The Washington times., 1915-07-31
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Stock Companies Are
Training Schools
For the Motion
Pictures.

The announcement Of the engage
ment Of Dorothy Bernard to act
Z In motion pictures for the FOX Film
Company for a period Of two years.
has drawn attention to the fact that
many Of the best known of the pho
topiayers have been recruited from
{ stock companies in various sections
Of the country. Miss Bernard has
been connected with theatrical al
fairs since she was baby, her
father and mother having been on
the stage. She really had long ex-
perience as an actress therefore
even before she attained the dignity
of psyche knot ana long dresses.
She was one Of the early recruits OF
the motion pictures from the stage,
having served under the Griffith di-
rection with the old Imp and Bio
graph companies when King Bag
got. Mary Pick.ord. Arthur johnson.
Florence Roberts, Marion Leonard,
and other well-known stars We're
making their beginning. Then sho
returned to the stage as stock
actress, playing in Los Angeles and
Portland before coming to washing,
ton with the Columbia and Poll
Players.
or the group Of people who frst
became well-known through motion
pictures, A large number were en-
gagged from stock companies. Fran
els X. Bushman was leading juvenile
Of stock company IN New Jersey,
after having played in his sisters
company and the Fawcctt company
in baltimore. He went to the Es-
sanay company and has but recently
moved to the Metro forces.
in Brooklyn when the Vitagraph
company first engaged him. having
served quite a time as leading man
Of one of the big Brooklyn stock
companies Marguerite Snow was
probably better known In Washing
ton than any other section Of the
country before she Joined the, Than
leading woman of the Belasco stock
company here one or two seasons.
She had also been leading woman
OF stock companies in other cities.
King Baggot was a stock actor in
st. Louis for long time before he
entered the motion picture field in
the Imp Company under Griffith's
direction. Mr.. Baggot has continued
with the Imp Company ever since.
The late John Bunny was stock
actor. although he is best known for
his work in touring companies, es-
pecially for his Playing Of Bottom in
"A Midsummer Nights Dream"
1t Is probable that there are few
leading men who have the history
Of Richard Tucker. however, who ia
announced to have returned to the
Edison Company for the production
Of Becky Sharp" with Mrs. Fiske.
as the star. Tucker is the only lead
ing man Of record who varies his
time between stock compa MES and
motion pictures. In other words he
is a motion pictures and a stock
company leading man at the the
same time. Tucker Is a native OF
Brooklyn. and started out to be a
bank clerk. but the stage called him
and he became member Of Nat
Goodwn's company, and played
three seasons In various roles, Next
he appeared In Cora" with Bertha
Kalisch. and then Joined Mrs. Fiske.
appearing in Becky Sharp" sal.
walton Nell" "Hannele." and Mrs.
Bumstead-Leigh" in succession as
the star produced these plays.
Following the engagement with
Mrs. Fiske Tucker entered stock
work as leading man. He has mad
companies of his own in Rochester,
Toledo. Cleveland, Ottawa. Philadel-
phia and Worcester Last summer
and part Of the winter he varied his
time between the Edison studio, and
the American theater. In philadel-