What Kind of a Fellow Is — Willat? (1918) 🇺🇸
Being a glance at the real human side of the big men of the picture game caught in action
We are almost willing to wager that the heading above this page marks the first time that the name “Willat” has appeared in a news story without its natural-born prefix — “Doc.”
There are film men on Broadway who couldn’t give you a single word in answer to the question “What Kind of a Fellow Is — Willat?” But we’ll bet cur Sunday shirt that there isn’t a film man who has been on Times Square long enough to cut his wisdom teeth who can’t answer the query “What Kind of a Fellow Is — ‘Doc’ Willat?”
He’ll tell you first, quickly and emphatically, that “Doc” is a regular fellow. And secondly, and with equal emphasis, he’ll let you know that in knowledge of the technical side of motion pictures “Doc” stands right at the top.
And he’ll be right on both counts!
“Doc” came into the picture business in the days when you didn’t just rent film — you had to also rent the machine along with the film. The machines were few — and it was the privilege of using one that you were paying for just as much as the film.
“Doc” secured his pictures — and the machine — from Vitagraph. He used the Armory at New Britain, Connecticut, for his show.
The way the coins rolled into his box office convinced “Doc” that the picture business must be something worth looking into still further. That was back in 1908, but “Doc” didn’t decide, as so many did, that the “movies” were just a passing freak, or that his own future in it was limited to running such shows as the Armory.
No siree! “Doc” decided that the picture game looked good enough to learn it from the bottom up. He sold out his interest in the exhibiting end and lost his interest in New Britain — coming to New York to gather all-around knowledge as a general utility man for Vitagraph.
A few years with Vitagraph found “Doc” with enough knowledge to help organize Carl Laemmle’s famous “Imp” Company. “Doc’s” interests were now definitely with the independents, as he went from the “Imp” to join hands in the reorganization of the New York Motion Picture Corporation. Remember those trademarks — Broncho, Domino, Keystone?
“Doc” next cast his eye on Fort Lee, then used extensively for exterior work, and possessing only one small studio and laboratory. The Willat Studios and Laboratories were the result — and, though this plant was constructed some four or five years ago, there are many who will tell you that it is still one of the finest in the country.
The next thing we knew “Doc” was talking nothing but natural color pictures. We learned that he had cast his lot with the Technicolor process, and since then his every effort has been spent on natural color and Technicolor — which “Doc” says are synonymous.
Technicolor has completed a seven-part production, The Gulf Between, which will play the Klaw and Erlanger circuit. At present the process requires a special projector, but plans now being worked out will make it possible for the company to produce a regular line of productions available for all houses. Or else the process may be leased to other producers.
Thirty-two different patents control the process — all in the hands of eight men, of whom “Doc” is one. Aside from the patents, the Willat fad seems to be clubs — for “Doc” is on the roster of the New York Athletic, the Friars, Elks, Volney, National Vaudeville Artists, and probably as many more that we can’t recall, not to mention the Benedicts’ Club — for “Doc” strolled to the altar rail eleven years ago with the daughter of the late William Rock, of Vitagraph.
If he isn’t on the lists of the Anti-Yellow Dog Club he ought to be grapped quickly, for the Murray Eight car that he now sports is a speeding “ad.” On Film Square they call it “The Yellow Dog,” but no hound ever made the speed that “Doc” gets out of his car. If they get him in the new draft — yes, he’s in it, and willing — the war will be over the day that Hindenburg sees that yellow demon coming his way at the typical Willat speed.
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Illustration by: Harry Palmer (Harry Samuel Palmer) (1882–1955)
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Marcus Loew Opens New Theatre
Loew’s Newest Theatre, the Metropolitan, at Brooklyn, Opened This Week with an Audience of 4,500 Persons
Heralded as the largest theatre in the world, and erected at a cost of $2,000,000, Marcus Loew’s newest theatre, the Metropolitan, was opened at Brooklyn this week with a capacity audience of nearly 4,500, and many notables present.
All the daily newspapers of New York and Brooklyn devoted many columns of space eulogizing Mr. Loew for this remarkable achievement. Many stars of the World, Vitagraph and Metro companies were present and each were given an individual reception upon the announcement of their names.
No Loew opening of the past ten years has equaled this grand opening, which was thoroughly in keeping with the size, cost and the magnificence of the structure, and marked the pinnacle of Marcus Loew’s fifteen years as master craftsman of amusements.
The New York Journal said, in part:
“It is a peculiar fact that the Metropolitan is located within two blocks of Loew’s first theatre, the Royal, which he opened to the public exactly ten years ago this month.
“The theatre was dedicated by beautiful Anna Case, celebrated operatic and concert star; Mollie King and Irving Berlin.
“It was the first time Anna Case, who is now engaged in the making of pictures for the International Film Company, has appeared in a Loew theatre or at a Loew opening, but by no means the first for Molly King and Irving Berlin. Berlin has appeared at the opening of almost every theatre Marcus Loew has built in the last seven years. Molly King was there because of her long association with Marcus Loew and his enterprises, which began ten years ago, when Molly was just a child in short dresses.
“As soon as the vaudeville program, headed by Anna Chandler, was over, Irving Berlin was announced. He appeared in khaki as a sergeant of the U. S. Army and was given a tremendous reception. He sang a few of the song hits from Yip, Yip, Yaphank, and was followed immediately by Molly King, who gave her number exactly as she does at the Century Grove with an interpolation, giving an imitation of Irving Berlin singing I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.
“Julius Steger, director of Anna Case, who is responsible for her picture career, introduced and presented his famous and beautiful star, who charmed all, particularly when she rendered The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
“Marcus Loew closed the festivities when the audience demanded his appearance, and welcomed his audience to his theatre. He introduced individually the two score or more picture stars who were in the boxes.
“The vaudeville program included, in addition to Anna Chandler, Joseph E. Bernard and his company in Who Is She? a laugh from beginning to end; the little Brown Sisters, in songs and accordeon solos; the Four Entertainers, offering song hits and pianologue; Pippifax and Panlo, the pantomimists. The Hun Within was the photoplay that closed the show.
“A remarkable feature of the entire evening was the manner in which the audience was seated by about thirty young ladies, none of whom had been in the house before.”
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William Hart Will Tour for Fourth Loan
William S. Hart has just been requested by the Fourth Liberty Loan Committee to tour three of the most important districts of the United States in behalf of the new Loan which will open within a few weeks.
One of the districts in which Mr. Hart has been requested to make campaign speeches is the most vital territory in America from the standpoint of its immense population and of its vast financial importance. It is New York City.
Philadelphia and Boston are the other two districts to which the popular Western actor has been assigned. Mr. Joseph Hartigan, of New York City; Mr. Harry Hodge, of Philadelphia; and Mr. Phillip Dalton, of Boston, each chairman of his respective district, personally urged Mr. Hart through the Liberty Loan Committee to include their territory in his itinerary should he be able to allow time to take part in the campaign to sell bonds of the Fourth Liberty Loan.
As soon as the request reached the actor this week, he accepted it with patriotic enthusiasm and offered to commence the tour from New York City in the early part of October.
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Gladys Leslie’s Brother Sees Her in France
Gladys Leslie, the young Vitagraph star, has two brothers in service — Walter, a lieutenant in the army aviation corps, and Richard, an enlisted man on the U. S. S. Indiana. In a recent letter the former describes the experience of seeing one of his sister’s pictures at a movie show given in a Y. M. C. A. hut in France.
“I hadn’t the slightest notion I was going to see you, Sis,” writes the young man, “and I almost fell from my seat when one of your pictures was announced. You can imagine my delight. Gee, I could have gone right up and kissed your dear face. You bet I was proud to tell the fellows you were my sister and I’ve promised ‘steen hundred to get autographed photos for them, so take your pen in hand, Sis, and get busy. How about sending a movie of “Puss?” I didn’t feel half so homesick after seeing you and all I need now is a five or ten-reeler of “Puss.” Can’t you get Vitagraph to make a picture of the beloved woman in some of her favorite roles — making lemon pie for her old Walter, for instance?”
“Puss” is the Leslie children’s nickname for their mother.
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Select Issues Handsome Twenty Page Booklet
Select Pictures Corporation has just issued a striking and profusely illustrated booklet which elaborately outlines their offerings in the second Star Series (1918–1919), Vivian Moses’ handiwork registers heavily in this handsome and illuminative booklet, which is printed on heavy glazed cream stock that brings out very clearly the many halftones of the stars.
The advertising aids on each production are enumerated and the following stars are represented: Clara Kimball Young, Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge, Alice Brady, and Marion Davies. The booklet in two colors and contains a list of the Select Exchanges throughout the country
On an average there will be, from the five stars, one Select production released every ten days, in the new series of 1918–1919 pictures.
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Third U. S. War Feature Is “Under Four Flags”
The third U. S. Official War Picture to be issued by the Division of Films, Committee on Public Information, George Creel, chairman, will be entitled Under Four Flags and will be given its first public showing early in November.
Owing to the comprehensive character of the present offensive, and the intense interest it has aroused, the new picture will not be exclusively American, but will include the activities of the Allies as well as of the United States soldiers.
Thousands of feet of film showing many thrilling battle scenes have been taken by official photographers of the various armies and will be utilized for the new picture.
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Dacey of Kleine Office Joins Pathé Force
J. J. Dacey, sales manager for George Kleine’s New York office, has resigned to accept a position with Pathé. He came to Kleine’s with William E. Raynor five years ago and has handled all of New York City, Brooklyn, Bath Beach, Staten Island and Long Island.
Mr. Dacey is to be associated with Mr. Raynor, who is Pathé’s New York branch manager, and will have charge of all the big circuits of New York and Brooklyn. He announced that his resignation was prompted merely by business motives, as his relations with Mr. Kleine have always been cordial.
Collection: Motion Picture News, 28 September 1918