The New York herald., 1922-04-09
High Lights and
ShadOwS on NeWs
of Motion Pictures
All May Not BE Gold That Gilt
tiers i'm Descriptions Of Flor
ida's Film Boom.
by FRANK vREELAND.

all is not beer and SklttieS 1T
Florida. Concerning the produc-
ton of pictures down at certain
town, discussion arose recently which
had almost as much wind as Gull
storm. While various home bodies in
that State have been doing their best
to impress on this continent-ano
every other one, for that mat.or>-thai
Florida had been specially set aside by
Providence for photoplay producing. al
least one actor has felt that the only
good thing about the section was
Bimini.
1t all started when the Actors
Equity Association made known In
the trade press an invitation which
1t said it had received urging film
PLAYERS to go to the Southern town
where there was great void in the
life Of the inhabitants that could DC
filled only by screen stars. Repre-
sentations were made that companies
down there needed only the acting
personnel to make this q sweeter
grander, brighter. fairer, bigger. bet-
ter--oh, choose your own sweetenins
Hollywood. !
Presently in response came letter
that seemed TO have been warmed py
the Gulf Stream. 1t came from an actor
IN Florida, who appeared to feel that
the movie companies there weren't his
friends and didn't deserve to be. lie
simply rained verbage upon them lie
,ntimated that the invitation was as
good as a suggestion to accompany an
explorer on a north pole expedition
sou might easily regret it.
In " ord, he said that most or the
movie companies In Florida didn't exist.
60 far as the income tax collector could
tell. They might some day come TO
pass. but for the present they were less
than shadows on the screen. There were
studios that were mere shells. deiuson
and snare. especially for players who
came fully prepared TO rub Charlie
Chaplin and Mary Piclxford off the silver
sheet These, he said. were built solely
for demonstra ton purposes, like sample
! fapjacks In food exhibition booths.
Prospective residents, according TO
this informant OF the Equity. were taken
to one OF these studios and shown
4 around until they felt their heads slip
ping. There were other palatial studios,
they would be told just beyond those
hills which were unfortunately in the
way. The aim was 10 make another
Los Angeles. which OF course would
attract numerous residents and trades
people and make the town grow like
q merry mushroom. Property. of course.
would Increase In value till the owner
wouldn't care whether he found an oil
well on it or not. While the visitor was
still under the influence or something
he didn't get from Nassau he. would
buy lot
Though work has been done at studios
there. the actor declared. players who
went there expecting to see the movies
boiling as they did in the early days or
California when the Aim gold rush was
on had better be prepared 10 find the
rakings OF studios, with only the flies
busy around them.
When this was published 1t drew an
equally loud roise from a Florida
Chamber OF Commerce. Tho chambers
letter denied everything the actor said,
and pointed out that such film stars as
Norma and Constance Talmadge and
John Barrymore had found Florida more
than enough for their simple wants
SO form your own judgment-we have
to write the next paragraph.
Meanwhile Los Angeles is staggering
back to normal Work has picked up
from 33 per cent. of capacity to so per
cent, and eating is become more of a
habit again among screen players. Also
laundry is being once more sent out in
stead or being done at home behind
locked doors.
A strong concerted effort Is being
made to bring back TO the peak Of her
popularity Mary Miles Minter whose
pictures were banned in several places.
perhaps unjustly. when II became known
that she wrote TO a director letters with
plenty OF exclamation marks.
Rupert of Hentzau" has been COM
pietod in It's new film form by Rex
Ingram. and a print has reached the
Metro headquarters in New York, al
ready throwing It into more than the
usual ferment OF optimism. The picture.
starring Alice Terry. the young direct
or's wife, Is regarded by company Of
iicials as being bigger than THE Four
TIorsemen of the Apocalypse" and more
likely to be the subject OF conversation
wherever gum is chcwed. On tho face
Of II. this story would certainly appear
better suited TO ingram than Turn to
the Right" which he Is reported to have
done under protest. because he had 70
be very stern about his natural weak
ness for the picturesque and the dram
attic
While Rupert or Hentzau" has been
groomed for an early showing on Broad
way. no theater has yet been picked,
though several are bein earnestly dis
cussed.
The film rights 10 Merton OF the
Movies the novel by Harry Leon VIII
son, which has just completed serial
publication and enabled many hearts TO
cease fluttering, have been bought by
noted manager In New York. so motion
picture editors can now rest up from
asHing each other, wonder who'll get
Merton OF the Movies? Gosh. hope
some one does II who's capable or put
ting into II the best there is IN him.
j Glenn Hunter may possibly do Il on the
ecreen--or possibly not depending on
tho last state or mind OF the manager
inst before the actual shooting begins
You know how It is In the movies.
Joseph M. Schenck. feeling Inspired
after the last pinochie game. bough,
s'The Mirage" last week so that his wife,
Norma Talmadge. might have further
scope for running rapidly through her
repertoire OF emotions. This 4, the play
BY Edgar selwyn II win be recalled by
film fans. who also can lend an occn.