The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-28
A LOST
PICTURE PLAY
1t Turned Up
Unexpectedly
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN


am the manager Of q moving pic
ture studio. What Is a manager Of a
movie studio? Only he who has been
such knows. Success or failure de-
pends upon him.
II one desires to get an idea of the
workings of the photographing of
plays let him visit studio while the
work is going on. He sees men. wom-
en- and children lounging about wait
ing their turn to enact their parts.
Some are arranged before the camera.
A court scene, a love part. a murder,
anything, everything that pertains to
civilized, even savage life, on land, on
She water, in the air. is put on the
films before the wondering beholder.
A woman is gaping in abandon while
waiting to be 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 few minutes be skipping
about as happy as a newly fiedged
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 comforta BILE 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
the callers business. And If some un-
known person desires to see him to
submit picture play he sends word
to leave it and it will be examined.
1t then goes on to the file of hundreds
of other plays to take its turn and
(usually) be returned after weary wait,
ing on the part Of the author.
Having given. trust. the reader
some faint idea of my muitifarious
duties I will tell my story.
One morning when sat down to my
desk, feeling somewhat rested from
the work Of the day before, there came
call at the telephone. Taking up the
ACSCNCA, llSttutu ue NOICe
came over the wire was that of a wom-
an and was soft and sweet
''1s this Mr.. Collamore?'
"Yes; I'm Mr.. Collamore."
1--WE just finished picture play. and
l would like to have few minutes
conversation with you about it,
Leave it in the office, or send it by
' mail, and 1t 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.
"Mr. 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 3 o'clock
this afternoon. Goodby."
who are you. please?"
Miss Weatherby"
Hearing click I knew there was
no use trying to find out who Miss
Weatherby was. | 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
municate must be of some Importance.
At any rate, when she was announced
In the afternoon l gave an order for
her admittance. A very pretty young
woman was ushered in, who seated
herself in the chair beside my desk
with as much sang frOid as II she had
a right to remain there as long as she
chose.
Let me see," l said to her What
was the business we were discussing
yesterday morning? ! don't quite re-
call it,
II told you that | had a picture
play"
Now l 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
ceeded 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. l 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
wish me to read all the plays. she
would be satisfied If would read hers.
She would not leave without the prom
ise. and | was obliged to give It. Then
she handed me her manuscript and de-
parted without word.
1t 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 man of my word and
determined to keep my pledge to her.
l put the scenario in my pocket. In
tending to glance over it on my way
home. live in suburb and go home
by rail. When on the train l would
have abundant opportunity to do 30.
That evening when / went home [
was loaded down-a common condi-
ton of commuters-with parcels. On