The Washington times., 1915-11-27
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAY YERS
GARDNER MACK
Motion Pictures May
Take Place of the
Existing RogueS
Gallery Methods.
By GARDNER MACK.

II the plans OF the Chicago police
department are successfully worked
out, the rosues' gallery OF the fu-
ture will consist of a motion pc
tur, projection machine, screen.
and a vault full Of reels OF MIN ~
is the intention Of Chief Haley 10
CIV. A lnur,usu tiIal 10 mO.iOH pic-
lures US a substitute for the haru,
set photographs that are now use
In rogues' galleries throughout the
MorIu. -, -
or less trouble with the pictures OF
the criminals that sorve a very I'M
portant purpose In running tnein
down or In Identifying them atter
they are caught. Most criminals
have an avers on to being pho.o-
Very strained features are seen in
the fuli-face and profile Views that
adorn the rogues' gallery photo
graphs. Only two Views OF crimi.
nal are seen In the still pictures at
present used.
Chicago. that ten or fifteen feet OF
melton pictures can be made Of each
criminal, which will show much
mere clearly just what sort OF per-
son he Is. The pictures will show
the criminals habit of walking. OF
carrying himself. etc, which Ia re-
garded as important.
As the National Bureau of Identi-
fication has its headquarters In Chit
cago In connection with the Chicago
police department, although not q
part of that department. It is pos.
sible that II the plan Is successful
the bureau will take steps to have II
affiliated with it-which means prac-
tically every department In the coun-
try. This will mean that a part OF
every policeman's duty every day
will be to attend a motion picture
performance at headquarters or the
station house. when all the criminals
wanted in the United States will be
marched before him on the screen.
and he will be able to see how each
man looks and acts.
Frederick Warde: who Is remem-
bered as one OF the few survivors
Of the period when the Booths. Law.
the other great Shakespearean ac-
tors were In their prime. Is to ap-
pear in motion pictures, as Silas
Mariner. in a Thanhouser adaptation
Of the George Eliot masterpiece.
The tragedian will be directed by
come one Of the successful directors
Of the Thanhouser forces. The oc-
casion OF the production Of the play
Is regarded as most interesting be-
cause Mr.. Warde Is one OF the ac-
tors who clings to the old traditions
ways been regarded as one Of the
really great artists Of the stage
whose work knows no limitations Of
tradition or custom. Mr.. Warde II
much interested in motion pictures
and he feels sure that he can make
his work tell In motion pictures:
The photoplay Is a wonderful art
TO which l am a total stranger. al
though an ardent admirer." he says
in discussing his forthcoming ap-
pearance in pictures.
Little did think that ] would ever
the spirit Of the times and Mr.. Than
houser's proposal bade me give ear
TO the 'film Inevitable My initiation
into the mysteries Of the film studio
proves to me what l am not too
old for new tricks"
While many chiefs Of police have
appeared in motion pictures as chiefs
OF police and many, actors have A.
surned the parts OF chiefs Of police
in picture plays. there Is only ono
person in the motion picture busi-
ness who qualified for the Job OF po-
This person II Laura Oakley. tho
only woman chief Of police In tho
country, who has charge OF the po-
lice affairs Of Universal City. She
still acts in motion pictures. al
though her duties as chief of the
police department OF flourishins
town are many.
Being chief Of police. I suppose
receive more letters from aspirants
than most actresses" said Miss Oak
ley. They seem to pick on me for
advice, sending me pictures Of them
selves. reply to each in as sincere
a manner as possible. but II taxes
ones mental power to find sane re-
plies for some OF the insane Ques-
lions. And then so many think that
n photo toplay actress has q soft snap
Can you imagine IT," q. NJ.