THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX. PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 3, 1917. ill 1 " 5- - - 1 x.?r . A. io Earth , (V2. O 1 a e&ples f - TODAY'S FILM FEATURES. Sunaet Spssus Hayakawa ant Fannie Ward. "The Cheat." Liberty Georse M. Cohan, "Sev en Keys to Baldpate." Columbia Enid Be n. n ett, "They're Off." . Peoples Douglas " Fairbanks "Down to Earth." Star Charlotte Walker. - "Mary Lawson's Secret." Majestic Bryant Washburn. "Skinner's Baby." Circle Marjorie Rambeau. "The Debt." THE motion pictures are slowly creeping into the legitimate drama. Last year their only- representa tive on the stage was In "Johnny Get Your Gun," one scene of which showed a moving picture studio. Already this season two plays depend either In part or entirely on the motion picture busi ness. "The Lassoo" has a last act set In the scenario department of a movie studio and the hero turns scenariolst Just in time to save himself from total eclipse. "Business Before Pleasure" has, of course, the entire moving pic ture business as a backbone of enter tainment. It is whispered that Adolph Zukor, president of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, had a bit to do with the correct photoplay atmosphere found in the play. He not only suggested some f the lines, but fixed up the taking of the film exhibited in the play and put in some of the film titles. Mr. Zukor is rewarded by having his name mentioned in the play as the most prominent motion picture magnate in the country. Further reciprocity may he seen in the lobby and on the theater walla of the Eltinge, where all the Paramount stars are exhibited in pos ters to lend atmosphere to the play. Mary Pickford. Bill Hart, Douglas Fairbanks, David Griffith, Marguerite Clark, Pauline Frederick, Billie Burke, Lina Cavalier! and all the other Para mount and Artcraft notables are there. The theater, by the way, is named for another Paramount star, the latest ad dition to the ranks of the silent drama, Julian Eltinge. One Way te Pick Plays. Let photo-playwrights tear their hair ever this but this is the way one moving-picture magnate judges their product: William Fox, head (and shoulders) of the various cinema enterprises that bear his name, is a mighty busy man. He has a private barber shop in his office. Every afternoon his start bar ter arrives, and Mr. Fox retires to the barber chair. While the tonsor thus plies his Job, a young woman en ters, and the plot begins; she brings the plot with her, and she begins it. Jack Lait, who writes the story in the American Magazine for September, has Been it and knows it to be true. Seated in a far corner of the room, she begins to read scenarios in a metallic unemotional voice. "I wouldn't let an actor or a director read me a story on a bet," says Mr. Fox. "Those fellows can make any thing sound good." - While the lady with the zinc throat reads on, Mr. Fox lies in the chair un der the soothing touch of razor, brush or vibrator, his eyes closed, half dozing. Is'ot until he has gone to bed, many hours later, does he turn back to those scenarios. Here is how he accepts Ecenarios: "The ones I can remember when I net in -bed are the ones I want. I know that those which registered on my half-sleeping brain hours before, and still stand there in relief, are the ones that will register on the brain of the audience. Those are the ones that stuck with me. Those are the ones I want." ' William Fox Is only 38 years old, but tias established himself around the world with offices in every civilized land, and attained, an AAAI rating in Uradstreet's. George BI. Likes "Flickers. At last George M. Cohan has been cornered. No avenue of escape was open for Uncle Sam's pet nephew last week when the interviewer, after mak ing sure of this fact, approached the famous Yankee Doodle comedian, author, actor and producer of the the atrical world who is scoring another nrilliant success in his second motion picture effort, "Seven Keys to Bald pate." Even the red "exit" lights were many feet "away. On manjr occasions jince George M. made his screen debut in "Broadway Jones he has success fully dodged interviewers and, strange as it may seem, his efforts in behalf of personal publicity are nil. On being cornered, however, Mr. Cohan proved the most congenial of all democratic celebrities, . of which there are only too few, and soon forgot the fact that he was being interviewed as a result of his enthusiasm over his newest field of conquest. "I like the movies; I think they're great!" exclaimed Georgle with a characteristic twitch of his mouth. "I learned a lot of Interesting things from my first Artcraft picture, 'Broadway Jones," and in "Seven Keys to Baldpate' I think I am a regular film actor. I would like to produce a picture myself JUbL in U1UC1 lu imnuio liio Ulfe, crowns in the outdoor scenes. That must be great! "Don't make the mistake of judging motion pictures in the same light as theatricals. Pictures represent another ' Business entirety. And remember that the screen director has the whole world to draw on for scenery. If he wants to take an ocean scene he can go right down to the Atlantic or Pacific and get the real thing while the stage producer has to have the water painted on a drop. "To make good In motion pictures," Mr. Cohan continued, "you don't have to be equipped with stage experience. ' In fact, you have more chance if you've : It k... - X7x -' k I! srv r7 i wz m t .m - n y t v m ill mi W it -v a . : . - . j, f- a I I (. f i . ,v r.v - e 'i 5f77e7: Scene 2am,T7ey'e Off ."at Columbia, lfs-frl Gamhi Ifcedrn Fllmjrxgr' : ; : it--. - u -m a n yr - . .a -i -'.'111 ie- V-s. s t vw v -i a s y- , d36 never been on the stage, Because If you have been a "legit" actor you have to unlearn practically all you know about acting except how to make up and even that's different. You have to register. Gestures with the hands and arms mean very little; it is almost all in registering emotions on the face. The strong studio lights are very hard on the eyes," said Mr. Cohan as one of his stage managers approached and waited for an audience with his "chief." "The screen actor has to be as careful of his eyes as Paderewski of his fingers. Before going to work in the rooming it is best to cover the eyes with a film of castor oil for pro tection. Practically every motion pic ture actor has to bathe his eyes morn ing, noon and night. "Another curious thing about the regular picture actor is that he can ex press and sort of feeling without say ing a word. At first I spoke the words to correspond to what I was register ing, but the others just mumbled. However," concluded the new screen star with a smile .as he noddedo his assistant, "I, too, can now "register' without even making a sound, so natu rally feel that I am now a full-fledged silent-actor." Mountain Named After "Dong." Celebrities have had institutions and even trees named after them, but Douglas Fairbanks Is perhaps the first to have a mountain peak bear his name. It was during the production of mountain scenes in California recently for "Down to Earth," the new Fair-banks-Artcraft picture, that the popu lar actor was approached by D. G. Des mond, United States Government of ficial, who after 10 minutes of elo quence concluded by saying that it was his pleasure to announce that one of the most picturesque mountain peaks had been named in his honor In Yo semite Valley. The energetic Douglas thanked the official for the honor and proved his appreciation by doing a hand-stand on a dizzy precipice of the mountain. Douglas Fairbanks Peak, according to the Government representative, is perhaps the most popular objective point in the whole region. On the way to this point one passes Vernal and Nevada Falls, returning down the short zig-zag road past Agaspiz Column- and Sentinel Rock. There is a comfortable hotel on the summit and many take the stago here for the Big Trees, breaking the full trip from Sentinel Hotel on the valley floor. The projecting rocks which mark Douglas Fairbanks Peak are but a- few yards from the hotel Upon returning from his trip "to the mountain top Fairbanks announced his intention of building a cabin on his new lofty land where he will spend his time between the production of pic tures. Storm Scene Thrills. Jupiter Pluvlus was outjupitered at the Thanhouser studio in a miniature rendition of a storm conducted by Di rector John B. O'Brien under the aus pices of Lloyd Lonergan. author of "Mary Lawson's Secret," in which Char lotte Walker is star. A ship had to be sunk in Long Island Sound in a. terrific gale. To work out the details of the sinking it was decid ed to experiment with & miniature ship, having dolls on the deck. A large tank-was filled with water and dirt piled up at one side to represent the Connecticut hills. The -usual overhead perioraiea "rain tank. 'and an aero plane propeller created the driving tempest and" made enormous six-inch waves. . An unusual lightning effect wa ob tained by making tree-like slits in half a dozen places on a black backing with a separate light back of each tree-like slit. This was an invention of Mr. O'Brien and his camera man, II. B Harris. The storm was made and taken at night, and the next day it Well, old J. Pluvlus was Just naturally so insult ed about it that he sent a northeaster that blew down the Thanhouser storm apparatus and then buried the debris under & 12-inch snowfall Enid Rides (or Red Cross. Never was a jockey prouder of vic tory, and few received greater rearard than Enid Bennett, the little Triangle star, when she rammed home to a scald ing finish as the winner in the sensa tional race shown in "They're Off." The part provided the Triangle etar was to win the race, and she did, al though she had- to present a punishing finish. Her riding was good, almost professional, but her artist friends jested with her, flouting her victory, deriding her success. They dared and defied her to ride again. Finally they began wagering, whoever won to give the winnings to the Red Cross. Enid Bennett accepted the challenge. - The horses were given a two-hour rest. Then the test came again, this time in deadly earnest. The professional was assured he would receive a $250 bonus if he won. Miss Bennett was riding for charity. She was astride a heady brute, almost too heavy for her arms. , And she rode him with abandon and consummate skill. It was a bat and spur finish, Enid Bennett high on the shoulders, lifting her horse at every stride. She won the race, and with it a large sum for charity. New Pearl White Serial. The great demand throughout the country for a Pearl White serial photo play has caused Pathe to release "The Fatal Ring," the serial in which Pearl White is starred. It starts at the Pan tages Theater a week from tomorrow. In "The Fatal Ring" Pearl White. who plays the leading part of Pearl Standish, is supported by th greatest cast she ever had in any 'serial. War ner Oland, who played the part of Baron Huroki in "Patria," is the villain of this serial. Ruby Hoffman is a woman of mystery, a. priestess whose followers do her bidding. -Henry Gsell and Earle Fox are supporting members of the cast. Pearl White, the heroine of "The Fatal Ring," is a blase society girl who has eo much money and so many things at her disposal that she finds life a bore. When tshe is involved in the re covery of a certain violet diamond, sought by a strange religious sect, who have no compunction in killing those who oppose their efforts to recover the diamond, she finds life so thrilling and of so much interest that she i3 kept busy night and day avoiding the perils and pitfalls prepared for her. Her father bought the diamond from an Ori ental priest who stole it. Pearl is held responsible for its loss, as her father is dead, and is driven to her best efforts to recover the diamond. Her fate is wrapped up with the fate of Nicholas Knox, a follower of the strange sect, played by Earle Fox, and with that of Tom Carlton, a reporter, played by Henry Gsell. Miss White has three record-break ing serials to her credit, "The Perils of Pauline," "The Exploits of Elaine" and The Iron Claw," while her last offering was Pearl of the Army. Mary Has Special Guards. If there is anyone who uoes not be lieve that Mary Pickford is a person of great importance and worthy of a great deal of attention and considera tion, all they have to do is to ask Mayor James Rolph and the police department of San Francisco. Miss Pickford and her company, under the direction of Mar shall Neilan, visited the Bay City to film scenes recently. The company ar rived in the evening and went directly to their hotels and in the morning when the star approached her automobile to go on location she found it surrounded by a cavalcade of 15 mounted police men under the command of a police lieutenant. At first "Americas Sweet heart" thought she had committed some crime -which she had forgotten, but the detachment of police gave a salute and the lieutenant informed her that Mayor Rolph had heard of her arrival in the city to do some work and provided the police for her protection during her stay in the city. Wherever Miss Pickford goes to film scenes she is immediately recognized and surrounded by huge crowds which quite frequently interfere with the work of tne players. Mayor Itolph, re membering the sensation Miss Pickford had caused when she appeared in San Francisco to assist in the sale of Lib erty bonds, placed the police depart ment at her disposal. To see "America's Sweetheart" riding up the boulevard in her automobile sur rounded on all sides by the mounted police created the impression among people that royalty was in town. "The Metro Pictures Corporation wants stories for Madame Nazimova, for Ethel Barrymore, for Emily Stev ens, for Francis X. Bushman and Bev erly Bayae and foe Eoimy. Wenlen. For Jennie Wsrf ' V-Tiiiii in mmm 7 iBrvan-t Washburn nJfeze?J?7yjri Madame Nazimova the stories should have modern emotion roles; for Miss Barrymore the drama of the drawing room: for Miss Stevens the keen, men tal, neurotic American young woman of today: for Mr. Bushman and Miss Bayne, the great outdoors; for Miss Wehlen the ingenue melodrama thai permits "of swift action well dresssed. In every case it is drama, and not com edy, that is desired." , So spoke Maxwell Karger, general manager of the Metro Pictures Corpo ration, in his studios last week. For almost three years Mr. Karger pro-, duced an average of 40 Metro features annually in the Rolfe and Columbia studios. He now- is charged with the production of Metro special produc Earle Williams, Vltagraph's star, has been double-crossed by Fate. , He doesn't get a vacation this year. Just when he should be stepping on the self-starter of his big motor and pointing for a secluded trout stream, as he had planned, he has to stick around the Brooklyn studio in makeup. About seven weeks ago he was taken ill and spent most of the period in oed, doing his best to beat off blood poison, and only recently returned to the stu dio. Worn by his long light against tetanus and tired anyway, by an unin terrupted season of work, he suggested to Albert E. Smith, president of Vita graph, that he needed a vacation. "But you've been away seven weeks," said Mr. Smith. "But not on a vacation," replied Will iams. "Lying in bed. with a sore foot, is not exactly my idea of a good time." "Well, let's finish up that picture you were working in before you were taken ill, and maybe a vacation will turn up," said Mr. Smith. So Williams resumed his role and had worked one day when two of the girls in the cast were taken UL At the end of a week Mr. Smith met him and said: "Well, there's the vacation. Earle; I told you it would turn up." "Fine!" replied Williams. "It's JuJt like taking a transcontinental trip in a captive balloon." Elsie Ferguson, the popular stage star, who has just made her motion ptcture debut in a screen version of Robert Hichens" well-known novel. "Barbary Sheep," finished her charac terization in this play last week. Con ceded to he the most elaborate film pro duction ever staged in Fort Lee, New Jersey's famous motion picture produc ing center, this offering is expected to create a sensation wherever it is shpwn. For the big Algerian street scenes, in which 2000 persons took part, a com plete village was built and on the last day of the production of the film sev eral thousand "fans" gathered on the streets and nearby rooftops to watch the unusual proceedings. Staged under the able direction of Maurice Tourneur, this photoplay, it is predicted, will prove the greatest vehicle ever afford ed Miss Ferguson. The book from which the film was adapted proved Robert Hichens" greatest seller since "The Garden of Allah." The supporting cast includes Pedro de Cordoba, Lums den Hare, Macy Harlam, Alex Shannon, Maude Ford and many other talented screen artists. "SKINJTER'S BABY" IS GOOD IT UN Clean, Wholesome Fun ' Found in Picture-Running at Slajestlc. "Skinner's Baby." which opened an engagement at the Majestic Theater yesterday to hilarious crowds, is as good, if not better, than "Skinner's Dress Suit" and other stories of the Henry Irving Dodge series. It is ab solutely clean,- wholesome comedy drama of the best type, and as such will please any audience. The keynote of "Skinner's Baby." as was so apparent in "Skinner's Dress Suit," is the naturalness of the, acting, depicting every-day occurrences. Bry ant Washburn, as Skinner, and Hazel Daly, as Honey, "act natural." They never lose sight of the fact that they are enacting very human parts. Instead of a dress suit it is a baby that IlUa to overflowing: Uiexcup of Joy from which Skinr and wife, Honey, drink. A feature of the play is the surprise climax, a decidedly un expected twist of affairs. Here's the story in brief: Skinner realizes that there is something lack ing in his home. The head book keeper at the office announces one morning that he is the proud father of a bouncing boy. This announce ment sets Skinner to ttfinking. Soon afterwards. Honey, his wife, confides her great secret. It is to be a' boy. Great preparations are to be made for the arrival. He is to be named William Skinner, Jr.. and he is to be President some day in short, he is to be the most wonderful man. Skinner is at the office when he is notified that he had "better come home." He rushes out and. after a series of misfortunes, (Concluded on Pawe 5. Column 1.) , V' 'i ''V ( f v - 'hi- I LJ:.l "'..- -J Jilt till COMMENCING TODAY FOUR DAYS ONLY SESSUE HAYAKAWA AND FANNIE WARD IN The Photoplay Sensation TOT Li Li cLL imA (rU EA . Acknowledged the greatest picture ever made' by Paramount. The first photoplay to be chosen for stage adaptation. Dramatic story of a woman who played with fire. . j Comedy T' COOL AND COSY. I ' ' iiwM Washlna-ton St. at Broadway MmmmmmmmmmJ xu A. 31. to 11 1. M Continuous 11 - - Scenic