The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-31
companies had to pay him patent

VI the pictures produced in those
days, those Of the Biograph company
were the most popular, with Vita
graph next There was reason for
Biograph's popularity, but that was
not known until later when the mo-
ton picture business had passed in
to another stage. That reason was
David Wark Griffith. He was the
Chief director OF Biograph in the
days before his name became mas
tionally known and he put out pic
lures years ago that combined such
realism and artistry that they are
being reissued today and make
very creditable showing against
some of the later day productions.
Who could forget such pictures as
the Closed Shutters" etc.
At first the film companies would
not disclose the names of their play
ers, and so the stars Of seven years
ago were only known through their
screen appearances. There were
some like that little girl with the
dark wavy hair at that time. They
didn't know her name. They do now.
1t was Mary Pickford at sixteen
years of age.
Griffith directed Mary Pickford for
Biograph several years. Some of
those early films in which she ap-
peared are remembered yet. The
first screen hero was Arthur Johnson,
or the late Arthur Johnson. for he
died last January at the age of forty.
Arthur johnson played opposite
Mary Pickford in many of those old
Biographs. Maybe Keokuk people
remember yet "a Tale of the Milk"
and others.< Tall. handsome and
graceful, he combined all those quail
tiles that make for a screen hero.
He retained his popularity to the last.
When Griffith left Biograph for
$10O, 900 salary with Mutual, he went
to Lubin and played and directed
there until his death.
Notable List Of Players.
Biograph had a notable list OF
players back in the Griffith days.
There was Henry Walthall, star of
THE Birth of Nation Mary Pick
ford, Blanch Sweet, Florence Law
renee, Arthur Pagett, Fred Mace.
Mack Sennett, Arthur Miller, Charles
Murray, Robert Ha1Ton, and many
others who have achieved substan-
tial success since.
Vitagraph had an excellent list OF
players, also the most popular among
Keokuk people being Florence Turn
er and Maurice Costello. Cleo Ridg-
ley, now Paramount star, but
Vitagraph favorite in those days, ap-
peared at the Colonial theatre here
about six years ago, while on a horse
back trip to the coast, and gave a
talk on motion pictures. This was
Keokuk's first introduction to pic
ture actress in the flesh and there
was certainly big crowd there to
see her.
Four and half years ago Dodge's
theatre burned. A new home was
secured in the Grand theatre and the
firm of Baker and Dodge came into
effect, and has continued to this day.
Baker and Dodge continued the Cen
eral Film service, although compel
i've pictures were being produced and
shown in Keokuk. About two years
ago Mutual pictures were shown by
the firm. Then came the time of the
feature picture. A year and half
ago Paramount service was secured
and a short time ago Triangle.
Two New Theatres.
About six year ago Mark Angel
started the Orpheum theatre, dis
PLAYING the new Universal pictures.
This theatre under various manage
ments I'D until the time OF its clos
ing several months ago, showed Uni
versal, Mutual and General films, be-
sides many feature pictures. the
Colonial, which also went out OF
business a short time ago, exhibited
films of all three Of these great dis
trtbuting concerns which covered the
field before the advent Of the fea-
ture film.
The Hippodrome, opened by Mark
Angel also, exhibited occasional
films with It's vaudeville, among
which were some early Famous Play
ers with Mary Pickford. before this
company became part OF the Para
mount exchange. Some two years or
so ago, the Hippodrome theatre was
leased by Friedman and Cohan.
Vaudeville was dropped and the build
ing remodeled and opened as an ex-
elusive film house. General films
we're shown for time, intermixed
with feature pictures. Now features
only are shown. Metro, Triangle,
Foy world and Mutual have flickered
across the Hippodrome screen.
with only two picture shows in the
town. Keokuk is now receiving the
hest service possible. Only the best
are brought here and both
theatres have q substantial patron
age.
Excellent Films Arc Shown.
MANY films Of excellence have been
rbown here in the last two years.
The Hippodrome brought to Keokuk
"Tbe Avenging Conscience" the Grif-
fifth production in which Blanche
Sweet and Henry Walthall starred,
and considered the most artistic
picture ever produced. Other well
known Griffith pictures shown at the
Hinnodrone were "The Escape" and
"Ghosts." made at time when the
five and six reeler was the exception
and not the rule. and during the time
Crif1ith was working on his super
production, "The Birth Of Nation.
This twelve reel feature. shown at
the Grand. was viewed by $4,000
neople from Keoluk and neighboring
noints. Other famous pictures shown
=. AZ Grand in the last few years |