The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-10-30
Viola Dana Waited Until She
Was Five Years Old for Debut

Perhaps cut Of consideration for
the feelings OF her parents. Viola
Dana, the dainty star who takes the
adventures In Metros special pro-
duction, "Blackmail'' to be shown At
Crandall's Metropolitan and Knicker'
hacker Theaters, beginning tomor-
row, waited until she was quite
grown UP before going on the stage.
She did not make her debut until she
was Ave years old when she twinkled
forth as a dancer.
Despite this late start in her art.
Viola has played in AN amazing
number of parts. With Thomas Jeff-
crson for three years she appeared in
Ibscn's when We Dead Awaken"
and as Little Hendrick in "Trip Van
Wrinkle" During this time Mr. jeff
crson. seeing. the capability of the
little actress. took. an immense In
terest in coaching her and giving he:
the benefit Of his intelligent criti-
cism and advice. Miss Dana fulfilled
the promise Mr.. Jefferson saw her in
when she made her big hit in the
Belasco production in New York,
The Poor Little Rich Gill"
Molly the Drummer BOY" was her
first picture--an Edison production
and il gained for her a long-term
contract with that concern. during
which the dininutive star scored in
"The Slavery Student" The Blind
Fiddler "The Stone Heart" Tho
Innocence of Ruth" and as Thelma
in "The Portrait in the Attic"
1t may as we'll be revealed now as
at any time that Viola Dana was
born in Brooklyn. N. Y. She has two
sisters, both on the screenNShirley
Mason and Edna Flugrath.
Besides "Blackmair' Miss Dana has
a large assortment Of Metro successes
to her credit. among which are:
THE Chorus Girls Romance Dan
gerous to Men," 1.-THE Willow Tree.
please Get Married" 1.-THE Flower
of No Mans Land" 1.-THE Light of
Happiness" and THE Gates of Eden.
AS the star in the melodrama of
New York's polite underworld which
Is portrayed in rBlackmail." Miss
Dana adds another and different per-
sonality to those who have seen her
in former pictures and II was for that
reason she was chosen Tor ii. Her
role is distinctively different to that
Of the shi.nmy dancer in "A Chorus
Girls Romance to the orphan chra
in Dangerous to Men," and to the
dainty japanese maid in THE Willow
Tree"
When it comes to creating fancy
costumes which arouse the admira-
ton Of the male portion of the au-
diences and stir up the envy OF the
feminine, Miss Dana is certain she
has the edge or any of the exclusive
Paris designers. She knows just
about as much about the drossmakinS
art as those who earn their living
in that occupation. For many years
she has been her own fashion cre-
ator and the gowns which she dis
PLAYS TO the admirinG glances of the
natives of the West Coast bear all
that modish air of distingue that IL
supposed to be the peculiar propert"
OF the costumes imported from
abroad.
AS the beautiful. shrewd adven-
turess who must depend upon her
striking satorial effect to win her the
entire into society. Miss Dana put in
a lot OF extra time figuring out the
most bewitching creations to wear
and Just what success she had Is
shown by her nifty gowns i'm BLACK
mail"
1t is an open secret to her many
friends that Miss Dana Is an expert
with the needle, as she iss in her
work for the silver screen. The star
is an emphatic believer that every
girl should be able not only to make
her own clothes. but should also be
able to design them.