Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-05
MOVIE DRAMA WAR
TAKES A NEW TURN
William Fox, Engaging Robert
Mantell, Announces That No
Photoplay Star of His Com
pany May Appear in Drama
During Current Season.
BY the Photoplay Editor

Several exciting II problematc events
have just taken place In the photopiaS
world. one is the engagement of Robert
Nonteil and his wife, Genevieve Hamper,
by the Fox Film Corporation and the pos
ability that he is not to play snake
spcare in the regular theatres this sea-
son. The other is the announcement OIL
retaliatory fight by the photoplay me9
against the orders of the Frohman inter-
ests and Al. II. woods forbidding any OF
their players to appear in the MOVIES
when Mr.. Fox announced the engage
ment of Robert Mantell he added: ARTISTS
appearing under my management In pho-
toplays in future will not be permitted
TO appear on the speaking stage during
the current season of their picture per-
formances This specification Will be en-
bodied in contracts. The moving-pieture
stage today has reached magnitude
artistic and commercial, sufhelent TOT US
TO assure the patrons of the silent drama
the exclusive services Of the greatest
dramatic artists"
William A. Brady, with whom ManteH
made shakespearean plays pay In New
York. sees the doom OF speaking plays
because of the movies and Is much dis
turbed because OF Mantelrs decision
THE motion picture industry Is going
TO kill the drama within Il months ne
| declared. ''Seventy-fve per cent. OF the
| stars of the legitimate drama are in Cali
| fornia now, where the majority OF the
| big photo production companies are gath
cred for the opening OF the picture sea
| son. They have practically got all our
| best talent. And not only have they so'
| the actors, but they have the playwrlshts.
| And they have the wealth OF the "orld
| for materials. They can go to the pub
| ic library and get q thousand old books.
from Shakespeare to Marie CoEenl and
| John Halifax, Gentleman, and boldly
1 nut them ON the screen. It's no use IN
talking, the motion-picture business has
made giant strides. And we have been
standing still or sleeping,
The movies will hand US couple OF
| quick kicks soon--in fact, they are doing
II already-whieh is going to wake us
up
A group OF Essanay Players Dor
rowed" a Clark street surface car at
Arsyle street several days ago and
photographed 1t in scene for The
Woman Halter before the conductor
| realized the picture was being taken.
/ Under command OF Henry b. Walthall
and Bryant Washburn, the car was
| hailed and stopped. Every one was on
the rear platform when the hnaI man,
| carrying a camera. called out hold the
| car a minute" The players all stepped
| off while the camera clicked I'VE are
| 90 seconds late" said the conductor as
he rang the bell. but 1t was worth it to
| get in a picture"
Daniel C. Goodman had written photo
inlay in one act entitled THE Son." in
which Octayia Handworth and Jack
| Standing play the principal roles The
play has one climax so enthralling that
| the director in charge forgot himself and
his work and unthinklngly walked In
front OF the camera, necessitating the re-
taking OF the scene.
Fay Tincher is much more fortunately
| situated than the average motion picture
| actress when II comes to the question OF
| a vacation. She has only to express her
| wish to Director Edward "Komic" Dillon.
Of the Komic Comedy Company. and Dill
| Ion says:
Let's see, you say you wish to go to
San Francisco for few days. think
| / have an idea for scenario that VIII
| take you there"
And SO Miss Tincher goes. accompanied
by some OF the Komle comedians, cam
era man and the director. ever fertile In
ideas
The other day Miss rlneher decided that
| she wished to go TO the San Diego Ex-
position, also she would like to 90 to the
| Panama Pacific Exposition In San Fran
cisco. Dillon promptly brought out a
mental scenario and decided that Chester
Withey, Olga Grey and Frank Darier
would appear with Miss Tineher In scenel
at the two expositiona.
But on one point Miss Tincher was dis
appointed She wished to travel by raj
and suggested that mode Of transporta
tion 10 Dillon.
Won't do at all.'' said the director
''the scenario positively calls for scenel
on a steamer"
And so they are going by water,
Victor Potsl was hurled through q doo
and blown 20 feet out into the street h.
the explosion OF a cartridge in a stow
In the Essanay comedy, "Snakevllle'
Hen Medic" Potel's clothing was almos
torn on and he was bruised from head &
foot but otherwise escaped uniniured
The cartridge exploded prematurely
hence Potel's hasty exit "But 1t make
darn good scene" said PoteI with
satisfied smile.