The Washington times., 1915-01-09
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Dy GARDNER MACK ....
pe'sArmies Want
To See American
Films Between
Battles.
Dy GARDNER MACK

While the English. German,
French, Austrian, Russian, and
Turkish sister Susies are undoubt-
edly sewing shirts for soldiers. just
like the song declares they are,
there Is every indication that before
long American photoplays will be
helping the products of the sister
Susies make the work Of the soldiers
In the field more comfortable and
enjoyable. An appeal has been sent
10 America for photoplays by no less
person than Ellalaine Terriss. the
English comedienne. who. with her
husband. Seymour Hicks. has en-
tered wholc-heartedly into the work
OF providing amusement for the
English soldiers In England. France.
and Belgium. The business of being
q soldier in the field, even during
a war, grows very monotonous. war
keeps them pretty well confined to
many weary hours that hang heavily
on the hands of the troops. The Of
Accrs try to do their best to cheer
UP the men, but moroseness and
gloomy forebodings are bound to I'LL
the time that Is not taken by the
active operations Of the troops. 1t
have the men in as pleasant a frame
of mind as possible at all times and
to grant them every privilege possi-
bic. Therefore. they are very anx.
ious to have the troops entertained
and during the past two months en-
the big camps-even those behind
the trenches themselves--with this
idea in view. Volunteer organiza-
tons Of English. French, German.
and Russian players. singers, and
dancers have been freely admitted
to the camps to give these entertain
lnents.
But there are not enough actors
and actresses to go around and
there are many places to which the
actors and actresses cannot go, but
where motion picture shows can be
given. The European producers Of
pictures have been almost wholly
their output has been greatly re-
duced. America is. therefore. the
only place where films can be OBJ
needed-hence Miss Terriss' ap-
peal She also states that the
American pictures are in greater
demand than those that are still
being produced abroad. In a let
ter to her brother. Tom Terriss.
who Is connected with the Kineto-
scope corporation in this country.
Miss Terriss tells something Of
what she has been doing among
the troops aud adds:
''Fhe American motion pictures
are In much greater demand among
tho troops than those made in any
other country and believe we
could give these poor soldiers a
great deal Of pleasure with films
from your company. or any other
company. II you could only get
'''sm 'Thc 'G pooS os' fellows in the trenches
are eager for any sort OF entertain-
ment. Their life Is very monotonous
and they are constantly asking for
news of what Is going on in the
outside world. They want always
action. Our tour of the military
camps has, so far. been very sue
cessful. and we are greeted every
where as saviors delivering a multi
tude from the blue devils of almost
unbearable monotOny.
"Oh. the stories ! could tell you of
the unbelievable horrors of this aw-
ful war. never could have re-
allied it If | had not come here.
We are not permitted to write OF the
things we. sec. and ] suppose that Is
right and proper. but your hearts
would bleed and your pocketbooks
IN America would open wide If you
could only know conditions as We
sec them. The great burden Os this
war is falling on tho poorer classes.
thousands of whom are without food
or shelter for the winter
The letter was dated from Hayrc
and undoubtedly WAS brought to
that city from the camps by mes