East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-01-22
Local Playhouses
WHAT the Press Agent Hes TO
" Say Of Present and Coming
Att actions - - - -
W.
The PastIme Today.

II AHN a'hAbS lOnass
Robert billiards. greatest success,
"A Fool There Was" by Porter EN-
erson Browne, In six parts A pictur-
ization Of the Kipllng poem and the
great Burnes-Jones painting. The
Vampire"
The compelling story OF "a Fool
There Was"
Porter Emerson Browne, who has
been hailed as "The" American dra-
matist. accomplished his greatest sue
cess when he penned his daring. vlrile
drama Of a weak man and an un-
crupulous vampire-woman, "A Fool
There Was" OF which the screen ver-
sion has been made by William Fox,
as a production extraordinary, releas-
ed through The Box office Attraction
Co. This remarkable drama, In which
Robert Hilliard starred and achieved
notable success, created a nation
wide discussion at the time OF its pre-
sentation and had a record breaking
run at the Liberty theater, New York
| city.
Based upon Kipling's poem and
Burnes-Jones' famous painting, Mr
Browne has succeeded in creating in
"A Fool There Was a work that, for
daring originality and sheer power
and moving qualities outdoes, in its
own particular field of the drama, any
play OF recent years. II is the tale OF
weak -willed man and a woman OF
sinister beauty and vampire heart.
THE Fool" and His Wife" are
happily married and living in a style
commensurate with his large fortune
at a country house at Larchmont
THE Fool" at the beginning OF the
play. is a virile. fine natured man,
fond OF his home. his wife and little
child and devoted to wholesome sport.
Then comes the meeting and the
Vampire" who is destined to ultimate
ly ruin and drive him 10 a degraded
death. THE Fool'' at first reslsts the
wiles Of the sinuous, strangely fasci-
mating Vampire. But she bides her
time. knowing by an experience. mile
stoned by blasted careers that in due
course she will be able to bend her
victim TO her will.
"The Fool' is an emissary on an
important foreign mission. On the
steamer crossing over THE Vampire"
In some strikingly conceived scenes, 1
manages TO lighted her grip on his
already vacillating nature. BY the
time Italy is reached THE Man. is /
completely at her feet and ready to do
her bidding in everything. In her
arms he forgets his diplomatic duties,
his wife and his own career. The
Vampire has woven a spell about him
that nothing short Of death can breah
Even his child ceases to exert any
good influence over him. With curses
and violence he hepels all attempts to
bring him to his senses. THE YAM
pire' shrugs and smiles as she sees her
work progressing.
Drink and drugs still further sap
his will till, at THE Vampires" be-
hest he leaves his wife and child al
together. II is the beginning of the
tragic end Of THE Fool" The rag
and q bone and hank Of hair" to
whom he has made his prayer" toys
with him like a tigress with her prey.
A smile from her sends him into the
seventh heaven. IL she frowns he Is
frenzied with jealousy and weakly vi.
olent His fortune has slipped away
and only one friend remains to him,
a flne-charactered man who tries In
vain, time and time again, to break
the chains that bind THE Vampires
miserable victim. She merely laughs
at these attempts. She knows too
well the strength and tenacity Of the
web he has woven.
Ruined. broken in body and mind,
The FooL" at the last tries to break
away from the association that has
wrecked and blasted his life. But II
is OF no use. At the end he tries to
crawl TO the side of his enslaver, while
she laughs cruelty at the spectacle he
presents. She sees nothing but what
is amusing in the pitiful semblance OF
that begs her TO free him.
kiss me, my fool" she orders, but
as he strives to reach her side ne
crumples up. His tragedy is over
"The Vampire" with an inscrutable
smile looks down at the huddled shape
at her feet. Tearing some crimson
roses from her corsage she scatters
the petals, like crimson drops OF blood
over all that remains Of her wretched-
broken victim.
This great picture is in six reels
and is being shown all week at the
Majestic theater, Portland We are
giving you this picture at the same
time Portland people are seeing II,
something no picture house in n small
town has ever done before. q
dmission-Afternoons adults, 10c;1
&c. Evenings, adults. l5c;
children, &c.