John Pratt New Lubin Director (1915) 🇺🇸
John Pratt, the new Lubin director, who filmed such famous plays as Shore Acres, The Garden of Lies, “The Fighting Chance,” The Nightingale, Paid in Full, “Arizona,” and Soldiers of Fortune, has begun work on the great war play, in which Rosetta Brice, Richard Buhler, Francis Joyner and Charles Brandt play the leading roles.
Mr. Pratt, who belongs to the famous Pratt family of Massachusetts, was in the days gone by, one of the best known baritones on the American light opera stage. He appeared with Eddie Foy in Hamlet on Broadway; with Blanche Ring; with Lena Abarbanell in The Balkan Princess, the Girl Behind the Counter, and other Broadway successes. Three years ago he decided that there was more scope for his ability in the motion picture world, and he began his career as a director.
In the new Lubin war play, which is as yet unnamed [Transcriber’s Note: The Rights of Man (1915)], Mr. Pratt promises many surprises for the photoplay goer, both in photography and in acting. The play itself, written by Louis Reeves Harrison, while a war play, depicts only the effect of war — burning villages, scenes in hospitals, and the like. During the entire five acts, only one shot is fired. It is expected that this very unusual and stirringly powerful play will be released for the public before the end of September.
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The Mittenthal Film Company, Inc., calls attention to the fact that the “Heinie and Louie” productions, which Motography stated in its issue of July 24 would appear on the Standard program, will, instead, be released through Pathé. [Transcriber’s Log: A series of films starring Heinie Conklin as Heinie and, oftentimes, Jimmy Aubrey as Louie]
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Selig’s Unique Publicity
At Los Angeles during the recent national convention of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and again at San Francisco at the Panama Pacific Exposition the Selig Polyscope Company obtained some unique publicity as a result of a float entered by the management of Chine’s Auditorium and a daredevil stunt by Aviator Art Smith.
In one of the illustrations the float which symbolizes the Selig Red Seal play, The Rosary, is shown, bearing on its sides advertising not alone of the play but also of Chine’s Auditorium and in flowered letters “B. P. O. E.” During the entire Elk’s convention and the week previous capacity business was reported by the theater running this Selig feature production.
The second illustration depicts Aviator Art Smith as he appeared when writing “Hearst-Selig” in the sky with his aeroplane, which bore a smoke-pot from which streamed the smoke that formed the legend as the daredevil aviator turned and looped in mid-air. The feat was performed over the Exposition grounds on Thursday, July 15, and was commented upon by the thousands who witnessed it.
When the International Jury of Awards at the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco, Cal., gave to the Nicholas Power Company, of New York City, the Grand Prize for the most perfect motion picture projecting machine, it placed the stamp of approval on what is universally recognized to be one of the most wonderful machines of this character the world has ever seen.
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- Selig’s Rosary float in the Elks Los Angeles parade.
- Art Smith in his aeroplane writes “Hearst Selig”
Collection: Motography Magazine, August 1915