The Washington times., 1914-09-06

Henry Miller received shock when
he reached here late last week for the
purpose of experimenting the produc-
ton of The Dragons Claw" II re-
quiries great deal to shock Henry
Miller. He is one of those producers
who are very eXacting in their de-
mands. In his desire to get everything,
absolutely correct Miller leaves nothing
undone that can help the performances.
He makes many demands on the me-
chanical department of a theater which
| are of an unusual character and which
call for doing things that the mechani-
cal staff does not like to do. So when
Miller reached Washington he ordered
a big hole cut in the stage of the Ma
tional. Morgan Sherwood. the grand
old man OF Mr.. Rapley's staff, Srinned
and said nothing. when this request
was made. While Miller was waiting
for something to be said or done in
protest he exchanged personal felicita-
tions with Sherwood. whom he has
known for many years. After perhaps
three minutes OF this sort of talk. he
again asked about the hole he wanted
cut in the stage.
sherwood grinned' again and told him
1t was already there. stepping aside to
show Miller that where the stage had
been perfectly whole a few minutes be-
fore, there was now a fifteen-foot cavi-
ty in it. Miller was astounded And
then Morgan explained He Is the in
ventor of new sort of sectional stage
which has just been completed at the
National. The stage is so constructed
that couple of stage hands can re-
move any section, from six inches wide
10 the entire stage, in the time IL tells to
talk about 1t. And yet when the stage
is all in place It is as rigid and as solid
as though it were solid concrete all
the way to bed rock
The secret of the thing lies In a sys-
tenn of interlocking floor sections resting
en- movable girders. 1t is possible to
move these girders backward or forward
or Sideways any distance required. The
stage in its ordinary dress will hold
weight of about $50 pounds to the square
inch. But IL can be re-enforCed with addi-
uonal girders, that are always at hand.
SO that it would hold up the Washing
ton Monument. II necessary.
The greatest feature Of the Sherwood
idea is its simplicity. The sections are
so absolutely separate and yet fit to-
Sether perfectly to form whole struc-
ture. One, two. three or all the sec
tions can be removed in just the time II
takes TO remove nuts from bolts. There
are many sectional stages in the coun-
try. The new one at the National, how
ever, is based on such an entirely new
idea that Mr.. Miller and the Klaw &
Erlanger mechanical forces are still
marveling at 1t.
A departure from ordinary burlesaue
shows was seen-one might better say
heard-here last week at the Gay
ETY.. in the performance Of a real grand
opera singer in operate selections. The
singer in question was Martha Stewart.
formerly with the Metropolitan Grand
Opera Company. Miss Stewart has a
real voice that has received good train
ing, and her work was of a character
that deserved the encores 1t was so
generously given.
Lyman Howe is preparing to give
Washington next week a sort OF chrome
with its pourd of amusement tea that
will be more or less appreciated be
cause of the unusual way in which MT
Howe announces It. The feature con-
sists of two reels Of film showing some
thing of the way the armies Of Europe
are prepared for var In announcing
the films which are not included in the
regular program. Mr.. Howe takes oc-
casion to state that these are not war
pictures. He states positively and eN-
plicitly in a way that cannot be mis-
understood, that the pictures were all
made before any of the countries In
vC lived dreamed of the war that is now
in progress. He states also that nc
wants the public to Thoroughly apprc-
ciate this 'sact. 1t is a crime, MIR. Howe
says, for n grocer to sell eleven ources
for n pound 1nl he regards it as equal
ly crime for an exhibitor to make
iyIA inc tot ic nxh
lie announces that tn" nations now en-
gagged in he InonentouS struggle have
been preparing for war Of sOrle kind
for many years and that mis- pictures