Beatriz Michelena Speaks (1917) 🇺🇸

The prima donna-actress still radiant with a weight of trouble on her shoulders.

by Margaret I. MacDonald.

Several weeks ago Beatriz Michelena, who one scarcely knows how to classify, whether as a prima donna or a moving picture actress, so well has she filled the qualifications of both professions, started across continent from her home in San Rafael, California, with the object in view of spending a few days and perhaps a few weeks in New York City.

There was another object also in her breaking away from the scene of her labors of the past two or three years, while in perfect health as far as outward appearances go, she felt the necessity that comes to most of us at tunes, of change and rest. And so it was that she loitered on her way east, having, as she herself states, “a wonderful time” in the various places where she stopped off.

But, in the meantime, knowing that relations between Miss Michelena and the California Motion Picture Corporation, with which she had been under contract, had been broken off, several big producers in the east had searched madly for the liberated star, not knowing that a telegram sent to her home in San Rafael would be forwarded to her at whatever point of her journey she might be.

Some time spent with Miss Michelena over a lunch table at the Hotel Astor revealed the fact that her usual radiant vivacity had surmounted considerable unpleasantness with which she has had to contend during the past few months. Her own version of a situation in which the young lady was pictured as being extremely temperamental may be of interest to readers.

She states: “The report which appeared in several of the trade papers and newspapers to the effect that I had walked out on the production of ‘Faust’ was not true: and I have been too long honorably connected with the stage not to feel keenly the sting of such an accusation. The fact is, I was told when the picture was well on the way to completion that if it was not finished by a certain date it would have to remain unfinished, that no more work would be allowed to be done on it. What then could I do? The picture was not finished on that date and I was told that no more work would be done on it, and, of course, I stopped as I was told to do. I was then asked to finish the picture without salary, and in view of the fact that the company was already in my debt $12,000, I refused.”

Readers will also be interested to know that replies to all of the numerous letters that have reached her on account of her recent series of newspaper articles have been dictated and signed by her. Miss Michelena has, in fact, taken a kindly interest in mail directed to her personally, and of the hundreds of letters that have reached her from fans she has actually written or dictated and signed replies to each one.

Various interesting matters of which we are not permitted to speak at the present time enveloped in Miss Michelena’s plans, and the near future will no doubt have something of interest to disclose. In the meantime, after spending a short time in New York, she will return to California.

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Arbuckle to be Screeners’ Guest.

Roscoe (“Fatty”) Arbuckle [Roscoe Arbuckle] will be the guest of honor at a beefsteak dinner at the Screen Club on Saturday evening, March 31. An entertainment of vaudeville and music will be provided in the club’s parlor. A small stage is being erected for the “stunts” under rehearsal for the delectation of the guests.

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Hope Hadley Resigns from Mutual.

Hope Hadley, the well known publicity man, left the Mutual Film Corporation on March 24. He has been with the Mutual about two years. As yet Mr. Hadley has not announced any new affiliation.

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C. H. Bristol to Handle Advertising for Triangle

Following the appointment of Cameron H. Bristol, of Philadelphia, as manager of the Triangle’s special department of advertising, R. W. France, general manager of the Triangle Distributing Corporation, makes the following statement:

Triangle Distributing Corporation has created a special advertising department which will be in charge of Cameron H. Bristol, whom we consider to be one of the best advertising men in the country.

“Mr. Bristol has been in the advertising business for over ten years. His most recent connection has been with the Electric Storage Battery Company of Philadelphia, where he conducted one of the most successful advertising campaigns ever carried on in this country. He made the word ‘Exide’ known throughout the entire world. He has been for some time past familiarizing himself with conditions in the moving picture industry, and, while this is a new field for him, he comes to us with a fresh viewpoint and full of new ideas with respect to moving picture advertising from which we expect big results.

“He is now working on plans along special lines, and we are trying to devise the best method of adding to the knowledge which the general public has of the Triangle product. We expect to be able to make some interesting announcements along this line in the near future.”

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Skerrett Celebrates

John Francis Skerrett celebrates his fourth year as general manager of the Nicholas Power Company on April 1. Mr. Skerrett came to the Power Company in 1913 and during his administration the now famous Cameragraph No. 6-B was introduced to the trade. To his efforts is due in great measure the present splendid organization which is so well known to all in the motion picture industry.

Prior to his connection with the Nicholas Power Company he was chief of the New York Municipal Bureau of Electricity. He is a man of very strong and forceful personality, and the Nicholas Power Company is to be congratulated upon having such a ma Mr. Skerrett at the helm. He has a host of friends in the industry and out of it and is extremely popular and well liked by the staff with which he has been associated for the past four years.

He is an enthusiast in his devotion to the Nicholas Power Company and their output, and has the happy knack of imparting his enthusiasm to all who are associated with him. His many friends and associates hope he will see very many celebrations of his birthday as general manager of the house of the “Cameragraph.”

Collection: Moving Picture World, April 1917