THE PICTURE SHOW

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6320, 24 February 1922, Page 7

THE PICTURE SHOW

PLAYS AND PLAYERS

(By “Kinema.”) Enid Bennett has returned to the legitimate stage and is playing with a Los *Angeles Repertoire Company. * * * Nazizmova has left Metro, for United Artists, releasing through First National. Her first picture is Oscar Wilde’s “Salome.”

• # # Should the censors ever forbid the phones, automobiles, and gun-in-the-drawer incidents there woidd bo an end to motion pictures.

A Chinese organisation under the title of the Chung Wall Motion Picture Co., has commenced work in California. Tsen Mci, a well-known vaudeville artist, will be the leading lady.

Snowy Baker is making a name for himself at Los Angeles. His home, built on the Australian out-back pattern, with gum trees in iront, is a rendezvous for wandering Aussies. who always receive a hearty welcome.

W. Barrington Miller is reported to have an active interest in the now Society kinema to be erected in London. It is to be magnificently fitted out, with special boxes for Royalty, 'fhe general jHiblic will not be admitted.

When Harrington Reynolds was engaged in making “'file Birth of New Zealand” in this country, lie fell in love with the Australian star, Stella Southern, and within a few weeks they were married. They are now on route to the Solomon Islands to produce another picture.

When “The Champion” is released through Paramount, “ Wallace Reid will be the star. In one scene he boxes for the middleweight championship, and his opponent is none other than the redoubtable Kid McCoy, one of the veterans of the boxing world, of the veterans of the boxing world.

Mi’. A. Whitelaw, Inspector of Biograph Machinery in New Zealand, is visiting the Poverty Bay district. He states "that the financial stringency affects the picture’ shows but little, and- the attendances, taken generally throughout the Dominion, show no sign of diminution. While here, Mr Whitelaw will inspect the town plants and also visit Tokomaru Bay. Tologa Bay, Tikitiki, Te Araroa and Te Kanaka. Later he leaves for Napier and works his way through the Hawke’s Bay district.

Snub Pollard, the well known comedian, is an Australian, having been born in Melbourne twenty-six years ago. At ten years of age he commenced a six years’ tour with the Pollard Opera Company, so familiar to thea-tre-goers all over Australasia. Seven years ago he went to America, did vaudeville and played in farce and was in the latter business when an Essanay director offered him an engagement in the pictures. Then he joined Charlie Chaplin’s Co. and played opposite Harold Lloyd for four years. For the last two years “Snub” Pollard has been running his own company. * * r Mr. R. L. Rowe, the newly-appoin-ted manager of the William Fox Films exchange in Melbourne, is live wire, who is known throughout Australia, where lie was manager for Paramount. His knowledge of the showman’s business is extensive, as lie lias been an exhibitor for several years on the Geelong and North-west lines. After leaving Paramount, he went to Sydney for the J. C. Williamson Films Ltd., and was with that company for four years until recently, when lie joined Selzniek for a short period. MY. Rowe is a cousin of Mr. N. Handricks. manager of Everybody’s.

The extent to which the picture industry lias grown, stated Mr A. Whitelaw, Inspector of Biograph Machinery, in course of conversation with “Kincmn,” can he guaged by the fact that fully 2,500,000 feet of film are shown every night in Xow Zealand. This sounded a big order, he said, hut it could easily be verified. There, are some 300 picture theatres in the Dominion, and an average 8000 ft. programme worked out at near the amount stated. In the larger towns, however, the usual programme ran between 10,000 ft. and 12,000 ft.

It is illegal to send school children to the theatre at the ratepayers’ expense. This reserved judgment was given in the English High Court (says the Daily Chronicle) in the test case brought by the Finance Committee of the L.C.C. The committee asked the Court to set aside a surcharge by the Ministry of Health auditor with regard to expenses incurred by the council's education department in providing Shakcperean performances for children who attend council schools.

Following the lead of Chaplin over his famous feet, Mischa Elman over his fingers, and Babe Ruth over his hatting- arm, Ben Turpin has taken out a 25.000d01. policy on his eyes. This is the first time, so Lloyds’ Underwriters state, that any person has taken out a policy insuring crossed eyes against any accident or act of God which might straighten their vision and therein- bless them with perfect orbs. Ben’s oblique vision was caused by a severe bump suffered in slap-stick some years ago, and bis affliction lias proved such a blessing that he lives in constant fear Tesi, another bump should straighten them out again.

Arrangements have been made by Mr James Sullivan, husband of Annette Kcllorman, to make a picture in New Zealand, which will allow the well-known swimmer to be seen in some of her best under-water work, largely through the medium of a huge glass ’ tank. " During their visit to Gisborne at Xmas-time, Mr Sullivan and Miss /Kellermnn were impressed with the clear air and sunlight in Poverty Bay, which, thev stated, in this respect, resembled Los Angeles very closely. Mr Sullivan made numerous inquiries on the subject and collected much data. The principal artists for the picture, be stated, are already selected in America. A Christchurch syndicate, headed by a well-known theatrical manager, was, it was stated, putting up £IO,OOO for the production of the picture.

Xot so long ago a number of screen artists in London decided that there must be plenty of scope for collective as well as for individual dare-deviltry and formed themselves into what is known as the “Stunt Club.” The members of this club accept engagements singly, or in company, and undertake to do practically anything in the riskv line for the pictures. In the Stoll version of E. Phillips. Oppenheim’s hook, “The Amazing Partnership,” there is a wonderfully realistic rough-and-tumble fight in a sort of thieves’ kitchen, euphemistically known as “Home of Pest,” between the desperadoes who have captured the heroine, and the police who bie„»c into the premises. The “Stunt Club” supplied the desperadoes and the police, and there was certainly nothing milk-and-watery about the scrap they put up. They smashed chairs over ,one another’s heads, hurled tables about as though they were pillows, and generally went for one another in such grim earnest ' that several were completely knocked I out. When this scene was being taken | in the studio even the other produc- ' ers stopped work to have a look at it.