Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-15


the rapids but actually on q narrow
incline between the rapids and the
wall The villain, as it happened, was
chosen from the extra men on account
Of his gigantic size, and he waS so
the choice that he forgot and flung
the hero far over the wall and incline
into the swirling rapids. Happily, the
hero was able to catch hold of rock
and cling to it until aid reached him,
during which time the camera man
recorded some very interesting real
ism. y..ass '..'.
Another actor also suffered from
too much of the real thing not long
ago when he assumed the character of
a sneak thief. Boldly .dashing up to
a real jewelry store, he broke the
window and departed hurriedly with a
handful Of valuable rings. The street
had been chosen because of its appar-
ent isolation, and the directors held in
check group of extra people assspec-
tators. AS it happened. however, the
extra people were not needed. AS
soon as the cry of stop thief was
circulated among them for the benefit
Of the camera an excited American
populace sprang up in all directions
and pursued the sneak thief down the
street. When he could run no further,
the actor stopped and confronted an
angry crowd of over hundred per-
sons. As he remarked later, 1t was
an extremely unpleasant situation I'M
til the director arrived breathless and
managed to appease them with num-
Der of credentials and satisfactory
explanation. l..,. -
Much has been written concerning
the bitter experiences of pedestrians
which have taught them to suspect
the presence of the moving picture
camera in all street crime but &C.
cording to the irate accounts OF the
moving picture directors they still
have lots to learn. One man relates,
for example, that two young actresses
in the employ Of California company
were taken for suffragettes while play
ing a street scene in mems clothes
and were pursued by number Of peo-
pie, who believed they intended to
break windows. --..
While the substitute Is growing
more and more out-of-date there are
still many cases where trained pro-
fessional must take the place Of the
actor in several scenes. When the
hero makes a hair-breadth escape in
an aeroplane, for instance, he Is usual
ly changed at the last moment for
professional aeronaut, inasmuch as
the difference can not be detected
when flying far above the camera.
Acrobats are substituted when the
script calls for an extremely danger
GUS leap, and professional jockeys
generally take the place of the princi-
pals at the last moment when there
done. .- s ...
One professional jockey was en-
ployed by moving picture company
some months ago to substitute for the
leading woman in leaping over preci-
pice on a horse. The horse was a
very remarkable animal of vaudeville
fame, being able to do many marvel
GUS things such as counting up to
ten, opening and shutting a door, re-
moving his masters coat and polish
ing his shoes, as we'll as diving from
dizzying heights, which he had learned
at Coney Island. His career in NOV
ing pictures had been as brilliant as
it was in vaudeville and many seen
ariOs were written around him.
In this particular play the heroine
was captured by band of brigands,
who tied her cruelty to tree while
they consumed a hearty dinner. Her
pet horse, however, who had been left
grazing near her. seized the opportun-
ity to chew her bonds apart and re-
lease her. first being careful to pick
up revolver in its holster, lying on
the ground. Once united. the young
woman leaped upon his back, covered
the brigands with the revolver, made
them return the stolen papers and ex-
ecuted brilliant exit followed by the
villains. Her pursuers gaining on
her, the heroine determined to Jump
the precipice along which she rode,
but here the jockey in girls clothes
was substituted: In order to make
the precipice appear sleeper than it
really was, it had been built out with
temporary structure Of sca1olding
painted to correspond with the rest
of the scenery Just as the horse
gathered for his dive. the scaffolding
collapsed and both horse and rider
went plunging into the river below.
The jockey was picked up unconscious
but alive and with the exception Of a
few bruises the horse came out all
right.
Thus the moving picture player, ex-
cept for an occasional trained substi-
tute, plays his parts alone and con-
stantly runs the risk Of personal in
fury. He is firm believer in the art
Of the movie himself and is usually
willing to take almost any chance in
order to make the picture appear
more realistic. The movie fans who
witness the daring escapades and har-
rowing escapes of the players often
do not realize the actual dangers en-
countered in making the picture, but
their applause and admiration are suf-
flcient to spur the players on to even
greater adventure.
"Yes." he agreed. ~
"And drinking, AID your club