San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
KART FINISHES
TWO PICTURES
AND To RETURN
Actor Says Country Offers
Film Opportmni-
ties.
IN WESTERN PLAYS
People of the Ranges Take
Part in the
Movies.
IN WESTERN PLAYS

san Antonio is by far the most
logical city in the United States to
become a new center for production
Of motion pictures, Neal Hart, him
actor and motion picture director who
is at the Menger, said SATURDAY. MT.
Hart. with Mrs. Hart and their son
Marvin. arrived at San Antonio Sat
,,rday afternoon from Bandera county
where MIR. Hart has just completed
feature western film. Romance of the
Sheen Country" which will be re-
leased within the next few months.
He has been ordered to New aork
by his firm, the William Steiner FRO
duction Corporation, TO direct TWO
semi Canadian pictures.
Although be could not speak def
nitely for the future plans of the VIII
liam Steiner Production Corporation,
Mr.. Hart said il is likely that more
pictures will made in and around san
Antonio, as Mr.. Steiner has stored
large amount of equipment in San An
tonic storage houses.
That indicates that we will be
back some time" Mr.. Hart SAID.
Offers Scenic Possibilities.
"San Antonio is the center OF a
vast amount of territory that is total
" virgin 10 the SCREEN" Mr.. Hart
said, land that is what producers
are looking for these days. The great
majority of pictures are produced IN
Los Angeles and New York, but there
is not a foot of ground around either
of those cities that has not been filmed
time after time. In and around San
Antonio is every type of scenic back
ground that the motion picture pro-
Queer can ask for, and il is new to
the screen. At Corpus Christi you
have the water front, in the counties
north and west of here you have the
mountains and rivers, and San Anto-
Mo itself affords numerous unique
scenic backgrounds that the producer
las never taken advantage of"
Mr.. Hart stated that for financial
reasons San Antonio is the most
logical city for a motion picture cen
ter.
1t is Just about half way between
Los Angeles and New York. he said,
"and while most of the pictures are
made in Los Angeles the business Off
ces are in New York. and all films
baye TO be sent there for distribution.
In addition TO that the different pro-
ducers are burdened with heavy trav-
cling expenses by numerous trips that
must be made between the two coasts.
With San Antonio as the center of
production this expense, which is no
small item, could virtually be cut in
half"
Uses Local Talent.
Mr.. Hart arrived in San Antonio
two months ago and since that time
has been engaged in producing two
western films. SALTY Saunders"
cattle ranch picture made at Fowler
ton. 20 miles south of San Antonio,
and Romance of the Sheep Country"
sheep ranch picture made in Ban
'dera county. Both will be released
within few months.
The scenarios of both pictures were
written by Mr.. Hart. He also directed
each picture and played the leading
male role in each. Miss Violet Shell
don of California played opposite MIR.
Hart in each picture. Miss Sheldon
was the. winner of the recent beauty
contest sponsored by Thomas Ii.
lnce, prominent film producer.
Home talent was used for the most
Part in making both pictures, Mr..
Hart said. As many as IS people were
engaged in some of the scenes of "Ro-
nance of the Sheep Country" and
over 100 people were in some of the
scenes of SALTY Saunders
Il am exceptionally well pleased
with both pictures Mr.. Hart said,
~because of the splendid acting of the
local actors engaged. l found them
splendid riders, intelligent, and willing
to take instructions. hope l will
have chance to work with them
again"
Regretted to Leave.
"I really hated to leave" Mr.. Hart
said, latter you get TO working with
a bunch and know them well you
form associations that are regret
10 sever. / am going to New York
but / do not reali, cherish the idea.
The life on Broadway may appeal to
some but not to me. I'm a westerner,
and do not feel very much at home
anywhere else
In New York Mr.. Hart will direct
two pictures, both of which will deal
with life in New York City and with
the Royal Mounted Police of Canada.
Last summer Mr.. Hart went to Can
ada to study at close hand the Royal
Mounted Police with the view OF di-
recting the two films he is soon to be-
gin working on.
Il would like TO take this opportun-
ity TO express my sincere appreciation
TO the people of San Antonio and the
communities where have been work
ing for the many courtesies they have
shown me- Mr.. Hart said. The hos
pitnlity has been splendid, and / real
ly regret TO leave. | want you to be
sure and say that because / mean
4 r a L IL