Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-20

Managers of photoplay houses and
movie fans In general should visit the
Forrest Theatre at once. for every eve
ming, Mt the small cost Of 81 a seat there
is shown photoplay In one reel the like
of which never was is or will be. Charles
Chaplin and Billy Ritchie and Marie
Dresser were never one-half as genu-
inely and satirically humorous. And
then, too. tho leads are played by Julia
sanderson, as tho wavering wife; Joseph
Cawthornc, rs tho herblverous husband,
and Donald Brian, as the vile villain.
1t would be cruelty to animals to re-
veal the plot, and, besides, a plot which
permits trapper and huntsman to kill
a flsh with shotgun, beggars descrip-
tion. Not so with the grand finale, un-
like any other photoplay ever shown on
a screen. Brian Is killed brutally and in
full view of the gasping audience. Caw-
thorne opens the CONCEALED safe and ex-
tracts n hambone and a bottle of SKINNED
milk. Then he sits upon the prone and
lifeless body Of tho man he has Just
CLAIM, sharing the seat with his repentent
wife. who feeds the baby milk. the while
no and she MUNICH on the bone
1t is pathetic. true to life, thrilling,
superb and tltillating. And, az mentioned
casually before, It Is worth seeing.
ABOUT TRADING STAMPS.
In Syracuse n question has arisen that
is interesting only because 1t may, and
probably has, come up in other COM
munities. The local police chief has pro-
hibited the system of giving coupons TO
motion picture patrons among whom the
holders OF lucky number coupons draw
prizes each week The exhibitors who
have been using the system want to
retaliate by forcing the local merchants
to cut out the trading stamp scheme,
claiming the two systems are similar
without passing upon the legality of
the prize coupon scheme, 1t is not the
same as the trading stamp scheme. In
the latter system every customer gets
stamps OF a certain definite value which
are exchangeable at any time for mer-
chandise of equivalent value. There Is no
chance or gamble about It, In principle
Il is merely n discount allowed on the
purchase, which discount Is taken in mer-
chandise instead OF money. In the prize
coupon scheme the majority of customers
get nothing but their admission to the
show, but all admission fees are taxed
a certain percentage to pay for the prize
which goes only to one. Since all join
In paying for the prize 1t is obvious that
they pay for what they do not get
The excellence of the program should
he prize enough without additional induce
ment If an exhibitor cannot attract the
people without giving them silver spoons,
then he is really selling spoons for 10
cents and throwing In show for good
measure. The show becomes auxiliary to
the souvenir
ODDS AND ENDS.
Clarence Jay Elmer, leading man In
the Patsy Bolivar series Of the Lubin
Company, and Edyth s, Anderton, Of
the same company, will be married before
the eve of the moving-picture camera at
noon February 10. In the company's
studios. The marriage scene Will be In
corporated in a scenario by Shannon Fife.
Miss Anderton is the daughter or VIII
liam q, Anderton, 9O5 North Broad street.
She met Mr. Elmer while both were play
ing in George Ade's college Widow at
Jacksonville. Fla.
Herbert Brenon is responsible for the
direction OF the many-reeled subject THE
Heart OF Maryland" which has Mrs,
Leslie Carter in the leading role of Mary
land Calvert, and William Shay and
others of screen standing providing able
Edward Elkas, one of the character ac-
tors of the Vitagraph Stock Company.
worked his way up as screen artist
from the bottom rung OF the ladder OF
motlon-picture fame. During the early
days Of his posing In front OF the cam
era, he was unfortunate In being cast
cot onIv n DAYS work out of the part
Eventually becoming known as one-day