Director F. J. Grandon Goes to Metro (1916) 🇺🇸

Francis J. Grandon, one of the foremost directors in the country and a veteran in this branch of motion picture production, is the latest addition to the large staff of Metro producers.

Mr. Grandon has just completed, in record time, his first Metro wonderplay, The Lure of Heart’s Desire, in which Edmund Breese, the eminent dramatic actor, is starred. It was produced for Metro by the Popular Plays and Players. Mr. Grandon’s next feature will be The Soul Market, by Aaron Hoffman, in which Mme. Petrova [Olga Petrova] will be seen in the stellar role.

Before joining Metro Mr. Grandon was a director with the Triangle Company. He began his career with D. W. Griffith, at the old Biograph company, and was associated with Mr. Griffith for several years. Mr. Grandon then received an attractive offer from Lubin [Siegmund Lubin], and went with that company as their first director. Later Mr. Grandon joined the Selig forces, and while with that concern directed and produced the first serial released in connection with syndicated newspaper stories. This was The Adventures of Kathlyn, with Kathlyn Williams, the star.

Virtus Scott, until recently on the directing staff of the Famous Players, is another addition to the Metro and the Popular Plays and Players, being Mr. Grandon’s assistant. Mr. Scott’s last work with the Famous Players was with Mary Pickford in The Foundling, and Pauline Frederick in Bella Donna. Before that Mr. Scott was with the Equitable, and assisted in the direction of Sealed Lips, in which Mr. Scott achieved individual distinction for his masterly handling for a big church interior scene, photographed in a well known Brooklyn edifice.

Through a factory accident, which delayed the release of The Rose of the Alley, with Mary Miles Minter, Mr. Grandon and Mr. Scott were obliged to hurry through their first Metro release, The Lure of Heart’s Desire, but they met the emergency in good shape with a finished and artistic feature.

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Metro in New South Wales

Negotiations were concluded between the Metro Pictures Corporation and B. T. Howells of Vogel & Howells, Sydney, N. S. W., Australia, by which the latter firm will have exclusive control of the distribution of Metro pictures for Australia. Vogel & Howells will release through the Cooperative Film Exchange, Ltd., of Sydney, and the Dominion Pictures Company, Ltd., of Auckland, New Zealand.

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New General Film Branch Managers

The appointment of two more branch managers was announced from the executive offices of the General Film Company, 200 Fifth avenue, this week. The appointees are W. J. Gilmore, who takes charge of the 23d street branch, New York, and T. Y. Henry, who heads the Salt Lake City organization.

The promotion of Mr. Gilmore is an example of how efficient and faithful service for the General Film Company is rewarded. A number of years ago, Mr. Gilmore, who was then the successful manager, of a number of moving picture theaters, decided to go into the business side of films. He entered the 23d street branch in a very unimportant capacity in the distributing room. Gradually he worked his way upward until he became assistant manager. Now he is manager of one of the most important film branches in the world. Opportunity to give Mr. Gilmore his deserved advancement came as the result of the promotion from branch manager to division manager for the East of V. H. Hodupp.

T. Y. Henry, who became manager of the General Film Company branch in Salt Lake City, is an experienced and capable film man. He knows his territory thoroughly and has held important executive positions in exchanges throughout the West. Prior to taking charge of the General Film Company in Salt Lake City, Mr. Henry was manager of the World’s Film Exchange in Kansas City.

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Clara Whipple in Ingénue Role

Clara Whipple, the leading woman of the Equitable Company’s stock organization, says that she “perfectly adores” playing ingénue roles. For the past few pictures in which Miss Whipple has appeared she has been cast for vampire roles, and she welcomes herself back again into the role of the debutante. In “The Pain Flower,” Miss Whipple is playing the ingénue lead in support of Marguerite Leslie.

“I am enthusiastic about my role,” says the pretty actress with the green eyes. “It has been a long time since I could play smiles and dimples. I prefer them to desperate deeds and heart smashing.”

Miss Whipple is very pretty, with golden hair, and regular features, which screen to great advantage. She is lovely in her new role.

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Among Our Visitors

Visitors at the New York offices of the Moving Picture World last week included Frank J. Rembusch, leading exhibitor of Indianapolis, and Shelbyville, Ind.; Charles A. Megown, manager of the Cameraphone theatre of Cleveland, Ohio, and representative of the Exhibitors’ League for the Northern District of Ohio; W. Clarence Beatty, proprietor of the Garden, and Cameraphone theaters of Pittsburgh, Pa., and William P. Herbst, president of the Circle Amusement Company of Washington, D. C.

Collection: Moving Picture World, January 1916

The Lure of Heart’s Desire ** 16

The Soul Market ** 16

The Foundling ** 16

Bella Donna ** 15

Sealed Lips ** 15