""mppmip tmfjJSmTmmTS&mmviimuu imwm 'SJaSSL, ' ' ' IglUMpiMiM THE EVENING LEDGER PHOTOPLAY SECTION, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1915. STANLEY MASTBAUM TELLS OP NEEDS OF THE PHOTOPLAY SiBj3aKIi8. m W .fV-fy sir -- OT M Griffith Tells How He Entered Movies By DAVID W. GRIFFITH As a child I never dreamed of such a career as has been mine, I aspired to bo s. lawyer or a writer. My preference was writing, and I did "several little tames" a play, some verse and a couple of stories. The verse and one story were printed In publications I blush to men tion, and James K. Hackett took my play, which was called "The Pool and the Girl," and did such unutterable things to it With me cursing, Tiravlnr- an et-iVInf- n. last dollars on it in the background that shortly afterward as I walked the byways of New York, penniless, seeking work, I made a solemn vow never to write again. A. little later I obtained a position in the scenario department of the Biograph Com pany. I had to beg before I was allowed to direct. Then, when I began to try to Introduce improvements, I almost lost my Job. The camera man was king in those days. And the camera man wanted straight photography or none at all. He SCOffed at the !d nf ?fnr?ftio A reverse lighting, and insisted that the camera must stand on a level, especially when taking scenes where crowds are seen in the distance. I used to just about have to prostrate myself at his feet to even get him to try anything new. In "Judith of BethnUa" w tnnfe- h. a scenes from the top of a mountain, but it was a weary time before I could get that camera man to climb the mountain. He wanted to stay on the level, a pro ceeding which would have made the crowds look like rabbits. The great appeal in "The Birth of a Nation" lies in the fact that it is the story of a lost cause. Napoleon Is a great and popular ngure In history not because of his triumphs but because of the island of Elba. And what in the life of Christ has influenced most people throughout the ages? His beanUful life? No. "What then? His cruciQxlon the cross. STANLEY V. MASTBAUM A noted figure in the local photoplay -world, who controls the bookings of 46 theatres. By STANLEY V. MASTBAUM "There Is a -universal key to success in the photplay realm, and -that is not to always give the public what it wants, but to give a program of quality and merit regardless of the drawing power of any particular production. This, in the photo-dramatic world, will win out against anything." It is the easiest problem in the world to give the public pictures in a varied program, as the photoplays now cover almost every range or dramatic, comic, scenic and educational subjects, but it requires great care to select from the entire output the ones of the greatest merit. It is true that there are few sections in a large city that really like ""in the outset the same form of film .Tactions. This, however, need not be ntudled, for as long as quality and merit Is studied by the manager of his theatre, he is sure to climb the ladder of suc cess. The burden of the problem at the out set, howevcr.falls upon the producere.and it rests with them. The greatest trouble, time and expense is required to produce the proper article of quality containing the entertainment value. Improcment In the last year of the class of photoplay entertainment provided has been "highly gratifying, and the same is true as re gards the class of patronage now being attracted to the leading photoplay houses. The increased Interest which is being shown by the dramatic departments or the various newspapers is also a matter or congratulation on the part of the theatre management. I hope to soon see the day when a new picture production will receive Just the same attention as the spoken drama, light or grand opera the first night attended and reviewed by competent writers and the productions as freely criticised, praised or censured, re gardless as to whether the place in which the exhibition is given is a large adver tiser or not. Motion Picture REMAINS "WITH SAME COMPANY Peggy Shannon has decided not to ac cept any or the numerous offers which she has been receiving lately, but to stay with the All Celtic Company. She will appear in all its pictures, playing op posite to Joe Sullivan. Chaplin Tells Tale Of His Early Life By CHARLES CHAPLIN Both my father and mother were ac tors. My father was Charles Chaplin, a well-known singer of descriptive ballads. He had a fine baritone voice and is still remembered In England. My mother was also a well-known vaudeville singer On the stage she was known as Lillle Harley She, too, had a fine voice and was well known as a singer of the "character songs, which are so popular In England. She and my rather usually traveled with the same vaudeville company, but never as ir as i Know, worKed in the same act tions and their two salaries, my earliest recollections are or poverty. I guess the salaries couldn't have amounted to much in those days. Mv hrother Kvrt xean frm.. iAaM 1 when I was born. That interesting event happened at Fontalnebleau. France. My rather and mother were touring the conti nent at that time with a vaudeville com pany. I was born at a hotel on April 16, travel we returned to London, and that was m home, more or less, until I came tn AYnrlra The very first thing I can remember I. .. I..!.. .1 1 AL- A is ui uciufc oHuvcu uui on me stage 10 sing a song. I could not have been over ne or six years old at the time. My mother was taken suddenly sick and I was sent on to take her place In the vaudeville bill. I sang an old Coster song called "Jack Jones." It must hae been about this time that my father died. My mother was never verv stronir snrt trhnt Hth . shock of my father's death and all. she was unaDie xo work lor a time. My brother Svd and I wprw wnf n tne poorhouse- Engllsh people have a great horror of the poorhouse; but I don't remember ii as a very areaaiui place. To tell you the truth, I don't remember much about iu The strongest recollection I have ot this period ot my life is or creeping off by mysell at the poorhouse and pretend ing i was a very ncn and grand person. i-noiopiay .Magazine Film Salesman shin Many large manufacturers axe using motion picture films to exploit their products. Chambers of Commerce ad vertise the advantages ot their cities. Conventions and parades are filmed per- ludimE actual occurrences. Anything vi any nature can be commercially ex ploited through the medium ot the mo- " picture nun with the most pro ductive results. Publicity In this field does tell the LAURA NELSON HALL Being featured by the Art Film Company. story. Sheep are shown as being sheared, the wool Is shown in the picking and sorting. Its process through the plant where it Is woven Into the cloth, the voyage ot the cloth to the clothing man uTacturer, the making of the complete suit of clothes and finally the suit is shown passing from the retailer to the actual purchaser. Motion picture publicity stands tor circulation and honest advertising with no economic waste. The manufacturer does get In touch with consumer through this medium with more effective results than all other advertising media. The Industrial Motion Picture Com pany ot Chicago is the pioneer In this particular field of publicity, and can be reached through addressing Shepherd Harris, 1316 Vine street, Philadelphia. Pa. Chas. Chaplin Cards (WITH CUT) PRINTED WlTn TOUR ADVERTISEMENT ?r $1.75 3 $3.00 Site of Card IK x7 Inches Send. Jot Samples WARNER SHOW PRINT 715 Race Street LAURA NELSON HALL In Her Original Part NORA NELSON DAISY BELMORE as EDNA MACEY WILLIAM HURLBURTS GREAT SUCCESS NEW YORK The Cleveland-Akron Bag Company, the makers of Wind-Q-KIean Cloth," the Waterless Method of cleaning windows, an nounce the winners of the first contest for the best titles for their reel, "The Nameless Story." " Judges for First Contest Mr. C M. WESSELS, The C. M. Wessels Company Mr. H. Q MORRIS, The Tasty Baking Company Mr. JAMES E. KUNKEL, The Terminal Coal Company PRIZE WINNERS FIRST PRIZE "FROM DRUDGERY TO HAPPINF.W LEO J. DOUGHERTY, 2207 South Street. SECOND PRIZE "A CLEAN COMEDY" Mrs. CHARLES FOGG, 4932 Rubicam Avenue, Gtn. THIRD PRIZE "THE WATERLESS RAG" ADOLPH GEIB, 144 East Allen Street. FOURTH PRIZE "THE BETTER WAY" UHAKLbb BERGMAN, 2831 West Clementine Street. FIFTH PRIZE "THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY" k. w. ik win, jyob spruce Street. "DULL PAINS vs. BRIGHT PANES" ELEANOR MORAN, Southeast Corner Broad and Ritner Streets. "WITHOUT DRUDGERY" Mrs. VIOLETTE GRETMACHER, 2018 So. 66th St. "ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE" LEONARD A. BRACKEN. 7403 Germantown Ave. "NO LONGER IN HOT WATER" Mrs. EDWIN KLINE, 2849 Bambrey Street. IN S PARTS GASTON MERVALE , ., Director, as "" ""m OLIVER KING Productions WATCH FOR THE BOOKING OF THIS WM. S. FORSYTH PHOTOGRAPHER REEL IN YOUR THEATRE mmmmmm&mm&amm&mmmim
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers