The Washington times., 1914-03-28
THE BEST
'Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
One Thedter MANAGER
to Give Public
What It
Wants

a GREAT light seems 10 De
~ dawning on photoplay ex-
n hibitors.
The public-the men and
women who pay the bills-at last
seems to have q chance to get its
innings! And to get what 1t wants.
1t wants good. clean productions by
well-known actors and actresses.
And the people are going to see
photoplays produced by such COM
panies and with such performers
because they know that they produce
only the best plays and produce them
in only the best way. They know
that the films they see will not cause
eve strain and nerve wear. They
know that such companies refuse to
permit their films to be used when
they have become unfit for use. They
know that the stories of the plays
will be clean and wholesome. They
know that they will get legitimate
thrills. that they will be properly
amused. that they will not be called
upon to blush.
When the name of the Edison. the
Vitagraph, the Biograph. the
Famous Players. the All-star Play
ers, Jesse Laskey. the Tannhauser,
the Reliance. Kleine. Selig. Kalem.
Victor. Pathe. and one or two other
producing companies is at the head
OF the program. or when such people
as King Baggott. Leah Baird. Bar
bara Tenant. Mary Fuller. Ben Will
son. John Bunny. Wallie Van. Kath-
Francis Bushman. Norma Phillips.
and a host OF others are advertised
to appear in a play, the people know
they will see a good play a clean
play, and play that is well staged
and scientifically projected on the
screen. These people are too jealous
of their individual regulations and
to appear or produce anything but
the best films.
Having noted the success that has
attended the production of films by
such people as have been indicated,
the management of the Virginia
Theater has announced a program
beginning next week which will
include Famous Players film
every day for one month. In
Ills announcement the
agement of the Virginia has done
a wise thing. Daniel Frohman is
the presiding genius of this big
company. His brother Charles has
recently Joined him. There are no
names in the amusement world that
stand so high for clean entertain
ment as do these two. For years
the most important producers in the
theatrical business they have now
turned their attention to photoplays.
And the result is that not only has
there been produced by this con-
cern a series of magnificent plays
well known to the public, by actors
and actresses whose places as stars
of the first magnitude are unques-
toned, but the company has done
something else-a very bold thing
that is not generally known.
The Famous Players is one Of the
first concerns to publicly announce
its intention to put quality before
quantity in its productions. 1t will
the number of films, but by the
number of successes. And to make
sure Of success II will limit its pro-
duction to thirty plays per year.
The Famous Players is the first COM
pany to put an absolute limit on
its production and to work to make
only thirty big hits. 1t does not
confine itself to the actors and act
resses who have gained regulations
in certain parts-but selects the actor
or actress 1t thinks will best play
the part.
For instance it would have no one
but Minnie Maddern Ffske in her
famous success. Tess" but when
Caprice another great Ffske play.
was produced Mary Pickford was
selected for the part because it was
believed she would do it better for
film purposes than Mrs. Fiske her
self. The same thing holds true
with number Of other productions.
Where an actor or an actress has
identified himself or herself with
ono part, like James O'Neiu in the
Count Of Monte Cris:o" or James
K. Hackett in THE Prisoner of
Zenda." these actors are selected to
But when the producers think they
can do better with some one else.
they go and get that some one else
to play the part-no matter who
e they are. What has been said for
the Famous Players holds good in
the same degree with several other
companies.
We are very glad to call attention
to the good judgment of the man
agement of the Virginia theater.
We are particularly glad to do SO
because it follows the advice that
has been repeated in this column
almost every day since it was in
sugurated. And we intend to point
cut just such things when they occur
in other theaters and other sections
OF the city. The Photoplay Depart
ment of The Times represents the
public solely and exclusively. When
the manager of a photcplay theater
shows Enthusiastically that he intends
catering to the public taste The
Times intends to let its readers
know about: II. And when the re-
verse Of this condition arises the
comment will be just as surely
forthcoming