The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-22
PICTURE DIRECTOR
COMES TO NEVADA

ANS6oi ulhS lne nouOn-plcture COM
pany which will make "exteriors" on
genuine Nevada and western Califor-
MIA locations" early next year. the
Los Angeles Times said in a recent
issue:
A new and flourishing picture COM
pany, recently formed in San Fran
cisco, with studio there, but which
later contemplates building an addi-
tional studio in or near Los Angeles,
is the Sunset Photoplayers, of which
Arch Haskin is general manager, rep
resenting what is said to be a large
sum of San Francisco and Eastern
capital. The company has just COM
pleted its first picture, called "The
Call of the Desert Sum-" which is in
tended to be sold under states rights.
One of the primary objects for
which the company was formed, how
ever, was the filming of the more
famous of Bret Harte's stories, the
film rights of which have been OBJ
tanned of Doubleday, Page & Co., pub
fishers 1t is the intention to make
these pictures, as far as possible, on
the exact locations where the events
of the stories were enacted, and no
expense is to be spared in the making
of surprisingly beautiful productions
OF these classic tales. THE Miner of
Milliken Gulch" will be the first story
to be filmed, according to present
II I av.i,1
Camp" and The 0utcasts of Poker
Flat" to follow. Later on some Mark
Twain stories will be made into pic
ture form around Carson City and
Virginia City, Nevada.
To lovers of Bret Hartes wonderful
stories of Western life this announce
ment will be a most welcome one.
William r. McStay will write the con-
tinuity for the screen versions of the
tales, and Hale Ayres will direct. Mr.
Ayres has had several years of dis
tinguished service as a director. Last
year he was employed by the Canadian
Patriotic Films Corporation TO make
several large features having for their
object the arousing of patriotic inter
est and to stimulate the enlistment OF
soldiers on the Allies side of the
European fray. In one of these films
appeared no less personages than the
| Princess Patricia and the Duke OF
Connaught. He also spent eight
months in Alaska in making educa
tional films, which have since been
much used in schools and colleges.
For the leading man of the organi-
zation the company has secured the
services of Rex Downs, who for sew
eral years was leading man with the
Vitagraph and Kalem companies; and
| he was. moreover, for season under
study for James Whitcomb Riley on
| his lecture tours, Downs frequently
reciting the Riley poems when the
poet himself did not feel equal tc
public appearance owing to failing
health. A leading woman has not yei
| been engaged, but several well-knowr
actresses are being considered. Rob-
ert Jacks will be the heavy. Maurice
| Heating, an English actor of note, Is
also a member of the company.
Rex Downs is extremely anxious tt
put into film form a condensation o.
Harte's Jack Hamlin" stories-tht
tale of the fascinating, debonair anC
gallant gambler of the days of ~
and it is likely the company will make
a feature founded on these picturesque
stories.
fan article in a recent number o
the Motion Picture News says tina
Hale Ayres has signed a three-yeal
contract as personal director TO
Enid Markey. and this may supply th'
missing leading lady.-EditorI
Later-A letter received yesterda'
says that Hale Ayres and his brothe
Herbert cBnTO Ayres-the latter be
ing known in Winnemucca-with thel
families, have arrived in Reno an
intend to make their home in tina
town for at least a year.
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