Movie Pictorial (September 19, 1914)

8 THE MOVIE PICTORIAL September 19, 1914 M Ttie Man From Montclair 59 Horace G. Plimpton O NE night, almost five years ago, there was an amateur performance of a well known stock play at a theatre of importance in Montclair, New Jersey. It was strictly a private affair as far as the sale of tickets were con- This Genius is Given Credit for the Individuality and Success of Edison Productions cerned, in that the performance was given by and for the members of the Montclair Dramatic Club. In fact, tickets were not sold. Invita- tions were the order of the evening. Horace G. Plimpton, an artistic rug-maker of Montclair, then holding a position of importance with the Bigelow Carpet Company of Brooklyn, N. Y., was one of the leading lights of that par- ticular evening’s entertainment, for he was President of the Montclair Dramatic Club. He had acted in the capacity of stage director dur- ing rehearsals, and was the “king bee” of ceremonies on this evening of evenings. A number of dramatic critics representing various New York papers, some of Mr. Plimp- ton’s friends, and many prominent people— acquaintances and friends of the club’s mem- bers—were present by invitation. The elite of Montclair was participating in the play. Natur- By SELWIH A. STANHOPE dison s eg'ative Manag'er Prodtic ally, the cynical critics didn’t expect much real art in the way of dramatic talent to percolate during the production’s denouement. But there were others who were sure the play would prove a success, and thus convince the world that the very cream of the world’s talent was being harbored and fostered within the confines of Montclair. Frank L. Dyer, a Montclair citizen, and at that time the President of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., was among those present. Mr. Dyer attended out of sheer curiosity, since his friend Plimpton had invited him. Also, according to statements since made by Mr. Dyer, he was worried over business matters—that of motion picture production—so decided to attend a performance given The New Edison Studio Located in the Bronx, New York, is now Under Construction. The Picture at the Bottom of the Page Shows a Group of Edison Players Leaving the Old Studio to Make an Exterior Scene by the Montclair Dramatic Club that he might drive dull care away. Next day Horace G. Plimpton held a long conversation with Frank L. Dyer, and the latter urged the rug-maker to give up his position with the carpet company and im- mediately assume complete charge of the motion picture plant of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. By watching the result of Plimpton’s rehearsals, Dyer became convinced that Plimp- ton would make a success in handling picture production, and offered him the position at a salary figure he could not ignore. And so it was that the man from Montclair journeyed