The Washington herald., 1909-04-05
"a COnnOisxeur of Chorus GirIs.n


Miss Marie Cahin is authority for the
statement that chorus girls should De
chosen nots alone for their beauty. but
for their social accomplishments. II is
her contention that a girl unaccustomed
10 the ways OF polite society VIII not
properly MI the eye when attired IN mod
ern evening dress. as required in the
latest style of musical play. 1t IS for
that reason that the comedienne always
selects the girls for Der chorus herself.
and the salaries paid them are higher
than in any other musical organization.
When an applicant for position in the
Cahill chorus is TO be selected, the try
out is a different affair frOm the usual
method adopted by stage managers. Pri-
marily. there is the trial OF the voice
The aspirant Is allowed 10 make her own
selection. something that she is familiar
with and In which her voice viii be
heard 10 the best advantage. Then ques-
uons are put TO her as TO her height
weight color of eyes and hair. size OF
gloves. shoes. &C In Miss Cahilrs pro-
ductiOn the management furnishes every
article Of apparel worn by the members
OF the company 20 the smallest detail
Unless she gives evidence Of gentle breed
ing, there is no chance OF an engagement.
Court Stops ''Ben-Hur'' Pictures.
BY a decision rendered recently in the
United States Circuit Court OF Appeals
a moving picture exhibition is held 20 be
a stage representation violatlve OF the
rights Of the authors copyrighted book.
The question arose IN a sU,t brought
by Klaw & Erianger and Harper &
Brothers against the Kaiem Company 10
enjoin the moving picture exhibitions OF
"Ben-Hur-" The Kalem Company. which
Is member OF the moving picture t-ust.
admitted that the scenes which were be-
Ing exhibited were taken from Gen. Lew
Wallace's book, "Ben-Hur," but Il urged.
through its counsel. Drury ". Cooper
that the representation was only an ex-
hibition OF pictures and not a dramatic
performance under the copyright law. and
that in any event the statute was un-
constitutional which sought 20 prevent
moving pictures, because Il was not q
writing within the meaning OF the
Constitution, which vested In Congress-
the power 10 secure 10 authors and in
ventors the exclusive right 10 their writ
ings"
klaw & Erlanger and Harper & Broth
ers were represented by John Larkin and
David Gerber. and II was shown that
over 20 different theatoriUms were giving
exhibitions OF 'Ben-Hur'' throughout the
country; and while they conceded that the
questions presented had never been de-
cidec IN this country because the moving
picture was matter Of recent discovery
and development. still as an author was
protected in the story which he originat-
ca, any method OF conveying 20 the pub
lie that story, whether IN pantomime.
dialogue. or by means Of moving pictures.
was violation OF the authors exclusive
right 10 his originatiOn.
The Circuit Court OF Appeals held tha:
In order 70 give moving picture exhIbi-
ton II was necessary 20 take the novel
OF the author and prepare a synopsis or
story. which was in effect a dramatiza-
ton. and that the author alone had the
right 10 make or authorize a drasnatfza-
tion, and that therefore a moving picture
exhibition Of story Of an author vio-
lated the authors exclusive right secured
70 him by his copyright.