Motion Picture Magazine, May 1914 (1914)

Ask anybody you meet "Who is the most popular photo- player?" and you will prob- ably get a ready answer; but ask "Who is the greatest photoplay artist?" and you will find great diver- sity of opinion. Who is the greatest artist? It is a much-mooted question. No two seem to agree. There is much to be said in favor of any one of a hundred different players. If you say: "Kerrigan's work in 'Samson' stamps him as the greatest artist," you will be answered: "Oh my! but you couldn't have seen Barle Wil- liams in 'The Christian!'" And you will hear similar arguments about Ruth Roland and Lillian Walker, Guy Coombs and Henry Walthall, Jessalyn Van Trump and Pauline Bush, and so on. And that is why this Great Artist Contest was started. We and our readers wanted to have the matter threshed out. And it is being threshed out. For three months the ballots have been pouring silently in, and now see what story they tell! The three columns on the opposite page tell the story, but not con- clusively. There are thousands and thousands yet to be heard from. Be- sides, we are going to give you a chance to state "why" with your votes. Next month we shall set aside a few pages for short letters, not more than fifty words each, in which the voters may state why So-and-so is the greatest artist. This will be done for two reasons; first, it is due to both the voter and the votee; and second, it may influence others by calling attention to certain plays that might have been overlooked. For example, a letter something like this appears: "I vote George Cooper the greatest artist because his characteri- zation in 'Mills of the Gods' was superb, and he expressed every shade of emotion." Now, you may have forgotten all about this play and that player, and, now that your attention 128 is called to it, you may decide that he is entitled to your support. This sort of "electioneering" is perfectly legiti- mate. Therefore, it behooves you to get busy and give your reasons, so that your favorite artist may have the benefit of your eloquence. But please remember that we cannot print all letters that come in. We shall select what we consider the best only, and the others we shall forward to the players at the close of the contest. Please be brief! Enclose your ballot and your friends' ballots with your "why" letter. THE RULES OF THE CONTEST Each reader is entitled to vote once a month, on the printed coupon, for the GREATEST MOTION PICTURE ARTIST Each vote must contain the name of a male player and the name of a female player, and may also contain a second choice of each. The players are to be judged from their artistic merits only— not from their popularity, good looks, per- sonality, etc., and they may excel in drama, tragedy, comedy, villainy por- trayal, or anything you please. A good critic can recognize artistry in a comedian or in a villain just as in a player who plays heroic or emotional roles. While no valuable prises will be given, the winners of this contest will bp awarded the highest honors that can come in the theatrical profession — the stamp of public approval. At no time will there be offered any extra inducements to the voters in the way of votes for subscriptions, etc., nor will there be any coupons printed different from the one that is printed in this issue, on another page. The winners will receive a handsome, engraved certificate, but nothing more; hence there will be no in- centive to unusual personal interest by the players or companies. The first prize for ladies will be awarded to that female player who re- ceives the largest number of votes, and the first prize for men will be awarded to that male player who receives the largest number pf votes. Furthermore, we intend that the most popular "team" shall play in a great drama to be written especially for them by our readers. This will be