Variety (December 1914)

18 VARIETY A FILM DARE-DEVIL By Frederick Scott Probst "Dare-devil" is an elusive expression and it is applied to a great many forms of employment along with the butcher, baker and candlestick-maker. However, of late a new risk has come into being in the way of employ- ment. It is that of the film dare- devil; the "fall guy" who risks his life that the star may get the credit. Picture stars for the past few years have become exceeding choice of their classic features and are content to bolt out of the picture, change clothes with the dare-devil and let him dive through HARTMAN and VARADY. EUROPEAN SENSATIONAL DANCERS Champion long distance dancers of the world, holding record of 16 hours continuous dancing. Week Dec. 21 at Colonial, New York. Booked ■olid. U. B. O. Direction, PAUL DURAND. Wishing all a Merry Christmss snd a Happy New Year. the glass door; cross a wire eight stories high, hand over hand; roll down a hill with a lion, or drive the automo- bile over the cliff. While they pose on the northeast corner of Broadway and 45th street and say, "Pretty rough stuff I pulled in my last 'nth reeler.' See it, kid—I was there forty ways in that role." At the same time the dare-devil has collected his $50 and is home nursing a collection of bruises and keeping his mouth shut. Once let it become known that the star has some one "doubling" for him —and that particular dare-devil gets no work of that studio. "It is funny how some fellows come to specialize in the dare-devil line. One morning the company, 15 strong, had assembled in the wilds of Wylesville to make the finish of an animal picture. This company used two lions that looked exactly alike; one so savage the trainer couldn't go in the cage, and the other so old he only had one front tooth and so tame you had to twist his tail to make him get up. In fact he was fed on ham- burger steak and milk. The only thing that suggested lion about him was the noise and the smell. The director had received word at the studio that Mr. would be out in a little while and, to fill in the time, he rehearsed the company in the final scene, wherein the star is discovered on the edge of the cliff; is leaped upon by the lion and rolls to the bottom. Everything had progressed smooth- ly. The savage lion had come roaring down to the fair ground, spied the piece of meat on the back of the dum- my and leaped upon it. The terrified "audience" had rushed out of the tent entrance, the company had moved to the sandy bank, the camera-man had set up and all was in readiness for the final scene. Then the "star" rolled on the scene, somewhat flushed with good cheer, and said, "Sorry, Mr. , but the wife was sick. Up all night. Feel rotten. What am I to do first?" "Well, Mr. ," replied the direct- or, "I may want you for one scene today. This is where you roll down hill with the lion." "Who? Mel Roll down a hill with a lionl Oh! Nol Not me!" The director looked him over a mo- ment with a funny far-away smile and then looked over the "extras" he had. Seeing one fellow about the same height and build he called him over and said, "How would you like to make an extra fifty today?!' The "ex- tra" hicked up his trousers and said, "Lead me to it!" "All right, you go and change clothes with Mr. and come back here." About ten minutes later back came the "extra" all dolled up in the star's new glad rags—just a trifle nervous but with visions of unlimited eats to come. "Now," said the director, "bring out the lion." Poor "Leo" was fast asleep in his cage when the trainer grabbed his tail and hauled him out. He awoke with a roar that made the "extra" feel like taking to a tree, and tried to sneak back into his cage. It required the combined efforts of four men and a piece of blazing waste to get him on the "location". When thrown down he went to sleep again. The director said to the "extra," "You lay your head under his neck, grab both hands full of mane, roll him over and hold on as long as you can. All set, ready! One, two, three! Action! Camera!" The "extra" took a long breath, rolled over the lion and his career as a "dare-devil" commenced. The lion awoke with a terrific roar and with a look on his face that plain- ly said: "What are you trying to do to me now?" He tried to get back to his cage. At the third turn be got one of his fore-paws loose, pushed the "ex- tra" away from him (incidently knock- ing out all his front teeth and scratch- ing the clothes off his back) and bolt- ed into hid cage muttering and grum- bling. ^The "extra" got up, felt him- self, spat out four teeth and said to the director: "Do I get t^e fifty?" "Sure," answered the director, "you sure do! Get in the car and we will j?et back to. the studio. That was preat stuff. Did he hurt you?" "No— not fifty dollars worth," remarked the "extra." After changing clothes again with the star, the extra man, a full fledged dare-devil, rode down to the studio in state with the director and the cam- era man in the company's machine, while the rest of the "extras" and the nerveless star returned by trolley. Upon arriving at the studio the di- rector took the "extra" into the man- ager's office, saying, "I want you to give this man a check for $50 and make special note of his name and phone number. He rolled down hill with 'Leo' and it was the best stuff I ever got." That night as he was "gumming" his supper the phone rang: "This is the Screen Club, Mr. talking. Are you the man that pulled that lion stuff for Mr. today?" "Yes, sir." "I have a stunt for you if you can ride—" As the dare-devil had spent part of his life breaking horses, that was easily answered. , "What I want is this," came the voice over the wire. "I want you to run out of a house, vault on a bare-back horse, take three fences, a ditch and a cattle guard and jump on a moving train. There I want to show you on the roof of the train and I want you to dive from the roof into the Passiac River. I think you are the man I want. How much do you want for it?" After a satisfactory financial ar- rangement had been made the voice said, "All right, meet the 8:30 boat to- morrow morning." At the station the dare-devil and the director met. "Lord," said the director, "you sure are a homely jasper, ain't you?" The dare- devil admitted he was not exactly what might be termed an Adonis but allowed he was there with the "sand," which was more important They journeyed out to the location, pulled off the stunt without incident (except that the water was most aw- ful cold—it being February) and the dare-devil returned with a pocket full of coin and a bad chill. MAUDIE SMITH The clever little artist who ii playing the leading role with Will H. Armstrong and com- Bmy, well known character playlet, "THE AGGAGEM AN," was previously engaged with the "Heartbreakera" company and other mu- sical productions. She is a clever actress, graceful dancer and has a pleasing personality, also a great foil for Mr. Armstrong. Later at the Screen Club, word was passed round among the picture di- rectors that one of their number had a "discovery," and it was not over a week afterward the former "extra" was called upon to drive an automobile containing six men over a 30 foot cliff into the water. Figuring the faster he was doing it the safer he would be, he tore down the road with the ma- chine roaring like a machine gun and escaped with_a ducking. From that time on he has been called upon to do everything from a dive through a plate glass window to running a ship on the rocks and wreck- ing her. Up to the present time he has escaped with a few minor injuries. Heigho! 'Tis a grand little old life. BALLADE OF LOST STARS (After Francois Villon.) Maude Adams floods our stage with light. The Banymores still hold their away, While Drew and Warfield still shine bright Along the star-besprinkled way. Where Crane and Hopper still are gay. Who tease the smile or start the tear In comedy or serious play— But where are the stars of yesteryear? With Nora Bayes we take delight, And Billie Burke is like a fay; The fame of Bernhardt still is white, Although she's had a lengthened day Through green and gold and grave and gray, Yet over all her light shines clear With glowing and effulgent ray— But where are the stars of yesteryear? Fair Marlowe's won the upper height And Collier charms our glooms away; While Lauder's vogue has known no blight And Sothern's art is still at bay, And Mrs. Fiske has known no stay In limning life, from cheer to fear, As onlv glowing genius may— But where are the stars of yesteryear? L'ENVOI. O Prince of footlights, while you sway .Our souls in mimic flaunt and fleer, We cry aloud in dull dismay: Where are the stars of yesteryear? Will Reed Dunroy,