THE PICTURE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 132, 5 June 1915, Page 11

THE PICTURE WORLD

DEATH OF JOHN BUNNY. The Panama-California Exposition was opened on the morning of 20th February, and is claimed to be a pronounced success. The endless series of vistas and pictures in this enchanted city have been filmed, and should leave a lasting impression on the memory. A panoramic view of the buildings is shown, special attention being paid to the Australian Court and the exhibits from New Zealand. Mr. Alfred Deakin is seen reading a cable from the King, the cable ia thrown on the screen, and the enthusi-, asm of the Americans is plainly shown, as three cheers are given for England and for the King. After Chicago, Buffalo, and St. Louis, the Eastern American expected nothing new in the way of adornment and amusement in Expositions, they imagined nothing new could be achieved. But they have changed their minds. The beauty of the Exposition's setting charmed every one; the Oriental dash of its colouring, heightened by the cosmopolitan, throng in the avenues, fascinated them; the truly wonderful illumination effects swept them off. their feet. And the magic of the moving picture camera, has perpetuated the gorgeous- sights. The film of the Panama Canal was a tremendous success. The film of the PanamaPacific International Exposition is said to eclipse it entirely. John Bunny, famous the world ovei as the leading comedian of the motion picture screeu, died at his home, 1416, Glenwood-avenue, Brooklyn, New York, on Monday, 26th April, after a briel illness. The cause of death, says tho Moving Pictnre World, wa» Bright & disease, aggravated by over-exertion upon the recent tour of the motion picture theatres of the ciounltry. The funeral services were held at the Clubhouse of the Elks Lodge, No. 1, in West 43rd-street. New York, at 8 o'clock Wednesday evening, and interment was made on Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn. The deceased was in his fifty-second year, and is survived by his widow, a son (John Bunny, jun.), and a brother (George Bunny). His mother is also living. ' The race for the Vanderbilt Cup, as shown in the film of the Panama Exposition, is a series _of thrilling episodes. At one part, while a motor is racing at the rate of ninety miles an hour, it runs off the course, hits the embaiikment, turns two complete somersaults, and the driver and mechanician escape unhurt. All the way through the race there are hair-raising feats and accidents. I The special cinematographers who accompanied the Australian troops' in. Egypt have sent over a film full of interest. The first instalment is 2000 ft long, and the pictures are clear / and graphic. The sferenuous times that our boys were having while waiting for the Turks is vividly shown by Light Horse charges across the desert, Infantryrushes, and many of ,the scenes of the daily life of the camp. The lighter parts' of the picture show some of the amusements, and various members of the Expeditionary Reinforcements climbing the Pyramids. An outstanding feature of the picture is the march past of all the torces just prior to the departure for the Dardanelles. In an interview to the Motion Picture Magazine, published _in May, John Bunny, whose death is reported in another part of this column, stated that nearly thirty years ago he commenced his , professional career, and for twenty-six years he appeared with varying success. He then decided to abandon his old profession, and enter the new, silent picture play. For weeks he applied to several of the picture concerns, but was repulsed in every case but the last. This was the Vitagraph Company. He offered to act in one picture for nothing to prove his value on the screen. His- offer was refused, but it secured him an offer at the usual five dollars a day, in order that the Vitagraph officials could see his screen possibilities. During the taking of the second picture in which he appeared John Bunny broached the directors for a permanent engagement, and he accepted forty dollars a week. He started at forty dollars a week ' about three years ago, bis pictures were liked, and his salary increased enormously ; it has been reported to five hundred dollars per week. To give some idea of the way that Mary Pickford puts .in her days when not engaged in picture playing, which is about six months of the year, may be gauged by the day that is recorded by a young lady who spent holiday with the "most lovable of the screen favourites." Shortly after 8 o'clock .breakfast was served- of oranges, toast, and tea. A short ride in a limousine to the studio, where 'a secretary and sixty letters were awaiting Mary. She went through the mail, directing the answers as she read. Then came the autographing 'of about 100 photographs, and another, batch of letters, all of which were answered by her. Then she posed for a sculptor, and ' immediately afterwards a visit, to a modiste for a dress in 'the coming production. Then a fast ride to the Waldorf, where she raffled off a doll for a New York charity, quickly to the Strand Theatre, where she sold, tickets for another charity. Home for dinner about 7, then a visit to a theatre, where she enjoyed the play enthusiastically, md straight home to a light supper and to sleep about 11.15. Miss Dorothy Bernard, the charming little leading lady of the Lubin Company, was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Her parents, were with one of the first English stock companies to visit that country. Miss Bernard was christened in Oom Paul Kruger's chapel at Pretoria. By the time she was three the baby traveller had been in Eneland, India, back to Australia, and in the United States, where her , parents were playing with Charles Frohman. Miss Bernard toured Australia with the Nance O'Neil Company. Miss Gladys Hanson, one of the best known and popular legitimate actresses of New York, who has been playing the leading role in " The Koyal Road," has been engaged by the Lubin Company, and will be featured first in Henry Arthur Jones's " The Evangelist," under the direction of Barry O'Neil.