The Washington times., 1914-11-09
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Career Of the Screen S
Most Interesting
Actress, Mary
Pickford


film plays sought to reduce the fac
ter of personality IN the acting Of
their dramas as much as possible.
and absolutely refused to permit any
publicity to be given the individuals
included in their companies, il is
rather an odd thing that the per-
sonality of the actors and actresses
today is the most important feature
OF the photoplay. The average pat
ron gauges the quality of the drama
from tho character Of the people
who act it to a far greater degree
than is done on the stage. The film
ID has been responsible for the intro
duction of n number of very pleas
Ing individuals to the public, each
of whom has a large and devoted
following. 1t is probable that there
is no single individual actor or act
ress in motion picture work whose
reputation is so worldwide as that
OF Mary Pickford. the youthful star
who was one Of the earliest to i'm
press herself on the patrons and
whose work ever since her original
appearance has delighted thousands.
Miss Pickford is probably the great
est of Americas contributions to the
photoplayers' hall of fame. She is
as widely known as the inimitable
Max Linder, of the French films, and
stands out as strongly in the minds
of patrons throughout the world as
does Max.
The most important production in
which Miss Pickford has had a part
since the beginning of her career
is such Little Queen" by Chan
ming Pollock, to be produced for the
first time in Washington at the Gar
den Theater tomorrow. This play
was used as the means of starring
Elsie Ferguson several seasons, and
when made into a film drama by its
author it lost none of its charm.
MIR. Pollock himself has stated that
he was surprised at the delicacy of
the presentation and the effects OBJ
talned, which were far better. in
many respects, than the stage play.
In view of this fact, it has been
particularly pleasing to obtain from
MISS Edna Wright, a personal friend
OF Miss Pickford, the short sketch
OF the young actress life which fol-
lows, and which bears in the original
copy corrections directed by Mss
Pfckford herself.
Little Mary Pickford, probably
lhe most popular of the screen
stars of today. was born in Canada.
April :. 1884, and made her debut
on the stage when only three years
old. Her early experience was
gained while playing stock in her
birthplace, and until five years old
sne continued this line of work.
Though only child, Little Mary
captlVated her audiences from the
start and it was not long before
she was the idol of theater goers.
she remained in Mr.. Hilliard's
company, at that time playing The
Littlest Girl" until one day David
Belasco, while casting The War
rens Of virginia" discovered Mary.
Always quick to recognize talent,
he saw in her his ideal of Betty
the younger sister i'm the play, SO
ne cast her accordingly. For orite
a time Betty romped her way
INTO the hearts Of thousands, first
causing them to cry, then to laugh,
and Won place in the theatrical
world, much envied by others Of her
age.
However, the stage was nor 10
claim all Of Miss Pickfords ability
and II was after leaving Mr.. Belas-
cos company that she entered the
silent drama. The Biograph Com
pany served as a channel through
which photoplay fans all over the
"ollu ledrneQ 10 adore her, Her
first director, David Griffith, soon
: saw the piquant, blue eyed. little
girls talent and from minor roles
he Immediately cast her for leads.
All those who have followed the
growth Of moving pictures know
how soon Little Mary" became the
favorite, and while with the Bio
graph organization. she portrayed
almost every kind of character.
Her first leading men were Arthur
Johnson, Henry Wathan. Billy
Quirk and Wilfred Lucas, all OF
whom have, like Miss Pickford. be-
come popular since the early days.
In 1913, while David Belasco was
again selecting characters for one
OF his new plays. he chanced into
a moving picture theater where
Little Mary was being shown.
After the film had been run he in
quired the name of the little star.
and was told that it was Mary
Pickford. While sitting there Mr.,
Belasco's idea of the little blind
Juliet Of "A Good Little Devil" had
come to life and it was for this
reason that he inquired the stars