The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-25
PHOTOPLAYER TELLS
ABOUT PHOTOPLAYS
Irving Cummings Interrupts
film Play to Explain What
Motion Pictures Really Are.

"why ISN'T Washington motion pic
ture producing center?
Irving Cummings asked the question
yesterday between times he was inter-
ruptinR scenes In "The Saleslady" at
Loew's Columbia Theater 10 show the
audiences that he was a regular human
being as we'll as leading man for Hazel
Dawn in the picture play they were
watching.
Mr.. Cummings has always ben an adj
vocate of using Washington for picture
play purposes. Last week he and Miss
Dawn had on unpleasant experience In
Baltimore trying 10 make the last scenes
for the picture shown here this week,
and he stopped of in Washington yes
terday expressly for the purpose of look
ing over the city.
Mr.. Cummings Is something more than
Just picture play leading man. as he
has had considerable experience as a
producer. Washington patrons OF the
photoplay will remember that he played
the leading part I'm the film adaptation
in The Times, 1.-THE Diamond from the
Sky" Few of them know that Mr..
Cummings wrote the scenario for this
picture anT produced It as well.
Appears in Person.
His appearance in person at the
Columbia 1'heater yesterday was sur
prise to the audience. The film was
Just after the hero and heroine are
married. and the hero stepped out on
speech.
Mr.. Cummings is one Of the veterans
OF the motion picture having entered
the service of the Thanhouser company
seven years ago. He played with Mu-
tual companies until January last. when
he was engaged by the Famous Players
for a series OF plays. The first of these
w lle 90 ~ tyiN nau n
which Is being shown at Loew's Column
bia the latter part of this week.
His second Famous Players picture.
The Fued." Is now being produced.
He was on his way to Atlanta to make
the final scenes with Miss Dawn when
he stopped in this city on this trip. He
told his audiences yesterday that he had
been to washington many times before
and had played at the Columbia. Ma
Nonal and Belasco Theaters. His last
appearance here was In THE Man OF
the Hour"
He will return to Washington May Is,
to conduct the campaign for the motion
picture section of the Actors Fund of
America.
Henry Otto, tho Universal director
who shook the western desert soil from
his heels to Pre- 6ucc for the Universal In
the East, has been given a new name
BY his Old companions They call him
Cndinc Otto now instead OF the ar
tistic producer"
William Desmond has fully shown his
great value as n screen artist both as
regards locks, n pleasing and magnetic
presence ana histronic ability.
Mr.. Desmond will soon accent as ore
mimic stage. He iE at present playing
OPT ostte to Bessie Barrscalc in a five
reel T-iagle feature being produced
under the direction OF Charles Gihlyn.
Hal Cooley writes that he is very
much In love with Santa Barbara and
the American studios and tho good
looking Juvenile actor feels he is going
to be able t. do the hest work OF his
career with this company.
Helen Holmes and ]. p. McGowan. of
the Signal Company are back from the
railroad scenes for tine Girl and the
Game serial They we're away some
two months, and the experience has
done them lots of good. Helen having
gained nearly ten pounds.
Rollin y. Sturgeon. the managing G-
rector of the Western Vitagraph. has
his hands full this week. He has per-
Northwestern feature, Gods Country
and the Woman" having brought 30 90
feet of negative and 5000 feet of posi-
tive down to 5000 feet.
Otto Lederer. the Charac ter man with
the Western Fttagraph forces. is apN
peartnR In comedy this week. Otto,
who Is not of IIibernlan origin. ran to
MIR. Sturgeon and said In confidential
tone: ~ have achieved the height or my
ambition-l am acting an Irish police
man with a red mustache.''
william Wolbert. OF the Western Vita
graph company. Ia directing one-reel
comedy. which 10 extra ordinary, IN TINT
II Is heing interpreted nv an all-star
cast-Wilinm Duncan. Anne Schae 'er.
Corinnc Griffith. Artist Kellar. and Car
men Phillips Billy Wolbert was n we'll
known comedian himself. and knows
Just how TO put on p comedy.
Henry Walthall is different" in
many ways For ore thing he does not
collect his nress notices or old photo
graphs or stills. Every still picture he
has, he treasures for some association
connected with II. and because they
contain the faces Of friends-not because
they portray his own.
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