Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-14

our opinion of he pI,2'. I'2l6rC moving
on to Manhattan. Florenz Ziegfeld
brought his first venture in the lcgiti-
mate field. BY Pigeon Post" here for
criticism and advice before going 10
New York. and now we are about 20 he
asked to lool; over another, the klaw &
Erlanger musical. comedy. The Velvet
Lady" which is to have its premiere at
the Forrest Theatre Christmas week.
TT is gratifying to note the demise ol
/ so many fake schools which advcr-
tised themselves az stepping stones for
aspirants 10 the movie screen. ii Is
doubtful If there Is a firRt-class movie
player today who can trace his or her
success to school for motion-picture
acting It is not so however. with the
actors upon the spoken stage. because
many OF these players have attended |
reputable schools of dramatic expression.
The field is much larger,@n the talking
drama than in the sileIE one, with so
many companies out upon the road and
resident stock companies in most all the
cities As for the motion pictures, near
" all the Aims are made in California
and New York.
The better class, of motion-picture
producers do not go into the open mar
iiet for their scenarios. but have them
'.'rit.en by persons who are definitely
engaged for that work. or course,
scenario editor also Is employed in many
of the studios but the majority OF the
beter productions today come from the
cinema versions 'of plays which have
appeared upon the spoken stage. Column
bia University and several other reputa-
BILE collegek have classes in photoplay
writing and they are certain to be help
full, but It is well for the movie aspirant
to be wary of the advertisements which
promise much and give so aittle.
WYE HAVE had lbsen on the screen
w Elsie r. rguson having appeared IN
a creditable production of "A Dolls
Hou-e." bu' we're not likely to see any
Of Bernard Shaw's plays filmed. accord
ing to n reply the noted lrishman maze
TO a motion-Dcture magnate VINO sug-
cested that he be permitted to put
"John Bulls Other Island and Major
Barbara" into photoplay form. Shaw
wrote: g..
"As YOU may imagine. I have gone
into that pretty thoroughly. Result:
None-of my plays may be filmed. Fllm-
ing kills play stone dead, ana shouIa
therefore be applied to the corpses OF
plays that have had their. run. Mine
are immortal. Thanks all the same for
the suggestion -,
Typical OF the man. isn't ii
yv,HE srcond release of the Betzwood
Film Company. Philadelphia cor
noration, will be "Oh. Johnny in whlcn
Louis Bennison makes his bow as a
motion-picture actor at the Victoria
Theatre. December 23. The Betzwood
company recently put forward its hrst
film in For the Freedom OF the East,
IN which Lady Tsen Mel. the Chinese
n,otion-p'cture actress. held the leading
role Since then these Philadelphia
PRODUCERS have been concentrating on
preparations for the Introduction OF
new star.
Bennisou. who is under contract to
onnear in a serias of six Redwood Aims.
Waved the leading role last season In
the stage play, Johnny Get Your Gun
which had extended runs in Pacific
coast cities He possesses winning
smile and is said TO be capable de-
liueator OF the role Of the typical COW
puncher
THE committee on public informations
war films were designed to tell a
n-osressiye story. Their first official
rictures. "Pershings Crusaders" and
{ "Amer'ca's Answer" impaired a COM
prehensive idea of the tremendous scale
on which America was preparing 20 take
more active participation In the war.
Now the third flm Under Four
Flags" which will have its first show
: ing in Philadelphia at the Stanley
Theatre next week. depicts the results
r OF those extensive preparations bv show
ing the American soldiers in the heat
g of battle alongside their Allies.
} yEYHAT Is declared to be the short
w est feature. film on record is one in
which Mrs Charlie Chaplin is the star
The film is precisely twenty feet long
: is composed of one scene and requires
: only a few seconds for projection on
the screen This feature. In fact is
merely a short clipping taken out OF
a the production Borrowed Clothes and
y shows only Mos. Chaplin. Exhibitors un-
e able TO get at once the main film OF
any other featuring Mrs. Chaplin, Were
e anxious TO show simply the picture OF
n her IN twenty feet. to satisfy thu
: curiosity of patrons wishing TO see thu
n bride of the famous Charlie
''Too Many Millions" in which Wal
: lace Reid will appear at the Arcadia
! next week, was adapted by Gardne
Il Hunting from Porter Emerson Brownei
8 novel, Someone and Somebody" Al
= for Hunting, he has a reputation as I
q skilled writer of screen stories. amonl
2. which can be mentioned THE Petticoa
d Pilot" which served as vehicle 10
i Vivian Martin. and "The Varmlnt." Ii
n which Jack Pickford was starred.
10 Something new In the serial line will
y be put on at the Regent beginning De
y cember 80 when HoudinI, the handcuf
e magician, will appear in the first cpl
r sode of THE Master Mystery" o
i course, the story will be intersperse
e with many a situation In which Hou
s. dinrs trickery win be brought into play
!, The historic Walnut Street Theatre
4 having just had IL irst taste Of IN