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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1919)
. .. - . ... .... 1 n 6 inE SUNDAY OREGOXIAy, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 31. 1919. I '.,t fU - y r ',V, f-V 7 ( I TODAY'S FILM FEATURES. Strand Nazimova, "The Brat." Liberty Plive Thomas, "Upstairs, and Down." Majestic D o u p 1 a s Fairbanks, "His Majesty, the American." C o 1 u m b i a British production, "Choosing a Wife." Peoples Billie Burke, "The Mis leading Widow." Star William Desmond, "A Sage Brush Hamlet." Sunset Blanche Sweet, "The Un pardonable Sin." Circle Douglas Falrbanbs, "The Knickerbocker Buckaroo." MOTION1 PICTURE row has sud denly turned musical. In reality it turned musical on September 12. the day on which the strike made by" the musicians, operators and post ers' union was called' off and motion picture managers once more were at peace with the world. On that day it was announced that an eight-piece or chestra would be installed in the Co lumbia theater within 10 days and that a 12-piece orchestra would find its way to the Peoples theater by the end of 90 days. Ten days have elapsed and Portland Is this week welcoming the Columbia orchestra. In celebrating the first week of orchestra, the Columbia is now showing a British film, "Choosing a Wife." . . Running true to announcements made the first of the month by its owner, S. Morton Cohn, the Strand the ' ater embarked on its new policies yes terday to the tune of a 25-piece sym phony orchestra. As if a 25-piece or chestra . were not enough to emphasize the point that the Strand intends to rank as one of the first of all high grade cinema houses in the country, it is now showing "The Brat," Nazlmova's latest success. These two facts the orchestra and the Nazimova picture are further enhanced by the elaborate changes completed in the Strand by yesterday noon. The changes com menced to take place ten days ago w hen work. started on a ramp or incline lead ing from Washington street to the mezzanine floor. By Thursda'y night patrons of the theater crawled into the auditorium over false carpeting, around lurking ladders, over spiteful tacks and In between busy carpenters. Friday the house remained dark but yesterday it opened in. all its new glory,, in which predominates mulberry hangings and draperies, new loges and more elabo rate dressing rooms. J. J. Parker and C. S. Jensen, declar ing their nerves to be run ragged, le'ff Portland last Thursday night in search of "a little quiet." The Pendleton Round-Up proved to be their idea of Quiet. They jire expected to return today. . Portland film row had a real loss last week. Sam W. B. Cohn. manager of the Sunset theater, resigned from active business. It is understood he is con sidering an exceedingly attractive posi tion with a large eastern firm. Among. the visitors in Portland last week who interested local film men were President Wilson and L. D. Bur chart and both of these visitors fea ture C. S. Jensen of the Jensen & Von Herberg Interests. President Wil son merely lunched with Mr. Jensen, sitting exactly across the table from him. Mr. Burchart, however, did more than eat. Representing the Selznick Interests, he spent the week in staging a few "circus" events aimed to adver tise Olive Thomas in "Upstairs and Down," the feature now appearing at the Liberty theater. One of these stunts was a newsboys' marathon which start ed yesterday morning before Liberty temple 'and ended an hour later before the Liberty theater. The other event was in connection with the United States navy recruiting department and con sister of a ladder climbing, rope scal ing contest staged from the Imperial hotel windows just opposite the Lib erty theater. Mr. Burchart is a former dramatic editor of the Seattle Tost Intelligencer. Incidentally, he has writ ten a scenario to be used shortly for Pauline Frederick. POLISH CONDITION'S FILMED Ked Cross Pictures to Be Released Next Month. Once upon a. time. Joseph Leckowlt sky lived happily with his wife and five children in tiny quarters on the lower East Side of New York City. He had prospered in his trade as a hatmaker and just before the war broke out, he resolved to send his little family back to Poland on a long promised visit to old friends and relatives. Then followed four years of agony. Mrs. Leckowitsky and the children were caught in the maelstrom of war. The husband appealed in vain for informa tion as to the whereabouts of his loved ones. He tried to send money to them, but there was no way. Week after week, and month after month, he dragged himself through his dally work, driven by worries and rumors everything but the assurance of safety for his dear ones. Yesterday came the climax of a bit ter tragedy. He learned that a chair man of the American Red Cross relief in Poland had arrived In New York. Trembling with anticipation of news of his people.' he hurried to the hotel where the Red Croaa official was stopping. The chairman was address ing a little group at a luncheon. Joseph Leckowitsky faltered at the door and then sank into a nearby chair to wait his greatest opportunity. - Without warning, the speaker men tioned his name. And as he listened, Joseph Leckowitsky learned how his wife and oldest daughter had starved, following a courageous effort to keep together the bodies and souls of the little family. The speaker related how 13-year-old Abraham had traveled alone from Pinsk to Warsaw to say to him: "Please do not tell my father that mother died from hunger." And he heard how the brave boy was struggling night and day to keep the three other little Leckowitskys from a similar fate. Joseph Leckowitsky, in his remote corner, heard all the story. He did not wait to talk further with the chairman. He left and where he went, no one seems to know. Israel Grossman, an other East Sider, had .also heard how his wife and children were suffering the pangs of hunger. In Poland. He had imagination and he pictured in his mind the fate, of his loved ones. Three weeks ago the patrol carried him away a maniac. In instance after instance, the horrors and suffering of Poland are thus reflected among us at borne who barely realize the conditions that exist. The American Red Cross relief trains covered 1500 miles on Polish railways. The bureau of pictures of the American Red Cross secured on that trip material for a motion picture which is to be released soon. In the picture is told the story of the soup kitchens that are the only means of staying off starva tion. Peasants travel miles to take their place in the daily soup line. Should they, by any misfortune, miss the soup, they would have to go with out tasting food for 48 hours. The Red. Cross cameramen who are filming these new subjects are securing material that has not before been pho tographed They, are making picture records of scenes that have not been enacted before in the world's history, and of events and places that have been closed to the camera during the war. Beginning in midsummer, it is expected that there will be regular releases that will bring to American audiences vivid portrayals of Red Cross activities, and history in the making, as it is seen in Poland. Russia, Turkey, the Balkans and other war-torn countries. FOREIGN MARKETS UNINVITING American Methods and Production t Will Continue to Dominate. "American pictures dominate the for eign market, and American ideas, effi cient business methods and general up-to-dateness must be adopted abroad before film manufacturers of England, France or other foreign countries may hope to compete in the picture market." Such is the impression gained by E. W. Hammons, vice-president and gen eral manager of the Educational Films Corporation of America, as a result of a six weeks' study of conditions on the other Bide.- Mr. Hammons does not con ceal his slight disappointment in find ing unsatisfactory scenic material on the other side; he does not pretend to place any seriousness on attempted or rumored boycotts of American film; nor, most important of all, does he hide his satisfaction in the plan of plans for .the broadening of Educa tional. He wants the best short sub jects in the world, intends to have them, and . sees his corporation publicly looked up to as the creators and pos sessors of such pictures. Details of the coming enlargement of Educational's interests must wait M. Hammons' an nouncement the latter part of July. "I have left five men behind to work in England, France and Italy to secure suitable film. Agencies have also been established in London and Paris and other centers. "But frankly, the foreign market does not have material, nor can it pro duce it. The war, of course, curtailed all film manufacturers over ihere. But the fact remains that Europe must im port American ideas and efficiency be fore they can hope to have "a place in the sun' of this industry." . "We make pictures at one-half the cost it takes an English manufacturer and the pictures are better than theirs. Talk of an English boycott of American films can amount to nothing. There are 5000 theaters, approximately, in England. With their costly methods, a manufacturer can not find a paying market for his pictures among them. We in America can make money with out .selling to the foreign market. We can do without those over there, but they can not do without us. Practi cally all that is seen in English or French theaters are American pictures. Speaking specifically of France, Mr. Hammons said: "The French like the American pic ture. Despite very high admission prices, due to enormous taxes, the thea ters do a good business. Of course prices are high in England also, but the theaters are not of the class of the average French house." . While Mr. Hammons said his an nouncement regarding the broadening of Educational's activities must wait, he did. outline tentative points in his plans. "We are going to add many new re leases of high-class order," he stated. "As many releases as the market will stand, but we do not intend to glut the market. There will be an expansion of our activities that will be, I think, sur prising to the trade. We want the best in the world In short subjects, and we want to pay the best for these pic tures." One representative of Educational has been sent into Germany and Aus tria to take scenes of present-day con ditions. Many offers emanating from these countries have received no con sideration from this firm.. The event ual ratification of peace and the lifting t of the ban at present observed will be & I k " " k 1 v ' il ' i nil F ' ' 11 'r'-KL J ' J time eno' gh, Mr. Hammons said, to consider commercial relations with concerns in the countries of our former enemies. COMEDY DRAMA AT LIBERTY "Upstairs and Down" Is Full of Dah and Thrills. "Upstairs and Down," a comedy drama with pep, dash and thrills that wi'l entertain and delight any moving picture audience in the country, will be seen this week when the lovely young star, Olive Thomas, is presented in the first of her series of Selznick Pictures. Olive Thomas as Alice Chesterton, gives a delightful characterization of the "baby vamp" who was happiest when she was entangled in a web of intrigue and trouble. This adorable little mischief-maker is engaged to Tom Carey, but to her that is only an ordi nary incident in the wheel of life. At a large house party in Long Island she "vamps" Terry O'Keefe, an Irish boy, with a captivating smile and a be witching brogue. He is the means of furnishing her with one of her many "happiest" moments. She follows him to the city and when later he really falls in love with Alice's sister. Betty, and asks her to marry him, Alice says that Terry has compromised her and must marry her. Eventually, things straighten themselves out, to the satis faction of all concerned. "Upstairs and Down" is a picturiza tion of the fjffnous stage success of the same name by Frederic and Fanny Hat ton. With its splendid direction by Charles Oiblyn and excellent cast in cluding Robert Ellis, Mary Charleson, Rosemary Theby, David Butler and An drew Robson, this superb comedy drama will enter the annals of the best productions the screen has ever had. When Miss Thomas' picture, "Up stairs and Down," was first shown, Messrs. Lewis and Young decided to write a song about it. The result of their collaboration was an instant hit. Everywhere people are singing and whistling "Upstairs and Down." BILLIE BURKE AT PEOPLES "The Misleading Widow" Is Attrac tion of Week. Billie Burke, the famous stage and screen star, is the star of "The Mis leading Widow," this week's attraction at the Peoples theater. The story centers around pretty Mrs. Betty Taradine, who has taken into her home in a small New England town two convalescing officers a Colonel Preedy and his aide. Captain I'eter Rymill and because she and her chum, Penelope Moon, live alone there, the Reverend Ambrose Liptrott and his sister. Miss Tabitha. are quite con cerned over the scandal. Betty has a husband somewhere he. had left her years before because she was hopelessly extravagant, and when her bank informs her that she has overdrawn her account again and had better borrow on her husband's life insurance, she gets an idea. If her husband were dead, she would get it all. So 6he sends a telegram to herself Informing herself of tho death of her husband in South Africa. Just as she finishes reading this to Penelope, Colonel Preedy brings in Captain Ry mill, whom Betty has not previously seen and she finds herself 'looking at her "dead husband."' Peter agrees to keep. up the Iecep- tion, but when the Rev. Ambrose rails to offer consolations for her loss. Peter shows he is jealous over the minister's attentions. Realizing this. Betty flirts desperately with the colonel, with whom Penelope has fallen in love. So Penel ope devotes herself to Peter and un consciously enlightens him as to Betty's financial condition, so he set tles most of Betty's accounts, but. un fortunately for her reputation, he is seen by Miss Tabitha. The Liptrotts have come to tell Betty that because of the scundal going around about her, she had better leave town. When he . hears this, I'eter crawls from under the bed and claims Betty as his wife. Then Colonel Preeiiy steps forth, explains the reason for his presence in Betty's room, and tells Penelope of his love for her. So all misunderstandings are cleared away and the lovers 8re happy. Majratlr. Breaking records is the chief hobby of J. J. l'arker of the Majestic thea ter. That was why he came back from California early last summer with a contract in his jeans calling for tho "Big Four" productions to be shown at the Majestic theater. And that was why Douglas Fairbanks' first picture, "His Majesty, the American" opened last week at the Majestic. And that, again, was why the announcement was made that owing to the great success of the latest Fairbanks picture and the thousands of persons who had been turned away from the theater, "His Majesty, the American" will be shown at the Majestic for still another week beginning today. One reason for the evident success of "His Majesty, the American" is the uniersal appeal of the production. Youngsters enjoy the fairy tale that is woven in it. Men enjoy the tricks of physical skill in which "Doug" so prides himself. There is a pretty love story from which any real girl can get a real thrill and there is a little talk about mothers that every person who sees, the picture realizes strikes right home. Everything that has been claimed for "His Majesty, the American" is more than borne out in the production. The picture has been splendidly put on, and the cast supporting Fairbanks is ex ceptional. Marjory Daw, who has been seen before in numerous of Doug's pictures, is with him again, and Frank Campeau, Lillian Langdon, E. H. Sothern's talented brother, Sam. Al bert McQuarrie, Jay Dwiggins, "Bull" Montana, Will Gillis, Phil Uastrox and many others help Fairbanks in fine shape. The direction of the picture is credited to Joseph Henaberry. All in all. "His Majesty, the Ameri can" scores, and scores heavily. It is about as much honest, wholesome fun as can possibly be crowded into a film. Star. "A Sage Brush Hamlet." William Dcs week's attraction at the Star theater, mond's latest production, which is this is one of those unusual western com edy dramas with real humor in it. Much of this humor is supplied by a picturesque Hibernian character. Mother Dolan, played by Florence Gib son. Mother Dolan spouts some quaint and forceful philosophy to Locoed Larry, the cowboy hero who pretends to be a reckless fool. When Larry comes to the ranch drunk. Mother Do lan locks him in the corral. "Shleep with the cattle in the corral, where ye belong ye booze-pig!" she emphatical ly, if inelegantly, tells Larry. The good old soul. concocts a scheme with Dora, the pretty pjrl who hns been wished on Larry !y u dolini; aunt, to keep the girl at the ranch in spile of Larry's objections. Every time Larry goes near Dora's room to try r.nd per suade her to leave, tne pirl appears in her filmy "nighties'' and shoos the bashful cowboy away. The scheme is daring and rather risque, but the humor of it all saves the scenes from being "smutty." The comedy is clean throughout, a'thouch in less capable hands it might easily be. overdono. It is to the credit of ies mond and his rhorts that the spieiuess is retained without any suggestion of the vulgar. The cast, which is an excellent one, contains such well known n:-nies as Marguerite I e La Motte, who plays op posite Desmond, Klorenee Gibson. Frank I.anning. Kd Piel. Walter Perry. Harrish Incraham and Georjje Fields. Joseph J. Franz directed the produc tion, which was made by Jesse D. Hampton for Robertson-Cole company. Columbia. There Is nothing modest about ths attractions which the Columbia theatr Is offering Its patron this week. To begin with the feature photoplay has the very insignificant title "Choosir.g Days V MJ Starting piL ; - :T Toda' mmm Douglas Fairbanks In His $264,000 Production "The Knickerbocker Buckaroo" Through Rip-Roaring Arizona, In and Out of Devil Ridden Mexico, in a Merry Yarn as Happy as Doug Himself ALSO MUTT & JEFFOV CARTOON XJJ L FOURTH AT T .THE i fci r it a II Ml. a Wife." Then again the Columbia ' V. .. r. 1.. ... n. n.lAufl.. -! n i tl. a r w .. With notices of a wonderful symphony orchestra which enters its doors this week and becomes a port of the per manent fixtures. "t'ho.ising a Wife" has the distinc tion of biing a British film and will give to the people of Portland one of their first opportunities of sampling the film work of their mother country. It is adapted from a society novel by Ernest Her.drie and Metcalfe. two writers who are not loath to expos- methods of choosing a wife to the American and British publics. The pic ture lias enjoyed unusually long runs in England and in Canada especially. The story of "Choosing a Wife" tells of the chill of years of loneliness be- ng driven from a woman's heart by -in unexpected proposal from a man 'ae admires. In the proposal the girl sees spinstei hootl vanish before the rosy dreams of a belated love. Then just when her happiness . was about to be fulfilled she finds in the soft chiming chorus of wedding bells a hard, grating voice of oerision. for the tragic revelation is made to her that the proposal was intended for the girl she had raised from childhood. The photoplay in its entirety is a dramatic consideration of marital pro'i lems. Having that as its heart, it will have a universal appeal. SunMet. J. A. Jennings, owner of the Sunset, has the habit. And it's all Mary Pick ford's fault. The success of "Daddy Long-Legs." which showed at the Sun set theater last week was bo great that Mr. Jennings, hoping to keep up the fun. has announced for this week an equally largo attraction. "Tho Un pardonable Sin." "The Unpardonable Sin" Is the super production starring Blanche Sweet which has Belgium as the background of its plot. It deals with the story of an American family, the. father of which- was an Arctic explorer while the mother and two daughters were just su eet and pretty as thousands of other fine mothers and daughters arc in' America. Miss Sweet plays the dual role of the two sisters. To give one of the sisters the desired musical education, the mother takes her to Europe this was before the war and the other daughter remains at home. Suddenly out of a clear sky a note comes into the hands of the daughter telling her .Concluded on X 7. No Advance In Admission 15c, 10c, 5c Open from 9 o'clock in the Morning until 4 o'clock the fol- owing Morning. WASHINGTON'
