The Washington times., 1916-04-16
National: "The Birth of
A Nation" Feature Film.

A Nation. Feature t1Im.
w. GRIFFITH'S stupendous
spectacle OF peace and war;
The Birth OF a Nation" will
open at the National Theater
tomorrow night and will continue twice
daily thereafter for a limited engage
ment.
Produced during the fiftieth anniver-
sary OF the closing event OF the civil
war. the play orrers an unusually vivid
portrayal of those epoch-making scenes.
It Is just half a century since Lees sur
render to Grant, and the terrible assas-
sination of President Lincoln in Ford
Thoater, Washington. Both of those
events that stirred the nation to its
depths are depicted by Mr.. Griffith In
so realistic a manner as to startle with
their realism even that fast scattering
few who were themselves a part OF
what was done In those momentous
days.
The first half OF the picture covers
the entire period from 1850 to 1860 with
massive battle scenes, which by their
horror, accentuate the blessings or
peace. The second half Mr.. Griffith de-
votes to the soul-stirring drama OF re-
construction. lie shows the South IN
the clutch of the Carpetbagger and the
Scalawag, and how II was saved by the
Scottish clans of the Carolinas. Here
The eyes OF the spectators look back
ward for fifty years ana see history in
It's making. This wonderful spectacle
Ia made still more impressive by the
art OF music. interpreted by thirty pick
ed musicians. Extensive mechanical ef-
fects increase the Illusion OF reality.
There are daily matInees beginning
Tuesday and including Sundays.
BelascO: Mexican War Films.
Norman Sper, Lecturer.
7 the Belasco Theater all this
~ week beginning today matinee
~ and evening is to be shown
Following the Stars and Stripes
Through Mexico. or Chasing Villa" a
wonderful set of film which Samuel
Cummings, of New York. has lately Sc
cured for presentation to the American
public. These films are scoring unusual
success at the Debber Theater in New
York. and are playing to capacity
houses. Villa and his band are shown
in their rendevouz in the Sierra noun
tains in Mexico. Telescope lens has
been used in taking these pictures no as
TO bring Villa and his gang on the screen
at the Belasco Theater. Brigadier Gen.
eral Pershing and the American soldiers
are shown to an unusual effect, chasing
the bandit on Mexican soil. The looting
of Columbus, Texas, is seen from an
photography In taking these pictures has
been In command.
The European War is also figured by
Manager Taylor In entertaining his au-
dience. so he has secured Scout Corre-
spondent Norman l.. Sper. who has
shortly returned from the warning ma
tions.
Sper is young man who has attained
a reputation as a correspondent and war
lecturer. During his travels as corre-
respondent, Sper secured, at the risk of
his life, proclamations and documents OF
unusual value, which he shows upon the
screen.
Polls: "The Yellow
Ticket" Stock.
"HE master hand OF Sardou will be
seen reflected at Polls Theater
beginning tomorrow night. when
Michael Mortons sensational
play, The Yellow Ticket" will be the
bill.
The Yellow Ticket. makes an appeal
that is stripping in it's interet which Is
sustai ined throughout the three acts of
the play.
The first scene is laid in the sitting
room OF hotel In st. Petersburg. ten
anted by rich Englishman. John Sea-
ton, and his daughter, Margery. who Is
engaged to Count Nikolai. and Is taking
lessons in the Russian language from
Mdrya Narenha, Afternoon Tea Is SefV-
ed and among the guests besides Count
Nikolai are Raron Audrey. chief of the
Ckrana. or Russian secret police, and
Julian Rolfe. an American newspaper
correspondent, all friends of the Sea-
tons.
The fortunes of Marya are followed
through maze OF Intrigue and official
persecution that develops action out OF
the ordinary and which gives The yell
low Ticket conspicuous place in the
galaxy of modern dramas.
Maude Gilbert Will have the big role
OF Marya Narenka and Mary Alden that
Of Margery Seaton. These are the only
feminine characters In the play. Among
others In the cast will be A. III. Van
Buren, Ben Taggart, Howard Lang,
Eugene Desmond Thomas Colmosnil,
Cecil Bowser, Il. b. Royce, and James
Lillis.
Keith's: HOudini.
Vaudeville.
TT oUDINI, will be in Washington
- this week at the b. +. Keith
i i Theater.
His engagement is positively
limited to the regular performances be-
ginning tomorrow matinee and ending
next Sunday night This season Houdini
is varying the nature OF the sensational
outdoor escapes with which his indoor
appearances are accompanied.
IL Is stated by the Keith manage
ment that the severest challenge he has
yet been defied with will be contested