davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-04-06

for water with ice in it and enough
liquors mixed to make a cocktail in
stead of any single one separately. It
may be that there Ia already a popular
actress established as a star to whom
the leading role is suited. Then he
may take her. Otherwise he may seek
out this young woman or that who
seems to possess sufficient qualihca-
tons for such a role to be called the
star. SO Tottie Coughdrops is thus
promoted. II she is lucky enough to
have two or three other plays-pre-
Stunning of course that the first one is
a success-which show her to advan-
tage and are simultaneously liked by
the public Miss Tottie Is likely to be
thought Of as y we'll established star.
The Blight of the Failure.
drama follows another. She will SOON
be extinguished. There has not been
in the American theatre in a score of
years, II one except Maude Adams, an
actress who could by her talent and
her charm, her skill and her unusual
personality, hold her public when the
medium in which she appears is not T.
the taste Of theatregoers. On the other
hand, more or less mediocre actresses
have been able to sail along prosper
ously when they were fortunate
enough to find dramas that made "A
strong appeal to the public. So 1t is
after all the play that is the thing.
How About the Moving Picture
start
Does this same truth hold OF the
star Of the cinema? Most moving pic
ture scenarios. as they are called, are
SO incomprehensible, so generally silly
and fatuous, so far below the average
OF even the least intelligent dramatic
product. that II seems difficult to be-
lieve that quality should play any part
in them. 1t takes the trained observer
OF the cinema to mako anything out of
them. Intelligence is no aid in their
enjoyment. since they are not con-
structed along the lines that take in
telligence into consideration. There
must be pretty pictures, there must be
young and smiling girls--preferably
with curls-and there must be smiling
round faced youths also. with plenty of
white teeth. Occasional visitors to the
cinemas have usually found that these
ingredients supplied with sufficient
liberality, nothing else mattered at all.
Does the popular star OF the moving
picture require vehicle Of any special
character? Is she not as much ac-
claimed by her admirers in one as in
another? Does it, for instance, make
the slightest difference in what Mary
rickford acts? Or Pauline Frederick ?
Or Marguerite Clark? Or Theda Bara =?
Does not any arrangement OF scenes
which shows these pretty heroines to
advantage serve as wpil as another?
II Is fact that great cinema sue
The sun., 1919-04-06
Managers Problems
Multiply With
Passing of Days
When Players
Personal Oh arms
Sufficed in Movies
By LAWRENCE REAMER.

EUST the star OF the moving
Nj pictures also have the sure
- fire play? Nobody who
watches the careers OF the stage stars
in their orbits nowadays has any doubt
of the prevailing truth of Hamlet's
d!ctum that the plays the thing. Even
the most popular OF them are depend
ent on the playwrights as they never
were before. Look at the beloved
Ruth Chatterton IN Perkins" Laurette
Taylor accounted the actress with the
largest following to-day in THE Woo
iLg of Eve" or Marjorie Rambeau in
Where Poppies Bloom" They ara
examples of the importance of the
drama nowadays which are different
from those days in which only the
personality of the actress was suff1-
cient to mean success. The vehicle in
which her talents were exhibited never
counted in the past. How easy then
was the problem OF the manager as
well as the star,
He had only to select the actress
who by reason of her beauty or her
talent was ripe for the honors Of a
stars position. She could act what
ever appealed to her. It might be
East Lynne" or "Frou- Frou," or any
OF the old timers which showed what
she could do at its best. Or even the
Shakespearian repertoire was there
for the asking. Plays were easy to
get and the public, concentrating its
admiration on the actress, was not
troubled with questions as to the char
acter Of the play. II was the inter-
prefer who dominated the work. The
public turned out to see how her
Juliet or her GIberte or her Miss Mul-
ton compared with that Of her rival, or
may be her predecessor That was
tho age OF the stage Virtuosa. The
means by which she exhibited her
charm or her skill was less important
Indeed, 1t scarcely counted at all.
Troubles of the Managers To-day.
How different is the situation Of the
producer now. He cannot merely say
II will make Tottie Coughdrops a
star" and forthwith have that fact
accomplished. Far more important
than the beautiful blue eyes, tho crisp
yellow hair and the dimpled cheeks of
Miss Tottie Is the play in which she
will be seen. Having secured the SER
vices Of the lady. his work has only
lust begun. He must search until
he has found a play that will stand
the test of the public's approval in
spite OF the personal charms of the
young woman. Her genius may burn
and her smile fascinate In vain unless
the public likes the means by which
she Is enabled 10 reveal her talents. SO
It happens that the manufacture Of
the stars nowadays has changed.
Making the Luminaries To-day.
Now the method is likely 10 follow
these lines: Mr.. Manager is lucky
enough to come into posse ssion OF a
play. He thinks II is more or less sure
of success. Possibly 1t has already
met with success abroad. Then there
10 still less risk about the venture. He
looks over the horizon for a woman
who will be able 10 play the part well.
II he is wise manager he has learned
that the American public likes n popu-
lar actor or actress at the head OF a
play as the star. II llkes--and de-
rasnds indeed-good actors in the
other roles. But the American taste
il for q personality az the head OF a
company Just as the American taste Is
The sun., 1919-04-06

Can a motion picture actor, start
Ing from obscurity, rise to national
popularity in uniformly poor plays
or can an established star retain his
position II he INDUCES persstently in
that grade of productions? AS a corol-
larry to this, il would be perfectly
proper to ask whether a series of
uniformly powerful dramas could
make a great star out Of u player
with mediocre talents.
Bryant Washburn's experience is
case in point. Bryant is young
Chicagoan with the personality and
talent that make for success. But he
was In motion pictures for four years
before he raised a ripple on the cur
rent events simply because no one
had tho forethought to provide him
with good stories. When at last a
real chance to act wandered his way
the Paramount star made the most of
it. Now he is under contract TO make
Paramount pictures, a synonym for
good ones. and he is winning friends
as fast as they can get into the thea
tres where his pictures are shown.
Not So Easy to Fool the Public.
billie Burke made a reputation on
the stage so she needed no introduce
ton VIXEN she appeared on the screen.
But did that help her when she was
cast for the stellar role in Ewes
Daughter? Not bit Of 1t. In strik-
ing contrast. The Make Believe WIFE
was an instant hit So was In Pur-
sun Of Polly with all due respect
for the overworkcd nphorism about
fooling all the public some Of the time,
il can't he done in motion pictures.
Dorothy Dalton Is a sterling player
whom you might think was SO solid
~ established in the esteem of the
public that the mere fact that she was
cast for the leading role would be
all tina. was required 10 fill the house.
But tack her name TO a second rate
picture and you will soon find out
that her name counts for just moth
ing at all there. Exhibitors could
not make money with her 'Tyrant
Fear But fortunately for her and
for her managers. nearly all her pro-
auctions are like Love Me and The
Mating OF Marcella' and 'Qulcksand,'
which were splendid box office at
fractions.
Marguerite Clark may not be so
large as actresses who are larger than
she. But what she lacks in altitude
she more than makes up in popularity;
for she certainly does cast pretty
long shadow across the screen. People
are still talking about her in Wild
flower, The Amazons, Miss George
crs OF The same grade, Tut al that
counts for just nothing al all when she
inadvertently happens upon pictures
like 'Prunella.'
William S. Hart IS a name 10 con-
jure with. apparently. His Selfish
Yates and Riddle Gawne' turned EN-
The sun., 1919-04-06

What lot OF impossible situa-
tons! No girl would ever do things
like Mary did in that story
Nope, ] didn't care much for it.
Nothing to the story
The shrewd theatre manager
recognizes these signs instantly. He
knows that another star has struck
the 'toboggan' and is on the way out
of public favor. And remember, the
fans went to see Mary Pickford, with
out thought of the story. 1t has been
proven, times without number. that
there is no motion picture star OF the
past or present who ranks sufficiently
high In public favor TO carry to sue
cess a production handicapped with a
weak story, purchased cheap The
result-the next time Mary Pickford
appeared In any theatre where the
theoretical Runaway Who Stayed at
Home had been shown, the local popu-
lace would reflect that her previous
screen effort had been mediocre and
ordinary. and there would be many
who would stay at home or visit a
competing theatre rather than risk
another hour and n half OF common
and this despite the fact OF the asso-
citation OF Mary Pickfords name.
"One Of the most recent and illu-
minative examples of the value of a
good story is in the return to the
screen of Anita Stewart, after an alb
sence OF more than year She had
enjoyed an exceedingly large measure
OF popularity, but many events took
place in the twelvemonth and the pub
lie is quick to forget. Hence, when
she agreed to return to motion pic
lures in productions made by MIR.
Louis B. Mayer. a film magnate from
Boston, there was q great deal OF
speculation about the degree of popu-
larity she would be able to command
on the strength OF her work of year
before. Mr.. Mayer is a theatre owner
and has a keen appreciation of story
values. So to insure the greatest
measure OF protection for Miss Stewart
and himself he purchased the screen
rights to 'Virtuous Wives by Owen
Johnson, which, in book and magazine
form, had proven to be one OF the best
sellers OF the season. II cost him a
big sum, but the results have justi-
ned the expenditure.
The Three Essentials.
las contrast to the success OF
'Virtuous Wives with Miss Stewart
as the star is the experience OF an
other company in placing on the mar
ket. a short time after owen John
sons story had gone forth in screen
form, a production based on an UNI
known story and with an unknown
title, with Miss Stewart as the star.
This latter production was completed
more than a year ago. 1t did not
possess the merit OF big popular
story, but 1t was privileged to use
the name Of Miss Stewart to just as
great an extent as d,d Mr.. Mayer in
The sun., 1919-04-06

EUST the star OF the moving
MI pictures also have the sure
= fire play? Nobody who
The sun., 1919-04-06

cesses have been made with cheap see
narios and that the charm of a single
hero and heroine has been sufficient to
accomplish all the word that Is just
now Claimed for the costly books or
plays that are bought for the popular
stars of the cinema. But there is now
more than any other time a prodigA
generosity in the amounts spent for
material that make the best kind Of a
drama for the moving pictures. The
cinema is always ballyhooing at the
top of its voice about everything II
accomplishes. There has been so
much blowing and eXaggeration, so
much talk about immense sums of
money paid by the public. about the
earnings of the favorites. the vast cap
ital involved in the industry--fifth in
the United States, its promoters are
fond of saying-and every detail OF
the business has been accompanied
with such prodigal mendacity that any
sort OF a statement about the movies
now Is almost certain to be received
as species Of bluff. But it is never
theless true that publishers, authors
and agents are able to receive for pop
ular novels and plays important
amounts OF what is really genuine
money, coin of the realm. legal tender
in this L. S. A. Otherwise this in
quiry as to the degree to which the
popular screen star needs the best
available vehicle for her talents would
never have been investigated.
Singularly enough there is almost
una n tho naraSait1y nf
ting hold of the best possible scripts,
whether they be from best sellers.
popular dramas. or from any source,
Not all the stars can, like Mary Pick
ford. afford to pay what they want
for the best material. Miss Pickford
probably struck the high water mark
up to that time when she paid sac, 900
for the screen rights OF Daddy Long
legs" which Ruth Chatterton used as
the medium of establishing her great
popularity. Miss Pickford, being the
star OF her own company. can Of
course decide such matters for herself.
$4,000 for n Screen Right.
]. d. williams, who is the manager
OF the First National Exhibitors Cir
cult, Inc, which controls the services
OF the important Mary, supplied thess
views of his company. He said:
There are certain of the national
magazines published for popular read
ing that have tremendous Calculations.
The reason for their great reader pat
ronage is the reason why a motion
picture star needs a good story as the
basis for every production in which
he or she appears before the public.
When Mary Pickford paid $4,000
for the motion picture rights to Daddy
i Lonslegs' there were many in the in
; dustry who said she was needlessly
extravagant. And when 1t was <an-
nounced that she had paid as much
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Among the most enjoyable of the
Halloween festivities was the party
at the residence of Mr.. and Mrs. J. L.
Leitner, in which their daughter,
Helen and several members of the
eighth grade entertained their friends
Saturday evening. The decorations
of yellow and black festoons and black
cats carried out the Halloween spirit,
and the costumes of the merrymakers
were appropriate and interesting. A
tent on the lawn was arranged for
fortune telling and other games were
played, an amusing contest being held
in which it was required to initiate
the smile of a Cheshire cat, made ia
NOUS by "Alice in Wonderland" Jim
Borland was most successful in this,
ard was awarded the prize. Refresh
nIents of fruit and nuts, ice cream and
cake were served by Mrs. Leitner,
assisted by Misses Irene Tompkins
Ullaine Barnett and Kathleen Leitner
and the boys and girls enjoying this
delightful affair were Elizabeth Muir.
ray, Frances McIver, Nettie Mathews
Mary Carolyn Logan. Marie Hensley
Charlotte Chazal, Alice Cullen. Dor.
othy Needham, Jessie Ray Culver.
house, Thelma Van Horn, Margarits
Hastings, Marion Hunter, Chivalettt
| Smith, Veda and Elizabeth Barnett
Bob Simmons, Ted Drake, Henri!
Camp, James Borland, Ben Culver
house, Ralph Wolf, Albert Frampton
| George Blowers and LawtOn Leitner
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

One of the prettiest display win
dows in town during the last week
was the south window of the Book
Shop, dressed in the best of good
taste by Miss Sidney Perry. Nobody
passed it during the week without
stopping to admire its appropriate
makeup of COLLINS and witches and
other Halloween emblems. 1t was
particularly striking at night. when
the light brought it out in strong re-
lief and soft yellow CLEAN trickled
thru the background of black and
yellow ribbons.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

One of the most charming of the
pTe-nuptial affairs rendered Miss
Irma Blake was that Saturday after
noon at which Miss Caroline Harriss
at the residence of her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. W. w. Harriss.
7 he guests were requested to bring
their thimbles and when all had ar
rived, they were provided with cup
towels, the hemming of which fur
nished the afternoons entertainment.
The towels were decorated with orig
inal designs embroidered in outline
stitch, suggestive of a brides first
housekeeping and upon completion,
they were presented to Miss Blake.
Grapejuice punch was enjoyed while
the sewing progressed, a salad course
being served at the conclusion of the
afternoons pleasures, and those pres
ent at this pretty compliment TO a
charming bride-elect were the hon.
Gree, Miss Blake. and Mrs. Clarence
Camp, Mrs. r. C. Camp, Mrs. Harry
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03
WOMAN'S CLUB

The Ocala Woman's Club held its
first regular meeting of the season
Saturday afternoon. In the absence
Of the president, Mrs. W. T. Gary, the
first vice president, Mrs. c. r. Ty-
dins presided.
At the business meeting which pre-
coded the open meeting. delegates to
the federation convention at st. Pc
tersburg this month were elected, the
ladies chosen being Mrs. E. A. Os-
borne and Mrs. E. T. Helvenston,
with Mrs G.. w Martin and Mrs. L.
J. knight as alternates.
The opening meeting to which the
teachers of the Ocala schools were
especially invited began with an in
strumental solo by Miss Irma Blake,
who is a talented pianist as we'll as a
cultured vocalist. Miss Music Bull
lock rendered two vocal numbers IN
her usual charming manner, her &C
C0mpanist on this occasion being Miss
Blake.
Reports from the chairmen of con-
servation and art were read, the
ether chairmen having no reports to
make, this being the first meeting.
Prof. p. H. Hensley, principal of the
Ocala schools. was then introduced,
and gave a most interesting talk, his
principle theme being cooperation.
Prof. Hensley is a forceful speaker
ard made a splendid impression. Edu-
cation, he said, is not filling the
childs mind with knowledge, but it is
developing the childs' own power of
acquiring knowledge for himself, and
in this connection he stressed the
point that school time is not the time
devoted to preparing the child for
life, but life itself, and that gaining
an education is as much a business as
any the child may be engaged in when
older. He spoke of what the govern
ment had been brought to realize dur
| ing the war in the matter of neglected
education, and the ground compulsory
education is gaining. Cooperation of
| Parents with the teachers may best be
brought about in two ways: First, by
regular and punctual attendance; and,
| second, supervision of studying and
certain home restrictions. Mr.. Hens
| ley concluded his talk with an ex-
preston of the appreciation by the
! faculty of the cooperation of the
Woman's Club in matters pertaining
to the school, and the special, funds
received for equipment.
| Mr.. J. L. Edwards, representing
the school board, spoke few words
in regard to the financial condition of
the board and explained the matter
of teachers salaries and length of the
school term.
| Mrs. Wesson, who has won the con-
fGence of Ocala school patrons by a
number of years successful instruc-
ton in the city's schools. made a
stl aightforward talk on the subject
Of "The Child in His Teens" She
cited the Importance of definite and
regular hours for the growing child
foI study. recreation and rest, and
urged the cooperation of parents in
making this possible. Mrs. NELSON'S
talk fell on sympathetic ears, and was
we'll received.
The afternoons program was com
pIeted by three numbers from Mac
DCwell rendered by Mrs. r. c. Camp
An informal reception was held il
:, which the ladies present had the op
! portunity of meeting the teachers
and refreshing punch and cakes wer,
served by members of the social com
mjttee of the club, of which Mrs. r
E. Bullock is chairman.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

The twenty-sixth annual convention
of the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy, which convenes in Tampa
on November 18th, will hold great
deal of local interest. The delegates
from Dickson Chapter are Mrs. H.
". Tucker and Mrs. Emily Green,
with Miss Josie Williams and Mrs. B.
Z. Blackburn as alternates. Miss
Rushabelle Sale, who visited her
aunt, Mrs. L. W. Ponder, this summer
and Miss Marie Mexican are among
the number of Tampa pages named
aid acting upon the committee which
has charge of arrangements for the
pages ball at the Tampa Country
Club on Friday night, Nov. 14th, are
Mrs. g. r. Mexican and Mrs. c. V
Miller.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Honoring Mrs. H. L. Oliver of Apa-
lachicola, who is visiting her sister,
Mrs Blanche Davis Rentz, Mrs. D.
Greenwood Haley will entertain at
aaction bridge this afternoon at three
o'clock at her home on Riverside ave-
rUe. The affair is one of a series of
parties being given in honor of Mrs.
Oliver during her visit.-Times-
Union.
These three ladies formerly lived in
Ocala, Mrs. Oliver before her mar
riage being Miss Martha Kate Rentz,
and Mrs. Haley was Miss Anna Mix
SEN
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

The regular monthly meeting of the
Woman's Auxiliary of Grace Episco-
pal church will be held at the resi-
dence of Mrs. George Pasteur Tues
cay, November 4th, at p. m. The
committee for distributing literature
for the nationwide campaign will
also meet with the auxiliary at the
same time and place, and cordial in
vitation is extended to all women who
present at this meeting.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Miss Winifred Murphy of Jackson
vile was the guest of her sister, Miss
1herese Murphy yesterday, having
met her in Gainesville Saturday and
returning to Ocala with the young
people who went to that place to at
tend the S. A. E. dance Friday night.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Walters, Mrs. Christian AK, Mrs. NJ.
". Lloyd, Mrs. r. G. Blake, Mrs. A.
L. Acker and Misses Music Bullock,
Mabel Mefert, Annie Davis. Wynona
Wetherbee, Elizabeth Davis. Adela
AK, Mary Burford. Miss Kirkby, Sue
Moore, Onie Chazal, Mary Mcdowell
and Mrs. ". W. Harriss.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Miss Georgia Mulhall was prevent
Ell by the sickness of her sister, Mrs.
Weller Carmichael. from attending
the wedding of Miss Lorayne Kemp
and Mr.. Raphael Fromshone, which is
an event Of interest occurring at
Q clock this evening in Atlanta
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Our clever young friend, Frank
Adams. ex-marshal and ex-soldier,
was visiting his Ocala friends Satur-
Gay and Sunday. Frank always has
a he-man's job. He is now one of the
special agents for the Seaboard. The
especial agents are railway police;
their work is always difficult and
cften dangerous.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Miss Carrie Bell Thomas, one of the
brightest scholars at the industrial
school, left Sunday for her home at
Pensacola. She will be much missed
by the friends she has made during
her stay at the school
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Mrs. P. V. Leavengood, Misses
Therese Murphy and Louise and Lou
reen Spencer returned Saturday night
from Gainesville in the Spencer car
driven by Fred Winer, and were &C
companied by Leonard Wesson and
Park Anderson, two university stud
ents who returned to Gainesville this
morning.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Miss Nellie GottIieb is the guest of
Mrs. Willard Blood at her country
home south of Ocala.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Today's Temple attraction is "The
Microscopic Mystery" which features
the amusing and pretty actress Con
stance Talmadge.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03
TO AUTO OWNERS

/ am again at my old place of bus
mess on the Anthony road, where I
shall be pleased to attend to your car
repair work by appointment Call
phone 393. 29-tf nj. A. Bowler.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03
.OCALA OCCURRENCES

If you have any society items for
the Star, please phone fve-two-three.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Fresh home amde steamed Boston
Brown Bread for sale at Carn-Thomas
store on Wednesdays. 28-tf
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-03

Fresh mullet and sea trout at the
Delicatessen Market, opposite fire
station. 1-5t