Evening star., 1927-04-17

! compromising tun. he IcXas
/ Steer" is stili pulsing cnergeticaijy
as a vital quantity Few motion
picture enterprises have disclosed a
more assuring air OF confidence than
| the preparation now going on 70 IN
.roduce that warm old friend Of
many playgoers, Maverick Brander
/ TO the screen.
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The moral asphyNistiou with
which the New York theatcr has
been contendng must necessarily
clear the way for more old plays and
more old stories. The motion pie
lures have time and again come tor-
ward with some splendid revelation
Of half forgotten lore which the pub
lie welcomed unrescrvedly as an
easy victor in the competition with
current novelty. "Ben-Hur is All
example OF eliminating expression
in the films First a story, then a
PLAY. it afforded the basis of a Won
derfu scenario and trained the eye
OF the producer 10 possibilities oi
scenic effect far beyond anything
that the use Of stage canvas and
mechanism could attain.
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"Ben-Hur" is an example oi evolu-
ton. Had Gen Lew Wallace been in
a position to attempt ii first hand
as scenario it probably would
never had attained anything like it's
present magni6cence. In fact, it
might easily have been passed by
with comparative indifference as one
Of the man, that did moi quite
reach
The press agents OF New York
have a snappy organization with
Wells Hawks, president emeritus:
Charles Z. Cook. as New York vice
president. and enough other officers
to fill all the space available to the
atrical information i'll the entire
country. While the playwright is
being obtruded by the Snowman q
the mannekin at whom the public
is invited to throw base balls, the
publicity expert becomes tayorlte
Of the Olympian influences that re-
side in the tall buildings where man
ayers offices are housed Their re
cent third annual benefit Tor an
emergency relief fund made it pos
sibe Tor their friends all over the
map to share a little in the festiyi-
ties, for its program book is vol
ume we'll worthy of men whose lie
long study has been printers ink.
x \ x
The advance agent is now in the
ascendant. His relationship as
recorded on the dial OF time is now
indicated by the hands OF the clock
in the sunshine OF high noon. Its
former status would be represented
BY about half-past six.
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His appeal to the press was direct
and intimate Sure Of his welcome, |
the advance agent walked in, pro-
dueed a bundle Of passes and very
large cigar. He would then hand
out some memoranda. handbills, re-
prints and other forms of informa-
ton, and remark with an irresistible
wingomeness that never failed, Look
this over and write US up something
good.
The press agent was not greatly
valued by his organization, though
recognized as essential. Charles
Hoyt was credited with the following
sarcasm, "A press agent is a man
| employed TO come around the day
after the opening performance TO
see whether everything passed off
pleasantly
| Il IS needless TO say that the pro-
gram for the press agent benefit was
abundant. The dramatic feature, an
act from <"Trelawny." was con-
tributed by George Tyler, once a
press agent himself.
X X X
III an interesting article in the
program book the veteran Daniel
| Frohmau mentions early days when
he was advance agent of one-night
show. He referred TO his duties as
very simple, requiring knowledge OF
spelling and grammar. His principal
! activities, however, he recalls as be-
ing concerned with getting his post
ers up, his Autographs in the win
dow his quarter sheets into the
butcher shops and other places Of
public resort. Mr.. Frohman points
an interesting present-day contrast:
This business of advance
agenting a play, or a star, has
now become a high academic
science, reaching up III the high
sz1,A
ature, and The publicity man now
adays IS one who possesses high
artistic and literary resources,
whose lucubrations find instant
favor with the various theatrical
editors when these emanations
! prove interesting to their read
ers."
| Which proves conclusiyeiy that
| Mr.. Frohman still retains the gift
of mellihuous hyperbole which dis
tinguish that dear old friend, the
advance agent.
One Of the most unusual theatrical
| collections in the country is housed
in this city. X is never visited by
the public. but remains carefully
kept as BELTS mement0cs Of such
great players as Edwin Booth, Law
renee Barrett, Modjeska and many
others.
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Like many other men OF artistic
, inclination, Charles B. Hanford was
collector. He limited his activi-
ties in that direction 10 things which
pcrtained to the life OF the theater
and were valued not only for their
. usefulness from time to time, bat as
, priceless reminders OF wonderful as
sociations. His manager, 4. Law