davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

a mental response that can only be de-
scribed with the word suspense.
n a woman is about TO sit on a mans
high silk hat we obtain suspense. III she
sits on II the suspense Is over. IL She
attempts two or three times to sit down
on 1t and each time Is unconsciously
stopped from doing so, we have increased
suspense.
TO complete the picture It Is far more
effective II she never sits down on Il at
all Perhaps the owner OF the hat arises
from n chair nearby and gets his hat In
time to prevent its ruin We have accom-
plIshed the purpose-we have created sus-
pense.
The attention, curiosity and expectation
of the audience has been aroused and held.
Most writer's mistake violence for sus.
pense. In the so.called punch" pictures
nearly always the punch" is physical A
train of cars plunginR through the open
drawbridge, n yacht blown up the tene.
ment house fire and the many variations
of these ideas are physical. 1t is violence.
The punch" in its truest sense, is men.
tai Often we find that the suspense has
worked up to the point where 1t eliminates
in violence, where the suspense is relieved
by violence, and there Is n perfect punch"
The suspense and the violence blend, as II
were, and the two elements harmonse and
coordinate
Suspense runs throughout the picture, but
the punch" comes usually at the climax.
If you have big punch" to start the pic
ture 1t Is necessary to keep the action rapid
with few lapses of time and the interest
must never lag to the finish, and in add.
ton it is quite probable that you will have
to have bigger punch" at the end.
In a recent picture the director showed a
very novel method of getting rid Of an
undesirable by one of the gangs of lower
New Yorks East Side. A guninan was
stationed on the roof of an apartment
house with a sllencer on the gun mem.
ber of the same gang lured the victim into
position on the sidewalk below and across
the street and then asked the man to wait
while he called a friend inside at the bar.
The scene was set. The gunnan raised
the gun to shoot From over the sunmans
shoulder we could see the victim in the
street below. AS lie was about to pull the
trigger n little child broke loose from its
Continued on Page Three
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
FROM PITTSBURGH
TO OPERA, BELLE
STORY'S STORY

From a parsonage near Pittsburgh to the
grand opera stage seems an almost endless
tourney but Belle Story has already trav-
eled the greater part of the distance. She
has reached So near her goal that the rest
of the trip should be comparatively easy.
Miss story Is using vaudeville as one OF
her stepping stones and Is 10 be heard at
r. u. Keiths Theatre next week in reper-
toire OF high-class vocal selections.
Miss story is the daughter Of minister
who had her study music with the intention
Of making her a choir singer. For while
the girl sang in one OF the most exclusive
churches in Pittsburgh and also in select
musical circles II was not long after her
musical education had been finished that
she went 10 New York to sing In a concert.
ana II was then that her voice attracted
attention and she was offered a tour In
vaudeville, which she accepted So favor
ably was she received in the two-a-day
that Charles Dillingham; signed her for the
pfiina donna role with Montgomery and
Stone IN their big musical success, Chin
chm Later. when Mr.. Dillingham; assumed
the management Of the New York Hippo
drouie he transferred Miss story TO that In
stitutiou Ia q similar capacity This posi-
tion IS unquesilonabiy one OF the hardest
10 hll that any singer has ever attempted,
owing 10 the tremendous size Of the place,
but Miss story made a Wonderful success
of the ensasemeht which she has Just
closed
fhroufhonf her work Miss STORY has
a8ht|hued AsE vocal Studies and i g her
amh|ihn Ana purpose e4eHsaal'4 q become
sf44t sHz44sq elas
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
Evening Ledger Scenario Lessons;
Secrets Of Suspense and Punch
Lesson ESuspense Supreme Plot Developments Keep
ing-1eson Nine-1n Your Punch" Make the
Punishment Fit the Crime

MI OST scenarios we receive are string
1fl of incidents. They lead by devious
paths to some dramatic moment and the
strength of the dramatic moment Is in
sufficient to carry the drag or weight Of the
body of the story. This is caused many
times by the writer conceiving the climax
Of his story first and attempting to imagine
a series OF events that would logically lead
to such climax.
Nine times out OF ten the author takes
the path OF least resistance and writes the
obvious, trite, tirne-worn themes. lie may
show originality in his denouement and alb
soutely none In the scenes leading up to
1t. Give your story "A body as well as
head. If YOU have n good climax you
must not rush in and grab the first idea
that comes into your mind for developing
the plot to the climax.
Ask yourself IL the incidents leading to
the climax tell story?
II should be-
Many Of our best stories are built with
reverse English" to use a billiard term.
The Unusual theme is the best way to go
at 1t, but the unusual situation is invaluable
to the photoplay.
Given the unusual ending or unusual
climax, you must then seek the unusual
beginning. II is here that most authors
fail This Is the reason screen credit is
so often withheld from the amateur writer
The director producing the picture realizes
that you have an idea, But that Is all
The rest Is trite and commonplace. The
staff writer builds an original story and in
building it Is many times obliged to change
your climax probably retaining only the
underlying idea.
You do not get the credit Personally,
we think you should have 1t and most
companies will give you the credit today
with perhaps some one mentioned as maxi
ing the scenario.
1t the truth must be told. the man who
builds the body of the story is deserving
of more credit than you are. His is really
the greater originality. as your story would
not be interesting without 1t.
The strength of the climax cannot atone
for the weak story, and the audience view
ing the picture will get restless There
will be no mental eXhilaration leading UP
to the denouement. no stimulus to give
the picture the punch" The very unusual
climax will fall Hat.
We have discussed character and atmos-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

phere These give life and soul to your
incidents, but there must be something else
There must be something to give life and
soul to there must be plot.
When we refer to a string of Incidents
as we did in the opening paragraph of
this article, we refer to those stories which
have but n slight plot. If you pick the
average story up and dlssect 1t the bones
rattle 1t may have some life and n little
soul. but there is no flesh and blood. II
is disjolnted creature with perhaps
fine head.
Continuity of incident helps cover the
obviously thin plot, but cannot disguise
the fact that IL is merchanical after all.
Make your plot solid, give it substance and
let the climax come as the strongest link
in strong chain of dramatic incident.
In talking with scenario writer the
other day, l suggested that he seize a GER
tain opportunity to obtain suspense. He
replied that he had suspense In the de-
nouement He had a big "wallop," as he
explained.
Here is another element, then. that must
be considered, Let us say that this is the
nervous system, to continue the figure we
have been using, Where shall we have
suspense? Must it be only in the head?
Decidedly not. Give your story the
flesh and blood of n good plot, without any
thing stimulating to the nerves and YOU
will lack the perfectly rounded scenario
you may nave Ire ana soul III your Cnar-
acter and atmosphere, but there Is no feel
ing-at least nothing gripping
You can start suspense with the feet
or opening, of your scenario and build with
1t until you finish, 1t is necessary. 1t is
vital in the highest degree
If you start your story with a mystery
you start with moment of suspense. As
you build you should heghten the sus-
pense. Eventually you will arrive at
point where nothing will satisfy except
Notwithstanding to relieve the feelings.
We are dealing In small way with one
of the most difficult questions In photoplay
writing What is suspense?
Suspense is that element In the story
which holds the attention, curiosity and
expectation OF the audience. Other ele-
ments may hold the attention of the au-
dience, such as scenic effects, character
portrayal, heart interest, etc, Curiosity
may be held by something odd in the pic
ture, but when all three are held. there is
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

zli44 donna from Psttzhnrob
saf'nz 3 flier Ia tzadevIlle
Nst = sfand 0nssa And
sen and Azard at
asxt week
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
The Perfect Press Agent
An Efficiency Product
One of the Flock Describes the Problems of the Game
and the Scientific Methods Which
Solve Them
RY ARrHUR EDWIN KRoWs

thing see the pawnbroker's direct display
alone
However, II is a long route for impatient
people TO go ON transferring attention from
one thing to another quite remote, even
when the link is provided and therefore
the thoughtful advertising man prefers to
concentrate his appeal by attracting atten-
tion holding 1t, telling nature of goods and
shooting his argument across all in one
effort. But that is only modification of
method the primary thing is to find his
sales point.
In brief. there must be one main fact
about play that makes 1t not necessarily
different from other plays, but of decided
interest to as many persons as may be-
certainly TO a sufficient number to insure
life sustaining patronage. To this Will be
added other sales points but all OF them
will be subordinate to the main point which
has the great function of closing the deal.
These others may secure attention. hold it,
and even may sell tickets themselves in
being better adapted than the main argu-
rent to personal needs of particular
patrons. They are not to be underestimated.
But they always must be pertinent to the
matter In hand. Nothing could be closer
to the object OF Increased sales than the
prize offer for the mllllonth ticket to Chin
Chin" or the opening Of an alI-night box
Office at Hip Hip Hooray."
When Selwyn & Co, bought the waning
attraction Twin Beds" Margaret Mayo's
dramatization of the novel by Salisbury
Field ii was their general press represen-
tatiye Charles Hayes who made il ons
OF the genuinely smashing hits OF the
season, largely by consistently following
out the Keynote expressed In the happy
catch-lihe, This Is the life" II Is good
instance of selecting an efficient point, and
sticking TO IT, Even the stupendous ma
tlonal campaign for the Serge de Diaghileff
Ballet Russo so maghificently waged by
Edward l.. Bernays, had but one dominant
idea, that the ballet In being a perfect
Continued on Pafs rhiss
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
WHEN ALICE BRADY
DISOBEYED
DAD

when she was a wee little tot. Alice
Brady wanted to go on the stage. Papa
Brady very diplOmatically told his little
Alice that she was designed. by virtue of
her inherent traits, to become society
belie. That stood her OF until she got
IittlA older. but when Alice knew enough
M wade through the dictionary ana see
inst what designed by inherent traits"
meant. she framed up reply and waited
for her father TO spring 1t on her once
Just why parents who have made sue
ckss In the theatrical profession should
hs opposed to their children following
tbeif Footsteps remains an unsolyed prob
lam rhe question has often been asked.
but seldom answered. And the most inter
esting part of II Is that in nearly every
Instance where a child has insisted in dis
obeying his or her parents in this respect
bs or she has generally turned out 10 be
star. Alice Brady. the talented daughter
81 William A Brady Is a good example.
when she was preparing to leave the
COLLEGE OF ST Elizabeth. in Madison NJ ~.
after graduation she announced her M
tention OF adopting the stage as her life
vocation Mr.. Brady had roughed il In
the profession. he knew the hardships
she Would have 70 overcome he knew she
would be estranEed from him a great deal
81 the time. ana he wanted 70 keep his
little family intact he gave her fatherly
lectures pointing out e her the many
pitfalls she would encounter, the rough
lie and rough people. pc travelling and
hardships oE ne 'fcAd fl pfoushE 81 nla
csaanasa Is razs rSs
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

The idreUeH appearance OF E. Fl.
sothsrp IN Justin Huntley McCGrthUS
bedliifully poetic aud romantic pldy,
VA We're King" DiueS added interest
70 al appreciation bU that dttthor OF
W. sothert's acting before Mr.. Sothern
Aad essd1ed the role Of Francois VilIon.
HAD heard much of the acting Of Mr..
tsotheru before it was ever my good for.
tune to see him. Tales came to me from
lcfOss the Atlantic of a Rudolf Rassendyl
Nho Informed the bright romance of Zenda
Hih the high passion of a Master of Raw
hsRood and the gallant humor of a Mer-
quo heard of scene with a rose which
~ sad to be one of the tenderest, most
aquisite love scenes known to the modern
sase ! could only hope some day to be
Aels to see and to judge for myself.
ave IN time took me to New York. and
pps OF my first thoughts was to satisfy my
Iafloslty as to the young American actor
- was anpounced to appear in a piece
80 y Colonial Girl" and | was present
II 'ne nrst night. l can recall no occasion
+ ~ ~ my experience of the stage in which
fst Z liyeller interest in what / was about
~ | hoped, feared, my antlcipations
Rlsasure were tempered by apprehension
qlsaqedi as suppose one always does
sppelntment. ' '
80 lseall very distinctly the suspense
~ u, which ! waited for the appearance
at sothern; do not very clearly re-
~ he play. | know that it dealt with
III american struggle for Independence,
J was peopled with wicked men in
soals' with gallant spirits in blue and
. ~, nay ior some reason or other the hero
lhs - sl himself in clock case and that
kos snols ended In a wild blaze of Liberty
z .sas sla {he triumph of the Declaration
- '1spshaenee t But the play might have
han W. aau0h worse or much better play
ny memory had come to see
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
Good Plays Die Young"

THERE could be no more fallible
L method of testing judgment of a
play than by matching it with that
plays success!
With plays, as with people, so
often the good die young! So very
often, the bad survive! To praise
the plays that prosper, and slight
the others, were to follow the mob
in it's every error, to laud the banal,
the obvious and the commonplace,
and to ignore what is too fine or
too lofty for general comprehension.
1t is a reporters duty to say what
pleases the public, critics duty to
say what should please the public.
The reviewer does best when he does
both.-Channittg Pollock in Green
Book.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
ANNOUNCEMENT
BY HARRY o. HoYT
Head Of Metro Scenario Staff.

THERE will be 20 lessons in the
L EVENING LEDGER's Course in
|, Scenario Writing. They will con-
clude with the printing of a model
scenario which has been accepted and
produced. The lessons began on
Saturday, June 8. They will con-
tinue daily until Saturday, July 8.
Clip and save them, for on July 10
will begin the EVENING LEDGER's
Scenario Competition. The condi-
tions: A Philadelphia locale and
Philadelphia characters. The award:
A Cash Prize and Production by a
well-known film company with an
all-Philadelphian cast.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

PLAYWRIGHT - One who pos
L sesses the ability to compress the
most interesting episodes in several
characters lifetimes into two unin-
teresting hours.
Trying 1t on the Dog" = A
phrase referring to the trying out
of a play in the provinces before
bringing it into the metropolis. In
other words, testing the effect of
the play upon an intelligent COM
munity to predetermine, by its lack
of success there, its subsequent pros
perity in New York.
A Reportory Company is company
that acts half a dozen plays badly
instead of one play well. A regular
company, on the other hand, is a
company which acts a single play
badly.-George Jean Nathan in Puck.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

The tolotCin1 consideration Of the
art aud science Of publicity Is reprinted
from the Dramatic Mirror. It's author,
Arthur Edtoin Kroios, earned his
Winthrop AmGs aud the Neto York LII
tle Theatre. He Is a distinguished rep,
resentdtiUe Of the nstCer school OF
press representative toho puts scientific
brains into the problem OF CONVINCING
The public that the theatre Is not dead
yet
TLEMENTARY advertising in any line
IL is to attract attention TO wares offered
one frequently sees this accomplished by a
quantity of loose toy balloons, for instance
being blown about confectioners window
a steel ball, suspended apparently in mid
air. in millinery display; tea pouring
endlessly out OF kettle which seems to
have no way of being REALIZED. in cigar
store; ; a huge bird's-eye view of popular
baseball diamond. in a hat shop; set OF
four or five news photographs repeated in
the plate-grass fronts OF several miscel-
laneous shops within short distance Of one
another, or, perhaps, a huge, garish topical
ca aftoon employed TO lnsinuate that pawn
broker holds forth within. y.-
Indeed, these examples go step further
rhan merely attracting attention They
hold II, too But there is nothing psycholog-
ical or otherwise, directly to link balloons
with confectionery; a steel ball with mil,
linery; pouring tea with cigars; the baseball
view with hats; the news photographs with
the various shops, or the political cartoon
with the sign of the Medlcl, Still, they
have ACCOMPLISHED something In getting the
crowd outside. And the lnnermost circle OF
persons, i'm most such gatherings, hides the
detail of the variant of the Cartoon, so that
others, crowding to find the nature OF the
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

Continued on Page Two
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
Dramatic Definitions

Continued on Page Three
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10

Continued on FaEe rhfss
The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-05
LARGE GOLD IMPORTS
DECLARED UNDESIRABLE

New York, Nov. 3.-Extraordinary
additions Of gold to the bank reserves
of the country in the torn of heavy
importations are declared undesirable
because they are not required for
the purpose of carrying on the normal
business of the country, and if used
as the basis of credit are likely to
bring about debt expansion of danger
Gus proportions" in a bulletin issued
by the National City bank. The adj
visibility of making further foreign
loans is strongly urged.
The bulletin declares that the ma
ton is doing business at this time I'M
der conditions calculated to encour-
age people to go into debt. 1t points
out that with money easy, interest
rates low and profits from business
unusually large, there is naturally
great temptation to borrow money to
buy stocks of companies that are max
ing phenomenal earnings and to en-
large Industries which are prosper
ing. High prices for farm products,
it is asserted, will encourage farmers
to buy more land.
The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-05
FOR ALDERMAN.

I hereby announce myself candl-
date for Alderman of the City OF Cor
dele subject to the primary OF Nov.
DIST. and if elected I promise faith
full performance of the duties Of the
office
I believe there should be a just and
eouitable adjustment of the citys bust
ness license. Under the present sys-
fem the small merchant and shop men
are made to pay an unreasonable pro
portion OF the running expenses Oh
lie city Every merchant in the city
should be made to pay somewhat IN
keeping with his volume Of business.
I believe that the minimum water
rent should be reduced to an amount
only sufficient for the running expense
and upkeep of the plant.
The police department being one OF
the most important of the city's gov
eminent ! believe it should be kept
ED to the highest standard Of efiicien-
CIV and that there should be three
shifts of patrolmen working hours
each. I believe for the protection OF
the city the office of desk sergeant
should be re-established.
| believe the fire department should
be maintained at its present high
standard of efficiency.
| believe at the very earliest pos
sible date the city should establish
and operate a sanatorium in keeping
with the development and needs of
The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-05
FOR ALDER MAN.
Respectfully,
C. o. NOBLE.

I respectfully announce myself
candidate for Alderman of the city OF
Cordele, subject to the primary to be
held on November q. If elected I
promise to faithfully perform the du-
ties of the office and lend my heartlest
support to the advancement of Cor
dele and the protection of the interests
of it's individual citizens. My past
experience on the council has made me
thoroughly familiar with the duties
of the office. The suffrage and sup
port of the voters will be greatly ap-
preciated. Respectfully,
J. HOMER LAMB.
The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-05
MUNICIPAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR MAYOR.

TO the people of Cordele:
Approaching the support given me
during the past two years as your
Mayor and having to the best of my
ability honestly and fearlessly dis
charged the duties of the Office, and
as there are yet issues to be settled
of great interest to the city in which
am interested as any other citizen
would or should be, and having done
my part in keeping our city in the
forefront, and the good of the city at
all times safe-guarded as the Mayor
of Cordele, hereby announce my can
didacy for reelection subject to the
city primary election to be held on
the 21st day of November, 1916. II
reelected, I pledge my best efforts to
forward the cause of the city in every
manner, and to continue the work OF
keeping and maintaining the reputa-
ton which Cordele has justly won
that of being the cleanest city of its
size in the state, in morality, sobriety,
education, religion, civic pride and
honest business. | will apFsAaclate
the support of all the people, aad trust
that will merit the votes Of every
qualified voter in the city.
]. GORDON JONES.
The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-05
GERMAN GOVERNMENT
MAKES STATEMENT

Athens, Oct 31-The German lega-
ton made the following statement in
regard to the sinking of the Aughe-
Tiki:
mo Greek vessel on regular
course would have been summarized
unless it was carrying reinforcements
to the allied armies at Saloniki. Fur
thermore, the legation is convinced
the hour e p. No. and circumstances
of the sinking preclude the point that
the vessel was submarined.'
The German government officially
advised the Greek government that
merchant ships carrying supplies for
the allies would be torpedoed without
warning.
All shipping has been tied up by a
strike of the sailors union.
The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-11-05
LAST CHANCE GIVEN
KING CONSTANTINE

London, Nov. "a Reuters dis
patch from Saolniki quotes M. Veni-
zelos, the former prmeier, in an inter
view on the sinking of the Greek
steamer Angehliki by a German sub
marine as follows.
at was an act of piracy by a Ger
man submarine in the territorial wa
tiers of Greece against a vessel ply
ing between Greek ports and the lam
entable death of many Greek citi-
zens gives the last chance to King
Constantine to restore national unity
by assuming direction of the scored
struggle which is imperiously neces-
STATED by the honor and vital inter-
ests of Greece"