seriously,  but  not  herself.  "I'm  not  used  to 
being  interviewed,"  she  said,  "It's  unusual.  I  seem 
to  be  getting  popular." 

Miss  Eyton's  entire  experience  has  been  in  pic- 
tures. She  likes  to  do  straight  dramatic  roles  best, 
but  is  "a  good  soldier"  and  will  do  dangerous  acts,  as 
those  in  "The  Spoilers,"  whenever  a  picture  requires 
it.  "I  think  I'm  lucky  to  be  able  to  do  them,"  she 
says. 

After  filming  scenes  at  the  Chicago  studio,  the 
entire  company  will  go  to  St.  Louis,  Vicksburg,  and 
other  places  along  the  Mississippi,  under  William  N. 
Selig's  guidance,  to  take  scenes  on  the  exact  locations 
of  the  Churchill  novel. 


Kleine  Gets  Ideal? New' Home 

The  New  York  branch  office  of  George  Kleine  is  to 
be  removed  from  the  Candler  building  to  the  new  God- 
frey building,  Forty-ninth  street  and  Seventh  avenue. 
The  change  will  be  made  about  March  20.  This  will 
place  the  Kleine  branch  office  right  in  the  heart  of  film- 
dom,  the  Godfrey  building  having  been  constructed  espe- 
cially for  this  class  of  tenants.  The  requirements  of  the 
film  trade  were  carefully  canvassed  and  considered  before 
plans  for  the  Godfrey  building  were  made,  and  no  detail 
was  considered  too  trivial  to  be  incorporated  in  the  build- 
ing, with  the  result  that  today  it  is  undoubtedly  one  of 
the  best  equipped  office  buildings  for  the  film  trade  in  the 
country. 


An  advertisement  appeared  in  several  daily  news- 
papers recently,  which  called  for  the  service-  of  a  "first- 
class  civil  engineer  with  considerable  bridge  experience." 
and  was  inserted  by  the  Lubin  company,  created  much 
comment.  The  advertisement  became  necessary  in  stag- 
ing "At  the  Doors  of  Doom,"  a  late  release  One  of 
the  thrilling  scenes  is  the  rescue  of  an  engineer  from  the 
interior  of  an  immense  siphon  which  spans  a  canyon. 


March    IS.   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


The  Film  Novel— Its  Drawing  Power 


BY  JAMES  M.  SHELDON 


44  T  T  OW  can  I  develop  a  steady  patronage?"  Every 
1  exhibitor  in  the  world  has  been  confronted  with 
that  great  question.  There  is  probably  no  greater 
problem  in  the  exhibitors'  business.  To  have  a  steady, 
regular  patronage  means  assured  profits — protection 
against  the  elements — maximum  efficiency  in  theater  oper- 
ation. 

It  was  this  question  that  led  me  to  investigate  theater 
conditions  throughout  America  several  years  ago,  with  a 
view  to  discovering  a  remedy.  I  pried  into  statistics.  I 
studied  exhibiting  conditions  from  Maine  to  California — 
from  Canada  to  the  Gulf.  I  unfolded  facts  that  seemed 
to  point  toward  a  deplorable  condition.  Exhibitors  at 
most  points  did  a  good  business  on  Saturdays,  Sundays 
or  holidays.  But  most  week  days  showed  big  losses.  The 
public  went  to  the  theater  at  its  convenience — not  because 
of  the  attraction. 

I  had  been  familiar  with  the  success  of  the  serial 
story  in  newspapers  and  magazines.  I  knew  that  circu- 
lation figures  in  any  newspaper  office  depended  upon  the 
•  constant  patronage  of  the  public — and  that  the  serial  story 
was  the  greatest  inducement  to  constant  patronage.  I  had 
seen  magazines  build  up  tremendous  circulations  by  run- 
ning "continued"  stories.  The  Saturday  Evening  Post, 
Cosmopolitan  and  numerous  other  national  magazines 
counted  on  the  serial  as  their  biggest  circulation  power. 
This  power  could  be  applied  to  motion  pictures  I 

It  was  at  that  time  that  I  believed  the  motion  picture 
art  would  develop  into  a  form  of  literature.  I  could  see 
how  evolution  would  make  the  motion  picture  the  logical 
medium  for  thought  expression  to  the  millions.  It  was  a 
medium  easy  to  interpret — pictures  were  understood  by 
the  masses.  It  must  develop  into  one  of  our  chief  forms 
of  literary  activity. 

The  two  thoughts — the  great  strides  made  by  news- 
papers and  magazines  with  serial  stories,  and  the  fact  that 
the  motion  picture  was  a  form  of  literature — seemed  to 
point  to  great  success  for  the  serial  story  on  the  screen. 

What  were  the  advantages  of  this  "continued"  story? 
Would  the  exhibitor  benefit  ?  Would  the  public  benefit  ? 
Would  the  manufacturer  benefit?    These  were  questions 


5  before  any  definite 


i    Claw,"   Pathe. 


that  needed  strong  affirmative  answe 
steps  could  be  taken. 

I  put  the  problem  before  a  number  of  leading  exhib- 
itors. I  explained  the  details  of  newspaper  operation  in 
connection  with  serial  stories.  I  showed  how  the  leading 
newspapers  relied  absolutely  on  serial  stories  for  steady, 
constant  readers.  I  pointed  out  how  the  newspaper  would 
carry  on  a  tremendous  advertising  campaign  in  behalf  of 
a  serial  story — many  times  spending  enormous  sums — to 
get  readers. 

Peculiarly,  these  facts  are  not  yet  known  to  a  great 
number  of  exhibitors.  They  do  not  know  that,  logically, 
they  occupy  the  same  relative  positions  in  the  film  field  as 
the  newspapers  occupy  in  the  newspaper  field.  They  have 
not  yet  come  to  look  upon  their  motion  picture  programs 
as  a  form  of  publication.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  there  is  no 
stronger  analogy  than  that  of  the  newspaper  and  the 
motion  picture  theater.  Both  carry  literature  to  the  pub- 
lic. One  supplies  it  in  printed  form — the  other  in  pictorial 
form.     But  both  are  conveyors  of  literary  activity. 

To  me,  it  seemed  reasonable  that  the  serial  story  or 
"continued"  story  on  the  screen  must  be  successful  be- 
cause it  held  two  vital  elements  for  success :  First,  prece- 
dent proved  it  successful  in  newspaperdom.  No  one  could 
dispute  that.  Second,  it  held  a  new  power  for  exhibitors 
— a  power  to  draw  the  crowds  back  regularly,  steadily — a 
power  that  was  not  manifest  in  any  other  form  of  motion 
pictures. 

Suffice  it  to  say  that  my  theories  were  substantiated 
by  facts.  We  brought  out  "The  Million  Dollar  Mystery." 
It  was  an  instantaneous  success.  The  reasons  for  this 
were  two-fold : 

1.  We  had  the  goods. 

2.  We  knew  how  to  present  them. 

I  have  heard,  from  many  exhibitors,  that  "The  Mil- 
lion Dollar  Mystery"  made  more  money  for  them  than 
any  other  attraction  ever  presented.  I  believe  even' 
exhibitor  who  ran  "The  Million  Dollar  Mystery"  will  say 
the  same  thing.  And  analysis  will  prove  that  the  success 
of  that  novel  was  due  to  the  facts  that  we  had  a  good 
story  wonderfully  portrayed  in  motion  pictures  and  that 
we  presented  our  product  properly. 

The  film  novel  has  come  to  stay.  It  is  logical.  It  is 
the  only  form  of  motion  pictures  that  gives  an  exhibitor 
an  opportunity  to  get  steady  patronage — and  to  hold  that 
patronage.  Advertising  force  for  the  ordinary  film  play 
can  attract  an  audience  only  for  that  production.  New 
advertising  and  sales  activity  must  be  applied  to  attract 
the  audience  for  the  next  production.  And  so  on,  without 
end,  the  exhibitor  is  forced  to  seek  his  patronage  for  each 
production— which  means  great  cost. 

With  the  continued  film  novel  it  is  different.  The 
public  is  informed  that  a  certain  film  novel  is  to  appear 
every  week  at  a  certain  theater.  Every  form  of  adver- 
tising is  utilized  to  make  it  known  that  this  big  feature 
will  be  shown.  Newspapers  shriek  the  message  in  big 
type  and  space.  Heralds  are  circulated  everywhere. 
Window  cards  appear  at  every  turn.  Cloth  banners, 
posters,  lobby  displays,  novelties,  slides,  dodgers  —  all 
these  are  used  to  promote  interest.  The  exhibitor  can 
afford  an  elaborate  campaign  because  he  is  advertising 
for  a  patronage  on  twenty  chapters — twenty  times  the 
admission  he  receives  on  the  ordinary  production. 


640 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  12. 


If  the  first  chapters  are  advertised  properly  a  great 
following  is  built  up  for  that  theater.  The  people  attend 
every  week.  And  the  film  novel  gains  momentum.  As 
each  chapter  is  shown  new  admirers  are  won.  The  cost 
of  holding  this  steady  patronage  is  very  small  compared 
with  the  cost  of  seeking  new  patronage  every  week. 

Let  no  exhibitor  forget  that,  when  his  patronage  is 
built  up — when  a  certain  number  of  steady  customers  is 
secured  for  the  showing  of  his  film  novel — it  means 
increased  profits  for  all  other  showings.  It  means  that 
he  has  educated  his  patrons  to  attend  his  theater  regularly. 
Once  get  them  in  this  habit  and  the  business  of  exhibiting 
motion  pictures  is  simple. 

The  continued  film  novel  holds  innumerable  advan- 
tages for  the  exhibitor — if  the  "goods"  are  right.  Since 
we  brought  out  "The  Million  Dollar  Mystery"  there  have 
been  many  attempts  to  duplicate  our  success.  We  have 
sat  quietly  by  and  watched.  We  have  not  put  out  a  single 
production  since  "The  Million  Dollar  Mystery"- — because 
zve  knoiv  that  a  film  novel  must  be  an  exceptional  piece  of 
zvork  if  it  is  to  be  a  big  success. 

We  waited  nearly  two  years.  During  this  time  we 
were  searching — searching  for  the  stars,  for  the  story,  for 
the  producer.  And  now  we  are  at  work  on  a  new  film 
novel  that  we  believe  will  surpass  "The  Million  Dollar 
Mystery."    We  have  the  goods  : 

The  stars  will  be  Billie  Burke  and  Henry  Kolker; 
the  story,  a  society  play  by  Rupert  Hughes ;  the  producer, 
George  Kleine. 

The  successful  film  novel  must  be  sensational.  It 
must  be  big — bigger  than  any  ordinary  production.  It 
must  represent  a  lavish  expenditure  because  it  must  be 
right. 


MORE  KEYSTONE  COMEDIES  AIM 


Mack  Sennett  Declares  More  Money  Will  Be  Spent  in 

Future   to   Increase   the    Number   of 

Humorous  Films 

Announcement  comes  from  Mack  Sennett,  manager 
of  the  Keystone  Film  Company,  that  plans  virtually  have 
been  completed  for  the  increase  of  Keystone  comedies. 
Mr.  Sennett,  in  a  recent  interview,  declared  that  even 
more  money  would  be  spent  in  the  future  than  had  been 
in  the  past  to  produce  feature  comedies  of  the  highest 
order. 

Mr.  Sennett  said  that  H.  E.  Aitken,  president  of  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation,  had  met  with  himself  and 
Adam  Kessel,  Jr.,  president  of  the  Keystone  Film  Com- 
pany, and  had  entirely  agreed  with  the  plans  he  had 
formulated  for  the  coming  year. 

"We  believe  in  film  preparedness,"  Mr.  Sennett  said 
when  asked  if  the  fact  that  three  of  the  executives  of  the 
Keystone  company  were  in  the  city  had  any  especial 
meaning,  "and  we  are  only  laying  our  plans  to  be  ready 
to  meet  coming  conditions." 

Mr.  Sennett  was  asked  if  these  plans  would  mean  a 

cutting  down  in  the  present  cost  of  the  features,  and  with 

his  characteristic,  forceful  answers,  gave  a  hint  of 

what  the  company  founded  by  him  was  considering  for 

I  he  coming  year. 

"By  no  means,"  the  manager  said,  with  a  character- 
istic smile.  "We  arc  perfecting  plans  which,  instead  of 
meaning  a  smaller  expenditure  of  money,  mean  thai  we 
will  disburse  many  times  more  than  we  have  in  tin  past, 
les  change  in  comedy  screen  productions  just 
a-  quickly  as  they  change  in  women's  millinery,  for  exam- 
ple.    We  have  always  sel  the  comedy  fashions   for  the 


world  just  as  Paris  sets  the  millinery  ones,  and  it  is  only 
because  we  intend  to  continue  to  do  so  that  I  asked  Mr. 
Kessel  and  Mr.  Aitken  to  take  advantage  of  the  weather 
back  east  and  meet  me  here  at  this  time. 

"Our  twelve  producing  companies  will  be  increased 
to  fifteen  as  soon  as  possible.  We  will  do  this  because 
the  stories  I  have  in  mind  for  summer  and  fall  production 
will  mean  a  greater  outlay  of  money  and  will  require 
more  actors  than  any  we  have  done  in  the  past." 

"Will  the  increase  in  the  number  of  producing  com- 
panies mean  the  Keystone  will  release  more  comedies  per 
week  than  in  the  past?"  Mr.  Sennett  was  asked. 

"Not  necessarily,"  he  replied.  "At  the  present  time 
we  are  releasing  two  comedies  a  week.  When  you  stop 
to  consider  the  time  necessary  to  produce  a  story,  you  will 
find  the  answer  to  more  companies  needed." 

Mr.  Sennett  then  spoke  of  the  task  of  finding  people 
who  could  make  up  the  personnel  of  the  three  companies 
he  wants  to  add  to  the  producing  forces  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. He  said  his  past  experience  had  shown  him  it 
was  not  practicable  to  engage  either  actors  or  directors 
for  a  new  company,  but  that  new  people  could  be  added 
to  the  old  companies  while  the  directors  had  to  come  from 
those  who  had  been  trained  in  Keystone  ways. 

"Our  comedy  is  different  from  any  other  in  the 
world,"  Mr.  Sennett  said.  "It  is  individual  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  average  director  would  be  lost  when  given 
a  scenario  to  produce.  His  first  remark  would  be  that  the 
script  was  a  drama  rather  than  a  comedy,  and  in  a 
measure,  he  would  be  correct." 

"Our  stories  have  certain  situations.  They  have  a 
thrill,  or  rather  they  must  have  a  thrill,  while  we  have 
the  comedians  who  can  put  in  the  comedy.  There  are  a 
number  of  Keystone  directors  who  have  gone  to  other 
companies  especially  with  the  understanding  they  were 
to  produce  Keystone  comedies.  It  cannot  be  done  when 
they  leave  the  Edendale  plant,  and  in  this  I  will  stand  by 
the  judgment  of  any  audience  in  the  world. 

"When  watching  a  picture  you  often  hear  someone 
in  the  audience  say,  'look,  they  are  trying  to  copy  the 
Keystone  comedies.'  At  one  time  I  thought  this  might 
hurt  us,  but  have  since  found  that  it  is  one  of  our  greatest 
advertisements,  for  with  all  those  who  have  tried,  I  have 
yet  to  see  the  first  Keystone  comedy  which  was  not  pro- 
duced in  the  Edendale  studio. 

"This  makes  it  necessary  that  we  train  our  directors 
and  actors.  The  three  companies  which  I  shall  put  to 
work  in  the  near  future  will  be  headed  by  people  trained 
in  Keystone  ways,  while  the  others  necessary  to  fill  the 
gaps  will  be  placed  a  few  in  each  company,  where  they 
will  begin  their  course  in  Keystone  comedy." 


Broadhurst  in   First  Film 

George  Broadhurst,  noted  American  dramatist. 
makes  his  initial  film  bow  in  the  support  of  Dorothy 
Gish  and  Owen  Moore  in  their  dramatic  Triangle  play. 
It  so  happened  that  Director  Paul  Powell  was  filming 
some  scenes  on  a  golf  links,  and  decided  to  use  another 
character  in  the  scene,  but  no  one  could  be  found  to 
play  the  part.  At  this  time  Mr.  Broadhurst  stopped 
in  his  automobile  to  watch  Director  Powell  work,  and 
he  discovered  Dorothy  Gish,  who,  when  a  child  actress, 
played  a  part  in  his  production,  "The  Coward."  They 
exchanged  enthusiastic  greetings,  and  Powell  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  situation  and  asked  the  dramatist  if  he 
would  appear  in  the  scene  for  him.  He  did.  Mis  small 
part  was  that  of  a  wealthy  dillentantc.  who  was  amus- 
ing himself  by  playing  golf. 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


641 


NEW  EXIT  PLAN  SUCCESS 

Essanay    Believed   to    Have    Solved    Great    Problem; 

Concern  to  Put  Method  in  Permanent 

Effect  at  Once 

The  new  studio  just  opened  by  Essanay  has  given 
President  Spoor  the  opportunity  to  test  an  idea  which 
he  has  long  desired  to  put  into  effect  as  a  permanent 
method.  There  is  now  sufficient  floor  space  to  make 
entrances  and  exits  match.  No  longer  will  there  be 
any  bursting  out  of  a  door  in  one  set  one  day  and 
taking  the  relative  entrance  into  the  adjoining  room 
perhaps  a  week  later. 

Under  the  new  plan  a  set  will  not  be  constructed 
of  the  customary  two  or  three  walls.  There  may  be  a 
dozen  walls.  The  plan  was  tested  with  pleasing  re- 
sults in  the  filming  of  "The  Havoc,"  a  five-reel 
feature  released  through  the  V-L-S-E  program.  A 
complete  suite  of  offices,  a  duplicate  of  a  general  man- 
ager's headquarters  of  one  of  the  Chicago  railroads, 
was  constructed  on  the  floor.  Six  private  offices  and 
the  large  main  office  with  its  dozens  of  clerks  were 
constructed  at  once.  So  it  was  later  in  the  same 
piece  when  the  scenes  in  a  home  were  taken.  A  com- 
plete seven-room  apartment  was  constructed  on  the 
floor. 

Naturally,  two  cameras  are  required  when  making 
the  exits  match  the  entrances,  but  the  effect  is  a  revela- 
tion. So  successful  was  the  test  that  it  has  been 
ordered  adopted  as  a  fixed  rule  of  Essanay. 


SPURS  AMERICAN  PRODUCERS 

Special  Representatives  of  Famous  Players  and  Lasky 

Tells  of  Trade  Opportunities  Offered  by  South 

America  After  a  Visit  There 

E.  M.  Porter,  special  representative  of  the  Fa- 
mous Players  Film  Company,  arrived  in  New 
York  on  the  steamer  "Byron"  last  week  after 
having  spent  four  months  in  South  America  in  the 
interests  of  the  Famous  Players  Film  Company  and 
the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company. 

Investigation  of  film  conditions  in  South  America 
showed  that  the  large  majority  of  motion  picture  sub- 
jects now  being  exhibited  in  the  principal  cities  were 
imported  from  Europe  and  that  only  a  few  inferior 
films  were  being  exported  by  American  picture  men. 
Accordingly,  it  was  decided  by  Famous  Players  and 
Lasky  to  send  a  special  representative  direct  to  South 
America. 

Mr.  Porter  states  that  the  American  producer  has 
a  great  many  ill-founded  illusions  concerning  the  film 
conditions  in  South  America  which  must  be  eliminated 
before  he  can  adequately  cope  with  the  situation  there. 

"During  the  course  of  my  stay  in  South  Amer- 
ica," Mr.  Porter  reports,  "I  visited  most  of  the  prin- 
cipal cities  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  including  Rio  de 
Janeiro,  Buenos  Aires,  Santoa,  San  Paulo,  Montevideo, 
Bahia  and  Rosario,  and  I  can  safely  say  that  the  aver- 
age motion  picture  theater  in  these  cities  compares 
very  favorably  with  the  houses  in  the  United  States. 

"One  of  the  peculiar  things  about  Argentine  is 
the  fact  that  there  are  more  'cinema  bars'  than  the- 
aters. These  'bars'  are  cafes  in  which  films  are  ex- 
hibited, and  these  replace  the  usual  theater  in  many 
towns,  outside  of  Buenos  Aires  especially. 


"Another  peculiar  Argentine  custom  consists  in 
dividing  the  performances  into  four  sections,  each  run- 
ning an  hour.  When  you  purchase  your  ticket  you 
state  whether  it  is  for  the  four  sections  or,  if  you 
desire  simply  to  drop  into  the  theater  for  an  hour, 
you  buy  a  ticket  for  one  section. 

"Each  of  these  sections  consumes  about  an  hour's 
time.  But  the  performance  seems  longer  than  that 
because  the  managers  there  divide  a  reel  which  we 
ordinarily  term  a  'single  reel'  into  three  parts.  The 
lights  are  flashed  up  for  an  instant  and  the  spectator 
has  the  unconscious  impression  that  the  performance 
is  longer  than  is  really  the  case.  The  attempt  to  create 
the  impression  of  greater  length  films  proves  conclu- 
sively that  the  time  is  ripe  for  the  exploitation  of  four 
and  five  reel  features. 

"In  Brazil  the  very  interesting  custom  prevails 
of  having  a  huge  lobby  in  the  first-class  theaters. 
Here  the  patrons  sit  and  listen  to  an  excellent  orches- 
tra if  they  arrive  during  the  middle  of  a  performance, 
as  they  are  not  permitted  to  enter  the  house  proper 
while  the  show  is  in  progress.  So  generally  is  this 
custom  in  force  that  it  has  become  a  daily  habit  to 
array  one's  self  in  one's  best  clothes  and  to  display 
them  to  the  admiring  throng." 

During  the  course  of  his  study  of  motion  picture 
conditions  in  South  America,  Mr.  Porter  took  the  oc- 
casion to  introduce  several  Famous  Players  and  Lasky 
productions  to  the  theater  managers.  He  declares 
that  these  pictures  were  well  received. 


Rothapfel  to  Open  Rialto 

S.  L.  Rothapfel,  director  of  the  Knickerbocker 
thceater,  New  York  City,  has  returned  to  New  York 
from  Chicago  after  having  successfully  opened  the 
Colonial  theater  in  the  Western  metropolis  for  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation.  Mr.  Rothapfel  will  cease 
commuting  between  the  two  cities  until  the  premiere 
of  the  Rialto  theater,  which  he  is  building  for  himself 
on  the  former  site  of  Hammerstein's  Theater  of  Va- 
rieties, Forty-second  street  and  Seventh  avenue.  The 
theater  will  be  devoted  to  the  policy  which  Mr.  Roth- 
apfel originated — photo-plays  with  incidental  orches- 
tral music  and  soloists.  All  of  the  innovations  and 
novelties  he  has  evolved  and  which  are  now  finding 
expression  at  the  Knickerbocker  theater,  will  be  in- 
troduced at  the  Rialto  on  a  scale  more  elaborate  than 
anything  ever  attempted  in  the  history  of  motion  pic- 


PLAN  FILM  ROOF  GARDEN 

Washington,  D.  C,  Show  Men  to  Build  $100,000  The- 
ater; Auditorium  to  Seat  2,500;  Roof  Will 
Accommodate  2,000 

Work  will  begin  in  Washington,  D.  C,  within 
thirty  days  on  a  motion  picture  auditorium,  which,  it 
is  declared,  will  be  one  of  the  finest  south  of  New  York. 
It  is  to  be  erected  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Four- 
teenth and  Irving  streets,  at  a  cost  of  $100,000,  and 
will  have  a  seating  capacity  of  4,500.  The  plan  is  to 
complete  the  theater  and  open  it  for  business  some- 
time during  the  summer. 

The  property  was  acquired  by  the  Federal  Amuse- 
ment Company,  and  the  purchase  price  is  reported  to 
be  about  $35,000. 

The  main  auditorium  with  the  gallery  will  accom- 


642 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


modate  2,500  persons,  while  an  open  air  roof  garden 
for  use  during  the  summer,  will  seat  about  2,000.  A 
moving  stairway  will  lead  to  the  roof  garden.  A  strik- 
ing feature  of  the  arrangement  of  the  open  air  theater 
will  be  an  adaptation  of  the  Spanish  pergola,  or  lat- 
ticed arbor.  This  archway,  which  will  be  covered  with 
vines,  will  extend  entirely  around  the  three  sides  of 
the  audience.  Tables  will  be  placed  beneath  the  arch, 
and  patrons  may  be  served  with  refreshments  while 
viewing  the  performance.  A  promenade  will  extend 
around  the  roof,  outside  of  the  arbor. 

The  management  has  announced  the  new  theater 
will  be  devoted  exclusively  to  the  production  of  feature 
photoplays  and  that  a  uniform  admission  of  10  cents 
will  be  maintained. 

The  prime  movers  in  the  enterprise  are  G.  L. 
Stabler  and  R.  W.  Power,  fiscal  agents  for  the  Federal 
Amusement  Company. 

The  site  of  the  new  auditorium  is  within  two  or 
three  blocks  of  the  Savoy,  the  Arcade,  and  other  large 
motion  picture  theaters. 


CASH  FIRST  POLICY  FAVORED 

Money-in-Advance  Plan  Inaugurated  by  the  V.  L.  S.  E. 

Wins  Approval  of  Trade  Throughout 

the  Country 

The  casb-in-advance  policy  for  films,  adopted  by 
the  V.  L.  S.  E.j  is  reported  to  be  steadily  growing  in 
favor  among  not  alone  the  exchanges  of  other  organiza- 
tions, but  of  substantial  exhibitors  as  well.  Cleveland 
exhibitors  and  the  film  representatives  in  that  city  have 
effected  an  agreement  looking  towards  putting  this 
plan  into  effect  universally  in  that  city. 

In  Minneapolis,  also,  the  exchanges  have  or- 
ganized for  the  purpose  of  reaching  a  common  agree- 
ment upon  the  subject,  and  to  regulate  credit  matters 
of  all  kinds. 

When  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  established  its  cash-in-ad- 
vance policy,  many  film  men  felt  that  they  were  rush- 
ing in  the  face  of  danger.  The  Big  Four's  confidence 
that  the  great  majority  of  exhibitors  throughout  the 
country  were  men  operating  in  good  faith,  and  that 
they  were,  therefore,  entitled  to  protection  from  a  small 
class  of  their  associates  who  lacked  their  stability. 
has  been  amply  justified. 

Far  from  creating  any  antagonism,  except  from 
an  exceedingly  small  group  of  exhibitors,  who  either 
did  not  understand  the  purpose  of  the  Big  Four's  policy 
or  who  were  not  responsible  business  men,  this  prin- 
ciple has  won  for  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  the  respect  and  en- 
dorsement of  all  the  representative  exhibitors  in  the 
<•■  mntry. 

Such  respect  was  gained  in  an  open  and  above- 
board  manner  to  the  exhibitors  with  the  statement 
that  in  requesting  them  to  pay  in  advance,  the 
V.  L.  S.  E.  was  simply  asking  its  customers  to  share 
with  it  in  the  economy  resulting  from  the  elimination 
of  poor-paying  exhibitors  who  have  in  the  past,  har- 
rassed  prompt  paying  exhibitors  by  reckless  business 
methods,  only  because  it  was  possible  for  them  to 
indebl  themselves  considerably  to  each  of  the  ex- 
iges. 

"We    cannot    consistently   differentiate,"    said    an 
1  -I  the  Big   Four,  "between  a  known  go 
and  apparently  good,  so  tin-  same  rule  must  apply  to  all, 
to  which  we  believe  onl)    the  poor  pay  and  thi 
who  is  in  favor  of  helping  to  support  them,  can  object." 


NEW  SELIG-LUBIN  RELEASES 

Picturization    of    Clyde    Fitch's    Great    Play,    "The 

Woman  in  the  Case,"  Among  Several 

Notable  Features 

The  Lubin  company  soon  will  release,  through 
the  Big  Four,  the  picturization  of  Clyde  Fitch's  great 
play,  "The  Woman  in  the  Case."  Joseph  Kaufman 
will  direct  the  production.  It  will  feature  Ethel  Clay- 
ton and  E.  K.  Lincoln.  A  capable  company  will  be  in 
support. 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Kaufman  has  been  given  carte 
blanch  in  expenditure  in  making  this  production  and 
that  the  art  directors  of  the  Lubin  company  have  been 
instructed  to  exceed  all  previous  records  in  providing 
"atmosphere." 

Through  the  same  distributing  company,  Lubin 
will  release  in  the  immediate  future  a  picturization  of 
Albert  Payson  Terhune's  "Dollars  and  Cents."  This 
is  a  story  of  the  influence  of  personal  finance  upon 
domestic  serenity,  and  was  one  of  the  most  widely 
read  novels  which  appeared  in  both  magazine  and  book 
form  in  recent  months.  Ethel  Clayton  and  Tom  Moore 
appear  as  leads  in  this  production. 

Selig  is  preparing  a  feature  play,  entitled  "Into  the 
Primitive,"  for  release  on  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  program. 
This  is  a  dramatization  of  Robert  Ames  Bennett's 
novel  of  the  same  title.  The  story  concerns  the  adven- 
tures of  a  foreign  nobleman,  a  rough  and  ready  Ameri- 
can, and  a  young  society  woman  who,  after  a  wreck  at 
sea,  are  cast  upon  the  uninhabited  shores  of  South 
Africa.  There  they  encounter  many  hardships  and 
perils,  the  plot  lending  itself  logically  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  numerous  wild  animals  indigenous  to  that  coun- 
try. Kathlyn  Williams,  Guy  Oliver  and  Harry  Lons- 
dale will  have  the  principal  parts. 


PARAGON  IN  NEW  HOME 

Fort  Lee,  N.  Y.,  Studio  Pronounced  by  Experts  as  the 

Last  Word  in  Film  Producing  Perfection; 

Many  Innovations 

Paragon's  new  plant  at  Fort  Lee,  N.  Y.,  is  com- 
pleted. Experts  have  pronounced  it  the  last  word  in 
perfection.    The  studio  is  said  to  be  past  criticism. 

It  is  said  that  scarcely  a  single  foot  of  its  five-acre 
studio,  factory  and  adjuncts  do  not  contain  some  radi- 
cal departure  from  all  former  methods   in  construction. 

Two  hundred  feet  length  of  studio  floor,  with 
automatic  platforms  at  the  east  and  west  ends  open- 
ing automatically ;  thirty  feet  width,  automatic  camera 
bridges ;  automatic,  self-starting  and  almost  self- 
directing  lights  are  but  a  few  of  the  fairly  startling 
array  of  innovations. 

Adopting  as  their  cardinal  principle  in  their  aim 
to  make  only  "best  pictures"  the  entire  plant  has  been 
planned  to  achieve  in  every  department  facility  with- 
out friction,  reality  and  even  opulence  without  waste. 

It  is  said  that  the  Paragon  factory's  facilities  for 
turning  out  perfected  films  from  the  raw  negatives  will 
exceed  the  hitherto  inconceivable  output  of  2,000,000 
feet  per  week.  A  night  shift  of  operators  could  in- 
crease this  quantity  almost  double,  it  is  declared. 

Director  Tourneur  aims  to  make  the  Paragon  fac- 
tory the  resort  of  all  producers  who  ma}'  have  occasion 
to  have  their  work  done  outside  of  their  own  plants. 

There  are  also  many  new-  innovations  relative  to 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


stars'  dressing  rooms,  make-up  rooms,  costume  fac- 
tories, cutting  rooms,  etc. 

The  new  plant  represents  an  investment  approxi- 
mately of  three-quarters  of  a  million  dollars.  Within 
the  next  few  weeks  it  will  have  on  its  payroll  not  less 
than  several  thousand  persons. 

The  Paragon,  releasing  through  the  World  Film 
Corporation,  has  a  franchise  calling  for  the  delivery 
of  not  less  than  twenty-four  five-reel  features  a  year. 


"HISTORIC  INDIANA"  NEW  FILM 

Selig  Polyscope  Company  Begins  Work  on  Feature 

Motion  Picture  Production  Which  Will  Relate 

Story  of  Hoosier  State 

Robert  M.  Cass,  of  Indianapolis,  representing  a 
group  of  Indiana  patriots  and  acting  with  the  full  approval 
and  support  of  the  Indiana  State  Historic  Commission, 
has  signed  a  contract  with  the  Selig  Polyscope  Company 
of  Chicago  for  the  filming  of  a  spectacular  production  in 
eight  parts  which  will  picturize  the  history  of  the  Hoosier 
state  from  the  time  of  LaSalle  to  the  present.  The  pro- 
duction, when  completed,  will  cost,  it  is  said,  $100,000. 

Production  of  "Historic  Indiana"  will  start  at  once 
at  the  Chicago  studios  of  the  Selig  company.  Gilson  Wil- 
lets,  well  known  writer,  has  been  engaged  to  prepare  the 
special  scenario.  According  to  Mr.  Cass,  an  endeavor  will 
be  made  to  have  James  Whitcomb  Riley,  the  beloved 
Hoosier  poet,  write  the  subtitles  for  the  production  in 
verse. 

Meredith  Nicholson,  Booth  Tarkington,  George  Ade 
and  others  of  the  Indiana  literary  circle  are  expected  to 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  feature  film,  by  special 
articles  and  so  forth.  When  completed,  the  film  will  be 
shown  throughout  the  state  of  Indiana  to  foster  state 
pride  and  patriotism.  A  share  of  the  profits  of  the  film 
are  to  go  to  the  Indiana  Historic  Commission. 


ORGANIZE  FOR  CONVENTION 

Members   of   Motion   Picture   Exhibitors'   Association 

of  Illinois  Meet  in  Chicago  to  Plan  for  National 

Assembly  in  July 

The  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Association  of 
Illinois,  affiliated  with  the  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League  of  America,  will  hold  its  convention  in  Chi- 
cago, beginning  on  Tuesday,  March  14. 

Members  of  the  executive  committee  are  arrang- 
ing for  this  convention  and  also  the  national  conven- 
tion, which  will  be  held  in  Chicago  early  in  July. 

Every  film  manufacturing  concern  in  the  United 
States,  large  and  small,  will  be  invited  to  take  part  in 
both  gatherings."  Many  have  already  signified  their 
intentions  of  taking  an  active  part  in  both  conventions. 

The  executive  committee  is  composed  of  Fred 
Hartman,  George  N.  Laing,  August  Lilligen, -Julius  A. 
Alcock,-  H.  L.  Lieberthal,  chairman;  M.  A.  Choynski 
and  M.  S.  Johnson. 

The  officers  are  George  Henry,  president;  John 
H.  Fruendt,  vice-president ;  William  J.  Sweeney,  treas- 
urer; Sidney  Smith,  secretary;  and  Abe  Ballaban,  ser- 
geant-at-arms. 

Those  who  are  taking  an  active  part  in  complet- 
ing the  details  surrounding  the  preparation  of  ar- 
rangements for  the  success  of  the  conventions  include 
Robert  R.  Levy,  Chris  Whelan,  Louis  H.  Frank,  Fred 
Schaefer,   J.    Freundt  and   Max   Hyman. 


HOPPER  LIKES  CALIFORNIA 

Fine   Arts-Triangle   Star    Brings    Wife   and   Baby   to 

West  Coast;  Enjoys  Long  Automobile  Trips 

on  California  Roads 

De  Wolf  Hopper  has  decided  to  make  Los  Angeles 
his  home  for  a  year. 

A  "brilliant  offer"  from  the  Fine  Arts  branch  of 
the  Triangle  Corporation  caused  him  to  decide. 

Since  reaching  California  a  few  days  ago,  Mr. 
Hopper  has  become  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  state 
and  its  environs.  Upon  the  excellent  roads  he  enter- 
tains himself  on  the  off  days  at  the  Fine  Arts  studio 
and  his  motoring  pleasures  include  frequent  trips  to 
San  Francisco,  Santa  Barbara,  Riverside  and  San 
Diego. 

He  occupies  a  palatial  bungalow  in  the  heart  of 
Hollywood,  where  he  says  he  is  perfectly  contented. 
Hopper's  wife  and  baby  came  to  California  with  him 
and  they  also  are  enthused  with  the  climatic  conditions 
and  the  western  hospitality. 

Recently  Mr.  Hopper  said : 

"California  is  an  ideal  place  for  a  home.  I  have 
made  any  number  of  friends  and  I  was  somewhat  sur- 
prised to  find  many  of  my  eastern  acquaintances  in 
Los  Angeles.  We  have  formed  a  sort  of  a  circle  out 
here,  and  we  entertain  one  another  at  dinners  given 
in  our  bungalows,  which  is  almost  impossible  in  New 
York,  as  we  are  usually  separated  by  our  theatrical  en- 
g-agements." 


Weird  Notes  to  Film  Editor 

"Jack"  Wheeler,  editor-in-chief  of  the  Selig-Tribune, 
the  "reel"  newspaper,  released  twice  a  week  by  the  Selig 
Polyscope  Company,  has  enumerated  a  list  of  startling 
propositions  made  to  him  in  the  course  of  a  day's  work. 
Here  they  are : 

Jim  Johnson  of  Big  Springs  has  an  ossified  man  and 
the  Selig-Tribune  can  have  the  real  thing  for  a  stated 
remuneration. 

A  gent  in  Aurora  has  the  only  five-legged  calf  in  cap- 
tivity. Offers  calf  to  the  Selig-Tribune  for  one  hundred 
"bones." 

Uncle  Chris  Culp  writes  in  claiming  to  be  the  oldest 
living  mayor  in  the  United  States.  He'll  come  right  on 
and  pose  for  all  expenses  and  ten  dollars  daily. 

"Bosco,"  He-eats-'em-alive,  comes  to  life  and 
"wishes"  himself  on  a  long  suffering  film  editor. 

And  then  there's  Clara,  the  Albino;  Chief  Big  Shot,; 
who  fought  against  Custer;  a  real-for-sure  Russian 
countess ;  the  world's  greatest  dancer ;  last  surviving 
member  of  the  Jesse  James  outlaw  gang ;  the  man  with 
the  trained  fleas,  and  a  host  of  other  attractive  proposi-' 
tions  which  are  ready  and  waiting.     - 

The  life  of  an  editor  of  a  film  newspaper  is  not  a 
happy  one.  He  is  obliged  to  barricade  himself  for  pro- 
tection from  emissaries  of  all  descriptions  and  he  would 
have  little  time  for  work  should  he  listen  to  all  the  won- . 
ful  propositions  that  are  always  ready  to  be  poured  into 
his  ear. 


Hal  Clarendon,  who  successfully  directed  the  pro- 
duction of  "One  Day,"  for  B.  S.  Moss,  has  accepted  a 
temporary  engagement  Avith  the  Universal.  He  began 
work  for  the  Universal  folks  last  week,  directing  Ho- 
bart  Henley,  late  star  of  "Graft,"  in  a  feature,  entitled 
"The  Other  Man." 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


NEW  PLAY  FOR  GAUMONT  STAR 

Henry  J.  Vernot  Writes  Another  Five-Reel  Feature 

in  Which  Miss  Marguerite  Courtot  Will 

Be  Starred 

The  success  of  Miss  Marguerite  Courtot  in  "The 
Dead  Alive,"  written  by  her  director,  Henry  J.  Vernot, 
has  won  her  a  place  in  another  Gaumont  five-reel  feature 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Vernot. 

"Feathertop"  soon  will  be  completed.  Then  the 
little  star  will  begin  at  once  on  the  new  photoplay.  Sydney 
Mason  has  been  featured  in  Miss  Courtot's  support  in 
both  "The  Dead  Alive"  and  "Feathertop."  In  the  new 
photoplay,  as  yet  unnamed,  the  strongest  male  role  will 
go  to  Henry  W.  Pemberton.  He  has  been  accepted  as 
the  ideal  type  for  the  unusually  strong  part  which  is  the 
foil  for  Miss  Courtot's  own  role.  Because  of  the  fact 
that  certain  features  of  the  plot  are  new  to  the  screen,  no 
announcement  of  the  story  in  its  entirety  is  being  made 
at  this  time  by  the  Gaumont  company. 

Friday,  the  Thirteenth,  the  hoodoo  day  of  the  year,  is 
pleasantly  satirized  in  the  animated  cartoon  made  at  the 
Gaumont  studio  by  Harry  Palmer  for  release  on  the  split 
reel  with  the  Gaumont  scenic  series,  "See  America 
First."  This  is  for  the  release  of  March  12  by  Mutual. 
Mr.  Palmer  takes  a  superstitious  gentleman  through  a 
day  of  troubles,  all  because  it  happens  to  be  Friday, '  the 
Thirteenth.  On  the  same  reel  are  interesting  views  of 
Monterey,  Cal. 

The  cast  of  Gaumont's  "The  Quality  of  Faith,"  five- 
reel  feature,  has  been  completed.  It  is  being  produced  at 
the  Jacksonville  studios.  The  leading  roles  are  being 
enacted  by  Alexander  Gaden  and  Miss  Gertrude  Rob- 
inson. 

When  Miss  Gertrude  McCoy  was  signed  by  the 
Gaumont  company  two  weeks  ago  to  star  in  its  five-reel 
features  released  as  Mutual  masterpieces,  de  luxe  edition, 
it  was  announced  that  her  first  photoplay  would  be  "The 
Quality  of  Faith."  No  sooner  had  this  been  anounced, 
however,  than  F.  G.  Bradford,  general  manager  of  the 
Gaumont  company,  received  from  Paul  M.  Bryan  an 
original  manuscript  which  he  recognized  at  once  would 
make  a  remarkable  vehicle  for  Gaumont's  new  star.  Mr. 
Bradford  immediately  wired  the  Gaumont  winter  studios 
at  Jacksonville,  Fla.,'  to  hold  Miss  McCoy  for  this  new 
photoplay.  This  five-reel  feature,  called  "The  Isle  of 
Love,"  is  a  dramatic  story  of  a  stage  favorite,  played  by 
Miss  McCoy,  who  is  courted  by  all  New  York.  By  acci- 
dent, the  light  opera  queen  finds  herself  on  an  island  in 
the  South  Seas,  married  by  force  to  a  sea  captain  whom 
she  has  once  spurned.  Paul  M.  Bryan,  author  of  "The 
Isle  of  Love."  has  written  a  great  many  Gaumont  suc- 
cesses, among  them  being  "The  Idol  of  the  Stage"  and 
"Lessons  in  Love." 


"Old  Homestead"  Success  as  Film 

Just  prior  to  the  appearance  of  the  Famous  Play- 
ers ^  Film  Company's  adaptation  of  Denman  Thomp- 
son's "The  Old  Homestead"  on  the  Paramount  pro- 
gram in  December,  Adolph  Zukor,  president  of  the 
producing  company,  made  public  his  belief  that  the 
simplicity  and  old-fashioned  wholesomeness  of  the 
story,  together  witli  the  international  reputation  of  the 
original  play,  would  win  great  popularity  for  the 
motion   picture. 

At  that  time  Mr.  Zukor  declared  it  to  be  his  view 
that    amid    the   amount    of  sensational    and    salacious 


films  which  entered  the  market,  the  public  would  wel- 
come such  a  story  as  "The  Old  Homestead,"  with  its 
real  farm  life,  its  familiar  tale  of  parental  faith,  and 
the  final  redemption  of  the  erring  youth  through  the 
unshakable  devotion  of  the  old  man.  He  stated  that 
he  believed  the  quiet  comedy  of  the  old  play  would 
appeal  strongly  in  contrast  to  the  deluge  of  slap-stick 
trash  which  has  flooded  the  motion  picture  screen. 

The  film,  after  being  on  the  screen  for  a  little. more 
than  two  months,  already  has  occasioned  many  com- 
ments from  exhibitors,  all  of  whom  bear  out  the 
prophecy  of  Mr.  Zukor. 


Stage  Men  War  on  Intermission 

Massachusetts  vaudeville  and  motion  picture  forces 
are  lined  up  against  each  other  over  a  bill  requiring  inter- 
missions between  motion  picture  films.  Representative 
Charles  Chapman,  better  known  by  his  stage  name  of 
Sandy  Chapman,  the  Cambridge  legislator,  and  the  only 
actor  to  serve  in  the  legislature  in  a  generation,  appeared 
before  the  committee  on  mercantile  affairs  of  the  legisla- 
ture as  the  parent  of  the  bill.  Jeffrey  L.  Whalen  of  the 
White  Rats  and  Henry  Sterling,  legislative  agent  of  the 
Massachusetts  branch  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  were  others  present. 

Chapman  opened  the  hearing,  outlining  the  bill  with 
a  second  bill  introduced  later,  the  first  requiring  ten  min- 
ute intermissions  after  each  thirty  minutes  of  motion  pic- 
tures and  the  second  requiring  eight  minutes  intermission 
after  each  twenty-five  minutes  of  films.  Opponents  of 
the  bill  declared  that  an  investigation  of  many  of  the 
houses  putting  on  vaudeville  between  films  would  justify 
the  contention  continuous  motion  pictures  were  preferable 
to  the  vaudeville  acts.  After  the  committee  had  listened 
to  all  desiring  to  speak,  it  announced  that  consideration 
would  be  given  the  measure  and  a  report  would  be  made 
to  the  legislature  within  a  few  days. 


Urges  Girl  Workers  See  Films 

The  Selig  Polyscope  Company  has  made  public  the 
following  letter,  received  by  them,  which  is  an  attack 
upon  the  so-called  reformers  who  have  waged  unrelent- 
less  war  upon  the  motion  picture  : 

"It  will  be  the  writer's  pleasure  to  place  attractive 
photographs  of  Selig  stars  in  our  sewing  department, 
where  they  will  be  recognized  by  five  hundred  or  more 
girls.  Our  interest  in  the  matter  is  this  :  We  prefer  that 
our  girls  go  to  the  picture  shows  in  preference  to  other 
amusement  not  so  productive  of  good  influence." 

The  letter  was  signed  by  O.  T.  George  of  the  Mays- 
ville,  Ky.,  Woolen  Mills. 


Sothern  Studies  "New  Art" 

Preparations  are  being  made  at  the  Vitagraph  studio 
in  Flatbush,  N.  Y.,  for  the  feature  productions  in  which 
E.  H.  Sothern  is  to  make  his  bow  to  the  motion  picture 
public.  Although  he  does  not  begin  work  until  May  1. 
the  noted  Shakespearean  thespian  is  spending  his  spare 
time  at  the  studio  studying  the  acting,  learning  the  new 
art  of  make-up  anil  being  instructed  by  Vitagraph  direc- 
tors in  technical  requirements  of  his  new  profession. 

"Too  say  that  1  am  deeply  impressed  is  putting  it 
mildly,"  Mr.  Sothern  said  recently,  after  one  of  his  visits 
at  the  Vitagraph  plant.  "While  I  realized  in  a  general 
way  that  the  film  art  won  its  way  to  popular  favor  through 
merit,  1  had  no  idea  that  it  was  so  firmly  established  on  a 
Foundation  of  esthetic  genius." 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"Ben  Blair" 

Pallas-Paramount    Production    with    Dustin    Farnum 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

'THERE  is  much  beautiful  Western  scenery,  finely  photo- 
A  graphed,  and  Dustin  Farnum  in  the  latest  Pallas  offering, 
"Ben  Blair,"  but  there  is  little  else.    Mr.  Farnum  has  the  name 


■'"A 

m  7M  %jr     h    -^S 

tpj 

''-  *s 

part,  and  that  part  is  everything  in  this  story  by  William  Lille- 
bridge.  Ben  is  an  ardent  lover,  an  expert  rider,  a  crack  shot, 
and  he  fears  no  man.  He  wins  the  object  of  his  affection  by 
resorting   to   cave-man   methods. 

Dustin  Farnum,  as  is  well  known,  can  play  that  sort  of  role 
with  fine  effect.  Ben  is  a  character  such  as  one  finds  in  the  story 
books  and  one  which  would  tax  the  ability  of  any  actor.  That 
"Ben  Blair"  is  as  interesting  as  it  really  is  cannot  be  charged 
up  to  the  story,  for  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  is  none.  The 
picture  goes  from  scene  to  scene  in  which  this  determined  cow- 
boy does  things  which  only  extraordinary  men  could  do. 

"Ben  decides  to  take  him  alive"  and  "Ben  takes  a  walk," 
are  two  subtitles  which  give  a  clear  idea  of  how  much  Ben 
means  to  this  picture,  particularly  when  there  are  numbers  of 
others  like  them.  But  for  all  of  that  "Ben  Blair"  is  an  enter- 
taining picture,  and  no  doubt  about  it.  The  impressive  settings 
and  excellent  photography  are  two  good  reasons  for  pronounc- 
ing this  a  feature  offering. 

Tom  Blair  causes,  by  his  cruel  treatment,  the  death  of  his 
ill  wife.  After  her  death  and  Blair's  departure,  Ben,  Jennie's 
son,  is  taken  to  the  home  of  John  Rankin.  The  ranch  adjoin- 
ing Rankin's  is  owned  by  Scott  Winthrop.  Winthrop's  daughter 
and  Ben  grow  up  together,  and  the  time  comes  when  Ben  con- 
fesses his  love  and  asks  Florence  to  marry  him.  She  refuses 
because  she  longs  for  the  pleasures  which  her  mother  describes 
as  being  a  part  of  society. 

Florence  with  her  father  and  mother  leaves  for  the  city. 
There  she  soon  becomes  a  prominent  figure  in  a  certain  fash- 
ionable set  and  considers  marrying  a  youth  of  not  admirable 
habits  because  of  the  social  advantages  of  such  a  match.  But 
Ben  comes  to  the  city  and  takes  Florence  back  to  God's  country 
with  him. 

William  D.  Taylor  produced  the  picture  and  he  did  so  very 
ably.  The  production  is  remarkably  good.  Supporting  Mr. 
Farnum  there  is  a  cast  made  up  of  effective  players.  Winnifred 
Kingston  is  a  pleasing  Florence  and  Gordon  Griffith  as  Ben 
Blair,  the  boy,  is  quite  one  of  the  most  impressive  actors  in  the 
picture.  F.  Burns,  Frank  A.  Bonn,  Lamar  Johnstone,  Virginia 
Foltz    and    Herbert    Standing    complete    the    cast. 


"Little  Mary  Sunshine" 

A  Five-Part  Pathe  Gold  Rooster  Play  Released  March 
3.    Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

THE  common  but  expressive  term  "delightful"  may  be  used 
1  in  reference  to  any  and  all  parts  of  this  play,  produced 
by  Balboa  for  release  on  the  Gold  Rooster  program,  in  which 
the  tiny  three-year-old  leading  lady,  Marie  Osborne,  is  featured. 


The  unconscious,  unaffected  acting  of  this  star,  or  starette,  is 
marvelous,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  ever  any  child  has  deported 
itself  better  before  the  camera. 

"Little  Mary  Sunshine"  is  a  play  that  will  not  only  appeal 
greatly  to  children,  but  its  pathos  will  also  take  the  older  people 
by  storm.  Some  of  the  most  refreshing  diversion  ever  put  into 
a  film  is  afforded  by  the  antics  of  a  houge  bear,  which  at  times 
is  more  of  a  kid  than  "Little  Mary."  The  comedy  in  which 
the  bear  and  child  figure  takes  up  a  large  portion  of  film  but 
not  an  inch  too  much.  Some  of  the  funny  incidents  which 
have  to  be  seen  to  be  fully  appreciated,  are  Bruin's  drinking 
from  a  garden  hose,  his  lumbering  efforts  to  get  the  contents 
of  a  milk  bottle  down  his  throat,  a  good  share  of  it  missing 
the   mark,    and    a   bath   which    "Little   Mary"    gives    the    animal. 

The  story  itself  contains  a  well  constructed  plot  which  gives 
the  little  actress'  charm  full  sway  over  the  feelings  of  her 
spectators.  Besides  Marie  Osborne,  in  the  cast  are  Henry  King, 
Marguerite  Nichols  and  Andrew  Arbuckle,  whose  efforts  all 
have  a  telling  effect. 

Her  father  a  hopeless  drunkard,  soon  to  die,  "Little  Marie" 
sets  out  to  find  the  way  to  heaven  and  her  mother.  Bob,  who 
has  fallen  out  with  his  sweetheart  on  account  of  drink,  finds 
the  child  in  the  tonneau  of  his  auto  and  takes  her  home.  The 
uplifting  influence  of  the  little  girl  upon  Bob  gradually  effects 
a  change  in  his  whole  system,  and  awakens  his  dormant  pro- 
pensities to  such  an  extent  that  he  forsakes  drink  and  begins 
to  pine  for  the  restoration  of  his  sweetheart's  affections.  Then 
it  only  remains  for  a  "fixer"  to  arrange  things  right,  and  a  happy 
ending  ensues. 

Although  this  piture  is  not  rampantly  dramatic  or  especially 
profound,  its  tender  heart-interest  qualities  are  remarkable.  It 
is    a  play  that  takes   a  refreshing   turn    from   the   conventional 


at  all  points  and  fulfills  every  requirement  that  can  be  expected 
of  a  drama  of  light  vein.  It  deserves  the  hall-mark  of  a  flaw- 
less   product.     The   credit    for   the    direction   belongs    to    Henry 


"According  to  Law" 

Mutual    Masterpicture,    De    Luxe    Edition,    Released 
March  6.    Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

T  N  THE  course  of  its  development  the  story  of  "According 
1  to  Law"  undergoes  some  changes.  This  play  by  Paul  M. 
Bryan  and  Joseph  Trant  starts  out  to  be  of  the  problem  sort, 
but  the  domestic  question  is  dropped  without  ceremony  and  not 
altogether  to  the  regret  of  the  spectator,  for  then  there  is  com- 
menced a  story  which  in  fundamentals  is  perhaps  of  less  conse- 
quence but  easily  more  pleasing  and  entertaining. 

The  story  has  a  production  of  the  usual  Gaumont  effective 
type  and  the  acting  while  not  exceptional,  is  good.  Richard  Gar- 
rick  directed  and  he  has  treated  the  subject  commendably.  Mr. 
Garrick  also  acts  the  role  of  William  Proctor  well.  The  set- 
tings are  real  and  the  photography  good. 

Mildred  Gregory  is  featured.  Miss  Gregory  brings  good 
looks  to  her  part  and  in  the  lighter  moments  she  acts  effectively. 
She  would  be  more  consistently  effective,   however,   if   she  had 


646 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


at  her  resource  more  expression  than  deep,  rapid  breathing  in 
the  dramatic  situations.  Miss  Gregory  is  Isabel  Bland,  the 
butterfly  wife  of  a  wealthy  and  home  loving  man.  Apparently 
shoe  does  not  care  much   for  her  husband.     The  opening  scene 


of  this  story  shows  Robert  Bland  seated  in  his  library  reading 
a  book  entitled  "Should  Women  Have  Children,"  and  even  if 
one  does  think  that  he  would  be  better  off  were  he  absorbed 
in  "Little  Red  Riding  Hood"  the  fact  that  he  loves  children 
and  his  wife  does  not  is  at  once  conveyed. 

Isabel  remains  indifferent  to  Bland,  so  he  turns  for  com- 
panionship to  another  woman.  The  wife  learns  this  and  divorce 
proceedings  follow.  Upon  receiving  her  decree  Isabel  retires  to 
her  country  home  on  an  island  and  Bland  takes  up  his  residence 
in  an  isolated  spot.  Circumstances  bring  them  together  again. 
A  year  after  the  reconciliation  Isabel  dies  in  giving  birth  to  a 
baby  girl.  Then  there  is  a  lapse  of  twenty  years  and  from 
this  point  on  the  story  tells  of  Bland's  daughter's  romance  and 
her  efforts  to  gain  the  property,  which  though  in  the  hands  of 
an   unscrupulous   uncle,    is   rightfully   hers. 

Prominent  in  the  cast  are  E.  K.  James,  Alan  Robinson. 
Charles  W.  Travis,  Helen  Marten  and  Mathilda  Baring.  The 
scenes  laid  in  the  Florida  Everglades  have  a  realness  which 
makes  them  the  most  memorable  of  any  in  the  picture. 


loves  Helene,  and  when  Vorec  refuses  to  interfere,  Bent  tells 
Mason  that  Vorec  is  the  smuggler  he  is  after,  and  that  the 
daughter  is  also  in  the  game.  Then  Bent  tricks  Helene  into  a 
situation  which  seems  to  prove  her  guilt,  and  Mason's  duty 
clearly  is  to  have  her  arrested.  Helene  learns  of  her  father's 
guilt,  and  to  save  him,  declares  that  she  alone  is  the  smuggler. 
Mason,  duty  having  triumphed,  has  Helene  arrested.  Mean- 
while, Vorec  has  learned  of  Bent's  treachery  and  attacks  him. 
In  a  struggle  Vorec  is  shot  and  fatally  wounded,  but  he  shows 
amazing  vitality  in  capturing  Bent  and  handing  him  over  to 
the  police  before  he  succumbs  to  his  wound. 

After  that  Helene  is  alone,  and  she  becomes  a  maid  in 
the  home  of  Mrs.  Burrows.  At  a  party  she  and  Mason  meet, 
but. Mason  gives  no. sign,  of  recognition.  Later,  Mason's  friend 
brings  about  a  reconciliation  between  the  two,  and  all  ends  well. 
But  Mason  forfeits  sympathy  to  a  large  extent  when  he  refuses 
to  recognize  Helene  at  first.  Caddishness  is  harder  to  forgive 
than  villainy,  and  his  act,  whatever  its  intention,  appears  cad- 
dish.    The  acting  in  the  play  is  worthy  a  better  story. 


"The  Gulf  Between" 

Lubin  Three-Reel  Release  of  March  16.     Reviewed  by 
Genevieve  Harris 

THE  struggle  between  love  and  duty  is  the  theme  of  this  play, 
1  which  Edward  Sloman  produced  from  a  story  by  Tom  Gibson. 
The  situation  is  brought  about  when  a  detective,  working  to 
capture  opium  smugglers,  falls  in  love  with  the  daughter  of 
the  leader,  not  knowing  who  she  is.  This  sort  of  a  conflict  is 
always  interesting,  and  in  this  case  the  struggle  is  well  handled. 
The  best  point  in  the  play  is  the  situation  when  the  young  man 
must  choose  between  betraying  the  girl  he  loves  or  being  untrue 
to  bis  pledge  to  his  superiors. 

Unfortunately,  the  events  before  and  after  this  point  are 
not  so  well  handled.  The  acting  of  the  cast  is  very  good  through- 
out, but  there  are  several  important  points  in  the  plot  left  unex- 
plained, and  coincidence  in  one  place  at  least  goes  beyond  prob- 
ability. The  characters  are  more  plausible  than  the  story,  as 
developed.  Helen  Wolcott,  in  the  leading  feminine  role,  Helene 
Vorec,  the  daughter  of  the  smuggler,  acts  with  her  usual  skill. 
Melvin  Mayo  stands  out  pleasingly  as  Vorec,  who  keeps  his 
daughter  ignorant  of  bis  real  business.  Allan  Forrest,  as  Fred 
Mason,  the  detective;  George  Routh,  as  Bent,  Vorec's  partner, 
who  betrays  him;  and  Jim  Morelv,  as  Hob  Austin,  Mason's 
friend,  all  fill  their  roles  naturally  and  effectively.  Adelaide 
Bronti,   in  a   small   part,  as   Mrs.    Marrows,   is   worthy  of   mention. 

Fred  Mason,  a  young  man  of  leisure,  decides  to  follow  his 
friend  Mob's  profession  and  be  a  detective  in  the  national  service. 
His  first  assignment  is  to  trace  a  band  of  opium  smugglers, 
headed  by  .lames  Vorec.    The  only  information  given  him  is  thai 

the  leaders  of  the  band  are  accustomed  to  live  at  the  best  hotels. 
So  the  young  detective  goes  to  a  hotel  to  live,  and  there  meets 
and  at  once  falls  in  love  with  Helene  Vorec.  The  fact  that 
\la~on    chose   al    once    the    hotel    at    which    the    smugglers    live    is, 

it  seems,  purr  coincidence.  From  thai  time  on  he  makes  no 
effort  to  locate  the  men  he  is  after,  giving  his  whole  attention 
to  Helene,     Theii   love    iffait   angers  Vorecs  partner,  Mem.  who 


"Overalls" 

American  Five-Reel  Masterpicture  Released  March  18. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

IN  this  play,  characters  and  events  are  nicely  balanced  as  to 
^  importance  and  the  settings  aid  both.  William  Stowell 
plays  the  hero,  Herbert  Drew,  nicknamed  "Overalls,"  head  of 
a  railroad  construction  gang.  The  picture  opens  with  a  num- 
ber of  interesting  scenes  of  the  gang  at  work  and  at  play. 
Pe.?gy  Malone  and  her  mother,  Widow  Malone,  keeper  of 
the  boarding  house,  are  introduced.  Peggy  is  very  well 
played  by  Estelle  Allen,  while  Sylvia  Ashton,  as  her  mother, 
is  a  delight.  Peggy  is  adored  by  all  the  boys  at  the  camp, 
but  she  is  in  love  with  Drew,  who  regards  her  only  as  an 
amusing  little  girl. 

In  the  east,  the  man  who  is  financing  the  work  dies. 
leaving  his  interests  in  the  hands  of  his  lawyer,  Daniels, 
until  his  daughter,  Bettina,  shall  marry.  After  her  father's 
death,  Bettina  and  Daniels  visit  the  construction  camp.  Rhea 
Mitchell  plays  Bettina,  and  she,  as  the  dainty  eastern  girl, 
Peggy,  as  the  product  of  rough  western  surroundings,  are  an 
interesting  contrast,  each  appealing  in  her  own  way. 

Daniels  and  Drew  are  also  contrasted,  to  the  discredit 
of  Daniels.  The  struggle  begins  at  once,  when  Daniels  first 
arrives  at  the  boarding  house  and  has  an  encounter  with 
Peggy.  Drew  interferes  to  aid  Peggy  and  wins  Daniels' 
hatred.    As  the  latter  is  now  in  charge  of  the  project,  he  dis- 


charges Drew  as  manager.  This  leads  to  rebellion  among 
the  men.  and  there  are  a  number  of  exciting  encounters  be- 
tween the  new  gang  and  the  old.  Drew,  who  is  in  love  with 
Bettina,  tries  to  bring  some  order  out  of  the  chaos  so  that 
the    work    may    go    on.      To    complicate    affairs.    Bettina,    who 


March   18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


believes   that   he   is    engaged 


has   fallen    in   love    with    Drc 
to  Peggy. 

While  visiting  the  scene  of  the  railroad  construction  one 
day,  Bettina  gets  into  a  dangerous  situation  and  Daniels  is 
afraid  to  come  to  her  aid.  Drew  saves  her,  and  all  the  men 
turn  to  him  for  his  heroism.  Daniels,  who  hates  Drew  the 
more  as  Bettina  and  the  men  admire  him,  hires  Finnegan, 
whom  Drew  had  once  discharged,  to  get  him  out  of  the  way. 
Finnegan  and  his  gang  attack  Drew  and  torture  him,  but  his 
friends  save  him  in  time.  Then  Peggy  confesses  her  false- 
hood to  Bettina,  and  things  come  out  right  for  her  and  Drew, 
while  Peggy  turns  to  one  of  the  men  who  has  loved  h'er. 
Daniels  gets  his  just  deserts  from  the  men. 

The  story  will  please,  particularly  the  scenes  like  the 
dance  given  by  Mrs.  Malone  in  Bettina's  honor.  Jack  Hallo- 
way  directed  the  production,  which  includes  Perry  Banks, 
Warren  Ellsworth,  George  Ahern,  Mack  Prescott  and  George 
Bailey  in  the  cast. 


messages,  and  when  they  arrive,  the  weirdness  of  the  sur- 
roundings, and  the  veiled  accusations  of  the  forunte-telkr, 
prey  on  the  nerves  of  the  dope  fiend,  Whitey,  who  confesses 
the  murder.  There  are  enough  upright  policemen  on  the 
staff,  it  seems,  to  capture  the  wrong-doers,  and  all  ends 
well    for    Kerrigan,    who    is    again    given    his    position,    and 

■  Ethel,   whom  he   marries. 

While  not  at  all  plausible,  the  story  fills  its  purpose  as 
an  adventure  play.  Norbert  A.  Myles  plays  Kerrigan,  Francis 
J.  MacDonald  is  Whitey,  and  Louise  Hutchinson  is  Madame 
Adelaide.    The  roles  are  well  handled.     Murdoch  MacQuarrie 

•  directed  the  play,  from  a  scenario  by  Al.  V.  Jerrerson. 


"In  the  Web  of  the  Grafters" 

Five-Part    Signal    Mutual    Masterpicture    Released 
March  13.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

AVERY  melodramtic  play  with  many  thrills  and  much  ex- 
citement, in  this  first  picture  which  the  Signal  Film  Cor- 
poration' has  made  to  release  as  a  "Mutual  Masterpicture." 
The  fact  that  the  villians  which  must  be  foiled  are  high  in 
power,  being  police  officers,  adds  to  the  danger  and  suspense. 

An  upright  mayor  is  trying  to  do  away  with  graft  in 
police  circles  and  is  rapidly  winning  the  enmity  of  a  num- 
ber of  corrupt  members,  when  the  story  opens.  The  mayor 
has  one  daughter,  Ethel,  played  by  Edythe  Sterling.  She 
is  aided  one  day  by  Bruce  Kerrigan,  a  traffic  policeman,  and 
then  asks  her  father  to  assign  the  man  as  doorman  at  their 
coming  reception.  The  story  gets  under  way  at  this  recep- 
tion, for  Kerrigan  captures  Whitey,  a  crook,  who  comes  to 
the  reception  to  steal  documents  of  evidence  against  various 
resorts.  These  "papers"  play  an  important  role  in  this 
melodrama,  and  figure  in  many  exciting  episodes. 

Whitey  having  been  captured,  the  mayor  offers  to  free 
him  if  he  will  assist  in  getting  more  evidence.  Whitey 
accepts  the  offer,  then  lays  the  case  before  his  pals  at  Madam 
Adelaide's  establishment.  They  plot  now  not  only  against 
the  mayor  but  against  Kerrigan,  the  policeman.  With  the 
aid  of  a  corrupt  superior  officer,  Kerrigan  comes  under 
suspicion  of  running  a  gambling  resort.  Then  Ethel  is  kid- 
naped and  brought  to  the  Madame  Adelaide's  resort,  and 
finally  plots  are  laid  to  injure  the  good  name  of  the  mayor. 
Kerrigan  manages  to  be  present  to  rescue  his  friends,  but  in 
such  a  way  that  he  falls  under  suspicion. 

Then  Whitey  murders  the  mayor,  and  again  Kerrigan 
is  on  hand  to  be  accused  of  the  murder.  Ethel,  to  save  him, 
tries  to  confess  herself  guilty,  but  evidence  is  against  her. 
Kerrigan  escapes  and  assumes  a  disguise  in  order  to  gather 
evidence  as  to  the  real  murderer.  His  disguise  is  effective, 
but  in  a  secret  meeting  with  Ethel  he  is  discovered.  Again 
he  escapes,  after  a  thrilling  battle  in  which  he  rescues  Ethel 
and  the  precious  documents. 


"Curlew  Corliss" 

Three-Reel     American     Mustang     Drama.     Released 
March  17.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

"THERE  are  so  many  delightful  touches  in  this  play  that  it 
A  must  be  a  difficult  audience  which  is  not  charmed  by  it. 
It  is  full  of  local  color.  It  is  beautiful,  in  setting  and  pho- 
about   very    human    people.      It    should    fill   its 


The  plot  by  which  the  evil-doers  are  trapped  is  clever 
and  novel.  They  are  convicted  through  their  own  super- 
,  stitions.  For  Ethel  bribes  a  fortune-teller  to  allow  her  to 
appear  in  her  place.     The  men  are  summoned  by  mysterious 


mission  of  presenting  a  most  enjoyable  entertainment.  Crime 
comes  into  the  story  in  one  episode,  the  robbing  of  the  stage 
coach.  This,  and  another  scene  of  gunplay,  do  not  add  to  the 
story.  They  do  not  very  seriously  injure  it,  but  the  strong  fea- 
ture's of  the  story,  the  things  which  will  be  remembered,  are 
not  the  "thrills"  but  the  human  side.  Director  William  Bertram 
is  to  be  commended  for  his  picturing  of  little  details  wHich 
give  one  the  impression  of  being  really  with  the  players. 

The  play  begins  with  a  charming  scene  of  the  playground 
of  a  country  school.  That  and  the  several  scenes  in  the  school 
room  will  delight  especially  anyone  who  learned  his  A.  B.  C.'s  in 
such  surroundings,  and  there  will  be  no  criticisms  on  its  reality. 

Art  Acord,  of  "Buck  Parvin"  fame,  and  Nita  Davis,  a  new- 
comer to  the  American  forces,  are  the  featured  players.  Dixie 
Stratton  and  Joe  Massey,  also  from  the  "Buck  Parvin"  cast, 
have  small  parts.  Acord  plays  his  role  of  a  cowboy,  Cufley 
Corliss,  very  well  and  has  several  chances  to  show  his  skill 
in  riding.  His  white  horse  will  also  win  admiration.  Nita 
Davis,  the  heroine,  is  Tina,  the  country  school  teacher.  John 
Gough  gives  an  excellent  characterization  as  her  brother,  a 
dope  fiend. 

The  story  is  the  least  important  part  of  the  play.  It  begins 
when  Curlew  Corliss,  happy-go-lucky  cowboy,  meets  Tina,  ithe 
attractive  little  school  teacher,  who  takes  her  responsibilities  very 
seriously.  It  is  under  unfavorable  circumstances  for  Curlew. 
One  of  the  urchins  on  the  playground  threw  a  ball  at  the  cow- 
boy's horse  and  Curlew,  as  mischievous  as  the  boys,  drives  his 
horse  directly  towards  them.  One  little  chap  falls  and  is  slightly 
injured,  which  arouses  the  wrath  of  the  teacher  against  Curlew. 
Later,  when  school  is  dismissed  and  the  teacher  and  children 
are  on  the  road  home,  Curlew  rides  by  them,  very  self-conscious- 
ly, but  the  teacher  "can't  see  him." 

To  win  the  teacher's  interest,  Curlew  orders  from  a  cata- 
logue a  necklace  and  awaits  eagerly  its  arrival,  especially  since 
he  seems  to  have  a  rival  in  a  rather  disreputable  youth,  a  new- 
comer to  town,  with  whom  the  teacher  is  friendly.  The  young 
man  is  really  her  no-good  brother.  Then  the  stage  coach  arriv- 
ing with  the  mail  which  contains  the  present  is  robbed,  and  cir- 
cumstantial evidence  makes  the  teacher  believe  Curlew  is  guilty. 
She  goes  away  during  the  summer.  In  the  fall  she  returns 
with   her    mother,    who   keeps    a   boarding   house.      The    plot   is 


648 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


manipulated  so  that  the  mother  marries,  through  Curlew's  man- 
agement, a  wealthy  rancher;  the  wayward  brother,  really  guilty 
of  the  stage  robbery,  is  discovered  and  warned  by  Curlew,  whose 
worth  the  teacher  discovers  in  the  end,  and  all  are  happy. 

A  word  of  praise  should  be  made  of  one  especially  well 
handled  dissolve,  the  scene  when  Curlew  looks  at  the  clock  at 
four  p.  m.  and  sees  in  it  a  distinct  miniature  scene  of  the  school 
room  as  the  teacher  dismisses  the  pupils  for  the  day. 


back  some  very  interesting  snow  pictures  and  much  of  the 
atmosphere  of  the  northern  mining  country.  The  dog  teams, 
the  sleds,  the  snow  trails,  and  the  Indian  and  the  miner's  cos- 
tumes are  very  interesting  for  themselves,  regardless  of  the  story. 


"The  Redemption  of  Jim  Halsey" 

Selig  Three-Reel  Release  of  March  13.     Reviewed  by 
Genevieve  Harris 

THE  submerged  tenth  of  humanity  is  pictured  most  vividly 
in  this  play,  in  which  good  characterization  sustains  the 
interest  throughout.  Colin  Campbell  has  directed  it,  and 
Thomas  Santschi  and  Bessie  Eyton  have  strong  roles.  The 
plot  is  good,  and  there  are  several  thrilling  scenes  to  finish 
the  story.  The  play  is  strengthened  by  the  avoidance  of  the 
conventional   ending. 

While  interest  is  always  with  the  man  who  is  trying  to 
"come  back,"  in  this  play  our  sympathy  is  also  with  the 
woman  who  helped  him.  Jim  Halsey  (Thomas  Santschi), 
captain  of  a  ship,  comes  home  after  a  successful  voyage  to 
find  a  tragedy  in  his  own  home,  his  wife  and  another  man 
having  committed  suicide  together.  The  types  of  charac- 
ters among  the  sailors  whom  Jim  meets  when  he  comes 
ashore  are  interesting. 

The  change  in  Jim  is  well  portrayed,  from  the  cheerful, 
capable  sea  captain  of  the  first  act  to  the  broken  down 
drunkard  of  the  later  acts.  Meg  (Bessie  Eyton),  a  dope 
fiend,  is  moved  to  pity  at  the  wreck  of  the  captain,  gets  him 
out  of  trouble  with  the  police,  and  manages  to  keep  him 
from  drinking  until  he  again  gets  possession  of  himself. 
When  he  is  able  to  resume  command  of  his  ship,  Jim  leaves 
Meg,  giving  her  money,  but  tellling  her  that  after  his  recent 
experience  he  has  come  to  hate  all  women.  Meg,  not  hav- 
ing anything  to  hold  her  to  her  old  life,  follows  Jim  as  a 
stowaway  on  his  ship.  When  she  is  discovered  Jim  is  very 
angry,  but  he  protects  her  from  annoyance  by  others  of  the 
crew. 

Jim  has  an  enemy  among  the  crew,  Jed  Blake  (Guy 
Oliver),  who  was  his  rival  for  the  captaincy.  Jed  stirs  up 
rebellion  among  the  men,  and  they  attack  Jim  and  throw 
him  overboard.  Meg,  who  has  seen  the  fight,  jumps  over- 
board and  saves  Jim's  life.  They  manage  to  reach  shore,  but 
are  dashed  on  the  rocks,  and  Meg  is  injured  so  that  she  dies. 
Then,  too  late,  Jim  realizes  her  worth.    The  ending,  although 


sad,  is  effective,  and  die  scenes  before  it  are  thrilling.  Much 
of  the  appeal  of  the  plav  is  due  to  the  sincere  playing  of  Miss 
Eyton,  who  makes  Meg  very  real,  while  Thomas  Santschi 
portrays    Jim    excellently. 

"Beyond  the  Law" 

Three-Reel  Essanay  Drama  Released  March  4 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

COK  this  story,  which  is  a  sequel  to  "The  Snowburner,"  I'..  II. 
1  Calvert,  who  directed  it  and  win.  plays  "Hell  tamp"  Rivers, 
known  as  "Tin  Snowburner,"  took  a  company  of  players  to 
northern    Minnesota,   mar    \  irginia.      \-   a   result,   they   brought 


The  story  itself  fits  well  into  the  surroundings,  portraying 
the  keen,  merciless  struggle  "beyond  the  law,"  the  cruelty  of  men 
as  well  as  nature.  Being  a  sequel  to  a  play  already  produced, 
this  one  starts  "in  the  midst  of  things,"  without  any  explanation. 
But  the  situation  is  clear,  even  to  one  who  did  not  see  the 
earlier  play,  and  the  abrupt  beginning  is  pleasant. 

Rivers,  "The  Snowburner,"  of  which  E.  H.  Calvert  gives 
a  very  forceful  presentation,  has  been  driven  away  from  his 
mine.  He  falls  exhausted  in  the  snow,  while  in  the  background 
is  seen  the  fire  from  his  burning  camp.  Meanwhile,  Shanty 
Moir  (Jack  Meredith)  is  operating  a  secret  gold  mine,  the 
owner  of  which,  MacGregor,  he  is  supposed  to  have  killed.  In 
reality,  he  is  keeping  him  in  subjection  and  killing  him  with 
work.  As  a  last  act  of  cruelty,  he  plans  to  kidnap  MacGregor's 
daughter,  Hattie  (Marguerite  Clayton),  who  is  with  her  uncle 
in  the  north,  trying  to  locate  her  father. 

Shanty  Moir's  messenger  captures  Hattie,  but  as  she  is 
being  taken  to  the  mine,  "The  Snowburner,"  desperate  for  food, 
kills  the  messenger.  Maggie's  uncle  has  followed  them,  and 
takes  both  to  camp,  where  MacGregor  is  nursed  back  to  health. 
Later,  Rivers  manages  to  locate  the  gold  mine,  with  the  aid  of 
two  Indian  women,  and  there  he  kills  Shanty  and  rescues  Hat- 
tie's  father.     His  object,  however,  was  the  gold,  not  the  rescue. 

Just  why  the  subtitle,  "The  Snowburner  Pays,"  is  followed 
by  a  conventional  "happy  ending"  is  not  clear.  MacGregor  and 
Hattie  are  supposed  to  have  fallen  in  love,  but  this  is  not  con- 
vincing. It  would  have  been  much  more  effective,  in  the  writer's 
opinion,  to  have  let  "The  Snowburner"  go  out  of  the  picture 
alone,  instead  of  having  Maggie,  scarcely  waiting  to  welcome 
the  father  she  was  so  eager  to  find,  decide  to  go  with  him. 


"The  Flight  of  the  Duchess" 

Mutual    Masterpicture    Picturized    from    Browning's 
Poem.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

"T'HE  Flight  of  the  Duchess,"  a  five-part  Thanhouser  pro- 
1  duction,  has  much  to  recommend  it.  There  is  a  cleverly 
put  together  story  by  Virginia  T.  Hudson,  highly  artistic  treat- 
ment by  Director  Eugene  Nowland,  and  capable  acting.  The 
photography  ought  to  be  much  better  if  it  is  to  be  classed  with 
the  other  departments  of  this  picture. 

Miss  Hudson  constructed  an  admirable  scenario,  which  she 
has  based  on  the  poem  by  Browning.  And  every  bit  of  good  in 
that  scenario  has  been  brought  to  the  surface  by  Mr.  Now- 
land- deft  handling.  But  in  dealing  out  praise  for  "The  Flight 
of  the  Duehess"  one  must  not  give  the  impression  that  Gladys 
Hulctte's  acting  is  less  brilliant  than  the  efforts  of  anybody  else 
connected  with  its  making. 

Gladys  Hulette  has  at  her  command  every  qualification  a 
true  star  should  have.  There  is  no  actress  playing  before  the 
camera  who  has  a  better  right  to  the  significant  title  star  than 
Miss  Hulette.  and  in  noting  that  wc  have  in  mind  all  the  real 
stars  as  well  as  the  near  stars  who  are  widely  heralded  as 
Mich   tod.o 

Burnetl  I'arkev  does  some  splendid  acting  as  the  Duke 
who.  upon  returning  to  his  native  land,  orders  all  his  servants 
and   tenants   to   dress   in    the   costumes   of   medieval   days,   and   to 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


observe  the  ancient  customs.  He  has  a  difficult  time  of  it  in 
conforming  in  word,  deed  and  dress  to  the  days  of  chivalry. 
Soon  his  plan  calls  for  a  wife.  Accordingly  he  sends  a  courier 
to  the  Earl  asking  for  the  Earl's  ward  in  marriage.     The  ward 


give  him  a  job.  The  girl  through  friendly  assistance  becomes 
a  famous  singer,  and  after  her  father's  death,  the  hunchback 
becomes  manager  of  her  affairs.  He  takes  advantage  of  his 
nearness  to  her  to  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  young 
lady's  love  for  a  young  society  man  as  well  as  to  shape  things 
in  favor  of  his  own  ambition  to  win  the  girl. 

His  plans  are  maturing  nicely  up  till  the  time  when  his 
good  and  evil  spirits  appear  to  him  together.  He  wavers  be- 
tween the  two,  and  by  inclining  toward  the  good  angel,  in 
one  of  his  impulsive  moments,  he  undoes  what  he  has  done 
to  win  the  girl  and  loses  his  life  by  an  accidental  shot.  Ac- 
cording to  this,  it  would  appear  that  the  better  side  of  his 
nature  prevailed  in  the  end,  because  his  life  was  given  to  save 
his  rival,  the  very  man  whose  death  he  had  just  been  plan- 
ning. 

One  of  the  best  parts  in  the  picture  was  played  by  Wil- 
liard  Deshielle  as  the  father  of  Miss  Gray.  He  died  some- 
where in  the  second  reel.  While  he  was  in  the  picture,  he 
was  just  about  as  good  as  anybody  in  it.  The  interior  set- 
tings are  elegant  and  tasty,  and  the  photography  is  the  very 
best.  The  picture  was  written  by  Stanley  Dark  and  produced 
by  Burton  King.  It  is  a  feature  that  will  be  found  acceptable 
because  it  keeps  out  of  the  rut  of  cheap  melodrama,  and  en- 
deavors to  teach  a  lesson. 


"Man  and  His  Angel" 

Five-Part   Equitable   Production   Released    March    13 
Reviewed  by  Hugh  Hoffman 

WE  HAVE  in  this  offering  the  more  or  less  staple  story  of 
the  secret  love  of  a  hunchback  for  a  beautiful  woman. 
The  basic  idea  goes  as  far  back  at  least  as  "The  Hunchback 
of  Notre  Dame,"  by  Victor  Hugo,  and  for  that  matter  Fran- 
cesca  di  Rimini,  and  perhaps  others.  The  misshapen  individ- 
ual in  this  picture  is  modernized,  by  way  of  variety,  and  the 
part  is  played  by  Henri  Bergman  with  considerable  force  and 
skill.  Jane  Gray  appears  as  the  girl,  and  honors  are  shared 
back  and  forth  between  herself  and  Mr.  Bergman. 

As  usual  in  most  hunchback  plays,  the  part  of  the  cripple 
is  a  heavy.  This  is  really  the  main  character,  even  though 
Miss  Gray  is  the  featured  lead.  Mr.  Bergman's  work  dom- 
inates the  production,  and  the  attention  is  centered  principally 
upon  him.  He  is  certainly  convincing  as  a  more  or  less  re- 
pulsive and  defective  citizen.  Mr.  Bergman  could  have  played 
this  part  in  a  way  that  would  have  gained  much  sympathy,  be- 
cause he  has  a  personality  that  is  extremely  winning  if  he 
chooses  to  act  a  pleasing  part.  The  main  idea  of  the  author, 
however,  was  to  convey  in  a  semi-allegorical  way,  the  strug- 
gle of  this  man  with  inward  tendencies,  the  evil  and  good. 
The  good  and  the  bad  in  the  character  were  visualized  oc- 
casionally by  photographic  trickery,  the  good  in  him  being 
typified  by  an  angel,  and  the  bad  in  him  by  our  old  friend 
Mephisto. 

It  is  a  clean  story,  minus  the  stereotyped  melodramatic 
villain.  Mr.  Bergman  deserves  some  thanks  for  keeping  his 
actions  well  clear  of  the  10-20-30  variety  of  heavy  that  will 
creep   in   no   matter   how   hard   critics   try   to   keep   him    out. 

The  heroine  is  brought  to  America  during  her  childhood 
by  her  father  who  is  an  exiled  prince.  The  father  opens  a 
book  store  in  the  Bronx,  and  receives  packages  there  ad- 
dressed to  himself  in  Hester  Street,  which  is  neither  here  nor 
there  so  far  as  the  story  is  concerned.  In  the  store  the  girl 
grows  to  be  a  woman,  and  her  father's  sole  companion.  One 
day  a  hunchback  thief  is  arrested  stealing  a  book,  but  instead 
of  pressing  the  charge,   these   good  people  take  him   in   and 


returns  with  the  courier,  taking  the  whole  matter  as  a  huge 
joke. 

The  prospective  Duchess,  after  a  short  stay  at  the  castle, 
decides  against  becoming  the  wife  of  this  silly  nobleman,  and 
she  makes  off  with  a  gypsy  woman  with  a  determination,  which 
is  realized,  to  marry  the  handsome  gypsy  blacksmith  she  met 
while  on   her  way  to  the  castle. 

The  play  is  bright  and  diverting.  It  contains  comedy  that 
is  entirely  enjoyable.  The  settings  which  Mr.  Nowland  has  sup- 
plied are  indeed  artistic.  Seldom  does  one  find  a  picture  whose 
every  scene  has  a  background  so  tasteful  and  real.  Mr.  Now- 
land's  direction  is  of  a  high  order  and  throughout  the  picture  one 
is  forced  to  remark  his  fine  artistry  in  the  treatment  of  the  story. 

Nellie  Parker  Spaulding  as  the  Duke's  mother,  Robert  Gary 
as  the  Earl,  and  Wayne  Arey  as  the  gypsy  blacksmith,  support 
Miss  Hulette  and  Mr.  Parker  effectively.  In  the  past  there  have 
been  better  stories,  no  doubt,  but  taking  everything  into  ac- 
count, "The  Flight  of  the  Duchess"  is  a  delightful,  fantistic  com- 
edy in   which   the   acting   and  production   reach   artistic   heights. 


"The  Soul  Market" 

Mme.  Petrova  Featured  in  Metro  Society  Drama 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

1 1  A  STORY  of  Broadway"  is  the  apt  classification  the  pro- 
**  ducers  of  "The  Soul  Market"  have  given  this  picture. 
The  central  figure  in  the  story  is  an  actress  who  is  wearied  by 
her  unlovely,  more  than  that,  base  environment.  Upon  this 
character  everything  depends  and  as  Mme.  Petrova  portrays  the 
role  the  picture  has   merit. 

Mme.  Petrova  is  an  exceedingly  fine  screen  actress.  Her 
presence  is  at  once  charming  and  commanding  and  she  combines 
emotional  warmth  with  natural  restraint,  which  is  a  very  happy 
combination.  Mme.  Petrova  is  worthy  of  plays  far  better  than 
"The  Soul  Market."  The  story  lacks  impressive  qualities  to  a 
distressing  degree,  but  the  star,  particularly,  and  the  producers, 
who  have  supplied  a  splendid  setting,  come  to  the  rescue  and 
make  "The  Soul  Market"  a  quite  worth  while  offering;  one 
which  will  make  a  decided  appeal. 

Arthur  Hoops  is  an  interesting  Oscar  Billings,  the  theatrical 
manager  who  persistently  sues  for  Elaine's  hand  in  marriage. 
Wilmuth  Merkyl  has  the  heroic  role.  He  is  Jack  Dexter,  million- 
aire clubman  and  in  love  with  Elaine.  Dexter's  attempts  to 
meet  the  star  are  unsuccessful,  so  he  arranges  to  take  a  position 
as  her  chauffeur.  In  this  way  he  gains  the  opportunity  to  tell 
her  of  his  love.  Dexter  does  not  disclose  his  identity,  or  at  least 
the  fact  that  he  is  wealthy.  Dexter's  proposals  are  clumsy  and 
till-timed.  One  feels  certain  that  Dexter  would  never  win 
Elaine  in  such  a  bungling  way  in  real  life. 

Elaine,  however,  is  impressed  with  him.  Because  of  the 
professional    advantages    of    a   marriage    with   the    manager    she 


decides  to  accept  Billings,  and  sends  a  note  by  messenger.  Then 
the  marriage  follows,  and  following  that  are  unhappy  develop- 
ments for  Elaine.  Billings  proves  an  unfaithful  husband  and 
his  conduct  brings  about  his  shooting  by  Elaine.  In  fleeing 
from  the  scene  of  the  killing,  Dexter  and  Elaine  plunge  over  a 
cliff  in  their  automobile.     Then  Elaine  wakes  up  and  determines 


650 


OTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


to  marry  Dexter,  which  she  does.  It  takes  some  time  to  realize 
that  all  this  action  occurred  in  a  dream,  as  there  is  nothing  to 
indicate  that  such  is  the  case. 

"The  Soul  Market"  was  produced  by  the  Popular  Plays  and 
Players  Company.  Francis  J.  Grandon's  direction  is  commend- 
able. The  settings  are  remarkably  good.  It  is  a  colorful  pro- 
duction. Fritz  De  Lint.  Charles  Brandt  and  Fraunie  Fraunholz 
are  included   in  the  supporting  cast. 

"A  Corner  in  Cotton" 

Metro  Light  Drama  a  Quality  Production.     Reviewed 
by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

DEGGY  AINSLEE,  as  seen  in  the  person  of  Marguerite 
*-  Snow,  who  is  featured  in  "A  Corner  in  Cotton,"  is  an  alto- 
gether appealing  and  lovely  young  woman.     This  is  as  it  should 


be,  for  the  story  concerns  itself  entirely  with  the  affairs  of 
Peggy,  as  far  as  its  hold  upon  the  spectator  goes.  The  picture 
tells  how  Peggy  opposes  her  father  in  a  business  transaction 
to  save  a  proud  Southerner  from  ruin  and  to  better  the  condi- 
tions of  the  people  who  work  in  this  mill. 

For  thrilling  action  "A  Corner  in  Cotton"  has  Peggy's  sen- 
sational auto  race  to  catch  a  train  for  New  York,  and  some 
scenes  in  the  cotton  exchange  during  her  father's  attempt  to 
corner  the  market.  The  auto  race  is  stirring  but  the  scenes 
which  show  brokers  shouting  over  the  telephone,  grimacing  and 
tearing  their  hair  the  while,  failed  to  do  anything  but  bore  us. 

The  story  is  simple  and  interesting.  The  latter  qualification 
is  the  result  of  Miss  Snow's  charming  personality  and  judicious 
acting.  "A  Corner  in  Cotton"  is  familiar  material  familiarly 
treated,  but  withal  it  is  a  satisfying  picture.  It  is  a  wholesome 
and   a  pleasing  offering. 

"A  Corner  in  Cotton"  is  the  story  of  a  girl  who  takes  a 
great  interest  in  the  poor  and  uses  the  allowance  her  wealthy 
father  gives  her  to  better  their  unhappy  conditions.  Her  fiance, 
spurred  on  by  a  jealous  girl,  objects  to  Peggy's  visits  to  the 
slums.  Peggy  then  breaks  her  engagement,  as  she  had  promised 
to  marry  Algie  to  please  her  father.  The  following  day  she 
leaves  for  the  South  to  visit  a  certain  cotton  mill  where  she  has 
heard  the  conditions  threaten  to  become  alarming.  Learning 
the  cause  of  Colonel  Carter's  impending  ruin,  with,  its  serious 
consequences  to  the  mill  hands,  Peggy  hurriedly  returns  to  New 
York,  and  with  the  shares  in  cotton  her  father  gave  her  she 
breaks  his  corner  in  the  market. 

Produced  by  the  Quality  Pictures  Corporation  under  the 
direct  ion  of  Fred  J.  I'.alshofer,  "A  Corner  in  Cotton"  is  a  well 
acted  and  effectively  stayed  subject.  Zella  Call,  Frank  Bacon, 
Wilfred  Roger,  J.  W.  Goldsworthy,  Lester  Cuneo  and  Helen 
Dunbar  have  important  roles. 


"The  Heart  of  Tara" 

Horsley  Mutual  Masterpicture  a  Story  of  India 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THOUGH    the    lead    on    "The    Heart    of    Tara"    announces    tli.it 

1    Marga  und    tin-    Bostock    animals    arc    featured, 

neither  Miss  Gibson  nor  tin-  justlj  celebrated  animals  have  very 
prominent  parts  to  enact.  Miss  Gibson,  as  tlie  self-sacrificing 
Hindoo  girl  who  is  the  favorite  in  tin-  harem  of  Rajah  Selim, 
is   convincing   in   appearance   and   actions. 

This    story    by    Theodosia     I  lain-,    is    strict    melodrama,    with 


melodrama's  incredulous  characters  and  situations.  However, 
when  one  catches  the  spirit  of  the  play  one  is  interested  in  the 
impossible  schemes  of  the  Rajah  and  the  not  especially  intel- 
ligent actions  of  the  other  characters.  William  Bowman,  who 
directed  "The  Heart  of  Tara,"  has  done  considerable  with  his 
material. 

The  story  is  of  an  Englishman  who  is  sent  to  India  to  in- 
vestigate the  disappearance  of  some  jewels.  He  goes  there  as 
the  Consul  General.  In  his  youth  Captain  Delmar  had  been 
in  the  English  service  and  his  love  affair  with  the  Rajah's 
favorite  still  rankles  in  that  shrewd  native's  breast.  The  Rajah 
seeks  revenge.  He  will  capture  the  new  commander  and  make 
his  daughter  mistress  of  the  harem.  To  do  this  without  arous- 
ing the  suspicion  of  the  authorities,  he  has  a  tunnel  to  the  Cap- 
tain's quarters   dug. 

The  outlet  of  the  tunnel  is  at  the  rear  of  Delmar's  bungalow. 
Also  the  outlet  of  the  tunnel  is  concealed  by  a  huge  boulder 
which  two  Hindoos  swing  into  position  with  great  ease,  even 
nonchalance.  When  everything  is  in  readiness  the  Consul  and 
his  daughter  are  kidnapped.  The  servants  of  the  Rajah  set 
fire  to  the  bungalow  to  allay  suspicion.  But  the  Rajah's  plans- 
fail.  A  young  lieutenant,  Dorothy's  fiance,  discovers  the  tunnel 
and  by  it  reaches  the  harem.  With  the  aid  of  Soma,  Grey  res- 
cues Dorothy  and  her  father. 

William  Clifford  has  a  part  which  in  importance  shares 
evenly  with  that  of  Sherman  Bainbridge,  who  makes  the  Rajah 
a  deep-dyed  villain.  Mr.  Clifford  is  a  satisfactory  Captain  Del- 
mar.  Marvel  Spencer  is  a  coquettish  Dorothy  and  Walter 
Spencer  a  dashing  lieutenant.  In  settings  and  costumes  the  pic- 
ture  is   plentifully   bizarre  and   consequently  oriental. 


"The  Suppressed  Order" 

Three-Reel  "Flying  A"  Drama  Released  March  14 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  PRETTY  and  very  interesting  Civil  War  story  is  "The 
**■  Suppressed  Order,"  which  Thomas  Ricketts  has  directed 
with  Winnifred  Greenwood,  Edward  Coxen  and  George  Field 
in  important  roles.  The  photography  is  good  and  the  set- 
tings are  very  attractive.  The  human  interest  of  the  play 
is  emphasized,  above  the  events,  which  are  frequently  very 
stirring.  The  love  story  between  Jasimine,  the  daughter  of 
a  tavern  keeper,  and  Hugh  Bradford,  son  of  a  proud  Vir- 
ginian family,  forms  the  principal  theme  of  the  plot,  which 
is  not  of  the  hackneyed  order.  Winnifred  Greenwood  han- 
dles very  sympathetically  the-  role  of  Jasimine,  who,  when 
the  war  breaks  out,  finds  her  affections  divided  between  the 
southern  cause,  to  which  her  lover  is  devoted,  and  the  north- 
ern, which  her  much  adored  brother  is  aiding.  This  is  a 
variation  of  the  triangle  theme  used  in  most  pictures  of  this 
period  since  both  of  the  characters  are  southerners. 


The  opening  scenes  show  the  interior  of  the  village  tav- 
ern, the  various  guests,  Tobias  Phillips,  the  proprietor,  played 
by  Charles  Newton,  and  his  daughter,  Jasimine,  who  enter- 
tains the  guests  by  her  songs.  Her  brother,  Allan,  is  also 
introduced,  and  the  comradeship  between  the  two  is  em- 
phasized. In  these  scenes  the  characters  are  well  drawn  and 
the  photography  good. 

The  plol  is  started  just  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 
Hugh  Bradford  (Edward  Coxen)  has  fallen  in  love  with  the 
tavcrnkceper's  daughter,  which   angers  his  proud   father  very 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


much.  And  Allan  Phillips  has  aroused  the  wrath  of  his  fel- 
low townsmen  by  defending  the  arguments  of  the  north. 

Then  comes  the  news  of  the  outbreak  of  war  and  its 
effect  is  shown  on  the  people  of  the  village.  It  reunited  the 
Bradfords,  both  of  whom  enlist  for  the  south.  But  Allan 
Phillips  becomes  a  spy  for  the  northern  forces. 

The  scenes  which  follow  suggest  very  well  the  effect  of 
the  war  in  that  part  of  the  country.  No  wonderful  or  elab- 
orate scenes  have  been  shown,  but  there  is  no  pretense  of 
portraying  the  whole  Civil  War,  just  the  little  part  which 
touches  these  characters.  Jasimine  becomes  her  brother's 
confederate,  in  so  far  as  she  can  be.  Hugh  Bradford  becomes 
a  leader  of  a  southern  band  of  raiders.  After  his  father's 
death,  he  asks  Jasimine's  promise  to  marry  him,  which  she 
gives.  Then  her  brother's  work,  which  she  has  aided,  en- 
dangers the  life  of  her  lover,  and  the  suspense  of  the  situa- 
tions is  well  handled.  Jasimine  proves  her  willingness  to 
make  any  sacrifice  for  her  brother,  but  asks  him  to  spare 
Hugh.  Allen  tears  up  the  order  which  was  to  trick  Hugh's 
men,  then  is  killed  in  a  struggle  to  protect  his  sister.  Hugh 
and  Jasimine  are  of  course  married  at  the  end  of  the  story. 


"To  Have  and  to  Hold" 

A    Five-Part    Lasky-Paramount   Production    Released 
March  5.     Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

THE  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature  Play  Company  has  erected 
A  on  the  substantial  foundation  of  Mary  Johnston's  "To 
Have  and  to  Hold,"  a  photodrama  of  lofty  and  imposing 
stature,  one  which  is  fairly  alive  with  appeal  to  the  emotions. 
The  story  teems  with  adventure  and  is  presented  with  grati- 
fying clearness  of  motive  and  action.  The  scenario  was  writ- 
ten by  Margaret  Turnbull. 

The  wardrobe  of  the  cast  and  extras  calls  for  everything 
from  the  elegant  finery  of  James  the  First  down  to  the 
apparel  of  a  pirate  band.  A  sea  fight  between  a  ship  flying 
the  ensign  of  the  skull  and  bones  and  a  vessel  transporting 
Virginia's  new  governor  to  the  colony,  is  one  of  the  many  spec- 
tacular scenes  offered  in  this  production.  There  is  no  unnec- 
essary detail  to  retard  the  action,  which  moves  with  such 
absorbing  rapidity  that  surrounding  objects  and  persons  fade 
from  the  mind's  view  and  one  concentrates  all  of  his  atten- 
tion upon  the  exclusive  enjoyment  of  the  picture  before  him. 

Those  who  have  witnessed  the  past  performances  of  the 
dainty  and  resourceful  actress,  Mae  Murray,  can  easily 
imagine  how  perfectly  she  graces  the  part  of  Lady  Jocelyn 
Leigh  in  this  picture  of  the  "good  old  days"  when  roving 
pirates  and  unprincipled  kings  held  sway.  Her  exquisite 
emotional  expression  never  fails  to  convey  the  spirit  of  the 
characterization.  Wallace  Reid  carries  the  part  of  Captain 
Ralph  Percy  with  distinction  and  force. 

Lady  Jocelyn  Leigh,  the  ward  of  King  James  the  First, 
escapes  to  the  colony  at  Jamestown  to  avoid  marriage  with 


#    StJL'*-    *. 

the  dissolute  Lord  Carnal,  the  King's  favorite.  Under  an 
assumed  name  Lady  Jocelyn  marries  the  stalwart  Captain 
Ralph  Percy,  who,  soon  after  the  marriage  discovers  that  the 
girl  was  forced  to  marry  him  by  circumstances  and  was  not 
actuated  by  love.  Just  as  the  two  begin  to  understand  each 
other,  Lord  Carnal  arrives  and  plots  against  them. 

How  he  is  hopelessly  beaten  in  all  of  his  schemes  by 
Captain  Percy,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  wife  comes  to 


>ve  the  latter  affords  the  strong  drama  and  pathos  of  the 
cture.  To  make  the'  defeat  of  Lord  Carnal  complete,  an- 
:her  usurps  his  place  as  the  favorite  of  the  King  and  the 
tter  sanctions  the  marriage  of  his  ward  to  Captain  Percy. 
George  H.  Melford  directed  the  picture.  Tom  Forman 
akes  a  verv  convincing  Lord  Carnal.  Others  in  the  cast 
•e  Raymond  Hatton,  William  Bradbury,  James  Neill,  Bob 
ray,  Lucien  Littlefield,  Camille  Astor  and  Bob  Fleming. 


"The  Price  of  Malice" 

Metro  Production  an  Enjoyable  Romance  with  Detect- 
ive Story  Flavor.  Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ITS  STORY  based  on  jealousy  and  containing  that  fascination 
which  attaches  to  detective  plays,  "The  Price  of  Malice"  is  a 
picture  of  great  entertainment  value.     Hamilton  Revelle  as  the 


magnetic  Englishman  who  is  led  to  a  solution  of  a  theft  by  co- 
incidence's long  arm,  and  Barbara  Tennant  in  the  role  of  an 
American  heiress,  play  with  a  vivacity  which  gives  the  picture 
a  breeziness  such  as  one  delights  to  find. 

"The  Price  of  Malice"  will  give  its  spectators  much  in 
the  way  of  amusement  and  plenty  of  really  interesting  action. 
This  picture  holds  jealousy  as  a  most  despicable  passion,  but 
it  does  just  that  in  an  enjoyable  way.  It  is  not  ponderously 
serious  in  drawing  its  moral.  While  "The  Price  of  Malice" 
holds  the  screen  one  is  pleasantly  entertained  and  when  Capt. 
Mills  pays  the  penalty  for  his  malicious  deed,  which  was 
prompted  by  jealousy,  one  is  impressed  with  the  dangers  and 
the  meanness  of  that  common  human   failing. 

Hamilton  Revelle  is  James  Clifford,  whose  popularity  with 
everybody  connected  with  England's  official  service  makes  Cap- 
tain Mills,  a  part  splendidly  played  by  Wm.  Davidson,  insanely 
jealous.  Mills  grows  furious  after  hearing  Clifford  referred 
to  as  the  best  man  in  the  service,  and  he  steals  an  important 
document  with  the  hope  of  breaking  the  detective.  In  solving 
the  problem  Clifford  enters  upon  a  romance  with  an  American 
girl,  whom  he  finally  wins. 

Miss  Tennant  brings  much  charm  to  the  role  of  Grace 
Weston.  Helen  Dunbar,  Wm.  Calhoun,  Frank  Glendon,  Win. 
Heck  and  Hugh  Jeffrey  are  the  other  members  of  a  pleasing 
cast.  This  Rolfe-Metro  offering  was  directed  by  X.  O.  A.  C. 
Lund  with  praiseworthy  results.  The  action  throughout  is  ar- 
tistically and  effectively  framed. 


"Out  of  the  Drifts" 

Famous    Players-Paramount    Release    a    Romance   of 
the  Alps.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

WHAT  the  story  through  which  "Out  of  the  Drifts"  takes 
one  may  lack  in  depth  of  theme  or  novelty  of  treatment 
is  compensated  for  by  the  presence  of  Marguerite  Clark  in 
the  fullness  of  her  captivating  influence  and  the  exquisite 
photographic  effects.  The  quantity  of  strikingly  picturesque 
snow  scenes  and  the  sheer  delight  of  that  charm  which  the 
spectator  experiences  when  witnessing  a  Marguerite  Clark 
picture  will  be  considered  ample  return  by  those  attracted 
to  the  theater  showing  "Out  of  the  Drifts." 

The  story  tells  of  the  elevation  of  a  rakish  youth's  char- 
acter through  his  love  for  a  sweet  little  Alpine  girl  whose 
only  guile  is  her  infinite  purity  and  innocence.    In  the  develop- 


652 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


ment  of  his  theme  the  scenario  writer  has  not  accomplished 
anything  above  the  ordinary.  There  is,  in  fact,  much  action 
which  the  story  itself  does  not  warrant.  But  just  as  surely 
is  there  justification  for  these  numerous  scenes  in  the  person 


of  Marguerite  Clark  and  the  settings  chosen  from  Canada's 
rugged,  snow  covered  hills  by  Director  J.  Searle  Dawley. 

Miss  Clark  is  Elise,  the  orphan  girl  who  battles  the 
severe  elements  and  earns  her  living  as  a  shepherdess.  Elise 
is  loved  by  Rudolph,  a  guide,  who  courts  her  with  perse- 
verance and  sincerity,  but  his  love  is  not  returned  by  the 
girl  who  steadfastly  maintains  that  she  wishes  him  to  remain 
her  friend  always  but  she  cannot  think  of  marriage. 

George  Van  Rensselaer,  wearied  of  the  sham  and  deceit 
of  his  society  in  London  where  he  has  been  deserted  by  one 
"Cleo,"  a  girl  whose  interest  in  him  had  its  inspiration  in  his 
wealth,  comes  to  the  celebrated  Pass  to  forget.  Van  Rens- 
selaer is  at  once  attracted  by  the  little  shepherdess,  and  Elise 
looks  with  favor  upon  this  handsome  young  man  whose  de- 
portment is   so  polished. 

Van  Rensselaer  gains  the  girl's  consent  to  return  with 
him  to  London  on  his  promise  to  marry  her.  By  accident, 
Rudolph  learns  this  and  upon  Van  Rensselaer's  admission 
that  there  will  be  no  marriage  the  guide  determines  to  lead 
him  into  the  drifts  and  there  abandon  him.  Van  Rensselaer 
is  rescued  by  Elise  and  taken  in  a  rather  numbed  condition 
to  her  cabin.  An  avalanche  partly  buries  the  cabin  and  it 
is  while  there  that  Elise's  true  nobility  of  character  brings  Van 
Rensselaer  to  a  realization  of  the  best  that  is  in  him,  and  the 
happy  ending  follows. 

William  Courtleigh,  Jr.,  plays  opposite  Miss  Clark  in  a 
capable  manner.  J.  W.  Johnston  as  Rudolph  gives  a  per- 
formance which  is  even  in  its  sincerity  and  effectiveness.  The 
balance  of  the  cast  is  good. 


lows,  while  the  other  man  is  a  wealthy  idler,  fond  of  the 
adoration  of  the  shallow,  frivolous  women,  who,  having  noth- 
ing better  to  do,  follow  various  fads  and  fancies. 

The  three  characters  are  finely  drawn.  They  are  con- 
sistent in  every  point,  and  they  are  acted  with  much  skill. 
The  play  is  developed  in  a  leisurely  manner,  yet  without  a 
trace  of  useless  material.  There  are  many  excellent  points 
in  the  presentation  of  the  drama  which  almost  escape  atten- 
tion just  because  they  fit  in  so  well.  An  interesting  method 
of  emphasis  is  the  shadowing  out  of  a  scene  all  but  the  im- 
portant persons.  This  is  frequently  more  effective  than  a 
close-up  would  be. 

The  story,  in  short,  is  of  the  woman  who,  tired  of  her 
husband,  listens  to  the  theorizing  of  the  leader  of  the 
"Invictus  Club"  regarding  the  soul's  freedom  to  follow  its 
destiny,  etc.,  and  in  a  short  time  is  willing  to  elope  with  him. 
The  husband  not  only  gives  his  wife  her  freedom,  when  he 
learns  how  matters  stand,  but  forces  the  two  to  live  up  to 
their  idea  of  "defiance  of  the  law"  by  publishing  the  whole 
affair. 

A  few  years  later,  when  the  elopers,  now  married,  are 
living  abroad,  the  ex-husband  comes  into  their  lives  again. 
This  time  he,  as  "a  friend  of  the  family"  is  the  one  who  wins 
the  wife,  and  although  the  two  had  made  a  sorry  affair  of 
the  second  marriage,  the  present  husband  is  unwilling  to  free 
his  wife.  Word  for  word,  the  former  radical  is  answered  by 
his  own  arguments,  until  he  is  thoroughly  shown  up  in  all 
his  meanness.  Then  when  that  is  accomplished,  Winthrop 
coolly  turns  away  Amy,  whom  he  had  won  back,  telling  her 
he  despises  both  her  and  her  husband,  and  merely  wanted  to 
see  whether  their  "higher  ideals"  would  bear  investigation. 
Brutal,  but  even  at  this  point  sympathy  is  with  Winthrop. 

The  subtitles  in  the  play  are  ver\'  important.  There  are 
not  too  many,  and  they  are  used  most  effectively  to  drive 
home  the  point  in  each  tense  situation.  There  are  many 
pretty  scenes  in  the  play,  which  is  unusually  interesting  as 
a  story.  The  fanciful  dissolves  of  the  building  and  crumbling 
of  air  castles  and  interpretative  designs  used  with  the  sub- 
titles are  very  effective. 


Reviewed   by 


"The  Moral  Fabric" 

Triangle-Kay-Bee    Five-Part    Feature. 
Genevieve  Harris 

WHEN  a  play  sets  forth  its  argument  in  a  foreword,  we 
watch  the  development  of  the  theme  with  close  attention 
for  the  least  flaw  in  its  logic.  "The  Moral  Fabric"  at  its  out- 
set challenges  definitely  the  so-called  advanced  thinkers  who 
declai       " 


»  that  one  may 
aside  "the  moral  fabr 
defies  laws  and  conver 
\nd  the  play  is  a  m£ 
with  keen  logic  to  itts 
The  answer  which 
way  to  disprove  thes 
follow  them,  thai  the 
pie  who  plead  for  fre< 
freedom.  Suddenly  gi 
i   story    use    il    to 


>vhc 


ied,  and   thei 


ght  defy  all  law 

,  and 

tear 

5  calls  and  that 

one 

who 

limself  greater 

than  they. 

ent,    carrying  e\ 

ery 

point 

t  the 

best 

tii-    theories    is 

to    r 

eally 

i  the 

peo- 

them  th 

•  they  wish,  the 

"rad 

cals" 

lives;  then  the 

able 

5  are 

The  t 


used 


against  them 

There  are  only  three  people  who  count  in  the  play, 
which  ('.  Gardner  Sullivan  has  written.  They  are  the  hus- 
band, Winthrop  (Frank  Mills),  his  wife,  Amy  (Edith  Reeves), 
and  the  other  man,  Stuart  (  Howard  Hickman).  The  wife  is  a 
frivolous,  discontented  woman;  the  husband  is  a  strong,  fair 
dealing  man,  of  th,    sorl   known  as  "a   fine  chap"  by  his  fel- 


"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

Essanay  Serial,  Chapter  7,  "A  Confession."     Reviewed 
by  Genevieve  Harris 

T  TGHT  is  turned  on  the  events  of  Mary  Page's  life  when 
'-'  she  first  went  on  the  stage,  in  this  episode  of  the  serial 
featuring  Henry  Walthall  and  Edna  Mayo.  As  in  the  pre- 
ceeding  installments,  the  story  is  told  by  flashback  scenes  as 
the  witness  on  the  stand  tells  his  story.'  When  this  chapter 
opens,  Philip  Langdon,  Mary's  lawyer  (Walthall),  calls  to 
the  stand  Amy  Lerue,  an  actress  companion  of  Mary's.  The 
girl  relates  various  episodes  during  the  time  she  and  Mary 
were  seeking  theatrical  engagements.  They  are  shown  in  an 
apartment  for  which  they  cannot  pay  the  rent,  and  the  girl 
tells  of  the  time  they  stole  a  dinner  from  the  dumb  waiter, 
and  of  Philip's  fortunate  arrival  to  get  them  out  of  an  em- 
arrassing  situation.     She  tells  of  Mary's  reason  for  refusing 


ary's  early  appearance  on  the 
continues.     First  she  was  a  chorus 


March  18,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


girl,  then  she  was  given  a  small  part,  and  at  last  she  was 
made  leading  lady.  Later  the  girls  accepted  an  invitation  to 
take  dinner  with  their  manager,  and  on  that  occasion  met 
Pollock.  During  the  "evening  Mary  was  annoyed  by  his  un- 
welcome attentions. 

There  is  an  interruption  and  a  note  is  given  Landon  stat- 
ing that  Dave  Page  has  been  found.  The  lawyer  asks  for 
an  adjournment.  Then  he  and  the  detective  seek  out  Page, 
Mary's  father.  He  is  at  first  sullen,  then  astounds  them  by 
exclaiming  that  his  daughter  is  innocent.  He  killed  Dave 
Pollock. 

While  there  have  been  more  interesting  chapters  in  the 
play,  this  one  advances  the  plot  well,  and  is  skillfully  han- 
dled. The  closing  scene  will  leave  every  spectator  with  a 
great  curiosity  to  see  the  next  installment. 


and  turns  him  over  to  the  police  because  he  has  aided  Helen 
against  Seagrue.  This  arouses  Helen's  indignation.  Then 
she  is  told  that  Spike  had  a  part  in  her  father's  murder. 

Then   comes   the   offer   of  the   mine.     Helen,    Storm   and 


"The  Hunted  Woman" 

A  Romance  Produced  by  Vitagraph  and  Released  by 

V.  L.  S.  E.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ADVENTURE  is  the  chief  ingredient  of  "A  Hunted  Woman," 
which  was  produced  by  Vitagraph  for  the  V.  L.  S.  E. 
program,  and  a  highly  entertaining  adventure  it  is.  The  picture 
is  not  devoid  of  thrills  and  from  the  beginning  the  action  is  fast. 
S.  Rankin  Drew  has  made  the  action  all  very  real,  and  to  him 
and  his  company  there  should  go  more  credit  than  to  the  story 
of  "A  Hunted  Woman,"  for  the  story  while  furnishing  the  actors 
with  good  material  for  melodramatic  effect  leaves  things  to  be 
desired  in  general. 

Situations  which  are  care  full}-  planned  and  worked  up 
fail  to  realize  the  element  of  suspense  naturally  expected  of  them. 
On  the  other  hand  there  are  dramatic  moments  which  arrive 
suddenly  and  interest  greatly.  The  story  is  based  upon  the  novel 
of  the  same  name  by  James  Oliver  Curwood. 

Joanne  Fitzhugh  is  the  central  character.  She  is  the  wife 
of  a  worthless  fellow,  and  though  she  endeavors  to  obtain  a 
divorce,  her  attorney  informs  her  that  it  is  impossible  under  the 
English  laws.  Joanne  secretly  leaves  England  and  returns  to  her 
native  land,  Canada.  Shortly  after  arriving  there  she  receives 
a  newspaper  clipping  which  states  that  her  husband  was  killed 
while  on  a  hunting  trip  in  America.  A  former  friend  tells  her 
that  this  cannot  be  so,  for  he  had  seen  Fitzhugh  but  a  shore 
time  ago. 

To  learn  whether  or  not  her  husband  is  dead  Joanne  leaves 
for  British  Columbia.  At  a  construction  camp  there  she  falls 
into  the  hands  of  Bill  Quade,  who  is  notorious  in  the  camp.  She 
is  rescued  by  a  young  novelist.  Aldrous  takes  her  to  his  friend's 
home  and  she  is  invited  to  stay  by  Blackton's  wife.  Quade 
swears  he  will  have  Joanne  and  to  accomplish  this  end  he 
enlists  the  help  of  a  man  of  whom  there  is  little  known,  except 
that  he  is  quite  as  villainous  as  Quade. 

Aldrous'  guide  finds  proof  of  Fitzhugh's  death.  The  mar- 
riage of  Joanne  and  Aldrous  is  precipitated  by  circumstances  of 
a  melodramatic  nature.  Then  it  is  found  that  Quade's  partner 
is  none  other  than  Fitzhugh.  The  death  of  these  two  follows 
their  attempt  to  abduct  Joanne,  which  clears  the  way  for  the 
future  happiness  of  the  novelist  and  his  bride. 

Virginia  Pearson  as  Joanne  and  Mr.  Drew  as  Aldrous  have 
the  leading  parts  and  their  enactment  of  them  is  entirely  good. 
Frank  Currier  adds  greatly  to  the  picture  in  the  role  of  Mc- 
Donald, the  guide.  Mr.  Currier  is  a  picturesque  figure  in  this 
character.  He  gives  a  colorful  touch  to  the  delightful,  atmos- 
pheric outdoor  scenes. 

Ned  Findley  is  a  convincing  Bill  Quade,  and  George  Cooper 
a  satisfying  Fitzhugh.  Billie  Billings  is  a  thoroughly  pleasing 
Marie.  The  part  is  not  remarkable  but  Miss  Billings  is.  Denton 
Vane  and  Mae  Greene  also  give  good  performances. 


"The  Girl  and  the  Game" 

Chapter  11,  "The  Salting  of  Superstition  Mine.'^Signal 
Serial.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  NEW  turn  has  been  given  this  railroad  story  of  "thrills" 
{*  by  the  introduction  of  a  number  of  mining  scenes  in  this 
installment.  Seagrue,  beaten  in  his  race  to  build  a  rival  rail- 
road across  Superstition  Range,  decides  to  get  the  best  of 
Rhinelander  by  selling  him  Superstition  mine,  which  Sea- 
grue knows  has  proved  worthless.  He  has  his  men  haul  ore 
into  the  mine  and  tricks  Rhinelander  into  buying  it  on  the 
ground  that  it  is  rich  but  he  cannot  handle  the  produce  with- 
out his  railroad.  This  situation  lays  the  foundation  for  the 
spectacular  features  of  this  chapter. 

In    chapter   eleven.    Spike,    the    escaped    convict,    appears 
only  at  the  beginning,  when   Seagrue   carries  out  his  threat 


Rhinelander  visit  it,  and  Rhinelander  buys  it.  A  load  of  ore 
ready  for  shipment  is  included  in  the  sale.  There  are  several 
pretty  scenes  of  the  mine;  then  comes  the  plot  of  Bill  and 
Lug,  Seagrue's  men,  to  steal  the  ore  from  the  train  on  its 
way  to  market.  This  gives  occasion  for  a  chase  and  several 
struggles,  which  are  equal  to  those  in  preceding  chapters. 

The  men  overcome  and  bind  Rhinelander's  guards  and 
attach  the  ore  car  to  a  way-freight.  One  of  the  guards 
escapes  and  warns  Helen  and  she  and  Storm  set  out  to  meet 
the  train,  driving  a  team  of  horses  hitched  to  the  camp 
wagon.  First  Storm,  then  Helen,  leap  from  the  wagon  to 
the  moving  freight  train.  Then  there  follows  a  struggle  on 
the  top  of  the  cars,  but  Bill  and  Lug  are  overpowered,  cap- 
tured, and  taken  prisoners  to  Superstition  mine. 

The  race  between  the  train  and  the  horses  is  as  interest- 
ing as  any  automobile  race.  There  are  some  interesting 
desert  views  in  the  picture  also,  and  the  chapter,  while  not 
as  thrilling  as  some  which  preceded,  is  interesting. 


Paramount  Picks  New  Press  Chief 

Charles  E.  Moyer,  a  well-known  newspaper  man 
and  magazine  writer,  has  been  named  general  press 
representative  and  manager  of  the  press  department 
of  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation,  to  take  the 
place  of  Tarleton  Winchester,  resigned,  who  is  spend- 
ing a  few  weeks  in  the  country  because  of  ill  health. 
Mr.  Moyer  has  been  with  the  Paramount  company 
for  the  last  six  months  and  prior  to  his  affiliations  with 
this  concern  was  the  dramatic  editor  and  special  rep- 
resentative of  a  number  of  newspapers  throughout 
Pennsylvania,  coming  to  Paramount  from  the  Reading 
Teleqram  and  News-Times. 


Sees  Film  at  Close  Range 

The  following  item  appeared  in  the  Advance, 
published  at  Snohomish,  Wash.,  recently : 

"The  patrons  of  the  Orpheum  theater  were  kept 
waiting  for  the  film,  'No  Greater  Love,'  last  Wednes- 
day night,  but  upon  its  arrival  and  showing  the  crowd 
concluded  that  they  were  well  paid.  In  fact,  Dr. 
Kennicott  was  so  well  impressed  with  the  first  few 
feet  of  the  reel  that  he  excitedly  arose,  obtained  a  rain 
check  from  the  door  attendant,  giving  him  strict  in- 
structions to  save  his  seat.  The  doctor  soon  returned, 
all  out  of  breath,  bearing  a  twelve-power  pair  of 
binoculars  under  his  arm.  These  he  trained  on  the  pic- 
ture showing  Miss  Regina  Badet  in  her  wonderful 
dancing  part  of  'Sadunah.'  Not  a  motion  of  the  artist 
was  lost  to  the  doctor,  who  sat  through  two  shows." 


654 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


Waiting  in  the  trenches  at  Souches,  France,  for  call  to  battle.     Pathc. 


March   18,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studios 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NOTES 

Clifford  Bruce,  the  newest  Metro  star, 
soon  to  be  seen  in  "Hearts  Aflame," 
started  his  professional  career  in  Canada 
with  an  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin"  company 
when  he  was  fourteen  years. 

Hazel  Dawn  will  appear  with  her  vio- 
lin in  her  next  Paramount  picture. 

Pauline  Frederick  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  Florida,  where  she  has  been 
working  in   a  picture. 

Niles  Welch,  who  appears  with  Ethel 
Barrymore  in  "The  Kiss  of  Hate,"  is  a 
great-great  grandson  of  Elisha  Niles,  a 
famous   New  England  circuit  rider. 

Marguerite  Snow  was  raised  near  the 
cotton  fields  around  Savannah,  Ga., 
where  many  of  the  scenes  for  her  last 
play,  "A  Corner  in  Cotton,"  were  taken. 

Thomas  Meighan,  who  played  the  rev- 
enue officer  in  the  Lasky  production  of 
"The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine,"  and 
is  working  with  Blanche  Sweet  in  "The 
Sowers,"  was  very  successful  on  the 
spoken  stage,  appearing  with  Henrietta 
Crosman,  Grace  George,  Elsie  De  Wolf 
and  other  stars. 

William  Nigh,  now  directing  Ethel 
Barrymore,  recently  received  five  pounds 
of  home-made  molasses  candy,  sent  by 
the  little  daughter  of  a  Polish  miner 
whom  he  met  while  directing  a  play  at 
the  Sterling  mines  near  Tuxedo. 

Herbert  Brenon,  in  Jamaica  directing 
the  Annette  Kellerman  picture  for  Wil- 
liam Fox,  is  now  ready  to  film  the  bird 
life  episodes  which  will  form  one  of  the 
most  spectacular  and  picturesque  phases 
of  the  production. 

Mme.  Petrova  is  a  talented  literary 
woman.  Besides  contributing  to  mag- 
azines, she  recently  edited  a  set  of  clas- 
sical dramatic  books.  She  is  an  author- 
ity on  Ibsen,  Sudermann,  Bjornsen, 
Shaw  and  Tolstoy. 

Mary  Miles  Minter,  whose  real  name 
is  Juliet  Shelby,  is  a  direct  descendant 
of  Isaac  Shelby,  the  first  governor  of 
Kentucky. 

Harry  Neville,  character  actor  in  Met- 
ro plays,  once  produced  Shakespeare's 
"Julius  Caesar"  with  a  complete  Hindoo 
cast.  This  was  in  India  when  Neville 
was   on   a   tour   of  the   world. 

Mabel  Taliaferro,  soon  to  be  seen  in 
the  Metro  play,  "Her  Great  Price,"  be- 
gan her  professional  career  twenty-five 
years  ago  with  Robert  Hilliard  in  "Blue 
Jeans."     She  was   two  years   old. 

Edward  Brennan  has  many  admirers 
among  English  picture  audiences.  They 
remember  him  for  his  work  in  England 
on  the  speaking  stage  several  years  ago. 

Violet  Mersereau  was  reproved  recent- 
ly by  a  Central  Park  policeman  for 
speeding,  not  in  an  automobile  but  on 
horseback.  She  is  an  accomplished 
horsewoman,  but  that  time  her  horse  was 
running  away. 

Carter  De  Haven,  supported  by  Flora 
Parker  De  Haven,  wrote  the  scenario, 
directed  and  played  the  leading  role  in 
the  fifth  Bluebird  release,  "The  Wrong 
Door." 


Mary  Fuller  will  soon  be  seen  in  two 
coming  Universal  features,.  "Thrown  to. 
the  Lions,"  written  by  Wallace  Irwin, 
and  "The  Huntress,"  from  a  story  by  G. 
Vera  Tyler. 

Ben  Wilson's  next  production  will  be 
"The  Voice  on  the  Wire,"  in  five  two- 
reel  episodes,  each  portraying  an  ex- 
perience of  a  voice  on  the  wire.  The 
serial  will  be  syndicated  through  the 
Hearst  newspapers. 

Harry  Benham,  the  Universal  leading 
man,  has  just  completed  a  two-reel  com- 
edy with  Edna  Pendleton,  directed  by 
Jack  Harvey  and  called  "Held  for  Ran- 

The  Universal  serial  to  follow  "Graft" 
is  announced  as  "The  Yellow  Seal."  It 
was  written  by  Frank  Packard  and  ran  in 
The  People's  Magazine  as  "The  Grey  Seal." 

Since  pictures  featuring  Myrtle  Gon- 
zalez have  been  shown  in  Mexico,  the 
Universal  star  has  received  many  com- 
plimentary  letters    from    that   country. 

Lucius  Henderson,  the  Universal  di- 
rector, is  a  fancier  of  Maltese  terriers. 
He   owns   several  prize-winners. 

Philip  Hahn,  who  plays  the  role  of  an 
artist  in  "Playing  with  Fire"  with  Mme. 
Petrova,  was  a  famous  painter  in  Am- 
sterdam, Holland,  until  he  became  color 
blind.     Then  he  turned  to  the   stage. 

Burton  King  is  now  a  director  on  the 
Metro  staff  and  has  begun  work  on 
"Hearts  Aflame,"  with  Clifford  Bruce 
and  Dorothy  Green. 

Pierre  Le  May,  graduate  of  Columbia 
University,  formerly  a  Wall  street  brok- 
er, afterward  a  star  on  the  legitimate 
stage,  has  an  important  role  in  "Play- 
ing  with    Fire,"   the    Metro   play. 

Ethel  Burton,  who  supports  Burns  and 
Stull  in  the  "Pokes  and  Jabbs"  series  of 
Vim   comedies,   has   especially  important 


roles  in  "A  Pair  of  Skins,"  released 
March  17,  and  "Behind  the  Footlights," 
March  24. 

Elsie  MacLeod,  now  in  Vim  comedies, 
began  her  picture  career  with  the  Edi- 
son' Company,  in  child  parts,  later  be- 
coming a  leading  lady. 

"Bungle's  Rainy  Day,"  Vim  comedy, 
will  be  released  March  24;  "Their  Vaca- 
tion," with  "Plump  and  Runt,"  will  be 
released  March  30,  and  on  March  31 
"Something  Doing,"  with  "Pokes  and 
Jabbs,"  fills  the  bill. 

Wayne  Arey  plays  the  gypsy  black- 
smith in  the  Thanhouser  Mutual  Master- 
picture,  "The  Flight  of  the  Duchess." 

Harry  Smith  Hilliard,  who  played  op- 
posite Vivian  Martin  in  "Merely  Mary 
Ann,"  is  a  graduate  of  the  Miami  Medi- 
cal College. 

Gladys  Hulette,  who  plays  lead  in 
"The  Flight  of  the  Duchess,"  Than- 
houser Mutual  Masterpicture,  has  been 
in  pictures  two  years,  appearing  before 
that  on  the  legitimate  stage  in  "The 
Blue  Bird"  and  "Little  Women,"  also  in 
support  of  De  Wolf  Hopper,  Madam 
Bertha  Kalish  and  other  stars. 

Louis  FitzRoy,  player  in  Cub  comedies, 
has  been  called  to  San  Francisco  by  the 
death  of  his  father.  This  is  Mr.  Fitz- 
Roy's  second  recent  bereavement,  his 
infant  son  having  died  a  short  time  ago. 

Irene  Hunt,  now  with  the  Universal 
staff  at  Leonia  Heights,  N.  J.,  began  her 
stage  career  when  four  years  old.  She 
has  played  in  stock  companies  and  on  the 
vaudeville  stage,  and  in  several  picture 
companies. 

William  H.  Tooker,  of  the  William 
Fox  players,  and  his  wife  have  adopted 
a  four-year-old  little  girl  whom  they  be- 
came attached  to  while  playing  in  Geor- 


Film   Market  Quotations  ana 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.   D.  Small  of  A.   E.   Butler  St.  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,  Inc 90  97 

Biograph   Company    42  51 

Famous   Players   Film   Co..    70  105 

General  Film  Corp.,  pref...   43  46 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   pref...   43  50 

Mutual    Film   Corp.,   com...    43  50 

No.  Am.   Film  Corp.,  pref.  .   90  98 

No.  Am.   Film  Corp.,  com..    55  66 

New  York   M.  P.  Corp 48  54 

Thanhouser  Film  Corp 4'/8  5     * 

Triangle  Film  Corp 4J4  5     * 

Universal  Film  Mfg.  Co 200 

World   Film  Corp 1J/4  2     * 

*Par  $5^00. 

Mutual  Film  Corporation:  Final  plans 
of  the  Charlie  Chaplin  Company,  so  far 
as  capitalization  is  concerned,  call  for 
$400,000  7  per  cent  preferred  and  $1,100,- 
000  common.  One  of  the  officials  of  the 
Mutual  corporation  states,  without  re- 
serve, that  on  20  weeks  of  the  Chaplin 
releases  alone,  they  estimate  sufficient 
net  earnings  to  the  Mutual  Film  Corpo- 
ration— on  the  30  per  cent  basis — to  pay 
the  entire  preferred  for  the  year  and  24 
per  cent  on  the  common.  Stock  advanced 


from  a  low  level  of  37  for  the  common, 
about  a  month  and  a  half  ago,  to  sales 
as  high  as  47;  preferred,  from  38^2  to 
sales  at  45^.  Several  large  blocks  of 
common  stock,  which  were  listed  at  be- 
tween 45  and  50,  have  now  been  entirely 
withdrawn  from  the  market.  One  of  the 
directors  is  authority  for  the  statement 
that,  on  a  recent  audit,  the  net  assets  of 
the  Mutual  would  be  sufficient  to  pay  out 
par  for  the  preferred  and  70  for  the 
common. 

North  American  Film  Corporation: 
The  most  recent  estimates  of  profits  on 
"The  Diamond  From  the  Sky"  from  Eng- 
land and  two  other  foreign  countries  are 
placed  at  $150,000.  This  is  released 
through  the  Gaumont  Company  abroad, 
and,  aside  from  their  percentage  and  1 
per  cent  royalty  paid  to  the  American 
Film  Company,  Inc.,  all  of  the  profits 
come  to  the  North  American  Film  Cor- 
poration. Sufficient  funds  have  been  set 
aside  to  retire  almost  all  of  the  preferred 
stock  when  the  directors  decide  upon  a 
redemption  date. 

Universal  Film  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany: This  company  reports  a  decided 
increase  in  business  over  the  last  three 
months,  and  200  is  now  bid  for  the  com- 
mon stock. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


Film    Corporatu 


PACIFIC  COAST  NOTES 

The  Sports  Club  at  Monte  Carlo,  haunt 
of  adventurers,  has  been  reproduced  for 
"The  Moral  Fabric,"  the  Triangle  Kay- 
Bee  play  featuring  Frank  Mills.  A  replica 
of  the  noted  Palisades  cafe  was  also 
used. 

"When  the  Light  Came"  is  a  western  : 
drama  directed  by  Thomas  Chatterton, 
who  plays  lead.  Anna  Little  and  Jack 
Richardson  are  in  the  supporting  cast. 

James  Marcus,  who  played  the  peasant 
father  in  "The  Serpent,"  a  William  Fox 
feature,  appears  as  a  western  ranchman 
in  "Blue  Blood  and  Red." 

Louise  Glaum  designed  the  unique 
gowns  she  wears  in  her  "Vampire"  role 
in  a  coming  Triangle-Kay-Bee  picture. 

David  Horsley  is  now  well  settled  in 
his  new  $50,000  home  in  Los  Angeles. 
The  home  in  Gramercy  Place  has  been 
furnished  according  to  Mr.  Horsley's 
own  ideas  of  comfort  and  beauty. 

Carl  LeViness,  a  newcomer  to  the 
American  directing  force,  is  starting 
work  on  "Four  Months,"  written  by  Karl 
Coolidge.  Vivian  Rich,  George  Periolat 
and  Alfred  Vosburgh  play  the  story, 
which  tells  of  a  young  man  who  has  but 
four  months  to  live. 

A  seven-dog  team  adds  realism  to  the 
last  of  the  "Buck  Parvin"  stories,  "Snow 
Stuff,"  which  William  Bertram  has  just 
finished. 

Lizette  Thome,  Edward  Coxen  and 
George  Field  appear  next  in  "A  Broken 
Genius,"  a  story  of  a  wife  who  does  not 
appreciate  her  husband's  artistic  ability. 

Rhea  Mitchell  returns  to  Mutual  pic- 
tures as  a  featured  player  in  the  "master- 
picture,"  "Overalls."  She  recently  ap- 
peared with  De  Wolf  Hopper  in  "Don 
Quixote." 

Vivian  Edwards  plays  the  lead  in  "The 
Village  Blacksmith,"  a  two-reel  Triangle- 
Keystone. 

Victor  L.  Schertzinger  wrote  the  mu- 
sic for  "Hell's  Hinges"  in  three  days,  and, 
with  the  assistance  of  a  corps  of  arrang- 


ers, delivered  a  complete  score  for  a 
twenty-piece  orchestra  two  days  later, 
making  a  total  of  five  days'  time  to  do 
the  work. 

Anna  Luther,  who  has  been  kept  out 
of  picture  work  by  illness  for  some  time, 
will  be  seen  again  in  "The  Village  Vam- 
pire," opposite  Fred  Mace. 

Some  especially  difficult  dissolve  ef- 
fects have  been  used  in  "Honor's  Altar," 
a  Triangle-Kay-Bee  feature. 

The  "Peggy"  song,  written  to  accom- 
pany "Peggy,"  the  play  featuring  Billie 
Burke,   is   very  popular   in    Los   Angeles. 

Directors  of  the  Long  Beach  Chamber 
of  Commerce  recently  made  an  official 
inspection   of  the   Balboa  studio. 

The  Art  Committee  of  the  Press  Club 
of  Los  Angeles  has  selected  Edith  John- 
son of  the  Selig  Company  as  the  most 
beautiful  blonde  pictures  actress  in  Los 
Angeles,  and  her  picture  has  been  hung 
in  the  club.  The  brunette  to  be  honored 
has  not  been  chosen. 

"Love  and  The  Leopards,"  a  Selig 
wild  animal  drama,  was  planned,  written 
and  produced  and  the  negative  shipped  to 
the  Chicago  laboratories  in  four  days. 
Thomas  A,  Persons  directed  the  story, 
in  which  Princess  Olga  Celeste  and  her 
group  of  trained  leopards  appear. 

A  set  to  depict  the  palace  and  walls  of 
an  Aztec  city  is  being  modeled  by  the 
Ince  sculptoring  department  for  scenes 
in  the  romance  of  the  sixteenth  century 
which  William  S.  Hart  is  next  to  appear 
in.   Monte  M.  Katterjohn  wrote  the  story. 


H.   M.   Horkhei 


More  than  two  hundred  "extra"  girls 
surround  Bessie  Barriscale  in  her  present 
role  of  an  Italian  girl  in  the  coming  Tri- 
angle-Kay-Bee feature  Charles  Giblyn  is 
directing.  William  Desmond  plays  the 
leading  man. 

Blanche  Payson,  who  plays  opposite 
William  Collier  in  "Wife  and  Auto 
Trouble,"  was  a  policewoman  in  the  Zone 
at  the  Panama-Pacific  Exposition  before 
she  was  engaged  as  an  actress  by  Mack 
Sennett. 


Myrtle  Reeves  is  known  by  the  nick- 
name "Happy,"  but  in  spite  of  this  fact 
she  plays  "vampire"  roles  in  Balboa 
features. 

William  Collier  has  been  re-engaged 
by  Thomas  Ince  to  appear  in  another 
Triangle  Keystone  comedy  which  C. 
Gardner  Sullivan  is  writing. 

William  H.  Thompson,  now  working 
in  his  third  production  under  Thomas 
Ince,  is  in  Monterey,  Northern  Cali- 
fornia, playing  in  set  scenes.  In  this 
play,  he  is  a  lighthouse  keeper.  Margery 
Wilson   has   the   principal   feminine    role. 

J.  G.  Hawks  of  the  Ince  staff  of  writers 
is  now  preparing  a  light  drama  for  H.  B. 
Warner,  who  is  at  present  working  under 
Reginald  Barker's  Direction. 

Leo  Pierson  is  playing  the  role  of 
"Jack  Rose"  in  "At  Piney  Ridge,"  now 
being  filmed  at  the  Selig  studios  in  Los 
Angeles. 

In  "A  Strange  Adventure,"  a  forthcom- 
ing Selig  release,  Bessie  Eyton  appears 
as  the  princess  of  a  mythical  kingdom, 
and  has  a  chance  to  wear  several  beauti- 
ful gowns.     Jack  Pickford  is  the  leading 

William  F.  Russell  has  signed  a  con- 
tract making  him  a  director  for  the 
American  company.  He  will  play  leads 
in  his  own  company.  "The  Mis-mating," 
the  first  picture  he  will  direct,  is  written 

An  emergency  hospital  is  to  be  con- 
structed at  the  David  Horsley  studios  in 
Los  Angeles.  Dr.  F.  C.  S.  Barlow  will 
be  in  charge. 

"The  Purple  Maze,"  in  which  Ed.  J. 
Le  Saint  is  directing  Stella  Razetto,  tells 
of  a  stenographer  who  starts  on  the 
primrose  path  but  turns  back  in  time. 
Gladys  Brockwell,  Marc  Fenton  and 
George  Hernandez  have  important  roles. 

"Peg  of  the  Ring"  is  the  new  serial  for 
Grace  Cunard  and  Francis  Ford.  Miss 
Cunard  prepared  the  scenario. 

Ed.  J.  Le  Saint  is  preparing  to  film 
"The  Three  Godfathers,"  a  story  by 
Peter  B.  Kyne.  Harry  Carey  and  Stella 
Razetto    will    be    featured    in    this    five- 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


657 


Myrtle  Stedman  of  the  Pallas  Com- 
pany is  at  work  in  a  feature  picture  oppo- 
site George  Beban. 

William  Desmond,  who  played  oppo- 
site Billie  Burke  in  "Peggy,"  will  again 
be  a  minister  in  "Waifs,"  a  coming  Tri- 
angle-Kay-Bee feature  written  by  J.  G. 
Hawks.  Jane  Grey  will  play  opposite,  as 
a  girl  of  the  slums. 

Helen  Marie  Osborn,  three  and  a  half 
years  old,  will  be  the  featured  player  in 
"Once  Upon  a  Time,"  a  Balboa  play  to 
be  released  through  Pathe.  Henry  King 
appears  with  her.  D.  F.  Whitcomb  wrote 
the  scenario. 

Jackie  Saunders  is  back  at  the  Balboa 
studios  after  her  trip  east.  She  brought 
back  some  beautiful  new  gowns,  which 
she  will  wear  for  the  Pathe  Weekly. 

Henry  King  says  his  favorite  book  is 
Webster's  dictionary. 

Edward  Sloman,  who  has  been  recent- 
ly added  to  the  American  Company's  di- 
recting staff,  is  a  cousin  of  David  Be- 
lasco.  He  was  born  and  educated  in 
London  and  began  his  professional  ca- 
reer on  the  London  stage,  later  appear- 
ing in  many  important  productions  on 
the  American  legitimate  stage.  He  has 
directed    for    Universal    and    Lubin. 

"The  Love  Pirates,"  Kalem  series,  has 
been  renamed  "The  Social  Pirates."  Ol- 
lie  Kirby  and  Marin  Sais  play  leading 
roles. 

"Undine,"  which  opened  the  Palace 
Theater  in  Los  Angeles,  was  most  en- 
thusiastically  received. 

Franklin  Ritchie  and  Winnifred 
Greenwood  will  head  the  company  Ed- 
ward Sloman  is  to  direct  at  the  Ameri- 
can studios. 

Fannie  Ward  appears  as  a  girl  detect- 
ive in  "For  the  Defense,"  a  Lasky  play 
written  by  Hector  Turnbull. 

"The    Sowers,"   Blanche    Sweet's   next 


BROADWAY  STAR  BACK  HOME 

John  Junior,  well  known  Broadway 
star,  and  a  recent  addition  to  the  Essanay 
family,  is  back  in  Chicago  after  a  visit  to 
New  York.  Mr.  Junior  starred  for  sev- 
eral seasons  in  Broadway  productions. 
He  was  with  William  Collier  three  sea- 


John    Junior — Esst 


sons,  with  Charles  Frohman  two  and 
Daniel  Frohman  one.  He  played  with 
Arnold  Daly  in  "Steve"  and  was  in  the 
original  all-star  cast  of  "Officer  666," 
which  played  at  the  Gaiety  theater  in 
New  York.  He  had  just  finished  an  en- 
gagement with  May  Irwin  in  "Number 
13,  Washington  Square,"  when  he  re- 
turned to  the  Essanay  family. 


Culver  City  studios  for  the  play  featur- 
ing Charles  Ray  and  William  H.  Thomp- 
son. 

Alan  Hale,  late  of  Biograph  and 
Lasky  companies,  has  left  to  look  over 
the  motion  picture  field  in  New  York. 

At  the  Lasky  studios  Blanche  Sweet, 
Theodore  Roberts  and  Thomas  Meighan 
are  completing  important  roles  in  "The 
Sowers,"  while  Victor  Moore  and  Anita 
King  are  working  on  the  last  scenes  for 
"The   Race." 

Neva  Gerber  has  finished  her  work  in 
"The  Impersonation,"  which  Harris  L. 
Forbes  directed  for  the  El  Dorado  Fea- 
ture Film  Company.  Lamar  Johnstone, 
Rex  Downs  and  May  Cruze  also  appear 
in  the  cast  of  this  first  El  Dorado  re- 
lease. 

Donald  Crisp,  who  directed  the  pro- 
duction of  "Ramona,"  has  gone  east  with 
W.  H.  Clune  and  his  manager,  Lloyd 
Brown,  to  arrange  for  the  exhibition  of 
this  drama. 

Henry  King  is  directing  and  playing 
the  lead  in  a  western  five-reel  drama  at 
the  Balboa  studios.  Marguerite  Nichols 
appears  with  him. 

Thomas  Chatterton,  Anna  Little  and 
Jack  Richardson  are  at  present  working 
in   "Silent  Selby,"  another  western  play. 

Hal  Cooley,  who  played  juvenile  leads 
under  Rupert  Julian  for  the  Universal 
Company,  has  joined  the  American 
forces  in  Santa  Barbara.  Cooley  has  also 
appeared    in    musical    comedy. 

Henry  B.  Walthall's  work  in  "The 
Misleading  Lady"  delighted  his  admirers 
on  the  coast. 

Rollin  S.  Sturgeon,  having  finished 
"God's  Country  and  the  Woman,"  is 
preparing  for  his  next  Blue  Ribbon  pic- 
ture. .  It  will  have  a  French  atmosphere, 
according  to  announcements.  The  cast 
is  being  chosen. 


play,  is  from  the  novel  by  Henry  Seton 
Merriman. 

Mack  Sennett's  mother,  whose  home 
is  in  Danville,  Canada,  is  spending  the 
winter  with  her  son  in  Los  Angeles  and 


is    a    daily   visitor    to   the    Edendale    stu- 
dios. 

Edna  Maison  is  playing  the  lead  in 
"Alias  Jane  Jones,"  in  which  she  begins 
as  a  feminine  crook  and  ends  as  a  de- 
tective. Ray  Hanford  plays  opposite, 
and  Ray  Myers  is  directing  the  story. 

Edgar  Kellar,  who  is  a  player  and  art 
director  with  the  western  Vitagraph 
forces,  was  a  student  at  the  Chicago  Art 
Institute  and  the  Art  Leagues  of  San 
Francisco  and  New  York.  He  was  an 
exhibitor  at  the  Panama  Pacific  Expo- 
sition. 

Marie  Doro  has  arrived  at  the  Jesse 
L.  Lasky  studios  at  Hollyowood  and  is 
at  work  on  the  play,  "In  Service,"  to 
be  released  by  the  Famous  Players  Film 
Service,  April  24. 

Cleo  Ridgely  and  Wallace  Reid  have 
"The  Love  Mask"  well  under  way. 
Frank  Reicher  is  directing  the  picture 
for  Jesse-L.  Lasky  from  a  story  by  Cecil 
B.  DeMille  and  Janie  MacPherson. 

Hector  Turnbull  wrote  the  script  for 
"The  Race,"  which  George  Melford  is 
producing  with  Victor  Moore  and  Anita 
King  in  the  leading  roles. 

:veral  olavers  in 

Edna    Maison    is    French.      Her    real 
play  recently,  when  the  cable  of  a  hotel   name  is   Carmen  Edna   Maisonave. 

rhT S?  fSfyth™Vefloor8ng  "  "^  ""*  What  the  Pacers  call  the  most  mag- 

rne  car  tell  three  floors.  nificent  interiors  ever  filmed  at  the  Ince 

One  of  the  largest  ballroom  sets  ever  plant  have  been   constructed,   under  the 

erected   for   a  picture  was   filmed   at   the  supervision  of  Robert  Brunton,  chief  art 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


Mack  Scnnett  in  action,  illustrating  the 
difference  between  supervising  and  direct- 
ing. Above  he  is  shown  with  Vivian  Ed- 
wards and  Walter  Wright,  who  is  directing 
a  Trianglc-Kcvslone  production.  Below  he 
is   seen    at    the    helm    himself. 


director  of  the  Ince  forces,  for  the  "vam- 
pire" story  featuring-  Louise  Glaum, 
under  Raymond  B.  West's  direction. 

William  S.  Hart  and  a  large  company 
under    Charles    Swickard    are    at    present 

exteriors  for  tin  story  by  Monte  M. 
Katterjohn,  in  which  Hart  will  star. 
Enid  Markey  and  Dorothy  Dalton  are  in 
the  cast. 

A  charge  of  (attic  straight  at  tin-  cam- 
era affords  one  oi  the  thrills  of  "Ben 
Blair,"  tin-  Pallas  release  featuring  Dust- 
in  Farnum.  Broncho  busting,  trick  rid- 
ing, branding  ami  other  exterior  scenes 
iken  I'll  .1  huge  ranch  which  sup- 
ports  5t).(lD()   head   o(    cattle. 

A  prize  fighl  between  William  Russell 
and  Al  Kaufman  is  a  feature  of  "The 
i'.ruiser,"  a  live  reel  \m.  rican  drama,  di- 
rected by  Charles  Bartlette.  Charlotte 
Burton  plays  the  feminine  lead  in  the 
play. 


"Buried  Alive,"  the  twelfth  installment 
of  "The  Girl  and  the  Game,"  the  Signal 
serial  featuring-  Helen  Holmes,  contains 
mining  scenes  said  to  be  as  thrilling  and 
dangerous  as  any  of  the  railroad  pictures. 

Edward  Sloman,  the  newest  American 
director,  has  started  work  at  Santa  Bar- 
bara in  a  five-reel  play  featuring  Frank- 
lin Ritchie  and  Winnifred  Greenwood. 

Dorothy  Barrett  is  resting,  after  com- 
pleting work  with  the  Monrovia  Film 
Company. 

H.  B.  Warner,  the  English  actor,  came 
to  America  first  as  leading  man  with 
Eleanor  Robson  in  "Merely  Mary  Ann." 
He  expected  to  stay  here  six  months, 
and  has  remained  twelve  years.  Recent 
appearances  on  the  legitimate  stage  were 
in  "Alias  Jimmy  Valentine,"  "The  Ghost 
Breakers,"  and   "Under   Cover." 

Facial  expression  could  not  help  the 
actors  portray  emotion  in  the  early 
scenes  of  "The  Green  Swamp,"  in  which 
Bessie  Barriscale  and  Bruce  McRae  were 
starred,  for  the  principals  and  all  the 
other  actors  wore  masks. 

Howard  Hickman  had  one  of  his  fin- 
gers broken  in  a  scene  for  "The  Moral 
Fabric,"  the  Triangle-Kay  Bee  feature. 
but  that   did  not  stop  his  work. 

For  "The  Quagmire"  Anna  Little  rode 
her  horse  into  real  quicksand.  The  scene 
in  the  play  is  very  realistic,  but  it  was 
almost  too  much  so  for  the  horse.  It 
took  two  hours  to  extricate  him. 

Frank  Keenan,  the  noted  character 
actor,  will  he  presented  as  a  star  by 
Thomas  H.  Ince  in  "The  Stepping 
Stone,"  now  complete.  Mary  Boland  ami 
Robert   McKim   appear  in    the   cast. 

Victor  L.  Schertzinger,  musical  com- 
poser for  Thomas  H.  Ince,  recently  re- 
ceived a  flattering  offer  from  a  New 
York  publisher  for  the  music  he  wrote 
for  "Aloha  Oe,"  the  Triangle-Kav  l'.ee 
feature   starring   Willard  Mack. 

Marcia  Moore  plays  the  name  part  in 
"Lavinia  tomes  Home,"  a  story  by 
Isabel  Ostrander  which  William  C.  Dow- 
Ian  is  directing  for  the  Universal  Com- 
pany. Thomas  Jefferson,  Helen  Wright 
and    R.    Sterling   are    in    the    cast. 

The  Southern  California  committee  of 
the    Motion    Picture   Board  of  Trade   met 


recently  at  Mabel  Condon's  home  in 
Hollywood  to  discuss  a  membership 
contest.  J.  C.  Jessen,  Clarke  Irvine,  M. 
G.  Jonas,  Kenneth  O'Hara  and  Miss 
Condon  were  present. 

Aeroplaning  has  become  one  of  the 
popular  diversions  among  members  of 
the  Balboa  studio  force.  William  Conk- 
lin  is  an   especially   enthusiastic  "fan." 

Hugh  Russell,  well  known  in  Australia 
and  Great  Britain  for  work  in  light  com- 
edy on  the  legitimate  stage,  has  arrived 
in  Los  Angeles.  Later  he  will  go  to 
New  York  to  do  picture  work. 

Among  the  recent  visitors  to  the  Fine- 
Arts  Triangle  studios  were  Madam  Nel- 
lie Melba,  with  her  son,  George  Arm- 
strong, and  his  wife,  Mile.  Ada  Sasseli, 
the  celebrated  harpist,  her  mother,  and 
Frank  Leger,  Madam  Melba's  accom- 
panist. 

Donald  MacDonald  has  completed  the 
production  of  "April,"  a  five-reel  picture 
featuring  Helene  Rosson.  Clifford  How- 
ard wrote  the  play. 

Carl  M.  Le  Viness  is  now  directing 
one  of  the  "Flying  A"  companies  in 
Santa  Barbara  and  has  begun  work  on 
his  first  play,  which  will  feature  Vivian 
Rich,  Alfred  Vosburgh  and  George  Peri- 
olat.  Carl  Coolidge  wrote  the  drama, 
called  "Four  Months." 

Orral  Humphrey  directed  and  played 
the  lead  in  "Twenty  Minutes  in  Magis," 
a  one  reel  comedy  by  Al  Santell,  made  at 
the  American  studios   in   Santa   Barbara. 


Boys  will  be  boys. 

And  that  old  adage  applies  to  a  num- 
ber of  members  of  the  Keystone  com- 
pany. When  they  are  not  needed  in 
some  scene  being  filmed,  they're  looking 
for   some   sort   of  boyish   diversion. 

The  accompanying  photograph  shows 
Charles  Murray  standing  on  a  ladder 
leading  to  the  high-bar  at  the  boys'  play- 
ground at  Echo  Lake  Park  in  Los  An- 
geles. Mack  Swain,  equally  famous  as 
a  Keystone  player,  stands  below  him 
asking  if  Mr.  Murry  is  going  to  risk  his 
life    doing   school   boy    stunts. 

The  click  of  the  camera  caught  Mr. 
Murray  as  he  announced  that  he  was 
still  young  enough  to  do  a  few  stunts, 
and,  incidentally,  he  did. 


March  18,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Frank  Borzage,  prominent  recently  as 
a  director,  is  again  a  leading  man  in  a 
drama  written  by  William  Parker,  which 
the  American   Company  is  now  filming. 

"The  Bruiser,"  a  five  reel  American 
Mutual  Masterpicture,  directed  by 
Charles  Bartlette,  has  been  completed. 
William  Russell  and  Charlotte  Burton 
play  leads.  William  Parker  wrote  the 
story. 

With  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree  and 
Constance  Collier  in  "Macbeth"  are  Wil- 
fred Lucas  as  "Macduff."  Mary  Alden 
as  "Lady  Macduff,"  Ralph  Lewis  as 
"Banquo,"  and  Spottiswoode  Aiken  as 
"King  Duncan." 

"Sunshine  Dan,"  De  Wolf  Hopper's 
second  Triangle  play,  is  completed  and 
Edward  Dillon  is  now  directing  Hopper 
in  "The  Philanthropist,"  with  Fay  Tinch- 
er,  Chester  Withey,  Marguerite  Marsh 
in  the  cast. 

Douglas  Fairbanks  has  offered  a  prize 
of  $100  to  the  pupil  receiving  the  highest 
mark  in  the  Fine  Arts  school  provided 
by  the  studio  for  its'  juvenile  players. 
It  includes  George  Stone,  Carmen  La 
Rue,  Violet  Radcliffe,  Francis  Carpen- 
ter, Ninon  Fovieri,  Beulah  and  Thelma 
Burns,  Mildred  Harris,  Chandler  House 
and  Pauline  Stark. 

Dorothy  Gallagher,  playing  in  "The 
Hidden  Law,"  a  David  Horsley  produc- 
tion, was  seriously  injured  b"  an  automo- 
bile recently  and  was  forced  to  withdraw 
from  the  cast.  Marie  Gavette  has  taken 
her  place. 

CHICAGO  GOSSIP 

Bryant  Washburn  plays  the  heavy  in 
"The  Havoc"  after  a  year  of  heroes.  He 
says  he  likes  to  be  a  villian. 

H.  S.  Sheldon,  who  wrote  "The 
Havoc"  for  the  legitimate  stage,  prepared 
the  scenario  of  the  play  for  the  Essanay 
production. 

Before  "The  Strange  Case  of  Mary 
Page"  is  completed,  more  than  10,000 
persons  will  have  appeared  in  the  series, 
in  the  big  mob  scenes,  the  theater  and 
cabaret  scenes. 

Alfred  de  Mansby,  the  baritone  and  the 
new  artistic  director  at  the  Colonial  thea-  - 
ter,  was  called  to  Chicago  by  Mr.  Roth- 
apfel  on  February  28,  and  therefore  had 
to  be  away  from  home  the  29th,  the  one 
day  in  four  years  on  which  his  wife  may 
celebrate  her  birthday. 

George  Fawcett  and  Lionel  Atwell 
have  arrived  from  New  York  to  take 
leading  parts  in  support  of  Thomas 
Santschi  and  Bessie  Eyton  in  the  Selig 
production   of  "The   Crisis." 

An  anonymous  admirer  of  Henry 
Walthall  sent  him  recently  a  gallon  of 
home-made  horse  radish. 

Bessie  Eyton's  hair,  which  photo- 
graphs black,  is  really  a  beautiful,  deep 
red. 

This  is  Thomas  Santschi's  first  visit 
to  Chicago  since  he  first  left  for  Cali- 
fornia, seven  years  ago. 

Darwin  Karr  has  purchased  a  saddle 
horse,  a  big  black  fellow,  and  has  given 
up  automobiling  in  favor  of  morning 
canters  along  the  Lincoln  Park  bridle 
paths.  His  next  purchase,  he  says,  will 
be  a  motor  boat. 

A  long  lost  cousin  of  Edward  Arnold 


WKT^^nk  Jit    * 

Balboans  who  participated  ii:  bal  masque  at  the  Virginia  Hotel  at  Long  Beach,  Cat.,  recently. 
Front  row:  Hcurv  Kiini  as  fialboa.  tenter,  back  of  him.  Norman  Munition  «••  Punchinello;  next 
to  last  row:  Left,  Darnel  Gilfcthc;  as  I'runeis  Joseph  of  Austria;  right,  Makato  Inokuchi  as 
Mikado   of  Japan;  R.  H.  Rockett  as   Uncle  Sam. 


saw  the  Essanay  picture,  "The  Primitive 
Strain,"  ■  in  New  York,  recognized  Ar- 
nold and  has  written  to  him. 

An  Essanay  extra  man  thought  Officer 
John  J.  Hardy,  No.  162,  of  the  Chicago 
forces,  was  a  member  of  the  company 
playing  a  role  and  gave  him  an  ener- 
getic oush  into  a  mudpuddle.  The  extra 
man  has  not  been  seen  since. 


MIDDLE   WEST    NEWS 

By  William  Noble 

Oklahoma 

_  George  Skillett  will  open  a  modern  mo- 
tion picture  theater  at  Nowata  in  the 
near  future. 

Carl  Gregg  has  taken  over  the  Broad- 


way at  Tulsa  and  will  make  a  first-class 
motion  picture  theater  of  it. 

Ernest  and  Rose  Humphrey  will  soon 
open  a  new  $50,000  picture  house  at 
Enid  which  will  be  strictly  up  to  date. 

The  Oklahoma  Corporation  Commis- 
sion, hearing  the  case  of  the  exhibitors 
against  the  Mutual,  General  and  Uni- 
versal exchanges  on  charges  of  unlawful 
combination,  will  wait  for  several  weeks 
for  the  attorneys  to  file  briefs.  The  case 
is  interesting  exhibitors  throughout  the 
state. 

Texas 

E.  A.  Kinney,  who  recently  leased  the 
Aladdin  theater  in  Denison,  has  relin- 
quished the  lease  to  L.  M.  Ridout  and 
will  open  a  new  house  at  Belton. 

Ed  Kennedy  has  leased  the  Rex  the- 
ater, a  Dallas  suburban  house,  and  will 
open  it  soon. 

J.  L.  Shulz  is  opening  a  new  picture 
theater  at  Thalia. 

W.  E.  Crow,  formerly  of  Electra,  will 
soon  open  two  new  picture  theaters  at 
Pelton. 

Edwin  and  Arthur  Haefs  are  to  open 
a  picture  theater  at  Pecos. 

G.  S.  Layton  has  purchased  the  Mono- 
gram theater  at  Childress  from  M.  Pey- 
ton. 

Alabama 

Lewis  Pizita  has  purchased  the  Ma- 
jestic _  theater  at  Birmingham  and  will 
turn   it   into    a    first-class    picture   house. 

H.  M.  Newsome  has  purchased  the 
Rialto  at  Birmingham  and  will  open 
same  soon. 


BRITISH   TRADE   GOSSIP 

Two  air  raid  alarms  within  a  we 
cut  down  the  attendance  at  cinen 
along  the  east  coast  recently. 

The  "Exploits  of  Elaine"  continue 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


attract  the  same  large  audiences  as  did 
the  earlier  episodes. 

A  grand  opera  company  appearing  in 
Hull  while  the  Strand  theater  there  was 
showing  the  Lasky  production  of  "Car- 
men," with  Geraldine  Farrar,  greatly  in- 
creased attendance  at  the  pictures.  The 
people  liked  to  follow  a  visit  to  the 
opera  with  one  to  the   films. 

There  is  talk  in  Spanish  trade  circles 
of  the  production  of  an  elaborate  state- 
subsidized  version  of  "Don  Quixote"  in 
commemoration  of  the  forthcoming  ter- 
centenary of  Cervantos'  death. 

George  Smith,  for  some  time  manager 
of  the  publicity  department  of  the  Amer- 
ican company,  has  resigned  his  position 
to  take  up  new  duties  with  the  L.  and  P. 
Exclusive    Syndicate,    Ltd. 

Most  satisfactory  business  is  being 
done  at  the  Birmingham  house  of  Pathe 
with  the  first  six  "Gold  Rooster"  plays, 
the  Cosmo  exclusives  and  the  two-reel 
"Who    Pays?"    series. 

The  Yivaphone  singing  pictures  in- 
stalled at  the  Picture  House,  Leith,  are 
proving  a  good   draw. 

At  the  Central  in  Cardiff  the  chief  at- 
traction was  that  thrilling  drama,  "The 
Scapegoat,"  featuring  Edna  Mayo  and 
Bryant  Washburn. 

"The  Eagles'  Nest"  proved  very  suc- 
cessful at  the  Olympia  in  Newport  re- 
cently, and  "The  Broken  Coin"  is  well 
liked. 

Mary  Pickford  in  "Rags"  and  "Little 
Pal"  proved  a  decided  draw  at  the  Savoy, 
on  the  West  Derby  road,  recently. 


J.  Brown  industriously  cranking  to  reg- 
ister every  atom  of  fun  that  was  going 
on  before  the  lens.  Mr.  Dillon  conceived 
the  idea  of  making  a  motion  picture  of 
a  cinema  production,  giving  to  the  public 
a  concise  idea  as  to  how  films  are  made. 


ARTHUR  JOHNSON 

By    Fred   Mace. 

How  easily  the  public  forgets  a  favor- 
ite was  brought  home  to  the  motion  pic- 
ture actors  a  short  time  ago  when  Arthur 
Johnson,  one  of  the  first  to  gain  fame 
on  the  screen,  died  suddenly  in  Philadel- 
phia. The  death  of  this  popular  player 
can  only  be  compared  to  the  end  of  the 
picture,  when  the  last  scene  fades  out 
before  the  audience,  and  is  forgotten; 
for  the  death  of  one  of  the  best  known 
screen  star  has  brought  hardly  a  com- 
ment. 

When    the    director   working   his   com- 


JACK    DILLON— DIRECTOR 
Jack    Dill,,,,,    director    of    one    of    the 

edj     companies,    believes    in 

['Slapstick  with  ..  Reason."  Mr.  Dillon 
in  resoun  eful.  1 1<-  will  nol  permii  weath- 
er conditions  or  anything  elsi  to  delaj 
his  output  "i  fun.  During  thi  recent 
weeks  when  southern  (  alifornia  was  held 
rigindlj  in  the  grip  ol  inclement  weath- 
er, Mi.  Dillon  was  there  behind  the  cam- 
era— sometimes  in   from   of  il    -with   \Y. 


plauded  in  years  past.  High  class  in  both 
mind  and  body,  beginning  at  the  very 
bottom  of  the  ladder,  he  rose  slowly, 
step  by  step,  to  the  great  climax,  only  to 
be  called  out  of  the  picture. 

Surely  his  work  was  too  good  to  be 
forgotten.  Why  can  we  not  go  to  the 
great  film  vault,  just  as  we  often  wander 
among  our  volumes  and  select  a  book 
we  love?  We  all  read  a  favorite  chapter 
in  a  beloved  volume  many  times;  can  we 
not  equally  enjoy  seeing  a  favorite  actor 
step  before  his  audience  through  the 
medium  of  the  screen?  It  seems  as  if, 
in  this  instance,  the  "fade  out"  of  Arthur 
Johnson's  life  should  not  be  forgotten, 
but  that  the  reel  might  be  rewound  in 
the  projecting  room,  and  those  who 
knew  and  loved  him  again  enjoy  his 
work,  and  perhaps  forget  to  some  little 
extent  that  the  Great  Director  has  called 
"fade"   in   another   of  life's   dramas. 


pany  before  the  camera  calls  "fade"  the 
cameraman  turns  a  little  crank,  and  while 
the  picture  can  be  seen  growing  fainter 
and  fainter,  it  gradually  fades  away  and 
is  gone.  Do  we  remember  a  great  pic- 
ture? Sometimes,  for  a  few  days,  or,  in 
some  instances,  longer.  But  in  the  case 
of  the  great  actor  it  is  different. 

The  one  Great  Director  who  assigns 
the  parts  we  all  are  to  play  in  the  world 
drama  has  called  "fade"  to  one  of  the 
greatest  actors  the  screen  has  known. 
His  cameraman  has  slowly  closed  the 
attachment  on  the  Great  Camera  as  tin- 
picture  of  Arthur  Johnson  has  slowly 
faded  from  the  thousands  who  knew  him 
for  years. 

True,  his  besl  works  arc  preserved  by 
the  camera,  and  it  is  no  doubt  equallj 
true   they   arc   buried    deep   in    the  vaults 

'    - motion  picture  company.     Shall 

we  sec  them  again?  Shall  those  who 
have  admired  his  work  have  the  pleasure 
of  once  more  watching  the  polished  actor 
play  upon  our  sympathies,  or  must  the 
picture,  as  il  faded  out  in  real  life,  be  the 
last  we  shall  see? 

Knowing  this  adtor  as  1  have  for  years, 

-specially   hard   that   he   should 

leave  the  great  stage  wherein  we  all  play 

such     small     parts,     without    a     word    or 

thought     from     the     audience     who     ap- 


.llfred    de    Manby.    director    oj    Colonial    Theater, 

Chicago.    Mr.  de  Manby  was  selected  by  S.  L. 

Rothapfel    to    represent    him    in    presenting 

Triangle   films   and    music    program   in 

(  hicago. 


March   18.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


Believing  the  classification  of  film  pictures  by  the  nature  of  their  subject 
Motography  has  adopted  this  style  in  listing  current  films.  Exhibitors  are  in 
Films  will  be  listed  as  long  in  advance  of  their  release  dates  as  possible.  Filn 
Reasonable   care   is   used,   and   the   publishers   cannot   be   responsible   for   errors. 


i  the  exhibitor  than  clsasification  by  maker, 
ent  tabulation  in  making  up  their  programs. 
send    us   their   bulletins   as   early    as   possible. 


General  Program 


Monday. 


Tuesday. 


3-7     The  Intruder    

3-7     Maybe    Moonshine 
3-7     A   Change    of    Hea 


Wednesday. 


:    Mystery    of    Orcival.  .  .• 

limated   Nooz   Pictorial,   No. 
en    Hubby    Forgot 


Thursday. 


Soldier    Sons    

Selig-Tribune,    No.    20, 
Bungle's    Elopement    .  .  . 


Friday. 


Saturday. 


Thursday. 


3-16  1 
3-16  S 
3-16  I 


Friday. 


3-17  A    Flock    of    Skeletons. 

3-17  Mismates     

3-17  A    Pair   of   Skins 

3-17   Freddy    Aid;     "" 


,  .Knickerbocker 


...?°Vim 
. .  Vitagraph 


Saturday. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Program 


The  House   of  Darkness Biograph 

The  Strange  Case  of  Mary   Page,   No.   7 Essanay 

Ophelia    Lubin 

Selig-Tribune,    No.    19,    1916 Selig 

The  Dream   of   Eugene   Aram Selig 

Pansy's     Papas     Vitagraph 

Mrs.    Dane's    Danger Vitagraph 

Bittersweet     Vitagraph 


Title    Not    Reported Kalem 

The   Slave   of   Corruption Knickerbocker 

Their  Wedding  Day Vim 

Beaned  by  a   Beanshooter Vitagraph 

Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial,  No.  13,   1916 Vitagraph 


1  A  Man's   Work Essanay 

1  A   Race  for   Life Kalem 

1  Some    Boxer    Lubin 

1  The    Passing    of    Pete Selig 

1  Husks     Vitagraph 

Monday. 

3  The   Lady   and  the   Mouse Biograph 

3  The  Strange  Case  of  Mary   Page,  No.   8 Essanay 

3  The  Butler   Lubin 

3  The   Regeneration   of  Jim   Halsev Selig 

3  Selig-Tribune,   No.    21,    1916 Selig 

3  Putting  Pep  in  Slowtown Vitagraph 

Tuesday. 

4  A  Grip  of  Gold Biograph 

4  Joyce's    Strategy     Essanay 

4  Ham    Agrees    With    Sherman Kalem 

Wednesday. 

5  The  Rejuvenation   of  Aunt   Mary Biograph 

j   Vernon  Howe   Bailey's  Sketch  Book  of  Philadelphia 

Essanay 

>  The   Eveless   Eden    Club Kalem 


..Lubin 
...Selig 
...Vim 


3-18  Unknown     Essanay 

3-18  The   Girl    Who    Dared Kalem 

3-18  Dare    Devil    Bill Lubin 

3-18  Toll  of  the  Jungle Selig 

3-18  Miss   Warren's   Birthday Vitagraph 

3-18  She  Came,  She   Saw,  She   Conquered Kalem 


Feb.   14  Vultures    of    Society Essanay  5,000 

The   Misleading  Lady Essanay  5,000 

Feb.   21    Kennedy    Square    Vitagraph  5,000 

Feb.   28   Her    Bleeding    Heart Lubin  5,000 

Feb.   28  The    Discard     Essanay  5,000 

Feb.   28   For  a  Woman's  Fair  Name Vitagraph  5,000-. 

Mar.     6  The     Hunted     Woman Vitagraph  5,000 

Mar.    6   Unto    Those    Who    Sin Selig  5,000 

Mar.  13   The    Hero   of   Submarine   D    2 Vitagraph  5,000 

Mar.  JM   The  Two-Edijed    Sword Vitagraph  5,000 


Mutual  Program 


Tuesday. 

3-7     The    Silken     Spider American       3,000 

3-7      Oscar  the  Oyster  Opener Falstaff   '    1,000 

Wednesday. 

3-8     The   Gay    Blade's   Last   Scrape Beauty        1,000 

3-8     The   Cruise   of  Fate Thanhouser       3,000 

Thursday. 

3-9     Ambitious   Awkward  Andy Falstaff        1,000 

3-9     Mutual    Weekly    No.    62 Mutual        1,000 

3-9     Love,   Music  and  Cannon  Balls Vogue        1,000 

Friday. 

3-10  Jerry's    Big    Game Cub        1,000 

3-10  Quagmire   Mustang       3,000 

Sunday. 

3-12  See  America  First,  No.  26 Gaumont  500 

3-12  Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  26 Gaumont  500 

3-12  Persistent    Percival     Beauty  1,000 

3-12  More    Truth    Than    Poetry Vogue  1,000 

Tuesday. 

3-14  The    Suppressed     Order .....American       3,000 

3-14  Theodore's    Terrible    Thirst Falstaff       1,000 

Wednesday. 

3-15  Blotters    and    Papers Beauty       1,000 

3-15   The    Whispered    Word Thanhouser       2,000 

Thursday. 

3-16   Rupert's    Rube    Relations Falstaff        1,000 

.Mi   Mutual   Weekly,   No.   63 Mutual        1,000 

3-16  Title    Not    Reported    Vogue 

Friday. 

3-17  Title  Not   Reported Cub 

3-17  Curlew   Corliss    Mustang       3,000 


Universal  Program 


Monday. 

3-6     Their    Only    Son Nestor 

3-6     The    Powder    Trust    and    the    War    (Graft    No.    13)  _ 

Tuesday. 

3-7     The  Winning  of  Miss  Construe Gold   Seal 

3-7     No   Release   This   Week Rex 

3-7     Sunlight   and   Shadows Imp 

Wednesday. 

3-8     The    Windward    Anchor Laemmle 

3-8     False   Friends   and    Fire   Alarms L-Ko 

3-8     Animated  Weekly,  Vol.  2,  No.   10 Universal 

Thursday. 

3-9  Lavina    Comes    Home Laemmle 

3-9  The    Dumb    Bandit Rex 

3-9  Warriors   of  the   Air Powers 

3-9  A  Romance  of  Toyland Powers 


662 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


Friday. 

The  "Doll    Doctor ••ImP       2,<H)() 

Their   Act    Victor       1,000 

When    Lizzie    Disappeared Nestor       1,000 

Saturday. 

The    Quarter    Breed .Bison       3,000 

Uncle  Sam  at  Work,  No.   12 Powers       1,000 

No  Release  This  Week Joker 

Sunday. 

His    Brother's    Pal ...Rex       2,000 

Love's   Spasms    Victor       1,000 

No  Release  This  Week L-Ko 

Monday. 

The   Deacon's    Waterloo Nestor       1,000 

The  Iron  Ring   (Graft  No.   14) Universal       2,000 

Tuesday. 

Born  of  the  People Gold   Seal        2,000 

The  Bold   Bad   Burglar Rex        1,000 

Her   Invisible   Husband Imp        1,000 

Wednesday. 

Orders   Is    Orders Victor       2,000 

Lonesomeness     Laemmle        1,000 

Animated  Weekly,  Vol.  2,  No.  11 Universal       1,000 

Thursday. 

No  Release  This  Week Laemmle 

The    Fatal    Introduction Big    U  3,000 

Sammie    Johnsin— Strong    Man Powers  500 

Safety   First    Powers  500 

Friday. 

Patterson   of   the   News Imp       2,000 

The    Cry   of   Erin Rex        1,000 

Across    the    Hall Nestor        1,000 

Saturday. 

Iron    Rivals     Bison        2,000 

Xo   Release   This   Week Powers 

Muchly    Married     Joker        1,000 

Sunday. 

Behind    the    Curtain Rex        1,000 

No    Release    This    Week Laemmle 

Live  Wires  and   Love  Sharks L-Ko        3,000 


Miscellaneous  Features 


Sins  of  Great  Cities Great  Northern   Film  4,000 

Race   Suicide Jos.    W.    Farnham  6,000 

Somewhere  in  France Arthur  S.   Kane  5,000 

Fighting   with    France French    Official   War   Films  6.000 

At    the   End   of   the   Rainbow K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

A  Naval  Tragedy K.   &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

The    Arabian    Dancing    Girl K.    &    R.    Film    Co.  1,000 

Catherine   Brown— the   Baby    Kellerman— in  Fancy   Diving 

and    Swimming    K.   &  R.   Film  Co.  1 ,000 

On   the   Firing  Line  With   the   Germans War  Film  Syndicate  8,500 

His    Vindication     Cosmofotofilm  4,000 

A   Fool's   Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

The  Girl  and   the   Game Signal   Film  30,000 

The    Unwritten    Law California    M.    P.  5,000 

The   Ne'er- Do- Well    Sol    Lesser  10.000 

of  a    Man Celebrated    Players  5,000 

i    of   New    York Claridge    Films  5,000 

Thi     Mm    With   the   Missing  Finger Great    Northern 

One    Day    Moss    Films  5,000 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Jan.    24  Jeanne   Dore   5,000 

Jan.    31   Secret   Love    6.000 

Feb.     7  Undine   5,000 

Feb.  14   II                               Brew 5  000 

Feb.   21   The   Wrong    Door 5'000 

ol  Jealousy 5,000 

Mar.    6  Rupert    ol    Hentzau 5  nnn 

weal ..........www  sooo 

Mai    19  Yaqtii    5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Jan.     23  The  Serpent    5  Q00 

ta1    i°Ju'\  "»!""■  K-'  '"" ........WWW  5,000 

aerely    Mary    Ann 5  000 

Feb    1  ■   1   -  I  11 I  '.     Bli            ' '              '  s'ono 

Feb.   20  The   Fool'i   Revenge SOOO 

r   and   the   Fly c'ooo 

Vnoo 

5'qoo 


Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

Feb.     2  The    Final    Curtain Kleine 

Feb.     9  When   Love   Is   King Kleine 

Feb.     9  The  Martyrdom  of  Philip  Strong Edison 

Feb.   16  The    Scarlet    Road Kleine 

Feb.  23  At  the  Rainbow's   End Edison 

Mar.    1  The   Mishaps   of   Musty   Suffer Kleine 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

Feb.   14  Dimples Metro 

Feb.  21  The  Price  of  Malice Metro 

Feb.  21  A   Corner  in   Cotton Metro 

Feb.  28  The    Soul    Market Metro 

Mar.    6  The   Blindness   of   Love Metro 

Mar.  13   Lovelv    Mary     Metro 

Mar.  20  The    Wall    Between Metro 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

Feb.   10  The    Final   Argument American 

Feb.   12  The    Soul's    Cycle Centaur 

Feb.   14  Life's    Blind    Alley American 

Feb.   17  The    Dead   Alive Gaumont 

Feb.   19  Silas    Marner    Thanhouser 

Feb.  21  I    Accuse     Gaumont 

Feb.   24  The    Oval    Diamond Thanhouser 

Feb.  26  The   Craving    American 

Feb.  28  A   Law  Unto   Himself Centaur 

Mar.    2  Embers      American 

Mar.    4  The   Heart    of   Tara Centaur 

Mar.    6  According   to   Law Gaumont 

Mar.     6  True    Nobility    American 

Mar.     6   The   Flight  of   the   Dutchess Thanhouser 

Mar.  13  In  the  Web  of  the  Grafters Signal 

Mar.  16   The   Fugitive    Thanhouser 

Mar.  18  Overalls     American 

Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 
Feb.     7  The  Cliff  Dwellers  of  America.  Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

Feb.     7  Madame   La   Presidente Morosco 

Feb.   1 0  Nearly  a   King Famous  Players 

Feb.   10  Haunts  for  Rent Bray- Paramount 

Feb.   14  Grand   Canyon Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

Feb.   17  Miss  Nanny  Goat  Becomes  an  Aviator Bray- Paramount 

Feb.   14  The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine Lasky 

Feb.  17  Out  of  the  Drifts Famous  Players 

Feb.   17  He  Fell  In  Love  With  His  Wife Pallas 

Feb.  21  A   Day  With  a  West   Point   Cadet 

Paramount-Burton     Holmes 

Feb.  21   Blacklist    Lasky 

Feb.  28  Our   Middies   at   Annapolis   and   the  U.   S.   Avia- 
tion  School    Paramount-Burton    Holmes 

Feb.  28  Diplomacy    Famous  Players 

Mar.    2  Poor    Little    Peppina Famous    Players 

Mar.     2   How   Dizzy   Joe   Got   to  Heaven Bray-Paramount 

Mar.     6  To    Have    and    To    Hold Lasky 

Mar.    9   Ben    Blair    Pallas 

Mar.  13  For  the  Defense Lasky 

Mar.  16  Code  of  Marie  Gray Morosco 


Released    Week    < 

-.  13  The  Iron  Claw,'  No.   3 

-.  13   Pathe   News,   No.    22 

\  13   Pathe   News   No.    23 

r.  13   Luke   Pipes  the  Pippins 

r.  13   The   Red    Circle.    No.    14 

r.  13   Siberia,   the  Vast   Unknown 

r.  13   Some   Views    of    Singapore 


Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 

.     7  A  Knight  of  the  Range 

1.    14  The    Sphinx     

.   21   Sons    of    Satan 

.  28  The  Lords  of  High  Decision 

-.     6   The    Target     

\  13  The  Pool  of  Flame 


5,000 
5,000 

5,000 
5,000 
10,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 

5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


1,000 
5,000 
5,000 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


1,000 
5,000 
6,000 
1,000 
5,000 
5.000 
5.000 
5,000 


,  .  Pathe 
. .  Pathe 
.  .Pathe 
nphilms 
.Balboa 
.  .  Pathe 
..Pathe 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Triangle  Film  Corporation. 


Released    week    < 


Mar.  12  The  Flying  Torpedo:  John  Emerson.. 
Mar.  12  Thr  Villa-,  I'.larksmith  :  Hank  Ma. in. 
Mar.  12   Bullets   and    Brown   Eyes:   Frank   Mills 

World  Features 

Released  week  of 

Feb.     7  The   Woman    in   47 

Feb.   1 5  Love's    Crucible    

Feb.  The    Clarion     

Feb.  21  The    Question     

Feb.  21  A   Woman's    Power 

Feb.  28  The   Price   of   Happiness 

Feb.  28  The   Pawn   of   Fate 

Feb.  28   Man  and  His  Angel 

Mar.    6  As   In  a   Looking   Glass 

Mar.     6  The    Devil's    Toy 


.Triangle-Keystone 

Fine   Arts 

.Triangle-Kay-Bee 

.  Triangle-Keystone 

Triangle- Keystone 

Fine    Arts 

.Triangle- Keystone 


Equitable 

Brady 

Equitable 

Equitable 

Brady 

Equitable 

Brady 

Triumph 

World 

Equitable 


2,000 
5,000 
5.001' 
2,000 

2,000 
5,001 
2,000 


5,000 

5.00(i 
5,000 
5,000 
5.000 
5.000 
5.000 
5.000 
5,000 
5,000   • 


March  18,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


General  Program 


The  Lady  and  the  Mouse— Biograph  Re-Issue 
— March  13. — Lillian  Gish,  Dorothy  Gish,  Henry 
Walthall,  Robert  Hyde  and  Robert  Harron  fea- 
tured.    Because  he  is  jilted  by  his  sweetheart  the 


valid  sister,  awakens  his 
creditors  foreclose  on  hin 
them  off  and  later  marrie 


lege  chum.  The  girl  sues  him  for  breach  of 
promise  and  Aunt  Mary  disinherits  him,  but  Betty, 
disguised  as  a  maid,  rejuvenates  the  old  lady,  and 
the  other  girl,  won  by  Aunt  Mary's  kindness, 
relents  and  acknowledges  she  has  no  claim  on 
Jack.      Forgiven,  Jack  weds   Betty. 

Vernon  Howe  Bailey's  Sketch  Book  of  Phila- 
delphia— Essanay — March  15. — A  split-reel  re- 
lease, first  five  hundred  feet  containing  sketches 
of  all  points  of  interest  in  the  quaint  old  city  of 
Philadelphia.  The  lemainder  of  the  reel  is  devoted 
to  winter  sports  taken  in  the  vicinity   of   Quebec. 


ceeds    to    break'  all    speed    records 

back    t 

Chasebugs'    bungalow.        He    rushe 

3    to    the 

looking 

he  finds  Ethel  resting  contentedly 

n  the  ar 

n    Poke 

sweetheart. 

Freddy  Aids  Matrimony — Vitagraph — March 
17.™  William  Dangman,  Daisy  DeVere,  Jack 
O'Donnell,  William  Lyttel,  Jr.,  and  Tod  Talford 
featured.      After    preventing    his    friend    Jim    from 


Hai 


Agree 


Witl 


Sher 


-Km 


-Maj 


_--inge  C__ - 

—Essanay — March  13. — No.  '. 
Reviewed  elsewhere  in  this  iss 


— Featuring 


5  giving  a 


The       Butler— Lubin— Map 

Davy  Don.     Mrs.  Van  Webb. 

and  reception  in  honor  of  her  daughter  wnen  a 
telegram  arrives  which  calls  all  servants  out  on 
strike.  Mrs.  Van  Webber  is  in  a  quandary  as  to 
who  will  prepare  the  dinner  and  Gwendoline  sug- 
gests that  Otto,  their  hired  man,  be  allowed  to 
take  charge  of  the  dinner.  When  the  striking 
servants  learn  that  Otto  has  taken  their  jobs, 
they  proceed  to  clean  him  up.  They  knock  him 
out  and  leave  him  in  a  heap  on  the  floor,  where 
the  guests   find  him   some  time  later. 

e  Reels) 


:  Harlem,  is  seized  with  high 
social  aspirations  and  decides  to  carry  out  his 
ideas.  He  hires  a  full  dress  outfit  and  arrives 
in  a  taxi  at  the  Biltmore,  where  he  registers  as 
Count  Di  Woppo.  He  meets  Mrs.  Pansy  Bul- 
lion, a  rich  widow,  and  mistaking  him  for  Prince 
Di  Gorgonzola,  she  proposes  and  he  accepts  her. 
The  real  prince  arrives  and  he  has  to  fight  a  duel 
coming  out  victorious.  Jack  returns  to  the  hash- 
house  and  Mrs.  Bullion  discovers  him  here.  She 
hurls  a  dish  of  hash  at  him,  but  Lizzie  Potts, 
the  cook  who  loves  Jack,  springs  for  her  and 
pulls  off  her  false  hair.  Mrs.  Bullion  dashes  out 
and  escapes,  while  Jack  and  Lizzie  fall  into  each 
other's  arms. 

Putting  the  Pep  in  Slowtown— 
March  13. — Featuring  Wally  Van,  Zena 
and  William  Shea.  Peter  Pep,  whose  middle 
is  speed,  applies  for  the  job  of  Mayor  of 
town,  and  after  his  galvanizing  presence,  g> 
He  puts  pep  into  everything  and  everyone 
even   into   Dolly's   flivv 


__    Jud    Dv 

tured.  Ham  and  Bud  enlist  in  the  army  and 
Ham  directs  the  operations  of  war  from  a  hilltop 
with  his  chef  and  drink-mixer  at  his  side.  All 
goes  well  until  Ham  and  Bud  decide  to  go  up  in 
an  aeroplane  to  look  the  field  of  battle  over.  When 
the  guns  of  the  enemy  find  their  mark  Ham  and 
Bud  come  tumbling  down  with  just  enough  breath 
left  to  mutter  "Never  again.     Sherman  was  right." 


Kvdc- 


i  Club,  fails 


Gus 


Through 
the  daugh- 


tship,  ; 


the 


:   boosting   himself   befoi 
.    te  for  mayor.     He  runs  into  a  little  opposite- 
i   the    person   of   Dolly   who   takes   the   stand   for 


father 


Dolly. 
A     Grip 

March    H.- 
Christy j 


;    he    < 


out    and    later 


Gold— (Two  Reels)— Biograph— 
riaire  McDowell,  Jose  Ruben,  Ivan 
...J  W.  C.  Robinson.  A  burglar  leaves 
sand  dollars  he  has  stolen  from  a  bank 
in  the  care  of  a  girl  and  then  he  is  picked  up  by 
the  police.  The  girl  uses  some  of  the  money  to 
pay  her  board  bill  and  then  leaves  for  the  city. 
Sometime  later  she  marries  a  stock  broker  and 
speculating  in  the  stock  market,  she  wins  enough 
to  clear  her  conscience  by  sending  the  money  to 
the  bank.  The  burglar  discovers  her  whereabouts 
and    hounds    her,    but    he    is    finally    killed    in    a 

Joyce's  Strategy — -(Two  Reels) — Essanay  — 
March  14.— Featuring  Joyce  Fair,  Lillian  Drew, 
Darwin  Karr  and  Jack  Paul.  Little  Joyce,  the 
only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds,  who  are 
separated,  lives  with  her  mother  in  a  plain  little 
home.  Her  mother  becomes  ill  and,  running  out 
into  the  street,  Joyce  stops  the  first  automobile 
and  unknown  to  her  she  is  pleading  with  her  own 
father  to  help  her  save  her  mother.  Later  Mr. 
Reynolds  asks  his  wife  to  allow  Joyce  to  come 
and  live  with  him  and  she  consents.  Joyce,  un- 
happy, strikes  a  plan  to  bring  her  father  and 
mother  together  and  with  the  help  of  her  little 
chum  and  the  doctor  succeeds  in  carrying  out  her 
plan. 

The  Rejuvenation  of  Aunt  Mary — (Three 
Reels)— Biograph— March  15.— Gertrude  Barn- 
brick,  Reggie  Morris  and  Kate  Toncray  featured. 
Jack  Denham  gets  into  all  kinds  of  scrapes,  and 
his  Aunt  Mary,  a  wealthy  woman,  tells  him  she 
can  forgive  anything  so  long  as  he  never  wrongs 
a  woman.  While  under  the  influence  of  liquor 
Jack  promises  to  wed  a  girl  he  met  in  a  cabaret, 
although  he  really   loves   Betty,    sister  of  his   col- 


The    Eveless    Eden—] 
iring    Ethel    Teare,    Jac. 

-  ho  is  a  member  of  th 
i  his  attempt  to  indue 
uiac  young  man  to  enier  for  Ethel's  fascinatin 
eyes  have  convinced  Jack  that  there  is  nothin 
dangerous  in  Eve's  charm.  Uncle  meets  Ethel 
aunt  and  it  is  not  long  before  the  Eveless  Edei 
ites  are  threatened  with  the  loss  of  a  membe: 
Both  couples  decide  to  elope 
and  their  efforts  to  keep  the  s 
ers    leads    to    humorous    situat 

The  Gulf  Between— (Three 
March  16.— Fred  Mason,  in 
Service,  is  assigned  on  his  firs 
ning  down  a  band  of  opium  o 
an  accident  Mason  meets  Heler 
ter  of  the  head  of  the  opium 
enamored  with  her.  Through 
arrested  as  one  of  the  opium 
she  knows  nothing  of  he'r  fa 
Her  father  dies  and  Helen  se< 
maid  in  the  Burrow's  horr. 

friend,    knowing   that   he   ,. 

makes    Mason   understand   that   Helen   is   bi 
her  heart  for  him  as  he  is  for  her.     Masoi 
her    out    and    the    gulf    is    bridged    by    thei.    .„ 
Allan  Forrest,  Jim  Morely  and  Helen  Wolcott. 

Nerve  and  Gasoline  —  Vim  —  March  16.— 
Featuring  Plump  and  Runt.  Runt  is  sent  by  his 
wife  to  seek  employment,  but  he  takes  care  to 
avoid  all  places  where  he  may  find  work.  Mrs. 
Runt^s  brother  arrives  and  takes  his  sister  for  a 
ride  in  a  taxi.  Their  car  becomes  stalled  in  the 
park  and  the  chauffeur  is  induced  by  a  mob  of 
striking  employees  at  the  garage  to  quit  his  job. 
Plump,  who  has  been  awarded  the  position  of 
mechanic  at  the  garage  for  rescuing  Florence,  the 
stenographer,  from  the  strikers,  is  sent  out  on 
the  job.  As  Plump  knows  nothing  about  an  auto 
his  efforts  to  drive  through  the  streets  are  laugh- 
able in  the  extreme.     Runt  sees  his  wife  with  the 

and  he  starts  to  make  a  general  "clean-up."  His 
wife,  however,  manages  to  calm  her  husband  long 
enough  to  introduce  her  brother  and  explain  the 
entire  situation  to  the  satisfaction  of  Runt. 

A    Flock    of    Skeletor 
Featuring  Rose   Melville 

in  the  home  of  the  Mazumas.  Kvery  member  of 
the  family  has  a  skeleton  and  Sis  is  made  the 
guardian    of    the    family    secrets.      As    it    usually 


ing  her  to  be  ready  to  elope  that  night,  but 
father  intercepts  the  message.  Many  laughable 
situations  follow,  but  finally  Jim  manages  to 
marry  Clara  and  father  gives  in  and  bestows  his 
blessing. 

Three  Johns — Vitagraph — March  17. — Featur- 
ing George  Kunkel,  George  Holt,  George  Stan- 
ley, Otto  Beninger,  Anne  Schaefer  and  Jack 
Mower.  John  Brown  and  John  Briggs,  strangers 
to  each  other,  decide  to  go  on  a  hunting  trip 
to  the  same  place.  There  is  a  reward  offered  for 
the  apprehension  of  Looney  John,  a  lunatic, 
who  is  at  large  in  those  woods,  and  when  Brown 
and  Briggs  meet  and  exchange  cards  each  imag- 
ines the  other  the  Tohn  wanted  by  the  asylum 
people.  A  laughable  mix-up  follows,  but  finally 
things  are  straightened  out  when  the  sheriff's  wife 
captures    Looney    John    and    receives    the    reward. 

Unknown—  (Three  Reels)— Essanay— March 
18.— Wanda  Curtis  marries  Matthew  Flagg  to 
save  her  father  from  bankruptcy.  Later  her 
father  dies  and   Hugh   Hai" 


ectedly  returr 


r  hoi 


isoles  h 

';    furio 


Flagg 
at  find- 


Flagg   cfeterm 


.U.irtin    i- 


rother 


Mart 


(Matthew)  in  his  own  home, 
red  by  Matthew  and  everybody 
is  leu  to  rjeneve  that  it  was  Matthew  Flagg  who 
committed  suicide.  On  the  night  of  the  marriage 
of  Wanda  and  Hugh  a  man  falls  from  the  church 
balcony  and  is  killed,  but  the  bride  and  groom  go 
on  their  way  in  perfect  ignorance  of  the  identity 
of  the  victim.  The  "unknown"  was  Matthew 
Flagg  in  the  garb  of  a  tramp.  He  had  entered 
the  church  with  the  intent  of  marring  the  wed- 
ding, but  instead  he  met  his  death.  Marguerite 
Clayton,  Richard  Traverse  and  Ernest  Thompson 
featured. 

The  Girl  Who  Dared— Kalem— March  H 
episode  of  the  "Hazards  of  Helen"  railroad 
featuring  Helen  Gibson.  The  smugglers  seem  in 
a  fair  way  to  _  escape  on  a  stolen  engine  when 
Helen,  unhitching  a  team  from  a  nearby  wagon, 
races  down  the  road  towards  the  railroad  bridge 
from  which  a  rope  is  hanging  directly  over  the 
Standing  astride   the  two   speeding  horses 


An 


Helen  leaps  '._ 
makes  a  perilous   dro 
tears   past. 


and, 
)   the   stolen   e 


ing  Billie 


„   -  -_iback    foi     _.. 
blunders   on   a   member   of   the   family,    Si 
~u    -nd    when    Pappa    Mazuma 


•  she 
!  fast 
,  ..jn  ana  wnen  rappa  Mazuma  receives 
;ord  that  unless  he  can  meet  margin  payments 
his  fortune  will  be  swept  away,  Sis  comes  to  the 
rescue  with  the  bank-roll  she  has  collected  for 
keeping  the   family   skeletons. 

Mismates— (Three  Reels)— Knickerbocker  — 
March  17. — Margaret  Landis  is  featured  in  this 
story,  which  shows  the  folly  of  mismating  youth 
and  age  and  the  disaster  in  the  life  of  a  youth 
who  is  caught  by  the  glitter  of  the  Bright  Way. 
Fred  Whitman,  Daniel  t  ill,  lb  ,  Sideline  Par- 
dee, Myrtle  Reeves,  Ruth  Lackaye,  Charles  Dud- 
ley and  Richard  Johnson  complete  the  cast. 

A  Pair  of  Skins — Vim — March  17. — Featur- 
ing Pokes  and  Jabbs.  Professor  Chasebugs  re- 
solves that  Ethel,  his  daughter,  shall  marry  Jabbs, 
the  four-flush  hunter.  Professor  Chasebugs,  his 
wife  and  daughter  accompany  Jabbs  to  the  hunt- 
ing grounds,  where  he  proceeds  to  give  a  dem- 
onstration of  his  skill  as  a  marksman,  and  all  is 
well  until  a  bear  creeps  out  from  the  underbrush 
and  chases  the  professor  and  his  family  from  the 
place.      When   Jabbs   discovers   the   bear  he   pro- 


Bill— Lubin— March  18.— Featur- 
s.  While  promenading  with  Betta 
iviami,  a  loafer  accosts  her,  and  Billy  has  not  the 
courage  to  resent  the  insult.  He  is  kidded  to  such 
an  extent  by  his  townsmen  for  his  cowardice  that 
he  goes  West  so  that  he  may  learn  to  be  brave 
His  letters  to  Betta  are  bristling  with  narratives 
of  reckless  heroism  and  when  Billv  comes  home 
to  prove  that  he  is  a  man  Tom  Hale,  his  rival, 
"  lasks  him.  There  is  some  gun  play  and  Billy 
mercy,  acknowledges  he  has  been 
chased  out  of  the  house  by  the  men. 
Toll  of  the  Jungle  — Selig  — March  18.— 
Wheeler  Oakman,  Edith  Johnson,  Harry  Lons- 
dale and  Walter  Beckwith  featured.  John  Har- 
per   and    his    daughter,    Ida,    live    together   in    the 

lions  have  just  been  trapped  and  Ida  penetrates 
the  jungle  to  see  them.  Her  horse  becomes  lame 
and  Ida  is  attacked  by  the  trainer,  Jose.  She 
climbs  into  a  tree,  supplied  with  some  torches, 
while  the  animal  trainer  is  overcome  by  the  lions, 
ui   S3AI.UE    puE    pauopjEd   si    'uiE-19    qiiM    psisarjE 

"    ' ''I       '-'I''-'  I'M  ■'    'I:'"""!       .'    >l|       -  Uiiij        '    -I, 

-Clint  02  UBjxf  spdiuoa  pus  puE[Su3  01  sso3  pus 
uosud  uiojj  ssdEosa  ruEjr}  -si.i3qo)T  pioq  uiim 
That  night  Ida  signals  with  her  torches  and  the 
light  is  seen  from  afar  by  Fred  Hartley,  a  hunter, 
and  he  rescues  her. 

Miss  Warren's  Brother— (Three  Reels)— Vita- 
graph —  March  18. —  Joseph  Kilgour,  Arline 
Pretty  and  Robert  Whitworth  featured.  Nan 
Warren  marries  Grant  Wilson,  a  worthless  fellow 
who  works  in  the  same  brokerage  office  with  her 
brother,  Dick.  Dick  and  Nan  receive  $5,000  each 
from  their  grandfather  in  England,  who  had  dis- 
inherited their  mother  because  she  married  War- 
ren.    Two  sharpers  induce  him  to  join  them  in  a 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


Three     coming     Lnbi 


fraudulent  mining  proposition  and  later  he  is 
arrested.  Nan  goes  to  England  and  falls  in  love 
England  in  time  to  prevent  the  lawyer  from  pay- 
ing Grant  a  large  sum  of  money.  Grant  is 
arrested  for  the  murder  of  one  of  the  prison 
keepers  and  is  taken  away,  while  a  happier  future 
is   in   store   for   Nan   and    Lord    Roberts. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  IS— February  21  — Dari 
feats  of  skill  by  College  Ski  jumpers  mark  1 
celebration  of  Dartmouth's  Sixth  Annual  Winter 
Carnival,  Hanover,  N.  H. ;  congressional  corn- 
devastation  caused  by  the  turbulent  waters  of  the 
Mississippi;  two  persons  killed  when  hundreds  of 
tons  of  loosened  earth  crash  down  on  tiny  hill- 
side, Seattle,  Wash.;  farmers  join  in  an  effort  to 
rid  Seymour,  Ind.,  of  marauding  wolves  which 
prey  upon  the  live  stock;  U.  S.  submarines  K-2, 
K-l  and  K-5  arrive  at  Tampa,  Florida,  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  Gasparilla  Carnival ;  schooner  Ex- 
celsior is  successfully  righted  by  a  wrecking  tug 
after  having  capsized  in  a  collision  with  the  S.  S. 
Harvard  and  drifted  a  derelict  for  19  hours,  San 
Francisco,   Calif. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  16— February  24.— Fanny, 
new  250-horsepower  rotary  snowplow,  clears  the 
surface  line  tracks  after  the  heaviest  snowstorm 
in  this  locality  in  ten  years,  East  Weymouth, 
Mass.;  one-third  of  business  section  of  Fall  River 
wiped  out  by  fire  with  a  loss  of  $1,500,000;  U.  S. 
transport  Sherman  arrives  at  San  Francisco  with 
one  thousand  American  soldier  boys,  released 
from  duty  in  our  far  eastern  possessions;  annual 
winter  carnival  held  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  pro- 
vokes keen  competition  and  excitement  for  a  large 
crowd  of  student  spectators;  flames,  believed  to 
be  of  incendiary  origin,  sweep  the  water  front  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  destroying  three  big  munition 
liners,  a  nine-hundred  foot  pier  and  entailing  a 
loss  of  $3,000,000. 

The  House  of  Darkness— Biograph  Re-Issue.— 
March  6. — Lillian  Gish,  Lionel  Barrymore,  Claire 
McDowell  and  Charles  H.  Mailes  featured.  Making 
his  escape  from  the  House  of  Darkness  the  dweller 
gets  hold  of  a  revolver  and  enters  the  doctor's 
house  where  the  doctor's  wife  is  alone.  She 
turns  from  the  piano  to  see  the  unfortunate  man 
threatening  her  with  death.  By  chance  her 
nerveless  hands  strike  a  resounding  chord  which 
id  seeing  the  effect,  she  goes 
—"'-,  he  gives 


the  eye   of   Sis,   who 

of   Rube,   who   has   fallen   a  vie 

the  village  flirt,  and  she  decidi 


)  the 


go  to  the  city 
.nu  conquer.  vvnen  sne  arrives  the  artist  is 
ait,  but  his  valet  has  no  objections  to  playing  the 
naster.  Sis  is  posed  and  all  is  ready  for  the 
■ainting    when    Ghiquita,    the    former    mod 


;    the    i 


repentant   mood.      She 


she 

way  back  to  the  farm  and 


model 
:    the    studio. 


'I  In 


:ads    Sis 


;    up    i 


Mutual  Program 


Persistent  Percival — Beauty— March  12. — Or- 
ral  Humphrey,  Billy  Frawley,  Mary  Talbot  and 
Edna  Frawley  featured.  Billy  is  told  by  his 
father  that  he  needs  a  guardian  and  he  offers 
Percival  Somber  the  job  of  guardian.  At  the 
club  Percival  asserts  his  guardianship  when  Billy 
starts  drinking  too  much  and  later  when  Billy 
meets  a  handsome  young  woman  and  immediately 
falls  in  love  with  her  Percival  discovers  a  nurse"- 
maid  in  charge  of  six  children  belonging  to  the 
lady  and  saves  Billy  from  becoming  their  step- 
father. 


She 


_    Company    refuses    t_ 

of  the  rain  unless  they  send  a 
called     for     and     brought 


studio,  but  refuses  to 
is  provided  with  an  umbrella.  An  umbrella  can- 
not be  found  and  finally  the  property  man  plays 
"Sir  Walter  Raleigh"  and  lays  his  overcoat  down 
for  the  leading  woman  to  alight  on  from  the  auto. 
A  highly  dramatic  scene  is  taken  and  when  the 
director  asks  for  the  footage  of  the  scene,  he 
learns  that  the  cameraman  forgot  to  put  any  film 
into  the  camera. 


which    will    pay    off    the    farm    mortgage    within    : 
Corlew     Corliss— (Three     Reels)— Mustang— 


Mutual  Weekly  No.  61— March  2.— This  issue 
of  the  weekly  contains  pictures  showing  the  in- 
dicting of  sixty-one  prominent  men  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  for  alleged  neutrality  violations;  the 
destruction  of  a  cargo  of  wheat  destined  for  the 
Belgians  at  Galveston ;  the  preparing  of  citizens 
for  military  service  by  soldiers  from  Fort  Sam 
Houston,  at  San  Antonio,  Tex.;  the  recovery  of 
40,000  rifles  from  the  mud  in  the  harbor  at 
Brementon.  Wash.:  wreck  at  Milford,  Conn.;  re- 
turn of  Henry  Morgenthau,  American  Ambassa- 
dor to  Turkey  on  a  leave  of  absence;  boarding 
house  fire  in  New  York  City,  which  resulted  in 
the  death  of  five  persons ;  the  collapse  of  the 
opera  house,  followed  by  an  explosion  of  gas, 
in  Mexia,  Tex.,  and  the  explosion  of  the  analine 
dye  plant  which  shook  the  city  of  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Mutual  Weekly  No.  62— March  9.— This  issue 
of  the  weekly  contains  pictures  showing  Charlie 
Chaplin  at  the  moment  he  affixed  his  signature 
to  a  Mutual  contract  which  made  him  richer  bv 
$670,000  for  a  year's  work;  latest  fashions;  ice 
carnival  at  the  exclusive  Lake  Placid,  N.  Y. ; 
warlike  activities  pictured  in  views  of  the  govern- 
ment's new  aviation  field  at  San  Antonio,  Tex. ; 
departure  of  Canadian  Guards  from  Montreal ; 
U.  S.  troops  in  civic  parade  at  Laredo,  Tex.,  and 
U.     S.     superdreadnaught     Pennsylvania,    on    trial 

Love,  Music  and  Cannonballs — Vogue — March 
9.— Featuring  Rube  Miller,  Arthur  Travares,  Alice 
Neice  and  Madge  Kirby.  Rube,  a  wanderer,  gets 
into  Mexico.  He  comes  upon  an  inn  where  he 
saves  a  pretty  senorita  from  a  big  Mexican  and 
thereby  wins  her  love.  Rube  is  kidnapped  and 
tied  to  a  fence  from  which  he  is  released  by  the 
__  captured  and  tied  to  a  fence, 
hich  she  is  released  by  Rube,  who  cap- 
n    ball    and    drives    their   oppressors 


the 


on  playing  until,  soothed  by  the  ..... 
her  the  weapon.  Thereafter,  until 
charged    as    cured,    she    goes    every 


play 


Mr.  Jack  Ducks  the  Alimony — Vitagraph — 
March  6.— Featuring  Daniels  and  Eulalie  Jensen. 
Handsome  Jack  Magge's  jealous  wife  sues  for 
a  divorce  and  Jack  learns  that  he  will  have  to 
pay  alimony  and  absolutely  refuses  to  do  so.  He 
enlists  in  the  army  in  order  to  avoid  paying 
alimony  and  there  his  ludicrous  stunts  cause  much 
laughter  and  a  great  deal  of  trouble  for  Colonel 
Crab  and  his  officers.  He  is  entrusted  with  im- 
portant papers  to  give  to  Captain  Crump  and 
shows  Hum  to  the  cook,  who  is  a  spy.  He  is 
seen  by  the  colonel  and  put  in  a  cell  as  a  spy. 
The  divorce  lawyer,  who  is  a  friend  of  the  col- 
li- hint  and  succeeds  in  getting  Jack 
""«.  ;'"'l  our  hero,  preferring  matrimony  to  pay- 
tells  the  lawyer  he  is  going  back  to 


Theodore's  Terrible  Thirst— Falstaff— March 
H. — In  order  to  inherit  a  fortune,  Clarence  has 
to  find  a  way  to  make  his  father,  Theodore,  stop 
drinking  for  a  week  as  a  proof  that  both  he  and 
his  father  are  abstainers.  This  he  does  by  kid- 
napping  his    father    and    depositing   him    upo 


without   alcohol.' 


r   little 
The  Mystery  of  Orcival- 


solution   by   Lccoq,  the 


-Mm1 

:elel,r.,t..|  French  detective,  form  one  of  the  most 
noted  mystery  stories.  The  motive  of  the  murder 
hatred  of  Ins  wife  who  has  become 
liter  having  aided  him  in  disposing  of 
her  former  buaban 
real    detective    work.      The    climax    is    startling — a 

■lined    >nrl    kills   her   lover   all 

,n   opportunity    to  suicide.     In 

plot   and   action    tin 
bi  thrilling  a^  it  i     a 


island   "alone    

When  the  legacy  is  paid  over 
Clarence  buys  the  island  and  there 'with  his  father 
and  newly  acquired  wife,  he  resides  in  content. 
The  Whispered  Word— (Two  Reels)—  Than- 
iroysER— March  15.— Featuring  Grace  de  Carlton 
and  Wayne  Arey.  The  daughter  of  a  rich  man 
marries  a  man  with  whom  she  has  to  live  in 
poverty.  This  person  is  a  drunkard  who  is 
almost  intolerable  until  the  magic  "whispered 
word"  of  his  wife  proves  efficacious  enough  to 
break  his  bondage  to  drink.  However,  soon  after 
the  birth  of  their  child  the  wife  goes  the  way 
of  many  others  because  she  has  been  allowed 
too  much  freedom.  Finally  the  divorce  court  . 
comes  to  the  aid  of  the  husband.  The  latter 
becomes  embittered  towards  the  world  and  brings 
his  daughter  up  in  such  strict  seclusion  that 
temptation   becomes  the  greater  for  her,   and  she 


Jerry's  Big  Game— Cub— March  10.— Featur- 
ing George  Ovey.  To  avoid  capture  by  the  police 
Jerry  takes  the  place  of  an  organ  grinder's  mon- 
key. He,  however,  forgets  his  impersonation 
when  near  women,  with  the  result  that  he  has 
to  jump  from  a  four-story  window  to  escape  an 
angry  husband.  Seeing  the  Rajah  and  the  Prince 
abducting  a  girl,  Jerry  and  the  grinder  hang 
onto  the  back  of  their  auto.  Jerry  is  having  the 
time  of  his  life  in  the  Rajah's  harem  when  the 
police  arrive.  Then  he  saves  himself  by  be- 
■■■'    the    Prince,    and    is    com- 


pi  in 


I    for 


work. 


Universal  Program 


"Gr/ 


-  l-\ 


-Fo 


follow 


i   the  s 


Mai 


before  her — until  the  whispered  word  

Rupert's  Rube  Relation — Falstaff— March  16 
Ruperts  friends  have  heard  so  much  about  his 
'  rube  uncle  that  they  decide  life  will  be  a 
blank  until  they  see  that  individual.  Unknown 
to  Rupert,  they  get  the  old  man  to  come  to  the 
city  and  take  him  to  a  cafe.  Instead  of  being 
shocked,  however.  Uncle  duplicates  the  perform- 
ance. By  the  time  the  night  has  ended.  Uncle 
has  shown  hltnsell  to  be  BUch  an  efficient  bouncer 
installed    m    that    position    at    a    salary 


„r  Richard  Stanton, 

_..J  Glen  White.  Robert  Harding. 
:  help  of  Dorothy  Maxwell,  who,  for  her 
m's  sake,  has  given  Harding  her  father's 
ntauung  the  names  of  the  remaining  Trust 
"■"'""'S  and  also  with  the  aid  of  a  dictaphone. 
manages  to  eliminate  another  member  of  the 
''Graft  Trust."  a  Mark  Gramble,  head  of  the  Labor 
trust,  the  man  who  creates  strikes  and  then 
lurnishes  strike  breakers  to  end  them."  Stone 
iiic-  to  av.nce  himself  by  killing  Dorothv,  but 
she  is  saved  in  a  miraculous  manner. 

Born  of  the  People— (Two  Reels)— Gold  Seal 
March  14.— Featuring  Jack  Holt  and  Grace 
Cunard.  Mr.  Jeffries,  a  wealthy  man,  marries  his 
stenographer,    but    while   they   a're  on   their  honey- 


s  life,  his  wife  poses  in  the  nude 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


to  get  money.  Later,  when  Jeffries  sees  the  fin: 
ished  picture  in  an  art  exhibition,  he  denounces 
his  wife.  Aflame  at  his  thoughtlessness,  she  tells 
him  that  all  is  over  between  them.  Finally,  how- 
ever, the  husband  realizes  the  noble  motives  of  his 
wife  s  act  and  begs  her  forgiveness. 

Her  Invisible  Husband— Imp— March  14  — 
With  Matt  Moore  and  Jane  Gail.  Harry,  his 
wife,  and  mother-in-law  visit  Delilah,  the  magic 
marvel,  who  can  render  herself  invisible  at  will. 
After  coming  home  Harry  imbibes  some  fire-water 
and  drops  off  to  sleep.  In  his  dream  he  goes  to 
Delilah  and  requests  her  for  a  keepsake.  The 
malicious  sorceress  presents  him  with  a  ring 
that  renders  him  invisible  without  his  knowing 
it.  Many  strange  things  come  to  pass;  he  sees 
his  wife  mourn  his  death,  forget  all  about  him, 
and  then  marry  another.  When  Harry  tries  to 
shoot  himself,   the  crash   awakens  him. 

The  Bold,  Bad  Burglar— (Rex)— March  14.— 
A  comedy  drama  produced  by  H.  C.  Matthews 
in  which  Baby  Early  plays  the  leading  part. 
Early's  aunt  gives  her  a  savings  bank.  Every 
member  of  the  family  contributes  some  change. 
The  next  morning  father  discovers  that  he  is 
without  carfare,  so  he  removes  a  few  coins,  re- 
placing them  with  poker  chips.  The  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  call  upon  the  bank's  resources 
for  their  small  needs.  One  night  a  burglar  enters 
the  house  and  his  trifling  with  the  bank  arouses 
the  household.  He  is  captured  before  anything 
is  taken.  Early  again  hears  noises.  This  time  it 
is  auntie  trying  to  remove  some  of  the  trinkets 
she  substituted  for  borrowed  change.  When  the 
police  arrive  they  learn  that  baby  has  been  hav- 
ing a  bad  dream.  They  are  told  this  by  father, 
auntie  and  mother,  each  of  whom  has  learned  the 
other's  crime. 

Lonesomeness — Laemmle — March  15. — Featur- 
ing Myrtle  Gonzalez  and  Fred  Church.  The 
quarrels  of  John  Wells  and  his  wife  result  in  the 
husband's  leaving  home.  In  vain  the  wife  and 
child  await  his  return.  Meanwhile  Wells  be- 
comes acquainted  with  Kitty,  the  girl  at  the  cigar 
stand,  and,  both  being  lonely,  they  make  good 
companions.  Although  Kitty  cares  much  for  the 
man,  she  does  her  duty  soon  after  he  proposes  to 
her  and   sees  that  Wells  and  his   wife  are  happily 

Orders  Is  Orders— (Two  Reels)— Victor- 
March  IS. — Featuring  Ernie  Shields.  On  the  day 
before  the  big  college  football  game  the  quarter- 
back is  jailed  for  being  too  noisy.  Joe,  the  cap- 
tain, spurred  on  by  Grace,  his  sweetheart,  hits 
upon  a  clever  scheme  whereby  he  gets  the  police 
force  into  such  a  queer  position  that  they  are 
compelled  to  release  the  quarterback  to  preserve 
their  honor.  The  game  is  saved  and  Grace  lavishes 
her  affection  upon  her  hero. 

Safety  First — (Split  Reel) — Powers — March 
16. — These  pictures  were  taken  by  courtesy  of 
the  Brooklyn  Rapid  Transit  System  and  the 
Brooklyn  Institute  for  Safety.  They  give  graphic 
illustrations  of  the  danger  incurred  by  jumping  on 
the  back  of  cars,  playing  in  the  street,  etc.,  and 
also  show  the  consequences  of  such  carelessness. 
The  different  results  of  careless  and  careful  driv- 
ing of  automobiles  closes  the  film.      On  the  same 

Sammy  Johnsin — Strong  Man. — A  Cartoon 
Comedy  by  Pat  Sullivan.  Sammy  sees  an  adver- 
tisement of  "Bullo,"  a  preparation  which  makes 
men  as  strong  as  bulls.  This  bases  the  subse- 
quent dream  which  Sammy  has,  giving  him  power 
to  pull  up  trees,  subdue  wild  beasts,  etc.  But 
as  Sammy  is  about  to  enjoy  the  sweet  fruits  of 
his  daring,  he  awakens. 

Patterson  of  the  News — (Two  Reels) — Imp — 
March  17. — Featuring  King  Baggot.  Jack  Pat- 
terson, a  reporter,  is  present  at  a  raid  which  is 
made  upon  a  gambling  house  in  the  Tenderloin, 
and  here  saves  Phyllis  Brennon,  daughter  of  a 
prominent  banker  and  at  the  time  a  member  of 
a  slumming  party,  from  exposure  by  helping  her 
safely  away  in  a  taxi.  The  girl  will  not  disclose 
her  name   for  the   sake   of  her   family,   but  agrees 


to    meet    the    reporter    again. 

When    finally    Jack 

asks  the   girl  to  marry  him,   s 

e  refuses,  and  will 

Then     the    reporter 

understands   that   she  has   only 

been   playing  with 

him.     Through  coincidence,   so 

ne  time  later,  Jack 

n,     who    has    been 

crooked   in   business.      Finding 

that   Phyllis   is   his 

daughter,    he    gives    the    man 
good   and  does  not   print   what 

a    chance    to    make 

would   be  the  big- 
s   recognizes  Jack's 

gest   story   of  the  year.     Phyll 

thereafter. 

Across   the    Hall — (Nestor)- 

-March    17.— With 

Billie    Rhodes    and    Neil    Burr 

s.      Mr.    and    Mrs. 

Green,   who  are  moving  into   a 
the  hall  from  the  Smiths,  find 

in  the  latter  all  the 

trouble     they     cannot     supply 

themselves.        Mr. 

things 
of    Gre, 


th   becomes   interested   „_   . 

tart.     A  midnight  lodge  party  on  the  part 
n   and   the   arrival   of    "Second-Story   Ike" 
tbles  well  under  way.      When  the  cops  ar- 
rive, Mrs.  Green  vindicates  her  husband  but  makes 
him  work  the  rest  of  the  night  moving  furniture. 
The  Cry  of  Erin— (Rex)— March  17.— This  St. 
Patrick's  day   offering   was   produced   from  an   old 
ballad  by  R.  P.  S.  Lefann,  by  Francis  Ford.     The 
story    tells    of    a    young    Irishman's    romance    and 
dangers    during    the    early    days    of    English    rule. 
The    picture    contains    some    thrilling    escapes    by 
Shemus   O'Brien  from  his  country's   oppressors. 

The  Fatal  Introduction— (Three  Reels)— Big 
U— March  16.— Produced  by  Murdock  McQuar- 
rie,  who  enacts  the  role  of  the  prospector  who  is 
robbed  of  his  sweetheart  and  his  mining  claim 
by  the  man  he  aided  when  in  need.  Claverling 
later   has   the   opportunity    to    realize    the   revenge 

his  plea  for  forgiveness.  The  ending  is  a  happy 
one  for  Claverling  and   Marie. 

The  Iron  Rivals  —  (Two  Reels)  —  Bison  — 
March  18. — Jack,  the  profligate  son  of  Bankson 
Bradford,  a  multi-millionaire  railroad  builder,  is 
disowned  by  his  father.  On  the  advice  of  Brad- 
ford's construction  superintendent,  however,  Jack 
takes  an  assumed  name  and  starts  work  as  a  rail- 
road builder.  In  a  fight  between  the  Bradford 
forces  and  a  rival  law-breaking  company,  Jack 
redeems  himself  by  his  heroism,  and  is  received 
again  by  his  overjoyed  father.  The  girl  whom  he 
saves  becomes  his  wife. 

Muchly  Married— Joker— March  18.— Brown, 
who  is  in  the  midst  of  a  night  of  hilarity,  receives 
word  that  his  Uncle  Richard  is  going  to  surprise 
him  with  a  little  visit  to  see  how  he  is  conducting 
himself.  In  the  confusion  the  wives  of  Smith  and 
Jones,  Brown's  friends  each  admit  themselves  to 
be  Brown's  wife.  Uncle  decides  to  have  nothing 
to  do  with  a  bigamist  and  leaves  in  wrath.  At 
the  station,  however,  he  meets  the  real  Mrs. 
Brown  who  is  returning  from  her  mother's.  On 
arriving  home  the  accusation  of  trigamist  against 
Brown  is  nullified  by  the  testimony  of  Jones  and 
Smith. 

Live  Wires  and  Love  Sparks — (Three  Reels) 
—L-Ko— March  19.— Billie,  who  is  blessed  with 
a  sizable  family,  many  bills  and  a  small  income, 
has  many  adventures  in  avoiding  his  creditors. 
He  is  attracted  to  a  pretty  neighbor  who  has  a 
jealous  husband,  but  his  efforts  to  see  her  are 
blocked  by  a  mysterious  man,  who  finally  corners 
Billie  and  informs  him  that  he  wishes  to  hand  him 
a  legacy.  Billie  at  last  arranges  to  meet  the  fair 
one  at  the  telephone  company's  masquerade.  Wifie 
suspisious    and    comes    to    the    ball,    fol- 


Universal  Animated  Weekly  No.  10— Univer- 
sal— March  8. — Many  hurt  when  engine,  after 
seven-mile  run  without  crew,  crashes  into  freight, 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.;  oxygen  breathing  helmet  for 
mine  rescues  is  feature  of  government  exhibit, 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  Masons  of  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  parade  in  full  regalia,  New  Orleans,  La.; 
16  tons  of  concrete  used  to  make  largest  horse- 
shoe pier  in  the  world,  1,520  feet  long,  Los  An- 
geles, Calif. ;  women  work  in  munitions  factory, 
replacing  men  needed  at  the  front,  England ; 
Italian  steamer  Verdi  is  first  armed  merchantman 
to  leave  United  States  after  new  threat  in,  sub- 
marine warfare,  New  York  City,  N.  Y. ;  soldiers 
on  way  to  East  Indies  visit  theater;.  New  York, 
N.  Y.;  cartoons  by  Hy.  Mayer. 


Blue  Bird 

The  Strength  of  the  Weak— 
Bluebird— March  12.— Mary  Fi 
in  this  picture  adapted  by  William  Addison  Lath- 
rop  from  the  play  of  the  same  name.  Lucius 
Henderson  directed  the  production  and  the  cast 
includes  such  players  as  Edward  Davis,  Harry 
Hilliard   and   Curtis  Benton. 


owed   1 


Billie 


When    .. 
:    for    his 


the 


Fox 


Gold  and  the  Woman— (Five  Reels)— William 
Fox — March  13. — Theda  Bara  is  featured  in  this 
picture  of  a  siren's  conquest  and  is  ably  supported 


Metro 

Lovely  Mary — (Five  Reels) — Columbia  — 
March  13. — Mary  Miles  Minter  is  featured  in 
this  story  of  the  Southland.  The  supporting  cast 
includes  Thomas  J.  Carrigan,  Frank  De  Vernon, 
Russell  Simpson,  Schuyler  Ladd,  Ferd  Tidmarsh, 
Myra  Brooks  and  Harry  Blakemore.  The  picture 
was  produced  under  the  direction  of  Edgar  Jones 
and  his  assistant,  P.   Thad.  Volkman. 


Mutual  Special 

The  Flight  of  the  Duchess— (Five  Reels)— 
Thanhouser — March  11. — A  fantastic  comedy 
produced  by  Thanhouser.  The  story  is  picturized 
by  Virginia  T.  Hudson  from  Browning's  poem. 
The  direction  is  by  Eugene  Nowland.  Gladys 
Hulette  is  featured  and  admirably  supported  bv 
Burnett    Parker. 


Ben  Blair — (Five  Reels) — Pallas— March  9. — 
A  Western  love  story  which  tells  of  a  cowboy's 
determined  efforts  to  marry  the  girl  who  has 
become  infatuated  with  society  life  in  the  city. 
Dustin  Farnum  is  featured. 

To  Have  and  To  Hold — (Five  Reels) — Lasky 
—March  5.— To  escape  an  unbearable  marriage 
with  the  dissipated  Lord  Carnal,  Lady  Jocelyn 
Leigh,  the  ward  of  James  I,  flees  to  the  James- 
town    colony.       Lord     Carnal     finally     learns     her 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


Left    to    right,    "The    Cry    of    E, 


prey  already  married  to  Captain 
After  a  long  and  hard  tussle  bet 
men,  Lord  Carnal  has  to  acknov 
defeated  at  all  points.  The  girl,  \ 
by  her  husband  through  thick  and 
the    worth    of    the    man"  whom    she    ( 


King 

James 
ird. 

at    1 

aPP 

oves 

of    th 

narriage   of 

The 

Code 

of 

M 

Ors 

y— (I 

Reels)— 

MoROs 

lured 

cu— M 

in    tlii 

ARs7o 

1 

'oFrr 

!!!i-'. 

f 

ier    is    tea- 
is   the   wife 

of    a 

l  all  In 

er   b 

3   face   with 

sudde 

dise 

elude 

Henry 

l)e\ 

e      H 

rl„-r 

Stai 

In 

g,    Howard 

Davie 

the  pi 

dure 

Hele 

Kdd> 

F 

ank    1 

Jo 

vd    directed 

For 

the 

De 

er 

se— 

Ftvf 

Re 

T,S 

— Las  icy— 

Marc 

I    13.— 

Kan 

Wa 

rl     is 

erl 

as    Fidele. 

a   you 

ng   Fr 

mil 

- 

-1,    \\ 

,m  es 

to 

New    York 

Red  Feather 

The  Pool  of  Flame—  (Five  Reels)  —  Ri 
Feather— March  13.— J.  Warren  Kerrigan 
starred  in  this  production,  which  centers  about 
valuable  diamond  known  as  -'The  I'ool  of  Flame 
which  had  some  time  before  been  stolen  from  tl 
head  of  a  Buddhist  idol  in  Ragoon,  India.  Lo 
Wilson,  Harry  Carter.  Maude"  Ceorge,  Bertra: 
Grassby,     Mr.     Holland     and     Frank     MacQuarr 


mple't 


the 


Otis 


:cted    t 


lefense,"  and  by  her  testimony  she  succeeds  in 
reeing  her  benefactor.  Jack  Dean,  Camille  Astor 
ind  Horace   B.   Carpenter   support   Miss  Ward. 


Triangle  Program 

Released  Week  of  March  5. 
Wife  and  Auto  Trouble — (Two  Reels)—  Tri- 
nc.le-Keystone.— William  Collier,  Blanche  Pay 
an,  Joseph  Belmont,  Alice  Davenport  and  Mae 
lusch  featured.  Mae  Busch,  Collier's  stenog- 
ipher,  expresses  a  longing  for  an  automobile  and 
lollier  agrees  to  buy  her  one.  As  he  is  accepting 
er  loving  thanks,  his  wile's  brother  appears  and 
fts    the    telephone    receiver    from    the   hook, 


i  phone 


His 


lother 


tches 


Pathe 


Colur 


River 


■—  (Spli 
uesnue 


Reel)— 

Vmehing 


There  ar 
larly  inte 
Falls,   wli 


e  fisheries  along  this  famous 
ier  scenes  of  the  river,  a  particu- 
lar one  being  that  of  the  Multonmal: 
lave  a  drop  three  times  as  high  as 
t   Niagara.      On  the  same  reel  with: 


-Vie 


:   this    i 


Gleeful  Guardians— Path  e-Starlight — M/ 
8. — Heinie  and  Louie  in  this  comedy  are 
guardians   of  a  charming    young   widow    whose 

lin-1 d    left    a    goodly    fortune.      The    fair  one   ha 

i  lover  and   together  they   succeed   in   tricking  th 


the 


-     husband     and     Mae    _... 
complications  follow,   but  all  ends  happily. 

Released   Week   of   March    12. 

The  Flying  Torpedo— (Two  Reels)— Keystone. 
—John  Emerson  is  cast  in  the  role  of  Winthrop 
Overling,  a  novelist.  The  story  deals  with  an 
imaginary  war  of  the  year  1920.  The  supporting 
cast  includes  Spottiswood  Atiken,  William  H. 
Lawrence,  Viola  Barry  and  Bessie  Love. 

Bullets  and  Brown  Eyes — (Five  Reels) — Tri- 
angle-Kay-Bee.—Bessie  Barriscale  and  William 
Desmond  are  featured  in  this  romantic  story 
dealing  with  princes  and  countesses  and  grand 
dukes,  with  daring  deeds  and  treachery  and  love. 
The  supporting  cast  includes  Wyndham  Standing, 
f.  J.  Dowling,  J.  Barney  Sherry  and  Rov  Laid- 
low.  Thomas  Ince  directed  the  production.  A 
Full   review  appears  on    page   537  of  the  March  4th 


Unto  Those  Who  Sin — (Five  Reels) — Selig— 
!arch  6. — Fritzi  Brunette  is  featured  in  this  prob- 
:m  play  by  James  Oliver  Curwood.  Lillian  Hay- 
ard,  George  l.arkm,  William  Sheerer,  George 
lermandez  and  dune  Sothern  also  have  promi- 
ent  carts  in  this  production  directed  by  William 
A  full   review   appears  on   page   591 


Rober 

of  the   March    11th   i 

The    Hero    of    Submarine    D-2— (Five    Reels)— 

Vitagraph— Mak,  ii  13.— Charles  Richman  and 
Eleanor  Woodruff  an  featured  in  tins  naval  drama 
by  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady.  The  supporting  cast 
includes  James  Morrison.  Anders  Randolf,  Charles 
Wellesley,  Thomas  Mills,  L.  Rogers  Lytton  and 
Zena   Keefe.      Paul   Scardon  produced   the   picture. 


Live  News  Notes 
For  Theater  Men 


of    I 


Pathe    News    No. 


on     elevator 

Fort    Will,.  I!  ,^7.  "famous'  actress! 

turns    new  sbi  Belgian    w  ar    sufferers.    Si. 

Louis,    Mn.;    superdreadnaughl     I'ennsvlvania    un- 

■      I.,  i i  .. ,  i       i,|,i,  , i 

on's  Navy,   Rockland,   Me.;   two  killed 

when  runaway  engini  !         I     ,,    into  Lehigh 

Valley    irciei..     , ,    • ,    ,1]  j         fj      § 

Army      Transport       K i  I  "  „ , 1 1  i       Ihe 

Twelfth  Cavalry  on  l„,aid  f,,i  dun  in  Hi,  Panama 
Canal    Zone,    Calvestnn,    Texas. 

Pathe   News   No.    19      Mari  II  4       I 

guard  of  honor  the  remains  of  old  (In,.  ,  ,  i,.,.i 
an  ivi -     foi     ml, -i  mi  nl     in     Hie     Pacific     i  i, 

iiran(    for   the 

heavy  weight  boxing  championship,  funis  iei 
yachting  a  good  lung  developei  in  haining  for  In- 
loming   bi.ul    will,    less   Willaul.    Sa.aloea    Siuinys 

I  ian    Ii,,,-,    Gil pe    Verdi    still    keeps 

defense   ,,[    the   new 
I.;    driven 

kind    bj    the    formidable    foe,    Monte- 
negrin   peasants   carry    their   few   wordl 

killed     and      seme?      ,,l      1.  ,•!,,.., 

totally    wri,  i  ipi.uility    of    dvn.i- 

U.llr,       ,r,  -,|        ,„        ,   ,.,,     p.,    ,,,, 

I 

0,     III. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Hea 

rst-Vitagraph      News      Pictorial      No.      17 — 

ary    25.— Big    Four    passenger    train    is    de- 

but   telegraph     pole     prevents     cars     from 

on     their     side.     Cincinnati.     Ohio;     naval 

tices     at      Verlic      Retina      Training     Station 

attahon  and   hospital   cup   drills,   San   Fran- 

Calif.;      Frank      Chance,      former      Peerless 

of    the    Cubs    and    later    Manager    of    the 

ork    Americans,    re-enters   basehall   as   boss 

l.os    Angeles    Pacific    Coast    League    team, 

la,   Calif. ,   latest  fashions;    Canadian   troops 

In   leave    for   the    front   take  part   in   farewell 

.    Winnipeg,    Man.;    U.    S.    S.    Pennsylvania. 

-mng  dreadnaught,   sets  new  mark   in   speed 

.ver    measured    course,    Rockland,    Me.;    fire 

suburb    of     l.awrencev.lle    causes    $435,000 

nd     threatens     entire     neighborhood,     Pitts- 

ugh 

Pa.;   cartoon   by   George   Herriman. 

Ilea 

rst-Vitagraph      News      Pictorial      No.      18 — 

;        1  1, on,, oids    lake    part    in    a   "one   year 

..'ffl'i-alion     al     Ihe     Panama     Pacific    Expo- 

in  which   a    bah,    parade   is  held   and  one   of 

nldnigs     is     destroyed     by     dynamite,     San 

sen    Calif.;  hundreds   ol   pigs  are  raised  on 

olony   which   sup- 
itablc    ■-   ■ 


lo  the  city  of  New  York,  Staten 
slan.l,  \  V;  motor  boa',  coldest  in  annual  meet 
v<-i-  Ihe  lliseavne  Ray  course,  Miami,  Fla.  ;  latest 
iiaienr  drivers  set  new  marks  on  big 
inlor  speedway,  (  hicago.  111.;  school  children  of 
lianu.  Ha  welcome  James  Whilcomb  Riley; 
irlonn  by  George  Herriman. 
The  Hunted  Woman  —  (Five  Reels)  —  Vita- 
rm-m  March  (,.— ■  A  "hlue  ribbon"  feature  based 
pun   the   novel   hv    J.-uncs    Oliver   Curwood.      It  is 


So  that  the  producers  of  motion  pic- 
tures in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  will  not  be 
annoyed  by  pedestrians  passing  before 
the  camera  while  they  are  taking  a  street 
scene,  Mayor  Bowden  has  requested 
Chief  of  Police  Frederick  Roach  to  fur- 
nish a  policeman  or  plain  clothes  man 
to  assist  the  film  producers  in  order  to 
facilitate  their  work. 

Herman  Innicken,  chief  usher  at  the 
Knickerbocker  theater,  New  York,  has 
reached  Chicago  to  assume  the  same  po- 
sition at  the  Colonial  theater  in  the 
western  metropolis  until  such  time  as 
the  Triangle  Film  corporation  has  com- 
pletely organized  its  staff  at  the  new 
theater.  He  then  expects  to  return  to 
New  York  and  resume  his  post  at  the 
Knickerbocker. 

Ernest  Boehm,  formerly  connected 
with  the  Universal  Film  Company,  and 
for  many  years  manager  and  interpreter 
with  "Tweedledum,"  both  in  this  coun- 
try and  abroad,  is  now  acting  in  the  same 
capacity  with  the  Vim  company,  and  as 
a  result  of  his  few  weeks'  sojourn  in 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  has  become  an  ardent 
booster  of  the  southern  metropolis.  He 
says  he  will  have  an  interesting  an- 
nouncement to  make  at  an  early  date. 

The  management  of  the  Strand  theater, 
New  York  City,  has  donated  the  play- 
house, with  its  entire  working  staff  and 
orchestra,  for  the  benefit  to  be  given  for 
the  Actors'  Fund,  Monday  afternoon, 
March  6. 

Gertrude  McCoy,  a  motion  picture 
actress,  of  340  East  198th  street,  New 
>ork  City,  was  complainant  recently  in 


March  18,  1916. 

a  New  York  police  court  against  John 
Mastracchio,  whom  she  charged  with 
the  theft  of  an  automobile.  The  auto- 
mobile, badly  wrecked,  was  found  at  the 
entrance  to  Miss  McCoy's  garage.  The 
man  was  held  in  bail  for  action  of  the 
grand  jury. 

Justice  Irving  R.  Devendorf,  sitting  in 
the  supreme  court  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
ruled  that  the  operation  of  a  motion  pic- 
ture theater  on  Sunday  was  a  violation 
of  the  law  if  an  admission  fee  was 
charged.  This  decision,  according  to 
some,  affects  every  motion  picture  thea- 
ter, in  the  state  of  New  York.  It  was 
made  on  the  demurrer  of  Joseph  P.  Mor- 
gan, of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  to  an  indictment 
charging  him  with  breaking  the  Sabbath. 
He  asked  to  have  the  indictment  dis- 
missed on  the  ground  that  showing  of 
motion  pictures  on  Sunday  does  not  con- 
stitute Sabbath  breaking. 

The  David  Horsley  offices  in  Los  An- 
geles report  that  another  of  their  pro- 
ductions has  broken  a  house  record.  The 
film  is  "Vengeance  Is  Mine"  and  the 
star,  Crane  Wilbur. 


SOME  NEW  THEATERS 

Arkansas. 

Victor  Beales  will  start  a  moving  pic- 
ture show  in  Judsonia,  having  recently 
purchased  a  new  machine. 

On  February  26  a  new  motion  picture 
theater  was  opened  in  Pine  Bluff.  The 
theater  seats  1,100  people  and  is  located 
on  Second  avenue.  The  name  of  the 
house  has  not  been  announced,  as  a 
prize  of  one  hundred  dollars  is  to  be 
given    to    the   person    selecting    the    best 

California. 

The  city  commissioners  on  February 
16  voted  to  lease  for  a  term  of  years 
twenty-one  acres,  a  part  of  De  Laveaga 
park,  Santa  Cruz,  to  Edward  Ferguson, 
of  Los  Angeles,  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  motion  picture  studio  and  also 
a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  films. 

March  1,  C.  C.  Forsyth,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, became  the  owner  of  the  Novelty 
theater  in  King  City. 

A  grand  ball  in  which  brilliant  and 
unusual  electrical  effects  and  emblems 
will  furnish  decorative  features,  will  be 
given  by  the  Motion  Picture  Operators' 
Union  of  Fresno.  Local  No.  599,  in  the 
municipal  auditorium  the  night  of  April  1. 

Assistant  chief  engineers  Russell  and 
Conlon,  in  a  report  filed  with  Chief  Mur- 
phy of  the  Fire  Department  in  San  Fran- 
cisco recommend  the  passage  of  an  ordi- 
nance to  permit  moving  picture  film 
exchanges  to  carry  on  business  in  class 
A  buildings  only  and  to  confine  them  to 
a  restricted  district. 

The  old  Mozart  theater  on  Grand,  be- 
tween Seventh  and  Eighth  streets,  Los 
Angeles,  has  been  remodeled  after  the 
Strand  theater  in  New  York.  The  thea- 
ter has  been  opened  and  is  showing  Blue 
Bird  productions. 

Colorado. 

At  a  meeting  recently  held  in  the 
Savoy  hotel,  Denver,  the  officers  of  the 
newly  incorporated  Rocky  Mountain 
Film  club  were  elected.  H.  P.  Nolan 
was    selected    head    of   the    organization. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Other  officers  are  Walter  Rand,  vice 
president;  H.  H.  Quinn,  treasurer,  and 
Harry  E.  Huffman,  secretary.  The  di- 
rectors are  Walter  S.  Rand,  Frank  Tarn- 
men,  Colorado  Springs;  Albert  Hogan, 
Frank  Harris,  E.  L.  Walker,  W.  H. 
Cree,  H.  J.  Quine,  W.  E.  Scott  and  Ed- 
ward Anderson.  Quarters  have  been 
established  in  the  Savoy  hotel,  and  Wil- 
liam E.  Foley,  Denver  attorney,  has  been 
selected  as  counsel  for  the  organization. 

Articles  of  incorporation  have  been 
filed  with  county  clerk  E.  C.  Highberger 
for  The  Co-operative  Film  corporation,  a 
photoplay  company  with  headquarters  in 
Pueblo.  The  purpose  of  the  company  is 
to  buy,  sell  and  deal  in  all  kinds  of  photo- 
graphic films,  according  to  the  affidavit 
which  names  Phil  B.  Patrick,  Floyd  A. 
Ruthroff  and  M.  A.  King  as  directors. 
Capital  stock  of  $100,000  is  divided  into 
5,000  shares  of  $20  each. 
Connecticut. 

Eight  Bells  Film  Company,  Waterbury, 

$15,000.       Certificate     of    Organization — 

John   F.   Byrne,  president   and   treasurer 

John  Crowley,  secretary. 

Delaware. 

On  February  15,  the  Queen  theater, 
Fifth  and  Market  streets,  Wilmington, 
was  opened  to  the  public.  The  new 
theater  was  formerly  the  Clayton  House 
and  after  extensive  improvements  it  has 
been  made  a  palace.  The  color  scheme 
of  the  entire  theater  is  in  blueish  gray, 
and  old  ivory  of  the  Louis  XV  period, 
while  in  the  ceiling  above  the  auditorium 
is  a  large  dome,  at  least  thirty  feet  in 
diameter.  To  replace  the  ordinary  stock 
chandelier  the  architect  has  placed  within 
this  dome  concealed  electrics  by  which 
the  entire  lighting  of  the  theater  is  pro- 
vided. These  electrics  are  around  the 
outer  circle,  and  so  reflect  the  light  on 
the  center  of  the  dome  that  it  softly 
sheds  to  the  balcony,  and  auditorium 
below.  The  center  dome  is  in  gold,  and 
the  outer  circle  has  a  Greek  panel  orna- 
ment. The  panels  of  the  side  walls  are 
finished  in  old  rose,  in  silk  effect.  The 
graceful  sweep  of  the  balcony  rail,  the 
ornate  arrangement  of  the  boxes,  and  the 
new  $10,000  Moehler  organ  which  has 
been  installed  are  other  striking  features. 
As  to  the  fire  escapes  and  exits  the  thea- 
ter is  perhaps  as  well  supplied  as  any  in 
this  part  of  the  country.  The  auditorium 
and  balcony  combined  have  a  seating 
capacity  of  2,000,  and  you  enter  both  the 
orchestra  and  balcony  by  inclines.  The 
leading  interests  in  the  company  respon- 
sible for  Wilmington's  fine  addition  are: 
Charles  and  William  Topkis,  of  the  firm 
of  R.  Topkis  Sons,  and  James  N.  Ginns. 
Authorizations — Paragon  Theaters  cor- 
poration, Wilmington,  motion-picture 
films,  photo  plays,  $1,000,000;  representa- 
tive, L.  B.  Jennings,  69  West  90th  street, 
New  York. 

The  Reflectograph  company,  to  manu- 
facture moving-picture  machines  and 
films;  capital,  $500,000.  Incorporators, 
Herbert  E.  Latter,  Norman  P.  Coffin, 
Wilmington,  Del.;  Clement  M.  Egner, 
Elkton,  Md. 

Long  Brothers'  restaurant,  moving  pic- 
ture theater  and  dwelling  in  Selbyville 
was  damaged  at  a  loss  of  $50,000  by  a 
recent  fire. 

Florida. 

The  Palm  Motion  Picture  company, 
120   West    Bay   street,   Jacksonville,    will 


erect  a  $5,000  fireproof  building  at  River- 
view. 

L.  D.  Joel  now  controls  the  Phoenix 
theater  in  Jacksonville  and  has  arranged 
to  have  it  completely  remodeled.  The 
work  will  be  executed  gradually,  so  as 
not  to  interfere  with  the  daily  program. 

Idaho. 

A.  B.  Hagar,  proprietor  of  the  Or- 
pheum  theater  in  Idaho  Falls,  has  pur- 
chased the  Rex  theater  from  Wilson  & 
Son  and  will  operate  both  houses. 

The  operator's  booth  in  the  Star  thea- 
ter in  Hailey  is  being  made  larger  and 
fireproof. 

Illinois. 

Walter  Fluegel  will  operate  a  picture 
show  in  the  Keller  building,  Fourth  and 
Court  streets,  Pekin. 

A  deal  by  which  all  Aurora  theaters 
with  the  exception  of  the  "B"  and  the 
Orpheum  enter  into  an  agreement  which 
involves  the  closing  of  several  theaters 
during  the  week  and  a  pooling  of  inter- 
ests, is  about  to  be  consummated.  The 
agreement  as  it  now  stands  provides  for 
the  closing  of  the  Palace  theater  as  a 
theater,  and  the  closing  of  the  Aurora 
and  Strand  theaters  during  the  week. 
The  Fox  theater  is  to  be  a  motion  picture 
house  during  the  week,  but  will  play 
vaudeville  Sundays.  The  Strand  and  the 
Aurora  theaters  will  be  opened  on  Satur- 
days and  Sundays,  and  the  Strand  during 
the  week  will  be  open  to  any  really  high 
class  spoken  drama  which  wishes  to  play 
in  Aurora.  The  parties  to  the  agreement 
are  Frank  Thielen,  Stephen  Lies,  W.  D. 
Burford,  Jules  Rubens  and  Harry  Pau- 
los.  The  plans  are  still  subject  to  change 
but  it  is  understood  that  the  arrange- 
ments have  been  practically  settled. 

Thomas  O'Dowd,  proprietor  of  the 
Colonial  theater  in  Hillsboro,  has  closed 
his  place  of  business  temporarily. 

Garland  Amusement  company,  Chi- 
cago; $5,000— To  operate  theaters  and 
places  of  amusement.  Abe  Cohen,  Mich- 
ael Cohen  and  K.  McManus. 

W.  B.  Sudduth,  manager  of  the  K 
theater  in  Clinton,  is  planning  to  erect  a 
modern  picture  and  vaudeville  theater. 

Clitus  Bohn,  who  recently  leased  the 
picture  show  in  Alexis  from  J.  C.  Porter, 
held  his   opening  on   February   18. 

George  O'Leary  and  Frank  Roloff,  who 
are  now  proprietors  of  the  Star  theater 
in  Bath,  will  move  it  into  the  town  hall 
and  conduct  the  shows  three  nights  a 
week. 

Pawnee  will  shortly  have  a  picture 
show  in  the  Farnam  building  operated 
by  Sam  Golyon. 

The  Dreamland  theater  in  Canton  has 
been  sold  by  A.  E.  Oswald  to  M.  Thiel- 
bar  of  Peoria. 

The  Star  theater  in  Freeport,  formerly 
the  Lyric,  has  been  reopened  by  Robert- 
son &  Lynch. 

The  series  of  motion  pictures  for  chil- 
dren which  were  given  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Woman's  club  every  Saturday 
morning  at  Bloomington  came  to  a  close 
February  26. 

Peter  C.  Bruhn  has  leased  to  the 
Cicero  Amusement  company  the  theater 
building  in  process  of  construction  at  the 
southwest      corner      of      Twenty-second 


668 

street  and  Fifty-sixth  avenue,  Chicago, 
for  a  term  of  five  years  from  July  1,  1916, 
at  an  aggregate  rental  of  $53,500  for  the 
term. 

Suburban  Theater  company,  Chicago; 
capital,  $4,500;  incorporators,  Harold  M. 
O'Brien,  Hans  A.  Spanuth,  Cyrus  L. 
Garnett. 

Dixie  Film  company,  Chicago;  $5,000— 
To  manufacture  and  deal  in  motion  pic- 
ture photoplays.  William  R.  Fairchild, 
Lee  Roy  Brigham  and  B.  Iralson. 

Frank  Weaver,  who  formerly  managed 
the  Shoaff  Opera  house  in  Paris,  has 
again  assumed  the  management,  having 
closed  negotiations  February  23. 

Arthur  McCormick,  who  recently  sold 
his  picture  show  business  in  Vermont  to 
Messrs.  Wilson  of  Astoria,  has  repur- 
chased the  theater  again. 

The  new  Majestic  theater  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non, which  was  recently  opened,  had  a 
fire  that  scorched  the  interior  and  did 
damage  to  the  front  of  the  pretty  photo 
house.  The  blaze  was  caused  by  a  film 
becoming  ignited. 

The  Marquette  theater  in  La  Salle  was 
opened  by  B.  A.  Lucas  March  2. 

The    Frazer    theater,   Warsaw,    seating 
500   people,    opened    February    22.      The 
theater  is  fireproof  and  well  ventilated. 
Indiana. 

The  Palmer  Amusement  company, 
owner  and  operator  of  the  Grand  Opera 
house  in  Washington,  is  now  owner  of 
the  Theato  theater.  Hereafter  nothing 
but  feature  pictures  will  be  shown  at  the 
Theato.  The  house  has  been  closed  for 
improvements  and  on  March  6  it  will 
again  open  its  doors. 

John  B.  Huber,  identified  with  the  mo- 
tion picture  business  in  Indianapolis  for 
several  years,  died  suddenly,  February 
22.  Mr.  Huber,  associated  with  John 
Victor,  established  the  first  exclusively 
motion  picture  theater  in  Indianapolis  on 
Indiana  avenue,  known  as  the  Two  Johns. 
Mr.  Huber  was  vice  president  of  the  In- 
dianapolis Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League  last  year  and  was  recently  elected 
treasurer  of  the  league. 
Iowa. 
Mrs.  O.  A.  Clark  of  Lake  Park  has 
sold  lur  moving  picture  outfit  to  J.  E. 
Boyer  of  Spirit  Lake,  who  has  taken  pos- 

The  Isis  theater  in  Sioux  City  has 
opened  under  new  management.  The 
policy  of  the  house  will  be  to  show  six 
reels  of  motion  pictures,  changing  the 
program  each   day. 

The  Gem  theater  in  Flatteville,  man- 
aged by  E.  C.  Klatt,  has  been  sold  to 
J^rk  De  Somers  of  Milwaukee. 

The  Casino  theater,  Primghar,  has  been 
-"Id  to  R.  F.  Beansley  of  Steamboat 
Rock,  possession  being  given  March  1. 

Manager  Brown  of  the  Rainbow  thea- 
ter in  Riceville  recently  purchased  two 
new  projecting  machines. 

Ed.  Caldwell,  president  of  the  Cald- 
well Amusement  company,  Des  Moines, 
recently  closed  a  deal  for  the  possession 
■  •I  tin-  Grand  theater  in  Cedar  Falls. 

The    second    annua)    I. all    of    the    Sioux 

:  .i  ion   Pictun    Operatoi 
tion  will  be  held  Tuesdaj   evi 
B<  nnett's  hall 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Kansas. 

Foundations  have  been  laid  for  Ringo's 
second  picture  theater. 

Topeka's  new  $12,000  motion  picture 
house  at  506-508  Kansas  avenue  is  well 
under  way.  The  theater  will  have  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  600  persons.  The  en- 
trance foyer  is  to  be  of  tile  and  marble, 
with  wall  designs  of  ivory  and  lavender. 
The  ventilating  system  will  be  arranged 
so  that  fresh  air  will  be  sucked  into  the 
building  by  a  vacuum  machine  and  drawn 
out  in  ducts  through  the  roof.  Fireproof 
rooms  for  the  machine  operators  will  be 
provided.  Drinking  fountains  for  the  pat- 
rons will  be  just  inside  the  lobby  of  the 
theater.  C.  A.  McGuigan  is  owner  of  the 
new  house.  Although  the  policy  of  the 
theater  has  not  been  definitely  announced, 
it  is  understood  feature  pictures  will  be 
shown.  The  picture  house  will  be  known 
as  the  Gem. 

Kentucky. 

Formed  for  the  purpose  of  booking  big 
feature  films  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  the  Big  Feature  Rights 
corporation,  Louisville,  of  which  Fred 
Levy  is  president  and  Lee  L.  Goldberg, 
manager  of  the  Mary  Anderson  theater, 
is  secretary  and  treasurer,  _  has  been 
launched.  This  corporation  will  make  its 
bookings  through  the  United  Booking 
Office  Feature  company. 

The  Midway  Realty  company  will 
shortly  begin  the  building  of  a  moving- 
picture  theater  building  on  one  of  its  lots 
on  Main  street,  Midway.  It  will  be  an 
opera  house  and  picture  show  combined. 

The  New  Albany  Amusement  company 
filed  in  the  office  of  Frank  Spelman, 
county  recorder,  a  certificate  of  the  in- 
crease of  its  capital  from  $15,000  to  $75,- 
000.  The  stock  is  divided  into  750  shares 
of  $50  each. 

Louisiana. 

The  new  Sherwood  theater  in  Hower 
was  opened  February  24. 

Maine. 

Van  Dee  Producing  company.  Port- 
land; general  film  exchange  business, 
newspaper  and  book  business;  capital, 
$50,000. 

Massachusetts. 

Connecticut  Valley  Screen  company, 
Springfield — Charles  S.  White,  Edwin  A. 
Davenport,  Alfred  H.  Morton;  $15,000. 

Michigan. 

The  lower  floor  of  the  Duclo  building 
at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  First  street, 
Monroe,  is  being  transformed  into  a  pic- 
ture theater  to  be  occupied  by  R.  Bis- 
sonette  of  Toledo. 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the 
acquisition  of  the  Dreamland  theater,  one 
of  the  oldest  motion  picture  houses  in 
Saginaw,  by  the  Mecca  Theater  com- 
pany, the  change  in  ownership  to  become 
effective  March  10.  The  purchase  of  the 
Dreamland  from  George  E.  Marr  gives 
the  Mecca  company  a  string  of  three 
photoplay  houses — the  Mecca,  the  Annex 
and  the  Dreamland.  The  members  of  the 
Mecca  Theater  company  arc:  1'"..  C.  For- 
rest, Charles  Q.  Carlisle  and  Harry  E. 
( >ppenheimer. 

Trovis  Theater  company,  Traverse 
City,   $5,000;   motion  picture   theater. 

Joseph  M.  Poisson  has  purchased  from 
H.  W.  Beecher  the  motion  picture  house 
on  Leonard  street,  V  \\\.  Grand  Rapids, 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 

for  $8,500,  the  deal  including  the  real  es- 
tate, and  later  may  include  the  motion 
picture  business. 

A  moving  picture  theater  is  to  be 
erected  at  East  Lansing.  The  company 
backing  the  enterprise  will  allow  the  col- 
lege the  use  of  the  theater  until  2  o'clock 
every  afternoon  in  exchange  for  electric 
current  from  the  college  power  station. 
Educational  films  will  be  shown  during 
that  time. 

Rumors  circulated  in  Calumet  to  the 
effect  that  the  Royal  theater  had  been 
sold  have  been  denied  by  Thomas  Wills. 

The  old  Star  theater  in  Adrian  has 
been  completely  overhauled,  and  it  was 
opened  to  the  public  February  24  as  the 
new  Garden.  The  front  is  of  pressed 
brick,  with  a  daintily  tinted  ceiling  ap- 
proach. The  theater  seats  very  comfort- 
ably 200  people.  New  lighting  fixtures, 
a  new  machine  of  an  improved  type,  and 
other  mechanical  novelties  are  included 
in  the  extensive  improvements.  Frank 
Payne,  Ernest  Kaiser,  Cass  Kaiser  and 
Elwyn  M.  Simons  are  interested. 
Minnesota. 

The  Forrest  theater  at  Forest  Lake  has 
been  purchased  by  F.  W.  Walker  of  Steel, 
North  Dakota. 

Wendell  will  have  a  picture  show  as 
soon  as  C.  E.  Stickney  completes  .  ar- 
rangements. 

The  Palace  theater  in  St.  Paul  has  been 
reopened  after  being  rebuilt  and  greatly 
enlarged. 


February  25  the  new  Cozy  theater 
ong  Prairie  was  opened. 


Paul  Strehlow  and  T.  J.  Strehlow  of 
Winthrop  have  bought  the  Scenic  and 
Royal  theaters,  in  Hastings,  the  former 
from  Harry  McKliget  and  the  latter  from 
F.   R.  MacMillan. 

The  new  Grand  theater  in  Crosby  has 
been  opened  by  Erbelding  &  Thorpe.  A 
free  matinee  was  given  the  children  and 
in  the  evening  the  adults  were  admitted 

free. 

Paul   Glossman   will   operate   a  picture 
show  in  the  public  hall  at  Verndale  two 
nights  a  week,  beginning  March  1. 
Mississippi. 

A.  B.  Spitchley  and  William  Wright 
will  erect  an  airdome  to  seat  500  people 
in  Hazelhurst.  High  grade  pictures  will 
be  shown  and  they  expect  to  be  ready 
for  opening  March  16. 

The  Alamo,  a  negro  theater  in  Hatties- 
burg,  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
Missouri. 

A  fine  new  theater  building  for  motion 
pictures  has  been  erected  at  Tarkio  for 
L.  R.  Taylor  and  E.  M.  Hackett.  The 
theater  is  to  open  March  1. 

The  Gem  theater  in  Milan  has  been 
sold  to  Marion  Miller. 

C.  F.  Gross  and  H.  L.  Scott  of  Boon- 
\ille  expect  to  open  a  picture  show  the 
early  part  of  March  in  Blackwater. 
Montana. 

The  Orpheum  theater  in  Lincoln  will 
be  converted  into  a  moving  picture  thea- 
ter. 

Nebraska. 

Mrs.  Ida  M.  Walden  is  now  proprie- 
tress of  the  Wonderland  picture  theater 
in   Hastings. 


March  18,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


New  York. 

Harris  Lumberg,  proprietor  of  the 
Lumberg  theater  in  Utica,  will  rebuild  a 
moving  picture  house  in  Niagara  Falls,  it 
is  announced.  It  will  be  one  of  the  most 
commodious  theaters  in  the  city,  seating 
1,000  people.  Work  will  start  immedi- 
ately. 

The  Thanhouser  Film  Corporation  has 
declared  a  dividend  of  12  per  cent,  pay- 
able in  four  quarterly  instalments  of  3 
per  cent  each.  The  first  of  these  will  be 
paid  April  1.  Books  will  close  March  20 
and  reopen  April  2. 

I.  Miller  is  owner  of  the  one-story 
brick  picture  theater  at  Georgia  and  Sut- 
ter avenues,  Brooklyn,  that  will  shortly 
be  erected.  It  will  be  63x97.6  feet  with 
gravel  roof,  costing  $15,000. 

Paul  Tobias,  proprietor  of  the  Em- 
pire theater  in  Owego,  has  completed 
arrangements  for  the  lease  of  the  Tioga 
theater  and  takes  possession  March  1. 

Astra  Film  Corpoartion,  theatrical  and 
moving  picture  hall  proprietors,  etc.,  sta- 
tionery business;  $50,000;  Harrv  E.  Mit- 
tenthal,  A.  Mittenthal,  Geo.  B.  Seitz, 
Manhattan. 

The  work  of  excavation  for  the  founda- 
tion of  Olean's  new  $100,000  theater, 
which  Bordanaro  Brothers  are  to  erect 
upon  the  site  of  the  old  Dr.  Morris  house 
on  North  Union  street,  has  been  started. 

The  Paragon  Theaters  Corporation  of 
Wilmington,  Del.,  having  a  capitalization 
of  $1,000,000,  has  been  granted  a  charter 
by  the  secretary  of  state  to  engage  in  a 
general  motion  picture  and  photoplay 
business  in  New  York  State.     Louis  B. 


Jennings  of  New  York  City  has  been 
designated  as  the  company's  representa- 
tive. 

Plans  are  being  prepared  by  Edward 
M.  Adelsohn,  architect,  for  a  two-story 
moving  picture  theater  on  the  west  side 
of  Sheffield  avenue,  north  of  Sutter  ave- 
nue, Brownsville,  to  cost  $20,000. 

Hyman  Amusement  Company,  Inc., 
Buffalo,  theatrical,  motion  pictures, 
vaudeville;  $5,000;  W.  J.  Volker,  L.  Kim- 
mel,  D.  H.  Hyman. 

The  Wardwin  Realty  Company  will 
improve  the  vacant  block  front  on  the 
south  side  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  street  from  Webster  to  Brook 
avenue,  New  York,  with  a  moving  picture 
theater  and  stores.  Plans  for  the  im- 
provement, prepared  by  Julius  Harder, 
provide  for  a  seating  capacity  of  2,000. 

Overland  Film  Producing  Company, 
Inc.,  Buffalo,  motion  pictures;  $10,000;  H. 
Herman,  F.  Clair  Smith,  J.  Calnay,  470 
Pearl  street,  Buffalo. 

Authorization:  Bosworth,  Inc.,  Los 
Angeles.  Cal.,  moving  picture  films; 
$10,000;  representative,  C.  H.  Pierce,  220 
West  Forty-second  street,   Manhattan. 

Bronx  Motion  Picture  Corporation, 
theatrical,  motion  pictures,  restaurants, 
vendors;  $50,000;  E.  W.  Boiling,  H.  Bar- 
nard, W.  E.  Bardusch,  330  North  Terrace 
avenue,  Mount  Vernon. 

Blak  Wite  Film  Company,  theatrical, 
motion  pictures,  etc.;  $2,000;  Alexander 
H.  Meyer,  Emanuel  Pifferling  and  Chas. 
C.   Morrison,   Manhattan. 

The  Plattsburg  Theater,  theatrical  pro- 


prietors and  managers,  motion  picture 
exhibitions;  $5,000;  Arthur  S.  Hogue, 
Wilfred  D.  Crete,  Francis  H.  Lavocie, 
Plattsburg. 

The  Eastern  Vaudeville  Managers'  As- 
sociation, Inc.,  manage  theaters,  mov- 
ing picture  and  opera  houses;  $1,000; 
George  J.  Byrne,  Thomas  A.  Kirby,  Ed- 
win Keogh,  Manhattan. 

Greenwich  Movie  Corporation,  produce 
moving  pictures,  vaudeville,  etc.;  $1,000; 
Abel  Fanchi,  Charles  Mangini,  Edw.  M. 
Stothers,   Manhattan. 

The  Model  moving  picture  theater,  on 
the  north  side  of  Freeman  street,  Bronx, 
has  been  sold  to  John  J.  Whittier  and 
James  J.  Haggerty,  through  Ira  A.  Lurie. 

A  film  in  the  moving  picture  theater  at 
110  Avenue  C,  New  York,  caught  fire  and 
the  assistant  operator  was  burned  about 
the  hands  and  face. 

Ohio. 

At  a  meeting  recently  held  the  Piqua 
moving  picture  exhibitors  unanimously 
decided  to  discontiuue  the  operation  of 
their  playhouses  on  Sundays. 

The  new  motion  picture  theater  being 
erected  at  East  Winter  street,  Delaware, 
will  be  ready  for  opening  about  April  1. 
Henry  Bieberson,  the  owner,  has  chosen 
the  name  Strand  for  his  new  show  house 
and  will  offer  the  best  of  films. 

The  motion  picture  machine  operators 
of  Coshocton  effected  an  organization  of 
the  operators  at  a  meeting  recently  held 
at  the  offices  of  the  Ohio  Theater  Com- 
pany,   and    the    union    formed    will    be 


Exclusive  Features  of  Power's  Cameragraph 


OUR  LOOP  SETTER 

keeps  the  film  always  in  motion,  the 
lower  loop  is  maintained  automatic- 
ally and  dark  screens  are  impossible. 


OUR  INTERMITTENT  MOVEMENT 

Many  times  stronger  than  any  other  make,  longer  period  of 
pictures  on  the  screen  is  obtained,  films  are  better  protected 
and  greater   definition  and    clearer  pictures   are  accomplished. 


Write  for  Catalog  M 


NICHOLAS  POWER  COMPANY 


NINETY  GOLD  STREET 


NEW  YORK  CITY 


670 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  12. 


THE  TRIANGLE 


srs&jstvs'!  j; 


EXTRA    Ml  (  HI.  TK(,(.V  MMBKH 


A  Triangle  first  aid  to  the  exhibit* 
productions   of    the   first   and   last   pages   of 
the  "Peggy"  numbci    of  the  house  organ  in 


known  as  District  Local  No.  42,  a  branch 
,,i  the  I.  A-  T.  S.  E.  and  M  I'.  M.  O. 
Tin-  officers  elected  were:  President,  F. 
Marshalee;  vice-president.  K.  Hack:  sec- 
retary-treasurer, T.  (i.  Chacos;  corre- 
sponding ami  recording  secretary,  I). 
Holmes;  business  manager,  F,  Marshalee. 

Frank  Weaver,  proprietor  of  tin-  Won- 
derland theater  in  Marion  for  the  past 
two  years,  ha-  -old  ins  interest  in  the 
>how  house  t,,  William  I..  Mears  of 
Scotland. 

Plans  lot  the  leasing  of  the  building  at 

Market   avenue.   V.  and   Second   street,    X . 

ton,  now   occupied  by  the  \Y.  1). 
Caldwell    <  iompanj .    for    a    m 
picture   theater.   ha\  e   been   dropp 
the   present,   according    to    A     I'..    Clark, 
representing  the   Market    Avenue    Realty 
(   ompanv. 

■  ntertainmenl  u>  tin  | r  is  of- 
fered by  the  motion  pii  tin  •  men  of  (  le\  e- 
land,  according  to  B    i             er,  head  of 


the  Exhibitors'  League.  The  only  condi- 
tion is  that  the  application  for  tickets 
must  come  from  a  charitable  organiza- 
tion. 

The  Private  Feature  Film  Company, 
Cleveland;  $5,000;  Ernst  Schwartz. 

By  a  vote  of  5  to  2  the  city  council 
killed  the  ordinance  permitting  Sunday 
picture  shows  in  Alliance. 

Oklahoma. 

Chickasha's  newest  theater  is  the  Em- 
press. It  seats  400  people  and  is  built 
along  the  newest  lines.  The  exterior  is 
finished  in  brick  and  tile  and  passing  from 
the  ticket  window  you  enter  a  lobby 
lined  with  mirrors.  The  interior  decora- 
tions are  very  pretty  and  the  seats  are 
upholstered  in  leather. 

Fire  which  originated  in  the  Bijou 
theater  building  in  Clinton  caused  a  loss 
of  $75,000. 

The  Colonial  theater,  a  moving  picture 
house  of  Durant,  has  been  sold  to  W.  T. 
Davidge  of  Hugo,  who  has  assumed 
charge. 

Pennsylvania. 

The  contract  for  the  remodeling  and 
altering  of  the  Majestic  theater  in  Oil 
City  has  been  let  by  Max  Stahl,  the  new 
owner  of  the  amusement  place.  Follow- 
ing the  awarding  of  the  contract  Mr. 
Stahl  announced  that  the  name  of  the 
theater  has  been  changed  to  the  Lyric. 

The  Safety  First  motion  picture  exhibit 
given  in  the  Harrisburg  Technical  High 
School  auditorium  by  the  Department  of 
Labor  and  Industry,  co-operating  with 
the  heads  of  industrial  plants  in  Harris- 
burg, took  place  February  24.  The  series 
will  continue  at  intervals  until  March  10. 

The  people  of  Newport  township  are 
anxiously  awaiting  the  completion  of 
their  moving  picture  house,  which  will 
be  situated  on  Railroad  avenue.  The 
Newport  people,  especially  of  Wanamie, 
have  been  longing  for  a  theater  of  this 
sort  and  thus  should  be  well  patronized. 
The  manager  of  the  new  theater  will  be 
Joseph  Rule. 

South  Carolina. 

The  Pastime  Amusement  Company  is 
planning  to  build  a  new  photoplay  thea- 
ter in  Charleston. 

South  Dakota. 
Jay  Dundas  has  sold  the  Maynard  thea- 
ter   in    Mitchell    to    G.   W.    Ryckman    of 
Worthington,  Minn.,  who  has  taken  pos- 
session. 

W.  E.  Lyon  of  Gary  has  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  Idle   Hour  theater  in  Cranhy. 

Tennessee. 

P"ire  in  the  operating  room  of  the  Al- 
hambra  theater.  Nashville,  caused  hv  a 
film  catching  fire,  did  between  $500  and 
$1,000  damages.  Carl  Rush,  operator  of 
the  machine  which  was  destroyed,  was 
slightly  burned  about  the  face  and  hands. 


"LOS"  MAN  BOOSTS  "JAX" 

The  editor  of  The  Metropolis,  a  Jack- 
sonville, Fla.,  evening  newspaper,  re- 
cently received  the  following  letter  from 
a  Californian,  telling  of  the  remarkable 
facilities  and  advantages  Florida  pos- 
sesses to  make  it  a  motion  picture  hub. 
San  Francisco,  Feb.  16,  1916. 
Editor  of  The  Metropolis. 

Dear  Sir :  Eighteen  years  ago  this  month  the 
writer  left  Jacksonville. 

The  three  years  following  that  year,  1898,  were 
spent  in  the  Southern   states. 

In   1900  the  writer  arrived  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

That  city  was  then  a  city  of  a  scant  100,000, 
with  everybody  counted. 

Now,  1916,  Los  Angeles  claims  about  500,000 
and   may   have  that   number. 

What   do    you   think    caused   this   great    growth? 

Los  Angeles  in  1900  was  not  at  attractive  as 
Jacksonville  in  1900,  and  did  not  offer  greater  in- 
ducements than  the   Florida  metropolis. 

What  caused  the  growth  then? 

Briefly   stated,   it  was: 

A.,  B.,  C. :  Advertising,  Boosting  and  Co-opera- 

Simple,    isn't    it,    and    with    results   positive   and 

The    writer    was    part    of    the    great    campaign. 

Advertise  Los  Angeles  in  every  way. 
Boost   Los  Angeles  in  every  way. 
Co-operate  for  Los  Angeles  in  every  way. 
Every  inhabitant  of  Los  Angeles  of  talking  age 
had   three   salient   points   for   Los  Angeles  instilled 
'nds  and  the  results  are  known  to  the 


jrld. 


Noi 


The   bloom 


Los  Angeles  has  read 
win  grow,  but  it  will  grow 
is  off,  the  boom  is  off. 

It  is  a  city  of  the  rich  and  the  sick.  The  rich 
are  there  to  indulge  themselves.  The  sick  are 
there   because  they  have  to  stay. 

There  is  no  foundation,  no  stability. 

The  biggest  thing  in  Los  Angeles  should  be  in 
Jacksonville. 


It  i 


the: 


Moving  Picture  Business. 
This    business    has    done    more    to    develop    Los 
Angeles  than  any  other  single  business  or  proposi- 

At  the  present  time  Los  Angeles  has  become  so 
conceited  by  its  success  that  it  is  impossible  for 
any  of  the  companies  located  there  to  develop  any 
further. 

Or  for  new  companies  to  organize  and  develop. 

And    the    conceit    is    of    the    large    real    estate 

Prices  for.  picture  sites  are  so  prohibitive  and 
new  leases  of  the  old  companies  have  been  in- 
creased so  much  that  there  is  a  general  and  very 
widespread  discontent. 

Here  and  now  is  Jacksonville's  opportunity — 
and  of  course  this  means  Florida's  opportunity. 

Get  in  and  get  this  : 

Moving  picture  business 

I  can  give  you. 

This  means  Jacksonville. 

One  of  the  largest  companies  ever  organized. 

And  one  that  will  place  the  city  of  Jacksonville 
firmly  in  the  public  mind  and  eye. 


And 

n  this  insta 

ce  it  w 

ill  be  only :  A  fair 

price 

And 

Othe 

will 

d    Florida 

will 

control 

on  field  in  this 

great  and 

ich  is 

must  c 

Make 

your   offer 

to  all 

Moti 

Our 

company  as 

s   noth 

Mak 

r     thro 

Igfc     ym 

r     Chamb 

r     ot 

Ami 

treat   us   all 

alike  a 

nd   that 

is  all  we 

Don' 

delay. 

Call 

->ur   offer 

i  nil 

picture    companies 

e   how   they  re- 

spond. 

Yo 

irs   very    truly, 

Residence,  Hotel  Lankersliim.  San  Francisco.  Ad- 
dress care  of  Driscoll  B.  D.  S.  Co.,  975  Market 
St..   San   Francisco,   Cal. 


rTHETAl_K  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  posters 

POST  THEM   AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 
^ GOES-  CHICAGO j 


Price  Fifteen  Cents 


The  MOTION  PICTU1& 

TI&LDB  aoui&rAi, 


MARY  MILES  M1NTER 

WITH 

METRO 


Vol  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  25,1916 


No.  13 


^  The  film  manufacturers  and  the  exchange- 
men  depend  very  largely  on  the  big  revenues 
of  the  first-run  customers — the  showmen  of 
the  better-class.  They  rely  upon  the  quick 
turn-over  of  the  best  film  productions. 

^  The  first-class  showman  depends  almost  wholly 
upon  the  film  manufacturer's  best  productions. 
MoTOGRAPHY  dominates  the  field  in  the  exalted 
position  of  representative  of  all  that  is  best  in  pro- 
duction and  presentation. 

{J  A  selected  list  of  One  Thousand  Four  Hundred  Forty- 
Three  of  the  regular  subscribers  to  Motography 
own  Seven  Thousand  Nine  Hundred  Thirty-six 
of  the  motion  picture  theaters  of  the  United  States. 

^  These  regular  subscribers  have  been  designated  by 
the  branch  managers  of  the  various  film  distributors 
as  real  showmen  and  their  houses  are  declared  to 
be  the  best  motion  picture   theaters  in  the  country. 


:ll 


4fl  There  is  a  vast  amount  of  difference  between  an 
ordinary  exhibitor  and  a  real  showman.  You  belong 
to  one  of  the  two  classes — you  are  one  or  the  other. 


^  Motographv  wants  to  help  you  attain  the  show- 
man class.  It  plans  to  spend  thousands  of  dollars 
this  year  to  improve  the  text  of  the  magazine. 
It  is  bound  to  be  of  inestimable  value  to  you. 
We  want  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  men  who  shall 
rightfully  belong  to  the  class  who  are  representing 
the  best  films   in   the  best  theaters. 


d 


"Hell's  Hinges"  is  just  the  kind  of  a  motion  picture  that  the 
public  love.  It's  the  kind  of  a  picture  people  want  to  pay  money  to 
see  because  it  is  real — there  is  no  sham,  or  bluff.  A  real  bad  man 
becomes  converted  and  is  willing  to  give  his  life  to  protect  the  girl. 
He  fights  for  his  life  and  wins  in  the  end. 

Supporting  Mr.  Hart  are  three  TRIANGLE  STARS  who  have 
many  other  successes  to  their  credit — Clara  Williams,  Louise  Glaum 
and  Jack  Standing.  


orporation,  New  York 


Triangle 
Film  Corpo- 
ration,      1457 
Broadway,    New 
York  City 


♦                 1 

Hi                 *^       c^ 

w                      0 

4*  J*" 

.  .1»-1 

jF'i  'T^NftpiU'; 

^^ 

« -sr  r* 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED  THE  NICKELODEON 


Vol.  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  25,  1916 


No.  13 


Fifth  Estate  Dines  Fourth  Estate 


By  Charles  R.  Condon 


REGARDLESS  of  where  one  begins  in  his  rem- 
iniscences of  the  dinner  in  College  Hall,  Hotel 
Astor,  on  March  12,  at  which  the  cartoonists, 
column  men  and  paragraphers  were  the  guests  of  the 
publication  committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board 
of  Trade,  his  memory  will  concentrate  on  Arthur  Bris- 
bane's speech  with  the  persistency  of  the  compass 
needle  swinging  to  the  magnetic  pole. 

The  famous  editor  of  the  New  York  Evening 
Journal  spoke  with  the  eloquence  and  brilliancy  to 
be  expected  of  a  man  of  his  position,  but  the  way  in 
which  he  reprimanded  and  ignored  the  film  business 
lacked  all  the  earmarks  of  an  expected  address,  and 
left  in  its  wake  a  trail  of  oratorical  destruction  and 
keen  surprise.  He  spoke  as  he  writes,  with  short, 
snappy  sentences,  each  trimmed  of  unnecessary  ex- 
pression and  pointed  at  its  purpose. 

As  a  New  York  newspaper  puts  it,  "Arthur  Bris- 
bane spilled  the  beans."  The  intention  of  the  affair 
was  to  point  out  the  similarity  between  the  publishing 
business  and  the  film  industry,  and  the  evils  which 
would  confront  both  if  either  should  submit  to  cen- 
sorship. And  then  the  star  boarder  of  the  evening, 
he  who  everyone  thought  was  in  perfect  harmony 
with  the  spirit  of  the  gathering,  kicked  over  the  traces 
and  ran  amuck. 

He  panned  the  film  business  right  and  left  and 
all  in  between,  and  practically  told  the  film  men  that 
the  only  hope  for  the  justification  of  their  existence 
lay  in  what  their  business  might  develop  into  if  they 
reformed.  Napoleon's  indifference  to  Boy  Scouts  could 
not  be  greater  than  Mr.  Brisbane's  lack  of  interest  in 
the  present  stage  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 

Arthur  James,  chairman  of  the  publication  com- 
mittee, acted  as  toastmaster.  The  speakers  were:  J. 
W.  Binder,  Arthur  Brisbane,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  William 
M.  Seabury  and  Commodore  J.  Stuart  Blackton.  The 
latter  told  many  pertinent  truths  in  which  Mr.  Bris- 


bane's remarks  came  in  for  a  worthy  share  of  recog- 
nition. 

A  Powers  machine  was  hid  away  back  in  one 
corner  of  the  room,  and  with  its  aid  the  speakers, 
caricatured  on  film  by  several  of  the  cartoonists,  were 
introduced.  After  the  speaking  a  number  of  cut-outs 
were  shown,  some  the  handiwork  of  the  censors  and 
some  outlawed  by  the  manufacturers  during  the  as- 
sembling of  the  pictures.  The  latter  naturally  lacked 
continuity  of  plot,  but  Terry  Ramsaye  titled  the  series 
"The  Blue  Pencil— in  Twenty  (Overt)  Acts."  Will- 
ingly Wicked  was  the  name  given  the  hero,  while  the 
heroine  passed  as  Miss  Naughty-Naughty. 

Among  those  present  at  the  dinner  were:  Mr.  Arthur 
Brisbane,  Charles  Urban  of  London,  inventor  of  the  Kine- 
macolor  picture,  Herbert  S.  Houston,  president  Associated 
Advertising  Clubs  of  the  World,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  counsel 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League,  J.  Stuart  Blackton,  presi- 
dent Motion  Picture  Board  of  Trade,  E.  Gluecksmann,  Buenos 
Aires,  William  M.  Seabury,  general  counsel  Board  of  Trade, 
J.  W.  Binder,  executive  secretary  Board  of  Trade,  Arthur 
James,  toastmaster,  E.  A.  MacManus,  Franklin  P.  Adams, 
Winsor  McKay,  F.  M.  Follett,  Fontaine  Fox,  Hy  Mayer, 
Rollin  Kirby,  F.  Opper,  Cliff  Sterrett,  R.  L.  Goldberg,  T.  A. 
Dorgan,  Claire  Briggs,  Hal  Coffman,  C.  Allen  Gilbert,  Charles  R. 
Macauley,  R.  M.  Brinkerhoff,  Lambert  Guenther,  Mr.  Marcus, 
Ray  Rohn,  Herb  Roth,  H.  T.  Webster,  W.  A.  Starrett,  Robert 
Carter,  Jack  Ranck,  George  McManus,  Tom  McNamara,  L. 
M.  Glackens,  Gene  Carr,  Harry  Grant  Dart,  Mr.  Frueh, 
George  Herriman,  Bob  Dean,  F.  A.  Eaton,  W.  H.  Holcomb, 
W.  H.  Holcomb,  Jr.,  Alexander  Woollcott,  Burns  Mantle, 
George  Worts,  T.  R.  Dibble,  Randolph  Lewis,  Frank  J.  Price, 
Bide  Dudley,  Frederick  F.  Schrader,  R.  M.  Cleveland,  Reg- 
inald Foster,  Frank  Ward  O'Malley,  E.  B.  Hatrick,  Charles 
Harding,  Harvey  Thew,  Jack  Wheeler,  Charles  E.  Moyer, 
H.  I.  Day,  W.  D.  McGuire,  Thomas  G.  Wilev,  William  L. 
Sherrill,  Rufus  Steele,  Robert  Pool,  Edward  Earl,  Will  C. 
Smith,  Leon  J.  Rubinstein,  Fred  Hawley,  William  Barry, 
E.  L.  Masters,  Ewan  Justice,  Walter  Smith,  Maxwell  Swain, 
B.  P.  Schulberg,  John  C.  Flinn,  Carl  Anderson,  Edward  Weitzel, 
John  Klein,  John  R.  Freuler,  Orrin  G.  Cocks,  Donald  Crisp, 
Terry  Ramsaye,  Arthur  Leslie,  P.  A.  Parsons,  Carl  Pierce, 
J.  Solomon,  Pete  Schmidt,  T.  M.  Alexander,  George  Blaisdell, 
Paul  Gulick,  and  Sam  Spedon. 


Toastmaster  James  Makes  Plea 


"HPHE  Fifth  Estate,  the  motion  picture,  reaches  out 
1    to  its  older  brother,  the  Fourth  Estate,  and  asks 
co-operation  in  resisting  the  destroyer  of  art,  the  foe 
of  progress,  the  common  enemy,  the  censor. 

"The  spoken,  the  written,  the  drawn,  the  sculp- 
tured, the  painted,  the  acted  word,  alike  in  their  com- 
mon purpose,  the  expression  of  thought,  cry  out 
against  the  oppression  of  those  who  seek  to  make  all 
men  conform  to  the  narrow  confines  of  their  bigotry, 
their  undevelopment,  their  prejudices  and  cant.     To 


yield  _  at  all  to  censorship  is  to  put  our  mental,  our 
artistic,  our  very  moral  liberty  into  the  keeping  of 
others.  Our  physical  freedom  was  worth  dying  for 
a  century  ago,  surely  our  greater  freedom  of  thought 
and  its  expression  is  worth  fighting  for  today. 

"Censorship  is  without  the  shadow  of  a  defense 
among  a  civilized  and  an  enlightened  people.  We 
readily  concede,  or  I  might  better  say,  we  proclaim 
that  morals  on  the  screen  differ  not  at  all  from  morals 
of  the   spoken  drama,   of  the  newspaper  and  of  the 


672 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13.. 


pulpit.  We  believe  with  all  other  men  who  have 
a  thought  for  the  uprightness  of  the  community  in 
which  they  live,  that  there  are  proper  rules  governing 
public  exhibitions  and  amusements,  and  to  such  proper 
regulation  we  cordially  subscribe. 

"But  censorship,  whether  it  be  the  censorship  of 
the  daily  newspaper,  or  of  the  pulpit,  or  of  the  motion 
picture,  we  solemnly,  earnestly,  indignantly  resent,  be- 


cause we  know  of  no  man  or  group  of  men  great 
enough,  god-like  enough,  to  take  our  art  and  enslave 
it  and  make  it  do  their  bidding. 

"We  desired  that  this  dinner  should  be  a  get- 
together  and  heart-to-heart  affair,  born  of  the  dangers 
that  confront  each  of  us,  whether  our  medium  of  ex- 
pression be  the  newspaper,  the  drama,  the  painted 
canvas,  the  cartoon  or  the  motion  picture." 


Binder  Gives  "History  of  Expression 


tiTHE  greatest  thing  in  the  world  is  human  thought. 
1     Thinking  is  the  very  germ  of  self-cultivation. 

"But  a  thought  unexpressed  perishes  with  its  cre- 
ator. It  enriches  his  life  but  gives  nothing  to  his  fel- 
low man.  Therefore,  next  to  thought  itself  in  impor- 
tance is  the  necessity — nay,  the  duty — of  expressing  it. 

"There  are  three  ways  in  which  this  thought  that 
is  now  pulsing  through  my  brain  may  be  expressed 
so  that  it  may  become  yours ;  the  first,  speech  ;  the 
second,  writing,  or  the  printed  page;  and  now,  through 
a  wonderful  new  medium  which  is  the  third — the  motion 
picture. 

"Speech  is  almost  as  old  as  the  human  race.  From 
the  guttural  grunt  of  our  cave  ancestor  to  the  ora- 
tions of  Webster  is  indeed  a  far  cry.  Yet,  without 
the  one,  the  other  would  have  been  impossible. 

"Writing  is  less  ancient,  although  the  records  of 
Egypt,  as  these  are  disclosed  to  us  by  modern  science, 
take  us  back  century  upon  century.  They  show  the 
universal  desire  for  some  vehicle  of  expression  that 
should  enable  man  to  communicate  his  thought  to 
future  generations. 

"The  'movable  types'  of  Faust  enabled  man  to 
multiply  his  thought  and  express  himself  freely.  The 
result  was  the  book — the  collection  of  printed  pages. 
Of  it,  with  Alexander  Smith,  let  me  say: 


"I  go  into  my  library,  and  all  history  unrolls  before 
me.  I  breathe  the  morning  air  of  the  world  while  scent 
of  Eden's  roses  yet  lingered  in  it,  while  it  vibrated  only 
to  the  world's  first  brood  of  nightingales,  and  to  the 
laugh  of  Eve. 

"I  see  the  Pyramids  building.  I  hear  the  shoutings 
of  the  armies  of  Alexander.  I  feel  the  ground  shake  be- 
neath the  march  of  Cambyses.  I  sit  as  in  a  theater — the 
stage  is  time,  the  play  is  the  world.  What  a  spectacle 
it  is!  What  kingly  pomp,  what  processions  file  past. 
what  cities  burn  to  Heaven,  what  crowds  of  captives 
are  dragged  at  the  chariot  wheels  of  conquerors.  Books 
are  the  true  Elysian  fields  where  the  spirits  of  the  dead 
converse  and  into  these  fields  a  mortal  may  venture  un- 
appalled.  What  king's  court  can  boast  such  company, 
what  school   of  philosophy   such   wisdom. 

"And  now,  nearly  six  hundred  years  after  Faust's 
discovery  of  type,  comes  a  new  vehicle  of  expression 
greater  than  either  of  the  others.  Where  the  orator 
speaks  his  thought  to  a  thousand,  and  the  writer  to 
tens  of  thousands,  the  motion  picture — the  new  vehicle 
of  expression,  called  rightly  the  Fifth  Estate,  offers  a 
vehicle  which, speaks  in  the  United  States  alone  to 
more  than  twelve  million  people  daily.  It  speaks  a 
universal  language. 

"We  are  honored  tonight  by  the  presence  of  the 
greatest  editor  on  earth  today.  All  America  knows  him 
as  a  keen  writer  and  great  journalist.  I  now  present  him 
to  you — Mr.  Arthur  Brisbane." 


Brisbane  Makes  Fiery  Speech 


ARTHUR  BRISBANE,  editor  of  the  New  York 
**■  Evening  Journal,  stirred  the  company  by  his  keen 
analysis  and  fiery  words :  "About  your  business,  I  will 
say  that  I  know  very  little.  I  am  one  of  the  few  liv- 
ing men  who  has  never  seen  Mary  Pickford  or  Charles 
Chaplin  or  Theda  Bara  or  Miss  Clarke — I  believe  she 
comes  in  there.  All  I  have  seen  is  the  Durbar  and 
Scott's  North  Pole  pictures  and  Carmen,  which 
I  couldn't  escape  because  it  was  given  in  Mr.  Hearst's 
house,  and  1  happened  to  be  a  guest  there.  Further- 
more I  never  read  the  Family  Story  Paper  or  the 
Ledger  when  1  was  a  boy,  and  T  do  not  see  why  I 
should  see  Theda  Bara  or  Mary  Pickford  in  'Rags,' 
T  believe  it  is,  in  my  old  age. 

"I  have  great  respect  for  the  men  who  are  devel- 
oping the  financial  value  and  the  real  genius  of  those 
people,  but  I  don't  think  that  I  should  be  bothered 
about  it. 

i' i  tin-  censorship,  I  do  not  think  I  can 

le   very   much   excited  about  it.     There  will  be 

orship  without   the  consent   of  a  majority  of 

the   people   of   the    United   States,   and   I   do  not   think 

that  they  will  consenl   to  any  very  extensive  or  uni- 

hip.      The   moving   picture,    so    far   as   it 

ly  a  melodrama,  a   story,  a   tragedy,  or  a  joke. 

a   comedy,   it    is   onl}    ..    money    making  proposition, 

and   whether  it    is  cm-,, red   or  nol    I    don't   in   the   least 

•arc.      That    pari    oi    the    work    is    only    in    it<    i 


and  as  I  say,  I  don't  care  in  the  least  as  to  whether 
it  is  censored  or  not.  But  the  censorship  of  the  mov- 
ing picture  will  become  an  established  fact,  and  it 
may  in  the  future  be  a  very  serious  matter  because 
at  the  present  time  all  the  moving  picture  amounts  to 
is  an  amusement,  and  its  success  is  based  upon  the 
stupidity  and  lack  of  intellectual  development  of  the 
human  race. 

"The  success  of  the  moving  picture  is  due  to  this, 
gentlemen :  We  are  a  race  of  animals.  We  have  been 
standing  on  our  hind  legs  only  five  hundred  thousand 
years.  We  have  been  using  speech  about  one  hundred 
thousand  years.  We  have  been  using  the  written  word, 
as  a  race,  only  about  fifty  years.  Remember  that  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  the  human  race  was  illit- 
erate. As  I  said,  we  used  the  written  word,  as  a  race. 
only  about  fifty  years  ago.  The  human  race,  as  a 
race,  has  only  been  able  to  read  for  about  fifty  years. 
I  can  remember  myself  less  than  fifty  years  ago,  when 
I  was  a  boy  I  used  to  sit  read  to  a  dozen  people  on 
the  farm  because  not  one  of  them  could  read.  To 
educate  men,  in  a  word,  and  to  get  them  to  make 
their  own  moving  picture,  is  extremely  difficult.  It 
takes  a  high  order  of  intelligence  to  take  a  sufficient 
number  o\  lines  and  pictures  and  manufacture  them 
into  a  film.  Now,  to  go  back,  as  I  said,  we  have  stood 
on  our  hind  legs  for  five  hundred  thousand  years 
and  we  have  been  aide  to  read,  as  a  race,  for  fifty  years. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


673 


but  we  have  used  our  eyes  for  at  least  twenty  millions 
of  years  on  this  planet ;  because  the  lobster  has  an  eye 
on  the  end  of  a  stick,  and  he  may  have  been  your  great, 
great  grandfather  many  times  removed,  and  he  was 
looking  for  a  moving  picture  of  something  that  he 
could  grab  with  his  claw  and  eat,  or  something  that 
would  grab  him  and  eat  him.  You  know  the  lobster, 
of  course,  grabs  the  jelly  fish,  and  the  jelly  fish  gets 
the  lobsters,  all  by  the  use  of  their  eyes. 

"With  the  moving  picture  now  you  get  all  your 
impressions  by  the  use  of  your  own  eye;  we  select 
our  husbands  and  our  wives  by  our  eyes,  and  every- 
thing is  done  by  the  eye,  which  is  the  greatest  of  all 
human  factors.  And  this  has  been  done  for  twenty 
millions  of  years  with  absolute  ease.  One  of  the 
big  factors  in  politics,  if  it  were  used,  and  I  believe  it 
is  going  to  be,  would  be  the  moving  picture.  I  be- 
lieve that  in  the  next  campaign  the  man  that  studies 
this  and  uses  genius  to  get  at  the  facts,  will  find  it  a 
very  large  factor  in  the  result.  For  instance  if  they 
take  what  I  believe  you  call  a  'close  up'  picture  of 
some  of  the  things  which  may  happen,  you  will  do 
something  worth  while.  For  instance,  a  picture  at 
Delmonicos,  a  table  with  Tammany  politicians,  and 
just  a  close  up  of  Mr.  Murphy's  fork  with  peas  on  the 
end  of  it,  which  he  is  trying  to  balance;  a  picture  of 
the  city  deposits  being  given  to  Interborough  lawyers 
and  directors,  and  the  inside  of  No.  26  Broadway — 
which  is  the  Standard  Oil  headquarters.  I  really  be- 
lieve, and  this  is  not  in  any  sense  a  joke,  that  if  you 
would,  and  I  would  advise  you  to  do  it,  as  I  did  advise 
a  man  in  the  last  campaign,  to  take  pictures  of  some  of 
the  people  who  are  high  in  authority  in  the  city,  for 
instance  a  picture  of  the  mayor  of  the  city  going  home 
in  his  automobile,  which  you  pay  for,  and  then  a  pic- 
ture of  yourself,  or  your  daughter,  hanging  on  to  a 
strap,  and  say,  naturally,  that  these  people  are  with 
the  Interborough,  because  they  don't  ride  in  the  sub- 
way. 

"If  you  put  those  pictures  out  the  people  will 
look  at  them  and  see  them  and  believe  them.  Those 
are  pictures  which  I  would  not  like  to  see  censored. 
I  think  the  censorship  of  ordinary  things  is  not  a 
menace.  The  things  that  need  censorship  are  not  the 
ordinary  things.  You  don't  need  to  do  things  out 
of  the  ordinary  in  order  to  make  your  business  suc- 
ceed, or  to  gain  popularity.  I  have  been  an  editor  of 
newspapers  in  this  city  for  28  years.  I  began  with 
the  Evening  Sun  twenty-eight  years  ago,  and  ever  since 
then  I  have  been  with  that  and  other  papers,  the 
Sunday  World  and  the  Evening  World  and  the  Jour- 
nal, and  all  my  experience  has  been  that  nothing  is 
gained  by  making  any  concession  to  indecency.  Why, 
in  the  Thaw  trial,  when  Mr.  Roosevelt  instructed  his 
federal  district  attorneys  to  find  out  and  report  to  him 
what  was  being  sent  through  the  mails,  and  whether 
certain  of  the  more  sensational  newspapers^  should 
not  be  put  out  of  the  mails  if  they  were  carrying  the 
sort  of  stuff  that  was  told  about  Standford  White,  and 
others — I  think  quite  possibly  Mr.  Roosevelt,  who  did 
not  like  the  Hearst  papers  at  that  time,  may  have 
meant  us — but,  however,  it  was  found  that  in  New 
York  the  two  newspapers  that  printed  none  of  that 
stuff  were  the  Evening  Journal  and  the  Evening  Post, 
and  in  Boston  the  Boston  Herald,  which  we  own,  and 
the  Boston  Transcript,  and  our  circulation  is  845,000, 
and  the  next  biggest  in  the  United  States  is  about  400,- 
000.  We  have  always  found  that  it  did  not  pay  in 
any  way  to  make  any  concessions  whatever  to  news 


of  that  kind;  and  newspaper  readers,  so  far  as  the 
readers  of  the  Evening  Journal  are  concerned,  "when 
that  trial  ended  never  knew  but  that  the  lady  in  the 
case  was  as  respectable  as  she  was  at  the  beginning 
and  we  didn't  lose  by  it,  either. 

"Now,  one  of  the  things  that  you  want  to  establish 
is  standards.  Establish  something,  so  that  it  will 
become  and  be  a  standard  for  your  business.  One  of 
the  great  purposes,  I  believe  to  which  the  moving  pic- 
ture can  be  put  is  that  of  education,  educational  films. 
Today  the  newspaper  is  a  regular  bill  of  fare,  such  as 
you  have  tonight, — not  a  mess  of  olives,  or  soup,  or 
bread,  but  it  is  a  little  of  everything.  Now,  the  moving 
picture  will  become  that  in  the  future.  You  will  have 
your  theaters  where  there  will  be  a  limited  bill  of 
fare, — pictures  of  the  day's  news,  the  things  that  are 
worth  while,  rapidly  done ;  where  you  will  have  the 
story,  whatever  it  may  be,  of  love  or  mystery,  and 
where  you  will  have  a  certain  amount  of  education, 
and  things  of  that  sort,  and  I  wish  that  some  of  you 
would  concentrate  on  the  problem  of  making  educa- 
tional films  where  a  man  like  Arliss  can  impersonate 
Disraeli,  and  I  believe  Lincoln,  and  I  believe  that  when 
you  make  films  of  that  sort,  for  instance,  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  it  will  be  good  fifty  years  from  now,  if 
taken  as  of  that  period  when  Lincoln  lived,  because 
dresses  do  not  change,  as  you  know,  the  facts  don't 
change,  the  patriotism  don't  change,  and  thus  you  will 
have  a  picture  of  Lincoln  when  he  was  a  boy,  and  you 
will  see  him  there,  Avith  his  knife  and  his  shavings,  and 
you  will  have  a  picture  of  his  haphazard,  worthless 
sort  of  a  father  and  his  gigantic  mother,  Nancy  Hanks. 
And  so,  as  with  him,  you  can  have  it  of  others  in  the 
same  way,  and  they  will  be  educational  and  will  live 
and  be  useful  for  many,  many  years  and  can  be  used 
many,  many  millions  of  times.  You  could  do  this  with 
Washington,  just  as  you  could  with  fifty  or  sixty 
others  worth  while ;  and  exhibit  them  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  and  use  them  year  after  year.  I  had 
a  picture  given  to  me  this  evening  by  Dorgan, — Tad, 
and  he  asked  me  to  write  an  editorial  about  this, — it 
is  a  picture  of  Mohammed  with  a  pigeon  on  his  shoul- 
der whispering  in  Mohammed's  ear,  'Now  you  know 
about  it.'  This  refers  to  the  old  picture  of  Mohammed, 
which  shows  him  with  the  pigeon  on  his  shoulder, 
whispering  in  his  ear,  and  the  Bedouins  bowing  down 
worshiping  this  man  whose  word  they  thought  came 
from  God  Almighty.  The  real  story  about  it  was 
that  he  had  put  two  or  three  dried  peas  in  his  ear,  and 
the  pigeon  came  down  to  eat  the  peas  out  of  his  ear, 
and  seemed  to  be  telling  him  what  God  Almighty  had 
to  say, — and  that  was  the  beginning  of  the  Moham- 
medan religion,  with  its  great  success. 

"You  want  to  make  your  moving  picture  industry 
a  great  big  industry,  with  great  big  standards,  not 
merely  a  message  of  amusement  for  the  public,  but 
something  which  will  settle  down  into  a  regular  busi- 
ness, like  Marshall  Field's.  In  literature,  anyone  can 
name  a  certain  number  of  master  works,  ones  which 
everyone  knows,  and  which  can  be  readily  picked  out. 
Now,  among  the  millions  of  pictures  that  you  have 
today,  I  do  not  think  that  you  can  find  anyone  who 
can  do  that.  Now,  that  should  be  one  of  the  main 
purposes  of  the  moving  picture  field,  and  you  should 
include  it  among  some  of  the  things  that  I  have  sug- 
gested. Tonight  I  asked  some  of  the  people  here  if 
they  could  name  six  of  the  greatest,  the  six  greatest 
moving  pictures  in  your  industry.  I  asked  the  men 
on   each   side   of   me,   at  least   the  colonel   over   yonder 


674 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


and  your  chairman,  to  give  me  the  names  of  the  six 
greatest  pictures,  that  is  to  say,  the  things  that  were 
the  great  successes.  Now,  you  can  mention  fifty  or 
sixty  or  a  hundred  hooks,  but  they  gave  me  'The  Birth 
of  a  Nation'  and  'Carmen'  and  'The  Battle  Cry  of 
Peace,'  and  then  they  couldn't  agree  on  the  rest.  Then 
somebody  said,  'The  Soul  of  a  Woman,'  and  some- 
body else  said,  'No.'  Somebody  else  then  said  'The 
Battle  Cry  of  Peace'  and  someone  denied  it.  And  then 
someone  said  'Hypocrites,'  and  they  finally  agreed  on 
Mary  Pickford  in  'Rags.'  I  turned  to  them  and  said : 
'Gentlemen,  you  spend  many  millions  of  dollars  a  year 
on  your  pictures,  and  yet,  although  you  should  be  able 
to,  you  cannot  state  whether  there  are  six  or  twelve 
or  sixty  great  pictures  that  you  have,  and  that  is  be- 
cause you  have  not  gone  far  yet,  you  are  absolutely  at 
the  beginning  of  your  business.' 

"It  is  a  great  business,  of  course,  with  great  big 
forces  moving  it,  but  its  great  work  is  for  the  future. 
Why,  every  school  in  the  world  will  soon  be  teaching 
by  the  moving  picture.  Astronomy  can  be  taught  by 
the  moving  picture,  so  that  the  child  can  see  and  un- 
derstand it,  at  five  years  of  age.  We  know  about 
astronomy  because  we  studied  it  years  ago,  when  we 
were  young,  but  astronomy  cannot  be  taught  in  the 
old  way  until  the  students  are  twenty  or  eighteen 
years  of  age.     You  can  take  a  child,  and  use  a  dark 


room  and  a  screen,  and  you  can  show  to  the  child  a 
little  point  of  light,  and  say  you  see  that  moving  around 
this  globe  of  light,  that  is  the  earth  that  you  are  living 
on,  and  that  large  globe  about  which  it  revolves  is  the 
sun,  and  those  little  stars  that  seem  to  be  at  a  standstill, 
those  are  the  fixed  stars,  and  those  are  the  planets 
which  seem  to  go  around,  and  many  of  which  are  a 
million  times  as  large  as  the  earth  that  you  live  upon. 

"Now,  you  can  do  these  things  in  the  school,  and 
you  can  educate  the  children  and  teach  them  astron- 
omy and  they  will  learn  it,  and  they  will  like  it,  and 
will  learn  it  because  they  like  it.  The  moving  picture 
will  make  intellectual  digestion  absolutely  perfect.  It 
will  be  a  real  education,  presented  in  a  real  way,  and  in 
an  attractice  way  which  everybody,  not  only  the  school 
children,  will  recognize  and  appreciate.  And,  going 
back  for  a  moment  to  the  use  of  the  moving  picture  as 
a  political  asset,  if  both  sides  in  a  great  campaign  will 
use  the  moving  pictures,  not  only  of  a  man  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  day,  but  a  picture  of  where  he  goes 
next,  and  what  he  does,  and  the  condition  which  he  is 
in  at  the  end  of  the  day,  you  will  have  a  great  political 
education  for  the  people.  If  you  will  do  this,  and 
pursue  this  policy  of  watching,  not  only  will  you  tell 
the  people  what  is  happening  daily,  but  the  moving 
picture  will  carry  the  election,  and  editors  will  be  as 
much  'has  beens'  as  Harper's  Weekly." 


Commodore  Blac\ton  "Comes  Back"  Hard 


INTEREST  was  intense  while  Commodore  J.  Stuart 
Blackton  spoke  in  reply  to  Brisbane. 

"The  remarks  of  the  first  speaker,  Mr.  er — (after 
consulting  the  printed  list  of  speakers) — Arthur  Bris- 
bane, the  greatest  editor  in  the  world,  were  very  pro- 
found. They  showed  a  profound  and  appalling  ignor- 
ance of  the  subject  upon  which  he  discoursed  so 
learnedly.  It  was  quite  plain  that  Mr.  (consulting  the 
menu  again)  Brisbane  knows  very  little,  if  anything, 
about  the  most  popular  form  of  entertainment  in  the 
world,  but  he  would  certainly  be  a  success  in  vaude- 
ville. He  would  have  Eva  Tanguay  lashed  to  the  mast 
on  the  'I  don't  care'  question.  He  doesn't  care  for 
motion  pictures,  doesn't  care  whether  they  are  cen- 
sored or  not,  doesn't  care  whether  he  ever  sees  an- 
other motion  picture  or  not,  and  doesn't  care  whether 
we  know  it.  I  fear  a  part  of  the  education  of  'the 
greatest  editor  in  the  world'  has  been  rather  neglected. 

"Personally,  I  felt  very  discouraged  to  hear  him 
say  that  he  knew  only  two  personages  in  the  motion 
picture  business,  Mary  Pickford  and  Charlie  Chaplin, 
because  neither  of  them  works  for  me;  but  his  sug- 
gestions as  to  what  we  ought  to  do  to  improve  the 
motion  picture  industry  (of  which  he  frankly  admits 
he  knows  nothing)  caused  me  no  surprise  whatever. 
Almost  every  day  of  my  life  some  enthusiastic  soul 
calls  at  my  office  brimming  over  with  a  number  of 
brand  new  ideas  on  the  lines  of  Mr.  Brisbane's  sug- 
gestions. These  cheerful  idiots  blithely  suggest  that 
we  should  make  educational  pictures;  we  should  do 
something  like  'The  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln,'  some- 
thing really  worth  while  instead  of  the  mad  whirl 
of  tram  robberies  and  clap-trap  melodrama,  which 
they  and  Mr.  Brisbane  seem  to  think  constitute  the 
Alpha  and  (  >mega  of  the  Motion  Picture  Art.  It  quite 
little  improvers  and  would  per- 
hap  urprise  Mr,  Brisbane,  only  that  lie  'doesn't  care' 
to  know,  that  mosl  complete  and  comprehensive  lives 


of  George  Washington,  Abraham  Lincoln,  Napoleon 
and  other  names  prominent  in  'Who's  Who'  have  been 
faithfully  and  historically  visualized  by  the  photo- 
drama. 

"The  gentleman  has  shown  such  a  colossal  ignor- 
ance of  the  fifth  greatest  industry  in  the  world,  and 
one  which  is  contributed  to  by  the  leaders  in  Art, 
Literature,  Science  and  the  Drama,  that  I  can  well 
believe  the  stories  about  those  people  in  obscure  places 
in  the  South  who  do  not  yet  know  that  the  Civil  War 
is  over.  'The  greatest  editor  in  the  world'  would 
probably  never  have  coined  that  epigram,  'the  suc- 
cess of  the  modern  moving  picture  is  based  upon  the 
stupidity  and  lack  of  intellectual  development  of  the 
human  race,'  if  he  had  taken  the  trouble  to  investigate 
in  even  the  most  cursory  manner,  for  he  would  have 
found  that  every  play  that  Shakespeare  wrote,  all  the 
great  works  of  the  world's  greatest  writers,  Dickens, 
Thackeray,  Moliere,  Hugo,  Dumas,  and  from  them 
down  to  the  moderns,  such  as  Rex  Beach,  Jack  Lon- 
don, Robert  W.  Chambers,  Hall  Caine  and  hundreds 
of  others,  had  all  been  translated  into  picture  form 
and  presented  on  the  screen  in  a  manner  far  outshin- 
ing any  dramatic  production  on  the  speaking  stage.  He 
would  have  discovered  that  the  'stupid  movies  which 
just  exploit  man's  lack  of  brains'  possess  sufficient 
intellectual  charm  to  cause  the  greatest  theatrical  stars 
to  forsake  the  stage  to  devote  their  time  and  talents 
and  to  give  their  names  to  this  art  so  despised  by  'the 
greatest  editor  in  the  world.'  Sarah  Bernhardt,  E.  H. 
Sothern,  William  Gillett,  Sir  Beerbohm  Tree,  Forbes 
Robertson,  Wilton  Lackaye,  Robert  Edeson,  Charles 
Ric.hman,  William  Courtenay  and  hundreds  of  others 
have  committed  the  indiscretion  of  appearing  in  the 
photo-drama  and  messing  around  in  a  'stupid'  propo- 
sition, which  Mr.  Brisbane  admits  is  'nothing  in  his 
life.' 

"When  he  began  to  draw  a  parallel  between  the 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


t  of  the  publicity  men  of  the  Motion  Pict, 


improvement  in  his  own  art,  of  which  he  is  the  world's 
greatest  exponent,  and  the  art  of  the  photo-drama, 
I  began  to  get  really  interested  because  I  thought,  at 
last  we  are  coming  into  our  own ;  but  the  glooms  clus- 
tered around  me  thickly  again  for  he  showed  us  con- 
clusively that  the  motion  picture  was  just  where  it 
started  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago,  while  the  modern 
newspaper,  which  had  its  initial  start  six  hundred  years 
ago,  had  progressed  considerably  and  was  now  a  thing 
of  beauty  and  a  joy  forever. 

"My  own  personal  opinion  is  that  the  motion 
picture  has  been  the  world's  greatest  boon  since  the 
invention  of  the  printing  press,  and  that  there  is  no 
art,  science  or  industry  known  to  world's  history  that 
has  progressed  in  such  gigantic  strides  during  its  short 
life  of  twenty  years. 

"A  little  over  twenty  years  ago  I,  too,  became 
a  member  of  the  great  Brotherhood  of  Newspapermen. 
Had  I  stuck  to  it  I,  too,  might  have  been  one  of  'the 
world's  greatest  editors,'  but  I  had  either  the  good 
sense  or  the  good  fortune  to  get  out  of  it  in  the  nick 
of  time  and  leave  the  field  clear  for  Mr.  Brisbane. 

"I  remember  with  crystal  clearness  the  first  sketch 
that  I  sold  to  the  Evening  World.  By  eluding  the 
Argus-eyed  office  boy  and  executing  a  flank  movement, 
I  penetrated,  unheralded,  to  the  inner  sanctum  of 
the  city  editor  in  the  person  of  Sam  Chamberlain, 
whom  many  of  you  well  remember.  Having  loaned 
my  overcoat  to  a  relative,  I  had  placed  several  news- 
papers across  my  chest  in  the  vicinity  of  the  pneu- 
monia region  to  keep  out  the  cold,  and  when  he  threat- 
ened to  kick  me  out  I  realized  with  a  sinking  of  the 
heart  that  I  had  put  those  newspapers  in  the  wrong 
place.  However,  he  did  not  carry  out  his  threat  and 
gruffly   asked   me   what   I    had.      I    showed    him    my 


sketches.  It  was  at  the  time  when  an  attempt  was 
being  made  to  enforce  the  dry  Sunday  law  in  New 
York  and  I  had  conceived  the  brilliant  idea  of  draw- 
ing a  countryman  with  long  chin  whiskers  clinging  to 
a  lamp  post  (the  countryman,  not  the  whiskers),  his 
umbrella  blown  inside  out  and  the  rain  pouring  down 
in  torrents,  saying,  'Gosh,  all  hemlock,  and  this  is  what 
they  call  a  dry  Sunday  in  New  York.' 

"Mr.  Chamberlain  marked  some  hieroglyphics  on 
this  drawing,  which  signified  one  column  cut,  and  sent 
me  to  the  outer  office  where  Tom  Powers  and  Ferd 
Long  were  busily  drawing,  and  poor  old  N.  A.  Jen- 
nings, with  his  white  hair  and  red  face  and  with  coat 
and  vest  off  and  suspenders  hanging  down,  was  trying 
to  look  as  busy  as  anyone  else  there.  I,  of  course,  did 
not  know  these  famous  personages  at  that  time,  but 
got  to  know  them  very  well  in  the  happy  days  that 
followed  when  I  became  a  member  of  the  art  staff 
of  the  Evening  World.  The  acceptance  of  that  sketch 
was  one  of  the  big  thrills  of  my  life,  and  I  can  think 
of  nothing  at  the  present  time  that  could  transcend 
the  joy  I  felt  at  that  time,  except  perhaps  my  appoint- 
ment as  secretary  of  the  navy  under  Theodore  Roose- 
velt.   At  any  rate  we  would  sure  have  some  navy. 

"To  come  back  to  the  censorship  question,  all 
that  we  have  heard  this  evening  from  the  able  speak- 
ers who  were  acquainted  with  their  subject,  and  also 
from  'the  greatest  editor  in  the  world,'  everything  put 
together  and  boiled  down  resolves  itself  into  the  one 
basic  fact  that  if  the  newspaper,  the  spoken  drama, 
literature,  paintings  and  all  other  forms  of  thought 
expression  are  free  and  untrammeled  by  censorship, 
the  photo-drama  is,  under  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  entitled  to  that  same  untrammeled  free- 
dom." 


"Industry  Faces  Strangulation 


WHEN  the  applause  following  Commodore  Black- 
ton  faded  out,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  counsel  for  the 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  League,  spoke  as  follows : 
"No  industry  of  which  I  have  knowledge  has  a 
history  so  filled  with  romance  as  has  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry.  Through  the  motion  picture  the  world 
is  wiser,  humanity  broader  and  the  people  happier. 
It  is  the  greatest  boon  to  civilization  since  the  advent 
of  the  telephone.     It  informs,  entertains,  instructs.     It 


is  a  schoolhouse  in  itself— a  schoolhouse  for  everybody. 
"Nearly  3,000,000,000  people  are  said  to  have  at- 
tended the  motion  pictures  last  year.  Can  it  be  doubted 
then  that  this  art  or  industry  reflects  the  ideals  of  the 
great  mass  of  people?  And  surely,  if  it  speaks  to  and 
for  the  people,  it  must  tell  the  story  of  life,  and  if  it 
tells  the  story  of  life,  it  must  be  free  to  speak  truth- 
fully, to  reflect  life  as  it  is,  as  does  the  drama  and  the 
press.     But  while  the  press  and  the  drama  find  them- 


676 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


selves  guarded  by  the  great  walls  of  the  constitution 
of  the  state,  the  newer  art,  this  infant  industry,  finds 
itself  facing  strangulation  by  an  almost  forgotten  ma- 
ternalistic  institution  called  the  censor. 

"Press  censorship  was  the  rule  in  Europe,  but 
when  the  onward  rush  of  civilization  and  democracy 
came  and  drove  tyranny  and  despotism  from  their 
trenches,  it  drove  out  censorship.  The  automobile  has 
been   allowed  to  grow  indiscriminately.     It  has  been 


said  that  the  motion  picture  or  some  of  them  might 
lead  men  to  crime.  If  humans  are  now  thus  easily  led 
into  wrongdoing,  heaven  help  the  future  generations. 
Should  every  man  who  rides  in  or  buys  a  car  be  required 
to  inform  the  alderman  of  his  district  of  his  financial 
ability  to  participate  in  the  luxuries  of  the  motor  car? 
"If  a  person  or  industry  must  be  punished,  let  it 
be  by  the  laws  of  the  land  and  not  by  the  will  of  an 
arbitrary  despot." 


"He  Came,  He  Saw  and  He  Spouted" 


T  EON  J.  RUBINSTEIN,  director  of  publicity  of 
■L  Thanhouser  Film  Corporation,  fired  several  telling 
broadsides  at  Mr.  Brisbane  in  the  closing  speech  of  the 
evening. 

"He  came,  he  saw  and  he  spouted;  and  seeking  a 
protection  corresponding  to  the  seclusion  of  his  editorial 
desk  he  hurls  editorial  vituperation.  He  did  not  pause  for 
reply  but  rushed  for  his  train.  Such  a  spectacle  was  af- 
forded the  diners  by  Arthur  Brisbane,  the  presiding 
genius  of  America's  biggest-typed  editorial  pages.  To 
call  him  an  erratic  genius  would  be  adequate  if  he  had 
misconceived  the  benefits  of  adequate  experience  with 
a  subject  he  undertook  to  discuss,  but  the  great  wonder 
of  it  all  is  that  Mr.  Brisbane  essayed  to  not  only  discuss 
but  to  give  advice  on  a  subject  with  which  he  confessed 
himself  to  be  only  slightly  familiar,  and  later  proved 
himself  entirely  ignorant  of. 

"Mr.  Brisbane  started  out  by  admitting  that  he  had 
only  seen  three  moving  pictures  in  this  life,  thus  exhib- 
iting a  remarkable  indifference  to  the  progress  of  a  recog- 
nized industry — an  indifference  unworthy  of  any  man  in 
the  position  of  a  leader  of  thought  of  his  time.  Yet  with- 
out knowing  what  picture  appeal  consists  of  he  proceeds 
to  belittle  picture  appeal  by  saying  that  it  claims  audiences 
because  its  ease  of  delineation  attracts  the  ignorant;  that 
motion  pictures  replace  the  written  word  only  for  those 
who  cannot  conjure  from  their  imagination  when  read- 
ing, the  picture  which  the  writer  seeks  to  portray.  I  say 
that  if  this  is  so  Mr.  Brisbane  and  the  entire  Fourth 
Estate  are  puny  weaklings,  and  the  motion  picture  is  the 
only  hope  for  many  millions  of  people  who  will  never 
know  anything  if  motion  pictures  do  not  show  it  to 
them.  Mr.  Brisbane's  great  printing  presses  are  as  far 
in  advance  of  the  stone  hieroglyphics  as  the  motion  picture 
is  of  the  printed  page.  And  even  on  the  printed  page  of 
Mr.  Brisbane's  own  publications  the  most  conspicuous  ap- 
peals to  the  understanding  of  the  reader  are  made  through 
cartoons  and  photographs  and  not  type.  The  great  daily 
for  which  lie  writes  is  famous  for  the  wealth  of  pictures 
with  which  it  catches  the  reader's  eye  on  every  occasion, 
going  even  out  of  the  range  of  reality  in  picturing  the 
progress  of  tragedies  by  means  of  series  of  pen  sketches. 
The  editorial  page  over  which  his  facile  pen  spreads  itself 
is  seldom  less  than  sixty  per  cent  picture  matter.  How 
then  in  all  consistency  can  Mr.  Brisbane  so  decry  picture 
appeal  ?  I  f  it  is  only  to  the  ignorant  that  the  screen  holds 
attraction,  then  Mr.  Brisbane  may  thank  the  screen  for 
inspiring  enough  imagination  in  these  people  for  them  to 
be  able  to  read  his  writings  later. 

"The  illustrious  book-page  scientist  pooh-poohs  the 
idea  of  censorship;  he  dismisses  it  as  being  of  no  concern 
to  him  a  matter  of  no  more  sentiment  than  the  build- 
in-  of  a  house.  'If  the  law  allows  you  to  build  it  twentj 
-tones,'  says  Mr.  Brisbane,  'yon  build  it  twenty,  and  if 
the  law  says  ten,  you  build  it  ten.'  And  he  waives  the 
mbjeel  aside  with  the  remark  thai  our  interest  in  censor- 


ship is  bounded  on  all  sides  by  the  dollar  mark !  I  won- 
der who  ever  told  him  that  money  was  not  the  considera- 
tion in  this  industry  as  it  is  in  his  own  business?  If  it 
were  not  a  matter  of  conserving  our  industry  and  further- 
ing its  prosperity,  how  could  we  have  ever  gotten  to- 
gether on  film  censorship  instead  of  an  anti-teething  ring 
crusade?  To  follow  Mr.  Brisbane's  advice  we  should 
take  up  a  cause  only  because  it  eases  our  conscience  to 
know  that  we  are  fighting  for  something  in  which  there  is 
no  material  gain  to  be  considered,  just  like  Mr.  Brisbane 
does — not!  To  follow  his  advice  further  we  might  be 
making  pictures  showing  the  faults  and  virtues  of  polit- 
ical candidates,  according  to  the  desires  of  politicians  with 
whom  we  might  be  affiliated — charging  the  public  admis- 
sion for  it!  Mr.  Brisbane  even  suggested  that  we  will 
cover  ourselves  with  glory  if  we  were  only  original 
enough  to  make  such  a  picture  as  the  life  of  Washington 
or  the  life  of  Lincoln!  And  we  must  waste  our  type- 
writer and  printing  press  energy  to  tell  Mr.  Brisbane 
that  while  he  has  been  soundly  sleeping  or  devoting  his 
imagination  to  the  dissemination  of  the  history  of  for- 
gotten races,  those  pictures  which  are  his  ideal  of  screen 
art  and  efficiency  went  into  the  discard  some  five  or  six 
years  ago. 

"If  Mr.  Brisbane  were  not  speaking  from  a  con- 
fessed ignorance  of  his  subject  he  would  be  a  pathetic 
example  of  the  decadence  of  the  human  mind,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  scientific  theories.  But  with  his  keen  power 
of  analysis  it  is  certainly  strange  that  the  progress  of  the 
world  has  played  hide-and-seek  so  successfully  with  his 
mental  and  ocular  perception. 

"If  Mr.  Brisbane  wants  to  know  something  about  the 
educational  force  of  even  clap-trap  melodrama,  let  him 
sit  down  in  an  audience  that  does  not  boast  limousines 
and  Riverside  Drive  receptions.  He  will  learn  that  the 
only  lessons  worth  while  are  being  taught  every  minute 
of  the  day;  that  through  the  medium  of  dramatic  cir- 
cumstance chanty  and  love  and  kindness  are  being  sown 
in  hearts  that  could  never  get  them  out  of  books  or  twenty- 
four-point  editorials.  He  may  object  to  the  vehicle,  but 
he  might  be  reminded  that  even  in  the  Bible  he  will  find 
some  things  regarding  which  he  would  not  want  his  sis- 
ter or  daughter  to  question  him  too  closely.  Whereas 
in  moving  pictures  no  questions  are  necessary,  much  to 
the  intellectual  loss  of  the  poor  deluded  ignoramuses 
who  depend  upon  films  for  the  only  ray  of  sunshine  in 
their  lives  of  toil  and  drudgery. 

"To  every  man  who  had  not  met  Mr.  Brisbane  be- 
fore last  Sunday  night  the  prospect  of  hearing  him  was 
an  anticipated  pleasure,  but  by  the  time  he  had  lunged 
forth  his  first  venomous  dart  and  had  confessed  that"  he 
did  not  know  what  he  was  talking  about,  the  impression 
he  made  remained  intact,  and  every  man  to  whom  the 
Brisbane  mind  and  Brisbane  achievement  represented  an 
ideal  of  accomplishment  the  thought  persisted:  'How 
are  the  mighty  fallen!'" 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Censorship  Bill  Approved  in  Part 


BY  THOMAS  O.  MONK 

(Washington    Correspondent    for    Motogkaphy) 


THE  House  committee  on  education  met  on  March 
14  and  once  more  took  up  the  consideration  of 
the  Hughes  censorship  bill.  The  entire  document 
was  re-read  and  several  sections  approved.  Another 
meeting  will  be  held  soon  and  Chairman  Hughes,  who 
has  recovered  from  his  recent  illness,  has  expressed 
the  opinion  that  the  bill  will  be  approved  for  reporting 
by  the  end  of  the  week.  It  is  probable  that  the  section 
providing  for  prepublicity  censorship  will  be  included. 

The  House  committee  has  received  a  communi- 
cation from  H.  C.  Barber,  representing  the  welfare 
workers  in  New  York  city,  stating  that  in  the  pro- 
posed New  York  city  censorship  law  there  will  be 
inserted  a  section  providing  that  in  the  event  of  federal 
•censorship,  its  seal  of  approval  will  be  accepted  by  the 
New  York  city  board  in  lieu  of  the  city  censorship. 

The  deliberators  on  "Education"  likewise  received 
a  letter  from  the  Right  Reverend  C.  K.  Nelson,  Epis- 
copal-bishop of  Atlanta,  as  follows: 

"Knowing  of  the  efforts  to  establish  a  federal  com- 
mission on  motion  pictures  and  feeling  that  the  time 
has  come  for  all  of  us  who  think  and  feel  deeply  on 
this  subject  to  say  so,  I  beg,  without  argument  or 
illustration,  to  register  my  sincere  approval  of  such  an 
effort.  There  is  great  education  in  the  movies,  and 
as  I  see  constantly,  there  is  great  opportunity  of  harm, 
•especially  to  young  people.  If  the  government  can, 
by  proper  regulation,  use  this  agency  or  regulate  it 
in  the  proper  interest  of  our  people,  a  great  value 
will  be  established,  and  I  sincerely  trust  that  efforts 
may  be  directed  in  that  quarter." 

It  will  be  noted  that  Bishop  Nelson,  who  is  known 
throughout  the  entire  South,  does  not  ask  for  federal 
censorship,  but  for  "proper  regulation,"  and  in  this 
the  motion  picture  industry  is  undoubtedly  in  accord 
with  him. 

The  commissioners  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
have  received  a  resolution  adopted  by  the  Reno  Citi- 
zens' Association  protesting  against  allowing  the 
"Birth  of  a  Nation,"  to  be   shown   in   any  theater  in 


Washington.  The  motion  play  is  scheduled  to  be  pro- 
duced at  the  National  theater  here  in  April.  The  ex- 
pectation is  that  following  the  lead  of  persons  and 
organizations  in  other  cities,  further  protests  will  be 
made  to  the  commissioners.  As  yet  they  have  not 
taken  up  the  matter  for  consideration.  There  is  no 
local  board  of  censorship  in  Washington,  the  police 
acting  under  the  direction  of  the  commissioners  doing 
all  the  work  of  censoring  that  has  been  done.  In  this 
connection  it  may  be  stated  that  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  Washington  has  several  hundred  motion  pic- 
ture theaters,  there  appears  never  to  have  been  any 
complaints  that  resulted  in  pictures  being  censored  or 
withdrawn.  There  was  one  instance  a  couple  of  years 
ago  where  a  private  view  of  pictures  was  given  by  film 
machine  operators,  and  this  was  strictly  a  "stag  party." 
The  pictures  were  so  notably  indecent  and  obscene  that 
they  could  not  be  described  in  print.  The  "private 
view  stag  party"  was  raided  by  the  police  and  its  pro- 
moters prosecuted.  Not  one  of  the  sponsors  was  iden- 
tified with  established  or  reputable  local  showmen. 

The  Savoy  theater  on  Fourteenth  street  between 
Columbia  road  and  Irving  street  is  to  be  enlarged. 
Thirty  feet  is  to  be  added  to  the  width  of  the  building, 
by  providing  fifteen-foot  additionals  on  either  side. 
The  architecture  of  the  front  is  to  be  remodeled  and 
the  seating  capacity  will  be  increased  from  1,000  to 
1,500. 

The  new  front  is  to  have  a  marquise  over  the  en- 
trance. The  base  is  to  be  of  stone  and  the  upper  walls 
of  red,  rough-texture  brick,  with  terra  cotta  pilasters. 

A  spacious  gallery  is  to  be  provided,  also  a  series 
of  mezzanine  boxes.  The  plans  also  call  for  a  larger 
stage. 

The  work  will  start  some  time  in  May.  The  build- 
ing is  the  property  of  the  Savoy  Theater  Company. 

The  Federal  Trade  Commission  has  assigned  to 
Commissioner  William  J.  Harris  the  investigation  of 
the  complaint  against  a  film  company  which  declined 
to  sell  to  the  complainant,  the  details  of  which  were 
given  in  Motogkaphy  last  week. 

Commissioner  Harris  states  that  the  matter  is  un- 
der investigation,  and  for  the  present  no  further  details 
will  be  given  out. 

Mr.  Harris  was  formerly  director  of  the  census 
and  is  considered  a  very  able  man.  Under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  commission  he  will  conduct  the  inquiry 
relative  to  trade  statistics  in  the  motion  picture  and 
other  industries   of  the   country. 


CHICAGOAN  DESIGNS  PLANT 

William  T.  Braun  Lays  Out  New  Studio  of  Barker- 
Swan  Film  Service  at  Peoria;  Productions  to 
Begin  in  About  Three  Weeks 

William  T.  Braun,  a  Chicago  architect,  designed 
the  new  studio  of  the  Barker-Swan  Film  Service,  lo- 
cated in  Peoria,  111.,  which  is  declared  to  be  modern 
in  every  respect,  patterned  after  the  European  studios 
in  Paris,  Berlin  and  London,  and  also  the  large  plants 
in  the  East. 

The  building  is  of  steel  and  brick  construction, 


678 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


measuring  75  by  110.  Private  and  general  offices, 
dressing  and  wardrobe  rooms,  film  vaults,  exhibition 
room,  carpenter  shop,  laboratory  and  studio  comprise 
the   plant. 

The  studio  is  86  by  45  feet,  and  is  equipped  with 


Cooper-Hewitt  lamps  and  arcs.  The  lighting  system 
is  of  the  latest  and  most  efficient  type,  all  the  skylights, 
side  banks  and  arcs  being  fed  and  controlled  in  one 
unit.  A  traveling  crane,  30  by  45  feet  and  weighing 
nine  tons,  which  carries  the  lamps,  traverses  the  stu- 
dio. 

The  private  and  general  offices  are  located  on 
the  first  and  second  floors  in  one  end  of  the  building, 
the  laboratory  being  on  the  first  floor  parallel  with  the 
studio,  above  which  are  the  dressing  rooms,  wardrobe 
room  and  exhibition  room.  Before  one  portion  of 
the  studio  is  a  concrete  tank. 

The  laboratory  contains  separate  chemical,  devel- 
oping, washing,  tinting,  drying  and  assembling  rooms ; 
also  printing  and  title  rooms,  these  being  equipped 
with  the  most  improved  machines. 

In  the  adjoining  yard,  which  is  60  by  110  feet,  are 
being  constructed  sunken  gardens,  pergolas,  grape  ar- 
bors, etc.  The  building  is  constructed  in  such  a  way 
that  the  roof  is  entirely  clear  and  will  be  used  when 
the  weather  permits  as  an  outdoor  studio. 

The  Barker-Swan  Film  Service  located  in  Peoria 
on  account  of  the  natural  scenery  along  the  Illinois 
river  and  in  and  around  Peoria.  The  residential  sec- 
tion comprises  some  of  the  most  palatial  homes  in 
the  country,  all  of  which  will  be  used  in  the  pictures, 
the  production  of  which  will  commence  in  about  three 
weeks. 


SHOW  HOW  TO  CUT  MEATS 


Paramount     Pictographs     Inaugurate     "Lessons     in 

Carving,"  Which  Are  a  Boon  to  the  Busy 

Housewife 

Can  you  carve  a  turkey  as  easily  as  you  cut  a 
piece  of  cheese? 

The  answer  is  only  one  of  the  many  supplied  by 
motion  pictures. 

Housewives,  to  whom  carving  is  a  bugbear,  and 
husbands,  who  have  never  been  able  to  remove  the 


leg  of  a  fowl  with  neatness  and  dispatch,  or  divide  a 
drumstick  and  second  joint  with  an  easy  mind,  will 
be  taught  to  become  artistic  carvers  in  a  few  moments 
by  the  "Lessons  in  Carving"  shown  in  the  Paramount 
Pictographs,  released  by  the  Paramount  Pictures  Cor- 
poration. They  have  only  to  see,  then  go  home  and 
try  their  luck.  Slicing  a  ham  or  a  roast  will  have 
become  comparatively  a  simple  matter. 

•  In  the  first  scene  the  audience  is  confronted  with 
a  chef  busily  carving — in  the  correct  manner — a  roast 
of  beef.  The  rib  of  the  roast  faces  the  carver  and  his 
fork  is  driven  in  between  the  ribs  at  a  point  to  the 
left  of  the  center.  The  knife,  held  in  the  right  hand, 
is  drawn  toward  the  ribs  with  long,  even  strokes.  And 
it's  as  easy  as  it  looks. 

The  chef  remains  in  the  next  scene,  but  a  duck 
occupies  the  platter.  Toward  the  carver's  left  is  the 
neck  of  the  bird  and  the  fork  is  in  the  side  facing  him. 
A  clean  cut  goes  through  the  skin  and  flesh  to  re- 
move the  leg,  the  joint  is  located  and  the  knife  run 
through  it.  The  wings  are  removed  in  the  same  way 
and  the  breast  meat  is  cut  in  horizontal  slices  toward 
the  center  after  a  long  incision  has  been  made  on  each 
side,  following  the  breast  bone. 

The  turkey  comes  next. 

A  shallow  cut  is  made  through  the  skin  and  around 


the  leg  and  the  joint  is  broken  down  with  the  fork. 
Another  cut  divides  the  drumstick  and  second  joint. 
Still  another,  in  the  interests  of  economy,  makes  three 
pieces  out  of  two.  Wings  are  left  until  the  last  and 
the  breast  is  carved  by  making  a  cut  across  the  shoul- 
der and  slicing  the  white  meat  from  the  breast  toward 
the  wing. 

For  carving  a  ham,  a  special  type  of  knife  is 
shown,  the  hock  end  of  the  meat  being  placed  at  the 
carver's  right,  the  fork  driven  into  the  left  of  the  center 
joint  near  the  carver.  From  the  butt  end  a  thick, 
wedge-shaped  piece  is  removed  and  the  chef  slices 
toward  the  right  the  pieces  he  wishes  to  serve  and 
severs  them  from  the  bone  with  a  horizontal  cut  shown 
on  the  screen. 

The  final  picture  is  an  encouragement. 

It  is  easier  than  cutting  cheese  when  you  know 
how. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


679 


What  Theater  Men  Are  Doing 


AN  OPEN  FORUM 


Studies  Human  Nature 

By  Harry  Hemings 

Manager,    Empress    Theater,    North   Battleford,   Sask. 

1  BELIEVE  a  great  part  of  my  success  as  an  exhibitor 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  I  am  a  pretty  fair  judge  of 
human  nature.  I  study  the  wants  of  my  patrons  and 
act  accordingly.    The  result  is  obvious. 

When  I  -  was 
twenty  years  of  age, 
I  was  a  machinist 
and  in  charge  of 
twenty  men.  I  had 
at  that  time  attained 
a  reputation  o  f 
knowing  my  busi- 
ness. So  I  figured 
that  if  I  could  run 
another  man's  busi- 
ness, I  could  run  a 
business  for  myself. 
That  is  what  caused 
me  to  open  a  motion 
picture  show  and 
that  is  why  I  am  to- 
day a  successful  ex- 
hibitor. I  didn't 
wait  for  oportunity. 
I  went  after  it. 

From  the  start, 
I  made  it  my  busi- 
ness to  get  the  oper- 
ating business  down  so  that  I  would  know  it  from 
every  angle.  I  did  this  and  after  months  of  careful 
study  became  thoroughly  efficient  in  everything  per- 
taining to  motion  picture  projection. 

Then  I  made  it  a  point  to  make  a  careful  study  of 
my  patrons,  their  expressions  and  their  remarks.  I 
watched  them  every  day  and  grew  to  anticipate  their 
wishes  and  desires.  Being  a  pretty  good  judge  of  hu- 
man nature,  I  found  it  easy  to  give  them  what  they 
wanted  and  the  result  was  that  my  competitors  soon 
were  crying  for  quarter. 

I  believe  courtesy  and  politeness  two  of  the  steps 
to  success  in  the  motion  picture  business.  They  are 
two  of  the  watchwords  in  my  theater. 

I  have  placed  the  Empress  theater  at  the  disposal 
of  local  and  traveling  theatrical  organizations.  The 
stage  has  been  so  arranged  as  to  accommodate  both 
picture  play  and  drama.  Fully  equipped  with  devices 
necessary  to  the  production  of  modern  plays,  the  Em- 
press offers  unusual  advantages  and  opportunities. 
Accoustic  facilities  are  excellent. 

I  give  special  attention  to  the  patronage  of  women 
and  children,  rates  being  made  for  them  and  special 
pictures  being  shown  for  their  benefit. 


This  young  "live  wire"  has  a  weakness  for  taking 
over  a  house  with  a  jinks  on  it.  He  thereupon  per- 
forms an  operation  on  the  aforesaid  house,  removes  the 
hoodoo  and  transforms  it  into  a  gilt-edged  property. 

The  only  house  in  Billings  heretofore  not  receiv- 
ing attention  at  the  hands  of  the  theater  renovator 
was  the  Gem,  a  pretty  little  theater  off  on  a  side 
street,  a  house  that  could  not  draw  a  corporal's  guard 
even  if  they  put  on  David  and  Goliath  with  the  original 
cast. 

February  3  last  the  neighbors  next  door  celebrated 
and  had  a  fire  which  burned  out  the1  Regent  lobby  and 
spoiled  the  interior  decorations.  Now  O'Keefe  has 
moved  Paramount  Pictures  to  the  Gem  and  is  doing 
big  business,  the  insurance  people  have  put  up  the 
money  to  have  the  Regent  redecorated,  thereby  saving 
O'Keefe  some  $350  this  spring. 

The  luck  of  some  people,  etc. 


H.    Hem 


Makes  Hoodoo  House  Pay 

The  Irish  win. 
Y'  can't  beat  'em. 

That's  an  old  adage  which  is  proven  herewith. 
E.  C.  O'Keefe,  Regent  theater,  Billings,  Mont., 
at  it  again. 


One  Live  Exhibitor 

Here  is  a  man  whose  motto  is : 

"Make  live  ones  out  of  dead  ones." 

He  amplifies  this  with : 

"It  isn't  a  great  trick  to  make  money  with  a  bank 
roll  and  with  the  most  beautiful  house  by  far  in  yours 
or  my  respective  towns.  The  trick  comes  in  turning 
the  tide  of  a  loser  into  a  winner." 

The  man  is  A.  T.  Shaughnessy,  secretary  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Morgan  Grand  theater,  Sharon,  Pa. 

A  specimen  of  the  kind  of  principles  he  has 
adopted  in  earning  the  reputation  of  being  a  successful 
exhibitor  is  shown  quite  clearly  in  the  shape  of  a 
24-page  program  published  by  his  theater. 

One-third  of  20  of  the  24  pages  of  the  program,  are 
devoted  to  current  and  coming  attractions.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  program  is  solid  advertising.  A  sound 
profit  was  made  on  the  investment,  according  to  Mr. 
Shaugnessy,  who  scoffs  at  the  declarations  of  some 
motion  picture  managers  that  film  program  advertising 
is  "impossible." 

"We  often  have  as  many  as  forty  pages  in  our 
program,"  writes  the  Sharon  exhibitor,  "and  we  have 
never  made  less  than  $50  clear  profit  on  the  program." 

The  program  is  between  seven  and  eight  inches 
long  by  between  three  and  four  inches  wide,  printed 
in  various  colors  and  making,  typographically,  a  fine 
piece  of  work. 


A  Few  "Live  Wires" 

Here  are  some  letters  received  by  Tom  North, 
live  wire  manager  for  V-L-S-E.,  Inc.,  in  Seattle, 
Wash. : 

Star  Theater. 
Mullan,  Idaho,  March  1,  1916. 
V-L-S-E.,  Inc.,  Seattle,  Wash. 

"The  Great  Divide"  was  a  good  picture,  but  I  think 
that  the  girl  could  have  put  up  a  much  better  scrap, 
and  she  also  had  two  good  opportunities  to  make  her 
escape  or  at  least  make  a  try  to  escape,  otherwise 
everything  was  fine. 

E.  B.  Crawford,  Mgr. 


680 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


The  Peoples  Theater, 

Enterprise,  Ore,  Feb.  28,  1916. 
V-L-S-E,  Inc.,  Seattle,  Wash. 

We  put  on  "A  Texas  Steer"  last  Saturday  and  to 
say  the  least  it  gave  entire  satisfaction.  Some  of  our 
patrons  wanted  us  to  run  it  again.  They  liked  it  very 
much.  If  you  have  any  more  clean,  live  comedies  as 
good  as  the  "Texas  Steer,"  we  surely  want  them  up 
here. 

We  want  to  get  in  on  those  comedies  (The  Esca- 
pades of  Mr.  Jack).  When  we  get  a  drama  feature 
from  you,  say  like  "The  Turn  of  the  Road"  we  think 
it  would  be  a  dandy  good  thing  to  put  on  a  one-reel 
comedy,  and  if  we  could  get  some  featuring  Frank 
Daniels  that  is  just  what  we  want.  We  had  Frank  in 
"Crooky"  some  time  ago  and  he  certainly  made  a  hit 
here. 

We  have  been  doing  capacity  business  on  Satur- 
days (Big  Four  Days),  and  could  do  much  more  if  our 
house  was  larger.  Our  capacity  is  only  250  now,  but 
we  are  going  to  enlarge  our  house  by  putting  in  about 
150  more  seats  right  away  and  then  you  may  hear  from 
us  on  the  "Stunt  Business,"  as  it  is  at  present  we  do 
not  need  any  stunts. 

Please  let  me  hear  from  you  with  prices  on  "The 
Escapades  of  Mr.  Jack,"  as  we  want  to  run  these  with 
our  drama  features  and  when  you  send  us  a  feature 
comedy  we  would  like  to  have  the  Hearst-Vitagraph 
News  Pictorial  at  the  same  time.  Don't  you  think  that 
would  be  a  good  scheme? 

C.  C.  Ghormley,  Mgr. 
Orpheum  Theater, 

Butte,  Mont,  February  29,  1916. 
Mr.  Tom  North,  Mgr. 

V-L-S-E,  Inc.,  Seattle,  Wash. 

Well,  I  have  again  entered  the  field  and  have 
booked  the  following  features  from  the  Salt  Lake 
office :  "The  Raven,"  "The  Cave  Man,"  "The  Price  of 
Folly,"  "Daughter  of  the  City,"  "The  Great  Divide," 
"What  Happened  to  Father,"  "The  Misleading  Lady," 
"Souls  in  Bondage,"  "A  Night  Out,"  "Vultures  of 
Society,"  "The  Hunted  Woman,"  "Unto  Those  Who 
Sin." 

Twelve  in  all,  and  all  of  them  look  like  sure  fire 
box  office  attractions.  I  had  a  letter  from  Mr.  Bertel- 
son,  manager  of  the  V-L-S-E  Salt  Lake  branch,  and  he 
stated  that  he  had  been  in  bed  for  the  past  ten  days 
with  the  grippe.  He  certainly  is  a  fine  fellow  and  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  his  company  for  a  few  days  while 
lie  was  covering  this  territory. 

The  open  booking  is  a  mighty  good  thing  for 

Till-.     EXHIBITOR,     FOR     HE     CAN     GIVE     HIS     PATRONS     TTJST 
Wll  \T   THEY   WANT. 

With   kindest  regards  to  vourself  as  well  as  Mr. 
Merwm,  who  has  entered  your  employ,  I  remain, 
Yonrs  truly, 

Jay  A.  Haas,  Mgr. 
1  tippoDROMi  Theater, 

Spokane,  Wash.,  March  1,  1916. 
Mr.  Tom  North,  Mgr. 

V-L-S-E.,  Inc..  Seattle,  Wash. 

Yours   al    hand    with    bookings   which   more   than 

'nr.    Am  delighted  with  the  prompt  and  intelli- 

prenl  co  operation  reo  i  ed.     \m  so  used  to  ifs  and  huts 

in  service  that  thi    i    an  agreeable  change.    Thank  you 


for  arranging  dates  on  "Battle  Cry."  Wish  you  would 
send  me  by  express  or  freight,  latter  preferred,  three 
thousand  heralds  on  each  release  to  reach  me  not  later 
than  the  12th  of  March.  Freight  will  economize.  Have 
given  the  billboard  advertising  consideration,  but  think 
I  will  concentrate  on  the  newspapers  where  the  fea- 
tures will  be  given  adequate  publicity. 

Herman  J.  Brown,  Mgr. 


"Triangle  Sunday"  Some  Dish 

Beatrice,  Nebraska,  has  produced  an  exhibitor  for 
whom  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation  is  prepared  to 
provide  an  individual  niche  in  the  hall  of  fame  where 
the  names  of  all  enterprising  exhibitors  are  preserved. 

Plal  Kelly,  of  the  Gilbert  theater  in  Beatrice,  is*  the 
man. 

Apparently  Mr.  Kelly  runs  something  besides  the 
theater,  for  he  recently  converted  temporarily  the  en- 
tire policy  of  a  local  pharmacist  to  Triangle.  Promi- 
nent in  the  scheme  was  the  serving  of  a  brand  new 
confection,  the  Triangle  sundae,  at  the  soda  fountain. 
This  was  no  old  recipe  rechristened,  but  the  result  of 
expert  efforts  that  finally  satisfied  the  discriminating 
taste  of  Mrs.  Kelly. 

The  Triangle  sundae  occupied  a  glass  of  generous 
proportions  and  had  a  confection  triangle  made  by  a 
local  baker  to  top  three  cherries,  supported  by  three 
candied  plums  in  green.  Ice  cream  of  white  vanilla 
and  very  dark  chocolate  completed  the  color  scheme. 
For  a  consideration  which  Mr.  Kelly  cheerfully  under- 
took the  originator  taught  the  leading  soda  dispensers 
of  Beatrice  the  trick.  It  is  reported  that  the  Triangle 
sundae  was  a  hit  from  the  start. 

Mr.  Kelly  also  has  well  defined  ideas  of  presenta- 
tion.    When  a  recent  William  S.  Hart  picture  was  an- 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


681 


nounced  he  sent  to  Omaha  and  got  a  supply  of  western 
stuff,  which  he  bestowed  upon  a  company  of  western 
boys.  Then  from  his  scenery  storeroom  he  got  a  west- 
ern "hall"  front,  which  at  the  proper  place  he  lowered 
in  front  of  the  screen  while  the  projection  stopped. 
Then  the  boys  drifted  into  the  place  and  finally  Kelly 
himself,  endeavoring  to  represent  Hart,  got  a  tremen- 
dous round  of  applause  when  he  rolled  and  lighted  a 
cigarette  with  one  hand.  After  this  feat  projection 
was  resumed.  The  Gilbert  theater  ought  to  get  the 
business. 


New  Policy  at  Clemmer  Theater,  Seattle 

Big  Four  features  have  been  put  into  permanent 
effect  at  the  Clemmer  theater  in  Seattle,  Wash.  It  was 
only  after,  months  of  careful  study,  according  to  a 
statement  issued  by  James  Clemmer,  of  the  condition 
and  trend  of  the  motion  picture  business  in  Seattle  that 
Mr.  Clemmer  definitely  decided  to  run  V-L-S-E  at- 
tractions in  his  theater. 

After  all  is  said  about  the  other  big  theaters  in 
Seattle,  it  is  still  contended  that  the  Clemmer  theater 
holds  the  warmest  spot  in  the  hearts  of  the  picture 
fans.  The  popularity  is  due,  in  a  large  measure,  to  Mr. 
Clemmer's  judgment  in  selecting  the  kind  of  pictures 
his  patrons  want  and  being  quick  to  note  when  they 
want  a  change.  For  a  long  time  he  knew  that  the  de- 
sires of  the  public  were  changing,  but  he  did  not  want 
to  give  them  this  change  until  he  was  fully  satisfied  as 
to  just  what  would  appeal  to  them  most. 

He  discovered  finally  that  it  was  Big  Four  features 
that  he  wanted  and,  he  declares,  they  fill  the  bill. 


Clean  Pictures  Spell  Success 

By  C.  R.  Blubaugh. 

Manager    of    the    Pictuveland    and    Vaudctte    Theater    Company,    Fort    Scott, 
Kansas. 

Good,  clean  pictures,  with  pleasant  surroundings 
and  good  music  will  always  get  the  business. 

I  am  the  manager  of  two  thea- 
ters in  Fort  Scott  and  both  of  them 
are  doing  an  excellent  business.  The 
same  policy  prevails  in  both  thea- 
ters. 

I  am  26  years  old  and  have  been 
in  the  motion  picture  game  for  five 
years.  In  that  time  I  have  made  a 
careful  study  of  the  wants  of  the 
film  loving  public  and  believe  I  have 
reached  a  point  when  I  can  give 
them  just  what  they  want. 
I  am  a  firm  believer  in  good,  clean  pictures.  There 
are  many  things  that  go  to  make  up  a  successful  ex- 
hibitor, but  I  believe  the  class  of  entertainment  he  pro- 
vides for  his  patrons  is  the  chief  ingredientAof  success. 
I  show  nothing  but  the  highest  grade  pictures  and 
change  them  often. 

I  am  now  showing  the  works  of  Fox,  Paramount, 
Metro,  V-L-S-E  and  Mutual.  I  also  show  one  serial 
regularly.  It  is  "The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page," 
and  has  proved  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  to  be 
a   winner. 

I  am  also  strong  for  extraordinary  lobbies.  I  be- 
lieve the  outside  of  the  motion  picture  theater  to  be 
just  as  important  as  the  inside. 

Courtesy  and  consideration  of  your  patrons  also  is  in- 
dispensable. 


Star  Contest  Attracts 

"Select  Your  Favorite  Star"  was  the  headline  of 
a  column  in  the  Saxe  Weekly,  a  publication  devoted  to 
the  Saxe  theater  interests  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

At  the  top  of  the  column  in  which  the  request  to 
the  Saxe  patrons  was  displayed  was  a  mention  of  "The 
Call  of  the  Cumberlands,"  featuring  four  Pallas-Para- 
mount stars  who  appeared  in  this  one  play;  namely, 
Dustin  Farnum,  Herbert  Standing,  Myrtle  Stedman 
and  Winifred  Kingston. 

It  is  of  great  interest  to  note  that  four  prominent 
stars  appeared  in  one  Pallas-Paramount  Picture  and 
that  the  Alhambra  Theater  should  advertise  this  fact 
to  its  patrons. 

Had  this  contest  been  for  the  play  and  not  the 
star,  there  is  little  doubt  but  that  "The  Call  of  the 
Cumberlands"  would  have  stood  first  on  the  list.  This 
was  the  only  production  listed  featuring  more  than  one 
star. 


Post  Cards  Bring  Business 

The  Rowland  and  Clark  theaters,  which  include 
the  Regent,  The  Belmar,  The  Arsenal,  The  Strand, 
The  Oakland  and  The  Bellevue,  in  Pittsburgh,  recently 
have  sent  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation  postal  cards 
reproducing  various  portions  of  their  theaters.  These 
theaters  are  said  to  be  the  most  attractively  decorated 
houses  in  Pittsburgh.  The  advertising  value  of  send- 
ing out  high  grade  colored  postal  cards  such  as  these 
are  is  undoubtedly  great.  The  Rowland  &  Clark 
theaters  will  send  a  series  of  these  postal  cards  to  any 
exhibitor  who  is  interested.  As  they  undoubtedly  cost 
this  company  over  a  cent  a  piece  it  is  advisable  to  en- 
close 10  cents  in  stamps  when  writing  to  Pittsburgh. 
Their  address  is  The  Rowland  &  Clark  Theaters,  1014 
Empire  Building,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


Colander  Sent  Patrons 

The  Apollo  theater,  Hollywood,  Calif.,  distributes 
a  very  attractive  card  to  local  merchants  and  homes 
in  its  town.  This  calendar  is  printed  in  the  regular 
form,  but  under  each  date  is  a  small  memorandum  of 
the  play  which  is  appearing  on  the  bill.  A  calendar 
such  as  this  as  a  daily  reminder  can  be  made  in  many 
attractive  forms  and  should  be  a  business  getter  for 
exhibitors. 


INCE  NAMES  FILM  SPECTACLE 

"He  Who  Returned"  Will  Have  its  Premiere  in  Six 

or  Seven  Weeks  in  Ten  or  Eleven  Reels; 

Producer  is  Enthusiastic 

The  secret's  out. 

"He  Who  Returned"  is  the  title  of  "Ince's  great 
spectacle." 

It  was  chosen  from  a  hundred  or  so  and  is  said 
to  be  most  adaptable  to  the  extraordinary  film. 

Work  on  the  cutting  and  assembling  of  the  mas- 
sive multiple  feature  which  Thomas  H.  Ince  has  been 
making  for  the  last  ten  months  is  rapidly  nearing  com- 
pletion and  unless  present  plans  go  awry  the  sub- 
ject will  have  its  premiere  within  the  next  five  or  six 
weeks. 

Producer  Ince  is  devoting  his  undivided  atten- 
tion to  the  application  of  finishing  touches.  The  great- 
er part  of  the  day  he  spends  in  the  projecting  room, 
viewing  the  running  and  re-running  of  the  spectacle 


682 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


and  bending  every  effort  toward  its  perfection.  It 
is  declared  that  never  in  his  career  has  he  been  so  per- 
ceptibly enthusiastic  over  any  of  his  productions  as  he 
is  over  this,  his  latest  and,  he  says,  his  greatest  work. 

In  its  present  condition,  the  film  measures  fifteen 
thousand  feet,  more  than  100,000  feet  having  been  cast 
aside  since  the  cutting  process  first  was  undertaken. 
Between  4,000  and  5,000  feet  still  remain  to  be  cut,  for 
it  is  understood  that  it  is  Ince's  intention  to  release 
the  picture  as  a  ten  or  eleven  reel  subject. 

To  facilitate  the  difficult  and  delicate  task  which 
now  confronts  Victor  L.  Schertzinger,  who  is  compos- 
ing the  music  for  the  spectacle,  Producer  Ince  has 
erected,  in  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  Inceville,  an 
improvised  projecting  room,  with  adjoining  quarters 
for  Mr.  Schertzinger.  The  structure  has  been  built 
with  a  view  to  providing  the  composer  with  accommo- 
dations that  will  best  enable  him  to  perform  his  daily 
duties  in  an  atmosphere  of  absolute  quietude,  instead 
of  being  intermittently  disturbed  by  the  unavoidable 
noises  about  the  studio. 

Far  into  one  of  the  countless  canyons  of  the  18,000 
acre  domain  of  Inceville,  Schertzinger  is  now  en- 
grossed in  what  he  declares  to  be  the  most  responsible 
job  ever  assigned  him.  Since  the  inception  of  the 
Triangle  Film  Corporation  he  has  been  composing  the 
incidental  score  of  each  Triangle-Kay  Bee  subject 
made  under  the  Ince  supervision,  but  never  has  he 
tackled  a  work  of  such  mammoth  proportions  as  that 
of  writing  the  music  for  "He  Who  Returned."  He 
says,  however,  that  he  is  confident  of  being  equal  to 
the  task  and  producing  a  score  that  will  be  a  valuable 
asset  of  the  spectacle.  He  attributes  his  confidence  in 
a  great  measure  to  the  inspirational  possibilities  in  the 
production. 

"I  have  seen  'He  Who  Returned'  a  number  of 
times,"  said  Schertzinger,  this  week,  "and  on  each  oc- 
casion I  have  observed  numerous  little  features  that 
had  escaped  my  notice  before.  From  beginning  to  end 
it  is  replete  with  wonderful  chances  for  beautiful  mu- 
sic. And  the  welcome  fact  is  that  it  affords  oppor- 
tunity for  diversity  in  composition.  The  battle  scenes 
are  without  doubt  the  most  vividly  realistic  I  have  ever 
seen  on  any  screen  and  in  this  frame  of  mind  I  know 
I  can  proceed  without  having  to  draw  on  my  imagina- 
tion. I  feel  that  my  work  is  going  to  be  pleasurable; 
in  fact,  any  composer  finds  his  work  enjoyable  if  he 
is  enthusiastic." 

No  further  plans  have  as  yet  been  adopted  for 
the  initial  showing  of  the  big  picture.  Adam  Kessel, 
Jr.,  president  of  the  New  York  Motion  Picture  Cor- 
poration, is  still  in  Los  Angeles,  holding  daily  con- 
ference with  Producer  Ince,  and  it  is  expected  that  a 
decision  will  have  been  reached  within  another  fortnight. 


ARBUCKLE  ELECTED  JUDGE 

Twenty-eight  Years  After  His  Defeat  for  This  Office, 

Popular  Screen  Star  Deserts  Work  to  Serve 

Temporarily  on  the  Bench. 

Twenty  eighl  years  ago  Maclyn  Arbuckle,  then  a 
young  lawyer  and  embryo  politician  in  Texarkana, 
Bowie  county,  Texas,  conducted  a  vigorous  election 
campaign  for  the  office  of  justice  of  peace.  He  was 
defeated  because  his  opponent  was  a  butcher  who 
promised  his  constituents  fat  meal  and  lots  of  credit, 
while  all  Arbuckle  could  promise  was  justice. 

According    to    the    custom    of   that    part    of   the 


country,  on  losing  his  right  to  place  "Judge"  before  his 
name,  he  acquired  the  title  of  "Jedge,"  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  now  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  But  no  longer.  His  recent  return  to  Texar- 
kana resulted  in  an  unexpected  change  in  titles  and 
now  the  well-known  actor  of  the  screen  and  stage 
justly  claims  the  right  to  have  his  calling  cards  read 
"Judge  Maclyn  Arbuckle." 

On  arriving  at  the  station  at  Texarkana,  Mr.  Ar- 
buckle was  surprised  to  be  greeted  by  a  somber  official 
of  the  law  who  hailed  him  to  court.  The  court-room 
was  crowded  with  lawyers,  judges,  sheriffs  and  other 
prominent  personages  of  the  locality.  The  court 
explained  to  Mr.  Arbuckle  that  due  to  the  non-appear- 
ance of  the  regular  judge  (Mr.  Arbuckle  having  been 
duly  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  dim  past)  it  was  acting 
within  its  rights  in  demanding  that  he  take  the  place 
on  the  bench.  The  trial  of  a  case  was  pending  and  as 
Mr.  Arbuckle  looked  around  and  met  the  stern  glances 


of  all  present,  he  realized  that  he  had  to  be  on  his  met- 
tle in  order  to  foil  what  he  fully  realized  to  be  a  trick 
to  amuse  the  many  law-sharks  present  at  his  expense. 
The  case  taken  up  was  that  of  a  negro  accused  of 
stealing  one  rooster  and  five  hens.  He  lost  the  rooster 
and  hens  in  a  game  of  coon-can  before  he  got  home  and 
stood  before  the  judge  for  sentence.  The  trial  lasted 
about  an  hour,  but  in  place  of  catching  the  judge  nap- 
ping as  far  as  knowledge  of  law  and  the  procedure  of 
a  case  was  concerned,  the  many  prominent  citizens 
were  surprised  at  the  apparently  serious  and  able  pro- 
cedure on  the  part  of  their  victim.  In  fact,  Mr. 
Arbuckle  became  so  serious  that  the  negro  being  tried 
became  alarmed  and  slid  out  of  the  witness  chair  in  an 
attempt  to  run  away.  Then  the  judge  injected  an 
abundance  of  dry  humor  into  his  inquiry  which  soon 
had  the  entire  court  laughing  with  him,  instead  of  at 
him.  Never  a  smile  from  the  lips  of  the  stern  man  on 
the  bench  despite  the  humor  of  his  remarks,  and  when, 
after  he  had  summed  up  the  case  by  reviewing  the  tes- 
timony and  following  a  few  moments  of  quiet  reflection 
decided  that  the  defendant  was  entitled  to  his  brindle 
mule,  the  court  was  in  an  uproar  and  gave  due  credit 
to  the  erstwhile  Jedge  who  now  enjoys  the  title  of 
Judge.  His  long  delayed  acquisition  to  the  title,  how- 
ever, will  not  affect  the  future  screen  and  theatrical 
career  of  Maclyn  Arbuckle  as  his  success  in  Pallas- 
Paramount  photoplays  and  on  the  speaking  stage  in 
"The  New  Henrietta"  would  hardly  make  it  advisable 
for  him  to  discontinue  his  present  vocation. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


683 


Lesser  Explains  "Ne'er-Do-Weir  Transfer 

OTHER  BIG  FOUR  FEATURES  ON  THE  WAY 


ABOUT  two  months  ago  Sol.  L.  Lesser  purchased 
the  United  States  rights  for  "The  Ne'er-Do- 
Well"  from  Colonel  William  N.  Selig.  The  price 
was  a  cool  $150,000.  The  picture  is  said  to  be  the 
equal  of  its  companion-predecessor,  "The  Spoilers," 
which  made  a  great  record. 

At  the  time  of  his  purchase  Mr.  Lesser  was  of 
the  intention  of  marketing  the  film  direct  to  the  ex- 
hibitors, but  he  has  recently  decided  to  distribute  the 
feature  through  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  organization.  In  speak- 
ing of  this  decision  Mr.  Lesser  said : 

"After  a  six  weeks'  campaign,  the  demands  for 
'The  Ne'er-Do-Well'  were  so  great  that  I  was  com- 
pelled to  seek  a  national  organization  for  distribution. 


Then,  besides,  this  arrangement  takes  a  good  deal  of 
work  off  from  my  shoulders  and  leaves  me  free  for  the 
other  activities  I  have  in  progress.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  the  play  is  going  to  sail  away  up  among 
the  few  when  it  comes  to  record  runs.  Few  pictures 
indeed  have  contained  so  much  force  and  pictorial 
power. 

"I  could  have  marketed  the  production  through 
almost  any  program  in  the  field,  but  during  my  two 
weeks'  negotiations  with  Mr.  Irwin,  general  manager 
of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.,  I  decided  that  their  'open  market 
policy,'  their  seventy  live  representatives  in  the  field 
and  fifty  prints  in  immediate  action,  offered  exhibitors 
unsurpassed  service.  Of  course  I  still  retain  control 
of  the  production." 


"V"  and  "L"  Active  on   V-L-S-E  Program 


Other  important  releases  soon  to  appear  on  the 
V.  L.  S.  E.  program  are  the  Edna  May  picture,  pro- 
duced by  Vitagraph,  and  Lubin's  "Dollars  and  the 
Woman,"  "The  Fires  of  St.  John"  and  "Life's  Toll." 

The  Vitagraph  feature  in  which  Edna  May,  of 
"The  Belle  of  Brooklyn"  fame,  is  starred,  is  called 
"Salvation  Joan."  It  will  be  available  to  exhibitors  on 
April  10.  The  picture  is  in  seven  reels  and  Miss  May 
is  said  to  have  received  a  great  many  thousands  of 
dollars  for  her  work  in  it.  Following  her  stage  career 
Miss  May  married  a  wealthy  Englishman  and  has  only 
temporarily  returned  to  America. 

Ethel  Clayton  and  Tom  Moore  are  featured  in 
Lubin's  "Dollars  and  the  Woman."  The  story  is 
taken  from  Albert  Payson  Terhune's  novel,  "Dollars 
and  Cents,"  which  appeared  in  one  of  the  popular 
magazines.  The  production  was  directed  by  Joseph 
Kaufman  and  will  be  released  on  March  20. 

"The  Fires  of  St.  John"  is  the  latest  vehicle  pro- 
vided for  Lubin  for  Nance  O'Neil.  It  was  filmed  in 
Florida  sunshine  and  is  to  appear  on  the  program  on 
April  3. 

Lubin  will  follow  these  two  features  with  "Life's 
Toll,"  another  Daniel   Carson  Goodman   story.     The 


film  caught  the  skating  craze  of  New  York  at  its 
height,  some  of  the  scenes  being  filmed  at  the  Ice 
Gardens  of  the  Biltmore  Hotel.  Other  parts  of  the 
drama  were  made  in  the  Metropolitan  Opera  House 
in  Philadelphia. 


"UNWRITTEN  LAW"  REVISED 

Motion    Picture     Exhibitors    and     Reviewers     Praise 

Feature  After  It  Has  Been  Revamped  to 

Many  Good  Advantages 

Motion  picture  men  who  see  "The  Unwritten 
Law,"  with  Beatriz  Michelena,  and  are  interested  in 
the  technical  end  of  the  vast  business  of  producing 
feature  plays,  will  be  interested  in  knowing  that  this 
particular  production  has  lately  been  attracting  more 
than  the  usual  amount  of  attention  in  the  trade  by 
reason  of  its  having  been  "revised"  from  an  original 
offering  in  five  reels  to  its  present  state  in  seven  reels. 

Revisions  of  this  nature,  it  will  be  conceded,  are 
quite  rare,  the  common  belief  being  that  the  addition 
of  footage  frequently  detracts  from  dramatic  strength. 

"The  Unwritten  Law"  originally  was  planned  by 


Hi '  - 

y  .2    1    |  --vB 

684 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  13. 


the  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation  as  the  first 
of  its  "Better-Than-Program"  pictures,  to  be  han- 
dled on  a  state  rights  basis.  As  such  the  plan  was  to 
have  it  represent  the  very  best  in  the  way  of  general 
production  of  which  the  company  was  capable. 

In  its  five-reel  length,  it  was  taken  to  New  York 
some  weeks  ago  and  given  a  trade  showing.  Although 
highly  commended,  with  not  an  unkind  word  said 
against  it,  in  the  opinion  of  General  Manager  Alexan- 
der E.  Beyfuss,  the  picture  seemed  capable  of  improve- 
ment and  the  revision  was  decided  upon.  When  shown 
again,  only  a  couple  of  weeks  ago,  after  two  reels  had 
been  added  to  it,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  same  review- 
ers who  had  seen  it  the  first  time  that  the  feature  had 
been  so  vastly  improved  in  the  progression  of  its  cli- 
matic incidents  that  it  actually  seemed  to  have  been 
shortened  instead  of  lengthened. 

One  reviewer  wrote :  "In  very  little  over  a  month, 
they  have  added  to  a  picture  already  effective  far  above 
the  average,  enough  dramatic  retouching  to  carry  an 
identical  amount  of  action  over  two  more  reels,  increas- 
ing, instead  of  diminishing  the  effect.  It  is  a  tremen- 
dous feat." 

Mr.  Beyfuss  was  in  Chicago  last  week  to  show  the 
picture  to  exhibitors. 


GIVE  TIPS  TO  EXCHANGEMEN 


Frank  D.  Sniffen,  General  Sales  Manager  of  the  Para- 
mount Pictures  Corporation,  Tells  His  Idea 
of  Trade  Success 

By  Frank   D.   Snifen, 
General  Sales  Manager,   Paramount  Pictures   Corporation. 

To  inspire  confidence  and  then  co-operate. 

That  is  the  duty  of  the  exchangemen  in  relation 
to  the  exhibitor.  It  may  be  an  entirely  new  idea  in 
the  motion  picture  industry,  but  it  has  proven  suc- 
cessful in  other  lines  of  business. 

The  exchangeman  deals  directly  with  the  ex- 
hibitor, therefore,  although  the  exhibitor  may  know 
what  corporation  manufactures  the  pictures  which  he 
shows,  still  his  closest  relationship  is  with  the  ex- 
changeman from  whom  he  rents  the  pictures  and  to 
whom  he  pays  his  money. 

The  exchangeman's  duty,  therefore,  is  not  merely 


much  money  each  week  from  the  profits  of  the  ex- 
hibitor. His  is  the  duty  of  service,  a  duty  of  co- 
operative service,  after  having  established  the  bonds 
of  confidence.  The  exchangeman  should  carefully 
analyze  the  conditions  under  which  the  exhibitor  has 
to  operate.  An  analysis  of  the  theater  and  the  class 
of  audience  which  he  caters  to,  as  well  as  a  careful 
study  of  the  exhibitor's  opposition  or  competition,  and 
to  give  assistance  to  the  exhibitors  in  many  ways. 

He  should  demonstrate  to  the  exhibitor  the  value 
of  an  attractive  lobby,  explaining  to  the  exhibitor  the 
need  of  having  his  theater  clean,  properly  lighted  and 
heated,  to  consider  the  comfort  of  his  patrons  and 
demand  courtesy  of  his  employees,  from  janitor  to 
ticket  seller.  Plelp  the  exhibitor  with  his  local  adver- 
tising, as  well  as  with  his  publicity.  Explain  to  him 
the  value  of  a  mailing  list  and  how  to  properly  conduct 
same.  This  is  a  very  important  factor  in  the  success 
of  any  theater,  because  through  his  announcements 
each  week  to  his  patrons  he  keeps  their  interest  alive 
in  the  happenings  at  his  theater.  It  adds  a  personal 
to  sell  pictures,  to  secure  contracts,  nor  to  take  so 
touch  in  his  dealings  with  his  patrons. 

The  exchangeman  should  show  him  the  value  of 
the  use  of  heralds,  cuts,  photographs,  throw-aways,  a 
proper  house-organ  and  programs.  He  should  co- 
operate with  the  exhibitor  in  preparing  special  letters 
to  be  mailed  to  his  patrons.  The  exchangeman  should 
demonstrate  the  value  of  co-operating  with  the  differ- 
ent local  societies  and  organizations,  as  well  as  with 
the  local  board  of  education  and  municipal  interests. 

The  exchangeman  should  explain  the  value  of 
tying  up  the  exhibitor's  local  advertising  to  the  na- 
tional advertising  campaign  of  his  company.  He 
should  endeavor  to  have  the  exhibitor  cease  to  worry 
about  what  his  competitor  is  doing  but  stick  to  the 
problem  of  handling  his  own  business.  The  value  of 
securing"  co-operation  from  the  local  merchants  lies 
in  exhibiting  his  window  cards  and  advertising  matter. 

The  exchangeman  should  be  familiar  with  all 
branches  of  the  business  so  that  at  a  moment's  notice 
he  could  go  into  the  theater  and  conduct  it  for  the 
exhibitor  if  the  occasion  arose.  He  should  make  no 
representation  which  he  could  not  back  up.  He  should 
always  be  fair  in  his  dealings  with  the  exhibitor,  inspir- 
ing confidence  at  all  times  and  by  closer  co-operation 
build  successfully  the  business  of  his  exhibitor. 


'■V      ,1/l.fllfl/ 


\es  "Buck  Pa 
Parvin."     Relet 


Thanhouser  in  Tribute 

The  coming  Shakespeare  Tercentenary  will  find 
itself  enriched  by  a  valuable  contribution  from  Edwin 
Thanhouser  of  New  Rochelle.  Frederick  Sullivan, 
the  well  known  Thanhouser  director,  is  now  at  work 
on  a  most  unusual  production  which  will  be  released 
during  the  celebration.  The  only  information  that 
can  be  gained  about  the  production  just  now  is  that  it 
is  an  imaginative  work  of  Philip  Lonergan,  and  very 
likely  will  be  in  three  reels.  Mr.  Thanhouser  has 
designated  Florence  La  Badie  to  play  the  star  role. 
The  story  will  be  the  first  work  touching  on  Shake- 
speare so  directly  without  being  founded  on  any  of  the 
poet's  work.  It  is  purely  a  fanciful  arrangement  of 
events  in  which  Shakespeare  himself  is  impersonated, 
as  are  also  the  people  of  his  time.  It  has  been  seen  fit 
to  devise  a  special  vehicle  in  order  to  depart  from  the 
unusual  recognized  but  heavily  burdened  Shake- 
spearean conceptions. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Pathe  Signs  Cartoonist  Goldberg 


FUN  FILMS  COMING  SOON 


RL.   GOLDBERG,  noted  cartoonist,   of   the   New 
York   Evening  Mail,  has  been  signed  by  Pathe. 
*  All  the  humorous  animated  cartoons  of  Mr. 

Goldberg  will  be  released  through  the  Pathe  Exchange, 
Inc.     It  is  expected  that  one  will  be  released  every  two 


weeks,  and  judging  from  those  already  completed,  the 
motion  picture  public  can  look  forward  to  seeing  pic- 
tures of  a  kind  absolutely  original  and  full  of  fun  from 
start  to  finish. 

Mr.  Goldberg,  for  some  years,  has  enjoyed  a  po- 
sition on  the  top  rung  of  the  newspaper  ladder  and  his 


cartoons  have  achieved  such  popularity  that  they  have 
been  syndicated  and  are  being  published  in  one  news- 
paper in  nearly  every  city  in  the  United  States. 

To  be  only  thirty-three  years  old  and  yet  draw  a 
salary  of  $50,000  a  year  with  percentage,  bringing  it  up 
to  some  $100,000,  is  to  be  in  a  class  by  yourself,  and 
that  is  true  of  Mr.  Goldberg.  He  was  born  in  San 
Francisco,  and  at  an  early  age  made  up  his  mind  to 
be  a  newspaper  artist.  His  father,  a  substantial  busi- 
ness man,  strenuously  objected  to  the  boy's  ambition, 
saying  that  there  was  no  money  in  the  newspaper  bus- 
iness. Mr.  Goldberg,  Sr.,  prefers  to  forget  his  early 
objections  now. 

As  a  student  in  the  University  of  California, 
studying  to  be  an  engineer,  Mr.  Goldberg  was  drawing 
constantly  for  the  mere  fun  there  was  in  it.  His 
pictures  were  published  in  the  college  paper  and  his 
fellow  students  learned  to  look  for  them.  There  was 
something  different  in  the  young  man's  outlook  on 
life,  something  different  in  the  creations  of  his  pencil, 
and  something  different  in  the  captions — in  the  imag- 
inary conversations  of  his  brain  people.  He  graduated 
from  the  University  in  1904  with  the  degree  of  Bachel- 
or of  Science  and  soon  got  a  job  at  planning  sewers  in 
the  San  Francisco  city  engineer's  office  at  $100  per 
month.  However,  it  strains  one's  sense  of  humor  con- 
siderably to  see  humor  in  sewers  so  he  threw  up  his 
job  to  take  one  on  a  San  Francisco  newspaper  at  $8 
a  week.  Fie  was  hired  to  draw  daily  cartoons  for  the 
sport  page,  but  the  paper  did  not  publish  them  and 
he  wanted  to  see  them  in  print.  So  he  quit  this  job 
also,  and  went  to  another  paper  that  agreed  to  pub- 
lish his  pictures.  The  salary  was  even  less  at  the  new 
job  than  at  his  other  one,  but  that  didn't  bother  him 
for  he  found  it  better  fun. 

A  few  months  of  this  and  he  decided  that  New 
York  was  a  better  field.  So  he  went  east.  He  talked 
to  three  or  four  editors,  all  of  whom  he  failed  to  inter- 
est until  he  went  to  the-  Evening  Mail.  There  he  was 
offered  the  chance  to  make  pictures  daily  for  the  sport- 


He  HsAfc.   A.  W0Mfc.emiL  QskJOVTIoM, 


oibiefs  AMb  | 


A    sample    of    R.    L.    Goldberg's    noted    newspaper    i 


686 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


ing  page.  That  was  nine  years  ago,  and  he  still  is 
with  the  Mail.  He  started  in  at  $50  a  week.  Three 
months  later  it  became  $65  a  week.  Six  months  later 
it  was  raised  to  $75  a  week  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  he 
got  a  two  years'  contract  at  $100  a  week.  At  this 
time,  too,  his  cartoons  were  first  sold  to  other  news- 
papers throughout  the  country.  Today  his  pictures 
are  being  seen  by  more  than  2,200,000  persons  daily. 
At  the  close  of  his  third  year,  he  signed  a  three  years' 
contract  at  $300  a  week,  followed  by  another  at  $450 
a  week.  His  new  contract  calls  for  a  salary  of  $50,000 
a  year  and  royalties. 

Mr.  Goldberg  works  hard  for  his  big  salary. 
Early  and  late  he  is  at  it,  going  over  his  pictures  again 
and  again  until  he  has  produced  what  he  wanted  to 
obtain.  His  pictures  are  intensely  human  and  his 
characters  unlike  anything  that  was  ever  conceived 
before.  Despite  their  impossibility  of  appearance, 
their  conversations  and  actions  are  always  dominated 
by  the  same  motives  that  actuate  the  people  we  know 
in  everyday  life. 

Mr.  Goldberg  is  the  most  companionable  of  per- 
sons. His  success  has  not  spoiled  him,  and  he  is  as 
modest  as  though  he  were  still  earning  his  $8  a  week. 
His  animated  cartoons  represent  a  year's  patient  work 
and  experimentation,  and  they  will  strike  a  new  note 
of  originality  and  cleverness  on  the  screen.  By  special 
arrangement  these  films  will  be  exploited  by  the  news- 
papers which  are  running  the  Goldberg  daily  cartoon, 
a  method  of  publicity  that  cannot  fail  of  good  results. 

The  Pathe  booking  force  has  welcomed  these  new 
cartoon  comedies  with  open  arms,  and  sees  in  them 
opportunities  for  very  large  business. 


GRIPPING  VITAGRAPH  DRAMA 

"The  Supreme  Temptation"  Among  Latest  Releases 

Comprising   11,000  Feet  of  Well  Enacted 

Photoplays 

Heading  the  list  of  Vitagraph  releases  for  the 
week  of  March  20  is  a  five-part  Blue  Ribbon  feature, 
entitled  "The  Supreme  Temptation."  The  four  other 
subjects,  "Mr.  Jack  Trifles,"  a  one-part  Daniels  pic- 
ture, another  of  "The  Escapades  of  Mr.  Jack;"  "A 
Squared  Account,"  produced  by  Vitagraph's  western 
division,  is  a  single-reeler ;  "Freddy  versus  Hamlet," 
the  latest  of  the  "Freddy  series"  of  comedies;  and 
"Husks,"  a  three-part  Broadway  Star  Feature,  making 
up  the  balance  of  a  program  that  contains  11,000  feet 
of  finely  produced  and  well  enacted  photoplays. 

In  "The  Supreme  Temptation"  we  have  one  of  the 
most  dramatic  stories  ever  filmed  by  the  Vitagraph 
company.  Its  theme  deals  with  Herbert  Dubois,  a 
young  American  medical  student,  who,  while  in  Paris, 
meets,  falls  in  love  with,  and  later  marries  Annette,  a 
young  grisette.  They  do  not  get  along  well  together. 
Dubois  secures  a  separation  and  comes  to  America. 
He  is  appointed  head  of  a  medical  college.  M.  Picard, 
a  friend  of  Dubois,  paying  him  a  visit,  informs  the 
doctor  of  his  wife's  death.  Shortly  after  receiving 
this  information,  he  again  marries.  Later,  when 
called  upon  to  perform  an  autopsy  on  a  young  woman, 
who  supposedly  had  died  suddenly,  he  discovers  that 
it  is  Annette  and  that  she  is  not  dead  but  in  a  cata- 
leptic trance.  The  supreme  temptation  comes  to  kill 
her.  With  a  slight  movement  of  the  scalpel  this  could 
be  accomplished  without  any  one  ever  knowing.     His 


better  nature  conquers,  however,  and  he  acquaints  his 
assistants  with  the  true  facts.  The  woman  lives  but  a 
few  minutes,  ending  Dubois'  suspense.  On  his  return 
home  he  is  made  happy  by  his  wife's  presentation  of  a 
baby  boy.  Antonio  Moreno  as  Herbert  Dubois  and 
Dorothy  Kelly  as  Annette  are  ideally  suited  to  their 
respective  parts.     They  are  ably  assisted. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  AIDS  EXHIBITORS 

Film   House   Managers  Told  How  to  Advertise  and 

Promote  Features  Put  Out  by  the  Big 

Four;  Method  Is  Novel 

By  Kenneth  Laflin  Eagon. 
The  publicity  managers  of  the  V-L-S-E  are  to  be 
complimented  for  having  inaugurated  a  "producer- 
exhibitor"  advertising  and  press  system  that  few  of  the 
representative  speaking-stage  offices  can  measure 
up  to. 

Every  exhibitor  in  the  United  States  who  is  a 
member  of  the  Big  Four  family  has  his  name  on  the 
publicity  mailing  list  of  that  organization. 

As  soon  as  it  is  understood  that  an  exhibitor  will 
show  a  feature  film  produced  by  a  Big  Four  concern — 
and  in  ample  time  for  publicity  and  advertising  pur- 
poses— the  exhibitor  received  from  the  offices  of  the 
V-L-S-E  a  batch  of  press  matter  and  advices.  These 
include  a  detailed  story  of  the  play  and  an  explanation 
of  the  plot,  scenes,  etc. ;  the  roster  of  the  cast  in  order 
of  their  appearance  on  the  screen,  a  score  or  so  of 
attractive  and  well  prepared  "readers"  and  stories,  a 
number  of  beautiful  photographs  and  lithographs  and 
lobby  display  and  a  book  on  "advertising  tips." 

Armed  with  the  above,  even  the  most  conserva- 
tive exhibitor  is  spurred  to  "go  the  limit"  in  "putting 
over  the  film." 

Let   us   show   you   how   thoroughly   a   feature   is 

covered    by    the    V-L-S-E    offices    in     its    publicity 

"aids"  to  exhibitors.     For  instance,  in  heralding  "The 

Great   Divide,"   this   sort   of  a   cover   was   used   in   a 

booklet,  12x9  inches  in  measurement : 

Press    Matter 

and 

Advertising  Hints  and  Helps. 

for 

Lubin   Feature   Photo-Play.      (V.  L.  S.  E.) 

of 

William   Vaughan   Moody's 

Great  American  Play 

THE  GREAT  DIVIDE 

Five  Big  Acts 

With  Ethel  Clayton  and  House  Peters. 

Produced  at  Grand  Canyon  under  direction  of 

Edgar  Lewis. 

Scenario  by  Anthony  P.   Kelly.     Released  January 

20th,  1916,  through  V.  L.  S.  E. 

Upon  the  interior  we  find,  first,  the  roster  of  the 

cast  in  order  of  their  appearance  on  the  screen ;  second, 

a   complete   synopsis   of   the   photoplay   in   question ; 

third,  a  dozen  or  so  different  stories  and  "fillers"  for 

the  newspapers,  dealing  with  the  feature  film  and  its 

meritorious  points. 

Advertising  and  cut  instructions  make  up  the 
last  few  pages  of  the  booklet.  Cut  ideas  for  each  day 
in  the  week  are  supplied,  with  a  comprehensive  dia- 
gram of  various  methods  of  publicity. 

In  addition  to  this,  a  number  of  lithograph  sheets, 
describing  graphically  the  features,  advise  the  ex- 
hibitor as  to  the  paper  which  the  V-L-S-E  has  avail- 
able to  float  the  feature  films. 


March  25,  1916. 


PAUL  H.  WOODRUFF,   Editor 

NEW  TORK  OFFICE,  1022  LONGACRE  BUILDING 

Forty-second  Street  and  Broadway 

Telephone  Bryant  7030 

CHARLES  R.  CONDON.  Eastern  Representative 


MOTOGRAPHY 

THE  MOTION  PICTURE  TRADE  JOURNAL 
PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  BY 

ELECTRICITY  MAGAZINE  CORPORATION 

ED  J.  MOCK,  President  and  Treasurer 

MONADNOCK  BUILDING 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Telephone:      Harrison  3014 — All   Departments 
NOTICE  TO   ADVERTISERS 


687 


Foreign        -         -         -     Per  year    5.00 
Single    copy  .15 

FOR   SALE   AT  ALL  NEWS   STANDS 


Volume  XV 


CHICAGO,  MARCH  25,  1916 


Number  13 


The  Business  Side  of  Shady  Pictures 

EXHIBITORS  who  are  tempted  at  times  to  run  questionable  pictures,  because  of  a  "hunch" 
— it  can  hardly  be  called  an  idea — that  such  pictures  draw  crowds,  may  be  a  little  impatient 
with  the  so-called  "moral"  side  of  the  question.  The  fundamental  philosophy  of  the  prob- 
lem, however,  has  nothing  to  do  with  morals. 

Women,  and  not  men,  are  the  dominant  influence  in  the  spending  of  money  for  enter- 
tainment— and  for  most  other  things,  too.  Directly  or  indirectly,  there  is  a  woman  back  of 
eighty  per  cent  of  the  money  that  goes  into  the  theaters.  The  exhibitor  who  plays  to  the 
ladies  will  succeed.  The  exhibitor  who  tried  to  run  a  stag  theater,  for  men  only,  would  have 
a  hard  time  of  it. 

The  shady  picture  is  essentially  a  man's  picture.  A  picture  showing  a  partially  disrobed 
woman,  for  example,  has  no  interest  for  women.  "Suggestiveness"  means  suggestiveness  to 
the  male  mind — not  to  the  female.  Purely  as  a  business  proposition,  the  wise  exhibitor  will  not 
present  a  questionable  picture  to  a  mixed  audience;  and  all  audiences  are  mixed.  If  he  did 
not  discard  such  a  picture  because  of  morals,  or  ethics,  or  respectability,  he  would  reject  it 
because  the  feminine  half  or  two-thirds  of  his  audience  would  not  be  interested.  It  is  quite 
obvious  that  a  picture  which  might  be  quite  exciting  to  the  male  contingent  would  only  bore 
the  lady  members  of  the  audience. 

Women  are  not  at  all  interested  in  shady  pictures.  The  percentage  of  men  who  like  them 
will  never  build  up  business  for  an  exhibitor.  The  theater  manager  who  chooses  his  pictures 
with  the  ladies  of  his  patronage  in  mind  will  succeed.  And  the  one  who  doesn't  will  fail. 
That  is  the  situation  in  a  nutshell. 

Coming  Improvements  in  Projection  Methods 

THE  art  of  projection  is  mostly  a  mechanical  art.  The  projection  operator  who  becomes 
noted  for  the  excellence  of  his  work  must  be  a  better  mechanic  and  a  more  careful  man 
than  his  fellows.  If  his  pictures  are  always  steady  and  his  light  always  clear  it  merely  means 
that  he  is  alert  in  seeing  to  the  adjustments  of  his  machine  and  expert  in  maintaining  his  arc 
at  the  correct  temperature,  length  and  focus. 

In  the  efficient  performance  of  the  operator's  duties,  the  arc  gives  him  the  most  concern. 
The  machine  can  almost  care  for  itself  now,  in  competent  hands.  As  a  piece  of  mechanism  it 
has  improved  wonderfully  within  a  few  years.  The  improvements,  too,  have  been  gradual, 
as  they  should  be  in  healthy  progress.  Nothing  revolutionary  has  happened  to  the  projecting 
machine — at  least  not  to  the  models  which  find  most  favor  with  theater  men.  Here  and 
there  has  appeared  some  radical  deviation  from  established  practice,  designed  to  correct  some 
alleged  imperfection ;  but  the  strange  models  do  not  make  much  headway  against  the  satisfac- 
tory evolution  of  the  conservative  models. 

It  would  be  fatuous  to  say  there  was  no  room  for  improvement  in  the  mechanics  of  the 


688  MOTOGRAPHY  Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 

modern  projection  machine,  because  everything  can  be  improved  and  will  be  improved  so  long 
as  men  have  minds.  Every  year  the  manufacturers  of  projectors  make  little  changes  and  add 
little  refinements  that  make  the  device  a  bit  more  efficient  or  durable.  It  is  really  a  marvelous 
piece  of  machinery. 

The  projection  arc,  however,  is  not  a  part  of  the  projector  mechanism.  It  is  really  a 
separate  device,  whose  function  is  merely  to  supply  a  small  spot  of  intense  light.  This  it  does 
effectively — but  not  efficiently.  The  spot  of  light  demands  attention  and  care.  It  burns 
away  from  its  focal  center,  and  grows  long  and  misshapen  and  throws  shadows.  It  sputters 
and  hisses  and  hums  at  times.  It  scatters  its  light  to  all  the  points  of  the  compass  as  the  sun 
disseminates  its  radiance  into  useless  space. 

The  carbons  themselves  absorb  light.  The  condenser  lens  gathers  for  its  purpose  of 
projection  less  than  ten  per  cent  of  the  light  rays  generated  at  the  points  of  the  arc  carbons; 
ninety-odd  per  cent  is  utterly  wasted.  The  thousands  of  candle-power  credited  to  the  arc 
means  little  in  the  measurement  of  the  useful  beam  of  light. 

The  electric  arc,  especially  as  it  is  used  for  projection,  has  improved  little  if  any  since  Sir 
Humphrey  Davy  experimented  with  it  a  century  ago.  It  is  not  in  its  nature  ever  to  improve 
very  much.  Depending  on  two  separate  electrodes  which  are  consumed  by  their  own  heat, 
it  must  always  be  subject  to  distortion  and  change  and  trouble. 

Meanwhile  wonderful  strides  have  been  made  in  the  development  of  the  incandescent 
lamp.  A  short  time  ago  it  was  nothing  but  a  comparatively  feeble  luminant,  whose  glow  was 
never  intense  at  any  point  as  a  projection  light  must  be. 

The  tungsten  filament  was  the  first  big  improvement,  and  the  one  that  enabled  the 
theater  manager  to  illuminate  the  front  of  his  house  as  brightly  as  his  fancy  dictated  at  a 
moderate  cost. 

Then  came  the  gas  filled  lamp — so  called  because  all  its  predecessors  kept  their  filaments 
in  a  vacuum.  The  gas  filled  bulb  allows  the  development  of  very  high  candle-powers  and 
intensely  bright  filaments,  that  compete  with  the  arc  for  efficiency.  So  far  is  this  true  that  all 
over  the  civilized  world  arc  lights  for  general  illumination  are  being  displaced  by  incandes- 
cents.  The  arc  lamp  as  a  street,  store  and  factory  illuminant  has  suddenly  become  almost  a 
thing  of  the  past. 

But  for  projection  it  must  still  be  used,  for  the  reason  that  the  incandescent,  powerful  as 
it  has  become,  still  lacks  the  essential  bright  point  of  light,  the  minute  spot  that  must  lie 
within  the  lens  focus. 

Yet  even  in  that  direction  much  progress  has  been  made.  The  experimenters  have  recog- 
nized the  demand  that  at  present  only  the  arc,  with  all  its  grievous  shortcomings,  can  fill. 
Laboratories  are  constantly  working  on  the  problem,  and  already  powerful  projection,  incan- 
descents  have  been  made  and  tested.  A  description  of  some  of  the  results  of  these  tests  we 
expect  to  give  our  readers  in  another  week  or  two. 

Provided  the  correctly  concentrated  point  of  light  can  be  attained,  its  candle-power  may 
be  considerably  lower  than  that  of  the  arc  and  still  throw  a  brighter  picture  on  the  screen. 
The  condenser  lens  may  be  assisted  by  a  reflector  which  will  gather  and  use  the  light  rays 
that  the  arc  throws  to  waste. 

Altogether  we  regard  the  development  of  an  efficient  projection  incandescent  lamp  as  an 
important  mechanical  step  in  improving  the  art  of  presenting  pictures.  The  incandescent 
would  need  no  focusing  and  no  feeding.  It  could  not  be  a  fire  risk.  It  would  burn  with 
absolute  steadiness  and  constancy,  without  a  shadow  and  without  any  attention  or  adjustment 
whatever. 

The  incandescent  may  take  more  current  than  the  arc;  but  the  arc  wastes  current  in  the 
rheostat  or  motor-generator  or  transformer  through  which  it  must  be  operated,  and  which 
would  be  quite  unnecessary  with  the  incandescent.  We  question  if  the  latter,  when  it  appears, 
may  not  prove  to  be  the  more  economical  in  current  consumption  of  the  two,  added  to  its 
other  marked  advantages. 

Viewed  purely  from  a  technical  angle,  the  electric  arc  is  the  one  remaining  serious  defect 
in  the  mechanism  of  projection.  We  think  the  possibility  of  its  final  elimination,  and  the  sub- 
stitution of  something  that  at  least  promises  great  superiority,  should  be  extremely  interesting 
to  all  who  hope  for  perfect  projection. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Honor  Sir  Herbert  at  Fete 

FRIENDS  HOST  TO  BRITON 


A   HISTORIC   event   in   filmdom   was   the    farewell 
dinner  tendered  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree  by  his 
friends  of  the  Fine  Arts  studio,  where  he  played 
the  title  role  in  "Macbeth."     The  dinner  was  elaborately 
served  in  the  Alexandria  Hotel,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Douglas  Fairbanks  acted  as  chairman  and  during 
the  evening  he  called  upon  the  following  persons  for 
speeches :  David  W.  Griffith,  De  Wolf  Hopper,  Con- 
stance Collier,  William  Farnum,  J.  C.  Epping,  Dustin 
Farnum,  John  Emerson,  Bennie  Zeidman,  Mr.  Ihmsen, 
Courtenay  Foote,  Iris  Tree  and  Mrs.  De  Wolf  Hop- 
per.    Mr.  Griffith,  in  his  address,  said  in  part : 

"On  the  eve  of  your  departure.  Sir  Herbert,  I,  on 
behalf  of  the  studio,  call  you  our  'friend' ;  with  more 
sentiment,  I  could  say  'love,'  for,  Sir  Herbrrt,  with 
your  great  democracy,  you  have  won  the  'love'  of  the 
entire  studio,  from  the  executives  down  to  the  prop- 
erty men." 

De  Wolf  Hopper  added  to  his  reputation  as 
speechmaker  with  his  brilliant  tribute  to  Sir  Herbert, 
as  artist,  comrade  and  co-worker. 

Douglas  Fairbanks,  who  has  developed  into  a  par- 
lor magician,  entertained  the  guests  with  some  of  his 
sleight  of  hand  tricks. 

Douglas  Fairbanks  read  this  telegram : — 

To  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree:  Expressing  the 
sincere  feeling  of  the  entire  membership  of  the  stock 
company  of  the  Fine  Arts  studio,  and  of  every  em- 
ployee, from  the  lowest  to  the  highest,  I  want  to  as- 
sure you  of  the  warm  place  you  have  won  in  every  one 
of  our  hearts  by  your  unfailing  sympathy  and  democ- 
racy. We  wish  you  a  pleasant  journey  and  an  early 
return. — 

Frank  E.  Woods, 
For  the  entire  Fine  Arts  Studio. 

Sir  Herbert  Tree  then  responded  to  the  requests 
for  a  speech  and  in  part  said : 

"This  telegram  from  Mr.  Woods  is  very  dear 
to  me. 

"I  have  had  a  great  many  eventful  things  happen 
in  my  career,  but  no  event  shall  be  treasured  as  much 


as  my  stay  at  the  Fine  Arts  studio.  I  was  very  happy 
every  moment,  and  greatly  appreciated  your  courtesies 
and  kindness. 

"How  can  I  be  otherwise  than  happy,  being  a  bohe- 
mian  at  heart  myself?  I  admire  the  ideal  democracy 
that  obtains  at  your  fine  studio."  He  concluded  his  speech 
with  a  quotation  from  "Twelfth  Night,"  "Come  what 
may  I  adore  thee  so,  that  danger  shall  seem  sport.'  I 
depart  tomorrow,  but  I  shall  return  soon,  my  dear 
friends." 

On  the  following  day.  Sir  Herbert  was  escorted 
by  a  party  of  his  friends,  headed  by  president  Harry 
E.  Aitken,  of  the  Triangle,  to  the  Salt  Lake  depot, 
where  he  boarded  the  2 :25  train  for  New  York.  As 
the  train  was  pulling  out  of  the  station,  two  Fine  Arts 
cowboys  fired  guns  in  farewell,  while  the  bystanders 
cheered. 

In  reply  to  Mr.  Wood's  telegram,  Sir  Herbert, 
while  on  the  train  sent  the  following: 

Frank  E.  Woods: 

I  was  deeply  touched  by  your  telegram  last  night, 
and  by  the  feelings  that  prompted  it.  Will  you  kindly 
express  to  the  members  of  the  stock  company  of  the 
Fine  Arts  studio,  and  to  all  the  employees,  my  deep 
gratitude  for  the  expression  of  their  good  will,  and 
assure  them  of  the  joy  I  felt  during  my  stay  in  the 
good  fellowship  and  sympathy  of  the  community. 
Pray,  dear  Mr.  Woods,  accept  also  my  deep  apprecia- 
tion of  your  own  unfailing  courtesy. 

Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree. 

In  addition  to  those  who  made  speeches,  the  guest 
list  included  Vera  Lewis,  Jack  Conway,  Viola  Barry, 
Erik  von  Strobeim,  Clare  West,  John  Fairbanks,  Mary 
Alden,  Charles  Eyton,  Winifred  Kingston,  Frank  Ca- 
sex,  Mrs.  William  Farnum,  Ralph  Lewis,  George  Hill, 
Kathlyn  Williams,  Mrs.  Ihmsen,  Raymond  Wells,  his 
wife,  Madame  Rabinoff,  and  Douglas  Gerard. 

Director  John  Emerson  is  now  at  work  on  the 
concluding  scenes  of  "Macbeth,"  which  will  be  re- 
leased probably  in  nine  reels,  and  handled  as  a  special 
feature  production. 


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7  depart  from  Los  Angeles.     Left  to   right — Courtney  Foote,  R.   Ellis   Wales,    Wilfred  Lucas, 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


VETERANS  TO  AID  ACTORS'  FUND 

Thespians    of    "The    Old    School"    Will    Perform   for 

Films   to   Help   Raise   Million   Dollar 

Endowment   Fund 

Actors  and  actresses  of  "the  old  school,"  now  shel- 
tered in  the  Actors'  Home  on  Staten  Island,  New  York 
City,  are  going  to  make  another  appearance. 

For  many,  it  will  be  the  last  farewell. 

These  kindly,  mellowing  artists  will  be  seen  not  on 
the  boards  they  trod  in  their  hey-day,  but  in  the  youngest 
of  the  arts,  the  motion  pictures. 

Their  appearance  will  be  part  of  the  motion  picture 
campaign  for  the  Actors'  Fund  of  America,  which  pro- 
poses to  raise  $500,000  in  fifteen  weeks  as  its  share  of 
the  million-dollar  endowment  needed  to  put  the  work  of 
the  fund  on  a  sound  financial  basis. 

The  sentimental  appeal  to  the  public  is  sure  to  be 
instantaneous  and  powerful.  Here  are  the  men  and 
women  who  have  given  their  best  to  the  stage,  now  on 
the  downward  path  of  life.  They  who  were  so  generous 
in  giving  to  the  public  at  every  demand  made  upon  them 
will  surely  not  be  disappointed  in  expecting  that  public  to 
return  the  favor  in  their  old  age. 

The  films  in  which  the  old  actors  will  take  part  are 
to  be  shown,  according  to  the  plans  of  the  committee  in 
New  York,  in  every  theater  in  the  country  at  the  same 
time.  There  will  be  depicted  every  phase  of  life  in  the 
Actors'  Home  on  Staten  Island. 

The  chief  feature  of  the  reel,  however,  is  to  be  a 
film  drama,  entirely  the  work  of  the  members  of  the 
home.  It  is  written  by  one  of  them,  and  will  be  rehearsed 
and  acted  by  the  former  stars,  under  the  direction  of 
Daniel  Frohman.  The  touching  little  playlet  will  be  a 
welcome  breath  of  the  past  and  an  interesting  contrast  to 
the  most  modern  in  things  theatrical. 

Charles  R.  MacCauley,  well-known  cartoonist,  who 
is  acting  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  announcements 
and  animated  cartoons  for  the  motion  picture  campaign 
for  the  Actors'  Fund  of  America,  held  a  meeting  recently 
at  which  twenty-five  of  the  most  celebrated  newspaper 
artists  and  cartoonists  were  present.  There  will  be 
twenty-five  noted  men  on  his  committee.  At  the  meeting 
of  the  publicity  managers  for  all  film  concerns  it  was 
recommended  that  a  campaign  department  be  started  in 
the  daily  trade  bulletin  to  be  issued  in  connection  with  the 
forthcoming  exposition  of  film  interests  at  Madison 
Square  Garden.  This  new  publication  will  have  all  the 
live-wire  writers  in  the  business  conducting  its  literary 
•columns,  and  in  the  motion  picture  campaign  department 
will  be  run  stories  of  the  day  and  the  lists  of  contributions. 
Crane  Wilbur,  popular  screen  star,  a  member  of  the 
David  Horsley  forces  in  Los  Angeles,  recently  appeared 
at  four  leading  theaters  in  Los  Angeles  in  behalf  of  the 
actors'  fund.  Speaking  at  each  of  these  playhouses,  Mr. 
Wilbur  made  forceful  pleas  for  recognition  of  the  fund 
which  resulted  in  a  merry  jingle  of  coins  dropped  into 
a  small  box  by  the  patrons  as  they  departed  from  the 
show  houses.  While  Mr.  Wilbur  was  appearing  in  the 
chain  of  houses  assigned  to  him,  different  players  were 
making  little  talks  along  the  same  lines  in  other  Los 
Angeles  theaters.  When  the  evening's  work  was  over, 
the  speakers  gathered  at  a  popular  cafe  where  they  were 
joined  by  members  of  "The  Only  Girl"  company,  a 
musical  comedy  organization,  and  an  impromptu  vaude- 
ville performance  was  staged  for  the  benefit  of  the 
guests.  Mr.  Wilbur's  contribution  to  the  entertainment 
was  a  recitation  of  "Good  Mornin',  Jcdge,"  a  negro  dia- 


lect story,  written  by  himself.  At  the  end  of  the  per- 
formance the  hat  was  passed  by  the  women  of  "The  Only 
Girl"  company  and  several  hundred  dollars  were  added 
to  an  already  good-sized  sum  raised  through  the  efforts 
of  the  speakers  earlier  in  the  evening. 

Begin  "Nation"  Fight  in  Ohio 

The  legal  fight  of  the  Epoch  Film  Producing  Com- 
pany against  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  Motion  Picture 
Censors  has  begun  in  the  United  States  Court  at 
Columbus,  Ohio.  The  suit  directed  against  the  censor 
board  grows  out  of  the  board's  ruling  that  prohibits 
the  exhibition  of  the  motion  picture  play,  "The  Birth  of 
a  Nation." 

During  the  hearing  attorneys  for  the  film  com- 
pany asked  United  States  Court  Judge  Sater  to  re- 
view the  film  drama  through  the  medium  of  an  exhibi- 
tion of  the  film,  which  they  proposed  to  give  for  the 
jurist.  No  decision  on  the  subject  was  reached  at 
the  hearing. 

Affidavits  of  prominent  Cincinnatians  figured  in 
the  hearing.  Postmaster  Joel  L.  Clore  stamped  the  film 
as  the  finest  production  of  any  kind  he  had  ever  seen 
and  a  play  highly  artistic,  moral,  entirely  proper  and 
not  detrimental  to  any  race.  The  case  will  be  argued 
further  in  a  few  days. 


Moss  Lauds  State  Rights  Plan 

B.  S.  Moss  will  place  the  features  manufactured  by 
his  concern  on  the  market  by  disposing  of  feature  films 
through  the  medium  of  state  rights  sales.  The  current 
Moss  release  is  "One  Day,"  the  sequel  to  Elinor  Glyn's 
"Three  Weeks,"  also  screened  as  a  feature  by  Moss  last 
year,  and  sold  on  the  state  rights  plan. 

About  April  1  Moss,  will  turn  out  another,  "The 
Undertow,"  and  during  this  year  expects  to  produce  on 
the  average  of  one  feature  monthly,  selling  all  via  state 
rights,  reserving  Greater  New  York  and  northern  New 
Jersey  for  his  own  territory.  Mr.  Moss  replied  in  an- 
swer to  a  question  as  to  the  feasibility  of  continually 
making  features  and  selling  them  on  the  state  rights  plan, 
that  he  is  very  well  pleased  with  results  so  far. 


2,500  at  Film  Ball  in  Salem 

More  than  2,500  persons  attended  the  motion  pic- 
ture ball  of  the  Elks  at  the  Cadet  Armory  in  Salem, 
Mass.,  last  week.  It  was  conducted  by  Ernest  H. 
Horstmann,  president  of  the  Massachusetts  Motion 
Picture  Men's  Association,  who  managed  the  two  Bos- 
ton affairs  of  the  same  kind  the  last  two  years.  Anita 
Stewart,  whose  photograph  was  a  prize  for  the  pret- 
tiest girl  at  the  ball,  was  in  the  grand  march.  Among 
others  who  participated  in  the  grand  march  were 
Gladys  Hulette,  Florence  LaBadie,  Paul  Panzer,  War- 
ren Arey,  Gazelle  Marche,  Earle  Williams  and  Doris 
Gray. 


Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm  Tree  was  given  a  dinner 
party  recently  at  the  Los  Angeles  Athletic  Club  by 
M.  F.  Ihmsen,  publisher  of  the  Los  Angeles  Examiner. 
a  member  of  the  Hearst  chain  of  newspapers.  Among 
the  prominent  guests  who  attended  the  spread  were 
David  W.  Griffith  and  Mack  Sennett,  the  Triangle  pro- 
ducers. Others  present  included  Stoddard  Jess,  Rob- 
ert Marsh,  M.  T.  Connell,  Dr.  Walter  Lindley,  Louis 
Vetter,  J.  E.  Fishburn,  W.  M.  Garland,  Harry  Chand- 
ler, F.  W.  Eldrigest  and  Otheman  Stevens. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Electric  Signs  for  Theaters 

BY  PHILIP  OLNEY  PALMER 


MOTION  picture  exhibitors  have  come  to  look  upon 
electrical  advertising  as  indispensable.  From  the 
smallest  odeon  manager  to  the  largest  hippodrome 
proprietor,  in  nearly  every  case,  some  appropriation  is 
made  for  electrical  display  publicity. 
Electricity  is  considered  more  or 
less  an  expensive  business  getter. 
The  small  house  manager,  whose 
conscience  tells  him  it  would  be 
overstepping  his  bounds  to  "plunge" 
into  "bright  light"  publicity,  will 
study  long  before  he  has  reached 
some  solution  of  the  electrical  ques- 
tion. We  have  reached  that  stage  of 
the  game  where  this  small  house 
manager  can  get  a  small  electric  dis- 
play for  a  nominal  investment. 

With  the  big  exhibitors  it  is  dif- 
ferent in  a  number  of  ways.  Some 
big  exhibitors  do  not  seem  to  un- 
derstand that  their  business  justi- 
fies a  suitable  electrical  display. 
Some  will  quibble  over  a  few  odd 
candle  power  where  a  small  exhib- 
itor would  dig  down  into  his  pocket 
to  make  up  a  deficit  brought  about 
by  excessive  advertising. 

I  have  worked  out  a  schedule  showing  what  I  be- 
lieve to  be  the  investment  the  average  motion  picture 
exhibitor  can  afford  to  make.     It  follows : 
Size  of  House  Service  Cost       Size  of  House  Service  Cost 

300    seats $1.25  per  day       500-750    seats. $2.00-3.00  per  day 

300    seats 1.50  per  dav       750-1,000  seats  2.50-3.50  per  dav 

500    seats 2.00  per  day        1 ,000  seats,  up  3.50-10-15  per  day 

Do  not 
buy  a  sign 
just  because 
it  is  a  sign. 
If  you  buy 
on  that  the- 
o  r  y  your 
money  will, 
no  doubt,  be 
poorly  in- 
vested. An 
o  r  d  i  n  a  r  y 
sign  with 
plain  read- 
ing matter 
will  not  get 
results,  "al- 
though it 
will  answer 
the  pur- 
pose." There 
is  very  little 
value  in 
plain  electric 
signs.  One 
might  look 
down  a 
street  and 
see  fifty  of 
the    ordinary        The  imstratio, 


type  signs  reading  drugs,  bar,  theater,  lunch,  etc.; 
there  is  no  indiviuality,  no  "advertising  value,"  noth- 
ing but  signs,  signs,  signs — a  waste  of  money. 

There  are  hundreds  of  sign  designs.  But  1 
recommend  Electrical  Advertising 
Display — exploiting  the  name  of  the 
theater  and  carrying  spectacular  ef- 
fects, such  as  flaming  torches,  light- 
ning flashes,  bursting  bombs,  high- 
speed borders  and  chasing  borders, 
in  colors — as  being  more  valuable  to 
the  motion  picture  theater  than 
changeable  attraction  frames.  Here 
is  the  reason :  First,  the  cost  of  the 
spectacular  display  and  the  attrac- 
tion frame  together  would  be  pro- 
hibitive to  the  average  motion  pic- 
ture theater.  Second,  a  changeable 
attraction  sign,  owing  to  the  size  of 
letters,  can  be  seen  from  only  a 
short  distance.  Therefore,  the  adver- 
tising value  is  limited. 

In  cases  where  the  theater  is 
large  enough  to  justify  the  use  of  an 
advertising  spectacular  sign  and  at- 
traction frame,  I  would  advise  both. 
But  where  the  seating  capacity  of 
the  theater  is  limited,  I  feel  that  a  sign  with  spectacu- 
lar effects  would  have  more  "attention  value"  and  would 
give  the  theater  more  real  advertising  than  could  be 
gotten  by  any  other  means. 

In  purchasing  an  electric  display  the  first  require- 
ment is  "Individuality,"  which  is,  of  course,  "attention 

value"  —  ad- 


■i  this  page  show  Chicago  motio 


e  theater  signs  designed  by  the  Thomas  Cusack  Co. 


vertising  in 
itself.  Ad- 
vertising, to 
a  d  v  e  r  t  ise, 
must  com- 
m  a  n  d  . 
T  h  e  r  efore, 
the  big  and 
vital  thing  is 
"a  1 1  e  n  tion 
value."  This 
can  be  got- 
ten only  by 
quick,  sharp, 
p  i  e  r  c  i  n  g, 
flashing  ef- 
fects. It  is 
not  neces- 
sary to  buy 
a  large  sign 
to  accom- 
plish this.  A 
small  sign, 
if  carefully 
designed, 
with  the 
proper  flash- 
ing effects, 
can  be  made 


692 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


effectively  to  attract  90  per  cent   of  the  passers-by. 

Some  house  managers  think  it  necessary  to  use 
a  large  number  of  lamps  in  order  to  obtain  the  de- 
sired effect.  Such  is  not  the  case.  A  small  electric 
sign,  with  only  250  lamps  and  the  proper  flashing 
effect,  is  fifty  times  stronger,  more  effective,  and  has 
more  advertising  value  than  the  ordinary  display  con- 
taining 500  lamps  with  a  poor  flashing  effect. 

The  old  type  of  electric  display  was  built  of  pieces 
of  metal  slapped  together  in  a  crude  manner,  with 
the  name  of  the  theater  in  electric  lights  and  finished 
with  a  coat  or  two  of  thin  paint.  This  was  all  that  was 
considered  necessary  in  an  electric  sign.  As  a  result 
the  sign  soon  became  an  eyesore  and  a  hindrance 
rather  than  an  asset.  Such  a  thing  as  "advertising 
value"  never  entered  into  the  matter  at  all.  This  type 
of  sign  had  absolutely  no  daytime  value.  Now,  this 
daytime  value,  we  find,  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
assets  of  an  electric  display.  The  new  type  of  sign 
is  built  so  that  it  makes  a  splendid  daytime  display; 
in  fact,  equally  as  good  as  at  night,  if  kept  in  good 
condition. 

I  have  superintended  the  laying  out  of  a  great 
number  of  theater  electrical  displays  and  in  every  case 
I  have  found,  as  have  the  house  managers,  that  more 
"advertising  value"  is  attached  to  electrical  advertising 
than  to  any  other  means  of  publicity.  This  is  owing 
to  the  fact  that  the  electric  display  is  generally  on  the 
theater  and  reaches  the  people  at  the  psychological 
time — when  they  are  in  the  mood  to  attend  theaters. 

Rarely,  if  ever,  will  you  find  two  electrical  dis- 
plays, frames  or  displays  of  any  kind  just  alike.  It  is 
at  least  the  policy  of  the  Thos.  Cusack  Company  to 
build  each  display  of  a  different  design;  to  fit  the  need 
of  each  individual  theater  location  and  class  of  people 
the  theater  manager  is  desirous  of  catering  to.  We  have 
never  made  two  electric  displays  alike  in  design. 
Therefore,  each  theater  is  given  individuality  in  its 
advertising. 

We  build,  erect  and  maintain  these  displays  on  a 
service  basis— furnishing  electricity  for  illumination, 
renewing  all  burnt-out  lamps,  assuming  all  risk  and 
responsibility,  cleaning,  repainting  and  repairing  as 
often  as  necessary  on  a  monthly  charge  basis.  The 
cost  of  display  is  included  in  this  monthly  charge.  This 
maintenance  provides  for  a  repaint  every  three  months 
during  the  year,  which  entitles  lessee  to  an  entire 
change  of  color  scheme,  and  which  virtually  makes  an 
entirely  new  sign  as  often  as  it  is  repainted. 

These  signs  are  built  so  they  not  only  are  at- 
trative  night  displays  but  are  attractive  in  the  day- 
time. This  enables  the  theater  owner  to  advertise  his 
theater  18  hours  a  day— from  early  in  the  morning 
until  the  theater  closes  at  night,  without  any  extra 
cost  for  this  day-time  feature;  this  being  plus  adver- 
tising. 

These  displays  are  patrolled  every  hour  during 
the  night  by  service  men  who  renew 'all  lamps  and 
adjust  flashers  when  necessary.  The  Thos.  Cusack 
Company  is  able  to  furnish  this  service  at  a  lower  cost 
than  the  theater  owner  could  buy,  build,  erect  and 
maintain  Ins  own  dispiav. 


IVAN  FEATURE  HAS  FIVE  STARS 

"The  City  of  Illusion"  to  Be  Released  as  Special  Fea- 
ture— Strikes   Unusual   Notes — Five 
Stars  Appear  in  it 

Five  stars  will  work  together  in  the  making  of  the 
new  Ivan  feature,  "The  City  of  Illusion." 

One  of  the  foremost  of  these  is  Charleton  Macy, 
the  Belasco  legitimate  star  who  created  the  leading 
male  role  in  "The  Woman"  and  who  on  the  screen 
played  the  male  lead  opposite  Theda  Bara  in  "De- 
struction." Realizing  that,  after  the  story,  the  play- 
ers make  the  play,  Ivan  Abramson,  the  author  and 
director  of  "The  City  of  Illusion,"  has  gathered  to- 
gether an  unusual  number  of  bright  lights  to  enact 
the  difficult  roles  in  the  play. 

Mignon  Anderson,  the  dainty,  fearless  little  lead- 
ing lady;  Bradley  Barker,  formerly  with  Olga  Pe- 
trova ;  Paula  Shay,  the  "Mary  Garden  of  the  Screen" ; 
Joseph  Burke,  star  of  "The  Fool's  Paradise" ;  Maxine 
Brown,  Edison's  well-known  ingenue ;  Willard  Case, 
former  juvenile  with  Essanay;  and  Guido  Colucci, 
strong  in  the  delineation  of  character  and  erstwhile 
with  Edison — these  are  some  of  the  stellar  cast. 

In  "The  City  of  Illusion"  will  be  seen  the  original 
painting  called  "The  Hump  Backed  Angel,"  by  the 
famous  Rubens.  This  painting,  you  will  remember, 
was  disfigured  by  Rubens'  jealous  pupil,  Torminetto, 
who  painted  a  hump  on  the  angel's  back.  This  re- 
mained undiscovered  until  after  Rubens'  death.  The 
picture  found  its  way  into  the  possession  of  the  Coluc- 
ci's,  according  to  the  story,  and  remained  with  the 
estate  for  centuries.  Guido  Colucci,  the  last  of  his  fam- 
ily and  a  close  friend  of  Director  Abramson,  granted 
the  use  of  this  famous  picture  in  the  coming  feature. 

Another  interesting  note  in  "The  City  of  Illusion" 
will  be  struck  by  the  showing  of  interiors  which  are 
to  be  filmed  in  the  Washington  residence  of  Suarez 
Muiica,  ambassador  from  Chile. 


ROTHACKER  SIGNS  COLBY 


II.  E.  Aitkcn,  president  of  the  Triangle  Film  Cor- 
poration, Stopped  Off  in  Chicago  last  week  for  a  con- 
ference with  (.  Furness  Hately.  Me  has  spent  sev- 
eral weeks  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  left  for  Ne 
after  remaining  a  short    time   in   Chicago 


New  York 


Noted    Animal    Artist    Who    Originated    the    "Colby 

Dog"  Post  Cards,  Will  Produce  Animated 

Advertising  Cartoons 

Watterson  R.  Rothacker  announces  that  he  has 
signed  a  contract  for  the  exclusive  services  of  Vincent 
V.  Colby,  the  famous  animal  artist. 

Mr.  Colby  is  the  originator  of  the  "Colby  Dog" 
post  cards,  which  were  published  in  sixteen  designs 
and  had  a  record-breaking  sale  of  more  than  twelve 
million. 

As  an  animal  artist  Mr.  Colby  has  an  international 
reputation ;  he  is  also  recognized  as  an  authority  on 
gelatine  photogravure. 

Mr.  Colby  has  traveled  extensively  in  his  artistic 
studies  and  has  been  on  every  continent  in  the  world 
except  Australia.  He  was  with  the  United  States 
Army  during  the  early  part  of  the  Moro  insurrection 
and  spent  two  years  and  seven  months  in  active  service 
in  the  Philippines,  during  which  time  he  made  splendid 
drawings  of  army  life. 

Mr.  Colby  will  produce  special  hair-tone  animated 
advertising  cartoons  for  the  Rothacker  Film  Manufac- 
turing Company  and  is  working  out  a  series  of  unique 
entertainment  cartoons  for  general  release,  details  of 
which  will  soon  he  announced  by  Mr.  Rothacker. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


First  Aid  to  Theater  Men 


BY  S.  L.  ROTHAPFEL 


THE  interest  taken  in  this  department  by  theater 
men  from  all  over  the  country  is  gratifying  and 
I  want  to  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  many 
of  the  writers  for  the  helps  they  have  given  me  in 
sending  in  the  suggestions  I  have  asked  for.  Also  let 
me  say  right  here  that  I  have  found  the  "What  the 
Theater  Men  Are  Doing"  forum  of  great  assistance 
to  me  and  I  believe  other  theater  men  feel  the  same 
way  about  it.  The  forum  gives  these  men,  situated 
far  apart  and  too  busy  to  write  individual  letters, 
an  excellent  opportunity  to  "get  together."  And  we 
all  must  get  together  if  we  would  succeed.  For  we 
need  each  other. 

From  now  on  I  propose  to  answer  the  questions 
that  are  coming  in  to  me  by  number,  figuring  last 
week's  reply  as  number  one.  In  this  way  I  will  not 
have  to  mention  names,  as  I  believe  many  theater 
men  would  not  take  advantage  of  this  department  if 
they  thought  their  names  were  to  be  published.  In 
case  the  questions  are  repeated  they  will  be  referred 
to  by  number,  so  I  would  advise  keeping  copies  of 
Motography  on  file  for  future  reference. 

2.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  get  the  people  out 
to  my  house  this  summer.  Now  I  only  run  three  nights 
a  week — Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday.  How  is  the 
best  way  to  advertise  the  shows?  On  Tuesdays  I  run 
a  World  feature;  on  Thursdays  a  Universal  Broadway 
feature;  on  Saturdays  a  program  consisting  of  a  two- 
reel  western,  and  a  two-reel  comedy.  I  would  like  to 
get  this  theater  on  the  map  and  also  would  like  to  get 
some  good  road  shows  in  here.  If  not  road  shows,  I  want 
to  make  the  house  earn  money  somehow.  It  seems 
as  though  serials  are  good  here  for  a  while  but  the 
people  seem  to  get  tired  of  them.  I  have  run  "Runaway 
June,"  and  twenty-five  chapters  of  "The  Diamond  from 
the  Sky."  But  I  had  to  cut  it  out  as  the  people  just  would 
not  come.  I  had  to  pay  for  the  shows  out  of  my  own 
pocket.  I  have  had  this  theater  a  year  and  it  has  not 
cleared  a  dollar  for  me.  On  January  22  I  cut  down  to 
one  show  on  Saturday  only  until  last  Thursday  when  I 
started  again  Thursdays  and  Saturdays. 

This  gentleman  seems  to  have  a  difficult  problem 
on  his  hands  and  because  he  is  not  specific  in  his  ques- 
tions I  am  going  to  answer  him  with  a  few  questions 
of  my  own,  first  suggesting,  however,  if  I  am  to 
give  the  help  that  he  seems  to  need,  that  he  write 
me  another  letter  telling  me  the  conditions  in  his  town, 
which  is  in  Illinois.  What  kind  of  a  community  is 
your  theater  located  in?  Are  the  people  farmers,  fac- 
tory workers  or  town  folks  of  various  occupations? 
Are  they  early-to-bed  folks?  Is  your  house  in  the 
center  of  a  thickly  populated  community?  Is  it  easy 
of  access?  Is  the  front  attractive ?  Do  you  make  it 
convenient  for  the  people  to  attend?  Are  "you  get- 
ting the  young  folks  interested  in  your  shows?  Are 
you  sending  them  away  happy  so  they  will  tell  their 
parents  to  see  your  shows,  too?  What  sort  of  news- 
paper co-operation  can  you  get?  Is  your  house  at- 
tractive inside  as  well  as  outside?  Are  you  using 
good  music? 

If  you  will  answer  these  questions  and  others  that 
may  suggest  themselves  perhaps  I  can  help  you.  Now 
tell  me  why  you  want  road  shows?  Do  you  believe  the 
people  are  more  likely  to  attend  your  house  if  you 
have  such  attractions?  Why?  Is  it  not  possible  that 
your  selection  of  pictures  is  not  pleasing?    How  about 


your  competition?  Have  you  any  and  if  so  is  the 
other  fellow  giving  a  better  show?  I  want  to  help 
you  all  I  can  and  I  believe  if  conditions  are  not  alto- 
gether against  the  house  that  you  can  write  me  in  a 
short  time  and  tell  me  that  some  of  the  dollars  you 
have  invested  have  begun  to  come  back.  But  most 
important  of  all,  while  you  are  working  toward  that 
end — smile.  Don't  let  the  people  realize  that  you  feel 
that  your  house  is  a  failure. 

3.  Where  should  I  locate  my  projection  booth?  I 
am  building  a  new  house  to  seat  1,100  persons  on  the 
main  floor  and  a  large  balcony. 

Before  answering  this  question  I  would  have  liked 
to  have  been  told  the  length  of  throw  and  size  of 
screen  but  off  hand  and  in  a  general  way  I  will  say 
that  I  find  the  best  results  are  obtained  when  the 
booth  is  on  the  main  floor,  allowing  for  a  long  throw. 
I  have  found  this  location  to  be  best,  especially  in 
a  large  theater,  and  I  believe  it  holds  true  in  smaller 
houses.  If  the  floor  of  the  house  slopes  to  the  or- 
chestra pit,  this  gives  the  projection  in  direct  line  with 
the  screen.  In  building  your  booth  allow  me  to  sug- 
gest that  you  remember  the  operators.  Give  them 
plenty  of  breathing  and  elbow  space,  as  well  as  pro- 
tection. You  will  find  this  will  result  in  better  pro- 
jection and  projection  is  especially  important.  People 
do  not  attend  shows  to  be  annoyed  and  if  the  pic- 
tures are  not  clear  your  shows  are  criticised. 

4.  What  is  the  best  screen? 

5.  What  is  the  best  projection  machine? 

I  would  like  very  much  to  answer  questions  of 
this  sort  from  my  experience  but  I  feel  that  I  should 
not  publish  my  opinions  on  these  matters.  My  opin- 
ions on  such  subjects  are  based  simply  on  what  I  have 
seen  and  in  the  case  of  a  projection  machine  I  believe 
much  depends  on  the  operator. 


SPOOR  ANNOUNCES  RELEASES 

Unusually  Attractive  List  of  Short  Subjects  on  the 
Essanay  List  for  April,  Exclusive  of  Multiple- 
Reel  Features 

George  K.  Spoor,  president  of  Essanay,  announces 
an  unusually  snappy  list  of  short  subjects  for  April. 
These  are  exclusive  of  the  V.  L.  S.  E.  multiple  reel 
features  and  come  in  one,  two  and  three  reel  acts. 

Essanay's  Wednesday  releases  consist  of  two  Cani- 
mated  Nooz  Pictorials,  Animated  Cartoons  by  the  fa- 
mous newspaper  cartoonist,  Wallace  A.  Carlson,  includ- 
ing caricatures  of  men  in  the  limelight  and  news  events 
of  importance  and  two  artistic  movie  drawings  by  the 
celebrated  artist,  Vernon  Howe  Bailey.  One  of  these 
gives  all  the  interesting  points  of  Rome,  with  which  Mr. 
Bailey  is  thoroughly  familiar.  The  other  is  the  sketch 
of  Boston  with  all  its  historic  buildings  and  scenes. 

Both  the  cartoons  and  the  movie  drawings  are  each 
five  hundred  feet  in  length  and  contain  five  hundred  feet 
of  exceptionally  good  scenic  pictures  of  the  picturesque 
spots  in  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

Among  its  two  reel  releases,  "Millstones"  is  one  of 
the  strongest.  It  is  a  story  of  the  underworld,  of  evil 
characters  with  a  grain  of  good  in  them.     The  story  is 


694 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


brightened  by  the  sweetness  of  a  girl's  love.  The  play 
features  Darwin  Karr  and  Nell  Craig. 

Owing  to  the  strong  demand  for  some  of  Essanay's 
earlier  releases,  the  company  has  decided  to  reissue  two 
two-reelers.  These  are  "Under  Royal  Patronage"  and 
"The  Elder  Brother."  Both  of  these  feature  Francis  X. 
Bushman. 

Among  the  five  three-reel  releases  for  this  month, 
"The  Spider's  web"  is  one  of  the  best.  This  is  a  magazine 
story  written  by  Clarence  L.  Cullen  and  features  Bryant 
Washburn,  Elizabeth  Burbridge,  John  Junior  and  John 
Lorenz.  This  is  a  story  of  a  youth  who  is  made  the  slave 
of  the  drug  habit,  having  been  lured  to  try  the  drug  by 
a  jealous  rival.  He  finally  makes  good,  however,  throws 
off  the  habit,  wins  the  girl  and  a  place  in  the  affairs  of 
the  world. 

Other  excellent  three-reel  releases  include  "The  Last 
Adventure,"  featuring  Lillian  Drew  and  E.  H.  Calvert; 
"The  Frame-up"  and  "A  Woman's  Naked  Soul." 

Its  multiple  reel  features  are  exceptionally  strong,  in- 
cluding William  Gillette,  the  noted  speaking  stage  star, 
in  "Sherlock  Holmes,"  the  play  written  by  himself  and 
the  character  to  which  he  has  given  undying  fame. 


"The  world  will  not  long  remember  what  we  say 
here,  but  it  can  never  forget  what  he  did  in  New  York. 
We  stand  in  awe  and  respect.    I  commend  him  to  you." 

Jack  Lait,  known  as  Jacquin  Lait,  when  in  dinner 


CHAPLIN  INVADES  CHICAGO 

King  of  Screen  Comedians  Spends  Lively  Sojourn  in 

Windy  City  and  Then  Hikes  for 

the  West  Coast 

Charlie  Chaplin,  unassisted,  took  Chicago  last 
week  and  held  it  for  several  days. 

Then  he  "ducked"  for  Los  Angeles. 

Incidentally,  he  left  a  little  of  that  $670,000  per 
annum  in  the  Windy  Village. 

And  was  besieged  by  a  million  (more  or  less)  per- 
sons of  all  types  who  clamored  for  "just  a  peek"  at  the 
King  of  the  Screen. 

A  day  filled  with  greetings  and  the  exhuberant 
Chicago  brand  of  hospitality,  following  the  arrival  of 
Chaplin  and  his  party  from  New  York  culminated  in  a 
special  function  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Spanish  Ath- 
letes, a  famed  organization  of  writers,  artists  and 
kindred  spirits.    The  kindred  spirits  are  artists,  too. 

Hours  before  the  banquet  and  its  attendant 
frivolities  a  crowd  of  curious  persons  grew  into  a 
seething  mob  which  filled  the  lobbies  of  the  Hotel 
Sherman,  the  capitol  of  Chicago's  Rialto,  and  over- 
flowed into  Randolph  and  Clark  streets. 

Police  reserves  were  called  to  clear  the  sidewalks 
and  car  lines  and  to  aid  in  preserving  order  within  the 
hotel. 

Chaplin  was  formally  initiated  into  the  Spanish 
Athletes. 

Barratt  O'Hara,  lieutenant  governor  of  Illinois  and 
a  personage  not  unknown  to  Broadway  in  his  lighter 
moments,  personally  vouched  for  Mr.  Chaplin  as  a 
fitting  candidate  for  the  somewhat  exclusive  distinc- 
ions  of  membership  in  the  order. 

"There  is  something  funny  about  this  candidate," 
observed  O'Hara,  "but  we  cannot  let  it  stand  against 
him. 

"There  are  many  aspects  of  his  career  which  make 
it  particularity  fit  that  he  should  be  one  of  us. 

"As  I  reflect  with  proper  appreciation  and  extreme 
reverence  upon  the  great  and  honored  roll  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  organization,  this  sacred  order,  I  can  re- 
call none  who  have  thrown  it  farther  and  with  greater 
ease  and  grace. 


Charlie   and   Syd   Chaplin,   snapped    upon    their   arrival  in    Chicago. 

uniform,  author  of  "Lead  Kindly  Light"  and  "Help 
Wanted,"  playwright  and  journalist,  also  formerly  a 
newspaper  man,  made  a  pleasant  speech  of  presenta- 
tion in  a  few  pungent  words. 

The  ceremonies  connected  with  the  Spanish  Ath- 
letes ritual  concluded  with  the  crowning  of  Mr.  Chap- 
lin with  a  bonnet  of  the  Glacier  Blackfoot  Indians, 
previously  worn  only  by  Louis  W.  Hill  of  St.  Paul, 
president  of  the  organization  and  its  staunchest  ex- 
ponent. 

Jay  (Casey)  Cairns  of  the  New  Rochelle  fire  de- 
partment, a  charter  member  of  the  order,  was  master 
of  sundries  ceremonies.  At  4  p.  m.  he  reported  from 
the  Celtic  room,  declaring  the  meet  one  of  the  com- 
pletest  success  of  the  kind  he  had  ever  covered  for  the 
Spanish  Athletes. 

Among  the  guests  of  the  order  was  Henry  P. 
Caulfield,  studio  manager  for  Chaplin,  and  Syd  Chap- 
lin, brother  of  the  Mutual  comedian. 

On  their  arrival  on  the  Twentieth  Century  the 
party  was  met  by  a  delegation  at  the  LaSalle  street 
station  made  up  of  members  of  the  Traffic  Club.  Mr. 
Chaplin  and  his  party  were  guests  of  the  club's 
"Salmon  Day"  luncheon  at  which  Gerrit  Fort,  passen- 
ger traffic  manager  of  the  Union  Pacific,  presided. 


After  an  active  career,  extending  over  a  period 
of  more  than  sixty  years,  Charles  "Daddy"  Manley, 
veteran  of  the  Universal  studios,  one  of  the  best 
loved  men  in  theatrical  circles,  is  dead  at  his  home  in 
Hollywood,  California.  His  death  came  as  a  climax 
to  a  five  days'  illness  which  his  eighty-six  years  were 
unable  to  cope  with. 


March  25,   1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Film  Commercialization  New  Policy 

WORLD  EQUITABLE  PLAN  SUCCESS 


WITH  the  re-organization  of  the  World  Film  Cor- 
poration   and    the    Equitable    Motion    Pictures 
Corporation,     the    newly  -  elected    productional 
heads  and  department  managers  under  the  supervisional 
direction  of  President  Arthur 
H.  Spiegel,  announced  a  pol- 
icy of  film  commercialization. 
Just  what  the  policy  was 
meant  to  convey,   outside   of 
the    bare    announcement    that 


j9S3 

w 

gs§S 

lH 

in  "The  Struggle."  Supporting  Mr.  Sheridan  is  Arthur 
Ashley,  perhaps  one  of  the  best  known  screen  stars,  and 
Ethel  Grey  Terry,  who  has  created  a  vogue  both  in  films 
and  the  spoken  drama. 

The  story  itself  was  written  by  Harry  Chandlee  and 
adapted  for  the  screen  under  the  watchful  eyes  of  the 
film,  service,  advertising  and  publicity  departments,  which 
departments  under  the  new  policy  actually  act  as  rep- 
resentatives of  the  exhibitor  in  that  they  work  from  the 
angle  of  "box  office"  results.  The  director  and  casted 
players  also  have  a 
word  in  the  construc- 
tion. From  a  produc- 
tional standpoint,  the 
commercialization  be- 
mmes  ohvsical. 

Mr.  Ince,  with  his 
retinue  of  cameramen, 
structural  workers  and 
property  men,  with  the 
players,  journeyed  to 
Manaca,  Brazil,  a  leper 
colony,  where  many  of 
the  scenes  of  the  piece 
were  laid  by  the  author. 
A  new  environ- 
m  e  n  t  was  created  by 
Ince  and  the  surround- 
ings, insofar  as  atmos- 
phere and  detail  are 
concerned,  were  made 
perfect. 

A  permit  from  the 
Brazilian  government 
was  procured.  This  al- 


Two      interesting 

scenes 

frot 

i  "The  Struggle," 

com- 

ing 

World-Eqx 

i  tabic 

fea- 

Hire 

produced  b 

i  Join 

Incc, 

and 

Frank   She 

idan 

as  he 

appears  in  the  I 

>ading 

role. 

all  productions  would  undergo  a  treatment  of  commer- 
cialization without  the  sacrificing  of  the  atmospheric  or 
artistic  elements,  was  not  made  entirely  clear.  With  the 
completion,  however,  of  four  forthcoming  pictures,  the 
intent  and  ambitions  of  the  policy  is  realized  and  dem- 
onstrated physically  to  an  extremely  satisfactory  stage. 

The  first  and  most  convincing  demonstration  of  the 
success  of  the  policy  is  seen  in  John  Ince's  production 
of  "The  Struggle."  The  casting  of  this  picture  showed 
a  blending  of  three  elements  theatric.  Frank  Sheridan 
has  long  been  a  potent  figure  on  the  spoken  stage.  Mr. 
Sheridan,  by  his  work  in  "Paid  in  Full,"  "The  Unwritten 
Law,"  "Blackmail"  and  "The  Boss"  substantiated  the  title 
given  him  by  William  Winter,  "The  American  Coquelin." 

Mr.  Sheridan,  by  far  the  most  virile  character  por- 
trayer  on  the  native  stage  and  one  of  the  foremost  per- 
sonifiers  of  big,  red-blooded  types,  plays  the  leading  role 


lowed  Mr.  Ince  and  his  players  to  use  the  Lazarette,  or 
Leper  Colony,  as  he  saw  fit.  The  idea  of  the  journey 
of  the  company  to  far  away  Brazil  was  to  procure  local 
color  and  they  got  it. 

In  building  up  the  story  of  "The  Struggle,"  John 
Ince  said : 

"I  considered  the  story,  as  it  was  given  to  me  in 


696 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


scenario  form,  a  many  gabled  house.  It  contained  punch 
after  punch.  It  required  but  diligent  attention  and  faith- 
fulness to  the  story  to  visualize  a  powerful  work.  I 
simply  built  up  the  walls  to  each  gable.  That  is,  I  con- 
sidered the  big  situations  and  climaxes  as  gables  and 
worked  my  dramatic  structure  up  to  them,  then  down  the 
other  side" to  the  next  gable.  The  result  shows  for  itself 
in  the  production." 

Mr.  Ince  can  be  taken  literally.  He  has  character- 
ized his  work  for  the  past  few  months  with  an  ideal  de- 
veloping of  punches  and  the  emphasizing  of  his  power- 
ful situations,  as  in  the  instance  of  "Sealed  Lips,"  which 
was  termed  a  ninety-five  per  cent  picture  by  the  authorized 
reviewers. 

The  second  physical  demonstration  of  the  advan- 
tages of  the  commercializing  of  film  plays,  appears  aptly 
in  "The  Chain  Invisible,"  which  has  just  been  completed 
under  the  direction  of  Frank  Powell.  This  is  an  orig- 
inal work  from  the  pen  of  the  noted  author,  Richard  Le 
Gallienne.  Mr.  Powell  emphasized  his  climaxes  and  sit- 
uations so  superbly  and  developed  his  dramatic  action 
up  to  the  climaxes  so  majestically  that  his  five-reel  pro- 
duction is  a  smooth  running  document,  vitalized  with  but 
one  object,  that  of  making  dramatic  ten-strikes  every  time 
the  ball  rolls  down  the  alley. 

The  effect  in  "The  Chain  Invisible"  is  one  of  seeing 
a  gigantic  spectacle.  Insofar  as  the  parallel  is  explicit, 
you  watch  a  series  of  beautiful  incidents  all  a  consecutive 
portion  of  the  tale.  Then  at  moments,  some  gigantic 
novelty  is  injected  which  dove-tails  into  the  spectacle, 
and  adds  zest  to  the  story,  yet  creates  in  itself  a  startling 
effect.  In  other  words,  each  incident  is  a  startling  episode 
and  as  a  whole  a  gigantic  series  of  "punches." 

Mr.  Powell  states  that  his  one  intention  was  to  em- 
phasize his  "punches,"  yet  dove-tail  them  perfectly  into 
the  general  tale  and  he  too  prefers  to  await  the  picture's 
public  presentation  and  allow  it  to  speak  for  itself. 

The  commercial  idea  permeates  the  World  and 
Equitable  office.  The  sole  reason  for  the  wide  deviation 
from  a  custom,  according  to  those  who  have  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  company  at  heart,  is  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  and  supporting  the  exhibitor.  The  extra  cost,  the 
longer  periods  required  for  making  the  productions,  the 
extra  efforts  necessary  in  order  to  have  all  department 
heads  and  the  productional  department  confer  and  con- 
cur on  a  picture  before  the  work  begins,  are  not  con- 
sidered, if  the  results  benefit  the  exhibitor. 


ments  on  the  first  floor  and  the  spacious  projection 
room  and  poster  displays  on  the  upper  floor. 

The  new  branch  will  serve  all  the  territory  in  New 
York  state  north  and  east  of  Albany  and  including  that 
city.  This  will  relieve  the  New  York  office  which, 
though  greatly  enlarged  during  the  past  year,  has  been 
crowded  with  work. 

J.  B.  Lytle,  formerly  with  the  Cincinnati  office  of 
the  World  Film  Corporation,  has  been  annexed  to  the 
Big  Four  sales  force  in  that  city.  He  will  handle  the 
Indiana  territory  and  three  counties  in  Ohio.  The 
other  new  man,  F.  B.  Chase,  who  has  been  a  branch 
manager  for  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company, 
will  take  care  of  the  remainder  of  Ohio  and  a  part  of 
West  Virginia. 

"The  Escapades  of  Mr.  Jack,"  the  Frank  Daniels 
comedies  produced  by  Vitagraph  and  released  through 
V-L-S-E,  have  met  with  regular  Johnbunny  success 
throughout  the  country  and  have  just  been  booked  by 
the  Strand  in  New  York  city. 

That  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace"  is  still  enjoying 
great  runs  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  Garden 
Theater  at  Richmond  Hill,  L.  I.,  nearly  had  to  call 
out  the  reserves  to  control  the  crowds  that  jammed 
about  the  house  trying  to  get  tickets  before  the  end  of 
the  run.  And  at  that  the  film  was  shown  on  March  7 
and  8  during  one  of  the  severest  snow  storms  that  has 
visited  New  York  this  winter. 


NEW  BIG  FOUR  EXCHANGE 

Syracuse  Office  Graduates  Into  Important  Branch — 

Two  New  Men  in  Cincinnati  Office — "Battle 
Cry"  Still  Running  Strong 

V-L-S-E  has  made  its  Syracuse  sub-office  a  buying 
exchange,  has  added  two  men  to  its  Cincinnati  sales 
force  and  is  scoring  unusual  successes  with  two  of  its 
features  in  New  York. 

For  the  past  several  weeks  the  volume  of  business 
done  at  the  Big  Four  office  at  Syracuse  has  been  so 
big  that  this  branch  has  graduated  into  one  of  the 
important  sub-divisions  of  the  company.  It  will  be 
under  the  managemenl  of  A.  N.  Webster,  who  is  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  V-L-S-E  concern  and  who  is  well 
known  by  the  film  men  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Webster  has  ample  and  well-arranged  quar- 
ter^. The  Syracuse  office  now  occupies  an  entire  two- 
story    building,    with    the    sales    and    shipping    depart- 


SPOOR  HOST  TO  AD  MEN 

Marks  Opening  of  Large  New  Studio  by  Entertaining 

500  Members  of  Advertising  Association  of 

Chicago 

President  George  K.  Spoor  of  Essanay  marked 
the  opening  of  his  large  new  studio,  the  third  in  Chi- 
cago, by  entertaining  five  hundred  members  of  the 
Advertising  Association  of  Chicago  at  a  luncheon,  fol- 
lowed by  an  inspection  of  the  plant,  on  St.  Patrick's 
day,  March  17. 

It  is  the  custom  for  the  advertising  men  to  make 
visits  at  regular  intervals  to  the  cen.ters  of  various 
industries  of  the  city  and  this  trip  was  "Little  Journey 
No.  4"  of  the  itinerary. 

The  club  members  marched  from  their  rooms  on 
Clark  street  in  Chicago  to  the  Green  Mill  gardens 
where  luncheon  was  served.  Mr.  Spoor  gave  a  talk 
saying  it  was  his  faith  in  Chicago  which  prompted  him 
to  increase  his  studio  space  there.  He  said  that  Chi- 
cago now  had  the  largest  artificially  lighted  studio 
space  given  over  to  pictures  in  the  business.  At  an- 
other point  in  his  remarks  he  discussed  the  possibili- 
ties of  pictures  in  their  relation  to  advertising.  He  is 
confident  that  pictures  will  ultimately  be  the  greatest 
moulders  of  public  opinion  ever  conceived.  President 
Dewitt  Clough  of  the  advertising  men  responded.  The 
association  quartette  gave  several  numbers. 

The  party  then  proceeded  to  the  studios  and  in- 
spected the  three  big  floors.  All  were  particularly  im- 
pressed by  the  massiveness  of  the  latest  studio  which 
is  large  enough  in  itself  to  permit  of  a  dozen  average 
sets  being  erected  at  once. 

Mr.  Spoor  and  his  aides  explained  "how  the  mo- 
vies are  made"  and  when  the  inspection  was  ended  a 
film  showing  the  parade  and  luncheon  was  projected 
before  the  guests  left  the  plant.  It  was  then  presented 
to  the  association. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


697 


Prepayment  of  Film  Rental 

BY  JOHN  R.  FREULER 

President  of  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation. 


THE  knowledge  which  naturally  comes  to  any  busi- 
ness as  it  passes  through  the  various  phases  of 
development  is  now  bringing  to  motion  picture 
exhibitors  newer  and  better  standards  of  business 
practice.  This  is  going  to  result  in  an  increasingly 
sound  foundation  for  the  progress  of  the  whole  photo- 
play industry. 

I  have  in  mind  just  now  particularly  the  adoption 
of  the  prepayment  of  film  rental  practice  in  so  many 
districts.  This  paying  of  rent  for  films  in  advance  is 
bound  to  result  in  decided  benefits  to  both  the  exhibitor 
and  the  distributor. 

In  the  first  place,  the  custom  will  tend  to  cause 
the  exhibitor  to  give  closer  attention  to  his  business, 
to  watch  his  box  office  and  check  his  income  against  his 
expenditures  a  little  more  accurately.  It  will  bring 
him  to  improve  the  quality  of  the  entertainment  he 
shows  his  public.  And  most  important  of  all,  it  will 
gradually  result,  if  this  prepayment  policy  spreads  and 
continues,  in  the  elimination  of  the  "fly-by-night"  ex- 
hibitor who  operates  on  a  shoe  string  and  gives  serious 
competition  to  the  legitimately  managed  and  estab- 
lished theaters. 

If  John  Hudson  can  go  to  an  exchange  and  get 
thirty  or  sixty  days'  credit  for  film,  credit  for  a  projec- 


tion machine,  and  then  credit  from  someone  else  for 
rental,  he  has  credited  himself  into  the  business  and  is 
giving  you  competition  with  no  capital  invested.  When 
his  credit  is  exhausted  he  may  go  to  another  exchange, 
get  more  credit  and  run  for  another  thirty  or  sixty 
days.  He  can  continue  to  do  this  until  his  list  of  ex- 
changes which  will  give  him  credit  is  exhausted. 
Meanwhile,  if  he  is  of  the  type  I  have  in  mind,  he  has 
paid  nothing  for  film  rental  and  his  profits  are  very 
close  to  his  gross  receipts. 

Prepayment  of  film  rental  firmly  established  and 
intelligently  followed  means  in  time  the  elimination  of 
all  these  John  Hudsons. 

And  this  process  of  elimination  is  important,  not 
only  for  the  competition  the  "fly-by-night"  gives  his 
competitors  but  because  he  does  not  present  to  the 
public  the  kind  of  entertainment  that  is  a  credit  to  the 
motion  picture  business.  His  house  does  not  build 
appreciation  and  respect  for  the  photoplay,  and  that 
in  time  hurts  your  business  just  as  certainly  as  does  his 
direct  competition  for  admissions. 

Prepayment  of  film  rental  is  a  logical  and  laudable 
business  practice.  Picture  play  patrons  "pay  as  they 
enter."  Prepayment  is  good  business  for  everyone 
concerned. 


Mutual  to  Increase  Forces 


A  STATEMENT  issued  from  the  home  office  of  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation  announces,  a  large  in- 
crease in  the  acting  forces,  and  in  the  production 
activities  of  the  American,  Thanhouser,  Horsley, 
Gaumont,  Signal  and  Vogue  Film  Companies,  the  pic- 
ture output  of  which  is  released  through  Mutual  ex- 
changes. 

To  supplement  the  companies  already  at  work  on 
Mutual  Masterpictures,  De  Luxe  Edition,  the  Ameri- 
can Film  Corporation  has  organized  another  company 
with  Winnifred  Greenwood  and  Franklin  Ritchie  at 
the  head.  Miss  Greenwood  has  been  associated  with 
the  American  for  several  years  past,  appearing  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  as  the  leading  woman  with 
Edward  Coxen  in  "Flying  A"  drama.  Mr.  Richie  is 
one  of  the  best  known  leading  men  of  the  picture  pro- 
fession, having  been  connected  with  Biograph  and  a 
number  of  Klaw  and  Erlanger  productions.  As  a 
legitimate  actor  he  is  equally  well  known,  having  been 
under  the  Frohman  management  for  four  years  and 
the  Belasco  management  for  two  years.  He  left  the 
Biograph  company  to  become  a  leading  man  for  the 
American  Film  Company. 

Another  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  com- 
pany is  at  work  at  the  American  studio  under  Arthur 
Maude,  the  English  actor-director  in  "Revelation,"  the 
scenario  for  which  was  based  on  "Magda,"  the  Suder- 
mann  play,  by  J.  Edward  Hungerford.  Mr.  Maude  is 
supported   by   Constance   Crawley. 

Mr.  Hungerford,  whose  stories  in  the  Saturday 
Evening  Post  and  other  current  magazines  are  very 
well  known  all  over  the  country,  is  the  author  of  a 
second   embryo    Masterpicture,    De    Luxe    Edition,    in 


process  of  development  in  the  Santa  Barbara  studios. 
It  is  "The  Man  from  Manhattan,"  a  story  containing 
good  comedy  and  stirring  action.  The  picture  is  being 
directed  by  Jack  Halloway.  It  will  serve  as  a  vehicle 
for  Rhea  Mitchell's  second  Masterpicture  appearance, 
her  first  one  being  "Overall."  In  support  of  Miss  Mitch- 
ell will  appear  William  Stowell,  Jack  Prescott,  Warren 
Ellsworth,  Perry  Banks,  Joe  Taylor  and  Charles 
Wheelock. 

Director  Donald  Macdonal  is  busily  engaged  with 
a  company  headed  by  Helene  Rosson,  E.  Forrest  Tay- 
lor, and  Harry  Von  Meter  in  the  mountains  back  of 
Santa  Barbara,  where  he  is  producing  "April,"  a  five- 
part  story  of  mountain  folk,  written  by  Clifford  How- 
ard. 

There  are  four  directors  at  work  at  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  studios  of  the  Thanhouser  company.  The  only 
recent  addition  to  the  players  in  the  southern  studio  is 
Marion  Swayne,  the  charming  little  ingenue  who  was 
last  year  the  leading  woman  of  the  Gaumont  com- 
pany. Among  the  others  are  Valkyruen  (the  Baroness 
Dewitz),  who  is  starred  in  "The  Valkyrie,"  and  in  the 
recent  three  reel  feature,  "The  Cruise  of  Fate."  Boyd 
Marshall,  Thomas  A.  Curran  and  Bert  Delaney  are 
among  the  players  of  drama,  and  Louise  Emerald 
Bates,  Riley  Chamberlin  and  Walter  Hiers  are  comedy 
artists  who  are  in  Jacksonville. 

The  four  directors  are  Ernest  Warde,  Eugene  W. 
Moore,  George  Foster  Platte,  Mutual  Masterpicture 
and  three-reel  feature  directors,  and  William  A.  How- 
ard, a  "Falstaff"  director. 

At  the  New  Rochelle  studio  of  the  Thanhouser 
company,    Director    Frederick    Sullivan    is    producing 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


"Mister  Shakespeare,  Strolling  Player,"  which  will  be 
full  of  the  spirit  of  Merrie  Englande  and  the  Bard  of 
Avon.  Florence  La  Badie  is  appearing  in  this  produc- 
tion. Claude  Cooper  and  Arthur  Ellery  are  the  two 
directors  of  "Falstaff"  comedies  at  the  Thanhouser's 
northern  studio. 

J.  H.  Gilmour,  the  well  known  artist,  who  has  re- 
cently been  added  to  the  Thanhouser  forces;  Robert 
Whittier,  who  made  his  first  appearance  in  Mutual 
releases  in  "Betrayed" ;  John  Lehmberg,  Frank  E.  Mc- 
Nish,  who  always  plays  with  Claude  Cooper  in  the 
Falstaff  comedies  Mr.  Cooper  directs;  and  George 
Mario  are  among  the  actors  at  the  New  Rochelle 
studios. 

Pearl  Shepherd,  the  pretty  girl  who  was  chosen 
for  a  picture  career  at  the  recent  Screen  club  ball ; 
Doris  Grey,  the  Boston  girl  who  found  herself  in  the 
spotlight  because  she  was  the  prettiest  girl  at  the  Bos- 
ton exhibitor's  ball  in  November,  and  who  has  just 
completed  the  picture,  "What  Doris  Did";  Florence 
LaBadie,  Ethyl  Cook,  Kathryn  Adams,  Carey  L.  Hast- 
ings, Frances  Keyes,  Gladys  Hulette  and  the  Fair- 
banks Twins  constitute  the  New  Rochelle  studio's  ap- 
portionment of  feminine  stars. 

While  there  have  been  no  big  and  permanent 
players  added  to  the  Horsley  company's  list — -Crane 
Wilbur,  Margaret  Gibson,  George  Ovey  and  William 
J.  Clifford — there  have  been  a  number  of  well  known 
screen    artists    engaged    for    the    various    productions. 

At  present  Crane  Wilbur  is  working  in  a  Master- 
picture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  written  by  himself,  "The 
Love  Liar."  Lucy  Peyton,  Nan  Christy,  Mae  Gaston 
and  Ella  Golden  have  all  been  specially  cast  for  this 
production  under  the  direction  of  Robert  B.  Broad- 
well.  Margaret  Gibson  and  William  Clifford  have 
been  cast  for  "The  Hidden  Law,"  and  will  be  sup- 
ported by  a  number  of  exceptional  players. 

Virginia  Kirtley  and  Louis  Durham,  the  famous 
ex-baseball  player ;  Sherman  Bainbridge,  the  popular 
actor  recently  seen  with  Universal ;  Marie  James,  for- 
merly with  Metro ;  and  Walter  Spencer  are  numbered 
among  the  players  who  will  be  seen  from  time  to  time 
in  Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  from  the 
Horsley  work  shops. 

There  has  been  a  curious  addition  to  the  studios 
of  this  company,  by  the  way,  out  in  Los  Angeles;  an 
emergency  hospital  has  been  added  to  the  buildings 
and  equipment.  In  the  past,  performers  playing  in 
the  production  with  the  Bostock  animals  have  been 
seriously  injured.  The  hospital  is  situated  near  the 
section  where  the  animals  are  photographed,  and  is 
equipped  with  all  "first  aid"  apparatus. 

Miss  McCoy's  delightful  work  as  a  leading  woman 
will  he  given  first  opportunity  for  expression  in  a  pic- 


k 


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iti      it i. -tit.,, I.      ..I     ...n, I.   .      i /.  ..  .-,  .  •         " 


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ture  directed  by  Edwin  Middleton.  When  she  left 
from  New  York  it  was  the  intention  of  Director  Rich- 
ard Garrick  to  feature  her  in  "The  Quality  of  Faith." 
Since  her  arrival  in  Jacksonville  he  has  changed  his 
mind,  however,  and  the  new  Gaumont  star  will  be 
featured  in  "The  Isle  of  Love"  and  will  be  supported 
by  Earl  O.  Schenck  and  Iva  Shepherd. 

Gertrude  Robinson  and  Alexander  Gaden  will 
assume  the  leading  roles  of  "The  Quality  of  Faith." 

Marguerite  Courtot  has  finished  with  "Feather- 
top,"  and  is  playing  now  in  a  society  drama  supported 
by  Henry  L.  Pemberton.  The  drama  has  not  yet  been 
titled. 

The  first  Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition, 
offering  of  the  Signal  Film  Corporation  has  been  ac- 
cepted and  will  be  an  early  Mutual  release.  Director 
Murdock  McQuarrie,  the  veteran  picture  producer,  has 
made  a  thrilling  drama  of  organized  vice  out  of  the 
scenario  "In  the  Web  of  the  Grafters."  In  this  com- 
pany are  Edythe  Starling  and  Norber  Myles,  excel- 
lent players  both  of  them,  and  well  known  to  the  pic- 
ture field ;  Millard  Wilson,  Julian  Beechwood  and 
Francis  Macdonald. 

In  the  meantime  the  "Girl  and  the  Game"  com- 
pany is  going  steadily  on  to  the  completion  of  the  fif- 
teen chapters  of  the  Mutual's  great  railroad  special 
feature.  The  company  has  been  at  Los  Vegas,  Ne- 
vada, for  the  past  two  months,  where  the  hilly,  unset- 
tled region  makes  a  splendid  background  for  the  thrills 
of  railroad  building. 

The  output  of  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation  for 
the  week  of  March  20  will  be  headed  by  a  Mutual 
Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  which  is  the  picturi- 
zation  of  one  of  the  most  famous  of  the  popular  melo- 
dramas of  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago. 

"My  Partner,"  the  play,  written  by  Bartley  Camp- 
bell and  produced  at  the  Union  Square  Theater,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1879,  will  be  released  as  a  Masterpicture. 
de  Luxe  Edition,  on  Monday,  March  20.  Burr  Mc- 
intosh, a  man  who  has  figured  prominently  on  the 
American  stage  for  a  good  many  years  and  who  is 
known  particularly  as  a  splendid  portfayer  of  the 
Western  and  Southern  "gentleman"  types,  is  seen  in 
the  leading  role.  As  "Joe  Saunders"  in  "My  Partner,"" 
the  able  American  actor  is  at  his  best. 

The  picture  has  been  excellently  photographed. 
The  settings  are  particularly  beautiful,  and  no  expense 
has  been  spared  to  make  it  a  "true  to  type"  western. 

The  second  Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edi- 
tion, of  the  week,  which  will  appear  on  Wednesday, 
is  "The  Bruiser,"  an  American  Film  Company  drama, 
featuring  William  Russell  and  Charlotte  Burton. 

The  struggle  between  labor  and  capital,  which  is 
one  of  the  big,  absorbing  questions  of  present  day  com- 
mercialism, forms  the  theme  for  this  photoplay.  Wil- 
liam Russell  plays  the  role  of  a  brawny  champion  of 
the  labor  class.  Charlotte  Burton  is  a  daughter  of  the 
masses  who  proves  her  superiority  to  the  pampered 
daughters  of  the  idle  rich  in  a  number  of  thrilling 
situations. 

"The  Bruiser"  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of 
recent  Mutual  releases.  An  additional  feature  which 
will  not  fail  to  attract  is  the  fight  between  Al  Kauff- 
man,  the  famous  "white  hope"  of  former  times,  and 
Mr.  Russell. 

"The  Hidden  Law,"  a  sociological  drama  produced 
by  the  Horsley  Company  and  featuring  William  Clif- 
ford and  Margaret  Gibson,  will  be  the  last  of  the  Mu- 
tual  Masterpictures,  De   Luxe  Edition,  for  the  week. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Calls  Uniformity  Trade  Solution 

FILM  STANDARDIZATION  TIPS 


.4  i  T~7  ILM  standardization  will  come  only  through 
|"*  correct  distributing  policies."  This  is  the  state- 
ment  of  Walter  W.  Irwin,  general  manager  of 
the  V.  L.  S.  E.  It  is  attended  by  numerous  qualifi- 
cations. Mr.  Irwin  says:  "The  long-looked-for  day 
of  a  uniform  product  in  the  film  industry  will  come 
about  first  through  the  introduction  of  correct  prac- 
tices in  the  selling  side  of  the  business,  rather  than  in 
the  producing  side. 

"Our  increases  have  been  due  both  to  the  improve- 
ment in  our  product,  and  to  the  correctness  of  the  dis- 
tributing policies  under  which  we  operate. 

"As  unrelated  as  they  may  seem,  the  two  are  in- 
separable. I  mean  by  this,  that  the  only  hope  of 
stabilizing  and  intensifying  the  output  of  a  producer, 
is  for  that  output  to  be  so  marketed  that  the  producer 
makes  money  only  on  those  films  which  are  merit- 
orious. 

"There  is  no  surer  way  to  make  a  man  correct  a 
fault  than  to  touch  his  pocketbook.  This  applies  to 
motion  picture  producers  as  well  as  to  any  other  type 
of  business  man.  The  producer  who  watches  his  neigh- 
bor prosper  while  he  is  not  getting  back  the  bare  man- 
ufacturing cost  of  his  product,  needs  no  greater  spur 
to  improve  the  quality  of  his  productions  than  his  finan- 
cial statement.  This  incentive  can  only  exist  when 
every  producer  is  independent  of  every  other  man — 
when  each  feature  is  priced  individually  and  solely  on 
its  merits — in  short,  when  each  associate  producer  is 
in  real  and  active  competition  with  his  fellows. 

"That  is  what  I  mean  when  I  say  that  the  dis- 
tributing system  has  a  vital  bearing  upon  bettering 
the  quality  of  a  product.  Where  pictures  are  rented 
on  a  flat  rate  basis,  and  each  manufacturer  in  a  com- 
bination receives  exactly  what  every  other  manufac- 
turer receives,  regardless  of  the  respective  merits  of 
their  productions,  there  is  no  incentive  for  the  manu- 
facturer who  is  investing  large  sums  of  capital  in  order 
to  produce  ever-increasing  merit,  as  long  as  an  asso- 
ciate producer  is  making  just  as  much  money  on  a 
smaller  investment,  and  therefore,  producing  pictures 
of  a  lesser  degree  of  merit. 


"On  the  other  hand  there  is  no  incentive  for  the 
manufacturer  with  a  small  investment  and  an  output 
of  mediocre  quality,  who  is  making  as  much  money  as 
the  manufacturer  of  the  best  grade  pictures,  to  increase 
his  expenditure  and  improve  the  merit  of  his  product. 

"It  is  apparent,  therefore,  that  the  flat  rate  method 
of  pricing  films,  puts  a  premium  upon  mediocrity  and 
inferiority.  It  makes  it  possible  for  the  organization 
which  spends  the  minimum  amount  of  money  in  the 
manufacture  of  their  picture,  to  make  more  money 
than  the  one  which  spends  the  maximum  amount  of 
money. 

"The  only  remedy  for  such  obviously  inequitable 
conditions,  is  the  'open-booking'  method  of  renting 
films,  and  the  'minimum-and-maximum'  price  system 
— two  policies  instituted  by  the  Big  Four,  which  com- 
bine to  market  every  film  of  every  manufacturer  inde- 
pendently of  every  film  of  every  other  manufacturer, 
at  a  price  based  on  the  actual  box  office  value  of  each 
production. 

"These  policies  were  adopted  by  the  V.  L.  S.  E. 
at  its  very  inception.  In  fact,  it  is  entirely  within  the 
bounds  of  conservatism  to  say  that  this  company  was 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  overcoming  the  reactionary 
conditions  which  almost  universally  existed  in  the 
moving  picture  industry. 

"We  determined  at  the  start  to  be  an  exception  to 
the  rule — to  institute  the  keenest  possible  competition 
between  the  associate  manufacturers  making  up  this 
company,  a  competition  in  which  each  would  be  bound 
to  try  and  outdo  the  other  in  the  size  of  their  invest- 
ment and  the  consequent  merit  of  their  product.  To 
this  end  we  inaugurated  the  'open-booking'  and  'min- 
imum-and-maximum' methods  in  marketing  our  pro- 
ductions. 

"These  are  the  methods  which  keep  every  manu- 
facturer keyed  up  to  produce  at  all  times,  the  best  of 
which  they  are  capable,  for  in  the  end,  under  these 
systems,  the  manufacturer  alone  is  the  principal  suf- 
ferer if  a  film  fails  to  measure  up  to  the  proper  stand- 
ards. 

"And  the  financial  statement,  as  I  have  pointed 


'le  sets.     Nine  rooms,  photographed  a 
of  Peril."   World  Film   Corporation 


700 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


out,  is  the  most  potent  argument  which  could  be  used 
in  correcting  the  weaknesses  of  production.  No  ora- 
tory nor  personal  pressure  is  needed  to  accompany  this 
statement.  It,  in  itself,  speaks  volumes  so  forcibly 
that  the  manufacturer  cannot  do  other  than  realize 
that  he  must  endeavor  to  outdo  his  keenest  competitor, 
or  fall  by  the  wayside. 

"We  hear  much  these  days  of  the  'survival  of  the 
fittest.'  The  'open-booking'  policy  as  operated  by  the 
Big  Four,  is,  in  A'ery  fact,  'the  survival  of  the  fittest.' 
It  places  a  penalty  upon  poor  pictures  and  rewards  the 
good  ones,  for  each  manufacturer  obtains  the  proceeds 
solely  from  his  own  pictures  and  those  can  only  be 
consistent  with  the  merits  of  their  output.  The  pro- 
ducer, in  other  words,  gets  only  as  he  gives,  takes  out, 
only  in  proportion  to  that  which  he  puts  in. 

"The  hope  of  the  film  industry  lies  in  merit  being 
the  sole  measure  of  reward. 

"Films  are  not  of  uniform  worth.     It  is  humanly 


impossible  to  make  them  so.  Consequently,  it  is  fool- 
ish to  argue  that  they  are  co-ordinate  in  drawing 
power. 

"But  until  the  Big  Four  established  the  'open- 
booking'  and  'minimum-and-maximum'  policies,  films 
were  always  sold  on  the  basis  as  that  they  were  of 
equal  merit  and  co-ordinate  drawing  power,  and  every 
exhibitor  was  tied  by  a  contract  under  which  he  was 
compelled  to  take  the  entire  output  of  a  feature  dis- 
tributing company,  whether  or  not  a  part  of  it  lacked 
merit  or  was  unsuitable  to  his  audience. 

"How  much  fairer  it  is — how  much  more  common 
business  sense,  to  have  a  man  come  in  and  see  a  pic- 
ture on  the  screen  before  he  buys  it — to  let  him  judge 
of  a  picture's  value  for  his  particular  patronage  for 
himself — to  let  him  take  what  he  wants — to  use  it 
when  he  wants  it  and  for  as  long  as  he  wants  it. 

"And  how  much  fairer  it  is  to  the  manufacturer 
also,  to  give  him  a  price  commensurate  with  the  actual 
worth  of  the  product,  and  not  ask  him  to  take  what 
the  manufacturer  of  an  inferior  product  is  forced  to 
accept  for  his  wares. 

"Pie  need  not  be  urged  then  to  make  the  best  pos- 
sible pictures  which  money,  brains  and  ingenuity  can 
turn  out. 

"He  will  do  it  without  prompting,  because  in  so 
doing,  he  is  determining  his  own  financial  condition." 


7  TIM     ./'••; 


"CYCLE  OF  FATE"  ODD  PLAY 

Five-Part  Drama,  Dealing  with  Life  in  the  City  and  at 

Sea,  Will  Be  Released  as  a  Selig  Red 

Seal  Play  April  3 

"The  Cycle  of  Fate,"  a  five-part  drama  carrying 
the  tang  of  the  sea  and  the  voice  of  the  city,  will  be 
released  as  a  Selig  Red  Seal  play  through  V.  L.  S.  E.. 
Monday,  April  3. 

This  extraordinary  drama  presents  two  episodes 
with  two  different  casts  of  characters,  but  each  cast 
having  strong  influence  in  the  development  of  the 
drama  and  in  its  final  and  sensational  development. 
"The  Cycle  of  Fate"  was  written  and  produced  by 
Marshal  Neilan,  who  also  plays  an  important  role  in 
the  unfolding  of  the  plot. 

Miss  Bessie  Eyton,  known  as  one  of  the  world's 
most  winsome  actresses,  takes  the  leading  role,  that  of 
Maybelle  Syron,  and  she  is  most  talentedly  supported 
by  Edith  Johnson,  Wheeler  Oakman,  Frank  Clark.  Al 
W.   Filson  and  others. 

The  drama  opens  in  the  little  sea-faring  village 
of  Oceancove.  The  inherent  love  of  brother  and  sister 
parted  for  fourteen  years  plays  an  important  role  as 
do  birthmarks  inherited  by  these  twins.  The  devel- 
opment of  the  story  shifts  from  the  life  of  the  sea  to 
a  great  city,  and  the  contrasted  fortunes  of  the  prin- 
cipal characters  aid  in  the  presentment  of  a  production 
that  is  out  of  the  ordinary  in  every  way. 

There  are  a  succession  of  startling  episodes,  one 
lovely  scene  follows  another  and  at  the  end  conies  a  big, 
strong,  gripping  and  red-blooded  climax  that  will  cause 
tenseness  in  any  audience. 

Those  critics  who  have  seen  the  early  showings 
The  Cycle  of  Fate"  declare  that  this  photodrama 
wdl  favorably  compare  with  those  other  great  Seli°- 
productions,  "The  Rosary,"  "The  Spoilers,"  "The 
Ne'er-do- Well,"  "The  House  of  a  Thousand  Candles" 
and  other  V.  L.  S.  E.  plays. 


of 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


701 


EXHIBITORS  ELECT  OFFICERS 

Northern  Illinois  League  Meets  in  Chicago  and  Ap- 
points New  Regime;  Banquet  and  Entertainment 
Follow 

The  annual  election  of  officers  for  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Exhibitors'  League  of  Northern  Illinois  was  held 
last  week  at  the  Masonic  Temple,  Chicago.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected :  President,  G.  M.  Lut- 
trell,  Majestic  theater,  Jacksonville,  111. ;  first  vice-pres- 
ident, W.  Bradley,  Ottawa,  111. ;  second  vice-president, 
Julius  A.  Alcock,  Chicago;  treasurer,  W.  W.  Watts, 
Springfield,  111. ;  secretary,  Sidney  Smith,  Chicago,  111. ; 
national  vice-president,  William  J.  Sweeney,  Chicago. 
The  following  were  named  to  the  executive  committee : 
Chas.  J.  Law,  chairman,  Pana,  111. ;  Harry  Hyman, 
Chicago ;  L.  H.  Frank,  Chicago ;  Robt.  R.  Levy,  Chi- 
cago; Dee  Robinson,  Peoria,  111.;  W.  M.  Sauvage, 
Alton,  111.;  E.  Kunz,  Springfield,  111. 

Among  those  who  attended  the  meeting  were : 

EXHIBITORS.  THEATER.  LOCATION. 

H.  L.  Lieberthal Colleen      Chicago 

M.  S.  Johnson Ideal    Cicero,   111. 

H.  Lutz New  Illinois   Chicago 

G.  M.  Laing Burton    Chicago 

A.   J.    Krug Park   Manor    Chicago 

F.   E.   Whitmer Vaudette    Chicago 

Harry    Hyman Avon   Chicago 

S.    Katz Avon  &  Wallace Chicago 

Miss   Anna   M.    Kesner Lyric     Chicago 

Mrs.   Bert  Feltes Park    Chicago 

August   Zilligen Drake    Chicago 

Adolph  Powell Rex     Chicago 


C.    C.    Whelan.. Jefferson 

M.  A.  Choynski Newbe 

Chas.    Faulhaber. 


.  .('hicacru 
..Chic; 


Julius  A.  Alcock Chicago 

Chas.  &  Jos.  Abraras Acme     Chicago 

Fred   W.   Hartmann Aristo      Chicago 

Patrick  J.   Garvey Exhibitors  Herald   Chicago 

L.   Schindler Schildler's    Chicago 

Arthur   Lowy Lowys     Chicago 

Louis     Frank Halsted     Chicago 

I.   G.  Gelder Chicago 

Max  Hyman Avon   Chicago 

Thos.    R.    Porter Bonita     Chicago 

VI     .  ■-.,     hv      ,,,  "        '■     .     I,  <      In,     ,.;,. 

Geo.  H.  Moore, 

(Jones.   Linick  &  Schaefer) .  .  Orpheum    Chicago 

Morris  Katz Wallace    Chicago 

H.     Lindner Janet     Chicago 

F.  H.  Franke California     Chicago 

Alfred    Hamburger Chicago 

D.    Toplin Chicago 

T.  W.  May Angelus    Chicago 

L.  Kaplan Washington     Chicago 

Geo.  Henry Iris    Chicago 

W.   H.   Griggs Waukegan,  111. 

A  banquet  was  held  in  the  evening  at  the  Sherman 
Hotel,  after  all  business  had  been  completed,  at  which 
entertainment  was   supplied  the  delegates. 


HAS  CENSORSHIP  EXPERIENCE 

Philip    Kauffman,    General    Manager    of    the    Famous 

Players  Film  Service,  Ltd.,  Has  Controversy  with 

the  Canadian  Government 

The  recent  experience  of  Philip  Kauffman,  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Famous  Players  Film  Service, 
Ltd.,  with  the  Canadian  government  regarding  censor- 
ship will  doubtless  be  of  interest  to  every  exchange 
man  in  the  United  States. 

The  province  of  New  Brunswick  recently  felt  that 
it  should  be  represented  by  a  censorship  board,  and 
called  upon  the  film  exchanges  of  Canada  to  submit 
a  two  dollar  per  reel  tax.  Mr.  Kauffman  organized  the 
exhibitors  and  exchange  men  into  a  unanimous  body 
on  the  subject  and  told  the  Canadian  government  that 
if  they  insisted  upon  these  terms  no  films  would  be 
shipped  into  the  province  after  the  following  Saturday 
night.    The  government  having  assured  itself  that  Mr. 


Kauffman,  the  spokesman  of  the  party,  was  thoroughly 
in  earnest,  modified  its  terms  to  such  an  extent  that 
no  office  has  been  opened  in  the  district  and  the  tax  per 
reel  has  been  reduced  to  a  nominal  sum,  which  has 
been  more  than  covered  by  the  return  express  charges 
which  the  exchanges  are  now  attaching  to  the  bill  of 
lading. 

Were  it  not  for  the  backbone  displayed  by  Mr. 
Kauffman,  the  Canadian  government  would  have  un- 
doubtedly had  its  way,  but  owing  to  his  fine  example 
of  courage  and  determination,  he  has  set  a  splendid 
precedent  for  United  States  exchange  managers  to  go 
and  do  likewise. 

Mr.  Kauffman  explained  his  campaign  in  a  few 
words  to  the  members  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of 
Trade  who  were  present  at  the  luncheon  last  Thurs- 
day at  the  Hermitage  hotel,  New  York  City,  among 
whom  were  Mrs.  Charles  Urban  and  Mr.  Hughes  Mas- 
sie  of  London. 


CHICAGO  PLEDGES  $100,000 

Motion  Picture  Men  in  Windy  City  Aim  to  Match  New 
York  in  Aiding  in  Raising  Million  Dollars  for 
Actors'  Fund 
The  motion  picture  industry  has  set  out  to  con- 
tribute $500,000  to  the  million-dollar  actors'  fund. 

New  York  has  pledged  to  raise  $100,000  of  this 
amount. 

Chicago   has   announced   that   it   will    attempt    to 

match  New  York's  pledge  and  raise  another  $100,000. 

On  May  15,  which  is  set  for  "actors'  day,"  some 

118   houses   in   Chicago   already   have   volunteered   to 

contribute  a  portion  of  their  receipts  to  the  fund. 

Every  picture  interest  is  joining  hands,  those  serv- 
ing actively  on  committees  being  William  N.  Selig, 
George  K.  Spoor,  I.  K.  Van  Ronkel,  F.  M.  Brockell, 
Aaron  Jones,  Nathan  Ascher,  Alfred  Hamburger,  Fred 
W.  Schaefer,  Mark  Heiman,  James  R.  Quirk,  Watter- 
son  R.  Rothacker  and  William  K.  Hollander. 

A  half-million  dollars  in  fifteen  weeks,  as  the  con- 
tribution of  the  people  of  the  film  world  toward  the 
million-dollar  permanent  endowment  of  the  Actors' 
Fund  of  America  to  be  raised  by  members  of  the  pro- 
fession, has  been  enthusiastically  endorsed  by  Pitts- 
burgh. 

H.  B.  Kester,  president  of  the  Pittsburgh  Screen 
Club,  has  notified  Samuel  Goldfish,  chairman  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  motion  picture  campaign 
for  the  Actors'  Fund,  that  the  club  voted  unanimously 
to  join  in  the  movement. 

A  committee  composed  of  Al.  W.  Cross,  chair- 
man; William  Moore  Patch,  Peter  Antonpolis,  John 
McAleer,  A.  H.  McCleland  and  M.  Feitler  was 
appointed  and  the  boom  for  the  fund  was  started  imme- 
diately. All  the  motion  picture  theaters  of  Pittsburgh 
will  contribute  a  percentage  of  their  receipts  on 
national  tribute  day,  May  15,  but  the  Screen  Club  will 
add  several  thousand  dollars  through  a  special  per- 
formance, with  many  first-run  feature  films  on  that  day 
at  the  Pitt  Theater,  which  has  been  donated  for  that 
purpose. 

The  annual  gathering  of  stars  and  their  companies 
in  one  theater  occurred  recently  in  Boston  at  the  Hollis 
Street  Theater  on  the  occasion  of  the  Actors'  Fund 
benefit.  A  large  crowd  was  in  attendance.  The 
receipts,  as  announced  by  Thomas  Lottnan,  manager 
of  the  Colonial  Theater,  totaled  $36,000. 


702 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  13. 


The  bill  was  opened  by  the  Craig  players,  who 
gave  the  Commissaire  scene  from  the  "Circus  Girl." 
Then  came  George  MacFarlane  of  "The  Heart  o'  th' 
Heather"  company,  in  songs.  Cecile  Weston  and 
Louise  Leon,  loaned  from  Loew's  Orpheum,  sang  sev- 
eral songs.  Merlin  mystified  the  audience  with  card 
tricks.  Sandy  Shaw,  as  Harry  Lauder's  only  rival,  was 
another  recruit  from  the  Loew  management.  Dainty 
Josie  Heather  gave  part  of  the  act  she  appeared  in  at 
Keith's,  assisted  by  a  man  at  the  piano  and  a  boy  who 
turns  out  to  be  a  girl. 

There  were  many  other  good  acts. 


FIGHT  "LONE  CENSOR"  PLAN 


OPEN  FIRE  ON  U.  S.  FILMS 

Northcliffe  Press  Launches  Bitter  Campaign  to  Keep 

"Made  in  America"  Picture  Products  Out 

of  All  England 

The  Northcliffe  press  has  opened  fire  against 
American  films. 

While  the  campaign  has  had  little  effect  on  the 
British  public  in  general  thus  far,  it  has  provoked  the 
film  trade  into  reprisals,  which  have  roused  the  North- 
cliffe press  to  greater  fury  and  drawn  considerable 
attention  to  a  fight  which  otherwise  might  have  fiz- 
zled out. 

The  government  has  not  seriously  considered  the 
idea  of  prohibiting  the  importation  of  foreign  films, 
but  the  Northcliffe  press  is  determined  not  to  let  the 
matter  rest. 

The  Northcliffe  papers  claim  to  have  a  two-fold 
object — viz. :  to  save  $10,000,000  annually,  which  they 
claim  is  now  spent  on  American  films ;  and  to  give 
British  producers  an  opportunity  of  capturing  their 
own  market.  The  Evening  News,  in  rather  involved 
language,  says :  "There  are  a  dozen  British  firms  en- 
gaged in  producing  first-class  pictures,  who,  if  the 
oportunity  arose,  could,  with  the  aid  of  French  and 
Italian  firms,  who,  with  the  British  suffer  by  reason 
of  the  dumping  of  American  pictures  here,  supply  all 
the  pictures  needed." 

In  reply  to  this,  it  is  pointed  out  that  there  is  an 
Anglo-American  treaty  of  commerce  with  a  "most- 
favored  nation"  clause  in  it  which  makes  it  impossible 
for  Great  Britain  to  put  an  embargo  on  American 
films  and  to  permit  the  continued  import  of  films  from 
France  and  Italy. 

Mr.  Davidson,  a  manufacturer  of  films,  points  out 
how  the  Northcliffe  papers,  in  their  ignorance,  are  like- 
ly to  destroy  what  they  claim  to  be  protecting — viz. : 
the  British  film  industry.  After  confirming  the  asser- 
tion of  other  authorities  that  in  the  absence  of  Ameri- 
can pictures  a  large  proportion  of  the  6,000  cinemas  in 
England  must  necessarily  shut  their  doors,  Mr.  David- 
son proceeds : 

"It  is  not  generally  understood  that  the  common 
plan  is  to  send  the  negatives  from  the  United  States  to 
England.  The  positives  are  printed  in  England  and 
are  distributed  from  London,  not  only  all  over  the 
United  Kingdom  but  to  the  Colonies  and  also  very 
often  to  the  Continent  as  well.  London  has  become, 
indeed,  the  clearing  house  of  the  cinema  world.  The 
prohibition  of  imports  will  destroy  this  lucrative  po- 
sition forever.  The  nation  will  lose  a  large  taxable 
business  and  many  men  and  women  will  lose  their 
employment." 


Two    Factions    in    Los    Angeles    Contest    Censorship 

Rights;   Woman  Councilor  Leads 

in  the  Struggle 

The  proposal  of  the  Public  Welfare  Committee  of 
Los  Angeles  to  abolish  the  local  board  of  censorship 
and  substitute  a  single  commissioner  as  censor  has 
been  up  for  consideration  before  the  City  Council  there. 
Councilwoman  Lindsey,  chairman  of  the  Public  Wel- 
fare Committee,  presided,  and  the  council  chamber  was 
crowded  with  representatives  of  the  motion  picture 
industry,  religious  organizations,  women's  clubs,  civic 
associations  and  a  number  of  social  workers.  As  the 
ordinance  calls  for  the  expenditure  of  public  funds  for 
the  payment  of  the  salary  of  the  single  commissioner, 
it  is  required  that  at  least  seven  of  the  councilors  favor 
its  passage. 

At  the  close  of  a  preliminary  meeting  the  coun- 
cilors seemed  about  equally  divided.  The  consensus 
of  opinion  seemed  that  the  bill  needed  modification  and 
that  its  chief  fault  lay  in  resting  too  much  responsibil- 
ity upon  one  man.  No  definite  action  has  been  taken 
and  further  hearing  will  be  given  next  week.  In  the 
meantime  the  ordinance  will  be  changed  to  meet  the 
views  of  those  councilmen  opposing  it  only  in  its  pres- 
ent form. 

The  introduction  of  the  ordinance  to  the  council 
brought  forth  a  heated  discussion.  The  church  feder- 
ation opposing  the  bill  maintained  that  the  censorship 
of  motion  picture  films  by  a  commission,  the  larger  the 
better,  was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  mora]  welfare 
of  the  community  and  was  demanded  by  a  vast  major- 
ity of  the  people  of  Los  Angeles.  The  motion  picture 
interests,  led  by  Thomas  Dixon,  author  of  "The  Clans- 
man" and  at  present  producing  pictures  in  Los 
Angeles,  speaking  for  the  bill,  declared  that  the  cen- 
sorship of  motion  pictures  is  unjustified,  illegal,  un- 
necessary, un-American  and  an  entirely  reprehensible 
procedure. 


Sheehan  Goes  to  London 

Winifred  R.  Sheehan,  general  manager  of  the  Fox 
Film  Corporation,  sailed  last  week  on  the  Rotterdam 
of  the  Holland-American  Line  for  Falmouth,  England, 
to  open  up  Great  Britain  for  William  Fox.  Not  con- 
tent with  having  entered  the  South  American  countries 
and  having  established  offices  in  Argentina  and  Brazil, 
with  having  opened  Canada  and  made  ready  to  enter 
New  Foundland  and  New  Brunswick  and  also  Aus- 
tralasia, with  offices  in  Sydney,  N.  S.  W.,  the  William 
Fox  interests  will  be  actively  operating  in  England 
and  Scotland  within  the  next  two  weeks. 


Holmes  Films  San  Diego 

The  fifth  of  the  newly-announced  Paramount-Bur- 
ton Holmes  Travel  Pictures  shows  views  of  San  Diego, 
California,  and  vicinity.  The  Coronado  Beach  and 
the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  famous  the  world  over,  are 
shown  with  many  other  interesting  subjects. 

The  latest  film  dealing  with  the  varied  experiences 
of  "Col.  Heeza  Liar"  is  replete  with  mirthful  situa- 
tions. Released  on  the  Paramount  program,  the  film 
shows  the  Colonel,  down  with  the  Grippe.  In  his 
mighty  efforts  to  get  well,  he  has  exhausted  the  medi- 
cine supply  of  the  country.    Indescribable  fun  follows. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


703 


HOLMES   SEEKS  NEW  MATERIAL 

Travel  Lecturer  Finishes  Season  for  1915-16  and  Will 

Conduct  "Easy  Chair  Journeys"  for  Paramount 

Program 

Having  closed  his  lecture  season  for  1915-1916, 
Burton  Holmes  will  devote  the  next  few  months  to  the 
work  of  "conducting-  his  weekly  easy  chair  journeys" 
for  the  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation.  Mr.  Holmes 
has  gone  to  Chicago,  where  the  producing  work  of 
his  travel  pictures  is  conducted. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  Mr.  Holmes  for  many 
years  to  confine  his  lectures  to  a  season  of  twenty 
weeks,  in  order  that  he  devote  the  eight  months  of 
spring  and  summer  to  the  acquiring  of  new  material 
for  the  following  fall  and  winter  months,  during  which 
time  he  delivers  his  Travelogues  in  the  larger  cities 
of  the  country. 

Mr.  Holmes  will,  for  the  next  few  months,  devote 
his  entire  attention  to  the  preparation  and  editing  of 
the  Paramount-Burton  Holmes  Travel  Pictures.  He 
has  prepared  eight  releases  on  American  topics  and 
will  follow  them  with  a  number  of  "easy  chair  jour- 
neys," visiting  our  "Little  Brown  Brothers"  of  the 
Philippines,  where  he  will  see  Manila  and  what  Uncle 
Sam  has  done  and  is  still  doing  among  the  one-time 
dog-eaters  and  head-hunters  of  Luzon. 

One  especially  interesting  release  will  show  the 
daily  life  in  the  celebrated  Bilibid  prison,  where  Uncle 
Sam  makes  useful  citizens  out  of  undesirables.  After 
the  Philippines,  Mr.  Holmes  has  many  more  travels  in 
preparation,  including  Japan,  China,  India,  Java  and 
other  studies. 

For  the  present,  the  second  month's  releases  of 
the  Paramount-Burton  Holmes  Travel  Pictures  prom- 
ise an  even  greater  variety  than  the  first  month's  list. 
Three  of  the  new  releases  are  devoted  to  California. 
The  fourth  subject  deals  with  Arizona.  They  are  said 
to  be  quite  different  from  anything  Mr.  Holmes,  or 
ayn  one  else,  has  ever  shown  on  the  screen. 

The  Paramount  Pictographs,  in  their  visualized 
campaign  of  the  screen  for  "preparedness,"  in  the  cur- 
rent release,  show  the  inadequacy  of  the  gunnery  of 
the  United  States  army.  They  are  edited  by  Fred- 
erick Palmer,  Avar  correspondent,  and  Henry  Routher- 
dahl,  naval  expert. 

The  Paramount-Bray  cartoon  release  for  March 
16  is  reported  to  be  a  clever  bit  of  work  by  Paul  Terry. 
It  is  entitled  "Farmer  Alfalfa  Invents  a  New  Kite." 


BEYFUSS  ASSAILS  FILM  SERMONS 

Screen  Propagandas  Attacked  by  General  Manager  of 

California  Motion  Picture  Corporation 

as  Ineffective 

An  obvious  attempt  to  preach  through  film  is, 
in  the  opinion  of  Alex.  E.  Beyfuss,  general  manager  of 
the  California  Motion  Picture  Corporation,  a  mistake 
not  only  through  ruining  a  production  as  an  entertain- 
ment feature,  but  also  by  destroying  its  effectiveness 
as  a  moral  medium. 

"I  do  not  mean,"  explains  Beyfuss,  "that  a  pro- 
ducer should  not  have  a  regard  for  the  moral  effect  of 
his  picture  upon  the  public.  I  most  certainly  believe 
that  he  should.  The  point  I  would  make  is  this,  just 
as  soon  as  a  producer  comes  out  with  an  announced 
propaganda,  just  so  soon  does  he  defeat  his  own  end. 


He  at  once  marks  himself  as  a  propagandist.  The 
public  know  that  he  is  trying  to  establish  a  point,  and 
that  he  will  consequently  try  to  make  the  scenes  of 
his  picture  subserve  this  purpose. 

"They  will  feel  that,  instead  of  seeing  life  in  its 
fullness,  they  are  viewing  only  those  very  few  in- 
stances of  it  that  contribute  apparently  to  the  lesson 
that  the  producer  would  teach,  and  that  any  moral  to 
be  drawn  from  it  is  consequently  of  a  particular  rather 
than  an  universal  application. 

"Motion  pictures  can  be  a  medium  for  good  only 
so  far  as  they  mirror  all  life,  impartially  and  perhaps 
ruthlessly ;  and  then  let  the  spectator  draw  his  own 
conclusion  and  profit  from  his  own  deductions.  The 
ethics  that  a  man  garners  from  his  own  observations 
and  phrases  in  his  own  words  are  the  poignant  kind 
that  stick  with  him  long  after  the  moral  precept  he  has 
read  in  some  book  or  heard  from  some  sermon  are 
forgotten. 

"In  such  features  as  Beatriz  Michelena  in  'The 
Unwritten  Law,'  we  feel  that  we  have  reached  great 
truths  that  must  work  for  a  moral  uplift  wherever 
these  pictures  are  shown.  But  we  have  always  left  it 
to  the  spectator  to  sift  out  his  own  lesson,  if  he  were 
in  search  of  one.  We  have  never  had  an  announced 
propaganda  and  have  never  tried  to  direct  the  public 
to  any  ethical  conclusions  from  our  productions 
through  the  use  of  preachy  titles. 

"We  try  to  screen  life  just  as  we  find  it.  We  do 
not  scrutinize  it  with  purpose  of  selecting  a  special  in- 
stance here  and  another  there,  and  then,  rejecting  the 
rest,  in  order  to  fortify  some  contention.  We  proceed 
on  the  principle  that  truth  in  its  entirety,  stripped  bare 
of  all  masque  or  exterior  glamor,  is  the  world's  great- 
est teacher  and  that  we  are  best  serving  our  purpose 
if  we  hit  as  straight  as  possible  to  it  without  allowing 
preconceived  reservations  to  manacle  us  in  our  en- 
deavor." 


Stars  Signed  by  Cobb 

Contracts  have  been  signed  by  C.  Lang  Cobb,  Jr., 
with  "Jolly"  Fanny  Rice,  Sally  Cohen,  Sam  J.  Ryan  and 
other  well  known  players  for  Mr.  Cobb's  newly  organized 
company,  which  is  to  be  known  as  the  Broad-Grin  Com- 
edies Company,  for  the  purpose  of  producing  one  one- 
reel  comedy  a  week.  Mr.  Cobb  will  act  as  general  man- 
ager of  the  company,  of  which  he  is  the  sole  owner. 
Philip  Mindil  will  be  the  advertising  and  publicity  man- 
ager and  Charles  M.  Seay,  well  known  as  a  comedy 
director,  will  be  the  producer.  Mr.  Cobb  will  release  his 
product  independently  of  any  program  and  already  has 
signed  contracts  with  many  of  the  leading  exchange  men. 
The  first  picture  will  be  released  on  Wednesday,  April  5. 
It  will  be  followed  by  others  on  each  succeeding  Wednes- 
day. 


Horsley  Aids  College 

Occidental  Day  was  celebrated  with  great  acclaim  at 
the  David  Horsley  studios,  Los  Angeles.  Mr.  Horsley 
donated  the  use  of  his  entire  plant  to  the  "Million  Dollar 
Campaign  Fund"  committee  in  order  that  the  fund  might 
be  swelled.  A  special  program  of  six  animal  acts  was 
staged  in  the  afternoon.  The  proceeds  from  the  sale  of 
tickets  were  turned  ove1"  to  the  committee,  which  is  work- 
ing hard  to  raise  one  million  dollars  an  an  endowment 
fund  for  the  Occidental  College.  A  goodly  sum  was 
realized  through  Mr.  Horsley's  help. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


THORN  IN  SIDE  OF  CENSORS 

Pittsburgh   Film   Manager   Re-enacts   Motion   Picture 

Scene  on  Stage  and  Outwits  Stubborn  Board; 

Visits  V-L-S-E  in  New  York 

William  Moore  Patch,  managing  director  of  the 
Pitt  theater  in  Pittsburgh,  spent  most  of  last  week 
at  the  V-L-S-E  offices  in  New  York,  securing  new 
pictures  for  his  theater  and  arranging  details  for  the 
forthcoming  production  in  Pittsburgh  of  "The  Ne'er- 
Do-Well,"  which  has  just  been  secured  from  Sol 
Lesser  by  the  Big  Four. 

Mr.  Patch  is  now  running  the  V-L-S-E  film,  "The 
Battle  Cry  of  Peace,"  which  is  in  its  fifth  week  in  the 
Pitt  theater,  playing  to  capacity  at  every  performance, 
with  no  end  of  the  run  in  sight. 

Undoubtedly  one  of  the  reasons  for  the  extraordi- 
nary success  of  "The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace"  in  Pitts- 
burgh has  been  Mr.  Patch's  astute  action  in  outwitting 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Board  of  Censors.  These 
learned  gentlemen,  for  no  sound  reason  whatsoever, 
cut  out  the  big  scene  in  the  climax  of  the  third  act  of 
"The  Battle  Cry  of  Peace,"  where  the  mother  murders 
her  own  daughters  to  prevent  them  from  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  drunken  officers  of  a  foreign  enemy. 

Rather  than  have  the  lesson  of  the  picture  com- 
pletely ruined,  Mr.  Patch  engaged  players — three  girls 
who  looked  exactly  like  the  characters  on  the  screen — 
and  had  the  entire  scene  acted  on  the  stage  of  the 
Pitt  theater,  in  all  its  detail — in  fact,  its  forcefulness 
was  accentuated  by  means  of  the  shadowgraph  effects 
employed. 

In  Pittsburgh,  where  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Board  of  Censors  are  regarded  as  a  joke,  this  little 
playlet  has  caused  a  veritable  sensation.  Mr.  Patch's 
action  has  not  been  regarded  very  favorably  by  the 
members  of  the  censor  board,  but  they  are  powerless 
to  prevent  him,  as  they  have  no  authority  over  the 
legitimate  stage  whatsoever. 

Mr.  Patch  does  not  deny  that  he  is  after  the  State 
Board  of  Censors  with  a  knife.  "When  the  press,  the 
drama,  art  and  literature  are  muzzled,  it  will  be  time 
to  admit  the  fairness  of  a  censorship  for  pictures," 
said  he  the  other  day.  "The  people  of  Pennsylvania 
are  not  going  to  stand  it  much  longer.  By  their  absurd 
action  in  eliminating  the  climactic  scene  of  'The  Battle 
Cry  of  Peace'  and  thereby  ruining  a  lesson  that  is 
sorely  needed  at  this  particular  time,  they  have  done 
more  to  hurt  themselves  than  words  can  possibly 
describe." 

Furthermore,  Mr.  Patch  declares  that  in  every 
instance  where  he  considers  a  film  has  been  unjustly 
mutilated  by  the  censors  he  will  substitute  like  char- 
acters and  have  the  censored  scene  played  on  the  stage. 


Lillian  Hayward  and  an  aggregation  of  Selig  stars. 
On  Saturday,  April  15,  there  will  be  released  by  the 
Selig  company  through  General  Film  Service,  "The 
Beauty  Hunters,"  which  the  Selig  company  claims  is 
one  of  the  best  short  length  comedies  released  in  some 
time. 

On  April  17  the  multiple  reel  feature,  "The  Three 
Wise  Men,"  will  be  released.  This  production  was 
directed  by  Colin  Campbell  and  features  Thomas 
Santschi  and  Miss  Bessie  Eyton. 


Unusual  Selig  Films  Coming 
I  he  Sell-  Polyscope  Company  announces  some 
unusual  releases  through  the  General  Film  Company 
in  the  near  future.  Anion-  them  are  "The  Devil,  the 
Servanl  and  the  Man,"  winch  will  be  a  multiple  reel 
feature  released  on  Monday,  April  3.  This  drama  fea- 
tures Kathlvn  Williams,  supported  by  Guy  Oliver  and 
Lillian  Hayward.  The  scenes  in  the  snow-bound 
Northland  are  particularly  convincing. 

"Wives   of   the    Rich"   will   be   released    Monday, 
\pnl   10  and   features   Harrj    Mestayer,  supported  by 


Priest  Assumes  Film  Role 

Rev.  P.  F.  Shannon,  a  well-known  Catholic  priest 
of  Santa  Monica,  Cal.,  is  playing  an  important  part  in 
the  staging  of  some  scenes  for  the  current  Triangle- 
Kay  Bee  feature  in  which  Bessie  Barriscale  is  appear- 
ing as  star  under  the  direction  of  Charles  Giblyn. 
Father  Shannon  is  superintending  the  making  of  the 
scenes  depicting  the  altar  of  a  Catholic  church.  This 
altar  is  an  elaborate  piece  of  structural  work,  the 
building  of  it  having  required  two  weeks,  and  is  said 
to  be  among  the  most  imposing  settings  ever  used  by 
Producer  Ince. 


New  Temperature  System 

The  introduction  of  a  heating  and  cooling  system, 
by  which  the  temperature  can  be  maintained  through- 
out the  year  at  65  degrees,  is  one  of  the  remarkable  in- 
novations to  be  employed  at  Thomas  H.  Ince's  new 
Culver  City  plant,  according"  to  an  announcement  made 
by  Business  Manager  E.  H.  Allen.  Details  concern- 
ing the  method  by  which  this  atmospheric  condition 
is  to  be  accomplished  have  not  been  made  public,  but 
Allen  vouches  for  the  fact  that  mechanics  are  now 
working  on  the  apparatus 'to  be  installed. 


Lesser  "In  and  Out";   Secret 

Sol.  Lesser,  who  recently  completed  a  deal  by 
which  the  Selig  production,  "The  Ne'er-Do-Well,"  will 
be  handled  by  V.  L.  S.  E.,  Inc.,  was  in  Chicago  last 
week.  He  slipped  into  the  Western  metropolis  and  out 
again  without  motion  picture  circles  learning  a  thing 
about  what  it  was  all  about.  Mr.  Lesser  was  non- 
committal about  his  future  plans,  but  urged  friends 
to  "keep  their  eyes  open." 


Pictograph  Editor  Takes  Vacation 

George  R.  Meeker,  editor  in  chief  of  the  Para- 
mount Pictographs,  the  magazine  of  the  screen,  and 
the  first  serious  attempt  to  visualize  the  thoughts  of 
America's  greatest  thinkers  and  to  teach  vital  subjects 
through  the  medium  of  the  screen,  has  been  granted 
a  two  weeks'  leave  of  absence,  to  recuperate  from  the 
arduous  duties  with  which  he  has  been  confined  during 
the  past  few  months.  He  will  spend  his  vacation  at 
Palm  Beach. 


Miss  Edith  Pierce,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G. 
W.  Pierce,  of  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia,  was 
selected  as  the  second  prettiest  girl  in  the  United 
States  at  the  Panama-Pacific  Exposition.  As  a  result 
of  attaining  that  distinction,  she  won  a  contract  from 
(he  Lubin  Film  Manufacturing  Company  and  will  be 
starred  in  a  near  Future  release.  Miss  Pierce  has  had 
some  previous  experience  on  the  speaking  stage. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


705 


GETS  ON  ''FRONT  PAGE" 

Jack  Sherrill,  "Juvenile"  of  the  Frohman  Amusement 

Corporation,   Lands   Publicity   That   Couldn't 

Be  Bought 

Jack  Sherrill,  "juvenile"  of  the  Frohman  Amuse- 
ment Corporation,  succeeded  in  landing  a  lot  of  front 
page  press  work  for  himself  throughout  the  country, 
thereby  securing  a  lot  of  publicity  that  could  not  be 
bought,  and,  incidentally,  increasing  his  bank  roll 
some  fifty  dollars. 

Young  Sherrill,  while  on  a  recent  visit  to  Chicago, 
where  he  had  gone  with  Mary  Miles  Minter  to  appear 
at  several  of  the  moving  picture  theaters,  showing  pic- 
tures in  which  they  both  appeared,  dined  with  Alfred 
Hamburger,  the  proprietor  of  some  fifteen  picture 
houses  in  Chicago. 

Their  conversation  drifted  to  the  subject  of  pub- 
licity, and  Mr.  Hamburger  remarked  that  he  thought 
the  best  stunt  ever  "put  over"  was  that  of  the  losing 
of  Gail  Kane  and  her  company  in  a  blizzard  in  Ari- 
zona for  twenty-one  days. 

"Well,"  said  Jack  Sherrill,  "I  am  going  to  pull  off 
one  that  will  get  me  just  as  much  space.  I  am  going 
to  lose  some  diamonds." 

"That's  old,"  said  Hamburger.  "The  Chicago  re- 
porters are  too  wise  and  won't  bite." 

"I'll  bet  fifty  dollars  I  can  do  it,"  said  Jack. 

"Done." 

Jack  Sherrill  did  not  go  to  the  police  or  to  the 
newspaper  reporters  and  report  his  loss,  but  inserted 
an  advertisement  in  the  Chicago  Tribune  stating  that 
he  had  lost  twenty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  dia- 
monds, between  the  College  Inn  and  the  Congress 
Hotel,  and  offered  a  reward  of  two  thousand  dollars 
for  the  return  of  the  stolen  jewels,  directing  that  the 
finder  communicate  with  him,  in  care  of  the  news- 
paper. 

The  next  day  he  went  to  the  newspaper  office, 
ostensibly  in  quest  of  a  reply  to  his  ad.  There  he  re- 
ceived a  note  from  the  city  editor,  asking  him  to  call. 
Young  Sherrill  saw  the  city  editor  and  insisted  that 
he  did  not  want  any  publicity  in  the  matter.  The 
jewels,  he  said,  belonged  to  his  mother  and  she  had 
sent  them,  by  him,  to  be  reset  in  Chicago,  where  they 
were  originally  purchased,  and  he  was  fearful  of  the 
annoyance  to  her  if  the  loss  were  made  a  news  story. 

Result :  Every  New  York  paper  had  a  half  col- 
umn on  the  front  page  and  Mr.  Wm.  L.  Sherrill,  presi- 
dent of  the  Frohman  Amusement  Corporation,  had 
much  difficulty  in  convincing  the  fifteen  or  twenty  re- 
porters that  it  was  only  a  publicity  stunt. 

Jack  has  just  finished  playing  the  lead  in  "Then 
I'll  Come  Back  to  You."  in  which  Alice  Brady  is 
starred,  and  which  will  be  released  by  the  World  Film 
Corporation  in  the  next  two  weeks.  -v 


to  be  followed  by  agitation  in  behalf  of  the  picture 
from  citizens  whose  forebears  were  prominent  on 
the  Confederate  side  during  the  Civil  War. 


Halt  "Birth  of  a  Nation" 

The  Board  of  City  Commissioners  of  Lexington, 
Ky.,  by  a  vote  of  three  to  one,  recorded  objection  to 
"The  Birth  of  a  Nation"  and  requested  the  Lexing- 
ton Opera  House  to  "cancel  and  annul"  pictures 
booked  for  the  week  of  March  20.  Action  followed  pro- 
tests on  the  part  of  negro  citizens,  supported  by 
the  feeling  of  certain  influential  whites  that  nothing 
should  be  shown  here  calculated  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree   to    engender    race    prejudice.      Action    is    likely 


u 


IJJMIIIU 

TnT"M 


FILM  DEPARTMENTS  IN  PAPERS 

Photoplay  Sections  Interest  Whole  Families  of  Read- 
ers and  Are  an  Unusually  Strong  Aid  to  the 
Industry.     Exhibitors  Should  Co-operate 

It   is   doubtful   if  any  one   thing  that  could   take 

place  to  pull  the  public  opinion  of  a  town  over  to  the 

side  of  the  motion  picture  could  be  more  efficient  in 

that  regard  than  a  movie  department  in  one  or  more 

of      the      local 

newspapers. 

And  of  course 
every  exhibitor 
who  is  alive  to 
the  opportuni- 
ties of  his  busi- 
ness is  eager  to 
see  just  this 
thing  brought 
about, — to  see 
the  people  of 
his  city  on  his 
side  —  because 
of  his  interest 
in  the  art  of  the 
photo-play  as 
well  as  his  con- 
cern about  the 
dollars  and 
cents  in  the 
business. 

Some  of  the 
livest  papers  in 
even  the  small- 
est cities  and 
towns  have 
sensed  the  interest  of  their  communities  in  pictures 
and  already  have  well-established  film  departments. 
We  know  of  one  daily  in  a  town  of  50,000  in  Michigan 
that  carries  at  least  a  half  page  of  pictures  and  news 
relating  to  photo-plays  every  day.  Another  reason 
for  this — besides  the  interest  of  its  readers  in  the  ma- 
terial— is  the  fact  that  the  exhibitors  in  that  city  are 
live  and  constant  advertisers. 

In  making  the  original  suggestion  to  exhibitors 
that  they  co-operate  in  every  possible  way  with  their 
local  newspapers,  H.  I.  Day,  in  a  recent  issue  of  Para- 
mount Progress,  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  a 
motion  picture  department  in  a  local  paper  is  of  more 
general  interest  than  even  the  sport  section,  because 
the  whole  family  goes  to  the  movies  while  sports  are 
practically  "for  men  only."  He  also  mentions  the  ex- 
tensive advertising  carried  in  their  local  papers  by 
most  exhibitors.  These  two  important  points  might 
well  be  called  to  the  attention  of  any  newspaper  which 
has  not  yet  given  motion  picture  affairs  the  space  they 
deserve. 

Every  exhibitor  receives  material  which  if  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  his  newspaper  would  encourage 
space.  The  news  and  articles  found  in  Motography 
and  the  other  trade  journals  and  in  live  organs  such  as 
Picture  Progress,  a  cover  of  which  we  illustrate  here, 
are  examples  of  the  material  which  any  newspaper  can 
use  to  good  advantage. 


hull 


.      A   German  potter 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13 


News  of  the  Week  as  Shown  in  Films 


^ 

m  * 

L^*JM 

^^^^^1 

II 

9  - 

> 

1 

Weekly,  No.  63. 


;da.     Mutual 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Current  Releases  Reviewed 


"The  Ranger  of  Lonesome  Gulch" 

Three-Reel  American  "Mustang"  Release  of  March  24 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve   Harris 

A  NOVEL  which  the  heroine  writes  gives  the  name  to  this 
^*  Mustang  picture,  which  features  Thomas  Chatterton,  Jack 
Richardson  and  Anna  Little.  Thomas  Chatterton  has  directed 
the  play,  which  is  a  western  story  with  a  slightly  different  twist. 
The  story  is  interesting,  and  there  is  opportunity  for  ex- 
hibitions of  good  riding.  Needless  to  say,  it  is  beautifully  photo- 
graphed, and  the  picture  is  worth  seeing  for  some  of  the  outdoor 
settings  alone. 

The  story  deals  with  the  love  of  Frank,  a  cowboy  (Thomas 
Chatterton),  for  Nell  (Anna  Little),  the  daughter  of  a  professor 
who  has  come  west.  Frank  appeals  to  Nell's  imagination  and 
she  makes  him  the  hero  of  a  novel  she  is  writing,  calling  him 
"The  Ranger  of  Lonesome  Gulch"  in  her  book.  But  she  does 
not  think  she  wants  to  marry  him. 

The  publishers  accept  Nell's  book,  and  ask  her  to  come  east. 
There  she  meets  Henry  Watson,  an  artist  (Jack  Richardson), 
who  is  to  do  the  illustrations.  In  order  to  get  the  local  color, 
the  publisher  suggests  that  Watson  go  west  with  Nell  to  study 
the  types. 

The  east  and  the  west  are  brought  together  in  the  next  scenes, 
when  Frank  and  Watson  each  strive  for  Nell's  favor.  The  east 
comes  out  second  when  Frank,  discovering  that  the  artist  wishes 
to  marry  Nell  for  her  money,  drives  him  out  of  the  country. 
Then  Frank  rescues  Nell,  in  a  series  of  sensational  scenes,  from 


play  has  some  tense  dramatic  situations  but  it  does  not  depend 
upon  tensity  for  its  appeal.  Convincingly  told,  the  story  creates 
the  sympathy  of  the  spectator  which  renders  the  action  wholly 
interesting. 

Playing    opposite    Miss    Minter    is    Thomas    Carrigan,    as 


a  group  of  rowdies  who  evidently  have  not  their  share  of  the 
famed  western  chivalry.  The  men  attack  Frank's  cabin,  and 
fearing  he  will  be  overcome,  Frank  shoots  Nell  rather  than  let 
her  fall  into  the  rowdies'  power.  A  group  of  cowboys  arrive 
just  too  late  and  drive  away  the  ruffians.  Fortunately  a  locket 
which  Nell  wore  turned  aside  the  bullet  and  she  recovers  from 
the  wound.     And   of   course  she  discovers   her   love   for   Frank. 


"Lovely  Mary" 

Metro    Production    Features    Mary    Miles    Minter    in 
Southern  Story.   Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

PLAYING  in  the  Florida  Everglades  in  the  period  when 
that  state's  prison  system  was  in  an  unhealthy  condition, 
"Lovely  Mary"  is  a  picture  which  merits  commendation,  both 
for  the  story  it  tells  and  the  manner  of  its  portrayal.  Mary 
Miles  Minter  has  in  the  title  role  a  part  quite  worthy  of  her 
ability  and  she  enacts  it  with  her  accustomed  sincerity.  The 
youthful  star  will  add  luster  of  a  firmer  nature  to  her  enviable 
reputation  in  a  story  such  as  "Lovely  Mary"  where  she  is 
the  central  figure  in  a  logically  constructed  play  than  in 
that  type  of  story  which  is  built  entirely  upon  her  personality. 
"Lovely  Mary"  is  a  Columbia  Pictures  production 
directed  by  Edgar  Jones  from  the  scenario  by  Richard  Barry. 
It  is  the  story  of  a  Southern  girl  who  believes  in  the  innocence 
■  of  a  young  man  convicted  of  murder  in  the  second  degree.    The 


Roland  Manning.  Manning  is  the  representative  of  a 
Northern  real  estate  firm.  Dempster,  who  represents  a  rival 
firm,  attempts  to  buy  Mary's  land  at  a  ridiculously  low  price. 
He  carries  on  negotiations  with  Mary's  uncle.  His  scheme 
is  discovered  by  one  of  the  neighbors.  This  brings  on  a 
struggle  in  which  Nelson  is  killed  and  Manning,  who  had 
come   to   the   rescue,   is   found   guilty   of   the   crime. 

As  there  are  no  prisons,  Manning  is  put  at  hard  labor 
with  a  gang  building  roads.  Mary  exercises  her  right  to 
hire  Manning  to  work  for  her,  furnishing  a  bond  to  guarantee 
his  retention.  Then  the  story  goes  on  to  tell  of  Dempster's 
fight  with  the  youth  who  had  seen  him  kill  Nelson  and  the 
establishment  of  Manning's  innocence  and  his  marriage  to 
Mary. 

The  picture  was  produced  in  Florida.  The  production 
is  entirely  good,  there  being  any  number  of  picturesque 
scenes,  which  will  doubtless  appear  to  better  advantage  than 
at  the  advance  showing  where  a  sample  print  was  exhibited. 
Ferd.  Tidmarsh,  Schuyler  Ladd,  Frank  De  Vernon  and  Rus- 
sell Simpson  are  the  other  members  of  a  well  chosen  cast. 


"The  Blindness  of  Love" 

Julius  Steger  Featured  in  Metro-Rolfe  Production 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

JULIL'S  STEGER'S  acting  is  the  outstanding  feature  of 
Metro's  "The  Blindness  of  Love,"  a  Rolfe  Photoplays  pro- 
duction. For  the  depth  of  its  sincerity  and  the  fineness  of  its 
artistry  Mr.  Steger's  acting  stands  above  a  splendidly  written 
story  of  dramatic  though  familiar  incidents  and  a  production  of 
high  standard. 

The  story  is  sympathetic  and  plays  upon  the  chords  of  en- 
nobling emotions.  It  carries  a  strong  appeal  and  it  is  doubtful 
if  "The  Blindness  of  Love"  will  appear  over-tender  to  any,  for 
as  enacted  by  Mr.  Steger  and  his  associates  in  the  cast  it  is  genu- 
inely sincere.  The  story  by  Ruth  C.  Mitchell  was  skilfully 
scenarioized  by  Henry  O.  Hoyt.  All  departments  of  the  pro- 
duction have  been  approached  with  a  keen  sense  for  artistic 
values. 

Charles  Horan  directed  the  production,  which  is  in  every 
way  satisfactory.  There  is  realism  and  atmosphere  in  every 
scene  and  the  several  mob  scenes  show  particular  care. 

The  story  centers  about  Joseph  Wilton,  a  self-made  man 
of  considerable  wealth  whose  love  for  his  son  blinds  him  to  the 
wild  youth's  shortcomings.  At  college  Robert  is  popular  as  an 
athlete  and  a  free  spender.  When  Bob  is  expelled  he  conceals 
the  fact  by  inducing  a  worthless  friend  to  persuade  Wilton  to 
start  them  in  business  together. 

Wilton  even  orders  his  daughter  out  of  his  home  when  Bob 
snobbishly   objects    to    her   marriage   with    the    foreman    of   the 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  13. 


factory.  The  boy  continues  his  wild  habits  and  finally  r 
his  father  financially  as  well  as  disgracing  his  name.  Thi 
the  turning  point  in  Bob's  life.  He  leaves  for  parts  unkn 
with  a  determination  to  make  a  man  of  himself.     A   few  y 


later  lie  returns  a  succe 
pects  for  the  future,  wh 
happiness  for  the  varioi 
George  Le  Guere  h 
utilizes  effectively  and  < 
Maynard, 


cock.  Cha 
t  the 


sful  business  man  with  brilliant  pros- 
ch  is  followed  by  a  reconciliation  and 
i  characters  in  the  story, 
.s  some  good  opportunities  which  he 
race  Valentine  is  well  cast  as  Grace 
aith  in  Bob  is  rewarded.   Walter  Hitch- 


nse   is   heightened    bj    cut-in   scenes  of  the 

zing   them  being   overcome   by   lark   of  air. 

s  daring  slide  across  the  canyon  on  an  aerial 

i     a  neighboring  mine  and  getting 


help.  Miners  and  doctors  arrive  at  the  tunnel  and  the  work  of 
clearing  the  passage  progresses  rapidly  until  Helen  is  able  to 
enter  the  mine  and  reach  the  men.  Everyone  survives,  and  the 
men  bring  back  the  good  news  that  the  blast  uncovered  a  rich 
vein.  When  Seagrue  learns  of  this,  he  again  examines  his  con- 
tract with  Rhinelander  regarding  payment  for  the  property,  and 
seems  pleased  with  it.  So  we  majf  expect  another  struggle  be- 
tween the  men  regarding  the  mine. 

The  chapter  is  up  to  the  standard  of  the  serial.  The  mining 
scenes  are  realistic  and  interesting,  and  the  "thrills"  are  well 
managed. 


"The  Flying  Torpedo" 

A  Triangle  Production  from  the  Fine  Arts  Studio 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

AN  imaginative  romance  whose  melodramatic  thrills  are 
built  around  an  ideally  destructive  military  invention  of 
the  future  is  "The  Flying  Torpedo,"  a  Triangle  Fine  Arts 
production  released  March  12.  Neither  the.  thrills  furnished 
by  the  villainous  schemes  of  the  international  crooks,  nor 
the  comedy  of  John  Emerson  as  the  peculiar  genius  are  as 
impressive  as  the  invasion  of  these  shores  by  a  foreign  enemy 
and  his  subsequent  repulsion,  not  to  say  annihilation,  thanks 
to  "The  Flying  Torpedo." 

Of  course,  one  can  no  more  take  any  of  the  characters 
or  developments  seriously  than  they  can  the  marvelous  war 
machine.  Consequently,  the  spectator,  living  for  the  time 
being  in  a  world  of  pure  imagination,  may  sit  back  and  await 


iotthold  and  Maud  Hill  have  important  roles  and 
,'cll.  The  settings  and  photography  are  good.  Ttaken 
"The  Blindness  of  Love"  is  a  thoroughly  satisfactory 


"The  Girl  and  the  Game" 

Chapter  12,  "Buried  Alive."     Signal  Film  Serial 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  GAIN  Superstition  mine  furnishes  the  thrills  of  the  episode. 
**■  While  Rhinelander,  with  Helen  and  Storm,  are  examining 
their  new  property,  Seagrue  is  explaining  to  the  directors  of  the 
company  the  trick  by  which  he  sold  the  now  worthless  mine. 
The  men,  more  honorable  than  Seagrue,  reprove  him  for  his 
tactics,  and  to  silence  them  he  buys  the  outstanding  stock  of  the 
company. 

In  the  meantime  Rhinelander  learns  from  the  foreman  that 
the  vein  of  gold  has  "pinched  out,"  and  that  the  property  may  be 
worthless.  However,  they  hope  to  pick  up  the  vein  in  another 
place,  and  although  the  roof  of  the  tunel  is  weakening,  a  blast 
Of  dynamite  is  set  off.  When  Rhinelander,  Storm  and  the  other 
men  enter  to  see  the  result,  the  roof  caves  in,  imprisoning  them. 

The  rest  of  the  episode  is  an  exciting  account  of  the  rescue 


s  the  probable.   The 
what    that    year    may 


jars  resulting  from  the  improbable  v 
action  occurs  in  1921,  and  who  kno' 
bring   forth? 

The  story  was  directed  by  John  B.  O'Brien  and  the  battle 
scenes  by  William  Christy  Cabanne.  Both  directors  have 
done  well,  though  "The  Flying  Torpedo"  does  not  impress 
as  being  an  exceptional  piece  of  photoplay  construction, 
which  is  due  probably  to  the  story's  limitations.  But  there  is 
no  denying  the  fact  that  it  is  an  entirely  interesting  picture. 

John  Emerson  is  a  commendable  Winthrop  Clavering. 
who  writes  popular  detective  stories  and  is  a  bit  of  a  scientist 
into  the  bargain.  Clavering  aides  his  friend  Thompson  to 
wm  the  prize  offered  by  the  United  States  board  of  defense 
i'ir  the  invention  of  an  effective  weapon  of  war.  The  repre- 
sentatives oi  a  coalition  of  foreign  powers  steal  the  model 
of  the  aerial  torpedo  and  murder  Thompson  to  prevent  the 
'ier  such   deadly  machines.     Clavering  then 


its     the 
ng   To 


the 


odel. 


erv   well   do 
id   the    strug 


United    States 


while   the   story   of 
e    for    possesion    of 


id  the 


Spotti 


Aitkci 


is      Bi 


William     ... 

Bessie  Love,  as  the  slavey,  who  is  endeared't,,  Clavcm-  when 
she  is  seen  reading  one  of  his  novels  and  proves  a  valuable 
.issistaiit   ,n   recovering   the  coveted   machine,   scores   a   personal 

success. 


March  25.  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


"Martha's  Vindication" 

Fine    Arts    Triangle    Production    Released    March    19 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

A  YOUNG  unmarried  woman  charged  with  the  mother- 
hood of  her  girl  friend's  illegitimate  child  is  the  subject 
of  "Martha's  Vindication,"  a  production  from  the  Fine  Arts 
Studio,  with  with  Norma  Talmadge,  Seena  Owen  and  Tully 
Marshall  in  the  leading  roles.  These  three  players  make 
much  of  the  opportunities  afforded  them  and  with  the  sup- 
port of  an  able  cast  make  "Martha's  Vindication"  a  picture 
whose  weaknesses  as  to  plot  are  quite  overbalanced  and  lost 
to  view  in  the  brilliance  of  its  portrayal. 

Miss  Talmadge  invests  the  wronged  Martha  with  feeling 
and  an  amount  of  good  looks,  and  Seena  Owen  wins  sympathy 
and  convinces  in  a  trying  part.  Sell  Hawkins  is  a  lazy,  un- 
principled, though  amusing  scamp  as  enacted  by  Tully 
Marshall.  One  detests  Sell  and  laughs  at  him  at  the  same 
time,  which  is  quite  all  that  can  be  asked  of  Marshall  in  act- 
ing the  part.  The  clothes  he  wears  are  another  matter.  Pos- 
sibly,  but  not  at  all  probably,  would  one  ever  find  a  man  wear- 
ing Sell's  clothes  in  anything  but  a  minstrel  show. 

is    the    interest    faithfully   but    that    is 


The  picture  sustai 
not  because  the  story 
is  the  colorful  and  hun 
portrayal   of   action    wii 


equir 


;  for  the  tellin 

>  which  make  the  detailed 

ring   on    the   story  proper 


■ 

J 

■/ 

baby 

Dorothea  there  ; 
torily  cleared  up. 

Josephine  Crowell  makes  her  part,  J 
out  prominently  and  Ralph  Lewis  as  Deacon   Hun' 
tive.     The  remainder  of  the  cast  does 


:  Ha 


"The  Code  of  Marcia  Gray" 

Morosco-Paramount  Production  an  Appealing  Modern 
Drama.     Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

"THOUGH  there  is  much  to  praise,  there  is  a  dearth  of  ma- 
1  terial  for  adverse  criticism  in  "The  Code  of  Marcia 
( .ray."  which  was  produced  b3r  Morosco  and  features  Con- 
stance Collier.  The  story,  telling  of  Marcia's  shattered  happi- 
ness when  her  husband  is  arrested  for  embezzlement,  is 
uncummonly  interesting  and  exceptionally  convincing,  as 
stories  of  "this  kind  go.  The  play  has  considerable  dramatic 
force,  due  perhaps  no  more  to  the  situations  than  to  the 
direction  and  acting. 

By  virtue    of   both    the    author's   and   the    director's    skill 


in  treating  the  material,  "The  Code  of  Marcia  Gray"  is 
realistic  and  appeals  to  the  intelligence.  It  is  a  sound  drama, 
well   told  and  artistically  produced. 

The  production  is  typically  Morosco.     There  are  interior 


worthy  of  the  attention  compelled.  The  opening  scene  shows 
Dorothea  saying  good-bye  to  her  lover,  who  has  promised 
to  marry  her  as  soon  as  he  returns  from  his  home,  whither 
he  has  been  urgently  called. 

Before  he  can  fulfill  his  promise  the  young  man  is  killed. 
Dorothea  confides  in  her  friend  Martha,  who  arranges  a  visit 
to  the  country,  and  when  a  boy  is  born  Martha  takes  him 
to  her  old  nurse.  Thus  both  girls  believe  that  they  have 
avoided  scandal.  There  is  another  lapse  during  which  time 
Dorothea  has  become  the  wife  of  Deacon  Hunt  and  Martha 
engaged  to  a  noble  youth.  But  when  Martha  causes  Jennie 
Hawkins'  boarding  house  for  children  to  be  closed  by  the 
police.  Sell  Hawkins  relates  having  seen  Martha  with  a 
1  cannot  explain  without  exposing 
nplications  which  are  finally  satisfac- 


sets  in  this  picture  which  stand  out  for  their  artistic  grandeur 
and  cause  one  to  remark  their  tasteful  beauty,  even  in  these 
days  of  "spare  no  expense"  in  producing  interior  scenes. 
The  photography,  of  course,  is  splendid.  Frank  Lloyd  is  the 
director  to  whom  high  praise  should  be  accorded.  There  are 
numbers  of  deft  touches  which,  in  adding  so  much  to  the 
picture,  reflect  great  credit  upon   the  director. 

Miss  Collier  is  given  opportunity  for  emotional  portrayal 
before  the  camera  by  her  part.  She  is  Marcia,  the  wife  of 
Harry  Cray,  who  is  a  power  in  financial  circles.  Since  be- 
coming his  wife  her  life  has  been  blissful  to  a  degree.  They 
have  a  large  circle  of  friends,  for  the  Grays  entertain  fre- 
quently and  lavishly.  But  the  friends  are  really  prosperity's 
friends  for  when  Gray  is  arrested  following  the  investigation 
of  his  banking  concern,  and  a  heavy  bail  demanded,  the  sup- 
posed friends  are  sorry  but  they  are  unable  to  do  anything 
to  help. 

Orlando  Castle,  a  bachelor,  because  Marcia  preferred 
Gray,  comes  to  the  rescue.  He  arranges  to  have  Gray  re- 
leased on  bail  and  prepares  to  defend  him  at  the  trial.  When 
Gray  is  released,  however,  his  suspicions  of  the  friendship 
between  his  wife  and  Castle  grow.  There  is  a  strong  scene 
in  which  Gray  accuses  his  wife  and  Castle,  and  in  thus  giving 
way  to  suspicions  that  are  both  unfounded  and  wholly  un- 
true, he  kills  his  wife's  love.  His  death  shortly  after,  there- 
fore, causes  her  no  prolonged  grief,  and  the  happy  ending 
occurs  a  year  or  so  later,  when  Castle  returns  from  a  trip 
abroad. 

Henry  DeVere  is  a  most  convincing  Harry  Gray. 
Though  the  part  presents  temptations  he  refuses  to  be  led 
to  over-act  his  scenes.  Forrest  Stanley  as  Orlando  Castle  is 
good,  as  usual,  and  Herbert  Standing's  performance  in  a 
short  part  makes  the  same  remark  appropriate.  Howard 
Davies,  Helen  Eddy,  that  very  promising  young  actress,  and 
•Frank  Bonn  complete  the  cast. 


"For  the  Defense" 

A    Five     Part    Lasky-Paramount     Offering     Starring 
Fannie  Ward.     Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

"COR  THE  DEFENSE,"  a  delightful  and  stirring  picture 
1  featuring  Fannie  Ward  as  a  little  French  novice,  who, 
when  sent  from  France  to  a  convent  in  Canada,  falls  into  evil 
hands,  may  be  classed  among  those  ever  popular  romantic  dramas 
wherein  the  "detective"  element  is  strong  and  absolutely  con- 
vincing. The  story,  which  comes  from  Hector  Turnbull,  is 
logical,  unique  in  development  and  complete.  Under  the  direc- 
tion of  Frank  Reicher  it  receives  careful,  well-detailed  treat- 
ment. The  liveliest  kind  of  melodrama  is  precipitated  when  the 
jaws  of  a  carefully  laid  trap  begin  to  close  upon  the  guilty 
parties  and  such  a  feverish  heat  is  reached  at  the  climax  that 
the  fading  out  of  the  last  scene  leaves  one  fairly  gasping  for 
breath. 

Fannie  Ward's  human,  emotional  acting  touches  a  respon- 
sive chord  in  the  heart  of  the  spectator.  As  the  charming,  inno- 
cent French  girl  of  this  story  she  gives  overwhelming  proof  of 
her  capability  in  a  part  of  this  sort.     Among  some  of  the  other 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


plays 
and  " 
f  urn  is 
Dean,    Horace 


iss  Ward  has  been  featured  are  "The  Cheat" 
>e  of  Kitty."  A  very  efficient  cast  has  been 
t-nt  in  it  being  the  familiar  names  of  Jack 
Carpenter,    James    Neill,    Camille    Astor    and 


Gertrude   Kellar. 

Judging  from  the  way  a  play  of  this  stamp  is  usually  re- 
ceived, "For  the  Defense"  is  headed  for  a  prosperous  future. 

Arriving  in  New  York,  Fidele  Roget  falls  an  easy  prey  to  a 
procurer  and  is  confined  in  a  disreputable  house.  She  makes  a 
daring  escape,  however.  We  are  now  shown  how  Jim  Webster 
and  his  friend,  too  drunk  to  know  anything,  arrive  at  Webster's 
house.  Jim  throws  himself  upon  a  couch  and  goes  instantly  to 
sleep,  while  his  friend  endeavors  to  force  himself  upon  the  maid. 
The  latter's  sweetheart,  Henri,  who  is  a  butler  in  the  house, 
comes  to  the  maid  in  her  distress  and,  in  the  following  struggle, 
accidentally  kills  his  opponent.  The  maid  and  butler  then  form 
a  compact  to  put  the  blame  on  Jim,  who  is  asleep  in  the  next 
room.  Not  remembering  anything  of  the  night's  happenings, 
Jim  is  led  to  believe  he  is  the  guilty  one  and  advised  to  escape. 

In  the  meantime,  Fidele  has  seen  the  murder  through  the 
window  and  run  away  in  horror.  She  and  Jim  meet  on  the 
wharves  and  their  meeting  ends  in  a  resolution  to  cast  their  lots 
together.  Soon  we  see  the  two  off  on  a  distant  farm  in  the 
employ  of  the  owner.  It  is  not  long  before  Jim  tells  the  girl  of 
his  love  and  in  the  same  breath  of  his  being  a  murderer. 

Finally  the  police  locate  Jim.  In  his  cell,  Fidele  recalls  the 
murder  she  had  witnessed  and  the  prisoner's  joy  knows  no 
bounds  when  he  learns  of  his  innocence. 

Then  follows  the  trap  which  is  set  for  the  butler.  Fidele 
risks  her  honor  and  perhaps  her  life  to  gain  the  evidence  she 
desires.  Taking  a  position  in  the  Webster  home,  she  wins  the 
affections  of  the  butler  away  from  the  maid.     The  latter,  finding 


the  butler  in  a  compromising  position  with  Fidele,  exposes  her 
secret  in  an  angry  denunciation  of  him.  A  dictagraph  records 
all  of  this  and  the  police  arrive,  capture,  and  extort  a  confession 
from  the  broken-down  butler. 


"The  Bruiser" 

American    Mutual   Masterpicture   Released   March   23 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  FIGHT  somewhere  in  the  course  of  the  story  seems  to  be  a 
*v  necessity  in  ;i  photodrama,  and  here  is  a  plav  which  is  built 
up  with  a  prize  fight  as  its  big  scene,  a  lighter,"  "The  Bruiser," 
as  its  hero.  William  Russell,  as  "Big  Bill  Brawley,"  the  hero, 
dominates  the  play,  which  is  logically  constructed  and  well  car- 
ried out.  The  oilier  characters  arc  all  well  drawn,  except  that 
Manson  and  Norma  Kenwick,  the  society  people  used  as  foils 
fur  "The  Bruiser"  and  his  people,  arc  more  conventional  than 
real.     Thej   arouse  neither  sympathy  nor  dislike,  for  we  know 

le,    when    contrasted    with    the    common    class   of 

folk,  are  always  heartless  and  unprincipled.  Roy  Stewart  and 
l.i/.  n.  'I  horn  depict  faithfully  the  wealthy  brother  and  sister 
who  plot  againsl  the  good  of  the  working  people. 

'"IIh    Bruiser"  is  a  longshoreman,  leader  of  the  men,  cham- 
pion wrestler  ,,i  tin    country.     He  is  in  love  with  Fen  Bcrnham 
'     gins    when    he    is   elected   chair- 
man of  the  committee  to  ask    lor  an   increase  of  wages  just  after 
tli'    death  of  the  president   of   the   shipping   corporation,  \\iien   the 


business  comes  into  the  hands  of  the  son.  The  request  is  re- 
fused and  the  men  threaten  to  strike.  Kenwick,  the  son,  wishes 
to  sell  his  interest  and  his  idea  is  to  keep  the  men  quiet  until 
he  is  out  of  the  company.     He  and  his  sister  therefore  plot  to 


undermine  Brawley's  influence.  They  favor  a  rival  leader,  in- 
tending to  trick  the  men  through  him.  And  Norma  discovers 
that  she  can  influence  Brawley  by  appealing  to  his  ambition.  She 
teaches  him,  and  his  apparent  interest  in  her  arouses  the  jealousy 
of  Fen  Bernham.  It  also  angers  his  companions,  especially  when 
he  refuses  to  represent  his  men  in  a  wrestling  match  with  a  rival 
company,  giving  as  his  reason  a  promise  to  Miss  Kenwick. 

Things  reach  the  exciting  point  at  a  dinner  to  which  the 
Kenwicks  invite  Brawley.  They  put  him  into  an  awkward  posi- 
tion for  a  while,  but  when  he  learns  of  their  deceit,  forces  them 
to  sign  his  agreement,  and  then  gives  them  his  frank  estimate 
of ■  their  methods,  the  tables  are  nicely  turned.  Since  the  dinner 
occurs  on  the  day  of  the  athletic  meet,  scenes  of  the  various 
wrestling  matches  are  cut  in,  with  scenes  at  the  Kenwick  home. 
Then  after  "The  Bruiser"  has  defeated  his  enemies,  the  Ken- 
wicks, he  goes  to  the  contest  in  time  to  enter  the  last  contest  and 
win,  for  the  honor  of  his  men.' 

The  interest  of  the  play  is  very  well  sustained  and  it  will  be 
well  liked.  William  Russell  fills  his  role  very  capably,  and  Char- 
lotte Burton  makes  the  part  of  Fen  important.  Charles  Bartlett 
directed  the  production  and  the  cast  includes  George  Ferguson, 
Pete  Morrison,  Al  Fordyce  and  Eric  Jacobs. 


"Number   1  3,  Westbound" 

Selig  Three-Reel  Drama  Released  March  20 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve   Harris 

T'HE  first  Selig  railroad  drama  contains  one  decidedly  thrill- 
1  ing  situation,  a  good  deal  of  comedy,  and  it  ends  as  a 
romance.  Elliott  Flower  has  written  the  story,  which  has  some- 
unusual  points.  Kathyln  Williams  is  the  heroine,  a  girl  who 
flags  a  train  which  was  rushing  to  destruction,  then  faints  across 
the  rails.  The  train  is  stopped  just  as  the  engine  touches  her. 
Frank  Beal  directed  the  play. 

Daniel  Culmer  is  a  crusty  old  farmer  through  whose  farm 
a  railroad  is  built.  He  hates  the  railroad  company,  and  when 
the  play  opens  is  suing  the  company  for  injury  to  his  cattle. 
Fred  Hern  plays  Culmer,  and  although  his  make-up  is  conven- 
tional and  the  speeches  the  subtitles  give  him  very  much  so,  he 
manages  to  make  the  old  chap  real.  Lillian  Hay  ward  as  his  wife 
also  acts  her  role  well. 

Marion,  their  niece,  comes  from  the  city  to  visit  them.  Tom 
Garland,  a  farm  hand,  falls  in  love  with  her,  and,  not  knowing 
that  Marion  has  rejected  him,  Culmer  fears  they  will  elope. 
His  suspicions  are  aroused  when  Marion  refuses  to  attend  a 
church  social  and  remains  at  home  alone. 


But  Marion  has  a 
at  the  station  telepho 
train  as  it  passes  the 
with  her  lantern,  accon 
her  life. 


company,  prais 
she  has  more  t 
sheriff.  For  v 
and  find  Marie 


open 


?xciting  evening.  The  new  operator 
rantically,  asking  her  to  flag  the 
house,  to  avoid  a  wreck.  Marion. 
es  the  deed,  almost  at  a  sacrifice  of 
uy  Oliver),  and  later  the  railroad 
.  But  before  she  gets  safely  home 
iences  and  at  last  is  arrested  by  the 
e  and  aunt  return  from  the  social 
are  sure  she  has  eloped  and   after 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


telephoning  the  sheriff  to  stop  her  Culmer  himself  set 
find  her.  The  sheriff  arrests  Marion  and  the  operatoi 
they  escape,  only  to  meet  the  uncle. 

As  an  ending  to  the  story,  the  two  decide   really 


father's  defiance.  He  recognizes  her  as  Ellen's  sister,  and 
although  he  is  deeply  shocked  by  the  affair,  he  follows  her  when 
she  leaves  and  tells  her  that  he  is  going  to  marry  her  sister. 
As  a  result,  she  agrees  to  give  up  her  part  in  the  plot.  She  is 
overheard  by  Gillon  and  the  crook  who  is  aiding  him,  and  is 
shot  for  betraying  them.  Then  Thomas  is  accused  of  the  mur- 
der and  the  detective  on  a  vacation  takes  a  hand  in  clearing 
up  the  case.  Gillon  is  shot  trying  to  escape,  and  his  aid,  played 
by  John  Cossar,  is  put  through  the  third  degree  and  confesses 
the  crime.  So  Thomas  is  saved.  Then  the  detective  discovers 
the  identity  of  the  father  but  when  the  terrified  man  expects  im- 
prisonment, he  is  told  that  his  innocence  had  been  discovered 
long  ago  and  that  his  fears  were  groundless. 

There  is  much  action  in  the  play,  and  the  tension  does  not 
lessen  until  the  finish,  for  which  reason  a  few  inconsistencies 
are  easily  overlooked.  The  roles  are  all  cleverly  depicted,  and 
the  story  has  the  appeal  which  detective  or  mystery  stories 
always  have. 


and  set  out  to  find  a  minister.  But  we  learn  what  the  uncle 
thought  of  the  affair  when  he  found  out  the  facts,  and  we  are 
more  interested  in  him,  his  anger  and  suspicions  than  in  the 
sudden  love  affair.  In  fact,  the  humor  of  the  story  could  have 
been  emphasized  decidedly  without  injuring  the  thrilling  situ- 
ations. A  better,  more  natural  ending  would  have  improved 
the  whole  play,  which  is  entertaining  because  of  its  unhackneyed 
situations. 


"A  Man's  Work" 

Three-Reel  Essanay  Drama  Released  March  11. 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

D  ICHARDSON  COTTON  holds  the  attention  throughout  this 
'*  play,  in  the  role  of  James  Wilberton,  a  wealthy  man,  re- 
spected by  the  community,  but  really  an  escaped  convict.  He 
had  been  convicted  as  an  accomplice  in  a  murder  of  which  he 
was  entirely  blameless.  The  early  scenes  show  him  in  his 
pleasant  home,  loved  by  his  wife  and  his  young  son,  but  with 
the  thought  that  he  is  liable  to  arrest  constantly  preying  on  his 
mind.  His  make-up  and  his  acting  of  the  part  is  very  effective 
at  all  times. 

The  story  is  well  presented,  the  complications  of  the  plot 
skillfully  worked  out.  Thomas,  Wilberton's  son,  played  by 
John  Junior,  is  secretly  engaged  to  Ellen  Barth  (Elizabeth  Bur- 
bridge),  who  lives  with  a  sister,  Mary.     A  detective  goes  on  a 


vacation ;  a  convict  is  released  from  the  penitentiary.  These 
threads  are  woven  together  in  the  story.  For  the  ex-convict 
plots  to  blackmail  Wilberton,  and  uses  as  his  tool  Mary,  the 
sister  of  Ellen.  He  is  also  aided  by  another  crook.  Thomas 
overhears    Mary    threaten    his    father    with    exposure    and    his 


"The  Code  of  Honor" 

A  Three-Reel  "Flying  A"  Drama  Released  March  21 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

A  PLAY  dealing  with  international  intrigue,  in  which  import- 
•^  ant  government  papers  are  stolen  by  the  spy  of  a  foreign 
nation,  is  this  latest  production  in  which  Frank  Borzage  has  di- 
rected Alfred  Yosburgh,  George  Periolat,  Vivian  Rich  and  Es- 
tella  Allan.  Borzage  himself  plays  an  important  role.  There  is 
nothing  very  new  about  the  play,  but  the  suspense  is  well  handled, 


the  players  fill  their  roles  acceptably  and  the  plot  holds  the 
interest.  In  the  end  everyone  is  happy,  but  it  seems  that  some 
punishment  should  be  given  the  man  who  is  a  traitor  to  his 
country. 

A  secret  agent,  Valpar  (George  Periolat),  is  trying  to  get 
plans  for  a  submarine  which  Frank  Marvin  (Alfred  Vosburgh), 
in  the  U.  S.  Government  employ,  has  perfected.  Failing  in  his 
efforts  to  bribe  Frank,  he  turns  his  attention  to  Frank's  aid, 
Bob  Chase  (Frank  Borzage).  He  is  aided  in  this  by  his  neice, 
Zena  (Vivian  Rich),  who  soon  has  the  young  man  under  her 
influence.  She  will  marry  him  if  he  brings  her  the  plans  of  his 
friend's  invention.  Bob  agrees  to  do  this,  and  when  he  gives 
them  to  Zena,  she  asks  him  to  return  in  an  hour.  When  he 
returns,  he  finds  that  Zena  and  her  uncle  have  left. 

The  following  scenes  contain  a  great  deal  of  action  and 
excitement.  Frank  discovers  the  loss  of  the  plans,  and  decides 
to  commit  suicide.  Ruth,  Bob's  sister  and  Frank's  sweetheart, 
gets  a  hint  of  the  affair  and  tries  to  save  both  men.  There  are 
farewell  notes  left,  revolvers  carlessly  handled,  and  a  general 
mixup,  which  is  straightened  out  when  Zena  and  Valpar  miss 
their  train,  and  Zena  has  a  change  of  heart,  decides  that  she 
loves  the  young  man,  and  outwitting  her  uncle,  returns  the  plans. 
It  happens  before  anyone  has  a  chance  to  commit  suicide,  and 
Valpar  is  the  only  one  who  is  not  pleased  at  the  outcome. 

Although  entitled  "The  Code  of  Honor,"  which  refers  to 
duty  of  a  member  of  the  secret  service  to  kill  himself  rather 
than  bring  disgrace  on  the  department,  the  story  seems  to  over- 
look the  fact  that  a  crime  is  as  great  even  when  not  discovered, 
and  that  Bob  was  a  traitor  who  deserved  death. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV.  No.  13. 


"Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer" 

Advance    Showing    of    Comedy    Film    Makes    Kleine 
Aids  Happy 

Everybody  at  the  George  Kleine  studio  in  the  Bronx 
is  happy"  these  days— or  at  least  they  are  all  smiling  be- 
cause thev  have  just  been  privileged  to  witness  an  advance 
show-ins?  of  comedy  No.  9  of  "The  Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer," 
featuring  Harry  Watson  of  Bickel  and  Watson.  Director 
Louis  Myll  invited  them  all  into  the  projecting  room  one 
day  last  week  and  the  sounds  of  laughter  that  soon  came 
percolating  through  the  ventilators  and  doors  was  the  best 
evidence  that  this  particular  comedy  was  fully  equal  to  those 
previously  shown. 

Comedy  No.  9  of  "The  Mishaps  of  Musty  Suffer"  series 
deals  with  Musty's  adventures  while  holding  down  a  job  as 
general  factotum  in  an  amusement  arcade,  one  of  the  chief 
features  of  which  is  an  escalator  or  moving  stairway.  Musty, 
neatly  uniformed  after  the  fashion  of  a  trained  monkey,  holds 
down  the  jobs  of  ticket-taker,  chief  janitor,  boot-black,  hat- 
cleaner,  etc..  and  is  forced  to  hop  in  lively  fashion  from  one 
job   to  the   other  as  occasion   demands. 

The  "bouncing"  of  patrons  who  fail  to  go  through  the 
formality  of  buying  tickets  is  one  of  his  chief  difficulties,  but 
one  which  he  overcomes  promptly  when  he  discovers  the 
reverse  action  of  the  escalator.  Musty  also  has  several  dis- 
couraging adventures  with  the  museum  or  menagerie  freaks 
which  escape  periodically,  but  meets  each  emergency  in  some 
ingenious  way. 


othv.  and  both  he  and  Burnes  know  he  cannot  last  long  unless 
Haldeman  is  reached.  But  with  the  aid  of  Jimmy,  the  office 
boy,  Haldeman's  address  is  discovered  and  he  is  rescued, 
fimmy.  played  by  George  Elwell,  is  one  of  the  best  char- 
acterizations in  the  story  and  one  of  the  best  liked.  Just  as 
Burnes  believes  that  he  has  crushed  Scott,  and  with  him,  the 
fortunes  of  Haldeman,  the  financier  himself  appears  on  the 
floor  and  saves  the  day.  The  traitors  are  ruined,  and  Scott 
wins  not  only  Haldeman's  gratitude,  but  also  the  hand  of 
Dorothy. 

The  characters  are  all  very  well  presented,  the  settings 
realistic  and  the  photography  good.  The  play  is  an  in- 
teresting example  of  the  very  effective  use  of  modern  situa- 
tions and  modern  devices  for  romantic  uses,  the  trick  with 
the  telephone,  the  escape  in  the  motor  car,  etc.  Usually  only 
the  things  of  a  past  generation  are  seen  in  so  romantic  a 
light. 

The  cast  includes  Henry  Belmar  as  Haldeman,  Robert 
McKim  as  Burnes,  and  J.  Barney  Sherry  as  Haldeman's  physi- 


"The  Raiders" 

Triangle-Kay  Bee  Play  Featuring  H.  B.  Warner 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

AN  unusually  interesting  and  dramatic  story  of  Wall  street 
and  the  stock  exchange  is  this  Kay  Bee  offering,  written 
by  J.  G.  Hawks  and  Thomas  H.  Ince,  who  supervised  its 
production.  H.  B.  Warner  has  the  role  of  a  junior  clerk  in  a 
broker's  office  who  is  given  the  opportunity  to  save  the  for- 
tune and  win  the  daughter  of  a  railroad  magnate  of  un- 
limited wealth.  It  is  really  an  adventure  play,  in  most  mod- 
ern  settings,  and  it  is  presented  as  such. 

Aside  from  the  interest  in  the  situation  and  the  hero, 
the  play  is  pleasing  because  it  is  so  well  built.  Its  climax 
is  well  arranged,  and  the  story  is  very  clearly  told. 

Scott  Wells,  once  wealthy,  now  a  clerk  in  the  office  of 
Jerrold  Burnes,  broker  for  David  Haldeman,  railroad  presi- 
dent, learns  that  Burnes  is  planning  to  ruin  Haldeman  while 
the  railroad  king  is  away  for  a  rest.  Scott  tries  to  warn  him 
but  is  unsuccessful,  and  Haldeman  goes  away.  Later  Scott 
gets  an  interview  with  Dorothy.  Haldeman's  daughter,  played 
by  Dorothy  Dalton,  and  warns  her  of  the  situation.  But  only 
Burnes  knows  Haldeman's  location.     More  than  that,  Burnes' 


"A  Bird  of  Prey" 


Mutual  Masterpicture,  De  Luxe  Edition,  a  Melodrama 
of  the  Mountains 

KATHRYN  ADAMS,  who  is  very  pretty,  and  Robert  Whittier 
are  featured  in  this  Thanhouser  Mutual  Masterpicture  which 
plays  in  the  West,  New  York  and  the  Adirondacks.  The  last 
named  locality  is  the  most  important,  as  it  is  here  that  the  most 


nun  an-  holding  the  financier  a  prisoner  in  his  camp  in  the 

north  woods. 

Unable  to  reach    Haldeman,  Scott,  with    Dorothy's  help, 

to    tin-    battle,    fighting    for    Haldeman    ugainM     P.urnes. 
lie  is  backed  only  by  money  which  Haldeman  left  with  Dot- 


effective  scenes  take  place.  The  snow  scenes  are  picturesque  and 
they  are  really  the  feature  of  this  offering.  Also  the  best 
dramatic  scenes  in  the  story  occur  at  this  time. 

Philip  Lonergan  wrote  the  scenario  and  Eugene  Nowland 
directed  its  production.  From  the  finished  product  one  should 
judge  that  Mr.  Lonergan  wrote  his  story  with  the  possibilities 
for  pretty  scenes  in  the  snow-blanketed  Adirondacks  well  in 
mind.  "A  Bird  of  Prey"  is  conventional  melodrama.  Its  situa- 
tions and  their  development  do  not  require  the  foresight  of  a 
satiated   screen   fan  to  anticipate  them. 

The  story  opens  in  a  western  mining  camp.  The  miner  who 
toils  and  lives  in  hopes  finally  strikes  "pay  ore."  An  easterner 
who  has  worked  with  him  for  a  short  time  is  sent  to  the  town 
to  register  the  claim  on  a  partnership  basis,  but  instead  he  regis- 
ters in  his  own  name  as  sole  owner.  Then  he  sells  the  claim. 
Returning,  he  induces  the  miner's  discontented  wife  to  elope  with 
him.  They  are  followed  by  the  husband  and  a  fight  ensues  in 
which  the  miner  is  badly  injured. 

Some  months  later  he  learns  that  his  wife  has  divorced  him 
and  is  now  married  to  the  easterner.  John  sells  some  woodland 
for  a  neat  sum  and  comes  East.  He  journeys  to  the  Adirondacks 
when  he  learns  that  Ralph  and  his  wife  are'visiting  there.  Seek- 
ing revenge,  he  first  attempts  to  kill  Ralph  but  not  successfully, 
so  he  abandons  that  plan  when  Ralph's  little  daughter  falls  into 
Ins  bands,  lie  keeps  the  child,  determined  to  make  her  pav  for 
her   father's  misdeeds, 

About  this  time  Ralph  is  arrested  for  his  illegal  speculation 
with  other  people's  money,  Some  years  later  we  see  the  wife  in 
poyertj  and  seeking  employment  as  a  house-maid.  Ralph  is  in 
prison  and  John,  now  wealthy,  is  living  in  happiness  with  the 
child  he  has  come  to  love  as  his  own  daughter.     Bv  coincidence 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Mary  is  sent  to  her  first  husband's  home  by  the  employment 
agency,  which  event  leads  to  a  happy  reunion  of  the  two  after 
Ralph  has  been  shot  by  a  policeman  he  foolishly  tries  to  escape. 
John  Lehnberg  is  the  miner,  which  is  the  leading  part  in  this 
story.  The  three  leading  players  conscientiously  work  to  make 
their  parts  effective,  and  they  are  to  be  admired  for  that.  Little 
Tula  Belle  as  the  child  and  Madeline  Fairbanks  as  the  same 
child  a  few  years  later  both  deserve  high  praise.  Little  Miss 
Fairbanks  makes  a  very  favorable  impression.  There  is  little 
or  no  room  for  improvement  in  the  settings  but  there  is  in  the 
photography.  The  element  of  human  interest  embodied  in  "A 
Bird  of  Prey"  makes  it  an  appealing  subject. 


"The  Witch" 

A  Five-Reel  Fox  Drama  Based  on  Sardou's  "Sorceress" 
Reviewed  by  George  W.  Graves 

A  LARGE  cast,  headed  by  Nance  O'Neil,  appears  in  "The 
Witch,"  a  William  Fox  drama  based  on  Yictorien  Sar- 
dou's "The  Sorceress."  The  splendid  scenic  atmosphere  and 
the  spectacular  realism  of  its  production  bespeak  the  hand 
of  a  master  of  direction.  It  is  a  case  of  where  general  ex- 
cellence overcomes  the  shortcomings  of  weak  spots  here 
and  there  in  the  film.  The  beginning,  particularly,  lacks  the 
strength  that  should  be  there. 

Nance  O'Neill  gets  every  ounce  of  worth  out  of  her  part, 
the  acting  of  which  requires  much  strong  emotionalism.  Her 
interpretation  of  all  the  little  subtle  feelings  reaches  the 
audience  via  direct  route.  She  is  an  almost  perfect  type  for 
her  part.  Some  of  the  principals  in  the  cast  are  Alfred  Hick- 
man, Frank  Russel,  Macey  Harlam,  Ada  Nevil,  Stuart  Holmes 
and  Jane  Miller.     Frank  Powell  directed  the  picture. 

It  is  evident  that  much  time  was  spent  in  the  preparation 
of  the  settings,  especially  the  out  of  door  structures  which 
are  altogether  quaint  and  artistic.     The  photography  is  clear. 

Because  of  her  magic  mental  power  a  girl  thought  to  be 
a  witch  is  ostracized  from  the  little  Mexican  territory  where' 
her  father  was  formerly  general.  The  victorious  general  sets 
up  a  proclamation  that  any  woman  who  has  anything  to  do 
with  the  sorceress  will  spend  the  rest  of  her  life  in  a 
dungeon,  while  a  man  will  be  hung.  The  lieutenant  of  the 
now  now  ruling  governor  is  engaged  to  marry  the  latter's 
daughter  who  is  addicted  to  walking  in  her  sleep. 

In  her  secluded  abode  the  lieutenant  meets  and  falls 
in  love  with  the  witch.  The  witch  discovers  that  he  is  about 
to  be  married.  In  the  meantime,  the  governor's  wife  has 
resorted  to  the  powers  of  the  witch  to  cure  her  daughter  of 
somnambulism.  On  the  pretext  of  seeing  how  her  patient 
is  getting  along,  the  witch  enters  the  castle  on  the  marriage 
day  and  hypnotizes  her  into  a  lasting  sleep. 

The  sorceress  is  captured  and  condemned  to  be  burned 
at  the  stake.  Finally,  when  the  governor  realizes  that  if  the 
witch  dies,  his  daughter  will  be  lost  to  him,  he  gives  her  a 
chance  to  wake  his  child  again.  This  accomplished,  the  witch 
is  set  free. 


"The  Red  Circle" 

Chapter  Thirteen  of  the  Pathe-Balboa  Serial 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

THE  thirteenth  chapter  of  "The  Red  Circle"  opens  with 
a  tense  dramatic  situation  and  the  acting  opportunities 
it  contains  have  been  grasped  and  effectively  utilized  by 
Ruth  Roland  and  Frank  Mayo.  It  is  Lamar's  discovery  that 
June,  whom  he  has  loved  and  confided  in  this  long  while,  is 
the  "Red  Circle"  girl,  which  forms  the  basis  for  most  of 
the  interesting  action  of  the  first  reel  of  this  release.  The 
scenes  immediately  following  are  highly  commendable  from 
a  standpoint  of  acting  and  direction. 

A  situation  of  this  kind  does  not  prevail  in  serial  stories. 
The  usual  thing  is  the  melodramatic  meeting  between  the 
villain  and  hero,  which  requires  physical  daring  more  than 
anything  else.  Therefore  Lamar's  scene  with  June  in 
"Branded  as  a  Thief"  is  to  be  remarked.  But  this  chapter 
also  has  its  sensational  action.  Sam  Egan,  who  since  his 
discovery  that  June  was  the  Red  Circle  girl  forced  her  to 
do  his  bidding,  is  killed  by  a  fall  from  the  window  of  a 
hospital,  where  he  had  been  taken  after  his  fight  with  Lamar. 

Before  his  death  Sam  confesses  to  the  chief  of  police  that 
June  is  the  girl  wanted  for  the  various  thefts.  This  knowl- 
edge Lamar  had  hoped  to  keep  from  the  police,  after  June 
promised  to  marry  him  and  with  his  aid  fight  her  criminal 
tendencies.     The   Chief   insists   upon   arresting   June.      When 


Mrs.  Travis  learns  that  her  daughter  is  a  thief  she  is  hor- 
rified and  will  not  be  reconciled. 

June  is  released  on  bail  and  with  Mary  she  takes  up  her 
residence  in  an  apartment,  since  she  cannot  return  to  her 
foster-mother's  home.  Gordon,  the  lawyer  falsely  accused 
of  embezzlement  by  Farwell,  is  seen  in  this  chapter.  He  calls 
upon  the  Chief  and  announces  that  he  is  in  a  position  to 
clear  himself.  His  persecutor,  Farwell,  is  unable  to  keep 
him  under  arrest  because  the  papers  which  June  stole  are 
still  missing. 

Sam's  fall  from  the  window  is  well  executed.  The  sub- 
stitution of  a  dummy  is  not  always  so  convincing,  and  then 
by  means  of  cut-backs  to  the  interior  where  Sam  fights  with 
the  policeman  the  incident  is  made  quite  exciting.  Andrew 
Arbuckle  has  played  and  played  well  the  part  of  Sam  through 
the  entire  serial.  The  sets  used  in  this  chapter  have  prac- 
tically all  been  seen  before,  so  there  is  no  need  to  mention 
their  quality.     The  photography  is  up  to  the  usual  standard. 


"The  Hero  of  Submarine  D-2" 

Vitagraph  V.  L.  S.  E.  Offering  a  Story  of  the  Navy 
Reviewed  by  Thomas  C.  Kennedy 

ADAPTED  from  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady's,  "Colton, 
U.  S.  N.",  the  Vitagraph  production  entitled  "The  Hero 
of  Submarine  D-2"  has  some  excellent  views  of  navy  life 
which  are  strung  together  by  a  thin  but  rather  pleasant 
romance.  Either  the  author  of  the  novel,  or  the  author  of 
the  scenario,  or  the  director,  or  somebody  was  more  intent 
upon  acquainting  the  public  with  the  everyday  life  of  a  mid- 
shipman than  telling  a  story  of  love  or  adventure. 

There  are  pictures  of  a  submarine  submerging  and  in- 
terior scenes  in  a  submarine  and  other  intimate  views  of 
these  interesting  boats.  The  scenes  showing  the  interior  of 
a  submarine  the  producers  claim  are  the  first  to  be  actually 
taken  inside  this  type  of  vessel.  There  are  any  number  of 
authentic  scenes  taken  on  and  about  battlships,  the  Naval 
Academy  at  Annapolis  and  the  training  station.  All  of  which 
will  interest  and  instruct  the  public. 

Charles  Richman,  whose  acting  always  gives  pleasure,  has 
little  to  do  as  the  hero  of  the  title.  He  is  Lieutenant  Com- 
mander Colton,  who,  after  a  short  courtship  wins  Caroline 
Austin's  consent  to  become  his  wife.  Caroline's  brother  is  a 
student  at  the  Academy.  He  neglects  his  studies  and  he  is 
warned  that  there  is  little  chance  of  his  passing  the  examina- 
tion in  navigation.  Then  Caroline  and  Ethel  McMasters  set 
about  helping  Gilman. 

Caroline  appeals  to  Colton,  who  is  head  of  the  depart- 
ment, and  Ethel,  Gilman's  fiancee,  asks  her  father,  the  super- 
intendent of  the  academy,  to  find  some  way  to  pass  Gilman. 
Both  these  men  curtly  refuse.  Then  politics  takes  a  hand. 
Caroline's  father  is  a  political  power  and  he  has  Colton  re- 
duced when  he  refuses  to  pass  Gilman  Austen. 

Colton  is  placed  in  command  of  a  collier  and  Gilman 
leaves,  giving  his  plans  to  nobody.  The  young  man  enlists  as 
an  apprentice  and  then  we  are  shown  all  his  training  experi- 
ences, and  how  he  eats  and  sleeps.  Later  Colton  and  young 
Austen  meet,  Gilman  as  a  sailor  and  Colton  as  commander  of 
the  submarine  flotilla.  Colton  frustrates  a  plot  to  blow  up 
the  fleet.  He  has  his  men  shoot  him  out  of  a  torpedo  tube 
and  explodes  the  mines  laid  by  a  traitor  in  the  employ  of 
the  Ruanian  ambassador.  In  the  end  Colton  marries  Caroline 
and  Gilman   secures  a  reappointment  to  the  naval  academy. 

Eleanor  Woodruff  makes  Caroline  a  girl  of  considerable 
charm,  and  Zena  Keefe  is  an  appealing  Ethel  McMasters. 
James  Morrison  plays  his  part  attractively.  Anders  Randolf. 
Charles  Wellesley,  and  Thomas  Mills  have  the  other  import- 
ant parts.  The  picture  was  produced  by  Paul  Scardon.  At 
this  time  the  naval  scenes,  even  though  they  hold  up  the 
story,  should  make  this  a  quite  acceptable  picture. 


"The  Habit  of  Happiness" 

Triangle-Fine    Arts    Production    Featuring    Douglas 
Fairbanks.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

r\OUGLAS  FAIRBANKS,  as  "Sunny"  Wiggins,  reformer, 
*-^  performs  several  cures  during  the  course  of  this  comedy, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  he  would  cure  any  case  of  grouch 
which  is  brought  into  a  theater  showing  this  film.  The  play 
is  at  once  funny  and  thought-provoking.  It  is  whimsical, 
never  silly.  It  would  be  a  very  good  play  to  show  all  "up- 
lift" workers;  they  could  get  some  valuable  "tips." 

Douglas  Fairbanks  is  genuinely  delightful  throughout  the 


714 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13.. 


play,  and  the  other  members  of  the  cast  are  not  far  behind 
him.  George  Fawcett  as  Jonathan  Pepper  is  the  last  word 
in  gloom,  which  makes  the  audience  as  happy  as  he  is  sad. 

"Sunny"  Wiggins  is  a  member  of  family  of  social  stand- 
ing high  enough  to  be  snubbed  by  all  the  best  families.  The 
father,  having  no  sense  of  humor,  wastes  his  life  making 
money.  "Sunny"  believes  in  the  fellowship  of  man  and  the 
rights  of  the  downtrodden.  There  is  material  for  a  problem 
play,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  the  most  problem-ish  could  contain 
a  scene  driving  home  its  point  as  effectively  as  the  brief  flash 
contrasting  the  lives  of  the  rich  and  the  poor  when  "Sunny" 
pleads  with  his  father  for  permission  to  carry  out  his  theory. 

"Sunny"  starts  things  when  he  brings  home  a  large 
section  of  the  bread-line,  gives  them  a  night's  shelter,  and 
in  the  morning  a  breakfast  which  his  sister  intended  for  her 
"society  pets."  There  is  trouble  in  the  family,  and  "Sunny" 
goes  away  to  a  mission  in  the  slums  to  work  out  his  ideas. 
Instead  of  lecturing  to  them,  he  organizes  classes  in  laugh- 
ing, from  primary  to  graduate. 

Then  he  gets  a  commission  to  cure  Jonathan  Pepper,  a 
wealthy  old  man  who  has  the  worst  case  of  grouch  in  the 
city.  Because  he  will  receive  money  to  carry  his  schemes 
further,  "Sunny"  accepts  and  goes  to  the  "house  of  gloom," 
where  the  master's  favorite  indoor  sport  is  listening  to 
Chopin's  Funeral  March  played  on  the  cello.  Convinced  that 
the  man  never  heard  a  joke  "Sunny"  introduces  a  few  into 
the  conversation,  but  in  vain.  The  old  man  nearly  succumbs 
when  "Sunny"  persuades  the  cellist  to  "rag  the  Miserere," 
but  goes  into  a  fit  of  rage  instead  of  laughing.  But  "Sunny" 
has  cheered  up  the  servants,  and  has  won  the  love  of  Pepper's 
daughter. 

Then  the  plot  takes  an  exciting  turn.  Pepper,  angered 
by  "Sunny's"  love  affair  with  his  daughter,  attacks  the  young 
man,  who  carries  him  upstairs  and  locks  him  in  a  room; 
"starvation  method,"  he  calls  it.  Pepper  gets  so  hungry  that 
he  forgets  his  ill  health.  Then  there  has  been  a  plot  against 
Pepper  among  his  business  rivals.  They  hire  a  band  of  thugs 
to  kidnap  Pepper,  but  they  are  foiled  by  "Sunny,"  who  nearly 
loses  his  life  in  the  fight.  When  Pepper  finds  that  "Sunny" 
has  been  "beaten  up,"  he  thinks  it  a  good  joke,  and  laughs, 
which  cures  him  entirely.  Wiggins,  "Sunny's"  father,  had  not 
approved  of  the  force  methods  used  against  his  rival,  Pepper, 
and  the  two,  former  friends,  again  join  forces.  And  Pepper 
recommends  his  doctor,  "Sunny,"  to  Wiggins,  and  Wiggins 
learns  that  his  son  has  made  good. 

The  cast  includes  George  Backus  as  Wiggins,  Dorothy 
West  as  Pepper's  daughter,  and  Macy  Harlan  as  the  un- 
principled business  rival. 


"A  Sister  to  Cain" 

Three-Reel  Lubin   Drama   Released   March  23 
Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

THIS  play,  written  by  Julian  Louis  Lamothe  and  directed  by 
Edward  Sloman,  contains  a  story  out  of  the  ordinary.  It  is 
very  effectively  presented  and  holds  the  interest  every  minute. 
The  ending,  though  a  happy  one,  is  not  obvious.  The  play  con- 
tains no  moral,  no  problem.  It  is  just  an  interesting  tale,  which 
approaches  closely  a  tragedy,  then  ends  well,  which,  in  this  case, 
was  the  cleverest  way  to  end  it.  Neither  characters  or  settings 
are  usual,  yet  they  are  natural  and  true. 

The  play  opens  with  a  close-up  of  a  theater  program  giving 
the  cast  and  an  interpretation  of  dances  in  a  morality  play. 
Then  the  stage  curtain  is  raised  and  a  short  scene  of  the  dances 
is  given,  in  which  Yvonne  Ismay  (Helen  Wolcott)  depicts 
in  I  '■.  (Evelyn  Page)  is  "The  Spirit  of  Truth." 
When  the  act  closes,  Donald  Phelps  (Allan  Forrest),  a  young 
millionaire,  is  shown  in  a  box.  Then  there  are  scenes  in  the 
dressing  rooms,  where  lona  Page,  "The  Spirit  of  Truth,"  is 
generally  disliked  for  her  deceitfulness. 

i  I  be  play,  Donald  Phelps  and  a  friend  call  for  Yvonne, 
who  asks  lona  to  he  the  fourth  in  the  party,  lona,  by  a  pretense 
of  shyness  and  innocence,  wins  Donald's  interest  from  Yvonne, 
who  is  furiously  jealous.  Yvonne  is  loved  by  Jay  Morely,  a 
newspaper  reporter,  but  she  prefers   Donald's  money. 

urn,  who  is  not  above  deception  herself,  bribes  the  ward- 
robe mistress,  played  bj  Adelaide  Bronti,  to  spj  on  lona.  and 
not  long  after  learns  thai  Donald  asks  lona  to  marry  him  and 
go  to  Europe  with  him  ,t  ,,i  the  Japanese  Car- 

dens,  kept  by   Hashiwa    (George  Routh).     Angry,   Yvonne  also 

re  at  the  appointed  time,  arrives  before  Donald  and 
finds  |.,na  alone,    The  girls  quarrel  violentb  and  Yvonne  stabs 

lona   with    a    hatpin.     Terrified    at    her   deed,    ,1,,    tries    to   escape, 
bUl    -he    lias    beei  iwa,    who   offers    to   shield    her   on' 


one  condition.  The  frightened  girl  agrees.  When  Donald  comes, 
he  is  told  that  lona  would  not  meet  him  and  he  leaves  in  anger, 
not  investigating  the  case. 

When  the  disappearance  of  lona  reaches  the  newspapers, 
the  city  editor  assigns  Tom  Marston  to  cover  the  case,  promising 
him  promotion  if  he  solves  the  mystery.  He  questions  the  ward- 
robe mistress  and  finally  traces  lona  to  the  Japanese  Gardens. 
Then  Yvonne,  who  is  breaking  down  under  her  guilty  secret,  is 
summoned  by  Hashiwa  to  his  resort.  She  is  afraid  to  refuse, 
but  she  is  saved  b}'  the  police,  who,  following  Marston's  tip,  raid 
the  place.  Yvonne  faints,  and  while  unconscious,  she  sees  her- 
self impersonated  in  the  various  famous  murderesses,  Salome, 
Lucrezia  Borgia,  Lady  Macbeth,  but  always  her  victim  is  lona. 
This  interpolation  is  very  cleverly  managed. 

Then,  as  she  regains  consciousness,  she  looks  again  into  the 
face  of  lona,  who  has  not  been  killed  but  was  kept  prisoner  by 
Hashiwa.  The  play  comes  back  from  its  high  tragedy  plane  to 
real  life  with  Iona's  remark  to  Yvonne  that  she  "almost  landed 
the  boob,  but  that  this  notriety  would  win  her  a  place  in  vaude- 
ville." But  Yvonne  has  had  enough  of  the  gay  life  and  turns  to 
Marston,  the  reporter. 

The  cast  is  uniformly  good,  and  the  characters  stand  out 
very  distinctly. 


"The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page" 

Essanay  Serial.    Chapter  8.    "The  Perjury."    Released 
March  20.     Reviewed  by  Genevieve  Harris 

ONE  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  "Mary  Page"  episodes 
is  chapter  eight,  "The  Perjury,"  in  which  Mary's  father 
tries  in  vain  to  save  his  daughter  by  pleading  guilty  to 
Pollock's  murder.  But  his  testimony  is  quickly  torn  to 
pieces  by  the  lawyers,  and  Mary  is  still  under  suspicion. 

The  last  episode  closed  after  an  interruption  of  the  trial 


when  Dan  Page  was  found.  He  told  Langdon  he  had  killed 
Dave  Pollock.  This  chapter  begins  with  a  continuation  of  the 
testimony  of  Amy  Larue,  Mary's  actress  friend.  She  tells 
of  Mary's  early  stage  success,  then  of  their  experiences  in 
small  towns.  She  tells  of  their  discovery  that  Pollock  was 
backing  the  production.  This  is  of  course  related  in  a 
series  of  flash  back  scenes,  which  are  interesting  and  well 
photographed.  They  include  many  events  that  a  court 
testimony  probably  would  not  include,  but  give  us  a  clear 
picture  of  Mary's  early  troubles. 

The  most  sensational  part  of  the  chapter  is  that  in  which 
Page  tells  his  story.  For  as  he  relates  it,  we  have  pictured 
before  us  the  events  in  the  room  just  before  the  door  was 
opened  and  the  murdered  man  and  the  unconscious  girl 
discovered.  His  story  is  plausible,  until  he  is  unable  to 
identify  the  revolver  with  which  he  killed  Pollock.  Then 
he  breaks  down  and  confesses  his  perjury. 

The  court  room  atmosphere  is  particularly  good  in  this 
chapter.  That  setting  is  becoming  very  pleasantly  familiar 
to  followers  of  the  storv.  The  tension  and  the  excitement  at 
this  point  of  the  trial  is  well  shown.  Walthall  in  his  role 
as  lawyer  is  emphasized  in  this  installment,  and  his  quiet  but 
effective  methods  are  enjoyable. 

The  flash  of  the  newspaper  headlines  telling  of  the  latest 
developments  in  the  trial  forms  a  clever  introduction  to  the 
chapter,  and  adds  to  the  realism. 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Sifted  From  the  Studioes 


ATLANTIC  COAST  NOTES 

John  Reinhard,  who  usually  plays  the 
villain  in  Gaumont  dramas,  appears  in 
the  title  role  of  "Feathertop."  He  plays 
an  effeminate  dandy  in  this  play,  but  pre- 
fers  heavy  roles. 

Gertrude  Robinson,  who  played  in  "As 
a  Woman  Sows"  and  "The  Haunted 
Manor,"  will  be  featured  in  "The  Quality 
of  Faith,"  a  five-reel  Gaumont  "master- 
picture."  Alexander  Gaden  plays  the 
leading  man. 

Playing  "Audrey"  was  not  as  much 
fun  as  Pauline  Frederick  expected,  for 
"Audrey"  appears  in  several  scenes  with 
bare  feet,  and  Miss  Frederick  walked  into 
beach  nettles.  Robert  Vignola  is  direct- 
ing the  play. 

Alexander  Gaden  formerly  played  dare- 
devil hero  roles,  and  among  his  thrill- 
ing experiences  are  several  escapes  from 
drowning,  a  struggle  with  a  bear,  a  fall 
from  the  roof  of  a  moving  train,  a  tum- 
ble down  an  elevator  shaft  and  a  narrow 
escape  from  being  burned  to  death. 

A  number  of  scenes  for  "Big  Jim  Gar- 
rity,"  which  George  Fitzmaurice  directed 
for  Pathe,  were  taken  in  the  showroom 
of  the  Maison  Maurice,  in  New  York,  and 
include  several  of  their  mannequins. 

Beverly  Bavne,  playing  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  in  "The  Wall  Between,"  with  Fran- 
cis X.  Bushman,  took  a  special  train  to 
New  York  recently  to  have  two  gowns 
duplicated  which  were  ruined  in  a  scene. 

Marguerite  Snow  has  been  making  a 
personal  appearance  at  four  or  five  pic- 
ture theaters  each  night  in  New  York. 

Thomas  J.  Carrigan  is  an  expert  boxer. 

Louise  Bates,  featured  as  "The  Falstaff 
Girl,"  makes  her  dramatic  debut  in  "The 
Water  Devil,"  a  Thanhouser  Mutual  Mas- 
terpicture.  Miss  Bates  was  a  prima  don- 
na with  "The  Passing  Show"  at  the  Win- 
ter Garden  before  going  into  pictures. 

While  her  admirers  were  applauding 
Mary  Pickford  in  "Poor  Little  Peppina," 
she  was  hard  at  work  in  "The  Eternal 
Grind,"  where  she  appears  as  a  factory 
girl. 

Marguerite  Clark  learned  to  ski  while 
in  the  north  for  the  snow  scenes  of  "Out 
of  the  Drifts." 

Gertrude  McCoy,  recently  signed  as  a 
Gaumont  star,  will  make  her  debut  in 
"The  Isle  of  Love,"  by  Paul  M.  Bryan, 
and  not  in  "The  Quality  of  Faith,"  as 
first  announced. 

Willard  Mack,  Gerda  Holmes  and 
Clara  Whipple  head  the  cast  of  "His  One 
Big  Chance,"  the  next  Equitable  feature, 
a  newspaper  story  directed  by  John  Ince. 

A  set  covering  the  entire  floor  space 
of  the  Equitable  studio,  a  reproduction 
of  the  ground  floor  of  the  Corn  Exchange 
Bank  at  Flushing,  L.  I.,  is  being  used  for 
the  new  Carlyle  Blackwell  picture,  "The 
Shadow  of  a  Doubt." 

John  Sainpolis  was  severely  injured 
during  a  scene  for  "The  Social  Highway- 
man," the  new  World  Film  feature  star- 
ring Edwin  August. 


Billie  Burke,  at  Palm  Beach,  Fla.,  has 
gone  up  in  an  aeroplane,  raced  in  a 
motor  car  and  been  photographed  among 
the  Seminole  Indians  in  scenes  for  the 
George  Kleine  serial.  She  refuses  to 
be  "doubled." 

After  the  first  performance  of  "The 
Blacklist"  at  the  Strand  theater,  Carl 
Beck,  head  of  the  Labor  Forum  of  New 
York,  called  at  the  Lasky  offices  to  ex- 
press his  endorsement  of  the   drama. 

"Lady,"  the  Thanhouser  Scotch  col- 
lie, recently  featured  in  a  play,  is  on  the 
studio  pay  roll,  receiving  four  dollars  a 
week,  according  to  her  press  agent. 

Harry  Stobo  Northrup,  who  played  the 
heavy  roles  with  E.  H.  Sothern  in  "The 
King's  Musketeers,"  "The  Song  of  the 
Sword"  and  "The  Sunken  Bell,"  on  the 
legitimate  stage,  will  appear  with  Sothern 
in  these  roles  in  the  Vitagraph  picture 
adaptations. 

Wally  Van,  the  Vitagraph  "Cutey," 
wrote,  produced  and  acted  in  "Putting 
Pep  in  Slowtown." 

Antonio  Moreno,  the  Spanish  actor, 
who  played  the  principal  role  in  the  Vita- 
graph presentation  of  F.  Hopkinson 
Smith's  "Kennedy  Square,"  has  been 
asked  to  pose  in  the  make-up  of  the 
role  for  a  painting  for  the  Baltimore 
Historical    Society's    headquarters. 

In  "Lavinia  Comes  Home,"  Isabel  Os- 
trander's  story,  which  the  Universal  com- 
pany is  producing,  Marcia  Moore  appears 
as  a  circus  rider. 

"The  Hero  of  Submarine'  D-2,"  writ- 
ten by  Cyrus  Townsend  Brady,  pictur- 
ized  by  Col.  Jasper  Ewing,  will  be  re- 
leased by  the  Vitagraph  company  March 
13.  Scenes  were  taken  at  Annapolis, 
Norfolk  and  Newport. 


Kittens  Reichart,  child  actress  with  the 
William    Fox   players,    has    the    measles. 

Harry  Hilliard,  formerly  a  juvenile 
actor  on  the  legitimate  stage,  has  signed 
a  long-term  contract  for  William  Fox 
pictures. 

Virginia  Pearson  and  company  of 
players,  under  Director  Buel,  are  play- 
ing in  scenes  at  and  around  Robert  Louis 
Stevenson's  cottage  near  Saranac  Lake, 
N.  Y. 

Bertha  Kalich  is  eager  to  play  in  a 
picture  written  by  Mary  Antin,  the  Rus- 
sian Jewish  girl,  whose  first  book  was 
"The  Promised  Land." 

William  Farnum  will  play  a  dual  role,, 
of  Stephen  and  Jason  Orry,  in  "The 
Bondsman,"  the  William  Fox  produc- 
tion of  the  Hall  Caine  novel.  Others  in 
the  cast  are  Harry  Spingler,  Dorothy 
Bernard,  Doris  Wooldridge  and  little 
Katharine  Lee. 

Charles  Richman,  James  Morrison, 
Eleanor  Woodruff  and  Zena  Keefe  have 
important  roles  in  "The  Hero  of  Subma- 
rine D-2,"  a  Vitagraph  naval  play. 

Violet  Horner  is  introduced  as  a  Wil- 
liam Fox  star  in  "The  Marble  Heart." 

"Napoleon  the  Great,"  the  chimpanzee 
comedian  now  featured  in  one  reel  com- 
edies by  the  E.  and  R.  Jungle  Film  Com- 
pany, has  had  over  five  years  of  experi- 
ence  on   the  vaudeville   stage. 

The  screen  version  of  "The  Quick  or 
the  Dead,"  in  which  Alice  Brady  has 
been  put  off  until  June,  so  that  Miss 
Brady  may  appear  in  a  new  spoken  com- 
edy,  "Little   Comrade." 

Edwin  August,  star  and  director  of  the 
new  World  Film  feature,  "The  Social 
Highwayman,"    is    finishing    the    interior 


Film   Market  Quotations  ana 
Financial  Gossip 

Supplied  by  R.  D.  Small  of  A.  E.  Butler  &  Co., 
Chicago. 

Bid  Asked 

American   Film  Co.,   Inc....    90  96J/2 

Biograph   Company    43  52 

Famous    Players   Film    Co..    70  105 

General    Film    Corp.,   pref.  .    42  47 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  pref 41"/2  43J/2 

Mutual  Film  Corp.,  com 41!/2  43J/2 

North  Am.  Film  Corp.,  pref .    92  103 

North  Am.  Film  Corp.,  com.    56  68 

N.  Y.  Motion   Picture  Corp.    48  53J/2 

Thanhouser  Film  Corp 4'/8  5     * 

Triangle    Film    Corp 4  5     * 

Universal    Film    Mnfg.  Co.. 200 

World   Film  Corp 1i/4  1|/2* 

*Par,  $5.00. 

Thanhouser  Film  Corporation:  A 
notice,  signed  by  the  treasurer  of  the 
company,  Mr.  A.  E.  Jones,  has  been  is- 
sued to  the  effect  that  an  annual  div- 
idend of  12%  on  the  capital  stock  has 
been  definitely  declared  and  is  payable 
in  quarterly  installments  of  3%  each 
beginning  March  31st,  1916.  Transfer 
books  will  close  on  March  20th,  1916  and 
reopen  on  April  2nd. 

Mutual  Film  Corporation:    After  sales 


of  both  preferred  and  common  at  45  and 
better,  the  market  has  reacted  and  is 
quoted  today  41^  to  AZl/2  for  both  is- 
sues. A  number  of  the  offerings  are  due 
to  stockholders  wishing  to  liquidate  a 
portion  of  their  Mutual  holdings  in  order 
to  provide  funds  for  their  subscriptions 
to  the  new  Chaplin  Company.  In  view  of 
the  fact  that  the  Mutual  Film  Corpora- 
tion participates  in  the  revenue  of  the 
Chaplin  Company  to  the  extent  of  30%, 
without  any  risk  on  its  part,  both  pre- 
ferred and  common  stocks  would  appear 
to  be  a  logical  buy  at  the  present  level. 
It  has  been  freely  predicted  in  New  York 
within  the  past  week  that  the  common 
stock  will  sell   above   70  before  July   is 

General  Film  Corporation:  Stockhold- 
ers apparently  are  not  supporting  the- 
market  as  on  several  offerings  made  with- 
in the  last  two  weeks  it  seems  impossible 
to  secure  a  bid  except  on  5  or  10  share 
lots. 

North  American  Film  Corporation  has 
issued  a  notice  to  all  stockholders  stat- 
ing that  50%  of  the  remaining  preferred 
stock  issued  will  be  retired  at  the  re- 
demption figure  of  110  on  April  15th. 
This  will  naturally  have  its  effect  upon 
the  common  stock  as  it  will  leave  that 
much  more  of  the  net  revenue  to  be  dis- 
tributed  amongst  common   stockholders.. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


scenes  at  the   Peerless  studio.   Fort   Lee 
N.  J. 

At  the  Equitable's  Fifty-second   stree 
studio  Director  Frank  Powell  is  complet 


FLORENCE   LA  BADIE  AIDS 
ACTORS'  FUND 

Another  addition  was  made  last  week 
to  the  volume  on  "Little  Journeys  of 
Film  Stars,"  as  the  late  Elbert  Hubbard 
might    have    written    it.      This    time    the 


Elks  of  Salem,  Mass.,  gave  a  ball  and 
Ernest  Horstmann,  New  England  thea- 
ter man,  who  has  been  elected  exalted 
ruler,  determined  that  film  stars  should 
be  the  guests  of  honor.  At  Mr.  Horst- 
mann's  right  hand  throughout  the  even- 
ing was  Florence  LaBadie,  the  Than- 
houser  star.  She  came  there  with  the 
intention  of  bringing  back  money  for 
the  Actor's  Fund,  and  after  a  speech  by 
1..  J.  Rubinstein,  the  ladies  of  the  visit- 
ing party  passed  out  Miss  LaBadie's  au- 
tographed pictures.  They  were  given  for 
whatever  the  guests  offered,  and  the  net 
result  was  a  little  more  than  sixty-five 
dollars,  gathered  in  a  few  minutes. 


ing  the  remaining  scenes  of  "The  Chain 
Invisible,"  featuring  Bruce  McRae,  while 
Director  S.  E.  V.  Taylor  is  finishing 
"Passers  By,"  starring  Charles  Cherry. 
Virginia  Kirtley  makes  her  debut  as  a 
David  Horsley  player  in  "A  Law  Unto 
Himself,"   featuring  Crane  Wilbur. 

Alma  Hanlon  plays  the  ingenue  role  in 
"'.old  and  the  Woman,"  featuring  Theda 
Bara.  H.  Cooper  Cliff e,  Carlton  Macy, 
George  Walsh,  Frank  Whitson  and 
Pauline  Barry  appear  in   the  east. 

Bertha  Kalich  has  acted  on  the  legiti- 
•  ,    in   |,l.i\  s  in   -i  v  in 
Rumanian,    Hungarian,    Polish,    Russian, 
Italian.  German  and  English. 

Margaret  Gibson  and  William  Clifford 
have   the   leading   roles   in   "Tin 
I  ara."   a   pla\    of    Easl    India   life.      In    the 
play,    Miss   Gibson    wears    jewels   valued 

10,1 

Marguerite   Courtot    plays    the    lead    in 


"Feathertop,"  which  Henry  Vernot  is 
directing  for  Gaumont,  with  Sydney 
Mason,  Lucille  Taft  and  John  Reinhard 
in   the  cast. 

Mildred  Gregery  is  starred  in  Gau- 
mont's  "According  to  Law,"  with  How- 
ard Hall,  Helen  Marten  and  Charles  W. 
Travis  in  the  cast. 

Dorothy  Bernard,  the  William  Fox 
player,  ha's  been  given  her  biggest  part  in 
"The  Bondsman,"  adapted  from  the 
novel  by  Hall  Caine. 

Frank  Daniels  is  objecting  strenuously 
to  the  fact  that  various  cartoonists  on 
the  daily  papers  are  "lifting"  the  lines  he 
has  originated  as  sub-titles  for  "The 
Escapades  of  Mr.  Jack." 

Earle  Williams  believes  that  attending 
the  theater  is  one  of  the  best  forms  of 
enjoyment  for  picture  actors,  and  he  has 
organized  a  theater  club  which  includes 
Anita  Stewart,  Edith  Storey,  Antonio 
Moreno  and  Wilfrid  North. 

The  Dixie  Film  Company  of  Chicago 
is  producing  "Tempest  and  Sunshine,"  a 
five-reel  play,  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.  Carl- 
ton King  is  directing  and  playing  leading 
man.  Evelyn  Greeley  is  leading  lady. 
Louis  B.  Foley,  Ernest  Ottke,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carson  and  Warren  Hughes  are  in 
the  cast. 

J.  H.  Harlow,  president  of  the  Dixie 
Company,  is  planning  to  establish  a  per- 
manent studio  in  Jacksonville. 

Eugene  W.  Moore  has  just  completed 
a  Thanhouser  Mutual  Masterpicture, 
"The  Water  Devil,"  with  Barbara  Gilroy, 
Louise  Bates,  Harris  Gordon,  William 
Burt  and  Arthur  Bauer  in  the  cast. 

Mile.  Valkyrien,  the  Danish  beauty,  is 
now  at  the  Thanhouser  studios  in  Jack- 
sonville. 

William  A.  Howell  has  just  finished 
"The  Smiling  Sailors  Spirit,"  a  Falstaff 
comedy  featuring  Riley  Chamberlain 
and  Walter  Hires.  They  are  now  begin- 
ning another  comedy,  "Dad's  Darling 
Daughters." 

George  Foster  Piatt  is  starting  work 
on  a  two-reel  Spanish  subject  featuring 
Bert  Delaney,  Marion  Swayne  and  Gladys 
Dore. 

Al  H.  Moses,  Jr.,  formerly  in  charge  of 
the  negative  department  of  the  Than- 
houser studios,  has  accepted  a  similar 
position  with  the  Eagle  Film  Producing 
Company. 

Morgan  Jones  was  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Grand  Opera  Company  before 
going   into   motion   picture   work. 

Anita  Stewart  attended  the  "Kit  Kat" 
Ball  with  Howard  Chandler  Christy.    She 

wore  a  gown  of  various  shades  of  violet, 
symbolic  of  her  first  picture.  "The  Wood 
Violet." 

Richard  Garrick  is  directing  Alexander 
Gaden  and  Gertrude  Robinson  in  Gau- 
mont's  "The  Quality  of  Faith,"  a  factory 
story  containing  many  mob  scenes. 
Scenes  are  taken  in  Atlanta.  Ga.  John 
Mackin  appears  as  "Baker,"  the  strike- 
leader. 

The  Thanhouser  Company's  plant  in 
Jacksonville  contains  a  $30,000  glass  cov- 
ered studio,  housing  three  indoor  stages 
and    an    open    air    stage    100   by   90    feet. 

Louis  B.  Foley,  featured  in  the  Gibson 
picture.  "The  Weaker  Sex,"  a  short  time 


go,  is  now  with  the  Dixie  Company  in 
acksonville. 

This  is  Walter  (Fatty)  Hires'  fourth 
season  in  pictures  in  Jacksonville,  for  he 

H.  J.  ALDOUS  REMAINS  WITH 
ROTHACKER 

H.  J.  Aldous,  who  for  three  years  has 
been  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  In- 
dustrial Moving  Picture  Company,  is 
now  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Roth- 
acker  Film  Manufacturing  Company  of 
Chicago.  Mr.  Aldous  has  an  international 
reputation   in   financial    circles   and   is   an 


>/  Rothakcr 


acknowledged  authorit}'  on  credit  and 
factory  systems.  His  early  training  with 
the  Merchants  Bank  of  Canada,  supple- 
mented by  his  years  of  active  participa- 
tion in  big  American  business,  has  been 
fortified  by  a  close  and  analytical  study 
of  motion  picture  conditions.  He  already 
is  an  important  factor  in  the  industry 
and  is  going  strong.  Mr.  Aldous  is  a 
member  of  the  Motion  Picture  Board  of 
Trade  of  America,  and  is  prominent  in 
national   business   organizations. 


was  formerly  with  the  Lubin  and  Kalem 
companies   there. 

Anita  Stewart  recently  was  presented 
with  an  iron  cross  from  an  admirer  in 
Russia.  She  will  wear  the  decoration  in 
her  new  play,   which  S.   Rankin  Drew  is 

directing. 

Frederick  Warde,  Thanhouser  director, 
had  an  entire  village  of  huts  blown  up 
for  his  present  picture. 

It  required  forty-five  feet  of  film  to 
record  the  kiss  which  Iva  Shepard  gave 
Earl  O.  Schenck  in  "The  Haunted 
Manor,"  the  Gaumont  picture  in  which 
Miss  Shepard  plays  a  "vampire"  role. 

True  Boardman,  of  "Stingaree"  fame, 
is  to  appear  in  a  coming  episode  of  "The 
Hazards  of  Helen,"  Kalem  serial. 

Ethel  Teare  is  the  only  female  charac- 
ter in  "At  Rachelor's  Roost,"  a  Kalem 
comedy. 

The  Paramount  Pictures  Corporation 
recently   received   a  letter  from  a  young 


March  25;  1916. 

lady  who  wished  to  go  into  pictures  be- 
cause she  was  "anything-  but  handsome" 
and  she  thought  she  would  be  successful 
in  character  roles. 

Director    Frank    Currier    at    the    Vita- 
graph  Bay  Shore  studio  has  written  and 


MAE  GASTON  SIGNED  BY 
DAVID   HORSLEY 

David  Horsley  has  signed  contracts 
with  Miss  Mae  Gaston  which  will  make 
her  a  permanent  member  of  one  of  his 
stock  organizations  at  his  studios  in  Los 
Angeles.  Originally  she  was  engaged  for 
only  one  picture — "The  Love  Liar" — but 
her    interpretation    of    the    character    of 


Mae    Gaston 

Dinana  Strongwell  was  done  so  under- 
standingly  and  with  such  a  keen  concep- 
tion of  the  requirements  of  motion  pic- 
ture acting  that  Mr.  Horsley  decided  to 
retain  her  permanently.  Her  signature 
to  a  contract  accordingly  followed. 


ledy,   "Freddy 


finished   a   one-; 
Sleuth." 

Wilfrid  North  and  a  company  of  Vita- 
graph  players,  headed  by  Lillian  Walker 
and  Evart  Overton,  are  in  Jacksonville 
working  in  a  six-part  Blue  Ribbon  fea- 
ture. 

Paul  Scardon  is  directing  Arthur  C. 
Train's  latest  story  for  Vitagraph.  James 
Morrison,  Billie  Billings,  Robert  Gail- 
lard,  Peggy  Blake,  Walter  McGrail  and 
Ray  Walburn  are  in  the  cast. 

George  R.  Meeker,  editor  of  the  Para- 
mount Pictograph,  is  taking  a  two  weeks' 
vacation  at  Palm  Beach. 

The  Edna  May  picture.  "Salvation 
Joan,"  produced  by  the  Vitagraph  Com- 
pany in  seven  reels,  will  be  a  V.  L.  S.  E. 
release  of  April  10. 

William  Dangman,  Winthrop  Mandell, 
William  Lytell,  Jr.,  George  O'Donnell, 
Lucille  Crane  and  Jessie  Miller  are  in 
the  cast  producing  the  "Freddy"  series 
of  one-act  Vitagraph  comedies. 

Arline  Pretty  has  left  the  Vitagraph 
Flatbush  studios  to  join  Theodore  Mar- 
ston's     company     producing     the     Louis 


MOTOGRAPHY 

Joseph  Vance  serial  which  will  be  re- 
leased by  the  Hearst- Vitagraph  combina- 
tion in  fifteen  chapters. 

Belle  Bruce,  Arthur  Cozine  and  Walter 
McGrail  are  in  the  cast  of  George  Strayer 
Maxwell's  three-act  play  which  Harry 
Davenport  is  directing. 

William  S.  Hart  has  returned  to  Broad- 
way, on  the  screen  at  least,  for  the 
Knickerbocker  theater  is  featuring  his 
latest  Triangle  appearance,  "The  Aryan." 


"Davy  Crockett,"  is  suffering  from  a  se- 
verely cut  thumb. 

Many  of  the  players  narrowly  escaped 
injury  in  the  fire  scene  for  "Hell's 
Hinges"  when  thirty-five  houses  were 
burned.     The  town  in  the  play  was  pat- 


PACIFIC   COAST   NEWS 

Edith  Reeves  makes  her  Triangle  de- 
but in  "The  Moral  Fabric,"  in  which  she 
plays  the  wife.  Miss  Reeves  began  her 
career  in  vaudeville.  She  has  appeared 
in  Lubin  and  Balboa  pictures. 

Frank  Keenan,  co-star  with  Mary  Bo- 
land  in  "The  Stepping  Stone,"  began  his 
theatrical  career  in  1878  and  has  played 
all  sorts  of  roles.  His  ambition  is  to 
play  juvenile  leading  man  in  an  [nee 
production. 

Grounds  and  verandas  of  the  Los  An- 
geles Country  Club  were  used  for  "Hon- 
or's Altar,"  featuring  Bessie  Barriscale, 
Lewis  Stone  and  Walter  Edwards. 

While  working  in  a  scene  for  "Waifs," 
in  the  poorer  section  of  Los  Angeles. 
Jane  Grey  discovered  two  little  girls  who 
had  never  seen  a  picture  show.  She 
presented  them  with  funds  for  theater 
tickets  for   a   month. 

Although  she  had  ridden  horseback 
from  New  York  City  to  Los  Angeles 
without  accident.  Cleo  Ridgeley  was 
bucked  off  a  broncho  during  a  rehearsal 
of  "The  Love  Mask,"  in  which  she  is 
featured  with  Wallace  Reid. 

Fedor  Raskolnikoff,  formerly  costumer 
to  the  Imperial  Russian  Court  at  Petro- 
grad,  designed  the  costumes  for  the 
court  scene  of  "The  Sowers."  the  Lasky 
play  featuring  Blanche  Sweet. 

Nan  Christy,  Lucy  Payton  and  Bessie 
Clark  are  going  to  hold  a  rifle-shooting 
contest  at  the  Horsley  Mutual  studios. 
Miss  Clark  is  leading  woman  with  the 
Cub  Comedy  Company,  while  Miss 
Christy  and  Miss  Payton  are  especially 
engaged  for  "The  Love  Liar." 

James  Bradbury,  Selig  comedian,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Boston  Museum  stock 
company. 

Bessie  Eyton  and  Jack  Pickford  are 
co-stars  in  "A  Strange  Adventure,"  a 
Selig  one-reel  comedy. 

Fritzi  Brunette  plays  "Cindy,"  a  moun- 
tain girl,  in  "At  Piney  Ridge,"  a  coming 
Selig  production. 

A  full-grown  cinnamon  bear  used  in 
"Davy  Crockett"  broke  loose  and  in- 
vaded the  Pallas  studio  offices  recently, 
causing  much   excitement. 

Winifred  Kingston  gave  a  box  party 
on  the  opening  night  of  "The  Call  of  the 
Cumberlands"  in  Los  Angeles,  later  en- 
tertaining with  a  luncheon  at  the  Alex 
andria  hotel.  Her  mother  assisted.  Those 
present  were  Mrs.  J.  Lippitt,  Miss  Ches- 
ter Wren,  Mrs.  William  Bellnap,  Mrs. 
Charles  Runyon,  Mrs.  William  Farnum 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Loftus. 

William    D.    Taylor,    who    is    directing 


RUSSELL  CAN'T  QUIT  COAST 

Hugh  Russell,  who  looks  like  Owen 
Moore,  talks  like  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm- 
Tree  and  dresses  like  Douglas  Fairbanks, 
arrived  in  the  Los  Angeles  film  colony 
recently  from  a  successful  tour  on  the 
American  stage.  It  is  Mr.  Russell's  first 
visit  to  the  United  States  and  his  stay  in 
Los  Angeles  was  supposed  to  be  merely 


a  stop-over  on  his  trip  to  New  York, 
where  a  contract  with  a  big  feature  film 
company  awaits  him.  But  so  well  does 
Mr.  Russell  like  Los  Angeles  that  he  is 
tempted  to  forego  the  Eastern  contract 
and  settle  down  here  in  the  Southern 
California  film  colony.  Until  he  has  de- 
cided where  he  will  make  his  future  home 
he  is  the  honored  guest  at  the  various 
studios  in  the  Southern  California  colony. 


terned  after  the  notorious  Virginia  City 
of  the  early  seventies. 

Herbert  Standing  played  twenty-three 
years  at  the  Criterion  theater  in  London, 
and  missed  only  ten  days  in  that  time. 

H.  B.  Warner,  who  has  a  reputation 
for  being  well  dressed,  patronizes  a 
Chicago  tailor. 

J.  G  Hawkes  of  the  Ince  scenario 
staff  has  been  a  soldier,  actor  and  ex- 
plorer. He  has  traveled  extensively  in 
foreign  countries  and  was  once  a  cow- 
boy in  Arizona. 

Mae  Marsh  has  an  orchestra  named  for 
her  at  the  Fine  Arts  studio.  Robert 
Harron  organized  it,  and  Miss  Marsh 
is  a  member,  manipulating  a  ukelele. 

"Sold  for  Marriage"  is  the  permanent 
title  of  the  Lillian  Gish  picture  first 
called  "Marja  of  the  Steppes,"  the  Rus- 
sian story  written  by  William  E.  Wing. 

Charles  Richman  and  Robert  Whit- 
worth,  of  the, Vitagraph  company  work- 


718 

ing  in  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  are  still  suf- 
fering from  their  experiences  in  "broncho 
busting."  Robert  Whitworth  fared  the 
worst,  breaking  his  arm. 

Norma    Talmadge,   who   is    an    eastern 
girl,    had    her    first    experience    in    surf 


MOTOGRAPHY 


ARMSTRONG   FEATURED   IN 
NEW  CUB  COMEDY 

After  a  six  weeks'  space  of  time  be- 
tween releases.  Billy  Armstrong,  the 
well-known  pantomimic  comedian,  makes 
his  reappearance   in  a   Cub   comedy  with 


the  release  of  "The  Twin  Trunk  Mys- 
tery" on  the  Mutual  program,  March  17. 
Armstrong  is  the  comedian  formerly 
associated  with  Charlie  Chaplin  during 
his  music  hall  days  and  later  in  motion 
pictures.  He  was  signed  by  David  Hors- 
ley  last  fall  and  made  his  bow  in  a  Cub 
comedy  released  early  in  February. 


bathing  in  February,  when,  at  Santa  Bar- 
bara recently,  appearing  in  scenes  for 
Roy  Somerville's  Fine  Arts  play. 

Mrs.  Mae  Gish  and  her  daughters,  Lil- 
lian and  Dorothy,  successfully  routed  an 
armed  burglar  who  entered  their  home 
one  night  recently. 

Tom  Chatterton  will  be  the  hero  of  a 
new  serial  story  soon  to  be  started  at  the 
American  studios.  George  Sargent 
direct  il. 

Edward  Sloman  is  at  work  on  his  first 
American  production,  "None  So  Blind," 
a  five-reel  drama  with  Franklin  Ritchie, 
Winnifred  Greenwood  and  Eugenie 
Forde. 

Helene  Rosson  has  finished  playing 
the  leading  pari  in  "April,"  an  American 
five-reeler. 

William   Wolbert   is   directing    a   one- 
reel     \  itagraph    comedy    with    ai 
cast,    including    William    Duncan,    Anne 
Schaefer,   Corinne  Griffith,  Artist   Kellar 
and  Carmen  Phillips. 

Helen  Holmes  and  J.  P.  McGowan 
have  returned  from  the  desert,  where 
they  look  railroad  s<  enes  for  "The  I  rii  I 
and  tb<-  Game"  For  the  pasl  two  months, 


Grace  Cunard  and  Francis  Ford  are  at 
work  on  the  new  serial,  "Peg  o'  the 
Ring,"  which  will  be  released  after 
"Graft." 

William  Desmond  is  again  playing  op- 
posite Bessie  Barriscale  in  a  five-reel  Tri- 
angle feature  directed  by  Charles  Giblyn. 

Hal  Cooley  likes  Santa  Barbara  and 
is  finding  his  work  at  the  American  stu- 
dios very  agreeable. 

Donald  Crisp,  who  directed  "Ramona," 
received  two  especially  pleasing  commen- 
dations on  the  production,  one  from  John 
S.  McGroaty,  poet  and  historian,  who 
said  the  picture  contained  the  "soul  of 
California,"  the  other  from  Senator  Del 
Valle   who    owns   the    home    of   Ramona. 

William  Robert  Daly,  who  is  producing 
"At  Piney  Ridge,"  by  David  Higgins, 
played  in  the  production  on  the  speaking- 
stage. 

Jack  Pickford  made  his  first  appear- 
ance on  the  speaking  stage  fourteen  years 
ago  and  his  debut  in  the  silent  drama 
seven  years  later. 

Lillian  Hayward  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Selig  forces  for  five  years  and  has 
never  failed  to  report  every  working  day 
during  that  period. 

Ollie  Kirkby's  role  in  "The  Social  Pi- 
rates" is  bringing  her  much  popularity. 
Dozens  of  letters  from  "fans"  and  re- 
quests for  interviews  for  papers  come 
to  her  each  day. 

Gretchen  Hartman,  who  is  only  eight- 
een years  old,  is  always  in  great  de- 
mand for  the  productions  of  the  various 
Biograph  directors  and  has  worked  under 
them  all. 

Bessie  Barriscale  wears  a  black  wig  in    : 
her  present   Ince   play  in   the   role  of  an 
Italian  girl  who  becomes   a   nun. 

Neva  Gerber's  home  was  ransacked  by 
a  burglar  recently,  but  Miss  Gerber  says 


I  loi .'/./     /  uckwuod. 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 

next  play  under  Thomas  Ince.  On  the 
legitimate  stage  he  appeared  in  character 
roles  as  often  as  in  juvenile  parts. 

An  eight-cylinder  Cadillac  coupe  and 
a  solitaire  diamond  ring  were  Helen 
Holmes'  recent  gifts  from  her  husband, 
J.  P.  McGowan,  on  her  return  to  Los 
Angeles. 

Besides  cutting  and  assembling  the 
film  for  "God's  Country  and  the  Woman," 
by  which  16,000  feet  of  positive  was  re- 
duced to  8,000,  Rollin  S.  Sturgeon  is  su- 


William    S.    Hart— Triangle    Kay- 


she    has    only    the    loss    of    an    imit; 
pearl  necklace  to  report. 

George  Fisher,  the  juvenile  actor, 
wear  a  full  beard  and  moustache  ii 


pervising  the  work  of  two  other  directors 
and  is  preparing  for  his  next  production. 

Otto  Lederer,  character  man  with  the 
Vitagraph  forces,  is  acting  for  the  first 
time  the  role  of  an  Irish  policeman  in 
his  present  comedy. 

George  Melford,  the  Lasky  producer, 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  which 
handled  the  performance  for  the  building 
fund  benefit  of  the  Glendale  Elks  lodge, 
and  also  appeared  on  the  program  in  a 
vaudeville  sketch,  assisted  by  Tom  For- 
man,  James  W.  Home  and  Louise  Mi- 
neugh.  Others  on  the  bill  were  James 
Neil  and  his  wife,  Harry  Williamson, 
Frank  Jonasson,  Harry  McKey,  Frances 
Ring,  Thomas  Meigham,  Lawrence 
Wheat,  Jack  Ward,  Russ  Powell,  Ruth 
Roland,  Mae  Murray,  Stafford  Pember- 
ton,  Theodore  Roberts  and  Victor  Moore. 

Anna  Little  has  recovered  from  "pink- 
eye," and  is  at  work  in  "Two  Bits,"  un- 
der the  direction  of  Frank  Borzage,  who 
is  also  leading  man.  Jack  Richardson 
has  the  heavy  role. 

Edna  Maison,  who  has  just  finished 
the  leading  role  in  a  play  produced  by 
Ray  Myers,  is  one  of  the  players  longest 
with  the  Universal  company. 

Asked  what  he  would  do  when  the 
"Graft"  serial  was  finished,  Richard 
Stanton,  the  director  and  hero,  said  he 
would   sleep   twenty-four  hours. 

Charles  Ray  and  Louise  Glaum  are 
said  to  be  doing  the  best  work  of  their 
careers  in  the  "vampire"  picture. 

Edward  J.  Le  Saint  is  at  work  on  the 


March  25,  1916. 

Peter  B.  Kyne  story,  "The  Three  God- 
fathers," with  Harry  Carey  and  Stella 
Razetto  as  leads.  Harvey  Gates  has  ar- 
ranged  the    story   for   pictures. 

Director  William  Christy  Cabanne 
chartered  a  special  space  on  "The  Con- 
gress," a  steamer  traveling  between  Los 
Angeles  and  San  Diego,  for  the  conclud- 
ing scenes  of  the  Lillian  Gish-Triangle 
play,  "Sold  for  Marriage." 

Alva  D.  Blake,  who  plays  a  slum  type 
in  the  Fine  Arts  play  featuring  Norma 
Talmadge,  proved  himself  a  hero  and 
saved  several  lives  in  a  fire  in  the  Santa 
Barbara  apartments   in   Los   Angeles. 

Wliliam  D.  Taylor  is  producing  an 
Italian  feature  entitled  "Pasquale,"  with 
George  Beban  as  the  star. 

Myrtle  Stedman,  now  playing  opposite 
George  Beban  at  the  Pallas  studios,  is 
compiling  a  list  of  the  actors  and  ac- 
tresses who  have  left  the  operatic  stage 
for  the  screen.  She  herself  is  included 
in  the  list. 

A  new  building  of  generous  dimensions 
for  the  costuming  department  is  nearly 
completed  at  the  Vitagraph  plant,  and 
two  new  lines  of  dressing  rooms  will 
be  erected  at  once,  while  ground  is  be- 
ing broken  for  an  enclosed  stage  in  the 
rear  of  the  present  open-air  stage. 

Dave  Smith  has  completed  a  smart 
one-reel  comedy,  "The  Hoyden,"  in 
which  Webster  Campbell  and  Mary  An- 
derson are  the  chief  funmakers. 

Nona  Thomas  has  just  finished  playing 
with  William  S.  Hart  in  a  western  photo- 
play. 

Flying-A-Ville  at  Santa  Barbara  has 
grown  to  the  proportions  of  a  city.  Its 
population  consists  of  actors,  actresses, 
directors,  scenario  writers,  property  men 
and  office  people  in  the  employ  of  the 
American  Film  Company. 

Dave  Smith  has  just  finished  a  one-part 
comedy  by  Joseph  F.  Boland.  Mary  An- 
derson, Webster  Campbell  and  George 
Kunkel  are  in  the  cast. 

Carmen  Phillips  plays  a  Spanish  hero- 
ine in  "The  Hearts  of  Three,"  by  Jack 
London.  She  is  the  only  woman  char- 
acter who  appears  in  the  serial  during 
the  first  nine  episodes.  There  are  fifteen 
chapters  in  all. 

Marin  Sais  and  Ollie  Kirby  will  require 
seventy  different  gowns  before  the  fif- 
teen chapter  serial,  "The  Social  Pirates," 
is  completed. 

Victor  Rottman,  leading  man  in  the 
Ethel  Teare  comedies,  was  well  known 
on  the  speaking  stage  in  Pacific  Coast 
cities. 

"Her  Partner,"  a  one-act  comedy  by 
William  A.  Lathrop,  produced  by  Wil- 
liam Wolbert,  includes  Mary  Anderson, 
Webster  Campbell,  Otto  Lederer  and 
Jack  Mower  in  the  cast. 

D.  W.  Griffith  is  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  "Hoodoo  Ann,"  starring  Mae 
Marsh.  Robert  Harron,  Mildred  Harris, 
Pearl  Elmore,  Wilbur  Higby,  Loyola 
O'Connor,  William  Brown,  Charles  Lee 
and  Anna  Hernandez  are  in  the  cast. 

"The  Good  Bad  Man"  will  be  Douglas 
Fairbanks'  next  Triangle  picture.  Allan 
Dwan  is  directing.  Many  scenes  will  be 
filmed  in  the  Mojave  Desert. 

John  Oaker,  now  playing  "Dick  Arliss" 


MOTOGRAPHY 

in  "The  Hidden  Law,"  with  Margaret 
Gibson  and  William  Clifford,  has  estab- 
lished a  reputation  at  the  studio  as  a 
boxer. 

C.  Gardner  Sullivan  has  completed  the 
manuscript  of  the  next  play  for  Bessie 
Barriscale.  Her  role  gives  her  oppor- 
tunity to  wear  several  gorgeous   gowns. 

William  Collier  has  returned  to  Ince- 
ville  to  appear  in  a  Triangle-Kay  Bee 
comedy  written  by  C.  Gardner  Sullivan. 
Scott  Sidney  will  direct. 

William  H.  Thompson  has  returned  to 
Los  Angeles  from  Monterey,  in  Northern 
California,  where  he  worked  in  scenes  for 
his  next  play.  In  it  he  is  the  keeper  of  a 
light-house. 

William  S.  Hart  and  P.  D.  Tabler 
enacted  a  realistic  and  fierce  encounter 
for  the  Triangle  play  which  Charles 
Swickard  is  directing.  Hart  plays  a 
young  Castilian,  survivor  of  a  shipwreck, 
and  Tabler  plays  the  "heavy"  in  a  six- 
teenth-century story  written  by  Monte 
M.  Katterjohn. 

Director  Raymond  B.  West  has  com- 
pleted filming  the  interior  scenes  for  the 
Triangle-Kay  Bee  play  starring  Louise 
Glaum.  Now  he  is  staging  roof-garden 
scenes  at  one  of  the  finest  Los  Angeles 
hotels. 

Anna  Little's  favorite  horse,  "Ranger," 
broke  both  front  legs  during  a  mountain 
journey  recently  and  had  to  be  shot. 

Arthur  Maude's  next  play,  "Revela- 
tion," an  American  Mutual  Masterpicture, 
released  March  30,  deals  with  militarism, 
Bohemian  cafe  life  in  Paris,  and  life 
in  the  American  West.  Constance  Col- 
lier appears  as  an  opera  singer. 

Vivian  Rich  appeared  at  the  studio 
recently  wearing  boots  topped  with  rat- 
tlesnake skin  and  with  belt  and  hat  band 
to  match,  the  gift  of  a  cowbody  admirer. 

Rhea  Mitchell  has  mechanical  ability 
and  when  anything  goes  wrong  with  her 
car  she  fixes  it  herself. 

Robert  Miller,  the  seven-year-old  actor 
who  won  praise  as  "Crooky"  in  "The 
Craving,"  appears  next  as  "Jamie"  in  a 
Beauty  comedy,  "The  Improbable  Yarn 
of  McQuirk,"  released  April  2. 

Winnifred  Greenwood,  Edward  Coxen 
and  George  Field  appear  in  the  "Flying 
A"  release  of  March  28,  "In  the  Shuf- 
fle," which  teaches  the  dangers  of  gam- 
bling. 

Carol  Halloway  states  that  she  prefers 
to  be  a  fun-maker  in  "Beauty"  comedies 
rather  than  enact  dramatic  roles  of  any 
sort.  Her  last  play  was  "Trunk  and 
Trouble,"  March  29. 

Jack  Richardson,  always  a  villian,  ap- 
pears _as  an  artist  in  "The  Ranger  of 
Lonesome  Gulch." 


ties,  costumes,  armament  peculiar  to  the 
days  of  '61,  etc.,  arrived  at  the  Selig  stu- 
dios recently.  A  large  force  of  scenic 
artists  has  been  working  for  several 
weeks  on  interior  sets  for  "The   Crisis." 

Bessie  Eyton  is  rejoicing  that  her  role 
of  Virginia  Carvel  in  "The  Crisis"  will 
not  call  for  any  "stunt"  acting. 

H.  A.  Aitken,  president  of  the  Triangle 
Film  Corporation,  paid  Chicago  a  visit 
on  his  way  east. 

Charles  Chaplin  spent  a  few  days  in 
Chicago  on  his  way  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

A.  H.  Speigel,  general  manager  of  the 
World-Equitable  Film  Corporation,  was 
in  the  city  recently. 

Thomas  Santschi,  Bessie  Eyton  and 
Eugenie  Besserer  have  devoted  a  great 
deal  of  time  and  thought  to  _  their  cos- 
tumes for  "The  Crisis,"  consulting  fashion 
plates  and  patterns  of  the  civil  war 
period. 

For  the  coming  Essanay  play,  "Un- 
known," Ernest  Maupin  has  had  to  take 
several  plunges  into  the  icy  waters  of 
Lake  Michigan  and  the  Chicago  river. 

John  Junior  recently  received  a  box  of 
"John  Junior"  cigars  from  a  cigar  manu- 
facturer in  Virginia. 

Two  hundred  school  children  took  part 
in  "Joyce's  Strategy,"  a  two-reel  Essanay 
play  featuring  eleven-year-old  Joyce  Fair. 

Cecil  Holland  will  play  General  Sher- 
man in  "The  Crisis."  He  is  said  to  be 
letting  his  whiskers  grow  to  enact  the 
role  with  a  real  beard. 

A  special  car  brought  the  Selig  players 
for  "The  Crisis"  from  Los  Angeles  to 
Chicago. 

The  interior  of  one  of  Chicago's  most 
beautiful  churches  was  duplicated  in  the 
Essanay  studio  for  "Unknown,"  a  three- 
act  drama  with  Richard  C.  Travers,  Mar- 
guerite Clayton  and  Ernest  Maupin.  In 
the  scene  more  than  300  people  appear. 

E.  H.  Calvert  has  a  new  car,  a  power- 
ful roadster.  He  says  his  wife  monop- 
olized his  other  car. 

Marguerite  Clayton  is  sending  her  Cal- 
ifornia friends  photographs  of  herself  in 
the  snow  scenes  of  "Beyond  the  Law." 
Miss  Clayton,  a  native  Californian,  never 
saw  snow  before  this  winter  and  was  de- 
lighted with  her  experiences  in  Northern 
Minnesota. 

Bryant  Washburn  is  required  to  smoke 
a  cigar  in  a  scene  for  "The  Havoc."  Did 
he  thereby  break  his  New  Year's  resolu- 
tion against  smoking? 

Gladys  Hanson  demonstrated  her  abil- 
ity to  cook,  in  the  kitchen  scenes  in  "The 
Havoc." 


CHICAGO  GOSSIP 

Henry  Walthall  does  not  collect  his 
press  notices  or  photographs.  The  only 
"stills"  he  owns  he  treasures  because 
they  are  photographs  of  friends,  not  be- 
cause  he   is  included. 

Eugenie  Besserer,  who  will  play  Mrs. 
Brice  in  the  Selig  production  of  "The 
Crisis,"  appeared  on  the  spoken  stage 
with  Wilton  Lackaye,  McKee  Rankin, 
Margaret  Anglin  and  Frank  Keenan. 

Three  cars  loaded  with  special  proper- 


MIDDLE   WEST   NOTES 

By  William  Noble 

Oklahoma 

Arthur  G.  Hull,  formerly  of  the  United 
Exchange  in  Oklahoma  City,  has  gone 
to  Kansas  City  as  manager  of  the  Blue- 
bird  Photoplays,   Inc.,   in   that   city. 

Jack  Lewis,  who  has  been  manager  of 
the  Famous  Players  Film  Service  (J.  D. 
Wheelan  Company)  in  Oklahoma  City, 
has  accepted  the  position  with  the  United 
Film  Company  as  manager  for  Okla- 
homa. 

Dr.  James  Reich  has  reopened  the 
Cozy  theater  at  Wagoner. 

George  Faulkner  of  the  Majestic  the- 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


ater,  Checotah,  announces  that  he  will 
soon  open  another  picture  house  in  that 
city. 

J.  L.  Olive,  manager  of  the  Sugg  the- 
ater, Chickasha,  has  opened  the  new- 
Empress  in  %at  city.  He  uses  Pathe. 
Universal  and  vaudeville  at  the  Empress 
and  all-feature  at  the  Sugg,  consisting  of 
Triangle,  Paramount,  Mutual  Master- 
pictures  and  Gold  Rooster  pictures.  Both 
theaters  are  enjoying  fine  business. 

Arkansas 

The  Majestic,  the  only  picture  house 
in  Clarendon,  Kirk  Perry,  manager, 
ceased  business  suddenly  when  the  alarm 
came  that  the  levee  had  broken.  The 
house  was  flooded,  sixty-five  opera  chairs 
and  an  electric  piano  being  ruined.  The 
damage  has  been  repaired,  however,  and 
the   Majestic  reopened. 

Louisiana 

S.  Bridgewater  has  opened  a  400-chair 
picture  house  at   DeRidder. 

J.   M.   Key  has   opened   a   new   picture 
theater    at    Natalbany. 
Texas 

Manager  Buckingham  of  the  Royal  at 
Cuero  has  enlarged  his  theater  to  400 
capacity. 

H.  O.  Daniels  will  open  a  second  pic- 
ture theater  in  Yoakum  early  in  April. 
It  will  seat  500. 

Dallas  has  two  picture  houses  named 
Rex,  one  city,  the  other  suburban.  Don 
Cohlman  is  the  owner  of  the  city  theater, 
on  Elm  street.  It  is  just  being  com- 
pleted. 

Henry  Richards  has  opened  a  new  the- 
ater at  Lyford. 

H.  V.  Simpson  has  sold  the  Queen  the- 
ater at  Autrey  to  Cox  and  Sharrett. 

E.  E.  Belcia  has  sold  the  Park  theater 
in  Jacksonville  to  John  Morris. 

Kirksey  Brothers  have  purchased  the 
Mission  theater  at  Midland. 

R.  A.  Grundy  has  opened  a  new  picture 
house   at   Estelline. 

George  Slater,  formerly  with  the  Mu- 
tual at  Oklahoma  City,  has  accepted  a 
position  with  the  World  at  Dallas,  as 
assistant   manager   to    Max    Graf. 

Following  affidavits  by  the  committee 
of  seven  against  the  proprietors  of  five 
picture  shows  al  Waco  for  keeping  open 
on  Sunday,  County  Attorney  McNamara 
lias  filed  complaints  against  the  mana- 
gers. They,  in  (urn,  intend  to  file  com- 
plaints against  the  drug  stores  for  sell- 
ing soda  water  and  cigars,  against  shoe 
shining  parlors,  auto  supply  stations,  paid 
choirs  and  all  who  permit  work  on  Sun- 
day  except    that    specially    permitted    by 


Picture  shows  were  opened  at  Fori 
Worth  on  Sunday  free  to  the  public,  the 
labor  union  being  host.  This  decision 
was   made  at   a  meeting   of  the    I    nion   oi 

i"1 Picture  (  >perators,  and  is  a  step 

in  the  struggle  against  the  Sunday  clos- 
ing law.  (  Hit  35,000  people  visited  the 
m  that  da  I  fie  opening  of  the 
shows  followed  injunction  proceedings 
some  time  ago,  which  restrained  the  citj 
from  holding  an  election  to  determine  the 
attitude  of  the  city  towards  Sunday 
amusements. 


MUTUAL   KIDDIES  HAVE   GOOD 
TIME 

Kiddies — There's  a  host  of  them  and 
they  all  belong  to  the  Mutual  Film 
Corporation's  army  of  screen  players. 
And  each  of  them  has  won  a  distinct  suc- 
cess before  the  camera,  despite  their  ten- 
der years. 

First  of  all,  there  is  winsome  and  tal- 
ented little  Tula  Belle,  who,  regardless 
of  her  seven  years,  is  conceded  one  of 
the  most  talented  and  popular  kiddies 
appearing  in  screen  productions.  Tula 
was  born  in  far-away  Norway,  where 
she  romped  and  played  until  she  was  four 
years  old.  Then  her  mother  brought  her 
to   America. 

Tula  comes  from  a  family  of  stage 
celebrities.  When  only  two  years  old 
she  appeared  on  the  stage  of  the  National 
theater  in  Christiana.  Hakon  II  was 
one  of  the  great  array  of  notables  pres- 
ent at  the  opening  performance  who 
joined  in  the  great  demonstration  paid 
to  the  talents  of  this  beautiful  child,  who, 
at  two,  was  making  her  debut  before  the 
footlights. 

Many  offers,  as  a  result,  came  to  the 
mother  of  the  child  from  theatrical  peo- 
ple in  various  European  cities,  but  her 
mother,  believing  a  greater  opportunity 
waited  her  offspring  in  the  land  of  prom- 
ise, brought  her  here.  That  was  about 
three  years  ago.  Tula  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Thanhouser-Mutual  studios 
at  New  Rochell  some  eighteen  months 
ago,  and  with  the  very  first  picture  she 
appeared  in  won  instantaneous  approval. 

Tula  lives  in  New  Rochelle,  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  studios.  She 
has  a  play  garden  all  her  own.  In  the 
winter  she  amuses  herself,  when  not  en- 
gaged at  the  studios,  in  all  the  winter 
sports  enjoyed  by  a  healthy  little  girl  of 
seven.  Tula  does  not  go  to  school,  not 
because  she  does  not  want  to,  but  be- 
cause her  studio  duties  give  her  but  little 
time  to  herself.  However,  this  does  not 
mean  that  she  is  neglecting  her  studies, 
for  she  has  a  governess  who  is  teaching 
her  French,  music  and  the  other  impor- 
tant elementaries  which  every  little  girl 
and  boy  must  learn. 

And  then  comes  Covington  Barrett 
and  little  Dorothy  Cardy,  who  are  ap- 
pearing with  ever-increasing  success  in 
Gaumont-Mutual    productions. 

And  there  is  golden-haired  little  Doris 
Baker — just  "half  past  seven" — away  out 
in  California  with  the  David  Horsley 
forces.  Too,  one  must  not  overlook 
charming  little  Dorothy  Benham,  another 
of  the  Thanhouser  group  of  talented  kid- 
dies. which  the  Mutual  Film  Corporation 
boasts  as  its  own. 

And  what  busy  and  highly  accom- 
plished  kiddies  they  all  are! 

Because  these  youngsters  have  taken 
up  a  career  in  motion  pictures  one  must 
not  assume  for  a  moment  that  they  have 
lost  their  sweet  childishness  or  simplicity. 
Far  from  it.  Each  one  of  them  is  just 
as  much  of  a  child  at  heart  as  the  wild- 
haired  little  street  gamin  or  the  country 
kid  who  spends  the  greater  portion  o"f 
the    day   at    play. 

At  work  before  the  camera  they  are 
■  i-  serious  as  the  highest-priced  star.  But, 
when  work  is  done,  invariably  they  rush 
"H  to  play,  the  girls  with  their  dolls. 
and  the  boys  with  their  sleighs,  when 
snovi    p.  Minis,  of  course. 

.11  you  have  seen  the  Mutual  Master- 
picture,  de  luxe  edition,  "As  a  Woman 
Sows."  von  will  know  that  Covington 
acmbat.      fie   stands   on   his 


head  while  at  least  three  feet  of  film  is 
grinding,  clad  in  small  white  pajamas, 
and  jumps  into  bed  with  a  spring  which 
speaks  well  for  his  training.  He  is  seven 
years  old. 

His  little  playmate  and  co-worker. 
Dorothy  Cardy  is  six.  Her  head  is  cov- 
ered with  bright  ringlets  of  pure  gold. 
Her  eyes  are  blue,  her  cheecks  round  and 
pink,  and  her  smile  so  adorable  that  it 
makes  everyone  love  her  dearly,  whether 
on   or   off   the   screen. 


MABEL'S      KID      MAKE-UP 
FOOLED  VETERAN  HAM 

Mabel  Taliaferro,  the  dainty  little  star 
of  "Her  Great  Price,"  a  forthcoming 
Metro  production,  cannot  only  see  her- 
self on  the  screen,  as  others  see  her  in 
the  flesh,  but  while  making  the  feature 
she  had  the  opportunity  of  hearing  all 
about  herself.  Miss  Taliaferro  was  play- 
ing the  role  of  a  tiny  girl  in  the  tenement 
district,  and  was  surrounded  in  the  studio 
by  a  group  of  real  children  from  New- 
York's  slum  district.  She  was  eating  a 
lolly-pop,  along  with  her  children,  and 
left  them  to  seek  a  seat  back  near  another 
set,  where  another  group  of  players  were 
at  work  on  a  picture. 

A  veteran  actor — one  of  the  old  school 
— approached  Miss  Taliaferro  and,  in  a. 
patronizing  manner,  engaged  her  in  con- 
versation. He  asked  her  what  picture 
she  was   in. 

"Oh,  I'm  in  dis  Taliaferro  picture,  see," 
she  replied  volubly,  wishing  to  while 
away  the  delay  before  the  next  set  was 
ready. 

"Is  that  so?  Well,  you're  a  mighty 
fine  actress,"  he  returned.  "Yes-er — a 
very  fine  actress.  I  worked  with  Mabel 
— let  me  see — it  must  be  twenty  or 
twenty-five. years  ago. 

"I  didn't  know  she  was  that  old,"  said 
Mabel. 

"Oh,  yes,  she  has  turned  forty.  But 
still  she  manages  to  look  young.  Some 
women  can  do  that,  you  know.  Do  you 
expect  to  grow  up  and  be  an  actress, 
little  girl?"  he  continued,  laying  his  hand 
upon  her  shoulder. 

"No,  not  if  they  must  have  people  like 
you  in  the  profession,"  Miss  Taliaferro 
indignantly  blurted  out,  and  turned  upon 
her  heel. 

The  actor  looked  after  her  in  amaze- 
ment. When  he  learned  his  mistake  re 
attempted  to  apologize.  But  that  is  a 
difficult  task  to  do  after  one  has  told  a 
woman  who  is  but  twenty-seven  years  old 
that  she  has  turned  forty.  Many  people 
have  the  impression  that  Miss  Taliaferro 
is  older  than  she  is,  because  she  began 
her  stage  career  when  she  was  two  and 
one-half  years  old.  But  this  one,  at  least, 
will  not  make  the  mistake  again. 


Barrett  i 


Announcement  was  made  at  Fort 
Worth  that  Heppner  Blackman,  cartoon- 
ist of  the  Star-Telegram  and  editor  of  the 
Sunday  Sandwich,  will  leave  shortly  for 
California  to  enter  the  motion  picture 
business  as  a  cartoonist. 

At  an  early  date  S.  B.  Ford  will  open 
a  modern  picture  show  in  the  building 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Long  Furni- 
ture company,  on  Main  street  Hazel- 
hurst. 

The  William  Fox  offices  have  received 
several  thousand  requests  from  South 
Americans  for  the  photographs  showing 
Art  Jarvis'  leap  off  the  cliff  on  horse- 
back, one  of  the  thrills  of  the  "Carmen" 
picture. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Complete  Record  of  Current  Films 


MOTOGRAPH  ■_ 

Films   will    be 
Reasonable  ca 


ing    the    classification    of    film    pictures 

*—    adopted    this    style   in   listing 

:d  as  long  in   advance   of  thei 

used,   and   the   publishers   cam 


General  Pr< 


Monday. 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


3-15  The   Eveless   Eden 


Thursday. 


C       3-16  Nerve    and    Gasolin 


Friday. 


Saturday. 


Monday. 


Tuesday. 


Wednesday. 


2  The   Battle  of  Truth 

1  Canimated  Noos   Pictorial  No.   7 :   Seer 

2  At    Bachelors'    Roost 


Thursday. 


Friday. 


3-24  When   Things    Go   Wrong.  . 
3-24  The   Witch   of   the   Mountai 

3-24   Behind    the    Footlights 

3-24  Freddy  Versus   Hamlet.... 


Saturday. 


3-2S  I  Will 
3-25  The  D 
3-25   Love    < 


tective's' Peril.', 
ne  and   Other. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Program 


13  The   Butler    Lubin 

13  The   Regeneration   of  Jim   Halsey Selig 

13  Selig-Tribune,    No.    21,    1916 Selig 

13  Putting  Pep  in  Slowtown Vitagraph 


3-14  A  Grip  of  Gold Biograph 

3-14  Joyce's    Strategy     Essanay 

3-14  Ham   Agrees    With    Sherman Kalem 


3,000 

1,000 
1,000 

c 

D 

3-15 
3-15 

3,000 
1,000 

C 
T 
C 

3-16 

3-16 
3-16 

'A    Flock    of    Skeletons Kalem 

'   Mismates     Knickerbocker 

'  A   Pair  of  Skins Vim 

'  Freddy    Aids    Matrimony Vitagraph 


The    Girl    Who    Dared 

Dare    Devil    Bill Lubi 

Toll   of   the   Jungle 

Miss   Warren's   Birthday 

She  Came,  She  Saw,  She   Conquered Kalem 


.  .  Essanay 


.Selig 
graph 


His    Mother's    Scarf Biograph 

The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page,  No.   9 Essanay 

The   New    Tanitor Lubin 

Selig-Tribune,    No.    23,    1916 Selig 

No.    13    West   Bound Selig 

A   Squared   Account Vitagraph 


I  Separating  From   Sarah Essanay 

I  For   Sweet   Charity Kalem 

L  The   Crash    Lubin 


3-23  A    Sister   to    Cain Lubin 

3-23   Selig-Tribune.    No.    24,    1916 Selig 

3-23  Bungles  Lands  a  Job Vim 


.  Knickerbocker 

Vim 

Vitagraph 


3,000 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
3,000 


Feb.   14  The   Writing  on  the  Wall Vitagraph 

Feb.   14  Dollars  and    Cents Lubin 

Feb.   14  Vultures    of    Society Essanay 

The   Misleading   Lady Essanay 

Feb.   21   Kennedy   Square    Vitagraph 

Feb.  28  Her   Bleeding   Heart Lubin 


0  be    of   greater    importance 

1  to   make   use   of   this   conve 
lanufacturers   are   requested   t 


■  than  clsasification  by  makei, 
in  making  up  their  programs, 
bulletins   as   early   as   possible. 


8  The    Discard    Essanay 

8  For  a  Woman's  Fair  Name Vitagraph 

5  The     Hunted    Woman Vitagraph 

6  Unto    Those   Who    Sin Selig 

3  The   Hero   of   Submarine   D    2 Vitagraph 

0  The  Two-Edged    Sword Vitagraph 

3  Dollars    and    the    Woman Lubin 

3  The  Ne'er  Do  Well Selig 

3  The    Havoc    Essanay 

7  The    Supreme    Temptation Vitagraph 


Mutual  Program 


2,000 

1,000 

2,000 

D 

3-24 

C 

3-24 

3,000 

1,000 

s 

3-26 

('. 

3-26 

<: 

3-26 

c 

3-26 

Universal  Program 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


Tuesday. 

The    Suppressed     Order American 

Theodore's    Terrible    Thirst Falstaff 

Wednesday. 

Blotters    and    Papers Beauty 

The    Whispered    Word Thanhouser 

Thursday. 

Rupert's    Rube    Relations Falstaff 

Mutual  Weekly,  No.   63 Mutual 

Bungling  Bill's   Peeping  Ways Vogue 

Friday. 

The  Twin  Trunk  Mystery Cub 

Curlew   Corliss    Mustang 

Sunday. 

See  America  First,  No.  27 Gaumont 

Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  27 Gaumont 

Tips    Beauty 

Troubled   Waters Vogue 

Tuesday. 

The    Code   of   Honor American 

Pansy   Post,    Protean   Player Falstaff 

Wedne_^ay. 

The    Fifth   Ace Thanhouser 

Cupid    at    Cohen's Beauty 

Thursday. 

Title    Not    Reported Vogue 

Pedro,   the   Punk   Poet Falstaff 

Mutual   Weekly  No.   64 Mutual 

Friday. 

Snow   Stuff !    Mustang 

Jerry  and  the  Smugglers Cub 

Sunday. 

See   America   First,    No.   28 Gaumont 

Keeping  Up  With  the  Joneses,  No.  28 Gaumont 

The    Bubbles   and    the   Barber Beauty 

Title    Not    Reported Vogue 


Monday. 

3-13  The   Deacon's    Waterloo Nestor 

3-13  The  Iron  Ring  (Graft  No.   14) Universal 

Tuesday. 

3-14  Born  of  the  People Gold  Seal 

3-14  The  Bold  Bad  Burglar Rex 

3-14  Her  Invisible  Husband Imp 

Wednesday. 

3-15  Orders   Is    Orders Victor 

3-15  Lonesomeness    Laemmle 

3-15  Animated  Weekly,  Vol.  2,  No.  11 Universal 

Thursday. 

3-16  No  Release  This  Week Laemmle 

3-16  The    Fatal    Introduction Big   U 

3-16  Sammie    Johnsin — Strong    Man Powers 

3-16  Safety  First    Powers 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


Friday. 

3-17  Patterson   of  the   News Imp       2,000 

3-17   The    Cry   of   Erin VT-Rex        J'°°° 

3-17  Across    the    Hall Nestor       1,000 

Saturday. 

3-18  Iron    Rivals    • Bison       2,000 

3-18  No   Release  This  Week Powers 

3-18   Muchly    Married     Joker        1,000 

Sunday. 

3-19  Behind    the    Curtain Rex       1,000 

3-19  No   Release   This   Week Laemmle 

3-19  Live  Wires  and  Love  Sharks L-Ko       3,000 

Monday. 

3-20  Love    and    Vaccination Nestor        1,000 

3-20  The   Patent   Medicine   Dangers   (Graft   No.    15) Universal        2,000 

Tuesday. 

3-21  The  Madcap  Queen  of  Crona Gold  Seal       2,000 

3-21   The    Phantom    Thief Rex        1,000 

3-21   Ain't    He    Grand Imp        1,000 

Wednesday. 

3-22  The    Desperado    Laemmle        1,000 

3-22   Scars    and    Stripes    Forever L-Ko       2,000 

3-22  Universal  Weekly,  Vol.  2,  No.    12 Universal       1,000 

Thursday. 

3-23  The  Secret  Foe Laemmle  2,000 

3-23  On    Dangerous    Ground Big   U  1,000 

3-23  A   Toyland    Mystery Powers  500 

3-23  Ambian     Oddities     Powers  50O 

Friday. 

3-24  The    Crimson    Trail Imp       2,000 

3-24  No    Release    This    Week Victor 

3-24  The    Wrong    Bird Nestor       1,000 

Saturday. 

3-25  Monna    Vanna    Bison        3,000 

3-25   No    Release   This   Week Powers 

3-25   It     Nearly     Happened Joker        1,000 

Sunday. 

3-26  A   Social    Outcast Rex        3,000 

i-2fi    No   Release  This  Week Laemmle 

3-26  A  Friend— But  a  Star  Boarder L-Ko       1,000 


Race  Suicide Jos.   W.   Farnham  6,000 

Somewhere  in  France Arthur  S.   Kane  5,000 

Fighting   with    France French    Official   War   Films  6,000 

At   the   End   of   the   Rainbow K.  &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

A   Naval  Tragedy K.   &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

The   Arabian   Dancing   Girl K.  &  R.  Film  Co.  1,000 

Catherine   Brown— the   Baby   Kellerman— in  Fancy   Diving 

and    Swimming    K.  &  R.   Film  Co.  1,000 

On   the  Firing  Line  With  the   Germans War  Film  Syndicate  8,500 

His    Vindication    Cosmofotofilm  4,000 

A   Fool's   Paradise Ivan   Film  6,000 

The   Girl  and   the   Game Signal   Film  30,000 

The    Unwritten    Law California    M.    P.  5,000 

The    Birth    of   a    Man Celebrated    Players  5,000 

Se  Eeart»?-f  uNe,W   S?rk'  •  •  V Claridge   Films  5,000 

The  Man   With   the  Missing  Finger Great   Northern 

Hn<=   '>ay    Moss   Films  5,000 

1    '    Who  Paid Great  Northern  5,000 

Bluebird   Photo-Plays,   Inc. 

Jan.    24  Jeanne  Dore   5>000 

Jan.    31   Secret   Love    6,000 

Feb.     7  Undine    5  000 

Feb.   14  Hop,  the  Devil's   Brew s'000 

Feb.  21  The  Wrong   Door '  s'000 

Feb.  28  The   Grip   of  Jealousy ! .!.."".  "  5  000 

Mar.    6   Rupert     of    Hentzau s'flOO 

Mar.  12  The    Strength   of    the    Weak S000 

Mar.  19  Yaqui '.V.'.  5^00 

""•   Flw«    5,000 

Fox  Film  Corporation 

Released  Week  of 

Jan.    23  The  Serpent    5  000 

Jan.       30  The    Ruling    Passion '  SOOO 

Feb.     6  Merely    Mary    Ann Vonn 

Feb.    13   Fighting    Blood    e'ooo 

Feb.   20  The   Fool's   Revenge 5*000 

Feb.   27  The  Spider   and   the   Fly SO0O 

Mar.    6  The    Marble    Heart j'ooo 

oinan s'ooo 

-.     Sorrow 507)0 


Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 


Mar. 
Mar. 
Mar. 
Mar. 


Kleine-Edison 

Released  week  of 

I  The    Final    Curtain Kleine 

)  When   Love   Is   King -Kl?me 

)  The  Martyrdom  of  Philip  Strong Edison 

5  The    Scarlet    Road Kleine 

J  At  the  Rainbow's   End Edison 

.  The   Mishaps   of   Musty   Suffer Kleine 

Metro  Features. 

Released  week  of 

\  Dimples Metro 

1  The  Price  of  Malice Metro 

1  A   Corner  in   Cotton Metro 

3  The    Soul    Market Metro 

i  The   Blindness    of   Love Metro 

I  Lovely    Mary     Metro 

)  The    Wall    Between Metro 

y  Her     Great     Price Metro 

Mutual  Master-Pictures. 

Released  week  of 

3  A  Law  Unto  Himself Centaur 

I  Embers American 

\  The   Heart   of   Tara Centaur 

5  According   to   Law Gaumont 

True   Nobility    Americ 

e    the    Dntr.hess " Tha *     - 

..Thanhouser-. 


5  The   Fugitiv 

i   Overalls     

)  My   Partner    

5  The    Bruiser     

5  The   Hidden   Law.. 


5,008 
5,009 
5,000 

5,000 
5,000 
10,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
,5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000- 
5,000 
5,000. 


Feb. 
Feb. 


Paramount  Features. 

Released  week  of 

)  Nearly  a  King Famous  Players 

)  Haunts  for  Rent Bray-Paramount 

i  Grand   Canyon Paramount- Burton   Holmes 

7  Miss  Nanny  Goat  Becomes  an  Aviator Bray-Paramount 

\  The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome   Pine Lasky 

7  Out  of  the  Drifts Famous  Players 

?  He  Fell  In  Love  With  His  Wife Pallas 

I  A  Day  With  a  West  Point   Cadet 

Paramount-Burton     Holmes 

L   Blacklist    Lasky 

3  Our   Middies   at   Annapolis   and   the  U.   S.   Avia- 
tion  School   Paramount-Burton   Holmes 

3  Diplomacy    Famous  Players 

I  Poor    Little    Peppina Famous    Players 

I  How  Dizzy  Joe  Got  to  Heaven Bray-Paramount 

5  To    Have    and    To    Hold Lasky 

)  Ben    Blair    Pallas 

!  For  the   Defense Lasky 

5  Code  of  Marie  Gray .- Morosco 

)  The   Lost   Bridegroom Famous   Players 

Pathe. 

Released    Week   of 

)  The  Iron  Claw,  No.  4 Pathe 

)  Pathe   News,   No.    24 Pathe 

)  Pathe  News,   No.    25 Pathe 

)  How  Flowers  Breathe,  and  In  the  French  Sudan Pathe 

Red  Feather  Production 

Released  Week  of 
7  A  Knight  of  the  Range 

4  The    Sphinx    

1  Sons    of   Satan 

3  The  Lords  of  High  Decision 

5  The    Target     

3  The  Pool  of  Flame 

)  Drugged   Waters    

Triangle  Film  Corporation. 

Released    week    of 

of    Love ._. ._ _. Triangle-Keystone 

™-i  Arts 


ind   the    Pirate; 


i   Gish.. 


Judge;     Charles    Murray. 

i  Wife  and  Auto  Trouble :  William  Collie 

Triangle-Keystone 

1  The  Flying  Torpedo:  John   Emerson Fine  Arts 

2  The  Village   Blacksmith:    Hank   Mann.  .Triangle-Keystone 
!  Bullets  and   Brown   Eyes:  Frank  Mills.... 

Triangle-Kay-Bee 

-■"---■   Vampire;    Hank   Mann Triangle-Keysl 

Norma    Talmadge,    Tully 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


1,000 
5,000 
6,000 
1,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


2,000 
5,000 
5,000 
2,000 


1    -Manila's   '  Vindic 


Feb. 
Mar! 

Mar! 


illy 

..Fine 
?  The   Moral   Fabric;    Frank   Mills Triangle-Kay-Bee 

World  Features. 

Released  week  of 

7  The   Woman   in   47 Equitable 

5  Love's    Crucible    Brady 

The    Clarion    Equitable 

1  The    Question     Equitable 

1  A   Woman's    Power Brady 

8  The   Price   of   Happiness Equitable 

8  The   Pawn    of   Fate Brady 

8  Man  and  His  Angel Triumph 

6  As  In  a   Looking  Glass World 

6  The    Devil's    Toy Equitable 

3   The    Unpardonable    Sin Shubert 

3  To    Him    That    Hath Brady 

0  Passers    By    Equitable 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5.000 


5,000 
5,000 
5,000 


March  25,  1916. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Brief  Stories  of  the  Week's  Film  Releases 


General  Program 


His  Mother's  Scarf— I 
20.— Charles  West,  Wil 
Gish.     Before  dying  the 

dians  attack  a  wagon 
grants.  A  girl,  the  sc 
the  brothers  and   both  f; 


>r,  is  found  by 
with  her.  The 
i  he  learns  that 
-der  in  his  heart 


The  Strange  Case  of  Mary  Page  No.  8— (Twc 
Reels) — Essanay — March  20. — "The  Perjury.'' 
Hertry  B.  Walthall  and  Edna  Mayo  featured.  A 
longer  review   appears   elsewhere   in  this   issue. 


The  New  Janitor— Lubin—M. 
m%  Davy  Don.  Otto  gets  a  p 
in   an   apartment  house  belongin 


20.— Featur- 
Onngley 


.Irs.    Ongh 

ling  goes  wrong  in  every  flat  in  the  build- 
Dne  of  the  tenants  leaves  her  baby  in  Otto's 
:,  while   she  goes  shopping  and   when  Zolda 

s  and  thinks  the  child  is  his.     After  a  series 


Number  13  Westbound— (Three  Reels)— Selic 
—March  20.— Kathlvn  Williams.  Guy  Oliver, 
Fred  Hearn  and  Lillian  Hayward  featured.  A 
longer    review    appears    on    another    page    of    this 


Selig-Tribune  No.  17— Fei 
ation  of  Washington' 
i   of   preparedness   part 


America    is 

P„areallne^  ; 


t   officials,   Chicago,   111.;   \ 
ring    the    advisability    of 
s    including    military     trai        _ 
Tokio,    Japan ;     bald- 


the 


n  the 


ispended 


.,  Cal.,  leaves 


-Mai 


A  Squared  Account — V 
Otto  Lederer,  George  Kunkel,  Anne  Schaefer  _. 
lack  .Mower  featured.  Sandv,  the  sheriff's  brothe- 
rs sent  by  the  latter  to  bring  back  Black  Stev< 
a  desperado,  who  has  escaped  into  the  deser 
Sandy  captures  the   ' 


abandoned  prairie  wagon  in 
are  two  small  children.  Owing  to  the  tac- 
tile horse  cannot  carry  both  Black  Steve  an 
children,  Sandy  is  in  despair  as  to  what  he 
do,  but  he  solves  the  problem  in  his  own 
One  shot  from  the  revolver  hidden  in  his 
and  he  has  squared  his  account  with  mat 
God. 

Mr.  Jack  Trifles  —  Vitagraph  —  March 
Featuring  Frank  Darnel,.  Kale-  Price. 
Howe  and  Mrs.  C.  Tay  Williams.  While 
restaurant  Mr.  Jack  flirts  u-iih  i  |-rctt\  little 
and  they  become  friends.  When  he  accide 
knocks  one  of  her  gloves  into  the  soup,  he 
ises   to   buy   her   a   box    in   reparation.      The 


and  Jack  has  an  av 
but  finally  he  gets  > 
thing   ends  happily. 


Tom    Daill 
small    fortune 
day   he   catch 

house  howeVei 
the  property, 
center  of  the 
and  Tom  on 
eral  weeks,  b 
toward   the   hi 

F 
V. 


iting  from  Sarah— (Two  Ree 
-I  21. — Featuring  Harry  Di 
:    Oberle.  _   After   many    year 


ves   and   has 

golden   court  at  the  23rd  annual   Citrus   Fair   held 

in    Cloverdale,    Cal. ;    under    the    auspices    of    the 

Westminster     Kennel     Club     1,700     social     canine 

bigwigs   of  modern  upper  dog  circles,  hold  annual 

festival    in    Madison    Square    Garden,    New    York,- 

N.   Y. ;   Seventy-seventh   regiment   is   inspected   by 

'officials     of     the     Canadian     Government     on     the 

parade    grounds    here,    Ottawa,    Canada;    General 

Sir    John    French,    commander-in-chief    of    Home 

forces,  never  allows  a  regiment  to  proceed  to  the 

ouse.       One 

front    without    personal    knowledge    of    its    fitness, 

hired    man 

to   leave   the 

exciting  match  between  San  Mateo  and  Del  Monte 

itled  to  half 

teams,  score  being  6-'4  to  6  in  favor  of  San 
Mateo,     Del     Monte,     Calif.;     Hon.     William     M. 

Hughes,  Premier  in  Australia  and  Mrs.  Hughes 
and    other   distinguished    officials    enroute   to   Eng- 

on   for    sev- 

fter   conduct 

land,   pose   for   the    special    representative   of   Selig- 

happily. 

Tribune,    Ottawa,    Canada. 

do  the 


nish. 


— F. 


-Mai 


The   Crash — (Two   Reels)- 

L.  C.  Shumway.  George  Routh,  Mel- 
Dorothy  Barrett  and  Helen  Eddy. 
<oss  (Jrant,  who  owns  a  worthless  mine,  inter- 
■sts  Dean,  a  wealthy  broker,  in  the  mining  stock 
intil  Dean  finally  agrees  to  invest  $50,000  the 
ollowing  month.  Clifford  Ware,  a  young  en- 
;ineer  employed  by  Dean,  learns  that  he  is  going 
o  invest  in  the  mine  and  asks  permission  to  in- 
vestigate   it.       Grant    learns    of    Clifford's    mission 

mer.      They    force    Clifford    to    wi- 


the 


lages 


tell   Dea 


■    through    ; 
that   the  it 


The     Battle     of     Truth— (Thri 


headed  American  eagle,  full  grown  and  standing 
several  feet  high,  is  presented  to  President  Wil- 
son by  the  people  of  Colorado,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
the  "Yankees*  are  first  team  to  leave  for  the 
South  for  spring  training.  .Yew  York,  N.  Y. ;  the 
Chief's  daughters  0f  Takiti,  South  Sea  Islands, 
wear  a  ceremonial  headdress  made  of  the  hair 
of    several     generations    of    ancestors ;  _freaks 


rial     No.     7— Ess 


At      Bachelor's      Roost— Kalem—Mari 
Featuring    Ethel    Teare,    Gus    Leonard 
MacDermott.      Ethel's    father   takes   her 


it  Bachelor 
A     Sister 


say  that  Ethel  finds 


,g  Helen  Wolcott,  George 
,  Allan  Forrest  and  Evelyn 
ew   appears   on   another  page 


When  Things  Go  Wrong— Km 


-Mai 


wrong  in  th< 
is  the  first  a 
and  father-it 
run-in  at  th 
when  they  a 
Sis  has  to  n 
everybody  is 
end  it  all  th 
that 


Hopkins.  Things  surely  do 
home  of  the  Newlyweds,  where 
id  only  servant.  First  mother-in- 
-law,  who  have  never  met,  hav 
:   railroad    station    that    grows    w< 


cillin 


:■    thin 


up    after 


nother 


The: 


verything  up   and   bringing  the  do\ 


The    Wi 


-Knic 


f  the  New! 
l   of   the    Mountains — 


left   hot 


-Mai 


for   his   retur: 

Frank  Otis'  ch°"st,  whicl 
of    identification,    imper 

hermit3  PThey  ^xperier 
encounter  an  old  hag  i 
Mountains."  Con  and  1 
saved   by    the 


-John   Otis, 

irs    before,    adver 
and   Con,   a   croc 


n.      John,    Con 

adventures    and 
:   Witch    of   the 


back 


_.  Frank,  in  tr 
father's  home  and  n 
s  out  in  search  of  hirr 
of   the    hermit's    map. 


and    his    pal's     bodie 


n-!achaand 


Behind   the   F. 


ootlight 

nd    Jal 


Frof. 


,   the 


.ndcrfu 


Pokes,  the  property 
,  becomes  jealous  of 
Escape   King,   because 


,__      Disc 

pe  from  the  pad- 
bottom,  he  nails 


Selig-Tribune  No. 
Morgenthati,  Americj 
Mrs.    Morgenthau    an. 


ing  that  the  secret  of  Jab 
locked  barrel,  consists  in 
up  the  bottom.  Jabbs 
trick  until  he  is  locked  in  the  barrel  and  Pokes 
with  fiendish  glee  packs  dynamite  into  the  barrel 
and  after  lighting  the  fuse  rolls  the  barrel  out 
of  the  theater.  He  drags  Ethel  to  the  office  of 
the  Justice  of  Peace  and  just  as  the  ceremony 
is  about  to  commence  Jabbs  who  has  been  hurled 
into  the  air,  falls  into  the  same  office,  kicks  Pokes 
out    and    marries    Ethel. 


JbjNf                        If                   fl^r       m 

'**^' 

r*0<^  ^  pi         " k  f 

X-W^       .  [ 

I^tI  R     i 

♦3 

'    "Mr.    Jack    Trifles"    and    "The    Supreme    Temptatio 


Freddy  Versus  Hamlet— Vitagkaimi—  March  24. 
—  William  Hangman.  Tod  Talford,  William  Lyt- 
tell,  lr..  Dais\  I),,  Vcre  featured.  Wiggins  takes 
his  girl.  Mabel,  to  the  show  and  she  flirts  with 
the  handsome  actor  playing  "Hamlet"  and  after 
lies  the  actor  for  : 


soda. 


.eddy 


t  of  her  if  she 


to 


i  famous  actre 

Freddy  decides  to  butt  in.  He  chang 
with  the  driver  of  the  cab  the  pair  are  about 
in  take  and  drives  to  a  lonely  spot  where  the 
cab  breaks  down.  Freddy  trounces  the  actor, 
who  runs,  while  Mabel  and  Freddy  mount  the 
horses    and    ride   home. 

I  Will  Repay— (Three  Reels)— Essan  ay— 
March  25.— Featuring  Marguerite  Clayton,  Ed- 
ward Arnold  and  John  Tunior.  John  Shandon, 
.  somewhat  elderly  man,"  is  deeply  in  love  with 
Virginia  Harding,  a  beautiful  young  girl,  and 
when  his  nephew,  Ralph,  returns  from  an  expe- 
dition in  the  North  and  meets  Virginia,  it  is  a 
case  of  love  at  first  sight.  When  John  learns 
that  Virginia  has  promised  to  become  Ralph's 
wife,  he  gives  Ralph  a  letter  written  by  his 
mother  before  her  death  and  by  taking  out  one 
of  the  |i.i;n  the  letter  leads  that  his  mother  died 
from   hereditar\    insanity.      On    learning  this   Ralph 


Somet 


and    tells   Virginia  of 
i  finds  Ralph  he  has 


The   Detective's   Peril— Kalem— March  25.- 

■  pisode  of  the  -Hazards   of    Helen"    railroad    sC 
featuring     Helen    (hi, son.       Hanging    from    a    1 


Selig-Tribune  No.  19 — March  6. — American 
and  Mexican  health  officers  disinfect  Mexican  im- 
migrants and  give  them  a  gasoline  shampoo  to 
prevent  the  spread  of  typhus  fever  in  the  United 
States,  Laredo,  Texas;  His  Royal  Highness  the 
Duke  of  Connaugh,  Governor  General  of  Canada, 
and  his  staff  leaving  the  government  house  for 
Horwick's  Hall  to  review  troops  about  to  leave 
for  the  front,  Ottawa,  Canada ;  thousands  of 
French  troops  arrive  in  Stroumitza  after  days  of 
weary  travel  and  hardship,  the  Balkans;  Captain 
"Joe"  Tinker  and  his  "Cubs"  leave  here  in  tieor 
Pullman  de  luxe  for  spring  training  quarters  at 
Tampa,  Fla.,  Chicago,  111. ;  the  French  reinforce- 
ments for  the  Allies  arrive  at  a  naval  base  here 
for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  English  at  Salonika, 
the   Islands   of   Moudros. 

Selig-Tribune  No.  20 — March  9. — Cambridge's 
biggest  bonfire  occurs  when  the  seventy-year-old 
hospital  for  contagious  diseases  is  burned  by  the 
city  firemen,  Cambridge,  Mass.;  the  S.  S.  Tal- 
thydius  arrives  in  Seattle,  Wash.,  from  China  and 
Japan  with  $8,500,000  cargo,  including  the  largest 
shipment  of  rubber  ever  brought  across  the  Pa- 
cific; new  superdreadnaught  Pennsylvania  has  her 
trial^  tests  here  under  _  the  supervision  of  navy 
officials,  Rockford,  Maine;  patriotic  high  school 
girls  of  Washington,  D.  C,  organize  a  rifle  club 
and  hold  daily  practice  drills  on  the  White  House 
grounds;  two  killed  and  fifty  injured  by  explosion 
of  3,000  pounds  of  dynamite  which  wrecks  houses 
for  eight  blocks  and  shatters  windows  within  a 
radius  of  one  mile,  Maplewood,  Mo. 


him  from  the  house.  The  gambler  realizes 
that  he  must  move  quickly  as  the  police  are  after 
him.  He  succeeds  in  robbing  a  valuable  necklace 
but  does  not  escape  without  being  seriously 
wounded.  At  the  station  he  and  the  girl's  lover 
meet.  The  latter,  seeing  the  blood  upon  the 
other's  arm,  acts  quickly.  After  the  struggle  the 
heiress  and  her  father  arrive,  the  thief  is  caught 
with  the  goods  on  and  all  ends  happily  for  the. 
young   lovers. 

Pedro  the  Punk  Poet — Falstaff — March  23. — 
With  J.  C.  Yorke  and  Frances  Keyes.  The 
friends  of  Pedro,  the  only  poet  of  Pumpkinville, 
advise  him  to  journey  to  the  Great  City  and  be- 
come famous.  The  city  does  not  enthuse  over 
his  masterpieces  ?-^d  he  has  to  resort  to  all  kinds 
of  expedients  to  keep  alive.  FirMly,  for  obvious 
and  sufficient  reasons,  Pedro  returns  to  Pumpkin- 
ville where  he  is  now  the  star  feature  at  the  vil- 
lage  entertainments. 

Search  Me  —  Vogue  —  March  23.  —  Featuring 
Patty  McQuire,  Arthur  Moon,  Russ  Powell,  Vert 
Sterling.  Priscilla  Dean  and  Tack  Ganes.  This 
comedy  is  full  of  complications  and  the  court 
of    side    splitting    sit- 


plain   in   a   synopsis. 

The     Ranger     of     Lonesome     Gulch  —  (Three 
Reels)— Mustang — March     24. — Reviewed      else- 


e 
il 

<not 

and 

shin 

ple0 

'■cr'\hc 

ich     ha 

ot     , 

md 

II, 

in    the 

pl- 

till 

s    b 

the    de 

ain 

has 

pas 

ed   prevents 

the  ter 

Mutual  Pt\ 


Pansy   Post,   Protean  Player — Falstaff — March 
1.— With  Frances  Keyes  and  Jay  C.   Yorke.      The 


auces  jxeyes  ana  jay  <^.  v  once.  in 
n  employment  agency  is  out  of  fund 
™n,i""ts    "*"•»    obtaining    a    pl?- 


se  it,  but  nobody  wants  it 
see  il.  They  have  all  kinds 
-uitabh-  place  for  the  picture 
This  precipitates  another 
is  interrupted  by  the  arrival 
i  is  s0  angry  that  he  slams 
r  Wilkens'   head   and   departs. 


'   The, 


ose  lightning  change  act  on  th 
?  has  failed.  She  is  installed  as  the  mar 
's  entire  staff  of  domestics,  changing  cos 
:s  until  a  customer  is  satisfied,  and  then  de 
fig    her    place    and    coming    up    to    divide    th 


Trilby's    Love     Disaster— Selig—  Mai 

\  ictoiia       Forde,     Toe      Ryan 
< 'busman  and    Bettj    Keller.      Trilby,  a  r.-i 


15ft  I V,  plan  lo  have  ,ome  Inn  .,1  Trilby's  evnense 
!i"  e.dls  a |  (In-  ranch  in  Ins  bug.'y  to 
ikl  ,    foi    a    ride.    Vicky   and    her   chum   are 

1 ,'ine     ay  ,,\         Matilda 

' -I  111,  I     Mil,.  ,      !,,,        |,.    ,y,    . 

Il    and    his    love    affair    in    disgust. 

Husks  /itagraph      March 

iioIm,        liir,  I,        Nellie 

orth ,-a 

lawyer    is 

md     I,    iv. 

I     willi    Viv 

»:»•  ■'  '"!':  ii.     .i,,i 

M 
Si. .-II    induces    <l.,y    tl,    ;u. 
.  ept    a    I,,  lb.     f.n     a    slate    s.-ercl.    and    I., I 

"d     ih..l     In  ,.l 

I    ',  ,, 

in, I    Hope 
lltd    her    BOrrowinK    mothe,    leads    hi...    p.    the    litlle 



rive    l..m    up    laj     r.  iting       She    had 
'.cart,     and     utterl 


See  America  First,  No.  26— (Split  Reel)— 
Gaumont— March  12.— The  scenic  splendors  of 
Monterey,  California,  are  photographed  to  ad- 
vantage by  the  Mutual  cameraman  for  the  first 
half  of  this  reel.  On  the  same  reel  is: 
,  Keeping  up  with  the  Joneses.— "Pa  McGinnis" 
is  still  persistent  in  his  efforts  to  assist  "Ma" 
and  "Julie"  to  keep  up  with  the  Toneses.  This  is 
an  animated  cartoon   drawn  by  Harry  Palmer. 

Bungling  Bill's  Peeping  Ways — Vogue — March 
16.— Arthur  Moon,  Priscilla  Dean,  Russ  Powell 
and  Paddy  McQuire.  Dorothy's  father  is  to  be 
initiated  into  a  secret  organization,  but  they 
object  to  being  left  alone  when  "peeping  Tom" 
is  in  town  and  he  arranges  with  Dorothy's  sweet- 
heart, Joe,  to  come  to  the  house  in  his  absence. 
Father  thinks  he  will  play  a  joke  on  the  familv 
and  is  discovered  peeping  in  the  window  by  a 
detective,  who  is  watching  for  "peeping  Tom." 
Many  laughable  situations  follow,  but  finally 
peace   is   restored   to   the  family. 

The  Twin  Trunk  Mystery— Cub— March  17  — 
Featuring  Billie  Armstrong.  Luke  Sharpe,  a 
detective,  and  his  assistant,  Tim.  try  to  do  some 
brilliant  sleuthing  work  -a  lien  thev  learn  that  some 
parties    with    plenty    of    jewelry" 


the, 


hi  n   i 


landmarks  and   points  of 


.it  Reel)— Gaumont— 

.    is    the    subject    taken 

Many    of   the    famous 


March  25,  1916. 


Universal  Program 


The  Patent  Medicine  Danger — (Two  Reels)  — 
Universal— March  20.— 15th  Episode  of  "Graft." 
Featuring  Richard  Stanton  and  Jane  Novak  with 
Glen  White.  In  his  fight  upon  the  Patent  Medicine 
Trust,  (of  which  H.  S.  Blanchard  is  the  head, 
Harding  is  taken  by  surprise  and  committed  to  an 
insane  asylum  by  the  cleverly  pre-arranged  plan  of 
his  enemies.  Through  the  help  of  Dorothy  Max- 
well, however,  Harding  makes  a  sensational  escape 
from  the  mad  house,  with  the  ultimate  result  that 
Blanchard's  name  is  listed  on  Larnigan's  record 
of  the  men  who  have'  paid.  The  attention  of  the 
law  is  directed  to  the  patent  medicine  evil  and 
Blanchard  and  his  kind  are  indicted  by  the  Grand 
Jury. 

Love  and  Vaccination— Nestor— March  20.— 
With  Eddie  Lyons,  Lee  Moran  and  Betty  Comp- 
son.  A  young  doctor  at  a  sea  resort  is  desperate 
for  want  of  patients.  When  Eddie  arrives,  the 
doctor  introduces  his  pretty  sister  as  a  trained 
nurse.  Eddie  immediately  pretends  to  be  sick 
and  the  doctor  pronounces  the  sentence  of  small- 
pox. The  result  of  it  all  is  that  the  young  doc- 
tor, is  put  on  the  road  to  prosperity  at  five  dol- 
lars, a   call   and    Eddie   becomes   a   member  of   the 


MOTOGRAPHY 


lowed  to  escape,  but  the  warden  pays  no  attention 
to  the  threats.  Bill  is  slow  to  act  and  the  gang 
takes  things  into  its  own  hands  and  kidnaps  the 
pretty  daughter  of  the  warden.  Bill  rescues  her 
from  them  and  turns  over  his  entire  gang  to  the 
authorities.  The  gang  in  turn  then  squeals  on 
Bill  and  he  lands  behind  the  bars. 

Ground — Big  U — March  23. — 
This  story  deals 
with  how  the  pretty  daughter  of  a  Jew  peddler 
who  has  newly  arrived  from  "the  old  country" 
falls  into  the  hands  of  a  procurer  and  is  sub- 
sequently rescued  from  her  fate  by  her  father 
and  a  number  of  people  whom  the  kind  Jew  has 
befriended. 

The  Secret  Foe— (Two  Reels)—  Laemmle— 
March  23. — Featuring  Myrtle  Gonzalez  and  Fred 
Church. — Mary  Page,  who,  unknown  to  her  lover, 
Courtney  Dynes,  is  a  dope  fiend,  is  spirited  away 
to  a  lonely  out-of-the-way  spot  by  her  aunt  where 
the  latter  and  Dr.  Harvey  Willis  set  about  to 
break  her  of  the  habit.  The  aunt  is  taken  sick 
and  goes  to  the  city  for  treatment.  Before  she 
can  send  a  nurse  to  take  her  place,  Courtney  ar- 
rives at  the  house,  finds  the  two  together,  and 
accuses  his  sweetheart,  who  does  not  explain,  of 
faithlessness.  His  unreasonable  behavior  at  this 
time  loses  for  him  the  girl,  and  she  discovers  at 
no  remote  date  that  the  doctor  is  more  worthy  of 
her  love.     Her  drug  habit  is  effectually  cured. 


:   loot  < 


-   they  c 


?ili:m 


A  Friend,  But  a  Star  Boarder — L-Ko — March 
26.— Featuring  Billie  Ritchie.  Bill's  wife  gets 
tired  of  him  and  falls  in  love  with  the  star  boarder. 
Soon  after  the  wife  has  procured  her  divorce  she 
decides  to  marry  the  star  boarder.  After  the  cere- 
mony the  latter  sends  for  a  cab.  Bill  arrives 
with  his  jitney  'bus  and  when  he  discovers  who 
his  fares  are  he  gives  them  the  ride  of  their 
lives.  The  terrible  journey  ends  when  the  'bus 
blows  up  with  all  its  occupants  and  Bill  thus  gets 
the  last  whack  at  the  star  boarder. 

A  Social  Outcast— (Three  Reels)— Rex  — 
March  26. — Featuring  Ben  Wilson  and  Dorothy 
Phillips.  Blair,  a  voting  lawyer,  nominated  for 
the  office  of  district  attorney,  saves  Mary,  a  gir! 
of  the  slums,  from  Tim,  her  one-time  lover  and 
life  tormentor,  and  takes  her  into  his  home.  Blair 
knows  that  the  girl  is  unmarried,  but  Jim  makes 
it  appear  to  the  lawyer's  political  opponents  that 
he  is  housing  another  man's  wife  in  his  home  for 
immoral  purposes.  The  newspapers  give  prom- 
inence to  the  affair;  Blair  is  forced  to  give  up  the 
nomination  and  his  sweetheart  leaves  him.  The 
lawyer  begins  to  hate  the  world  and  everything 
in  it,  even  Mary,  the  girl  whom  he  has  pro- 
tected, but  he  marries  her  to  defy  society.  At 
last  the  man  discovers  that  in  Mary  is  the  one 
bright  spot  left  to  him  and  the  story  ends  with 
the    exposing    of    his    opponents'    plot. 


Grand? 


-Imp 


-Mai 


George  Barnes  and  Eileen  Sedgwick.  Prof.  Bo: 
co,  "The  World's  Famous  -Magician  and  Hyf 
notist"  and  his  "Metropolitan  Company"  reac 
Centerville  after  a  long  walk  from  their  la; 
stand.  Bosco's  big  trick  is  the  standing  of  "Grip 
Healey,  supposedly  under  hypnotic  power,  on  his 
head.  This  makes  a  great  hit  with  the  Center- 
ville audience,  but  when  Prof.  Bosco  attempts  the 
stunt  with  the  town  belle,  the  cowboys  shoot  up 
the   show. 

The  Phantom  Thief— Rex— March  21.— Mr. 
Price  has  a  large  amount  of  monev  in  the  house 
safe  which  his  wife,  during  a  night  prowl— for 
she  is  a  somnambulist — takes  and  secretes  in  some 
unknown  place.  He  hires  Prof.  Borel,  an  em- 
inent neurologist,  with  the  result  that  through 
hypnosis  and  suggestion  Mrs.  Price  recovers  the 
loney    from    its    hiding    place    and    repla 


lan    beings,    furnish 


the 


vail 


The 


>r    thei 

vvhicl 


sugges 


feet. 

The  Madcap  Queen  of  Crona— (Two  Reels)— 
Gold  Seal— March  21.— Featuring  Grace  Cunard 
and  Francis  Ford.  While  traveling  in  the  little 
principality  of  Crona,  Marcia  Avery,  an  Amer- 
ican girl,  learns  that  she  is  the  exact  image  of 
the  queen  of  that  country.  She  becomes  ac- 
quainted with  the  queen  ami  is  finally  persuaded 
to  take  her  place  for  a  week.  Marcia  does  not 
favor  the  Prince  and  the  latter  cannot  understand 
the  change  in  his  sweetheart.  At  last,  when 
things  become  desperate  and  the  people  are  about 
*       revolt,    back    comes    the    madcap     "" 


offer 

The  Crimson  Trail  —  (Two  Reels)— Imp  — 
March  24.— With  Clara  Beyers  and  Edyth  Rob- 
erts. This  film  tells  the  story  of.  an  evil  woman's 
regeneration  through  the  awakening  of  love.  She 
breaks  up  the  home  of  Dick  Hallam,  her  former 
sweetheart,  by  writing  a  wicked  note  to  his  wife. 
When  Hallam  later  saves  her  from  a  murderer's 
knife,  she  experiences  a  change  of  heart  and  from 
that  moment  starts  to  repair  the  harm  she  has 
done.  The  woman  finally  gives  her  life  so  that 
Hallam  and   his   little   wife  may  be   reunited. 

The  Wrong  Bird— Nestor— March  24.— Fea- 
turing Billie  Rhodes  and  Ray  Gallagher.  The 
newlywed  wife  does  not  turn  out  much  of  a 
cook  and  after  the   first  breakfast   Hubby   goes,  to 


Feature  Programs 


Blue  Bird 


The  Yaqui— (Five  Reels)— Bluebird— March 
19.— The  oppression  of  a  weaker  race  by  a  strong- 
er one  is  the  theme  of  this  production  in  which 
Hobart  Bosworth  is  featured.  Golda  Caldwell, 
Dorothy  Clark,  Charles  Hickman,  Gretchen  Led- 
erer,  Yona  Landowska,  Jack  Curtis,  Louise  Val- 
derna  and  Emory  Johnson.  Llovd  B.  Carleton 
directed   the   picture. 


Fox 


iay    l 


The 


who    1 


fallen 


5  friends  to  dinner  that  night  and 
to  be  sent  to  the  house.  Tha 
friends  suspect  something  wrong  and  also  order 
a  meal,  not  to  be  disappointed.  Evening  arrives 
and,  no  food  in  sight.  Wil'ev  steals  a  turkey  from 
the  next  door  neighbor.  The  sreneral  row  that 
follows    is    only    stilled    when    the    belated    dinners 


onna  Vanna— (Three  Reels)— Bison— March 
-Gianello,  the  son  of  a  goldsmith,  and  the 
tiful  Vanna,  daughter  of  one  of  the  great 
is   of  Pisa,   are  in   love,  but  the  differ. 


A  Man  of  Sorrow— (Five  Reels)— Williaji 
Fox— March  20.— William  Farnum  is  starred  in 
this  dramatic  story  of  tangled  lives.  Dorothy 
Bernard,  Willard  Louis,  Mary  Ruby,  Fred  Hunt- 
ley, Harry  DuRoy,  Henry  J.  Herbert,  William 
Burress,  H.  A.  Borrows,  Thelma  Burns,  William 
Scott,  Robert  Wayne,  Mildred  Halsey  and  Jacob 
Abrams  support  Mr.  Farnum  and  the  picture  was 
made   under   the    direction   of   Oscar    C.    Apfel. 


thei 


l    life 


The  Desperado— Laemmle— Mari  h  22.— Featur- 
ing Rupert  Julian  and  Zoe  Beck.  The  exciting 
part  of  this  story  comes  when  a  desperado,  about 
to  become  the  victim  of  the  law,  saves  the  life 
of  a  child  who  has  been  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake. 
He  does  this  at  the  cost  of  his  own  life,  for  he 
has  previously  been  wounded  in  the  lip  by  a  bul- 
let from  a  pursuing  posse.  When  the  posse  ar- 
rives on  the  spot  it  is  to  find  the  child  better, 
while  the  desperado,  so  made  bv  circumstances, 
soon    succumbs    to    death. 

Scars  and  Stripes  Forever— (Two  Reels)— L-Ko 
—March  22.— Featuring  Billy  Ritchie.  Bill,  the 
leader  of  a  band  of  blackhanders,  writes  some 
strong  letters  to  the  warden  threatening  some 
terrible    things    if    some    of   the    gang    are    not    al- 


Gianello  ..... 
of  the  Florentine  forces,  now  known  as  Prinzi- 
valle.  After  a  long  siege  of  the  Pisans,  Vanna 
sacrifices  herself  to  the  invading  general,  not 
knowing  his  identity,  to  save  her  people.  Vanna's 
husband  proves  to  be  unworthy  of  her  and  she  is 
happily  reunited  to  Prinzivalle,  whom  she  joy- 
ously recognizes  as  her  old  lover. 

It  Nearly  Happened — Tcker — March  25. — With 
Wm.  Franey  and  Gale  Henry.  Bilkins  and  his 
wife,  Samanthy,  two  rubes,  take  their  vacation 
at  a  summer  resort.  Bilkins  starts  an  affair  with 
Marie,  a  waitress,  and  Samanthv  is  attracted  to 
Hasherbino,  the  handsome  head  waiter.  Both 
wife  and  husband  plan  to  elope  with  their  newly 
found  loves  and  both  find  themselves  left  in  the 
lurch  with  much  money  and  jewelry  missing. 
Hasherbino     and     Marie, "  who     are     husband     and 


Metro 

The  Blindness  of  Love— (Five  Reels)— Metro. 
— Tubus  Steger  is  featured  as  the  father  whose 
love  for  his  son  is  unbounded.  The  picture  was 
produced  bv  Rolfe  Photoplays  Inc.,  under  the 
direction   of   Charles   Horan. 


Mutual  Special 

The  Bruiser  —  (Five  Reels)  —  American"  — 
March  23. — William  Russell  and  Charlotte  Bur- 
ton are  featured  in  this  masterpicture  directed  by- 
Charles     Bartlett.       Reviewed     elsewhere     in     this, 

A  Bird  of  Prey— (Five  Reels)— Thanhouser,. 
De   Luxe   Edition — March    16. — This  melodrama 

dealing    with    the    domestic    triangle    was   produced! 
'~  .the    direction    of    Eug< 


ind   features   Kathryn   Adar 


t-ugene 
1    Rob- 


726 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 


vith 


Pathe 

No.    21— Marc 


vife    for 


The     Suppressed     Temptatio 


Confer 


-Thi 


:ton,    D.    C;    General   Villi 
.   S.   soil  and   murdered   American 
iers,   Columbus.    New   Mexico. 
Pipes  the   Pippins — Pathe-Rolin- 
theatrical   booking 

delight,   which 


manager   oi 
...     and     Twirl,     ._. 
through  their  paces  to  Luke' 
dition   continues  for   Luke  un 
husky    who   does    a    strong-mi 
slapstick 


L    folio 


the    Va: 


Unkt 


Rei 


Some    Vie 

ws    of    Singapor 

e— Pathe.— The   com- 

er   of   the    Briti 

sh   Straits    Settlements 

with    its    M 

lay    villages    ar 

built    by    Br 

tish    engineers, 

has    much    interesting 

The  Iron 

Claw— (Two   R 

13.— Chapte 

Third,   entitlec 

"The  Cognac   Cask." 

Golden's   tei 

the  aid  of  t 

le   Electro-Ray 

Projector.      Manlv    cn- 

has  just   been   ordered 
band    who    would    not 

from   the   he 

use    by    her    hu 

listen  to  her 

pleadings   in   re 

?ard  to  their  daughter. 

The     Laugl 

ing      Mask      re 

cues      Margery      from 

Legar   and    1 

is    party   follow    in   an 

at     top    speed     dashes 

through  an 

pen  drawbridge 

killing  all  but  Legar. 

Pathe   Ne 

ws   No.   20— Ma 

u.-ii    8.— Chicago  Cubs 

McGraw,   ma 
Martin     Spri 


othy   Kelly,   Marguei 
featured     in     this     st 


-(  Five 
'       Moi 


.s)— 


The  Red  Circle— (Two  Reels)— Pat: 
—March  11.— Thirteenth  chapter  whi 
titled  "Branded  as  a  Thief."  Revie 
where   in   this    issue. 


:e  Blake  and  Evart  Overton 
ry  of  Herbert  DuBois,  a 
t  in  Paris,  who  falls -m  love 
nette,  a  grisette.  Later  he 
nd  falls  in  love  with  Flor- 
learning     that     Annette     is 


•rform 


U.    S.    S.    May- 


•ugged  Waters— (Five  Reels)— Red  Feather 
ARcir  20.— Gloria  Fonda  ami  William  C.  Dow- 
featured.  The  girl  inherits  a  mineral  spring 
t  from  her  father,  and  her  manager,  desiring 
larry  the  girl,  tells  her  he  will  keep  the  secret 


nature  conquers  and  he  quickly  applh 
fives  and  Annette  comes  back  to  life. 
Annette  dies  and  Herbert  rushes  home 
formed  that  a  son  has  been  born  to  the 


2  tempta- 
is    better 


if  shewfll'n 


i   bought  2 


Pathe— March  18.— Third  Installment.  The  pic- 
tures in  this  installment  were  taken  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  long  Siberian  winter,  which  com- 
mences in  September.  The  Yakuts,  a  tribe  of  the 
eastern  part,  and  the  Kolyma,  a  fishing  colony, 
are  the  peoples  whose  customs  are  depicted.  On 
the    same   reel    with: 


Triangle  Program 

Martha's  Vindic 


Fini 

the  title  r 


—March 
"  l  this  moder 


-Noi 


;nd  Tully  Marshall  are  included  : 
The  Village  Blacksmith—  (Twc 
■>ngle-Keystone. — Hank  Mann  is  i 
the  villainous  lawyer  in  this  amu 
the  much  loved  heroine's  infatuat 
blacksmith.  Polly  Moran,  Vivian 
Cavender,  Tom  Kennedy  and  Ree 
in    the    cast. 


V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 

Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  No.  20— 
March  10— TJ.  S.  S.  Collier  Prometheus,  rigged 
with  a  special  steam  winch,  starts  on  longest  tow 
when  it  undertakes  to  haul  steamer  Crescent  I, 
New  York,  San  Francisco,  Cal.  ;  tour  hundred 
students  build  a  path  on  one  of  the  campus  hilh 
at    the    University    of    California,    Berkeley,    Cal.; 

six    girls     hare led     perform     Spartan     Dance     hi 

the  snow  in  Central  Park,  New  York,  N.  Y. ; 
Newton  D.  I!  iker,  named  Secretary  of  War,  tc 
succeed  Lindley  M.  Garrison,  poses  for  Hearst- 
'       'and,    Ohio;    on 


The  Havoc— (Five 
Hanson,  Lewis  Stone 
tured.  Richard  Craig 
work  in  the  same  offic 
in  love  with  Kate, 
Craig  marries  the  girl 
with  them.  Craig  becc 
ind    his    wife    and    He< 


comes  to  live  with  ther 
then  sets  about  to  win 
former  wife.  A  full  revie 
issue   of  Motography. 


s) — Essanay. — Gladys 
Iryant   Washburn   fea- 
Paul    Hessart,    < 
chums  and   both   a 
pretty     stenograph! 


ho 


I   Hes 

;  engrossed  i 


5     to     1 


dly     one     i 

Craig    te 

he    obtain 

ies    Kate. 


Hearst-Vitagraph  News  Pictorial  No.  19 — 
March  7.— This  issue  of  the  weekly  contains  pic- 
tures showing  the  discharge  of  1,000  pounds  of 
dynamite  stored  in  a  shanty  used  by  a  sewer  con- 
tractor, Maplewood,  Mo. ;  the  shipment  of  giant 
turtles  arriving  from  Honolulu,  San  Francisco, 
Cal.;  three  New  York  Central  trains  piled  in  a 
heap  of  wreckage  in  a  novel  smash-up,  Albany, 
N.  Y.;  the  dreadnaught,  Nevada,  which  has  been 
brought  to   Charlestown   Navy    Yard   to   be  put   in 


.,  Char 


.   Ma's- 


)m    official    French    war    films    sh( 
e     incidents     of     the      Salonika      (  ampaigi 
ler    Mexico    sighting   the    Collie      " 
Babied     and     in     a     sinking     eon 
atteras;   cartoon   by   George   H 


World 

e     Unpardonable     Sin— 
— Holbrook    Blinn    is    f 


!    Of 


off     Car 


March  25,   1916. 


Live  News  Notes 
For  Theater  Men 


MOTOGRAPHY 

at  34  Victoria  street,  Toronto.  This  com- 
pany now  is  releasing  a  travelogue  series 
in  thirty-two  reels  in  addition  to  other 
special  educational  subjects. 

"The  Ne'er-Do- Well"  closed  a  very  suc- 
cessful engagement  at  the  Cort  theater  at 
Atlantic  City  last  week.    The  public  praised 


Limed    that    Mr.    Kleine's 
highly  pleasing  to    him. 


To  the  list  of  dramatic  productions  of 
David  Belasco,  which  have  been  immortal- 
ized in  photodramatic  form  by  the  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  Feature  Play  Company,  announce- 
ment has  been  made  that  other  productions 
will  be  added. 

Under  the  direction  of  James  Young,  at 
the  Lasky  studios  in  Holylwood,  California, 
work  already  is  in  progress  on  the  screen 
version  of  "Sweet  Kitty  Bellairs,"  in  which 
Mae  Murray  will  make  her  second  appear- 
ance as  a  screen  star.  This  is  a  picturiza- 
tion  of  the  famous  Belasco  success  in  which 
Henrietta  played  the  title  role.  Miss  Mur- 
ray has  been  surrounded  by  a  notable  cast 
of  players  and  the  production  will  be  more 
elaborate  than  her  first  photo-play,  "To 
Have  and  To  Hold,"  which  only  recently 
was  shown  to  the  public. 

Yes,  motion  pictures  still  hold  full  sway 
in  East  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  Sundays.  Sure, 
a  protest  was  sent  to  Mayor  Minshall.  He 
"passed  the  buck"  along  to  the  county 
prosecutor,  who  at  once  "shot  it  back." 
A  few  judges  and  other  city  officials  were 
appealed  to,  but  they  all  refused  to  mix  up 
in  the  controversy  started  over  the  Wind- 
a-Mere  theater.  In  the  meantime,  the  film 
managers  are  chuckling  and  gathering  in 
the  shekels. 

Max  Spiegel,  secretary  of  the  Mark 
Strand  Theater  Company,  of  New  York, 
wrote  to  Samuel  Goldfish,  vice-president 
and  treasurer  of  the  Jesse  L.  Lasky  Feature 
Play  Company,  recently,  commending 
"The  Blacklist,"  in  which  Blanche  Sweet 
appears  as  the  star.  Mr.  Spiegel  declared 
that  the  film  broke  a  house  record  on  its 
merit. 

"Damaged  Goods,"  pronounced  immoral 
by  a  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  police  court  jury 
and  then  given  a  clean  bill  of  health  by 
the  county  court  in  a  decision  of  Judge 
Stephens,  was  not  shown  at  the  Genesee 
Theater  in  Rochester.  The  management 
of  the  theater  had  advertised  the  film  as 
a  feature  exhibition.  Mayor  Edgerton 
revoked  the  license  of  the  theater  and  a 
squad  of  police  was  at  the  photo-play  house 
to  see  that  no  performance  was  given. 

The  European  war  is  blamed  for  the 
financial  distress  of  a  motion  picture  con- 
cern in  Philadelphia.  Because  it  is  unable 
to  get  motion  picture  films  imported  from 
Italy,  a  product  in  which  it  principally 
dealt,  the  Foreign  Film  Company  was 
forced  to  admit  its  inability  to  meet  obli- 
gations, according  to  counsel,  and  filed  a 
voluntary  petition  in  bankruptcy  in  the 
United  States  District  Court  for  the  cor- 
poration. 

Poli,  the  New  England  exhibitor,  has 
booked  Pathe's  serial,  "The  Iron  Claw," 
already  signed  up  by  Loew  and  Pantages. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Standard 
Newsfilm  Corporation,  held  in  New  York 
City,  J.  F.  H.  Wyse,  of  Toronto,  Ont,  Can- 
ada, president  of  the  Ontario  Safety 
League,  was  elected  vice-president  of  the 
motion  picture  organization.  A  branch 
office  of  this   corporation  has  been  opened 


the  picture  and  the  criticisms  of  the  papers 
were  that  the  picture  was  the  best  seen  in 
Atlantic  City  since  "The  Birth  of  a 
Nation." 

W.  D.  Cooper,  manager  in  Toronto  for 
George  Kleine,  spent  two  days  in  New 
York  last  week.  He  declares  that  Cana- 
dians these  days  are  hunting  for  enter- 
tainment, as  a  leavening  to  the  war  news 
which  of  necessity  they  are  so  deeply 
and  vitally  interested  in.  In  "The  Mis- 
haps of  Musty  Suffer,"  the  Kleine  com- 
edy, Mr.  Cooper  says  they  have  found 
just  what  they  were  looking  for  and  as 
a  consequence  he  is  shattering  booking- 
records  just  now.  Mr.  Cooper'  also  re- 
ports a  noticeable  revival  of  interest  in 
the  classics  such  as  "Quo  Vadis,"  "The 
Last  Days  of  Pompeii,"  "The  Lion  of 
Venice"  and  similar  productions.  Mr. 
Cooper  said  he  could  see  only  good, 
bright  times  ahead  for  those  engaged  in 
the  motion  picture  industry. 

Harry  Scott,  manager  of  the  George 
Kleine  branch,  Philadelphia,  was  in  New 
York  last  week.  He  was  in  a  particularly 
optimistic  mood  and  expressed  himself 
as  thoroughly  satisfied  with  present  busi- 
ness and  the  outlook  for  the  future  in  his 
field.  He  reports  heavy  bookings  on  the 
Kleine  comedy,  "The  Mishaps  of  Musty 
Suffer,"  featuring  Harry  Watson.  Mr. 
Scott  says  this  new  film  comedy  cer- 
tainly made  a  hit  in  his  territory  and 
that  he  is  deluged  with  inquiries  regard- 
ing Mr.  Kleine's  future  plans  regarding 
comedies.  It  was  chiefly  this  matter  that 
brought  him  to  New  York,  Mr.  Scott 
declared.  He  was  in  rare  good  humor 
when  he  left  for  Philadelphia,  so  it  may 


SOME  NEW  THEATERS 

Arkansas. 

The  Cato  opera  house  in  Gravette  is 
now  managed  by  Gerard  Barron,  who 
recently  arrived  from  Salem,  Missouri. 

Argenta's  new  motion  picture  house, 
the  Princess  theater,  located  in  the  new 
Matthews  building,  held  its  grand  open- 
ing March  2.  Manager  Rosenbaum  has 
one  of  the  most  modern  and  beautiful 
picture  houses  in  the  South,  costing  more 
than  $10,000.  The  seating  capacity  of 
the  Princess  is  700  persons.  Manager 
Rosenbaum  announced  that  all  pictures 
will  be  first-release  programs  and  feature 
photoplays  will  be  shown  exclusively. 
Arizona. 

The  Columbia  theater  in  Phoenix  has 
been  leased  by  Mauk  and  Richards  and 
will  be  renovated  and  opened  as  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater.  The  new  lessees 
will  be  known  as  the  Phoenix  Amuse- 
ment  company. 

Connecticut. 

The    Park    theater    in    Manchester    is 

being   reconstructed    and    it    is    Manager 

Sullivan's    intention    to   have   the   theater 

one  of  the  most  attractive  in  the  city. 

Delaware. 

Planet  Film  corporation,  New  York, 
$1,000,000,  to  manufacture  moving-picture 
films  of  all  kinds.  Samuel  B.  Howard. 
S.  A.  Anderson,  Joseph  F.  Curtin,  all  of 
New  York. 

The  Peerless  Picture  corporation  has 
been  incorporated  at  Dover  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $3,000,000  for  the  manufacturing 
of  motion  pictures. 

Popular  Pictures  corporation,  capital 
$1,500,000,  Wilmington.  To  manufacture 
motion  picture  films,  to  conduct  places  of 
amusement,  etc.  Incorporators,  Herbert 
E.  Latt,  Norman  P.  Coffin,  Clement  M. 
Egner. 

Georgia. 

H.  M.  King,  Jr.,  opened  a  picture  show 
in  Brunswick,  March  2.  It  will  be  known 
as  the  Bijou. 

Illinois. 

Charles  T.  Smith,  former  manager  of 
the  Star  theater  in  Elgin,  has  purchased 
the  Unique  theater  at  Crystal  Lake, 
which  will  be  managed  by  his  brother, 
George  Smith.  The  name  of  the  theater 
will  be  changed  to  the  Star. 

The  picture  machine  which  was  pre- 
sented by  Mrs.  G.  B.  Dryden  to  the 
Larimer  school  in  Evanston,  is  proving 
very  satisfactory  and  the  pupils  are  very 
much  enthused  over  their  gift.  Educa- 
tional films  on  all  subjects  are  being- 
shown. 

National  Welfare  and  Educational  as- 
sociation, Chicago;  $10,000— To  deal  in 
films  and  other  apparatus  for  the  purpose 
of  displaying  moving  pictures.  Nathan 
S.  Smyser,  Arthur  Basse  and  C.  Becker. 

The  Princess  theater  in  Lincoln,  ope- 
rated by  Carl  Hepler,  has  been  closed. 

The  Grand  theater  in  Morris  has  been 
purchased  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  Gage 
of  Sandwich.  After  redecorating  they 
will  open  the  picture  theater  as  the 
Royal. 

T.  H.  Kennedy,  owner  and  manager  of 
the  Lyric  theater  in  Hoopeston,  has  sold 


the    playhouse    to    D.    D.    Williams    and 
Albert   Anderson. 

Charles  Schaeffer,  proprietor  of  the 
Lyric  theater  in  the  Townsend  building, 
Sycamore,  has  closed  the  theater  and 
will  depart  for  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where 
be  will  he  engaged  in  a  different  occupa- 
tion. 

Indiana. 

The  Princess  motion  picture  theater  in 
Evansville  has  been  purchased  by  A.  J. 
Merrill, 

The  chairs  for  the  Circle  theater  in 
Indianapolis,  which  is  under  construc- 
tion, have  been  ordered.  They  are  an 
extra  large  size,  mahogany,  covered  with 
rose  colored  velvet  to  harmonize  with 
the  other  interior  decorations. 

Norman  Bryon  has  sold  his  picture 
show  in  Rockport  to  John  Kehrer  and 
1..  W.  Savage. 

The  Grand  theater  in  Logansport  has 
been  purchased  by  E.  J.  Brown  and 
T.  L.  Haywood  of  La  Fayette.  It  was 
formerly  owned  by  D.  Quivey  and  G. 
Bertha. 

Muncie  is  to  have  another  modern, 
artistic  and  comfortable  motion  picture 
house,  according-  to  an  announcement 
made  by  Arthur  C.  Bennett,  who  for  the 
past  ten  years  has  been  connected  with 
various  amusement  houses  in  Muncie 
and  other  cities.  This  new  theater  is  to 
be  known  as  the  Strand  theater,  after 
the  famous  New  York  Strand,  and  will 
be  located  at  115-117  East  Jackson  street 
in  the  Young  building  in  the  room  for- 
merly occupied  by  the  By-Lo  hardware 
store".  Work  on  remodeling  has  already 
commenced  and  it  is  hoped  to  have  the 
theater   ready   within   a   few  weeks. 


The 


...jess  the. 
The  hoiis 


in  Mishawaka  is 
-merly  known  by 
that  name  has  been  remodeled  and  re- 
decorated and  the  proprietors,  George 
Senger  of  Mishawaka  and  John  J.  Ber- 
scheit  of  Aurora,  Illinois,  have  expended 
a  neat  sum  of  money  in  making  the 
changes.  The  house  has  been  opened 
under  the  name  of  the  Lincoln  theater, 
being  located  on  the  Lincoln  highway. 
Iowa. 

Messrs.  Plumb  and  Kratoska,  owners 
of  the  [sis  theater  in  Belle  Plaine,  re- 
cently sold  it  to  L.  B.  Marshall,  Cedar 
Rapids. 

The  early  part  of  April,  A.  Engle's 
picture  theater  in  Fort  Dodge  will  be 
ready  for  opening.  11^  Former  theater 
was  destroyed  by   lire  some  time  ago. 

Fire  in  the  Travis  motion   picture  thea- 
ter in    Pleasantville,  caused   by   an    over- 
heated   furnace,  did   considerable   damage 
not    only    to    the    theater,    hut    destroyed 
her   structures. 


MOTOGRAPHY 

the  theater  which  will  be  erected  for 
C.  B.  Yost,  who  is  also  owner  of  the 
Pearl  theater. 

Massachusetts. 

Grove  Hall  Theatre,  Inc.,  Boston; 
James  J.  Tibbetts,  Charles  C.  M.  Loef- 
"fler,  A.  W.  Philbrick;  $50,000. 

Consolidated  Film  and  Amusement 
company,  Boston;  Frank  Keezer,  Harry 
W.  Mclntyre,  George  H.  Pratt;  $100,000. 

Michigan. 

Arrangements  have  been  completed  by 
W.  S.  Butterfield  and  his  associates,  at 
the  head  of  the  Butterfield  circuit,  for 
the  erection  of  a  $50,000  store,  office  and 
theater  building  on  the  present  site  of 
the  Commercial  hotel,  313  South  Wash- 
ington avenue,  Lansing.  The  building 
will  be  built  by  the  Frederick  Thoman 
estate,  work  to  be  started  with  the  com- 
pletion of  plans  now  in  the  hands  of 
John  Eberson  of  Chicago  and  S.  D.  But- 
terworth  of  Lansing.  The  building  will 
be  ready  for  occupancy  by  the  middle  of 
August.  The  building  will  be  two  stories 
in  height,  with  a  terra  cotta  front.  The 
theater  entrance  will  be  through  an  ar- 
cade lobby  22  feet  wide,  arcade  stores 
being  located  on  both  sides.  The  theater 
will  seat  950  people  and  its  program  will 
be  confined  to  high  class  motion  pictures. 

Harry  G.  Savior  will  open  a  new  pic- 
ture theater  at  229  West  Main  street, 
Battle  Creek.  The  capacity  of  the  new 
house  will  be  about  275. 

March  8,  E.  H.  Benware  assumed  the 
management  of  the  Travis  theater  in 
Traverse  City  which  was  recently  incor- 
porated. 

Robert  Park  of  Brighton  has  purchased 
the  opera  house  in  that  village  and  is 
planning  on  making  improvements  on 
the  building. 

Joseph  Thibodeau  has  purchased  the 
Lyric  theater  from  George  Lampers,  tak- 
ing immediate  possession. 

The  Garden  theater,  formerly  the  Star, 
in   Adrian  has  been   opened. 

Marinette  is  to  have  a  new  moving  pic- 
ture theater  in  the  Perkins  block  on  Main 
street.  This  will  include  the  buildings 
which  are  now  occupied  by  the  Central 
West  Coal  company,  American  Express 
company  and  the  Nordin  store.  The 
building  will  be  modern  and  up-to-date 
and  will  be  operated  by  the  Ascher 
brothers   of   Chicago. 


Vol.  XV,  No.  13. 

West  Virginia. 

The  fixtures  of  the  Fulton  theater  in 
Wheeling  are  to  be  sold  at  auction.  The 
theater  was  conducted  by  McGrew  and 
Long. 

H.  V.  Young  has  private  plans  for  a 
one-story  brick  picture  theater  building 
in  Wheeling,  40x90  feet.  Work  will 
likely  mature  about  March  15.  Dowden 
&  Mackson,  New  Cumberland,  will  be 
the  lessees. 

Wisconsin. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  directors 
of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Beloit,  the  purchase 
of  a  motion  picture  machine  for  use  in 
the  building  was  authorized.  General 
secretary  Steiner  is  now  negotiating  with 
manufacturers  and  it  is  probable  that 
the  outfit  will  be  installed  in  the  near 
future  in  the  lecture  room. 

Mrs.  H.  A.  Jones,  who  operated  the 
Park  theater,  339  Broadway,  Waukesha, 
gave  up  her  lease  to  Jacob  Schiffman. 
owner  of  the  building,  who  assumed 
charge   March    1. 

The  moving  picture  shows  given  in  the 
West  Allis  High  school  Thursday  nights 
are  becoming  very  popular  and  the 
school  board  has  been  compelled  to  run 
two  shows  instead  of  one. 

Herman  Thiel's  motion  picture  theater 
in  Marshfield  is  fast  nearing  completion. 

Extensive  improvements  have  been 
started  on  the  Bijou  theater  at  Fond  du 
Lac.  March  28  F.  R.' Smith,  the  pro- 
prietor, expects  to  have  everything  in 
readiness  for  his  reopening. 


Harvey  Stock  and  Ted  Hanes  are  the 
new  managers  of  the  Crvstal  theater  in 
Sturgeon. 

J.  O.  Bauer  will  remodel  the  building- 
next  to  his  place  of  business  in  Kilbourn 
into  a  motion  picture  theater  to  seat  300. 
Everything  will  be  up-to-date. 


t  Mail 


eet. 


istalled.  The 
the  House  of 
laged  by  L.  C. 


(I,, 


O,     (  ,.      Peterson     has     Sol 

usiness   in    Colma 


of  La 


Kansas. 

tro:  ed   I)} 
the   Isis  theater  at   Covey. 

Man  b  4.  the  Gem  theater  at  508  Kan- 
sas avenue,  Topeka,  i  losed   tor  the  con- 
to    lear    awa>     the    old    building 
and    rebuild    a    n  '  up    to    date 

rhe  Gem      ill  be  closed 
about  a  month. 

uildiiiR  at   1 14  Not   n   \\ 
1  lutchinson,  is  now  hein 


NELL  SHIPMAN   BLIND,  VICTIM 
OF  POISON 

Miss  Nell  Shipman,  Vitagraph  star,  is 
in  a  precarious  condition  at  the  Cali- 
fornia Hospital,  Los  Angeles,  from  the 
effects  of  poison-oak.  She  is  totally 
blind.  Her  misfortune  overtook  her  on 
the  eve  of  a  vacation.  Physicians  still 
express  hope  that  both  her  eyes  and  life 
may  be  saved. 

Miss  Shipman  was  accompanied  by 
Miss  Marjorie  Cole,  a  newspaper  writer 
and  film  actress.  Both  were  lovers  of 
outdoor  sports.  The  two  girls  went  as 
far  as  Glendora  in  Miss  Cole's  car.  Here 
they  left  the  automobile  and,  donning 
men's  attire,  strapped  packs  on  their 
backs  and  set  out  up  the  canyon  toward 
Follow's  Camp.  Soon  Miss  Shipman's 
eyes  began  to  swell  and  a  little  later  one 
of  them  was  entirely  closed.  By  night- 
fall Miss  Shipman's  other  eye  was  closed 
and  the  young  women  made  camp  for 
the  night."  In  the  morning  Miss  Cole  led 
Miss    Shipman    back    to    the    automobile 


THE  TALK  OF  THE    MOTION    PICTURE  FIELD 

Goes  Posters 

POST  THEM  AND  PACK  YOUR  THEATRE 


GOES-  CHICAGO 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 

MUTUAL  PROGRAM 

Slapsticks  With  A  Reason 

OGUEi 


■^rrnxyurLcfngr 
y( Brand  JVew  Brand  of  ytlrrb 

COMEDIES 

First  Release  the  WeekofZ>ec.2T*£i 

The  first  subject,  a  screaming" 

laugh,  features  a  new  and 

original  Comedian 

SAMMY  ?  ?  ?  ? 

Sammy's  Scandalous  Scheme 

Distributed  throughout  the  United  States  and 
Canada  Exclusively  by  The  Mutual  Film  Corporation 

VOGUE  FILMS  Inc. 

Joseph  H.Finn  Samuel  S<  Hutchinson 

Publicity  Offices:  222,  South  State  Street,  Chicago. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


'MUTUAL  MASTERPICTURESi  fl 

DE  LVXE   EDITION      • 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


MUTUAL  PROGRAM 


i 


WORLPS  GREATEST 
FEATURE  OUTPUT 
TO  BE  RELEASED 

BY  MUTUAL? 


Beginning  in  January: — 

Three  Mutual  Masterpictures,  De  Luxe  Edition- 
each  in  five  reels—  will  be  released   EVERY  WEEK! 

Three  Mutual  Star  Features— each  in  three  reels — 
will  be  released  EVERY  WEEK! 

All  three  productions  will  be  picturizations  of  big 
plays,  famous  books  and  original  scenarios  and  will 
feature  noted  Broadway  stars  and  the  most  popular 
film  players. 

This  is  the  biggest  feature  output  of  any  distrib- 
uting organization  in  the  world  and  indicates  the 
Mutual  Film  Corporation's  ability  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  exhibitors  everywhere  with  one  service 
— conscientious,  aggressive  service — M  U  T  U  A  L 
SERVICE! 

For  Details  of  Releases 
See  Following  Pages 


ti^Mtt£E5E£S5&2EESSSSZES2g2EEHjS8S- 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


MUTUAL  riASTERPICTURES 

DE  LUXE   EDITION 


t; 


Following  are  a  few  of  the  releases  scheduled  for  Mutual 
Masterpictures,  De  Luxe  Edition.     Each  is  in  five  reels — 
Each  is  a  sensational  feature.     Book  them  at  any  of  the 
68  Mutual  Exchanges: 
Week  of  January  17th: 

THE  THOROUGHBRED 

— A   Spectacular    Mutual   Masterpicture,  De  JLuxe,  featuring  the 
famous  stars,  William  Russell  and  Charlotte  Burton. 

(American) 

WOLVES  OF  SOCIETY 

— A  powerful,  stirring,  society  drama  featuring  Broadway  stars. 

(Mutual) 


THE  BAIT 


— A  new  and  remarkably  interesting  drama  featuring  popular 
William  Clifford,  beautiful  Margaret  Gibson  and  the  Great 
Bostock  Animal  Collection.  (Horsley) 

Week  of  January  24th 

AS  A  WOMAN  SOWS 

— An  absorbing|drama  of  modern"  life,  featuring  the  Broadway 
stars,  Alexander  Gaden  and  Gertrude  Robinson  (Gaumont) 

LORD  LOVELAND  DISCOVERS  AMERICA 

— From  the  Story  by  the  Williamsons — featuring  Broadway's 
dramatic  star,  Arthur  Maude.  (American) 


BETRAYED 


—A  heart-gripping  story  presenting  popular   Grace  De  Carlton. 

(Thanhouser) 


Week  of  January  31st 

"VENGEANCE  IS  MINE!" 


— The  theme  is  based  on  Capital   Punishment.     The  play  is   \. 
derfully  portrayed  by  a  star  cast  headed  by  Crane  Wilbur. 


THE  IDOL  OF  THE  STAGE 


(Horsley) 


— A     costly     production    full     of     "big    scenes" — featuring     the 
Belasco  star,  Malcolm  Williams.  (Gaumont) 


THE  WHITE  ROSETTE 


SILAS  MARNER 


—  A  tremendous  feature  dealing  with  the  social  problems  of 
medieval  and  modern  times.  Starring  Helen  Rosson  and  E. 
Forrest  Taylor.  (American 


— A  picturization    of     George     Eliot's     famous     novel — featuring 
Broadway's  distinguished    Shakespearian    actor,  Frederic  Warde. 

(Thanhouser) 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


MUTUAL  PROGRAM 


The  Eight  Million  Dollar  Mutual  Program  has  been  ex- 
panded and  improved.  THREE  three-reel  features  will  be 
released  each  week.     Here  are  a  few  of  the  big  features 


IN  THE  NAME  OF  THE  LAW 


— An    inspiring    drama    feat 
HULETTE. 


g    the    beautiful    star,    GLADYS 

Released  January  11th.     (Thanhouser) 


THE  SECRET  AGENT 


— A    play  based    on    the    operations  of    the    U.  S.  Secret  Service 
—featuring  the  Broadway  dramatic  Star  ROBERT    T.    HAINES. 

— Released  January  12th.     (Gaumont) 


WATER  STUFF 


— Another    "Buck  Parvin"   feature   from    the    Saturday    Evening 
Post  stories   by  Charles  E.  Van    Loan— featuring  ART  ACORD. 

— Released  January  15th.     (American) 


Beside  the  six  big  features  every  week,  the  Mutual 
Film  Corporation  will  continue  to  release  the  many  comic, 
scenic  and  topical  features  that  have  made  the  $8,000,000  Mutual 
Program  so  popular.  Vogue  Comedies — new  and sensational com- 
edies—featuring  England's  foremost  Knockabout  Comedian — are  now  being 
released  in  the  Mutual  Program.     If  you  are  seeking  profits — big  box  office 

receipts — and  an  Extraordinary 
Serwce,  book  MUTUAL  SERVICE 
at  once.  One  of  our  68  Exchanges  is 
near  you.  For  further  details  send 
the  coupon  for  a  copy  of  Reel  Life 
-FREEI 

Mutual    Film    Corporation 

John  R.  Freuler,  President 

71  West  23rd  Street     New  York  City 

68  Exchanges  in  America 


FREE  COUPON  FOR  "REEL  LIFE"    j 

Mutual  Film  Corporation,                                 ! 
•  71  West  23d  St.,  New  York  City. 

Please  send  me  free  copy  of  "Reel  Life"  describing       ! 
the  new  Mutual  policy. 

i       City  

..Sta 

Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


MUTUAL  MAS 
06  LUXE 


A  STRONG  five-part  Amer- 

-*■  ^  ican    drama    from   the    famous 
novel  by  Lucia  Chamberlain,  the  gifted 

writer  of  romance.     Book  published  by  Bobbs- 
Merrill  Company.     It's  a  story  of  the  picturesque  early 

days  of  California  —  an   artful  blending  of  love  and 

adventure,  with 

Harold  Lockwood 

May  Allison  William  Stowell 

Walter  Spencer        Josephine  Humphries 

and  More  Than  One  Hundred  Others 

Directed  by   Thomas  Ricketts 

This  is  a  tremendous 

picture!  Big  scenes — vivid 
action — delightful  romance — 
played  by  a  cast  of  world- 
wide favorites. 

RELEASED 
JAN.  6th 

Book  it.  It's  worth  a  run  of 
several  days. 


A  Mutual  Masterpicture 
De  Luxe  Edition 

The  Other  Side  of  The  Door"  is  the  first 
merican  contribution  to  the  much-talked-about  Mutual 
lasterpictures  De  Luxe  Edition.   Now — arrange  your  booking. 

Other  American  Releases 
Matching  Dreams 

A  two-part  "Flying  A"  drama,  with 

Vivian  Rich  Alfred  Vosburgh 

Director — Reaves  Eason 

Released  January  3rd 

Time  and  Tide 

A  single  reel  "Flying  A"  drama,  with 

Nell  Franzen  Hugh  Bennett 

Director — Reaves  Eason 

Released  January  7th 

Billy  Van  Deusen's  Shadow 

A  side-splitting  "Beauty"  comedy 

John  Steppling  Carol  Halloway 

Released  January  4th 

To  Be  Or  Not  To  Be 

A  sure-fire  "Beauty"  comedy 

Orral  Humphrey  Mary  Talbot 

Director— Edward  Watt 

Released  January  8th 


• 


J. 


\: 


merican  Film  Company,  Inc. 


>amuel  S.  Hutchinson.  President 


Chicago,   Illinois 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


MUTUy 


01  •  rai^oad  *V*J  tf  ran*  c\^a%es.      ^ 


6,8      rh»P>eL,.E.<«^ 


Chap*®*    hP««'»  ao«o 


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,*ati°n 


January  1,  1916 


EATUR.EI 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Never  before 

has  a  film  manu- 
facturer given  a 
production  such  a 
'forceful  guarantee— 

The  Biggest  of  All 
Film  Productions 

Helen  Holmes  in  this  new,  stu- 
pendous railroad  film  novel,  has  reached 

the  pinnacle  of  her  astounding  career.       Former 
I  thrills  which  she  has  enacted  are  paled  into  insignifi- 
f  cance  by  the  magnitude  of  her  breathless  undertakings 

in  this  amazing  production— And  remember  1000  news- 
i!  papers  are  to  publish  the  story. 

First  Release— Dec.  27th! 

j  The  Girl  and  the  Game  consists  of  fifteen  pow- 

I  erful  two-act  chapters.    One  chapter  will  be  released  each  week 

'  beginning  Dec.  27th.   Each  chapter  a  distinct  release,  though  all  are  connected.   If  your  the-, 
atre  is  to  show  this  marvelous  photoplay  of  thrills  and  suspense— act  now.    You  cannot  delay.  ^ 
Don't  be  one  of  the  disappointed  hundreds.     Big  profits  are  at  stake.     Act  quick!  Now! 

For  booking  information  apply  to  Girl  and  Game  department 
of  any  Mutual  Exchange  in  America. 

SIGNAL  FILM  CORPORATION 

SAMUEL    S.  HUTCHINSON,  President 

Publicity  Offices:   222  So.  State  Street,       -       CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS 


v    V 


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MOTOGRAPHY 

MUTUAL  PROGRAM 

EDWIN  THANHOUSER 


Voi.  XV,  No   1 


A  production  truly  representative  of  the  Thanhouser  quality  standard.     Ethyl  Cooke,  Grace  de  Carlton, 
Hector  Dion  and  Boyd  Marshall  play  leading  parts  in  a  genuinely  human  narrative 


DRnSIfflPvQQGaiDnEB 


u 


NA'S 

SEFUL 

NCLE 


Released  in  1  Reel 
Monday,    Dec.   27 


lOOLISH 
AT 
LORA 


Released  in  1  Reel 
Thursday,  Dec.  30 


RILEY  CHAMBERLIN  will  make   anybody 
say  "Uncle." 


With  a  big  company  of  comedians.     Arthur 
Cunningham  as  Flora  will  floor  you. 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


MUTUAL  PROGRAM 


^Mere  isinc  Great,  E>i^ 
^Gaumont  GiftUo 
Exhibitors  forine 


ifl^RGUERITE 
(£>OURTOT 

''Xhe  WMerduref  of Marguerite     / 


°K)iU  4iead  a 
GauTTjont  Company 
TUahiriQ  Big  Features 
to  be^Released  onme 
mnutual  "Proararn^ 
aWus  as 


MUTUAL 


clDate/v 

y6r>±Ae  fir>st  one< 

RELEASED  EARLY 
r/V  ^£B/?l/ARY 

SAUMONT  CO. 


FLUS^HlMGj, 

NEW   YO^-X— ' 

JACKSONVILLE^ 
PLOR-JDA 


MADE  IN  AMERICA 
AND  D1PTR.1BUTED 
THROUGHOUT  THE. 
U.S.  AND  CANADA 
BY"  TH  E  M  UTUAL 
FILM  COIiPO RATION 


J  hoto  bt* 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


'«♦ 


U»  METRO  S 
Taxv.3rc/ 


Pro<£rai*v 


KeT^o 


January  1,  1916 


.  . :  ■ .  »    *   .  > 


^ 


V 


METRO 

*  A  Piciures  Corporaiion 

^  presents 
*5  Woxiderlul 

rwPEIROV\ 

*V  in  til 

77  WHAT  WIU 
PEOPLE  SAY 


A  METRO  workdLerplay 

of  modem  society  irv 
5  Acig  by  Rupert  Bugheft 

Produced.  2>y 

POPUIAR  PLAYS  AND 
PLAYERS  INC. 


MOTOGRAPH\ 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


January  1,  1916  MOTOGRAPHY 


Get -Aboard- Before- 1 fs-Too-Late 

STATE  RIGHTS  GOING  FAST 

j~*\  ^v  T      "I^V  NEW  YORK  CITY 

Wf      II  1  NEW  YORK  STATE 

l/J \    #1    j\    J  OHIO  and  KENTUCKY 

9<^  ^^  -M— #-■—*-  CALIFORNIA  and  NEVADA 

BIDS  COMING  IN  FAST 


Repeats  his  "Three  Weeks"  Triumph  in  his  film  production  in  Fi\ 
of  Owen  Johnson's  Greatest  Novel 


B.  S.  MOSS 

;e  Weeks"  Triumph  in  his  film  producti 
of  Owen  Johnson's  Greatest  Novel 

THE  SALAMANDER 

10,000,000  have  read  the  book— 50,000,000  will  want  to  see  the  picture.    A  story  of  a 
lone  girl's  fight  against  the  wolves  of  the  city. 

14  Stars — Hundreds  of  People — 360  Scenes 

A  Gigantic  $100,000  Production 

A  Sure  Box  Office  Bonanza 


WHAT    THE  CRITICS   THINK  !  ! 

EVENING  JOURNAL— THE  CLASSIC  OF  THE  YEAR. 

MOTION  PICTURE  MAIL— WILL  APPEAL  TO  BOTH  THOSE  WHO  READ  THE  STORY 
AND  TO  THOSE  WHO  LIKE  A  THRILLING  FILM. 

TELEGRAPH— THE  SALAMANDER  CREATES  A  SENSATION. 

REVIEW— THE  SALAMANDER  AS  A  PHOTOPLAY— A  GREAT  SUCCESS. 

VARIETY— A  LARGE  EXPENDITURE  OF  SKILL  AND  MONEY  WAS  USED  IN  PRODUC- 
ING THE  SALAMANDER. 

MOVING  PICTURE  WORLD,  NEWS.  MOTOGRAPHY,  MIRROR,  CLIPPER,  BILLBOARD, 
ALL  UNANIMOUSLY  ACCLAIM  THE  SALAMANDER  AS  THE  HIT  OF  THE  YEAR. 


WRITE ! !     PHONE ! !     WIRE ! ! 


B.  S.  Moss  Motion  Picture  Corporation 

Columbia  Theatre  Building,  Times  Square,  New  York 


A  Feature   of  the  kind  the  Exhibitors  Want.    Released  Every  Month. 
Coming  in  January,  "ONE  DAY"  a  Sequel  to  "THREE  WEEKS" 


In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  MOTOGRAPHY 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


USE 

THE 

BLANK 


At  15  cents  the  copy 
Motography  costs  you 
$7.80  a  year.  Save 
$4.80. 


MOTOGRAPHY,      igi6 

Monadnock  Building, 
Chicago,  III. 

Enclosed  find  Three  Dollars  for 
which  please  send  MOTOGRAPHY, 
the  Motion  Picture  Trade  Journal] 
to  my  address  for  52  weeks. 


uion    MOTOGRAPHY 


January  1,  1916 


HERE'S 

POWERFUL  HELP 

/OT  EXHIBITORS  RUNNING 


The  following  best  newspapers  will  not 
only  publisl^J^^^gry,  but  extensively 
advertise  this  fine  new  PATHE  serial: 


Atlanta  Journal 

Cincinnati  Commercial  Tribune 
Dallas  News 
Galveston  News 
DesMoines  Tribune 
New  York  Evening  World 
Denver  News 
Detroit  Times 
Indianapolis  Star 
Kansas  City  Journal 
H&regonian 
L.os  Angeles  Tribune 
^^Chronicle 
ilwaukeelSiQsconsin 


Minneapolis  News 
Omaha  World-Herald 
Philadelphia  North  American 
Pittsburgh  Chronicle 
Salt  Lake  Tribune  |^k 

San  Francisco  Call  Bk 

St.  Louis  Times  flflft 

Syracuse  Journal 
Washington  jTimes 
Albany  Times-Union 
Baltimore  American 
BuffaloTimes 
Texarkana  Texarkanian 
San  Antonio  Light 
Lincoln  Star 


E  MANY  OTHERS  TOO! 


t  EXCHANGE,  Inc. 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


0u» 


^;\:-'^y.:.:.::-^i:z.:-K'::, 


Has  every  b 

Dr.  Haiselden's  recent  refusal  to  prolong 
aroused  world-wide  discussion.  By  a 
was  being  completed  for  PATHE,  in  the 


Showing  the  career  of  aj^eautiful  girl 
able  tendency  to  crime,  ■^ould  her 
letting  the  infant  die  because  of  the 
withheld  hreaid  becausc^M thelbaby's 

The  New  PATHE  serial   ■most 
H  featuring  the 

RUTH 

J&  Wpported  by 

Scenarios  by  Will  M.  Ritchey    ^T 
Newspaper  stories  by  Albert  Payson  Terhune 

Jin     mi     nil     mi    mi     tm     mi     hii   nm     »n  mm     iijf-  tin     mr~* 


tfe  PATHE 

EXECUTIVE 

25WEST    4>5tfc  ST 


January  1,  1916 


MOTOGRAPHY 


right  to  live? 

the  life  of  a  hopelessly  defective  child  has 
strange  coincidence,  at  that  very  time  there 
Balboa  studios,  a  startiingly  original  serial 


m  Hfe^ 


•4 


born  of  a  family  cursed  with  an  ineradic-  f 
mother's  doctor  have  been  justified  in 
criminal  taint,  just  as  Dr.  Haiselden 
physical  defectiveness?  ^ 

timely,  interesting  and  instructive, 
popular  favorite  ■ 

ROLAND  Jm 

FRANK  Rl^YO     ^^at  newspap^ublicity ! 
14  episodes  of  2  parts  each 
RELEASED  DECEMBER  18th 


JHf    III,     tin     mi     mi    mi     mi     mi       mi      mi      liii      im      mi 


Exchange ■ 


nc. 


OFFICES 

NEW  VORK 


MOTOGRAPHY 


Vol.  XV,  No.  1 


I 


9 


EXuibiTori/ 

I  WISH  YOU  ALL  A  VERY 

MERRY  christma^/i^ 

A  PROSPEROUS    • 
VlTAGRAPU^YEAR 

<T7ieoc/o/i>  Mar/ton  o/pcOon 

PRODUCED  OE 

MORTMAIN"       "THE  CAVEMAN" 

M OTH  E R*S  ROSE i"TH  E  1 3TH  C I R  L" 
WHEELS  OF  JUSTICE"  "FOUR  GRAINS°'RICE" 

"FROM!  OUT    THE   BIG  SNOWS" 
AND  FIFTV    OTHER     VITACRAPH    PRODUCTIONS 


^4  clear  picture 

is  as  essential  as  a  good 
scenario.  Because  the 
basic  product  is  right 
the  clearest  pictures  are 
on  Eastman  Film.  Iden- 
tifiable   by    the    stencil 

mark  in  the  margin. 

* 

EASTMAN    KODAK   CO., 

ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 


SCENARIO  WRITERS! 

Attention! 


I  want  your  exclusive  services 

I  desire  to  get  in  touch  with  the 
ten  best  scenario  writers  in  the 
United  States — writers  of  42-cen- 
timeter calibre,  who  have  been 
writing  and  disposing  of  four  or 
five  reel  original  material.  Am 
willing  to  make  extraordinary 
proposition  to  the  photoplay- 
wrights  worth  while.  State  full  list 
of  accepted  and  produced  stories. 
Address  ALLEN  BOOTH,  P.  O. 
Box  1623,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


In   writing   to   advertiierg   pleaie   mention    MOTOGRAPHY 


Some  men  build  mammoth  plants — others,  pigmy 
workshops. 

The  essentials  of  a  successful  film  feature  are 
common-  knowledge — 

Yet  the  number  of  such  features  which  are 
released  is  woefully  small. 

That  this  company's  productions  have  become 
a  guarantee  of  sterling  merit,  is  due  not  alone  to 
that  which  is  put  into  them,  but  also  to  how 
that  material  is  applied. 

Back  of  each  there  are  painstaking  efforts,  unequaled 
experience  and  resources,  and  a  sincerity  of  purpose 
which  make  for  a  finished  product  of  the  highest  order. 

And  with  each  there  goes  a  selling  service  designed 
to  promote  that  feature  to  the  best  advantage  of  its 
exhibitors. 

All  of  which,  when  summed  up,  simply  means  that 
those  who  book  V-  L-  S  -  E  features  may  bank  their 
profits  in  advance. 

V.  L.  S.  E.  Inc. 


<r% 


"MILE-A-MINUTE  MONTYn 

Cartoon  Laughs  Jan.  5. 

By  LEON  A  SEARLE 


"THE  HOUSE  OF  REVELATION" 


Ret.  U  a.  Pat.  1907 


GEORGE  K.  SPOOR.  PRESIDENT 


1333  Argyle  St,  Chicago