Carlton S. King (1914)
That the “silent” drama should call an actor who had made his mark as a singing comedian on the stage is one of the paradoxical cases presented in Carlton King, whose success in serious roles in the Edison Stock Company bears further evidence of adaptability and versatility.
Mr. King began his stage like at twelve years of age when he left a Chicago church choir to join the Hollywood Juvenile Opera Company and took the part of the old maid in The Mikado. His beautiful contralto voice was eminently suited to that role. The company was unique in that all the parts were played by children. Mr. King — rather “Master,” then — later played in Pinafore and The Mascot.
At the boyish age of fourteen years he joined the Calhoun Opera Company and worked up soon to the second comedy part. His success soon secured an engagement with Francis Wilson with whom he played in The Little Corporal, Cyrano de Bergerac, Erminie, and The Monks of Malabar, spending five years all told with Wilson. Then in succession came a season with the well-known Rogers Brothers, the Dearborn Theater Producing Company, one season with Richard Carle in The Burgomaster, when he was starred in the musical comedy, The Golden Girl.
The motion pictures called five years ago when Mr. King went to Selig [William Nicholas Selig]. He, for a time, went back to the stage, but the lure of the camera was too much and he surrendered again, this time to Essanay, Then followed engagements with the Vitagraph, joining the Edison forces about a year ago.
Mr. King’s work is always marked with a perceptive sincerity that begets conviction. Although he has played some comedy roles for Edison [Thomas A. Edison], most of his work is in serious character roles in which he has had marked success, the very range of the character giving one a good idea of his capabilities.
Some of the films Mr. King has appeared in are Lo, The Poor Indian, which he himself wrote: A Question of Identity, Tracked by the Hounds, The Birth of Our Saviour, The Mission of Mr. Foo, and The Boston Tea Party.
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Newark’s Alderman issues new ruling.
Those desiring to open a moving picture theater within 200 feet of a church in the City of Newark, N. J., will first have to get the consent of the residents in that vicinity. This order was prompted by the receipt of a letter by the aldermanic license committee from the Emanuel German M. E. Church at Clifton avenue and Hedden terrace. The communication stated that a moving picture theater was about to be erected at 530–532 Clinton avenue, a piece of property on which a local picture house had received an option, and that the people of the church objected to the erection of the theater. The protestants claim that the proposed theater would be 75 feet from the church and quite near the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. There are three picture houses in the neighborhood. Alderman Theodore D. Gottlied made the motion that the congregation of a church give their consent on the building of picture theaters within 200 feet of a church, and if objection is voiced that the persons responsible for the amusement house should not be given a license. The aldermen agreed and the motion was unanimously adopted.
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“What Happened to Jones”
World Film Corporation offers adaptation of George Broadhurst’s farce, with Fred Mace in the leading role.
Reviewed by Lynde Denig.
Fred Mace made a free adaptation of George Broadhurst’s What Happened to Jones, in this five-part offering- of the World Film Corporation. As on the stage, the story is essentially farcical, depending upon a succession of extravagant predicaments experienced by a number of people whose paths are made to cross. The characters will be readily recognized as favorite types — Jones, a worldly traveling salesman, who impersonates a bishop; Professor Goodly, the principal of a girls’ school; Alvina, a very slender maiden lady who looks forward to becoming the wife of the Bishop of Timbuctoo; the plump bishop, who comes to America believing his prospective bride is an attractive young girl; an unbalanced youth who escapes from a sanitarium, and so on down the list, one meets the old standbys of American farce.
The story in photoplay form might have been benefited by dropping a few of the characters altogether; or, if not that, by following their adventures with less detail. As developed at present too many plot threads are carried along simultaneously with a diffusion of interest as the almost inevitable consequence. This is particularly true during the opening reels that include scenes of small importance to the story proper.
At its best, the picture may be expected to entertain after the manner of light, thoughtless farce, for fast action and absurd situations are not lacking. A boxing bout, attended by Jones and Professor Goodly, and a pillow fight among the pajama-clad girls of the school, no doubt will find appreciative spectators. Individually, the parts are well enough presented with Mr. Mace using his usual comedy method in the role of Jones. He is ably assisted by William Mandeville, Leonia Morgan, Joe Daly, Mary Charleson and others.
Scene from What Happened to Jones (World Film).
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Jack Byrne directing for Kriterion program.
Director Jack Byrne and his company have just completed for the Santa Barbara Motion Picture Company, releasing on the Kriterion Program, a number of new comedies and dramas. Harry Fisher Jr. is featured in a comedy, entitled “Sherlock Sammy,” while Joe Franz, Harry Fisher and Dorothy Browne are presented in a two-part drama, “What Can a Woman Do?” A rural drama full of human heart interest, entitled The Power of Prayer — in two striking episodes, featuring the same trio of favorites — is sure to find favor as well as a two-part drama, entitled “The Stepbrothers.”
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Clay*M.*Greene has another birthday.
Clay M. Greene, one of the best-known of the Lubin photoplaywrights, who has achieved a wide reputation as a writer of fiction and plays for the legitimate stage, had a regular birthday party this week. It was not of his own planning, but was suddenly wished on him by a large delegation of friends. Greene is one of the old guard of the Lambs’ Club in New York and, incidentally, a member of a great many other clubs in New York and Philadelphia.
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Lee Bartholomew promoted.
Lee Bartholomew, for the past two years camera man for one of the Universal producing companies on the Pacific Coast, has been promoted to chief camera man in Universal City. This means that he will have entire charge of the camera department, the supervision of repairs, purchases and the distribution of the camera men to the various directors.
Collection: Moving Picture World, March 1915
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Lo! The Poor Indian * (1914)
A Question of Identity * (1914)
Tracked by the Hounds * (1915)
The Birth of Our Saviour * (1915)
The Mission of Mr. Foo * (1915)
The Boston Tea Party * (1915)
The Power of Prayer * (1915)
What Happened to Jones * (1915)
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