Evening journal., 1914-09-12
MOVIE" STARS lose
PLACES AND MONEY
Now a Few Fair Ones
Would Like to See Mr..
Baker Again
FORD BUILDING
STUDIO" Is CLOSED

Dreams of more than half hundred
pretty young misses of Wilmington
who hoped to become movie" stars OF
the first rank apparently have been
shattered by the alleged sudden flight
from the city of Ralph E. Baker, and
thereon hangs a tale. The young wo-
men are said to be mourning the loss
of $40 each.
Well dressed. smiling and suaye,
Baker called at the Ford Building sew
eral days ago and rented room No
COG, announcing that he represented
the Baker Motion Picture Company,
producers of dramatic, western, clas-
sic and educational motion pictures"
He caused to be inserted in morning
and afternoon newspapers, THE
EVENING JOURNAL excepted, an. ad
vertisement for fifty young women.
The day following the appearance of
the Baker advertisement the Ford
Building was the mecca Of more than
90 fair Nilmingtonians, all eager to see
Mr.. Baker They came alone, in pairs
and in squads and the smiling Mr. Bak-
er is declared to have greeted each with
the warmest of welcomes. He is al
legged to have told the girls that they
were Just the young ladies he wanted"
and could be used to advantage in some
of the pictures he was going to pro-
duce. Mr.. Baker is further said to have
gently secured possession of $40 from
many of the wOuld-be actresses. While
the motion picture "magnate" was busy
stories reilecting no credit on him are
declared to have reached the ears Of
Peter j. Ford, of Bird, Ford and Com
pany and Mr.. Ford ordered the man out
of the building According TO tenants
at the Ford building Baker has not been
seen since Monday morning and beau
tiful gallery of pictures photographs
Of actresses adorned the walls
Of his office are also among the absent.
Among those who visited the pleas
ing Mr.. Baker during his brief, but
they do say profitable stay. was Miss
Grace Fisher. of No. 1919 West street.
He was just as nice as he could be, -
Miss Fisher said "and told me
could have a place in his company
He said that | would have to give
him $40 as a fee for instruction.
However, did not do so and am that
much ahead"
Another who declined to part with
the fee is Miss Grace Foster of No
1906 Washington street. "I went to
see that man, but / would not give
him any money" Miss Foster declar-
ed, but / understand he collected SIC
each from others who went to his Of
fee. He talked about producing mo-
ton pictures, but did not tell us
where they we're to be staged.
That Baker was a busy man while ir
the Ford Building is asserted by H. J
Davis, elevator operator in the building
Davis said, ale had large number OF
young women in his Office while he wai
here and I understand he got $40 eacl
as fees. They say he told them he wa
going to put them on the motion pic
ture stage. I know there were NOR
than 45 girls who went to his Office, ol
studio as he called it. ! do not know
from whom he collected
The activities of Baker aroused tn
attention of W. j. Gibbons. State chill,
labor Inspector, who told him he woul'
have to comply with the child labo
law of Delaware before using minors il
productions"
"Baler talked to me about his pro
ductions, but as far as ] can learn tn
young women did most of producing
Mr.. Gibbons said
Mr.. Gibbons was investigating ON hi
own account but Baker left the build
ing before he could take action.