New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-03
PliabIe Masks to
Be Used to Film,
King Cole Story

Mobile masks, the invention Of A1sx
HALL sculptor, are to have a deflnits
place In certain motion picture produc-
tons. Certain trials have been made
OF these masks, and the announcement
was made recently that The arst Of a
series OF new pictures will be made In
which the masks are Co be used 20 The
extent of their recently DEVELOPED
talent
AFTER many experimental tests the
uew type of mask was found practical
Bile and Is making it's debut In pictures
via the novelty route for the time be-
ing. The Mystic Masque Productions,
recently formed, has already started
taking the first Of it's series OF novel
ttes,. In which the masks will play an
important part. Nate Gatzert, former
iy manager Of production for the Ha-
worth Studios and the Hayakawa Fea-
ture Play Company, Is supervising the
productions of the new organization.
The stories viii be filmed at the old
Griffith Studios. where az laboratory
has been installed for the making Of
the masks.
The possibilities Of the new contor-
tfonable masks were first realized when
Mr. Hall introduced them in "The Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse" They
were seen on the categorical figures
OF Conquest" "War," "Pestilence"
and Death" and caused comment be-
cause Of their grotesqueness and mar
Vicious power of expression.
S. Barrett Mccormick, managing d.
rector Of the Ambassador Theater, Los
Angeles, realizing the effectiveness of
the new invention, chose the Hall
masks as the feature Of his opening
presentation and used them in the
symbolic prelude to the photoplay
Passion" entitled "C1ay."
Since the introduction of the nasAs
In pictures, however. Alex Han has
been busy improving them. The most
difficult problem which confronted Mr..
Hall was that the composition of the
substance used in making the masks
be contortionable and that they still
retain their original lines and form
While the Benda and Rosse masks
nave made an impression on the speak
ing stage, being worn chiefly by dane
ers, they are immobile, whereas the
Hall mask transmits every expression
and muscular movement Of the wearer
Through this medium it Is expected
that they will create an even greater
effect that those worn by either Benda
or Rosse.
Another point OF interest IN Mr..
Halls creation Is The fact that the
masks can be made to cover the entire
body with the same degree Of success
that is obtained in the face mask.
The scope to which the masks arc
capable in the picture and theatrical
world promises something new with
their adoption, since there is no char
acter, living or dead, which cannot be
duplicated in detail and with the best
of effect. From an artistic standpoint
also they have the opportunity of in
Producing novel effects. grotesque fig
ures and features.
And with the innovation Of masks the
Mystic Masque Productions will bring
to the screen famous nursery rhyme
character, Old King Cole, and the first
Of the series Of novelties will be named
in his honor. The picture contains
novel effects, mysticism, laughs and
thrills.
The story Is by Nate Gatzert and
the photography by G. F. Schoedsack.
Bobby Solder, dean of screen come
dams, Derelys Perdue and Caroline
Rankin have the leading roles under
the direction of Robert MCGOWAN,