Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29
SAVED FROM FLAMES
"ZAZA" COMES HERE
Film Unharmed in Famous
Players Fire to Be Seen
at the Stanley
BY the Photoplay Editor

ny ht HnOtOplay EoltOI
The opening Of the huge film vault
which hung on the walls OF the Famous
Players Film Company's studio after the
total destruction OF the building by the
disastrous fire OF September II. revealed
the tact that the negative OF that COM
panys adaptation OF "Zaza," in which
Pauline Frederick Is 20 appear at the
STANLEY tomorrow, was the only one OF
eleven completed stupendous feature pro-
auctions TO escape wholly the ravages
OF the flames. IL was the fate of this
picture that caused the officials OF the
company the greatest concern, as II
represented the outlay OF many thousands
or dollars and had consumed eight weeks
In the making.
When notified OF tho saving OF "Zaza"
Miss Frederick was jubilant. IT cannot
tell you how glad am TO hear the news"
she declared TO Mr.. Zukor, president OF
the Famous Players Company, when he
telephoned her the facts. Never in my
life have felt 80 utterly miserable as
when / arrived at the fire and realized
that 'Zaza' was in that building 1 had
put my whole heart and soul into the en-
actment Of the great character, and am
sure that II II had been necessary to
repeat the entire production 1 should
never have done so well again.
only a person who has gone through
the terrible emotional stress which is
necessary In acting such a powerful i'm"
personation as Zaza can believe with
what dismay I faced the prospect OF
repeating the whole performance. Zaza
Is to me the most marvellous character
that has appeared on the stage in years.
/ looked forward to playing the role with
the keenest anticipation, and when we
began the, filming OF the play for the
first time I had worked myself up 20 a
nervous tension that enabled me to put
all my force into the role. But with this
tension gone. as 1t inevitably would be,
It would have been practically impos-
sible for me to have put the same spirit
into repetition of zaza which 1 did
before"
Those who observed the terrific con-
fagration and saw the leaping flames
licking their way through the entire
building never believed for a moment
that any vault could be so constructed
as to save such infiammable material as
that of which fllms are made. For hours
the flames had enveloped the hugs vault
and had eaten away the floor upon which
it rested The roof had caved in upon IL
and carried with 1t every floor which OBJ
structed its path. Only a born optinist
would have believed 1t possible for
celluloid composition, no matter how zeal
ously guarded from fire, to have re-
mained unscathed in this fiery furnace
The New York offices of the oliver
Morosco Photoplay Company most en-
phatically deny the report printed In
various papers that Myrtle Stedman, the
popular star who has been appearing un-
der this banner since It's inception, has
left to join the forces of another pro-
ducing company.
The Triangle Film Corporation an
nounces that the Chestnut Street Opera
House will open its season of Triangle
| film plays on next Tuesday evening, Oc-
| tober .. The management had hoped to
| open some night this week, but were
| disappointed Oh not having all of the
alterations completed One of the things
| that caused the delay is a new curtain,
| which will not be ready until the end OF
| this week. The ushers' costumes also
| could not be completed until the latter
| part of this week. Brand new motion
| picture machines are also being installed
and a new concrete projection booth To-
Gated on the lower floor. which insuref
better projection. All these improvements
will be finished by Saturday, so the first
| two days OF next weeF will be devoted to
| orchestral and other rehearsals.
Ohio's Board of Motion-Picture Gen.
| sors yesterday barred "The Birth of a
Nation" The board ruled the film would
| awaken q race hatred. Action on the
| rejection OF the film probably will be
| taken by the Cleveland Motion-Picture
Exhibition League.