Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 58, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 July 1925 — Page 5

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1925 '

GETTING THE REAL INSIDE STORY OF A MOVIE STUDIO

Second ‘Truthful’ Film Confession Shows That Even a Petrified Frog Is Useful in Photoplay Land, Where All Is Wonderful. By “Hick.” mN movieland, where Old Man Makebelieve is busy creating deserts right in the heart of New York City, one has a chance to get hip to a lot of things. Breaking into the movies is a much easier job than breaking into a movie studio. Have you ever tried to squeeze your way into an exclusive club? Well that must be the way a fellow feels who tries to worm his way into a movie studio.

I went in grand style to the Paramount studio in New York City. I knew I never could have worked my way past the door man so I got “chummy” with Charles E. McCarthy, the big gun of the publicity game for Paramount. Os course, I wanted to see movies in the making with my own eyes. Have been reading the stuff that McCarthy has sent me for years in the mail and I made up my mind to call on this gentleman in person. And it worked beautifully. He is either the best actor in the world or the most gracious individual I have ever met. Will give lim the advantage of the doubt. So he pressed a button and Prank Pope, assistant publicity manager, appeared and stated that the chariot waited without. Without what I never could discover, because this auto had everything but the kitchen sink and a bath tub.

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—— —i OW movieland is one of the most wonderful places in the * world. Wonderful because of many reasons. Hirst, it is the product of a big business system and everything is business at this studio. Don’t get the idea that stars walk down velvet carpets to their stage sets. Don’t put the blinders on your think box and get the idea that people aren’t human in a studio. A studio has to be a museum and about everything else. The property room at Paramount is a regular curiosity shop. And just think of it, Pope showed me a petrified frog with it® mouth all open. This rascal was needed in a picture some months ago but he got the idea that he could jump where he pleased and he did. He landed behind a radiator and when discovered many months later he had turned to stone. No kidding, the honest truth. /'■*' Anyway that is one method of in the movies, just get petriHed. w There were two stars at work when I visited the Paramount lot. Bebe Daniels and Harrison Ford were busy on “Lovers in Quarantine,” that’s the picture in which I appear, and Thomas Meighan with his company working on another picture. Forget the name of the Meighan picture. And let me tell you right now that stars are stars in moveland, just as they are on the stage. I saw Bebe Daniels walk to the platform, where she was to do a scene. She was humming a little tune. Harrison Ford was in a chair reading a book. As soon as Miss Daniels appeared the book was shelved and the camera began to click.

EHEY say the screen sets the fashions now days. If I am not mistaken every woman member of the company has bobbed hair. All kinds of cuts kukl patterns. When I saw the "extras” or "doubles” sitting and standing in the interior set used by Meighan for the purpose of having the lights fixed and the cameras focused, I realized more than ever that the movie game was a big business. Here was a high priced star at work. High priced directors and numerous others were on hand. AnA yet everything centered upon Meighan. Success is a wonderful thing. It creates leadership and respect. But a star should never forget that the public is the person who can make a star tumble. Meighan works with careful ease. He knows his scenes completely before he starts work. lam sure that Meighan takes his movie work seriously. Everything is done with clock like nicety. But a star can make the work easier for all present and I know that Meighan's public wotild have loved to have seen their idol at work on his new picture. Was told that Julia Hoyt, of course you remember her as she received some of her early stage instructions with Stuart Walker several seasons ago at the Murat was at work In a picture In the studio. Did not see her, but understand

Walnut Gardens DANCE TO Hitch’s Happy Harmonist Orchestra You have heard them on Genett Records. Limited engagement.

Power in Movies TYRONE POWER, one of the foremost actors of the speaking stage, has been added to Raymond Griffith’s supporting cast in his initial Paramount starring comedy, “On Dress Parade.” Power recently completed the role of the father of the Prodigal Son in Raoul Walsh’s “The wanderer.” Griffith's supporting cast in “On Dress Parader” now includes Mary Brian, Niegel de Brulier, Edgar Norton and Gustav von Seyffertitz.

that she motors in her own car to the every day. So you don't have to be a star to have your own car, you know. Also saw some of the members of the Paramount school of acting busy at work. Will have more to tell you about the aims and possible accomplishments of this school. And remember that the movie folk eat lunch in a dining room in the studio plant. Everybody seemed to be so sociable like. Then I felt so sorry for that poor, misguided frog that went touring all alone in a big studio. It may be dust to dust for humans, but it was into stone that the little froggie turned.

Facts A bout Movie Salaries

The August issue of The Motion Picture Classic has this to say about movie salaries: The ten biggest money-makers of the screen are Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin. Norma Talmadge, Tom Mix, Cecil De Mille, Rudolph Valentino, Lillian Gish and Marion Davies. There are a number of stars close behind the lucky ten. Pola Negri, for instance, receives $5,000 a week. Richard Barthelmess gets $2,500 a week, plus a share in the profits of his pictures. This runs almost to the salary figure again, but more often averages around an extra thousand. When Barthelmess signs his next contract, a year from now, the figure will doubtless be $5,000 or considerably better. This young star is climbing well into the big money class. v Barbara La Marr is getting $3,000 a week now, but, with a waning vogue, her next contract will doubtless call for less. Corinne Griffith receives $3,000 every Saturday night. Milton Sills is getting $2,500. Now to turn to some of the players who have leaped to big money recently. Up to a few months ago Norma Shearer was getting just SSOO a week. Then she plunged into success. Now she is working under a long-term contract, which in a year or so will bring around $5,000 a week. Just now she is getting $2,500. Ramon Novarro's rapid advance brought him a similar rising-scale contract from the same company, Metro-Goldwyn. Novarro will get into the big-money class in a year or so. Just now he is making $2,000 or a bit less.

Carnival in City

The L. J. Heith Shows, a twentyshow carnival, will move after the Saturday night performance from Pennsylvania and Morris Sts. to River Ave. and Morris St., where it will be shown for a week beginning Monday. / Among the attractions are a wild animal show’, Ferris wheel, many rides, a motordome and others. Miss Madge Kemp is seen in the motordome and is one of the very few women who ride a motoreqele for exhibition purposes. FIRST NATIONAL BUTS RIGHTS First National has purchased the screen rights to “The Tidal Wave,” a play by Hutcheson Boyd.

ENGLISH’S BERKELL PLAYERS WITH EDYTHE ELLIOTT AND MILTON BYRON IN THE WHIMSICAL COMEDY# DELIGHT DEAR ME” BY LUTHER REED AND HALE HAMILTON. J MATINEE WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. RIIIAPA Afternoon——26 c A 35c, 50c. Evenings—2sc, PRIIaFS" 800 90c - u - 8 - Govt - Tax Charge*! on 90c I IllUkVi seat Tickets only. * WEEK JULY 26—“ THE EASY MARK”

AMONG THE BUSY STAGE PEOPLE HERE

WHEN MONEY CALLS ART GOES TO BOW-WOWS Rudy Says Art Can Wait When Box Office Calls for Sheik. By Lincoln Quarberg HOLLYWOOD, July 18.—Rudolph Valentino is going back to tbe “sheik stuff” to please the flappers and fatten his purse. The sheik ofthe screen has decided that the only way to remain popular with the fans as well as the critics is to feed them what they want in film fodder. j “Since I made my first big hit in •The Sheik’ I have tried to create very artistic pictures,” Valentino said. “In a way I went over, but never like ‘The Sheik.’ “I had visions of improving the public’s taste for finer films. Bah! —From now on I will watch the ticket-window and give them all this sheik stuff they want.” Knows He Has Slipped Ruciy rather reluctantly admitted that his latest pictures have not had the box-office pull he had hoped for. He deplores that fact because he feels he is a better film actor today than he was when he made “The Sheik.” However, in returning to his old tricks to re-win the flappers’ hearts, Valentino is not going to rejuvenate the Latin brand of heart-breaker. He plans to be a romantic Russian. The actor believes he can endow the Russian lover with the same romantic glamour which now surrounds every handsome son of Italy or Spain because of the original Valentino interpretation. The camera® are already grinding out the initial scenes of Valentino s next production, which he calls “The Untamed.” Rudy, of course, is the "untamed’’ part of the picture. He is a Russian bandit stealing everything from vodka to girls' hearts, mostly the latter. He rides handsomely on a fast horse, dances and makes love with the same ardor that characterized *<The Sheik.” He does not wear whiskers and there are no bolsheviks in the story as the action takes place before the Russian revolution. But he is a “sheik” at heart, and plays it in a diabolical fashion, in a background of old Russia. Bemoans “My Art” It grieves Valentino to become a Sheik again and abandon his best art to cater to the ticket-buyer. “I hate to be called ‘The Sheik’ ” he said, because the word has taken on a devlish meaning. "I pick up a paper and what do I see? A ‘sheik’ has been arrested for annoying girls in a dance-hall, or wearing lace for trouser cuffs. Another ‘sheik’ has murdered his grandmother because she wouldn’t give him money to buy gin. “I should like to make pictures that would appeal to the fans like ’The Sheik’ did. but I want to make them better. That, of course is a difficult thing to do.” DE MILLE TO RESUME WORK William de Mille, Paramount director. whose latest offering, “Lost — A Wife,” is receiving high praise from photoplay critics, will begin work soon on his picturization of Frank Craven’s Broadway stage hit, “New Brooms.”

AMUSEMENTS

THE INDIANAPOMS TIMES

No. I—Wills and Robins will be among the entertainers present at the Lyric all next week. No. 2—ldabelle Arnold will be seen in an important role in “Dear Me,” opening as a Berkell

ROUNDING ROUND A TI7DQ With WALTER 1 LAO D ' hickMAN

XT the beginning of the present city administration, Carlton Guy was given the opportunity to establish twc municipal theaters, one at Brookside Park and the other at Garfield. The entertainment offered is free to everybody. Permanent stages have been built at both parks. Two stock companies have been organized alternating every other week at the two parks.

Guy is an old showman and he knows the theater. He knows that his bills must be varied. Every! body doesn’t like drama, others fall for melodrama alone. As I understand It, Guy and the Municipal theater is not so well off financially, meaning that the city fathers or whoever Is to blame, have been seen fit not to. pour too much money into the enterprise. I noticed when I was at Brookside Park this week seeing Guy’s new play, “The Green Football,” that there was no tent over the audience. I do not know the condition at Garfield. A tent roof over the auditorium would make it possible for the actors to talk more freely and easier for the audience to hear. A strictly tied public purse does not give Guy much money to pay for royalties on plays. The really big plays, you know, cost a lot to produce in stock.

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attraction at English’s Sunday night. No. 3—Mallia-Bart Cos. will be seen at the Palace the last half of the week In “The Baggage Smashers.”

With anew administration coming in next year, nobody can tell what the future of the Municipal theater will be. But I am sure of this, that Guy has given many pleasant evenings to thousands of people while he has been con/ducting the Municipal theaters. Have always’ maintained that our public parks afford ample opportunity for giving worthwhile open air pageants. It has been my wish that the Municipal theater could Invite some great stage star to come here for a week of Shakespeare or other classics at Brookside. I have faith in the Municipal theater, because it unconsciously gives a person a “taste” for the theater. Yon get out of the theater just what you put into it, based upon the amount of experience yon have with a-theatrical product. Audiences do not just grow, they

AMUSEMENTS

must be cultivated. There are many people who enjoy to “act” and the giving each year of a large outdoor pageant would make It possible for several hundred local people to take part. If It wasn’t for the devotion! and interest of Carlton Guy for the dvio theater movement, I am sure that the municipal theater would never have come to pass in Indianapolis. I believe that Guy Is getting a hundred scents out of every dollar that Ihe has spent. \ .|. -|. + Mevleland In Indianapolis this fall looks like it is going to he a florious place. Ed Bingham at the Colonial tells me tha. he has already book'Vl “The Iron Horse,” “Lightnin’ “ and other big features. The Circle will open its fall season the last week In August. The bookings of this theater ate mighty interesting. The Ohio will stick as usual to the big Paramount pictures and unusual care has been taken with the fall program at the Apollo. It looks like a great' fall and winter movie season here. True to my promise, I have received a large number of one-act plays from publishers. During the regular season I am often asked for Information concerning such playe. I am r.ow in a position to he of real service to the readtrs of this department. Would suggest that those desiring such Information make telephone appointments with me any day during the week but Monday and Tuesday.

GEORGE CARSON PRESENTS A Colorful Production of Song, Dance and Music

COPEUND & CATO I Prof. LOUIS WINSEL Late Styles of Nothing | Master of the Bass Viol STANLEY, TRIPP& MOWATT THE BIG SURPRISE WILLIS & ROBBINS I MUSICAL ZYLOS The Wrong Impression | Versatile Instrumentalists From the University of Southern California TROJAN FIVE A Variety of Entertainment and College Hokum CHARLIE CHASE COMEDY, “LOOKING FOR SALLY” KINOGRAMS—THE PACE MAKERS. ,

Three Leaders

First National's “Sally,” starring Colleen Moore, t'ecille De Mllle's “The Ten Commandments,’ and Harold Lloyd's “Girl Shy" nre rated ns three of the year’s best bets In the film world in the June “Check-up" of the Motion Picture News, made from reports by exhibitors in all parts of the country on pictures played. Their percentage rating is given as 93 each. “Charley's Aunt" and “America’ receive a rating of 91, and two pictures, "Ahrnhame Lincoln” and “The Thief of Bagdad,' are awurded 90 per cent.

CIRCUS ACT TO BE AT BROAD RIPPLE PARK Flying Moores Engaged to Perform Startling Stunts. There will he a double headed circus and vaudeville progrum offered next week at Broad Ripple Park. The acts will include the sensational aerial net of the Flying Moore’s and Andrew’s Bears. The Flying Moore's which consists of two men and two young women offer a routine of thrilling tricks on a special rigging that stands s.mte sixty feet In the air. One of the feature tricks Is a double catch of the two women by the men after the former turn two complete somersaults In mid ilr and both passing in different directions. Andrew's Bears are a quartette of real bruin comedians. The offer a school room sketch in which one is the teacher nnd the other scholars. They even try their hands or paws at singing, which is more funny than it is artistic. It will be a most pleasing act of the youngsters. They will offer a special act at the matinees for the benefit of the juvenile element of the audlenco. At the forthcoming York Rite picnic which will be held at Broad Ripple Park on Saturday. Aug. 1, the guests of honor will be the old folks from the Masonic Home at Franklin. Special cars will bring them and the boys band to the park and will return them to Franklin early In the evening after the frolic is over. Returns from the various blue lodges over the tSate, according to George J. Lehnert. chairman of the various committees, indicate that an attendance of sixty thousand or more will attend the affair.

AMUSEMENTS

MISS ELLIOTT TO HAVE BIG PART IN PLAY

Berkell Players to Offer •Dear Me’ as Next Attraction at English's.

In "Dear Me." the comedy which will he presented at English’s next week, the Berkell Players have another John Golden Succeas. With "Turn to the Right," "Llghtnln’." “Three Wise Fools," "Thank-U" and other hits to his credit, Mr. Golden guessed right again when he accepted “Dear Me," from authors, Luther Reed and Hale Hamilton, and produced It at the Republic Theatre In New York, where It delighted metropolitan theatergoers for a solid year. Mr. Hamilton and Grace Le Rue starred in the play, the plot of which Is built around a girl who works st home that has been dedicated to men who haVe bucked the great American game rff trying to amass wealth—nnd failed. She t almost a modern Cinderella, with a short tempered, sharp tongued old housekeeper and a group of Irritable old men helping to moke her lot more miserable. They don’t succeed, however. Possessing a flaming Imagination the little slavey manages to get the sweetness and romance that her soul cravos by writing letters to herself. Then a young man arrives, and Is accepted Into the Home. She believes him to be a failure like the rest, but as a matter of fact he Is the real owner of the place. He hears her sing, and reellr.es that she has a fortune In her voice. As their acquaintance devrlope a golden opportunity is offered her. What she does with the longed for chanofe supplies "Dear Me" with it’s surprise purch. The leading roles will be portrayed by Edythe EUlott and Milton Byron. MILDRED RYAN TO SUPPORT Among those who will he seen In support of Thomas Melglmn, l’nramont star, In "The Man Who Fourd Himself," Is Mildred Ryan, a little brunette, who will be Johnny Hines’ leading woman In ht future comedies.. Miss Ryan Is only seventeen years old but she has appeared In several Paramount, productions. Including “The IJttle French Glri" In which she played one of the Bradley girls. HAD MANY MOVIE HUSBANDS Florence Vidor has had fifty-seven husbands—of the screen variety. She acquired her fifty-seventh not so long ago while appearing In Parnmount’s “The Trouble with Wives." Tom Moore wns the lucky man.

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