Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-02
YES, WILLIAM FARNUM
LEADS DOUBLE LIFE
Actor in American Methods" at
Imperial Next Week, Con-
ducts Orchestra

Another accomplishment has been added
to the long list of things which william
Farnum can do. The William Fox star.
who will be seen at the Imperial the first
two days Of next week in a new photo.
drama, American Methods" has proved
that he can direct a twelve-piece orchestra
and, what is more, that he can direct It
Two Cities" was running at Mllers Thea.
tre, in Los Angeles, Mr.. Farnum himself
led the musicians on one night
The management OF the theatre had made
arrangements for a special orchestra to
assist in the showing of "A Tale of Two
Cities Mr.. Farnum was there the open.
ing night. He was dissatisfied with the
music. At times when it should have been
forte it was pianissimo and when it was
pianissimC it should have been fortissimO
All day the star worried over the situation.
He took off day from work at the studio
to have special conference with the leader
of the theatre. Then he sat and listened
while the picture was run through again
The playing was still poorer than he wanted
There was only one recourse and he took
that. When the first evening show began
| Mr.. Farnum crept noiselessly behind the
screen and into the orchestra pit. There HI
assumed the directors place and baton an
began the overture. The regular conducto
stood just behind him and made mental
notes of the Fox stars work.
Then, when the picture was completed, he
once more took his station and directed
at the next showing This time Mr.. Far.
mum saw that the score was conducted In
accordance with the changes he had made
| William Fox who was present, avowed that
the playing had been improved 100 per
| cent
Music hath charms" said the poet.
TT certainly hath" every director at
| the William Fox Studios will agree.
For, whether you know it or not, it 10
| true that an orchestra plays at each Of
! the Fox plants while virtually all of the
| scenes are being filmed.
The music is there because thorough
! going tests proved the efficiency of cadenoe.
| 1t was found that the players worked much
! more easily and that the tedium and con-
! stant strain were relieved greatly by the
! presence Of a small group of musicians.
After the experiment on the introduction
| Of music into the photoplay studio was over
even before definite results were known
the members of William FoX's large or
| ganzation voted almost without exception
| for it's continuance.
| Those who have not been i'm the sllenI
drama for any great time declare that the
SUN NpHtH VI lllt Two NlOllllS anu Nlt b'p
! bass violin-of which these orchestras gen
| orally consst-he,p them immensely II
avoiding that most grevious fault in be-
gnners; staring at the camera.
The music played is of the utmost
democracy" chiefly because Of the methods
used in screening a picture Scenes laid
in one room are taken consecutively by the
director, regardless of the order in which
| they appear i'm the finished product. THIS
makes it necessary to skip back and forth
| in the scenario.
Consequently, in filming a script dra'
matte values change more rapidly than thu
| weather. These shifts, in turn, are re-
| hected I'm the music, which is always ap
| propriate to the situation being enacted
a sample program of an orchestTa's after
| noon at the studio would read like a musica
meange. 1t would be not in the least un
usual for instance to have in succession
| bits from La Boheme," "Ragging thu
Scale" THE Maiden's Prayer" Aloha
| Waltz" and "I Nespri Siciliani."
Every one realizes what an exceptions
appeal music makes to the emotions becaus'
| II stirs deeply. It is this appeal which Il
obtained in producing a pictureplay at th'
| William Fox studios.