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THE EVENING LEDGER PHOTOPLAY SECTION, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1915.
STANLEY MASTBAUM TELLS
OP NEEDS OF THE PHOTOPLAY
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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
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