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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 1917)
4r TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXTAX, PORIXANTJ. DECEMBER 30, 1917. sS. )..' hy 'A-) I 1 rr'v ' w.. ,xX " ; A V i : i s- --, 1 . fast J yv. t , vS , 4 , . -N zaaitor aw . ' ; ; rr r i. T lred most In the world to bo a sue , , , s f J I It tJ A J It 1 j , -VV. ' 4 I I I cessful actor. His father was a for- U x J It I , I 4 I 1 mldable opponent of this aspiration. V ' ' fc ' U . 1 ' I , , V? I'l X ' "''4 I - ' ' 7 , t. rr-- ! AX I V. V. .1-,;.,,-:: I T ..-(f'.- f . I TODAY'S FILM FEATURES. Sunset Doug-las ' Fairbanks, "Double Trouble." Columbia Marguerite Clark. "Seven Swans." Llberty--Charles Ray. "His Moth er's Boy." Majestic George Walsh, "This Is the Life." Peoples Maclste. "The "Warrior." Star Vivian Martin. "Molly En tangled"; Charlie Chaplin, "The Adventurer." Globe Jack Plekford and Lou ise Huff, "What Money Can't Buy." Circle Herbert Rawllnson, "Come Through." NEARLY every one of Portland's downtown photoplay theaters are to stage special midnight film matinees on New Teat's Eve. Pro grammes will range from extra pres entations of current programmes to elaborately arranged entertainment menus. Perhaps the most ambitious effort, and one which Ralph Ruffner charac terizes as "The most unique entertain ment of the kind ever conceived," will te at the Liberty Theater. Mr.Ruft ner, who ha charge of the affair, has a National reputation for staging mid night revelries, dating from his hiKhly successful and hilarious shows at the Liberty Theater, Spokane. "Something new; something differ ent: something startling." is the best Ruffner has advanced thus far on the Liberty midnight matinee, but he has been working for weeks preparing for his first big Portland show and asserts that it will "knock 'em dead." The Peoples. Majestic, Sunset and Star theaters will all stage extra shows tomorrow night, with special film num bers, particularly comedies, augment ing regular performances in several in stances. Art era ft Stars "Resolute." Mary Pickford I have resolved not to let a single opportunity go by to do something for our brave boys In the ranks and to enlist the aid of every woman and girl in this direction. We can all do our hit, and those who can not aid financially or knit sweaters and wrist bands can get the name of some soldier 'over there' and by cheery letters relieve the monotony of trench life." Douglas Fairbanks I have made a firm resolution that if I break my neck in pulling off a stunt for pictures I ehall retire permanently from the screen. William S. Hart I have resolved to ecrutinize every picture and to endea vor to improve upon it In the succeed ing one. ; Critical self-analysis tends to progression and is bound to prevent retrogression. Elsie Ferguson The warm welcome I have received from the picture pub lic has caused me to resolve to let each picture be a testimonial of my appre ciation. ' Geraldlne Farrai- Another year has rolled by and I have been sreatly im pressed by the artistic progress of the motion pictures. I shall continue to devote much of my time during the comlnr year to photoplays.. George M. Cohan As . usual, my res olutions for the new year will be nu merous. I shall not work mora than 24 hours a day nor write more plays than I can produce. Seriously, . how ever. I have resolved to devote some of my time to motion pictures during 1918. "Coward Made Ray a Stan Possessing a variety of talents aside from the histrionic. Charles Ray, star In forthcoming Paramount-Tnce pro ductions, does not limit his activities to the studio lot. He excels In all forms f athletics, takes a keen Interest in electrical experiments, is an apt stu dent of French and Spanish, and, for his own amusement, writes stories whenever inspired by a particularly good Idea. Mr. Ray came under th direction of Thomas H. Ince three yearn ago. fol lowing two years' experience with rep ertoire companies on the road. He ap peared for some time in two or three reel pictures. In whih he was re quired to perform all manner of has ardous feats. Then he flashed into stardom over night In tha titular role of "The Coward." Critics at once pro claimed him a remarkable "find" for the screen. Their opinions were strong ly substantiated by his splendid work in his succeeding pictures. Totally unlike the weakling charac ters which he has played. Rw as a boy showed determination and d'gged per severance to accomplish what he de sired most in the world to bo a suc cessful actor. His father was a for midable opponent of this aspiration. But at length a compromise was ef fected whereby Ray, Junior, agreed to take a commercial course In college with the privilege of going on the stage afterward in rase business did not suit him. He fulfilled the require ment, then took advantage of the priv ilege. His first stage appearance was so good that his father, who had been sitting down front, decided to give the boy not only encouragement, but finan cial backing. The investment was a shrewd one. for now Ray, it is said, commands a higher salary than many a bank pres ident, and enjoys an enviable popular ity wherever pictures are shown. He is six feet tall, has dark brown hair and eyes and Is possessed of a winning per sonality. As he is not yet 26 years of age, his greatest successes are un doubtedly yet to coma. Irish Fend Amuses Vivian. In filming "Molly Entangled," the latest Paramount production starring Vivian Martin, the members of the company had the time of their lives It is safe to say that there was more brogue and more Irish anecdotes scat tered around the staid old studio than ever before in its existence. The bitter feud between the Barrys and the O'Maras was a continual source of amusement to the fun-loving actors. Harrison Ford, Miss Martin's leading man, and the little star kept the com pany in gales of laughter. One of Miss Martin's stories was the folowing: She said the quarrel between the two families reminded her of the two Irish men who lived side by side. One owned a peach tree which had a branch grow ing over Into the neighbor's yard. The owner accused his neighbor of stealing the peachea, but was sent scuttling back to his own yard by a well-directed shower of "Irish confetti" from the nelBhbor. Vowing to get even, that night he climbed out onto the branch and sawed It completely off, falling and breaking both legs in the process. Walsh Almost Picked." George Walsh, who has had an en counter at one time or another with everything in the world, finally met up with the United States Government, and, after passing through what looked like a severe ordeal, came out of it with flying colors and a high opinion of the United States Army and its ef ficiency. He had been spending a few days with R. A. Walsh, his director. Miss Wanda Pettit and other members of hio company down on the Pacific Coast, taking pictures of "This is the Life." They did a good deal of work out side of San Pedro, in the steamboat President, which is commanded by Captain Cousins, who is one of . the familiar skippers along the Coast. , When they had about finished their work, it occurred to R. A. Walsh that it was necessary to have a "closeup" of a blowing whistle and the cameras were arranged so that this could be done. The whistle was blown when they were quite near shore and within the lines of fortifications and they did not know at the time thatthe Army officers were attracted and that field glasses were trained on them and the incident carefully observed. ' When the President was about half way toward San Diego, wireless mes sages were received by Captain Cousins to detain all the company that had to do with the taking of the picture, to hold all the films and that they would be subjected to examination on arrival at San Diego. Once on shore the Walsh brothers, by actual demonstration, soon convinced the officials that the position of the cameras at the time of taking the whistle 'picture could not possibly have brought any of the fortifications on land Into focus. With the additional assurance that when the films were de veloped, the Government would have opportunity to inspect them, the of ficers released the company. - Margnerlte Knits Kettle. On entering the dim. dusky and It must bo confessed somewhat grimy studio from the noi.e and bustle Of Forty-sixth, street. New York City, one gained the impression of stepping out of life for a time into the mysterious realms of another world. And, In deed, on being ushered into the inner sanctum sanctorum where Marguerite Clsrk sat demurely enthroned in a huge, all-enveloping four-posted and canopied bed. the idea that one bad walked "through the loakKis-Slass'' persisted and grew. From the velvet-cushioned recesses of the four-poster Mia Clajk was hold- r ' .. : x- Ing forth on fairy tales her pet sub ject. "Ever since I started spelling stories out of the first reader at Avon dale, Ohio, near Cincinnati, where I was born," she said. "I have liked the fairy tales best. At the Ureuline Con vent, where my elder sister placed me after my parents' death. I was always writing- fairy tales instead of Irregu lar verbs or conjunctions, and even when I began to appear In amateur theatricals and during the first years on the stage.-I always tried to make my managers allow me to present plays for the little folks meaning all those who have not grown old and hard at heart. " 'Snow White,' in which I appeared at the Little Theater.. New York City, in 1912, was the first time I ever really succeeded in this strange ambition of mine, but in-lt I fully proved my con tention that 'the tired business man,' whom managers try so hard to please, as well as his wife and whole family, is more than delighted to relax once in a while and enjoy a thoroughly impos sible, imaginative bit of fairy-tale lore. "So. you see. when I got to be a 'sure-'nutr motion picture star, I made it a rule to produce at least one pic ture a year that should be just that kind of a relaxation. So 'Snow White' took screen form at Christmas time last year and now 'The Seven Swans' will prove my theory once more." Leading Lady Roles Studio. Scene: The Arteraft studio in Fort Lee, N. J., where Maurice Tourneur, the famous French director, is engaged in producing Maeterlinck's masterpiece. "The Blue Bird," in motion pictures. Everybody is ready and waiting for the leading lady. Miss Tulla Belle. Toyr neur begins to get ruffled and looks at his watch. After another wait Miss Belle arrives, and Instead of a repri mand Tourneur rreeti her with a bright smile and an effusive "Good morning, my dear," and is rewarded with a kiss. They look over the scenario and Miss Belle sits on Tourneur's lap. while the studio employes look on and comment to each other on Miss Belle's "drag" with the great producer, who would have disciplined any other member of the east for tardiness. Suddenly .Mrs. Tourneur appears . In the entrance. She takes in the situa tion at a glance and walks quickly to wards her husband, who has his back to her and does not note her approach. She throws her arms around Miss Belle, lifts her from Tourneur's lap, and kisses her! For Tulla Belle Is only 8 years old. She and Robert Macdougal, aged '0, play the part of the children who search for the Bluebird and meet with the strange adventures which Maeter linck presents in his great allegorical Play. "Fatty" Has Show. Rivaling- the best vaudeville bllli ever presented, Fatty Arburkle is of. fering his comedy company In a seven act show at several benefits during the holidays for the amusement of the soldiers and sailors stationed in, South ern California. Opening the bill Is the latest Arbuckle comedy, "A Country Hero," introducing the funny town of Jazs ville. Sixteen years on the big time is the record of the three Keatons, who will . offer their acrobale act, with Butler Keaton. the village pest of the comedies, featured. In the No. 2 spot is a sketch played by Valerie Berg ore. who is known In ternationally for her playlets, sup ported to her husband, Herbert War ren, who Is scenario editor. Balancing the center of the bill is the funniest of them all Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, who will present a snappy monologue and song etories. The star wss once a bright light In musical enmedy. so thin is not a new experience for him. Fresh, from her success at the Hippo drome, New York. Sophye Barnard sings her latest song hits, including the song she made famous. "Poor But terfly." In private life she Is the wife of Lou Anger, business nu.nager, who will offer his inimitable monologue which made him known from coast to coast on the big-time circuits. Closing the top-notch bill is the dancing act presented by Alice Lake, the dainty comedienne, and Al St. John, the hated rival. Fatty Arbuckle's vaudeville show is in great demand as a benefit winner this Winter season. ' Another Pickford Adoption. Mary Pickford, America's sweet heart, is now up in the air, so to speak. The Hth Aero Squadron, Aviation sec tion, Signal Corps of the Coast Artil lery Corps, National Guard (Califor nia) has requested that she adopt them as her own in the same manner in which she adopted the Second Battalion of the California Field Artillery. Also the 18th Company, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard (California), stationed near the aviation field in San Diego, have asked Frances Marion. Miss Plckford'a clever and beautiful scenario writer, to take them under her protecting wing. The adoption ceremony will take place shortly, and to celebrate the event the two organ izations are giving a ball In honor of the two young ladies at the U. S. Grant Hotel In. San Diego. It is expected that she will also be given the honor of flying in the squadron's command er's aerc lane. Bill Hart Exacting. Much of William 8. Hart's time Is spent In reading scripts intended for his production, many of which, although written by some of the best-known screen authors, are entirely unavailable for his use. In an Interview recently Minmuimiiiiiiiimiimmiiiiimiiiiiu globe! Washington at Eleventh 1 Oc JACK PICKFORD I and Louise Huff 1 in on the requirements of his scripts, the Thomas H. Ince star said: "I have been making Western pictures for more than three years, and therefore, have a good idea of what sort of stories will appeal to my admirers. "Working in conjunction with such an authority as Mr. Ince. my judgment rarely is wrong. We always read the initial draft of a scenario together. First Mr. Ince will read for a while and then I will peruse the script. We dis cuss each scene. I must feel the story by the time It is well under way, or I cannot bring myself to like It If the author hasn't taken my measure pretty definitely by the time I have been In the story for the first five minutes, it is a certainty that his work will be found unsu-ited for my uses. "My introduction to the audience Is an important part of a scenario and the author who misses the opportunity to give me a novel entree will have a hard time selling his story. I suppose about one out of every two dosen scripts submitted are found worth con sidering for production by Mr. Ince and myself. That is to say, about one story-out of every 24 Is found to have possibilities. Of course, if the story is the work of one of the regular staff writers eur work in connection with the script is nil, but not so when the script is the product of an outside writer who usually thinks more of his abilities as an author than he does oi building stories for my individual use. "I have my own methods of screen delineation and in consequence " a, story that would be a splendid vehicle for some other portrayer of Western roles will not do for me. Often when I receive stories from outside writers I must tear the script to pieces, switch episodes from one part to another, build up the characters and take extreme care that nothing shall enter the story that has been included n any of my previous picures: in short. I must practically rewrite the entire story before it is ready for pro duction." Chaplin In Hospitals Charlie Chaplin as a cure for shell shock is perhaps tfle latest discovery of science. There are no more pathetic "cases received at an army base hospital than those who have had their nerves shatx tered and minds disorganized by the shock of exploding shells. A thoroughly equipped "neurological unit," with hospital accommodation for a thousand beds, is to be"estab lished in France for the United States Army.' One of the staff. Dr. Lewi Coleman Hall. has , just written to Charlie Chaplin for some autographed photos of himself in character to help along the work. "Please write my name on the pho tos, also," he says, "the idea being that nearly everyo1e has seen you In the pictures. I wilL show your picture to a poor fellow, and It may' arrest his mind for a second. He may say. "Do you know Charlie?" And then begins the first ray of hope-that thia poor fellow's mind can be saved." Needless to say, the popular corner dian Immediately responded to the doctor's request. , ; Irene Tireless1 Worker. Anyone who does not believe that dancing is a great "set up" exercise is referred to Irene Castle, for the world-famous Pathe 6tar is the per soulf ication of graceful endurance and her capacity for work, like her dramatic power, is apparently limit less. Mrs. Castle danced herself into so ciety, and then into the hearts of the public and this naturally led to the motion picture studio, where she has added other legions to her admirers who have now grown to feel that they know her personally. While Mrs. Castle had thousands of fConc!ndri on Pska 5. Column 5.) What Money Can't uy y':!p3tSSSk - - COMMENCING SUNDAY. - v y( TT fTT lp IT h Q Y. ;V vyf: ft Tp A TTFftTlD A Mln f In...;."- . ii rMawMmij - y;:J: Double 1 rouble yy y'y-y0i r t : V'-uk," Supreme New Year's Attraction ! i:5 PRICES . : None but -IV d . ;; Proven J I U JJ ,d . Jj Children Shows the Successes LL Matinees JLLV Holidays. Always Hits. - WE PAY THE WAR TAX, TOO 1l "HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL" t ' .... 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