The Washington times., 1914-04-08
THE BEST
Photoplay Department il,
WASHINGTON
Sothern and Mdude
Adams to Appear in
PhotoplayS, Says
Dan FrOhn1dn

THE appearance of Maude
Adams and E. H. Sothern in
i photoplays and dramatization
of practically every popular
novel are promised by Daniel Froh-
man, the theatrical manager, who is
one of the most enthusiastic sup
porters of the photoplay in the coun-
try. He has become one of the most
important factors in the producing
end Of the business during the past
few years, and his views on any
thing connected with it are regarded
as extremely valuable. Before en-
tering the photoplay field, he ia
miliartzed himself with every detail
of production. He could 60 into any
department and do the work himself
as well as the most expert employe.
1t is because Of his connection with
the stage that Mr.. Frohman's views
are particularly interesting. On one
of the rare occasions when he would
talk he recently expressed himself
at length on the future Of the busi-
ness and its relations to the stage.
His views were SO interesting and so
unlike the ideas of many of those
IN both sections Of the amusement
field that they will be welcomed by
Washington enthusiasts.
The pictures are doing the the
aters a great good" said Mr.. Froh-
man. "They are eliminating the poor
plays, relieving the oversupply of
theaters, and bringing out the best
there is in drama. The effect Of pic
lures on the theatrical business Is,
as a whole, most beneficial The un-
fit will suffer. but ii is the unfit
which has hurt our theaters. Three
10 four years ago moving pictures
consisted of one-act releases, most
of them being comic reels which
were merely grotesQue and trifiing
affairs. 1t occurred to me that the
Improvement of moving pictures
might be the solution of the big
troubles Of the theatrical business:
too many theaters, high prices, and
poor plays, and this has proven to be
true.
There is no limit to the range of
subjects for moving pictures or the
F. scope of production. The develop
ment of the psychology Of modern
drama into a visualized form of ac-
ton is a distinct art of its own which
gives the creative director his great
opportunities. The possibilities Of
the fiction novel in moving pictures
are even greater than the drama.
Drama is limited to only a few epi-
sodes, while the novel has tAe whole
world and all history, past and pres
ent, to draw from. Every great fic-
ton work will be the subject of a
moving picture within the next few
years, and splendid subjects they
will make, too.
This opens up a new field to our
actors which they are glad to take
advantage of. Today we have Will
for the picture of The Redemption
OF David Corson,' made from the
novel. not the play. Maude Adams
IS going to appear before the camera
in her most celebrated roles, Lady
Babbie and Peter Pan. Miss Adams
was most difficult to induce to act
for the movies. z. H. Sothern will
also act for us before he retires.
Acting for the camera gives the
teaches him to express himself more
in action. Training on the stage is
OF the greatest value in acting for
moving pictures: unless one has had
it considerable preparation is re-
quired to act for the camera. IT took
Mrs. Fiske just ten minutes 10 COM
pletelv master the technique Of pic
ture acting.
You must remember that the mov-
ing picture stage is but twelve feet
wide, and the actor must do every
thing within this confined area that
is done on a stage thirty Or more
feet wide. The restriction of acting
space is the greatest difficulty that
actors experience in picture acting"