The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-03-28
b ny Adele Farrin gton. y
. y %eeeA go e~~AeA

When ] first CHOSE 20 enter the mo-
ton picture field. there were those
who told me that. after trying one or
two weeks in the studio. I would be-
come moving picture fan" Those
who told me this were unkind. No one
told ms ] would ever become a 'mov-
Ing picture fiend." which. indeed.
have. But, then. this Is 20 be about
laughs-so ! will be quick TO the sub
| iect
How do you know when You are
putting sufficient force into a scene 10
arouse laughter. when you have no
audience 20 gauge by7 \ arm asking
myself this question. am not selng
interviewed. ! must ask myself so
can answer correctly.
To be perfectly honest. was pan
icky the first day "out"
our charming direcfress had given
me my motion picture script and IN
structions as 60 the aetlon. How
about the business IN certain places.
asked her. after reading my part.
Now, dear" she replied. "you are
too able a comedienne 20 require In
structions from me. as 90 how IN get
a laugh"
That was enough. then realised
that motion picture acting, more than
any other branch, was matter Of
sclf-inspiration. aeif-creativeneaz and
self-inwenuity. and forsvtth b@ann
wondering how an actress knew when
she was putting enough energy into
q comedy scene.
Long. long ago. had formulated =
scheme whereby could gauge my
auditors IN a theatre--hy working on
the risihilities and susceptIbilstiew OF
some one man or woman in the au-
dierce. I would work up q scene the
while keeping my eye on my victim.
called him or her. I would select
some grouchy-looking individual ia
the front row. Work to him AZ
though he was my sole auditor, then,
when my work began 20 reap It's re-
ward In laughs from the one I con-
eentrated upon. ! knew / had my au-
dience with me.
Then said 70 myself Cthere beina
no one can congYde In IA I can e.
myself. this Is the thing Co do. SO 7
began casting about for a human
laugh barometer" All over the studio
wandered. looking for mournfui
man or woman.
The best person in IN. world e.
work a funny story on In a sad man
or woman, sor when they do laugh II
u whols-aearted and responsive. 4
found. in the property room OF IN.
studio. what consider the saddest
man II has ever been my misfortune
Cor was II good fortune for mel te en-
counter.
He had lost ell hts money in 3 gold
mining scheme: was suspended from
his lodge for non payment OF dues.
his sweetheart when she learned az
financial difficulties. tosssed him
over. and. owing 70 the t.Ffs ,ls conei
tons caused ny the war. he was forced
TO take a position for twenty-five dol.
lars a week
He was sad and gloomy.
I oonfided In my director. told
her Of my former success with the
human barometer and she bore with
me surely" she replied. "use him
II you think ~ win do you any good !"
} 50. unbeknown TO my sad and gloomy
friend. ! had the property man ap-
preach him and tell him THAT for the
forthcoming week he would receive
five dollars additional In salary, and
that as soon an his work IN the prop
erfy room was finished he should re-
port 20 the director. He did and was
seated right where I could watch him
throughout the most OF my scenes.
At firts my 'bsrometers refused alb
soiuteiy TO rise or fail. Ills mind
was evidently on his lost money. tickle
fiancee. OF waning inf1uence. for he
sat az though pesrified.
We were IA the midst OF my fret
picture venture. "a Country Mouse. /"
and had reached tbs scene where 1.
Is the wife Of the new senator. jealous
Of other women's fineries. secure q
host Of manicnriats. dress makers.
hair oressera. ahoemakers. and dane
ing masters. and 50 through the evo-
buttons from q typical country mouse
20 . wonderfully dressed city woman.
7 put into this scene every ounce ~
energy I could muster. and 10. ana
baholds my ''barometer'' lot out =
whoop. lie simply reared. ana they
say he hadn't laughed for months be.
fore.
I was coutentl I had Kauged nv
comedy propensities inpanunnime ard
had won. I was satisfied the same
rule Of langhltaking maintained Ia