Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-02-02
A LOST
PICTURE PLAY
II Turned Up
Unexpectedly
By DONALD CHAMBERLlN


pends upon him
n one desires to get an idea OF the
xorkines OF the photographing OF
n,sy. let him visit studio while the
WORK il going on. He sees men. WON
an and children lounging about wait
ing their turn to enact their parts
SINE are arranged before the camern.
, court scene. love part. murder.
ANYTHING. everything thar pertains to
,Iviiized, even savage life. ON land. on
the water. In the air. Is put on the
ulms before the wondering beholder
A woman Is gaping In abandon while
waiting to be princess before the
camera. A peasant girl Is complain
,nr that she Is tired to death"-for
rho work is dreadfuily wearying-and
she must In few minutes be skipping
about as happy NJ newly nedged
blr, This Is behind the scenes Of the
movies.
How different from the picture pass
Inc smoothly before the eyes OF an au
d,ence seated In comfortable chairs In
the theaier.
IL 4 this multiplication of matters
needing attention that leads managers
OF studios to hedge themselves In he
hind closed doors and forbidden to any
one until the name has been sent In on
a slip OF paper Sitting the nature OF
the callers business. And n some un
known person desires to see him Ia
submit picture play he sends word
TO leave II and II will be examined
II then goes on TO the tile of hundreds
of other plays 30 take Its turn AMI
USUALLY be returned after weary wait
ing on the pari nf the nuthor
Having given. I trust. the reader
some faint idea 81 my multifario,i>
duties will tell nv story
One morning when I 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. listened The voice that
came over the wire was that OF Won
an and WIS soft and sweet
lis This Mr.. Collamorer'
YES: I'm Mr.. Collamore.''
i've Just finished picture play. and
would Ike IL have a few minutes
conversation with you about IT.
Leave II In the office. or send II h.,
mail aud II will receive attention
Thank you very much t;oodby"
was surprised nj being able Ia
throw the party of No easily aud con
graduated myself at having done 50.
then turned To my dali, souriuc The
next morning there was another eaii
al the phone
MIR. ColIamore. I have some morr
information 10 give you about rhai
matter Of which we were talking ycs
terday and viii call on you ut O'clock
this afternoon. Goodby."
Who are you. plesser'
Miss Weatherby.''
Hearing click l knew there WINS
no Use trying to ind out WIN Miss
Weaiherhy WIS did not remember
ANY conversation with any sncts lsf
sou. but tUnclnded that | had neglect
ed To take down the name inasmuch
as she had been admitted and had
talked with me. what she had 10 com
municate must be OF some importance
AT any rate. when she was announced
In Tue afternoon gave an order for
Der ndmittance. A very pretty youn.
woman was ushered In. who seated
herself In The chair beside my ,les..
With as much sang froid as II she had
night to r"m-in there M long us shs.
chose
Let me see." ! said to her. what
was the business we were discussing
yesterday morninet don't quite re
call H."
Il told you that had picture
play"
Now | knew who Miss Wetherby
was Unable 10 get at me In the regu
'ar way. she had resorted to the teie
phone 10 make an appointment-a very
snfewd device. However. she had sue
ceeded In passing my guard and there
was nothing to do but listen to what
sne had to say. This was brief and TO
Tue point She asked the to read her
scenario myself told her that II
was Impossible for me to read all the
pays that came into the studio. to
winch she replied that she did not
wish me to read all the plays. she
would be satisfied II I would read bers
cue would not leave without the prom.
'se' and ! was obliged to give 1t. Then
sne handed me her manuscript and de
ihrted without word
u was evident that the girl was
not only bright. but had the good
sense to understand that her play
would stand by itself and she need
NOT bore me by telling about its strong
points. ] am a man of my word and
determined to keep my pledge to her.
!. put the scenario In my pocket. IN
lending to glance over II on my way
nome. live in suburb and go home
~ rail. When on the train would
nave abundant opportunity to do 90.
mat evening when went home I
Id