Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, June 22, 1921, Page 9

| — iy pa : e, Th4 Ploneer is the only daily within 100 miles of Bemidji and has. the largest ecirculation fin Northern Minnesdta. 'VOLUME XIX. NO. 55 ' IDJ1 DAILY BEMIDJI, MINN. WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 22, 1921 SPECIAL “MIDSUMM "85c PER MONTH . ’ : HOW I BROKE INTO THE MOVIES' BY LOIS WILSON & Lois Wilson Was a Schoolmarm in Alabama and They Voted Her the Prettiest ‘Girl in the State. Naturally, the Next Step Was the Movies. the contest one lonesome evening in my boarding house, and on the spur of the moment I sent in my picture. The gods were certainly with me, because I won the cntest, nineteen bachelors voting me the prettiest girl in Alabama! I started for the coast soon after, saw the exposition and journeyed on to Los Angeles. But there, for some reason, the promised “test” fell through. All I was permitted was a first-hand glimpse at Movieland. * But that was enough. Frm that moment I knew I would be content nowhere but in pictures. * I happened to hear in Los Angeles that Lois Weber, who is an old friend of my family, was making pictures in Chicago. I ' took the next east- i . A 4 bound train, and, looking up Weber \ . |at her Studio, begged her for a chance. At first she didn’t take me| seriously and advised me to go back to Alabama and my school teaching. But I insisted so hard that she de- cided I meant it, and gave me a small part in the picture she was then pro- ducing, “The Blind Girl of Portici,” starring Anna Pavlgwa. Not long after Miss Weber went back to Los Angeles and took me with her. My first real part was a lead .op- posite Warren Kerrigan. 1 spent Wo years ‘playing leads for various companies. was offered a chance by Paramount to play in a Bryant Washburn comedy, and I seized it. I have been with them ever since. . My latest releases:are “Midsum- mer Madness” and “What Every Wman Knows,” both William DeMille productions, and at present I am appearing in another directed by Mr: DeMille, “The Lost Romance,” and original story by Edward Knoblock, the playwright. . Since my success in the movies, my mother and sisters have come on to Los Angeles, and we all live costily together in a big house there. My sis- ter Janice is also in pictures, and Jrois Wson & William DeMlthhm #Midsummer; Madness * ArParamount Pictuze GUESS I'm the first schoolmarm who ever broke into the movies. . I must confess that when I en- tered the Alabama State Normal School, after my graduation from high school, I wasn’t altogether con? vinced that I wanted to make school teaching my life work. I had yague ambitions of becoming an actres§, but since Destiny seemed a fearfully long while about taking it’s course I re- solved to occupy the interim ir( learn- ing the art of pedagogy. I graduated frm Normal School and was assigned to teach in an institu- tion in a country district of Alabama. Some of the boys in the class were older than I was, and I had a_hard time managing them at first. More- over, I had to walk Awo miles night and morning from the house in town where I boarded to the school. mencing Friday, June 24th. the screen, of the full moon at midnight. “Midsummer Madness” will tell you in a manner that will please and startle, This is the new William De Mille production which has taken its place beside the really fine pic- tures of the current season. It will be shown at the Elko Theatre for three days com- WIN A PRIZE IN THE ELKO-DAILY PIONEER *‘ - . LEITER Many people believe that the ending of the story in “Midsummer Madness, at the Elko Theatre Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 24th, 25th and 26th, is “just right.” Others think that if they had written the story, they would have provided an entirgly different ending, perhaps a trifle more tragic. What | ila Lee, LoisWilson aa Jack Holt s s M uialee. + MidsummeriMadness MOONLIGHT CAUSED THIS SCANDAL “Midsummer Madness” Tense Efnotional Drama of Domestic Life 'AKE a pretty, romantic young woman whose husband is too busy to love her and an I . attractive man wh® is wearied of his wife. ‘And what happens? The story, adapted from Cosmo Hamilton’s society novel, “His Friend and His Wife,” centers around two young married couples who are close friends. imagines himself in love with his friend’s wife, and she, neglected by her husband and starving for romance, yields to a temporary infatuation. The results are highly interesting and lead to a climax thaf for sheer dramatic in tensity has seldom been equalled’ on y, S— , A FaramovntiPicure Place them together under the spell One of the husbands MIDSUMMER MADNESS” NG CONTEST__HERE ARE THE RULES! beauty from sunny Alabama. " the Paramount Picture being shown | such pictures as “The Woman Thou A GENUINE SENSATION BY ARTHUR JAMES This Remarkable Tribute to “Midsummer :Madness” Appeared as an Editorial in a Recent Issue of “The Moving Picture World.” tions may be called excellent. “Midsummer Madness,” the third important production created by William De- Mille, steps into greatness and classifies itself by absolute merit as a superb entertainment. ‘It has that fine virtue of being a complete dramatic structure to begin with. To this have been added real_acting, beautiful photography, a sense of taste and composition. It is unquestionably the greatest dramatic produc- tion the screen has ever seen. Nothing in “Midsummer Mad- ness’” imposes on one’s sense of credulity, and there is no jarring note of .anachronism in the good social atmosphere through which action proceeds. Mr. DeMille is a dramatist first, and the result is very evi< dent on the screen. An effort to tell the story would form no proper part of this comment, as we leave the beauties of the production for enjoyment by the.-many who seeit. _ A word to those who are distressed about the falling off in §ne productions for the screen—a critical examination of this exceptionally great work will effect a cure, QUARTET OF FAVORITE PLAY CHIEF ROLES IN WM. DE MILLE’S “MIDSUMMER MADNESS” HERE is no star in “Midsum- mer Mfi\dness‘," the feature pic- ture:at'the Elko Theatre this week, but the leading roles are played by four film favorites who are con- sidered of star calibre. Jack Holt will be remembered for GREAT moving pictures are few, although many produc- i} Gavest Me,” “Held by the Enemy,” and/~ Ethel Clayton’s “Crooked Streets” and “Sins of Rosanne.” He is a fine, upstanding figure of a mgn and an excellent actor. Lois Wilson, leading woman for Bryant Washburn ip several comedies;, and for Wallace Keid in “What Your Hurry?” has the role of the erring wife in “Midsum- mer Madness.” She is a bewitching Lila Lee, the dark-eyed favorite who scored so emphatically in “Male and Female” and “The Prince Chap,” is also in the cast, as is Conrad Nagel, quever, I enjoyed my work and was, just getting into the swing of it when' one of the big Birmingham newspapers started a motion-picture beauty contest, promising that the winner would be sent out to'the Pana- ma-Pdcific Exposition and would also played the'lead in a recent Paramount release called “The White Circle.” I stijl have traces of my Southern accent, and I'm teased a lot about it in the studjo, but I don’t mind. I‘like Alabama, and not long age I paid a visit there and had a wonderful time. is your opinion of the present ending? by the Elko Theatre under the auspices ‘of the Daily Pioneer. cash; 3rd—$2 worth of tickets to the Elko, good for any attraction. Surely these prizes are worth a little effort. Of course, you ought to see the picture before.attempting ts compete; but that is not an’ essential to entering the contest. - If you know the story of the picture and feel that you can write a letter concerning the ending without seeing, it, that is your privilege, but it is only fair to state that the film version differs in several respects from the For the best letters on the general subject of the 'endimz of “Midsummer Madness,” three prizes will be awarded These prizes are: 1si-—$3 in cash; 2nd—$2 in who deserted the Broadway stage to play the hero in the picturization of Chambers’ “The Fighting Chance” and has now cast in his fortunes with the Lasky screen forces. “Midsummer Madness,” produced Lild Lee & William DeMille’s In Birmingham they gave me the get a tryout in the movies at-Los An- freedom of the city 'n’everythin’. geles. I read the paper announcing LADIES! WOULD YOU PREFER A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS T0 $1,000 FROM YOUR HUSBAND? qw QonadYNage] o 1ilX [Be mrsemerapVilAmYDeMille SThoducen “MidsummerfMadness!®” AxParamount.Picture’, THOUSAND dollar check from the husband; a bouquet of flowers from A her husband’s best friend— Which meant the most to Margaret Meredith on the evening of her seventh wedding anniversary? / The gifts were significant.- To Mrs. Meredith, the cold check indicated a last moment thought of her husband’s,’a hasty scribbling of his name, a new evidence that in his absorption in his business he had practically for- gotteil to love her. Ho her starved heart, the fragrant flowers represented romance, a man who could still appreciate what flowers mean to a woman. And so Margaret Meredith preferred the flowers. ) Her preference is the starting point of the intensely absorbing drama of domestic life that is worked out in “Midsummer Madness,” William De- Mille’s latest and greatest Paramount picture. It will be shown at the Elko Theatre Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Y Sl SN O BEAUTY LEAVES FOLLIES Following in the steps of Mae Mur- ray, Marion Davies,, Martha Mans- field and a host of other Ziegfeld Follies) beauties who have deserted the stage for ‘motion pictures, Betty | Francisco, the pretty blond ingenue of Broadway’s most popular revue, is now.a screeh recruit. .Miss Fran- cisco will be seen in an important role in- William DeMille’s new Para- Were You Ever Thus? Civilization is a veneer at the best. ~There are moments of madness when honor, friendship and love are swept aside, and quite civilized people be- come creatures of blind impulse and “passion. It was such a moment that caught a woman starving for ro- nce and a man infatuated with her beauty.~ In the warm moonlight of a:midsummer midnight, they for- by William DeMjlle. of its engagement, driven home with the present ending? eration than the verbiage. “Alive and Throbbing,” Hamilton Describes Great Production Author of Novel Telegraphs Wm. DeMille His Opinion of “Midsummer Madness” HE following telegram ad- dressed by Cosmo Ham- ilton, author of “His Friend and His Wife,” from which the scenario of the Wil- liam DeMille Production, “Mids summer Madness,”” a Para- mount Picture, was written, to Mr. DeMille, at Hollywood, Cal., needs no explanation. New York, Oct. 25, 1920. Mr. William DeMille, Hollywood, Cal.: Have just seen ‘“Midsummer Mad- ness.” It is"the most utterly sati fying, beautiful and human thing, all alive and throbbing, that has ever been created for tle screen. I'am proud and happy and cannot thank you enough. (Signed) COSMO HAMILTON. s \ Q X% A. There is no star. Wilson, Jack Holt and Conrad Nagel. like to read it.—H. A. Yes. Put your thinking cap on and win a prize! ‘What do YOU THINK? Who is the star in Midsummer Madness?”— It is a William DeMille pro- duction for Paramount. However, the cast is prac- tically all-star, including such players as Lila Lee, Lois Q. Was “Midsummer Madness” ever a novel. It was adapted from Cosmo Hamilton’s 0- READ! Very carefully Page 3 of This Special Section. If your name appears on it you are entitled to receive . TWO FREE TICKETS To See “MIDSUMMER MADNESS” LOOK! . Movie Fans’ Question Box uations. rd’ Cosmo Hamilton novel, “His Friend and His Wife,” from which it was adapted by Olga Printzlau and picturized = = . There is no set rule as to the number of words your letter contains. ‘It can be written or typewritten, but if you write it, use pen and ink and use only one side of the paper. Madness Editor,” Bemidji Daily Pioneer, and must be in his office no later than 6 P. M., Wednesday, June 29th. This gives everybody plenty of time to prepare their letters even if they sec the picture on Sunday, the last day All letters must be addressed to the “Midsummer In writing your letter, tell exactly what you think of the present ending of the picture, and how you would have ended it had you written the story, and why. Do you think the present ending is true to real life? yourself been one of the principals in a drama of this kind in real life, would it have ended thus? Is the moral Had you The prize winning letters will be published in the Daily Pioncer and the prize awards will be made as quickly as the decision of the judges can be.reached. They will be: J. D. Winter, H. Z. Mitchell and Miss Ida Virginia Brown. The thought contained in the letter will be given far mord consid- Olga Printzlau, Scenarist LGA PRINTZLAU, who wrote the scenario of “Midsummer Madness,” began her career as an artist. She engaged in scenario work in 1912, and since that time has written many successes for such famous screen figures as Hobart Bosworth, Lois Weber, Otip Turner, Mary Pickford, Wallace Reid, J. Warren Kerri- gan, Charles Ray, Frank Kee- non, Bessic Barriscale, Enid Bennett, William Desmond and many othérs. Miss Printzlau’s artistry was shown in Wallace Reid’s “Be- lieve Me, Zantippe,” Cecil B. DeMille’s “Why. Change Your Wife?” “Jack Straw,” starring Robert Warwick, and other pictures. She ranks as one of the most prolific writers of the motion picture field. She is al- so author of two one-act stage sketches, “Dream Doors” and Conception.” ture ever made about marriage?—H. L. K. A. Well, Cecil B. DeMille’s “Why Change ‘fl)ur Wife?” was a hummer, and William DeMille’s * summer Madness” abounds in intensely dramatic sit- id- Q. What has become of Lois Wilson, who used to be Bryant W. woman ?—Fan. burn’s and Wallace Reid’s leading by William DeMille from Cosmo Ham: ilton’s novel, is declared to be one of the outstanding pictures of the cur- rent seasbn. It is a Paramount. —0 What Critics Say: Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind. +“Midsummer Madness” is the real human stuff of which great pictures character actress, is rapidly gaining a are made. William DeMille has pro- _ - Y] P i duced an ideal combination of r'ich'\g?nt‘gefgzr};g::filf g:e“:ffl] nl:‘:srerx;::n:f 2 = | Dexter’s housekeeper in Cecil B. De- theme: delicately, |Mille’s “Something to Think About,” and as furnishing the suggcséion and Telegraph, New York encouragement to Gloria wanson If there s gprbied pictures- like | that efinally brings that beauty’s tem- “Midsummer Madness” there would Pestuous love affair to a happy end- i i i ong motion INE. :ieclllf:: ::t'i:::::::l o T The| _Mits McDowell plays a similar part Pew William DeMille Production|of dea ex machina in William De- thould be taken as an example of Mille’s new Paramount production, what can be done. You hear alto-|‘Midsummer Madness,” coming to | gether too much of what the pictures | the Elko Theatre during the latter are not. “Midsummer Madness” is Part of the weck. Cast as the mother an example of what good pictures|0f 2 man who, through his romantic should be. . . . | desires and m(llscrgtmn.mvolvcs the. | A remarkable part of the picture is wife of his best friend in a scandal, that all the characters are human be-|She_straightens out the tangle and ings, and you are deeply interested in |averts ruin from two homes. them as such. . . o Itis welli nigh technically flawless. . The \ . people are all just friends of yours.! Do you remember the charming lit- Other directors should see “Midsum-|tle girl who played with Thomgs mer Madness” and study it. | Meighan in “The Prince Chap”? She Mr. DeMille has brought to his new|is Charlotte Jackson, known to a}l pitture that understanding and sym-‘thc‘pluyers out at the Lasky studio pathy that we have missed so sorely. | as _‘Pcaches," and she will be seen He has drawn real characters and has again at the Elko Theatre in “Mid- not adopted the prevailing trite meth- |summer Madness.” e ods of developing them. ] Prodction *Midsummer Madness " - A Paramount Plictre Screen Untangled Claire McDowell on Job in “Midsummer Madness” Claire McDowell, the well known “Peaches” Jackson Back Lois Welcomed Home ) > Lois Wilson had a “welcome home’” American, Baltimore | party the other day. She took ad- < Having been fortunate enough to vantage of a short vacation to jour- see an advance running of “Midsum- ney back to Birmingham, Alabama,, mer Madness,” I can say without fear "and for the first time since she began of contradiction thgt Mr. DeMille has| her screen career visiting old friends achieved a veritable triumph of good | and relatives there, Making per- taste in the handling. The picture is sonal appearances in several of the a sensation without being sensational; | theatres, Miss Wilson was given a it deals with fundamentals but with-| royal welcome everywhere. out offense. It is one of the strong-| It was quite different from thie old est pictures, the most suspenseful “duys in Birmingham, when lovely have ever scen. The acting was su-| Lois was just a school-mar'm, hold- perb and if the picture is not a tri-|ing down a job in thc public school umph I shall miss my guess. *I by disguising the fact that she wag Decidedly, in_my opinion, William | younger than her oldest pupil. DeMille has achieved a great deal; has done as much as anyone living to | ness,” (Paramount) which opened af§ bring art and letters into the realm of Grauman’s Rialto yesterday, ., _ the films. , o . Evening Mail, New York ~ : Cosmo Hamilton and William De< | Examiner, Los Angeles | Mille are a potent pair when it comes | “A film drama, with a stage tech-|to depicting soul stress minus the mor< nic.” bidness. There is nothing new od got that they were married—to an- other man and another women—and in each others’ arms— . All of which goes to show why Wil- Tiam DeMille called his latest and greatest picture “Midsummer Mad- ness,” and.why screen fans who see mount production, “Midsummer Mad- ness.” FOR MARRIED FOLKS— There’s a reason for married folks whose romance has begun to fade a bit, in William DeMille’s new Para- which you can procure in Q. When is Lila Lee picture.—Mae. Madness.” brilliant society novel, “His Friend, and His Wife,” A. Miss Lee has one of the chief roles in William DeMille’s new production for Paramount, “Midsummer A. Pretty Miss Wilson is doing big things these days. She has ‘one of the leading feminine roles in William DeMille’s “Midsummer Madness.” Q. Has Conrad Nagel appeared in any pictures since “The Fighting Chance?”—H. A. Mr. Nagel has one éf the leading roles in Wil- liam DeMille’s “Midsummer Madness,” and also plays the hero in “What Every Woman Knows,” from Sir J. any bookstore or library. going to appear in another Many directors, more critics and hundreds of eager playgoers have cinema. It has been achieved to a limited extent in a few previous.in- elevation as in the new William De- original in Mr. Hamilton’s story, buti thd exemplary acting makes it a per< long sought this expression in the|formance out of the ordinary. The theme is a study of domestic probleni of tragic tendencies or morbidnessg stances, but in no single picture, per- |yet a study which is intensely inter+ haps, has it reached so distinct an|esting for the reason that it is humany The four leading characters play it are getting the thrill of a life-| mount picture, “Midsummer Mad- ness.” timg. — Q. What dg you consider the most startling pic- M. Barrie’s famous play. et |Mille production, “Midsummer Mad-lflawlessly. i e e At e EP—— |