Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-25

Visiting Lockwoodville
and It's Cheerful People
"PolIyanna" Has Nothing On the Yorke-Metro
Studio, Buzzns With Vivacity, Good Nature
Activity and the Doings of Stars
BY BENNIE zE1DMAN


visitors gate. with a highly colored copy
OF Harold MacGrath's "Pidgin Island" under
his right arm I heard q pleasant Terminus
voice: Il must be that OF May Allison,
mentally concluded. The strong sun vas
streaming through the large office windows;
the Office stan seemed TO be full q business.
Twas then directed 20 the general managers
Office. There stenographer informed mo
that Mr.. Balshofer had Just gone out on
the stoge and that she would call him
for me
The office walls were covered with photo
graphs OF Harold Lockwood. May Aliisou
and Lester Cuneo. few minutes later
was confronted with the executive man
OF the plant ! recognized him as the ono
time head OF the New York Motion Picture
OF the screen stars, and who recently be-
came affiliated with the Metro Corporation.
We exchanged compliments and together
started on tour OF the studio.
There's Mr., Lockwood" exclaimed
child actress, Virginia Corbln and we pro-
ceeded in that direction. There, as big a.
day, with n smile which 1 understand had
earned for him the studio title of "Smilfng
Harold Lockwood" stood tho hero OF many
MIN romances. Balshofer introduced me 70
Lockwood, who. l might say 10 the type
nearest to Douglas Fairbanks in personality
ana monneriBm have yet met in Btagedom
Perhaps that is why studio folk have titled
MN Smiling" for Fairbanks also has a
smile that is famous.
Lockwood told us how Interested he uan
IN MS present story. we are doing Tiaf1ld
MaeGrath's novel 'Pidgin Island.' ana 4
great deal OF the action takes place along
the seacoast.
Thissbig combination lighthouse set ix INV
nome The set fairly smacied of the sea-
coast atmosphere. turned my head In an
opposite direction, where 1 could sea Tire
Dack OF young girl. dressed attractively
surroundod SUI by group Of studio people
.A.-f.- a.
covered with smiles That must be Nav
Allison, thought. and / was right. A
moment later l was introduced TO her. who
Is sometimes called "The Sweetest Girl In
We became good friends. ''I was horn IN
Georgia, spoke the fair May, '-and in
Pidsin Island play tho part of a secret
| very happy" = s. =
"on' the sot. please" cried Charles p
Stailings, the well-dressed assistant direc-
| tho command
Are you waiting for me7' queries Lester
| Cuneo' who was made up as a banker He
was told that on account of n number of
Lockwood's scenes with Miss Allison ha
could go to the ball game. Great cried
the villain OF celluloidville as he yelled
| adios TO those present 1 watched with
intense interest Harold and MAY as they
portrayed dramatic scene. received the
| S0tV SohSatOn us tnOuBnt was witnessing
stage performance. for they spoke their
lines like stage veterans To my left and
| right were located n row of dressing roorna
factory buildings, carpenter shop. etc In
group watching Director and General
| Manager Balshofer rehearslnE n scene
recognized Lillian Hayward OF SellR farna !.
DOC Pomeroy Cannon, who has appeared in
| many Fine Arts: Josephine Rice, made up
as colored NANNY; Andrew Arbuclxie
brother OF the famous Macklyn; Virginia
| fNaA
William De Vault, whom we ali saw 81
| The Birth OF Nation" and In Grifffh's
| latest spectacle, Intolerance"
II is, In this studio that tho Lockwood
Allison Metro plays are being produced. I
| learned from Miss Allison that 'fpidRin
| Island" wns their third picture In this
| new studio. For the exterior scenes we
went up to Monterey the most beautiful
| place l ever visited. We remained at
Monterey for two weeks and had glorious
time" and she smiled sweetly. Lunch
hour was then declared, and as a guest
OF Lockwood's seated myself in his new
automobile. We discussed various topics,
and / found him to be n brilliant indi-
vdual, To my surprise. we finally drifted
to a discussion of mythology. / then reai-
| Iced i was in the presence OF weIlread
actor, which made me think twice every
time wanted to say something. for fear
j would go wrong on my grammar. II
| did not say very much after my dlscoveryl
We lunched at cafeteria close by, where
we both carried trays and collected our
food In small portions. Lockwood Is very
fond of alligator pear salad, In fact he
ordered a second portion. Smiling Harold
paid the check and we motored In the di-
rection of the Yorks studio. He freshened
his makeup n bit and announced his ro-
turn. / heard peculiarly exotic sound
In the distance. Cameraman Tony Gaudio
discovered an approaching cloud and In
formed Producer Balshofer that Il would
be useless to try to photograph In that
light. 'All right then" he replied. Stall
ings, notify the company 20 that effect;
please have every one on the set ready
for work In about an hour"