Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 84, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 August 1923 — Page 6
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YOURCHANCETOBE SUCCESSFUL FILM WRITER IS SMALL Dean Declares One in 11,000 Who Write Movies Can Bea Winner, By JAMES W. DEAN' NEW YORK, An ip. IS. —Only one In 11,000 who write original stories for the screen, have any chance oX their stories being- produced. Those figures were given to me the ocher day by Dr. Daniel Carson Goodman, a wellknown author-producer. “In the first place, scenario writing cannot be taught,'’ Dr. Goodman said "It must be learned, learned through the eyes. Only one who has worked in a cutting room, assembling film, or am a director or as an actor in the studio is qualified to write scenarios. The finished picture must be visualized as it is written. So must the mechanics of making the picture. “The hope that is held out to amateur scenario writera is only a will-o-the wisp.” I believe Dr. Goodman knows what he Is talking about. He had some statistics at hand to show that the chance of an original scenario writer having his or her story screened is one in 11,000. It is my belief that the ratio is much larger, probably one in a million. An Producing Companies Hare Their Scenario Readers All of the big producing companies have scenario renders. These readers for the most part are occupied in turning successful plays and stories by recognized authors into scenarios. The thousands and thousands of scenarios received from amateurs are rubber-stamped and returned without much consideration. Some show of attention must he paid to these amateur scenarists to keep their good will, for there are many thousands of them and they are all faithful attendants at movie theaters. It would hardly do to tell them that they have no chance to help in bettering the screen. On the other hand, as Dr. Goodman points out. ‘‘The motion picture business Is an art of many mechanical things that are its fundamental structure. Then how can one be taught to write for the screen unless he serves an apprenticeship and acquires a mastery of these mechanical things?” Granting Dr. Goodman his argument. there still remains another obstacle. That Is. the means of becoming an apprentice. Pew of the motion picture producers of today have any. conception of art in any fofm. They have not studied the means of developing the motion picture along the lines of its natural growth as an art . They sit in their swivel chairs and wait for an author or playwright to gain recognition in another art. Then they buy the stories and plays of those recognized names because of their commercial value. To put it otherwise, the names of Ibanez. Lewis, Belasco, Hughes, Chambers, BaJzac. Dickens, Hough, Rinehart and others stand for something in the world of the stage and letters. The movie producers borrow the prestige of those names and the titles of their works and do nothing to develop geniuses native to their own art. Thus the motion picture remains an infant, a copy-cat and a bootlicker of the other arts. Glenn Hunter to Be Starred in Big Movie Glenn. Hunter is to be starred in the film version of “West of the Water Tower,” one of the .-current best sellers. It ought to make a good picture. Hunter seems to this writer to be peculiarly adapted to the role of Guy Plummer, hero of the story. Yet. here Is a case in point of the above discussion. The fact that “West of the Water Tower” Is Immensely popular as a book probably had more to do with its reaching the screen than the fact that a suitable role was found for Hunter.
RIALTO STARTING TOMORROW 6th and LAST BIG WEEK D. W. GRIFFITH’S AMERICAN INSTITUTION THE BIRTH OF A NATION FOLKS, THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE GREATEST PICTURE EVER MADE, AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND THOSE WHO WISH TO SEE AGAIN, WE ARE HOLDING “THE BIRTH OF A NATION” ONE MORE WEEK.
NEW FALL MOVIE RELEASES WILL BE ON VIEW HERE NEXT WEEK
No, I—Mrs. Wallace Reid and James Kirkwood in a scene from “Human Wreckage" at the Apollo, opening Sunday. No. 2—D. W. Griffith, producer of
‘DANCING AROUND' TO OPEN SEASON Burlesque to Have 40 Weeks at Capitol Theater Here. “Dancing Around,” a musical burlesque in two acts and six scenes, will serve as the vehicle for the opening of the Capitol Theater a week from tomorrow. This will inaugurate a season of forty weeks at that house. For the occasion the Capltql has redecorated and generally overhauled. The Capitol, formerly the Park, is now under lease to the Columbia Amusement Company, which operates theaters in forty cities of the country. Harry Steppe is the featured comedian and he will have the assistance of Arthur Putnam, juvenile lead; Buck and Bubbles, a colored musical act; Lillian Small, Fred Slater, Rose Duffin, George Rose, Billy Walker, Edna Howard, the Bodine sisters, Aneta White, Betty Meyers, Edna Davenport, Paula Joyce and Ina Kay. There is a large singing and dancing chorus. William Woolfolk, a showman of many years’ experience, has come to Indianapolis to take charge of the Columbia Amusement Company's interests here and to be house manager at the Capitol. The second attraction at the Capi-
MOTION PICTURES
"The Birth of a Nation” now on its sixth consecutive week at the Rialto. No, 3—Betty Blythe In “The Truth about Wives” at the Ohio
tol will be “Brevities of 1923,” featuring Lena Daley. Variety News Edward V. Darling, chief booking manager of the B. F. Keith Vaudeville Exchange, returned from Europe recently, after a survey of the European musical houses and continental circuaes. Darling saw most
1 THE PICTURE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET- | flip *i I "wreckage" I te ; FOX NEWS WEEKLY ijfe| timgm, M "■ : 1 Virgil Moore’s H MM EPffli flP@iM IS Apollo Orchestra §ll §|l B' , ,;;■. Lester Huff His B 9 BH mm Mm JBJ at the Organ PiLfiKJ|^H
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
next week. No. 4—Andrea Randolph and Pauline Garon in a scene from “The Man From Glengarry" at the Palace the first half of next week.
of the foreign acts previously selected by Harry Mondorf, the foreign booking representative of the Keith Exchange. In London Darling reports that the outstanding sensation is Alba Tiberlo.who opened in July at the London Colosseum. Mile. Tlberlo is said to be the most versatile artiste In the world. She is coming to America this season direct from London. The massive Silver Jubilee Cup won by the Vaudeville Division of the
MOTION PICTUREB
No. s—Harry Carey in a scene from “The Miracle Baby” at the Isis the first half of next week. No. 6—Milton Sills in a scene from “The Spoilers" ta the Circle
recent Industrial pageant of the Greater City, which has attracted much attention in the lobby of Keith's Palace theater, now will be shown for a week each In all of the houses of the Greater New York circuits. Gertrude Barnes, who is doing a series of remarkable characterizations In B. F. Keith vaudeville, holds the woman's record for quick changes on the American stage. During a recent engagement In one of the Keith theaters In New York City McGlveney who (presenting
next week. No. 7 —Eva Novak and Irvin Cummings In a scene from “Man From Hell’s River” at Mister Smith's next week.
''Bill Sykes") was on the bill with Miss Barnes, and hlmse.f a wizard at quick change, as Keith patrons know, held a stop-watch on Miss Baines' changes and verified the recordbreaking time. There are acts on the Keith vaudeville circuit that claim royal blood, and to that select list Tom Kelly, the "Irish Wit,", claims admittance on the argument that he is a direct descendant of Tige O'Kelly, “first king of Ireland.” ,
T' An. ALL New i fl |! 1 %\ Production/ I IML A- .JWI! omsl • ■ EmS jv / lL i wr r“l' ifssl Jne 1 tea m SPOILERS" I SRex Beach’s Story of the Alaskan Gold Rush— a The Most Romantic Period of American History. A Colossal Drama of Brave Yukon Days Filled | * With Action, Comedy and Romance From Begin- ]IP \ j ning to End of Its Eight Reels. 1 C te” .. \|j j The Cast Is Truly All Star—Read the List. \ This All New Production of “The Spoilers” Mill /GI&SSE/f' Stand Forth in Motion Picture History as I—|v/ 1 —|v/ | One 6f the Greatest Pictures of 1923 4 j Engagement Limited to One Week, Starting Tomorrow j§ | overture. 1 S “FRA DIAVQLO” 1 H By D. F. E. AUBER | K MODEST ALTSCHULER, Musical Director r~uLOU—“l Orchestra plays Sundays from 1:40 to 4:10 and 7to 0:30. Dally from 7:30 to 10:10. L_._ .—— taucEH CIRCLE COMEDY /iVfDCSMI)' ‘WRECKS” /gJ ANOTHER FUNNY FLIVVER FILM \/ Commencing Sunday, August 26th. = THE CIRCLE’S 7th ANNIVERSARY Watch for announcements of Birthday Week. | " ” 11 ‘ = I ■ Vitliillllr/ 'tiiTTfin! Ili\ (fl) }?/ /llllllfijfii Si * ? rJi = _,u I ii I wii !; pijjl JACK. H
In Which Dave Harris Gives Us Several Ideas
By WALTER D. HICKMAN What kind ol an audience are we? That was my thought the other afternoon when Dave Harris, a vaudeville actor of unlimited ability, after being given a splendid ovation at the Palace theater, admitted he couldn’t understand the applause. “I can't understand it,” he admitted from the stage during the ovation. "They tell me Indianapolis is a hard audience.” That seems to be the impression that is going around in soihe theatrical circles. But Dave Harris knows differently. Some time ago Frances Kennedy discussed with me the attitude of the Indianapolis audience. “Indianapolis is no different than any other large city,” she told me. "Your audiences are not hard boiled but they demand honest and capable work upon the part of the performer. If one has ability and material, that performer need pot fear the verdict of an Indianapolis audience. Harris, by experiencing tl?e sensation of stopping a show on his own merits, has learned the lesson voiced by Miss Kennedy. To my way of thinking, an audience need not be moved to violent applause to express Its true meaning. I have seen audiences at English's giving only silent approval to the work of Robert B. Mantell, and yet Mantell, from a box-office standpoint, is the most successful classical actor who has visited Indianapolis in many years. His local audience does not applaud madly, but patronize his efforts. And yet Harris will ask me; “How can a variety entertainer know that he has made good unless an audience shows its approval?” He probably will also remark that I recorded in my review' of his work the fact that he "stopped” the show, and that my only method of judging
that was the amount of applause given him by a large audience. I will grant you that, Mr. Harris, but I cannot agree with the gossip that Indianapolis is a “hard-boiled” gossip. Mr. Harris, you have no need to be surprised when you "stop" a show because you have the material and ability. Those two attributes win any place and anywhere. You are safe on an Indianapolis stage or In New York. Talent is always recognized. The difference is that audiences express It differently. -I- -I' I' As the Walker season nears its end each year, this department is asked what the members of the company will do during the fall and winter. William Fields, press representative for Walker, has answered the question its follows: Judith Lowry will go on tour with Walker's "The Book of Job.” Corbet Morris will go to California, where he recently bought a home. After a short vacation there he will return to New York to take part In anew play to be produced in October.
MOTION PICTURES
SATURDAY, AUG. 18, 1923
William Evarts will spend a few weeks in Portland, Maine, with his wife and will then go to New York for the winter season. Elizabeth Patterson hopes to spend the winter in "Magnolia,” the v new Booth Tarkington comedy, which opens on Broadway, Aug. 27. L’Estrange Millman leaves on Sept. 2 for his estate in Canada. A few weeks' rest and then on to New York. Julia McMahon and Julia Hoyt are already in New York. Both will appear in new plays this winter. Ruth Hammond opens in New York in anew play by Vincent Lawrence early in October. Beulah Bondy will go from here to Toledo. Ohio. Then to New York for the winter.
Along about Oct. 10 Spring Byingtor. will be very much in evidence around the Cort Theater. New York. Her comedy. “White Chips,” will be exposed to public view at that theater during the forepart of the month. Kay Strozzi, after a brief vacation abroad, will spend the winter season in New ,York. Boyd Agin will go on tour with “The Book of Job.” Coates Gwynne motored to New York last week. He will appear on Broadway this winter. McKay Morris and Regina Wallace open at the Klaw Theater, New York, iit "The Breaking Point” on Aug. 18. After a vacation at her home in Pennsylvania, Lucile Nikolas will go to New York to commence renearsals for her part in anew comedy scheduled for Broadway showing in October. Aldrich Bowker will go on tour with "The Book of Job.” That is, after a brief vacation on his New England farm.
MOTION PICTURES
First Half Next Week HARRY CAREY “The Miracle | Baby” A Stirring Drama of the Northwest. i Plum Center Comedy “TRACK TRICKS” 10c All Seats 10c