Evening star., 1919-07-20

that swallowed the Whale
has come true. Charles
Fro h ma Incorporated,
which came into being with
the exalted purpose of perpetuating
the memory and theatrical ideals of
the late Charles Frohman, has been
absorbed by the Famous Players-Lasky
moving pictre corporation. True, this
new unit of the Famous Players-Lasky
Corporation is to participate in legiti-
mate theatrical activities apart from
motion picture enterprises" but it is Ito
acquire an almost ineXhaustlble supply
of the finest dramatic material-for the
films" The presidency of Charles troh-
man, Incorporated, will go to Adolph
Zukor the man holding that position in
the film corporation, and the Legitimate
theatrical activities" will continue under
the executive direction of ALI Hayman.
Daniel Frohman will be the vice preS'-
dent Elaborate seasons of dramatic en-
tertainment are being planned, the an
nouncement reads, for both the Empire
and LyCeum theaters in New York and
the presentation of plays on the road.
The relations between Charles Frohman,
Incorporated. and the klaw & Erlanger
circuit throughout the United States, as
well as the foreign connections of the
F'rohman corporation, will be fortified
and expanded under the new arrange
ment But Paramount Aircraft pictures.
the Famous Players-Lasky product,
will draw upon Charles Frohman.
Incorporated, for screen material. in ad-
dition to the already established
sources
This coordination, for the first time
in the history of popular entertainment
of the legitimate drama and the motion
picture is said to mean an outlet for the
hn- ta1a of yx-yita
has heretofore been denied to them by
reason of the lines of demarkation which
have separated the two forms OF popu-
lar entertainment. Mr.. Zukor, president
of both organizations under the practical
merger. states: I'VE shall give the works
of the great dramatists production on
both stage and screen. The finest OF
our motion picture productions Will be
given stage presentations. Ihe pest
dramas written for the speaking stage
will be shown on the screen. We shall
give our best efforts toward producing
plays of the same high standard set by
Charles Frohman and shall avail our
selves of every opportunity to perpetu-
ate the dignity and honor and the re-
spect commanded by the Frohman
name.
Look ers-on in Venice have long con-
sidered the speaking stage and the mo-
ton picture modern rivals for su-
premacy. There mas Deen beyond the
peradventure of a doubt a determined
effort on the part of the leaders of the
motion picture industry to wean from
the legitimate stage its writer's and it's
artists. 1t remains to be seen what will
result fro n the absorption of the legiti
mate stage corporation by the motion
picture corporation. Mr.. Hayman is
credited with contending that the speak
ing stage corporation will grow greater
than ever as a force in the field of legiti
mate drama, land will stand, it is our
hope, as a monument to its founder. MIR.
Hayman also suggests among the inter-
esting possibilities that of introducing
to the legitimate stage some OF the
most popular artists of the screen
Thus far the presentation of the legiti-
mate drama cannot be said to have been
very much enriched by accessions from
the talent that has leaped to stellar
fame on the screen. The cooperation
of the art of the stage with that of the
screen should prove beneficial to both.
All will depend, however, upon the rela-
tive Importance of the two branches of
theatrical art in the minds of those who
will henceforth direct the activities OF
both corporations. which now, in fact,
are but one.