The Washington times., 1915-04-10
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
TO Tell HOU Stage
Success Is Put
Into Motion
Pictures.
BY GARDNER MACK.

Next in interest in the photo.
play as play. the average patron
has a kecncr desire to know how
TIE play Is made than most Of the
other things connected with the
theater. When the mechanics of
the motion picture are explained
by a recognized expert there Is an
immediate appeal for almost all
classes OF people.
AS n result of this attitude Of
the public many producers have
sought to gain greater interest in
their product hy requiring their
recognized stars to appear in per-
son in various cities and talk
about their work. The Edison
company has made almost spe-
cialty OF this--rivirg Edison
Nights at various theaters in
New York, when an entire COM
pany of Edison players appear in
person and tell how they made
the picture that is being shown
on the screen.
1T has been found that consider
able interest is awakened I'm this way
because there is always certain
curiosity among the people who ra-
tronlze motion pictures to see the ac-
tors and actresses in person with
whom they have become acquainted
on the screen.
An interesting experiment along
these same lines is to be tried at the
Poll Theater tomorrow-an experi-
ment in which motion picture exhibi-
tors throughout the city should in
terest themselves Maud Gilbert,
leading woman of the Poll Players,
has become very well known to a
large number OF people as an actress
OF an unusually capable sort. While
she is regarded as very versatile
young woman by her enthusiastic ad-
mirers, very few of them know that
she has been a motion picture ac-
tress-in fact, has played the lead
ing parts in several big feature
photoplays.
She has appeared as one Of the
stars of the Fox Film Company
when 1t was known as the Box Of
flee Attractions. She was select
ed first to appear in the princi-
pal womans part in Samson" the
Henry Bernstein drama production
of this play for two seasons. In the
photoplay William Farnum played
film drama OF Samson is to be
exhibited st the Poll theater and
Miss Gilbert will also appear, in
person. and will tell the audience
how the film was made and Of the
difference between acting the part
on the stage and before the
camera.
The occasion will practically be
an illustrated lecture on the 1lm and
the stage with pictures used in the IL
lustration of a play in which the lee
turer has appeared both on the stage
and on the screen. Some time ago
suggestion was made in this column
that the motion picture exhibitors
make arrangements to do this sams
thing. There are number Of actors
and actresses who have played their
stage successes for the film. The
only difficulty would be OF course
that a weeks salary Of such a per-
son would be rather high figure.
1t so happens that almost every
member of the Poll company has
appeared in motion pictures, the new
leading man. Albert Roscoe. having
just completed a ten weeks engage
ment as a star with the Essanay
forces. II is the intention Of the
Poll management. we understand, to
run A picture every Sunday in which
some member Of the company was
an actor and to have that actor
appear in nersor and tell about the
making of the niCture. 1t will he inter
estinr to watch these exhibitions. II
Is not the intention to give a very
just tell few personal stories con-
nected with the picture play and
then the picture will be shown.
G. NJ.