The Washington times., 1915-07-09
CIVIL WAR FILM PLAY
WILL Be TAKEN HERE
Ben Wilson Arrives With Univer.
sal Stars and Coterie Of
Lesser "Movie" Lights.

David Belasco is said to have spent
much time and money In making fur
niture of the civil war period for The
Heart Of Maryland" which is all very
we'll. but that Is just where the motion
pictures are about to put something
over on Mr.. Belasco.
For a new $4,000 civil war play. the
Rex Brand, Universal Film Company.
have come to Washington to get their
civil war scenery. furniture, back
ground, and atmosphere at first hand.
THE Perils of Pauline" have nothing
on THE Troubles of Wilson eyes. Ben
Wilson, one and the same). who has
been poring over musty books of the
ner where furniture of those days can
be found, and busting around In real
estate agent fashion viewing old es-
tates which might do for a yard or 30
OF "A Gentle Volunteer
Modified Uncle Toms Cabin.
Bloodhounds, too, Of course, old army
tents land maybe they were not hard
to geD, soldiers and firing, an exciting
chase for an escaped slave. and all the
rest Of 1t, for this Is a modified Uncle
Toms Cabin film. And: however much M
sen is compared with Harriet Beecher
Stowe. it must be admitted that the
latter has had the longer run and big
ger gate receipts.
with twenty of the Universal's stars.
and a coterie of lesser movie" lights.
Ben Wilson, director and leading man of
the proposed film. descended upon
Washington last evening and. IN a
land Theater. where Souls in Pawn
O picture in which Wilson starred, was
being shown. He delighted the audi
ence with a brief curtain-beg pardon,
with screen speech.
Remembered Here.
His name sounds familiar? OF course
It does. Even outside the borders OF
''movie" fandom. Mr.. Vision will be re-
membered here as the leading man OF
the stock company Fred Berger put on
at the Academy of Music (now invaded
by the motion pictures), about eleven
seasons ago. Of course the motion pic
ture patrons will recognize the hero of
The Chronicles Of Cleek." charge OF
the Light BRIGADE" Relief Of Luck !fI;
Ancestor" in which he accomplished the
seven barreled feat of doing all seven
Of his own ancestors while still keeping
the center Of the stage as the hero OF
the piece.
Three hundred or more motion pictures
he has to his credit, not to mention the
Tom HARRISON. in Seven Days"
To Be Taken Around Capital.
All the outdoor pictures of the ambi-
uous new production will be taken in
and around Washington. The Soldiers
Home will be utilized, for the story Is
told In the form of dream Of an old
soldier. who goes out to gaze upon the
lcng white rows Of tombstones Of his
fallen comrades. and reminisence of the
war days. For the cemetery the grave
yard back of the Soldiers Home will
be used.
Several estates In Virginia. including
tfat formerly owned by General Sickles.
near Alexandria. have been arranged
for and thirty-one negroes from Alex
andria will "supe' in the slave mart
scenes. The famous old building near
Alexandria, pointed out to visitors as an
ante-bellum slave quarters, will be the
scene Of other pictures.
Lee Sterrett Is co-director with Mr.
Wilson and Eddie Cellar is the camera
man. Other names familiar to motion
picture fans in tn ecast are Dorothy
Phillips. Vivian Prescott. Estelle Dowl-
ing, Gene Burnell, Little Katherine Lee
(aged FOUR, Joseph Girard and William
Bailey.