Francine Larrimore (1915) 🇺🇸

Francine Larrimore, ingénue lead of Some Baby at the Fulton theater, has been engaged by the Gaumont Company to appear in the next Rialto Star three-reel feature on the Mutual Program, produced by William Haddock. The title of this photoplay, in which one of Broadway’s current stars will be seen, is The Devil’s Darling.

Miss Larrimore will play the role of an innocent girl who comes under the influence of a wicked adventuress who tries all her wiles to force the younger girl to sell her soul, to no avail.

Miss Larrimore is an American girl, although she was born in Rouen, France. She toured the country four years ago in the A. H. Woods production of Over Night.

She became known to Broadway when she played with the Princess Players in Any Night. She has been the favorite of many other productions.

Miss Larrimore makes her bow to the screen in the Devil’s Darling. Although she has been urged to enter the pictures, she has heretofore declined.

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Samuel F. Wheeler Back in Law

Brother’s election to the bench compels him to suspend his motion picture work.

One of Pennsylvania’s foremost exhibitors, Samuel F. Wheeler, the founder of two of the most prosperous motion picture theaters in West Philadelphia, has decided to re-enter the practice of the law, in which he had been engaged for upward of twelve years before entering the exhibiting business. Mr. Wheeler’s brother, William T. Wheeler, one of the leading attorneys of the Quaker City, has recently been elected to the bench. Great interests were in the keeping of the new judge and he has arranged with his brother, Samuel, to attend to these interests.

Samuel F. Wheeler, who for many years has played a considerable part in the political and social life of Philadelphia will, therefore, once more return to his old profession, with offices on the twelfth floor of the Finance Building, South Penn Square. Mr. Wheeler has been one of the most relentless of the foes of the censors and censorship and his many battles with the Chief Inquisitor are well remembered. He will be glad to help all exhibitors who may need legal advice. With his knowledge of the law and his practical experience of the exhibiting business he will be in a position to render valuable services to his old colleagues.

“My theaters,” said Mr. Wheeler, “have been leased to the Paragon Theaters Corporation, but I still take a lively interest in their welfare. I have taken charge of my brother’s clientele, but it is possible that I may in time go back into this wonderful industry with the indescribable fascination. The industry is still in its boom state. The man who can think two years ahead will make a fortune in motion pictures.”

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Tourneur Heads Paragon Company.

With “quality, not quantity” as its motto, a new film manufacturing concern, the Paragon Film, Inc., will open a great studio, now nearing completion, and a factory at Fort Lee, N. J., about Dec. 1. At the head of the organization, which is backed by ample capital, is M. Maurice Tourneur, the eminent French producer of motion pictures, who came to this country from Paris a year ago and who in that time has staged some of the most artistic screen productions seen in this country. His office in the New Jersey corporation is the dual one of vice-president and general manager. The Paragon will release its output through the World Film Corporation, with which Mr. Tourneur has been associated.

“The new company,” said Mr. Tourneur, “will enable me to present photodramas of five or more reels each, along special lines, which I have long felt would be very profitable. We will not attempt to turn out a million feet a week, nor even from thirty to forty reels, as nothing really artistic can be assured to such an output. Our intention is to produce about twenty-four big, five-reel features a year and perhaps three or four larger ones, which will mean from 10,000 to 15,000 feet of film a month. We are certain of the best market for such an output and we expect to produce better pictures than have yet been made. This will make the exhibitors our friends.”

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Strand’s Music for “Carmen” Complete.

B. A. Rolfe and Carl Edouards [Carl Edouarde] have completed the incidental music which is to be played to the Carmen picture in which Geraldine Farrar will be seen at the Strand theater the week commencing October 31. This music is made up principally from Bizet’s [Georges Bizet] opera, and is said to be strikingly appropriate in every respect to the scenes shown on the screen. Miss Farrar will be seen in person at one of the performances. The date of her appearance will be announced later.

Collection: Moving Picture World, October 1915

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see also H. Cooper Cliffe (1915)