THE PICTURE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 92, 16 October 1915, Page 11

THE PICTURE WORLD

Clara Kimball Young, an artist well known to picture playgoers, is of French extraction ; her great-great-grandfather was wounded in the retreat of Napoleon from Moscow. The family still treasures the medal of the Legion of Honour which Napoleon bestowed upon him for conspicuous bravery. Mrs. Young, for she is married to Mr. James Young, and uses her married name, was only three years of age when she began her stage career in the play "Peck's Bad Boy." Afterwards, until she was seven years of age, she played speaking parts in numerous dramas. Then she went to St. Xavier's Academy, Chicago. Here she developed a beautiful singing voice, which has been of great service to her. T. Daniel Frawley offered "her a splendid engagement for herself and husband, which was accepted, and they played to^ gether in many notable plays, including" "Peter Pan," and many of the plays she will be starring in while with the World Film Corporation. Mrs. Young went to the Vitagraph studios about three years ago, and she says she will always have a loving remembrance of the delightful old gentleman and star comedian, John Bunny. Some idea of the popularity of the moving pictures in New York can be gained by the fact that there are 950 picture theatres there, and over 5000 players were represented on the screens of the various theatres in one month. It is estimated that 2000 of them own their own automobiles. One of the reasons given by Blanche Sweet, the Mutual star, for the success of the motion picture is that on the screen scenes in. any part of the world can actually be visualised, an asset that places it abovo the stage in one respect at least, and bound to have favourable effect. There ie no need in pictures, continues Miss Sweet, for one to imagine anything; everything can be shown. Therefore, with the proper direction and acting, and the right management from a business standpoint, the pictures will always have a bigger appeal than the stage. Muriel Ostriche, formerly star of the Thanhouser, Princess brand, and recently star of numerous Vitagraph productions, has been engaged by the Equitable Motion Picture Company for appearance in that firm's productions. Miss Ostriche is well-known to local picturegoers. Managing Director Mack Sennet, of the Keystone Film Company, has increased the working forces of all departments since the Triangle Film Corporation affiliation was effected. The number of writers, actors, directors, mechanics, painters, etc., is now greater than ever before. In order to build the elaborate sets that are being used in the Sennet two-reeL feature comedies, the master carpenter and the scenic artist have doubled their crews throughout the Keystone studios, and the efficiency and scope of all departments have been brought up to the highest standards. Mack Sennet remains in personal command of all departments, and is the busiest man in Los Angeles. Paul Scardon, well known here through his association with travelling dramatic companies, has been promoted from the ranks of the Vitagraph stars to a producing director, and given the manuscript of " The Island of Surprise," written by Cyras Townsend Brady. Mr. Scardon will direct the work of such well-known players as William Courte- ) nay, Elinor Woddruff, Zena Keefe, and Julia Swayne Gordon. David Wark Griffith, who is recog- j nised as the most brainy producer of pictures in the world 2 in a recent interview, stated that the planning out of the scenes for his big human natuT© drama, " The Escape," took him nearly as long as the scenario portion of the " Building of a Nation." "The Escape" is a story that required the most delicate handling in order that it would not become gross. Of situations and thrills the scenario of " The Escape " was packed, the author had written the naked truth and thrust the mirror right up against life, and while it fascinated by its daring and novelty, and realism, its truth had to be glossed over to smooth the revelations. "The Escape " was shown in New York first, and it was expected that there would be a howl from the critics at its sensationalism, but it met with nothing but praise. The characteristic humanity of the picture sta4 its artestig bftadlias won

That the war has not increased the market for American films is evident from the Government statistics of that country. The Department of Commerce states that for the year 1915, ending in June, America exported a total of 151,054,884 feet of film against a total of 188,049,654 for the previous twelve months. In cash value, last year's exports of exposed film amounted, to 2,498,504 dollars, as against 2,591,444 dollars of the previous year. The Essanay Company, following in the departure of the Pathe Company, have notified the trade of their intention to rent out their products direct. The new policy is the immediate outcome of its decision to curtail the issue of short pictures. The adoption of these methods by two important manufacturers must at no distant date have its reflex upon the remainder of the trade. "Need any more talent for your kinema dramas?" "We might use you. Had any experience at acting without audiences?" Acting without audiences is what brought me here." Messrs J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have entered the picture world in real earnest. Their studios in Melbourne are said to be amongst the most up-to-date and best equipped in the world. Mr. Fred Nibio acted before the screen in these studios two of his most popular productions, "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" and "OfficeT 666." Miss Muriel Starr has also posed before the J. C. Williamson camera. While all the resources of the J. C. Williamson firm — every department — are being utilised on this side of the globe, in America Mr. Hugh J. Ward is energetically investivating and absorbing all that he can gather to perfect the firm's new departure. The first of the releases that may be expected will be "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford," which will be shown in conjunction with an imported exclusive — the first picture taken under water. This achievement has been accomplished by two young Americans — Messrs. Ernest and George Williamson — who have perfected a chamber which can bo lowered into the sea and from which, by the aid of powerful lenses and their own special batteries, pictures have been taken of life and growth on the ocean bed. Inceville, the big plant of the New York Motion Picture Corporation in the Santa Ynez Canyon, west of Santa Monica, had a narrow escape from extinction by fire last month. Damage to the amount of 10,000 dollars was done before the flames were checked. It is intended to build a studio thafc will eclipse all others in magnitude, 380 feet in length and 170 feet in width, at an, estimated cost of 160,000 dollars. One of the biggest business deals to take place in Los Angeles for some time is the half-million dollar investment of W. H. Clune, motion picture magnate, in the Famous Players studio, Los Angeles. The Famous Players studio has a reputation from New York to the Pacific coast for its equipment, lighting effects, and spacious quarters. Nothing better could be desired by the new Clune Company. One of the best adaptations of & book made by the World Film Corporation is the favourite book of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which was shown in film form in New York just lately. Ac to the stage version of this story, few communities have been too small for a performance of it, and probably no play in the last halfcentury has reached more remote parts of the country. The picture was produced by W. R. Daly, who has chosen , to follow the boo,k rather than the stage version. Mr. Sam Lucas, one of the finest character actors of the American stage, is the "Uncle Tom," and Marie Elaine, long known on the screen as the "Thanhouser Kid," has the part of little Eva.