The Washington times., 1915-11-24
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Film Stars Are More
Popular Than Stage
Fdvorites, Says
George Kleine
BY GARDNER MACK.

There Is a growing belief among
the producers and exhibitors of mo-
ton pictures that the stars who have
their regulations founded solely on
their work In motion pictures are
more popular with patrons OF the
photoplay than stars from the stage.
The causes for the growth Of this
opinion are not so hard to find, and
yet these same causes arc likely to
lead to an entirely different situa-
ton a few years hence. The mo-
ton picture audience depends solely
and simply on entertainment factors
In a film drama. and It doesn't care
particularly who provides them 20
long as they are entertaining. Be-
foro the stage stars recovered from
the first shock Of motion picture
popularity. the public had become
accustomed to looking to the film
stars for its amusement. and to
reading contemptuous statements
regarding films attributed from reg.
ular actors and actresses.
As the film patron knew what to
expect from his film favortte, and
did not know what to expect from tn
stage star In nlm. he declined to
take chance and patronised the
film star. That Is the situation to q
large extent IN Washington. stage
stars who can act In motion pic-
lures are getting larger and larger
patronage here every week. But the
film stars are still the favorites. In
other sections OF the country there
Is another aspect to the situation
which George Kleine. the pioneer
producer OF big spectacles, dis
cussed in the current issue Of the
Moving, Picture World at length.
Mr.. Kleine's views are interesting
for the reason that ne Is one Of the
really progressive producers of
photoplays. He IL the man who had
the courage to bring "Quo vadis."
"Ben-Hur." and other big spectacles
to this country and exhibit them. and
courage to discard the slapstick and
put on real comedy-after other pro-
would pay. He says: '' -'''''"
One question which confronts us
at this time Is the case Of stage
stars VS.. Film Stars. Personally. I
think that the public wants film
u.
Well known stage stars are not
known everywhere. There arc
places having good motion picture
theaters where the people have not
heard and learned SO much about
stage starv. Almost without excep-
ton the exhibitor favors we'll known
f1lm stars as against stage stars. at
least of the lesser magnitude. Manu-
facturers arc and have been prone to
overlook tho fact that q stare name
we'll known on Broadway may be
known in far lesser degree In the
smaller towns and cities in which
most Of our motion picture theaters
are located.
You see. the film artist. who has
appeared in numerous screen pro-
ductions for period Of years. re-
ceives great value through tho feel
ing Of personal interest which has
developed on the part Of the motion
picture audiences. In my opinion
this personal feeling serves to dis
former recently converted to motion
pictures lacks this personal appeal
and frequent contact. and is. there
fore. at times severely and even
harshly criticised. have myself
been disappointed on occasion when
some conspicuous stage performer.
who happened to appear In one Of
our features. met with a cold and
critical reception. It is . fact that
picture fans are no respecters OF
sNsge regulations. We may exclude
a few Of our largest New York and
Chicago theaters where certain
stars are we'll known and popular"
@. NJ