Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-01
BURN AlILLIONATRE'S
HOUSE FOR MOVIES
Palatial Home, Gutted by
Flames, Is Rekindled to Stage
Photoplay Climax
BY the Photoplay Editor


Spectacular FIRE scenes. for which the
home OF California millionaire was set
on fre, with the authority of the local
fre department, provide one Of the
features IN the Biograph's forthcoming
three-reei production OF Charlotte Bronte's
famous novel, Jane Eyre"
Two days before the fire scenes were to
be taken fire broke out in the southern
California residence Of a noted ST. Louis
millionaire. The blaze did great damage
before It was got under control. The
enterprising director OF Jane Eyre"
promptly approached the fire authorities
with a daring proposal that he be permit
ted TO start the fire anew, under the
auspices Of the department, and stage
the necessary scenes In the corridors and
on the roof Of the blazing building. This
permission was granted and a fire COM
pany detailed to attend.
When the fire was burning brisllv. An
zone marked out by the firemen, bat
terry OF cameras was installed at advan-
tagoous points where the broken roof per-
mitted plenty of daylight to enter the
rooms, and the work went on Franklin
Ritchie, as Rochester. who is rescued by
hAS SiOOh dAbtE futile Efforts to
save his demented wife, had a narrow
escape from the real thing" when a sud
oen burst of flames anticipated the watch
ful hremen. He was NOT hurt however.
The climax of the play is the self-de-
struction of the crazed woman in a lean
from the blazing building. Gretchen Hart
man, who played the role refused IN
shirk her responsibilities in favor Of
dummy, and twice took the leap into the
nre net so that there might be no doubt
OF the feat having been duly registered bv
the camera. -
Puccini, who wrote the music for the
opera, THE Girl of the Golden West"
which was successfully produced by the
metropolitan Opera House year or two
ago with the cooperation of David
Belasco, is reported TO be at work on the
score of an opera which takes as its
meme the idyllically beautiful story of
JUDAS Two Little Wooden Shoes"
Records, Of Milan, LONDON and New
York. who are Puccini's publishers, are
authority for the statement that the com
poser may seek inspiration for his work
IN a study or THE Little Dutch Girl" n
nye-reel film seen here this week,
Pucclni is one of the most progressively
inlnoeo OF modern composers, and his will
ingness to learn from the action in and
acting shown a film is evidence of the
fact. A copy of THE Little Dutch Grip
Is to be sent to Puccini for his inspection
and study.
Mary Garden is the latest grand opera
star TO receive an offer to act for the
movies. Her manager, R. E. Johnston,
ADVISED her by cable to France yester-
DAY that motion picture company in
this country had made an offer of
Sl5O'OOO for her to appear in films II
MISS Garden accepts the offer, she will
Inns 1f
That's" Mr.. Johnston cabled her that
a highly responsible firm had made
the offer. When questioned, Mr. Johnston
would not divulge the name of the COM
pany.
United States District Judge Pane
Morris has ordered the seizure of unau-
thorized and fraudulent Chaplin films at
Duluth, Minn., and issued an Injunction
against the use of films said to Violate |
the Essanay copyright. Several films |
were also seized in Chicago.
Owing to the popularity of the Charles |
ChapIn hlms, there have been several |
cases In which fake productions have
been issued. In other cases films have |
been rented from the General Film Com |
pahy, which distributes the Chaplin films |
Tor Essanay, and the film copied and |
these copies sold or rented out as the |
original Chaplin productions.
Inc eastern Film Corporation, of Provi- |
dence, X. l., which has been organized |
Tor several months, and has already pro- |
duced number of pictures, is about |
ready to commence marketing its prod |
uct. II plans at present to make and re-
lease four comedies a week and two |
nve-reel features each month. The first
feature TO- be released will be called
Peaceful Valley" featuring Helen Low
ell and Following this in rapid success
sion will come Next" "The Red Petit
coat" and an adaptation of Bertha Gal
ends well-known stage success, The
Return of Eve"
George W. Sammis, formerly of the
hlaw y Erlanger forces. and now busi-
ness manager of the Triangle Film Cor
poration enterprises arrived In Philadel-
phia yesterday and at once began prepar-
auons for the opening Of the Chestnut
street Opera House under the new re-
gime. While the exact date for the OPEN
Ing has not been settled. Mr.. Sammis was
able to announce that the first combina-
ton OF stars would include Raymond
Hitchcock. In the Mack Sennett farce.
my Valet; Douglass Fairbanks, In the
ID. w. Griffith adventure story, THE
Lamb" and Dustin Farnum, In "The Iron
Srtain." an Alaskan play directed by
Thomas H. Ince.