Newark post., 1920-05-19
Opera House Offerings
Silent Ending of ashore Acres"
Put Punch IN Drama

Silent Ending OF 'ShOre Acres
Put Punch Gn Drama
James A. Herne's greatest con-
tribution to dramatic panto-
mimic ending of "Shore Acres -
was considered so radical in 1892
that theatrical managers refused to
presentit. 1t was tried out at the
Boston Museum only through con-
spiracy between Mr.. Herne and the
stage director, fellow dramatist.
"Mr. Herne's finale in 'Shore
Acres is probably the finest bit of
heart reaching pantomime ever
done" said Edward Connolly re-
Gently. Mr. Connolly, who played
in the company of the American
actor-dramatist for five years,
enacts Uncle "Nat" Berry for
Metro Screen Classics, in the pic
turization of "Shore Acres" at the
Opera House, Friday night.
"McVicker wouldn't permit the
Herne ending during the Chicago
engagement" continued Mr.. Con-
nelly. "The public wouldn't wait
they d walk out, he argued. Field
said the same thing at the opening
of the Boston engagement. His
stage manager, Edward A. Rose,
was himself a dramatist, however,
and he agreed to assist Mr.. Herne
in an experiment.
$50 on Wednesday matinee the
play came to the usual ending, but
the curtain did not drop. The stage
was clear except for Uncle Ma
thaniel. 1t was Christmas Eve.
The old man puttered silently
about the room. He closed the
shutters and barred the doors. He
hung up the children s stockings.
Then he took the lamp and went
slowly up the stairs. The stage was
dark except for the dying embers
in the stove. Then the curtain slow
ly lowered. The audience was
/ hushed for a minute, then broke out
in applause. 1t was what we call
now the punch of the play
! Charles Ray POrtrays HOmely
Human Virtues
Charles Ray is undoubtedly the
cleyerest of the screens Young
actors when it comes to portrayine
:, the homely human virtues an6
p foibles, and the inner dramas of the
soul that are so often a part of the
q young mans life. Mr.. Ray is not
= dashing, he does not portray the
rollicking hero. He does give u:
G real life, however, and the sort Of
. young men we rub elbows with eacf
day in the street. He refuses tC
q strut and be unreal, and with eacl
i screen characterization his vogue
q grows, for the public has beer
quick to recognize the value of hi
work.
E In his new Paramount picture
: "The Sheriff's Son. which will b.
shown at the Opera House mex
q Wednesda, May 10Th, Mr.. Ra.
gives us one of his best creations.
"Fatty" Arbuckle Began Stag
/ Career Early
= Roscoe, "Fatty" Arbuckle wa
g born in Smith Center, Kansas, il
Il 1877. When he was fifteen Fatty
% Joined a stock repertoire compan.
on tour. Later he managed his owl
company and also played in stoc
for Morosco and Hartman.
i Fatty screen career bega
in 1918, when Mack Sennett, tn
Is we'll known manager, took one goo
II look at his chubby face and er
gagged him on the spot. Mint
Durfee, the petite blonde, VIII
a played with him, was his wife. Th
" talented couple worked in man
= comedies together and seemed to Ell
ID joy their work quite as much as tn
y. great public enjoyed it..
IN "Fatty' has stunt record ths
r would appall the hardest circr
De performer, including drops throug
Sc skylights, cakewalks along tel
I'd phone wires and high dives fro
Sc bridges. Recently the Famous Pla.
Mt ers-Laskey Corporation secured h
I'd services and contracted for the di
It's tribution of his pictures for lor
fa,>rr,