The Washington times., 1914-08-27
THE BEST
F hotopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
I'm Great Help to
Stage, Is Opinion
of Theatrical
Experts

eN0rS at the beginning OF the sea-
on of 1914-15 has renewed the dis
US sion that has been in progress for
ne0y months as TO whether or not
he moving picture has hurt the
eater and whether or not il will
urvlve its present popularity. One
Il the Cdd features of the situation
the fact that many theatrical
hsnagers and actors declare the
popularity of the pictures is on the
zane. and that the picture theaters
III eventually be compelled to close
p These men do not recognize the
act that the pictures have estab-
shed themselves firmly as a form
Il amusement, and will continue to
x,st as long as people live who
"a Mt to be amused. And 1t Is also
ather odd that some of these self
|arne managers do not hesitate to
|u- pictures in their own houses to
ridge over the time between the clos
hg CT the summer season and the
opening of the regular season. The
nanagers are unanimous in their
opinion that the pictures have hurt
he stage.
II is in the spirit of an investi-
GATOR, therefore, that the moving
bict IRE editor has examined careful
The ideas OF leading actors, man.
REors. etc. on this subject, and he
has been able to secure from three
PEI sons who have had much to do
with the success of the legitimate
fra ma for the past fifteen years
7ews that are diametrically opposite
10 the general ideas OF theatrical
people. David Belasco. the greatest
bf stage directors and producers;
n wn actors, and Sir Henry Ar
hr- Jones, one of the best known
NO most successful playwrights, all
haze most decided ideas on the re-
at.Cn Of the stage to the screen,
INC all of them are positive that
he screen will be a great help to
he stage. Ntr. Belasco is one of
'lf l didn't think that motion
bic:ures were educating the masses
tp TO higher appreciation of the
5poken drama" says Mr.. Belasco,
Z would never have allowed my
tla S to be put in picture form. AS
h IS, think that when the class of
people who patroniZe this form of
entertainment, see plays like The
|Ros. of the Rancho" The Darling
ISolden West" staged with the best
alent obtainable and in the particu-
a. localities that afford the proper
atmosphere, an interest in good plays
|Kill be created and fostered that
Is SIRE to be felt at the box office.
IL re are more thcatergoers today
Than ever before. for in the last ana
lysis pictures can never take the
place of the spoken word and the
Of hn
in the past mediocrity and trash
have been foisted as first class en-
fertain,nent on a long suffering pub
bic today the manager must give
b. public a full s2 worth. There's
he getting away from it"
! is the personal value of the
c. aen 10 the actor on the legiti-
pa" stage that Mr.. Hackett dis
~ Ses. He has had the advan-
a. of appearing in moving pic
|u production and watching its
\ 4 ct on the business done by his
O, pany on succeeding tours.
Vhcn 1 posed for The Prisoner
" Lenda,' " said Mr.. Hackett. Il do
! o. now mind confessing that L
Expected that so doing would have
IN effect-trifling l hoped, but
|eC aipts to which l would play in
|he following regular dramatic
|es son. ! was warned by many of
|ny friends that when the public
|o I'D see me for the small prices
b rged in the picture houses that
h - would be reluctant to pay the
Niger scale charge in the
d aters. Having always been fond
bf being discoverer and path
10 myself what the effect would
pc 70 my amaZement l found
u my business the past year had
pe the best that / had had in
M ny seasons despite the fact the
a. theatrical year has been no
.or Gus as the worst in many years.
F. It my personal exception to the
u 2 can be charged to nothing
~ the advertising and interest in
n created by my performance in
7 Prisoner of Zenda.' l am abb
q ltely convinced You may rest
Is s-ured that l shall never allow
. ear to pass without posing for
II east one big feature film. In my
y, lion any player who neglects
N opportunity to appear on the
81 cen is losing possibility for the
7 I valuable advertising in the
y Id. and those who do not take
; -antage of II will quickly find
y -mselves passed in the race for
'inction.
do not agree with those who
u that the moving picture has
D a bad effect on the regular
7 atrical business. l 90 say most
2, phatically. however. that the
7 wing picture has done more to
= sc the standard of the legiti-
7 tie productions than any other
7 lluence which has ever been
{ y own"
-fr Henry Arthur Jones has yet
j. see his own plays on the screen.
{ Il he has made arrangements for
m. and in the course Of A few
? eeks some of his best works will
1 anticipate with a great deal of
y gerness the appearance Of my
? svs in films" he said. Il have
N a number Of productions in
+. u gland. among them Mrs. FIske. in
% SIS Of the D'Crbervilles: James
T. Hackett. in The Prisoner OF
/. .nda,' and James O'Neill. in The
- mt of Monte Christie and they
--,e met with the highest apprecia-
N. The camera can do many
. ngs that cannot be attempted on
n stage. The possibilities Of the
p Dtion picture supply the most Un-
nited scope that a new art ever
.ssessed. and ! am pleased 10 see
% q motion picture producers are
TT neglecting, but rather imprOv-
, G these wonderful opportunities.
these views are given for what
.ey are worth. They seem to repre-
4 ut the thoughtful conclusions of
rec of the best judges of things
!eatrical In the world. and would
u 1icate that the men who have
-cached them are fully convinced Of
he permanency of the film as well