Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

The Popular Player Contest THE RESULT TO DATE YOU STILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS The contest which we began in the January issue has proved popular, indeed. We knew that our readers would be glad of this opportunity to express their appreciation of the entertainment which the different players have afforded them, particularly since when they attend a Photoplay they have no opportunity of applauding their favorites, as they would in the regular theater ; or, if they do applaud the pictures the players do not hear them. We were sure that this contest, giving an opportunity to show appreciation of the Photoplayer's work, would be welcomed, but its popularity has far exceeded our greatest hopes. Basketfuls of letters come in every mail and a special force has been engaged to open and tabulate the votes. We find that many readers, unwilling to mutilate their magazines, have failed to enclose the coupons and have simply written a letter or a verse in praise of their favorite player. Indeed, the verses which have come in are so numerous and so excellent, in the main, that we regret we have not room to publish them all. We shall devote one or two extra pages to this department next month. One of the most pleasing features of this contest, different from all other contests that we know of, is that the result must be a fairly representative record of the popularity of the players. Most contests require the sending of a coupon, clipped from the publication, and only these coupons are counted. By that method, any player who had sufficient energy and money could easily be heralded as the most popular contestant. In this contest, no coupon is required, and, since most of the votes come in one by one, from all parts of the world, it is fair to assume that the result will be fairly decisive. While it is true that two or three players have apparently secured all of their friends to work for their interests, resulting in our receiving some envelopes containing a dozen or more coupons, the general result will not be appreciably changed thereby. We have observed that the results have changed every two or three days. One day Mr. Costello will be ahead, another day Alice Joyce, another day Mae Hotely and another day Miss Cassinelli. Some of the communications received are exceedingly interesting. A suffragette begins her letter by stating "At last I am delighted to realize that women are allowed to vote, and I wish to record myself for Miss Florence Lawrence, who has ever been my ideal of charming womanhood." One voter, evidently wishing to show no partiality, sent this very inclusive request : "Please let me vote for all the players of the Vitagraph, Biograph, Lubin and Pathe Freres companies." We are sorry that these votes cannot be recorded. From Girard, Ohio, comes this clever appreciation of Alice Joyce, of the Kalem : "Ben Bolt is but a memory, But Sweet Alice lingers still ; She's seen in many charming roles Near a brooklet or a rill. If Ben Bolt was alive today, And had his pick or choice, The sweetheart of his dreams would be Our favorite — Alice Joyce!" Phyllis Weston pens this dainty tribute to Maurice Costello, of the Vitagraph: "Hail to Costello! the king of the Photoplay, Handsome and manly, our hero and friend ; Wildly excited, or tearful, we follow you, Hang on your deeds from beginning to end. •Well we remember the times we have gazed at you, Merry or lover-like, tender or stern, All other pictures to us are an interlude; Interest begins when we find 'tis your turn." Breezy, practical Chicago does not indulge in poetical effusions, but is standing; stanchly by its adored Miss Cassinelli, of the Essanay Company. A lady on the Pacific coast remarks tersely: "Unless one is blind, a megaphone is not needed to distinguish comedy from tragedy, love from hate, when Gilbert M.. Anderson, of the Essanay, is acting." 160