The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-09-16
Screen Drama
Equals Grand Opera
Prima Donna, Is Convinced Of New
Arts Standing With the
Stage

After flying trip across the con.
tinent Geraldine Farrar reached New
York from the studios of the Jesse
l.. Lasky Feature Play Company at
Hollywood, California, where she has
been acting before the camera all
summer in picturizations of Carmen,
Maria Rosa, and a new plot based
on her own life entitled, The Temp.
tation. Carmen will be the first OF
these shown throughout the United
States on November i, released thru
the Paramount Pictures Corporation.
The prima donna's appearance was
in complete contradiction to her
statement that she had never work
ed so hard in her life. She had been
at the studios of the Lasky Company
since the middle Of June, and her
acting in the several plays in which
she appeared demanded, she said, act
ing as strenuous as a circus perform
er's. She looked very attractive as
she stepped from the ferry at West
Twenty.third street, wearing a white
travelling costume and white sum
mer hat trimmed with a big green
feather.
although | never had any mis-
givings as to my success as a photo
play actress" said Miss Farrar in
an interview with newspaper men
who went to Easton, Pa, and made
the trip back to New York in her
private car, the results obtained, l
am sure everyone in the country VIII
agree with me, were more beautiful
than | even had anticipated III my
enthusiasm. Frankly, / am satisfied
that the new art of the photoplay
stands equal in importance with
grand opera or the speaking stage
THE only problem ever faced in
the new venture was in selecting the
right studios in which to make the
photoplays. Without reservation
wish to say that at the Lasky STUDIO
they are doing the best things In the
world in photoplays. Well, If you do
not believe 1t, see my pictures when
they come out.
1T did not take me long to learn
Cecil B. DeMille, Director General OF
the Lasky Company, Is a man OF wide
experience on the legitimate stage
He told me precisely what could be
done and was practically without
restrictions of any kind.
"And that is the difference" con-
tinued Miss Farrar, "between acting
in grand opera and for the photo
plays. always have considered act
ing in grand opera to be the greater
mart of work in that profession great
or than singing. This was the op
portunity for which had long await
ed-to act as I felt, without the linn
itation of a vocal role. Carmen In
pictures is full of incidents ! longed
to provide in the operate version
but was unable to give to that work.
Miss Farrar was asked If she be-
lieved her appearance in motion pic
ture theatres would lessen her popu
larity as an operate and concert ia
vorte.
"On the contrary" said she, ~
will make thousands OF new friends
through my screen work. In CRANE
opera | sing a season in New YORK;
two weeks in Chicago; week In BIOS
ton and week in Atlanta. An ar
tiste cannot bear to have her worf
so limited. In the photoplay | vii
be seen by millions of persons whom
never could reach through CRANE
opera, the concert or the talking ma
chine. In addition to the great 20!
Of the new work, think have &C
! complished something notable In ART
| because my medium that reaches s.
many hundreds of thousands of pei
sons every week as the photoplay |
a wonderful thing to be made a grea
agency for good work"
|