davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
SIDELIGHTS ON
LIFE ON THE STAGE
Anecdotes, History, and a Lit
tie Fiction Told of and
by Actors.

As long as "Ben-Hur" has been
and betterment of the world the facts
regarding its stage presentation have
never yet been made known to the
public.
When Klaw & Eerlanger, in asso-
citation with Joseph Brooks, planned
for the dramatization of this amazing
book that had enthralled millions
with its divine message, the author,
Gen. Lew Wallace, had serious doubts
regarding the possibility OF clothing
II in such shape as to make dramatic
entertainment and at the same time
retain its dignity and seriousness OF
purpose.
So he was made the deciding censor
dramatic work should be given to the
world. To get a good dramatist was
the first consideration.
The one American dramatist whose
accomplishments as a classic play
wright fitted him for this important
task was William Young, who at that
time was in the public eye as the
author of "Pendragon" and "Ganelon,"
written for the late Lawrence Bar
rett, as well as ''The Rajah."
Before signing a contract Mr.. Young
asked for ana was given a week for
consideration to determine whether
or not he could get a scenario from
the book that would fully satisfy him.
At the end OF a week he submitted to
Klaw & Erlanger this scenario COM
plete in every detail, giving not only
the principal situations, but the minor
ones as well, and in fact every step
of the play down to the entrances and
exeunts OF all the characters, with
the substance OF what each would
have to say at each particular mo-
ment.
All that was left was to clothe the
skeleton with words, and many of the
speeches. as they are given today ap-
peared in this scenario.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
FARRAR FILM COMING
Joan the woihan" Ushers in the
Five Dollar Movie.

The great historical spectacle, Joan
the Woman" with Miss Geraldine
Farrar, will be Presented b1washing.
ton at a single performance on Tues.
day; February 13, $50 p. m, at the
Edison Bradley residence, on Dupont
Circle. The performance is to be for
the benefit of the Noel Settlement
House, and is in charge OF a commit.
tee headed by Mrs. H. c. Perkins and
Mrs. NJ. NJ. Macomb. The ADMISSION
will be S5.
Jesse L. Lasky, producer of Joan"
has donated the use of the film for
the showing, and Mr.. Bradley has
given the use. Of the hall in his home.
1t will be possible to accommodate an
audience of about 600.
Miss Farrar plays the role OF Joan
Of Arc, and scores one of her greatest
successes. Among her support are
Wallace Reid, who played opposite
her in Carmen" Theodore Roberts,
Tully Marshall, and Hobart Bos-
worth. Cecil B. De Mile was the d.
rector The picture has been playing
in New York since Christmas Day,
but In no other city save Los Angeles
has IT been shown to the public.
In order to insure perfect presenta-
tion in the way Of musical accompani-
ment and projection, a specially train
ed orchestra and operator from the
Forty-fourth Street Theater, in New
York, will be sent down with the pic
ture. The stage arrangements and
decorations will be in charge of
George Mann Of the Paramount Pic
lures Corporation.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
NEWMAN ON KOREA

Z. N. Newman has prepared a rare
novelty in Korea" the fourth. Trav.
eltalk Of his Oriental series to be
given at the Belasco Theater tonight
and tomorrow afternoon. In the
expert travaer's pleasing comprehen.
sive narrative and throughout his ex
qusite color views, will be seen the
sphere of Japanese influence in the
Far Feast today.
In this portion of Mr. Newman's
thirty thousand-mile journey, Seoul
The Hermit Kingdoms quaint capi.
tai is visited.
A visit will be made to Tsingtao. a
city made beautiful and prosperous
by Germany--now in the hands of the
japanese. Tsingtao, the Berlin of the
Orient is startling feature of this
journey. Dalny, Port Arthur and
Fusan are also to be seen in this
section Of the thirty thousand mile
journey.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
BeIa.eo-se,en CHANGES.

David Belasco will present Roi
Cooper Megrue's new comedy, Seven
Chances" after its six months run at
the Belasco and George NJ. Cohan The
aters, New York, at the Belasco The
ater next week.
One Of the few real successes Of the
season in New York, Seven. Chances"
treats in a clean and wholesome man
ner the predicament Of a young bache-
lor and confirmed woman-hater who
finds himself heir presumpt1ous to .
large fortune on the condition that
he marry before his thirtieth birthday,
which occurs on the morrow. How
seven girls refuse him and how he al
most loses the fortune before he finds
the right one, is told in a manner that
never allows the interest to falter
from the first to the final curtain. The
play opened in Washington last sea
son under the title Of The Lucky Eel
low"
As Is customary with all his produe-
tions, Mr.. Belasco Is sending the en-
tire original cast here, headed by
Frank Craven and Carroll McComas In
the leading roles. The other mem
bers OF the company include John But
Ter, Harry Leighton, Haywood CHM.
Charles Brokate, Frank Morgan, Lee
Metford, Beverly West, Marion Alb
bott, Gladys Knorr. Florence Deshon,
Alice Carroll and Emily Galloway.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
moTET CHORAL SOCIETY.

The Motet Choral Society. OF Wash
ington. d. C.. under the direction of
Otto T. Simon, will give its first con-
cert Of the eighth season on Wednes-
day evening, February 7. in the New
Willard ballroom. introducing in its
program a group OF musical compo-
sitions. which will be combined with
the art of mobile color. thrown upon
a screen.
The color scheme to be presented
in the three numbers on the program
Dawn. The Evening STAR and
"Night-an with unusual texts-are
taken from nature. and from the
ideas OF spiritual symbolism.
Mr.. Lewis Darlington, whose SYM
pathetic color temperament has made
possible this venture I'm music with
color will present the color motif
which Mr.. Simon has in mind for
these works.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Nat Goodwin Tells of
His Early Days.

Nat Goodwin had his unpleasant
years at frst just like every one
else.
He confesses to particularly hard
times in 1875. But he doesn't mind
reminiscing now. He says:
During the seasons of 1875 and
1876 found 1t difficult to secure any
employment whatever. Variety bust
ness. now called vaudeville. had be-
gun to supplant the Legitimate in the
estimation OF the masses, and /, be-
ing rather an astute observer for a
youngster. determined to turn my at
tention in that direction. Salaries
offered by the late B. F.. Keith and
rival managers were tempting, and
the opportunities OF advertising ones
ability much greater than in the legit:-
mate. / persuaded my father to ad-
vance me enough money to have
some costumes prepared, and sue
ceeded in Inducing one Bradford to
prepare a sketch for me. 1t was
called His First Rehearsal and IL
cost me altogether $500, as sketches
in those days cost small fortunes.
81 succeeded in. procuring an open
ing at the Howard Athenaeum, IN
der the management of John Stetson.
Ny associates appearing in the same
program were Gus Williams, Sol
Smith Russell. Pat Rooney, sr., Dem
man Thompson and several others
who afterward became famous play
ers. 1 was handicapped to a great
extent by this competition, and my
success was not very fattering until
about the end OF the week, when I
gained more confidence and my meth
ods were a bit surer. On the SatuT-
day night OF my engagement Brad
ford, author OF the sketch, brought
a friend OF his, Clay Greene, to his
protege. That evening, fortunately
for me, my sketch went particularly
we'll. Years after Mr.. Greene wrote
a long poetical tribute, tardy but
appreciated testimony to my nrst
vaudeville appearance"
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Symphony socIety-February :.

The Symphony Society OF New
York, Walter Damrosch conductor,
will give its last concert OF the se-
ries In Washington at the Belasco
Theater next Wednesday, February
of courtesy to Mr.. Damrosch, will
give the midweek matinee OF Alias"
on Thursday instead OF Wednesday,
the usual day
The program consists of Brahms
symphony in c minor. No. l Chopin's
concerto for piano and orchestra in
T. minor, which will be played BY
Josef Hoffman,, and the introduction
and march from Rimsky-Korsadoff' 3
fantastic opera, lie Coo dor"
The year before his death. in 1908.
Rimsky KoTsakoff finished his last
opera, The Golden Cock" The pro-
ductlon of this work was not sane
toned by the censor, and II is said
that this disappointment helped hast
en- the composers end. In the intro
duction the astrologer appears to as
sure the audience that although the
opera is
"a fairy tale. not solid truth,
1t holds a moral good for youth"
The march is written for a pro-
cession in the third act. when the
king and queen enter the capital,
followed by giants, dwarfs and black
slaves. The music is sympathetic
with the gIittering, bizarre and bar
barrie procession that suggests the
Arabian Nights.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Gayetyi Fred Irwin's
Majestlcs.. Burlesque.

With Florence Bennett heading the
cast, Fred Irwin's Majestics will play
its annual weekly engagement at the
Gayety Theater commencing with
performances at and p. m. today.
Entirely new, with the exception
OF the name, the production repre-
sents the last word in modern bur-
lesque offerings and has been staged
in sixteen elaborate scenes.
Paul Cunningham, composer, IS re-
sponsible for both the book and lyrics
and still further demonstrates his
versatility by taking a prominent
part in the cast.
The major portion of the second act
is laid in Hawaii and Nardine Gray, q
Hawaiian dancer, leads twenty cory
phees through the seductive dances Of
the South Sea isles.
Specialties to be introduced Incl
dentally are: Bennett and Cunning
ham, in "a Song Writer in Songland: :"
Doc Dell, in eccentric dancing; Keit
and De Mont, in college Nonsense"
and Lay Pyne and Emery, in "In
Froglsnd." Musical numbers include
the following; "Dancing;to a ulxa1aIe
Band" Much Obliged Broad,say5S'
Reducing Rag" and "snowbaIiing."
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Hear! Hear! Another
Film Romance Rumor.

Money Magic" at the Garden The
ater this week, marks the culmina-
tion of q charming little filmdom ro-
nance and the reunion before the
camera of Edith Storey and Antonio
Moreno. About a year and a half ago
they were co-stars in THE Island of
Regeneration" which established
them In the front ranks OF photo
players. During the filming of the
bathing scene in this production Miss
Storey ventured too far into deep wa
ter, and was heroicaIly rescued by
Mr.. Moreno as she was about to sink
for the third time. This incident led
to their better acquaintance, and each
morning and afternoon Miss Storey
arrived and left the Vitagraph Studio
with Mr.. Moreno in his car.
Cupid seemed to be having things
all his own way, but just then Miss
Storey was detailed by the studio
manager to work with another star.
and she was sent to far-on Los An
geles. Mr.. Moreno continued work
ing at the Flatbush studios, and the
little car came and went daily, but
its only passenger was its owner.
Nine weeks ago Miss Storey was
recalled from the West and at the
hour OF her arrival in New York the
little old car was chug-chugging in
front of the station, again waiting
for its fair erstwhile passenger.
Next day Money Magic" was put
into rehearsal, with Antonio Moreno
and Edith Story in the leading roles,
and every day the two stars came and
went in the same old car. It's been
nicknamed "Cupid's Car" and II is
rumored that the wedding bells will
soon chime for Its two devoted pas
sengers.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
David BeIaseo Thinks There
Are Too Many Theaters.

The languishing drama has been
diagnosed by many notabIes, but only
one, David Belasco, lays the indis-
position to the theaters themselves.
The present overabundance Of
theaters is very bad for the play
wright, for 1t drives away any a.
tempt for serious WORK. he says.
The playwright nowadays scarcely
exists in the real sense Of the word.
for he does what is easiest and
quickest. Nine-tenths of the so-oalled
plays are not plays at all. There is
precious little dramatic art to them.
They are simply tumble of a little
cheap-witted dialogue, some girls and
some music.
"It is not because these young
playwrights may not be capable Cf
better work, but because there are so
many stages to supply that the writ
ers rush their work and 60 on the
principle OF quantity, rather than
quality.
1T was different in the days of
Augustin DAILY, A. N. Palmer and
managers OF that class. The author
then really amounted to something.
He was held responsible for the play.
about as much to do with 1t as the
author. This condition is stultifying
to dramatic authorship. One big sue
cess is financially as we'll as artisti-
cally worth ten times as much to an
author as half q dozen of these pres
ent half-hearted, forced productions
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Nat1onaI-sBen-HuF,c
Spectacle Play.

-'Ben-Hur," the stage transcript of
Gen. Lew WalIace's famous romance,
viii be presented at the New National
Theater, Washington, for limited en-
Eagement of one week, beginning to-
morrow, Monday, February 3.
No play has ever achieved the popu-
lar success OF "Ben-Hur" The word
picture of the chariot race is one Of
the most moving descriptions in Eng
Iish literature. To have the actually
of the story happen on a stage plat
form with anything like a stirring eff
feet seemed almost impossible until
KIaw & ErIanger devised a mechan-
ical way Of bringing II about.
The illusion OF the race Is secured
by the employment Of a device con-
tanning the treadmill principle.
Treadmllls, one FOR each horse, are
built into the stage. They have a run
ming surface of selected hickory Stats
two inches wide, with enough space
between TO permit them to run easily
and accurately over the framework.
The stats move over ,56s small ball
bearing, rubber-tired wheels, to a
larger wheel eight inches in diameter
at either end
"Ben-Hur" received its original pre-
sentiment at the Broadway Theater, in
New York, on November 20, 1899, and
its success was unparalleled. II has
been given in New York at different
times since then, at the New York
Theater. Academy OF Music. and New
Amsterdam Theater, and this season
at the Manhattan Opera House, where
its drawing powers were just as great
as ever.
No other play written within the
century and presented continuously
a the principal theaters OF the United
states and Great Britain has survived
such heroic test OF time.
The cast to be seen in the produc-
tion OF "Ben-Hur" here includes A. II.
VanBuren, as Ben-Hur; Arthur Chat
terton. as Massala: Leander de Cor
doVa, as Simonidesi Leslie Stowe, as
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Bo,ton symphony-Februnry I3.

There will be no soloist at the
fourth concert OF the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra, in the New National
Theater Tuesday afternoon, Febru-
airy IS.
This absence OF a soloist enables
DIR. Muck to give a program OF much
wider variety and greater charm than
is always possible when a half hour
of the time is taken up by a pianist,
a yioIinist or II singer
The program is one of unusual
beauty. 1t comprises Beethoven's
ever lovely Eighth symphony" Sine
tana's brilliant overture to THE Sold
Bride" Debussy's exquisite THE Aft
crnoon of a Faun," and finally Rich
ard Strauss tone poem. Don Juan"
The length of the program will Be
about an hour and forty minutes.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04

tured on the screen at Moore's Garden
Theater today, Monday and Tuesday,
| in a picturization of Hamlin Garland's s
vivid and dramatic novel, Money
Magic"
| A woman who marries a hopeless
invalid out of gratitude and for the
comforts his great fortune would give
her, finds herself little more than
| a nurse.
Then into her life come youth and
| love in the form of a younger man,
but like her, he is bound in honor to
his betrothed, a frail. weak girl, who
is nearing the close of her brief day.
To the fnvalids comes the realization
that those they love are being drawn
into a maelstrom that means destruc-
ton.
To the young wife and the young
man come the realization of the hope
lessness of their love. The sacrifices.
the self-deniaIs that set Alright these
tangled threads, provide Money Mag
ic" with many powerful, gripping
seenes, and keep the interest at fever
heat from start to finish.
On Wednesday and Thursday Bes-
sic LOVE- and Elmer Clifton Will be
seen In Nina. the Flower Girl" 1t
is a love story concerning Nina, the
little blind flower girl, and Jimmie,
a crippled newsboy, whom she be-
lieves to be as straight and strong as
Apollo.
Jimmie's Joy is mixed with grief
when he learns that Nina Is going to
be able to See him, but before that
time comes, the doctors have removed
his deformity as well as her sightless-
ness.
Dorothy Gish will be featured on
Friday and Saturday in The Little
Yank," using the late civil strdggie
merely as a background. Miss Gish
appears as a border girl. torn between
loyalty to the Union and love Tor a
Southern officer. Other pictures wiz
be shown daily and special muslcaI
accompaniments will be rendered by
the Garden Symphony Orchestra
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
stFand-ssFemhle OF
The Species" Films.

The specIes.- Films.
"The Female of the Species" love
drama of New York and Arizona, with
Dorothy Dalton, Howard Hickman
and Enid Markey as it's stars, will be
the head-liner attraction at Moore's
Strand Theater today, Monday. and
Tuesday. It is a forceful story OF an
uneven struggle waged by a beauty
of Bohemia against a lily of the ball
room, with a good mans love weighed
in the balance.
Miss Dalton appears as new type
Of siren, a Queen of New York's Bo-
hemian set, whom fate aids In playing
havoc with another woman's domestic
affairs.
william Desmond, Margaret Thomp-
SON, and Robert McKim will be seen
on Wednesday and Thursday in a new
mystery drama, "The Iced Bullet"
The piece derives its odd title from a
contriyance used by the villain OF the
play within a play 20 assassinate his
guardian while he Is several hundred
miles away.
The early part of the picture, deal
ing with a series OF adventures in and
about the Ince studios. 10 extremely
interesting, and gives many fascinat-
ing details OF picture making. Mr..
Desmond plays a dual role along the
same general lines made famous by
Douglas Fairbanks.
On Friday and Saturday Viola
Dana will grace the screen in
Threads of Fate"
This photoplay is built around the
eyer-increasing struggle between Ia
Dor and capital. Other pictures will
be shown daily and special musical ac-
compartments will be rendered by the
Strand Symphony Orchestra.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
ATTRACTIONS DUE 3
HERE NEXT WEEK
Attractions to Be Seen at Play
houses In the Near
Future.

Blanche Bates will be presented In
new play. entitled Eleven p. NJ"
by Paul VI. Potter, beginning Mon
day. February H. This new comedy
has been written especially for Miss
Bates. who has been seen only IN
emotional drama for the past few
years. when she was under the man
agement OF David BeiaSco and Charles
Frohman. Miss Bates will be sup
ported by an all-star cast, which in
cludes Wilton Lackaye. Frederick
Perry, Charles Hammond. Jehriss
Lewis, Thomas J. McGrane, Charles
Butler, Louise Mcintosh. Janet TraV
ers, J. II. Barnes Ford Fenimore,
Marie Ascargo, Ferika Boros and q
number Of others.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
B. r. Keith's, Nat Goodwin.
Vaudeville.

Vaudeville.
Nat c, Goodwin will for the sec
ond time in his career, greet vaude-
vile patrons at the B. F.. Keith
Theater this week. 4
Mr.. Goodwin gives an assortment of
limitations, recitations, and remfnis-
censes-
Included among these Y ipanny
From -The Skating Rink zone of
Mr.. Goodwin's earliest hits, to shy
lock" in Shakespeare's wonderful
play, one OF his greatest achieve
ments, and returning TO mono1og, his
present effort, is a far cry.
James B. Carson, the nimble witted,
agile footed comedian, who added so
much to the life and laughter Of
"The Red Heads" is again golden
spurred as a star in The Models
Abroad" which will be the added at
traction.
Mr.. Carson perpetuates In this new
production, his former part OF Jacob
Kaufman, the buyer. The plot turns
upon present war complications,
which cause Jacob and his musical
and merry conspirators to adventure
abroad.
The third feature will be Dolly
Connolly, in new songs by Percy Wen
rich, composer, Of the music of Julian
Eltinge's "The Crinoline Girl"
Mr.. Wenrich viii assist her at the
piano and also add several interludes.
The next important feature is Mrs.
Vernon Castle in the film "Patria."
This weeks episode is entitled
Double Crossed" Other offerings
introduce Arthur Sullivan with Ricca
Scott and company in "a Drawing
From Life" Joseph Fanton and COM
pany in "a Garden OF Surprises"
Helene Davis in Past and Present.
and the pipe organ recitals.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
Josef Hofmann-A
Wonder Child Who Succeeded.

Born in Cracow in 1877, Josef Hof-
mann spent the early years of his
life in Chopin's native town, Warsaw,
where his father was conductor OF
the opera. At the age of six the
wonder child" appeared in public:
and, in 1887, when only ten. he gave
ifty-two concerts in America. He
broke down under the strain, and
after being restored to health he
studied under Rubinstein.
He made a new debut in Dresden in
1894, and later toured Europe and
America. Hotmann's friendship with
Mr.. Damrosch dates from 1887, when
Mr.. Damrosch gave the little Polish
boy a theme to improvise at one OF
his concerts in New York.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
LOew's ColumbIai. Each to
His Kind" Films.

The lure and mystery of India has
been slightly touched in screen
drama In Each To His Kind"
which IL the feature photoplay at
Loew's Columbia today and continuing
until Thursday, with Sessue Haya-
kawa, the noted japanese actor, as
the pictured star this exotic and fas-
cinating atmosphere Is introduced
with the added dramatic value Of
scenic contrast in England, as well
as India.
At the deathbed OF his father. the
Maharajah, the young Oxford-bred
prince, Rhandah, swears vengeance
upon the English in India. His first
move is to imprison British cOlonists,
among whom are Amy DAVE. whom
the young ruler had met in England,
and Dick Larimef, her sweetheart
As aspirant to the throne, Mulai
Singh, tries to incite Nadah, Il girl Of
native blood, who loves RhandAh, to
kill the youthful MaharaJah by show
ing her a snapshot OF Rhandaha and
Amy sitting together.
Instead, the East Indian girl at
tempts to assassinate Amy, a prisoner
in Rhandah's palace. She comes upon
the two when the prince is making
advances TO the English girl. Amy is
willing to do anything TO save Dick
Nadah overhears the conversation.
and realizing that neither Amy nor
Rhandah love each other. intercedes
for the young British prisoners.
BY their release both couples find
happiness.
Beginning Thursday and for the
last half OF the week Lenore UIrich
will be seen as the star of the fea-
ture photoplay, Her Own People"
In this production Miss UIrich is seen
as Alona, the daughter sof a wealthy
society man, and the Indian wife
whom he married after renouncing
his own society following an unfor-
tunate love affair.
The Washington times., 1917-02-04
CONCERTS FOR CAPITAL
Musical Treats Provided for Resi-
dents and Visitors.

At the New National Theater next
Tuesday afternoon the Philadelphia
Orchestra under the leadership of
Leopold Stokowski will give the
fourth concert OF its Washington Sc
ries with Elena Gerhardt as the So
loist.
Schubert's Die Allmacht" and
three songs by Richard Wagner,
'Stehe STILL" "Traume," and "Schmer-
zen." will be sung by Miss Gerhardt.
The concert opens with the MAN
fred" overture OF Schumann, a tonal
picture OF Byron's gloomy hero: the
symphony is italian" of Mendels-
sohn. and the concluding number is
Richard Strauss magnificent tone
poem, Tod und Vepklarung."