Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

122 CHATS WITH THE PLAYERS "I'm not particularly set up about any characters I have created," he said, as the meal was resumed, "and even if I were, it wouldn't help matters any. Some of my dear friends wished to see me run in the negative once, and a special performance was arranged for them. The reel was started, and a series of white flashes showed on the screen. At last, an expansive white waistcoat showed in one corner. 'There's Bunny,' an admirer exclaimed ; and that was all they saw of me. You .see, my best role, my private face and pose, had Leen taken out of focus. It doesn't pay for a fat man to stand too near the camera." Bunny spoke the truth about his best role — it is his private face and pose, in other words his skillful acting. His figure is funny ; the fact that he is so big around that, as he says, he cant fall down if he tries, is undoubtedly an asset; but aside from all that, John Bunny is a talented and finished actor. Any man with that face and figure could get one laugh from an audience upon his first appearance. Only a fine actor could portray the difficult and trying roles that he constantly assumes, in such a manner that his audiences are laughing more uproariously when he exits than when he enters. Mr. Bunny holds an enviable place in the realm of comedy acting. Is there a better thing than to be known turnout the land as an actor who can always dispel gloom and make the world look brighter? JEAN ACKER, OF THE LUBIN COMPANY I knew that the Lubin Company is famed for its pretty girls, but I was not prepared for the entrancing vision which fluttered into the room when I asked for Miss Jean Acker. I'm an old interviewer, with a cool head, but this dainty, diminutive bit of femininity took my breath away and left me flabbergasted. "I'm from The Motion Picture Story Magazine," I managed to gasp. "Indeed?" responded the vision, demurely, "well, I'm from Missouri." I hastily produced a card to corroborate my statement, but I found that Miss Acker's apparently slangish skepticism was not what it appeared, but a real statement of fact. She is from Missouri — from St. Louis, to be exact — and she loves her native State, tho she is having a perfectly lovely time posing for pictures in Philadelphia. From childhood she has been interested in theatricals, playing with regular companies before beginning her Photoplay work. She loves to act, she loves to pose, and she loves to see upon the screen the pictures in which she appears. She has a right to love this latter diversion ; if I were as beautiful as Miss Acker I'd look at my own picture all the time I wasn't looking in a mirror. However, there seems to be no vanity in this little lady, nothing but an intense interest and enthusiasm in her work. "I spend three or four hours a day posing," she said. "In the evening I read, or write, or go to the theater — when any one will take me. I enjoy Browning most of any writer." In the summer Miss Acker goes to a country camp or to the sea shore, tho the place she really loves best is a farm. Horseback riding is her favorite exercise, and swimming comes next. "I cant say that I'm crazy about walking," she remarked, "it takes too long to get anywhere that way." The lady's Spanish parentage shows in her grace and vivaciousness, as well as in her flashing eyes and her quick changes of expression. The discipline of St. Mary's Seminary, where she received her education, did not smother her originality, nor her wit, which bubbles forth continually. She is a talented writer, having many stories and scerarlos to her credit, and like all literary workers her chief interest is in watching for her stories to appear. "Do you have many very difficult tasks to perform in the course of your work?" I asked, thinking of the thrilling stories which appear in the papers about Photoplay actors. "Sure, lots of 'em," she replied, nonchalantly, "and I've been featured in the newspapers— but let's not talk about that. Light comedy is my preferred line of acting." Her eyes glowed as we talked of the opera, in a way which showed her real love for music. She sings and plays beautifully, I am told, but I was not favored with a private concert, for Miss Acker's engagements gave me but a short time for my interview. "Dont you want to tell me about your principal characteristics?" I asked, hopefully, trying to prolong my opportunity. "Not this time," she laughed. "I'm fond of life, fond of work, fond of sports — especially baseball — and fond of society, when I'm in the mood for it. Yes, I have a nickname, my friends call me Billie." "Why?" I ventured. "Because!" answered Billie, decidedly. And with this reason I had to be content, and say good-by.