Pictures and the Picturegoer (April - September 1915)

PICTURES AND TiiE P1CTUREG0ER 60 :@pili DSTy^i A SxuDr in Reflection: Cheissie White, of Hefwokth's, An Unwelcome Encore. THE comedian, in female attire, had to descend a flight of twenty steps in order to enter the swell ballroom. But he stubbed his toe on the top step and instead of a light fall plunged clean to 'the bottom. '• Did you get that fall ? " he yelled, when his breath had returned. '" Nn." was the reply; "you will have to do it over again ! " The comedian's mouth opened on strong language. Then he saw the camera man's face. Then the film registered his second fall. '"It's all in the day's work." groaned Wallace Beery, who was playing the title role in The Countess Swcedie. Essanays like realism. Those Wonderful Tubes. Mi; CHERRY KEARTON, whose fascinating pictures of Central Africa are referred to on another page, is starting on a fresh jonraey to the Dark Continent in a few days, lint this time not mi his own business. As an officer in the 25th Royal Fusiliers (the Frontiersman's Battalion) he is leaving London with that regiment for active service against the King's cue-in Africa. Ernesti, Mr. Keartoli's faithful Swahili gunbearer, who has shared his master's dangers in these expeditions, is now iii London preparatorj to accompanying him on active service. The other day Ernesti was asked if lie would describe to his parents the wonders he had seen in London, particularly those of the Tub'1 railways, which seem to have impressed him more than anything. " No, boss," he replied, "if J tell them that t gel in n mo\ ing room, and go down under the earth, and then travel many miles under ground, ami come up again ill another room, they willsaj I am mad.'' Happy Days ! ARTISTES are always asked for interviews," said Joan Bitz to us the other day. "I call them horrible bursts of egotism.'' she continued. "Who wants to" know what one's hobbies are — riding, shooting, tennis !J What does it matter? You are asked when, how, and where you started your stage career? Some start as children, and some when they are old enough to know better. Well. T was once a child (I hope no one will say 'Really!'), and it was always a craze with me to act. At school I always had to play the sickly heroine, doing my best to Jook pretty, and minus just that devilment which I longed for. But the opportunity came with a French play (no sickly heroine, thank goodness !), and 1 was cast for the miserly French king. My! How I jumped into those pants, wig and beard; how I revelled in pouring coins over my neck and head, and in my mouth. When the applause burst forth (I make no apologies for the egotism. I am asked for it) 1 ran into the wood at the back of my school, still in those delightful pants, and cared nothing for " curtains ' and repeated "hows. The fact was I had a midnight appointment to keep at the fowlhouse, and it was getting near the time, and a school midnight meeting is of some importance. "To get back to the subject. All parts I have tried —musical comedy, comedy, pantomime, and Polly turns— I have revelled in them all. Then came the cinema. It is delightful work this picture making, SO free and healthy and interesting. No end of novelty is to be had, but though you can be as happy in your work as your nature disposes, it his t»i be taken very seriously. I am sure," concluded Bliss Ritz, " there are no studios built yet where you can be Webs ehdj Ar&u. 24, 19:5 happier in your work than those of tic. Neptune Film Company at Elsti Every Inch an Artist. A DELE LANE, for so long oi the Selig leading a has joined the Trans-AtLantie t< and will be featured in phdto-plays produced at Universal City. Miss Lane was born in .New York, and started to carve her own way in life when at -i\ years of age she played Edith m. " Editl 's Burglar." From that time she has gone steadily upwards, and was a leading lady at hTteen. Vaudeville claimed her for many months, and when, one day. a wire came; from Lubin with a good offer for motion-picture work, she took it gladly in order to settle down for awhile. For nearly two years -he was identified with tie .Lubin pictures, and then joined Selig's, where1 she remained for m than a year and a half. Adele Lane is >rk is very powerful; she is retiring and modest and a hard worker, and she pnts hi whole being into her presentat* Mh1 has not so many inches, but sb every inch an artist and a lady. W e reproduce her portrait, a charming one just received froni America, on our front cover. Successful "Juvenile Lead.' ONE of the best juvenile leads w.^> have met in the picture world is Thomas H. Macdonald, who for two and a half years has been playing continuously in Barker productions. Some of his best parts with them have been in Lights of London, The J Sound, London by Siqht, and /;; the. Hands qf London Ci'ooks. He was Lord Hastings in the recent great production of Jane Shore, and when we had the pleasure of talking with him just be: Easter he was busy as the "artist" in the coming: Barker version of i" ffights, by Victoria Cross, Mr. Macdonald has had some years' dramatic experience (including three years as juvenile lead in Meldramas) and two years on the Halls. "But playing for pictures," says Mr. Macdonald, "is so much nicer than theatrical work that I don't think I shall ever return to the stage. Tic pay is better and the work is constant. The picture-actors' duties may be many and arduous, but the rapid changes and necessity for an in and out door life are good for both health and temper." For Mr. Macdonald's portrait see pagi Charming New Star. IN "The Truth of Fiction" Anna 1 Krpmann makes her debut with the American Company, and plays May Burton, the rancher's daughter, a character into which she puts just the required space of wilfulness, and in which she has opportunity to ride a horse as only this charming new -tar of the " Flying A " can ride a horse. Our frontispiece portrait -hows her and her beautiful mount just previous to a ci country run in the film. Mis rCromann is the fair American girl type, with dark-lashed grey eyes, most expressive under the broad brim of a sombrero. As the picture -hows, she has a keen sense for costume. Her tan corduroy riding