The Washington times., 1915-05-26
THE BEST
,,Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
How Washington Girl
Became a Star of
the Motion
J.. Pictures

Those patrons Of the motion pic
lures who do not believe they can
write scenarios "in their spare time"
and some Of those that do-are
convinced that they were at. least
especially fitted by nature to oct
for the photoplay! The carefree
way in which the leading actors
and actresses in the pictures ap-
pear on the screen has led many
people, otherwise perfectly normal.
to believe acting in motion pictures
the easiest thing in the world. Most
people do not believe they would
succeed on the stage because they
have such poor memories and
couldn't remember the lines" But
they could do we'll in a photoplay
because they need no lines. and con-
sequently faulty memory Is not a
handicap!
One Of the things that encourages
such ideas in ordinarily sane and in
telligert people is the manner in
which the advent OF the average
actress in motion pictures is
thoughtlessly advertised by her press
agent. There are frequent stories
of young girls stepping into star
positions in motion picture studios;
Of society women adopting the pho
toplay as a vocation to keep them
busy and making good from the
start. These things are as easy to
believe-by the thoughtless-as they
ere to write, likewise, by the
thoughtless.
The trouble with them Is that
they are usually but half true and
the untold half Is a summary or
long hours of preparation and study.
hard work. and disappointment.
highly placed hopes, and hert-break-
ing discouragement. Sometimes 1t
Is more work than disbursement
Sometimes the candidate for sue
cess makes up her mind just how
hard 1t is to be at the stars and
never expects to let up on work
and study. She is the one who
isn't disappointed!
An example of this kind Is just
now being discussed rather widely in
Washington social circles. A we'll
known Washington society girl. Miss
Grace Peters, daughter Of Commodore
George H. Peters. U. S. N, retired.
has just started career as motion
picture star. At present she Is in
Providence. R. l.. where she has al
ready appeared in a spectacular film
that Is called AN Unofficial Maneu-
ver,' the inaugural product of the
Eastern Film Corporation, brand
new feature film company. 1t could
be very we'll said of Miss Peters that
here Is a case of an attractive and
accomplished society woman. whose
debut here Is remembered pleasantly,
embarking in motion pictures straight
from Washington drawing rooms.
And all that would be absolutely
true.
What would not be said in such
story Is that Miss Peters has work.
ed for several years to accomplish
Just this end. At first she thought 1t
was the stage for which she was pre-
pairing herself but later the motion
pictures claimed her attention and
ambitions. From the time she was a
school girl she started working out
her ambitions in this direction. She
became one of the most accomplish
ed horsewomen in Washington. She
was one of the first six women to join
the Washington Fencers' Club and
won a number of prizes for her work.
She travelled around the world and
UP and down this country and Eu-
rope to acquaint herself with many
kinds Of people and the customs OF
people.
That was just preparation. For
practical experience she Travelled
over this country for an entire sea-
son with the family Of Richard Ben
nett when he was the star of
Damaged Goods" She watched
and studied the actors and actresses
in the theater. at rehearsal; she
studied makeup and every branch of
theatrical technique. When she felt
she had mastered the elementals of
the trade, with Mr.. Benefits advice,
she sought a position with the Poll
Players in this city. and at first
played the smallest sorts of parts.
She was a maid or one of a drawing