Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-03
Career of Ralph w. Ince
Full Of Pep and Punch
Director of The Argyle Case" Coming to ths
Arcadia Has Adventured Into Many Byways
of the Movie Game-A Famous Lincoln

romance. Especially is this true Of these
last ten years. during which time the versa. .
tile son OF John f. and Emma Brennan
1nce--themselves well-known stage folk Of
a generation ago--has been aiding mate-
rally in the elevation OF the motion picture.
Had IL not been for Thomas Edison II IL
probable that the youngest of the thre4
lnce brothers would have been a 'matinee
idol' today lie was well on his way toward
that distinction when Mr.. Edison perfected
his "kinetoscope," thus altering the destinies
of several millions Of persons One of these
dcstinies happened 70 belong to Ralph w.
Ince.
Born in 1887, in Boston, young Ince very
soon gave evidence OF having inherited his .
parents histrionic ability. Before he
reached the voting age he had played for
season in the company of that severe
taskmaster, the late Richard Mansfield, and
achieved popularity and success in the pro-
ductions of Ben Hur" and "The College
Widow"
Then came Mr.. Edson's new-fangied
method of entertaining the public without
having TO travel all over the face of nature
or recte the same old lines night after
night. Mr.. Ince, inherently lover Of
home" saw his opportunity Forthwith
he Joined the forces of what is now the
Vitagraph Company Of America, and began
a successful career in filmdom
In those days tho average screen story
was told in one reel or less---had to be- the
managers beieved-and one person played
from three to six parts in each production.
The "Cut-back," dissolve" vision" and
double exposure" were unknown. Holly
wood. Cal, was a pretty little infant, asleep
in its cradle midway between Los Angeles
and the ocean--dreaming, mayhap. of the
days when 1t was to become the capital city
of one of the worlds greatest pleasures
giving industries
lnce was prominent factor in the
metamorphoss Of the cinema cocoon. Under.
his capable direction two. three and five-reel
picture plays were produced and rendered
palatable for n public hungry for novelty.
In many of these, notably The Man Who
Knew Liucoln." Gettysburg" Lincoln the
Lover" and THE Seventh Son." he played
the leading roles. besides writing or assist
| ing in the writing of the scenarios and
| supervising the entire effort His imper-
| sonations of Abraham Lincoln have been
| pronounced by men who knew the martyred
| Chief Executive to he fine in their accuracy.
Among the great Vitagraph successes
which Ralph w. Ince supervised and di-
rected during his ten years connection with
that company were the following: "A Nil.
| lion Bid" "The Juggernaut 1.-The God
dess," THE Battle Hymn of the Republic .
| "The Mills of the Gods" 1.-The Sins Of the
| Mothers" my Lady's Slipper" 1.-THE De-
stroyers," "The Conflict" His wife's Good
| Name" "The Ninety and Nine" "The
| strength of Men" Shadows of the Pest
"A Painted World THE Awakening" /"
Back to Broadway" 1.-THE Freshet," -Four
| Thirteen" 1.-THE Vengeance of Durand,
"The Wreck" HE Never Knew" "A Reei
ment of Two" The Boob" "Mockery,'
| Wood Violet" and the Fatty" series fea.
turing Hughie Mack.
The new Selznick acquisition is a tall
well-proportioned young giant, with predi
| lection for all sorts OF strenuous athletics
| His favorite sports are tennis, bowling and
! yachting-but his pastime is work.