The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-30
BRIGHT FOR
SCREEN INDUSTRY
had a Lowll start. hut Now
Ranks Among Leading
Enterprises.
STARS DESERT STAGE

,.,rtirc , picture with only high
49,. c- composing u musical score all
! ,-esrerdo For the history of the
,,,, drama has paradoNi"ally been
-,,or ~ r~,-ound'ug chapters Of Nc
"a ,,,i,,, and chroniclcd with the
-,s,rhouc " achievement.
Rapidly jumping from the crude ORR
=. ,,J carly advancement ~ the screen
y ard industry-for tho motion picture
both .u art and an industry-we
ore tr 'h. year 1911. At this time
-s.h,r,rsl inventions and improvements
"A ,lfly perfected the physical pro-
l,.ar and rrplcction ~ motion pic
.,c. tn, story and technique NJ the
alton, drama had been developed and
,-,t,,ir photography had been attained.
-ser % d.or and dangerous reaction set
= III, MIN producers. grown careless
,,h s'.p,nduus and facile success
sought hv the great army Of photoplay
ir.' winch had rallied 20 the call of
.,p .u. interesting amusrm"H'. had
rs Goo l,-c their regard for standard
i.,r a,, r. 'or merit. The influence
2 .nmp,tIttou a. an iucentiv We for greater
,-o-, vac a negligible one. as there was
Enough for all and more, and theatres
src bringing IN overnight. clamoring
- films Then IL was hat the more
.sr gent patrons of p~hoioplay theatres.
|,rre II the same themes, the same
.yrs ,most Of them incapable failures
>. rIi,cd from the legitimate stage) and
.s sam. Photographic effects repeated
& appalling number OF times. were de-
.rlgg toe new amusement and return
E. N substantial. numbers to the spoken
.-ana. vaudeville, and books.
\, this time | had a considerable
amount Of money invested in motion
a ,lre theatres VA New York and other
Experiencing the decreasing at
,.dauce. | realized that the motion pic
,lr industry required a strong stimulus
~ il would pass like many other fads
~, tad held the popular .uiercs; for a
IL omeut and then died to make place for
sre newer but equally transient u
Heut.
!. occurred to me that this stimulus
,oIid be provided by the Introduction OF
G. Grated stage stars and famous dfa-
? Al. successes To- the screen. which al
e same time would he a means Of
Il rc'uttiug the dramatic genius o: the
= 70 distinguished stars of the Con-
amporaIy stage. Added 10 these adj
.v4s'e s,s was the fact that through the
-a%.sIration ~ this policy people in
pace Tar removed from the larger
-.'-e5 Of civilization would have an
ppo-vu'ty OF witnessing the foremost
IAN Of the day and thus come in con-
s. with an artistic influence which
rey could not have otherwise.
Il gazing the necessity for The
Sponsorship Of q RESPECTED thestrica!
2 .-ag' 90 give such an enterprise the
- r. necessary for success. mad"
q, interest the more powerful
'-.A.AtN managers in the idea. hut
Igr~' unanimously sCufed at ;he
ss'-''"0. ,nd cmphatically stated that
, motion picture public would not ap-
-.f r'" tie ~ Of stage stars or the
. rr'7 'rius.d'lons Of popular stage
-. c-s's. NJ last. however. | succeeded
'N .f ..' JUS bhllf'l A'lllllt o. NlA'F'
Para '~rri-t.r foresight enabled him to
..np,. The artistic potsntialities of such
p coalition of stag" and screen elements.
V e ~c,l'', IA" Famous Players Film
company Ms organized in the early part
o. ''t- W. the purpose Of presenting
'se'-t,cI stars IN their stage successes
IN MOI Oh pictures.
bIt u was not until we attempted to
'ngase even one of the important stars
N M" stage that We realized the real
s'''H!s Of the better legitimate artists
'PAr7 The then despiscd motion picture.
IN -ipi succession seven of the most
l'p4 dr. and reputable stars Of the
American stage Indignantly refused to
appear ON the screen. explaining that
sun d course would be artistic suicide.
= W.. hon We were convinced that in
''ie- - break down the barriers Of
l.eJId',e l'.t by the foremost .Aponeuts
y mo spoken drama toward the younger
All p NoIid he necessary TO secure the
or '- Of ne ONE player who was rec
oshi~f Internationally as the leader Of
'T PROCESS n Nine Sarah B.ruhardt.
n-''!'s|, a messenger was sent
,or'ii Foo t'"-view the Divine Sarah on
.l' H"..h'" subject, and finally. upon
'S'4rii'" that her appearance on
-. '..''' would perpetuate her art for
'"''t. n'd ne payment of S3u.U0O.
''.''hted =" act before the camera
'' ~. i''h'1u II her current success,
'".lfn"'l When Nine. Bern
''. -t" o." i''ny shadow of herself
','e "sS.nr through the stirring scenes
| s'"t' drama. she exclaimed. 81
I. ave- '-' 'h' best Of me in pickle for
N"' ~Bsr,ha-d' ann,.,arc. a.,