Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03

IT is rather amusing in this day
of expensive sychronized photoplays
with Accomplishments played by SYM
phonic orchestras to recall that only
so comparatively short q while back
as 81 years ago, the crudest Of short
reel pictures were shown In the Ma
tionai Capital and that there were no
"neighborhood theaters" or palatial
downtown motion picture houses in
which one could spend the hours from
hearing q varied program of colorful
entertainment.
A day or so back a woman who has
the distinction of having played the
piano accompaniment for those motion
pictures came to The Star Office to tell
about the time when she arranged"
the piano accompaniment for the first
picture. It was shown, she said, in the
Hall of the Ancients, an unusual build
ing, formerly standing on New York
avenue near Thirteenth street.
In 1902 Katherine Lane (Mrs. Kath-
crime L. Hungerford) left Monticello,
Ca to follow the call of adventure and
came to Washington as secretary to the
late DR.. John Elfreeth Watkins, super
intendent of the National Museum. Soon
to the Hall of the Ancient, and later
she grew to know the proprietor, Frank
lin Smith, "a refined and highly edu-
Gated old gentleman, who had travelled
abroad extensively" Mr. Smith made of
the old Hall" a centrally located
amusement place for the Washington
public, which at that time had no
"movie shows" 1t was a museumlike
place, with rooms built and decorated
after the fashion Of ancient days-one
a Roman room. another q Pompeiian
room, ETC., each with real relics and
beautiful authentic furnishings Of the
periods.
Thomas Armatt, who is still living
in Washington, was manager for the
first motion pictures here, showing them
in Mr.. Smiths Hall" And it was
through friend, who was Mr.. Smiths
secretary, that Katherine Lane was
given the position of official first ac-
compantst to illustrate the earliest pic
lures shown.
At that time Katherine Lane played
principally by ear, but she soon began
piano lessons with Mr.. Comstock, then
organist and choir director Of Trinity
Church, on Sixth street northwest.
THE things played for the accom-
paniment Of these earliest motion pic
lures here were popular airs Of the
period, such as "Bedelia" and Every
Morn I Bring Thee Violets." knew
quite number Of fashioned tunes
that my mother used to sing and play,
and was constantly picking up new
ones at the theaters, from the Ma
rine Band, and even from the street
pianos. which were numerous at that
time. had no musical score at all
and simply played what I thought suit
able while watching the picture. The
piano, an old square relic, had molted
some Of its worries. leaving a little glue
behind. II my fingers became per
spiry' Gas the darkies say), some Of the
notes were at times held longer than
expression required.
81 cannot remember the title Of the
first picture that was produced here
the first In Washington. One Of the
earliest, however, which made quite an
impression, was THE Coronation OF
King Edward" AS I looked at his
handsome figure and played my most
impressive music thought of the time
he visited Washington as the Prince OF
Wales and was entertained at the White
House by the bachelor President
Buchanan, and his niece, Harriet Lane
"a relative of mine), who presided for
her uncle. Later she left a fine collec-
ton of paintings to the National Mu-
scum, and a wax figure of her is among
the interesting group OF Ladies OF the
White House The story is told that
the charming and vivacious MISS Lane