And there was Lloyd Carlton, who went all around the mulberry bush before he landed in the movies. He first heard of them in far-off Australia in 1908, when as stage manager for “Peter Pan” he met a Mr. West, who was “doing” Australia and the Far East with a “show” that consisted of ten-and fifteen-foot moving pictures, toting the films and projection machine and the whole works along with him. Back on home soil, Mr. Carlton bobbed up at Biograph where instead of Mr. Frohman’s one hundred and fifty dollars weekly he cheerfully pocketed five dollars per day for doing character bits. Followed Thannhouser, Lubin, and Mr. Fox.
Mary Pickford’s first picture, “The Violin Maker of Cremona,” June 7, 1909. David Miles as the cripple Felippo.
(See [p. 100])
Mary Pickford’s second picture. Mary Pickford, Marion Leonard and Adele De Garde, in “The Lonely Villa.”
(See [p. 100])
Mr. Carlton says he directed the first five-reel picture ever released—“Through Fire to Fortune”—written by Clay Greene and released March 2, 1914, by the General Film Company. Mr. Carlton also says his picture contained the first night scene. Through crude lighting manipulations Mr. Carlton secured it in the quarry at Betzwood where rocks were painted black and properties arranged to represent the interior of a mine.
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And so from near and far, and from diverging avenues of endeavor, came the new recruits to Biograph; but in the late fall Mary and Owen, and the Smith family sailed for Cuba one fine day to produce some “Imp” pictures there. When safe aboard the steamer, Mary and Owen decided to brave mother’s tears and anguish. They told her of the secret marriage.