Selznick Practicing the "Poverty Flat" -- February 28, 2015

Moving Picture World, 13-February-1915

George Middleton, a San Francisco automobile dealer, married the beautiful and celebrated prima donna (that's how she was billed), musical comedy actress Beatriz Michelena in San Francisco in 1907. She left the stage for a while, then returned in 1910. In 1912, Middleton, son of a famous family in the lumber business, founded the California Motion Picture Company in San Rafael, north of San Francisco. At first he made promotional films for his auto business, but in 1914 he began to produce dramatic features starring his wife. Salomy Jane still survives and is very impressive. Most of the CMPC movies were destroyed in a fire.

 By the time of the ad above, the CMPC had moved its distribution from Alco, which was in financial trouble, to Lewis J Selznick's World Film Corporation. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

George Middleton was probably able to get some of his society acquaintances to let the company use their homes. 



Motography, 13-February-1915

Michelena was injured during the shooting of Salomy Jane. 

Moving Picture World, 13-February-1915

I think the Motography and Moving Picture World articles were copied from the same press release. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

I wonder if anyone has a collection of this publication. 

Motography, 27-February-1915

I like the use of original gowns. 

Moving Picture World, 27-February-1915

Lewis J Selznick, father of David O and Myron, was the head of World Film Corporation.  The Cliff House is still there.  I'd like to see the "Poverty Flat Trot." 

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www.listal.com

Happy 100th birthday to Zero Mostel, a force of nature.  The Producers.  The Front.  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.  He was blacklisted. 

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

Every time I told someone that Louis Jordan had died, that person said "I thought he was dead."  Every time.  He sure was good-looking, and he could act.  He worked for the Resistance during World War II.  I remember Hitchcock telling Truffaut that Jourdan was too good-looking and clean for his part in The Paradine Case, but that is hard to hold against someone.  I didn't like Gigi, but I liked most of the movies I saw him in. 

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

I know many people who are more serious Trekkies than I will have a bad time dealing with the death of Leonard Nimoy.  I admired his acting, his directing and his frequent comments on society.  He was an NCO in the army.  I think the first movie serial I saw was Zombies of the Stratosphere.  A San Francisco television station, I think KPIX Channel 5, had a Saturday night locally produced magazine show to ran the Republic serial because of Star Trek.  Leonard Nimoy had a small part.  I had to watch every episode.  I wanted to be the Rocket Man or whatever he was called in that movie.  I remember his seasons in Mission: Impossible.  I liked it when he appeared on Fringe. 

www.listal.com

News of the Week February 27, 1915 -- February 27, 2015

The 27-February-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"English troops on cycles patrol coast on watch for Zeppelins.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  I can't tell what kind of gun they are towing.  I like the three-bicycle hitch. 

"Wrecking elevator shaft at Phillipsburg, N. J.  Copyright 1915 by Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Newsreels loved shots of smokestacks, buildings, towers and grain elevators getting demolished. 

"The grounded bark Hougomont off Fire Island, N. Y.  Copyright 1915 by Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Hougomont, a four-masted steel barque, was known as a hard-luck ship which frequently grounded and ran into other problems.  In 1932, a storm badly damaged her rig and her sunken hull now serves as a breakwater near Stenhouse Bay in Australia.

"Captive balloon used by French at Thann, Alsace.  Copyright 1915, by Pathe News."  Both sides used captive balloons for artillery spotting. 

"Wreckage of orphanage at New Orleans, Louisiana.  Copyright 1915, by Pathe News." At least 20 orphans were injured when a building collapsed at the Saint Alphonsus asylum during a hurricane. 

"Wreckage caused by German bombs at Yarmouth, England.  Copyright 1915 by Universal
Animated Weekly."  We saw the Hearst-Selig News Pictorial version last week.  This may be from 19-January-1915, the first Zeppelin attack on British soil:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/zeppelin-throws-bombs-at-sandringham.html

Zudora's Friends Again Rescue Her -- February 26, 2015

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was a Thanhouser production made in association with the Chicago Tribune, which ran the weekly stories in printed form. The 23-chapter serial starred Florence La Badie, a popular Thanhouser actress who died in 1917 in a car wreck. Her leading man was James Cruze, who later became a director. His most famous production was The Covered Wagon.

We saw back in November that production had stopped after the 22nd episode so that fans could submit their proposed solutions to the mystery and the winning entry would be produced:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/11/1-million-dollar-mystery-ends-november.html

Motography, 06-February-1915

"the most successful photoplay serial ever brought out." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

Three of the stars, Sidney Bracy, Marguerite Snow and Florence Labadie, pretend to dig through the great pile of submissions received in the mail.  The lucky winner would get $10,000 and appear in the 23rd episode. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

Moving Picture World had a photo of the actual judges, Harold MacGrath, who wrote the story, May Tinee of the Chicago Tribune, and Howell Hansell of Thanhouser. 

Motography, 13-February-1915

And the final episode ends in a clinch. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

The final episode will announce the name of the winner and show a photo of her or him. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was such a success that Thanhouser began converting its next serial, Zudora, which was already in production and distribution, into a sequel.  The title became The Twenty Million Dollar Mystery (inflation) and in episode 8, James Cruze switched from being a villain to being the hero.  Sidney Bracy and Frank Farrington, who had been in The Million Dollar Mystery , also joined the cast of Zudora. 

Motography, 06-February-1915

Motography, 06-February-1915

"The conspirators lay their plans." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"The diamond cutter works over the smuggled jewels." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"Madame Duval gives Zudora a fright."

Moving Picture World, 13-February-1915

Motography, 13-February-1915

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The loss of the gems is discovered." 

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The jewels are  hidden away." 

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The Zudora diamond mine."  Keep in mind that this was being shot during the winter in New Jersey.  These poor men must have gotten cold. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

Motography, 20-February-1915

Motography, 20-February-1915

"Baird learns of the diamonds to be found in the mine." 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"The conspirators force Zudora to tell what she knows of the diamonds." 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"The death of Howard." 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

"The Photoplay Serial that is Packing Houses." 

The Great American Play at Last! -- February 25, 2015

New York Evening World, 20-February-1915

I have spent most of the month of February trying to work myself up to write about the premiere of DW Griffith's epic The Birth of a Nation.  I read about the movie for years before I saw it.  I saw it in 16mm somewhere while I was in high school.  Later I saw it at the Avenue Theater in San Francisco, where they played silent movies every Friday night, accompanied by Bob Vaughn on the Mighty Wurlitzer.  I remember that they chose not to put the name of the movie on the marquee.  I remember the audience getting very excited during the battle scenes and the ride of the Klan.  I got excited, too, which made me uncomfortable.  The distortions of history also made me uncomfortable. 

Professor John Fell showed the movie, without music, in a film class at San Francisco State.  The audience got agitated during some of the Reconstruction scenes and hissed during some of the bad stuff.  I didn't hiss, but I understood their feelings. 

This is one silent movie I chose not to show my daughter when she was growing up. 

The ad above promotes the New York premiere.  "Romance and Comedy Midst Historic Scenes."  The Romance and Comedy are not what stick in my mind. 

East Oregonian, 22-February-1915

This gossip column item mentions that BOAN will be the "first $2 moving picture." 

Washington Evening Star, 18-February-1915

This story talks about the famous White House showing for President Woodrow Wilson.  It reminds us that Thomas Dixon, the author of the two books upon which the movie is based, was "an intimate friend" of Wilson's. 

New York Evening World, 27-February-1915

The circle logo appears many times in ads for the movie.  I think this is the earliest example I have seen.  "The Expression of Genius in a New Realm of Art."  "Rich in Historical Value." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"How the Clansman Was Made" was written before Griffith changed the name of the movie.  Don't believe all the stories. 

Motography, 13-February-1915

Griffith formed the Epoch Company to handle the roadshow release of the movie. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

The movie, now called The Birth of a Nation, had its exclusive New York first run at the Liberty Theater on 42nd Street near Broadway. 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"After arrangements had been made with Thomas Dixon to utilize his well known story, the author suggested the change in name so that the scope and tremendous appeal of the enlarged story could be more comprehensively covered in the title." 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

An attempt was made to block showing of the movie in Los Angeles. 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"soon to begin work on a production that is to be even greater than 'The Clansman.'"  That would be Intolerance.