Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-02-02
A LOST
PICTURE PLAY
1t Turned Up
Unexpectedly
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

ture studio. What is Il manager Of Il
movie studio? Only he who has been
such knows. Success or failure de-
ponds upon him.
If one desires to get an idea Of the
workings Of the photographing Of
plays let him visit Il studio while the
work is going Oh. He sees men, WOm-
Ell and children lounging about wait
ing their turn to enact their parts.
Some are arranged before the camera.
court scene, Il love part Il murder,
anything, everything that pertains to
civilized, even savage life, OH land, on
the water, in the air, is put on the
films before the wondering beholder.
\ woman is gaping in abandon while
waiting to he Il princess before the
camera. A peasant girl is complain
ing that she is tired to death"-fOr
the work is dreadfully wearying-and
she must in a few minutes be skipping
about as happy as newly fedged
bird. This is behind the scenes Of the
movies.
How different from the picture pass
ing smoothly before the eyes of an au-
dience seated in comfortable chairs in
the theater!
1t is this multiplication of matters
needing attention that leads managers
of studios to hedge themselves in be-
hind closed doors and forbidden to any
one until the name has been sent In on
a slip of paper stating the nature Of
tile callers business. And if some un-
4 | l~,,D I>:>
submit picture play he sends word
to leave 1t and it will be examined.
1t then goes on to the file of hundreds
of other plays to take its turn and
usually he returned after weary wait
ing OH the part of the author.
\ Having given, trust. the reader
some faint idea of my multifarious
I duties l will tell my story.
One morning when sat down to my
desk. feeling somewhat rested from
the work of the day before, there came
a call at the telephone. Taking up the
/ receiver. l listened The voice that
came over the wire was that Of wom-
an and was soft and sweet.
lis this Mr.. Collamore?'
'Yes: I'm Mr.. Collamore."
"l've just finished picture play. and
] would like to have few minutes
conversation with you about it,
Leave it in the Office. or send it by
mail. and it will receive attention."
"Thank you very much. Goodby.''
! was surprised at being able to
throw the party off so easily and con-
graduated myself at having done so;
then turned to my daily routine. The
next morning there was another call
at the phone.
l MIR. Collamore, l have some more
information to give you about that
matter Of which we were talking yes
terday and will call on you at O'Clock
this afternoon. Goodby."
| WHO are you. please?"
Miss Weatherby."
II Hearing a click 1 knew there was
. no use trying to find out who Miss
Weatherby was. l did not remember
any conversation with any such per.
son. but concluded that had neglect.
ed to take down the name. Inasmuch
,, as she had been admitted and had
talked with me, what she had to com.
8 municate must be of some importance
At any rate, when she was announced
|. in the afternoon l gave an order for
e her Abundance. A very pretty young
b woman was ushered in, who seated
t herself in the chair beside my desk
with as much sang frOid as if she had
j. right to remain there as long as she
chose.
Il Let me see,'' said to her. what
h11CinnCc 3,ou
J. yesterday morning: l don't quite re.
q call it,
r Il told you that had a picture
= play"
J, Now | knew who Miss Wetherby
was Unable to get at me in the regu.
+ lar way. she had resOrted to the tele,
phone to make an appointments very
shrewd device. However. she had sue
ceedeu in passing my guard and there
was nothing to do but listen to what
she had to say. This was brief and to
the point. She asked me to read her
scenario myself. told her that It
was impossible for me to read all the
plays that came into the studio. to
: which she replied that she did not
e wish me to read all the plays, she
: would be satisfied if would read hers
: She would not leave without the prom.
D Use, and was obliged to give it. Then
0 she banded me her manuscript and de.
o parted without word
y 1t was evident that the girl was
J. not only bright. but had the good
o sense to understand that her play
+ would stand by itself and she need
= not bore me by telling about it's strone
: points. l am a man of my word and
n determined to keep my pledge to her
}. put the scenario in my pocket, in
:, tending to glance over it on my way
!. home. | live in a suburb and 20 home
), by rail. When on the train I would
. have abundant opportunity to do 80.
: That evening when I went home
was loaded down-a common condi
ton Of commuters-with parcels. On
the train took out the scenario and
was about to begin it's perusal wher
y boy came along with the evening
. papers. l bought one and, seeing 6
u startling announcement Of victory
= In the great European war, laid the
~ manuscript down beside me on tl,<
= seat. Becoming absorbed in the news
- l read the paper till We reached my
,. station and, forgetting all about the
+ scenario, left it in the seat. Not till