The Washington times., 1914-11-17
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
lillian Walker Was
a Model Before
She Became a
Coincidence

There are Stlll people VINO DeueNe
that real comedy is not to be pic
tured on the screen. and that the
only things that the camera can
show to create a laugh are of slap
stick style that has done lot to
lower the general standard of mo-
ton picture art. There is consider
ably more to the motion picture
than the low comedy that has been
a constant visitor at all the photo
play theaters, however. Light COM
edy was a long time in coming 10
the film. but has arrived, and 1t
is now recognized as among the
very best forms of screen enter
tainment. as it is among the best
forms of entertainment on the
stage. One of the difficulties that
was experienced in producing this
kind of material was the failure of
so many people who tried it to get
actors and actresses capable of ap-
preciating the finer points of the
scenarios and making it possible
10 show them on the film so that
the audience could not possibly fail
10 understand them. For a long
lime Arthur Johnson was the only
one who seemed to be capable OF
developing a light comedy style.
There are others, now, however, and
none Of them is surer of getting the
very best results than the fair
Company. The history of Miss
Walker. as it has been supplied us
by Miss Edna Wright, is very in
teresting, as the pretty young star
is almost wholly product Of the
screen, though she had some stage
experience.
Lillian Walker was horn in Brook
lyn April 81. 1888. Her father was
Andrew Wolk. of Sweden. which was
Walker. and her mother was Caro-
line Peterson, also of Swedish de-
scent. Emigrating to America soon
after their marriage, the parents set
tied in New York. Miss Walker was
educated in the Brooklyn public
schools and Erasmus High School.
After leaving high school, she
started to earn her living in the
business world by taking a position
as telephone operator, but misfor-
tune came to her through the death
of her father. Now, the main sup
port of the family, she cast about
for better employment, and ii was
owing to her great beauty that she
became engaged as a professional
model? Desiring to try the stage,
Miss Walker appeared for the first
time in The Little Organ Grinder.
Singularly enough, in the same cast
with her were Maurice Costello.
leading man. and Mother Mary
Maurice. both of whom are in the
Fitagraph Company now. After
leaving the Little organ Grinder"
company, it was in 1870 that, upon
returning to New York, 'Dimples"
secured an engagement with the
'Follies.' while later she went into
,rl n lipht
voice, she scored only a mild sue
cess, and il was because of this fact
that she abandoned the stage.
Again. adopting the calling of
model. her face became very famil-
lar on calendars. and il was while
engaged in this line of work that
several of her photographs came to
one of the Vitagraph owners. He
saw the possibilities in her for pic
lures, and she was given a tryout,
with the result Of immediate sue
cess. Blondes, with blue eyes. as a
rule. find it very difficult to succeed
before the camera, but this diff
Guilty did not hinder Miss walker.
Her talent for comedy parts was
soon recognized. with the conse-
quence that she was cast for leads
in many of the Vitagraph's biggest
features.
Miss Walker has never been with
any other company, but that which
served as her introduction into the
silent drama. She is very fond
of her SURROUNDINGS. and believes
that q rolling stone gathers no
moss" both OF which aid in max
ing success.
Love. Luck. and Gasolene." .
special feature which ran for some
time at the Vitagraph Theater IN
New York. The Wonderful Stat
ne Loves Quarantine and Gin
derella's slipper" are only a few
OF the many comedies in which LII
liam Walker has played the leading
roles. Perhaps most frequently
seen opposite her are Wally Van
and John Bunny.
The directors at the studio find
no difficulty when asking Miss
Walker to perform some daring act
to add to the realism OF a pict-
ture. for she will gladly brave any
stunt for the success of a film.
She is a good swimmer, this being
he: favorite sport. Il skillful rider.
and during her course before the
camera. has made several trips in
aeroplanes.