The Washington times., 1915-07-23
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Broncho Billy Given
Palm AS Columbus
Of the Motion
Pictures.

Some months ago one of the Eu-
ropean buyers of motion pictures
was asked to name the most popular
American pictures with his clients.
and he unhesitatingly named all pic
lures that were made of the late
John Bunny or Gilbert M. Anderson
-"Broncho Billy" The statement Of
the European buyer SO impressed a
motion picture expert that he made
an investigation and found that the
faces Of Bunny and Anderson are
probably better known throughout
the world than any other individuals.
This means that more people can
recognize these two men than would
know any Of the kings or queens or
statements or preachers or actors or
prize fighters or others whose pic
lures are so generously published in
newspapers, magazines, or through
motion picture plays.
While the pictures of these two
men are probably the best known,
the stories of the men themselves
for a long time remained In obscur-
ity. John Bunny's lamentable death
brought out most of his story And
Anderson's Is just coming out 1t
is not generally known that Ander-
son was in the first motion picture
play that was ever produced. that
he appeared in that play in the Bron-
he Is recognized throughout the
world. and that he probably would
not be recognized in any other way.
In fact. one of the motion picture
periodicals recently printed a pno-
tograph of three men at the san
Francisco Exposition with the cap
tion. Charlie Chaplin. Roscoe Ar
buckle. and an actor friend" The
actor friend was Gilbert NJ. Ander-
son. But he was dressed In the
Earb OF civilization. and not even
the editor of the paper that publish
ed the picture recognized him!
Miss Edna Wright. who has sup
piled us With much interesting mat
ter concerning photoplayers. has re-
Gently busted herself with a few
facts regarding Anderson. Here they
are:
Gilbert Anderson was born in Ar
and a little more than eigh
years ago played in the first 10CO- foo
flm ever attempted in the United States
Not only is Mr.. Anderson now ranlle,
as one OF the foremost actors, but h.
Is also one of the greatest writer's ant
This Columbus of moving pictures al
and often 'flunked in his studies m ss1in tha
he might devote more time to bein.
around the stage doors. where he migh
watch behind the scenes The circ Il
was probably the cause Of most of hi
whippings. for 1t was to this form Of en-
that he used to most fire
quently run away from school in hi
early years. Gilbert's father Is said t
have frequently said rather mournfully
That boy will never amount to any
thing
AFTER finishing a course at a schoo
for acting, he drifted to New York
where he began his career as a movinj
picture actor. The Edison company wa
just starting the first long film tina
had been attempted in this country, ant
1t was in The Great Train Robbery,
that Broncho Billy did bit OF acting
Although his part in this drama wa
only that Of passenger on the train
who attempting escape, was shot, /
served as a starter.
LAS soon as Mr.. Anderson finished hi
bit in the Edison play, the idea of
long film so appealed to him that he ap
preached several of the producers, bu
was laughed at for his ridiculous ideas
The then laughed at man is now on
of the richest men In the film industry
all because he clufg to his first idea
and made a success Of 1t.
"Mr. Spoor. an old friend in Chicago
after listening to his plan consented t
enter partnership with Anderson an,
the great Essanay IS. & A. compan,
was formed"