Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

10 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. VI, No. 1. and for many years it proved a constant menace, although at different times he played leads with Amelia Bingham, Henrietta Crosman, and was featured by Mrs. Fiske in the initial New York production of "Martha of the Lowlands," and finished the season with Mrs. Fiske, playing Judas, in "Mary of Magdala," Lovborg, Alec D'Urberville, and other leading parts of her repertoire. This season proved too hard, and at its expiration he spent two years in Arizona trying to recuperate, which he seems to have accomplished most thoroughly. In 1907, after a few weeks of special work as leading man, he joined the Belasco stock company in Los Angeles, and remained there until the theater changed hands, acting occasionally. In the spring of 1910 he acted in a special picture for Mr. Boggs, manager of the Western branch of the Selig company, and realizing that the outdoor work of the moving picture was the one method open to him, for reconciling his theatrical knowledge with the necessities of his regimen, he became a regular member of the company, and as the months have rolled on he has found it so fascinating and beneficial to his health, that he is now thoroughly wedded to it. His old athletic life of boxing, wrestling", fencing, riding, sailing, swimming, Elephant Scene from "Lost in the Jungle." canoeing and hunting in the snows of the Canadian woods have fitted him to rather an unusual degree for the somewhat strenuous work of the moving-picture actor, and gives him a larger range of subjects than usually obtains. In addition to portraying leading roles with the Selig company, Mr. Bosworth has written and produced niany splendid film productions. Notable among these may be mentioned "The Curse of the Redman," "The Medallion," "The Bargemen of Holland," "Ramona's Father,"' and "The Code of Honor." During the past few weeks Mr. Bosworth has been engaged in producing mountain stories dealing with the early days of California, using the great Yosemite Valley, clad in its gorgeous winter coat of snow, for the backgrounds. A recent addition to the Selig eastern stock company is Miss Winnifred Greenwood, a beautiful and charming actress of great talent whose popularity is destined to be unbounded, if the prophecies of those familiar with her recent work may be listened to. The public itself will judge of Miss Greenwood's ability as demonstrated in "The Two Orphans" and "The Tale of a Soldier's Ring," films soon to be released. As the blind sister in "The Two Orphans" her work is characterized by wonderful sweetness and pathos. Her assumption of the leading role in "The Tale of a Soldier's Ring" is most moving and poetic. Any role taken by Miss Greenwood is enhanced on the pictorial side by her great personal beauty. When asked for a few details regarding her stage career, Miss Greenwood replied as follows : "I was born in Geneseo, N. Y., a very picturesque little place situated in the Geneseo valley. What year, did you say? Oh, I don't mind telling you. It will be a few years yet before I hesitate on that point. I was born on the morning of January 1st, 1885. My parents were non-professionals, and for that matter, I am the first to initiate the theatrical profession into our family. My first appearance, also my first part on any stage, occurred when I was the age of three years, as little "Leah" in the play of "Leah, the Forsaken." It was in the little town of Towanda, Pa., that I made my wonderful debut, my father allowing me to be the substitute of the little company girl, who was ill. A great many times after that I substituted (to use my mother's expression) with traveling companies who needed the services of a child. I just loved the theater. I thought all the people, the lights, the scenery, the acting, was so beautiful, and I am of the same opinion still. I think acting from an artistic standpoint is wonderful. Oh, of course, not all acting, just the good. I would go to a show, and just yearn to "belong," never dreaming I would be a part of the world I love so dearly. I was sent to boarding school at the age of eight years, having had two years' previous schooling in a private kindergarten at home. Well, as soon as I was able, I started out in vaudeville, my mother traveling with me. Yes, my mother traveled with me until she died. My education did not lack much ; my mother being a college graduate, she continued with my education. I remained in vaudeville three years, then drifted into musical comedy. Then I tried dramatic work and I liked that best. I have been in stock eight years, playing in a few of the principal cities of the United States and Canada. "How long have I been playing leading business? About six years. No, that is not long. Oh, but I worked so hard and studiously to attain that which seemed to me once such a great height!" "How do I like the motion-picture work? Immensely ! Of course, I have had very little experience as yet, but from my limited knowledge, the moving picture artist has as large a scope as any in the theatrical field to improve himself or herself, and also to "uplift" the profession, which the majority of us are anxious to do. I predict a grand, glorious future for the moving picture world and in time it will be universally recognized as belonging to the 'legitimate.' " A popular member of the western company is Miss Betty Harte. She will be remembered for her work in an innumerable series of pictures in which she took the part of a boy — not a girly boy, but a real boy. Endowed by nature with a slender form, lithe limbs, a boyish face and frank, unabashed manner, she is well equipped for such roles and plays them with great spirit. Dressed as cowboy girl or society heroine, she is equally good — a versatile actress indeed. She now claims California as her home, but was born and reared in Pennsylvania. Her first notion of acting was acquired in private theatricals in which she always took a prominent part. After graduating from a Quaker boarding school she took a course in stenography and for a short time played the type