The Washington times., 1915-12-18
PHOTOPLAY VS. AND
PHOTOPLA YERS
Ru GARDNER MACK
Superstition Of the
PhotopldyerS Only
Natural, Declares
Picture Stars.
By GARDNER MACK

The photoplay studio seems to have
fallen heir, to a number Of superst'-
tons of the stage. Actor folk
are supposed to be very supersti-
tious. The business they are IN Is
said to make for belief in outs!dA
forces operating to shape their ir1s.
There is believed to be something
mysterious about the stage, as
matter of fact, and this probaSlI
helps to create an air of mysticism
about the actors themselves. In any
event actors arc noted for their
superstitions. and now the photoplay
has felt the burden of them.
1t will be remembered that when
Anna Pavlowa-the Russian dancer
" no Is here this week, by the way
was engaged In the making OF pic
ture in the Universal studio re-
Gently, she refused TO 20 on with
her work while rcd-haired man re-
NAMED in the studio. 1t happened
that there was a red-haired property
man working about the stage. AMI
the great dancer ordered him out OF
tho building. There Is sn actress,
Ella Hal, with the Universal Com
pany who has no superstitions at
least she says she hasn't. and who
has observed the tendencies Of her
sisters.
NO one who played on the leg;i-
mate STAGE will be surprised at Mmc.
Psvlowa's refusal 10 go on with her
work while q red-haircd property
man remained with tho company."
declares Miss Hall
III she considered red-headed peo-
pie brought her ill-luck, no member
OF the profession would condemn her
ian
race. and allowances are always
made for their peculiar!ties. Their
ania takes different forms. have
known another dancer who could not
set foot on the stage without first
excuse me-spitting in her left shoe.
1f she forgot this important cere-
monv in her dressing room, she
would sit down in the wings, remove
her slipper. and perform the func-
ton.
Some actors get into a perfect
panic If any one whistles in their
dressing rooms. others are sure that
the performance will be ruined II
their dresser places their shoes on
table. Lots Of women cross them
selves the last thing before they
make an entrance: others must be
slapped Oh the left shoulder. and I.
have known a pretty girl, whose cue
had been called to rush distractedly
: ~ thc wings begging for some
one to slap her,
,"I knew p leading lady, whose
dressing room was filled with me-
chanical toys. walking dogs. jumping
kittens. and such things. and these
must all be solemnly set in motion
before she could go on. Ever so many
Dlayers have mascot which never
leaves their dressing room, some
times 1t is toy like a japanese doll.
or china dog. sometimes a certain
article Of makeup. a. brush. or rab-
bits foot. which must be carefully
preserved and used no matter how
old and useless 1t NAV be. v
"One woman preserves a bit Of the
gown in which she played her first
success. and this scrap has to be
stitched into one of the gowns which
she wears in each subsequent pro
duction. 4 mistake in billing an
actors name in his first appearance
Is considered enormously lucky. and
must never be changed. Ada Rehan's
stage name was the result of an err
ror. for example"
A combination Of two of the hetter
known and oldest motion picture
theaters Of the city, under one man
agement is announced by Wayne w.
Aireye. who has just assumed
charge OF the Hippodrome and Al
hambra theaters. These two theaters.
which are showing the Universal
company's films. are to be operated
by the same company. under Mr..
Aireye's management in the future.
They will establish 4 general admis-
sion price of cents for week days
and 10 cents for Sundays.
IL is the intention to present on
Sundays the rniversars Broadway
features a series OF special produc-
tions. in which well-known stage
stars appear. Manager Aireye will
make some changes in the manner
of presenting films in order to get
the best possible values from each
subject. BY combining the bookings
OF the houses series OF better
plays Is obtained for both and the
general program will be improved,